Spike sat alone waiting impatiently for Dru and Angelus to come back from whatever havoc they had planned for the night. He practiced stretching his legs out. < Soon. A week or so and I should be back to full strength, but will that be soon enough? > He worried. Dru and Angelus had been spending a lot of time together and Angelus never passed up an opportunity to rub it in Spike's face, < what a wanker! > he growled to himself. < I fight and establish myself here, work to get Dru's strength back, and she runs off with * him *. > He wheeled himself around in circles. Slowing he thought, < if that slayer still has a yen on for him I might be able to use her to get rid of him. >

Willow enjoyed Saturday nights, her homework for Monday was done and she had been able to do a lot of research for Giles at the library earlier. She like being a part of the team. She also liked time off, now that she got to see Oz. < sigh. > Ever since he had saved her life, and they had decided that they would "very still," they went out on weekends when the band wasn't playing. < He should be here soon. > " Oh, I'm not ready, no, not yet! " she said as the bell rang. She glanced at herself in the mirror. She had given up trying to dress like Cordelia or Buffy, she felt more comfortable as herself, and anything that decreased the awkward factor, was a good thing in her opinion. She wore a long dark skirt with a floral pattern and a bright green shirt. A little mascara and a touch of eye shadow brought out her eyes. She ran the brush a couple of more times and smiled at her reflection as she heard her mom talking to Oz. " Coming. " she said smiling as she skipped down the stairs. < G'night Mrs. Rosenburg > said Oz escorting Willow to the van. " Where to? " he asked. Willow smiled, " you know we're going to meet Xander, Cordy, and Buffy at the Bronze. " He smiled at her and nodded, " The Bronze it is then. "

Oz and Willow pulled up at the Bronze, Oz saw Devon talking to yet another one of his conquests. " Hey, see you inside? I got to talk to Devon and let him know I can't play next weekend, with the moon and all. " < I am going to * have * to think up some more excuses, I think I have visited just about everyone in my family; glad he didn't notice I went to the same funeral twice. >

Inside Willow had gotten herself a drink and was sitting at a table waiting for everyone to arrive. She felt a hand slide seductively across her shoulders as a figure moved from behind her to sit across from her.

Willow stared with wide eyes at the figure across from her and backed up on her stool. " Careful there pet, don't want to fall off your stool. " Spike drawled. Willow slowly reached for a cross that she had in her pocket. Spike noticing her movements he reached across the table and stopped her hand with a gentle touch. " Now, now little one, we don't want to create a disturbance, just a friendly visit. " Willow eyed him warily, " you don't, don't just visit people Spike, you kill them. What do you want? " " What I want?," he considered, " Well now, you just don't * have * that much time do you? " He grinned at her. Willow met his eyes with a defiant stare, < if this is it, I am * not * going out as a mouse. > She started reaching for the cross again, " How much time do I have Spike? " Spike threw his head back and laughed, " Not up to me this time pet, I already said this was a friendly chat, between mates. " Willow's temper flared and her eyes flashed, < how dare he! > she opened her mouth, but Spike put a finger over her lips and used the back of his fingers to caress her cheek. " No time for that love, as much as I like a good rousing fight and watching your fire. I am going to go have a friendly talk with your slayer friend and I am borrowing your little friend as insurance that I keep my skin. " Willow was curious despite her better judgment, then she realized what he'd said about holding Oz. She stared deep into his eyes coldly, " If you harm Oz, I am going to come after you myself. A stake would be a pleasant experience compared to what I will do. " Spike tilted his head and smiled at her, " well now that is a tempting offer. " He held her hand in his and caressed it with his fingers, " I shall have to think about it. Right now though I have other plans," He sighed with regret. " Perhaps some other time we might have us a private war, " he looked at her with promise in his eyes and he arched a brow. Raising her hand to his lips he kissed her softly. Shivers went down Willows spine. She withdrew her hand as he bowed his head to her and disappeared into the crowd. < What just happened? He has Oz and thinks I'm flirting with him? Another date with Oz ruined by vampires! What am I dysfunctional girl? Destined to never have a normal date? > She didn't notice Spike pausing and turning to watch her for a minute, as she waited for her friends. She new her strengths and fighting Vamps hand to hand was not one of them. < I'll show him War! 90's style! > she thought smiling coldly.

Buffy walked to the Bronze, < hey if I detour through the park I could count this as patrolling time, and if I happen to see a vamp, then it counts as slaying time, that means I have more time with my friends! > she was pleased with her deductions. She hummed to herself as she walked down the path.

She stopped as she felt the tingling presence which meant blood sucker. She scanned the shadows, automatically falling into her fighting stance and lightly gripping the stake that had slid into her hand.

" Good evenin' ducks. " She spun towards the voice and saw a silhouette leaning against a tree with his hands in his pockets. " Spike, " she hissed as she advanced towards him. " Not smart, I could send this stake through you before you could take your hands out of your pockets. " He smiled at her and shook his head and glanced at the ground before meeting her eyes. " Now ducks, if you were that ruthless you would have staked me back at the warehouse when you were looking for the judge. I know you saw me. What stopped you? " Buffy eyed him, " I was real busy just then, looking for the judge and all. " she tried to justify her actions. Buffy new she had no problem staking vamps when they were attacking her, because they were always attacking her, but she couldn't bring herself to stake them if they weren't feeding or fighting her; some kind of moral hangup she figured. " Riiiight, " he drawled, " I am not threatening you, < yet, > I fancy a bit of conversation just now. " He leaned back against the tree, his profile to her. He wasn't a complete fool, he made sure that he presented a smaller target and that he could slip away if she looked like she was going to try and stake him.

Buffy kept her stance and glanced around making sure it wasn't an ambush. " What do we have to talk about? Except maybe you leaving Sunnydale or getting dusted?" Spike shrugged nonchalantly , " your obnoxious boyfriend to start. " Buffy cringed, " he is not my boyfriend and obnoxious is an understatement. " Spike nodded , " agreed, it is a little light on description. " " What about him? " Buffy asked still on her gaurd and scanning the area. " I might be persuaded to let you have him back. " he offered. " And I would trust you why...? " Buffy asked still searching for an attack. " Stop fidgeting will you! " he commanded. I came here to deal. " " So, everything's not cool in Vampire land, not one big happy family eh? Third wheel syndrome? " Spike flinched when she said wheel. " Let's just say he is not working out, almost as daft as my Dru. Can't seem to focus on what's important. " " Humph." Buffy snorted, " so you're willing to betray your sire, and you want my help. " Buffy tried to hide the excitement and hope she felt building. " And my assurance that this is not some elaborate trap? You have been rather creative in the past. " Spike grinned, " Thanks ducks. Assurances..., well now the enemy of my enemy is my friend. " " Sorry I don't think that Prince Matchibelli stuff is going to do it. " Spike shook his head, " Machiavelli, not Matchibelli, what would you suggest? A handshake? A promise? Would you trust that? " Buffy considered, " no, I wouldn't, I can't trust you. " Spike shrugged, " I tried, remember that ducks. I do however have a friend of yours, and I will kill him, if you don't help me. " " Xander? " Buffy interrupted, angry with herself for daring to hope and consider his earlier offer. What was she doing here talking to him, she ought to be turning him to dust. " No, not him. Red Ridinghood's friend, the big bad wolf. " Buffy started threateningly towards him, " You have Oz? You are so dead pal. " Spike moved quickly placing a tree between them. " Not so fast, I mean to have your help; and I will do whatever I have to, to get it. " Buffy stopped, " What's your plan, and what do you get out of it? " Buffy asked.

< One of these days I am going to have a normal date with Willow and I'll probably miss the excitement of these unplanned occurrences. Talk about spontaneity gone extreme. Hey, could be worse I guess, at lease I'm not in a locker this time. That's something new. > Oz thought to himself as he paced in the small room. He had been grabbed after he had finished talking to Devon and was on his way in to see Willow. Willow sure knows some interesting people. He stopped and stared at the door, " this sucks! I should be with Willow and I'm stuck here! Man when the full moon comes I am hunting these guys! " Finally bored with pacing he leaned against the wall and slid down it. He rested with his arms on his knees stared at the floor.

End Part 1. Do you like it so far???

Please send comments to ConStrell@aol.com.

Part 2 coming soon!