Chapter 4

Buffy moaned as she rolled over, pulling her covers tight and cocooned herself further into her pillow, ignoring her body’s internal clock shouting for her to wake up. Right now she was too comfortable to get up and deal with anything. As far as she was concerned, the world and everything else be damned until she was ready to get out of her warm bed.

Her body felt relaxed after a peaceful night’s rest, thanks to the effects of her drinking binge and her subsequent passing out. It seemed to at least temporarily rid her of the vicious nightmares that frequented her nights. No dreams of waking up in a coffin and having to dig her way out, or the confusion of walking the hell like streets of Sunnydale with blurred vision and less than stellar hearing. Instead, a peaceful deep sleep pulled her under, protecting her from the unwelcomed memories that seemed to constantly seep through.

‘Maybe my dance with Jack last night was worth the bad case of cookie tossing,’ she thought as she struggled to fall back to sleep. Sure it wasn’t exactly a prime idea, getting good and drunk then finally puking her guts out, but at least the end result gave her what she needed so desperately. Plus the added bonus of actually letting loose and forgetting about the misery that was her life. It really wasn’t a bad night after all.

The front door slammed, multiple muffled voices urged Buffy from her restful state as she slowly sat up, stretching while trying to listen in to what was happening downstairs. Too many voices were speaking at once, but she could hear Xander’s over everyone else’s, only catching a few words here and there, none of it making sense. She looked over at her alarm clock, noticing it was much later than she had expected, nearly 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

She groaned as she got out of the bed, dragging her feet as she rubbed her forehead trying to lift the fogginess that seemed to be reluctant to loosen its hold. At least her head didn’t hurt, and her stomach seemed to be okay with the exception of being hungry. Now she needed to get dressed so she could see what was going on and grab a bite to eat.

After dressing in black shorts and a crochet white top, she put her hair in a loose ponytail and sprayed some light perfume on her neck and wrists then left her room. She was about to step onto the stairs but paused once she heard what they were discussing.

“You said that he brought her home, and she appeared to be passed out drunk? That doesn’t make sense. Buffy, doesn’t drink,” Willow said.

“No, she doesn’t. She gave it up pretty quickly after that bad beer incident at the pub,” Xander said.

“Be as it may, I did smell alcohol on her. Whether she was drinking it or it was spilled on her, I can’t say. But that isn’t the point right now, her passing out and leaving herself vulnerable with Spike is.”

Buffy gasped, lifting her hand to her mouth to keep from making any noise as she continued to listen to their opinions about her behavior and what they thought they should do. Willow seemed more than ready to do some kind of a spell to find out what had happened, Tara being the only one that wanted to wait until Buffy was able to give her side of the story before handing down judgment.

Where did they get off judging her? Sure they had been doing it since she had known them, but still you would think that after everything she had been through, they would cut her some slack. After all, they thought she had spent the summer in Hell. And if that were true, how did they expect her to deal? Apparently with a smile and a sunny disposition while repeatedly thanking them for saving her. Blurting out exactly what they had done was looking better and better. Maybe she should yell at them and let them know that they weren’t so damn perfect, and to stay the hell out of her personal life. God knows they didn’t exactly have a perfect track record with theirs.

Xander and Giles voices rose as she got her emotions under control and sat down on the stairs, still staying hidden and listened.

“I can’t believe she would be stupid enough to get herself drunk with Spike. Are you sure he didn’t do anything to her?” Xander asked.

“I’m not sure. I didn’t see any marks on her or her clothes… well I didn’t see anything that could be used as proof that he had done something, that is.”

“Guys, why don’t we wait for Buffy to wake up and for her to ex..explain what happened instead of jumping to conclusions,” Tara said.

Xander ignored Tara, responding to Giles instead. “That doesn’t mean anything, Giles. Spike could have dressed her up real nice before he brought her home. Wait, you don’t think that he drugged her?”

“I’m not sure.”

Bile rose in her stomach, heat flooding her cheeks as Xander and Giles discussed their theories of what had occurred between her and Spike the night before. The anger and resentment she pushed to the back of her mind reared its ugly head, and exploded at the notion that they could even think such a thing about her or Spike. They didn’t even consider the fact that he could be helping her, just like he helped them all summer. No, at the first opportunity they were ready to think the absolute worst of him. Irritated as fuck, she stood, not willing to stand by and listen to this insane discussion anymore.

Rushing down the stairs two at a time with her slayer speed, she entered into the living room lightning quick and found the entire gang there, with the exception of Dawn. Willow and Tara were sitting side by side on the couch in quiet conversation, as Anya sat in the armchair staring at Xander as he spoke to Giles by the fireplace.

“I think we have every right to be worried, Giles. Spike’s done something.”

“I…”

“What the fuck do you think Spike has done, Xander?” Buffy stared at her shocked friend with her jaw clenched and her eyebrow raised in perfect imitation of the man in question.

Xander stuttered, unable to respond, until Giles helped the clearly flustered Scoobie out.

“Buffy, you’re up. How are you feeling? We were all concerned about you,” Giles said, clearly trying to defuse the situation.

“Yeah, I’m sure,” she huffed, her hands on her hips.

Giles frowned. “You have to understand, Buffy..”

“No, you don’t understand! You have no idea what happened last night.” They all looked taken aback, clearly surprised that she had overheard their conversation. “No, instead you’re doing what you all do best. Jumping to conclusions and judging me when I do something you don’t like.”

“That’s not true, Buffy,” Giles said.

“It’s not, huh? Well why is everyone at my house right now when I’m sure they have better things to do? God, I can’t believe this shit.”

“Buffy just calm down, we only want to help,” Xander said with sad eyes. “Giles told us about last night and we are worried about what might have happened.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, not at all surprised. It seemed funny to her how they could say they were concerned about her, but never taking the time to try and support her. No, what they wanted was the Slayer back and for Buffy the girl to get on with her life, living as she always had. That’s what they really brought her back for, right? To keep her fighting while under their control by making her feel guilty about anything they didn’t see as appropriate. Well, too bad for them.

“Then talk to me about it. Don’t stage an intervention and gang up on me. Besides it really isn’t any of your business what I was up to last night.”

“It is our business. You’re our friend and we’re trying to protect you.. especially from the living dead,” Xander said mumbling the last part.

“Xander’s right, Buffy. We..,” Willow said.

“I don’t need anyone to protect me. Do you even hear yourselves?”

“I think you might after seeing how you behaved with Spike last night. Do you even remember what occurred?” Giles said.

Buffy laughed, almost sounding hysterical. Seeing as Spike had helped her figure out who had been behind the attacks and had actually helped her get a good night’s sleep, she would say he won a metal for most improved player, and the Scoobies had been downgraded to the warm up team. Well, if this had been a sporting event.

“Yes, I know exactly what happened last night, not that it’s any of your business.” She paused for a minute her voice shaking with rage. “I hung out with Spike and had a few drinks then he brought me home after I got sick. No big deal.”

“Giles said you were passed out, Buffy. How do you know he didn’t do anything?” Willow asked with a sincere look on her face.

“I..”

“That’s because she doesn’t know,” Xander said with a huff. “He could have done any number of things to you while you were out, or have you forgotten his creepy obsession with you.”

“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?” Buffy rolled her eyes, tired of being reminded for the millionth time about the weirdness with Spike the spring before. If she didn’t know better, she would think that Xander was jealous of her relationship with the vampire in question.

Wait a minute. Did she just call what was happening with Spike a relationship? Now was so not the time to even dwell on that thought.

Xander’s brows rose. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you do obsess about her an awful lot,” Anya said as Xander frowned at her. “Don’t give me that look, Xander. You know if given the choice between Buffy and just about anything else, you are going to choose Buffy.”

“I’m just looking out for my friend, Ahn. You know that,” Xander said with a childish pout.

Anya shrugged her mouth tight as she looked away from him.

Giles cleared his throat, as he pulled his glasses off polishing them vigorously. “I think we are getting off subject. Xander’s feelings are not relevant. Your behavior is.”

“What? I go out one time to relax and now you jump on me like I’m a damn teenager. This so isn’t fair.”

“Well when you act like one, you should be treated as such.”

“That’s rich! I sacrificed my life for my calling, for the world and this is how you all treat me. God, you would think that after everything, I would have earned the right to have some fun. But I guess that’s asking for too much, isn’t it?”

“You’re being reckless. Hanging out with a soulless vampire drunk isn’t what I would consider being a responsible Slayer, be it having fun or not,” Giles said, sternly.

Buffy shook her head. It was the same thing over and over again. Anytime Spike was brought into the conversation, it had to be mentioned that he was soulless. Like she didn’t know that already! And what did that have to do with anything at this point? It was no problem to ask for his help in a bind but it was the end of the world if she hung out with him.

Why did they keep doing this? He was the closest thing she had to a friend right now, and they were trying their fucking best to take him away from her. It was bad enough to take away heaven, but to take away the only thing that was keeping her from falling apart was another.

“I don’t give a shit if he’s soulless.” Xander’s eyes bugged and Giles coughed, as the rest of them stared back at her. “It’s my right to decide how I spend my time and with who. I’d like to see how you would react if I did the same thing to you.”

“Bufff… Buffy has a point. It should be her choice who she’s friends with. Besides, I think Spike deserves a little credit for what he did while Buffy was gone,” Tara said meekly.

Buffy gave Tara a smile. Tara smiled back then looked down, embarrassed from the attention.

“Please. I don’t think a few good deeds wipes out a century of bloodshed. He’s a killer, and that is all he will ever be,” Xander said with finality.

“I was a killer. Is that all I’m going to be?” Anya said with sadness in her eyes.

“Well you have a soul now. You’re nothing like him.”

“You put so much emphasis on souls. But some of the worst people in the world have had souls,” Anya said, her voice quiet. “And being a demon for a thousand years, I got to see firsthand what souled people are capable of, and I’m not impressed.”

“Well we are talking about Spike, not about you.”

Buffy sighed, tired of going around in circles. “Do you hear yourself right now, Xander? At this point you’re arguing for the sake of arguing. You know Anya has valid point, and you’re doing what you guys always do and ignore it.”

“How can you defend him after he’s tried to kill you in the past?” Xander said hesitant, clearly uncomfortable with Buffy’s reaction.

“How can I defend him? Well, I don’t know, kinda like how I forgave you after you tried to rape me. Or have you forgotten about that little situation with the hyenas? We are the Scoobies. We are all about redemption. Oz hurt people and we forgave him. Anya was a vengeance demon and we forgave her. Hell, Giles drugged me for the Cruciatium and I forgave him. Why can’t you forgive Spike?”

Willow, Xander and Giles stared at her looking upset, but Anya and Tara looked at her thoughtfully, staying silent.

She was sick of this shit and she was getting nowhere with all of this arguing. They couldn’t even bother listening to her so why should she do the same for them.

“You know what. I’ve had enough. You think whatever the hell you want.” Buffy turned and walked out of the room, and grabbed her keys and a small pouch she kept her ID and money in.

Giles walked toward her. “Where are going Buffy?”

“I’m going to get a damn drink!”

After ripping the door open and slamming it shut, she let out a deep breath, and leaned against the door, trying her best to calm down. Her hands were shaking and tears filled her eyes as she started moving down her porch steps and headed down her street with no direction in mind. What she really wanted was to hit something and take out all her frustration until she was a heaping pile of nothing. But it was bright outside and patrol was hours away so she would have to make do with walking for now.

Maybe if she walked far enough, her emotions would dull with each step and finally rid her of the anger, hurt and betrayal that seemed to pound into her like rip current, pulling her back into a fresh wave of pain. This whole situation sucked. Here she was running away from the people that she trusted the most, leaving them in her house of all places. If anything, they should be the ones disinvited until she was ready to talk to them.

If she were anything like her former self, she would be running back right now, begging for their forgiveness and swearing she would do better. But she couldn’t make herself feel bad about how she behaved. They deserved everything she had said and more. And the nerve of Xander spouting off his prejudice and thinking that she would agree with him. It was time for him to learn a hard lesson, one that she should have taught him a long time ago.

Things were different now.

She wasn’t the same girl and probably never would be again. Dying changed everything. Maybe now it was time to start figuring out who she was and what she really wanted. She had played by everyone else’s rules for so long, she lost herself to their demands and it had slowly eaten her up. But not anymore, no it was time for her to run the show her way and for everyone else to fall in line. Not the other way around.

Different parts of the argument kept popping into her head as she continued walking, leaving her neighborhood behind and headed toward downtown. Giles calling her irresponsible had gotten under her skin. Was there anyone else in the world that had as much responsibility as she did? Not only had she sacrificed a normal life, but she gave up her life willingly to protect the world. Hell, it hadn’t even been three days after her return that she started up her nightly patrols. Her heart hadn’t been into it, but still she done it.

If she was so irresponsible, then why had her and Spike’s poker game given them the information she needed to find out about Warren and his gang of nerds? It may not have been the Scoobie’s conventional approach with research and hunting down the baddie, but it worked. They didn’t know any of that and she didn’t feel like sharing anything with them right now. It’s not like they would listen to her anyways.

Buffy growled and clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms as her frustration grew. It pissed her off to no end that Giles could stand there and treat her like a child. She didn’t deserve their shitty treatment, she deserved their damn respect. After all, she fucking earned it. If they wanted to test her and push her, well she was going to push back and show them. If they thought she was irresponsible now, then wait until…

Buffy laughed at the idea. She couldn’t wait to see their faces, but first she needed to find the right place to put this plan into action.

She hit main drag of town, weaving around slow walking pedestrians until she reached her destination and pushed open the pink door. The smell of shampoo and hair dye assaulted her lungs as she walked up to the receptionist who seemed more interested in filing her nails than looking up at her new customer.

Buffy cleared her throat.

The woman lifted her head, and gave her a polite smile. “Can I help you ma’am?”

Buffy nodded. “Yeah, I think you can. I’m ready for a change.”

~*~*~*~*~

“There is no way the Enterprise is better,” said Andrew rolling his eyes. “The TARDIS is powered by a dying sun.”

“A dying sun has got nothing on a warp reactor powered by anti-matter. The TARDIS doesn’t even have any guns on it,” said Jonathan as he emptied several herbs into a small urn, careful not to spill any onto the purple cloth that covered the floor.

“Yeah, but the TARDIS can travel back in time to before the guns were even on the Enterprise, and keep it from happening,” Andrew replied.

“Bigger on the inside, TARDIS for the win,” said Warren, growing impatient. “Now let’s get back on track. Are you ready to blow on that magic flute?”

Warren and Andrew look at each other and laughed as they pointed to the small wooden flute. Jonathan sighed, his shoulders slumping as he averted his eyes away from the two. They seemed more than chummy today, ganging up on him when the opportunity presented itself, whispering and laughing but not letting him in on the secret. Once again, he felt like an outsider.

“Come on. That’s not funny, guys. I didn’t decide this was the key to summoning the Ender. You know it doesn’t work like that.”

“Oh it’s okay. It’s not phallic looking at all,” Warren snickered.

Andrew looked at the flute with interest. “Now that’s a bulbous tip.”

Jonathan groaned, his face turning red with embarrassment. “Okay for real guys, cut it out. It’s very important to use the proper grip and blow into this just right.”

“Yeah, I bet it is,” Warren said.

Jonathan rolled his eyes and blew into the flute, practicing the simple three note melody a few times then motioned to the others to take a seat on the edge of the purple cloth. Andrew lit a wooden stick and lowered it into the urn until smoke billowed out in steady streams, then extinguished the flame. Once everything was set, Jonathan looked over to the guys and nodded.

The simple three note melody filled the air and all three recited the Sumerian summoning spell.

“Suqammumu taru dalkhu alka ti
Suqammumu taru dalkhu alka ti
Saqammumu taru dalku alka ti”

“Elu Ender
Elu Ender”

{Roughly: Silence makes the demon come alive. Rise Ender.}

Jonathan played the melody again, and all three stood waiting.

In the center of the circle, the smoke rippled. Screams and hissing echoed through the room as the empty space cracked, a rift formed slowly spreading from the ceiling to the floor. Several gray tentacles slipped through the crack, grabbing the edges and tore it wide open with aggressive force, the fervent body stepping through. Quiet enveloped the room.

Jonathan gasped and quickly stepped behind Warren with Andrew following behind. Still, Warren stared at the huge snarling demon frozen in fear. Tentacles flowed down the demon’s head like hair, intermingling with longer thinly shaped tentacles protruding around its razor sharp mouth. Small red slits sat above, its glow reflecting off the metal armor encasing it large shoulders as it vibrated with energy.

Warren’s mind reeled, second guessing his plan to bargain with the demon, knowing it was a huge risk to trust the demon with his offer. Unlike the other two, he knew exactly what the price was for summoning an Ender demon, carefully avoiding any mention of payment or what the demon’s true power was to the others. He knew if they had known everything, they would have never agreed to this.

As different scenarios swirled in his mind, Warren’s thoughts were interrupted by a looming presence clawing to the front.

A gravel filled voice echoed in his mind. “Why do you waste my time, human? I should crush your throat just for summoning a demon as powerful as I.”

Immediately, Warren bowed and responded with his thoughts, not wanting to accidently offend the demon by speaking out loud. “We humbly request a deal with the great Ender.”

“A deal?” The demon laughed. “Then you must know a price must be paid for such a request?”

“I do.”

“Then your request?”

“We want to you to kill the Slayer, consuming her soul.”

“And I thought this wouldn’t be worth my time.” The demon laughed again, this time in a more menacing tone. “Aren’t humans full of surprises?” He paused. “This is no ordinary request and the price will be high. What are you willing to pay?”

Warren looked back at Andrew and Jonathan, both looking scared and confused. He gave them a reassuring nod and turned back to the demon.

“I offer you the soul of my brown haired companion.”

The demon remained silent, causing Warren to shift on his feet from nerves as he tried to keep eye contact even though he knew the demon could read his emotions. He knew it was a risk offering one of the others instead of himself but he hoped the demon was ruthless enough to take the deal especially since it involved the Slayer.

“I sense betrayal. Oh, it makes the soul taste so much sweeter! But this is no ordinary request, now is it?” The demon paused. “No, I want the souls of both of your associates, in addition to the soul of the Slayer. Do we have a deal?”

Without hesitation, Warren replied, “Yes.”

As soon as the response was formed in his mind, the demon’s facial tentacles elongated, shooting out like whips and wrapped around Andrew and Jonathan’s necks, pulling them in front of the demon. Their hands instinctually grasped the tentacles, trying to pull loose as they struggled to keep their airways open. But it was no use the demon’s grip was too tight. They glanced back to their friend, pleading for him to help them, until they realized his betrayal. Cowered by fear, they struggled to pull free, knowing it was the only way to save themselves. But it was not to be.

It all happened so quickly. The demon howled as the air shifted, pulling Andrew’s face to his sharp mouth, its other tentacles latching onto his mouth and opened it wide. A shimmering yellow light flowed out of Andrew into the demons mouth, devouring the light until there was no more. Relaxing its tentacles, the demon released Andrew’s limp body, hitting the concrete floor hard.

Jonathan openly wept as he saw his friend fall to the floor, all hope of escape lost knowing there was no way for him to break loose. He managed to look at his betrayer, and squeaked out, “You will pay.” Then he was pulled forward and the howling started again, and the same bright yellow light was devoured.

Horrified and intrigued at the same time, Warren looked at the discarded bodies and tried to fight the gut feeling he needed to run. He took a step back toward the basement door but it was too late. Unable to react in time, a tentacle wrapped around his neck and pulled him to the demon’s snarling face. His insides twisted, burning as if someone had lit a match within him until it all pushed to the surface and the demon began to howl and everything went dark.

~*~*~*~*


Spike spent the better part of the afternoon lying on his bed trying to put into words how he felt about the night before, all thoughts of his golden siren weaving around his mind reminding him of the uphill battle he had ahead of him. Crumpling up a sheet of paper, he threw it in a pile that had grown considerably in the last hour as he tried to pick the exact words to describe how he felt. If only he didn’t feel like such a ponce, reverting back to how William would have once expressed himself and laid himself bare for the one that held his heart.

‘God, this can’t be a good idea. She’ll take one look at this and throw it back in my face. ‘Sides she’s a modern girl. Maybe a song would let her know and not make me look quite so pathetic.’ He got off of his bed and walked over to his collection of music, pulling out a few cds scanning the song titles trying to find the perfect song. He laughed to himself as he came across “Possum Kingdom” by the Toadies, knowing it was actually the perfect song but she would completely take it the wrong way. He had no intention of turning her and taking away her light, only wanting to convey he would love her forever no matter how much time he spent in this world. He was sure he would love her even if he was dust.

He tossed an empty case out of the way looking for a few discs he had swiped out of an unlocked car a few months back. Stupid git had been dumb enough to leave his mobile, wallet and music just lying in the passenger seat. It taken little effort to swipe it all, and keep himself hidden from prying eyes before the owner had any idea. Lucky for him, there had been enough cash to keep him in cigarettes and liquor for a few weeks. At least the previous owner seemed to have eclectic taste with sounds from Frank Sinatra, the Cure, the Pixies and a few other modern bands he wasn’t quite familiar with yet.

Deciding on the Cure disc, he put it in a small portable cd player that sat next to his bed, and turned it to a track that had caught his attention as he read the back of the disc’s case. A familiar beat filled the room and Spike immediately recognized the song even though he had not been aware of the song title.

“When I’m alone with you
You make feel like I’m home again
When I’m alone with you
You make me feel whole again”

“Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again”

“However far away
I will always love you
However long I stay
I will always love you
Whatever words I say
I will always love you
I will always love you”

If he still had a pulse, his cheeks would be bright red and his heart hammering. God, he really was a nancy boy thinking this was the way to get the girl! This wasn’t Say Anything with him standing outside of Buffy’s window holding up a boom box trying to serenade the girl into giving him a chance. He was William the Bloody, one-fourth of the Scourge of Europe, big bad himself. He didn’t need some fairy boy tune to get the girl.

He ripped out the cd and flung it across the room, and grabbed his Sex Pistols disc setting the player to his favorite track, and turned the volume up high. He sang along to “Pretty Vacant” as he stripped out of his clothes, and stepped into the cold water pouring from his makeshift shower.

After taking his time getting dressed for the night, Spike’s patience was wearing thin as he paced his crypt floor waiting for the last of the sun’s deadly rays to fall past the horizon and finally allow him the freedom to seek out Buffy. Earlier he almost left and headed out through the sewers with a blanket in hand toward her house, but decided against it since he knew he wouldn’t be welcomed. Especially after that irritating conversation with the Watcher, he knew the Scoobies were probably sharpening the stakes right now, giddy as hell at the promise of him being dust in the wind. Right, he would have to catch up with the Slayer when she was alone.

Now if the bloody sun would finally bugger off, he could rid this nagging feeling he needed to explain himself to her. Certainly her friends and Watcher had planted the seeds of doubt in her mind that he was not to be trusted, and ruin everything he tried so hard to build in the last couple of weeks. The only way to handle it now was to tread lightly when he found her, and reassure her of his intentions. And if she didn’t believe him, well he would just have to show her, wouldn’t he?

Tingling on the back of his neck alerted him of the sun’s decent as he left his crypt in a hurry and headed to Buffy’s house, hoping to find her or the Nibblet alone. Since the night was young, he didn’t run across any baddies along the way, only passing a few happy meals he wasn’t able to sample. Once he was in sight of her house, he caught faint traces of her scent lingering at the street’s intersection. He took a deep breath and inhaled her wonderful scent, and turned in the other direction following it toward town.

It didn’t take long to find her, since the trail was pretty recent and he had honed his ability to track her throughout the years. All lead to the Bronze. He entered the already crowded building, keeping to the shadows not wanting her to notice him until he was ready. He wanted to gauge her mood before he decided to approach her, wanting to avoid a physical confrontation if at all possible. He was bloody sick of being punched in the nose and being her whipping boy like he became before.

Spike prowled around the edge of the room, his vampire senses picking her up immediately, tracking her to the center of the dance floor. His breath caught as he glimpsed his golden siren swaying to the music. Pink streaked hair flowed around her in waves as she shimmed her black leather clad hips to the beat and raised her hands above her head, the tops of her breasts peaking out of her white fitted tank top. He was immediately hard, desire coursing through his veins as he continued to watch while his late night fantasy flooded his brain. If the heat he was feeling was real, he would have combusted right then and there.

God, she was gorgeous. Always had been but seeing her like this, well he didn’t know what he was happier about, her obvious fuck you to her wholesome image or the fact he was more than likely responsible for her rebellion. It was about time he saw her living, and doing it on her own terms, not giving a shit what anyone thought. Now if he could get that sensual body to give in to the inevitable, the spark he knew they had, nothing could stop them.

But it appeared a group of boys on the dance floor had other plans for his girl, circling her in and drawing her away from his perfect view. His jaw clenched, further pronouncing his cheekbones as he contemplated ripping them limb from limb. But that wasn’t on the table so he walked toward her with his normal swagger, letting everyone around him know just how much of a big bad he still was. This was his girl, and he was about to educate the men of Sunnydale that she was off limits.

A guy in a blue polo shirt and 1940s soldier boy hair pulled Buffy to him, dancing close holding her tight to his body as he hands casually gripped her hips. Buffy seemed to be going with the flow, not caring who it was that she was dancing with and enjoying her moment of freedom. Spike paused a few feet back from the dance floor, for once thinking about his actions and how Buffy might react to him. He couldn’t go in all guns a blazing, knowing exactly how she would respond to the caveman reaction he usually had around her. No, he needed to keep his cool for once and be smooth; keeping her on her toes, second guessing who this was she was dealing with.

Moving with his usual grace, he approached her as she rocked her hips against the wanker leaning into him as he brushed his hands further down. She smiled back at him, continuing the jig until she felt his demanding presence at her back. His hands grabbed her waist and pulled her back against his strong chest, dominating her attention until she finally turned. Buffy gasped once she realized who it was that pulled her out of her hypnotic state. Spike smirked at her with his signature arrogance, his eyes roaming over her body as he dismissed the ponce and claimed what was his.

He lowered his mouth to her ear, his cool breath tickling her skin, causing her body to shiver as he murmured, “Hello, luv. Miss me?”