* Curiouser and Curiouser . . . .
Willow was surprised that Spike hadn't opened the door for her. He usually waited for her arrival. When she stepped inside, she saw a black envelope and a platter filled with cheese and crackers on a table in the foyer. Emblazoned on the envelope in crimson ink was the word, "RED". She opened it to reveal a black note card that simply said "EAT ME". She could just picture the blond vampire cackling as he wrote those two words out. Willow smiled as she chose a treat from the tray.
Willow was nibbling on a tangy piece of cheese as she spotted a glass of red wine midway up the stairs . With another black envelope. She opened it and it said "DRINK ME." She picked up the glass and took a sip. Willow ascended the rest of the staircase.
Her bedroom door was ajar. She entered to find Spike sitting on the bed with a box wrapped in black paper on his lap. She opened her mouth to speak when he put a finger to his mouth and shook his head.
She smiled and went over to him and began to rip the paper off the box. She lifted the lid to reveal a miniature of herself. It was an auburn-haired porcelain doll, dressed in a elegant red gown. Her hand shook a little. Another woman in Spike's life had been gifted with dolls. Does he want another Drusilla? She raised her eyes to Spike's face. His expectant grin faded. "You don't like it, luv?"
"I'm not Drusilla, Spike." She said quietly.
"I know you're not, pet." He pulled her down to sit next to him on the bed. "Willow, when I look at you. . . I see you. I don't wish Dru was here." She continued to look at him skeptically. "Remember when I took you to the factory?"
"You mean when you kidnapped me and asked me to do a love spell?"
"Uh, right. Sorry about that, luv. Anyway. . .I was out of my head. Dru was gone, I was all alone. That's when I first noticed you. You stood up to me, put me in my place even after I threatened you and your idiot friend. I admired your grit. And when I was close to you, had my head on your shoulder. . ." He closed his eyes as if reliving the moment. "Trust me, luv. I never forgot about you." He put the lid back, covering the doll's face. "I'll get you something better, pet."
Her fear faded a little, Spike had been with Drusilla for over a hundred years. He thought that dolls were special to all women. She realized that he had gotten her a tiny version of herself to cherish. She took the box from him. "I love it." she said honestly. His grin returned. "You just freaked me out. For a second there, I thought you might have gotten me a voodoo doll." She smiled to hear his bark of laughter.
"I'm glad you like it, luv." He smiled. "Now where's my 'thank you' kiss?" She picked the doll up and kissed his cheek with it. He raised his scarred eyebrow. She gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. "Do you talk to them?"
"Who?"
"The dolls?"
"Uh, no. I stopped doing that when I was in grade school. Do you talk to them?"
"I used to for Dru sometimes. I even made 'em talk to her." He gave a slightly embarrassed shrug, but his smile was a little nostalgic. "Used to make her laugh."
Willow smoothed his hair as he spoke. His expression had clouded after he said that, she wondered what terrors he was revisiting in that labyrinthine mind of his. She gave him a teasing smile, trying to lighten his mood. She picked up her small twin. "Now all she needs is a little man doll."
"Just as long as it's a blond one. No dark haired poofy dolls for her." Spike said gruffly. He cleared his throat. "Are you hungry, pet?"
"No, not really."
"Oh, peaches took you through a drive-thru somewhere before he brought you over? Did he spring for the bloody 99 cent menu?"
She laughed despite herself, playing along. "No, he let me order whatever I wanted. And not from the kids menu either." She thought about the cards he had left for you. "I liked the Alice in Wonderland set up, too. How did you think of it?"
He gestured to her shelf full of books. "You have that book as well as Through the Looking Glass." She was touched, he took the time and effort to find out what she liked. He smiled. "How about a movie then?"
"You want to go to a theater?" She was a little surprised. For the most part he hadn't indicated any interest in going out. She had always assumed that he liked the fast- paced nightlife. After all, the Scooby's had encountered him many times at the Bronze. She was also a little disappointed. She had been looking forward to having him to herself.
"Hmmmm. . .let me see, being in a darkened space with dozens of mortals I don't know? Or be in a darkened living room with one very special mortal. Wait! Let me think. . ." *********
"What in the bloody hell is that thing? Why is it singing? It doesn't look scary, just . . .fuzzy." Spike sat on the end of the couch, his feet propped on the coffee table. He had rented Gremlins, knowing that scary movies were the quickest way to a cuddle. So far, he wasn't impressed with the fear factor. Willow lay half on, half off the couch at the other end. She kicked him.
"Shh!" She loved this movie. And she happened to find it very frightening. "Haven't you seen this before?" He shook his head and grabbed her feet and pulled them into his lap. "It's a Mogwai. Just watch."
He studied the screen as he slid her shoes off her feet, a grin playing with the corners of his mouth. She was wearing woolly socks covered with little witches on broomsticks. Gently he rubbed first one foot, then the other, using his thumb to make firm circles on the balls of her feet. To his satisfaction, she sighed and settled further into the couch. He smiled. The more relaxed she was when the scary part came, the more she would jump. The more she jumped, the more reason he would have to pull her into his embrace. He could just imagine it. Awww, did the little fuzzy thing scare you? Come here and the Big Bad will protect you. *********
"For Christ's sake! Not the microwave! OH NO!!" Spike shrieked and Willow pulled him closer. The moment the first Gremlin had appeared he had jumped so high he almost fell off the couch. The next thing she knew, he was holding her like a shield from the television and asking her when it was safe to look again. "That's disgusting!"
"What's the matter?" She asked, trying not to laugh.
"I just don't understand. What were those blobs? What happened to the fuzzy one?" A horrible thought struck him. "Oh, bloody hell, Red. They didn't eat the little bugger, did they?"
"No, he's just fine." She patted his blond head. "And you'd know that if you'd kept your eyes open."
"I had my eyes open the whole time!" He protested. "It's not like I'm scared, it's just gross! Those weird slimy blobs remind me of baby chaos demons. Ever seen one? Never mind, if you'd smelled one you'd understand. Worse than cabbage. "
"Uh-huh, this coming from the Big Bad?"
