First Impressions

 

SERIES : the Adventures of Buffy & Spike

PAIRING : Buffy/Spike

RATING : NC17

SPOILERS : major spoilers, I’ve used actual show quotes from season four of Buffy.

DISCLAIMER : I do not own these characters.

NOTES : I didn’t like season 4 with Buffy & Riley, so I rewrote it.

 

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      “Hey! Wipe your feet when you enter a person’s home.” He said standing up.

      “Oh, yes. Careless of me. Tracking mud all over you, uh... mud.” Her Watcher walked in and closed the door.

      “I admit, it’s a bit of a fixer-upper. Needs a woman’s touch. Care to have a crack at it?”

      “Speaking of, where is Buffy?”

      “At school, she had class.”

      “And why are you here? She said you were here.”

      “Her mum came home and the Slayer didn’t want to have to explain me and Red isn’t comfortable having me in their room. Plus the school’s got rules about that sort of thing. So here I am, granted it’s got no running water, but I got an extension cord coming from a nearby house so I can have the telly.”

      “As always Spike, robbing people blind. I trust things went well in Los Angeles. She didn’t say anything about it, but you just got back, so...”

      “So it’s none of your business, you talk to the Slayer, not that it’s any business of yours, you’re not her watcher anymore.”

      “While I’d love to go on trading jabs with you, Spike, perhaps I’ll come to the point. As much as it pains me to say it, um, I owe you a debt of gratitude for the help you provided in my recent... metamorphosis.”

      “Stuff the gratitude. You owe me more than that mate.” His neck hurt. He needed a place of his own, and soon.

      “Three hundred. Count it if you’d like.”

      “I’ll do that.”

      “Um, thinking about your affliction and your newfound discovery that you can fight only demons and the relationship with Buffy; it occurs to me and I know this is completely against your nature but I... Has it occurred to you that there may be a higher purpose...”

      “Ugh!” What the hell was he talking about? “You made me lose count.” He looked over at the Watcher, what Buffy liked about Giles was beyond him. “What are you still doing here?”

      “Talking to myself apparently.”

      “Well piss off then. This bit of business wraps up any I got with you and your Slayerettes. My business is with the Slayer, and ONLY the Slayer. I don’t answer to anyone else. Got it?”

      “Spike, I realize that you are not fond of me, and I’m not too fond of you either, but we are both in her life and perhaps we should try for her sake to get along.”

      “Get along yes, but I won’t have you telling me about any ‘higher purpose’ crap. I’m an evil vampire, keep it mind.”

      Giles turned around and looked at him, shaking his head. “Fine, if you want to make this hard on Buffy, then you do that, but she’s the one you’ll be hurting, not I.” He left and the bugger had a point.

 

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      “So... how’d it go in LA Buffy?” Willow asked sitting up in bed.

      “It was... amazing Will. We got there and Angel talked with Spike for a while and then he gave us his blessing to be together. I felt bad, but he said we could be together.”

      “So you’re mated then, right?”

      “Yep.”

      “So he bit you?”

      “Yep.”

      “Can I see?”

      “Sure.” Her friend came over and sat on the bed and looked as Buffy pulled her hair away.

      “So how’d it happen?” Buffy was so glad her friend was taking an interest, and being so supportive too.

      “What do you mean?”

      “He just vamped out and bit you?”

      “Not exactly, but basically. Luckily the chip didn’t go off, I don’t know why, but we’re not questioning small miracles.”

      “Don’t you think you rushed this WAY too much?”

      “Okay, little miss-sex-with-Spike-isn’t-the-worst-thing... what happened to supportive best friend?”

      “Oh, she’s here, but there’s also concerned friend. I said sex, not relationship forever and vampire mating rituals.”

      “I know, and I know Giles is going to kill me for this. I called him and said we were back and Spike was at his crypt, but I didn’t really tell him what happened, just that Spike and I are together.”

      “Wow.”

      “I know Will. I know it’s awkward, but I love him.”

      “Then I’m going to be supportive and just say be careful.” They hugged. “So your boyfriend lives in a crypt.”

      “My mate, he’s not my boyfriend, my mate... and he’s looking for something better.”

      “And Riley?”

      “Riley? I talked to him the other day and told him I was involved with someone else. I mean, there was sparkage, but just not enough and he said he understood. We’re going to be friends and he’s working on getting me clearance into the Initiative.”

      “Buffy... are you su...”

      “Yes. I’m sure. If I can get in there, we can get information on 314. And now when I patrol, not only will I have Spike watching my back, but I’ll have a team of heavily armed guys taking the load off me too.”

      “So when are you getting clearance?”

      “Tomorrow I go with him. Tonight, I’m on patrol and this afternoon I’ve got homework and Spike-time and a dinner date with my mother.”

      “That sounds fun.”

      “Yeah, I told her I had a new boyfriend and she invited us over for dinner.”

      “You’re not seriously taking Spike to dinner at your mom’s are you?”

      “She’s gonna find out soon enough, might as well be now and I don’t think it’ll be THAT bad.”

      “Okay, good luck, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “Okay.”

 

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      “Hello?”

      “Hi Joyce, do you know who this is?” He asked over the phone.

      “You sound familiar, but...”

      “You chased me with an axe and had tea with me.”

      “Spike! How are you? How’s Drusilla?”

      “Dru and I split, but I’ve got a new girl.”

      “Oh really?”

      “Yeah, I was kinda hoping we could have tea again this morning.”

      “Sure, will you be able to get here okay?”

      “Yeah, don’t worry ‘bout me. I’ll see you soon then?”

      “Sure Spike.” He hung up the phone, this would be good. He grabbed the tarp and ran out the door. He ran toward Revello Drive and reached the porch knocking on the door. “That was sooner than I thought, come in.”

      “Thanks.” He walked in. He liked Buffy’s mother, she reminded him a lot of his own mother. “Where’s the Slayer at?”

      “Oh, she’s at school, take off your coat and come sit down.”

      “Thanks.” He went into the kitchen and smiled when he saw the table set for tea.

      “You got me hooked on English tea Spike, I have some every morning.”

      “It is good, and it’s been so long. You can take the man out of England, but you can’t take the England out of the man. I still wake up with cravings for tea sometimes.”

      “So, you said you have a new girl, what happened?”

      “I found Dru and she was making out with this chaos demon and she left me. I was crushed, I was actually in town before. I met this chit who actually went to school with the slayerettes, who was turned vampire, and she was okay.”

      “Oh, who?”

      “Harmony? Know her?” Joyce shook her head. “Well anyway, I wanted this bloody ring that was buried here, but the Slayer beat it out of me and sent it to Peaches, so I went to LA to get it and he destroyed it. I came back and well, I got caught by this group of soldiers, right? And they put this chip in my head.”

      “What?”

      “They call it a behavior modification chip, which is a fancy way of saying Spike can no longer bite and kill people. I’m stuck drinkin’ pigs blood from a mug, but it’s good that happened, cause THAT’S when I met my girl.”

      “Your girl, tell me about her.”

      “Well, she’s actually my mate.”

      “Your mate?”

      “You know I told you Dru was my mate, but she left and I just made this new girl my mate.”

      “What’s her name?”

      “Elizabeth.”

      “Really? That’s Buffy’s first name.”

      “You don’t say? Coincidence, huh?”

      “I guess. Do you want some crackers or something?”

      “Sure.” She grabbed a box of cookies.

      “This is all I’ve got, I think Buffy came home while I was away. This box was full when I left.” Spike smiled. He really liked her. “So tell me more about Elizabeth.”

      “She’s gorgeous. She’s smart and funny and she’s... perfect. I think I’ve loved her ever since I first saw here, I was just too chicken to admit it. She belonged to someone else, and I think it kinda clouded our eyes.”

      “Belonged to? She’s a... a vam... a vampire too?”

      “You can say it. Don’t be shy Joyce and no she’s not a vampire. She’s human, well, she’s an angel to me. I thought Dru was it for me, but I was with her I think cause I thought I had to be. I loved Dru, but Elizabeth? She’s so much more than Dru ever was, and she’s not crazy. I’ve done a lot of thinking and I think Dru stayed with me cause she thought she had to, but she never REALLY wanted me. We loved each other cause we thought no one else would love us, or we couldn’t love anyone else. I guess Angel’s leaving also stuck us together.”

      “Well, you’ve certainly changed your views since the last time we had tea, haven’t you? And you seem happier, you look happier, a little thin, but...”

      “Don’t worry about me. I’m as healthy as vampire with a chip can be. Pig’s blood doesn’t cut it, but it’ll have to do. And without the chip I don’t think I could be with Bethy, I call her Bethy sometimes....”

      “That’s what I used to call Buffy.” She smiled glancing over at a picture of Buffy on the wall. “So you can’t bite?”

      “I can’t bite, hit, scratch or even attempt hurting a single living soul without having tremendous pain. I’ve found I can hurt demons, so I’ve agreed to help Buffy out.”

      “Really? And she’s okay with that?”

      “Yeah, we’re friends I guess. She’s amazing.” He took another sip of tea. “I recently saw Angel.”

      “Angel? Where’s he?”

      “He’s in LA, doing okay. He’s got an investigation agency going for him, lookin’ into supernatural stuff, brooding a lot I guess. Why he left Beth... Buffy, I’ll never understand it.”

      “What? Wait a second...” he was hoping she would catch on. “Please don’t tell me your new girlfriend isn’t Buffy.”

      “It isn’t.”

      “Oh, good, cau...”

      “Buffy is my mate.”

      “What?”

      “We’re mated. We went to Angel to ask permission and he gave it to us and we’re together now. She was going to tell you tonight, but I thought it might be easier for her, if you knew now and got your anger out at me.”

      “My anger?”

      “You know you’re angry, might as well take it out on me.”

      “Well, how did this happen?” Joyce was shocked, understandably so. She was also concerned. Buffy had been down this road once before.

      “Well, Red did this spell that made Buffy and I become engaged, but after the spell, it was all I could do to stop myself from thinking about her. I saw her beautiful face everywhere, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. We just kinda... got involved. Then I found out about the poof’s claim to her and we had to go to LA.”

      “His claim?”

      “Yeah, I was sure I’d explained mating to you.”

      “Oh, you did. So you’re mated.”

      “Yes, and I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that Buffy was already involved in a doomed relationship, but I’ve no intention of leaving her, EVER. I’m not Angel. I’m not going to lose my soul and start killing her friends.”

      “But you don’t have a soul Spike. How can you love my daughter?”

      “You believe me when I say I loved Drusilla?”

      “Yes.”

      “Then why is it so hard to believe that I love Buffy?”

      “But you’ve tried to kill her more than once.”

      “And she tried to kill me too but we never did. I don’t think we could have. But that’s another difference between me and the poof, I don’t think about everything. I just do what I feel and I know Buffy and I are together. I plan on protecting her with my life, and loving her as long as she’ll have me. And if by extension I have to protect her friends and family, I will and if that means that one day I have to save your life, I will.”

      “Well... I don’t know what to say. I hear you but don’t know what to say.”

      “Well, Buffy and I had a small fight before and I never got to celebrate her birthday with her. Considering her past birthdays haven’t been that great, I was thinking we could surprise her tonight. She’ll be coming here expecting you to be upset but you won’t be. And I’ve got a couple presents for her.”

      “Okay. I’ve still got something for her, this will be the first time I see her in a while.”

      “Good, I’ve got some other plans too.  But Joyce, I want you to promise me that if you have any problems with us, or with me, you’ll come to me. If you’re angry about it, once you think about it more, or have questions, come to me, don’t upset Buffy.”

      “I promise. So tell me about your other plans...”

 

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      She opened the door to the crypt and he was sleeping on top of a coffin. She walked over to him and put her hand on his boot and dragged it up the length of him. She pressed her lips to his and began kissing him, running her tongue along his lips, prying them opened gently until she felt him kissing back, parting his lips and darting his tongue out to meet hers. His hands pulled her on top of him and she felt his growing erection pressing into her through his jeans. She pulled away and rested her head on his chest. “Evening William Brody.”

      “I haven’t heard that in so long. How’d you find out?”

      “I looked up William the Bloody in a book on famous serial killers throughout history. Pretty colorful past you’ve got there. They’ve got you pretty well documented, although they don’t know what kind of copy cat took over your style after you died, and why that person took it a step further and managed to drain the blood of his victims. Stupid morons. That’s when the watcher’s diaries picked you up. Anyway what’d you do today?”

      “I watched Passions and some other show called Jenny Jones. What crap!”

      “Basically, what was today?”

      “Teen girls who wanna be strippers. I’ve seen slime demons prettier than them.” He laughed. “And I thought about what I wanted to do to you once you got here.”

      “And what did you decide?”

      “Shag your brains out.”

      “We’ve got dinner with my mother, remember? We’ve gotta be there in a half hour.”

      “That’s enough time.”

      “For what?”

      “For a quick shag.”

      “In the crypt?”

      “Why not?”

      “It’s creepy.”

      “Why?”

      “These people are all dead.”

      “So am I love.”

      “Yeah, but you’re not dead as in rotting away, you’re undead. And these people are here to rest eternally, they shouldn’t be disrupted by us making love.”

      “Who said anything about making love?” She sat up and looked down at him confused. He sat up and grabbed her toward him, hoping he wouldn’t set the damn chip off if he touched her wrong. He smashed his lips to hers and his greedy hands grabbed her breasts through her shirt, pinching the hardening nipples through the fabric. He felt the need to just take her, not waste time, just shag her. He wanted to fuck her silly. Her fingers flew to his trousers when he began rubbing his hand over her covered sex. He took that as a sign and got his fingers inside her jeans and she stood up pulling him with her. He grabbed her jeans and yanked them down and ran his hands up under her shirt. She arched into his touch as he started moving her backwards. They slammed into a cement pillar when she finally yanked his pants down. He ripped her panties off and tossed them aside. He felt her hot fingers stroking him as he sucked on the scar he had given her. She moaned and began pumping his cock in her hand. He growled loudly.

      God she loved when he growled. She could feel it vibrate through her entire body and she needed him inside her. She kicked off her shoes and jeans and threw her legs around his waist. One hand ran up her leg to her inner thigh and she gasped as she felt his fingers toying with her clit before entering her tight passage. She leaned forward and arched into him, feeling the tip of his cock rubbing her clit. He pulled his fingers out, sensing her urgency and with one sharp thrust he was buried deep inside her and she squealed his name. “SPIKE!” He didn’t wait for her to adjust, he pulled out quick and slammed back into her. God it felt too damn good. He began pumping into her, pounding her back into the pillar behind her and she arched into him. She pawed at his back still covered in cloth and felt his teeth nipping at her breasts through the fabric of her shirt.

      He couldn’t get enough of her. She wasn’t cracking under his thrusts, she was meeting them eagerly. He pulled out and slammed back into her over and over again. “Oh God Buffy!” He whispered in her ear. “You’re so beautiful.”

      “Shut up and fuck me.” Was the answer he got and he slipped his hand in between their bodies and pinched her clit and she screamed, a scream to wake the dead. He was so close, he felt her body squeezing around him, her legs clamping around his body, pulling him closer to her. She gasped as his bit lightly into her skin, he resisted the need for blood. He would NOT bite her every time he wanted to come, still he felt she was close, and he was too but he couldn’t quite get over the edge.

      She looked at him, staring at her neck and she smiled. He continued pounding into her, her tailbone slamming into the pillar. Her hand pulled his shirt away from his neck slightly and she caught his eyes for a moment. “MINE.” She said and she bit into his neck as hard as she could. He growled louder than she’d ever heard as he thrashed around in orgasm. She thrust into his body once more and came with him, feeling their essences mix, cold and warm inside her body. She didn’t taste blood but she had broken some skin. She continued kissing and sucking on the wound, as he had to her, while the hormones continued flooding her system. They just kept rocking into each other, slowing down a little.

      He felt her around him, her mouth on his neck. He had blacked out for a moment, he remembered her saying ‘mine’ and then all had gone black. He came to and felt her around him. He had experienced the most intense orgasm of his entire existence. He felt her mouth at his neck sucking on his skin. Oh God! His blood! He quickly pulled out of her and her legs fell to the ground. Her mouth pulled away from him and she leaned back against the pillar. He didn’t smell blood.

      “Relax, no blood, no big.” He grabbed her close and hugged her. “I did break skin though, you think you’ll scar?”

      “I don’t know. I have before.”

      “Where?”

      He pointed to his eyebrow. “A present from my wonderful grandsire. Darla didn’t like me very much.”

      She looked at her watch. “I’d love to sit and chat, but we’ve gotta go.” She pulled her pants up and he did likewise. They stole glances at each other. He couldn’t even explain what her actions meant to him yet he thought she knew. That was really the only part of the mating that hadn’t been completed, with the exception of her being turned, which would remain unfulfilled. He smirked at her. “What?”

      “I told you I said nothing about making love.” She smiled back and grabbed his duster.

      “Let’s go.” She took his hand and pulled him out of the crypt and they walked hand in hand. The night was calm and mildly pleasant. He looked up at the stars and over at her again. “What?” She asked.

      “Nothing.”

      “Spit promise, remember?”

      “I.. I just don’t know how to say it. Thank you doesn’t seem appropriate. I don’t know.”

      “You’re mine now, you don’t have to thank me.” He understood what she had meant now. It did feel nice belonging to someone. That was one thing that his relationship with Dru had been missing. She never told him that he belonged to her, though he told her she was his. She had bitten and drank from him, but never claimed him as her own. “Penny for your thoughts.”

      “I was just thinking about Dru.”

      “Oh, great.”

      “OH NO! You said the other day that it was nice belonging to someone, cause Angel never told you that you were his. And I didn’t understand it until now. Dru never told me either. She bit me and drank from me, but she never claimed me as hers. Maybe that should have been my first hint.”

      “No, let’s not dwell on the past. We’ll have enough dealing with my mother. She is SO not going to be happy.”

      “I don’t think you’re giving your mum enough credit.”

      “Please! She freaked when she found out about Angel. I still remember ‘the talk.’ Maybe it’s something your parents didn’t use to torture you with, but these days? She was so upset, first off cause I didn’t bother to mention I was seeing anyone, then to find out he’s older than me and stalking me? She was mad beyond words. She spent a half an hour telling me about responsibility for my actions, like I wasn’t kicking my own ass for being so stupid.”

      “So you’re stupid for shagging a vampire?”

      “No, for not thinking it through. I mean, he said, ‘Buffy, maybe we shouldn’t’ but did I listen? NO! We should have at least talked about it before hand. I mean the first time we kissed he vamped out on me, we should have taken that one step further. But let’s not dwell on the past, right? What was done, was done, and if it hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t have come to me for help, Dru wouldn’t have left you and we might not be together now, and I’m so glad we are. And you really have to hit me when I’m rambling.” Just then a vampire jumped out in front of her. “Not now!” She whipped the stake out and it slammed into his heart and he turned to dust. “See? Evil forces just aren’t trying. Not that I mind, but come on! I spent all summer coming up with great undead jokes and they are all to waste, I’ve hardly staked any vampires in the last few months.”

      “You’ve staked me a few times.” He smiled wickedly.

      “No, I believe YOU staked ME.”

      “That’s true.” She stopped in front of her house. “Come on love, it won’t be that bad.” He said, pulling her toward the door. “Should we knock?”

      “Why don’t we just turn around an lea...” just then the door opened. Buffy braced herself.

      “Buffy!” Her mother grabbed her quickly into a hug. “Happy birthday, late of course, but better late than never, right?”

      “Hi Mom, how was your trip?”

      “Good, it was good, I got some great pictures.” She winked at Spike. He was glad they had worked this out for Buffy’s sake. Joyce had agreed to keep an open mind and he promised to take care of Buffy and make her happy. “I thought you said you were bringing your new boyfriend Buffy.”

      “Mom, you remember Spike? Well, you see him and I are... are kind of dating, sort of, in the way that we’re together.” She closed her eyes waiting for the screams.

      “Great! Come on in. Dinner’s just about ready. Would either of you like some tea?”

      “What? Mom? Are you my mom? Are you feeling okay?”

      “Sure, why Buffy?”

      “Cause you do remember that Spike is a vampire, right? Like Angel, fangs and everything, without a soul. Where’s the lecture? Where’s the anger?”

      “Buffy, you’re a grown woman and you make your own choices, now would you like some tea?”

      “Well, I’d love some Joyce.” Spike took his duster off and threw it over the back of a chair. Her mother left and Buffy sat down on the couch quiet. “What’s wrong Slayer?” He asked sitting next to her taking her hand.

      “That’s not my mother, it can’t be my mother. Demons got her or she switched bodies with someone, or she’s an alien from another universe or...” he pressed his lips to hers to silence her, and to silence himself from telling her about his visit with her mum earlier in the day.

      “You were saying?”

      “I don’t know.”

      “Okay you two, dinner’s ready.” They got up and followed her mother into the dining room where Buffy couldn’t understand it. There were two settings and a mug with blood.

      “Mom?” She asked.

      “Yes?” She looked at her mother and looked back at Spike.

      “You jerk!” She hit him in the shoulder.

      “Bloody hell! What was that for Slayer?”

      “You know Mom, you knew before! How?”

      “Spike called me this morning and we had tea.” Buffy hit him again.

      “I thought it might be easier for you if she knew before hand. I told her about our mating and our trip to LA.” She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him to her for a small kiss. “Does this mean I’m forgiven?”

      “Yes. Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “We were kinda busy...” he said leaning to her ear to whisper. “We were too busy shaggin’ like bunnies.

      She whispered back, “I’ve NEVER seen bunnies do that.” She looked over at her mother. “SO, you knew. That’s good, better than I thought, but you’re mad and you’re waiting to lash out at me.”

      “No. I mean it, you’re old enough now to make your own decisions. You’re nineteen and going to college and I’m going to be supportive, or I’m going to try. But tonight isn’t about that. I haven’t seen you and I want to hear about what you’ve been doing. Spike says you went to LA.” They all sat down, Joyce and Buffy eating, Spike drinking.

      “Yes. We saw Angel and I saw Cordelia for a while, she’s certainly better, and she’s working for Angel. Oh and Wesley is working there too. I didn’t get to stop by and see Dad, but I called and his secretary said he was out of town for some reason or another. I don’t know, maybe another time, during break maybe.”

      “Do you have plans for your Christmas break?”

      “I don’t know, probably hangin’ with Willow and Xander, patrolling and of course looking for an apartment for Spike, instead of a crypt.”

      “There’s nothing wrong with the crypt love.”

      “It’s dark and cold and reeks of death, and I’m not going to be sitting in a crypt on a summer day with you, so you’re looking for some place more girl friendly if you ever expect me to be there.”

      “Cor you’re an impossible chit!”

      “And you love me.”

      “Yes I do.” He smiled as he listened to mother and daughter talking about college. He liked listening to Buffy talk. He watched her lips as she did and imagined those succulent lips around his cock. She was amazing, there was no other word to describe her. A while later, her mother cleared the table. “Let me help you Joyce.” He jumped up and walked out to the kitchen behind her. “Do you have it?” He asked.

      “Yes. I think she’ll like it.” She pulled a cake out of the fridge and put nineteen candles in it.

      “Great. I’ll go get her to shut her eyes.” He walked back out and slid his hands around her neck and downward under her shirt towards her delicious breasts.

      “Spike, my mom is in the house.”

      “So.” He asked, kneading her breasts in his hands. She moaned.

      “So, she’s gonna be coming in here at any moment.”

      He nibbled on her ear and whispered, “close your eyes love.”

      “What?”

      “Trust me, close your eyes.” She did and he pulled his hand out of her shirt just as her mother came in and put the cake in front of her. “Okay, open them.”

      “Oh my God! You guys!”

      “Happy birthday honey. I wasn’t in town for your birthday party and so I thought I’d make some cookies but Spike suggested the cake and candles.”

      “Happy birthday love.” He kissed her on the forehead and sat down.

      “This is so nice. I mean the party was the bestest Buffy birthday bash in a big long while, but THIS is great. Thank you.”

      “Spike and I agreed we’re not singing, so make a wish Buffy.”

      “Fair enough.” She closed her eyes. ‘I wish for everything to be this perfect for a long time to come, and for there to be no more demons, EVER.’ She opened them up and blew the candles out. “Now can we have some?” She asked.

      “Yes of course Buffy.” Her mother handed her the knife and she cut it.

      “I have a present for you Buffy. I saw it at the auction and thought of you.” Her mom went into the living room and dragged in a huge box. She opened it up and inside there was an oak chest two feet high, a foot and half wide by two feet deep.

      “It’s beautiful Mom.”

      “It’s an antique. At the bottom is an inscription to the original owner from the maker of the box. I read it and I knew it was yours. It says ‘For my Elizabeth, you saved my world’ and I thought it was time you had a new weapons chest, the other one is kind of old.”

      “This is perfect Mom, thanks.”

      “You’re welcome, but I wanted something non-slayer related, so...” she produced a small box and she opened it up.

      “Oh Mom!” It was a broach with a picture of angels on it.

      “It was your grandmothers. I know we’re not religious, but she wanted you to have it when you were old enough to appreciate it. She had it made when she went to the Sistine Chapel in Italy. There were painters there that would paint a particular part of it on a broach and she had this done, her favorite angel.”

      “Thank you so much Mom, it’s beautiful.”

      “You’re welcome honey. I’m glad you like it.”

      “And now, I’ve got something for you.” Spike said. He pulled out the first box from his pocket and handed it to her. She opened it up and her face lit up. He had found a beautiful gold chain with her name in beautifully scripted letters on it. The dot on the ‘i’ in her name was a diamond and there was a line of diamonds underlining the name. “Now everyone will know you’re Elizabeth.”

      “Will, this is so beautiful! Thank you so much!”

      “Can I put it on?”

      “Yes, please.” He unhooked it and put it around her neck.

      “You said you should have a diamond necklace and this was the best I could find.”

      “It’s beautiful.” She put her hand on it and his hand covered hers.

      “You’re beautiful.”

      “You better not let this get out to the demon community, that you’re buying the Slayer jewelry. What would they think?”

      “I don’t care what they think. I’ve got one more thing for you.”

      “Okay. What?” He turned her chair and got down on one knee, like he’d seen in the movies. “Will? What are you doing?”

      He pulled out the little box and took the ring out of it. “Slayer, I can’t exactly make it legal, but we’ve done the vampire thing and I thought we could do the human thing. I don’t know where this is going, I don’t know how it’ll end, but put this ring on your finger and be mine forever.” She was crying. “Bethy?”

      “Yes, I will.” He looked down at her left hand and saw the claddaugh ring, he knew it was from Angel. He took her right hand instead but she pulled away.

      She knew what he would do, but it wasn’t fair to him. She took Angel’s ring from her left hand and slipped it on her right. She looked at him and gave him her left hand and he slipped the ring on. She took in a breath. It was gold with a diamond in the center and a green and purple stone on either side. “What are these for?” She asked pointing to the stones.

      “The white is a diamond, they said that was the classic stone. The emerald is for love, and the amethyst is for protection.”

      “It’s beautiful, thank you, I love it and I love you.” He stood up and hugged her, and she hugged her mom and then her mom hugged him.

      “My little girl is all grown up. It’s amazing how time flies.” They talked over tea for a while until they had to leave to patrol. “Okay, I’m so glad you came tonight honey.”

      “Me too Mom.” She grabbed a hold of her mom, it was so nice not fighting with her. “Thank you SO much for dinner.”

      “Anytime, and Spike you’re welcome to come over for tea anytime and let me know if you need anything.”

      “Thanks Joyce.” With that, Buffy had him by the hand and was dragging him out the door. “See? I told you that wouldn’t be so bad with your mum.”

      “You tricked me, you... you... you vampire you!”

      “Duh.”

      “Okay, I’ve gotta study for a quiz tomorrow, I’m gonna patrol on my way home, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “We’re not gonna shag?”

      “We already ‘shagged’ today and I’ve gotta keep my grades up. We can ‘shag’ tomorrow, I promise, and besides, I really don’t wanna spend the night in a crypt with you.”

      “I’ve gotta get another place so you WILL spend the night.”

      “That would be nice.” She pulled him close to her and smashed their lips together. “Okay, Spike, get off of me.” She pushed him away. “I have to go.”

      “I know, I’ll see you tomorrow sometime?”

      “Count on it.” She kissed him again gently and walked away.

 

------------------------------

 

      “Hey Will.”

      “Hi. What’s going on?”

      “Nothing, everything. See my ring?” She put her hand out.

      “OH MY GOD! This is SO beautiful Buffy.”

      “Spike gave it me. Dinner last night was so great. He had already talked to my mom and she gave me an oak chest for my weapons too.”

      “That’s so great, I’m glad it went well. What happened with Riley this morning?”

      “I’m in the Initiative now and I’m on call. I’m on my way to Spike’s now.” Suddenly her beeper went off. “Shit!”

      “Since when do you have a beeper?”

      “Since I’m on call for demon hunting. Professor Walsh said she’d call if she needed me. So I guess I’ll go to Spike’s later. Bye.” And Buffy was off for her first mission.

 

------------------------------

 

      He was pretty sure the effects of the alcohol had worn off. He felt more himself and Giles had said the tracer was gone. “It will be dark soon. I think it will be wise for you to leave Sunnydale.”

      “I’m not going anywhere Watcher. Not until those bastards undo whatever they did to me, put me back the way I was.”

      “Sure, just explain to the nice scientist guys that you really miss killing and torturing innocent people.”

      “Do you think that would work?” Who was he kidding? He would never be back the way he was. It didn’t matter too much, but he hated feeling helpless. If he was back the way he was, he’d have to stop killing anyway in order to be with Buffy. Where was Buffy anyway? He hadn’t seen her, he had expected to see her, but he had had to run from the soldiers. He hoped she wasn’t worried.

      “Spike, lord knows why I’m telling you this, it’s for your own good. You should at least leave for a while. As long as the Initiative is in operation it’s not safe for you here.”

      “No.” It was Buffy! “It’s not safe for any of us.” He ran over to her and hugged her. She began telling them her story and he watched her. “So Maggie sends me down into the sewers with one of the Blasto-guns and the next thing I know, it’s raining monsters.”

      “Hallelujah!” Xander said mockingly, although Spike didn’t see what was funny about Buffy being attacked.

      “And then this gate slams down behind me and I try to use the gun but it goes ‘phitt!’”

      “You’re saying that Maggie Walsh set you up?” Giles asked.

      “That’s exactly what I’m saying. She sent me on a one way recon.” She sat on Spike’s lap and his hands wrapped around her waist possessively.

      “Gotta hand it to you Goldilocks, you do have bleeding, tragic taste in men.” He said, his tongue grazing over her neck at the base of her hairline. “I got a cousin married to a regurgitating Frovalox demon that’s got better instincts than you.”

      “Well it explains why I’m with you.” She smiled and kissed his cheek. “What do you mean?”

      “Okay, I think speak for everyone,” Xander said, “when I say that we DON’T want to see you two making with the smooches, under a spell or not. I don’t care if you’re freakin’ married, I don’t want to see this. It’s too weird. We already went through this with one undead guy, we don’t need another. I just want that out in the open! When we start being stalked again, I’m not gonna hold back from saying ‘I told you so.’ Okay?”

      “Xander, we have more important things to talk about and guys who date ex-vengeance demons can’t REALLY pass judgment. What do you think would happen if she ever got her powers back?” She turned back to Spike. “Now what do you mean I have bad taste in men?”

      “This Riley guy, I don’t like him and you chose to trust him. Do you think he was out knitting booties while Maggie was stringing you up?”

      “Oh come on! You don’t think he had anything to do with this, do you?” She asked.

      “Buffy, while you were getting beaten up, he was out all over town chasing me. The buggers shot me in the back with some kind of tracer.”

      “Are you okay?” She asked, her fingers running to his back looking for a wound.

      “It’s fine now, but...”

      “Buffy, we’re just saying we’d be remiss if we didn’t think of all the possibilities.” Giles said.

      “Right, remiss. No. No. Maggie made sure Riley wasn’t around when she sent me on this very special ‘make Buffy dead’ assignment. I really don’t think he knew.”

      “And plus, Riley? He seems like he wouldn’t tell a little white lie. Let alone a whole bunch of big dirty ones. He’s just not the type to keep secrets.” Willow said.

      “That’s why they call it the ‘secret forces’ Will, cause they kinda keep the whole lying thing to themselves.” Xander said. He had a point. Spike didn’t like trust this Riley guy as far as he could throw him, especially with Buffy.

      “All I know is that Maggie has it in for me, which means the Initiative has it in for me.”

      “I’m guessing the mad scientist isn’t too keen on the fact that the entire Scooby Gang knows that the Initiative is up to no good.” Xander said.

      “Which brings us back to the ‘not safe for any of us’ concept.” Spike was worried, not only for himself, but if this Maggie woman wanted Buffy dead, and Maggie worked for the same buggers who’d fixed him, it couldn’t be good.

      “What could have happened to make Professor Walsh want to kill you?” Giles asked.

      “Yeah, good question.” Spike added.

      “I don’t know. She wasn’t too keen on the fact that I was asking a lot of questions, that’s for sure.” She leaned back against Spike’s chest and enjoyed the safe feeling his arms gave her.

      “So you were getting too close to something?” Demon girl said.

      “Clearly.” Giles said. “Although one can only imagine what she’d be so desperate to hide.”

      “Well...” Buffy stood up and walked over to his weapons chest. “Everybody, grab a weapon. We’ve gotta move.”

      “And storm the Initiative?” Xander took the axe from her. “Yeah, let’s take on those suckers!”

      “I was thinking more that we’d hide.” Buffy said.

      “Oh, thank God.” Xander put the axe down.

      “Buffy, I think perhaps we should talk about this.” Giles said.

      “No Giles, we need to relocate some place where we’re less likely to be found. Then we’re going to come up with a plan.”

      “We could go to my place.” Willow suggested.

      “The Initiative guys know how close we are. They’ll automatically check the places you hang out. Xander, what about your basement. They haven’t seen us together that much and there’s plenty of room.”

      “Oh, plus mirror ball!” Willow said.

      “Yes, come boogie.” Anya said less that thrilled.

      “Absolutely not. I will not squat in that dank hole.”

      “What? It was good enough for good old Spike, but you’re above it Watcher?”

      “Precisely.” Giles said. “Besides, I don’t see why we can’t stay right where we are. Because it’s very unlikely those Initiative boys are gonna come around here looking for...”

      Just then the door opened. “BUFFY!” It was the soldier, and he went over and hugged HIS Buffy. Spike got up to pull him off, but sat down when he knew he couldn’t hurt the jerk. Luckily Buffy pulled back. “God Buffy. Are you okay? What happened?”

      “You know?”

      “I know something went down. Tell me.”

      “Maggie tried to kill me.”

      “It didn’t work, but they’re all upset anyway.” Spike looked at Anya and she winked at him.

      “Okay, listen.” Riley said. “I need you to go over everything. Step by step. There has to be some kind of mistake.”

      “There was no mistake! And how do you know something happened?” Xander asked.

      “I was on a mission.” The boy started. “But I came back and I’m not sure. Let’s just keep our heads and not jump to any...” Riley looked at Spike. Great!

      “What Riley?” Buffy asked.

      “That’s Hostile 17.” He said pointing at Spike.

      “Uh, no! I’m just a friend of Xanderrr’s... bugger it. I’m your guy.” He stood up.

      “This is Spike. He’s uh... it’s a REALLY long story. But he’s not bad anymore.”

      “Hey!” He looked at her. “What am I? A bleeding broken record? I’m bad! It’s just... I can’t bite anymore. Thanks to you wankers.” Why hadn’t she said anything?

      “We’ve been looking all over the place for him but you’ve known where he’s been all along?”

      “It’s not like that Riley.” Spike was mad, she wasn’t saying anything.

      “Then what is it like? What’s he doing here?” She was ashamed of him. She looked at him as if to say ‘sit down.’ But he would not be bossed around, least of all by the Slayer.

      He brushed past her and she tried to grab his arm, “I’m leaving you swabs to your dramatics. Thanks. I’ve got my stories on the telly for that.” He faced Buffy, “Obviously we have some issues to deal with, but I’m not gonna stick around to get caught again. Not for anything.”

      He opened the door and threw his duster over his head. “SPIKE!” She went to leave but Riley grabbed her arm.

      “You’re hiding an HST! What is this?”

      “Why don’t you just back off and let her ask the questions, jack? Your boss just tried to make monster food out of her!”

      “Look Riley, I HAVE to go. I’m sorry.” She ran out, toward the crypt. She opened the door. “Spike?” She closed the door and he was sitting behind it. “Spike, it’s not safe here. You didn’t have to leave.”

      “Why didn’t you tell him about us?” He stood up, he was hurt, she could tell.

      “Spike, how was I suppose to? When did I have the time. You can’t just come out and announce that I’m in love with a vampire. And I AM in love with you Spike.”

      “Buffy, the buggers shot me and wouldda gotten me, but I out ran them and damn near turned to dust.”

      “I know, but Riley can’t do anything about that. He follows orders and if he were to know that, they could use it against us. The less they know about our personal lives the better.” She pressed herself against him and ran her finger along his jaw line. “I’m sorry for not saying anything. I’d like to make it up to you.”

      “Oh yeah? How?”

      “I thought we’d sneak back over to my mom’s house while she’s at work and take a bath or a shower, or whatever.”

      “Whatever?” He said. “Exactly what does that entail?”

      “Well, why don’t we go and I’ll show you.” She smiled and grabbed his hand as he threw his duster over his head.

 

 

~El Fin~

 

 

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