He was strolling through the graveyard, smoking. Per usual on weeknights he was making his rounds. There was no real rhyme or reason to it, but he was trying to get his mind off of her. One minute he wanted to kill her, the next to shag her. He sighed. The woman was hot and cold anyway. He knew she wanted him but there was no way that he was willing to hide their relationship.

***********************************************************
Three nights ago Buffy had showed up at his crypt step to talk about random things. He entertained her because it gave him reason to be around her. This was happening a lot more than she would ever admit. When she went to leave that night they lingered in the door way for a while. He had kept her smiling all night, and had to admit she had been quite creative in the conversation they were having.

“I really should go. Dawn might still be up”

Spike stood in front of the door, hand on the knob. “Yeah, I understand. So are we patrolling tomorrow night?”

“That might be good. Why? Did you have other plans?” Buffy said with a smile. She knew he didn’t.
He just shrugged.

“Just thought maybe you would want a change of scenery pet.”

“I’m not your pet and what do you mean?”

“Heard something the other night, at the poker game, about the high school. Might be something new lurking about, thought you might want to check it out. But, if you’re content with playing sitting duck its fine by me.”

“Well why don’t you ask around and be sure, then if anything turns up we’ll go.”

“Right Slayer”

They stood there for a second in a type of awkward silence. Buffy reached past him to grab her coat on the counter. He closed his eyes and shuddered slightly, praying she wouldn’t pick up on his rather uncomfortable circumstance. He opened his eyes again and she was inches from him. Her eyes looked as big as saucers. He stepped back.

“I should probably…”

“You should…”

“Go” they said simultaneously.

It sent shivers down his back. They stepped forward at the same time, bumping into each other when they reached for the door. Her back was too the door and he was standing in front of her.

“Sorry” he mumbled.

“I’m not” she said simply.

In an instant her lips were pressed against his. His body tensed at first, then relaxed when she slid her arms over his neck. They broke for a second to catch their breath.

Her lungs were burning, her whole body felt on fire. What he could do to her with just a kiss… but she wanted more.

“Buffy… what is going on?”

“Does it really matter?” she smiled and wrapped her arms around him again.

The look on his face made her want to take back what she had just said. He had been waiting for her for years. His gaze grew distant. Of course it mattered to him.

“You need to go, Slayer.” Spike opened the door.

Buffy had run out on him a hundred times before, but this time after he closed the door, things had changed.

***********************************************************

He flicked his cigarette. There was a fledgling trying to sneak its way up behind him, but he heard it coming from two miles away. Spike had already vamped out, in anticipation of shocking the little creep. Just when he was getting ready to turn around and toy with it, Buffy jumped out from behind a tree and staked the thing.

“Um, were you going to get that?” She asked, skeptical.

Spike pouted and rolled his eyes. “I am the one that’s supposed to suck the life out of things Slayer. I was doing just fine till you spoiled my fun.”

“Your fun? You were going to torture it, weren’t you?”

“Have to have some sort of punching bag for my frustration.”

“I guess that’s true. Okay, I owe you a fledgling.”

“Well, we could give it a toss. What do you say?”

“What do you mean?” Buffys voice got higher pitched at that comment.

“Sparring, Slayer. That thing we used to do? You know you hit me, I hit you back without trying to kill each other?”

“Oh, yeah. We could do that”

It had been a solid two months since they had fought each other. Between saving the world and being dead Buffy didn’t really have the time. Spike planted his feet, ready for the kick in the head or in the gut. He needed a fight, a real blood pumping violent fight. He needed to get some aggression out. And who better to do that with than the object of his frustration.

“We going to dance or what?” He cocked an eyebrow at her.

Something in her eyes sparked. There was nothing comparable to fighting Spike, nothing close. He had been around her too long. He knew what she did, how she moved. Fighting him was different. In the back of her mind she knew if he really wanted to he could kill her. That knowledge terrified and turned her on at the same time. The other upside to fighting Spike was having his body pressed against hers and feeling his muscles move. He was incredible.

She immediately went for a jump kick, which he easily dodged. He was behind her in seconds grabbing at her left wrist. She whipped around, arm above her head, but he held on. She punched him in the gut with her right fist. He moaned a little, but it sounded more like a sigh. He didn’t let go.

Then something Dawn had told her about him click. His eyes widened and he released her immediately. His voice filled the grave yard loudly. Buffy had started tickling him.

This was too good. His sides were so sensitive, something she had never really considered before. Their usual confrontations consisted of trying to break each other. He fell to the ground and curled up into the fetal position while Buffy continued her attack. His leather duster was in the way now, but that didn’t stop her from trying to get him to surrender. She had managed to get him on his back and pin his arms to his sides.

Spike had vamped out. He had realized that Buffy had the advantage when she started. That and he was secretly pissed off because he had actually been looking for a fight, not a flirting session. She straddled him there, slightly confused at his change. He laid still for a moment, watching her, trying to anticipate her next move. Suddenly she stood up.

“Sorry Spike, that wasn’t really fair.” She said reaching her hand out for him to take.

“Last bloody time I let the little bit know something about me, that’s for damn sure.” He stared at her hand as he got up.

They stood there for a moment in silence.

“Do you want to give it another try? I promise no dirty moves.” She asked him with a smile.

He chuckled, “Oh there will be dirty moves alright.”

It took her a second to register what he had said, Spike used that second to his advantage to get his hands on her. Her face lit up, and a smile stretched from ear to ear as his assault began.

He was all over her in seconds, whispering fingers over her sensitive areas. She split. A huge laugh broke about between them as he chased her around the grave yard, trying to catch her and return the favor. All the sudden it had turned into a game of hide and seek.

She was gone. Spike stopped, trying to sense her. Her heart was beating wildly but he couldn’t tell exactly where from. He walked to his crypt and the sound became louder. She was right behind his door. He smiled.

“Oh where oh where has my Slayer gone, oh where oh where can she be…?” He sing-songed out then threw open the door.

He looked immediately behind the door, but she wasn’t there. He took a few steps, trying to smell her out. The scent of her arousal was unmistakable. She jumped out from behind him and he whirled around to catch her.

“Slayer” he whispered, his eyes narrowing.

“Vampire.” She said with a smirk.

That was it, he had her now. His hands traveled up her shirt to tickle her relentlessly. She squirmed and shrieked and tried to wiggle away from him. He grabbed her around the middle to stop her from going anywhere and continued to torture her. He knew, from watching her for so long, exactly where she was most sensitive. Then, all the sudden, he let go.

“Buffy, luv, what is that?”

“What?” she said giggling. She thought he was trying to distract her so he could continue his physical attack.

“Well.. that love.” He pointed to her back.

Buffy’s shirt had ridden up while she was trying to get Spike off her. It had gotten caught in her bra revealing skin that she had been trying to keep covered. Her eyes widened with realization. She had been trying to keep it a secret for a month now. She smiled.

“Oh that. Um, a tattoo.”

His eyes were fixated on her now. “Do you mind if I…”

“You want to see it?”

“Well yeah!”

She was unsure at this point whether Spikes reaction was good or bad.

“Okay.”

Then without warning, Buffy pulled off her shirt. Spike wasn’t expecting that, but once he could see that what he had been staring at was larger than he predicted, he understood. When Buffy had taken off her shirt it revealed a hand sized tattoo over her back left ribs. At first all Spike saw was fire. With closer inspection he realized that Buffy had a Phoenix tattooed on her side.

Buffy knew that the bra obstructed the artwork, so without hesitation, she undid the back clasp so he could get a better look. Spike flinched slightly. He stepped closer to further inspect the bird. It was beautiful, rising out of the ashes and covered in flames. The color detailed in it was truly something impressive. Spike was completely floored.

“What do you think?” She asked quietly.

“You continue to surprise me Buffy. Never pegged you as the type to go get something like this done.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“I like it.”

Buffy smiled. She had been so nervous about anyone finding out about her little adventure. What she never would have said was that she really wanted Spike to be the one to find it. He had been there through everything after she came back from heaven. She really wanted to surprise him.

“It’s you, isn’t it?” he asked as his hand ran down her side.

“Yeah” She answered in a whisper. Only Spike could have made that connection.

For his part, Spike was shocked. He did like the tattoo, he had just never guesses that Buffy would want one. In his day, tattoos were something for outlaws. After he was turned he thought about getting one, but the whole immortal factor had deterred him. If he didn’t like it, it would be stuck on him forever in the most literal sense.

“I just can’t seem to stay dead.” She stated vaguely.

Spike nodded knowingly. “Did it hurt when you got it?”

She looked him dead in the eyes and said “It felt great.”

Spike clenched his jaw. “You mean it made you feel”

He could see the hurt in her eyes as she quickly redressed.

“I got it because I liked it and I felt like it represented me. Just keep your mouth shut, okay? I don’t need everyone overanalyzing why I did it. I really didn’t expect you to do that either.”

Spike did not anticipate that sort of reaction from her. Buffy started to walk out the crypt, and he could tell she was far from okay. He’d known it for some time. He followed her, and when she opened the door he stopped her.

“Buffy…”

Spike grabbed her and held her. She tried to get away from him, tried to push him away. He would not let her go. She stopped struggling eventually. Spike could feel his shirt getting soaked, then made a decision. He picked her up and walked over to his chair. He sat down and held her. For the longest time, they just stayed there. Buffy sobbed into his shoulder and shook uncontrollably. Spike slid one arm around her and held her tight. The other hand was smoothing her hair, rubbing her back, anything he could think of to try to comfort her. He decided it would be better to not quiet her, she needed this. So he held her and she wept.

When the sobbing slowed Spike looked at her. Her face was red and her eyes were blood shot. He couldn’t help but wonder if she had even cried since coming back. It felt like she hadn’t. He lightly caressed her cheek and waited.

The silence and cool comfort that Spike provided felt so safe to her. She hadn’t been able to sleep without nightmares. The only time she could relax was when she was with him. She was so tired of being so empty. The she stopped thinking so hard and noticed Spike was breathing.

“Spike I…” she really was so tired she was at a loss for words.

Spike was quiet, lost in thought. She could see it in the way he was looking at her, but seeing right through her. He hoped she trusted him enough by now, hoped she knew that his motives would be pure.

“You should stay here tonight, luv.”

“Okay”

It was that simple, and he was so thankful for it. She needed rest, she needed to feel protected and he was the only one who could provide that for her. He scooped his arms under her knees and around her back. He had imagined doing this a thousand times, but never for this reason. He carried her downstairs and placed her on the bed. Then he busied himself looking for something for her to sleep in. He decided that one of his red silk shirts would be oversized on her, then grabbed a pair of boxers out of a drawer.

When he handed them to her, she smiled. “I didn’t think you wore boxers.”

Spike just smirked.

Spike headed back towards his latter, opting for water from the kitchen.

“Where are you going?”

“I was getting you some water”

“Oh”

When he came back down to his room Buffy was curled up asleep in his bed. He set the glass on the nightstand and headed back upstairs.

“Spike?” Buffy whispered.

“Yes luv.”

“You coming to bed?”

Spike hadn’t predicted that Buffy was going to want him to sleep with her. In fact, he was planning to sleep in his chair.

“Spike, please, can you stay with me?”

That would have broken his heart. He quickly kicked off his boots and climbed into bed with her. She snuggled up to him like there was no thought about it. He laid there thinking about this situation, about her, about everything for some time. Finally, he drifted off to sleep.

Spike awoke with a start. He laid there for a moment, going through all the possibilities the morning could bring. He had almost fully accepted the possibility that Buffy could have left already when he heard a sigh coming from his side. She was still asleep, just now turned away from him. He watched her for a while, then decided to get up.

He knew what he was going to do if she had left. It would be another normal day. But now he wasn’t quite so sure what to do, she was still there.

Spike could hear something vibrating somewhere. He found Buffy’s phone in her pants and opened it. She had 7 text messages. Those people couldn’t leave her alone. He didn’t have to go through them to know what they said. He turned the phone off and set it on the dresser. The battery was almost dead anyway.

“Spike?” Buffy called out groggily. “Where’d you go?” She said into her pillow.

“Right here.” He said as he walked back over to the bed. “Good morning”

“Hi. What time is it?”

“About noon.”

“Oh. That’s later then I thought. Can you hand me my pants?”

Spike laughed in his head. He grabbed the material and threw them on the bed. He walked over to his bar and poured himself a drink while she got dressed.

“Isn’t it a little early for that?” Buffy asked, referring to the Jack Daniels.

“I suppose it may be but, I am a hundred and something years old and dead. I think I will survive.”

Buffy was still wearing his shirt. At the surprised look on his face, Buffy just shrugged.

“ Its comfie. So what are you up to today?”

Spike just scowled at her.

“Right. Day meaning sun. Sun meaning vampires stay inside.”

“Sun also meaning telle luv, or maybe sleep, or maybe 101 things that could keep me occupied. I have evil to plan you know? Very bad bad genius things. You should be afraid.” His voice lowered as he creeped over to her.

“So I am supposed to be afraid of the evil vampire whose bed I just slept in? Or the vampire who I almost tickled into a second death yesterday? Yeah, you’re right. I am terrified.”

Spike walked around the bar and poured himself another drink. There would be no winning after that.

“Shouldn’t you be off running around with the Scoobies right now? They might be having a group hug without you.”

“At the moment they are probably trying to do a locator spell on me.” Buffy conceited. She reached into her pockets to try to find something. “Spike, do you know where I set my phone last night?”

Spike sighed. “It’s on the dresser. I turned it off. Twas about to die.”

Buffy walked over to the dresser, picked it up, and turned it on. She started flipping through the messages, growing more frustrated the more she read.

“God! Why can’t they just leave me alone! It’s been months and, yes! I am still alive! I am still here because they wanted me to be. I am so sick of everything I do being overanalyzed and second guessed. I can’t go 24 hours without checking in! I am the Slayer, not some wide eyed teenager that doesn’t know her way around a curling iron. God damn it!”

Spike just leaned against the wall and watched her. It was sort of amusing, although he would never admit it. She was right though this was getting ridiculous.

“Buffy, luv, I have an idea.”

“Does it consist of murdering my friends?”

Spike chuckled. That was the first time he had ever heard her joke about harming humans. “No luv. I turned your phone off because I didn’t want it to bother you. Maybe you should just let me have it for a little while. If some life or death situation comes up, I will give it back. Fair?”

Buffy contemplated it. Spike never let anything bother him the way she did. It sounded like a good idea, but…
“We have to go to the house and get the charger.”

“Okay”

*******************************************************

“It’s like you’ve done this before” Buffy observed as Spike snuck into her house and up the stairs to her room.

He only looked at her. It said enough. It was always strange for her to consider that he had practically been living there while she was dead. In view of what their relationship was like before she left, she could only attempt to understand why he had stayed. She knew he said he was keeping his promise to protect Dawn. Was there something more than that? On several occasions he had given her reason to believe that he still loved her. He hadn’t said it since that day. There would be no easy way of going about this with Spike. She was attracted to him, had feelings for him, but was unsure of what he wanted their relationship to be.

Spike walked around the room as if he had never been in there before. He was looking for her charger, but figured he might as well see the sights. And while he was playing stupid, Spike knew every last inch of that room. He knew where her jewelry was, how the books were organized, and exactly where she kept the charger. He wondered what would happen if he told her that he had spent most of that summer in her room. She was still standing in the doorway, just staring at him.

“See something you like?” He smiled.

Buffy rolled her eyes and walked over to sit on the bed. She looked around the room at the objects so familiar and yet so foreign. Ever since the day that the pictures in her room appeared to be dead people, she couldn’t look at them. She could barely look at herself in the mirror.

“Hey lets get out of here.” Spike had noticed that she was tensing up. He leaned over the bedside table to grab the charger. He came back up and her eyes met his gaze. She smiled at him and shook her head. He just shrugged, not much to say with your hand in the cookie jar. For a moment, if only a moment, he saw the spark in her eyes come back.

“Buffy?” Spike whispered as he moved closer to her.

“You want me to be happy, right?”

Spike looked at her confused.

“I mean, if you had the ability to fix this, you would try. Right?”

Spike nodded his head. She got noticeably sadder.

“What is it luv, what are you thinking about?”

“I was just thinking, and please don’t take this the wrong way… Three years ago, if I had asked you to kill me, it would have been a dream come true for you. Slayer of the slayers. You are the only one who has ever been capable of doing it. And you were right- maybe I do have a death wish. But now it’s more complicated than that.”

Spike couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Had Buffy just asked him to kill her? Was that why the spark in her eyes had come back? He sat down on the bed next to her. She leaned into him and he wrapped his arm around her.

“Luv, they didn’t tell me. I would have stopped them”

The blue in his eyes had turned to ice. It wasn’t often that he got that look, he was vulnerable and incredibly strong at the same time. Buffy pressed herself close to him and took a deep breath.

“Do you still love me?”

“I never stopped, not for one second.” he whispered and wrapped his other arm around her.

“Do you know what you’re getting yourself into?”

Spike paused and took a breath. “Yeah. I knew the day I met you. I dunno how or why. But I knew I loved you. And I knew I was gunna havta wait for you for some time. I don’t care, I’ll wait till you finally understand it. I just know that there is no chance you could ever love me, not till you can love yourself again.”

Buffy sat up “Spike I’m…” She thought about it for a second. Spike bit his lower lip. “Spike I’m so sorry.”

“Why? What for? You haven’t done anything.”

“I don’t know how to explain it, but I am going to try. I am sorry for using you. When I came back I just didn’t identify with anyone. Everyone acts so different around me. When I saw you, when I am around you, things make sense. I don’t have to pretend everything is okay, and you don’t care that it’s not. Well… you care about me, and you really see me. Anyway maybe it’s not that I am sorry for now, I am sorry for before. Do you get what I am saying or is it just a big jumbly mess?”

Spike chuckled. “Luv, I think I am about the only one who understands that. And I should probably have my head checked out. There is nothing to be sorry about. I have always wanted to be there for you. Always been drawn to you. I think you are over thinking everything because I am still, and will always be a vampire. Think about it. If I had been human when we met, there would not be a problem with us being whatever it is we are. But I don’t think it would have worked, you can’t be with a human. They can’t possibly understand what it is to be the Slayer. Even the bunch you got caring about you don’t get it.”

Buffy was silent. She didn’t want to think about it anymore. She wanted Spike, all the time, couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was holding her still, and it was great she wanted to stay like that always. But she also wanted him. To kiss him, to feel his body pressing hers against the bed. But would he allow it? He said he knew she could not love him till she loved herself again.

Buffy turned to face him. His eyes were kind and the expression on his face soft. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his. He didn’t protest, kissed her back, but he didn’t take it any farther than the kiss. When they broke his eyes were still closed.

“Spike, how are you holding yourself back?” She whispered

He opened his eyes. “You have to understand. I love you so much. I have to be sure you feel the same and that this isn’t just… residual of you coming back. I can’t have you hating me later, you’ll kill me. If I can’t have all of you luv…”

“I get it, I understand.” She exhaled and smiled “If I were you I would probably want the same. I don’t think I am going to be back to normal Spike, not ever. But I know there is still something I have to… face before…”

“Yeah, I have that same feeling too.”

“I need you to know I want this”

Spike nodded. “I do. Maybe it would be better if you stayed here tonight luv. So we can have time and think.”

Her heart lurched. “I want you to stay”

“You need some time, so do I.”

With that he stood up and kissed her again. “All you have to do is call, and I will be back”

And then, he was gone.

“I was so worried about you last night. Where were you?” Willow asked.

“I was out, okay. I needed to think and there were demons that needed slaying.”

“You didn’t call, and you didn’t come home. I was scared that you… something happened.”

“Nothing happened Wills! I was safe! I am the slayer and you are not my mother!”

Willow frowned. “Buff. I am not trying to be your mom, I just worry about you”

“You know what, I understand that Will. I really do, but you of all people have no right to worry about me anymore.”

“Buffy!”

She had left the room. There was no way she was going to do this anymore. Not when she knew what she could have, what she could be. She grabbed her coat and headed for the Magic box. Maybe it was sad that she would rather listen to Anya talk about money or sex than be in the same room with her best friend. What she wouldn’t give to be back in Spikes crypt.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. It had to be Willow. She turned it off and rounded the corner to the store. She could see through the window that Giles and Xander were inside with Anya. This could go either way.

“Hey guys! What you up to?” she greeted them as she walked through the door.

“I was just telling the boys that if they would move some things around in here we could make more money. It all has to do with display and product placement.” Anya piped up

“And we were just trying to convince my girlfriend that the shop is doing fine as is. People get confused when you move things. Remember the time she tried to alphabetize stuff?” Xander added in.

“Buffy, how are you?” Giles asked, annoyed at the others.

“Good Giles. How are you?”

“Alright. Would you like to talk in the other room?”

“Sure. I was actually thinking about training. You up for it?”

“Anything” He puffed as they walked away from the quarreling couple.

Buffy did a cartwheel as soon as her feet hit the mat. There was something about being in this room that gave her a sense of freedom. She didn’t have to be anyone but herself. She didn’t have to pretend when she was fighting.

“Buffy, out of curiosity, how have you been feeling since you came back? I mean physically. Do you feel stronger or, maybe tired?” Giles asked her.

“When I first came back I was tired all the time. Now I feel strong again. Maybe even stronger than before. Spike was saying the other night he thinks I am packing a lot harder than I used to.”

“Really? Hmmm. Buffy are you sparring with Spike? I didn’t think you wanted to because he couldn’t defend himself.”

“Oh Giles, please don’t make a big deal out of it. He has been able to defend himself, to hit me, since I came back. He hasn’t hurt me, it’s just sparring. He wouldn’t hurt me, he cares too much.”

Giles was silent for a moment, lost in thought. He cleaned his glasses. “Very well then. If you believe that I am okay with it. Let’s start on the basics.”

Buffy stretched out her muscles. In no time she was back into the momentum of training. Giles was throwing nearly everything he had at her, and she was dodging and blocking with precision. She had been right, she was vastly improved since the last time they had trained. The only thing missing was that sparkle that was usually in her eye.

They continued for about an hour. Truth be told, Giles was exhausted by the time he stopped her. She had barely even broken a sweat. He dismissed himself as she turned toward the punching bag.

“So Giles, how’d it go in there? She beat the pulp out
of you?” Xander quipped unknowingly.

“Something like that. Have either of you discovered anything new about what is going on at the high school?”

“Actually there is another demon trying to open the hell mouth. What’s new?” Anya answered.

“Well I was just inquiring is all. It seems Buffy is more than ready for a challenge. She should go investigate. Tomorrow night. Find out what you can before then, we will all meet here at nightfall. I think it’s time for everyone to go home, get a good night’s sleep.”

Anya and Xander didn’t protest. Anya closed down the shop and said something about having more orgasm time before she left. Buffy came out of the training room a few minutes after they left.

“Everybody left huh? That’s cool. So what’s up now?”

“Tomorrow everyone is going to meet here at nightfall. We’re going to check out the school. There is
something trying to open the hell mouth and we need to find out what it is.”

“Okay, so I guess that means home then.”

“Yes, and I highly suggest you get some rest. We don’t know what we are facing tomorrow.”

“Good night, Giles”

“Goodnight Buffy”

With that Buffy was out the door. But she wasn’t at all tired. Not remotely. Being that she was in Sunnydale, there weren’t any shops open at eleven o’clock at night. The Bronze had lost a lot of its appeal, too many high schoolers there now. She decided that maybe she could be the Slayer for a moment and stop by the cemetery. And it couldn’t hurt to check on her favorite peroxide blonde.

She jumped the fence into the cemetery with ease. The gate was only six feet away, but it was more fun to pretend it wasn’t. Her training session left something to desire, something she could only get from Spike. She worried for a moment that maybe she should just go home. He did say they needed time to think. Buffy didn’t want to think about things anymore. Although she considered that maybe it was him that needed time. She wanted to just move on with her life. There was no use in analyzing the past over and over again.

“Slayer”

That was not the voice she was hoping to hear.

***********************************************************
Spike was flying high. Although he was trying to hide it behind his bad ass persona, he was happy. For the first time in a long time he was sure of what he wanted, and it didn’t involve any sort of evil planning or manipulating. Buffy was slowly but surely getting back to herself, and being open about her feelings for him. He had waited so long for her to even admit there was a chance they should be together. She was still detached a lot, but she told him he made her feel grounded.

He pulled out another cigarette and lit it. He had been leaning up against the biggest tree on Revello Drive for some time now. There was a pile of disgarded cigs at his feet. He wondered if she could sense him outside, or if she had gone to sleep already. Spike decided to find out for himself.

At this time of night, Dawn should be asleep. And there was no sign of Red anywhere. He opened the front door to the house, which he thought meant she was still awake. Buffy could never sleep with her door unlocked. He climbed the stairs and could see from there that her bedroom door was open. There was a light on and Spike could see a shadow moving in the room. He opened the door the rest of the way only to reveal that it was in fact not Buffy in the room.

**********************************************************

The tombstone shattered as if it were made of glass. Buffy quickly got up to defend herself from another strike, but they were too fast, too many. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed to run. *Spike* she thought to herself *where the hell are you when I need you*

She booked it over to the crypt, praying that he could already sense her panic and that he had weapons in hand. The two vampires behind her were in hot pursuit. She hoped they wouldn’t throw Spike for a loop when she got there. She burst open the door only to find the top half of the crypt empty. As she jumped down the hole in the floor she pulled the hatch shut. Her attackers couldn’t know about this place, there was no way. Spike had told her once that he couldn’t smell her when the hatch was shut, he had better not been lying.

She gathered the weapons in sight and waited.

************************************************************

“Bloody Hell, what are you doing here?” Spike rolled his eyes. How could he not have sensed this?

“Well Spike I had come for Buffy. I didn’t realize the two of you had made nice. It’s a pity really. I thought I had told you to stay away from her.”

“When was the last time I listened to a word you said?”

“Not for about a hundred years now. Maybe that’s why you ended up so pathetic.”

“This coming from the bloke who has a soul and leads an evil law firm. Now I am terrified.”

“Where is Buffy?”

“Do you think if I knew that I would be here?”

“You smell like you have been around her recently.”

“Yeah and? She is allowed to be around whoever she wants, and it just so happens to be me.”

“Ha! William look what you have been reduced to. You follow the slayer around as if you are her pet. What a sorry excuse for the last of the blood line. I should put you out of your misery.”

“Angelus?”

***********************************************************

She could hear footsteps above her. The high pitch of Drusilla’s whining was unmistakable. How Spike stayed with that crazy bitch baffled her. The other vampire she had never seen before. It was a blonde woman, who had the same ancient feel about her as Dru, Spike, and Angel. She could only assume that this was Darla.

The vampires walked around the top floor, and Buffy stayed quiet and still. While she knew she could take one of the vampires by herself, she was unsure about what would happen if she faced both. These were not just some fledgling vamps she was up against.

The walking stopped and Buffy heard the door close. She decided to play it safe and wait till she was sure they were gone. It occurred to her then that Spike could be in danger. She tried to stay calm, but the thought made her heart beat faster. Where was he?

************************************************************

“If you hurt Buffy or Dawn, so help me I will kill you now.” Spike said while he tried to pick up on the girls heartbeats. He could hear one beating regularly down the hall.

“I haven’t gotten my hands on the slayer yet, and I have no interest in the girl. Tell me Spike, when did you become so possessive of humans?”

“About the same time you left. What do you want?”

Angelus narrowed his eyes. “I came for two things. I wanted you to know I am back, and so are the girls. They insisted on finding you, seeing if there was a vampire left to salvage. It can be like old times William, I would let you kill the slayer. She was the other one I came for. Thought I might have some fun with her before killing her.”

“Is that it? That’s what you came for? I don’t believe that for one sodden second. If you leave now, I won’t tell her you came for a day. You can get a start before she hunts and kills you.” Spike had no such intentions, but he needed to find her fast.

Angelus grinned. “Oh but the girls will be so disappointed if they don’t get to have you back, Dru wants to play with her dolly.”

“What do you mean by girls?”

“They brought Darla back Spike, she is as good as new. Think of the terror we could wreak.”

“Get out! Now!” Spike vamped out.

Angelus only starred him up and down. “Very well. I will give you some time to consider it. Don’t be long.”

With a fang filled smile, Angelus disappeared.

Buffy heard footsteps again. They circled the top floor and stopped right above the trap door. Buffy stayed very still and listened. The door opened. From where she was she could not see it. She crouched behind the bed, sword in hand. The footsteps came closer. Buffy decided she couldn’t wait any longer. She jumped out from behind the bed and attacked. Her kick sent the intruder flying. With further inspection she realized that the intruder had not been an intruder at all. Lying there, against what used to be a dresser, was the man she had been so worried about all this time.

Spike groaned. “Next time you want to spar luv, might give a man some notice, eh?” His hand trying rubbing his shoulder.

Buffy flew to his side trying to fix the situation. “Oh my gosh Spike I am so sorry! I thought you were someone else. I didn’t mean to… What are you smiling about? Spike!”

“I’m smiling because you were worried about me.”

“Well duh! Drusilla and Darla come back and you don’t think I would be the least bit worried? What are you smoking?” Buffy was exasperated by his response.

Spikes mood entirely changed. “So they are back then? He wasn’t just making it up.”

“They are back, who is he?”

“Angelus”

“Oh my god… He is here with them? What happened?”

“Well I went to your house to talk and he was there in your room. He said something about killing you and making it like old times. There is something else though, he wouldn’t have come here just for that.”

“I didn’t figure he would. He was in my room! I have to get that invite taken away.” Her eyes widened “Is Dawn okay?”

“She is fine luv, sleeping as it was. I checked before I left, but we should probably go back to the house tonight.”

Buffy had already started moving by the time Spike finished his sentence. In fact she was on the phone and out the door trying to wake Willow up.

************************************************************

When they got there everything was the exact same way Spike had left it. Buffy checked on Dawn to make sure she was alright, then headed down to the living room. Spike had made himself at home on the couch. He was reading some magazine that was more than likely out of date. He looked so much like he belonged there. Without a thought Buffy sat down next to him and pulled his arm around her waist.

Spike tried not to show any emotion towards the action she had just taken. He continued to read his article and tried to relax.

“Did you ever wear glasses? When you were human I mean.” Buffy asked

Spike raised an eyebrow at that. “Yeah, bloody torture devices. That was one thing I was very glad about after I was turned. No more losing the contraptions and being blind for the day.”

Buffy just sighed and snuggled closer to him. In this brief moment, she had normal. She reached her hand out to cup his cheek and pulled him in for a kiss. Simple, chaste, and sweet. When it ended Spike returned to his article, and Buffy to her snuggling. Normal.

There was a knock at the door. They both got up to open it. There was Willow and Tara, arms full with ingredients to break the invite that Angelus had to the house. No more normal. They came in quickly, as if they suspected the vampires to be watching.

For his part, Spike had to walk into the other room. He got too hot headed around Red, couldn’t really stand the sight of her. Over the summer when he had been watching after Dawn, they had a lot of disagreements about her. Willow seemed to think that his promise to Buffy was null and void after her death, Spike was not about to leave the last Summers girl.

The witches set to work with their potion mixing and incantations. The living room was overtaken by all sorts of magical ingredients. By the time they were done the house was protected not only from Angelus, Dru, and Darla but from an array of mystical spells too. It also had a new warning barrier. Buffy quickly thanked the witches for all that they had done for her and they were on their way. Something told her Willow didn’t really want to stick around there very long.

When all was said and done it was about three in the morning. Buffy was beat. She headed towards the stairs and Spike followed.

“I’m so going to bed.” She yawned

“Right then. I better let you get some sleep.” He replied, his hand on the door knob. Buffy really didn’t like that.

“Where do you think you are going?” she said as she took his hand off the door.

“To my crypt. You said you were going to bed.” Spike dared not hope she wanted him to stay. It would be too much if he did and she didn’t.

“Right. I am going to bed, and you are coming with me.”

“Buffy…”

“Don’t be a child. Angelus, Dru, and Darla are looking for both of us. They want to kill me and turn you back.” She paused for a moment. “I mean… unless you want Dru…”

“Don’t even bloody think about it. I don’t. Its like a bad dream that happened forever ago. And I may hate pigs blood, but I hate Angelus more. That and I kinda like you.” He teased.

“All the more reason why you are staying here with me. And you are not sleeping on the couch, don’t even try it”

“It’s hard to argue with that”

“Then why are we still here?”

Spike shut his mouth. She was right. He picked her up and carried her over his shoulder to her room, where he dropped her on her bed. She just laughed. He dumped his leather jacket on the chair and pulled off his boots. Buffy went into the bathroom to change and brush her teeth. When they met again Spike just looked at her as if he had never seen her before. What had he done to deserve this?

Buffy came out of the bathroom wearing nothing but his shirt and panties. Her hair was down, the blonde locks falling on her shoulders. Spikes heart had started beating again, he was sure of it. Spike was sitting on the bed, shell shocked.

“What? You’ve never seen a girl get ready for bed before?”

“Buffy, if you are wearing that to bed, I am going to have to go home.”

In a second she was straddling his waist. “Spike” she whispered as she kissed him. “I want you” she said as she kissed a path down his neck. “I want to be yours.”

“Buffy” he moaned. “It hasn’t been a day. Thought we were going to figure this out.” His body was betraying him. As much as he wanted to be completely positive about her state of mind, his need for her was taking over. It didn’t help that she was asking him to make her his.

Buffy stopped her assault on his neck and stared into his eyes. “Spike, loving you was the easiest decision I ever made. I just didn’t know it till now.”

Spike closed his eyes. Everything about this was just so real. “Say it. Please say it.”

“Spike, I love you”

Electricity ran through his body.

“I love you”

Blood started pouring through his veins.

“I love you so much.”

Buffy was again kissing him. His jaw, his neck, his lips. With every touch of her lips to his skin she whispered “Yours”

When Spikes eyes opened again Buffy’s were there to meet him. “Spike, I love you. I want to be yours.”

“Buffy I love you so much.” All the control he had was gone. He was going to make love to her with everything he had.

Buffy had been playing with his shirt all along. It was now gone. His hands had traveled up under the shirt she was wearing to feel her hips, her sides. She was so smooth and hot. He swallowed hard. His fingers busied themselves with undoing the buttons on the shirt. It simply fell off her body. Buffy had not been idle. His pants were unzipped and coming off of him. He kicked the garment off and turned his attention to her breasts. He took one nipple into his mouth and caressed the other with his hand. Buffy moaned.

Her hands were traveling down his back, in his hair, and on his stomach. Buffy couldn’t believe she had waited this long to feel his body against hers. As much as she wanted to push him onto his back and take him, there was something he was going to need more. Something she would not deny him, because she had dreamed of the same thing. She found his mouth again, drawing him away from her breast. In one swift motion he was on top, and she pushed herself up against her pillows.

Spike could not believe his was happening. There she was in front of him, begging for him, moaning for him. All that stood in the way now was a lacy white thong. He didn’t think twice about shredding it from her body. He couldn’t help himself. His hand was instantly cupping her pussy, which made her whimper.

“Spike, please, please. I need you so bad.”

“Buffy”

His hand caressed her, moved toward her hip. He kissed his way from her mouth to her navel and left small bites all over her perfect skin.

“Spike, need you, inside me. Now please.”

That was all it took. Her hands found his shoulders and his eyes locked on hers. She shifted her hips so that she could take him in, and his swollen cock kissed her slick entrance. He couldn’t take it anymore. He pushed himself inside her fiery depths. Both of them yelled out of the sheer ache and exquisite ecstasy. He didn’t move, he couldn’t. She was so hot and tight and wet he dared not. Her nails had dug into his back.

Buffy pulled him flush against her, his mouth on her neck. Her muscles were screaming. Spike was so much bigger than what she had anticipated. She laid there, arms wrapped around him while she adjusted to his size. The feeling of him pressing her against the bed was the only feeling she ever could hope to desire again.

Spike pushed himself onto his forearms and kissed her mouth. Her craving for him was adding to his for her. “I love you”

“I love you”

“This is going to hurt, I’m sorry”

Buffy shook her head “Love you”

Spike slid himself out of her channel slowly, then quickly back in.

“Aahh”
“Buffy”

Again.
“Spike”

Again.
“Ah!”

He continued at the slow pace for some time. For Buffy it was torturous. His penis slid in and out and every time she could feel him force his way past her cervix. It was the most incredible thing she had ever experienced.

“Spike, baby. Feels so good. Do what you need.”

His pace quickened.
“Made for you Spike…. Don’t stop”

That was the last coherent thought Buffy formed for quite some time. The slow rhythm of their love making had turned into something more hungry. Spike was finally able to let go and take her the way he need to, the way she needed him to. She met him thrust for thrust which only urged him on. Harder. Faster. God, he needed her. He pounded into her at a bruising pace. He would have hurt anyone else, but like she said, they were made for each other.

“Buffy look at me.” He insisted. Her eyes fluttered open, glazed over from the pleasure he was causing her. He was reborn in that moment.
“Mine?” he asked. She shook her head yes.
“Mine!” he said louder this time. He had to be sure she was going to accept this before taking the chance to claim her.

“Yours.”

With that Spike nuzzled Buffys neck and bit her. “Mine.” He growled. “Yours.” She responded as she went flying off into space. Her muscles tightening even more around him was more than he could take. He came hard with one last thrust into her.

It took some time for them to come back to themselves. Spike was still buried deep inside Buffy. He licked at her wounds to be sure they would heal. Buffy was beside herself. Spike rolled them both onto their sides.

This was the single most incredible experience of her life. She sighed in deep contentment as he pulled her into his arms. She stared at this man who had changed everything.

“I’m never going to let you go.” She whispered.

Spikes eyes tiered up and he held her tighter.
“I’m never going anywhere.”

Spike awoke late the next morning. Buffy was still asleep, still in his arms. It was unreal to him what had happened last night. Not only had they had intense sex several times, but he had claimed her. She had wanted him to.

He worried for a moment that maybe he had let this happen too fast. Maybe they had been too hasty about their physical relationship. He had wanted to give her time to decide what she really wanted out of their relationship. He had wanted her to be sure…

But then watching her sleep, seeing the soft expression on her face he remembered something. Buffy was going to do what she wanted, when she wanted, because she wanted to. She didn’t give a damn about what other people thought anymore. And she loved him. There was no doubt in his mind that Buffy loved him.

He rested his head against the pillow and closed his eyes. He could stay just like this with her.

“You’re thinking too much over there.” Buffy mumbled. She stretched out her body, then returned to him.

“Didn’t mean to wake you, luv.”

“I needed to wake up, it’s already 11. What’s going on in there?” she asked. Her hand caressed his cheek and she tapped her fingers on his forehead.

“Nothing… Something.” There was no need to lie about this, she already knew. “My god damn insecurities, that’s all.”

Buffy sighed and crawled up the bed a little so she was face to face with him. “About what? Last night? Me? The whole situation? Because if it has anything to do with that, you need to stop worrying. Am I close?”

“Yeah”

“Spike, I meant everything I said and did last night. I love you, completely.”

“I know. I love you”

“Mmmm you should never stop saying that.” Buffy kissed him. “Give me one second” Buffy got up and walked into her bathroom. Spike relaxed. This is the way things should be.

She came back out looking very revived. It was rather refreshing to know that she was so comfortable walking around naked with him.

“What was that all about? You looked perfect before.”

“You mean with sex hair and morning breath? Right”

“I happen to like the sex hair”

“Just because you made it that way”

Spike nodded and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his lap. “Yeah, you shouldn’t fix it before I say so. I wasn’t done with you yet.”

Buffy smirked “Well maybe I was done with you” She said teasingly.

“Not bloody likely” Spike mumbled as he slid two fingers between her legs.
Buffy gasped.

“What was that kitten?”

“Mmmm”

He pumped his hand inside of her. His thumb traced circles around her clit, which made her moan. There would be no escaping him ever again. Yet deep inside, she was really okay with that. She slid her hand down to stop his.

“Spike” She said calmly. Her eyes turned a deep green color.

Spike stopped what he was doing to watch her. She pushed him against the headboard gently.

“Let me do this.” She whispered into his ear. He was very curious to see what this was all about. She took his length in her hands to tease him. Spike closed his eyes. This was incredible. Buffy kissed him then guided him inside of her.

“Holy fuck Buffy!” Spike groaned.
She was as tight and wet as she had been last night. His hands instantly flew to her hips, but she would have none of it. She slid his arms back behind his head and pinned them there with one hand.

“Don’t move” she demanded. She rocked her hips back and forth slowly. Buffy smiled when Spike started moaning. She picked up the pace a little, this could be fun. Her hand wandered over his muscles and traveled up his neck. Her fingers traced his lips, which surprisingly earned her a whimper. She flexed her muscles tighter, pulling herself up a little after each thrust. Spike was panting and trying to free his arms from her grip.

“Baby, tell me what you want.” She purred. This was too good.

Spikes eyes flashed gold. “You. I want you. Let me go.”

His voice shook her. She barely let up on his wrists and his hands were back at her waist. His fingertips sank into her skin. His mouth quickly found her breasts and devoured them. She scraped her fingers down his back and danced patterns over his back. Spike whispered her name over and over while he worshiped her skin with his mouth.

“Spike”

“Luv?”

Buffy rolled them so that he was on top. He took her fast and hard with no restraint. She pulled him to her lips and bit down hard on his neck. “Mine” she claimed.

Spike lost it. “Yours” he said. He came hard, and Buffy was short behind him. He collapsed on her chest. For some time they stayed like that, not wanting to rejoin reality any time soon. Spike got off of her and pulled her into his arms
.
“That was…”

“Unreal”

“Oh it was real alright. So is all of this. I just can’t believe it.”

“Neither can I.” Buffy looked over at Spike and blushed. He smiled, which was so rare even for her. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

“Can we just stay here?”

“Yes, we could. Could you stop saving the world and your friends?” He responded.

“Depends on the day.”

Spike sighed with recognition. She would always be the Slayer, it would always be a battle. Thoughts of the previous day started filling his head.

“Spike, where’d you go?”

He stared at her. At the very least they could make this week end sooner. “We need to find them, and stop them.”

As simple as that they were a million miles away from each other. Buffy sat up and drug the sheet with her to the shower. Spike rolled on his back and his head sank into the pillow. She could be Buffy and two seconds later the Slayer comes out of nowhere. His new found challenge was to get them to be the same person, even if it was just with him. He got up and walked into the bathroom.

“You know,” he said as he slipped into the shower with her
“I am thinking that we are going to have to get your friends in on this one.”

She laughed. “The shower or the situation? I didn’t think you were one to share, but…”

“Very funny. And I am not… I just know that the combination of the three of them is not something to take lightly. I spent decades with them, Buffy.” He shook his head and grabbed her shampoo. He squeezed the contents into his hand and massaged it into her hair.

“You should call them, we could meet at the Magic Box. All the research you need to do is in my head. Maybe we should go check out the school. I’ll bet you that’s whose been over there the past few days.”

“Yeah. Sounds good. Oh THAT feels good.” Spike had started massaging her shoulders with soap. He slowly but surely made his way down her back and over her arms. Buffy could barely stand up by herself.

“Come to think of it when was the last time you were at the high school?”

“I don’t know, a month or two ago… right after I came back.” Buffy mumbled. “Spike you gotta stop babe. I won’t be able to get out of here if you don’t.”

He finished working the knot out of her shoulder and grabbed a towel. He dried off and got dressed and waited for her in the other room.

An hour later they were down the street from the Magic Box. Spike had somehow managed to stay in the shadows of the alleyways during the middle of the day, which was no easy feat. Buffy was actually amused by this. Spike was disgusted, but glad to make her smile. When they reached the door to the shop, Spike stopped. Buffy was about to open the door when she realized his hand was not following. She turned to him confused.

“They are here. All of them.”

“Yes. And?”

Spike just looked at their clasped hands. Buffy’s brow furrowed.

“Get over it, I love you” She said as she opened the door and didn’t let go of him as she walked in. He was being more insecure than she ever could have imagined, and in some weird way it was endearing.

Everyone was around the table having a conversation of sorts. Anya was at the register, Xander was sitting with Willow and Tara. Giles was not in sight but had to be there.

“Hey Buffy. So whats this all…about…” Xander said. “Spike, how many times does Buffy have to tell you there is no…” He was cut off by the sight of Buffy pulling Spike down for a kiss.

Spike just smiled and enjoyed the awkward moment afterwards. Buffy acted like nothing had happened.

“Anyway, I asked you guys to come here so that I could tell you what the plan is. Last night Angelus, Darla, and Drusilla attacked us. They are trying to kill me, open the Hell mouth, and make Spike evil again. I don’t like the sound of any of that, so we’re gunna stop them. Questions?”

Everyone just sort of starred at her. Willow broke the silence. “I thought Darla was dead. I mean, dusty.”

“When did Angel turn back into Angelus?” Tara spoke up.

“I am sorry, did anyone else just see that?” Xander yelled.

“See what?” Giles asked as he walked from the training room into the store.

“Spike kissed Buffy.”

“Oh, alright.” Giles offered.

“Alright? Alright! Last time I checked, that’s not alright!” Xander was livid.

“What’s not alright about that?” Anya asked mater-of-factly.

“It’s not like we didn’t see it coming. She didn’t hit him, she is smiling. In fact, I think she kissed him. I would say that’s alright.”

Buffy appreciated Anya more in this moment than she had in the past year. Spike just leaned against the counter and waited for some sort of reaction from the group. Xander started over towards the couple, digging a stake out of his jacket. Buffy simply grabbed his wrist and twisted it behind his back. When he dropped the stake she pushed him to the other side of the room.

“Listen Xander. No one else has a problem with this. I expected you to but you have to understand something. I love him. You mess with him, you are messing with me. That goes for everyone. Got it?”

“Buffy are you listening to yourself? This is Evil Dead boy, Fang Breath. Buffy you just kissed Spike!”

“Yeah, Xander. That’s what some people do when they love somebody.”

“Love? LOVE? Buffy! Whats wrong with you?”

Buffy actually calmed down at that. “Nothing Xander. I finally stopped thinking with my head and started listening to my heart. Love isn’t perfect, I don’t even know how to define it. But at the end of every day, I want Spike. And if that’s too much for you to handle than you can just go screw yourself Xander!”

Everyone in the room stared at Xander to see if there would be some sort of explosion. Spike was tense and ready for the worst case scenario, while Buffy waited impatiently for some sort of response.

Xander took a seat next to Anya. “So how are we going to stop the three evil stooges?”

Buffy and Spike just exchanged glances.

“Well,” Buffy stated, “We already decided it would be best to use us as bait. Drusilla wants Spike back and evil again. Angelus wants me dead. I figure if one of us is alone for a little while someone is going to try to get to us.”

“Okay so that’s who. Now what, when, and where?” Dawn asked as she walked into the shop.

“Dawn I was hoping you would be okay with staying at Tara’s till we had this over with.” Buffy addressed her sister.

“That’s fine, it doesn’t mean I can’t know the plan though.” Dawn hopped up onto the counter.

“Right then lil bit’s in on the destroying of the Sire.” Spike chuckled.

“I figure I have a right to know if I am about to lose one of you again. Gives me an idea of who to ask for rides to places, money, homework non-help… things like that.”
Buffy was a little irritated at that, but decided to let it slide. The girl had some sort of backwards point.

“I think Spike should be the shark bait.” Xander added.

“Xander-“

“No, hear me out. Spike has less of a chance of getting dead in a situation like this. All he has to do is play nice with the ex then we have the upper hand.”

They were all silent for a moment.

“Well maybe we should do some research… I mean we don’t know everything about Darla….” Willow put in.

“You’re right Red, we don’t.” Spike spoke up.

“Babe, you gotta know something. You spent so much time with them.”

“Not exactly. She and Angelus were together for quite a time before he started torturing Dru. And it was still some time after that when I was turned. Even when it was the four of us, she and I never had any reason to be around each other. She is smart, more evil than Angelus by a long shot.”

“Okay, then let’s just find whatever we can about her. Maybe the Watcher’s diaries?”

“I’ll fetch them” Giles said.

After that the Scoobies started discussing whatever was going on that week with each other. Spike stepped outside for a cigarette and Buffy soon followed.

“What?” Buffy demanded.

“What do you mean ‘what’?”

“You’re holding back. You know something about them.”

Spike took a long drag. “Something isn’t right Buffy. It would be one thing if it were just the Poof, another if it were Dru. It’s bothering me that Darla is back, the Powers wouldn’t do that unless something big was supposed to happen. As much as I hate it, we have to play along.”

“They’re not going to win.”

“I know. I just wonder what’s to come of it.”

“You’re really thinking about this aren’t you?”

“All I know right now is, we have a way to get to Angelus, that’s you. We have a way to get to Dru, that’s me. But the only way to get to Darla is through both of them, if she decides to care about them at all.” Spike lit another cigarette.

They were silent for a moment. Both lost in thought.

“What do you want to do?”

Spike nodded his head. “I am going to have to get the girls away from Angelus, and you are going to have to kill him. With Darla back, leaving him alive just makes everything more dangerous. Can you do it?”

“Yes. Can you convince both girls to get away from him for a while?”

“There is more than one way to distract women… I think I can manage. You are going to need the witches and the old man.”

“You are going to need a protection spell of some sort.”

“I need you to do something for me”

Spike kicked over what used to be the welcome sign for Sunnydale High. He could not believe he had to go deal with the bane of his existence again. He could already hear Dru’s crazy cackling echo through the hallways of the school.

Of all the places he didn’t expect to find them, or himself, they were in the library.

“Spiiike, has he come to play? I’ve brought my dollies Spike, they’ve missed you so.” Drusilla danced around when he came in. She made his skin crawl and the chip in his brain seemed to twitch. Maybe he was imaging it.

Angelus came in from Rupert’s old office. He looked Spike up and down before coming out from around the counter.

“So Spike, decide you want to be a family again?”
Angelus’ words dripped from his mouth like poison.

“Something like that.”

“I don’t believe it. You smell like Slayer.” Angelus leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “You were in her home, you threatened me. Why should I believe for one second that you would want to come home?”

Spike glared back at his grandsire. As far as he was concerned Angelus had no right to even mention Buffy.

“She betrayed me. She found out you were back because the birds were flying around my crypt. She figured I helped bring them here and tried to kill me. See for yourself.” Spike unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a deep stake wound in his chest.

“She missed.”

Angelus stepped forward to further inspect the hole in Spikes chest. He traced the wound with his hand, then seemed satisfied.

“She missed. She must be distracted.”

“I can’t imagine why.” Spike spit back.

“What were you doing in her home Spike?”

“I was taking the only good piece of advice you ever gave me. The only way to kill her is to get close to her.”

“Was it working?”

Spike let out a slow smile. “Why do you think you could smell her all over me?”

Angelus and Spike exchanged knowing glances.

“Is that William I hear?” Darla called out from behind a bookcase.

“Something that resembles him perhaps. See for yourself.” Angelus answered.

Darla did look exactly like she had 100 years ago when they first met. Her hair was long and she was wearing some outfit she must have stolen from a victim.

...........................................................................................

“You really trust him to be around them? Buffy think! Everything we know about the four of them, the Aruilus clan for that sake, Buffy he’ll get feeling evil again.”

“He’s not going to. He’s got a chip in his head. Besides Xander, he’s changed. If we knew anything about Spike before this all happened it’s that he is loyal to the person he loves. Right now that’s me. And he believes I have feelings for him too.”

“Eew Buff. I don’t even want to know.”
Buffy smiled “Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.”

..........................................................................................

“Is this chip really so painful that you couldn’t rip it out Spike?” Darla questioned.

“Believe me I tried. It fires electrons. I can’t bite anything!”

“Gave you reason to be friends with the Slayer, she always takes in strays.” Angelus’ snide remark had some truth to it.

“Yeah well if you know someone who can get out, I won’t have a hard time killing her”

“The wolf and rams hart has its people. Give me one reason to help you Spike.”

“Because I am the only one who can kill the Slayer.”

Angelus opened up his cell phone.
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