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Changing Hearts Series - Accomplice -- by Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Description: Spike recruits an ally, sequel to Trust Me.
Note: Spoilers -- Wild at Heart, The Initiative.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
It had been three days since Oz had seen Willow. Giles breathed a mental sigh as he watched the young man staring silently out the front window and wondered how much longer he could listen to the wolf's gloomy mutterings without going mad.
"I thought he rented an apartment yesterday," Xander said quietly as he sat down next to Anya.
"He did," Giles nodded. "And then he came directly back here, where he waited until midnight, in the hope that Willow would stop by. I found him on my doorstep first thing this morning, bearing the morning paper and a sack of donuts. I'm still trying to figure out how I ended up in the middle of this."
"Just lucky, I guess," Buffy quipped from beside his armchair.
Giles grinned and looked back over at the young man, "Willow actually hit him?"
"Yup, she did."
"I'm beginning to understand why," Giles admitted. Buffy stifled a giggle as Oz turned from the window.
"It's him, isn't it?" he asked softly. "He's keeping her away from me."
"I don't think Spike makes Will do anything she doesn't want to do," Buffy answered bluntly.
"She probably just can't stand the sight of you," Anya suggested brightly before turning her eyes on Xander.
"Can we go to the Bronze, now? We were supposed to be there a half an hour ago."
"She's right," Buffy said. "We should get going."
"Mind if I tag along?" Oz asked as he followed them to the door.
The slayer looked at him uneasily. "They're going to be there, aren't they?" he guessed.
"Buffy, I promise I won't start anything."
"I don't know," she said.
"Please?" he asked softly, looking to Xander and Anya for support.
"I don't mind," Xander shrugged.
"Just don't spend the night whining about Willow," Anya requested as she opened the door.
"Anya--" her boyfriend said reproachfully.
"Well, it's true. He dumped her, after all," the former demon argued. "If I had my powers, I'd drain all the water from his body. Then his tongue would cleave to the roof of his mouth, and we wouldn't have to listen to him sniveling on anymore."
Giles smiled softly and indulged in the fleeting wish that Anya could make good on her threat.
Spike took Willow's hand and led her off the dance floor as Buffy, Xander, and Anya came into the Bronze.
"I need a drink," the redhead said. "Want anything?"
He shook his head and went to the table Anya had chosen while Willow joined Buffy and Xander at the bar.
"Is he here?" Spike asked, taking a seat across from her.
Anya nodded, "He came in behind us. The second he spied you two together, he slunk off into a corner. His eyes caught hers and held as he leaned slightly forward and lowered his voice, "You're sure you can do this?"
"I may be a bit out of practice, and my abilities may be limited to the human, but I can do it," she answered confidently. "If anyone deserves to squirm, he does."
A cold grin curled his lips, and he nodded and sat back just as Willow and the others approached. She sat down next to him, and he took the hand she laid on the table and curled his fingers through hers before leaning over and giving her a quick kiss.
The End
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