Giles smiled at her, the affectionate, but dejected, smile of a father whose just learnt he can’t protect his daughter from the dark. “All fine thank you Buffy, was just asking Spike here to tell me anything he knows about werewolves, their habits and so on, that might prove helpful.”
“Oh!” Buffy grinned, “Well that’s great then! If your done can me and Spike go train now?”
Giles nodded, “Of course, but I want to see you ready to do some intensive researching tomorrow young lady.”
Buffy rolled her eyes and practically dragged Spike back into the house. “Aye aye captain.”
When they got back into the lounge Xander was still on the sofa, but Willow had gone.
“Where’s Willow?” Giles asked.
Xander was still ploughing away at the doughnuts, as no one else had seemed interested in them, and answered around a mouth full. “She left, said she was gonna meet Oz or something.”
“Oh blast! I had hoped that she would be willing to start doing some research today, it really would be good to get going with this as soon as possible.” Giles was very reluctant to ask Xander to start researching, without Willow’s influence the boy was often more of a hindrance then a help.
Spike grinned at Giles, “Look watcher, we’ll crack on with all the research and what not tomorrow, no one’s in any immediate danger from the beastie tonight. Why don’t you go home? It might be a little low brow for you, but there’s a Monty Python marathon on this afternoon.”
Giles blushed and muttered, “Well, I had set the tape recorder for it.”
Spikes grin grew, “Good man, I’ll be wantin to borrow those tapes off you at some point.”
Giles blushed harder. Though he found it easier to talk to Spike now, his hero worship was far from banished. “I suppose you’re right, starting tomorrow can’t hurt, as long as we really apply ourselves of course.” Giles hugged Buffy, “I’ll see you all tomorrow then”.
Buffy saw Giles off and was about to pounce on Spike when she remembered Xander. “Um, Xand me and Spike are gonna go train now.”
Xander narrowed his eyes at Spike. “Ok, I’ll come with you.”
“NO!” Buffy cry was instinctive and forceful. Xander looked hurt so Buffy tried to sound less harsh, “It’d be super boring for you, we’re not even gonna train out in the field, just gonna go to Spikes place and spar for a bit. Totally boring. Why don’t you go hang out with Cordelia or something instead?”
Xander still looked hurt, and pouty mouthed, “She’s out shopping. I don’t mind if it’s boring, would be better then kicking around at home. I’ll come with you.”
Spike laughed, “Not friggin likely whelp, I’m not havin you in my place! Got standards I have. Do what the slayer says and find some other puppies to play with. We’ve got stuff to do.”
The way he said the last words made Buffy shiver with anticipation. Luckily Xander was in too much of a huff to notice. He stood up and stomped to the door. “Fine then, I know when I’m not wanted. If you’d rather hang around with captain peroxide then with one of your best friends then that’s just fine. Especially when that friend hasn’t seen you for a week, and has been all worried about you. Whatever though.”
As desperate as she was to be alone with Spike Buffy did feel a little bad. “Sorry Xand, it’s just really important that I train, you know?” Xander nodded sadly and Buffy felt herself saying, “We’ll walk you back to yours on our way to Spikes though.”
Spike snorted. “We bloody well will not!”
Though she was already kicking herself for suggesting it, Buffy saw how Xander had perked up so she put her hand on her hip and said in her best slayer voice, “Yes we will.”
Spike looked daggers at Xander who was trying, and failing, not to smirk behind Buffy’s back. “It’s broad bloody daylight slayer, surely even the whelp won’t be able to get himself killed in a twenty minute walk!”
Buffy could understand his frustration, she wanted to be alone with Spike as quickly as possible too, so they could talk... and things. But Xander was one of her best friends, and she didn’t want him to feel unappreciated.
“That’s not the point, it would just be nice to have a walk and talk on the way, were heading in pretty much the same direction. I’m sure you two can manage it without biting each other’s heads off.”
“I wouldn’t count on it pet, I haven’t eaten today, right hungry I am. The thought of whelp doesn’t usually appeal to me, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers and all that.”
Buffy glared at Spike, so he rolled his eyes and barged past Xander to the door. “Whatever slayer, you walk with the whelp, me, I’ve got better things to do. If you wanna train you know where I’ll be.”
Buffy could only stare open mouthed as Spike threw the door open and stepped out into the mid afternoon light. She ran to the doorway to shout him back, but he was already gone.
“God, he’s a bit touchy isn’t he?” Xander couldn’t help but smile smugly at having driven Spike off.
All Buffy’s good intentions to spend some time with Xander vanished, and she could only beat herself up with the thought that she’d wasted perfectly good kissing time.
“Uh, sorry Xand, I really should go after him, but maybe we could hang out tonight? Go to the Bronze or something?”
She didn’t give him time to reply, but sprinted off in the direction she knew Spike had gone.
She caught up with him only when she got in sight of his apartment. Actually, she didn’t so much catch up with him as get caught by him.
She felt his special signature only a second before his arm shot out from the shadows of an alleyway, grabbing her round the waist and drawing her to him. She didn’t get the chance for words because his lips were immediately upon hers. Then she couldn’t have found words even if she’d wanted to.
It had only been hours since their last kiss but the memory of how incredible it had been was nothing compared to the actuality. Buffy had never been kissed this way before, she thought it could hardly be described as kissing, it was so much more, so powerful. His tongue battled with her own, fighting for dominance. He bit down on her lip and pulled it into his mouth. She groaned deep in her throat as he devoured her soul, and his answering growl sent her spiralling into ecstasy.
God the taste of him! She could live off the taste of his lips, his tongue, his mouth. And the way he felt pressing against her, his hands tangled in her hair and his body heavy, as insistent in its need to be joined as her own.
Every curve of her body melded seamlessly to his. Nothing had ever felt so perfect. They were both gasping for breath but couldn’t pull away from each other; a second apart was too long. Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and thrust her fingers in the short curls at the nape of his neck. She was grateful for his strength, it was the only thing holding her upright.
Time had no meaning, it was just an endlessly perfect moment. At one point Spike shifted, and the evidence of his desire filled the join between her leather clad thighs. She whimpered, cursing stupid clothes, but couldn’t release him for long enough to get them out of the way.
Spike very nearly pulled her to the ground and ripped her clothes off with his teeth. Only the knowledge that he wanted to make it special for her stopped him.
When Spike finally pulled away from Buffy the sky was beginning to darken. It felt like they had been kissing for hours, but it hadn’t been long enough, it could never be long enough. Buffy was quaking with the need for him which had erupted within her. He was shaking too, ran his fingers down her face, her neck, her side. He was barely touching her, but she felt a pull from within, an aching awareness of him, it was painfully sweet.
The timber of his voice when he spoke had her almost praying that the world would end and leave only the two of them behind.
“That’s why I didn’t want to walk with Harris luv, wasn’t cos I can’t stand him, (though I can't) I just couldn’t wait... I needed to taste you... touch you. God you’re so beautiful pet, so bloody perfect. I couldn’t have restrained myself the whole walk back. You there and me not being able to hold you, soddin torture it would have been.”
Buffy’s eyes felt heavy, she couldn’t pull them away from his face. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to walk anywhere with the others if you’re there again. We might have to make our own way to places from now on.”
He kissed her temple, the corner of her mouth, her neck, and nodded fervently. “I don’t reckon they’d enjoy the show they’d get otherwise.”
Buffy tried to still the shuddering breaths that his mummers on her neck inspired. “And we’d seriously slow them down.”
Spike laughed and drew back so he was holding her gently in his arms. One hand ran lightly along her side. “I think we might have to go inside now pet.”
He smiled at her wildly enthusiastic nod and raised an eyebrow. “Get your mind out of the gutter slayer, were going inside to spar, and nothin else. Not havin your watcher accuse me of slackin off in your trainin”
Buffy pouted in annoyance, and Spike couldn’t suppress his groan, or fight the urge to suck on that pouting lip. He pulled back though, before another kiss-a-thon could begin. When Buffy made to lean in to him he stopped her, “Later slayer, first we really should spar a bit, and I have got somethin to talk to you about.”
Buffy’s stomach took that moment to rumble loudly.
Spike smiled a little when she flushed. “And apparently you need to eat.” He tilted his head to the side and scrutinised her, “Apparently you need to eat a lot. You look bloody gorgeous pet, don’t get me wrong, but you don’t seem to have been lookin after yourself. Girls gotta eat. Slayer’s especially.”
Not wanting to think back to the time when she thought she’d lost him, and eating was something she’d been forced to do, Buffy just shrugged and said, “Haven’t had much of an appetite.”
Spikes eyes and the squeeze he gave her hand said he understood, he said lightly “Well I’m starved, for slayer mostly, but food would be good too. I’ll fix us something. Come on.”
Buffy was grinning at his comment and followed him to his front door.
Spike had gotten an apartment sorted out a couple of months back, when he knew he’d be in Sunnydale for more than the occasional visit. Buffy couldn’t understand how he afforded it, but if she ever asked he just gave her a look which said she was probably better off not knowing. When Buffy had first seen it it had been an empty shell, Spike had managed to turn it into a home quicker than she would have thought possible.
The basement had been made into a training room, with all the equipment Buffy had ever thought she’d need, and some more besides. The bathroom and kitchen were just up the stairs from it, both were of a reasonable size and decorated in the mix of dark and bright colours Spike favoured.
The front door opened into a massive, but cosy, living space- Buffy’s favourite place to be. It wasn’t sprawling or cold like the mansion had been, the ceilings were low and Spike had covered the walls with an eclectic mix of punk rock posters, tapestries and strips of black and red fabric.
There were low tables everywhere; covered with books, candles and a variety of weird objects Spike had picked up on his travels. The floor was a patchwork of rugs. There was a slouchy sofa in front of a television (Spikes main, and favourite, luxury) and the back wall was dominated by a four poster bed.
Buffy had her fingers intertwined with Spikes as he opened the door, but she entered ahead of him. The first thing her eyes were drawn to were the bed. And then she saw what, or rather who, was on the bed.
The giddy laughter she’d been feeling was replaced by a fairly unwarranted hatred she just couldn’t push aside. Her voice was cold. “Vix.”
Vix was sprawled on the bed, a book and a glass of wine (or was that blood? Ew) in her hands. She looked for all the world as though she owned the place, and that made Buffy super mad.
The way Vix looked up at Spike, smiled, and said in a sugary sweet voice, “Honey, you’re home!” made Buffy super, mega, ridiculously mad.
In the happy haze that had been the last few hours Buffy had forgotten all about Vix, so her presence in Spikes apartment was as surprising as it was unwelcome. To Buffy’s joy it seemed it was unwelcome to Spike too.
He slammed the door behind him and stomped over to where she lay, smiling seductively, but thankfully fully clothed.
“Vix what the hell? You can’t just go breaking into a man’s apartment, it’s not on.”
Vix smile had faltered slightly. “Sorry darling, but if you hadn’t run away from me earlier then I wouldn’t have had to break in, would I?”
Spike sighed heavily. “Look sweet, I’m sorry I was avoidin you, I know I said we could meet up, catch up as friends and that, but you’ve got to understand that’s all it would be, just mates. No benefits, just straight up friends.”
Vix curled her legs under her and gave Spike a penetrating stare. Buffy saw Spike flinch under it, and guessed there was more to the look then it seemed. Vix pulled her gaze away, pulled back suddenly, and there was clear surprise on her face. She turned her stare to Buffy and she realised why Spike had flinched. It was like someone was lifting up her skin, looking beneath it. Buffy really didn’t like the sensation, but it was quickly over. Vix seemed more surprised then before, but she got off the bed and began to gather up her things.
Buffy couldn’t understand this turn of events, and wondered desperately what Vix had seen in them that had unsettled her so.
Vix turned to Buffy with a slightly sad, but significantly more friendly, expression on her face. “I’m leaving slayer, don’t worry, but could I have a moment alone with Will please? Just to say goodbye.”
Buffy couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious, but she bit back the urge to say no. She trusted Spike after all. Most the time anyway. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” Buffy threw a look back at Spike as she left and his reassuring smile made her feel a little better.
As soon as Vix was sure Buffy was beyond earshot she said, “I get it now Will, why you weren’t as pleased to see me as I was to see you. You’re covered in her, she’s all over you. She’s covered in you too you know. I’ve never seen anything like it” Vix smiled sadly, “I understand why it never worked with us now, why you wouldn’t let yourself be mine. You were always hers Will, even before she existed. You weren’t meant to be with me, not really be with me anyway, you were meant to wait. I guess the waiting’s over now”.
Spike didn’t know how to respond to this, but he felt a surge of affection for the woman he had known so long, and who had seen him through so much, so he did what he always did, and spoke from his heart. “Vix, sweet, I want you to know that even though I couldn’t ever be what you needed me to be, you were always important to me. Always will be. When Nicky...when she died, you were incredible. I don’t think I could have got through that without you. I know I wouldn’t have. You’ll always be my friend, whatever.”
Vix gave him a genuine smile of warmth, and touched his cheek lightly with her hand. “And you’ll always be mine William, come what may.” She lowered her hand, “I meant to ask you, how’s your boy doing?”
Spike darted a worried look at the kitchen door, and Vix followed his gaze.
“Don’t worry darling, she can’t hear us. Oh, she’s been trying to alright, but she can’t.”
Spike visibly relaxed and let himself smile as he spoke, “He’s doing great, really well, though I don’t think he’d take kindly to being called a boy anymore.”
Vix laughed, “No, I suppose not. Is he still in England?”
Spike shook his head, “We moved back to New York, he missed the sounds of traffic, if you’d believe it. Found the English countryside far too dull.”
Vix grinned, “I can see where he’s coming from, full of farm animals and old fuddy duddies” Spike swatted her arm. “If you don’t mind I might pay him a visit? Just a quick one before I get the hell (excuse the pun) out of this dimension.”
Spike spoke with sincerity, “Yeah, he’d love that. Though I might have to give him a ring, let him know you’re on your way. He hasn’t seen you in a while and If you poof in front of him he might get into fighting mode before he realised.”
Vix laughed again. “You do that, If he’s been trained by you I don’t fancy catching him unawares. You might not want it, but I’m rather fond of my body, would quite like to keep it in one piece.”
There was no sting in her words, just a fond resignation.
Spike acted on impulse and hugged her tight. “Don’t leave it another twenty years before you come back again ok? Know I didn’t give you the warmest of welcomes, but I did miss you sweet. And remember, If you need me-“
“I’ll be there with bells and bloody whistles!” Vix finished. She pulled away from him and wiped at her annoyingly moist eyes. “Same here. I’d better go, the slayers getting impatient, thinks were having a good bye quickie or something.”
Spike groaned. “I don’t reckon I’ll be gettin the quiet evenin I’d hoped for.”
Vix smiled, but looked at him intently, “Will, it looks like you two will have a tough time ahead of you. I can’t tell you what will come, I don’t have your gift of sight, but I can feel it. You can face it all if you're together, I have no doubt of that, but you need to remember she’s very young. Not physically perhaps, but in certain ways she’s got a lot of growing up to do. She hasn’t yet learnt to see the world as it truly is. Do me a favour, and don’t give up on her ok? No matter how it seems, in her heart she won’t ever have given up on you.”
Spike was puzzled, it wasn’t like Vix to be so cryptic, she was usually as forthright as him, but she wasn’t going to say anymore.
She started heading for the kitchen door.
“Vix? What you doing?”
Vix looked back, “I’m just going to say goodbye to the Slayer.” At his worried look she rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry Will, I’ll play nice.”
When Vix opened the door Buffy threw herself away from the keyhole, where she had unsuccessfully been trying to listen, and tried to look nonchalant. She couldn’t keep the sulk out of her voice though, “That was a long goodbye wasn’t it?”
Vix tried not to laugh, she didn’t want to antagonise the girl. “I suppose it was, but it was perfectly innocent I assure you.”
Buffy snorted.
Vix suddenly looked serious, and her voice lowered to the point where even vamp hearing wouldn’t be able to pick up on it. “Slayer, I’m sorry if my presence here has upset you, it wasn’t my intention. I didn’t understand before, I do now. I do love Will, but I know now he isn’t mine to love, not in that way at least. I just hope you understand what you have slayer. He’s a gift, don’t take him for granted or throw him away if he doesn’t turn out to be what you thought he was.”
Buffy felt an angry retort on the tip of her tongue, but it melted away when she saw the sincerity on Vix face. “I won’t hurt him.”
Vix shook her head sadly, “I only wish that were true.” She spoke so softly that Buffy wasn’t sure she’d heard her, and when she spoke again her voice was at its normal volume, and she was smiling. “Look after him slayer, or I can’t promise I won’t reek some vengeance.”
Buffy gave her a curt nod, and, after only a little hesitance, shook the hand that was held out to her.
Vix went back through to the living room with Buffy following, gave Spike a final kiss on the cheek, turned in an elegant circle and was gone.
Spike and Buffy looked at the space she had been in, and at each other, and for once couldn’t think of a thing to say.
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