Willow paced around Xander’s basement, a scowl marring her pretty face. Xander just sighed; he’d been listening to her rant for a while now. He knew she was still broken up about Oz leaving, but really, now that she’d gotten to the point of bagging on her friends, he was starting to lose his sympathy. He sighed tiredly before responding to her latest petulant complaint.

“You know, Will, it's not like she could just let Spike go.”

Willow glared at him. “Spike's more important than me. I get it.”

He tried once again to smooth out her ruffled feathers. “Buffy's gotta find out what's up with those commandos. Right now she needs Spike.”

She pouted. “Well, fine. Why doesn't she just go marry him?” Xander was so fed up with her whining, that he completely missed the flash of blue light in her eyes.

**Back at Giles’ place**

Giles came out of the bathroom cleaning his glasses. He was worried about his rapidly fading vision, and Buffy and Spike’s arguing was not helping his nerves.

“If the two of you could remain civil long enough to—,“ he stopped and stared at the sight in front of him.

Buffy had her arms wrapped around Spike’s neck and was staring up at him in wonderment. “I just know we’ll be so happy,” she cooed.

Spike for his part was staring at her in abject horror. “What the bleedin’ hell are you going on about, Slayer?”

“Our wedding, silly.” She reached up to stroke his cheek. Spike flinched back and tried to disentangle himself from her embrace, but she just held him tighter. She really loved her Slayer strength. And, hey, bonus, she didn’t have to worry about hurting him the way she would a human boy.

“You’re off your nut, you are,” Spike exclaimed, as he finally broke away. Buffy pouted and reached for him again, but he evaded her by jumping behind Giles.

“Watcher, I’ve put up with a lot,” he began, “but this is the absolute end. You tie me up, feed me pigs swill, and now your Slayer fancies herself my bride-to-be???” Spike’s voice rose to a decidedly unmanly squeak on the last words. He cringed and cleared his throat before continuing. “Cruel and unusual, that’s what this is. I was better off with the commandos.”

Giles sighed in exasperation at his melodrama. “Well, you’re welcome to go back Spike. But, I assure you, I had nothing to do with…what exactly did happen?”

Before Spike could reply, Buffy jumped in, excitement ringing in her voice. “I know you don’t approve, Giles, but I love him. And, we’re going to be married!” She reached around Giles, trying, unsuccessfully, to grab Spike again.

“You see?” Spike complained, as he desperately evaded the Slayer’s grasping hands. “Off her nut. Looney toons. Gone carrot top. Pick your own soddin’ metaphor, the chit’s gone bleedin’ insane!”

Giles ignored Buffy’s indignant huff. “This is completely absurd. Buffy…” He trailed off in a distracted manner, blinking spastically before removing his glasses and cleaning them. “I don’t…don’t know what you’re thinking…but…hmmm…” He continued blinking.

Buffy stopped her single-minded pursuit of Spike to frown concernedly at Giles. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes, I rather think there is.” Giles sounded shell-shocked. He dropped his glasses, and swayed alarmingly. Spike found himself in the aggravating position of offering a supportive arm or being fallen on. He and Buffy helped Giles to the nearest chair and sat him down.

“What is it?” Buffy asked.

“I’m…I’m blind,” was Giles’ rather weak response. Really, being blind was perhaps his greatest fear. After all he had seen and done in his life, the mundane fear of loss of eyesight still held top spot.

“What?!?”

“I’ll get the scotch.”

Buffy’s shriek and Spike’s calm statement overlapped in the suddenly too quiet air of the apartment. Spike went into the kitchen, as Buffy knelt down next to Giles. She took his hand.

“Did anything happen?”

“Well, yes…I went blind,” Giles snapped.

Buffy’s chagrined look was wasted on the recipient. “I’m sorry. I meant did you get anything in your eyes that might have caused this?”

“I’m sorry for snapping dear,” he sighed in response. “Not that I can think of. I started having blurring this afternoon, and it’s just gotten worse, and now I can’t see anything.” The repressed, though still clear panic in his voice, alarmed Buffy more than anything else so far this evening. Giles wasn’t supposed to panic. She stood up, needing to be away from her mentor before she upset him even further.

“I’ll just get you something to put over them. A nice cool cloth…or something.” With that, Buffy escaped to the kitchen.

Spike was in the middle of draining a tumbler full of Giles best single-malt, when he was hit with a bundle of crying Slayer.

“Oh, Spike. What are we gonna do?” She sobbed quietly into his chest.

Spike looked down at her in shock. Was this sniveling, tear-soaked girl really his strong, independent, kick-ass Slayer? Since when did she become his? And, HEY, that was his silk shirt she was wailing on! He grabbed her arms and wrenched her back. Unfortunately, the sight of her tear filled, sparkling green eyes wiped the intended snark right from his lips.

“You’ll figure it out,” he said, automatically falling back into the soothing tone of voice he’d used so often with Drusilla. “That’s what you hero types do, isn’t it?”

“I don’t feel like a hero,” she whispered, her voice choked. “That’s Giles. He’s the answer man. I’m just the muscle.”

Spike sighed, unable to figure out how he’d come to be in this position. His Slayer…no THE Slayer, no possessiveness there at ALL…was looking to HIM for reassurance. Bloody Hell! “You’re not giving yourself enough credit!” He snarled in aggravation, though he couldn’t say if it was himself or her that pissed him off more. “You’ve beaten all kinds of Big Bads, including myself, on more occasions then I care to recount. You’re more resourceful then you think you are. So stop with the self pity, and get to being heroic.”

Buffy’s eyes glistened still with tears, but the rough pep talk had helped. She knew Spike was the one she could count on to keep her strong. She gave him a watery smile, and quickly fastened her lips to his.

Spike was too shocked to do anything other then feel. One moment he was channeling his poncy, inner-William, and the next he had a mouthful of Buffy. And what a mouthful it was. Soft lips teased his own, suckling gently on the lower. When her tongue traced his lips he gasped in surprise, and she took advantage of the moment to slide it into his mouth and tangle with his own. With a groan, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him.

Heat, blinding heat, pressed up against him. Soft and wiggly in all the right places. Hands running thru his hair. Buffy pulled, panting, away from his mouth, before trailing her lips down his neck, marking her path with little nips and sucks. Spike groaned again and bunched his hands in her hair, holding her to his neck. When she came to his siring scar, she laved it with her tongue, thoroughly enjoying the mewls he released in response. Without warning, she sunk her teeth into the mark, not breaking skin, but hard enough to hurt in all the right ways. Spike’s hips slammed up into hers in response, and he let out a loud snarl, before pulling her away and claiming her lips again. The murmured “I love you,” in between kisses, was what brought him back to reality and he shoved her away, HARD.

“Wha--?” Buffy was flushed and incoherent from the kissing and then the abrupt stopping of the kissage. Blindly she reached for Spike again, only to have her hands batted away.

Spike was pissed. He’d only tried to make her stop crying, because, Slayer or not, for some reason her tears bothered him. Then to get jumped for his efforts, and to respond to said jumping like she was the feast after a famine…Well, he just wasn’t going to stand for that.

“Bloody Hell!” He snarled. “I was trying to be nice not inviting you to assault me. Thanks for reminding me. I’m evil, I won’t do “nice” again!” He turned back to the glasses and scotch, and poured another tumbler full. “Now I have Buffy taste in my mouth!” He glared at her before taking a big swig of the liquor and swishing deliberately.

Buffy was unfazed by his protests. She could tell that he was going to be difficult about this, she just didn’t know why. It was inconceivable that he not share this burning, all-consuming love that she felt. But, if he needed time…

She looked up at him from under thick lashes. “I understand if you want to wait until our wedding night. You are Victorian after all.”

Spike, who had been mid-gargle, choked on his drink. “Victor--!!” He sputtered indignantly. “I’m no blushing virgin to be coddled!”

Green eyes twinkled at him, before Buffy pounced again. “Oooh, Good. That means we don’t have to wait.” She reached to pull him into another kiss, but at that moment, Giles plaintive voice was heard, calling from the living room.

Buffy sighed in disappointment. “I guess we have to help Giles now. You will help me figure out what’s going on, right?” She looked up at Spike under lowered lashes, her lip stuck out in a slight pout. She knew how to get what she wanted from boys. She figured the same principles would apply to Spike.

“Oh…bugger,” Spike grimaced. He couldn’t help feeling a tiny bit disappointed that the Watcher had broken their reverie. He was denying that fact viciously, but it was still a fact. And now she was looking at him with big luminous eyes…looking at him to help her fix it…looking at him like she needed him. That was something he hadn’t felt since Drusilla was sick. He shook himself. “I’m EVIL!”

Buffy smiled perkily, and leaned up to give him a quick peck on the cheeks. “Yup,” she said, popping the “p”. “You’re the evilest.”

A short while later, Giles was pumped full of good scotch, and relaxing on the couch with a cool cloth over his eyes. They had determined that his blindness and Buffy’s sudden desire to wed, although she protested this vehemently, were most likely the result of a stray spell, and Spike had actually troubled himself enough to find a general reversal spell that looked pretty simplistic. Just because he didn’t like magic, didn’t mean he didn’t know his way around a spell book or two.

Buffy had tried to convince him to come with her to the magic shop to buy supplies by whispering erotic promises in his ear. Some of the things she had suggested cause shudders to ripple down Spike’s spine, from disgust he insisted to himself, rock hard erection not withstanding. Giles’ spluttering in the background did nothing to deter her as she attempted to climb his body like a clinging vine, and only his squeaked declaration that he would much rather wait for that until the wedding night, after all, convinced her to stop her “persuasion.”

So now, Giles was relaxing, or attempting to, given that he had a noticeably untied vampire babysitting him, and Spike was making a valiant effort at drinking himself unconscious.

When the silence became too heavy, Giles cleared his throat. “Erm…you’ve been rather helpful. Forgive me for saying so, but one can’t help but wonder why.”

“OI! That’s the thanks I get?” Spike indignantly yelped, before mumbling, “I’ll never learn.”

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate the assistance you’ve provided,” Giles began soothingly. “I do. But you can’t blame me for asking what’s in it for you?”

“I should think that’d be bloody obvious, mate,” Spike snorted. “I won’t have Wedded Bliss Barbie crawling all over me anymore.”

“Yes,” Giles commented, sounding intrigued. “I do find it interesting that you weren’t effected by the spell. Do you think only Buffy and myself were targeted?”

“Possibly,” Spike answered. “Vampires are also spell resistant, so that may be why I’m not avidly planning my nuptials as well. Or whatever else may have been aimed in my direction.” He shuddered as he thought of all the possible spells that could have been cast at him, silently thanking his nature’s inherent magical armor.

“Magically resistant?” Giles, if possible sounded even more interested. Spike just knew that if he’d been able to see, he’d have been taking notes. “The Council never…” He trailed off as he realized the implications of that announcement.

“You were going to let me do the truth spell on you, knowing that it would have no effect?” Interest was replaced with outrage.

“Yeah, well…EVIL.”

“Yes,” Giles agreed. “I suppose it doesn’t do to forget that now.”

Silence reigned for a few moments, and Spike found himself somewhat regretful of the loss of companionship that he’d briefly felt with the Watcher. If he was going to be at the mercy of the White Hats, then it might behoove him to play fair. He was surprised to find that his demon didn’t rebel at the non-evil thought. ‘M still evil though, he thought, this is just a… a… temporary ceasefire. Yeah, that’s it.

He opened his mouth to (shudder) apologize, when Giles’ voice broke through his musings.

“I assume I don’t need to point out what will happen, should you decide to take advantage of Buffy’s obviously vulnerable state.”

The alcohol bottle that Spike had been holding was slammed down on the coffee table, causing Giles to jump.

His voice low, and tightly controlled, Spike growled, “I don’t do rape, Watcher.”

“As you so humbly pointed out before, you are evil,” Giles insisted. “According to Council reports-“

Spike cut him off. “The Council of Wankers knows bugger all about me. If they did, their reports would show that that particular game was Angelus’ prerogative, never mine.”

“I’m sure she would seem very willing in her current condition, Spike.”

“And you lot call me a disgusting thing,” Spike snorted indignantly. “She’s not in her right mind, now is she?” He asked before continuing, not giving Giles a chance to answer. “If I take her while she’s not really her, that’s the same as rape.”

“Are you telling me that you, a self-professed evil creature, a soulless vampire has a moral standard?” Giles sputtered incredulously.

“Like I said, Rupes,” Spike snarled, “you know bugger all about me. So shut the bloody hell up, before I demonstrate my evilness and see how close to killing you this chip will let me get.” With that he picked up the bottle again, and took a large swallow. Maybe playing fair with the White Hats wasn’t in the cards after all. Buggering gits.

Rupert was left with the uncomfortable feeling that he owed this prickly creature an apology. Before he could speak, the door opened announcing company. Buffy bounced in carrying a shop bag. Spike sighed with relief. One reversal spell, and this whole uncomfortable mess would be behind him. He still refused to acknowledge, why exactly, the cuddly affectionate Slayer discomfited him. His hopes were dashed when Buffy spoke.

“They were all out of Tagas Root at the magick shop. They'll have more tomorrow. I'm completely on top of it,” she beamed at him as she dug a large binder out of the bag. “But check out what I got.”

Spike groaned. “That had bloody well better not be what it looks like.”

“It’s a wedding planner!” Buffy squealed excitedly. “It has all kinds of neat information to help us plan our perfect day.” She bounced over and seated herself on Spike’s lap. Spike proceeded to sulk at her nearness, completely ignoring that shoving her to the floor was an available option. She leaned into him and opened the big book on her lap. “Honey, we need to talk about the invitations. Now, do you wanna be William the Bloody, or just Spike? Cause, either way, it's gonna look majorly weird.”

Spike snorted. “Where as the name Buffy gives it that touch of classic elegance.”

Buffy pouted. “What’s wrong with Buffy?”

Spike found himself transfixed by her mouth. Her lower lip jutting out just so…all ripe and luscious looking. He was completely unaware that he was murmuring his thoughts aloud. “Oh, pouty. Look at that lip…” Before he knew what he was doing, he had captured her lips with his own. Immediately he was lost in her sweet taste and her warmth pressing pleasantly into him.

Buffy was doing her own little mental happy dance. She KNEW he was into her. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him: he was obviously in denial. While his lips worked their magic, she decided to slip her hand a little lower, in an attempt to bring him out of Egypt. Before she could make first contact, they were interrupted by a pointed cough from the up-until-this-moment-quiet Giles.

“Stop that right now! I can hear the smacking.”

Buffy broke the kiss, pulling back from a slightly stunned Spike. “Sorry, Giles.” She turned back to her “fiancée”. “Look through this with me?” She asked sweetly, indicating the wedding binder.

Spike was only able to nod. He was struck well and truly speechless by that little make out session. Sure, it hadn’t been as hot as the one in the kitchen, but HE had instigated it. Him! William the Bloody had instigated intimate contact with the Slayer. What the hell? While Buffy babbled on about color schemes and other wedding frippery, that frankly no LIVE man is interested in, let alone a vampire, he tried to figure out just what had happened.

He mentally ticked off points. A: This is the result of a spell. B: Should he take advantage of Buffy (the Slayer, not Buffy, the Slayer) while she was under this spell, he would be dust in the wind the moment the spell ended. If Rupert didn’t get him first. Spike was speaking the truth to the Watcher earlier. He didn’t do rape. Never had, and he never stuck around for Angelus’ and Darla’s “parties” either. And he had no doubt, that if anything happened while she was under the spell Buffy would consider it rape. So, no, he didn’t really want this syrupy, saccharine version. He wanted HIS Slayer. The normal, high and mighty, bitch queen, strong willed, would never-look-at-him-twice Slayer. Okay, so maybe a little Buffy-sweetness would be a nice contrast.

He smiled ruefully. He always appreciated a strong woman. While he did take care of Dru while she was sick, his primary goal had always been to cure her and restore her to her dark glory. Spike never would have classified himself as a masochist, but the way his mind was wandering lately… No. It was just…hormones…or something. Maybe he wasn’t as unaffected by the spell as he’d originally thought. Because there was NO way he was feeling anything softer than pure loathing of his own free will. Right?

“Hey!” Buffy’s call snapped him back to the situation at hand. “Are you paying attention?”

Spike was unnerved to find that during his mental musings, his arms had crept around her waist, and now cradled her snugly against him. Her heat warmed him, and her soft round bum was wiggling in his lap. If she kept that up, then Little Spike would be standing up to make her acquaintance. As she gave another wiggle, he became sure that that was her intention.

Struggling to focus his mind on the conversation and not his dick, he responded, hoping to distract her with wedding crap. “Sorry, luv. Drifted for a minute. What were you saying?”

Buffy sighed, as the pet name rolled off his tongue in his deep accented voice. She could get used to that. “I was just showing you the cake toppers I found.” She held up a little bride and groom, presumably purchased at the same time as the binder. “Aren’t they a perfect little us?”

Spike stared at the little plastic couple. Mentally shrugging, he figured he’d indulge her. At least when she was talking about the wedding, she held still. “I don’t like him. He’s insipid. Clearly human.”

“Oo, red paint. We could smear a little on his mouth? The blood of the innocent.”

Spike grinned in genuine amusement. She was just too cute. In a completely loathsome way, of course. But he couldn’t quite bring himself to snark back with something cutting and hurtful, thereby removing the pleased smile from her face. She’d never looked at him like that before. He felt the same as when he was in the kitchen, and she’d looked at him with such trust and adoration. It’s been so long since he felt needed. And Spike needed to be necessary to someone.

He was saved from responding by Xander and Anya bursting through the door like something was after them. Buffy leapt to her feet, pulling Spike with her. Her fingers linked with his, she faced her friends. Spike couldn’t wait to see what their response to this whole thing would be. They watched in amazement as Xander attempted to maneuver a large bookcase in front of the door.

“Board up the windows,” he panted. “Barricade the doors.”

“What’s going on?” Giles asked.

‘”Demons,” Anya answered for her still out-of-breath companion. “They keep coming and coming.”

“I think we lost them, but I couldn’t see,” Xander said as he turned to face the group. Seeing Spike, he yelped, “Spike! He’s all untied.” He paused. “Which… you probably noticed.”

Buffy hastened to reassure her friend. “Xander, calm down, okay? If you lost them, that’ll give us some time to figure this out.” She turned to Spike. “Maybe the demons have something to do with Giles being blind.”

“Don’t know, pet. Not a lot of demons that go for casting spells.” Spike shrugged and continued. “Rituals, sure, but actual spells…we’re a pretty cautious lot.”

“Giles is blind?” Anya questioned.

Spike rolled his eyes as Xander walked over to Giles and started waving his hand in front of his face. To his amusement, Giles appeared to notice and wrinkled his face in disgust.

“Please stop whatever you’re doing. You smell like fruit rollups.” Giles complained.

“Better then smelling like Anya,” Spike mumbled. He put on his most innocent look when Buffy glanced at him. Smirking, he snarked, “This is the crack team that spoils my every plan? I am deeply shamed.”

Buffy rubbed his arm comfortingly, and he tried hard not to purr under the soothing touch. “You know,” she commented, “Spike’s right. We really should get organized.”

Neither of them noticed Xander and Anya now staring at them. “Why are you holding hands?” Anya wondered.

Buffy looked lovingly at Spike, who fidgeted anxiously under the harsh stares being directed at him. Cursing himself for suddenly reverting to Nervous William, he attempted to explain. “See that’s the thing, Giles is blind and Buffy thinks we’re-“

“We’re getting married!” Buffy’s excited screech echoed loudly in the small space. Spike winced at the pain it caused to his sensitive ears. One nice thing about NormalBuffy!, no pierced eardrums. She may be a menacing bitch, but at least it was quiet.

Xander was doing his landed fish impression; his mouth opening and closing. “How? What? How?”

“Three excellent questions,” Giles mumbled.

“I love you,” Buffy sighed, looking longingly at Spike. Moving with Slayer speed, she grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss. He stood carefully still, the spectators in the room preventing him from giving in to the feel of her lips pressed to his.

“Can I be blind too?” Xander’s groan attracted a glare from Buffy.

“Wait!” Xander exclaimed. Everyone in the room jumped at his excited shout. Spike winced from the pain to his sensitive ears. “Married…I know something…what is it? Everything’s so familiar…Work, brain, work! Oh! Oh! Oh! Willow!”

“Mm…what about Red?” Spike spoke around a kissing Buffy. “Mmm, luv, get off.” He gently pushed her away, trying to remain steadfast in the face of her pout.

“Something about Willow and her griefy-poor-me mood swings? So, so tired of it.” Xander continued.

Anya huffed, “You mean I don't have to be nice about her anymore? “

”Well, we're all tired of it, but what does it have to do with what's going on?” Buffy asked.

”She told me I was a demon magnet, a-and that Buffy should marry Spike.” This was said with a vague gesture in their direction.

”And…that I didn't see anything.” Giles commented with new understanding in his tone.

”Red did a spell.” Somehow Spike wasn’t surprised. He’d tried to tell them that she was barely holding it together, but nooooo. The evil vampire who’s been alive for over a century would have no insight into the human condition. Nope, none at all. He tried to reign in his bitterness.

Giles was continuing. “Yes…to have her will done. Whatever she says is coming true.”

”And you both were effected,” Buffy observed. “I probably only escaped because I'm the Slayer. Some kind of natural immunity.”

”Yeah. Right,” Xander snorted, “you're marrying Spike because you're so right for each other.”

“Xander,” Buffy started, “I’m marrying Spike because I love him. I know you don’t like it, but that’s how it is. If you were my friend you’d support me in this.”

“How can you not see that this is a spell???” he screamed. “Yesterday, you hated Spike. If I thought you were doing this of your own free will I’d…no…I’d still think you were insane.”

“Look, I know it’s crazy! I mean, we fought for all these years, and then… Sometimes you just look at someone, and you know… You know?”

Xander shook his head in puzzlement, while Spike watched her with a burgeoning sense of awe. That she was standing up for him…well, he couldn’t put into words how much that meant. He was starting to realize that he knew exactly what she was talking about. Damn this spell! Because when it was over, he’d never see this side of Buffy again. And she’d be more likely to be uber-bitch to him now then ever before to over-compensate for this “lapse.”

“I think maybe we fought because we couldn't admit how we really felt about each other.” Buffy concluded with a warm smile at Spike. She was puzzled by the sad and…was that wistful? look on his face.

“Pet,” Spike said, a hint of regret in his voice. “It’s more than likely that this…what you’re feeling so sudden-like, is a result of the witch’s spell.” He needed her to stop saying those things… those nice, sweet, loving things, before he was in so deep he’d never dig his way out.

Her stomach dropped to her feet. How could he say that? She’d thought he’d been coming around. “How can you say that to me?” She demanded. “Can’t you see what I feel every time I look at you…every time I touch you?”

He had no answer for that. Xander on the other hand, wasn’t so reticent.

“Well, at least one of you has the sense to realize this freak show isn’t real.”

Buffy turned on him with a stricken look on her face. Suddenly, she was back in the tunnels with Angel, hearing him call her devotion that derogatory term. She opened and closed her mouth, but couldn’t say anything for the tears that were suddenly choking her throat. Without a word she turned and left the room, waiting until she was out of earshot of everyone before letting the sobs come.

Well…out of earshot of everyone but Spike. And he was livid. “You stupid wanker!” He snarled at Xander. “You just couldn’t let it go, could you? Had to point out the error of her ways because you’re so bloody qualified to tell her how to live her life. Never mind that she’s in the other room bawlin’ her eyes out because you couldn’t keep your insensitive gob closed.”

“Like you care, evil dead,” Xander sneered, “I bet you’re just loving this. Buffy crawling all over you. Hey! How do we know you haven’t been taking advantage of our Buffster while she’s been all magicked?”

Spike snarled, but surprisingly, Giles was the one to speak. “Xander, do shut up. I’ve talked with Spike, and I have been in the room the entire time. He’s been admirable in his restraint.”

“Yeah, like I believe that,” came the sulky reply.

“Spike,” Giles questioned, “do you think you could go calm Buffy down? We have to find Willow and get her to reverse this spell.”

“Oi! Why me?”

“Because, you pillock, you are her “fiancée” and for some reason she’s looked to you for assistance during this whole debacle.” Giles snarked. “Besides,” he continued in a more solemn tone, “you don’t seem to want to hurt her and right now she’s hurting.”

“Of course I don’t want to hurt her,” Spike began, then realized how it sounded. “I want to kill her. Rend…and…and...tear. Grrrr.” His blustering gave out, as he really didn’t want to think about those types of things happening to the tiny Slayer. He couldn’t believe that his feelings had gone through such an abrupt change. Although, according to Dru, it wasn’t abrupt at all. He was so buggered.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Giles sarcasm made it evident that even a blind man could see through his posturing. “Now please go and retrieve Buffy so we can get this resolved.”

Spike huffed but did as requested. He really needed to rethink the whole evil thing, as he seemed to be going soft in his old age. He followed the sound of Buffy’s heartbeat to the bathroom, finding her sitting on the floor with her back against the tub. Silently, he sat down next to her, only starting a little when she leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You don’t think our love is a freak show…do you?” Came the softly spoken question.

Spike sighed. Oh, how to answer this? He resolved to proceed with caution. While he may have been opening the door to his own feelings a teeny crack, he had no doubt in his mind about how the Slayer would react once the spell was ended. He was not going to either end up staked or give her more ammunition to use against him once she was back to her old, not-so-charming self. Likewise, he didn’t want to hurt the feelings of Buffy-the-girl anymore than they already had been. “Kitten,” he began hesitantly, “I don’t think any real, true love is a “freak show.” It’s a beautiful thing.”

“Angel called us a freak show when he broke up with me. I know that sounds pathetic, but we are in a similar situation. I don’t think it’d be odd for you to have a similar reaction.”

“Well, Angel was a complete pillock, wasn’t he?” Spike said flatly, irritation clear in his voice. “And we are two completely different vampires, luv. The only thing we have in common are fangs.” He reached over and pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear before continuing. “That was his loss, isn’t it, for tossin’ away what most men dream of. A lovely woman who loves them with all she is.”

“So you believe that I really love you?” She was looking at him now, her eyes glistening from the tears she’d shed. While he knew that he shouldn’t be finding a tear streaked and slightly puffy Slayer face beautiful, he couldn’t help it. All of her was beautiful to him. Spike slammed the William door again, cursing his poetic tendencies.

“I believe that you believe it.”

“So you don’t think it’s real.” Her face crumpled again, and Spike struggled to do damage control.

“Kitten, I want to believe it.” He surprised himself by telling the truth. “But, Red’s spell…”

“Well, that’s an easy fix,” Buffy said, perking up now that she saw a way to make Spike believe. “We’ll get the spell broken and then you’ll see.”

“Okay, luv.” He decided to humor her. He couldn’t stand to see her any more upset, and once this thing was over…well, he would have to worry about HER heart being broken, now would he? He got up, and helped her to her feet. When she gave him a hug, he sighed softly, sadly, and returned it, relishing the feel of her pressed against him, and knowing this would probably be the last time.

When a phone call yielded no results, Buffy, Spike, Xander, and Anya left the apartment in search of Willow. The first stop was the dorms, where they discovered that D’Hoffryn, Anya’s old vengeance boss, had taken Willow. Anya speculated that he was making Willow a job offer. They headed through the cemetery to a crypt that met the specifications Anya needed to summon him and ask for Willow back. They were almost there when a demon leapt out of the foliage at Xander. Buffy fought it off, but another was coming, and she quickly realized more would follow.

Shoving Xander and Anya into the crypt she told them, “Barricade the door. Anya, do that summoning. We’ll hold them off.”

Spike just stared at her, wondering how he was supposed to help, when he couldn’t hit anything. He leaned back against the tomb, and watched as Buffy proceeded to kick demon ass. When a particularly nasty looking demon got the Slayer in a headlock, Spike decided that he wasn’t just going to stand around, and watch the woman who loved him, even if it was a spell, get killed. He’d deal with the headache. Leaping on to the demons back, he landed a swift punch to its head, knocking it unconscious. He braced himself for the pain, but none came.

Buffy was staring at him in amazement. “Your chip?” She questioned. Grinning, he reached out and tugged a lock of her hair.

“Ouch!”

Aaargh!” His pained yell from the chip firing caused Buffy to rush to him, petting and cooing. He was up in a moment, grinning maniacally.

“I can hit demons! I. Can. Hit. Demons. Bloody Hell! YEESSSS!” Was Spike’s jubilant shout.

He turned on the advancing demons with a snarl, game face to the fore. “The Big Bad is back!”

Buffy squealed excitedly. He’d been so depressed about not being able to fight, and hey…now she had a slaying partner. He was really her perfect match.

They fought in tandem, the demon horde having no chance against a Slayer and a
No-longer-repressed Master Vampire. When the last demon had fallen, they paused and looked at each other. Buffy leapt on Spike, ferociously kissing him, wrapping her legs around his waist, relishing the feel of his erection pressed against her.

“That was fantastic,” she gushed between kisses. “Tell me you loved that!”

“I LOVED that!” Spike was in heaven: a magnificent bit o’ violence, followed by warm, horny Slayer rubbing against him in all the right ways. He had a hard time remembering why he needed to pull back, but sadly, reality did indeed bare its ugly head.

“Pet,” he tried to pull back, but Buffy was having none of that.

“Spike, I love you! I need you to know that.” She began pressing little biting kisses down the line of his throat causing him to gasp and buck his hips against her. “Say you love me.” She laved his siring scar with her tongue, enjoying the way his moans reverberated to her core.

“Buffy…pet…” He couldn’t break away, couldn’t think. “I…God…BUFFY!”

Her teeth bit into his throat, tearing the skin, and drawing blood. He pressed her up against the nearby crypt wall, thrusting his hips madly as she pulled on his blood. His moans and cries goaded her on and she bit down harder, pulling away only when he shuddered his completion, her name a whispered prayer on his lips. She smiled at him lovingly and stroked a hand down his awestricken face. Leaning in and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, she whispered, “Mine!”

Blue eyes blinked at her in shock, and he couldn’t stop his affirmative response.

“Yours.”

Neither of them was aware of the poof as Willow appeared next to them, or heard her words. “Let the healing power begin. Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken.”

Buffy’s gasp of shock echoed in the now silent graveyard. Swiftly, she disentangled herself from Spike. He was still staring at her, awe and love? writ plainly on his face. She turned horrified eyes to the speechless witch.

“Buffy…” Willow began, but was cut off.

“No.” She backed away from the vampire and the witch, trying to gain control of her conflicting emotions.

“Pet,” Spike tried. He could see the confusion on her face, and the growing panic.

“No,” Buffy said again. “I have to…I have to go.” With an unreadable look at Spike, she turned and ran.

Three Days Later…

There was no way around it. She had been avoiding him. Buffy didn’t like to admit that she was capable of such cowardice, but could no longer deny it. Catching a glimpse of him while patrolling last night, and then turning and walking, well… running, the other way, was a big clue. She had been a coward since the night the spell broke. She’d run from him then, too.

The thing was, she’d had no idea how she felt. After everything was said and done, The Scoobies gathered back at Giles’ place. He was happy to report a full return of his eyesight. Willow threw herself into a flurry of guilt baking, as though chocolate chip cookies were going to fix anything. Xander alternated between joking about his magnetic personality, and letting fly snide comments about Spike. He either didn’t notice or didn’t care, every time Buffy winced at his comments. Spike had not come back, and Buffy wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed by that. Finally, they all went home, and she was left alone with Giles. That conversation had been an eye opener.

She had been sitting quietly on the couch, lost in her thoughts. She started when Giles sat down next to her. “Buffy,” he began, hesitantly, “are you alright?”

“I don’t know, Giles,” was her quiet response. “I…god this is hard…” she trailed off.

“Take your time,” he assured, “you know you can tell me anything.”

“Can I Giles? Can I really?”

He was alarmed at the skeptical tone of voice. She’d always trusted him, he didn’t know what had happened to make he doubt him now. “Of course. I won’t judge you. I just want to help.”

Well, time to find out if he really wouldn’t judge. “What do you know about claims, Giles?” She’d read a little after Angel had almost drained her, but other then assuring herself that he did not, in fact, claim her, she hadn’t paid attention to any other information.

“The bastard claimed you?!?” Giles outraged shout caused her to jump. “That bloody pillock! I knew I couldn’t trust a word from his viper’s mouth. No wonder you’re upset, we’ll find a way to break—” Buffy cut him off with a wave of her hand.

“No, Giles.” She shook her head. “He didn’t claim me, I claimed him.”

Giles was struck speechless. He took off his glasses, and started cleaning furiously, while he attempted to gather his thoughts.

Buffy’s heart sank. “Are you disappointed?”

Her forlorn tone roused Giles from his stupor. “No, dear,” he assured. “I’m not disappointed. Just shocked. What prompted you to…” he trailed off.

Buffy tried to swallow back the sob. “I loved him, Giles. I loved him so much, and he didn’t believe me. I wanted to prove it to him, and when he found out he could hit demons, he was just so happy, and I was so happy for him, and all I could think about was proving to him that I loved him, and I wanted him to love me…” her run-on sentence trailed off as she lost her grip on the tears. Giles enfolded her in his embrace and let her cry it out. When she had calmed somewhat, he asked the question plaguing him.

“He can hit demons? His chip…”

“No, Giles. His chip still works on people. Being able to fight again made him so happy…” she trailed off again, and Giles, sensing the return of tears, attempted to calm her.

“I can imagine it would have. He is a vampire, after all. Fighting is inherent to his nature. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to be rendered effectively helpless and harmless.” Thinking back on his recent bought of blindness he changed his mind. “Maybe I can. But, Buffy, how did you even know HOW to claim him?”

She explained the reading she had done after Angel had bitten her. She also explained her ignorance of the majority of the information, excepting how it was done.

“Oh, Buffy,” Giles sighed.


“You ARE disappointed,” she cried.

“No, I am not,” Giles insisted with a shake of his head. “I just don’t relish having to tell you what you’re not going to want to hear.”

Buffy swallowed hard, and with a grim look on her face, replied, “Lay it on me, Giles.”

“First, I must know. Did Spike accept your claim?” He allowed himself to feel some hope, if the claim went unaccepted, then there could be a way to reverse it. His hopes were dashed when Buffy nodded in affirmation. But, new thoughts were wending through his brain, interesting speculations about WHY Spike would have done such a thing.

“Alright. Firstly, the claim cannot be reversed. Once made, and accepted, it is permanent.” Buffy looked to the ground. She didn’t know how she felt about that.

“So, I’m bound to Spike for life?” Giles was surprised to here no disgust in her question, only concern and confusion. He realized then, that he needed to give her unbiased support. At this point, the claim was a given, they couldn’t reverse it, and he needed to accept that, and help her deal with the ramifications. And that meant supporting her in whatever decisions she made.

“A claim is a serious thing in the demon world.” Giles allowed himself to fall into lecture mode. “It’s rarely practiced anymore, because it is a commitment between two demons to cleave only unto each other. It is essentially a marriage, but it’s more binding then the human version. Death is the only way to sever the bond, and in that case, the remaining one of the pair usually wastes away from grief. As I said before, it’s a rare demon that will agree to be bound in such a way.”

“Why did Spike accept something so binding then?” Buffy queried.

“I have my own speculations about that, but ultimately, that is a question that only Spike can answer,” Giles responded.

“Does this mean he’ll have some kind of control over me?” A hint of fear shaded her voice, and Giles rushed to assure her.

“Not at all. A reciprocated claim, that is, where both individuals claim each other, are an equal share. Neither has control over the other. In a one sided claim, such as yours, it is the claimant that holds the power, in your case, you, Buffy, will have a measure of control over Spike.”

“Okay, so why do YOU think Spike accepted?” She asked again. “I mean, he must have known how claims work and he didn’t even try to place a recip-reci-“

“Reciprocal claim?”

“Yeah, that.”

“Spike and I talked a bit while you were out, earlier this evening. I believe that he felt that taking advantage of you, while you were under the influence of the spell would be akin to rape. He expressed disgust at the thought.”

“You’re telling me, that a soulless demon, has moral standards?” Buffy couldn’t contain her disbelief. All of her exposure to vampires disputed everything Giles was saying.

“I didn’t say it was easy to believe, but yes, that is what I’m telling you,” he confirmed. “And, I for one, believed him. His actions tonight, certainly indicated that he was speaking the truth. I never really got the feeling that he wanted you hurt as a result of this debacle.”

Buffy let her thoughts wander back to earlier. No, Spike hadn’t acted in any way to cause her pain. Even when she was crying on his shoulder, he went out of his way to make her feel better. He completely indulged her whims regarding the wedding, which, being aware that is was a spell; he was under no obligation to play along. He seemed to want to cause her as little distress as possible while they worked on getting the spell reversed. She was confused.

“I don’t think he did either.” She agreed with Giles, her voice soft and thoughtful.

“How do you feel about what has happened tonight?” Giles questioned.

“That’s the thing…I just don’t know!” The desperation and confusion in her voice tore at his heart. “First I hated him, then I loved him, now I don’t know what I feel.”

“Do you still think, that maybe you could still love him?”

“Spell’s over, Giles. Of course I don’t love him.” In direct contrast to her words, her voice was hesitant.

“I feel that I should point out, the wording of the spell, was for you to * marry * Spike, not love him. Spells are VERY specific. I think it is possible, that were certain…um…feelings not already present, you would have been compelled to marry for another reason. You must remember, that historically, marriages have very little to do with love. That is a modern luxury.”

Buffy tried to wrap her brain around this concept. It just wasn’t possible, was it? “That can’t be possible, Giles. I CAN’T love him. I’m the Slayer, he’s a vampire. Look at how it turned out with Angel. That proves that Slayers and vampires don’t mix, without the aid of a nice pointy stake. Xander was right, it was a freak show.”

Giles sighed. He never thought he’d be playing devil’s advocate, but the emotions ringing in Buffy’s voice, indicated that she was far less certain about her feelings than her words implied. He hated the thought of her with another vampire, especially a self professed Slayer-Killer, but Buffy’s happiness had to come first. That meant making her face ideas and concepts that she’d rather not, and helping her to determine what her feelings really were. Once she knew, then he would support her no matter what. Even if her decision was Spike.

“As much as I hate to admit it, Spike is more than your average vampire, more even than Angel. His love for Drusilla is well documented, so much so, that I’m surprised they never claimed one another. Whatever reason he had for not making that commitment to his paramour, he obviously didn’t feel applied to you. He essentially agreed to place you in a position of control, accepted that it would be binding, and then refused to equalize the claim while you were bespelled. I think it’s time to consider that he might be harboring feelings towards you.” Buffy opened her mouth, probably to loose a string of denials, but Giles continued speaking.

“As much as you might wish to think differently Buffy, your relationship with Angel proved only one thing. That you and Angel don’t work. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you and Angel would never have worked in the long term. Ignoring his disappearing-reappearing soul, what do you think it means that his demon hated you? The Council teaches that demons can’t love, but I have seen first hand that that is incorrect. I won’t lie to you this time, Buffy. It’s not all black and white; there are shades of gray to consider.

And as for Xander, since when do you worry about his opinion of your actions? He’s your friend, he’ll either come around or he won’t, but are you going to make your life decisions based entirely on what he or Willow or even myself and Joyce would think? What about what you think? I just want you to be happy, Buffy, whatever you decide.”

Buffy was struck speechless at his vehemence. Did he really mean that? And what would make her happy, anyway? “I don’t know what I want, Giles.” Her voice was tired, and she struggled to repress a yawn. There was just too much to think about tonight. She wanted to go home, and hide under the covers for a day or so, while she thought everything out. Seeing her tiredness, he decided to leave the conversation where it stood tonight. He offered her a ride, which she gratefully accepted. He wasn’t surprised when she requested to go to her house, rather than back to the dorms and Willow.

As she got out of the car, he grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable tonight. That wasn’t my intention, and I apologized if I seemed…pushy.”

Buffy smiled tiredly. “The only thing that made me uncomfortable tonight was the information overload, Giles. I swear it wasn’t you.”

“You will let me know what you decide? Or if you have any other questions?”

“She nodded. “Goodnight, Giles.” She turned and started up the walk. Looking back over her shoulder, she said, “Thank you. For listening. And for not being disappointed in me,” before continuing into the house.

Giles sighed, and headed back to his apartment. He hoped Buffy would be able to come to some sort of reconciliation with what had happened. And, he decided that first thing tomorrow, he was going to see what he could do about Willow’s magical tendencies. Something like this could never be allowed to happen again.

She’d spent the next few days thinking about what Giles had told her, and avoiding, not only Spike, but Willow and Xander as well. Every time she had seen Willow, the witch was brimming with apologies, and wanting to gush about how horrible the experience must have been for her. Buffy just couldn’t bring herself to explain that she had been horrified that it was over, not that it had happened at all. Willow wouldn’t understand, and would put on her worried face. She was still pushing her to date Riley, who she had successfully and finally put off.

After explaining that the wedding thing had been a joke, he’d been anxious to resume their courting, but she wasn’t fooling herself anymore. There was no passion there, no fire. Sure, it was safe, but since when was her life safe? He’d taken it well, and agreed that they could remain friends. Buffy was sorry that she’d hurt his feelings, but she wasn’t going to pretend that something was there when it just wasn’t. Her life was short, why should she settle?

But, she still hadn’t decided what she was going to do about Spike. Buffy knew he was still in town. She could feel him. Giles had confirmed that was part of the claiming link. She couldn’t tell his exact location, but she had no doubt that if she needed him, her tinglies would lead her straight to him. She had also discovered a disconcerting side effect. She could feel what he was feeling. When she’d told Giles, panicked that Spike could feel her emotions as well, Giles assured her that it only went both ways in an equalized claim. As it stood, she could feel him, but he couldn’t feel her.



And if she thought she was confused… Buffy found herself feeling sorry for the bleached vampire. His emotions were constantly in turmoil. Rage, fear, despair, love, loathing, all twisted up inside him. Before this mess, she’d have thought the love would have wigged her out the most. Strangely it didn’t. If anything, the fact that he was feeling love for her, no matter how reluctant and grudging, was a relief. It meant she wasn’t alone. Because she still loved him, too. Loved him enough to want to put an end to his torment. To end the constant turbulence that only increased the longer she stayed away. It had taken her three days, and constant eavesdropping on Spike’s emotions to finally realize that she was willing to take the chance. Her friends would just have to deal, and she already had the support of her Watcher. Her mother would be harder to convince, but with Giles backing her, Buffy knew she’d eventually come around. Maybe, she allowed herself to think wistfully, if Spike was so inclined they’d even get around to equalizing the claim.

So that was how she found herself standing outside of a crypt in Restfield cemetery. Her earlier suspicions had been correct; she’d just followed the tinglies straight to him. She could feel him in the crypt now, moving around. He knew she was there as well, his emotional stew leaning heavily toward elation, fear, and just a hint of anger. This would be an interesting confrontation. She had just raised her fist to knock on the door, when it was pulled open.

Spike stared at her, longing written clearly in his eyes. “Buffy.” Her name was a whispered prayer.

“Spike.” Suddenly, Buffy had no idea what to say. She just wanted their separation to be over with. Wanted to touch him again, be near him again. She hated that she had to rely on words.

Spike felt just as awkward. He’d missed her terribly, while they were apart. These last three days had been absolute Hell, and he’d been starting to wonder if she’d ever want to see him again. He stepped back from the door and motioned her in.

Buffy looked around the crypt. It was dark and a little musty, but then what else would you expect from a building that held the long dead? He’d obviously made an attempt at making it more comfortable though. There was a beat up old chair and table, as well as a slightly battered microwave and a TV that she was sure was older then she was. Several candles had been lit, and placed in various places around the area, lending a warm glow. She didn’t suppose it was too bad for a vamp.

Spike watched her nervously, as she looked around his home. He’d done what he could, but it was a bloody crypt, and why the Hell did he give a buggering fuck what she thought of the place again? Oh yeah, because he’d gone and fallen in love with the chit, like a right wanker. He knew she knew. The claim would have allowed her to feel that, but he had no idea how she would react, and after Cecily, and then Dru…He didn’t think he could handle another rejection by a woman he loved. Hence the nervousness.

Buffy was slightly amused at the play of emotions radiating from him. She could feel his nerves, as well as the frustration caused by them. Beneath it all was a deep abiding love and an undercurrent of paralyzing fear. Well, that just wouldn’t do.

“Nice…crypt,” she said, then mentally kicked herself for the inanity of the comment.

“It’s not much,” Spike said, but it’ll do until my dosh comes through.”

Buffy started at that. “You have money?” There was honest curiosity behind the question, nothing devious, but the suspicion that flared within Spike had her backpedaling. “Not, that you wouldn’t have money, but I just thought you were broke, since you were staying with Giles for help, and we were buying you blood and cigarettes, and stuff, and…and it’s good that you have money, unless it’s like from stealing or something because that would be bad…”

Spike smiled bemusedly at her words. He’d first thought that she’d been interested in the money itself. Just because he was claimed, didn’t mean that he had any intention of being a sugar-vamp. Well, not unless the spoiling was his idea in the first place. Her nervous babbling, as well as the adorable flush that stained her cheeks, let him know that she’d meant the question innocently. Innocent, he mused. He’d have to get used to that. It had been a long time since he’d been anything other than a means to an end.

“Yeah, pet,” he cut off her string of increasingly nonsensical ramblings. “It’s legal. Scrounged up a fair amount of pretties when I went after the Gem. Just been waiting on the profits from the scavenge to come through.”

“Oh.” She frowned as another though struck her. “Then you’ll be paying Giles back for all the money he spent up keeping you, right?”

Spike snorted. “Not bloody likely. I’m evil, you dozy bint!”

“Hey!” She really wanted to be indignant, but frankly, she wasn’t there to fight, and just being in his presence seemed to have a soothing effect. She let the insult go, in favor of hitting him with something much more damaging. “You’re not as evil as you like to think you are, you know.” She smiled at him smugly.

Spike was struck almost speechless. “You…you…take that back!” The appalled expression on his face, just made Buffy’s grin widen.

“Oh, I’m not saying you’re good…”

“Bloody well, better not be.”

She ignored his disgruntled mumbling and continued. ”But, Giles told me about your behavior while I was under the spell. I gotta say, you surprised me. I would have thought…well I don’t know how to explain what I thought without it sounding completely egotistical, but that’s not how I mean it. I just mean that you could have hurt me and you didn’t. Hell, you were nice to me. Indulgent, even, once we figured out that I wasn’t really in control of my behavior. You didn’t want me hurt, even the me under the spell. How is that the behavior of a completely evil being?”

“Well, I could have just been trying to avoid being staked.” Spike had no idea why he was trying to convince her that he was evil and everything he did was selfishly motivated. This wasn’t the way that he had planned their first conversation. Though, to be fair, in his musings, it wasn’t so much conversation they’d been having…

Buffy smiled. His confusion was plain on his face, and he was just so cute in his denial. “You know, Angel once told me that you were never demon enough for Angelus,” she said carefully, knowing this was a thorny subject. Especially since Drusilla had left him for a similar reason. When he growled in warning, she hurriedly continued. “If it was Angelus who was in that situation, would he have been half as pleasant? Come to think of it, would Angelus have even come to us for help in the first place?”

“Bollocks!” Spike exploded. “Throw him in my face. What is it with that soddin’ wanker and women? Can you explain it to me, because I don’t bloody see it!” He began pacing in his agitation.

Buffy could she he was seconds away from becoming violent. Or, possibly sulky…his mood was too all-over-the-place to gauge. She rushed to interrupt him before he worked himself into an even bigger snit. “Spike, did you even hear what I said? I don’t care that you’re not ”demon enough” for anybody else.” The exasperation was clear in her voice. “I’m glad of it. I like it. I like you.”

Spike stopped. He’d obviously never quite thought of it that way. If anything, the maelstrom of his emotions became even more chaotic. “You…like me?” he asked, with a questioning tilt of his head.


“Yeah, I kinda do.” Buffy was suddenly shy. She hated words, and wished, not for the first time, that Spike could feel her emotions as she felt his. It would be so much easier. Since, he couldn’t she had to actually tell him what she was feeling. And given that she’d decided to be honest… “I kinda more than like you.”

“More than like?” He took a step closer to her. He watched her turn red for the umpteenth time that night. He smirked, suddenly feeling a little more sure of himself. She was leveling the playing field by telling him her feelings. Giving them equal vulnerability. It touched him, that she would do that. He found himself, not for the first time, being glad of the innate sense of fairness that the white-hats seemed to possess. He hesitantly reached for her hand. When she grasped it firmly, twining their fingers together, he could have sworn his heart started beating again.

“Yeah.” Her voice was husky from nerves and something else. Obviously rallying, she looked him with a directness he was proud of. There was his Slayer. “I’m in love with you, Spike.”

He smiled at her. A sweet smile that took her breath away, not his usual sardonic smirk. She resolved to do what she could to make that smile appear more often.

“That works out nicely then.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. They both relished the feel of being near each other after this last separation.

Leaning back slightly, Spike cleared his throat before asking, “Where do we go from here?”

“Well,” Buffy smiled shyly, “we’re together, right?” At her worried look, he kissed her again.

“What about your Scoobies?” He really didn’t relish the thought of having to watch his back for stakes when the whelp found out.

“You let me worry about my friends.” She grinned in anticipation. That would be interesting. Xander’s head might actually explode. “I might ask you to play nicely, though. Maybe help with patrolling.”

“So I get to kill demons and have myself a nice pretty Slayer for my very own?” Spike smirked. “I think I could be persuaded.” And he caught her lips in another kiss.



The End