Full Summary: A not-so-platonic encounter with a certain vampire leaves Buffy questioning just how she feels towards Spike. When Buffy realizes how much she's come to rely upon the vampire, Glory catches wind of their new friendship and captures him, leaving the Slayer to find some way to get him back. (Crappy summary, sorry-- takes place after Fool For Love)

Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are not mine but are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. This is strictly for entertainmaint purposes and not meant to infringe on anyone's rights.

Author's Note: This bounced around in my brain and I had to write this scene. I thought I might want to do it as a stand-alone somewhat humor fic, but I decided to come up with a plot:) Please review and tell me what you think.

Fool Me Once

Chapter 1

The wind was brisk as Buffy slowly settled herself down onto the porch steps, but she did not retreat back into the comfort and safety of her home. There were too many questions in her mind, but the person she needed to ask wasn't there for the first time in her life. Finally, one of the things from her dream with the First Slayer was making sense.

I haven't appreciated Mom… and now she could…

The words didn't form in her mind as the trees rustled with a presence not of the blowing wind. She heard footsteps and looked up, the chill she felt on her cheeks the first indication that she had been crying. Spike stared down at her, his azure eyes piercing into hers with a fiery rage that she hadn't known he possessed.

She knew that her tears were still wet on her face, and even if they had dried, more were flowing. Curiously, his expression became almost compassionate, questioning, and she knew she could not let him see her weakness. "What the Hell are you doing back here, Spike? I already paid you," she said snidely, recalling the condescending attitude she had used the whole night. His words to her echoed in her mind, and she felt a twinge of regret as his pitying gaze turned mocking.

"You may have given me the cash, love, but I'm here to finally take what's been mine for three years." His words held implications that became explicit as he pulled a shotgun from his duster and held it level at her still-seated form; he visibly flinched, but did not alter his aim. "I'm thinkin' it's about time for me to bag my third Slayer."

Staring down the barrel of the gun, it was a shock to her that she felt… nothing. No fear, no anger, just… nothing. And it hit her, at that moment, that Spike was about to get his one good day. And she didn't even care. I want it.

It should have infuriated her. Not just in the sense that he thought so highly of himself as to be the one to kill her; but it was that only hours earlier she had so adamantly assured him of his inferiority to him, and now all she could do was view him as the one who could take her to the next plane of existence… that he could be the one. And that it didn't disgust her. She wanted it.

When Buffy said nothing, the vampire raised his eyebrows in question and snapped his fingers in front of her gaze. "Hello, Earth to Slayer… I'm here to kill you!" When she said nothing, he let out an aggravated sigh and brandished the gun as if to prove a point. "You're not gonna say anything then, love? Not even make a li'l pun about all the footprints that'll be on my ass when you're done with me?" Again, she was silent, merely staring up at him with those big, glassy eyes. He hesitated, then said, "The suit yourself, pet."

He stood there for a beat, unmoving and staring at the silent girl until Buffy finally spoke. "Do it."

"What?" Spike asked incredulously, stepping back and raising his eyebrows again in surprise. "Is this some reverse-psychology you learned at university, love? Because my psyche isn't exactly run-of-the-mill, pet."

She let out a terse laugh and finally stood, stepping onto the grass and moving right in front of him. His capricious behavior could have been amusing to some, but to her it was merely an obstacle. "End it. Kill me. Bag yourself a third Slayer. I'm done with you, done with this world, done with life!" She took a deep breath and let it out angrily, throwing her hands into the air. "Being here, everyday, dealing with vampires, my friends, you… I'm done with it!" A shaky laugh escaped from her lips as she looked to the darkened sky as if for an answer to her pleas. "Take me out of this world, send me anywhere that isn't the Hell I live everyday. End my torment!" She punctuated her last words slowly, staring right into his smoldering gaze with her fiery own.

And then she kissed him.

It was brutal, passionate, bruising. The gun fell to the ground unnoticed as his hands raked over her body, hers slipping into his duster and under his black shirt to caress the rock-hard muscles of his cool body. When he let out a groan, she broke away, gasping for breath and staring at him again, a different look in her eyes deepening the hazel of her gaze and entrancing him.

She stared at him, seeing his true self bared for the first time in all of their encounters. He looked scared, out of his element, but was not questioning what had transpired; she found herself drawn to him once more, moving slowly this time to press her body closely to his. Reaching upwards, she pulled him down to her by the lapels of his duster and they shared another kiss, the pace languid and slow as she wrapped her arms around his neck and increased the contact of their two bodies.

It intensified, his lips traveling across her face to the curve of her neck where he nipped and played with the soft skin there. It was her turn to moan this time, and with a breathless voice whispered, "Oh yes, please. God, Spike!"

The heat of his mouth on her skin was more than she could bear, and she almost burst when he murmured, "I want you, Buffy."

Arching against his body and thrusting her hips closer to his, she could do nothing but relinquish her mind to the desires of her flesh, to drop the façade she had so long put up for the vampire before her. As they sank to the soft grass below, she closed her eyes and moaned. "I need you now Spike, I love you—"

With a harsh gasp, Buffy sat up in bed, sweat pouring down her face as the images she had just dreamed replayed in her head. "Oh, no… Oh, god no."