Author: Siobhan
Title: Is Cuma Liom?
Part: 3/5
Disclaimer: The characters from the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not mine, they are the creation of Joss Whedon's genius and Mutant Enemy.If you plan on posting this on your web site please include my name and the disclaimer, and notify me.
Rating: PG
Dedication: For the wonderful Clarey who keeps me in my vicarious sb talk
[Is Cuma Liom? III]
Buffy, having finished unpacking, decided to fix her hair and make-up which the wind and rain had mussed up on the way over. Upon entering her ensuite she frowned at the sight of a door on the other side obviously linking it to the adjoining room but shrugged it off. She was staring intently in the mirror when she suddenly noticed the door to the other room open – apparently of its own accord.
“Bloody hell!”
“You have got to be kidding me,” Buffy groaned. “I am _not_ sharing a bathroom with you.”
“Its not exactly one of my fantasies either Slayer, but you know a vamps got to look his best.”
“Ok. Fine. Whatever. Now get out. I need to do my makeup and I would prefer not to have you in the bathroom with me.”
Rolling his eyes Spike turned and left. Sharing a bathroom with Buffy, now there’s an interesting thought...
~~~
“Hey Buff, up for some heavy duty research?”
The gang had all gathered in Giles’ room, which was much larger than her own Buffy noticed, to start going through the boxes of books Sr. Elaine had supplied from her own school library.
“Aren’t I always Xand?”
The Scoobies all turned and stared at her at that and Buffy just looked at them sheepishly.
“Hey, I’m not that bad... am I?”
“As thrilling as all this is, I’m going to the pub.”
“Spike we really need all the help we can get researching.”
“Oh come on. You cannot possibly drag me all the way to Ireland and then not let me go to the pub. That’s like going to Egypt and not even bothering to look at the pyramids,” and with that he was gone.
“Great. Just ruddy marvellous. A drunk Spike, that’s all we need.”
“Don’t worry Giles I’ll get him back.” Following Spike out the door she grinned to herself and silently thanked him for saving her from all those ancient Celtic books.
“Hey, Spike wait up.”
“Bugger off Slayer. I’m not going to help research – I don’t care how much you blackmail me. Its bad enough I had to come to this hell hole in the first place.”
“Relax Spikey. I’m not going to make you read the bad books. I want to be there about as much as you do so I figured I would join you and learn a little about Irish ‘culture’ while I’m here.”
A grin began to form on Spike’s face at the idea of getting the Slayer drunk.
“Sure thing Slayer. I think that’s a great idea.”
“Sorry to ruin your fun Spike, but _neither_ of us are getting drunk today. Giles will be mad enough that we skipped out on the research party without us showing up sloshed.”
A scowl formed on Spike’s face at that but he led on anyway with the Slayer following him close behind.
Buffy decided they shouldn’t stray too far from the others just in case the demon they were supposed to be fighting showed up, so they settled on going to the hotel bar. It was relatively empty and Spike led them to a corner table out of the way.
“What’ll you have pet?”
“I’ll have a diet coke, thanks. Oh and Spike, remember nothing alcoholic or I might have to reconsider having copies of that pic posted at every demon hide out I can find.”
As Spike walked up towards the bar Buffy found herself ‘watching his back’ as Xander had once told her Cordelia so tastefully put it. As much as it pained her to admit it Buffy was beginning to realise that Spike wasn’t _completely_ repulsive. He was kind of fun to be around as well and he did make her laugh a lot, not that she’d ever admit to him that she laughed with him rather than at him. As she was going through all Spike’s good points in her head it suddenly dawned on her why she refused to let Riley hurt him.
“Oh my god I’m falling for Spike!”
“You’re what?!”
~~~
After making a few calls Angel had managed to track the Scooby gang to a new hotel in a small town called Navan. He still, however, had no idea why they had come here. He knew it must be bad though for them to come this far and for the Powers to summon him as well.
Angel was about to enquire in reception whether they had a Buffy Summers registered there or not when he caught sight of his Buffy sitting in a corner by herself. He walked over to her but she was obviously to deep in thought to notice him. He was about to clear his throat to catch her attention when he heard her talking to herself.
“Oh my god, Angel. What are you doing here?”
“Cordelia had a vision. Now would you like to explain to me what I just heard? Please tell me I heard you wrong. You couldn’t possibly like Spike. He’s a vampire.”
“So are you.”
Spike arrived back to their table with their drinks at that moment.
“Hey Buff, who ya talking to... oh great, Peaches. What the hell are you doing here?”
Angel took one look at Spike and punched him so hard he knocked him clear across the bar.
“Angel, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Yeah, what the hell was that for Peaches?”
Buffy looked at Angel and saw he was staring at Spike with such hatred in his eyes it was almost palpable.
“Eh never mind that now. What were you saying before about a vision?”
“Buffy...” Angel said through gritted teeth.
“Angel, really, we have more important things to discuss right now than what you heard like why you’re here for one.”
“What did you hear?”
“Spike, it was nothing – really”
“Nothing? Is that what you call having feelings for a soulless demon?”
Spike paled considerably which was an interesting sight on a vampire.
“Buffy, what’s the Poof talking about?”
Buffy began shifting nervously from foot to foot, her eyes darting from the former love of her life to the person she could possibly be falling in love with.
“Buffy?”
“Yeah Buffy, why don’t you explain to Spike and me what’s going on.”
“I... I uh... I have to go.”
With that she turned on her heal and ran out the door. She didn’t know exactly where she was going. She just knew she had to get out of there. She needed to sort out what feelings, if any she had for Spike and how she felt about Angel.
~~~
“Ok Angelus I’m only going to ask you this once. What the hell are you talking about?”
“What I’m talking about, Spike my boy, is Buffy’s, _my_ Buffy’s feelings for you,” Angel practically spat out.
Spike just stared at Angel like he had turned into some sort of ten-headed demon. When he realised that he was deadly serious he simply broke into hysterics laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
Spike was practically rolling around the floor with laughter at this stage when he saw Angel’s look of annoyance and confusion.
“You are. The Slayer’s feelings for me? You have got to be kidding me. The chit hates my guts. Literally. She can barely stand to be in the same room as me. I mean to say she blackmailing me for pity’s sake.”
“I hate to break your bubble, Spikey, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. You really don’t know much about women at all do you?”
Spike sobered up at that comment.
“And just what exactly do you mean by that.”
“I _mean_ Spike, that Buffy was just acting that way because she couldn’t accept how she really felt. It seems, however, that she has come to terms to it now because when I came in here I overheard her admitting to herself that she was falling in love with you.”
“Bloody hell.”
Spike ran out the door after Buffy. He had to find her and find out if what the poof was saying was true.