Spike raised his head as the door to the bar opened. It was only two o'clock. Most of the regulars didn't start showing up until four or five. Not recognizing the man standing framed in the sunlight and not getting any "vibes" from the visitor, he returned his attention to his newspaper.
The dark-haired burly man let out a small grunt as the petite blonde behind him pushed him further into the building. "What are we doing in a place like this?" he demanded in a hoarse whisper.
Buffy rolled her eyes and let the door swing shut behind her. "Keep your mouth shut, Nick. He's got vamp hearing, remember?"
Having heard their whispered conversation, Spike folded his newspaper and set it on the smooth countertop. He stared at the woman for a moment before finally realizing why she looked so familiar. A shoulder-length cap of burgundy and gold streaked hair replaced a fall of honey-blonde tresses. She was thinner but the addition of lean muscle kept her from the anorexic look she'd once sported. Where there had once only been a hint of the extent of her power, she now glowed with an intense aura of strength. "Buffy?"
The girl in question grinned and sauntered over to the bar. "Hello Spike. Long time no see." She leaned against the bar and motioned for her companion to follow.
Spike couldn't help but notice the way her tight black leather pants clung to her slim legs or how the form-fitting red t-shirt accentuated her curves. Her leather duster looked eerily similar to the one hanging in his closet. He frowned upon realizing that his ex-lover's comrade was a vampire. Why hadn't his sense alerted him?
"Neat trick, huh? It's just a little glamour a witch in Minsk came up with. Was tired of Nick setting my spidey sense off all the time. Plus it solves the pesky sun problem," Buff winked, correctly guessing the reason behind the blonde vamp's frown. "Spike, I'd like you to meet Nicholas. Nicky, this is the infamous William the Bloody."
The dark-haired vampire held out a hand and waited for the other man to move. Spike reluctantly shook the vamp's hand. He didn't like the idea of his former lover traveling with anyone other than him. Part of him knew that it was his fault for the harsh way he'd treated her six years earlier, but it still hurt. "What brings you back to Sunnyhell? Last I heard you were cutting a swath through the demon population in Belize." There was no denying the pride he felt. It always thrilled him to hear demons and vamps speak of the Slayer with words of fear and trepidation.
"Too damn humid in Belize," Nick muttered as he flopped down on a barstool. He rested his weary head on his hands.
Buffy smiled grimly and ruffled her friend's dark hair. "Yeah, it was hot, but that's not why we left. Heard a rumor that Vorcus was there but it was just another false lead," she couldn't help the tinge of bitterness in her tone. "I'm tired of running around in circles. Came back here for a little break."
"Glad you're home," Spike said sincerely. There had been doubts that she'd ever return to Sunnydale. He was the only one who held out hope that she would come back as promised, despite his brain telling him that it was best if she never returned.. Even Dawn, growing tired of hearing her sisters 'I think I've got him,' had stopped counting the days until Buffy came home.
Nick glanced back and forth between his friend and the muscular blond man behind the bar. The tension between the two was thick enough to cut with his double-edged sword. "If you don't mind, sweets, I'm going to head back to the hotel. It was nice finally meeting you, Spike. Good to put an face to a name." Nick shoved away from the bar and quickly headed out the door. The slayer's little sister hadn't been too pleased at the thought of having an unfamiliar vampire staying in HER house. He'd graciously offered to stay in the local hotel and was surprised when Buffy asked him to reserve a room for her. Apparently the atmosphere at the Summers house was a little to chilly for her liking.
Buffy waved at her companion's retreating back then perched on the stool he'd vacated. "You're looking good, Spike," her voice was soft and hesitant. She still remembered every detail of their last meeting. Did he still hate her?
"So, you and another vampire, huh? Must be a slayer thing. Where'd you pick this one up? Does he have a soul?" Spike fired off questions faster than she could answer.
She held up one hand and waited for the barrage to cease. Same old Spike. "Heel, boy. I ran into him in Paris. Vorcus had just dusted his mate and Nick was looking for revenge. No, he doesn't have a soul."
"Ah, so you two are... together?" Spike waited anxiously for her answer. Though she hadn't been ready for any relationship when she left, a lot could happen in six years.
"A world of no," Buffy shook her head emphatically, pleased to find that it was easy to talk to her ex-lover face to face. She'd been hesitant to see him again. Despite the casual phone calls they shared, she couldn't help but remember the atrocious way she'd treated him during her brief visits home.
Spike reached into a small fridge and handed the blonde a bottle of water. "Bit, Red, Glinda, Whelp, and the Watcher have missed you."
"Could have fooled me. Giles was too busy at the shop to even talk to me when I called. By the way, when did he move back to Sunnydale? Dawn practically shoved me out of the house and refused to let me invite Nick in. Xander and Anya were nowhere to be found. Willow was at work and Tara was the only one willing to talk to me. I heard that Xander and Anya are expecting another baby." She smiled wistfully. Though her quest for vengeance had been a necessary one, she missed her once tight-knit group of friends.
"Oh yeah. That's all they can bloody talk about these days. You should see Raine. She's absolutely beautiful. She looks just like Anya." He pulled out his wallet and laid a picture on the table.
She picked up the picture and traced a finger across the little girl's pixie face. "I'm tired," she murmured so softly that even with enhanced hearing Spike almost didn't catch her confession.
He quickly stepped around the bar and put an arm around her thin shoulders. He grew even more concerned when she leaned against him. The Buffy he knew never would have accepted comfort from anyone.
"I'm tired of running around looking for something I'm never going to find. I just need to face it: Vorcus is never going to be caught. I don't know how much more of this I can take. The hunting, the killing, the chases. I'm just really, really tired," she closed her eyes and concentrated on the comforting smell of cigarettes and whiskey that was Spike.
He took a moment to delve into her innermost thoughts, courtesy of a seldom-used trick Willow had taught him. He saw years spent tracking demons and beating them for information before killing them. He felt her disappointment at finding that she was always a day too late. Her doubts about the validity of the mission and uncertainties concerning her own humanity made his heart ache. Though not possible, he felt the immortal slayer in his arms grow a little older.
"You're still too skinny," he observed, feeling her ribs peeking through the t-shirt.
Buffy pulled back slightly to stare up into Spike's deep unreadable eyes. "I've really missed you." As she'd discovered during her journey, when she was at her lowest just a few words from Spike could give her the strength to carry on.
Spike released his precious burden and moved to a safe distance away. All it took was one look from the blonde and he was willing to forget his girlfriend. The girlfriend he'd neglected to mention in their brief phone calls. "Bloody hell. I'm seeing someone now, Buffy. She's not," he paused to take an unnecessary breath. "She's not you, but she's special. I'm not sure how long this thing with her will last, but I want to see it out. I can't do that if you're around."
Buffy's heart broke a little, but she forced a tight smile on her face. Did she really expect him to wait six years for her? "This was just a short stop anyway. Nick and I'll be leaving tonight, it's no big."
He shook his head in disagreement. "I'm not going to force you out of town. I just need some space."
She hopped off the stool and pressed a chaste kiss against his cheek. "I understand." She stopped when she got to the door and turned around. "Who's been patrolling?"
"Xander, Giles and I have been taking turns," Spikee responded.
"Xander has the little ones to think about and Giles is getting too old. You need a break. Nicky and I will take over for a while," she insisted. "Be seeing you." With a swish of leather she was out the door.
Buffy leaned back against the wall and lifted the beer bottle to her lips. Despite her aching heart, she smiled at the sight of Spike dancing with his pretty brunette girlfriend Grace. The two seemed to be well matched. She had a peaceful, warm air about her. She brought out a carefree side of Spike that had been missing before.
"Funny how the stalkee has become the stalker," Xander quipped as he joined his old friend. The years had mellowed the animosity between him and the vampire. Spike was one of his few male friends and, though he'd never admit it aloud, he valued the vamp's friendship.
The blonde's smile was somewhat bittersweet. "It's not stalking, it's watching. Totally different vibe."
Xander chuckled and pulled up a chair. "I remember when someone else used to say that." He silently observed the girl's expression as she watched the two dance. "He's happy with her, I mean really happy."
Part of him was embarassed for even bringing it up, but he was concerned for Spike. He and the others had heard snippets of the Buffy/Spike saga and sympathized with the heart-broken vampire.
Buffy tore her eyes away from the dancing couple and frowned at the brunet. "I'm not going to ruin his relationship with Grace. I didn't come back here to pick up where he and I left off. What we had... that wasn't healthy and I know that. I couldn't bear to hurt him like that again," she willed herself to keep from breaking down. It was hard to believe how times had changed. Before she'd left, Spike had been the outsider trying to prove his worth and now she was in his place. Disgusted with herself, she set down the bottle and raced out of the bar.
Her swift feet carried her down the street and to one of the many cemeteries. She was desperate for a fight and she wasn't disappointed. Five vamps and two demons later, she was satisfactorily exhausted. Unfortunately the demons weren't finished with her yet. She shot to her feet upon hearing the unmistakable growl of a large scaly demon.
The battle was short and painful. The demon had her against the ground, one claw pressed against her throat. She took a deep breath and shoved her silver-tipped dagger into the demon's throat. The demon began steaming and finally exploded into a hundred small pieces.
Buffy stood and looked down at her ruined clothes. She reached into the pile of goop and pulled out the dagger - the last gift Spike had ever given her. "How fitting," she muttered.
When she started walking in the direction of her house, she was surprised to see Grace standing in a small clearing. The raven-haired woman uttered a few words in Latin and Buffy's clothes and dagger were instantly cleaned.
"You're a witch," Buffy commented, not really surprised. There was no way an ordinary human would have found life with Spike acceptable.
Grace shrugged her shoulders. "Just learning, actually. Mostly small spells and potions. You must be Buffy."
Buffy smiled weakly, not sure how to proceed. What had the others told the witch about her relationship with Spike? "Yeah, I guess I am. Look, Grace, I don't know what anyone's told you about me or what happened before I left, but I want you to know that I don't want to come between you and Spike. I lo... care for him, I'll always care for him, but he and I aren't good for each other. He's happy with you and that's all I want for him. And... I've got to go." Following her instincts, she dashed out of the cemetery.
Confused by the other woman's hasty retreat, Grace turned to where Spike was standing in the shadows. "Was it something I said?"
Spike shook his head and pulled Grace closer. "No, Slayer's just the queen of exits, that's all."
Grace slipped her small cool hand into his much larger one. "She seemed nice."
Spike snorted and started the journey back to the bar. "Nice isn't a word I'd associate with Buffy."
"She hurt you, didn't she?" Grace inquired knowingly. Her boyfriend had been tight-lipped on the subject of the blonde. Xander and Willow had only given minor details about the girl - she was a slayer, the LAST slayer. She'd left on some major journey shortly after a master vampire had killed another slayer.
Spike blew out a deep unnecessary breath and kissed his girl on the temple. "She and I had a very... different relationship. Her mates had just ripped her out of heaven and I was so in love with her that I didn't care if she was only using me. Doesn't matter now, pet. We're different people."
Grace glanced back to where Buffy had last stood. She had a feeling that there was more to the story than what she was being told. From the beginning of their relationship it had been obvious that Spike's heart was not available. Grace was okay with that, to be honest her affections were directed towards another. It was nice to finally meet the woman who could tame William the Bloody.