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Spike sat quietly on his bed in the basement of the Slayer's
house, chains firmly affixed to his arms. A book of poetry lay on his lap, but he was staring silently into space, his mind
a million miles away from the verses printed on the pages before him.
Buffy was out on a date tonight, Valentine's
Day. The thought broke Spike's heart, but he had just gently teased her about it knowing that he no longer had any right to
feel jealous about Buffy's dating decisions. Not that he ever really had a right, he thought. He and Buffy had never been
a couple. He had wanted it, but not she. And then... well then it had all gone to hell and he had left to get his soul.
The
soul made a difference to her. She trusted him now. Believed in him. But, Spike thought, she still doesn't love me. Never
will.
The sound of the basement door opening captured Spike's attention and he watched as Buffy descended the stairs.
"Hey." Buffy said softly.
"Hey yourself. How was the date?"
"Good. It was good," Buffy answered, coming
up to the bed and sitting down next to him but not too close.
"We went to dinner and… Oh! Spike!" Buffy opened
her eyes wide in excitement. "Mr. Wood got this chicken thingy and gave me a taste. It was so good. Real spicy and juicy.
You would love it!"
Spike smiled at that. Buffy went out to dinner with her boss, "Mr. Wood" Spike noted, and was
excited that Spike would like something she tasted.
"Yeah? Well, I'll have to try it some night." Spike answered
"Oh
yeah. I really want to get it again." Buffy was smiling at Spike and he was pretty sure that his heart would have skipped
a beat if it still beat.
"So. What else did you do, pet? Dancing? Movie?"
"Oh, we just, you know, talked.
About work mostly. And movies. I don't think I've ever seen any of the movies he has. I think he's big on the independents
like they show at the Sundance Film Festival." Buffy shrugged. "You know me. I pretty much only see what Xander and Dawn pick
up from the video store."
Spike grinned at this. "Yeah, pet. And they don't go in much for the deeper plots, do they?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Not unless Yoda's philosophy can be considered deep," she answered.
They laughed
together softly until they caught each other's eyes. The laughter died down as their gazes connected. Buffy was the first
to look away. Taking a deep breath she continued. "Anyway... it was nice. The date. It was nice. And, and normal. You know.
There were no Bringers flashing knives or demons attacking or First Evils causing havoc or... Nice. Normal."
"Well,
good, pet. I'm glad you had a good time. You needed a break from all this mess. Training Potentials, worrying about Scoobies
and kid sis and your Watcher and..." Spike paused a second. "And me."
Buffy looked at him again. "I don't mind worrying
about you, Spike." Glancing down at the manacles on his wrists she frowned slightly and said, "I just wish you felt secure
enough to leave yourself unchained."
"We've already had his conversation, love," Spike said forcefully. "Until I know
for sure that that bastard no longer controls me, I'm staying on the leash. Especially since the chip is gone and there's
no check over me but this soul."
Buffy sighed and looked down at her hands. She knew he was right, but she hated seeing
him chained like this.
"So, you two have another date planned?"
The question caught Buffy by surprise. "Uh,
no. I mean, we didn't plan anything tonight. But we'll see each other on Monday so maybe we'll..."
Suddenly Buffy
slumped back against the wall. "Oh, who am I kidding?" she groaned rolling her eyes upward. "Spike, it was awful. I mean,
outside of the chicken thingy, the whole evening was boring and uncomfortable. I've had more fun watching Dawn do her homework."
Spike smiled and then said, "Well, pet, maybe it's for the best. Those workplace romances never seem to work out."
Eyes caught again and once again Buffy lowered her eyes. Sighing, she rose from the cot.
"Well, training session
early tomorrow, so I better get to bed. Good night, Spike."
"Good night, pet. Happy Valentine's Day."
Buffy smiled
softly at her vampire. "Happy Valentine's Day, Spike."
The end
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