Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Willow put the pillow over her face. "I am not talking about this anymore."

"Oh, come on. This is too good" Cordelia said, her eyes bright with mischief.

"Princess, the lass doesn't want to talk about it" Doyle pointed out to his girlfriend.

Cordelia glared at him, "Willow is dying to talk. She just needs a push."

"I don't know about that. She seems to like keeping quiet" Doyle said, knowing the girl would relent eventually against Delia.

"Doyle, if you aren't going to help prod her for information, you know where the door is."

"Aye, that I do." He smiled as he sat back, his eyes laughing at her.

Willow groaned, "Can you two remember me for a moment? Right here." she waved a free hand from under the pillow.

"Quit whining and tell us how long you've been lusting for that British salty goodness." Cordelia said.

"His name is Spike" Willow mumbled under the pillow, "And I don't want to talk about it."

Cordelia rolled her eyes, "What-ever. You've been needing to talk to someone for awhile now from the looks of it. So, give me the details. All of them."

"And get rid of that pillow" Doyle added, tired of trying to hear her muffled voice.

Willow sat up, glaring at him. "You promise you won't tell anyone? I mean it Cordelia. He can't know. I don't think I could live through the humiliation of his knowing little smirk...the raised eyebrow...the snickering as he laughed about that silly human who had a crush on him with his demony type buddies...Oh, gawd, Buffy knowing...I don't know if I could handle it at all.... the thought is making me break out....See, I can't even talk about it without getting upset.."

"The lass babbles a lot doesn't she?" Doyle asked Cordelia.

"All the time when she's nervous. She must really like Spike." Cordelia listened as Willow continued to babble on. She smiled suddenly.

"Uh oh" Doyle muttered.

"What?" she demanded.

"I don't like that look."

"What look?"

"That look that says you are about to get something started."

"No me. Us. I think Willow could use a little help in snaring herself a blonde hunk of deadness. We can help."

"We?" Doyle repeated, glancing at the red faced girl as she continued arguing with herself. He felt a tug on his heart at the hopelessness on her face. "Fine. I'll help" he sighed.

"Oh goodie. Matchmaking" Cordelia said, turning to Willow. "Will, shut up. Have a soda. Dennis, be a dear, get her a soda."

"Thank you Dennis" Willow called out as she took the soda. "You won't tell him, Cordelia?"

"No. Of course not." But you will....Cordelia smiled.

**********

Spike glared at the brunette. "What? Do I have blood on my chin?"

"No. And can I just say, eeew." Cordelia wrinkled her nose.

"Then why the hell have you been staring at me?" Spike asked, irritation in his voice.

"No reason" Cordelia smiled, turning back to her desk.

She waited and began to count. 1...2...3....4...5...

"Bloody hell. You daft chit. There has to be something on your mind. What is it?" Spike insisted.

Cordelia looked up smugly, "What do you think about Willow?"

"Red?" Spike looked confused as he sat in the chair opposite her desk. "She's Willow. What do you mean, what do I think?"

Cordelia sighed loudly, "How old are you again? Wake up, Blondie. Do you want her or not? Cause if you don't, I'm making it my special project to find her someone before she leaves."

Spike sputtered, "Want her? For what?"

Cordelia looked at him pointedly. He shifted in the chair, avoiding her eyes. Finally, he exclaimed, "Fine. I want her. I love the little chit. Want to make something of it?"

"Yes." Cordelia said. "I want her happy. She's become a dear friend. I think you might make her happy. You following?"

Spike smiled, "Does the slayer know about this?"

Cordelia snorted, "Does she know anything? I think not. Besides, it's Willow's business who she loves not Buffy's. You interested, Deadboy?"

Spike nodded, a smile on his face, "What do you have in mind, oh wise one?"

Cordelia laughed, "I was thinking something along these lines....."

*********

"Thanks Doyle" Willow said, smiling at the man.

He grinned, "Not a problem."

"You're very nice. How you put up with Cordelia, I'll never know" Willow said, laughing.

He laughed, "Delia is something else, that I'll agree with. So, you like the vampire?"

She nodded, "Yes. Pathetic isn't it? He's tried killing me I don't know how many times but I still love him."

"Love?" Doyle said softly, watching the girl.

She nodded, "Yeah. Love. I hate being away from him. I get this ache right here" she pointed above her heart "when he isn't around. He makes me laugh..he listens to me...he is honestly my best friend right now, especially since Buffy has Riley and all that thing going on....I feel special when I'm with him....that sounds so incredibly lame doesn't it?"

"Not at all. I just didn't realize it was quite that serious...."

"No one does. I know that they think it's just this passing crush. It isn't. I love him. Completely."

"I got a question for you lass. If that implant went away tomorrow...."

"He'd probably kill us all and I'd die loving him."

Doyle cursed softly. Delia didn't have any idea what she was playing with. The girl would love him even if he were a cold blooded killer. She would get very hurt if Cordelia messed with her heart.

"Thanks for listening. I just don't think I could trust anyone else. They all knew Spike before the implant when he was trying to kill us all. I guess I feel that you can be impartial to it all."

"Not a problem, lass." Doyle said, smiling. He was going to have make sure that Cordelia did not interfere with this. The girl would be devastated if anything jeopardized her friendship with the vampire. Cordelia's matchmaking schemes always managed to backfire. He would have to stop this one before it began.

**********

"So, where are we meeting them?" Spike asked Willow.

"Cordelia said it's a great Italian place not too far from her place." Willow walked along, enjoying his company.

They had been in LA three days. It seemed that she never saw him. He was always helping Angel fight the Mirerty, the demon they had come to assist in killing. She missed him.

"Don't know why I had to come. I don't even eat..." Spike grumbled. He and the brunette had had a long talk about his feelings for Willow. It had been decided that Cordelia would try to get them together just to see if Willow was interested. Spike didn't know how she could be. She was perfect and he was far from being perfect. She deserved so much more than he could ever give her.

"Quarter?" she asked.

He smiled. They had agreed once that their thoughts were so involved that they were worth far more than a mere penny. "Not worth it today, pet. Just a bunch of nonsense in my mind."

"Want to talk about it? We haven't really had a chance to just talk lately. Angel keeps you busy."

"Don't I know it? It's almost like working" he spat out the last word, happy to hear her laugh. "Not to mention staying with the damn nancy boy."

"Well, I get to room with Cordelia and her ghostly roommate. That's probably as interesting as staying with Angel."

"More so. Ghost huh? Do I get to meet him tonight?"

"He'll be there. Of course, I can always switch you. Seeing Angel wandering around in nothing but a towel....It would be tough, but I could cope."

He grabbed her wrist, his hold tight, "Don't even think about it. Angel is off limits. He's bad news to everyone who loves him."

"Spike. You're hurting me. I was only playing. I have no interest in Angel." Why couldn't he see that he was the only vampire she wanted.

He let her go, his face unreadable, "Sorry. Didnt mean to hurt you."

She watched him walk off ahead of her and sighed. "You hurt me more than you can know....stupid vampire."

**********

Willow opened the door to Cordelia's apartment using the spare key. She was surprised to see that neither Cordelia nor Doyle had made it there yet.

"Nice place" Spike said quietly.

She looked at him in surprise. It was the first thing he had said since he overreacted to her teasing. "Yeah it is."

She saw a light blink on and off and smiled, "Hello Dennis. This is Spike. Spike, meet Dennis."

"Hello" Spike said, feeling like an idiot for talking to the air. He saw the light blink and had to smile. He had to admire the bimbo. He couldn't live with a ghost.

He sat down, his eyes looking everywhere but Willow. She sighed softly as she went into the kitchen. She got her a drink and leaned against the counter. A small frown marred her face. She saw movement and knew that Dennis had followed her.

"Hey Den. Pathetic aren't I? He won't even look at me and I still love him. Something is bothering him but he won't talk about it. Why do I bother? He doesn't love me. How could someone like him ever want someone like me? I can't believe I'm boring you with all these details of my sad little life. I'd better get in there and wait for Cordelia."

She moved back to the living room, taking a seat away from Spike. They sat in silence.

In Cordelia's bedroom, a light on her answering machine was blinking. The button pressed down, "Hey Will. Doyle and I will just meet you at the restaurant at nine. We're running late. Let Spike know Ok? Thanks. See you at nine." The message was erased.

Willow scowled at Spike. Damn him anyway. Why did he have to be so perfect? He was suppose to be a killer. Why couldn't he be big and ugly and mean and rude? Then she'd never have fallen for him. No, he had to be sweet and funny and charming and attentive. It wasn't fair.

"When are they suppose to be here?" he asked.

"Seven."

Spike looked at the clock. Not much longer. He still couldn't believe he had hurt her....let his insecurities about his sire drive him to that. He cursed loudly as a knife sliced through his hand.

"Bloody fucking hell. I thought he was the friendly ghost."

Willow jumped up, looking at the blood. "Dennis! What did you do?"

"He sliced me open pet. Kind of obvious. Must have a thing against us walking undead blokes. Damn it."

"Come on. Cordelia has some bandages in the bathroom. We can get you cleaned up."

She pushed Spike into the bathroom, having him sit on the toilet until she got the supplies. She heard the door slam shut. Startled, they both looked towards it. She heard the lock twist in from the outside.

She glanced at Spike then back at the door.

"Dennis. This isn't funny. Open the damn door." She pounded on it to no avail."Great. Just great. Perfect end to a marvelous evening."

Spike pounded against it, jerking on the doorknob. The door held firm. He could have busted it maybe, but the wood was very thick. "Just what I need."

Willow sat on the edge of the bathtub, her eyes noticing the bottle of wine and fruit tray.

"Dennis!"

"What is it?" Spike turned towards her, a scowl on his face. He followed her eyes and groaned. "Looks like he plans on us being here awhile."

"We're stuck" Willow said, shaking her head.

**********

"He's not letting us out" Willow said, sighing as she took another sip of wine.

"I thought they were suppose to be here at 7? It's going on 8 now" Spike complained. Defeat, he sat back down. His eyes strayed to Willow who was half way finished with the bottle of wine.

"Luv, you'd better take it easy with that stuff."

"Don't luv me." She spat out. "You don't, you know."

"Don't what?" he was exhausted trying to follow the path of her neverending babbling.

"Don't love me. I love you though. Yep, sure do."

"What?" he looked at her, his eyes wide.

"Told Dennis that in the kitchen. All my fault we're here. He was trying to help me. Told him that you could never love me.....it was hopeless....damn ghost trying to prove me wrong...."

"You told the ghost you loved me? Why the bloody hell didn't you tell me?"

"Too loud. Don't scream. Gives me a headache!" She yelled back at him.

"You impossible little girl. Don't scream? You just said you loved me. I want to go on to the roof and yell it out for everyone in this awful city to hear."

"Why?" she asked, blinking at him. She was feeling the effects of the alcohol but not very much.

"Because, I love you" he said, moving to sit beside her on the edge of the back tub.

"You do?" she whispered, the wine forgotten.

"That I do."

He leaned over and kissed her, showing her how much he loved her. They slid into the bathtub, laughing as they adjusted their positions. She laid her head on his chest, her eyes looking at him.

"Can we stay like this for awhile?" she asked, softly.

"How does forever sound?" he kissed her.

The key slid in and the door was unlocked. Dennis smiled as he went to lay down. Those two had taken forever before realizing their feelings. He was worn out.

THE END