It started out as a way to annoy Giles. Using his computer. He didn't know a whole lot about them, but he was a quick learner. Giles had asked him to help with a case, and Spike didn't do anything for nothing. He hadn't live this long being reckless without learning a thing or two about survival. Nope, this time he required food and entertainment. His entertainment was watching Giles face sour every time he knocked on the door. But he hid that by saying he wanted use of the computer. False pretenses always came in handy. Needing Spike's help is always a bitch, because there is always a payment.

Willow bounced around her room, getting things ready. She liked her environment to be just so when she sat down to her computer. She lit the lavender scented candles that were strewn around the room. She turned out all the lights. The candles cast a glow-y hue around the room, playing with the shadows on the walls. Willow looked around to make sure all was in order. Candles lit, drapes drawn, room in perfect order. She was ready.

She wondered if he'd be on tonight. She didn't know who he was, and she didn't really care for the specifics right now. They were just having fun chatting. She liked that about the computer. The anonymity of it.

She sat down in front of her computer and turned it on, the blue glow of the monitor reflecting off of the pallor of her face. She waited while it connected to the web and went to the familiar chat room. It was a chat room for Sunnydale, and most of the people who were regulars lived here, of course. Willow liked that she could secretly be making friends with the kind of people who wouldn't look twice at her in school. Somehow it gave her satisfaction to think that they might learn the dangers of snobbishness.

When the chat room came up she smiled, he was there.

WW: Hi. I wondered if you'd be here.

BB: Wouldn't miss it.

WW: ::smile:: me neither. I rather enjoy the time we spend chatting.

Spike smiled. She was so sweet and innocent acting. Of course, it was probably just an act. For all he knows, she could be an 80-year- old grandpa with nothing better to do than this. Spike smiled. Time to spice things up.

BB: How do you know I'm not a woman? ::eg::

That was his favorite little abbreviation. E.G. or evil grin for the computer illiterate, thank you very much.

Willow giggled. Should she? Why not?

WW: How do you know I'd care?

Spike nearly laughed out loud. Bisexual. This little chit could be a lot of fun. Too bad he didn't know who she was.

WW: How do you know I'm not a man?

Spike snorted.

BB: How do you know I'd care?

Willow giggled and wrote 'bisexual' on the pad beside her. It contained a bunch of little notes about BB. She had thought once or twice about meeting BB. But she was sure it wouldn't be as fun as this. Besides, they'd only been chatting for a few weeks.

BB: You went quiet on me. Did I scare you?

Spike smiled.

WW: No.

BB: What are you thinking?

WW: I'm wondering what you look like.

BB: I thought it was you who refused to give a description. Remember this?

Spike quickly went to his saved messages and copied and pasted the conversation.

BB: BB: a/s/l?
WW: What's that?
BB: It means age/sex/location.
WW: oh.
BB: so?
WW: So what if I want to keep this strictly imaginary.
BB: So I'm you're imaginary friend? ::smirk::
WW: Not exactly, I'd just like to get a mental picture of you from your words.

Willow smiled when the conversation popped up on the screen. He saves them. She wrote that down too.

WW: Yes I remember the conversation. I'm surprise you saved it.

Spike felt blood rush to his face and he smiled at the thought of getting embarrassed over the computer because of some chit he didn't even know.

BB: Yeah well, I'm old and my memory isn't so good anymore.

WW: Lol…somehow I doubt that.

BB: That I'm old?

WW: No, your memory.

BB: I am old.

WW: Grandpa?

BB: grrr

Willow laughed aloud at that.

WW: I love talking with you.

Spike smiled. He really enjoyed talking to this bit of a slip as well. But he was the Big Bad after all. Couldn't just tell her that.

BB: What's not to love.

Willow rolled her eyes.

WW: You're age, according to you.

Spike scowled at the computer screen.

BB: Oh ha-ha.

Willow giggled.

WW: Time for me to go.

BB: Do you have to?

WW: Yes.

BB: Tomorrow?

WW: Always.

Spike felt oddly alone when he flipped the laptop down. He couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Willow snuggled under her covers and closed her eyes. But her thoughts were very much awake. And on him.