Chapter 8

"Slayer!" Spike clutched his sore nose. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"You deserved it."

"Did not."

"A date?" Buffy snorted. "That wasn't in our play book. What made you go all high school on Lydia?" She began to clear away the remnants of the ill-fated tea.

"Just tryin' to help you know. Doin' my bit for puppies, and Christmas, and the American way." He cocked his head and considered Buffy's stiff movements as she put their cups on a tray. She was really brassed off. Delicious. "'Sides, apparently Lydia knows a good thing when she sees it."

Buffy's eyes flared. "Apparently Dr. Higginbottom," she paused, lingering over the Watcher's ridiculous name, "is deaf, dumb, and blind." Without another word she huffed into the kitchen. Didn't he realise what was at stake here, no pun intended? Her future. Dawn's future. And Spike had absolutely no idea how to charm a woman. None. Nada. Even when he'd been human, he'd been completely clueless. William, the Bloody Awful Poet. Ha! Buffy's future flashed before her eyes: a future that included golden arches and the phrase, "Do you want fries with that?"

"I just hope he leaves the chains and the bourbon at home," she muttered, slamming the cups into the dishwasher.

Spike's elation began to fade as the Slayer's words reached his ears. Stupid bint! As if he didn't know a thing or two about pleasing women. He may have seemed a right tosser when he went after her, but that was just… just.

Because he cared too much.

Bloody hell, Dru liked being chained up!

"Slayer, I'm leaving."

Buffy continued to load the dishwasher. "Incinerate, see if I care."

"Look at me Buffy."

Buffy reluctantly met his gaze. His eyes were soft.

"I won't screw this up." A brittle smile crossed his lips. "Gotta keep the cash flowing for my Niblet."

"Do you need some money?"

Spike arched an eyebrow.

"For tonight I mean. Luigi's is expensive."

Guilt flickered briefly across his chiseled features, but was quickly contained. "Nah. Got it covered."

"Do you have some clothes that aren't vintage Billy Idol?"

"Slayer, I'll have you know that he ripped me off, not the other way around."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

Buffy began to wipe the already clean countertop.

God, he couldn't do this anymore. "Look Slayer, if it'll make you feel better, I'll come 'round after and give you the full report."

"That's OK." She considered him closely. "I trust you."

***

"Niblet! What're you tryin' to do? Choke me?"

Dawn giggled as she "adjusted" his tie. "You don't breathe Spike."

"Still, that bloody well hurt." He massaged his neck.

Dawn considered her friend. He looked hot. Tousled hair, grey suit, crisp white shirt, blue tie. Lydia was lucky.

Dawn sat on a nearby sarcophagus and began to swing her legs. "She's jealous you know."

"Huh?"

"Buffy. She's really jealous."

"Nah. She's just worried 'bout me screwin' things up."

"That too. But believe me, she's jealous."

"How do you know Niblet?"

"How did I figure out you were in love with her? I notice these things Spike."

Spike stroked her hair affectionately. "Do I look OK?"

"Yup. Lydia will be a puddle of goo."

Spike's eyes glinted. "Well, won't that just be . . . neat."

***

"More wine luv?" Spike filled the flushed Watcher's glass again. It was her third.

Dr. Lydia Higginbottom had arrived spot on time to find a very distinguished-looking Mr. Bloody already waiting for her. Her armed guard had kept his distance, and thus far their evening had been quite pleasant although her date, ahem, her informant had proved less than informative about his relationship with the Slayer.

"So, Mr. Bloody." Lydia unconsciously ran a hand through her carefully coiffed hair. She'd left it down tonight and it fell in loose waves around her face. She'd also left her glasses at the hotel.

Spike's eyes locked with hers. "I told you pet. Call me William."

Lydia took another sip of her wine and blushed. "Very well, William. You still haven't told me about the nature of your relationship with the Slayer. I can't believe you would sacrifice so much unless you were getting something… um… significant in return."

Spike was saved from answering by the arrival of their entrées.

Lydia watched in amazement as Spike tore hungrily into his Shrimp Diavolo. "I've never heard of a vampire who enjoyed human food."

Spike stopped in mid bite and whispered seductively. "You'll find I enjoy many human activities."

Lydia cleared her throat, blushed for the thousandth time that evening, and took another sip of wine. "I see."

***

Lydia gazed blurrily at her dinner companion and took another sip of wine. He really was quite charming. And entertaining. And devastatingly attractive.

"So pet, you already know all about me. How 'bout you? How'd you get into the Watching thing?"

Lydia's words slurred slightly as she spoke. "Well, you see, I come from a long, long, long line of Watchers. And I went to Oxford and just never left. All those lovely, lovely books." She giggled.

"Fascinating. Do go on luv."

"And then I began work on my thesis, "Mating patterns of male vampires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries."

Spike looked disappointed. "I thought you said the whole thing was about me."

"Oh it is." Lydia lowered her voice. "You were my primary case study. You're quite an unusual vampire. So devoted to your…"

Spike arched his eyebrow suggestively and finished her sentence, "lover?"

"Yes. I mean you stayed faithful to Drusilla for years and years and years."

Spike smiled wistfully. "Fat lot of good that did me."

"Drusilla was a fool." Lydia took another sip of wine.

Suddenly Spike felt the need for another drink as well.

***

Lydia rose unsteadily from her seat. "Mmmm, feeling a bit woozy."

Spike took her arm to steady her and led her out of the restaurant. Her guard followed discretely. "I don't think you should drive luv."

"Oh, Henry will drive. Henry?" Lydia called to her protector.

"Yes, Dr.?"

"Will you be a dear and get the car?" She rummaged through her purse and produced the keys. "Voila!"

"Dr. Higginbottom, I really shouldn't leave you alone with… Mr. Bloody."

"Tish, tosh. William and I will be perfectly fine. Won't we William?" Lydia smiled drunkenly up at Spike.

"Yes pet, we'll be fine. You know I can't hurt her Henry."

"Very well." Henry departed.

"I had a simply splendid, splendid, splendid time William." Lydia swayed towards him. "I think I know now what kind of man you are."

"What kind is that luv?"

"Scrumptious." Lydia grabbed him and kissed him passionately.

In the shadows across the street a Slayer watched. "Bastard."

***

Spike returned Lydia's kiss. Well he had no bloody choice did he? Couldn't very well reject the woman whose organisation was gonna pay his Slayer!

"Dr. Higginbottom!"

Henry's shocked voice interrupted them.

"Leave us alone Henry. We're busy."

"Come on Doctor. I think you've had enough," he considered Mr. Bloody with a dark glare, "excitement for one evening."

Lydia pouted. "Don't want to go."

Spike kissed her hand. "Listen pet. Best do as the man says."

"Oh, alright." Henry helped the very drunk Lydia into the car. "William, William, William, my sweet William don't forget. We have some unfinished business."

"Uh huh luv." Bloody hell! He hoped she wouldn't remember this in the morning.

End of Part Eight

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