DISCLAIMER -- I own none of these characters (but don't I wish), nor do I profit from them... All hail Joss Whedon, the almighty God of the strange and unusual. Thank him for allowing us to use his creations.

A soft breeze blew through the balcony window. The moon was full and bright as it's silvery rays appeared on the hardwood floor of the bedroom. A small body flipped back and forth on the bed. She was having a nightmare, her heart raced as she saw the gory details of someone ripping her throat out with their sharp pointy teeth. She let out a blood-curdling scream. Spike was near where the scream came from and he smiled wickedly to himself.

He headed to where the scream came from. He saw the open window on the balcony and though he might get a look at the one being tortured. He climbed the spiral staircase leading to the balcony. He looked in to the bedroom and shock was clear on his face. There wasn't anyone being tortured just someone having a nightmare.

He mumbled under his breath " I climbed the bloody stairs to see someone having a bad dream." She woke in a cold sweat looking back and forth frantically. Her hands went directly to her throat. She let a soft sigh escape her dainty lips.

Spike studied her with his ice blue eyes. He saw a pretty little red head with fear in her dark green eyes. She also had creamy white skin, which made her fiery red hair stand out beautifully. Spike thought himself pretty damn sexy but nothing compared to her. He had bleach blond hair, he was tall with a lean build. He also had a rippling six-pack. Willow turned her head slightly feeling someone watching her. She then saw those familiar ice blue eyes.

She then began to speak softly, " Spike, What are you doing here?" Spike looked her up and down with a wicked grin, "I thought I was going to be able to see someone get tortured but I got my hopes up when I saw you having a nightmare." He then snorted in disgust. Willow sighed softly; she then rolled off the bed. She was wearing black silk boxers, which looked too big; she also wore a baggy plain white T-shirt. Spike's mouth dropped slightly at the sight of the lovely creature that was almost wearing nothing.

Willow blushed at the fact that Spike was studying her closely. She stepped upon the balcony being weary of the fact her immortal enemy stood only a few inches from her. She breathed slowly; he could hear her heartbeat quicken with his vampiric hearing. He could also see the blood pulsating through her jugular. She licked her lips incoherently. Spike growled softly moving slowly toward Willow filling in the space between them.

He then spoke in her ear softly; "Did anyone ever tell you Red that you look lovely in the moon light?" Willow blushed just as deep as before and then backed away from him slowly. "No, no one ever has William. But I wish every once in awhile that someone would." She said softly looking down upon her feet shyly. Spike's eyes narrowed upon her at hearing the name William, but he backed down his demon at that very moment. He had never heard Red use his real name he thought it sounded sweet on the roll of her tongue coming to say it out of her lips.

Spike then lifted her chin with his cold hands, she shivered under his touch, and his hands then caressed her soft cheeks gently. Their eyes locked for a long moment of silence. Spike slowly closed his eyes hoping for a sweet kiss from the fiery red head. His hopes came true she leaned in to his well-muscled body taking his lips into a gently kiss. He ran his tongue over her soft warm lips asking for entrance. She the parted them slowly and allowed his tongue to gain entrance to the soft folds over her warm mouth. His tongue went in search with hers, when he found it the kiss deepened in it's own tenderness. This kiss lasted for what seemed an eternity to the two. Spike pulled away reluctantly, he just stood and stared at the young lady with soft eyes that Willow had never seen on him before.

"Red, I must go now but I will see you at the meeting later on." He said softly kissing her soft cheek gently; she then sighed softly closing her eyes slowly. He smiled gently and he turned and left without any thing said. Willow's eyes flew open, realizing his departure, she sighed sadly this time, she then re-entered her bedroom and curling up in her bed falling in to a dream filled sleep her images only of Spike. She had never felt as lonely as she did now.

She pulled the blankets around her tightly to get rid of the feeling she had. Spike walked back to the apartment he stayed at, as he entered the doorway he could feel the coldness and loneliness of the apartment. There were thick black velvet drapes drawn over the windows. He moved slowly to his dark bedroom, the sun was coming up soon and the fact that he hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a couple days was well worn on his face. He didn't even bother to change he just slumped tiredly on the bed as he lay slowly back on his pillow. As soon as his head hit the pillow he fell in to a dreamed filled sleep of images of the little redheaded witch. Which made him smile softly in his sleep.

The next evening Willow woke just as the sun was setting, she stretched like a cat in the warm sun. She stood slowly and staggered to the bathroom closing the door slowly behind her. She then found a box sitting on the counter top; it was wrapped in pretty black paper with shiny silver ribbon. She stepped to the box slowly studying it carefully. She then opened the top of the package; it had a note on top of the black tissue paper, which read:

Red,

I truly hope you like this gift, took me forever to find something that you actually might like from me. Thinking about it I don't even know why I am really giving you this gift. I think I have gone soft like brood boy. Well see ya later.

Love,
Spike

Willow smiled softly to herself at the sweet gesture that Spike took just to give her a gift. In fact now that she thought about it, it was actually kind of strange for him. She then just shrugged it off. She shed her clothing and hoped in to a hot shower. After her shower was over she wrapped a towel around her slender body and made her way to the package. She opened the tissue paper carefully, what she found made her smile. Imagining herself wearing leather would drive everyone nuts including Spike. She took out the dark green halter-top and the black leather pants to go with it. She took the clothes in hand to her room. She slipped the leather pants on which were rather baggy but fit perfectly around the waist. She then slipped the dark green halter-top on, she tried to pull it down over her belly button but it didn't work. She blushed slightly at the showing of some skin but she shrugged the thought away.

She then slipped on her black boots, the pants cuff fit nicely over her black boots. She then looked at her clock on her nightstand and gasped slightly, if she didn't leave now she would be late for Giles house. She grabbed her laptop and was on her way out the door. She arrived at Giles's front door and realized what she was wearing and she then began to think that she shouldn't have worn such an outfit. She then thought again (Why am I always thinking about what I should wear or how I should act, I like this outfit and I will thank Spike for buying it for me). She tapped on the door lightly, as the door opened all eyes flew to the door.

She stepped in to the room, the soft light reflecting off her eyes; she looked around the room hoping to find those pair of ice blue eyes. She did and she walked right to him, not even answering or looking at the questioning looks she was being given by everyone else. She stopped straight in front of him and twirled around slowly giving him first glance of what he bought. He then smiled softly not saying a word just nodding his approval; Willow then kissed him on the cheek sweetly. She then turned on her heels to the table set up her laptop and didn't say anything but waved and smiled at everyone who was looking at her strangely.

Then Buffy piped in softly disturbing the silence, everyone looking in her direction, "Willow you look very umm interesting, I must say." Willow shot her gaze to look directly in to her eyes, which seemed to be burning a hole in her head. "If you guys don't like, then why don't you just say so." She said bluntly, which made Spike smirk to himself, all he did was listen to their conversations but his gaze always stayed on a certain redhead.

No one said a word at her blunt behavior. This made her feel bold and brave. She stood slowly taking her laptop with her. "I am not really in the mood to research tonight, I will see you all next week." She said softly as she headed for the door. She then turned to look directly in Spike's eyes. "Won't you walk a lady home?" She asked with a smile. Spike then snapped to realizing that she was asking him to walk her home. Everybody else was more or less in shock by now, but they didn't say a word just looked on with amazement written in their eyes.

Spike then stood slowly; walking past shocked humans all he did was smirk. He then spoke with a calm tone, "Sure milady I would enjoy walking you home." He then offered his arm to her which she more than gladly took. He opened the door for her and they were gone in to the darkness.

They walked in complete silence, but not that uncomfortable silence that made you nervous. Willow shivered slightly as the cold breeze whipped at her delicate body. Spike then moved his arm around her, which surprised her a little, but she then relaxed against the side of his body. They arrived at her house moments later. She then stepped upon the porch unlocking the door.

She then turned to Spike with a look that could make the sun melt. She was smiling softly, her eyes sparkling like the night's sky. "Well aren't you coming in?" She asked in a sweet innocent voice. Spike nodded a silent agreement, and stepped upon the porch slowly. She invited him inside her home as she began to walk up the stairs. He followed her slowly to her bedroom. She picked up her nightclothes and went to the bathroom to change. She came out a moment later with nothing but a white T-shirt and black silk boxers, which made Spike smile.

"Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" She asked him as she made her way over to the bed sitting next to him slowly. "Why would you need me to stay here with you Pet?" He asked with a questioning look. "Because I don't want to fall asleep feeling alone, at least with the person I love being near, I won't feel so alone anymore." She admitted her feelings for him in one soft sentence, which made if he had a heart beat pound in his chest.

"Red? You love this old grouchy vampire. You could have anyone you want, and you want me? I must admit I love you as well. And I felt incredibly alone when I left you last night." He said in one soft fluid motion, which made her heart skip a few beats. She then lay back on her pillows beckoning him to join her so that she could cuddle next to him. He removed his shoes and his socks, also his Duster. He then lay next to her; she then curled right up in his arms. She looked up at him with those innocent eyes, which made him melt under her gaze.

Spike then leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. Willow rolled out of his embrace, he gave her a questioning look. She drew the heavy burgundy colored curtains over her window, not allowing even a moonbeam to pass through them. He smiled at her, and thought to himself (She wants to keep me safe I see). She then re-curled herself up in his arms.