SPIKE FLUFF ok let's go!!!
*if you don't like/know Barenaked Ladies, think of your fave 90s band/singer instead!*
Spike's POV
I used to hate the colder months.
The chill would seep into the crypt - into my bones, as there's no insulation there - and really just depress me. The only thing that would ease the pain was warm blood, but it doesn't hit the spot when it comes from the microwave.
But now I have Y/N.
The crypt never feels cold with her around (but that's probably because she forces me to wear jumpers as soon as autumn hits). Long days I used to waste re-reading a book or annoying the hell out of Buffy and her gang, I can spend with her. Whether we leave the crypt or not, it's always time well spent.
"So I told her that if she wants us all to spend Christmas together, she'd have to let us sleep over on Christmas Eve. How else are we supposed to get there for dinner without catching on fire? But Buff said there's a bed in the basement we can spend the night on."
I smile as she rambles on about Christmas plans although the holiday is two months away.
"Oh, and another thing," she links her arm through mine as the wind picks up a little, causing her cheeks to flush a cute pink. We pick up the pace. "Giles said there's a Barenaked Ladies concert he's going to and asked if we could man The Magic Box with Anya."
"Wait," I push open the crypt door and we stumble in, shedding our coats and gloves, "You're telling me there's a Barenaked Ladies concert and you're not jumping at the chance to go?"
"I was!" she tells me, a hint of sadness in her voice, "I really wanted to go but it starts at eight and is in Las Vegas."
"So?"
"So," she says as if the dilemma is obvious, "It takes four hours to drive there so the sun will still be out by the time we need to leave."
"When is it?"
"Tomorrow... Look, forget it. It makes me sad thinking about it. I told him we'd help Anya so we'll have to play poker next Saturday."
She disappears into the bathroom and I sigh, walking over to the CD player in the kitchen. I count her CDs by the band (five) and sigh again.
I've encountered a lot of problems as a vampire, but this has never been one I've had to think about.
I have to get her to that concert.
-_--__---__--_-------_-
I waltz into Giles' house and make him jump so violently that he almost spills his cuppa.
"Evening."
"...Spike?"
"Yes, now listen. When are you leaving for that concert?"
"The - the concert? Well, erm, three, I suppose."
"Great. We'll see you then. Can I have your car keys a sec?"
He stands, his brow crinkling in annoyance, "Wha - What is going on here?"
My eyes dart from his questionable pyjamas, to his car keys that sit in a dish on his desk and back to his plaid pyjama set. I shake my head and grab the keys.
The pad of slippers follows me out into the drive way.
I fill him in as I get to work.
"Look, Y/N really wants to go to the concert with you. I wouldn't mind goin' myself in all honesty but that's not the point. Point is, I can tell she's real down in the dumps 'bout it," I pull out the duct tape from my pocket and climb in the back seat, "So we're tagging along."
I can hear the contempt in his sigh as he mutters, "Why are you turning my car into a death trap?"
"Blockin' out the windows so we won't get fried. Thanks again for this, Watcher."
Giles mutters something that sounds suspiciously like, "Should've made Buffy stake you years ago." but goes back inside, defeated. "Leave the keys where you found them!" he shouts before shutting the door with a thud.
"You're a doll, Rupert!" I holler back.
I grin as I move onto the next window. This is going to be bloody awful to drive - with Giles not being able to see out the back and all - but he's going to have to deal with it.
I knew Giles would say yes. He loves Y/N as much as he loves Buffy. He's the father figure type but sometimes I wonder if he's (somehow) Y/N's biological dad with the amount of stuff they have in common. Music, books, their insatiable love for tea...
Once I've finished taping up the rear door windows and the back window, I carefully secure a blanket to split the interior of the car in half, protecting us from the sun that'll hit the front mirror. Now, when I sit back smugly, admiring my work, I'm confident that not a drop of sunlight will touch us come Saturday.
--_---_-_----__-----_-_
In the morning, I can tell Y/N's still upset although she won't admit it. She pouts as she gets ready and huffs louder than usual as I secure an old blanket around her head. We usually make a mad dash for The Magic Box as it's not too far a distance, but it's still dangerous.
That's why I left a note for Giles last night, instructing him to pick us up.
I can imagine him wearily shaking his head and cleaning his glasses as he read it.
A honk from outside makes Y/N jump and I fight to keep my face a neutral expression, not wanting to spoil the surprise. She has a far-away look in her eyes, as if she's still half-asleep.
"Giles will drop us off before he goes." I tell her, kissing the side of her head.
"Oh."
Without another word, she rushes out to the car and I follow closely, patting her neck when a part of the blanket starts to sizzle.
I've barely closed the door behind me when Giles takes off.
I can't keep it in any longer, "We're going to that concert, love."
"What?!" Her eyes widen and her lips part slightly so I catch them in a kiss. She pulls back, her hand reaching up to hold my cheek. "You're serious?"
"Deadly." I reply. I turn to the windows and I scratch the duct tape, "Did this last night when you were kipping. Pretty ingenious, right?"
"You're a menace." she looks around at the sun-free space I created before her eyes land back on me. Her lips find mine and she grabs my hair, pulling gently as she presses closer to me.
"Stop that!" Giles shouts from the front, "I can hear the smacking!"
I wink and she giggles, and for the rest of the trip we talk in almost-silent whispers so only we can hear.
She tells me about how excited she is, how she wishes she'd worn something fancier and about all the things she's going to do to me when we get back home. We cut that last conversation short because I have to remind us both that Giles is in the car.
When we arrive (miraculously without crashing), a smiling Giles opens the backseat and Y/N leaps out to hug him. "Thanks so much for this," she tells him, and Giles pats me on the back as I slide out of the seat too, into the gloomy, evening air. I falter for a moment, thinking I must be dreaming that Giles just showed me a smidgen of affection. As Y/N runs off in the direction of a merch stall, Giles says quietly, "I still don't like you, Spike, but... you're a good boyfriend."
I don't tell him how much his words mean to me. Instead, I give him a manly nod and pursue my girlfriend who is currently handing over too much cash to the stall owner.
She beams at me and I know in that moment that this ordeal has been 100% worth it.
She pulls on the hoodie she brought and squashes a baseball cap onto Giles' head. He adjusts it with a smile and jerks his head in the direction of the large queue that snakes around the arena. He makes a lame dad joke about us being British so the queue should be no problem, and then we join it.
"Oh my Gosh!" Y/N exclaims halfway through our fifteenth round of eye-spy. "How are we gonna get in?! Do we have tickets?"
"Don't worry about that, love."
"Don't worry?! What are -"
I morph into vamp face, "Think the bouncer will let us in if I flash them my pearly whites?" I lick over my fangs and morph back.
"That... that's your plan?"
I nod, disappointed she has no faith in me. "Trust me. It'll work."
"Yeah, 'cus if it doesn't, I'll have to kill them 'cus of his chip." she mutters to Giles whose eyes widen. "Joking! I'm joking." she clarifies, flashing big eyes at me because Giles thinks she hasn't taken a human life since she turned. I can tell she still wishes she hadn't, but one night the urges got the best of her.
At eight o'clock, the doors open and we start to slowly file into the arena. My plan works on the bouncers (duh) and Giles pretends with all his might that he doesn't know us.
When we're standing in the pit, Y/N squished between Giles and I, I lean down and kiss her.
"I'm glad we could make it." I say, snaking my arm around her waist.
She kisses me back, harder and for longer, "I love you, William." she replies softly and it makes my heart melt.
Before I can say I love you back, cheers explode around us as the band take to the stage. Y/N screams with them and I even manage a genuine whoop. The rest of the night is amazing (and weirdly feels like I'm on a family bonding trip due to Giles' presence). However, I wouldn't change a thing about tonight. I love her and I appreciate Giles and I treasure how I'm the happiest I've been in a century.