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Author's Chapter Notes:
Thanks to Tasha for betaing. Thanks to karyn, jackofspikes and spikeslovebite for telling me that this didn't suck eggs.
Buffy shoved Spike against the wall, and she held him in place with her body. Her mind flashed back to the night that the vampire tried to get his chip out, and how he had felt atop her body. Buffy gulped loudly, and she ever so slightly pressed her body closer to Spike's. This isn't exactly how I planned to do this, but it sure feels good.

"Ow." Spike stopped a moment, and he sniffed the air. Slayer blood and arousal caused his nostrils to flare. "Wait. Not ow. You feeling all right, Slayer? This stuff usually hurts."

Buffy leaned in to whisper in Spike's ear. "Don't even start." Before she could stop herself, she flicked the vampire's ear lobe with her tongue.

Spike groaned, and managed to squeak out. "What are you doing, luv?" He had a feeling this could be the best evening of his unlife, and he didn't want to do anything to bollocks it up. "Not that I mind in the least."

"Slayers ... You killed two of them," Buffy whispered. She ran her hands down Spike's arms, and she fastened them around his wrists. Then she pinned them above his head, but the action made her flinch slightly when the wound in her abdomen gave her a twinge of pain.

"I did." Spike felt the Slayer's jerky movements when she moved against him, and the predator in him instantly noticed the weakness. That explains the lack of the usual power in her moves, Spike thought to himself. His voice filled with concern as he asked, "I smell blood. Did some nasty get a hold of you, pet?"

"Yes, that's why I need you to show me how." Buffy let go of Spike's wrists, and she backed away from the vampire. She hated that he knew her weakness without her saying a word. He always seemed to know her better than anyone else, even when she loathed to admit it. She smiled at him as he stepped closer, and he nodded his assent.

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

After patrolling with Buffy's friends, Riley decided he needed a stiff drink. He had no idea why she kept them around. They couldn't even do a simple patrol without messing up. It was no wonder that Buffy had been staked the night before. She lacked discipline. Riley knew all he had to do was get her away from her friends, and she would soon become a much more efficient warrior.

Riley had his drink in hand, and he glanced around the Bronze until his eyes fell on the familiar peroxide blond hair of the chipped Hostile 17. There's another problem with Buffy, he thought, Protecting one of the creatures that she's supposed to kill. The ex-commando blinked his eyes in surprise when he realized who the vampire's companion was. Slayer business, my foot.. He moved away from the bar, and he circled the room until he could hear their conversation without bringing notice to himself. When Spike reached out to grab Buffy by the neck, Riley started forward until Buffy brought her pool cue up to use as a weapon. Riley could hear Spike as he began to speak to the Slayer.

"Lesson the first ... A Slayer always has to reach for her weapon." He paused while he shifted into his game face. "I've already got mine."

Riley boiled in anger when he heard Buffy giggle in a way that she never giggled for him. He curled his lip just before he took a long drink from his glass. Riley was astonished at the cute little comment that fell from Buffy's mouth.

"Do those make you feel all manly, Spike?" Buffy reached up and tapped one of his fangs. She coyly smiled up into his demonic visage. She purposely pricked the tip of her finger on one of the sharp points.

Spike's eyes widened. The look on Buffy's face told him that she knew exactly what she did, and she did it on purpose. He answered her jest with a chuckle to try to cover up the inner growl that called out to him to suckle Buffy's finger for every last drop. He stepped away from her a step or two.

Spike's answering chuckle caused their unseen eavesdropper to growl in response. Riley watched while Spike shook off his game face, released Buffy's neck, and returned to the pool table where he lined up a shot. The ex-commando continued to listen while Spike apparently told Buffy about a battle he had fought many years before. Then, the conversation took a turn that Riley really didn't like.

"That used to be the best night of my life." Spike bit his lower lip while he studied Buffy with slumberous eyes. "Till tonight, being here with you like two human beings instead of enemies." He smirked when she rolled her eyes at him.

"Why did you win, Spike?" Buffy asked. Her belly fluttered with a different set of tinglies, but she tried to stay focused on her quest. "You were only 20 and not even a master yet. Surely she should have been able to take you?" She moved away from the pool table towards the table that she and the vampire had vacated earlier.

Riley's eyes narrowed while he watched Spike press his hand into the small of Buffy's back. He at least expected her to jerk away from the vampire. When she didn't Riley started to suspect that there was truly more going on here than she had led him to believe. I knew she was too protective of him. Riley circled around so that he was standing next to the staircase, but still out of sight from the unsuspecting duo.

"She was ready to die, Slayer," Spike said. He took a sip of the beer that the waitress put down in front of him. "She had a death wish because she had nothing but her duty to tie her to this life. You, you're different. 've known that from the first moment I saw you out on the dance floor." Spike pointed out at the people dancing.

Riley swung out from his hiding spot behind the stairs to confront the blond duo. His jealousy got the best of him, especially when Buffy laid her hand on Spike's arm while he was talking. "So this is your Slayer business?" he sneered at Buffy.

Buffy's eyes opened in surprise. She hadn't been expecting to see Riley that evening. "Yeah," Buffy replied a confused tone. "I wanted to know how Slayers end up dying. It's not written about in the Watcher's Diaries." She casually took a sip of her soda.

Riley stared pointedly at Spike, who kept his attention firmly fixed on Buffy. "How exactly does Hostile 17 know about dead Slayers? And what is it with you and vampires, Buffy? First Angel, then Dracula, and now Spike." He stepped closer to the table when someone jostled him from behind.

"Oh, I think you have the order wrong, commando boy. I was around long before Drac showed his ugly face," Spike announced. He smirked at the impotent rage that swept through the human male's posture.

"I don't know how you got a 'get out of jail' free card," Riley snarled. "It's not like you've proven yourself like those so called friends of Buffy's." He was so focused on the vampire that he failed to notice that Buffy narrowed her eyes at his little speech.

Spike hooted with laughter. He turned to Buffy, and he asked, "You haven't told him?" Then he turned back to the ex-commando. "The truth is, I like this world."

"If you do the 'happy meals on legs' speech again, I'll break your nose," Buffy growled.

"I like to stick to the classics, luv." Spike smirked at the Slayer.

"If you do the 'love's bitch' speech, I'll break your leg," Buffy growled again. "Once was more than enough. Dog racing, Manchester U, blah, blah. Life is blood, shagging and hating, blah, blah. We've heard it before." She crossed her arms, and she glared at the vampire. She wasn't really all that upset, she just didn't want to hear either of those particular speeches again. They only lead to badness. They reminded her of times in her life that she wished she could forget.

Spike took in Riley's jealous glances between himself and Buffy. Of course nothing was ever said about me. Captain Cardboard never asked. I bet the git has vamp envy. Out loud, he said, "We might know, but it's obvious your sweetie bear here doesn't."

"Well, he never really asked," Buffy announced indignantly. "Besides, you remember how crazy he got when he found out about Angel."

"Well, then let's tell him now," Spike grumbled. "It's only fair, since I know all about him."

"Yes, let's do," Riley muttered contemptuously. "What exactly is your history with Spike? You were engaged to him. Did you fuck him, too?"

Spike blinked at the ex-commando's crudeness. His eyes darted to the Slayer's face where he noticed an angry flush over take her cheeks. "Oh, you're a dead man now, soldier boy," Spike crowed.

"I mean, you fucked Angel, and you tried to fuck Drac," Riley sneered. "What's one more bloodsucker?" He failed to notice just how fuming mad his soon to be ex-girlfriend was becoming. If he had he would have considered running for his life.

"Slayer, mind you don't maim the boy too badly," Spike snarked. He was relieved it was going to be someone else on the end of Buffy's fist for a change.

"She won't hurt me," Riley announced confidently. "I'm her boyfriend." He stared at Spike when the vampire began to laugh loudly.

"Oh, soldier boy. You really think you know the Slayer well, don't you?" Spike chortled. "She stabbed old Angelus through the guts and sent him to hell, and he was the love of her bloody life. I'd say you letting your big mouth overload your large sized arse warrants at least a beheading." He glanced at Buffy to gauge her reaction to his announcement. The vampire was pleased to see that she didn't appear in the least upset with him, just the overgrown hall monitor.

"You never mentioned guts and hell along with Angel's name," Riley grumbled.

"Oh yeah, guts, hell, blood, broodiness," Spike snarked. "The whole poofter package."

"Spike, you really want that broken leg, don't you?" Buffy turned her attention back to the blond vampire. "Because that speech worked so well last time."

"Pfft! Do you see Peaches in the immediate vicinity, Slayer?" Spike snarked. "I'd say it went over just fine, for me at least." Spike noticed that Buffy was out of soda, and he signaled the waitress to bring her another drink.

"Were you always this big of a pain in the ass?" Riley scoffed. He failed to notice the Scoobies enter the Bronze, and come to stand behind him.

"What can I say, git? I've always been bad," Spike mocked, "But at least I was a gentleman unlike some people I could mention." He arched an eyebrow at the Slayer to indicate that her friends were eavesdropping.

"A gentleman? You?" Riley taunted. "You're about as far from being a gentleman as a monster can get."

"My mom thinks he's a gentleman," Buffy interjected. She tilted her head to the side, and she studied Riley. Had he always been this jealous and prejudiced? Was this how she acted as well? She shivered and hoped that she never looked this stupid.

"That's right. Joyce thinks I'm a gentleman." Spike smirked at Buffy. "She says she wishes more young men were like me these days. By the way, Captain Cardboard, when was the last time you stopped in to say 'hi' to the Slayer's mom?"

"I'm sure it's only because she doesn't know the real you," Riley jeered.

Spike and Buffy began to laugh at the looks on the Scoobies faces behind Riley. They could see Willow and Xander whispering into their girlfriends' ears. Between guffaws, Spike spit out, "First time I met Joyce she whacked me over the head with an axe. Oh, she knows the real me."

"At least she didn't get the death threat," Buffy giggled. She smiled at the startled waitress who was putting a Diet Coke down in front of the Slayer.

It dawned on Riley that he had never asked how Buffy had met Hostile 17. He'd always assumed that the vampire had heard about the Slayer being in Sunnydale and had hoped the girl would take pity on a neutered vamp. Maybe there was more to this story than he had ever imagined. "Where did you two meet?" Riley said accusingly.

"In the alley back there." Buffy turned to point towards the back door of the Bronze. "It was my junior year right before Parent/Teacher night." She turned back to the vampire. "You know, I've never thanked you for getting me out of being grounded."

"Glad I could of be of service, luv."

"Anyway, some man yelled that that there was a guy trying to bite someone in the alley."

"That man was me." Spike smirked.

Buffy glared at Spike playfully. "There was a big ugly vamp outside."

"Stupid git said he was at the Crucifixion."

"He yelled Slayer, and I said Slayee."

"Witty repartee there, luv," Spike said mockingly.

"Then Xander went back in for a stake."

"Whelp!" Spike winked at the red faced male in question.

"Would you quite interrupting me?"

"Nope."

Buffy ignored the vampire, and she continued the storytelling. "We fought for a bit, and then the vamp yelled 'Help me, Spike."

"Stupid sod."

"Xander came back out with the stake which he tossed to me, and I dusted the vampire." Buffy raised her eyebrow at Spike when he started clapping.

"Nice work, luv."

"I said, 'Who are you?"

"You'll find out Saturday."

"What happens Saturday?

"I kill you. Of course that didn't work out quite as planned, did it?"

"You're flirting with him!" Riley screamed. "You're flirting with an evil bloodsucking fiend!" Spit flew out of his mouth, and Spike made an exaggerated deal out of wiping his eye.

Buffy's eyes drifted to her snickering friends, and she quickly changed the subject from her and Spike to Riley. "I thought you said you'd be patrolling tonight with the gang?"

"Oh, I patrolled with your 'gang'," Riley said sarcastically. He used air quotes when he said the word gang. "They can't fight their way out of a wet paper sack. Not to mention they're noisy, and Xander screams like a girl when confronted by a vampire. You would be a much better fighter if you got rid of your extra baggage." The ex-commando looked pointedly at the blond vampire seated across from the Slayer.

"My friends are not extra baggage!" Buffy exclaimed. She jumped to her feet and stood with her hands on her hips. "We're talking about two powerful witches, a thousand year old ex-demon, and Xander, who has been with me since the very first day in Sunnydale. He's taken out more vampires and demons than you have!" She smiled at her friends over Riley's shoulder.

Riley gave the Scoobies a startled, fleeting glance before he contemptuously asked, "What about him?" He looked the vampire up and down as if Spike was somehow beneath him.

Buffy advanced on Riley. "He is not your concern." She poked him the chest to emphasize every word she said. "He has more power and knowledge in his pinky finger than you have in your whole body. If you hadn't shoved that chip into his brain, I've half a mind to let him show you just exactly why I want him on my side."

"If he somehow loses the chip, he'll sneak into your mom's house and kill her and Dawn," Riley declared. He knew about the vampire's invitation into Joyce's house, and that still astounded him.

"Spike was in mom's house twice before the chip, and he neglected to hurt either of them both times," Buffy smirked.

"You know, Buffy. You're not the girl I thought you were." Riley stood up straight in an attempt to intimidate the much smaller female. "You say you love me, yet you neglect me for your friends, your mother and ...hell, even Spike gets more of your attention than I do."

"You're almost right, Riley. I'm not the girl you want me to be." Buffy gestured to her friends to join her. "I'm who I always was. Buffy. Slayer. Maker of my own rules. I don't follow orders, just ask Giles. Mostly though, I don't respond well to negative comments or actions about my mother or sister, my friends ... or who I choose to spend my free time with."

Spike chuckled. He waggled his eyebrows at the Scoobies before he turned his attention to Riley. "Don't make her mad, mate. You won't like her when she's mad, and never under estimate the power of a brassed off Slayer."

"Yeah, when Deadboy Jr here did," Xander snarked, "He spent four months in a wheelchair."

"Hey now! That involved a church organ and a fire," Spike volleyed in return. "Wasn't just the Slayer."

"The worm man," Xander reminisced. "Good times for all." He plopped down in the chair that Buffy had vacated. "Really not one of your better plans, Captain Peroxide."

"I had to do something to keep Buffy occupied," Spike sipped his beer. "Didn't want her interfering with my plans for the poofter. 'Sides I knew she'd make short work of the assassins. Slayer's too crafty for the likes of the Order of Taraka."

"Spike does have a point. Neither of them seemed to get the upper hand for long, It was like Superman and Lex Luther, arch rivals to the end," Willow interjected. She squeezed Tara's hand while she smiled gently at the other girl.

"Go Will, with the Marvel comic reference," Xander chuckled. "I taught you well, grasshopper."

"But hey," Willow continued brightly. "You guys teamed up against Angelus and Dru. You guys became apocalypse buddies, and we know we can always count on Spike's help against world endangerment. You know, for Christmas and puppy dogs and..."

"I already told Spike I'd break his nose if he did the 'happy meals on legs' speech," Buffy announced. She kept her eye on Riley. "Don't go riling up the resident vamp." She inched towards Spike until she was standing behind his chair.

With her usual lack of tact, Anya asked, "Buffy, why were you here with Spike?" She appeared to be oblivious to the dirty look that Riley sent her direction.

"Giles and I were researching Slayer's deaths," Buffy muttered. She glanced hesitantly at her friends. They knew she had been hurt during patrol, but not how badly.

"Well, Spike is the perfect one to ask then, isn't he?" Anya's eyes fell on the tray of a passing waitress. "Oh, I want one of those pink drinks with the umbrella. Be right back." She whirled around to follow the waitress.

Xander watched her traipse off, his gaze filled with mirth. That's my An. He turned his attention back to the others. Xander suddenly realized that if it hadn't been for Spike, Anya would never have come into his life.

Riley stared at Buffy's friends who were pulling chairs up to the table, apparently unconcerned that they were sharing the table with vampire. His anger rose steadily as he heard Xander actually thank the creature for inadvertently bringing his girlfriend into his life. Jealousy flared when Spike easily chatted with Buffy's friends, something he had never been comfortable with. Then Buffy asked about New York, and the vampire began his tale.

"The first one was all business," Spike stated, "The Jamaican bint that Dru killed reminded me a lot of her. She knew her techniques, but lacked fire. The one in New York was a lot like you, luv." Spike spoke directly to Buffy. "Very cunning, very resourceful."

"She'd been a Slayer almost four years by then," Buffy sighed. "Giles told us all this when you first came to town. Was that why she ... lost?"

"Part of it, 'm sure," Spike said. "But she had a kid with her when I saw her in the park. Somehow I got the impression she was a single parent. As your mum can tell you, that's no piece of cake." He looked around the table at the Scoobies; Willow and Tara quietly holding hands while they listened to him, and Xander and Anya fighting over the umbrella from her drink. "Probably wasn't enough ties to hold her to this world. Your mum, Niblet, the Scoobies," He pointed at the friends surrounding Buffy, "They're what keep you goin', pet."

"I think you're full of shit, Spike," Riley gasped. "Buffy, leave here with me now, and we'll forget all this nonsense. These people are what distracted you from your slaying last night." He attempted to reach out and grab Buffy's arm, but she quickly sidestepped out of his reach.

Buffy turned her furious attention towards Riley. "No, I don't think so. I think it was you that distracted me from my slaying. I don't think this is working out, Riley. Maybe we shouldn't see each other any more." She stood with her fists on her hips.

"Oh, so you can hang out with vampires, talking about the good old days? Or is it something more?" Riley asked jealously. He tried to grab Buffy's arm, again, but backed off in the face of Scoobie solidarity. "I should have dumped you as soon as I found out about Angel. You're nothing but a demon whore."

Riley found himself dazed on the floor with an aching cheek. He wondered what the hell had hit him. When he looked up, Buffy was clutching her side while leaning heavily on Spike. There was no welcome on any of the Scoobies' faces at him.

"Get out of my town, Riley," Buffy spat out from between gritted teeth. "If any of us ever see you again..."

Riley scrambled to his feet and left the Bronze without a backward glance. He didn't need this kind of shit. Besides, Graham had mentioned that the unit could use a good man in Belize. Maybe he'd give the military a call and ask for his old job back. That was always a good thing. In his anger the young man failed to notice the dark haired woman shadowing his every move.

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

Buffy sat on the back porch with her mind reeling. She had just found out that her mother had to go in for some 'tests'. Buffy had tried to be brave while facing her mother, but now that she was alone there was nothing to stop her uncontrollable sobbing. I wish Spike would hurry back from his crypt, she thought while she put her face down into her hands on her lap.

Spike strode out of the bushes towards the Slayer. He had told Harmony to be gone by morning, or he'd finally stake her good and proper, once and for all. His step faltered when Buffy looked up at him with tear filled eyes. "Did that pillock come back to harass you, luv?"

Buffy shook her head meekly, and she mewled weakly, "Oh Spike." When the vampire rushed across the yard to sit down on the step beside her, the Slayer crawled into his lap, and she sobbed into his chest. "My mom..."

Spike held his Slayer close while he gave her what little comfort he could while he listened to her sob. He held her close while she allowed him to be her strength for just a short while.





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