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***Chapter 22***Darkness Falls***

Spike awoke with a start, sitting up in bed, frantically searching the unfamiliar surroundings for the source of the noise. The doorbell rang again and he fell back on the cot with a sigh. Reluctantly he pulled himself from the bed, running his fingers through his sleep tousled hair. He grabbed the bag he had retrieved from his crypt and pulled out his comb and gel, making quick work of his hair.

He walked into the front hall and couldn’t help but laugh as Joyce was all but hidden behind a large bouquet of flowers. He saw her reach blindly for the table beside the door, missing the object by quite a few feet. Spike plucked the vase from her hands and deposited his fragrant load onto the table.

“Thank you dear.” Joyce smiled at Spike. Spike in turn ducked his head and smiled back shyly. “Spike we need to talk.” Joyce motioned for him to take a seat in the living room.

“Your new beau send you those flowers, Joyce?” Spike asked nervously, cursing his cowardliness.

‘’M suppose to be the Big Bad and I can’t even talk with the Slayer’s mum.’ Spike chided himself.

“Yes, Brian sent then, aren’t they beautiful.” Spike nodded and smiled with relief at his respite. The relief was short lived.

“We need to talk about you and my daughter.” Joyce said grimly causing Spike to shift uncomfortably in his seat. “How old are you?” Spike looked up in shock. Startled at the unexpected question.

“’M not as old a s the poof.” Spike croaked out, his throat constricting with pain. Joyce stared for a moment in confusion before the reference dawned on her. She couldn’t help but smile. “I was in my mid twenties when I was turned. Dru sired me in 1880.” Spike said quietly, his throat sore from disuse and his injury. Joyce shook her head incredulously.

“You were a vampire for over a hundred years before Buffy was even born.” Joyce stared at the vampire. “I'm worried about you two. I don't have to tell you that you and Buffy are from different worlds.” Spike sighed and shook his head.

“Our worlds aren’t so different. Not anymore at least.” Joyce gave Spike an imploring look, waiting for him to continue. “We both slay and look after both you and the Nibblet.”

“There is more to her life than slaying and her family. She has school, and friends an-”

“She has friends who help with the whole slaying deal. Witches, ex-demon, watcher, and the whelp. What does he do anyway.” Joyce couldn’t help but laugh. “School is yes, something she has that is different but-” Spike gave Joyce a helpless look.

“I know you care for her.” It was Spike’s turn to stare at Joyce in shock. “It obvious you care for her. You are different then other vampires. But you are still a vampire and Buffy’s had to deal with a lot already. Grew up fast. Sometimes even I forget that she's still just a girl.”

“What happens if the chip stops working. That is what you really want to know.” Spike said quietly, looking at Joyce intently.

“Well, yes. I’m concerned for my daughter. You are a vampire Spike. You tried to kill her before.” Spike smiled and rubbed his head ruefully.

“You’re kinda mean with an axe, Joyce. I’d be more worried about what you would do.” Joyce couldn’t help but smile.

“What happened with Drucilla. We talked about this before, but. . .” Joyce let her voice trail off as Spike sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

“Bloody hell, Dru.” Spike rose to his feet and started passing. “She left me. Said the Slayer was all around me. In my bloody head she was. She said I tasted like ashes. Didn’t bloody want me.” Spike ranted, the old feelings rising to the surface. Joyce watched as emotions warred for dominance on the enraged vampire’s face. “She even came back a couple of days ago.” Joyce sat back with an alarmed look. Spike noticed Joyce recoil and tried to smile reassuringly. “I told her she had bloody well leave and never come back. She new about the chip. She wanted to help get it out and go after-” Spike’s voice choked in his throat at the thought. He went back to his place at Joyce’s side and gave her a helpless look.

“What the bloody hell is wrong with me?” Spike croaked, his voice growing hoarse with the strain of talking. “I turned my back on my sire, the love of my bleeding’ life. You have the slightest idea what she meant to me? She was the face of my salvation!” A small smile crossed Spike’s face at the memory. “She delivered me from mediocrity. For over a century we ... cut a swath through continents. A hundred years, she never stopped surprising me.” Joyce looked at Spike in a mixture of horror and tenderness, her heart going out to the blonde vampire.

“Never stopped taking me to new depths. I was a lucky bloke. Just to touch such a black beauty.” Spike shook his head to clear it of the images. “Then she had to go and ruin it all.”

“By leaving you.” Joyce said, nodding in understanding.

“Not Dru, Buffy. She cluttered up my brain, filling my head with thoughts and ideas.” Spike said, his face a mask of pain. Joyce stared at the silent vampire, her eyes lighting with comprehension.

“You fell in love with her.” Spike stared at his clasped hands, unable to look at his love’s mother.

“It doesn’t matter now anyway. I buggered it up good, I did.” Spike said quietly, his voice filled with pain.

“What did you do?” Joyce asked, a hint of apprehension in her voice. Spike looked up in surprise.

“I didn’t hurt her or nothing, couldn’t even if I didn’t have this bloody chip.” Joyce sighed in relief. “I thought things were going good, after last nig-” Spike broke off and gave Joyce a sheepish look. “Which I’m sorry about by the way.” Joyce smiled reassuredly and waited for him to continue. “She says she wants time and I got impatient and pushed and she left.”

“Give her time. She has wanted a normal life for so long, but it doesn’t make her happy.” Joyce smiled at Spike. “And as much as I hate the idea of my daughter getting involved with another vampire, there is no one else I would have wanted for her.” Spike stared at Joyce with a mixture of shock and pleasure. “We both know she isn’t a normal girl, no matter how hard she tries. Her life won’t be a long o-” Joyce broke off, her voice laced with pain, her eyes filling with pain. Spike put his hands over hers, squeezing reassuredly.

“She will if I have anything to bloody well say about it.” Joyce smiled and squeezed back, before patting his hands and raising to her feet.

“Well that’s enough serious talk for one afternoon. The girls will be home soon and you know how hungry growing girls can be.” Spike laughed and rose to his feet as well.

“Worse then bloody fledglings they are.” Joyce laughed and took a step forward.

Her hand raised to her forehead, her eyes closing as a bout of dizziness came over her. She let out a small moan and wobbled unsteadily on her feet.

“Joyce, what’s wrong.” Spike demanded, a worried expression on his face.

“Just a little light headed is all.” Spike took her arm and guided her back down to the couch. She smiled softly at the vampire before her eyes rolled back into her head and she slumped back on the couch. The last sound she heard before the darkness overwhelmed her was the sound of Spike’s voice calling her name.


***Sorry it took so long. Couldn’t get the Big Bad to be vulnerable yet still himself.***Reviews make me happy. A happy me writes faster ~~hint hint~~***





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