~Chapter Four~

AN: A big thanks to my betas; Jessica and Chelsea. This obviously strays from Angel canon cause I didn't realize it until one of my betas brought it to my attention, but some readers may think Angel is just pretending to turn evil like in the show. Nope and it'll continue to stray further from canon after this.



Spike scooped Buffy up and held her tightly, forgetting everyone else was there, even his growling grand-sire. All that mattered was that for the second time the love of his unlife was suddenly back from the dead. All he wanted to do was carry her off to some dark, private place to reacquaint himself with every inch of her body.

Willow appeared at his side and pulled him back to the present somewhat. "Oh my god. Is that Buffy? Is she really back again?" She looked up at him. "I swear I didn't do another spell."

He buried his nose in Buffy's hair and inhaled deeply. "Smells of her, at least." He looked towards the others. "How... how long has she been here?"

Fred looked towards Angel to see what he would say, but he just continued to glare in Spike's direction. Wes finally stepped forward to bite the bullet. He might as well tell them and hope they would help keep Angel from trying anything.

"For several months now," Wes said. "Late summer we received an envelope with the amulet inside. Her spirit came out of it and she has been haunting our offices in a way. Only recently was she made corporeal again."

"She's been here that long an' you blokes haven' told us?" Spike growled.

"Well..." Fred fidgeted and glanced at Angel again. Wes squeezed he hand to reassure her that she should go ahead. "We- we were under orders not to say anything."

A couple growls had Wes moving them back from the two vampires, not wanting them caught in the crossfire. "Apparently he thought it best not to say anything until we got her corporeal again. She started... disappearing more frequently the longer she was here and for longer periods of time. Perhaps he did not want to put you through losing her again since we weren't sure if we would be able to keep her with us." He didn't know why he was making excuses for Angel's behaviour, but hoping it would avoid too much bloodshed.

"Bloody hell! You can' decide that for us!" Spike spat at them. "Even if she was only back briefly, it would be worth it t' see her again an' give her a proper good-bye. Right, Red?"

Willow nodded, looking at Angel mistrustfully... especially since he was in game face now and still growling at them all. She looked back towards Spike, though, when she heard a small groan come from the petite blonde in his arms.

*****

Buffy gave another soft groan and snuggled into the arms that were holding her so protectively. This was nice, she thought groggily then opened her eyes slowly to blink up at the owner of said arms. She frowned in confusion as she saw the same mirage that had made her faint. Spike. He was looking down at her with concern. The arms felt solid enough. She reached up to touch his face and felt it was solid as well. She turned her face slightly and saw Willow standing over her as well. Had they come back like she had?

"What... did I finally die for real?" she asked curiously then looking around, seeing the others there as well. "Huh?"

"Buffy, we're alive." Spike shook his head, voice hoarse with emotion. "An' so are you. It's a bloody miracle..."

"Why does she think we're dead?" Willow looked at the others with a suspicious frown. "Something else you want to fess up?" Her eyes had darkened dangerously.

"They said the Hellmouth collapsed and destroyed Sunnydale," Buffy spoke up, looking up at Spike with wide eyes, drinking him in.

"It did," the witch's face softened as she looked over at her friend. "But we got away safe, and they knew that."

The slayer's eyes shot to Angel accusingly. "You... you said they were all dead! My friends! My sister! Spike!" She growled. "I cried for months and you continued to let me believe they were all DEAD!" She started to push herself out of Spike's arms, trying to get at the other vampire with murder in her eyes and hot tears running down her cheeks.

Spike held onto her, tightening his arms around her so much he was nearly afraid he would crush her so soon after getting back his girl all whole and healthy. "Pet, calm down a bit. You're goin' t' work yourself up an' you were only recently unconscious. Please, pet." He pleaded with her when she nearly turned her rage on him. He could take it. Was even used to it after all this time. But, he couldn't take the crying. Never. Not his girl.

He leaned his face close to hers when he was finally sure she wouldn't have bitten his nose off. He brushed a light kiss across her lips then moved his face to murmur in her ear softly, soothing words then a soft pleading. She looked at him silently for a moment then finally nodded, swiping at her tears with the back of her hand. He stood and looked towards Angel, face back to a mask of anger.

"Tell us why. WHY? Why did you torture her? Why did you keep her from us? WHY?? Tell us, goddammit! We're givin' you a chance t' explain yourself an' perhaps save your ugly neck from being a pile of dust in a minute when I let her loose." He growled, unable to keep himself from vamping and giving a loud growl. He would enjoy seeing the big poofter getting his finally, but as always, his first instinct was to protect his girl. He knew if he just let her go dust the ponce, she would later start asking these questions with no one there to answer them.

All eyes were on Angel again as he continued to growl at them. Finally, he took a step towards Spike to glare down at the younger vampire.

"Because she's mine. Mine. I couldn't let her run off to you as soon as she was corporeal again or beg for me to call you here while she was still a ghost. She's mine, but you've done something to steal her from me!" He reached out and jerked Spike away from Buffy. "You've always been a thorn in my side, William. I should have destroyed you when Drusilla dragged you home." He lifted Spike off his feet. "I should have been the one fighting by Buffy's side. Not you. You should have died on the Hellmouth. Not her. But, I plan on rectifying the situation."

"No! Angel stop!" Buffy jumped up and grabbed at Angel's arm. "Why are you acting like this?"

He shrugged her off and shoved her away. "I'm acting the way I should have acted when I first heard my wayward Grand-Childe was trying to make a third slayer conquest of you."

Spike growled when Angel shoved Buffy. "Oi! Don' lay a hand on her!" He brought his feet up into Angel's chest and shoved hard, leaping away to go to Buffy's side. "She doesn' want a wanker like you an' you don' deserve someone as good as her. So just give it up an' bugger off!"

Angel snarled and lunged for him again. The two vampires grappled in game face like wild animals in the middle of the room, growling and roaring. The others backed up, not wanting to get dragged into the fight and hoping Spike gave Angel a good pummeling for his behavior.

Buffy was watching them fighting over her with wide eyes. In only a few short minutes, her world had spun out of control. She had found out everything about her life, or un-life, for the last few months had been a cruel lie formulated by Angel to keep her close. She was frozen in place in shock. Spike and her sister and her friends... they were alive! Angel had lied in the cruelest of ways. Watching her wail in agony after delivering the heinous news and waste away for these past months from grief... All the while, he had been plotting to manipulate her. She had not been so naive as to think Angel lived up to his namesake, at least not for many years now. But, she never thought him capable of this when he was his soul-having self. Maybe she HAD been naive if he really was...

"Stop!" She finally shouted and dashed forward to try to pull them apart.

Willow grabbed her arm. "Buffy... you know, even with your slayery powers, it's probably not best to get between two angry vampires. It's like getting between two rabid dogs... but you know, with vampire strength and stuff..."

Buffy actually growled at her friend in frustration. "I can't just let Angel maim Spike."

"Have some faith in Spike... not to mention, you might be sorry tomorrow if you kill Angel..." the witch looked at the vampires, eyes filled with disgust as they landed on Angel. She never did see what her friend saw in him. She put up with him for Buffy's sake mostly.

"I won't. His actions have been unforgivable. He told me my friends and family, everyone I cared about, were dead! He let me waste away in despair for his own selfishness. I... no, I won't miss him. Not this way. I'll miss the way he used to be and THAT man is apparently dead already." She shook her head. "And I have a sneaking suspicion he knew the amulet would kill the person who wore it and knew I was going to give it to Spike, though he probably didn't know the person would appear in his office as a ghost. He just didn't bank on me changing my mind and wearing it myself." She smirked acidly, "Though, if I had known, would have let Spike wear it so he could have appeared in Angel's office to give him hell."

Willow's face darkened. "So you're sure of your decision?" Something dark moved behind her eyes.

Buffy nodded.

With permission seemingly given, the witch turned and flung out her hands. The two vampires were flung apart and Angel was lifted off his feet, kept immobile by unseen hands. "Buffy, it was you who was wronged. So you get to do the honors."

The slayer shivered a bit at the hints of Willow's dark side. It had been so long that she had nearly forgotten that the soft, caring redhead had such dark places inside her. Months ago, Buffy had been sure her friend was finally in control of herself and her magic, asking her to do one of her most powerful spells to awaken all the potential slayers in the world. But, grief had caused her to lose control before and maybe after Buffy's death... Were they on shaky ground again?

She shook it off for the moment turned towards the immobilized Angel. She growled at him to show she was a part of his lynching before heading over to check on Spike.

"Are you okay?" She bit her lip and knelt by him, reaching out to touch his cut lip.

"Bloody wonderful, luv," he gave her a grin. "Nothin' can' take away the joy of seein' you again."

"We have some... talking to do after I take care of our problem here." She grinned back and licked the blood from his lip off her finger slowly, "You're mine."

Her eyes flashed silver briefly before she quickly stood up, not giving him a chance to respond. He froze, watching her walk off in shock. She just... He gasped at the flurry of emotions that fought inside him at the possible ramifications of what she just did. He could only watch her, totally floored and unsure if he was able to walk at the moment. So instead he sat there with the world's goofiest grin spread across his face.

Angel roared as he noticed the exchange that went unnoticed by the humans. "I won't allow such lunacy to happen! Over my dusted body!"

Willow glanced between them, aware she had missed something but figured that if it pissed off Angel this much then it was probably a good thing so she smirked at Angel. "I think that's probably only adding to the appeal of it."

"You little bitch," he spat at her and she responded by stretching his limbs painfully until he cried out in agony.

Buffy strode over to Angel angrily and brought her leg up into his groin. "Don't talk to my friends like that. You don't deserve to even speak to them. To even look at them." She punched him square in the jaw. "I'm not yours. Haven't been yours in years. You're not even the same man I fell in love with. My Angel wouldn't have done this. You've changed. This place has changed you. And you don't even care, do you? Because so far you've used it to get whatever you've wanted, huh?"

"And yet, I'm still like him," Angel arched a brow in Spike's direction. "He's a selfish son of a bitch and does things much worse than this. So why do you fuck him and stake me?"

"Cause I love him and you have a small dick," she grinned. "Not to mention, he has made improvements while you have obviously made declines in character." She frowned. "He got his soul by choice, not against his will. And quite frankly, he was a very good man even before he got his soul."

Behind her, Spike smiled proudly at her words. He could burst into flames at that moment and die a happy man, but he seriously hoped that didn't happen seeing as he would miss out on the shagging later.

Buffy licked her lips and put on an innocent face, glancing left and right before leaning in close to whisper in Angel's ear. "Me and Spike are going to fuck for many, many, many hours and I'm going to do things we've only dreamed about for the last few years. When I get done with him, he's not going to be able to move for days. And, the only thing keeping me from getting down to it with him is first I have a bit of business to get out of the way. You." She leaned back and smiled wickedly.

Angel's eyes narrowed at her. "You didn't love me. You're just a slut who spreads her legs for anything lacking a pulse."

Her eyes widened in shock and in a blur of movement it was Spike who was there to slam his fist into Angel's face. "Don' you dare talk t' my mate like that!" He continued to punch his Grand-Sire. "You've had more partners than she's ever had an' in one month! An' such a bleedin' hypocrite when you've shagged nearly every vampire over a hundred." He sneered. "Even the men..."

If it was possible, Buffy's eyes widened even more until she was afraid her eyes would pop. There was an implication there, but she ignored it in lieu of her shock. Angel wasn't the first to say something like that to her, it was just more hurtful coming from him.

She shook her head slowly. "Stop Spike... just end this. Please. I can't take anymore of this. My heart is just not up to it." She closed her eyes and let out a breath. "Just end it."

Spike slid an arm around her and whispered soothing words into her hair. He rubbed her back and Willow came over to do the same, showing her support. "I'll get you a stake or somethin' else useable, pet." He headed over to a chair in the waiting area near the elevators.

"No..." she shook her head again. "You do it, Spike. After all the things he did to you, you deserve to drive it home."

"No, you should, luv, I know you want t'."

"Together then?"

He grinned and came back with a broken chair leg.

He held it out in front of her and she linked her hand over his, smiling up at him softly. "To a new start?"

He nodded and bent to kiss her forehead tenderly. "Let's do this before any more shit spouts out of this poofter."

"You can't seriously be about to do this," Angel looked shock, but they only nodded with impassive faces. He looked towards Fred and Wesley, "And you're not even going to try to stop this?"

They shook their heads slowly and Wes stepped forward. "I tried to warn you from the start. If you had listened to me, instead of the evil selfish voices in your head, the maybe you wouldn't be in this predicament now. The Angel we had befriended wouldn't have treated us like hostages. So we agree with them. The Angel we knew died the minute you started making deals with the senior partners."

Angel snarled angrily at him and opened his mouth to probably insult them some more, but they never found out. Before he could utter a word, the two blondes slammed the makeshift stake through his chest and he immediately burst into dust. As the dust settled, the small group just stood there silently. They didn't know what to say or what to do. None of them regretted staking him after everything he had done and wanting to prevent what he might have done if they let him continue down the path that he was taking.

The elevator dinged and snapped them all out of their thoughts so that they swung around to look towards it almost guiltily. Gunn and Lorne stepped into the room and looked at them, noting the signs of struggle and their dazed expressions. Lorne looked to the side where Harmony was peeking around the edge of her desk.

"What happened here?" Lorne asked, looking back towards the others. "Looks like there was a party and my invitation was lost in the mail."

"More like a lynching," Harmony muttered as she got up, straightening her skirt. "Does this mean I can go back to drinking the good stuff?"

"Harmony, get out of here before you get the same treatment." Spike snarled.

Her eyes got wide and she nodded, darting down the hallway.

Fred walked over to Gunn followed by Wesley. She smiled up at him, "It seems that Spike and Willow showed up and accidentally discovered Angel's plot." She winked.

"Oh," Gunn winked back.

Willow looked between then and suddenly smiled widely herself. "Buffy was the slayer we came to pick up, wasn't she?"

Fred laughed and nodded. "We finally had enough of his lying to Buffy and his temper. We decided to come up with a plan to get you guys here to accidentally run into Buffy after he went as far as hitting Wes." She sighed, "Whatever deal he made with the senior partners... it obviously affected him, cause we can't totally blame it on working in a place like this. WE didn't turn evil... we only went along with it out of fear."

"I totally understand," Buffy nodded as she came up beside Willow. She put a hand to her face, "But we can all catch up and decide what to do about the consequences tomorrow I think. Right now, I'm emotionally and physically exhausted. And I really don't feel like staying here tonight..."

"No problems, pet. We got ourselves digs over at the Sheraton. My suite is your suite," Spike grinned. "Me an' you got stuff t' discuss, like you said... or does that wait 'til tomorrow, too?" He definitely wanted to know why she had done the blood thing. Was it just to piss off Angel or did she really intend to go through with it?

"I'll see when we get there. Maybe some stuff can be aired out tonight... not sure I can wait no matter how exhausted I am. So happy to-" She noticed the others watching them intently and blushed. "Let's just call it a night and get to the hotel."

Willow nodded and slid her arm around Buffy. "Sure thing. Do you have anything upstairs you need to get?"

"No. Up until a couple days ago I had no body, so I really had no need for clothes. Since then I've been borrowing... well... Cordelia's old things until we could get some time to go get me new stuff. Angel offered to send someone to get clothes, but I wanted to buy my own things." Buffy shook her head, "Now I know why he was trying to avoid it..."

"Cordelia's old stuff?" Willow picked out that bit frowned. "What?"

"Long story. Maybe the others can fill you in on the way to hotel."

*****

Buffy walked into the suite and went over to flop onto the sofa immediately, barely taking in her surroundings. She threw an arm across her face and groaned. What a just all around bad day. Yes, a good thing had come out of it technically. But, still... a really really bad day. She knew once things wore off... adrenaline or whatever she was going on, it would hit her and she wasn't even sure she wanted Spike to be there... but she couldn't tell him to go away. She needed him around after thinking he was dead for so long. So many things she had to tell him before she lost the nerve or other things got a chance to intrude again.

Spike walked in and looked down at her then knelt beside the sofa. He reached out lay his hand on her stomach, slipping it under the blouse to stroke slow, soothing circles. "You okay, luv?"

She lifted her arm slightly to peek at him from under it. "Not my best, but considering the day I had... I'm okay."

"Anythin' I could do t' make you feel better?"

She gave a slow smile. "You being here is helping." Her eyes started to water, "I missed you so much and I-" her throat tightened. "I thought I'd never see you again. I almost didn't want to become corporeal again, but now I'm glad I didn't just let myself fade away."

"Shh," he leaned in to kiss her softly. "I missed you, too. Was a right drunkard an' Red can tell you better than I can about how I was. I was too drunk t' remember much. She looked out for me somewhat an' so did the Bit. Made sure I didn' stake myself while I was inebriated, but wasn' able t' stop me wanderin' the halls naked at night a couple times." He smirked, "Scarred your watcher for life, I did. You would've been proud."

She chuckled and got up to slide off the couch into his lap. She laid her cheek on his shoulder with a sigh, "This feel so nice. I needed this so badly." Her eyes drifted close. "I could stay like this forever."

"You can. But, then that's what you were up t' when initiated the claim back at the law firm, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"So it wasn' just to piss off Peaches?"

"Huh?" She lifted her head and looked at him shocked. And slightly offended. "You think that's why I did it?"

"I guess I didn' want t' get my hopes up too much." He glanced away.

"Spike... I guess it's true that my actions in the past obviously didn't inspire trust in me... but it wasn't to just make Angel mad. That was just a nice by-product." She bit her lip. "I didn't mean what I said down in the Hellmouth. You know that right? I only said it to get you out of there." She clutched at him desperately. "Please, forgive me. Please."

"Shh." He kissed her softly, lingering on her lips for a moment before forcing himself to continue speaking instead of losing himself in the kiss. "I forgive you an' I understand."

She slumped weakly against him, relieved to hear him say that. He wrapped her in his arms and got up, carrying her into the bedroom. He turned down the covers and laid her down before sliding in beside her. She turned into his embrace and they curled up silently, understood that when they woke up they would straighten the rest of it out. But, for now they were content to have each other again and lay entwined.

*****

Flashback to Sunnydale High basement

"C'mon!" Faith called and started up the stairs. Spike motioned to her and she made an impatient sound before dashing out of there.

"You have to go, Spike!" Buffy told him angrily.

"Not leavin' without you, pet," he shook his head.

"I can't go anywhere. I have to stay and finish this, make sure it's done. Make sure the threat is gone for good." She pointed, "You have to go. Get to safety. Go take care of Dawn and make sure she's okay."

"No. I love you an' stayin' with you 'til the end. This life into the next."

"Spike, I don't love you! I never loved you and I never will! I keep telling you that and you never seem to get it! Just go!" She pushed him towards the steps angrily. "Get out of here! You're just a vampire and even with your soul you're still not good enough for me! Sometimes, I can't even stand to look at you! You'll never be good enough for me!!" She screamed at him, tears running down her face.

He looked at her stricken then frowned. "Fine. Have it your way..." He got up and turned towards the steps, starting to go up them then looking back. "And you're wrong." With that he started running up the stairs to avoid rocks as they started falling from the ceiling on him.

*****

Buffy stretched as she woke up then sat up slowly. She started to slide towards the edge of the bed, but Spike's arm tightened to draw her back. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure he was still asleep then pried it off so she could get up. With a small smile, she bent to give him a small, tender kiss before going into the kitchen to turn on the coffee maker. While she was waiting for the coffee to brew, she padded back into the bedroom and to the bathroom for a shower.

She was starting to wash her hair when the curtain was she sensed him moving about and with a smile waited, knowing he was coming to her. She rinsed her hair, not looking up as the glass door slid open and let the steam billow out into the room. It seemed like he stood there forever, though, so she finally looked at him impatiently.

"You're letting all the cold air in," she chastised him with an eye roll.

"Sorry, pet," he said with a smirk and stepped into the shower with her then slid the door closed again. "Was just admirin' such a stunnin' view of my lovely golden slayer under the water, like a goddess at a waterfall..."

She blushed and looked away. "You obviously never lost that poet in you..."

"No matter how I tried t' bludgeon the wanker t' death," he agreed good-naturedly and reached out to skim a hand over her body with a soft purr. "So beautiful..."

"Spike..." She smiled up at him and went into his arms, holding onto him tightly as it hit her again how happy she was to have him back. To have him safe and sound in her arms. Well... until the next apocalypse.



tbc...

~Chapter Five~

AN: Hold on as we spin further and further out of canon. Weeee! Hehe. And thanks to my lovely betas; Aribelle, Tami, and Jessica. They were a big help to a blonde who writes in the early morning while she's half asleep... *pouts* For some reason, that's the only time my muse gets all spunky... the bleached menace...



Buffy lifted her head after what seemed like forever. The water had turned cold long ago, but she hadn't cared. She looked up at Spike and slid her hand up his body to cup his cheek. She still marveled at being able to touch him again after thinking he was dead these many months. She knew he was probably feeling the same way. She could see it in his eyes as their gazes locked.

She stretched up and kissed him slowly, coaxing his mouth open so she could deepen the kiss. Her hands smoothed down his body, eagerly touching every inch of skin she could.

"Bloody hell, luv... you don' know how many nights I've dreamed of this an' now it's come true," Spike murmured into her neck as he clutched her more tightly against him.

"I have, too," she said softly. "I dreamed that I had you again and this time I didn't treat you badly. I didn't deny your love. I didn't deny my own feelings. And, once I had you, that I didn't let you go." She leaned her head back and smiled up at him. "Then I dreamed of the sappy 'happily ever after' with you."

"An' that involved the claimin', yeah?" He grinned down at her, not letting her forget what she had started.

As if she would.

"Of course," she rolled her eyes.

"An' you plannin' on makin' a bloke beg for it?" He teased, nipping at her throat.

"If you keep being a pain about it, I will."

She nipped back and he gave a little growl, clearly aroused even without the prodding at her stomach. She slid her hand over his length and kissed him again. She gave him a few more strokes as she pressed kisses to his jaw and neck.

"So, mister persistent... did you still want a quickie in the shower or to make with the claiming then?" She tilted her head and arched a brow, laughter dancing in her eyes.

"Are you completely daft?" His brows drew together as he gave her one of his patented Spike looks. "Of course I want the claim... bloody annoyin' bird..."

"And here I thought sex was the most important thing to you." She laughed.

He gave a warning growl before kissing her roughly, reaching around her to turn off the water. He lifted her against him by grasping the backs of her thighs and carried her out of the shower, but only as far as the sink, where he set down a towel before sitting her down on the counter there. He kissed her again then let his mouth trail down her body as he knelt in front of her.

"So beautiful... lovely golden goddess..." he murmured as she started to spread her legs for access.

"I thought we were going to be claiming each other, not doing the quickie?"

"Is there a rule that says I have t' bite your neck an' have no imagination?" he gave her an exasperated look.

"I guess not... Continue."

He rolled his eyes at her with a snort then lowered his head again. He gave her inner thigh a long lick all the way up to her core where he continued licking eagerly. He ran his tongue along her slit, giving her clit a flick and grasping her thighs when she started to writhe. His eyes rolled upwards to watch her face as she moaned softly in pleasure. He continued to watch her as he delved his tongue in her core.

His brows immediately went up and he jerked back. "What the bloody hell?"

"What?" She frowned, not sure what to make of his reaction.

"You taste... different..."

"Different? Like I came back wrong or... bad different??" Her face flushed and started to scoot away from him self-consciously.

He kept hold of her legs and dragged her back to him so he could lick her again experimentally.

"Pet..." he looked up at her worriedly. "Have... did you an' the poofter... since you came back?"

"You taste Angel?" Then she shook her head. She went from being shy to sheer indignation. "And even if you could, a world of NO! I did not! I've been mourning you since I got back and didn't just hop into bed with the next eligible bachelor!"

"No, I didn' taste Angel... I tasted somethin' else," he took a slow breath, unsure of how she was going to take the news. Not yet sure how he was taking the news. "You... you're pregnant, Buffy."

"You've got to be kidding me," she laughed incredulously. "I haven't had sex since... since you back in Sunnydale!"

"You sure no one..." he made a motion with his hand and lifted a brow.

"You sure you didn't get it wrong?" Her lips pressed together and she pushed him back so she could stand.

"Vampire, pet." He looked up at her as if he were talking to a child.

"So what, besides having the icky smell thing, your tongue is a pregnancy test strip?" She planted her hands on her hips. She frowned at him, "Maybe I should pee on it to make sure..."

"As lovely as that sounds..." he remarked dryly as he stood. "I'm sure if we continue with the claim I'll be able t' sense what's goin' on with your body more clearly. Use the link the way mates do t' make sure you're okay an' I should be able t' sense the child if there really is one... or if it's somethin' else, sense that, too."

She looked away. "What if I'm not in the mood now?"

He frowned then in the blink of an eye he was on her, pressing her to the wall.

"No backin' out now, luv." He kissed her hotly, grinding into her. His hand buried in her hair and used it to pull her head to the side, baring her neck to him. "Mmm, glad you didn' shorten your hair too much. Love my goldilocks." He ran his tongue over her pulse. "Love every soddin' bit of you."

He shifted into game face, dragging his fangs over her throat before sinking them into her flesh. Blood flowed into his mouth and he groaned, grinding into her more eagerly than before. He forced himself to stop after a moment and licked his lip, looking down into her eyes.

"Mine. My mate now and forever." He brushed a kiss across her lips, "No matter what all this mess with you bein' pregnant is all about."

She smiled and kissed him back. "There has to be a logical explanation for all this, Spike."

"Just get t' bitin' me back, pet," he bent his neck in offering. "Then we can start sussin' it out."

"Mmm," she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck before biting down. She applied pressure and worried at his skin until her teeth broke the surface, getting a gush of blood. She lifted her head to look up at him after she was sure she had taken enough, not enjoying the blood as much as the vampire obviously had. "Mine."

They looked at each other and both their gazes flashed silver like Buffy's had when she first initiated the claim the day before. Both felt the bond as it tightened between them and their mouths connected again, tongues dueling as their hands moved to grasp at each other.

"Buffy," Spike purred against her mouth. "You've... can' tell you how... how happy this has made me. Been waitin' years for you t' be willin' t' be my mate."

"I'm sorry for being so stubborn," she smiled softly. "Now... as for our problem...?" She pointed down.

"Would you see it as a problem t' be havin' a child with your mate?" He watched her carefully as he pulled her back into the bedroom. He set her on the bed and knelt in front of her.

"It can't be yours, Spike. We haven't had sex in like a year... and I've been dead half of that time." She shook her head.

"But, either way, I'm not leavin' your side an' I'm goin' t' be the itty bitty's father. Not biologically... but still..." He lifted a hand to her cheek. "Goin' t' take care of you both, I will."

"Just tell me if I really am... please." She sighed and looked down, distress etched clearly on her face. "And if I'm mysteriously pregnant... who's to say it's even human or... or even all with the evilness."

"We'll figure it out. Together. Okay?" He squeezed her hand and kissed her flat stomach. "Now just let me concentrate an' see what I can get out of our new bond. This is new... not somethin' a vampire does all the time... claimin' willy-nilly. You have one mate an' you're with them until you're dust."

He closed his eyes and nuzzled her stomach, then stilled as he concentrated. His hands traced comfortingly circles on her back as he checked out his earlier diagnosis. After a few minutes, he opened his eyes and looked up at her with concern. She knew what he was going to say and started to draw away from him shaking her head.

"It can't be... I mean, you can't be... try again, please..." She pleaded.

"There's no doubt about it now, pet. I can sense it growin' in you now," he laid a hand over her abdomen.

She whimpered and her lower lip began to quiver. Immediately, he was on the bed beside her and drawing her slight body to him. He tucked her head under his chin and rocked her gently.

"Shhh. Soothe, luv. We'll figure it out," he said softly.

She opened her mouth to say something but there was a knock on the door just then. They looked at each other then went to the closet to quickly pull on clothes. Spike was quicker about yanking on his usual jeans and a shirt so he went to answer the door while Buffy finished getting dressed, giving her a moment to collect herself. She finished pulling on a black pair of slacks and a blouse before following him.

"Cordelia," she gasped as she walked into the living room. "They said... were they lying about that as well?"

"No," Cordelia shook her head and looked between them. "I was in a coma, but not exactly. And now, I'm back. To help you. I take it you found my other gift by now?" She smiled at their puzzled expressions then grinned at Buffy. "You look nice in my clothes, by the way. Do I have taste or what?"

*****

Spike paced as usual while Buffy watched him nervously. Willow and the remains of Angel Investigations were watching Cordelia. Buffy finally made herself stop watching Spike before she got motion sickness or something and glanced at Cordelia. After a moment, she leaned forward to bury her face in her knees and link her hands over her head. Gawd, she just needed a moment to adjust to everything. For the last day it seemed a constant barrage of things, each turning her world upside down just when she thought it couldn't get any stranger.

She felt a weight beside her on the couch and knew who it was before the hand caressed her back. Before the silky voice whispered to her mentally, //Are you all right?//

She lifted her head to smile up at Spike slightly, "Just needed a short breather. Don't worry."

"Well, I'm here to help make sense of everything," Cordelia smiled down at her softly. "Hopefully you'll feel a little better after you understand what's happening."

"Hopefully."

"First," Wesley lifted a hand. "Could you please tell us... how? How are you back? You just woke up? I would believe that, but with a complete recovery as if you had never been gone... That's very strange, to say the least."

"That's because I wasn't in a simple coma. I was in a sort of limbo. My soul went back up to be a higher being, like before... but my body was still stuck here in that vegetative state." Cordelia tilted her head, "And, that's how I was able to keep an eye on all of you and help you when the time came."

"Help us? How?"

"As you all know by now, Angel was spiraling out of control by the day." She motioned to Buffy. "I couldn't wait much longer for you and Fred to find the right spell to bring you back. Who knows what Angel might have done before then. So I sped up the process considerably."

"You sent the flash in the box?" Buffy blinked.

"Yup, you can thank me for that. But, it wasn't just renewed life I gave you."

"You..." the slayer pointed at her stomach. Her brows went up and she said in a slightly higher voice, "That too?"

"Huh?" Willow looked between them. "What's in her stomach?"

"Her womb." Cordelia amended and nodded at Buffy.

"Her... huh?" She looked boggled.

"After we woke up, Spike... well, he discovered I was pregnant," Buffy turned to Willow to explain to her and the others what Cordelia was talking about. She smiled faintly, "Takes a load off 'cause I'm not sure Spike was convinced I didn't sleep with anyone since I came back, what with me being pregnant and all."

"Yeah, I knew such a strange pregnancy would cause some confusion, which is why I knew I had to come back to help explain everything I did," Cordelia told them. "And help you with the upcoming battle. I'm not good with being stuck on the sidelines, especially when I know I can be a big help."

"Wow, you have changed," Buffy teased her lightly. She looked down at her stomach and rested her hands on it, "So... then who is the father... or is it some weird 'made of me' thing like Dawn was?" Her eyes got wide and she looked at Spike.

He chuckled. "We'll call Nibblet later an' tell her the good news... got a lot t' tell her, too, yeah?"

"Oh, I already called them," Willow looked sheepishly. "They're on their way."

"Good. You're going to need their help," Cordelia tried to steer the conversation back to the matter at hand. She looked back to Buffy, "Well, yeah, I had to work a bit of strange magic to make it of you since, yeah, you were dead and it came with the resurrection, which meant no eligible sperm donor. But," she said before the slayer could interrupt her, "because of that claim I know you just did, the baby will be linked to Spike as if he were the natural father."

Buffy pouted slightly and opened her mouth to speak, and then shut it again and shook her head. There were some things she just didn't have to know... Spike curled his arm around her and pulled her closer, reassured knowing that this wasn't something to be concerned about. He didn't really believe Buffy had jumped into bed with someone, but was worried that this could be something evil and harmful to his mate. He didn't care for something happening to her after just getting her back.

"You... you keep alluding to something to come," Fred spoke up. "Surely you just don't mean the pregnancy."

"I don't," Cordelia shook her head. "You caused a big problem for yourself when you killed Angel. The reason Angel was turning evil was because of the deal he made with the Senior Partners, obviously. Whatever they did to 'anchor' his soul left it open to corruption, which is obviously what they had in mind when they offered that deal to him. The place was literally poisoning him. It was even in the blood he was drinking. They wanted him on their side to do their dirty work in this dimension, help them take it over. Also, it would get one of this dimension's greatest champions out of their way. They probably didn't count on you awakening all the junior slayers, but when you did they still figured they could do away with a few newbies."

"So... they're pissed at me for ruining their plans even though my killing him still got him out of their way?" Buffy blinked.

"Yeah, 'cause now they have to start out all over again finding someone to help them do their dirty work and corrupting them and all that boring stuff." She paused and looked down at Buffy solemnly. "That means they might come after you, Spike, or even your baby to corrupt you. Spike is another souled vampire to them, you are the slayer who has thwarted many apocalypses, and the baby would be easy to corrupt."

Buffy groaned and bent forward to bury her face in her knees again.

"Pet, it'll be okay. You got me an' all the others." Spike ran his hand over her hair then looked up at Cordelia. "So what are we goin' t' do, just lay low an' hope they lose interest in us?"

"That won't happen." Cordelia shook her head. "But right now, we basically make sure that baby is born. That baby is the key to getting rid of the Senior Partners. I begged the Powers for their help with this one and they gave the baby their own little gift. After she is born, she will have the power to banish the Senior Partners from this dimension."

"Bloody good of them..."

"My baby is a girl?" Buffy finally lifted her head, looking up at the other woman in awe. Her fears were temporarily forgotten at the idea of having a little daughter.

"Oops."

"No, thank you. I'm glad you told me."

"I wanted a lil' boy t' teach him how t' tease the girls," Spike pouted.

"Well you can teach our daughter to rip on boys," Buffy rolled her eyes at him. She looked back at Cordelia, "Okay, deferring my usual leader-y role to you since you seem to know what to do here more than I do. So tell us, oh great leader lady, where do we start? You said our role is basically to make sure the baby is born, right? So, what do we do besides that for nine months?"

"We start with getting you settled into your new life," Cordelia nodded. "And me, too, I guess. So, we start deciding where we're going to 'set up shop' and who's going to be there to help us. Basically, who is going to be the support system, our new Scooby crew. I'm sure you can even get some of the new slayers that are trained up enough to come with you to help, too."

"I guess I don't want to make any big decisions until the others get here then," she leaned into Spike tiredly. Already it had been another emotionally exhausting day. "So let's just relax until then."

"How about you birds go do some shoppin', know how that always makes you feel better, pet," Spike stroked her hair. "You an' Cordelia need t' get some clothes an' things anyways, right? Willow can let you use the nifty charge card she has from the Council an' I'm sure even Fred would like t' go along."

"Okay. Do you need anything?" She started to get up slowly. She was a little reluctant to leave him, but wasn't sure if it was because she had just gotten him back or because of the claim. Maybe both. "We can come back with take-out and a movie, sound good?"

"Yeah, sounds bloody great," he stood and kissed her before she started to head for the door with the girls.

"Fred, I am so getting some Chinese. You tortured me with it all while I was a ghost and now I can finally eat it!" Buffy teased as they left the suite.


tbc...

~Chapter Six~

AN: LoL, start sending in your name ideas for the itty bitty, hehe. Thank you to Thianna and Jessica for betaing.


Dacula, Georgia - Two Weeks Later

A large, stylish house sat at the end of a small, sparsely populated subdivision. The area was hugged by trees. The backyard was closed off by a high fence for privacy. There was an area good for training sessions as well as a nice pool. Off to the side, Xander had built a large garage to house most of the numerous vehicles.

Right now, though, a moving van sat in the driveway while workers came and went with the last of the boxes as dusk started to descend.

Buffy stood in her room, her and Spike's room. She walked over to the window and watched the others hurrying about like worker ants. She hoped this was a good thing -- them all under one roof where they were more likely to drive each other completely bonkers. She was putting her faith in Cordelia when the former higher being said this was what was best to keep her and the baby safe.

Spike came up beside her, sliding an arm around her waist to pull her close. He was glad they thought to put necro-tempered glass on the windows. The slayer wouldn't be living in the basement while she was pregnant and he wasn't going to have a room separate from his mate. Not to mention, Spike should be free to move around his house as he pleased and not confined to the basement half the time. His hand slid over her stomach in circles and he kissed the marks on her neck.

"Mine," he purred into her ear.

"Your brain is stuck on a twenty-four hour porn channel, isn't it?" She rolled her eyes towards him with a teasing smile.

"Oy, there was nothin' pornographic 'bout that," he retorted indignantly then slowly smirked, pulling her tight against him and thrusting himself into her soft backside. "Now, if you want pornographic..."

"You're such a pig, Spike," she swatted at him then darted away.

Spike gave a playful growl then chased after her, skirting around the bed and leaping over the corner to get to her. She squealed as he nearly crashed into her and she pivoted to get away. She dashed for the door and just before she reached it, he leapt at her back and tackled her to the ground. They tumbled out into the hallway and Buffy continued giggling until they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat loudly.

Both looked up guiltily at Dawn, Xander, and Willow.

"We thought you were hurt or something and came running," Dawn said with mock-annoyance.

"He started it," Buffy said petulantly and pushed Spike off her so she could get up. She grinned, "And short, bleached, and delusional will never be able to get the one up on me, so in the future... if you hear screams, it'll probably be him or Andrew."

"Oh shut your gob..." Spike muttered as she straightened his shirt. "I have never screamed in my life. You've got me confused with the whelp." He motioned at Xander.

"Hey!" Xander said indignantly.

"Oh, apparently you repressed the whole Tabula Rasa incident," Buffy shared a look with the other girls and they all smirked at Spike.

"Oh bloody hell, I need a fag," Spike stomped down the stairs towards the back porch as he was only allowed to smoke outside now with the baby on the way. He was muttering as he walked, "Bleedin' chits, always gangin' up on a bloke."

"Great, I come back from the dead only to die of lung cancer..." Buffy grumbled with a hidden smirk as she watched him go. She turned to the others and smiled, "How are the new troops settling in?"

The Los Angeles people that she had grown close with as well had, of course, come with them. After it was established that they would all be staying together in America, Giles went back to England with Willow to put all the affairs with the new Council in order and set it up for Giles to be in contact with them by use of phone and the internet. He also asked for any volunteers to come along to help the cause, feeling the more the merrier and the safer they would be. Three slayers had volunteered, two about Dawn's age and one a couple years older. Two young watchers, a man and a woman, who were barely out of training had come along as well. The woman, Lenora, and Willow had been exchanging looks since the female watcher arrived.

"Pretty good," Willow nodded. "They all just left to go do some shopping at the Mall of Georgia, get whatever they forgot to bring with them. I would've asked if you needed anything, but figured you didn't want to go with the younger girls."

"Dang, coulda used some Krispy Kremes... I'm using pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever the hell I want," Buffy chuckled and walked with them downstairs.

"You read my mind, I told them to get some while they were out," Xander winked.

"Which reminds me," Willow rolled her eyes at them, "now that everyone is settled in, I can work my mojo to check on the baby like you asked. You sure this is necessary? I did the protective charms all over the property and cleansed the property as well, not to mention started researching herbs to help you with the pregnancy."

"Yes, better safe then sorry." Buffy went and sat down on the couch. "And if not now, then later Spike is going to pester me to death then he'll pester you to death, too. So might as well be prepared to tell him to shut up."

"You two seriously need couples counseling," Dawn muttered and headed for the back door to go talk to Spike to make sure he really wasn't annoyed about the teasing earlier.

"And with that, I'm off too to go get supplies from Office Depot. Giles wants to keep in touch with England, but he's as technophobic as ever. It's time to introduce him to the 21st century," Xander chuckled and headed for the door. "I'll drag Andrew along with me to keep him out of your guys' hair for awhile."

"My hero," the two girls said at the same time then burst into laughter.

Andrew had been driving everyone batty since he had arrived from England with the new slayers and the young watchers that had pledged their aid. He was as hyperactive as ever and still gung-ho about being a watcher. He followed them all around, claiming he wanted to learn by observation from the best. They weren't even doing anything but moving into a new house, so all of them were pretty much ready to tie him up to a chair again.

"Okay, now just relax and lay back against the cushions then close your eyes," Willow told Buffy as soon as they were alone.

Buffy did as she was told and took a couple deep, calming breaths. The redhead's hands hovered over her stomach and glowed faintly as she hummed. They started moving in circles then the circles widened so that her hands encompassed more of the slayer. After a few moments, she stopped humming and sat back.

"All seems fine in the land of Buffy," Willow smiled up at her.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked down at her friend. "Yay," she stretched and sat up. She glanced towards the back door. "You think I should go make nice with the would-be father, now?"

Willow patted her knee. "I doubt he was really all that mad with the teasing. He's used to worse and he knows you didn't mean anything mean by it. But, maybe you could go... discuss things with him and spend time with him. You know, nice quality time together that all couples need."

"It's hard to get quality time with a house full of people," Buffy shrugged and got up. She smirked slightly, "But I'll go show my mate a bit of loving."

"Well, I'll go take Dawn to the mall as well so we can do some holiday gifts shopping. Hopefully, we'll run into the others and we'll go to a movie. That'll give you some time here alone with your mate."

"Yay," Buffy chuckled and before she could head for the back door, Dawn and Spike came walking back in. She went over to him and twined her arms around his waist. She grinned, "So, you finished brooding, sweetie?"

"Oy, I don' brood." He scowled, but wrapped his arms around her.

"Okay, done pouting?"

"Is this any way t' treat the father of your baby?"

"You didn't impregnate me. It was immaculate conception!" She arched a brow. "The star was in the box. Fred, Wes, and Giles were the Wisemen. Angel was the evil King Herod... You're poor Joseph. Xander and Andrew are fluffy sheep... Willow and Dawn are their herders. Lorne can be the drummer boy. Cordelia is the angel messenger person... and I'm sure I forgot someone, but whatever."

"Someone is so full of herself," Dawn joked with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh shut up, big bad mystical key girl who could end existence," Buffy laughed and tossed a pillow from the couch at her sister.

"C'mon, Dawn. Let's go do some holiday shopping and see if the others are up for a movie," Willow laughed as well as she tugged the teenager out the door with her.

As soon as they were gone, Buffy turned back to Spike and pulled him down for a kiss. "Willow has decided me and you need quality couple time. So what do you want to do with it? Lay on the couch and watch some sappy movie? Or what?"

"Sappy movie sounds nice," Spike brushed a hand through her hair. "Remind me t' thank Red later. When they get back, we can continue the alone time by takin' a nice walk in the woods out back, yeah?"

"What about patrolling?" She cocked her head.

"Giles can take the girls out, show them the ropes an' the area." He pulled her back towards the couch, falling back onto it and taking her with him so that she landed on his stomach. "I want t' show my girl some private attention."

"No complaints here," she kissed him again, sliding her hand under his shirt. "I enjoy as much private attention as I can get."

"I thought you wanted t' watch a movie."

"We can make it a dirty movie," she gave a wide grin with her tongue sticking out. She giggled, "I know where your secret stash is. Though, let's forgo the midgets with strap-ons."

He roared in affront and chased after her when she ran for the back door, laughing her ass off at him. He stilled at the door as he did a quick check to make sure the sun had gone down before continuing to pursue his mate. She was already darting through the back gate and trying to fasten it behind her, but saw him coming so she let it go in favour of running again. She scrambled up the hill behind the house, wheezing and laughing the whole way.

"Oh pet, you know I'm goin' t' get you. It's gettin' dark an' I can see much better than you can," Spike paused at the bottom of the hill to call after her. "Do you seriously think you can out run or hide from a vampire, Slayer?"

She stopped at the top and looked back at him with an innocent grin, "You wouldn't hurt your mate... especially when she's pregnant!"

She blew a raspberry at him then started running again. He growled as he easily scaled the hill and continued after her, enjoying the chase as much as she did. And, both knew exactly what he was going to do to her once he caught her. She was right, he wouldn't hurt her. Not in the bad sense.

She gave a sharp yelp as her foot hit a fallen limb that she hadn't seen in the growing darkness, tumbling to the ground when it twisted. Grumbling, she sat up and reached down to prod her ankle with her fingers to make sure it wasn't broken. Spike was soon kneeling beside her, brushing her hands aside so he could check it himself.

"Well that's what you get for runnin' 'bout like a mad woman," he looked up at her as he massaged her leg. "I'll carry you back."

"Hey, you enjoyed the little chase as much as I did," she shot back then scowled slightly, "And slayer healing, sheesh, we can still stay and enjoy the privacy. Not like I planned on actually walking around anyways, unless you had something kinky in mind."

He was glad that her eyes weren't as keen in the darkness as his were so she didn't see him actually blushing at that imagery. Not to mention, he had actually meant for them to have a bit of a romantic walk. Damn it, he must be losing his grip on his inner William if she was the one with the dirty ideas.

"What? No perverted comment? Mark this down on the calendar!" She grinned and rolled onto her knees to crawl towards him. Her hand rested on his chest, "Is the prospect of being a daddy getting to you?"

"Maybe," he grumbled and caught her hand, pulling her closer against him. "Still the Big Bad, though."

"Oh, of course," she didn't sound all that convinced. Her lips ghosted over his jaw, "So is the Big Bad going to take advantage of the poor, hurt Slayer while he has her at his mercy?"

He growled and pushed her down, pinning her body with his while he plundered her mouth. They rolled down the rest of the incline to land in a pile of leaves at the bottom with him straddling her. His hands skimmed over her sides and cupped her breasts through the fabric of her top, thumbs circling the peaks. She arched into his touch, tongue darting out to wet her lips as her eyes locked with his even in the dark. That was all the enticement he needed and he was crushing his mouth to hers, slipping his tongue in to duel with hers.

She went to flip him over onto his back but he just flipped her back, leading to another struggle for dominance as they continued to kiss heatedly. She finally gave up with an impatient grunt and resorted to tearing at his clothes. Those things were coming off no matter if she was on top or bottom! He quickly shed his duster to spare it the same fate that his clothes were receiving. Then he went to tearing at her clothes with the same eagerness.

"Are you sure you're comfortable on the cold ground among the twigs an' bugs, pet?" he asked softly, fingers continuing to caress her ribcage. "My beautiful pregnant mate."

"You're going to be one of those really protective daddies, aren't you?" she chuckled and sat up with him so he could lay his duster underneath her.

"Is that a bad thing?" he teased.

"Not until you drive me to the point of bashing your head in."

"Still not a bad thing as the fightin' is as good as the shaggin'," he smirked with a curl of his tongue, "maybe better."

Her jaw dropped in mock astonishment, "Blasphemy!"

"Well then you better get t' showin' me how much better the shaggin' is!"

She arched a brow then shot up again to clamp her teeth onto the column of his neck over her marks. His back arched with a low howl. Their eyes flashed silver in the night before she released him and flicked her tongue over the spot, sending another bolt of pleasure straight to his groin. He was hard and ready, pressing into her soft belly. His hands cupped her face and brought it to meet his so he could plunder her mouth again as he laid her back down.

He settled between her legs, grunting as his hardness came in contact with her wet sex. It ground against him, wanting it as much as he did as her fingers scrabbled over his shoulders in search of purchase. His own hands skimmed down over her sides to her hips, which he grasped to lift her against him. The tip of his cock began nudging her folds and their mouths still didn't break contact with each other.

"Mmm," she moaned and began sucking on his tongue as he slid into her, her nails digging into him slightly. His hips began rocking against hers and her legs twined around his waist to pull him deeper, her hot sheath feeling as if it would melt him. Her muscles gripped him and rippled along his length, urging him to move faster and harder.

Their mouths finally broke apart and gasped for air greedily. Her head went back and she arched up off the ground as his thrusts became rough. He caught a bouncing peak in his mouth, suckling voraciously. One hand slid around to the small of her back to grasp her even tighter while the other one slipped between them to twist and pull at her clit. Her screams echoed through the forest, surely scaring animals and people alike if they were within earshot.

And then his fangs slid into her breasts and she clawed his back desperately as if possessed by a wild animal. Her lust and orgasm were that of a wild animal as it rushed through her, making her choke on her screams as her back arched even more painfully. He grunted and thrust a couple more times before finding his completion, extracting his fangs delicately from her flesh. He stroked the bite with his tongue, sending new bolts of pleasure through her that made her tense again.

"Well..." she took a breath as she finally began to relax, turning her head to look at him where he now lay beside her, "was that better than fighting now?"

"Hmm," he squinted his eyes in thought for a moment and she punched his shoulder, "Ow! Yes! Yes, it was! I was only teasin', Slayer."

He caught her around the waist and pulled her to him, burying his face in her neck with a low growl. He scraped his teeth over his marks, causing her to squirm and flail with laughter. They stayed out there for awhile longer as the late fall air became much cooler, teasing each other some more until the vampire became concerned with his mate becoming too chilled. She needed to stay healthy for the baby and she was right about him being a protective mate and papa.

Buffy and Spike snuck back in to the house. Spike gave her the only un-ruined piece of clothing, his duster. They hoped no one was about and the coast was clear at least for the short distance to the stairs then up to their room. The house was dark when they poked their heads in the back door guiltily and they felt safe as they started for the stairs.

There was a loud clearing of a throat and Spike was suddenly plastered to Buffy's backside with a squeak. She rolled her eyes then glanced wearily in the direction of the sound, spotting Giles who was looking a little scandalized at the view. He whipped off his glasses and began furiously cleaning them as an excuse not to have to look at his surrogate daughter looking mussed up and the bane of his existence in his birthday suit.

"Uh, Giles..." Buffy began embarrassedly.

"Please, just hurry upstairs so I can start forgetting this horrible nightmare," Giles said as he continued polishing his specs.

Spike saluted and began ushering Buffy up the stairs while still pressing himself into her back to cover his bits and bobs. Giles put his glasses on again with a relieved sigh, only to catch Spike wiggling his naked ass at him wickedly as he disappeared up the stairs. The chuckle the vampire gave clued the Slayer in to what he had done and she thrust her butt out into his sensitive groin, giving Giles his own chuckle when he heard a pained shout after the two were out of view.



tbc...