Buffy watched silently as the sun went down, spellbound by the breathtaking sight. Different shades of vivid orange and purple mixed together, some dark clouds contrasting artfully with the bright colors. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Sure, California sunsets were nice, but nothing compared to this. She couldn't believe she'd have the chance to admire this amazing display every night for the next two weeks. Thankfully though, next time she’d be sitting by a pool with a margarita in her hand instead of standing behind the airport window.

Buffy turned around and looked at her travel companion who was currently sitting on an uncomfortable looking modern plastic bench next to the baggage carousel, well away from the late evening sun rays. He looked bored as Hell and was busying himself making a little wind mill with the straw in his empty can of Coke.

She frowned lightly and shook her head in disbelief, a small smile playing on her lips.

**If someone had told me less than a year ago that someday, I’d go on a dream vacation in Hawaii with the bleached wonder, I would have choked laughing. How did things get so weird? Maybe it’s a good thing nobody else could come with me after all...**

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three weeks earlier

In super slow motion, Buffy glided in the air for what seemed like forever before landing face first in the dirt of a freshly dug grave. She looked up and spat out a mouthful of a mixture of dirt and vampire dust. She had grass stains on her face, and dead leaves in her messed up hair. Buffy growled menacingly at Spike.

“Couldn’t you help me instead of just sitting there like a useless undead moron?”

They might have grown closer since Buffy’s little escapade in the land of clouds and harps, but it didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy some good old fashion bickering once in a while. They had always enjoyed pissing each other off. It was an art, and they were both extremely good at it. So why give it up?

“Bloody Hell, woman. You just told me to get out of your way. Suss out what you want already!” He slowly got up from the headstone where he was sitting. Taking his sweet time, he crushed his cigarette under his combat boot.

Buffy tried to turn on her back to face her attacker, but wasn’t fast enough. The vampire took hold of her foot while she was still on her stomach, lifted it straight up, and used the momentum to smash her knee on the ground. There was a nasty cracking noise and Buffy howled in pain.

That prompted Spike to move faster. He charged the vamp and the two supernatural beings landed hard on the ground.

“You stupid git!” He pulled out a stake from his sleeve. “Lesson number one in survival, mate: Don’t hurt the Slayer.”

Spike staked the surprised vamp before he could do anything to defend himself. He didn’t wait for the dust to settle before turning to where Buffy was prostrated on the ground, holding her knee. He crouched next to her.

“You all right, pet?”

“Fine.” she snapped angrily.

He offered her his hand to help her up. She hesitated for a moment before stepping on her pride and accepting it. He pulled her up, but her knee gave way under her weight.

“Shit! That hurts!”

“All right, Slayer, up you go.” Without asking for permission, he picked her up.

Buffy protested, but her complaining soon turned into light mumbling, then faded to silence. They made their way to her house without a word. Dawn answered the door after Spike banged on it with his foot.

“Oh my God! What happened?” The teenager shrieked, her face suddenly paling at the sight of her hurt sister.

Spike walked past her and carefully put Buffy down on the couch. “I’ll go get you some ice, pet. I’ll be right back.”

She watched him go, then looked at Dawn who was still waiting for an answer.

“So?”

“Just a little accident, Dawnie. Nothing too serious.”

“Nothing too serious? Spike had to carrying you home!”

“Yes…” She drawled “but I’m alive and well. That counts for something, right?”

“It’s my fault for being a stupid wanker.” Spike said as he walked back into the living room, carrying an ice pack. “If I hadn’t been such a jerk…”

“Would you stop it. You were right, I’m the one who told you to get out of my way. Know what they say, right? Careful what you wish for.”

“Still. I was a right wanker. Since when do I listen to anything you say? I had to choose tonight of all times.”

He delicately pulled the leg of her pants up to reveal her very swollen knee, and applied the ice. Buffy winced in pain.

“Damn! That stupid jerk did get a good shot in. It’s always the most harmless, dumbest looking fledglings who manage to get lucky. That’s not fair." She pouted. "That's probably another thing they explain in that Slayer handbook I never got: beware of the dumb vampires. The lower the IQ, they most likely they are to get you.”

Dawn frowned. “Should we get you to the hospital to check if anything is broken?”

“Nah.” Buffy dismissed the idea. “Some rest, a couple of days off from slaying, and I’ll be right as rain.”

“Right then. If you ladies don’t need me anymore, I’ll be on my way.” Spike got up.

“Huh. Spike?” Buffy blushed a little, not liking to have to ask for help. “Could you--maybe take me upstairs to my room?”

Spike leered at her and gave her his sexiest smirk. “Really, pet? Isn’t it a little fast? We haven’t been even been on a date yet…”

She glared at him. “Fine. Don’t help me.”

“Don‘t get your knickers in a twist, Slayer. Come on, I’ll take you upstairs.”

He picked her up and took her to her bedroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hotel’s shuttle bus drove for about half an hour before reaching their final destination. From what she could see, Maui was beautiful. They drove along the coast and the view was nothing if not breathtaking. The full moon was reflecting on the bay and the dark mountains in the background were peppered with the lights of villages. Everything was perfect. Even Spike seemed mesmerized by the display. He was silently looking out the window at the landscape, and had stopped complaining about not being allowed to smoke in the shuttle bus.

The bus stopped in front of a gate and the driver spoke to the night guard who let them in.

“Oh my God, Spike. This is amazing!”

The long private driveway that led to the hotel's main building had gigantic palm trees and bushes covered in tropical flowers on either side. Spotlights had been installed on each side of the road to highlight the bushes and illuminate the road.

The long driveway ended in a roundabout right in front of the hotel, a beautiful fountain in the middle. The hotel was all white and pink marble, the façade illuminated by more spotlights. People were leisurely walking around, holding hands, talking, laughing, and just generally having a good time. Buffy thought the grin that was currently splitting her face probably wouldn’t fade for the next two weeks.

She suddenly realized Spike was talking to her. He was standing outside the mini bus, holding the sliding door open for her.

“Huh?”

“I said, are you coming or what?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two weeks earlier

“Hey Buffster. We‘re bringing offerings. Cosmo, In Style, Vogue, and the ever popular National Enquirer.”

Xander walked into the Summers’ living room, followed by Spike and Tara. Buffy was laying on the couch. She was covered by the old ratty blanket that her mom used to tuck her into when she was sick, and surrounded by everything a girl could need: Ben&Jerry’s ice cream, chips, magazines, and the sacrosanct remote control. Being stuck at home because of her knee automatically made her master of the remote. Or at least, that’s what she told Dawn.

“Hey Dawnie, what’s up?” Xander asked. He waved at Willow who was sitting on the floor by Dawn’s feet.

The tall girl was curled up in the armchair, sulking. “What’s up?! I haven’t been allowed to sit on the couch for a week. How can a 5ft midget take so much room? And now, I’m forced to watch Dark Angel reruns. That show sucks some major ass the first time you watch it, imagine the second time!”

“Dawn, your sister went through knee surgery only a week ago.” Tara said while sitting next to Willow on the floor and kissing her hello. “Give her a break.”

“Yeah, listen to the wise witch and be nicer to me. She knows better.” Buffy stuck her tongue out at her sister.

Xander rolled his eyes at them. “Come on girls, play nice. Dawn is right, Buffy. No one should be forced to watch Dark Angel. That’s just mean. Unless you’re a guy and find Jessica Alba sexy, there is no reason to watch that show.”

Dawn let out a triumphant “Ha Ha!”, and Buffy pouted.

“… and Dawn, midget or not, Buffy gets the couch. You have your health, be happy. Besides, our favorite tiny little Slayer got hurt protecting the good citizens of Sunnydale against the forces of darkness…”

Spike snickered. “Forces of darkness? Try skinny geek with fangs.”

Both Buffy and Xander glared at the vamp. Xander kept talking. “Therefore, she deserves love and pampering.”

Buffy nodded vigorously to show her agreement. “Yes I do!”

“Which brings me to this. I had an idea…”

Spike cleared his throat, staring menacingly at Xander.

“I mean--we had an idea.”

Spike kept staring until Xander amended his statement again.

“Fine, fine. The bleached wonder over there kinda made a suggestion that we turned into an idea.”

“Not to be rude or anything, Xander. But would you get to the point please?” Buffy sighed.

“Huh--right. So we decided that you needed a vacation. Except for that one time a few years ago when you went to spend the summer with your dad, I don’t remember you ever taking a vacation. So, we all contributed to the ‘send the Slayer to some place nice’ fund, and--Tada!”

Xander pulled out a card from behind his back and handed it to Buffy.

Buffy took it, looking more than a little surprised. She tried to joke. “Wow. You guys aren’t trying to get rid of me, are you? Sending me some place cold and deserted like, I don’t know, Canada?”

Xander opened wide eyes. “What? We thought you’d love survival camping in Yukon! Damn… And it’s non refundable.”

She opened the card and it said: “For the Slayer who has everything but wants only one thing: a break from saving the world. Hope this will be a couple of demon free, apocalypse free, weeks in paradise. Love,” and it was signed by everybody.

“Giles and Anya chipped in too.” Tara said, breaking the heavy silence. “They’re not here because they had to stay at the Magic Box.”

“You guys, I don’t know what to say… Thank you.”

“You don’t even know where you’re going yet!” Dawn said, excitedly bouncing on the armchair. “Open the envelope!”

Buffy opened the envelope containing the tickets and looked at them with her mouth open. In it were two tickets for an American Airlines flight to Maui.

Willow couldn’t stop smiling. “It’s an all inclusive. Free booze, free food. All you have to do is sit your little Slayer behind on the beach, soak up the sun, and check out the hot Hawaiian guys.”

Buffy’s eyes watered as emotions flooded her. “This is--I can’t believe you guys. It’s amazing. I can’t believe you did this for me.”

They all went to hug Buffy, except Spike who looked somewhat uncomfortable.

Buffy noticed and smiled at him. “Thank you Spike.”

“Hey, don’t mention it. Just bring me back one of those little fridge magnets, and we’ll call it even.”

She smiled. “I’ll do that.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You have got to be kidding me. Check this out, Slayer!”

Buffy stopped and looked around. “What? What are we looking at?”

Spike was staring at something in awe. Buffy waved a hand in front of his eyes.

“Hello? Am I supposed to be looking at something specific?”

“The bar. There’s a bar IN the pool!”

Buffy couldn’t help chuckling at the statement. “Do you swim?”

“Not really. But still--Bloody brilliant, that’s what it is!”

She laughed at how excited he seemed. “Come on Bleach Boy. Lets got to our room and change so we can try the ‘bar in the bloody pool’ wonder. I wouldn’t say no to a pina colada.”

That got Spike walking again.

Torches were lighting the path that led to the rooms. When they got there, their suitcases were already inside. They looked around the room, amazed at how luxurious it all was.

The patio door was covered by long flowing royal blue curtains that were currently open to reveal a balcony. They had the ocean view room. It had probably cost extra money, but it was so worth it. Buffy promised herself to take her breakfast on the balcony the next morning. They had made sure to ask for a room that faced the side of the sunrise so the balcony would be in the shadow after noon and Spike could enjoy it for the rest of the day if he felt like it.

The room’s floor was white tiles. There were two king size beds covered with fluffy looking baby blue comforters and lots of pillows. A complimentary bottle of champagne had been placed on ice next to the bed.

**They were probably expecting a couple** Buffy thought with a pang of regret. **Oh well, we can still drink it, right? Just with less romantic intentions**

Spike was looking at everything. Turning the TV on, then turning it off, opening the mini fridge to check the contents, reading the room service menu.

“Since you’re busy playing with everything, I’m gonna go change into something more appropriate.” Buffy said while opening her suitcase.

She pulled out her black and pink bikini, as well as a skirt and halter top to put over it, then went to change in the bathroom.

The bathroom was the size of her bedroom back in Sunnydale. It was huge, and very obviously romance oriented. It had an oversized Jacuzzi, another bottle of champagne in an ice bucket sitting on the edge of the tub, fresh exotic flowers all over the place, and an assortment of expensive looking bath products on the counter. It was beautiful. The white floor and white bath tub contrasted nicely with the deep plum of the walls and the large mirror had lights all around it. Like in the movie stars dressing rooms. The light had been dimmed to set the mood.

**This would be so romantic if… Nope. Not going there** She thought, trying her best not to picture Spike and her in any kind of situation involving nakedness, water and bubbles.

Buffy sighed and changed into her bikini, putting all thoughts of Spike and her soaking in the Jacuzzi out of her head. She pulled her skirt and top over her bathing suit and went back to the room.

Spike looked at her, a grin on his face, eyes sparkling with amusement.

“What?” She asked defensively.

“Nothing.”

“Spike..”

“I was just thinking. Did you ever think that some day, you’d go on vacation with me of all people?”

Buffy couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips as his thoughts mirrored the ones she’d had earlier at the airport . “Hell no!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three days earlier

“So, basically,” Buffy started angrily, “you’re telling me that you gave me two tickets for a fabulous trip to Hawaii, but I’ll have to go alone like a big loser because nobody can come with me? Is that it?”

“Buffy…”

“Don’t Buffy me, Xander. That’s really not cool. I can’t believe I’ll be stuck on my own for two weeks! What am I gonna do?”

Willow gave her an apologetic look, while Xander started nervously playing with a piece of paper and Anya went back to her cash register.

“Well, I sure won’t go with you because I can’t leave my shop for two long weeks. But I know this cute guy…”

“No way! I’m not gonna spend two weeks with a guy I don’t know! What are you, crazy?! Blind dates are painful enough when they last two hours, I don’t even want to imagine what two weeks would be like.” She turned pleading eyes to Willow. “Are you sure you can’t come with me? Willow? Tara? Anybody? Please?”

“Sorry, Buffy. But Tara and I paid for those summer classes already. We wanted to take some advance on our fall courses.”

“I’m being ditched for school. I can’t believe this. Xander… Are you sure, SURE, you can’t take two weeks off?”

“I’m sure, SURE, Buffster. We’re starting the new contract Monday. I’m in charge of this. It’s a huge step up for me. I’m sorry. Ask Dawn to cancel her trip with her friend. I’m sure if she knows you’re going to be all alone in Hawaii, she’ll go with you.”

Buffy’s shoulder slumped. “I can’t do that. Dawn has been looking forward to this trip in the Caribbean for months. Her friend’s parents have this huge boat and they’re going to cruise around the islands. I don’t want her to cancel because she feels sorry for me.”

Buffy got up. “I’ll see you guys later.” She walked out of the shop, still limping slightly.

Spike, who had been uncharacteristically silent during the entire exchange, got up to follow her.

Once in the alley, he stopped her.

“Don’t laugh in my face, but if you don’t find anybody--I could go with you.”

Buffy slowly turned around to face him. She stared at the vampire, not sure she heard him right.

Feeling uncomfortable under her silent scrutiny, Spike shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and looked away. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m just offering because you have no one else. I’m sure you don’t really fancy being stuck with me for two weeks. But if you don’t want to go alone… Just know that I wouldn’t mind.”

“Thanks.” She said truthfully. “But you do remember you’re a vampire, right? Hawaii has beaches and sun. Lots of it.”

“So does California. Doesn’t stop me from living in Sunnyhell, now does it?”

“You got a point. But, wouldn’t it be boring to be stuck in a hotel room for two weeks?”

“Cable TV, comfortable bed, room service. It’s already a huge step up from my crypt. Plus, all you can drink booze and food. How can a bloke not have a good time? I can enjoy the beach at night, and it said in the brochure that they have three different clubs on the resort. Again--can't be worse than The Bronze.”

Buffy frowned, looking like she was seriously considering it. “Color me shocked, but you kinda make sense.” “So?”

“So. Would you--make an effort to not be a pain in the ass?”

“Being a pain in the ass does come naturally to me." He winked at her. "But I s’pose I could make an effort--just this once.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hell no." She repeated. "Not even in my wildest, most disturbing dream did I ever imagine going on a vacation in Hawaii with you.”

Spike took his leather jacket off and dropped it on one of the beds. He took his cigarettes and put them in the back pocket of his jeans then turned to face Buffy.

“Can’t say our lives are predictable or boring, right pet?”

“Nope. Really, really, can’t say that.”

“All right, Blondie. Still fancy that pina colada in the pool? I’m dying to see what sexy tiny little bathing suit you’ve got underneath those clothes.”

Buffy hit him on the shoulder.

“Pig.”

**Yeah,** She thought **the two following weeks will be--interesting. To say the least.**

"So," She asked, following him out of the room. "is this what you're gonna wear for the duration of our stay?"

Spike looked down at his black jeans and black t-shirt.

"What? What's wrong with my clothes?"

"Let's just say you won't win a 'Aloha Spirit' contest anytime soon."

Spike stopped walking and turned to face Buffy.

"Have you seen me the day I was forced to wear one of Xander's Hawaiian shirt?"

Buffy's eyes danced with amusement, and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from laughing out loud at the memory.

Spike snorted. "I rest my case."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: I really, really, hope you'll enjoy this story because I think it will be a fun one. I have lots of cool ideas... or at least, I think they are lol. Let me know how you feel about it so far, it might motivate me to write faster **hint hint** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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CHAPTER 2: The longest night

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