Both Slayer and master vampire looked at each other. Gesturing for Buffy to proceed, Spike leaned back into the couch, eager to hear how much she would tell, and how she would tell it. The Slayer wasn’t usually the one to hold podium during these pow-wows--it was usually left up to either Red or the watcher.

“Ok, Hilary. You’ve been through a lot of crap and you deserve the truth, there‘s no denying that. However, you’re only partially right about your rescue. Spike and I were at the Nex to get some answers about the baby, but we didn’t know you or the Pelorak would be there. That was a coincidence--a very favourable one.” She fidgeted in her seat and leaned against the arm, trying to look comfortable. “Spike and I are on... a mission, I guess you’d call it. We’ve been sent to find the baby before anything bad happens to her. This Blakeford guy--he’s mega bad news. He wants to use the baby to open portals from other worlds into our own.”

When Hilary raised a brow, but didn’t say anything, the Slayer continued. “This baby, it has powers. You’ve got to trust me on this, Hilary--you’ve seen a lot of weird shit these past weeks, so I know you can believe me. If Blakeford kills the baby, all the portals open, and earth as you know it goes *poof!*” She gave Spike a dirty look when he began to hum “End of the World” by REM. Properly chastised, the vampire quit humming and pouted. This temporarily distracted Buffy, who was in a mind to reach over and take that lower lip into her mouth and...

The brunette leaned back into her chair and tapped her fingers on its arms. Stupid REM--that song’ll be in my head for ages. “Ok, I buy it. Baby dies, portals open and world goes bye-bye. My mind can grasp that. What I still want to know is what you and Spike are--well, I know what he is--and what you’re doing together.”

Oh great--she’s got Willow’s resolve face. I can’t fight that--maybe Spike can. Buffy looked over to the vampire on her left, and saw that he also seemed to be crumbling under the brunette’s gaze. Once again, it seemed to be up to her to do the talking. Since when did the chatty vampire keep to himself?

“I’m human, if that’s what you’ve been wondering. I just happen to have been... mojo’d, as Spike would put it, by the Powers That Be, whoever they are. I am the Vampire Slayer--’in every generation, there is a chosen one blah blah blah’. I’ve been given greater powers to help fight vampires and demons. I’m faster, stronger, more agile than a regular human. My senses are sharper--although not nearly as sharp as blondie’s, here.” She nodded in Spike’s direction. If he was just going to sit there like a lump and not say a word, she might as well get her jabs in. “My job is to pretty much help avert apocalypses, like the one we’re trying to avoid right now. Between apocalypses, I kill demons.”

She pursed her lips, trying to see if there was anything she’d missed, if Hilary would request any additional information. When none came to mind, she shrugged. “Well, that’s me. As for Spike, here, I can’t speak for him. I don’t know why he hasn’t killed me, I don’t know why he’s got such good control over his demon. If he wants you to know, he’ll have to tell you himself.”

Now it was her turn to sit back and watch the proceedings. Spike hadn’t moved, but she could see the wheels turning in his head: ‘do I speak, or do I keep mum?’

“Don’t rightly know why I act as I do.” The vampire seemed to be addressing himself as much as he was the two girls. “I’ve never been like the others--Angelus, or Darla, or even Dru.” At Hilary’s questioning stare, he explained who these others were. “Drusilla was my sire, and my love for over a century. She made me what I am. Much as I loved her, though, she was mad as a hatter--she had some sixth sense, some second sight or whatever you want to call it. She’d have these visions, and say that the stars, or Miss Edith--one of her dolls--was talkin’ to her. Angelus was her sire, but he’s the one who pretty much taught me how to be a vampire. And Darla was Angelus’ sire. Well... where the hell was I goin’ with this?” He frowned, and bit his lower lip.

“Oh, yeah--I wasn’t like them, like the others. I still took part in human indulgences, like booze and food--especially spicy food, that’s the best, you know--and I still read books and anything I could get my hands on. I figure I must’ve got some of Dru’s barminess. Don’t know how else to explain it. This difference never stopped me from being one of the most feared vampires in Europe, though--quickly lost count of how many people I killed. Women, children, old people... Didn’t matter to my demon, didn’t even matter to... well, whatever was left of the original me, if anything.

“I know I’m off topic, but I’m trying to organize my thoughts as I’m talkin’ here. Not like I sit around thinkin’ about this every day. Thing I’m trying to say is that I never 100% acted like a normal vampire. Maybe my demon’s calming down, maybe whatever was left of William is getting stronger, I don’t know. Heck, maybe I’m turning into Dru--I’ll be talkin’ to the stars, next.” He chuckled quietly at the thought.

“Then I went to Sunnydale--I came there to kill the Slayer. Well, you can see how well that worked out. After that, no matter how many times I left, I couldn’t stay away from Sunnydale--that’s where Buffy lives, on the Hellmouth, where all the demons flock to--and I just can’t stay away from the Slayer or her stupid Scoobies. It’s like a mental illness or somethin’. I just can‘t help myself, and it makes my demon sick. And now here I am, trying to save the world--a second time, at that. Might as well just go out and get myself a soul and a year‘s worth of nancy boy hair gel.”

Both girls were quiet when he finished speaking. Buffy was surprised at the emotion behind his thoughts. She should have realized that this helping her, helping the Council, would go against his very nature. Of course he was confused. She wanted to lean over and give him a hug, to reassure him that everything was all right, but Hilary beat her to it.

Well, not with the hug.

“I don’t think you’re crazy, Spike. I just think that when you were turned into a vampire, that a lot of whomever you were stayed with you. You must have been a good man, and now that you have the opportunity of showing that side of yourself, it’s natural for you to make the right choices. When you were surrounded by demons, your demon was in charge--that’s why you killed without remorse. But now that you’re with people--white hats, at that--that other side of you is taking more control.” She blushed at the silence with which she was met, and began to pluck at some imaginary lint on the chair‘s arms. “Well, that’s what I think, anyway.”

Buffy cleared her throat. “Well, I don’t know what you say, Spike, but I don’t think that Giles could have put it any better.” She smiled at Hilary. “Giles is my watcher--the one who trains me--and he’s like, super smart. You just sounded like him just now. Uh--that‘s a compliment, by the way.” She turned to look at Spike, who had remained quiet and still. Staring unblinkingly at the vampire, but still addressing the brunette, she reached out and put her hand over his. “I think there’s a lot of truth in what you said, whether or not Spike wants to admit it. There’s a good man inside of him, and I know that I’ve seen more of him on this trip than I ever could have imagined. And I like what I’ve seen.” Her thumb drew circles on the back of the vampire’s hand, and she leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.

Spike surprised her by turning his head and letting her kiss fall on his lips. It was a soft embrace that spoke volumes of the affection between the two blondes, and Hilary found herself more than a little envious at the feelings they had for each other. As the kiss deepened, Hilary became more and more interested in a piece of imaginary lint on the chair.

Spike brought his hand up to Buffy’s cheek, cupping it softly as their lips brushed together. Pulling back, and remembering that they weren’t alone in the room, he levelled a naked gaze with her hazel eyes. “Thanks, love.” One last lingering kiss, and he turned to Hilary. “And thank you, Hilary. As much as it makes me feel like a wanker, what you said makes a lot of sense to me. And before this whole scene becomes too emotional,” he got up off the couch and headed towards the door, “I’m going to go have a smoke. Clear my head.”

***

When Spike returned from outside, where he’d forced himself to clear his thoughts of everything but the nicotine hit his body was getting, he walked into the apartment to find both girls sitting on the couch watching TV and giggling. He grabbed the wingback chair in which Hilary had been sitting and set it beside the couch, curious as to what had the girls in a fit.

His jaw dropped when he stared at the television, and saw that the two girls were in stitches over Monty Python. Castle Anthrax, to be exact. He’d watched all the movies dozens of times, but had never found one woman who found their comedy remotely funny.

When Sir Lancelot had ‘saved’ Sir Galahad from the scores of young maidens, Buffy turned to Spike. She smiled at him, laughter in her eyes. He decided, at that moment, that he would work hard at making her this happy every day. The Slayer’s life was so serious, so full of responsibility, that she didn’t often get the chance to act like a normal young woman. It was refreshing to see her carefree and enjoying herself.

Hilary turned the TV off at the movie’s end credits. Leaning back against the couch’s arm, she looked at the two others. “I guess it’s my turn now, isn’t it?” As this was a rhetorical question, neither blonde saw a need to answer.

Spike turned his chair in order to have a better view of the brunette as she told her story. He propped his boots up onto the couch’s arm, next to Buffy, only to have them swatted down.

“Don’t put your boots on the furniture! What, do you live in a crypt or something? Oh, wait, you do...” Buffy gave him a dirty look, and didn’t relent until the vampire grumbled and removed his boots. She moved over a bit to accommodate his now bootless feet, and draped her arm across them in a way that spoke of a comfort shared by old friends.

Noticing this domestic familiarity between the two blondes, Hilary bit back a grin. Turning her attention to Spike, she began. “I don’t know how much Buffy has told you, but I’ll start at the beginning. Well, the beginning of what you need to hear. I was hired as a nanny for Daniel and Susan Rodger, who were expecting their second child in the upcoming week. I was to start the day that Susan came back from the hospital with the baby. That was on...” The brunette closed her eyes and began to count on her fingertips. “...April 28th, I believe. We’re June 10th, right?”

“Uh, I think so. Yeah, June 10th--that sounds right.” Buffy looked at the vampire for confirmation, but was met with a shrug.

“Don’t look at me, Slayer. I haven’t followed a calendar for over a century. Not about to start now.”

Accepting that it was June 10th, Hilary resumed her tale. “Ok then, April 28th it was. I moved into their house in South Kensington--nice big house, by the way. I had a spacious room with an ensuite bathroom. Anyway, my job was pretty much to look after their eldest child, Celia, who was three, and to care for the baby when Susan was too tired. She wasn’t breastfeeding, so that left me free to feed her on my own. We went through this routine for a few days. She was such a good baby...” She paused, and sniffled. “Sorry, but this is really hard for me.”

Buffy leaned over and placed her hand on the other girl’s leg, patting it reassuringly. “Hey, that’s ok. Just go at whatever speed you want.”

Hilary wiped her eyes with her shirtsleeve and smiled weakly. “Thanks.” She took a deep breath, trying to calm her frayed nerves. “Anyway, on the third or fourth day after the baby was home, there was a knock on the door. It was late at night--I remember wondering who it could be at such an odd hour. I was standing at the top of the stairs when Andrew--he was the butler--answered the door. Before I knew what was happening, Andrew was on the ground, bleeding. They’d... they’d hit him with an axe. He was still alive, because he looked up at me.” She whimpered. “He looked so surprised, and he had blood coming out of... out of his mouth, and his nose...” The young woman paused again, fully willing to take advantage of the two blondes’ patience towards her storytelling.

For the first time in his unlife, Spike felt a twinge of guilt for all the death he’d caused. Seeing this girl, how strong she was trying to be and how much the sight of this man’s death--a man whom she’d only known for a few days--affected her, he couldn’t help but think of all the secondary casualties of his rampages: witnesses, mothers and fathers who either grieved or waited for the return of their children, orphans... And all because of him. A part of him reeled at this new sensation, this guilt--he was a soulless being, animated by a demon. Why should he feel guilt over something that was so natural? Survival of the fittest, he’d always said.

But part of him felt a slight consolation at this remorse. It was as if he was finally regaining a little part of his humanity. Maybe he’d be good enough for Buffy after all... The sound of Hilary’s voice brought his attention back to her.

“I ran up the stairs, screaming, trying to warn the others to get out, to get the baby out. Dan and Susan walked out of their bedroom, still half asleep, and I tried--I tried so hard to get them to leave, but they wouldn’t.” She laughed bitterly. “I mean, how quickly would you turn and run just because some hysterical girl whom you’d just met told you to? Needless to say, Dan demanded to know what was going on. Something compelled him to look down and he saw Andrew’s body--I think he was dead by then--and he looked at me. The colour had drained from his face and his mouth was open, like he was trying to say something but couldn’t quite settle on what to say. That’s when the Pelorak came in. Of course, at that point, I didn’t know what they were. Maybe thieves in weird Hallow’s Eve costumes, I really couldn’t tell.”

She stopped again, concentrating on the paisleys adorning the flannel pants Buffy had given her. When she resumed, she kept her gaze locked with her pants. She knew that if she looked up, at this point in her story, she wouldn’t be in a state to continue. “It’s like they knew the layout of the house. They didn’t bother searching the main floor of the house. They all headed up the stairs. One grabbed me and hoisted me over its shoulder,” she shuddered at the memory of her first contact with her abductors, “and locked me in my room. I... I didn’t see anything that happened after that. All I could hear was the screaming. I hid under my bed praying, hoping that they’d leave me alone, that they’d forget about me. The screaming seemed to last forever, but I’m sure it was over in less than five minutes. They had a plan and it was executed flawlessly.” She looked up to see tears streaming down Buffy’s face, and even Spike looked guilty. In a weak, raspy voice, she asked for a glass of water.

Buffy made a move to get up, but a hand on her shoulder kept her in her seat. “I’ll go, luv. You stay here.” Spike let his hand linger a little, brushing a strand of golden hair off her shoulder. He came back with two glasses, one for each girl. When he handed Buffy hers, he offered her a tight smile. “Looked like you needed one too.”

Surprised at the vampire’s insight and at his thoughtfulness, Buffy could only stammer a “Thanks.”

After Spike had settled back in his seat, and both Buffy and Hilary had had a few sips of water, the brunette resumed her tale. “I knew the baby was still alive because I could hear her crying. The door to my room opened and a man came in. He was holding her, so I rushed out from under the bed--I thought he’d come to save us. I mean, he was human... I ran to him and he took a step back, holding the crying baby like she had the plague. He leaned back out of the room and yelled ‘You missed one! What am I paying you for?!’ That’s when I knew that it was all over. The man left the room and one of the Pelorak--the one you played poker against--picked me up and told me to keep my mouth shut. ‘Do as I say and you’ll live’ was what he said. As I was carried out of the room, it was all I could do to stop from screaming. There was blood everywhere. I could see Dan and Susan’s bodies, and even little Celia--she was so young, it was so unfair...” Hilary took another sip of her water and waited until she was composed before continuing.

Although it was very difficult for her to relive these memories, she found it to be therapeutic. After all, Buffy and Spike believed her--they were part of this strange world which she’d been part of for these past weeks. How difficult would it be to visit a therapist and try to make him believe that she had been kidnapped by purple demons, kept as a slave, and released into freedom by a vampire who won her at poker? Yeah, like she wouldn’t be committed for that one...

“But I kept quiet. I guess that my self-preservation was stronger than my horror at what I was seeing. We followed the human out and hopped into a black van. Well, the Pelorak hopped in--I was tossed in. I pretended that I’d fainted--I just wanted them to leave me alone, which they did. They were talking among themselves--that’s when I figured out that the man and baby were not in the same vehicle as us. Instead of listening to their babbling about money and what they’d do with it, I concentrated on trying to make out sounds--try to figure out where they’d brought me. I heard boat horns, and lots of machinery. I can only guess that we were near some docks. We stopped shortly after and they blindfolded me before dragging me back out of the vehicle. The smell was horrible, like a mixture of dead fish and petrol.”

It was easier to tell her story now that she was past the worst of it--compared to the others’ deaths, her stint as a slave didn’t seem as traumatic. “They brought me into a warehouse of some sort and took my blindfold off. I guess they were tired of dragging me around. The man was already there, but the baby wasn’t with him. I could hear her crying--I wanted so badly to go to her, I knew I could comfort her. I don’t know where they had her, though--I haven’t seen her since we were taken from the house. I was told to sit on the floor--something about being ground meat if I moved. The Pelorak who’d taken me, and the man huddled but because of the building’s acoustics--I heard most of what they said. I think maybe it’s because I was leaning against the wall or something.” She scrunched her face, distracted by this little detail, then hunched her shoulders.

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter now, I suppose. Nothing of what they said made sense to me at the time, so I can’t remember it very well, but the man said something about a witch and a ceremony. He didn’t mention a place--that much I know for sure--so I don’t know if it will be in that same building or not.” She looked at them, sheepishly. “Sorry about that. They did, however, mention that the baby had to be 2 months old before they do perform the ceremony. That would give you until June 20th, since the baby was born on the 25th of April.”

She trailed off and finished the last of her water. “And that’s all I know. I’m not going to tell you about what happened when I was with the Pelorak. It’s too personal...”

The young woman shuddered almost imperceptibly, and Buffy couldn’t help but wonder what she’d been through in those five weeks. While she was sure that Spike had a good idea, she wouldn’t ask him--it seemed like an invasion of Hilary’s privacy. Resigned to stay in the dark on this topic, the Slayer got up and stretched. It had been a long, long time since she’d stayed still for so long. “So, Hilary--where is it that you lived... live, anyway?”

The brunette smiled, happy thoughts pushing the horrible ones out. “Actually, not too far from here--my parents own a small house about 15 minutes from here.” She sighed and turned towards the window. She parted the curtain and peered out into the night. So close, yet it seems so far... It seemed like years since she’d seen her family.

Buffy shared a conspiratorial glance with Spike--it was as if he’d read her mind. He smirked and nodded, then got up off the chair.

“Well, what would you think about going back home? Tonight? Unless you’d rather wait--I’m not sure you’re really ready...” She wasn’t able to finish her teasing, as a screeching Hilary threw her arms around the Slayer’s neck.

Crying once again--tears of joys, however, this time, Hilary was overjoyed. “Home? Home! I’d love to go now, if it’s ok, if you don’t mind...”

Putting his boots on, Spike answered her. “Nonsense, pet. It’s not like we’re going to keep you here with us forever. Anyhow, I’m sure you’d prefer to be with your family than the likes of us.” He winced when Buffy’s hand flew out and smacked him hard on the chest.

“Speak for yourself, fangboy. I’m a charm to be around.” She threw him a 100-Watt smile and laughed.

Shaking his head, the bleached vamp rooted through the closet for his coat. After all Hilary had been through, driving her home was the least they could do, to make sure she got home safe--well, aside from saving her. It certainly didn’t make up for all the pain he’d caused in the past century, but a drop in the bucket was still a drop in the bucket--get enough of them in there, and eventually the bucket begins to fill up.

***

The drive to Hilary’s was spent in near-silence, the only sound being the brunette’s directions to her home. All three were lost in thought, thinking about loved ones, lost ones, and the hands that fate had dealt to each of them.

When they pulled up to a small brick bungalow, Hilary’s voice could hardly be heard. “Here,” she pointed out, almost in disbelief that she was finally home. All three got out of the car and stood at its front, illuminated by the car’s beams.

Hilary was the first to speak, feeling the necessity to thank the two blondes who plucked her from a potential life of hell on earth. “I’d say thank you, but I don’t think that quite covers it, you know. You’ve given me my freedom, my life back. You’ve shown me that there still is good in the world, even if it comes in the oddest of packages.” At this, she looked at an uncomfortable Spike.

“Heck, I’ll say it anyway.” She threw her arms around Buffy and gave her a bear hug. “Thank you, Buffy, for everything. For risking talking to me at that club, for helping me get out of there, for the bath and for the clothes...” She sniffed back tears and released her hold on the Slayer.

Hilary moved to face Spike, who had a deer-in-the-headlights look on his face. She hesitated for a moment but decided that the bleached vamp deserved a hug as well. She slowly approached him and put her arms around his neck. To her surprise, the vampire returned her embrace--albeit awkwardly. Placing a quick kiss on his cheek, she took a step back. “And thank you, Spike. Thanks for risking your life to get me out and thank for proving that goodness lurks in the strangest of places.”

The vampire’s face furrowed as if he was trying to remember something important. “Oh, yeah--hold on a sec, ducks.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Taking out a wad of bills, he handed them to the young woman. “This is money that I won off the Pelorak--I reckon you’ve a right to it, seeing what you went through. Go buy yourself... well, just spend it on whatever you like.” When the girl had taken the money and thanked him, he put the wallet back in his pocket.

Hilary looked at them one last time and turned, walking up the path that led to the front door. She stopped when Buffy called out to her. Turning to face the blonde, she waited to see what was the matter.

How could she have forgotten this most important of details? “What’s the baby’s name?”

The brunette smiled and, looking at the horizon which was beginning to lighten, replied “Dawn.”

The two blondes watched her knock at the door and be greeted by her father. There was much commotion, many hugs and even more tears of joy. Feeling like they were invading the family’s privacy, they returned to the car.

The evening’s stress finally reached Buffy, who broke down in tears. Spike pulled her into his arms, all awkwardness at holding his Slayer having dissipated. It seemed so natural, comforting her in his arms. He pulled her in closer, wrapping his arms around her shaking frame. After a few minutes, and when the Slayer’s tears slowed, the vampire placed a kiss at the top of her head and took a step back.

“We’d better be off, pet. The sun’s about to come up and I don’t feel like having to make a dash from the car to the hotel.” He held the door open for her, like a perfect gentleman.

Neither saw the curtain in the bungalow’s front window part, as a tearful pair of brown eyes watched her saviours drive away, smiling at the luck she‘d had by meeting them.

Author's Note:Two things for you: first off, I chose the name Andrew for the butler before 'Andrew of the Troika' was really well known to me--so he's not based on him. Second--the next chapter is one that you guys have been waiting for *evil grin*. So sharpen your reviewing talents--it's the same deal as before. For every 5 reviews I get, I'll post a day in advance. Believe me, it'll be worth it :-) And a great big thanks to all who faithfully let me know what they think of this story.