Spike lifted up his ankles and slammed them on the edge of the bathtub. The shackles made a loud and satisfying clank against the heavy porcelain. He repeated it over, and over, and over. "Stop that!" Giles barked from the living room.

"Passions is on!" Spike yelled.

"Be quiet!" Giles replied.

Spike smashed his ankles against the tub, increasing the pace. Clankclankclankclank... The bathroom door flew open, and Giles charged in. "I'm at my wits end, listening to your infernal racket!"

"Then let me out," Spike hissed.

"I'm not going to do that," the watcher replied.

"I'm bored," Spike complained. "I want to watch Passions, and I want out of here!"

"The last time I let you out of this bathroom, you seized the opportunity to run away," Giles pointed out.

"I didn't know better," Spike said. "I've learned my lesson." He did his best to look trustworthy.

Giles looked at him seriously. "Will you stop chipping my bathtub and making me deaf if I do?"

"I promise," said Spike.

With a sigh, Giles helped Spike out of the tub. The vampire shuffled into the living room, flopping onto the couch. He grabbed the remote and flipped the channel to Passions.

Giles picked up a book from the coffee table and began to read through it. Timmy and Tabitha began to argue on the show, and Spike laughed loudly. Giles looked at him oddly, and then turned to the screen. Despite himself, he began to watch the show, the book lying forgotten in his lap.

****
Willow sat on her bed in the dorm room, watching 'Passions'. She shoved her hand into a jumbo bag of M & M's, her eyes riveted to the television. Textbooks and a notebook sat untouched on the bed next to her.

The door opened and Buffy came in. "Hey, Wills," she said cheerily. "Good to see you up and functional." She looked at the TV. "What the heck are you watching?"

"Passions," Willow replied. "Have you ever seen it? It's really good."

"I don't know whether to be pleased that you're in a happy mood or scared that you're taking Spike's advice on television programming," said Buffy, sitting down next to Willow and taking some candy.

"Tabitha just did this really cool levitation spell," Willow remarked. "I think it could work." Buffy gave her a disapproving look. "Not that I'm doing any spells now. I'm being cautious. But the Oz missage seems to be down to a merely heartburny kind of feeling now."

"As soon as you're up to it you've got to do that forget spell for me," Buffy said. "I keep having icky Spike love flashbacks." She shuddered and popped some chocolates in her mouth.

The phone rang and Buffy got up and answered it. "Hello?" She smiled. "Hey, Giles. No, I can't. No, I really, really can't. I have a date." Buffy pulled the phone away from her ear. "Xander and Anya went camping. The only one who doesn't have plans is Willow."

****

Willow came through the front door of Giles' apartment, laden with a cooler and a backpack. "Hi," she said brightly, as she dropped her backpack next to the door and walked into the kitchen.

"You're late," Giles said, as he descended the staircase. He was dressed in a tuxedo, his hair slicked back with gel, an overnight bag slung over his shoulder.

She smiled at him widely, admiring how dashing he looked. "Wow. You look really amazing. "

He smiled bashfully. "I have a banquet," he explained. "Librarians of Southern California. I'll be back from Los Angeles by early afternoon tomorrow. Buffy has assured me that she will help you watch Spike, come morning."

"Let me outtttt!" screamed Spike, his voice reverberating off the tile.

Giles looked at Willow apologetically. "He's a little upset about being put back in the bathtub." He handed her a crossbow. "I suggest you leave him where he is, and just ignore all his noisemaking."

"I can handle him," Willow said confidently. "He can't hurt me, so there's really no need to worry." Giles smiled reassuringly and left, locking the front door behind him.

With a sigh, Willow set down the crossbow on the counter. She opened the cooler and moved aside bags of blue ice, pulling out Styrofoam containers of pigs blood and placing them in the refrigerator. "Can I have some blood?" Spike called. "It's been hours now."

"How'd you know I had blood?" she asked, cracking open a can of soda.

"I can smell it," he replied loudly from the bathroom. "Pigs blood, barely fit to drink, but I'm desperate. Are you coming to let me out?"

"I'm not supposed to go in there," Willow replied. She retrieved her backpack and sat down on the couch, pulling out a textbook and a couple of videotapes.

"I can't hurt you," he reminded her, adding a piteous note to his voice. "I want some blood. Pleaaase?"

"I'm not coming in," she said firmly. "Just settle down."

"It's inhuman, leaving me in here all day and night," he complained. "Not to mention that you owe me one. Doing your mojo on me; making me snog the Slayer."

"I said I was sorry about that," she reminded him.

"Yeah, you say you're sorry, but I'm not seeing it. Haven't done one single nice thing for me. You acted like it cost the earth just to give me a cookie," he said bitterly.

"I'm not letting you out, Spike, no matter how guilty you try to make me feel," Willow said.

"You could at least bring me some blood," he said plaintively. "I'm wasting away to nothing. I feel horrible, all chained up, no pillow, no blanket. It's a human rights violation, that's what it is."

"You're not human," she reminded him.

"I have feelings," he said. "I can be cold, and hungry, and bored, just like you, and not to mention my heartache. Blooming well dumped on my ass, and no one cares a wink about it. Can't eat, can't fight, can't even keep Harmony. It's a sad state, I tell you."

Willow walked across to the bathroom and opened the door. Spike was slumped down in the tub, the very picture of misery. "Harmony broke up with you?" she asked sympathetically.

"Won't even give me the time of night," he said sadly. "I mean, granted, I did some things to her I shouldn't have. But still, she could have given me a chance to work things out, instead of trying to stake me."

"I'm so sorry," Willow replied, her voice filled with sympathy.

"I was a bad boyfriend, I know that," he said. "But I've been burned, you know. It's hard to open up, when you've had your heart broken." He closed his eyes and sighed.

Willow took in the circles under his eyes, the fatigue in his face. "Will you promise to behave, if I let you out of the tub?" she asked.

He turned his head and looked at her seriously. "I've got no fight left in me," he said simply. "If you tried to stake me, I doubt I'd even care."

"Don't say that," Willow said as she helped Spike out of the tub. "There's always something to look forward to." He hopped along, burdened by the chains at wrists and ankles. Pathetically, he hopped to the couch, sprawling on it.

"Something like what?" he asked.

"Like," she said, looking around. "Like a movie. Those are fun." She picked up a video.

He tilted his head, reading the title. "The Seventh Seal?" he said incredulously. "That's your idea of something to live for, depressing Swedish drama?"

"It's a classic," she insisted. "It's one of the pivotal works of modern cinema."

"Death, chess, flagellation and witches," he said, "commonly regarded as the feel good flick of all time."

She looked at the tape in her hand and stuffed it back into her bag. "I'm just- sad," Willow countered. "I'm not in the mood for a big funny movie."

"Still getting over the guy that left town, right? Shapeshifter, phouka, something like that?" Spike asked.

"He was- is- a werewolf," Willow said frostily. "And I'm not discussing him with you."

"I told you about Harm," he said. "Seems only fair to share."

"I don't want to talk about it," she said. "I'll get you some blood, and you can stretch your legs, and then it's back in the tub with you, buddy." She went into the kitchen and poured a mug of blood, heating it in the microwave.

Willow returned, sitting on the couch next to him and holding the mug carefully while he drank through the straw.

Spike watched her, his eyes never blinking, and she shivered involuntarily. "What's wrong?" he asked, moving his mouth from the straw.

"Nothing," she replied, looking away. "I wish that I could uncuff you so you could do this yourself."

"Giles worked some kind of spell on the chains," Spike explained. "He doesn't want me running off again."

Intrigued, she set the mug down and took his hands in hers. "Reveal," she said softly, and the cuffs began to glow softly green.

"I wouldn't go messing with magick if I were you, pet," he said. "I think you've proven that you don't know what the hell you're about."

Willow glared at him, her eyes sparking green. "I'm a good witch," she said defensively, moving her hand around the shackles. "It's a locking spell," she decided. "I just need the password to undo it." She bit her lip. "Undo. Unlock, unfasten, un- something."

Spike watched her warily. "I like the cuffs," he said cheerily. "Really, they're nice and comfy. I don't mind them at all." She ignored him and continued to inspect the cuffs. He changed tactics. "You wouldn't want to upset the Watcher, or the Slayer. They're both still sore about the last spell, right?"

"Just be quiet and let me do this," she said. "Free, release." The cuffs stayed firmly closed.

"If I propose to you, or turn blind, I'll be extremely brassed off," he announced.

She stared at the cuffs, concentrating with all her might. "It's a tongue twister," she said excitedly. "I picked up on that much. Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers!"

"Which witch wished which wicked wish?" Spike supplied.

"Do drop in at the Dew Drop Inn," said Willow.

"She sells seashells by the seashore," Spike said. With a click, the chains slipped to the floor. He immediately stood up and stretched. "That's much better," he said, picking up the mug and draining it.

"If you promise not to run away, maybe Giles will let you leave them off," Willow said. "It's not like you can hurt us."

"Thanks for rubbing it in," he said bitterly. "I used to be the scourge of bleeding Europe, and now I've become an exotic and unwanted house pet!"

"I'm sorry," she said. "Not that I'm sorry that you can't, you know, kill me, but I'm sorry that you're hurting." There was an awkward silence. "I have an idea," she said brightly. "I'll go to the video store and pick up a nice fun movie, and some snacks."

He perked up. "Could you get popcorn?" he asked.

"Sure, " she said, somewhat surprised, "and I can get candy, and soda, too."

"That would be grand. I like candy." He smiled at her, and she was surprised at what a difference it made. He seemed a lot less scary.

"You know what?" Willow said decisively. "I think you need a change of pace. Getting out of the house would be good for you. If you promise not to run away, I'll take you with me."

"I promise," Spike said solemnly.

"If you try anything funny, I'll have to get Buffy. She's still really peeved about the engagement spell. Any excuse to stake you, she'll do it. Seriously."

"I'll be good," Spike promised, as he put on his duster. "Very good indeed."

****

Riley and Buffy held hands as they walked down the street. "I really don't know what happened to our reservation," Riley said apologetically.

"I wasn't in the mood for stuffy French food anyway," Buffy said with a smile.

"We can go anywhere you like," he offered. "Italian, Chinese, whatever you want."

"Something light," she replied. "Kind of got a nervous tummy thing happening."

"This is supposed to be fun," he reminded her. "No pressure, no stress. Just relax."

"I do not know this relax word you speak of," she said. "Not in my vocabulary."

"I'm sure, somewhere in there, you remember how to have a good time."

"I don't know," Buffy said. "Lately, I don't think I'd know a good time if it bit me."

****

"'Evil Dead'," Spike crowed gaily. He picked up the videocassette and looked at the back of the box. "Ooh. This is brilliant. We've got to get this one."

"I don't like scary things," Willow said. "They make me nervous."

"Your best friend is a vampire slayer and your ex is a werewolf, and you're afraid of a horror movie?" he asked incredulously.

"I didn't say it was a rational fear," she said mildly.

"'Hellraiser!'" Spike said happily. "Look, it's Pinhead!"

Willow covered her eyes. "No, no Pinhead. Just the commercial gave me bad dreams."

"Don't be a twit," he said as he pried her fingers off her face. "Sissy." She looked at the box and squeaked, hiding her eyes again. "Oh, you're no fun," he said seriously.

"Let's pick a comedy," she said. "We're supposed to be getting something to cheer you up."

"I am cheered up," he said brightly. "I want to see one of these." He brandished 'Hellraiser' and 'Evil Dead'.

"I can't watch those," she said. "Really, Spike, they're too frightening."

"I'll protect you," he said.

"Gee, that's really reassuring."

"C'mon, don't be such a wimp," he said. "Show a little backbone." He rolled his eyes, clearly fed up.

"I'm not wimpy," she said hotly. Spike looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. "I'm not!" She grabbed the videos from his hands and they walked to the front of the store.

Spike perused the offerings next to the register, picking out packets of microwave popcorn and Milk Duds. "I want Junior Mints and a Dr. Pepper," Willow said. Spike opened the cold case and retrieved a couple of sodas, dumping the stack of snacks on the counter.

Willow handed over her video card and a crisp bill. Spike looked out the window of the store, spotting a pizzeria down the block. "Think you could spring for a pizza?" he asked her.

She wrinkled her nose. "Not really in the mood."

The clerk handed her a bag, and Spike took it from her, opening the door. "How about sushi?" he asked as they walked down the street.

"I like sushi," she said. "Tuna roll, salmon roll, miso soup. Good stuff."

"I love California rolls," he told her. "And tempura." On the opposite side of the street, a couple walked toward them. They exchanged a bit of conversation, and then kissed lightly.

Spike stood stock still, his face showing utter shock. "Bollocks," he whispered.

"What's the matter?" Willow asked, concerned.

He turned to her. "Please just go along, and don't scream," he pleaded quietly.

Her eyes wide, she nodded. Spike pulled her into an alley and pressed his lips gently against hers. The kiss lasted for an excruciatingly long minute. Finally he broke the embrace, and Willow slapped him across the face. "What's is wrong with you?" she asked, her face red.

"The Slayer," he said, his face pale. "She's with one of the commando guys. They're going to kill me!"

"Spike-" she began.

"I've got to get out of here," he said panicked, as he paced in circles. "I can't defend myself. I'm buggered, I tell you, bloody buggered."

"Just calm down," Willow said soothingly. "Buffy knows you're harmless. She isn't going to let anyone hurt you."

"You said yourself she'd stake me given half a chance!" he exclaimed. "Now I see her with one of the soldier boys. What do you think is going to happen?"

"How do you know it was one of them?" she asked.

"His voice, his height, his smell. I'm a vampire! I know how to track people. It's kind of my job!" he snapped.

"Okay, okay," she said, as she patted his shoulder. "Let's just go back to Giles'. Everything will be just fine," she promised. He looked at her dubiously, clearly not buying it.

****

"That was really weird," said Riley, as they walked past the alley.

"What?" asked Buffy.

"I thought I saw Willow, making out with some guy."

"Not likely," Buffy said with a laugh. "She's deeply entrenched in post breakup blues."

He looked down at her affectionately. "So, feel like sushi?" he asked, stopping in front of a restaurant.

"Is stinky fish breath really a good idea on a first date?" she asked.

"It is if you're both stinky," he said. "Kind of cancels each other out."

"I'm game then," she said. He held the door open and followed her inside.

*****

Willow struggled with the keys, trying to open the front door to Giles' apartment.

"Hurry up," Spike hissed.

Willow got the door open and they both went inside. "I told you that you have nothing to worry about."

"I've got to get this chip out. I'm not going to just lie down and die like a dog," Spike ranted.

"Just relax, Spike," Willow said soothingly.

"If I find the commandos, they'll stake me," he said, pacing, "If I don't find the commandos, I can't fight, can't do anything."

"I won't let anyone hurt you," she said, holding up her hand solemnly. "I promise I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, as long as you can't hurt me or my friends. Giles and Buffy and I, we'll help you."

"Help me what?" Spike asked angrily. "Help me understand why I'm neutered? Help me comprehend that I'm a sodding laughingstock? I was somebody! I had minions!"

"It'll work out," Willow said, taking his hand and leading him to the couch. She went into the kitchen, returning with a bottle of vodka and two tumblers. She filled them and handed one to Spike. "Things happen, and there's just no way to see it coming. All you can do is, just deal with it."

"It's like a nightmare," he said, gulping his drink. "I keep hoping that it's all a dream, and I'll wake up, and everything will be the way it was before."

Leaning forward, she pulled out a box of candy from the plastic bag. "Work through the pain," she suggested wryly. "Personally, quite tired of working through the pain. Magick didn't work too well. Chocolate, and getting to that nice buzzy place, where your mind goes blank and you just sort of are, that's as good as it gets." She popped a Junior Mint in her mouth and gulped her drink. Spike watched her, looking puzzled. "Cuts the taste of it, if you kind of pour it through the candy," she explained.

Spike watched her, and followed suit. "That's pretty good," he said. "The mint, the vodka."

She nodded, popping another candy in her mouth and taking a long swig of vodka. "Better already," she said with a smile.

He poured himself another glass and drained it. "You're right," he said. "Much better."

Willow finished off her glass and pulled out the videos. "'Evil Dead' first?"

"Whatever you want," he said, watching her.

*****

Riley scooped up the last of the green tea ice cream. He held out the spoon to Buffy, and she closed her mouth around it. "Good, huh?" he asked her.

"Mmmm," she said, smiling.

Riley gestured to the waitress, and she brought over the check. He handed her a credit card and she took it away. "What would you like to do now?" he asked Buffy. "I was thinking maybe we could take a drive."

"I'd like that," Buffy said sincerely. "But I should probably check in on Willow."

"You're worried about her?" Riley asked. "Because of Oz leaving and her taking it so hard?"

"More or less," Buffy said. The waitress brought back the tray, leaving the card and a couple of fortune cookies.

Riley handed one to his date and cracked open the other. "You know, I really could have sworn that I saw her, Buffy. There aren't that many little red haired girls with questionable fashion sense in Sunnydale."

"I assure you she's not skulking around alleyways, kissing on guys," Buffy said, opening her cookie.

Riley looked thoughtful. "The guy, he looked familiar. I could have sworn I'd seen him before. Blond hair, long leather coat, black jeans." He pulled out the paper strip. "'Prepare to expand your horizons.' What's your fortune say?"

Buffy's eyes widened. "I need to make a phone call."

"That's a funny one," he said, taking the slip of paper from her hand. "No, it says 'fortune favors the brave.' That's almost as weird."

He looked up, and saw Buffy standing at the pay phone. She called Giles' apartment three times, but no one answered.

*****

Spike shut off the VCR and finished off his glass of vodka. Willow was slumped over, sleeping on the sofa. He looked at her for a minute, and then unzipped her backpack. Opening her wallet, he slid out the cash, stuffing it into his pocket.

Willow stirred, sighing quietly as she rolled off the couch. Spike dropped the wallet back into the backpack and caught her before she hit the floor. She looked up at him with surprise. "Hey, it's Spike!" she said with a smile. "You in the evil wanna eat me mode or the fun buddy mode?"

"Time for beddy bye," he said, carrying her up the stairs. "I think you had one Junior Mint too many, plum."

"I've got to brush my teeth," she said somberly. "It's important, to avoid cavities, and yucky tartar buildup."

"You'll survive," he assured her. "Your pearly whites will be just as sparkly come morning."

Spike set her down on the floor in the bedroom. She wobbled, and he grabbed her shoulders. "You're nice," she said. "You even cried when Ash chopped up his girlfriend."

"I did not," he protested. "I had something in my eye."

She fumbled at her jeans, trying to unfasten them. "These button fly's, they're too tricky."

He helped her unbutton them, and she flopped down on the bed. He grabbed her ankles and pulled, and the jeans slid off. He tossed them aside. She rose up her arms expectantly, and he pulled off her fluffy white cardigan, leaving her in a camisole. She leaned back, and rested her head on the pillow. "I'm in Giles' bed," she said. "I used to have a whole fantasy about being here."

Spike smirked. "You had a schoolgirl crush on the Watcher? Guess there's no accounting for taste."

"It's the accent," she said, closing her eyes. "Plus, he has really big hands."

Spike pulled the covers over her and closed the door. He walked downstairs and stood still for a moment, thinking, then gently raised Willow's sweater to his nose, and breathed deeply. He took off his shirt and jeans and grabbed a pillow and throw from an armchair, tossing them on the couch for a makeshift bed. In the mood for a nightcap, he poured himself a glass of vodka.

The door crashed open with a bang, and Spike whirled around. "What the hell is going on?" said Buffy, Riley following behind.

He backed away, covering his exposed parts with the pillow. "I was getting a drink," he explained.

"Buffy! What are you doing?" asked Riley.

"Where's Willow?" Buffy said angrily, as she advanced on Spike.

"I'm right here," said Willow, as she ran down the stairs. She slid across the floor, and Spike grabbed her, putting her between himself and the Slayer.

"You're the guy," Riley said, pointing at Spike. "I saw you two together earlier." He turned to Buffy. "I told you I saw Willow with a skinny blond guy."

Spike and Willow exchanged a look, and he nodded. "That's right," Willow said brightly. "Spike's my- new boyfriend." She put her arm around his waist, and realized that he was naked. "I mean, obviously, because you know, I'm in my panties and he's-"

"Not wearing any?" Buffy supplied.

"I'm sorry that we just barged in here," Riley said earnestly, blushing as he looked away from Willow. "You weren't answering the phone, and it's pretty obvious why. So we'll just get going."

"We're not leaving," Buffy said grimly.

"Of course we are. We're obviously intruding," Riley laughed nervously, pulling on her hand.

"Everything is just fine," Willow said, looking at Buffy seriously.

"I can't see how," Buffy said, staring at Spike. He met her gaze, his chin held high.

"It's all good," Willow said reassuringly. "We'll compare notes in the morning, I promise. All the dirty details." She flushed, her cheeks flooding with color.

"I can't apologize enough," Riley said. "Really. Why don't we all go out to dinner tomorrow night? My treat."

"That's not necessary," Willow said.

"I insist," he said. "We'll meet up here at seven tomorrow. I won't take no for an answer." He tugged Buffy by the elbow, closing the front door firmly behind them.

Willow turned and looked up at Spike. "Riley's the guy you saw, the commando?"

He nodded seriously. "He's the one."

"Riley doesn't seem like the oppressive type," Willow said thoughtfully. "Are you sure?"

Spike gave her an exasperated look. "Yes."

"Okay, well, that's fine," Willow said. "He thinks you're my boyfriend, so he won't hurt you."

He laughed harshly. "Soon as Buffy can rid herself of GI Joe, she'll be back to finish me off."

"If she does come back, I'll be here to talk her down," Willow reassured him. She put her hand to her eyes. "My head is a little twirly."

Spike guided her up the stairs and back into bed. "Get in," Willow said sleepily. "The bed is big enough for a few more people. You can have at least one night of comfort before Giles puts you back in the tub." She reached out for his hand, pulling him down onto the bed.

"I can't sleep," Spike protested. "I nod off, and next thing I know I'll have a stake in my chest."

"I'll take care of you," Willow said, yawning. She flipped the covers over him and closed her eyes.

"I don't need a little girl to look after me," he said angrily. "Few days ago, you would have been my breakfast."

"Things change," Willow said, as she drifted into slumber.

Spike rolled onto his side and moved a stray wisp of hair out of her face. He propped his head on his hand and watched her sleep, his brow furrowed with confusion.

-TBC-