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Prologue: Angel or Angelus

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Spike rolled his wheelchair next to the table Drusilla laid upon. She looked up at the ceiling, her hand near her face as she stared at nothing with a blissful expression upon her face.

“Are we feeling better then?” He smiled as he placed his arms on the table and looked at Drusilla.

“I’m naming all the stars,” she said.

Spike felt a bit of amusement as he rested his chin, and stroked it softly with his thumb. He was thankful that, at least, that small part of his face was no longer marred with scars.

“You can’t see the stars, luv.” He told her, hoping his flat, direct tone would snap her back to reality. “That’s the ceiling. It’s also day.”

“I can see them. But I’ve given them all the same name.” She tilted her head towards Spike and looked him in the eyes, “and there’s terrible confusion.”

She rolled completely over onto her side moving her arm to rest beside her head. Spike looked into her eyes curious to hear more about Angel, “Did you see any further? Do you know what happens to Angel?”

“Well…” Angel said from behind, pausing dramatically. “He moves to New York and tries to fulfill that Broadway dream. It’s tough sledding, but one day he’s working in the chorus when the big star twists her ankle.”

“You don’t give up do you?”

Angel looked unimpressed as he slowly came forward towards Dru, who was now sitting up. “As long as there’s injustice in the world, as long as scum like you is walking…” Spike watched Angel in disgust as he watched him look at himself in the wheelchair. “Well rolling the streets, I’ll be around.” He stopped when he was only a few feet away, “Look over your shoulder. I’ll be there.”

“Uh yeah. Angel, um…look over your shoulder.” Angelus turned around as the Judge put his hand on his chest. “Hurts doesn’t it?” A hint of amusement laced Spike’s voice.

Angelus glared. “Well, you know, it kinda itches.”

Spike blinked angrily at the Judge. “Don’t just stand there. Burn him!”

“Gee. Maybe he’s broken,” Angelus said.

Spike glanced over his shoulder towards Drusilla. “What the hell is going on?”

“This one…cannot be burnt. He’s clean.” The Judge removed his hand from Angelus’s chest

Spike looked at the Judge in disbelief, “Clean you mean, he’s…”

“There’s no humanity in him.” The Judge said, turning away.

Angelus turned to face Spike. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

“Angel,” Dru breathed.

“Yeah baby, I’m back.”

Spike rolled back a slight bit as his expression was still one of disbelief, “Is it really true?”

Angelus smirked, “It’s really true.”

“You’ve come home.”

Spike still was curious as he followed him around on his wheelchair. “No more of this ‘I’ve got a soul’ crap?”

Angelus gave no expression on his face as he struck a match on the table. “What can I say, hmm? I was going through a phase.” He lit a cigarette in his mouth as Spike started to feel excitement flowing through his body.

“This is great! This is so great!” Drusilla started walking on the table with her arms out at each side of her as though she were balancing on an invisible line, “Everything in my head is singing!”

Spike heard Angelus laugh as Dru continued, “We’re family again.”

Spike frowned at little as some memories flash through his head as Drusilla offered Angel her hand and Angelus accepted it helping her down off the table. The way Angelus looked at her as though he’s ready to devour her gave Spike a little uneasy feeling but he shook it off thinking it’s just because to the lack of having Angelus around for decades.

Drusilla continued rubbing her body slightly against Angel, “We’ll feed. Grr.” She turned to Spike taking a few steps towards him as she leaned her face to be level with his with a slight moan, “And we’ll play.” This made Spike feel better as he stated loudly keeping his eyes on Dru’s.

“I’ve got to tell you, it made me sick to my stomach seeing you being the Slayer’s lap dog.” Angelus’s growl was heard as he grabbed Spike by the collar lifting him slightly off the wheelchair. For a split second Spike thought it would end badly before Angelus kissed him on the forehead and stepped back. Spike laughed out loud in relief feeling even better as both Drusilla and Angelus join in.

“How did this happen?” Drusilla asked softly.

Angelus looked back at the duo obviously pleased. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Spike laughed. “Oh, who cares? What matters is that now he’s back! Now it’s four against one, which are the kinds of odds I like to play.”

Drusilla leaned towards Angelus to get his attention, “Psst. We’re going to destroy the world. Want to come?” Spike rested his hand on Dru’s stomach eager to feel her close as Angelus toyed with his cigarette.

“Yeah. Destroying the world. Great. I’m really more interested in the Slayer.”

Spike tilted his head towards the side. “Well she’s in the world so that should work out.”

Angelus glanced down, studying the cigarette. “Give me tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Spike asked.

Angelus flicked his cigarette aside and stepped closer to Spike and Drusilla.“Lay low for a night. I guarantee you by the time you go public she won’t be anything resembling a threat.”

“You really got a yen to hurt this girl, haven’t you?” Spiked asked.

Angelus looked towards the wall as he took a deep breath before looking back at Spike as his tone turned anger. “She made me feel like a human being. That’s not the kind of thing you just forgive.” With stating that, Spike watched as Angelus turned around stepping back towards the sewers to return back to his apartment.

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Buffy wandered into Angel’s apartment looking. Thoughts were running through her head, including those telling her she should have stayed longer in case he had gone out to stake Spike and Drusilla for her. She glanced at the bed noticing it was neatly made and clothes were laid out on top of it. She crossed the room and used her fingers to toy with his clothes as she tried to decide what to do next. She was so enthralled she almost missed the sound of Angel behind her putting on his necklace. Her mouth dropped open in surprise. He was back!

She barely managed to yell out, “Angel!” before she crossed the room. He managed to say, “Hey…hey!” before she threw her arms around him giving him a kiss and a big hug.

“Oh, my God! I was so worried!” she whispered.

Angel seemed apologetic. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Where did you go?” she asked.

“Been around,” he replied coldly.

Buffy sighed in relief as she still felt the tears burning her eyes as she leaned her forehead against his, “Oooh. Oh, my God!” Buffy couldn’t stop herself from hugging him tightly again in relief, “I was freaking out! You just disappeared.”

Angel stepped away from her. “What? I took off.” She stared at the wall for a second letting his words sink in before turning around sensing something was off.

“But you didn’t say anything. You just left.” She watched as Angel put on his shirt as he smirked looking into her eyes.
>
“Yeah. Like I really wanted to stick around after that.”

“What?” Tears flooded her eyes.

“You’ve got a lot to learn about men, kiddo. Although I guess you proved that last night.”

Buffy felt more tears. “What are you saying?”

“Let’s not make an issue out of it, okay? In fact, let’s not talk about it at all. It happened.” Angel said.

“I don’t understand…was it me?” Buffy asked. She heard the sound of her voice breaking along with her heart, “Was it me?” She heard herself stutter.

“You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro.” He was laughing at her shaking his head as though it didn’t matter. Buffy was horrified and wished he would just take her in his arms and make it all better. He always made everything all better.

“How can you say this to me?”

Angel rolled his eyes. “Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn’t mean like we have to make a big deal.”

Buffy was amazed as she bounced on her heels shouted, “It is a big deal!”

Angel scoffed. “It’s what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies?” His laugher was so cruel she found herself shaking her head as tears fell to her cheeks as though hoping to shake his evil words away. “Come on, Buffy. It’s not like I haven’t been there before.”

He reached towards her face to wipe away her tears, and as much as she longed for him to do so, she instead took a step back in horror. “Don’t touch me.”

Angel shook his finger at her, “I should have known you wouldn’t be able to handle it.” He turned away from her.

“Angel!” He turned around and her voice softened to a near whisper, “I love you.”

Angel pointed towards her coolly, “Love you too.” He turned away leaving her behind as he shouted, “I’ll call you.”

Buffy watched as he opened the door and closed it as he left. She stood there and felt a mixture of shock and horror. The memories from the perfect night flowed through her mind as she remembered her gentle, loving Angel, who had now turned into a cruel bastard. He seemed so different… so heartless. Her heart broke as she stared

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Chapter 1: Happy Birthday Buffy

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10 Hours Later: 11 pm. Saturday<

Buffy sat on the couch in the living room watching an old movie with her mom. It was nearly over. As the last song “Goodnight, My Love” filled her ears she stared blankly at the screen but she didn’t really listen to it. She was longing for the night to be a horrible nightmare. Her mother interrupted her thoughts as she returned to the room holding a plate with two cupcakes on it. One had a candle on top. “Did I miss anything?” her mother asked.

“Um…just a bunch of singing and dancing around.” Buffy replied.

Her mom put the mug of coffee down along with the plate of the cupcakes starting to look for matches. “I’m sorry I didn’t have time to make you a real cake.”

“No. This is good.”

She watched as her mom tucked her feet under her as she continued the conversation, “But we’ll still going shopping on Saturday?” She looked at Buffy asking curiously, “What’d you do for your birthday? Did you have fun?”

Buffy looked down not knowing what to say. How could she tell her mom what had happened on her birthday? She decided she couldn’t. “I got older.”

Her mom looked into her eyes. “You look the same to me.” She watched her mom lean down to light the candle. She leaned back on the couch turning to face Buffy with a smile. “Happy Birthday. I don’t have to sing, do I?”

Buffy glanced down at her hands. “No.”

Her mom looked at the candle then at Buffy, “Well, go on, make a wish.” Buffy stared at it wishing things were back to normal and wishing she could take back everything. She realized it was a bad wish and wishing was a bad idea. “I’ll just let it burn.”

Her mom then reached up to stroke Buffy’s hair as Buffy leaned over resting her head on her mom’s shoulder longing for her to make it all better. Her mom’s comforting stroking continued in her hair until the movie ended. Then Joyce sat up leaning over to eat her cupcake whispering to Buffy, “Eat up.”

Buffy picked up her cupcake. “I’m really tired and had a really long day. I think I’ll bring this to my room and go to bed.”

Her mom stared at her for a moment and nodded. “Sweet dreams honey. Happy birthday again.”

Buffy nodded and turned heading up to her room. She waited in her bed after putting the cupcake on her nightstand quietly as she listened to her mom getting ready for bed. When she heard her mom close her door for the night, Buffy got out of bed, not even bothering to throw a jacket over her frog pants and frog tee shirt and climbed out of her window onto the tree. Half way down she jumped to the bottom enjoying the way her feet felt tingle. Before she could analyze it, she found herself with a stake in hand walking to the cemetery, unsure as to what it was she wanted to see. Perhaps she hoped to see Angelus again so she could stake him.

A part of her knew she couldn’t.

She reflected back on her day that she had spent researching in the library. Thanks to a dream she had had earlier in the day, she knew where to go for more information on what exactly was going on. The dream had shown her that the computer teacher, Ms. Calendar knew more than anyone else realized. Thanks to Buffy and Angel’s night of passion, their intimacy had led to a perfect moment of happiness causing Angel to lose his soul turning into Angelus. It had explained a lot of his previous actions such as his coldness to her when discussing their love making as well as him attacking Willow. If Xander hadn’t of been there with a cross then Willow might very well have been dead. Buffy sniffled running the back of her head over her eyes as she continued to walk through the cemeteries.

In the library she had learned he was Angelus and that he had literally turned into that thanks to her and him being intimate. It was confirmed tonight by Angelus himself as he told it to her, “The important thing is you made me the man I am today!” It hurt her heart so much to know she was the cause of such a monstrosity in Sunnydale threatening to kill her friends and everyone in it.

Then watching Angel tonight as he worked side by side with the Judge that together Angel and her had once worked so hard to ensure never was assembled, made Buffy realize she was not dealing with her sweet Angel anymore but instead a hard core killer. He had been willing to take out the entire Sunnydale Mall just to bring the Judge back to full power. After she had taken out the Judge, Angel himself had fought her and hurt her. He had even tried to kill her. She was tempted to stake him but knew in her heart she couldn’t do it even as he taunted her, “You can’t do it. You can’t kill me.” She had merely kneed him in the groin feeling at least the satisfaction that he would be hurting when he took Dru tonight and walked away promising, “Give me time.” She knew the time would come for his existence to end but until then it was time to fight but not kill.

Even now, hours later, Buffy found it hard to believe that her sweet loving Angel was now a vicious killer named Angelus. She wasn’t ready to deal with that yet much less take him. A deep part of her still loved him with all her broken heart. She sat down on a large grave marker as thoughts overwhelmed her head. She kept remembering that night and how perfect everything was. It was gentle, and short but so sweet and barely painful at all. He had taken his time and was careful not to hurt her and she was amazed by how those few minutes had felt. She remembered his reaction telling her how bad she was and she frowned realizing she was probably a disappointment.

She wiped away the tears that were falling as she realized she didn’t know what to do and couldn’t manage to please him correctly. She didn’t know all the fancy moves that he had known over the years but she also realized that Angelus was driving now. She toyed with her stake wishing for some sort of release. She also found herself wishing that she reverse time turning back the clock two days with the information she had now. She couldn’t and she knew it but didn’t want to accept it. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she almost missed the feeling of a vampire nearby. She frowned as she felt tinglies on the back of her neck grow more intense and for a moment she was afraid it was Angelus coming back to kill her. She stood up raising her stake at the ready but then lowered it as she watched Spike roll through the cemetery muttering.

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Spike was hungry, tired and annoyed. He was out and about just dying for some action of some kind. Above all though, Spike longed for real blood that would help him heal. Drusilla was not big on being the mothering type. She killed every pet she ever had by simply not caring for it. Spike himself was no exception. He was starved and really unable to get any for himself thanks to the wheelchair he was dependent on.

Earlier tonight had really ticked him off as Angelus had dragged Drusilla into the room with him. They left the door open so that he could hear their demented love fest. He was tired of listening to them. He ordered a minion to move his items to the farthest room in the factory but he knew it was hopeless. They left the door open and the walls were thin and close together. It was not built to be living quarters but instead a wide-open space designed for managers to watch over everyone. After giving the orders, he had rolled out into the night hoping for some kind of prey to fall into his lap so he might have a bite to eat but he knew humans weren’t that stupid.

He sighed trying his legs again but knew it was no use. As long as he lived on puppies and dead animals, he would never heal. And with him in a wheelchair, there was no hope of finding a victim. Just then behind him, he heard something and cursed loudly. He turned to see the slayer standing with a stake in her hand staring blankly at him.

“Bloody hell, Slayer! Trying to give me a heart attack?”

Buffy eyed at him. “Give me one good reason not to stake your sorry ass.”

Spike threw up his arms in the air in frustrated, “I’m in a sodding wheelchair thanks to you? I can’t even catch a victim because I’m stuck in these wheels and my girl doesn’t even want me anymore?” He then cursed, “Bloody Hell…” as he realized he was pouring out his issues to a girl whose purpose in this world was to kill people like him. He watched as she twirled the stake in her hand.

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Chapter 2: What You Don’t Know, Might Kill You!

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Buffy was lost in thought. Spike seemed pretty harmless so she couldn’t bring herself to kill him. She didn’t trust him she had to confess but he didn’t seem like he was on the prowl for killing. In fact he admitted his girl didn’t want him anymore. She almost felt pity but scolded herself. She had pitied Angel and look where it got her with him; he had made love to her only to loose his soul the next day making her life horrible.

She frowned as she studied him and wondered why he wasn’t saying anything. She decided to play it safe, “Out for a midnight snack or stroll?”

She watched as he shrugged, “Really neither pet. I just needed to get out. I’m sure you know how that is.”

Buffy nodded and waited as Spike spoke up rolling a bit closer, “Wasn’t impressed by your taking out the Judge. Dru wailed about it for hours…that was until Angel decided to shag her senseless.”

Buffy gasped and her eyes reflected the pain she felt as a few tears fell down her cheeks. Spike cursed himself for being so cold hearted because he knew her pain but instead of reflecting on it he said nothing unfolding the hands he had in his lap and put them on either side of his body on the wheels again. He wheeled a little closer until he was right in front of her and he caught a whiff of something and cursed again.

Buffy raised her eyes to look at him and he saw they were red rimmed and he frowned, “I guess you killing the poofter is out of the question.”

Buffy frowned at him as she wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hands trying to be strong, “I’ll get there. I’m getting closer. The more he does to us, the easier it is to kill him.”

Spike shook his head, “That’s not going to make any difference pet. You do realize that right?”

Buffy looked at him surprised wondering what the Hell he was on about. She didn’t understand why he was saying that it wouldn’t help. He just didn’t know her and figured she was a weak little girl but she would show him, She kicked her legs to gain a bit of strength but didn’t move or actually make any contact with him as she stated, “I’m stronger than you think. If I hate something or someone enough, I won’t hesitate on killing them. Angelus will be on my hit list.”

Spike glared into her eyes, “No pet, ANGEL won’t be on any hit list. In fact you’d better make sure he doesn’t go doing something like dusting himself.”

Buffy frowned even more staring at him, “Why should I care if ANGELUS dusts himself? It would save me the trouble and make my life a whole lot easier although, I think part of him is still in there. He has just forgotten…”

Spike cut her off gripping his wheels so tight his hands got even paler if that was possible, “Slayer, you aren’t understanding what I’m saying are you? First off let’s get something straight, Angel is Angelus only a bloody, tortured vampire rather than an uncaring one. Angelus isn’t a different vampire, he’s the same old vampire just not tortured by having a soul forced up his ass. In fact Angel really shouldn’t have ever existed. It was a punishment because he killed a little girl much like yourself and the gypsies cursed him with a soul to torture him the rest of eternity for being a heartless killer. So the Angelus, as you like to call him, is the real deal and his true form. Vampires aren’t meant to have souls luv. We are lean, mean drinking machines who prey on little girls like you. Get used to Angel in his true form, you can’t bloody kill him.”

Buffy jumped off the gravestone aiming the stake towards him demanding, “Why the Hell can’t I kill him?”

Spike flinched a tad seeing a stake so close to him and knowing this Slayer might be a loose cannon after everything that had happened to her. He let his eyes roam over her before stating, “He marked you luv. You are claimed and therefore can’t kill him or you will kill yourself. Puts a real damper on your existence, don’t it? My suggestion? Get the bloody hell out of Sunnyhell and fast and don’t even look back. Take your friends, family and anyone else you bloody care about and get them out and never return. Change your name, lose the slaying kick and hide before he senses that cool little mark on your neck and makes your life more of a living Hell.”

Buffy put her hand up to the mark on her neck remembering the events so well.

Angel bit into her saying, “You are mine Buffy. I love you. Say you’re mine Buffy, please?” Buffy nodded her head whispering, “I love you too Angel. I’m yours, now and forever. I’ll always be yours.”

Buffy repeated softly, “Claimed” as Spike nodded his head starting to roll away, “Yeah, claimed. You’re stuck with him living luv, I’d get out of this sodding town while I still could.” With that statement, he rolled away from sight leaving a very confused Buffy standing staring after him holding onto the mark on her neck in horror.

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6 hours later: 9 am. Sunday

Buffy woke up realizing she only had slept a few hours and it was already time to start her research at school. Whoever heard of going to school on a Sunday to research? Shouldn’t Sundays while in high school get spent shopping at the mall or having lunch with her friends? Instead she would be having lunch with her friends but instead of at a wonderful restaurant, she would be having it stuck inside of a school library with the librarian aka her watcher. <

She looked in the mirror realizing she looked a mess and her head was all fuzzy and achy. She figured it was from lack of sleep since she had fallen asleep sometime in the early morning after tossing and turning for hours trying to figure out what it meant to be claimed. She didn’t feel any different. She didn’t feel any weaker, any pain, or weird tingles or anything. As she entered the shower and began to suds up, she was tempted to explore it but then she remembered Spike’s words, “hide before he senses that cool little mark on your neck and makes your life more of a living Hell.”

She had to know what that meant. She rinsed her hair stepping out of the shower and drying herself off avoiding the mark all together. She didn’t really want to mess with Angelus. She hoped his soul would be somehow stuffed back into him and this would all be a nightmare. She glanced over at the nightstand where the cupcake should be and found it with a dagger sticking out of the middle of it and under both was a picture. She lifted the cupcake up placing it aside pulling the dagger out realizing that in order for the dagger to have been placed in it, the person would have had to be in her room and gone through her drawers where she kept it hidden under her bras.

Buffy carefully wiped the dagger off on a tissue and walked over to the drawer replacing it then returned to the drawing. She noticed it was a picture of her sleeping and she recognized it as Angel’s work. She gasped as the picture fell to the floor. He was in her room last night and had watched her sleep. He had enough time to find a pencil and paper and stab her cupcake using her knife. Through all that, she hadn’t even woken up.

She frowned in worry as she paced her room then quickly made a decision grabbing the picture to shove it into her bag. She then realized she would be late for school so she found herself flinging a scarf around her neck to hide it from view. She knew no one would suspect that Angel had bitten her and even if someone noticed it, she could lie about it. Those that noticed it might even think it was still the Master’s scar. She was thankful as she realized it was the same side as the Master’s scar so once it healed a little more, it would just appear as though it was his scar still.

She sighed in relief as she threw on a pair of blue jeans and a fluffy red shirt. She hoped her mom was already at the art gallery this morning so she wouldn’t have to face her this morning looking like Hell. Apparently even her mom had work to do on Sundays, which was nothing new. She would often meet with new clients and new artists. Buffy bounced the stairs with her heart not really into anything as she found the house empty and a little note tacked on the fridge, “Lunch on the third shelf, see you tonight Buffy.”

Buffy found herself sighing in relief for the second time this morning before grabbing a piece of bread not even bothering to toast it as she took her lunch from the fridge to walk to the school library.

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Buffy leaned over towards Willow, “Can I talk to you Wills?”

Willow nodded pulling her books a little closer to herself as she and Buffy walked to the library together. She glanced over to Willow desperately, “Seriously Will this part is important, it’s a secret. You can’t tell Xander, Oz, Giles or Cordelia or anyone. I mean it. This is really important but I really need your help.”

She sounded so desperate and hated the way her voice sounded but she saw the look on Willow’s face look serious and concerned as she made a cross over her heart, “I promise. I’m all secretively Willow now. How can I help Buffy? Is it about Angelus?”

Buffy nodded and frowned as she grabbed Willow by the hand pulling her behind a bush that was near the school. She untied her scarf showing Willow the mark. Willow gasped, “That from Angel?”

Buffy nodded and whispered, “It’s a claim supposedly.”

Willow frowned, “How did you figure that out?”

Buffy retied the scarf then gestured with her hands, “Someone told me but anyway, point is, according to the source, it means I can’t kill Angelus. He said something about the fact if I die he dies or some garbage like that and I need to know if this is true. Angelus is wrecking out lives and it’s only day two. I woke up with a picture drawn on my pillow of me. It was freakish…”

Willow glanced at the picture Buffy held in her hand and frowned, “We can do some secret research on it as Giles will be busy researching Angelus anyway.”

Buffy nodded and reminded her friend, “Now remember you can’t tell anyone. Please Wills, I’m counting on you.”

Willow put her hand over her heart and nodded, “Best friend promise Buffy.”

Buffy nodded again feeling satisfied as together they finished their way to the library thankful she had finished their conversation before bumping into Xander a few minutes later.

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Chapter 3: What It Means To Be Claimed!

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5 hours later: 12 pm. Sunday

Buffy secretly flipped through the pages of the books Giles had handed her, looking for information about claims. Willow stole the book from her handing a book to her that had a page open. Buffy started to read,

“Claims are marriages within the vampire clans. Vampires don’t often participate in this practice any more as it is eternal and permanent. It was a practice used in ancient times as a way to produce permanent family structures. Minions would be marked by their masters to show ownership and to prevent betrayal and mates would be chosen by the vampires in order to have a partner in battle. With time, this was less used because although it was the vampire’s way of telling the world that his or her mate is off limits, it resulted in fewer advantages rather than disadvantages. It is however binding and does not allow either partner to kill the other without dying themselves. This might sound good to humans but it also meant if someone were to kill the vampire in question, its mate automatically dies therefore this made the practice less used. There are rumors about other results of the claims but have never been tested.”

Buffy glanced at Willow who was studying her with worry in her eyes. This looked really bad and worse permanent. Buffy closed the book holding the place with her finger as she glanced around to make sure no one noticed what they were up to. Giles was sitting in his office reading, Cordelia was nowhere in sight and Oz was in rehearsal. Xander was lost in thought holding a donut while looking through a book. No one seemed to notice the girls’ interaction so Buffy picked up the book and flipped a few more pages reading again,

“Claims came in two forms: unreturned and returned.”

Buffy felt hope as she was sure she had an unreturned claim. Perhaps it wouldn’t be binding without the returned part. She continued to read studying the book hard as she bit her lower lip in nervousness.

“Unreturned means that “Mine” was said but “Yours” was not. This type of claim will fade in time making no results take place. The exact time is unknown but it is safe to assume within 2 weeks, the affects will have disappeared leaving behind only a mark as the only reminder if ever existed. Returned claims are binding and permanent. This occurs when “Mine” is said and “Yours” is answered. The death of one mate will result in the other. There is one other form of claims but no direct information has been given and it has been discounted as a rumor only.”

Buffy found herself passing the book to Willow taking back her original book allowing Willow to read. Willow then looked up at her just as Giles entered the room with a book in his face. Xander quickly finished munching on his donut sighing, “I’m going to head out of here. I got some work to do this weekend in terms of homework.”

Buffy rolled her eyes knowing he meant he wanted to go spend time with Cordelia but said nothing about it. He had spent Sunday morning researching with her so how could she complain. It wasn’t his boyfriend who had turned into a vicious killer. She picked up another book determined to learn what she could about all this claim business and Angelus.

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8 hours later: 8 pm. Sunday

Buffy seemed to have a permanent frown fixed on her face as she yawned glancing over at Willow who was buried deep in the book she was reading. Whatever Willow had found, it apparently interested her. Buffy glanced over at the book and Willow paused her reading to look up at her, “I found something fascinating. This book is all legend though. I’m not sure how accurate it is. Giles told me it was mostly tales from unreliable sources but occasionally things have turned up to be true from it.”

Buffy nodded as her eyes followed where Willow was pointing to the center of the page:

“There are rumors that claims can be challenged by other vampires and therefore removed or perhaps exchanged. There is no information at this time about how this is done or if it can even be done.”

Buffy was startled as she heard Giles come up behind her. Reacting quickly, Willow quickly turned the page of the book back to Angelus’ family as Giles stated, “How’s things going? Finding anything interesting?”

Willow shrugged, “I’m learning tons of information that I did not want to know about how Angelus tortured his victims by raping the children followed by the mother and then the father before killing the children making the parents watch.”

Giles cleared his glasses, “Interesting….you girls should be getting home.”

Buffy agreed taking the book that Willow was reading with her as she yelled back towards Giles, “I’ll do a quick patrol on my way home.”

Giles nodded, “Be careful Buffy.”

Buffy yelled back, “Always am” before she disappeared out of the library.

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An hour later: 9:30 pm. Sunday

Buffy rested her head on the gravestone as she waited for the vampire to finish getting himself out of the grave. It was boring her as tears filled her eyes so she was flipping through the book looking for more information as she waited. Finally the vampire emerged only to have Buffy dust him on the spot. She dusted off her pants before sitting back on the gravestone reading.

She was lost in her thoughts as the tears fell as she thought about Angel. She was upset at how she could be responsible for changing him into such a monster. Most girls are worried about one-night stands but not because the guy they loved, lost their soul and wanted to kill their friends.

She sniffled slightly as she thought about their last night together. It was so beautiful until she woke up. She remembered the words he said, “Yeah like I really wanted to stick around after that.” She shook her head as more tears fell. She couldn’t have been that bad. She was a virgin sure but he achieved his moment of happiness, which made him into a monster.

Buffy was so lost in thought that she barely even noticed the sound of wheels in front of her before Spike questioned, “Studying while slaying? Is that even a good idea? Say some beastie sneaks up on you deciding to take a bite out of you?”

Buffy frowned as she wiped away the tears that had fallen, glancing up at the annoying vampire in front of her, “You worried about little ole me? You shouldn’t be.”

Spike rolled his eyes, “No pet, I’m not worried about you just thought you might be worried about yourself. Seeing how you got more vampires now that Drusilla and Angelus are feeding and making minions left and right, I would have figured you’d be more bloody cautious.”

Buffy shrugged ignoring him wanting to get back to her depressing thoughts. Spike wheeled closer eyeing the book on her lap, “That’s mighty strange reading for a little girl.”

Buffy put her hands on her hips balancing the book on her lap as she stated in an annoyed voice, “I’m not little.”

Spike looked at her up and down appraising her body before he chuckled, “I guess not so much but you know Angel has a thing for young virgins. That’s why he prefers nuns and high school students like you pet.”

Buffy sniffled slightly as tears filled her eyes as she remembered Angelus’s words to her saying she wasn’t that good. The words echoed through her head again but she didn’t want to cry in front of Spike. She retorted, “I bet you’ve raped young girls as well.”

Spike shook his head, “Only one dark beauty in my past. She’s my own and only and I’m loyal even if she’s not.”

He growled quietly to himself as he remembered the way Dru had stripped off her dress allowing Angelus to take her right in front of him. Spike had wheeled out of the room so fast that he didn’t even realized he was in Buffy’s cemetery until he saw her sitting there. He glanced up at her noticing she was staring at him so he cocked his head to the side remembering her book, “So what you reading the Legends of Ancient for? As I said before that’s difficult reading and not that accurate.”

Buffy studied him before stating, “What do you know about claims?”

Spike laughed, “I doubt that book is accurate about those. That was written by a human watcher boy who knew nothing.”

Buffy closed the book resting it still on her lap, “Well why don’t you tell me how to get rid of it?”

Spike eyed her for a moment before realizing she was serious and he started laughing out loud. He was laughing so hard Buffy had to stand in front of him putting her hands on his shoulders. She shook him slightly as to make him stop and look at her. Buffy frowned as he wiped his tears away from his eyes and whispered softly her voice sounding desperate, “What’s so funny? Can’t you tell me how to get rid of it?”

Spike shook his head explaining, “That luv is why it’s so funny. You can’t remove it. Nothing will remove it…well save a challenge but there’s no one around to do one of those anymore. Only two vampires left on this earth that could challenge it, Dru or me. I guess you could go resurrect the Master and try to convince him to do it for you…”

Buffy eyes filled with fear as she gripped the book making her knuckles turn white. Spike cocked his head to the side, “Issues with the Master?”

Buffy whispered softly looking down at her feet, “He killed me.”

Spike’s eyes got big as he said, “Well I must say pet, you are looking mighty fine for a dead girl who isn’t a vampire. Just how did you pull off being so bloody alive if he killed you?”

Buffy shook her head trying to forget the fear his name brought, “He only drained me partially leaving me to drown. Xander did CPR.”

Spike replied with a simple, “Ahhh.”

Buffy glanced up at him hearing that sound and returned to her questioning, “So if I can’t get rid of the claim, what am I supposed to do?”

Spike shrugged repeating his statement from the night before, “I told you, I’d run far away and hope Angel forgets you exist and Slayer by the way, I’d stay indoors for at least 2 more days and not see Angel. If he sees that fresh mark on you, he will know what he did and really hurt you. I’d leave.”

Buffy eyed him amazed by his statement. He didn’t care about her not really but the statement almost seemed like he did. She stood up in front of him carrying book in one hand as she asked one last question, “If I could get a master vampire to challenge it, what would happen to the claim?”

Spike looked down at his hands, which were resting on his lap, “It disappears and the master vampire has a choice to claim you for himself or let you go free. But like I said pet, it has to be someone in the Aurelius line and thanks to you, we are mighty scarce. With Angel taking out Darla and you taking out the Master, just Dru and I left.”

He shrugged as he turned to roll away as she yelled after him, “Would you do it?”

Spike laughed as he turned around, “Even if I would which I wouldn’t, I’m in a sodding wheelchair, pet. Not bloody likely to end well is it?” He continued to roll away as Buffy frowned determined to talk to Willow about it tomorrow.

---

Chapter 4: Desperation

---

13 and half hours later: 7 am. Monday

Buffy awoke to her alarm and she stretched before feeling the sense of dread flow over her. She peered at her nightstand and noticed another drawing.

As she sat up, her head felt like she was spinning as she held it with one hand while studying the picture with the other. This one was even freakier than the last. It was of Buffy in the pajamas she wore last night but instead of them covering her body, it was exposing her breasts and it showed a hard reaching out to touch them. She shuddered lifting up her shirt to see tiny bruise marks on her breasts and put her hand over her mouth covering the scream that wanted to emit from her body.

She got up quickly determined to find a way to dis-invite a vampire from her house as she picked out clothing for the day. She glanced in the mirror noticing the bite mark was less and mostly faded to the point of where it looked to be an old master mark. Buffy sighed in relief that no one would notice it until she shuddered remembering that picture. The only tiny thing she could be thankful for is that he didn’t seem to notice the claim mark on her neck. Perhaps he thought it was from the Master.

She frowned wishing this had been just a bad nightmare she would wake up from. Angelus was invading her personal space, abusing her body and breaking her heart even more. She needed to be strong though because she couldn’t kill him or destroy him. Buffy needed to find a way out of this claim so she could put a stop to this before something bad happened to someone she knew and loved or herself.

Buffy hopped into the shower with steaming hot water willing it to wash away any results of his touch on her body. Buffy glanced down noticing the tiny bruises on her breasts appeared to be the only part marred. She shook her head as a few tears fell from her eyes but were quickly washed away by the shower before they reached her cheeks. Buffy sighed quickly but forcefully washed her body until it shined red from the strength she used on her washcloth she had opted to use instead of her normal poof. She was determined to wash away his touch even if it meant rubbing off a layer or two of skin. She finally finished by washing her hair and stepped out of the shower still as red as a beet.

She glanced over at the sink in the bathroom where the mirror was steamed. She used her towel to wipe away mist and looked at her neck. It was the only part of her not red and she closed her eyes willing the mark away but when she opened it, it was still there as clear as day. Buffy knew she would forever have that scar on her until she was able to convince someone to challenge for her.

She frowned as the tears almost fell again but she quickly rushed to get dressed leaving her hair down. It would cover the marks on her neck instead of a scarf two days in a row, which might draw attention to her neck. The last thing Buffy needed was for Xander or Giles to get wind of the claim. Both would be so disappointed in her and might even dust Angelus causing her to die. Buffy wasn’t ready to die and hoped to live a long life but it seemed difficult to think such things lately.

She grabbed her backpack shoving the picture into it as to not have her mom find it accidentally, as she noticed again the kitchen was empty. A tiny note was on the fridge saying, “I won’t be home until much later tonight. I have a meeting at the gallery with a new artist in the area. I left money for pizza and packed a larger lunch than normal for you. Have a good day sweetie!”

Buffy sighed pulling the lunch from the third shelf in the fridge then headed out to walk to meet Willow for their way to school.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

15 minutes later: 7:15 am. Monday

Buffy walked next to Willow as they walked to school together. Buffy decided to be nice and ask Willow about Oz for once, “So how are you and Oz doing?”

Willow looked embarrassed but decided to share as her hands started moving as she talked, “We are good, well ok…”

Buffy glanced up while still continuing to walk questioning, “Are you guys going anywhere special tonight?”

Willow shook her head glancing in Buffy’s direction as they rounded another corner, “We aren’t going anywhere…well we are but not where I want to go.”

Buffy’s eyebrow rose up in surprise, as she hugged her books tighter, “Nowhere?” Willow nodded responding, “Nowhere. I mean, he said he was gonna wait until I was ready, but I’m ready. Honest. I’m good to go here.”

Buffy smiled realizing Willow was talking about sex not their actual relationship as she glanced towards Willow as she exclaimed, “Well, I think it’s nice that he’s not just being an animal.”

Willow’s voice appeared calm as she looked at Buffy still walking as she laced her hands together in front of her saying, “It is nice. He’s great. We have a lot of fun.” Her voice got desperate as she stated, “But I want smoochies!”

Buffy tried to help by suggesting, “Have you dropped any hints?”

Buffy’s hand gestured in front of her during the word hints as Willow looked directly at her still walking but their pace slowing, “I’ve dropped anvils.”

Buffy shook her head flinging her hair back behind her shoulders as she smiled at her friend hoping to reassure her, “Ah, he’ll come around. What guy could resist your wily Willow charms?”

Willow frowned a bit, “At last count, all of them. Maybe more.”

Buffy smiled slightly, “Well, none of them know a thing. They all get an “F” in Willow.”

Willow got a smile on her face with a slight far away look as she toyed with the bottom strain of her hair, “But I want Oz to get an ‘A’ and oh, one of those gold stars.”

Finally having reached school Buffy turned towards Willow with a confident look on her face as she sat down on the bench realizing they were still a few minutes early, “He will.”

Willow glanced towards Buffy taking the seat next to her glancing around the walkway, “Well, he’d better hurry. I don’t want to be the only girl in school without a boyfriend.”

Buffy looked down at her hands sadly thinking about what Willow said. She didn’t have a boyfriend unless you counted one who wanted to kill her and her friends. Willow realized her mistake and apologized immediately, “Oh, I’m such an idiot. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t even be talking about…do you want me to go away?”

Buffy shook her head sadly, “No I wish you wouldn’t.”

Willow frowned asking, “How are you holding up?”

Buffy frowned being honest, “I’m not really. He was in my room last night again drawing pictures. I won’t show you since he was violating my body during his drawing adventure but it’s bad. Really bad. Is there any kind of dis-invite spell someone could perform to get him out?”

Willow gasped, “He didn’t hurt you did he?”

Buffy shook her head, “Just a few bruises in places I’d rather not mention but nothing too bad. But he’s getting braver and I’m not waking up for it...”

Willow looked up at Buffy hopeful, “I could talk to Ms. Calendar. I over heard she was a witch of some sort like me. I saw her in the Magic Box a few weeks ago buying some kind of supplies. Perhaps she knows about vampires.”

Buffy nodded looking hopeful as well just as the school bell rang, “Please do that. See you at lunch Wills.”

Willow waved, “Library 12 pm. We will do some more research ok?” Buffy nodded and took off running towards her first class of the day as her mind still worried with thoughts of Angelus’s next step.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

4 hours and 45 minutes later: 12 pm. Monday

Willow was already into research when Buffy sat her backpack down on the table pulling up a book that Willow had placed out for her. Giles came into the room, “Ok the goal is to find all we can about Angelus.”

Buffy frowned stating, “He’s stalkerish, he’s creepy, he’s obsessive, he kills, maims and destroys, and he tortures, doesn’t that about cover enough information about him yet?”

Giles frowned as his disappointed clearly showed, “Buffy, dear we must find his weak point.”

Buffy decided to brave the question, “Is there any way to dis-invite a vampire into a person’s home?”

Just then the library door opened and in walked Jenny Calendar, “I’m so glad Willow asked me about that today. She said Angelus was giving you trouble in your home Buffy? I have the spell here but I need a few ingredients and I still have a tiny bit of translation to do but by the end of the day tonight if not tomorrow morning, I should be ready to perform the spell and I’ll teach Willow how to for the future in case I’m not available. I suggest any one who has given him an invite, should do the same. Just to be safe.”

Buffy nodded grateful that her house would be once again protected. She was fearful for her mother’s life and with Angelus having a free for all access to her home, it was just asking for trouble. She motioned towards Jenny not quite forgiving her for the part she played in not warning her about Angelus, “Thank you.”

Jenny nodded and apologized once again, “I am sorry again about not telling you…”

Buffy cut her off, “It’s the past. Let’s move on shall we?”

Jenny nodded quietly leaving the library again as Giles watched dejectedly as Jenny left then turned towards his desk with his book still in hand. Buffy watched this sadly then felt Willow nudge her, turning towards her, “Do you need anything?”

Buffy nodded explaining, “My source said it can be removed….”

Willow got excited, “That’s great? It is by a spell or some kind of ritual? Is it easy or hard? Probably hard but I’m sure I could handle it.”

Buffy shook her head putting her hand up to signal Willow to be quiet, “It’s nothing like that. It’s a vampire challenge actually. Someone from the Aurelius line must challenge the claim and win to free me. My source claimed only Spike and Dru are left since the others were destroyed. Is that true?”

Willow grew excited, “Oooh, I saw a list of Aurelius line vampires in here!” She started flipping through the pages quickly getting into an image that appeared to be a family tree. On the list of vampires, most were listed as deceased. Willow took out her black pen adding in 1998 for Darla’s death and 1999 for the Master and sure enough, only Spike, Angelus and Drusilla were listed.

Buffy sighed in defeat, “I guess that is a no go.”

Willow nodded sadly, “We will keep looking. Perhaps your source isn’t as smart as you seem to think they are.”

Buffy shook her head, thinking Spike seemed very smart as she offered, “Yea we can keep looking but I really think he was telling the truth.”

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

8 hours later: 9 pm. Monday

Buffy was walking through the cemetery as usual but was looking for a certain blond vampire. She had decided she wanted to make a deal with him. She would offer him something in return for him offering something only she hadn’t decided what her offering would be. Nonetheless she was determined to be brave and make this work.

She glanced around having already staked about 10 vampires in the night figuring it was Angelus and Drusilla’s work. She had even gotten a message from a few claiming, “A gift from Angelus to you” which had only proved to piss her off and dust them faster before they could say anymore. She was tired of living this nightmare.

Just then she heard the distinct sound of wheels rolling. She ran up towards the sound and yelled out, “Spike!”

Spike turned around in his wheelchair to face her breathing out a deep breath he had been holding at his name, “Oh it’s you Slayer. What do you want? Aren’t you satisfied enough with my existence in a sodding wheelchair or do you plan to torture me to death with stalking me forever knowing I can’t very well get away fast.”

Buffy sighed as she plopped herself down on a particularly big statue in front of a grave, “Neither. I want to offer you something.”

Spike’s eyebrow shot up as he cocked his head to the side, “Ok pet, let’s hear it. What do you have the offer to the Big Bad vampire?”

Buffy bit her lower lip as the thought suddenly came to her, “Blood. Slayer blood. I will give you some of my blood in exchange for you challenging Angel for me.”

---

Chapter 5: Blood Sealed Deal

---

Spike frowned not liking how this was working out. This was a pretty intense deal. He usually loved deals and looked forward to them but this wasn’t going to end well and he could smell it already. He stated trying to hide the emotion in his voice “You are willing to do what??”

Buffy held out her wrist, “You can feed from me but not killing me, in exchange for you fighting for my freedom. Angel….”

Spike watched as Buffy tried to gain control of her emotions as she pulled out folded pages in her pocket thrusting them towards him. His curiosity got the better of him as he opened up the pictures. They were drawings of Buffy while she was sleeping. One looked innocent enough but the second was of her exposed and about to be violated. Spike folded them back up determined to look uninterested as he handed them back, “Those are just drawings he did. Doesn’t make them anything more than fancy little pictures probably done from memory.”

Buffy shook her head, “They were left in my house on my nightstand and….”

Her voice hitched as she continued as a tear fell from her eyes, “I have bruises…”

Spike couldn’t stop the slight intact of breath that was full of shock, “Bruises?”

Buffy nodded, “He really did touch me as that picture showed. He was in my room while I was sleeping and touching me and I didn’t even wake up…please you have got to help me. I can’t handle this.”

Spike sat up a little straighter as he stated, “You need to dis-invite the poofter first of all and secondly, I can’t do a blasted thing in this bloody wheelchair you put me in so you are out of luck ducks.”

She looked at him wiping the tears that had fallen on her cheeks hating how vulnerable and desperate she sounded, “I’ll help you heal. I’ll feed you my blood. Surely my blood would heal you up. You’d win too you know. You’d get your Dru back.”

That got Spike’s attention. He closed his eyes for a moment remembering how before Angelus existed, his dark princess would coo and fling herself all over him. She would never fully give herself to him but at least she pretended to be his. He longed for that again as he opened his eyes stating, “What exactly do I have to do with this? Who’s to say when I free you, you won’t come around and dust me and Drusilla?”

Buffy bit her lower lip, “You can claim me so I can’t hurt you afterwards. I’ll say the words as long as you agree to leave with Dru and never come back.”

Spike licked his tongue over his upper lip as a smirk came across his face, “So you’d do that would you? You that bloody desperate? So tell me luv, how do you want to do this feeding thing?”

Buffy didn’t have an answer never having let anyone willing feed from her only Angel who had barely taking even a taste of blood and it was done in the throes of passion so she didn’t have time to think it through. Spike noticed her uneasiness as he stated, “Ok first things first. Let’s make this official, what happens if you don’t keep up your end of the deal? Can I drain you? Drain one of your friends? Your mum perhaps?”

Buffy frowned in thought, “I won’t go back on my word because I got the most to gain from this little deal. I get freedom to destroy Angelus before he kills my friends and family or me. And I’m giving you the most valuable thing in my possession, my blood. But if I go back on my word, you can kill me.”

Spike nodded in agreement, “Ok fine. Doesn’t answer my question, how do you want to do this feeding thing? I can hardly bite you when you are way over there and it will hurt you know. Unless you are in the throes of passion as you call it, it will hurt. Not much I can do about that.”

She shrugged unbothered, “I heal fast and I can take pain. I’m the Slayer after all.”

Spike nodded in agreement, “Fine pet, come sit on my lap and let’s do this thing and get it over with.”

Buffy frowned thinking this wasn’t how she imagined it. She imagined him being so grateful for her blood that he would do anything she asked and instead he was acting as though her blood was a chore. She bit her lower lip again as she reluctantly sat on his lap. She eyed him nervously, “No funny business?”

Spike shook his head, “No no funny business. Get out your stake if you feel better.”

Buffy nodded pulling the stake out from her pocket holding it in her hand as Spike shook his head, “I’m not biting anywhere near his mark luv, switch sides.”

Buffy glared at him not liking the idea of marks on both sides of her neck and he quickly explained, “If I bite anywhere near his marks, he will feel it. If I were you, I’d try not to bloody touch them or have them rub up against anything and definitely don’t have people biting that side if that gets you off. Any contact while he’s awake and he would recognize something was up even if he didn’t know fully what was up. I didn’t even think Angel knew anything about claims. Probably his demon took over in the heat of the moment and did it without his bloody knowledge. I’ve heard of that happening before.”

Buffy frowned asking in a soft voice, “What will make you stop?”

Spike shrugged, “Well you are offering to be my blood fountain. I can either take it all in one night or I can enjoy slayer blood for the next few days into weeks. I tend to think the latter is best so yea I’ll stop. Make a deal with you pet. If I go too far, I’ll drop you off at home on the doorstep and ring the bell leaving your mum to find you. That an ok deal?”

Buffy nodded as she scooted on his lap to expose the opposite side of her neck. Spike closed his eyes letting the smell of her blood hit his nose as he said, “Ok hold on tight to that stake or you might even want to hold onto to the sides of my wheelchair luv. This is going to be a bumpy ride.”

With that she heard the bones in his face shift as he licked the spot on her neck where he was about to bite. For a moment the licking felt good and she found herself closing her eyes leaning towards him. Spike sensed the change in her and grinned, as he couldn’t resist lifting a hand up to massage her breast forgetting that she was bruised there. The bruises on her breasts weren’t that bad so she didn’t even notice any pain and only felt pleasure as she arched her neck even more to his view.

He smelt her arousal and smirked as he plunged his fangs into her neck gently but forceful as she let out a low moan. She started to wiggle and fight and he removed his fangs, “No pet listen to me. If I rip your skin you are going to have to find another place for me to bite tomorrow and I don’t think you fancy stripping for me so you need to be calm and relax.”

He continued kneading her breasts as he whispered his words against her ear and she found herself relaxing. He nodded to himself more so than to her and revamped out returning to his feast. He reentered the same holes careful not to rip her skin as he took a pull of blood feeling Buffy squirm. He moved his free hand to her stomach to hold her in place not stopping the massaging of her breast and took another pull of blood. This time she moaned trying to arch her body towards his hand on her stomach. He chuckled to himself as he took another pull of blood then another and continued until he heard her moaning grow quieter and less forceful and he knew it was time to stop.

Reluctantly he pulled his fangs from her neck and licked the wound cleaning it from any escaping blood. Then he pulled his tongue flat against her wound to seal it. Buffy opened her eyes feeling his hands relax on her but still felt his hand massaging her breast as she refused to speak. She leaned up against him feeling light headed and weak as she closed her eyes again. This felt even more intimate than the night with Angel. Thinking of Angel had her opening her eyes and trying to stand up.

Spike wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, “No Slayer, you need to relax to allow the blood to rebuild. They don’t let you get up at the doctors office after giving blood do they?”

She shook her head leaning back against him but not fully relaxed as she was a few minutes ago. He whispered against her ear, “Just relax pigeon and regain your strength as I regain mine.”

She felt herself relaxing again not really understanding why she was still sitting on the lap of a killer but part of her was so lonely. She felt empty since Angel had turned into Angelus. Her first true love had left her and was trying to kill her and her friends. Finally after a few minutes of her sitting there, she felt herself growing stronger. She eased herself from Spike’s lap who nodded, “Day one of deal complete. Tell me pet, did you say your little lady had done the dis-invite spell yet or will?”

She frowned shaking her head, “Will tomorrow after school. She had to translate a few last words it make it work.”

Spike nodded suggesting, “Put crosses on your windows, holy water traps if you can in places. Lock any and all doors and tell your mum about you and Angel before something bad happens to her. I’d soak crosses in holy water as well Slayer.”

Buffy nodded choosing not to think about why he was offering her helpful suggestions. He started to roll in the direction of her house, “Let’s get you home.”

Buffy’s eyebrow shot up in curiosity, “Let’s?”

Spike nodded, “We have a deal luv. I don’t reckon you getting into a fight without back up on a day I just about drained you of your strength. You tell me where you live, I’ll take you safely there and then return to my humble factory where I will shower up as I suggest you do. Use whatever smelly soap you can because right now luv, you have my scent all over you. I’d soak your clothes somewhere as well so he doesn’t catch a whiff of me that way either. And mind what I said about crosses and holy water.”

Buffy nodded numbly as she went behind the wheelchair pushing it gently using it somewhat for her strength. She noticed he was right; she was wobbly and not feeling up to a battle. She was grateful that Spike had agreed to the deal. Soon she could destroy the being that was slowly destroying everyone around her. She made a decision there and then not to tell anyone about her deal with Spike. She knew he wouldn’t as well. She turned towards Spike when she reached her tree, “I won’t tell anyone about our deal.”

Spike nodded his approval, “Same goes for me pet. Take care and be sure to wash my scent off you.”

She nodded, “See you tomorrow night. Same place same time?”

Spike shrugged, “I’ll find you. I even know where you live now.” With that he turned and rolled away as Buffy raced up the tree remembering what he said.

She carefully removed her clothes putting them in the washing machine downstairs to soak as she tiptoed up the stairs in just a towel. She took a long hot shower making sure to use extra soup and shampoo as well as really hot water before stepping out and slipping into fresh clean clothes.

As she brushed out her hair she reflected a bit on the night but decided not to think about her actions and the consequences but instead focus on the results of their deal. Satisfied she smelled like herself, she sprayed a bit of vanilla mist on her skin just in case then preceded to hang up the crosses that had been soaking in holy water during her shower. She also placed a holy water on the top of the window so if he did open it, it would fall. Covering herself up to sleep, Buffy found herself thinking of the bleach blond vampire who had appeared incredibly different than she imagined.

---

Chapter 6: Life Continues On

---

8 hours later: 7 am. Tuesday

Buffy awoke gasping as she noticed another drawing. She frowned as she studied it noticing again her shirt was removed but this time her pants were as well. She lifted her shirt to notice more tiny purple fresh bruises covering the now green colored ones from the night before. They were perfectly surrounding her breasts showing that he had indeed been caressing them causing the bruises. She removed her pants to find tiny purple bruises on her thighs and inner thighs but she noticed she was not sore or did not feel roughed up at all. She did notice her panties cut apart next to her body. She knew today Ms. Calendar would be performing the spell and not a moment too soon it appeared. He seemed to be getting progressively worse and knew tonight was probably the big final act of rape and knowing him, he would probably draw the image of it on paper.

She shuddered as she stood up wobbly but shaking it off realizing it was due to the fact she gave blood to Spike last night. She hid the picture in her backpack again holding her dizzy head as she rushed into the bathroom only to throw up her dinner from the night before in disgust. She felt so violated and dirty. She heaved another time emptying the last of her dinner as she laid her head against the cool tile giving herself a moment to recover. She felt gross and needed a hot shower.

Buffy turned the shower up to as hot as she could possibly stand it and jumped in ignoring the way her body protested at the heat. She felt the steam rising off her body and saw how red her skin was getting but she ignored it. Picking up the washcloth again to scrub her body, the action of cleaning herself made her skin hurt even worse. She frowned as she continued to scrub harder and harder until she was afraid she would draw blood and washed her hair before stepping out of the shower.

Carefully, Buffy dried herself careful not to mess with the two bite marks on her neck and sighed as she tried to find something to wear. She chose a long sleeve red turtleneck and blue jeans. She figured it was enough to cover both marks on her body and make her feel normal again. She shuddered again as she glanced at the drawing and closed her eyes willing the tears not to come. Just then she heard her mom’s voice yell to her, “Hurry Buffy or you will be late to school. I’ll drive you this morning if you want since I’m home.”

Buffy put on her backpack shoving the latest picture inside. She took a few deep breaths trying to look normal as she raced down the stairs. Grabbing the piece of toast her mom had made for her, she took her lunch, “A drive would be great.”

She was tempted to walk but knew she would be late and didn’t want to deal with that. Instead she sat in the car quiet the whole ride over willing herself to get through the day and not let anyone know anything was wrong.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

15 hours later: 10:30 pm. Tuesday

Buffy sighed as she kicked a stick out of the way. She was running late and knew it. She heard the now familiar sound of wheels crunching on grass as she eyed the blond vampire heading in her direction. He stopped rolling directly in front of her as he said, “You’re late.”

He looked disinterested in her reason but she figured she owed him an explanation, “Giles and I were out patrolling earlier for a werewolf that is loose in the city and ran across a werewolf hunter. It took time to ditch him and hunt for the werewolf, whom we never found I might add.”

Spike nodded appreciating the fact she bothered to respond to his comment and to give a really good excuse. He stayed quiet as she stated in careful tones, “Watch out for the werewolf. I don’t know if it hurts vampires but it does animals and people apparently.”

Spike nodded, “Mostly they stay away although I’m probably a perfect little sitting target but I’ll bloody watch out. No worries pet. So you come to give me more blood?”

Buffy bit her lip nervous as she nodded and Spike smiled slightly, “Be happy pet. Watch!”

She glanced down at his legs seeing no movement and thought he was nuts, then as she was about to give up watching, she noticed his big toe on his left leg was moving slightly. She glanced up at Spike who was watching her expression, “Can you do that on the other foot?”

Spike shook his head refusing to get discouraged as she jokingly offered, “Well I guess that’s something…now you can break Angelus’s finger with your big toe.”

Spike growled loudly, “I’ll break more than Angel’s finger before I’m finished. This is day one pet and I’m already making headway. That’s one more bloody toe than I could move yesterday.”

Buffy nodded as she took the last step between them sitting on his lap. He shifted still unable to feel her weight on his legs and whispered near her ear, “Now just relax and I promise it won’t hurt too much. Do you want your stake out?”

Buffy shook her head gripping the wheelchair with both hands. Spike let out a deep breath as he moved his hands up and down her arms aiming to make her relaxed. He realized yesterday the blood tastes sweeter if it’s willingly given rather than stolen. He wondered if other vampires had realized that but shook his head slightly concentrating on the task at hand. He moved one hand over to her breast again enjoying the feeling of its softness in his hand. He could feel the warmth through her nightshirt tonight as he realized she was not even wearing a bra.

Spike was really tempted to call her on it but the words got lost in his throat as he heard her moan at his touch. God she was so responsive. He tweaked her nipples causing her to wiggle on his lap and moan even louder. He whispered against her ear before he could stop himself, “Angel was a fool to give you up. You’re so responsive pet.”

At the name Angelus, Buffy tensed up and jumped off his lap. Spike was sure she was about to run but instead she lifted her shirt slightly. He was in shock thinking she was about to strip for him but instead she merely pulled from her waistband a folded up drawing. He glanced at the folded up paper taking it and unfolded it in his hands. He growled at what he saw. It was a drawing well done of Buffy sleeping and she was totally exposed to Angelus’s gaze with a hand heading towards her junction.

He growled again as he rumpled the sides slightly in rage as he demanded from Buffy, “Did he rape you last night?”

Buffy shook her head frantically explaining, “No I have bruises where he touched me but I don’t think he did anything else to me other than touch and look.”

Spike growled again, “You are sick Slayer. You want this? You let him do this? How can you not bloody wake up? You want a monster to rape you in your sleep? What is wrong with you stupid bint!”

Buffy blinked back tears as she shook her head frantically. He rolled closer to her shaking her slightly, “Well? How is he doing this if you don’t bleeding want it?”

Buffy shook her head and her body was shaking like a leaf. She felt her legs give out in fear as Spike barely had time to react pulling her onto his lap. He didn’t touch her other than to grasp her arms as he felt her still continue to shake with fear and sobs that had escaped from her throat. Without giving a second thought to what he was about to do, he yanked up her shirt gazing at her breasts that were covered with tiny purple marks and slight yellow ones. He shook his head as he vamped out unable to help his emotions for a few minutes as he shook her again letting her shirt cover her, “Seriously, Slayer, how could you not wake up?”

Buffy sniffled as she managed a muffled, “I don’t know.”

---

Chapter 7: Understanding the symptoms Can Lead To the Solution

---

Buffy sat on Spike’s lap shaking like a leaf as her sobs finally ended. She leaned her head against Spike’s shoulder but felt no surprise as she felt no arms surround her. He was an evil vampire after all and couldn’t be comforting the slayer. Besides his mind was too busy thinking of what she had told him. Based on how hard she was crying, she was probably telling the truth so that left only one thing in his mind, “Slayer, question.”

Buffy sat up looking at him as she got up off his lap to sit on a nearby gravestone. Spike rolled up to be at her level beside her as he asked, “What do you feel like when you wake up in the morning?”

Buffy glanced at him annoyed, “You mean sick to my stomach? Dizzy from blood loss and the knowledge that I had an evil vampire in my room touching me while I didn’t know it? How about disgusted and dirty? Is that what you are wondering?”

Spike frowned focusing on a few words she had used, “Dizziness? Vomiting? Exhausted? Dry mouth?”

Buffy nodded to every one of those and he replied coldly, “Chloroform.”

Buffy glanced back in his direction repeating what he said, “Chloroform?”

Spike nodded, “He’s making you sleep through his violations with chloroform. It’s not your fault but that stuff can last hours and it can have some serious side effects with long-term use. So did you try my advice last night?”

Buffy nodded and Spike asked further, “On every window?”

Buffy shook her head, “Just on mine. My mom was home last night but I’ll do it tonight on every window and door as she’s not home.”

Spike roared, “You are staying at home with an open house with no mom to even save your bloody ass? What the Hell is wrong with you Slayer? Do you have a death wish? If so I’ll gladly obliged taking Angelus out of the picture completely other than to find your drained body somewhere.”

Buffy shook her head again as her body started to shake and Spike ran a hand through his hair, “Do you know where your witch lady kept the book with the spell in it?”

Buffy nodded, “It’s in the library probably still with the bookmark in it because we were the last ones left in the school tonight before we went out werewolf hunting, why?”

Spike started rolling down the road saying, “Looks like we get to do a little B&E tonight before your beddy bye time. Come on pet, you have to show me where.”

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

20 minutes later: 11:30 pm. Tuesday

Buffy was trying to break into the school using a credit card and a screwdriver but failing. Spike growled pushing her out of the way and snatched up her equipment, “Since when do good and pure Slayers know anything about breaking and entering anyway? Aren’t you on the good side of the force?”

Buffy put her hands on her hips, “We have to do what we have to do.”

Spike shrugged wishing he could just kick the door open and Buffy grinned seeing him struggle, “I thought vampires were all over this. Isn’t this what you guys do for fun? Break into a building and steal things for yourself?”

Spike shook his head explaining as he continued to jiggle the lock, “Nah I usually literally break in, fangs all a glow and kill everyone in sight before taking what I bloody need.”

Buffy frowned as he reminded her of what he did for a living; he killed. He was an evil blood-sucking fiend just like Angelus. Spike noticed her frown and frowned as well, “Don’t be thinking I’m like your honey bear. I’m nothing like him. He rapes, tortures then kills. I feed often leaving my victims alive unless I make the conscious decision they aren’t worth bloody living.”

He jiggled the handle one more time as the door finally flung open. Spike listened for silent alarms and heard none as he started to wheel himself down the hallway. Buffy took a hold of his chair pushing him, as she demanded, “What gives you the right to decide if someone is worthy of life?”

Spike chuckled allowing her to steer thinking she knew where she was going after all, “I’m a vampire. I’m supposed to take all lives Slayer. Why does it matter if I have the right or not?”

Buffy grew quiet as she focused on trying to see on the barely lighted hallway. She accidentally ran him into the wall and he shouted, “Bloody Hell bint. Watch where you are going will you?”

Buffy frowned admitting, “I can’t see where I’m going too well.”

Spike frowned as he took over wheeling the chair, “Forgot your precious Gods who gave you the power, didn’t realize giving you night time vision would make sense to kill vampires.”

Buffy said nothing as she kept her hands on the back of his chair allowing him to guide her. The only sounds between them were the sound of the squeaking of the wheels until she finally broke the silence, “Next doorway with the two double doors, that’s the library.”

Spike nodded knowing Buffy probably wouldn’t see it and pushed open the doors with his chair and asked, “Ok luv, where is this fancy little spell book?”

Buffy smiled and picked it up off the counter placing it on Spike’s lap. He started flipping through the book, “Ok we need another B&E action before we go back to your place. I need some ingredients.”

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

30 minutes later: 12 am. Wednesday

Buffy bit her lower lip staring at the doorway of her house as Spike sat there with the book in his hand and the supplies. Spike shrugged, “Choice is yours pet. You can either invite me so I can dis-invite the poof or you can take the ingredients and hold them for your little teacher lady tomorrow to do it assuming you find your were-beast at a decent hour.”

Buffy stepped over the barrier stating, “Spike, please come in.”

Spike wheeled himself over the barrier, “I can probably dis-invite myself too if you want but I’m not 100% sure I can do that from within the house. Perhaps you should just tell your teacher to do mine when she does the others.”

Buffy shrugged thinking she would rather have an evil Spike in her house than an evil Angelus in her house anytime but decided to say nothing. She watched as Spike thrusted the items carefully wrapped in his duster towards her giving her the orders, “Hang these near the doorways and you get to wave some of this incense around while I say some Latin words. I won’t bother with the translations as it probably works better in Latin anyway.”

Buffy eyed him in disbelief, “You speak Latin?”

Spike nodded, “I speak a lot of languages. Probably more than you even knew existed.”

Buffy said nothing more but obeyed hanging crosses and other various items around the doorways. When she finished she turned to him and saw he had lit some incense and handed it to her. He said, “We will start in the kitchen.”

Buffy listened as in his British accent he carefully read the Latin inscriptions never faltering. It appeared so easy when he read it she almost wondered if he didn’t speak it fluently. After quite a while of chanting, he moved to the second door and read the inscription again while Buffy waved around her little incense wand. After another 20 minutes of chanting, he moved to the front door and repeated the process. He glanced around asking, “Any more doors luv?” She shook her head and he said, “Well pet, I don’t think it will work with me here so you’re stuck with me with an invite until your teacher fixes the issue.”

Buffy nodded saying nothing as she went in and removed the items from the doorways placing them in a box in the corner of the living room. She then sat on the couch as Spike rolled up in front of her, “Well since you’re safe from your honey bear tonight, what about my payment? I need more blood if you wish for me to do more than wave my big toe at him.”

She agreed as she slid off the couch sitting on his lap. She said nothing as she yanked the couch blanket over her as she leaned her head back against his shoulder exposing her neck to him. She found herself feeling cold so she inched the blanket up further around her as he reached down using that opportunity to slip his cold hands under her shirt. He got no protesting so he reached up touching her breast hearing her groan in pleasure as his cold hands made contact with her hot breast.

Spike himself groaned as he felt the heat pour through him and he knew feeling her heat would make things that much sweeter. Buffy didn’t even complain when Spike slipped his other hand inside of her shirt to openly caress and tease both her breasts through her shirt. She in fact arched her hips and he smirked realizing at this point, he could probably get away with doing anything to this girl, she was totally putty in his hands. Instead of pushing the issue, he controlled himself as he licked down her neck sucking softly on the spot he was about to bite. He also knew his organs were not functioning properly so even if he wanted to do something to her, he couldn’t.

He growled slightly at that thought and vamped out easing his fangs into her throat a bit higher than the mark he had left on her last night, which was healing nicely. He took a few pulls of blood as his hands lifted her shirt up and over her breasts as the blanket fell around her waist exposing her breasts to the cool air. Buffy hissed at the difference of the cold hands massaging her hot breasts and the even colder air turning her nipples into even tighter pebbles making them ache.

She felt Spike squeeze them slightly as she arched her hips as he took a few more pulls of blood. She wiggled on his lap feeling his erection under her butt and she longed to feel it inside of her.

Spike also realized his organs were finally functioning properly and growled at the feeling of Buffy rubbing against his erection which was now standing at attention. He tightened his grip around her chest but was careful not to squeeze her breast any harder knowing she already had bruises on them.

He took a few more pulls of blood closing his eyes as he felt it coursing through his body making him feel strong. Spike took another pull and figured that was enough so sealed the wound and was barely finished when Buffy turned around in his lap giving him a full blown kiss on the lips. He quickly unvamped but not before she nicked herself on his fangs. Spike closed his eyes controlling the urge to suck her bottom lip and instead enjoyed the taste of her mouth.

Tentatively Buffy kissed Spike not knowing the power she held against him. She arched her hips against his erection allowing both of them to feel every movement and he lifted her up higher so she could wrap her legs around the waist he could barely feel. She whispered against his ear, “Want you….”

Spike kissed her again feeling more turned on than he had since he can remember and whispered back, “Me too luv, me too.”

Buffy whispered in his ear, “Buffy. It’s Buffy.”

Spike whispered in his British accent, “Buffy.”

---

Chapter 8: Feelings of Guilt

---

Buffy felt her heart melting as she pulled her shirt over her head and struggled with his.

Spike knew they were going too fast but he was an evil vampire after all. Who was he to turn down a willing girl in his arms? He lowered his hands to her pants whispering, “You want me?” She nodded biting her lower lip in response and Spike whispered, “Ease back so I can remove this.”

Buffy nodded allowing him access to move her pants noticing she had no panties on under the pants. He growled as she leaned down pulling his member from his pants. He was thankful for her blood that seemed to make him almost feel alive as she whispered, “What do I do?”

Spike smirked at her innocence and used both hands to lift her off his lap so he was lined up perfectly with her entrance. He whispered into her ear sucking on the earlobe slightly, “Hold on to the wheelchair handles and slowly lower herself onto me. You do all the work because well I can’t but I bloody promise some day when I’m well I’ll make it up to you. I’ll make it really good but for now, you ride me.”

Buffy looked nervous and Spike thought for sure she was going to chicken out but instead she did as he asked and he felt her hips lower slowly towards his shaft. He growled out slightly when he felt her entrance take in just the tip of his erection and she whispered struggling with pain, “It hurts. You are huge.”

Spike chuckled appreciating the comment as he whispered, “You can do it. Just take it slow and gentle like and I’ll fit. I promise luv.”

She nodded and threw head back in pleasure as she lowered herself even further feeling the first fourth of his erection slide into her. Spike squeezed her hips knowing he would probably leave a few bruises himself but didn’t care as he felt her lower herself so that half of his erection was buried deep inside her. She bit her lower lip as she wiggled slightly getting used to the feeling of fullness as she whispered, “You sure you will fit?”

Spike nodded and felt Buffy raise herself as she left herself lower much faster onto his erection pushing the whole 10 inches of him fully into her. She quivered in pleasure as Spike held her tight preventing her from hurting herself as she quieted down he whispered, “Now slowly raise herself up and down onto my erection, I’ll help. It will feel bloody brilliant.”

Buffy nodded nervous she will mess up but listened as she pulled herself to lower herself again. She wished he could move but knew he could not so the bulk of the responsible was her. She got into a rhythm thanks to Spike’s assistance and soon she was moaning as often as he was growling and groaning in pleasure.

Within minutes, Buffy realized that he was right; it did feel wonderful. Spike leaned forward taking her nipples into his mouth sucking on them causing her to quiver in even more pleasure. She held his mouth to her breast with one hand as she used the other to continue her motion of her hips on him feeling her muscles contract down there. She heard Spike hiss in pleasure as she squeezed him tight.

He knew he wasn’t going to last much longer and enjoyed the feel of her heart against his body feeling as though he would catch on fire along with his release. Buffy arched her neck towards him, “Again.”

Spike didn’t have any thoughts in his head as he leaned down biting down in the same place taking a few pulls of blood, which took her over the edge. He felt her orgasm and quickly pulled out of her throat as her muscles squeezed him tight sending him into a powerful orgasm, which had him roaring her name in release. He heard her moan his name and wrapped his arms around her sweating body as he licked the wound on her neck close.

Buffy sat against him naked listening to him breathe unnecessary breaths as her mind tried to turn back to process what had just happened.

Spike felt her tense in his arms as he whispered, “Don’t think about it Buffy. Don’t analyze it, don’t regret it and don’t think about it. Just sleep.”

She whispered, “I smell like you.”

He cursed loudly knowing she was right. He wheeled both of them to a small kitchen sink downstairs since there were no bathrooms downstairs. He picked up a bar of soap and a washcloth and a little roughly washed off Buffy’s body until she smelt clean and fresh to him. He used the bar of soap on him making sure to clean all the scent of Buffy off him in case he ran into Angelus on his way home.

Spike knew he was pushing his chances every second he stayed in her house. He wrapped her in her blanket lighting a vanilla candle to burn getting rid of any of the leftover scent of sex as he laid her on the couch.

Buffy immediately closed her eyes feeling too tired to think and felt herself being carefully redressed and laid on the couch to sleep. She felt a kiss to her forehead as the blanket was tucked around her as he whispered, “Sleep little lamb. Angel can’t harm you tonight. You are safe.”

He wandered into her kitchen taking the bar of soap over him in haste one last time to get the scent of Buffy off his skin then disappeared out of her house for the night hoping for the best.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

5 hours later: 7 am Wednesday

Buffy awoke snuggled up in a blanket on the couch. She stretched feeling her muscles sore and she glanced over at the table thankful to find no drawings. She got up and raced up the stairs glancing around at the window that remained closed, the bed had remained made and the room held no sign of Angelus at all. She breathed a sigh in relief as she suddenly remembered last night.

She stared down at her bed frowning at her actions. She collapsed on her bed as she remembered how in the heat of the moment she had thrown herself literally at Spike and had made love to him. My God, she had sex with another vampire! Would he turn into some horrible monster like Angelus did? She bit her lower lip as she twisted her hands on her lap as she realized that Spike in fact couldn’t because he had no soul to begin with. She moaned as she remembered her actions and how good everything felt. This was so wrong she couldn’t believe how wrong this was.

She stripped heading into the shower aiming to wash her body finding that she already smelt good of Coast but longed for the smell of vanilla instead. She carefully stepped into the hot water that for once wasn’t hot enough to remove her skin and used her poof and vanilla soap to gently wash over her body. Today she had a werewolf to find and a vampire to feed. She shook her head wondering when her life got so messy.

Quickly Buffy washed her hair realizing she needed to speed up. She stepped out of the shower taking only a moment to dry down her body leaving her hair brushed, soaked and down as she put on a sweater with a higher neck to cover over Spike’s fresh bite mark. She slipped into her shoes and hopped down the stairs figuring she’d buy a lunch today. Just as she was about to race out of the door, she stopped and grabbed a paper bag and dumped the ingredients from the box into the bag to take with her to return it as she ran down the street to meet Willow.

Willow glanced at her with tears in her eyes. Buffy looked at her friend concerned, “What happened?”

Willow frowned explaining how she had been on the phone with Xander when she had fed her fish. “I then noticed, there were no fish in the tank. I found them, in an envelope on my bed. They were strung up on a fishing line. On my desk was a picture of my fish swimming happily but they were really dead.”

Buffy gasped holding her hand to her lips as she whispered, “He went after you because he couldn’t get into my house. We did the dis-invite spell last night and he couldn’t get in so he must have gone after you.”

Willow looked at her curiously, “We? Who? Ms. Calendar?”

Buffy shook her head feeling guilty, “I’m so sorry about your fish Willow. We will get her to do the dis-invite spell tonight on your house. I didn’t realize he had an open invitation to there.”

Willow nodded deciding to let Buffy keep her secret for now about who her secret friend was who knew about claims and now spells. Buffy frowned, “It’s so weird…every time something like this happens, my first instinct is still to run to Angel. I can’t believe it’s the same person. He’s completely different from the guy I knew.”

She glanced at Willow’s direction holding her book a little tighter as Willow whispered, “Well, sort of except….”

Buffy’s eyebrows went up in curiosity as she inquired, “Except what?”

Willow paused in her walking too look at Buffy stating, “You’re still the only thing he thinks about.” Buffy looked sad, as she started walking again not saying a word. Willow finally questioned her, “How are things with you?? He didn’t visit last night?”

Buffy shook her head as she stated, “I’m healing slowly. Physically and somewhat emotionally. Tonight we have to stop Cain and catch the werewolf.”

Willow nodded whispering, “Good luck.”

Buffy nodded and Willow decided, “I don’t think I’ll be at the library at lunch. I’m gonna stop and talk to Ms. Calendar about the dis-invite spell.”

Buffy looked sheepishly towards Willow and paused handing her the bag of the book and leftover ingredients. Willow glanced at her, “What’s this?”

Buffy looked embarrassed as she admitted, “It’s the leftover ingredients to the dis-invite spell…”

Willow raised her eyebrow, “Um Buffy? This was in the library, how did you get it?”

Buffy shuffled her feet before starting to walk away and Willow decided to press the issue, “Did you sneak into the library to get it?”

Buffy nodded, “I needed it. Angelus was touching me…I was afraid he’d rape me or something worse and I needed it.”

Willow nodded and patted her friend’s shoulder, “I understand. I’ll give this to Ms. Calendar explaining that I tried to do it myself and failed.”

Buffy smiled gratefully towards her friend, “Thanks” just as Xander caught up to them on his skateboard, “Hurry up girls, the bell just rang!”

Willow and Buffy waved to each other taking off in separate directions to go to their classes leaving Buffy with a sense of uneasiness as she felt guilt for protecting herself and not her friend and for her actions the night before.

---

Chapter 9: Someone to Talk To

---

15 hours later: 10:30 pm. Wednesday

Buffy walked out of the school library where Oz was locked up tight for the night. Willow was staying the night there reading to him until he woke up. She felt bad for making Willow shoot him with a dart gun but knew it had to be done. Buffy paused in the cemetery knowing she was late again and also knowing it would be another night before her mom returned. She walked into the center of the cemetery and pulled herself up on a high building looking around. She saw Spike rolling around in the middle of the cemetery muttering to himself. She carefully hopped down from the crypt then carefully and quietly made her way closer to him.

Buffy could hear him mumbling, “Serves you right you stupid git for taking advantage of the girl last night. You knew her heart belonged to the poof but no, you didn’t respect that and had to go taking advantage of her ignoring the fact that she’s only 17 and very vulnerable. You’re more than 9 years older than her in human years much less vampire years. Vampires have no right becoming involved with the living and you of all people should know that William. What is bloody wrong with you mate?”

He hit himself in the head and Buffy gasped knowing he was talking about her. He whipped his chair around so fast Buffy thought for sure he would tip but he didn’t. Buffy looked at his eyes as his blue eyes pierced her green eyes as he managed to stutter out, “You came...”

Spike acted very much surprised to see her there and she smiled trying to ease his mind feeling a bit guilty for ease dropping on him, “Of course I came. I just had a bit of trouble with the werewolf.”

Spike wheeled up beside her and started to run his hands down her arms and to her stomach as he lifted the shirt slightly, “He didn’t bite or scratch you right?”

Buffy shook her head as she put her hands on Spike’s easing them from lifting up her shirt anymore and let the shirt fall back down to cover her. She sat on the edge of his wheelchair and he pulled her onto his lap motioning with his hands, “I won’t touch but tell me about the werewolf.”

He rested his hands on the edge of the wheelchair as she leaned back against him, “Well we found out who it was…”

Spike’s curiosity peeked as he asked, “Who?”

Buffy shifted as she leaned her head against his shoulder, “Well, it was Oz, you know my friend Willow’s new boyfriend. She took my advice to go to his house and talk things through with him, which apparently was a bad idea as it was a full moon still and he turned into a werewolf in front of her. She managed to get away without being hurt only to run to Giles and I who were getting together a stun gun. Well I ran into the beast right in time to kick the gun away from Cain who is the werewolf hunter, only to end up face to face with the werewolf we now knew was Oz. I was afraid to hurt him at first but I realized quickly, he didn’t seem to mind such things. Reminded me of Angelus in a way….”

Spike felt her tense up on his lap and before he could stop himself found himself putting a hand on her thigh to trace light circles. But she didn’t seem to mind as she relaxed again to tell her story, “So anyway I fought against Oz and managed to be thrown by him into Giles as Willow shot him with a stun gun.”

Spike nodded and whispered, “You’re really lucky pet he didn’t hurt you. You can’t cure that.”

Buffy nodded and she grew quiet as she listened to the emptiness in his chest. She shifted slightly as he spoke up, “So listen Slayer about last night….”

Buffy cut him off, “Don’t blame yourself. I practically threw myself at you so unless you have mind control abilities, it was as much my fault and idea as it was yours.”

Spike nodded saying nothing but instead inquired, “Did Angel visit you last night?”

Buffy shook her head as the tears started to fall, “No he went Willow’s instead.”

Spike frowned, “Ahh she has the fish then.”

Buffy sat up a bit looking at him in surprise as she quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, “Huh?”

Spike shrugged pushing her head back to settle down on his chest liking the warmth she was emitting from her body, “Yeah. Angel came in last night bragging about how he went fishing. He was so loud about it, laughing with Dru that I couldn’t help but overhear.”

Buffy said in a flat tone, “Oh.”

Spike whispered, “She’s doing the dis-invite spell correct?” Buffy nodded her head, “Been there, done that. Willow lied for us you know.”

Spike cocked his head to the side to better view her as he looked surprised, “Is that right?”

Buffy nodded again, “Yeah, I gave her the supplies explaining that I had a source who did the spell for me and she lied to Ms. Calendar saying that she tried it on my house and didn’t have fun doing it so wanted her help on her own house.”

“Probably best pet that they don’t know about me. I can’t fancy the whelp or the witch or even your watcher liking the idea of you hanging out with another bloody soulless vampire and I don’t fancy becoming dust when I can finally move two more toes this morning.”

Buffy smiled at him, “You can?”

Spike showed her wiggling his left foot’s big toe and the next two toes on there and Buffy even noticed a tiny bit of movement in the last two toes. She jumped up off his lap exclaiming, “That’s great! Before you know it you will be able to fight Angelus for me.”

Spike grinned proudly as Buffy leaned over offering her neck to him, “More blood will help right?”

Spike nodded as he leaned down taking her breast into his hand again to begin the kneading. She moaned moving to straddle him as Spike whispered against her ear sucking on an earlobe, “You are too sore for another repeat of last night. Tonight we just do blood. Tomorrow we will see. Besides it’s a bit too late…”

Buffy frowned but sighed as she tipped her head more to the side eager, “I’m ready.”

Spike leaned down kissing down her neck pausing to suck on the spot on her neck that he would bit. It was just a tad bit lower than the other two bites, which were already healing nicely, and mostly gone. He breathed in her scent as she whimpered rubbing against him. He put a hand on her stomach while not pausing on his kneading as he slipped into game face and bit down on her neck.

Buffy gasped then moaned out in pleasure as he took some pulls of her blood. Within minutes Buffy was whimpering in pleasure.

Spike was tempted to take her then and there knowing she would easily give in to anything he wanted but wanted this to be a long term arrangement. He was healing already but had a long way to go so having her take it back wasn’t in his best interest. He would have to wait a night. He felt her heart beat slow and he pulled out licking the wound sealed. He felt Buffy shift to lean her head against his shoulder wrapping her arms around his back. He nibbled on her ear then closed his eyes basting in the way the blood made him feel. Buffy finally shifted as she muttered, “Will you walk me home?”

Spike nodded as Buffy stood up to start to push his wheelchair. Nothing was said the way home, as both of their minds were busy thinking. At the door, Spike didn’t move to enter thinking the spell was already done so instead he gestured towards the door awkwardly, “Home sweet home slayer.”

Buffy frowned but said nothing as she smiled at him, “Thanks Spike. For making me safe and helping me.”

Spike shrugged, “It’s a win win deal. How could I not resist?”

Buffy frowned again saying nothing more as she whispered, “See you tomorrow.”

She waited hoping he’d say something but he didn’t so she closed the door. She watched as he wheeled himself away. Sighing, she climbed the stairs taking a hot shower only to sink into the bed wondering what the next day would bring.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

8 hours later: 7 am. Thursday

Buffy woke up feeling refreshed. There was no dizziness and life seemed good. For a few minutes she floated around her room until reality hit her. Angel was Angelus, her friends were in trouble and she, Buffy Summers, was mixing company with an evil vampire.

She sighed as she slipped out of her bedclothes and into the shower. She took a leisurely shower until she remembered she would have to walk to school and therefore couldn’t afford to play around. She slipped on some black jeans and a fluffy pink sweater that had a high neck and pulled her hair into a ponytail out of her face. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed, as she wondered why Spike hadn’t wanted her last night. She didn’t feel too sore. Should she be sore? She pondered on this as she helped herself to a quick piece of bread and walked out the front door.

Within minutes she was walking side by side with Willow, “Anything happen last night?”

Willow shook her head as Buffy asked, “Everyone’s houses vampire proof?”

Willow shook her head, “We actually didn’t get to do mine last night but all was in order. No one was home since I was staying the night in the library until this morning where I returned to get dressed. Ms. Calendar plans to help me with it tonight.”

Buffy nodded and smiled, “Good. We don’t want anything else dead.”

Willow nodded sadly, “Oz seemed so sad being locked up. He doesn’t get locked up tonight. Do you think he remembers anyone at all when he’s a werewolf?”

Buffy shrugged, “I don’t know much about that. He seemed more than willing to attack us though.”

Willow sighed, “Not me though. He seemed to avoid me.”

Buffy didn’t say anything knowing her friend was only being hopeful that Oz loved her no matter what. Willow let out a sigh, “Think now that I know the truth about him, he will want smooches and to finally do it?”

Buffy giggled a little as she pointed across the way to the red head that was patiently waiting for Willow, “Why don’t you go ask him?”

Willow grinned crossing the way as she off to meet with Oz. Xander zoomed past Buffy on his skateboard as he exclaimed, “Hurry Buff. You’re late again!” With a deep sigh Buffy rushed towards the school eager to get this day started.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

15 hours later: 10:30 pm Thursday

Buffy twirled her stake after having dusted 20 vampires throughout the night. She had been patrolling since 8 eager to find all the vampires early so she could spend some time with Spike. She felt the tingles and turned around to find herself face to face with Spike. She smiled putting her stake by her side, “You scared me. You’re getting good with those wheels.”

Spike shrugged obviously upset about something as Buffy moved over to sit on top of a nearby gravestone, “Busy night? I’ve been out here a while.”

Spike smirked, “Looking for me pet?”

Buffy shrugged noncommitedly, “Not exactly. Been dusting your friends.”

Spike chuckled loudly at that, “Not my friends Buffy but your lover Angelus’s.”

Buffy frowned, “He’s not my lover anymore.”

Spike shrugged concentrating a bit on wiggling more toes, “Only took the one time luv. That was enough.”

Buffy sighed as she twirled her stake in her hand wishing this conversation were easier, “How was your day?”

Spike glanced towards her, “Brilliant pet. Angel spent the day indoors shagging Dru senseless and there was nothing I could do to drown it out unless I wanted to turn into a big pile or dust.”

Buffy frowned, “Sorry…” She paused then admitted, “My day was mostly quiet. I ate lunch in the library listening to Giles share all sorts of tidbits about Angelus tortures and how since he didn’t mess with any of us, he was planning something. Then listened to my friend Willow talk about her desire to date Oz tonight and his denial claiming it was a school night. Then Xander and Cordelia proceeded to make out in front of us not even bothering to hide the fact that’s all they ever seem to do. Boring day mostly.” Spike nodded looking down at his folded hands not saying anything as Buffy asked, “Want to come back to my place?”

Spike cocked his head to the side, “You didn’t have the teacher do a dis-invite spell?”

Buffy shook her head, “Maybe once the claim is broken but until then…”

She trailed off as she shuffled her feet and twisted her hands, “My mom is gone for another day and night. She won’t be back until Saturday. Would you, I mean…I could order pizza course I don’t know if you eat pizza.”

Spike rolled forward putting a hand on her hands, “I’ll come over and eat pizza.” Buffy smiled up at him and raced around to the back of his chair to take over pushing it for him neither one noticing Oz’s eyes from the woods peering at the two.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

Buffy pushed Spike into her house and Oz gasped as he stepped out from the shadows exclaiming loudly, “Buffy!”

Buffy turned around staring at Oz, “Oh Oz…what brings you here?”

Buffy wheeled Spike the rest of the way in, “Come in Oz. I know you don’t need an invitation but I figure it’s only nice to invite.”

Oz eyed Spike, “You know he’s a vampire right?” Buffy nodded biting her lower lip. Oz continued, “Ms. Calendar was dis-inviting vampires from houses yesterday and today. Willow had told me your house was already done. Did she get the news wrong?”

Buffy shook her head as her hair flopped in her face still not saying anything Oz glanced at Spike for an explanation and Spike explained in simple terms, “We have ourselves a business deal.”

Oz sniffed towards Spike, “You have no soul.”

Spike chuckled, “That’s correct wolf boy. I have no soul. No soul to loose and definitely no soul to gain. Why does that bloody matter?”

Oz turned towards Buffy looking greatly concerned as he stated, “You are making a big mistake.”

Buffy shook her head begging, “You won’t tell anyone will you? Spike here is helping me out. We have a deal of sorts. I give him something and he oh damn…” She realized it was so complicated and Spike didn’t say anything as he watched the emotions pour over Buffy’s face.

Spike spoke up, “What’s the number to the pizza joint? Pepperoni and sausage ok pet?”

Buffy nodded and he turned towards the wolf asking, “It ok with you?”

Oz nodded and Buffy spoke up finally, “It’s on the wall in front of the phone.”

Spike nodded and wheeled away to go order pizza. Oz sat down at her table leaving room for Spike and Buffy to join him eventually as he made a deal with her, “I won’t tell under one condition Buffy. You must be honest with me. I’m pretty easy going and can be a great guy. Willow likes me after all. Plus now I’m part wolf and I’m pretty tolerant of things such as vampires. So what is this between you and the bleached blond vampire?”

Buffy frowned, “Spike. His name is Spike and he’s in with Angelus’s crowd but doesn’t really like him being back and…I don’t think I can do this.”

She instead sat down in front of him on the chair and pulled back her neck showing the claim mark. Oz growled slightly surprised at himself and sat back, “Um that Spike’s?”

Buffy shook her head, and Oz goes, “Damn you got a problem.”

Buffy nodded, “It’s Angel’s and he doesn’t know about it and Spike recognized it on me and we made a deal. He will challenge Angelus for it in exchange for my blood so he could heal. It’s not a bad deal. When he wins, I’ll be free and never have to think about Angel anymore.”

Oz frowned, “That’s dangerous you know that? Spike will have the right to claim you if he chooses from what I understand.”

Buffy’s eyes showed surprise as she asked skeptically, “Just how do you know that?”

Oz grinned, “I did some research tonight after I had the sudden urge to bite Willow last night. I had to know why I had that urge and it was a biting claim urge. Now that I understand it I can better control it.”

Buffy smiled, “We have an agreement. He won’t claim me unless I want him to.”

Oz shrugged, “Well you know best.”

Just then the doorbell rang and Buffy heard the sound of wheels rolling into the kitchen and smelled the smell of freshly baked pizza. Buffy grinned, “How’d you get that so fast?”

Spike laughed and said, “If you look at the box, it’s not actually from your pizza place. Sorry pet, called in connections. I couldn’t wait the 25 minutes for bloody pizza.”

Oz chuckled, “You will have to hook me up with where you called. I practically live on pizza and waiting 30 minutes is a drag.”

Buffy watched the two languages between the vampire and werewolf and noticed there was an understanding of sorts. Both didn’t seem to mind the other’s company and that made Buffy relax and eat a piece of pizza watching the other two guys devoured on their pizza. Buffy grinned as Spike shoved another piece on her plate, the second she was finished.

Spike grinned, “Now I just need a glass of blood to wash it down.”

Oz laughed, “I crave bloody steaks now, almost completely rare.”

Spike grinned, “I can hook you up with the name of an awesome butcher shop that knows just how to set up a rare steak so it’s still oozing blood.”

Buffy shook her head as she felt her stomach do a flip-flop. She got up and took out three sodas as she offered, “Sorry in this house, it’s coke or bust.”

Oz opened his coke and took a large sip as did Spike. Buffy was impressed seeing the two creatures sitting at her table enjoying pizza and soda with her. As the conversation turned to Oz’s band, she felt like she was having a normal conversation. She wished for a moment Willow was there and turned towards Oz, “Think Willow will freak if we told her?”

Oz shrugged, “She seems cool with dating a werewolf, I don’t see why she would have a problem with you dating a vampire.”

Buffy’s eyes got big at the words dating as she denied it shaking her head, “We aren’t dating…”

Oz chuckled slightly, “Right, just providing blood for a vampire that you don’t care about enough to date and just sitting having pizza like old friends which isn’t a date. Gotcha. Could have fooled me though.”

He leaned back in his chair downing more of his soda as Buffy looked uncomfortable. Oz shrugged, “I say tell Willow. I would love a double date that isn’t a double date.”

Spike smirked at Oz but said nothing and Buffy nodded, “I’ll think on it.”

Oz stood up then finishing off the last of his piece of pizza gesturing towards the door, “I should get back. I got school in the morning as you do Buffy.” He then leaned up to Buffy, “If you don’t want people believing you are dating Spike here, I suggest you try not to have your scent all over him and his scent over you. That’s kind of a dead give away to the vampire and werewolf world and probably demons as well.”

He threw his stuff away as he waved to Buffy and saluted Spike, “See you around Spike.”

Spike grinned, “Certainly will Oz.”

As Oz closed the front door Buffy breathed a sigh in relief. Spike rolled over next to her whispering into her ear, “I’m thirsty.”

---

Chapter 10: A Bit of Cold Comfort

---

Buffy pushed him back as she cleaned up the table putting the empty pizza box into the garbage as well. Everyone enjoyed three pieces with Oz having a fourth and she was sure everyone was stuffed and she couldn’t imagine Spike still being hungry. She eyed him as she turned around drinking the last of her soda noticing he had wheeled himself over to where she stood at the counter as he repeated, “I’m thirsty.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, “I gave you a soda, what more do you want?”

Spike tapped his left foot that he could move up to the ankle and Buffy eyed it as she took a step back, “Can you move the other foot?”

Spike shook his head and wheeled forward, “Perhaps tonight will be the night.”

Buffy frowned but Spike grabbed her around the waist hoisting her into his chair and wheeled her into the living room as she was yelling, “Hey!” He just chuckled as he yanked the blanket off the couch and draped it over her whispering, “Time to pay up luv. Ready?”

Buffy bit her lip nervously as Spike whispered, “What’s wrong pet?”

Buffy felt the tears start to form as she admitted, “I’m supposed to love Angel.”

Spike nodded as he stated in a flat tone, “And I’m supposed to love Dru, your bloody point is?”

Buffy frowned as more tears fell, “It’s been five days, just five little days and I’m already in bed with another vampire.”

Spike frowned, “We haven’t made it to the bloody bed thanks to my inability to walk yet pet. Everyone needs someone. You know that right?”

Buffy nodded as she tried to wipe away the tears as she explained, “For the last year, that someone was Angel. Sure we were never really close but I loved him and I wanted to be with him forever. I imagined what my life would be like with him and I figured we would last forever. I didn’t even know he was a vampire before I was fantasizing about him.”

She frowned as more tears fell, “I found out he was a vampire and was freaked out but he was different. He had a soul and was supposed to be good and pure and everything that was something I could justify. Little did I know it would all be ruined by a simple night of pleasure.”

The tears rolled down at her cheeks as she continued, “Then you are now around and you are not in my right and wrong categories. You realize I was taught, vampire bad, no soul, slay since I was barely 14 years old? So for 3 years I’ve been having vampire slay drilled into my head. But you don’t seem evil. Angel was good as a vampire but then Angelus was bad and the only difference was his soul. What the hell am I supposed to do with you?”

Spike eyed her tears and struggled with the urge to comfort her and instead let her cry in his lap refusing to give in to these feelings that would result in his arms surrounding her in comfort. Instead he focused on her words as she continued to ramble, “You don’t have a soul so you should hate me and want to kill me. You should be doing everything Angelus is doing now that he has no soul yet you aren’t. You’re making deals with me, the slayer who is destined to kill you and your kind. You are helping me to dis-invite Angelus from my house, giving me advice to protect me and I don’t know what to make of it. My head is spinning like crazy and I can’t stop crying now.”

She sniffled loudly as she tried to wipe away the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. She was crying too strongly to talk anymore and Spike grumbled to himself but gave in the desire to wrap his arms around her trying to offer her comfort. She sniffled as more tears fell and she leaned her head against his chest curling into a ball letting his arms around her bring her comfort. She didn’t want to think about the fact that an evil vampire who was created by Angelus was holding her close and offering her the only sense of comfort she had found since Angelus was created. Her sobs finally calmed down as she whispered, “This is all my fault.”

Spike shook his head not letting her go yet as he said, “No pet, this is Angelus’s fault. He was 35 when he was turned and is well over 200 years old and you’re only 17. He’s an adult who has had over a century to figure out what the heck the curse meant and instead he didn’t. This is completely his bloody fault. If I believed it was your fault, I couldn’t be here with you but instead I know it’s his fault. Buffy, look at me…this is not your fault.”

Buffy looked at him with tear filled eyes and her face a mess and he gently wiped his hand over her face realizing at that moment he was in deep trouble. He was feeling things no vampire should. He was tempted to run but knew that was part of the reason he was there. He wanted to be able to run and fight and kill and he couldn’t until Buffy’s blood healed him. Instead he tipped her head towards him and licked down her throat tasting sweat and tears on her neck as he plunged into her neck with no warning.

She gasped and clung to him as pain hit her body like a flood and he immediately felt her relax trusting him as she leaned her head against his chest giving him full access to her throat. He felt a bit of remorse as he began to gently massage her breast to give her some pleasure to take the pain away. He didn’t take any blood just let the droplets run into his mouth as he lifted her shirt up to her neck and began to touch her breasts with both hands.

She opened her legs straddling his as she arched her butt against him rubbing against his erection. After a few minutes of him not taking any blood and just licking away the blood that escaped she whispered, “Let me turn around. I need to feel you against me.”

Spike nodded removing his fangs and yanked her shirt over her head as she managed to remove his whispering, “I just wanted to feel your cool skin against mine. It’s kind of a comfort thing.”

Spike chuckled as he felt her rub her body against his and he whispered, “Buffy, luv if you keep that up…I’ll be offering more than comfort.”

Buffy grinned feeling playful, “Who’s to say that’s not comforting?”

Spike growled and kissed her hard. It was the first real passionate kiss she had ever experienced and it took Buffy’s breath away. She moaned into his kiss running her fingers through his hair in an attempt to pull him closer. She wrapped her legs around his waist as she struggled for more contact. She ran her hand down his chest to find his pants, which she unbuckled and unzipped.

Spike was startled hearing the sound of a zipper. He whispered, “Remove your pants.”

She didn’t need to be asked twice as her pants were discarded beside them and she was straddling him fully naked as he whispered kissing down her neck to her breasts. He weighed each breast in his hand whispering, “Your bruises are gone.”

She nodded as she arched towards him enjoying his cool fingers on her hot skin. Spike hesitated for just a moment thinking that this might not be a good idea until he heard her moan again and his little control was gone. He was an evil vampire after all or so he told himself. He lifted her up in the air positioning her over his erection and lowered her half way as he hissed in pleasure and she threw back her head moaning out his name. He groaned as he lifted her up higher and then lowered her fully onto him as she moaned in pain and pleasure and she wiggled a tad trying to get comfortable.

Some tears formed in her eyes at the sudden invasion but he knew she had been sopping wet. He wiped her tears away as she whispered, “It didn’t hurt much. It was just a shock.”

Spike nodded as he kissed her again and felt her starting to move against him. She moved her hands to the sides of his chair for leverage as she lifted herself and lowered herself starting to swirl her hips. She was picking up on things that felt good to her and he could hardly wait until he could really take over control and show her places she had never reached before but until then, he would settle for this because it sure did feel good.

She moaned throwing back her head again as she moved against him squeezing her muscles with every motion. He was in Heaven and felt like he was going to be burned alive as he reached for her breasts again to tweak the nipples before lowering his head to take a breast into his mouth sucking on it as Buffy whispered, “More!”

Spike squeezed the other breast in his hand while the other received nibbling and sucking.

Buffy moaned out loudly as her hands gripped the chair so tightly that her knuckles were being drained of all her blood. She shuddered with closeness and Spike knew they both needed the extra connection of her blood.
He released her breast with a pop using his hand to switch breasts. He licked and sucked down her throat to the point of where he bit before and whispered, “Ready for me to bite you luv?”

She nodded her head frantically as he licked her one more time then she heard the sound of the bones shifting in his face as she felt two tiny pin pricks followed by the incredible feeling of her blood racing to his mouth. She moaned out Spike’s name and Spike groaned as he took a few more pulls of her blood just as she shuddered against him. He released her breasts to hold her fully so she didn’t cause him to tear her skin as she orgasmed shouting out his name over and over again. He took a few more pulls of blood before realizing he was taking too much and quickly pulled his fangs out just in time for Buffy to squeeze him tightly again ready to orgasm again. He roared out her name as his release took her by surprising bringing her along with him.

---

Chapter 11: Just Stay?

---

Buffy curled up against him as her orgasm faded and she didn’t want to leave the comfort of his arms. He let her stay in his arms as she whispered, “Stay?”

He shook his head, “I can’t stay the night or I’ll be stuck here tomorrow and Angel and Dru will suspect something if they return tonight and find me not there. I’m wheelchair bound remember? I shouldn’t be able to get out of the factory.”

Buffy nodded sadly and asked hesitantly, “Stay until I’m sleeping?”

Spike nodded as he felt her shift resting her head again his chest as her legs were brought up to rest on his lap. He sighed contently as he ran his fingers through her sunshine blond hair. It reminded him of the puppy Dru had tried to feed him that morning that she had named Sunshine. He worried for a slight moment that Drusilla might have a clue but shook his head thinking if she did, she would have surely told Angelus.

He listened to her breathing slow down as she fell asleep realizing at that moment, he was really in over his head. He didn’t look at Dru the same way and instead all he dreamed of and thought about was the next time he would see Buffy, his slayer.

He frowned but didn’t release her until he was sure she was fully asleep. He didn’t bother showering her as he knew Angelus couldn’t get in the house so instead he laid her down gently on the couch. Pulling her shirt over her head to cover her before he tucked the blankets around her body so she didn’t catch cold. He rolled himself into the kitchen feeling slight movements in his right foot finally as he washed his body before pulling back on his shirt.

Spike knew he was playing with fire and knew he could be burned but instead of worrying about it too much, he snuck out of the house being sure to lock the door behind him. He wheeled into the crypt where he took an extra shower under the makeshift hose removing his clothes to change into fresh clean ones he had left earlier in the night.

He made a decision that once this was all over, he might actually move into the crypt. He could watch over Buffy and avoid the memories that were in the factory. The nights of listening to Dru and Angelus have sex were really getting to him. Even when they were awake in the daytime he was all over her and she was all over him. He hoped that they would keep each other distracted enough not to realize Spike was up to something.

He sighed as he toweled his hair dry grabbing a glass of pig’s blood he had picked up earlier in the night and downed it knowing Buffy’s blood would have way more healing power than the pig’s blood but he wanted to be full so that he would never take more than he should from Buffy. He rolled back slipping into the back of the factory to pull himself to the bed thankful he did indeed feel a little movement in his toes and could actually lift his left foot to put a tad bit of pressure on it before it would give away.

Spike figured in a day or two, he would have Buffy help him try to walk around somewhere. Perhaps when her mum returns, he could deck out something in the crypt to work like a bed. So they can have privacy to feed to regain his strength and still have somewhere for Buffy to stay if she wanted to. He rolled his eyes at himself as he pulled the blanket over him realizing he was sounding more and more like a pathetic ponce every bloody day. He closed his eyes just as he heard Angelus and Dru start to go at it and he pulled his pillow over his head thankful he had enough sense to close the doors before hitting the bed. He closed his mind willing sleep to come.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

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6 and half hours later: 9 am. Friday

Buffy woke up feeling relaxed but sore. She touched Spike’s mark noticing it felt good. She was tempted to touch Angelus’s but knew Spike was healing and this was no time to alert him.

She raced up the stairs dragging her pants with her that she had worn the night before. She took the time to collect the blanket, and her clothes to put into the washer before running to take a shower. She hummed in the shower. She wasn’t happy about Angel being turned into Angelus but she was coming to terms with the fact he would never return. Angel was gone and dead to her and Angelus was here and now and he would just have to die for her to survive.

She climbed out of the shower as she chose a short sleeve shirt not even thinking about the mark on her neck. She left her hair down though because it was still wet as she grabbed her backpack with her math book. She felt amazingly good and not at all guilty as she raced to catch up with Willow.

Willow grinned as she saw Buffy as she exclaimed, “It’s the day before Valentine’s Day dance and my boyfriend is in the band!”

Buffy laughed, “I’m not going. I plan to spend a nice quiet night alone with some sappy old movies but seriously you go and you can take Xander with you as he’s with Cordelia this year.”

Willow frowned practically begging, “Please?” Buffy bit her lower lip wondering if it was at all possible to invite Spike. Buffy stopped glancing at her watch seeing they had a few minutes. She stood off the sideway behind a tree as she said, “Willow I need to talk to you about something serious. It’s another secret but this time you can talk to them all with Oz. So it might even bring you and Oz together and closer.”

Willow nodded and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

Buffy shrugged, “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just ok you know how I had this source…he knew about claims and magic and stuff?”

Willow nodded and Buffy hesitated, “What would you say if he were a vampire?”

Willow gasped, “Angelus???”

Buffy shook her head putting the hands Willow had put up in the air down by her side as she stated, “No hear me out. This one has no soul but can be really sweet. Just last night he held me while I fell asleep and stayed until I was sleeping to tuck me in on the couch.”

Willow smiled noticing the look in Buffy’s eyes but then remembered, “But Buffy this is a vampire. You let a vampire in your house?”

Buffy nodded and tried to explain, “It’s Spike. He’s going to help me get rid of the claim with Angelus. He’s the one who recognized it and told me how to fix it but he can’t walk right? So I’ve been feeding him my slayer blood to help him heal and it’s working! One of his feet is almost completely useable.”

Willow’s eyes got big as she asked, “You’ve been feeding him?”

Buffy nodded as she lifted her hair to show Willow the tiny two holes in her neck. Willow whispered, “Wow. Are you sure you aren’t under a thrall?”

Buffy laughed, “You think Spike has the patience to do a thrall with a slayer? He’d rather just kill me as quickly as he could…you know if he wanted to and all.”

Willow nodded and asked still unsure of the situation, “You sure he’s safe?”

Buffy nodded, “He’s been feeding from me for five nights now and been completely safe. He could have killed me tons but hasn’t and in fact even helped me to dis-invite Angelus from the house.”

Willow looked surprised, “He’s the one who helped dis-invite Angelus?”

Buffy nodded and said, “Yup.”

Willow walked back to the sidewalk as she turned to Buffy who was following her, “You know he could claim you if he wishes at the end of the ritual right?”

Buffy nodded, “Oz said the same thing last night.”

Willow looked disgruntled as she exclaimed, “You told Oz before me!!” She had put her resolve face on and her hands were on her hips and Buffy grabbed an arm to keep her walking not wanting to be too late for school as she shrugged, “Wasn’t planned but he saw me and Spike in the cemetery and I was wheeling him to my house for pizza. He interrupted us concerned about the fact I was wheeling a vampire into my house. We talked though and it’s all good and he suggested I tell you so we could double date.”

Willow started up the stairs to the school pausing for a moment as she offered, “See if you can bring him tomorrow night and I’ll see what I feel about this ‘new’ Spike.”

Buffy smiled and raced past her friend, “I’ll try. See you at lunch!”

---

Chapter 12: Careful What You Wish For!

---

5 hours later: 12 pm. Friday

Buffy watched the scene unfold before her in the hallway. She was tempted to break it up but realized this was bound to happen eventually and she never really cared much for Cordelia anyway, “I think we should break up. There isn’t much between us.”

Xander took Cordelia aside holding her arm in his hand, “You can’t do this to me. This is the day before Valentine’s Day and you are breaking up in front of the school! That’s not normal!”

Cordelia frowned as Buffy watched the scene play out even further and noticed a crowd had started to gather around. She heard Cordelia’s voice appear braver as she said, “Well I want more to our relationship than making out Xander. We need to see other people. I need to return to my roots where I belong. We just don’t fit together and I’m tired of slumming it to be with you.”

With that Cordelia frowned looking sad as she walked away as the hallway busted out in applauds. Buffy walked up to join Xander pushing people out of the way and then waved them on, “Nothing to see here. Go away.”

The crowd went away but not before casting a few insults his way, “Way to get dumped, dude.”

Xander frowned as Buffy heard Harmony’s annoying voice ring out of the crowd of people, “You should learn a second language so that even more girls can reject you.”

Xander’s frown deepened as he spotted someone through the crowd and disappeared from sight leaving Buffy standing there bewildered wondering what had just happened. One minute Xander was there and the next he was gone not even letting Buffy say a thing to cheer him up. She shrugged realizing Xander must not need him as much as she thought he did and went to her next class wishing the day was over with already.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

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3 hours later: 3 pm. Friday

Buffy sighed as she listened to Giles talk about various Valentine’s Day gifts that Angelus had left for his prize women through the years. She was dying to get out of there. It was 3 and she wanted to find Spike to invite him to the dance at the Bronze tomorrow night. She glanced up as her thoughts were interrupted by Xander’s voice, “I have a plan! We use me as bait.”

Giles stated clearly surprised, “You do?”

Buffy blinked feeling very confused, “You mean make Angel come after you?”

Xander shook his head looking defeated, as he muttered, “No, I mean chop me up into little pieces and stick me on hooks for fish to nibble at ‘cause it would be so much more fun than my life.”

Giles rolled his eyes knowing it was going to turn into a high school drama act as he closed himself up in his office. Buffy frowned as she whispered, “I saw you and Cordelia.”

Xander nodded, “I think the whole damn school did. My life sucks right about now.”

Buffy felt something strange come over her as she glanced at Xander stating, “That’s her loss.”

Xander frowned as he watched Buffy climb over the table to sit in front of him, “You know what I’d like? Why don’t you and I do something together tonight? Just the two of us.”

Xander’s eyes got big as he asked, “Really?”

Buffy nodded twirling her hair in a seductive fashion, “Yeah. We can comfort each other.”

Xander grinned getting an idea as he said, “Well, would lap dancing enter into that scenario at all? ‘Cause I find that very comforting.”

Buffy lowered her finger to her neck unbuttoning the first button on her shirt, “Play your cards right…”

Xander’s eyes got big as he barely stuttered out, “Okay, you do know I’m Xander right?”

Buffy looked down at his pants as she wiggled closer to him with her butt barely on the table and her jeans spread tight as she split her legs to move even closer to him almost resting her bottom on his pants, “I don’t know…I just heard you and Cordy broke up, and I guess I was surprised at how glad I was.” She leaned forward starting to play with his shirt, “It’s funny…how can you see someone every day but not really see them. You know?”

Xander chuckled nervously getting up off the table to find himself stopped by Amy. Buffy frowned feeling defeated as she picked up her books to go home to figure out a way to win over Xander still feeling weird about the whole thing.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

5 hours later: 8 pm. Friday

Buffy stood up determined to go find Xander but first she needed a weapon. She stomped down the stairs grabbing a jacket and her favorite axe as she raced to the library to get what she needed. Inside the library, she could hear voices but she snuck in grabbing an axe and left without anyone noticing her. If she couldn’t have Xander, no one would. She exited the library falling in step with a ton of other girls who also had weapons.

Meanwhile Xander had run to Buffy’s house not realizing Joyce was out of town. He banged on the door to the house asking to be let in only to be snatched by Angelus. Xander screamed loudly hoping someone could hear his cries. Xander tried to back out of Angelus’s grasp as Angelus held him by the collar dragging him up on the roof. He held him off the edge of the roof only by his collar asking, “Where’s Buffy?”

Xander stuttered, “I don’t know man. Look I don’t know.”

Angelus got angry throwing him down off the roof onto the ground where he jumped down after him. Angelus grinned at Xander, “Perfect. I wanted to do something special for Buffy, actually to Buffy, but this is so much better!”

Xander kneed Angelus in the crotch trying to get away but he didn’t even seem to feel the blow as he flipped Xander onto the grass in the lawn. He grabbed Xander’s hair pulling his neck back, “If it’s any consolation, I feel very close to you right now.”

Just as Angelus was about to bite, he was thrown back against the house and Xander exclaimed, “Buffy!” only to be turned around finding himself face to face with a vamped out Dru who appeared very hungry and determined to be with him which made him very nervous.

---

Chapter 13: A Little Jealousy Can Make the Heart Grow Fonder

---

Spike wheeled through the cemetery aiming to meet up with Buffy early if she was around. He then caught her scent as he hid behind the trees watching as a ton of girls holding weapons raced towards her house shouting, “Xander!” Spike growled as he smelt Buffy and wheeled faster and faster trying to keep up with running girls but realized as he fell behind, that working with a wheelchair isn’t as fast as legs. He growled again as he paused for a second watching the scene unfold.

Hopelessly he watched as Buffy flung herself toward Xander, “If you don’t want me, no one can have you!” Buffy tried to aim the axe at him dressed in just a black raincoat and Spike had had enough.

He rushed forward in his wheelchair and grabbed her by the waist tossing the axe aside. He took her struggling body with him into the shadows just as he spotted Drusilla in the bunch. She was cooing over Xander trying to kiss him and hold him and Spike realized he didn’t feel much. He was more upset over Buffy’s behavior than Dru’s as he continued to wheel her towards the cemetery. Once inside the cemetery he wheeled himself into the crypt he had been using and locked the door as he frowned looking at her, “Buffy what has gotten into you?”

Buffy pouted, “I want Xander.”

Spike growled smelling Xander on her as he ripped off her raincoat off her roaring, “Bloody Hell, woman, I’ll teach you to want someone else.”

Buffy continued to pout as he leaned down kissing her lips but she barely responded. Determined he licked down her neck stopping at her breasts. He fondled them noticing she wasn’t her normal responsive self as he shook her commanding, “Buffy, luv, wake up, snap out of this. What is wrong with you? It’s almost like you’re under a sodding love….”

Suddenly it dawned on him. Lots of females all crazy after Xander. They were under a love spell. He growled dragging her to the corner where he had placed his books hidden from sight. When Angelus had returned, he was afraid Angelus would get it in his head to torture him even worse by destroying his books. He flipped through an old spell book looking for a solution. Finally after a bit of searching he found something to at least bind her in place until he could figure out how to undo the spell. Quickly he pulled out the salt he had collected and tossed a quick circle on the floor knowing he would have to work this perfectly as Buffy was beginning to struggle again. He lifted the book as he started chanting in Latin.

Little did Spike know in another part of town, Giles was undoing the spell at the same moment. Buffy twisted and turned in his lap as Spike finished his chanting and tossed Buffy into the circle as it glowed bright red and Buffy stood up looking at Spike whispering, “Spike?”

Spike nodded pulling her up and onto his lap thanking the Gods or powers that be or someone for the fact she was back to normal. He growled softly as he pulled her to his body and she looked down at her naked form shyly, “Why am I naked?”

Spike frowned pulling off his button-down black shirt to put over her looking a bit guilty. He explained, “You were under a bleeding love spell of some kind that was casted on Xander and you were chasing him…”

She whispered quietly, “My God. This morning I threw myself at him in the library but luckily he didn’t return the favors. I almost cheated on you!”

Spike’s mouth fell open as he heard her words and he closed his eyes trying to figure out how he felt about it as the growling from his demon sounded through his body. He rocked her in his arms as he whispered, “You can’t cheat on someone you aren’t dating.”

Buffy frowned, “So you can sleep around?”

Spike shrugged, “Evil Vampire here luv. I’m loyal but you haven’t said we are exclusive.”

Buffy pushed him from her revealing her anger, “You’re still sleeping with that ho-bag Dru? My God, I thought you wanted me not her. I really thought you did…I thought you were different than just a soulless vampire! I should have known better than to trust that. I guess I was hoping.” She had been beating on his chest fairly hard but at the end of her speech, she put her hand up to her mouth and sobbed loudly crashing to the floor in a heap.

Spike frowned lifting her back on his lap to rock her gently whispering to reassure her, “I haven’t been with Dru since long before your night with Angelus. She was sick after all and now she only wants her daddy so it’s only been you luv. Only you.”

Buffy sniffled in his arms thankful he had been there to save her before she had managed to kill Xander.

She relaxed in his arms as he gently rocked her and she remembered what she wanted to ask him. The request just gushed out of her quickly, “Would you like to go to the Valentine’s Day dance with me at the Bronze? I told Willow about us today and Oz already knows and Xander might be there which won’t be pleasant but I’d really like to go if you don’t mind that is.”

Spike grinned as he said, “Get up pet and watch.”

He carefully lifted his legs off the wheelchair holder and balancing himself carefully he stood up wiggling his toes and ankles. Buffy grinned flinging herself towards him as he fell back into the chair. Spike grinned proudly, “If you feed me tonight and perhaps before your dance tomorrow, I might have enough strength to walk in the bloody place!”

Buffy grinned and nodded exposing her neck. He shook his head, “Your mum’s gone one more night right?”

Buffy nodded her head whispering, “Tomorrow night she’ll be back but I’ll just tell her I have plans with Willow and Xander.” Spike nodded and shifted slightly so she was sitting more comfortably on his lap as she grinned excitingly, “Think we can head back to my place? I haven’t gotten a chance to eat anything because of my crazy day.”

Spike grinned, “Pizza again?” Buffy agreed and leaned her head against his chest as he wheeled his way towards her house hoping that everyone would be out of sight.

Buffy whispered against his chest as he wheeled his way inside her house, “Were you really jealous?” Spike hesitated and Buffy frowned stating, “I was when I thought you were sleeping with Dru. I don’t know if it’s love or anything fancy like that but I think of you as mine. I felt jealous.”

Spike listened carefully to her and then nodded knowing it made him a ponce but what the Hell, “Yea I was bloody jealous. Don’t go doing that again!”

Buffy felt bad, “I didn’t mean to.”

Spike shook his head not repeating anything out loud yet but his thoughts loud in his head, ‘A vampire in love with a slayer, who would have thought it. Bloody hell I’m a ponce.’ But he looked down at Buffy who was snuggled up against his chest as he wheeled over the barrier in her doorway with no problem and smiled thinking, ‘What a way to go either way.’

Buffy smiled up at Spike and crawled off his lap as she went to get plates and a soda. She called to him, “Did you call for pizza?”

Spike called back, “Sure did.” He wheeled around the corner kicking his legs a bit and Buffy smiled at that as she set the table. Who would have thought a vampire slayer would be offering her blood to help heal a vampire? She didn’t plan to get into this situation again. This was scary business and if she had this problem a little after the Angel blown out, she wouldn’t have ever gone to the evil undead. Desperate, she had and now look where it got her, she’s in love with another vampire only this time soulless. She found herself nervous that once this arrangement stopped, they really would hold to their original terms. The original terms that were that she was single and free and he would disappear from sight with Dru. She didn’t want that to happen and in fact was petrified that would happen.

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Chapter 14: Dinner and a Movie

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She tried to put on a happy face as she sat down at the kitchen table just as Spike wheeled to get the pizza. As she sat down, Spike carefully stood up from the wheelchair and sat down in the normal chair next to Buffy. She smiled and leaned her head against his shoulder thankful he could do that much and started munching on the pizza. It was different this time, having pineapple and ham on it. She looked at him curiously, “What kind of pizza is this?”

Spike chuckled, “Hawaiian. You like?”

Buffy nodded and felt braver as she asked, “Why does it only take 10 minutes or so to deliver?”

Spike laughed, “I ordered from demons. Flaming demons in fact. They have a highly efficient oven and they can produce flame, which helps it to cook faster. They were from New Orleans originally but as their clan got bigger, they moved around the US. This family settled here in Sunnyhell, CA and they are really popular in the demon world. These are normal pizzas but they do exotic pizzas.”

Buffy’s eyes got big, “What kind of exotic pizza?”

Spike chuckled as he chewed the bite of pizza, “Rare meat, pickled feet, blood instead of tomato sauce, yak urine instead of tomato sauce, bull testicles and other things I won’t even mention. I don’t fancy listening to how I gave you nightmares and wonder where they got the ingredients from.”

Buffy shuddered as she ate more of her pizza. The pizza tasted delicious. It was perfectly cooked and very good. Buffy decided then, “I don’t want to know nor meet them.”

Spike laughed as he shook his head, “Buffy luv, you eat their pizza, you have to meet them eventually. Someday I’ll take you to see them. They are nice people as long as you don’t make them mad enough to throw flames at you.”

Buffy’s heart soared at Spike’s words, ‘Someday I’ll take you…’ Did that mean he was planning to stick around or did he say that, as some people do who never plan to really take that action but like to pretend they would. She was too afraid to ask so instead just busied herself with the pizza thinking that she could eat the whole thing herself. She glanced at him watching as he enjoyed the pizza just as much. She chewed her bite then spoke up softly, “Spike?”

He glanced towards her, “Yes pet?”

Buffy felt bad asking but she was so damn curious, “Why do you eat pizza?”

Spike chuckled, “It tastes good. Angel said I didn’t get turned exactly right. He said there was something just not right about me and that’s because Drusilla started the process but Angel finished it. He thought the time frame of when she dragged me to their place and the time death actually completed, caused me to not be fully vamp. I don’t know about that though. I still have a demon roaring inside of me willing to work its will at all hours of the day and night. I still need blood to live, still can’t do the sunlight thing, crosses or holy water. As you saw, I still need an invitation so I’m a vampire just the same as Angel was but I fight against my demon. I refuse to let it control me and instead live side by side with him. Angel just gives him full control so he no longer is a vampire, but more so a pure demon. Me? I’m William and Spike all nicely bundled in one hot and sexy package.”

He grinned at Buffy who blushed. Buffy whispered, “I think you’re one of a kind.”

Spike looked a little embarrassed as he replied, “I think you’re the only one. Eat up luv, it’s early still, only 9:30 pm and we can probably squeeze in a movie after dinner and still have time for a midnight snack.” He wagged his eyebrows at her and she blushed even redder as she focused on eating her pizza.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

30 minutes later: 10 pm. Friday

The couple was sitting on Buffy’s couch after Spike had managed to walk from the kitchen table to the living room a few times with Buffy greatly helping. Buffy didn’t mind and was glad for her slayer strength as she was able to help him move around without making it too obvious that it was hard work.

When they had finished, Spike had chosen Star Wars, the first movie having already seen the series and Buffy having admitted she had never managed to sit through any of them. He had his feet resting on the couch as he was spread out and Buffy was lying behind him with her head resting on his quiet chest watching the movie. She was actually enjoying the movie and when she was lost, she had an expert to ask a question or two about it. She felt like a normal human on a normal date. As long as she could get past the concept of her normal date was a vampire, it was true.

Buffy enjoyed the fact he never complained when she pulled a blanket over them because the temperature never bothered him. She enjoyed the way he looked at her sometimes when he thought she wasn’t paying attention, as though she were something to eat. It gave her a slight thrill knowing she could very well become something to eat. She wouldn’t ever admit that to anyone because she was sure that was a big no no to get that sort of thrill from a vampire.

Another thing she loved was how the last few days, since they were becoming really close and snuggling sometimes, he would constantly be touching her. Such as right now, they were laying down with her resting on his chest and her arm fling around his waist. His arm was brought up around her resting on her upper arm and the other resting on top of the hand on his chest. The one on her arm was tracing circles against her skin without him even realizing he was doing it. Last night when he was offering her comfort, she had felt his hand rubbing her back in a gentle pattern without even him noticing it. Whenever he touched, he kept their contact tender and constant. It made her feel loved and for a few moments at a time, she could pretend she was. That was enough for now.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

30 minutes later: 10:30 pm. Friday

Spike lay on the couch under Buffy who was resting her head on his chest. He looked down at her noticing her eyes were taking in the Princess and Luke’s interactions like they were her life support. He felt so relaxed for the first time in his life. He had no worries in the world and he was able to rest with his demon not fighting him. He found that part a little strange. It appeared that around Buffy, even though she was the slayer, the one he should most fear, he was able to relax and just be himself. There was no risk of uncontrollable urges to rip out her throat and drink deep. There were no urges to pin her to a bed and have heavy and loaded sex with her all night. The demon almost purred and he realized then he was purring softly as Buffy placed a kiss on his lips whispering, “Keep your purring down Spike so I can see Luke and the Princess hook up.”

Spike laughed resisting the urge to ruin the movie but decided not to say a word and instead tried to relax his demon so it wasn’t purring quite so loudly. He decided instead to think to keep it busy. Here he was a master vampire and healing up nicely and instead of running off to drain the first bloke he found in order to get stronger, he was snuggled up with the vampire slayer meant to kill him. He felt no urge though to fight her although fighting her had been hot. He mused, ‘Perhaps we can spar together and get the same effect once I’m up to pare.’

Spike paused as he realized what he was thinking and remembered their original agreement. Remembering that, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. Part of him wanted to say, ‘Go back to your world Buffy and I’ll go to mine. You’re free, I’m free and Dru needs me.’ But another part of him wanted to claim her as his and never let her go as long as he existed. Was it fair for him to want such a thing of a human slayer who has a short life span already? How had it gotten to this point?

He glanced down at the beauty against his chest that was burning up and so stunning and wondered how his life took this amazing turn. About two weeks ago, he was in a bleeding wheelchair, looking forward to fucking his glorious dark beauty and making her scream with delight so she would never leave him. Now he was imagining sparring, making love and spending his life with a vampire slayer, and not just any vampire slayer but the best he had ever seen, his Buffy. He wondered if she felt the same but didn’t want to ask. He figured they had a while still together as he wasn’t up to a fight yet. He could barely stand for more than a few minutes at a time much less throw a kick or two. This was all thanks to her. She had put him in a wheelchair and then had help heal him giving him the most precious gift any human could give a vampire, their blood willingly. Buffy was a vampire slayer and her blood was sacred and the healer of all vampires.

Spike felt himself hold her a little closer and tighter and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead as a way of thanking her for being so good to him. If nothing else, when she wanted him to walk away, he would do so with dignity knowing he had beaten his sire, freed Buffy, and had been able to love and have a fraction of it returned for once in his un-life

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Chapter 15: A Midnight Snack

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1 hour later: 12 pm. Friday

Spike felt Buffy wiggle and then climb over him to turn off the television. Then she sat in front of him on the couch whispering, “Is it time for a midnight snack yet?”

Spike chuckled sitting up on the couch thankful he could do that and pulled her onto his lap with a grin, “You know luv, if I feed from you first, I might be able to make love to you.”

Buffy frowned, “Haven’t we been making love the last few nights?”

Spike nodded trying to arrange his words more carefully as he unbuttoned her shirt, “I mean, me on top, driving you insane with pleasure. I’d be making you whither and beg for me to enter you which I’d do. I’d enter you fully you in one hard thrust, completely as my hard body touches your hot soft body. I’d be able to lean down to toy with your nipples and kiss your neck…”

He paused as he pulled the shirt apart having released the last button. He glanced down at her thinking she never did look more beautiful than she did sitting there on his lap in just his black shirt opened to show all her glory. He glanced up at her face cupping her cheek as he murmured, “You are so beautiful Buffy. How did I ever get so lucky?”

Buffy arched her back as his cool fingers gazed her breasts slightly before resting on her stomach. He used the back of his hands to gently part the shirt more so that her breasts were fully on display as he sucked on her earlobe whispering, “You’re so soft and warm.”

Buffy’s eyes closed on their own accord as she listened to his words fill her mind. She felt the gentlest touch of his mouth brushing against her lips and she responded with a deep kiss and he whispered to her, “Relax, let me make love to you.”

Buffy shuddered against his words and he wasn’t sure if it was a protest against his words or a reaction to his voice but didn’t really care one way or another. She had healed him and he was determined to show her what real love could feel like if even just for the next few days they were together until she told him to leave. He brushed his lips against her neck and lifted his hands to gently massage down her arms to relax them. Her arms fell to her side as he then began to massage each fingertip taking each into his mouth and sucking on them softly. Buffy moaned whispering, “Too much…not enough.”

Spike chuckled and whispered against her ear licking her earlobe, “Not enough luv. Still not enough.”

She shuddered again and used her hands to try to remove his shirt, which he allowed only because he wanted to feel her skin against him. He heard her moan as he used his chest to brush against her nipples cooling them with his cool body.

She gasped as she sucked on his bottom lip and her arousal filled his nose causing him to groan in response. She wiggled across to straddle him and he shook his head as he rolled over to place her under him giving him full access of her body. He whispered against her ear, “Buffy luv, I’m going to feed now so I have the strength to finish, is that ok?”

Buffy nodded whispering, “More…”

He chuckled and then licked down her throat as his hand crept up to her breast. His motions were slow and deliberate aiming to heighten pleasure rather than relax as he licked her neck then blew across it causing her to shiver in pleasure. He teased the nipple in between his forefinger and thumb and as she arched her neck he gently entered her neck with his fangs taking a long pull of her blood, which sent her over the edge to an orgasm. He was tempted to enjoy the fact he managed to get her off while he was still mostly clothed but instead took a few more pulls of blood as she whispered, “More.”

He eagerly took two more sips and then removed his fangs thinking that since he took one long pull and a few short ones he might be able to take a few sips afterwards but he didn’t want her lightheaded due to blood loss but instead due to pleasure. He licked his lips making sure to get all her blood off before he lowered his mouth to hers giving her a passionate kiss. She wiggled her body under him and seemed very frustrated that she only found his jeans not his erection. He smiled at her whispering, “Just enjoy. I promise I will finish and if I can’t, I’ll let you.”

She closed her eyes at his words as he lowered his mouth from her lips to her jaw, then to her neck again. He blew on the spot he had just bitten and watched as she withered under him. He kissed down her chest to her breast and pulled one into his mouth paying careful attention to her nipple. She moaned out loud moving her hands to run through his hair and as he blew across the wet nipple he felt her squeeze her fingers together. He smirked as he reached up gently untangling her fingers before she drew blood or worse his hair out and placed them on the couch so she could grip there.

He then returned to her other breast and repeated the same action as she cried out, “Please…”

This is what he was after as he used his knuckles to brush across her aching nipples, “What do you need luv? Tell me?”

Buffy shook her head from side to side determined not to tell him and he leaned back on his arm not touching her anymore as she whimpered, “Please….”

Spike repeated as he brushed his knuckles across her nipples again, “Please what?”

She whispered, “Touch me.”

Spike smirked, “Oh but I am touching you. Feel my knuckles, they are brushing you ever so softly.”

Buffy whimpered again, “Please lower.”

Spike smiled as he lowered his hand and she used her hand to push him into between her legs and he whispered, “God pet, you’re drenched.”

She hissed as he toyed with her clit, “You were ignoring my needs!”

Spike chuckled as he lowered his head to blow across her wet clit, “Oh but I wasn’t. I promise you, I was planning to take care of them.”

She ignored his taunting and pushed his face closer to her junction and he obliged thankful he could finally taste her. He took a deep breath closing his eyes as he inhaled her scent whispering, “You smell so sweet and divine; can you smell that?”

She shook her head just wishing he would touch her already as she whispered, “Touch me.”

Spike chuckled as his cool air blew across her clit causing her to thrash slightly and he took his finger and pushed his finger inside with one quick movement sending her over the edge already. He lowered his mouth to her entranceway sucking up the juices as she orgasmed. She whispered, “I need you…please I need you now.”

Spike didn’t feel like fighting because his erection was painfully rubbing against his jeans as he quickly stood to remove them kicking off his boots and socks while he was standing leaning one hand on the couch. He then lowered himself to Buffy on shaking legs thankful for the couch he would rest on as he lowered his mouth to kiss her while entering her.

Buffy moaned clawing her nails down his back drawing small amounts of blood as he groaned as his blood mixed with her blood and pleasure in the air. He closed his eyes trying to gain some kind of control but Buffy wouldn’t allow that and instead squeeze him with her muscles as she moved under him to set up a rhythm.

Spike growled louder as he set a faster rhythm knowing he wouldn’t last long with her squeezing him like that and decided to distract her so either they got off together or she would relax. He brought his hand down between them and rubbed her clit as she whispered, “Oh God.”

Spike smirked whispering, “God has nothing to do with this. This is you and me Buffy, open your eyes and look at who is with you.”

She opened her eyes already knowing who is with her as she whispered, “Spike.”

He nodded in agreement as he fought the urge to close his eyes in pleasure as he felt himself quiver inside of her, “I’m the one with you, not anyone else. Me, Spike, an evil vampire.”

Buffy shuddered whispering, “Good vampire.”

Spike shook his head as he moved his hands up to frame her face stating, “I have no soul. A vampire with no soul is making love to you.”

She shouted as he drove into her one more time and she found her release, “SPIKE!”

Hearing her shout his name was enough to drive him over the edge as he vamped out biting down on her neck causing her to orgasm again. Her eyes closed involuntary as he took a few sips of blood then licked the wound closed. He rolled over next to her completely exhausted feeling the toll of the pressure on his legs after using them so much as he pulled her close to him.

She whispered, “Mom won’t be home until nightfall, stay?”

Spike knew he shouldn’t but wanted to as he whispered, “Just until morning.” He closed his eyes saying a prayer to whoever might be listening that Dru and Angelus won’t notice his absence.

---

Chapter 16: Plans

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4 hours later: 5 am Saturday

Spike woke up first smiling down at Buffy who had her backside snuggled against his front and his arm was wrapped around her. Her blond head was resting on his arm and she looked very cozy as the blanket was tucked around them both. He dreaded going back but he knew he needed to but at least this time around he could take a normal shower in her shower upstairs. Plus he needed to get out of there before her mum showed up.

He scolded himself thinking that he would meet Buffy’s mum by sleeping with her daughter. He kissed Buffy on the head and she woke up whispering, “Where are you going?”

Spike frowned as he admitted, “I’m going to take a shower, head to my crypt to change my clothes and sneak in before Drusilla and Angel notice I’m not around. I have to go play invalid.”

Buffy nodded and snuggled up against him even closer making it harder for him to leave, “I wish you could stay.”

He kissed her forehead again and whispered, “Me too, luv, me too. You keep sleeping okay? We had a long night and I’ll swing by and pick you up all proper like for our date at 8.”

Buffy nodded yawning as she murmured back, “We can feed you at the crypt before heading over.”

Spike nodded as he reluctantly crawled over Buffy feeling his legs still not be 100% as he carefully held on to the walls as he walked and climbed the stairway up the stairs. He easily found Buffy’s room, which was next to the bathroom and held on tightly to the walls as he entered the bathroom removing his clothes. He enjoyed the feeling of the hot water and chose to use bar soap from under the sink rather than Buffy’s soap knowing vampires would know the difference. He rinsed his hair finding some shampoo for highlighted hair that must belong to Buffy’s mum and used that on his hair. When he was finished he stepped out of the shower wrapping a towel around him and grabbed his leather jacket taking a whiff thankful the thing never kept her smell and wrapped it around his almost naked body.

He threw his pants into a plastic bag and leaned over giving Buffy another kiss sliding his shirt over her head in case her mum came home before she woke up, then he wheeled out into the night thankful he had about an hour left until sunrise. He didn’t see anyone about as he went into the crypt changing into the clothes he had placed out the night before and wheeled back to the mansion feeling nervous about staying out so long.

To his surprise, no one noticed he was missing except one minion who greeted him offering him a jar of pig’s blood which Spike accepted having to keep up the image of being helpless and unable to walk or kill. He drained the jar and the minion offered, “Where were you all night Master?”

Spike shrugged, “Out for a stroll in the moonlight. Anyone notice I was gone?”

The minion shook his head taking the jar from Spike and suggested, “Be careful about heading out all night or they might remember your existence.”

Spike nodded closing the door on the minion and stood up grinning at the fact he could strip and crawl into bed normally without wiggling around on the wheelchair all pathetic like. He closed his eyes thinking of the slayer and how much his life had changed in just a few short days.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

v
6 hours later: 11 am. Saturday

Buffy yawned as she woke up finding herself wearing Spike’s shirt. She smiled as she heard movement in the kitchen. She quickly stood up tossing the blanket aside and tiptoed up the stairs to be in the shower when her mom found her. She stripped tossing Spike’s shirt on her bed and ran into the shower to start the water before Buffy’s mom could see her.

In the shower, she found herself humming softly a tune feeling quite content. She was careful not to touch either mark on her neck not wanting to alert Angel now that Spike was finally healing. She grinned as she washed her body feeling it tingle under her touch but knew it wasn’t the time to be feeling such feelings and knew in such a few short hours, she would be pinned on the floor of the crypt begging for Spike.

Carefully she washed her hair trying to decide to leave it down or wear it up for the dance tonight. She wanted to look her best hoping that perhaps with the right amount of effort, if nothing else, Spike wouldn’t forget her as he took Dru far from here. She sighed not wanting to spend her time thinking of Dru as she stepped out of the shower hearing her mom yell, “I’m doing laundry. Do you have anything in there with you?”

Buffy yelled back, “Just two towels I’m about to use.”

Buffy towel dried her hair admiring the bite mark on her from Spike noticing she had expected her neck to be littered with marks but instead they didn’t show except for the one from last night. Apparently he had taken great care to make sure they weren’t harmful and wouldn’t leave a mark. She wondered if his claim mark would leave a mark but decided that dreaming about such things weren’t in her best interest.

Instead she distracted herself as she wrapped a towel around her hair and body and walked into her bedroom. Her mom was sitting in her room on her bed holding up Spike’s black shirt. Buffy thought fast and said, “Yesterday when I was out at the Bronze, I ripped my shirt and Spike was nice enough to let me borrow his so I wouldn’t expose anything.”

Her mom frowned glancing down at the shirt again and Buffy explained, “I have a new boyfriend. You will get to meet him tonight.”

Joyce’s face lit up at this idea. She seemed to like the idea of Buffy having a boyfriend but then asked, “What happened with Angel exactly?”

Buffy bit her lower lip as she admitted, “He wasn’t who I thought he was. Don’t let him in the house still. He’s crazy or something. He is stalkerish and I didn’t notice it before.”

Joyce nodded and spoke gently, “I’d like to meet your new boyfriend. Can he perhaps come over to dinner?”

Buffy smiled as she nodded, “If I can get a hold of him before the dance then I’ll ask if he can stay for dinner.”

Joyce smiled as she hugged her daughter, “Get dressed Buffy I have some things I’d like to show you that I bought. They are amazing and I’m thinking of keeping one for our house because I think it suits the living room.”

Buffy smiled as her mom drifted from the room leaving Spike’s shirt behind. Buffy lifted up Spike’s shirt to her nose breathing in the scent of leather and smoke as she let out a deep breath and pulled a white tank top from her drawer and a red pull over for now knowing she would want to change before the dance tonight. She chose a pair of black slacks that were simple but would do the trick until she changed later. She might even pamper herself with a bubble bath before Spike arrived. She did a turn in the mirror then raced downstairs to call Willow before checking out the items her mom had from the auction.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

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5 hours later: 4 pm. Saturday

Buffy snuck around the factory hoping to find Spike’s window or something that would alert Spike to her presence before Angel. She walked quietly as she heard a growl and saw a blanketed Spike who yanked her by the arm into a shack nearby. He tossed the blanket off his head practically hissing in an effort to keep his voice down, “You are bloody stupid. You know that? You have a scent that is distinct Buffy. You don’t think if I can smell you, that Angel can’t? What about Dru or the minions? Bloody hell Buffy, do you wish to die?”

Buffy was shaking her head frantically honestly not thinking of scent as much as noise. She frowned as tears fell down her face and he brushed them away, “I can’t really hold you luv. I don’t have a shower here but what did you need?”

She took a step back and remembered why she was there, “Mom wanted me to invite you to dinner at 7 pm right at sunset. Is that ok? She’s making lasagna my favorite.”

Spike longed to hold her or touch her or something but didn’t dare as he nodded in agreement. She grinned, “Ok I’ll let her know you can come. Knock first and all that good stuff. Willow and Oz are coming over too because I’m having Willow help me choose what to wear.”

He glanced down at her red pull over and black pants and chuckled, “You look just fine luv.”

Buffy shook her head giggling, “No I look normal. I want to look special.”

Spike grinned as he suggested, “I best get back in there and you, you be careful. It might be light out but dammit your scent is bloody strong and smells good like vanilla and strawberries.”

She grinned, “Soap and shampoo.”

He nodded and leaned over careful not to touch her as he placed a kiss on her lips then broke it off before she could wrap her arms around his neck. He nodded as he waved and she waved back as he re-covered himself rushing back into the factory cursing Buffy and her thoughtlessness that was going to have this end badly if she didn’t straighten up.

---

Chapter 17: Little Hallmark Moments

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2 hours later: 6 pm.

Spike handed the clerk seven crisp $100 bills that he had withdrawn from the bank a few hours prior. Usually he stole the money but since this was for Buffy, he wanted it legit. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out why he was giving her a Valentine’s Day gift. He could still hear Dru and Angelus’s conversation earlier echoing in his head,

”Happy Valentine’s Day, Dru…” The way Dru had looked up at Angelus like he was a God when he had placed the human heart on the table. Spike had heard her cooing as she said, “Ooh. Angel!” She had touched it and whispered, “It’s still warm.” Angelus eyed Spike noticing he was sitting in the far corner of the room watching the whole thing as he turned towards Dru whispering against her ear, “I knew you’d like it. I found it in a quaint little shopgirl.” Spike growled instinctly until he realized he just didn’t care anymore. He turned rolling away from the scene before preparing to sneak out for night.

Twenty minutes later, Spike found himself sitting in his chair looking for the perfect necklace for Buffy. He had a dozen red roses resting on his lap as well as a dozen daisies. He didn’t want the necklace too sparkly, and definitely didn’t want a cross. He had been nervous about a heart until he found the perfect one. It had a thick but sturdy chain that was made of silver hearts linked together. It was strong enough that it wouldn’t break if something were to grab a hold of it and it had a beautiful silver hollow heart that he had engraved WP & BS that he determined he wouldn’t show her until much later on.

He also bought a matching bracelet with the same design and had that engraved as well. He had paid the extra money to even have it engraved with a tiny number so that if she lost it, it would be identified and returned to her. He wiggled both his feet happy he could indeed walk if he chose to but wanted to be careful knowing the minions would be out and about and would gladly tell their master and mistress that Spike could walk. He grinned thinking about the fact he could indeed walk again thanks to Buffy.

He looked forward to dancing with her at least one dance tonight at the Bronze and remembered their beautiful night last night. How he longed to race across the cemetery, take a walk in the moonlight with her, and carry Buffy around. He paused that last thought and shook is off as he wandered through the cemetery thinking it was early but he needed to drop off his bag in the crypt in order to have clothes for later to change into.

Spike had on his trusty leather duster and black pants with his black boots on that he had taken the time to shine up. He wore a blue silk shirt on his chest though that he had to dig out of his clothing box to find. There was no way he was returning to the factory to hear the love fest tonight knowing it would going on all night and they would never think to check on him. If he couldn’t pull off sleeping at Buffy’s, he would sleep at the crypt tonight, which was what was in the second bag. He had brought along a soft blanket, red silk sheets, and a thin but soft bed cushion to lie across whatever he decided was good for sleeping on. He also brought along his spare pillow wanting his room to still look lived in. He even set up some clothes in his bed so that if anyone actually checked on him, they would only think he was sleeping.

He was ready for tonight and was greatly looking forward to it.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

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Half hour later: 6:30 pm. Saturday

”Buffy! Willow is here!”

Buffy stretched pulling the plug on the tub before stepping out wrapping a towel around her chest. She shouted back to her mom, “Send her up to my room. I’m in a towel which is fine.”

She tightened the towel around her feeling a tiny bit relaxed after her 30 minutes of tub time. She had soaked in vanilla aiming to make the scent drift around her. She smiled at Willow practically squealing with excitement, “Oh my God, you look great!”

Willow beamed at Buffy as she exclaimed, “You’re the one who suggested it. I’m hoping tonight is the night since Oz is playing with the band until 10. Then he’ll be spending his time with me.”

Buffy grinned pleading with her friend, “Help me decide what to wear!”

She glanced one more time at Willow’s pink dress that she had lent her and pink flat shoes. She glanced back at her closet watching as Willow pulled out a red silk short dress with spaghetti straps that she had bought last year but never wore. Willow jumped up and down in front of Buffy stating, “Oh my Goddess! This is the dress.”

Buffy grinned, “You think?”

Willow nodded her head up and down over and over again as she held up the dress to Buffy. Buffy glanced down at it and took it from Willow’s hand as she reached into her underwear drawer grabbing a pair of lacy white panties to go with the outfit. She disappeared into the bathroom returning in just a minute or two with the dress on her body and the underwear already on. She did a turn for Willow who cooed over the dress and Buffy smiled. Buffy inquired, “Need your opinion. Hair up or down?”

Willow glanced at the fairly fresh bite mark on her neck gently stating, “Perhaps down since Xander will be there. You don’t want to introduce him to the vampire you love and have him focus on the bite mark on your neck.”

Buffy turned to the side pulling her hair up as she turned, “It’s not that bad is it?”

Willow shrugged, “I noticed it but barely. I knew to look for it too since you mentioned your little deal already to me.”

Buffy nodded and opted for her hair to be half up and half down. She pulled part of it back braiding it before attaching a red ribbon to it. Willow smiled at her watching her brush some makeup over her face before she turned around shouting, “Ta da!”

Just then the doorbell rang and Joyce yelled up the stairs, “Oz is here for you Willow!”

Willow glanced back at Buffy who nodded her towards the door. Willow let out a deep breath as Buffy bent down to find the perfect shoes to go with the outfit. She heard Oz talking to Willow then heard the doorbell ring for her jut as she pulled out a pair of black boots. She heard Joyce yell, “William’s here!”

Buffy took in a deep breath as she stepped out of her room to stop at the top of the stairs in amazement.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

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7 pm. Saturday

Spike glanced up at the top of the stairs holding a dozen of red roses in his hand and a small box. He looked at Buffy thinking if he had breath, she definitely would have taken it away. He watched as she slowly came down the stairs holding one hand on the railing and the other toying with her dress as she stopped at the bottom stair. He was memorized for a moment with standing there with his head cocked to the side as every thought left his head. Finally he snapped out of his thoughts as he whispered, “Buffy, luv you look amazing.”

He heard a soft whisper that without his enhanced hearing, he might not have made it out, “You get the job done yourself.”

Spike smiled as he took her hand in his as he handed her the dozen roses. Then he got on his knees in front of her handing her the box. She gasped glancing around at the on lookers in the living room and she opened the box fearful of what she would find inside. She hadn’t even gotten used to the feeling of him being there and she loving him and now he was on his knees in front of her? She shook her head gently as she opened the box and smiled in relief as she held up the necklace. She glanced in the box seeing the matching bracelet as he smiled up at her and she offered her arm to help him stand.

Spike still had trouble getting up and down and really depended on her healing power and strength of her blood to do any extraneous activities. She lifted her hair carefully turning around allowing Spike to fasten the necklace around her neck grinned as she slipped the bracelet on her wrist. She rushed over to her mom showing her and Willow the jewelry. Both cooed over it appropriately before Joyce announced, “Dinner is ready!”

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Chapter 18: Perfect Night Out

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One Hour Later: 8 pm.

Oz had skipped out of dinner earlier bringing Willow with him since he had to get to the club 30 minutes before his gig leaving behind Buffy and Spike. Spike had not lied to Joyce during the meal but instead answered as honestly as he could without directly lying. Joyce had asked the normal questions and then one that surprised the whole table, “Haven’t we met before?”

Spike had nodded, “Get away from my daughter…” as he mimicked the hacking of an axe.

She had eyed him as she asked, “Are you on drugs?” He had shaken his head and she asked, “Were you that night?”

Spike again shook his head explaining, “Trick of the light perhaps…”

The subject had been dropped as they began to talk about classic books and art which both found they had in common. But now it was time for them to get going for the night. Joyce gave Buffy a hug asking, “When will you be home?”

Buffy shrugged, “Bronze is open until 2 so probably shortly after that.”

Joyce nodded, “Keep my daughter safe William and no more tricks of the lights ok?”

Spike smiled at her and thanked her for a delicious meal and she wheeled his chair away, “I’ll keep this for you in the living room. When you bring her home tonight you can pick it up although I must say, I don’t see why you need it. If you get yourself a cane it will work just as well.”

Both smiled as they walked out the door.

They walked together to his crypt as Buffy talked about their plans. “I don’t want my dress all wrinkly. Is there a way you can get me turned on without the whole works?”

Spike grinned, “You get turned on with just a kiss.”

Buffy turned around to face him putting her hands on her hips, “I do not!!”

Spike chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer as he wrapped his arms around her neck kissing her deeply. Sure enough within a few minutes into the kiss, he could smell her arousal. He grinned as he ran his hand down her back to her dress inching it up slowly as he dipped his hand into her lace panties bringing up a finger drenched in her liquid. She gasped as he sucked his finger clean, “Mmmm, essence of Buffy.”

She slapped his hand away, “Ewww gross.”

Spike chuckled as he smirked, “Just a kiss…is all it took.”

She turned around facing the wall as she wiggled her ass against his erection and he groaned as she whispered, “Just a wiggle….is all it took.”

He laughed and licked down her neck careful not to wrinkle her dress as he sat down on the floor pulling her down on his lap. He wanted to save some of his strength for the Bronze as he whispered gently massaging her silk dress against her taunt nipple, “Just relax” feeling her do so at just the sound of his voice. He knew she wouldn’t feel any pain as he sucked on the skin and gently bit down hearing her gasp.

She whispered, “No pain...”

She moaned as he kneaded her breasts and drank in some of her blood. She arched her neck to further his access trying to get some sort of release as he took more pulls of blood. She whimpered as she whispered, “I need you.”

Spike removed his fangs from her throat licking the wound closed as he yanked off her panties and unzipped his pants in a matter of seconds. She turned around in his lap and without pausing lowered herself onto his erection moaning out loud as he filled her. She knew this would make her late but didn’t care as she pulled her dress off as to not wrinkle her pulling off his jacket to lay the dress on while still keeping up her rhythm. She arched her back while Spike’s arms wrapped around her back to hold her as she lowered herself over him again and again squeezing him tight with her inner muscles.

He roared as he was about to orgasm, which sent Buffy into her orgasm and clung to each other tightly as Spike kissed her face whispering, “We are going to be late. Ready to go?”

Buffy raised her hands over her head as Spike eased the dress back onto her and she held out her hand for her panties that he handed over with a sheepish look on his face. She grinned slipping her panties on thankful they were still in one piece as she shivered slightly.

He wrapped his leather duster around her knowing he might very well regret it seeing how it will smell like her. Watching as Buffy stood up snuggling inside of the duster, he didn’t care anymore. She helped Spike to get up and together they walked to the Bronze side by side.

---

@}-’--, --’--, --’--, -{@

---

One hour later: 9:15 pm.

Buffy sat next to Spike leaning her head against his shoulder as Willow leaned over to whisper to Buffy, “How’d it go after I left?”

Buffy smiled at her whispering, “Nice. I think mom really likes him.”

Spike listened but pretended not to as he kept his eyes trained on the stage. Buffy whispered in his ear as a slower song came on, “Can we dance for a few?”

Spike smiled and stood up stretching his legs slightly testing them before he nodded helping Buffy to her feet. Together they walked out to the dance floor.

Buffy leaned up against his chest as he pulled her close and together they swayed to the music. Spike inhaled her vanilla scent knowing that he was going to have to get strong faster with his duster covered in her scent. He closed his eyes as she rested her head on his shoulder and he leaned down until his head as level with her ear whispering, “So no Xander tonight.”

Buffy shook her head, “Willow said he tried to give Cordy a locket only to have it blow up in his face and he left discouraged.”

Spike nodded and said nothing more about the subject as he whispered, “Can we try to spar tomorrow? I’d like to do some practicing with fighting. I want to get stronger.”

Buffy nodded feeling a sense of dread in her stomach at the idea of him getting strong enough to fight then walk away. She wanted to beg him to stay, beg him to claim her, and live happily ever after with her but she knew this wasn’t a fairy tale. This was Buffy a vampire slayer falling in love with a vampire who she was supposed to slay. She sighed as she cleared her mind of such thoughts and instead filled them with thoughts of his sexy he was in his dark blue silk shirt and how good it felt on her skin. She felt his hand massaging her back as she whispered against his ear, “Careful you don’t lift my dress up too far.”

She felt him arch and then nod smoothing her dress down a little whispering, “It’s fine luv, just relax.”

She let out another deep breath letting the music fill her head and helping her to relax.

Much too soon, the song stopped but neither stopped dance as another slow song started to be sung. Oz was apparently finishing up the night with all his slow songs but Buffy and Spike weren’t complaining. They stayed together enjoying the closeness, swaying to the music.

As a fast song came on, they continued to sway until they stopped suddenly glancing over at the table noticing Oz had finished his gig and was now talking to Willow. Spike glanced up to the balcony with a grin and Buffy nodded and he lead her slowly up the stairs being careful to hold on to the railing as to not to stumble as they made their way.

It was surprisingly mostly deserted as Buffy leaned over the balcony eying the crowd below. She felt Spike lift her skirt and gasped as he wiggled his finger and she tried to turn around and he whispered, “This will be fun. Just enjoy.”

Buffy hissed, “Someone will see!”

Spike chuckled and shook his head and she heard the sound of a zipper being lowered, “Nah, no one can see. I wear a duster covering us from sight. If anyone looks, they will just think we are enjoying the sight of lots of people below.”

He nibbled at her ear making her close her eyes and he licked down her neck whispering, “I won’t bite you this time but trust me, it will still be good.”

She moaned as she felt him bump against her entrance and spread her legs slightly to accommodate. He took the hint and entered her causing her to gasp. He covered her mouth whispering, “Quiet, you have to be quiet.”

She nodded as he removed his hand and she bit her lower lip as he started to move behind her. She quietly moaned letting out deep breaths as she felt herself glancing out into the crowd of people amazed no one was noticing what they were doing. She heard Spike whisper near her ear, “Isn’t this amazing? Just think what you are getting away with and no one even notices.”

Buffy felt herself moan softly and he whispered, “Quiet now but enjoy…”

She squeezed her inner muscles as she heard Spike groan softly into her ear. She felt him slid his hand up under her dress careful not to draw attention to the movement as he brought his duster further around her so no one would see his actions as he began to rub her clit. Her breath hitched and she squeezed her eyes tight trying not to make any sudden movements or noises. He whispered in her ear making her excitement grow, “You’re so wet and hot. You feel so good. We are here making love on a balcony in front of hundreds of people who don’t even know it. God Buffy, you’re amazing.”

She moaned biting her lip again as she felt so close. Spike recognized the sign as she whispered, “Bite me.”

Spike shook his head but she insisted again, “Please, just lightly.”

Spike groaned at her offer, as he smelt her blood fill the air where she had bitten her lip. He vamped out and lowered his fangs to her skin and pierced it just as she squeezed him hard signaling her orgasm. He closed his eyes fighting his orgasm while he took two pulls of blood them removed his fangs only to empty himself into her. She shuddered in after effects as he eased his hand from her and she heard him licking them clean as he straightened her dress and she turned around in his embrace zipping him up carefully whispering, “Don’t you anyone else seeing what you have to offer.”

He placed a kiss on her lips and nodded as he gave the two marks on her neck another lick noticing he forgot to seal the wound. She smiled at him as she whispered, “Shall we go sit with Willow for a few?”

Spike nodded and she noticed he looked really tired as she carefully walked with him down the stairs to sit at the bar to order another drink or two.