"You did not!" Buffy's eyes widened in surprise and she giggled.

Spike chuckled in response.

"Oh, man, I would have paid money to see that!" Xander lamented with a grin.

"I can't believe that Giles was just so totally clueless," Willow remarked with a hint of stunned disbelief in her voice. "I mean, did he not realise he was showing his growlly face when Mrs Summers was talking to Wes?"

"Apparently not," Buffy offered dryly. "That makes you two for two, blood breath." She took the sting out of her words with the brilliant smile she directed towards the peroxide blond

Spike grinned in delight. He was still having a hard time dealing with this new acceptance. He was still waiting for the bottom to drop out of his world. William the Bloody didn't have friends and family. The whole situation had a surreal feeling about it. He didn't doubt the affection he felt coming through his familial bond. He knew that was real. It was the friendship he was now exploring with the Scoobies that had him reeling.

Ever since his words of wisdom had helped Xander win back Anya, the carpenter had treated him like a brother. They still teased each other, but the hard and cruel edge to their taunting had softened.

Willow had gone so far as to ask questions about joining the familial bond and treated Spike like her fangy older brother.

Giles had taken Spike's advice and they had all been witness to the ex-librarian's stuttered request for a date and Joyce's subsequent blushing agreement, which was what had brought on the present conversation.

Buffy snuck a surreptitious glance at the bleached blond object of her desire. She was a little shocked at how quickly her feelings had developed for him. In a matter of days she'd gone from hating him, to considering the possibility of maybe starting a relationship with him, to being desperately worried about him, to admiring him, to big-time lusting after his hot bod, and then finally to realising that she was in love with him. As in totally, completely, head-over-heels in love with him.

The problem was that even though Mister Can-I-Court-Your-Daughter had asked for permission, he hadn't made one single move in that direction. Not one! The Slayer was getting a little impatient.

"When are you going to start giving Buffy orgasms, Spike?" Anya asked ingenuously.

The vampire's eyes widened in surprised shock and he cringed inside at the blunt question. Spike locked eyes with Xander, silently begging the boy to intervene.

Xander blinked innocently, his mirth making his eyes twinkle.

Buffy bit her tongue to keep from laughing while she silently thanked the Powers for the ex-vengeance demon's lack of social etiquette. A smile teased her lips as she openly watched the floundering blond and waited for his response.

"Maybe you should start with dinner," Tara teased playfully.

"Dancing's good," Xander offered innocently.

"Ooh! A picnic! She likes picnics," Willow declared eagerly.

"The movies are always a good choice," Wesley suggested helpfully.

"How's this," Dawn started, giggling. "Tara and Willow can make a picnic for you, ‘cause Buffy is totally lame in the kitchen, Anya and Xander pick up ‘The Cutting Edge' with DB Sweeney at the video store, and Wes let's me stay at his place tonight. Mom and Giles are going to be out, so you guys would have the house to yourselves."

Buffy shrugged nonchalantly. "Works for me," she accepted before standing and leaving the Magic Box.

Spike watched her go. "What just happened?" he asked in confusion.

"We've arranged for you to have a pleasurable evening with Buffy that can culminate in many orgasms for you both," Anya answered helpfully.

Spike looked around the group in wonder. He had a date with Buffy, and no one was complaining. In fact, they were actually helping.

‘Bloody Hell!' he thought in awe.

~*~*~

"You wanna give me a clue here? ‘Cause I'm all buy-a-vowel girl," Buffy finally said in exasperation. She couldn't believe it. All night they had just sat and watched movies. All night. He hadn't even tried to hold her hand. The little blonde was starting to feel like she was on a date with Aingeru rather than her ‘rude, crude', vampire. "Where did my innuendo throwing, sex on the brain, says what he thinks vampire go?"

Spike frowned. "You're brassed because I haven't tried to have my wicked way with you?"

Buffy stood up in agitation. "What is it? Am I just not attractive to you? Were you joking with the whole ‘court-your-daughter' speech? You know, I'd think you really did think I wasn't worth a second go except we haven't even had the first one."

"Are you off your bleedin' gourd, Slayer?" Spike yelled as he stood to face the fiery little blonde down. "Where in bloody hell do you come up with this shite?"

"Stop shouting weird British words at me and answer the question, you eighties reject."

Spike stepped into her personal space and snarled out his response. "You're bloody gorgeous, and you know it, you stupid bint. No, I was not joking. And the only reason I haven't snogged you senseless is because I thought you wanted a normal like date...you know...with the kiss goodnight at the end and all."

"Normal, shmormal," Buffy snarled right back at him. "Buffy want smoochies!"

Spike tilted his head to the side and considered the heavy breathing femme. "You been into the magic beer again, pet?"

Buffy growled, grabbed him by the hair, and slammed her lips to his.

Spike's eyes widened in awe as the volatile little firebrand firmly attached herself to his lips. He snaked his arms around her tiny waist and pulled her close, not willing to waste an instant of the chance to hold her in his arms. He didn't know how long he would get the opportunity before she came to her senses and realised he was beneath her.

Their lips continued to dance as the song slowly changed. The violence turned softer, the frantic edge dissipating with their growing connection. The world around them shrank to the confines of their embrace. Time stood still.

Spike pulled his lips from Buffy's and moved to worship her neck as his hands caressed her back and sides. Her gasped words washed over him.

"Oh, God," Buffy moaned in ecstasy; her emotions on overload. "I love you," she whispered, heedless of the ramifications. She hadn't even realised she'd spoken until she felt Spike freeze in her embrace. She closed her eyes, suddenly dreading his reaction. This was where it would fall apart; she just knew it.

"Buffy?" Spike silently willed her to repeat the declaration. His body tensed for the rejection he knew was coming.

"So...um...how did you know about the magic beer?" Buffy chirped, her voice shaky.

"Don't you bloody well dare," Spike ground out through clenched teeth. "Say it again, Slayer," he demanded urgently.

Buffy pushed away from him, showing him her back, her tears were too close to the surface. "Fine," she snapped whirling around to face him as her tears began to fall. "I love you, so let's just laugh at the stupid slayer that-"

"I love you, too, Buffy," he gently interrupted her.

"Huh?"

Spike chuckled at her blank expression. "I've been in love with you for a long time, luv."

"Oh!" she replied inarticulately, urgently grasping for something that would kick start her brain. Her eye's narrowed in displeasure as she latched onto what he had said. "And you didn't think to tell me?" she demanded crossly, still trying to gain her balance.

Spike chuckled. "I like my nose unbroken, Slayer."

"I would never-" she began indignantly.

Spike raised an eyebrow at Buffy's declaration.

"Okay, maybe I would, but that doesn't get you out of the doghouse, buddy. You should have told me. Loving Buffy is always of the good." She pouted and blinked her eyes innocently.

Spike crossed his arms as an expression of pure disbelief crossed his features. "Oh, yes, I can just see the reactions now. Cardboard would have been reachin' for his stake, right along with Harris and Rupes, while Miss-Holier-Than-Thou-Stake-Up-Her-Arse Slayer cringed and spat about lips of bloody Spike!"

Buffy pulled at his arms then wiggled her way back into his embrace. "Well, yeah, but that's beside the point."

Spike rolled his eyes and Buffy grinned. "You love me, so don't get pissy. Get kissy."

"Love, that was bad, even for you."

"Shut up and kiss me, doofus."

"Well, since you asked so nicely..."

And once again time stood still.

Fin