Chapter 6 The New Girls

Chapter 6 The New Girls

Buffy, Faith, and Spike took the new girls on patrol in the old teal painted van Giles had found for such trips. They didn’t have far to go to the nearest cemetery. It would have been an easy walk but Giles had made Faith promise to take the van in case something happened because the nearest hospital was relatively far away.

The girls stood huddled around the cemetery entrance looking nervous. “Who here has been in a cemetery at night?” Buffy asked.

All four girls shook their heads.

Buffy looked from Spike to Faith and back to the girls, “Well… you’ll get used to it real fast. Feels like I’ve spent most of my life in them. We are here at this particular cemetery because the local paper reported some suspicious deaths and several missing persons reports in the area. These are the things we need to check out. The paper was vague but experience tells me that it’s probably a vamp.”

“It most likely is, but there are loads of other nasties that like to rip out throats so be on the lookout,” Spike added.

Faith stepped towards them with a leather messenger bag in hand. She pulled out four stakes and four small bottles of holy water for the girls, “Tonight will be your first test. Deloris and Thea you two will be with me. Sheena and Aretta with Buffy and Spike. We will be watching from a distance. If something comes at you, it is up to you to defend yourself and your partner. We will be close but don’t count on one of us saving the day. Any questions?”

“What do we do if it is not a vampire?” Aretta asked in a strong Nigerian accent.

As strong as Aretta’s accent was, it was nothing compared to Sheena’s Scottish brogue. Buffy had more trouble understanding Sheena than she did any of the other girls and the vast majority of the people she’d met in Scotland. It was bound to be an interesting night.

“The best you can, you might surprise yourselves. We’ll intervene if you’re in over your heads,” Spike switched to his vampire form. Deloris let out a little squeal. Spike ignored her and continued speaking, “For the record, you get in over your heads one of us will be there. I’ll be coming in hot. Remember, every vampire has two faces. This is mine, don’t get stake-happy with me, alright? Bad guys yes, Spike no. Got it?”

The girls nodded, and Spike let his face melt back into his human form.

Faith clapped her hands, “All right ladies, let’s head out. Thea and Deloris, You start out on the left. Aretta and Sheena go right. Cemetery loops around so we’ll meet up. We’ll give you a headstart. Good luck.”

Buffy sidled up to Spike taking his hand, “Nice job working in the self preservation angle.”

“Yeah, well I plan on getting lucky tonight and I can’t do that if I’m a pile of dust now can I?”

“Probably for the best, it’s always hard to predict how newbies are going to react. Speaking of which, you picking up on anything yet?”

Spike took a moment to concentrate and sniffed the air, “Nah, nothing yet. Nights still young. Tell me again why all three of us are out here?”

Buffy rolled her eyes and pulled him along with her, “Come on, last thing I want is for these girls to come up against something they’re not ready for.”

“They’re alright, we can still see ‘em.”

“Maybe you can,” she grumbled.

“You’re sexy when you pout. But seriously, is this the same woman I was with when we closed a bunch of girls into a crypt with a vamp?”

“That was different and you know it. They had to get it fast and they didn’t have Slayer strength. These girls… they have power but they’re still green. Same problem just reversed.”

Spike threw an arm around her shoulders, “You’re worrying too much, Love.”

“I like to think of it as making up for not being here the last few months. I know we said we were just coming to visit but I’m seriously thinking maybe this is where I need to be… I just hope Dawn understands.”

“You mean ‘where WE need to be’, don’t you?”

“That’s what I said wasn’t it?” She grinned innocently.

“No, but I’m not going to fuss,” They went on a little further in silence before Spike spoke again, “You know the older girls will be leaving soon. Heading off to wherever you’re sending them. I say let’s stay until they’re all trained up and out of here. Then we can resume our Euro-trip, head back to Rome, pick up the Niblett, and come back here, permanently.”

“Did you just ask to move in together? I mean we’re… and- and we’re staying in the same room… traveling… and I love that— we’re always together… wait— wait, wait…. are we somehow living together already and I didn’t realize it?” She turned to him with her eyes wide, “We just started… it— it's a new-- ok not NEW but it’s a new chapter of an old— oh my God, are we actually living together?”

Spike snorted out a laugh, “Hell if I know, Pet. Relax. Is it so bad if we are?”

“Spike, I—”

He was suddenly afraid of what she was going to say. Stuck your foot in it now didn’t you? Never even considered she might not be ready for that—

“Look. We don’t have to talk about this now. I know we haven’t actually been together long… not to mention you’ve never lived with any of your other— I just—-You have time. You live with a bunch of girls, if you want me to get a place of my own, I will. I’m sure Dawn and Willow will both have a weigh-in on that. We can—“

Buffy cut him off by placing a hand on his chest, he looked down at her hand, “Humm, Buffy?”

“Shhh, just-“ her attention was directed towards the girls in the distance. They were still walking along the cemetery path when a man in a suit stepped towards them. “Later. It's showtime, let's see what they do.”

One of the girls let out a nervous battle cry and charged. The vampire dodged the attack easily and flung her hard into a tombstone. Spike took a step forward, “Crap… rookie mistake. Come on,” he snarled.

Buffy put out a hand again, “Just a minute, let’s see how Aretta does. Can you see Sheena?”

“She landed over there behind those markers. We need to get closer,”

“This way,” they wound their way through the headstones until they had a better vantage point.

“Aretta is holding her own, do you see Sheena yet?”

“There-“ Spike pointed as Sheena used a headstone to pull herself up. The girl shook her head before quickly stooping down to pick up her stake and rejoined the fight just as Aretta landed on the ground with a thud.

A moment later both girls had the vampire cornered against the back wall of a crypt. Sheena kicked the vampire, pinning him to the wall with her foot, while Aretta staked him. The girls backed away looking at each other. Sheena held her hand up for a high-five, “I can’t believe we just did that!” She exclaimed before they slapped hands and burst out into a fit of nervous laughter.

Buffy and Spike came into view clapping slowly, “Not bad for your first time girls.”

“It was teamwork,” Aretta said, smiling at Sheena.

“You got a win and that’s great. You’re not done yet. We’re going to head over towards Faith and the other girls now. Maybe you’ll run into something else, maybe you won’t. Stay alert, got it?”

“Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison.

“We’ll go over stuff when we get back to the castle.”

The four of them made their way back onto the path that looped around the cemetery, the girls continued in front with Buffy and Spike following at a distance. “About earlier…” Spike started.

Buffy gave him a fleeting look, “Maybe we should talk about this later.”

“I- humm, yeah, sure. It’ll keep,” he nodded as he thrust his hands deep into his pockets.

They walked along in silence for several minutes. Spike started humming a song Buffy had heard but couldn’t place, “What song is that?”

“The Ramones, I’ve had it stuck in my head since I met Sheena.”

“Do I want to know why?”

“Kinda hard not to, songs called ‘Sheena is a Punk Rocker’, catchy tune too…” Spike continued to hum quietly as they walked.

It wasn't long before they heard the unmistakable sounds of a fight. “Aretta, Sheena,” Buffy called to the girls, “hang back behind us, at least until I can see what’s going on.”

The girls did as they were told following close behind. They redirected their steps, winding their way through the tall headstones as the fighting grew louder. It was sometime until they could see Faith and the girls standing back-to-back surrounded by at least ten vampires.

Buffy stepped towards them from behind a particularly tall headstone, “Is this a private party or can anyone join?” she asked loudly.

“Oh, hey B! Nice of you to join us. As you can see, our dance cards are pretty full, feel free to join in.”

“Sounds like fun, count us in,” Buffy said as she stepped forward to the closest vampire, “Any time, Honey! Bring the kids!” She yelled over her shoulder as she quickly staked the first one.

“Already on it, Pet,” Spike grunted as he blocked a kick from a tall, thin, female vampire. Spike caught her leg and sent her flying into a headstone. In one swift motion he pulled a small crossbow from a special sling he’d added to the inside of his jacket. He shot the vampire squarely in the chest turning her to dust.

Spike then reloaded his weapon and turned it on one of the three vamps Faith was facing, allowing her to stake the remaining two in quick succession.

“Thanks man,” Faith said, turning towards him, “hey where did Buffy go?”

“Saw one bolt, she’s probably gone after him.”

“Pretty sure we lost more than one. You go, I got the girls,” Faith said as she folded her arms in front of her. She watched as each of the girls squared off against their own vampire. “Keep your feet and follow through, Deloris!” She barked.

Spike caught up to Buffy just as she sent a dark haired vampire stumbling with a kick to the stomach. An extremely large and muscular vampire well over seven feet tall, came up from behind her. The vampire picked her up like a rag doll and started squeezing her like a soda can. Moving quickly, Spike ran forward throwing a rock at the massive vampire, “Oi, Andre the Giant! Put her down!” He yelled as the rock made contact with the back of his head and bounced off.

Spike maneuvered himself behind the oaf. He leapt up, wrapped his arm around his neck and began punching the gigantic vampire in the side of the head. The vampire stumbled forward into a tombstone pinning Buffy there. She let out a strangled scream of pain. Spike pulled up a stake driving the entire length of it into the back of the huge vampire. Spike leapt off as the vampire crumbled.

Buffy landed unceremoniously on the ground with a thud. She gasped for breath as she looked up to see the dark haired vamp coming back towards her. Buffy twinged in pain as she grabbed her stake and held it up at the last second as the vampire charged at her with his teeth bared.

“Think that’s all of them,” Spike said as he reached out a hand to help Buffy up. She gasped in pain. “Are you alright there, Love?”

“Think he might have cracked a rib, maybe two,” she said breathlessly.

“Shit. Come here, let’s get you back to the castle. Here, I got you,” he said, wrapping an arm around her.

They hadn’t made it far before Faith and the girls appeared from among the graves. “There you two are. The girls did great. They— You alright B?”

Buffy shook her head, “I’ll be fine, couple of cracked ribs.”

Faith made a face, “Yeah, those are never fun. Good thing we heal fast.”

“Yeah,” Buffy wheezed a little.

Faith turned to Spike, “Van is over that way. Let’s get your girl home. Make sure she didn’t do anything worse than crack ribs.”

Spike gave a quick nod and they all made their way back to the van. The girls talked excitedly all the while. “Looks like the night was mostly successful,” Buffy said.

Spike eased his grip on her a little, “How’s it going there, Love?”

“I’m starting to wonder if one of these is more than just a little cracked,” Buffy quietly gasped in pain as Spike helped her up into the front seat.

“Lift your shirt, Pet. Where’s it at?”

“Can’t we do this back at the castle?” She asked.

“I’m not stripping you down. Just want to get an idea of what we’re dealing with here.”

Buffy shifted and lifted her shirt a little, “Yeah alright.”

“Girl takes a couple dozen beatings, survives a few mortal wounds and she thinks she’s a hard-ass,” Spike teased.

Buffy chuckled then gasped in pain, “Oh, it hurts to laugh,”

“But you can, that’s a good sign,” he smiled at her. Buffy nodded in agreement.

Faith climbed into the driver’s seat, “All set, just waiting on you Spikey-boy.”

“Sod off, Faith, stop calling me that would you?” Spike grumbled as he climbed into the back seat with the girls.

“How about ‘Willy’?”

“Not if you value your life.”

“William,” Buffy murmured.

“Right here, Love,” Spike said as he pulled himself up so he could see her from around the back of the seat.

“Just proving a point,” she chuckled weakly.

“Very funny, you are,” he huffed as he sat back in his seat.

***** ***** ******

As Faith parked the van in front of the castle she addressed the girls as they filed out.

“Anyone else extra hungry?” Thea asked.

“How can you even think about food when Buffy’s hurt? Aren’t you concerned at all?” Deloris snapped.

“S’alright to be both, Dee,” Sheena replied.

“Sheena‘s right. It’s typical to be hungry after slaying. Go on girls, get your snacks and get to bed. I mean it, I’ll be around to check on you. Go on, we got this. We’ve all had worse, she’ll be fine.”

The girls protested but complied in the end. While Faith was dealing with them Spike got out of the van and offered to help Buffy down, “Thanks, but I got it.”

Spike stepped back to give her space. It was clear she was in pain but true to her word she was managing as they made their way in.

“Let’s get you in bed, let you heal properly.”

She nodded, “Maybe a little something to dull the pain,”

“I hear there’s something in the roll top,” Spike smirked.

“Count me in,” Faith chimed in as they walked up the stairs to the first floor. Buffy gritted her teeth and gripped the railing as they reached the first landing.

“Is there a reason we don’t use that?” Spike asked, gesturing to the closed off shaft for the elaborate birdcage style elevator.

“Yeah, cables are old as hell and frayed, the thing is a death trap.”

“So get your boyfriend to fix it,” Buffy gasped.

Faith colored slightly, “He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Here, Love. Let me. Still got a way to go here,” he wrapped an arm around her gently as she allowed him to help her up the stairs.

“For the record, I’ll fix the thing myself if it comes down to it. Even if we only use it for injuries,” Spike growled.

“Didn’t know you were handy,” Faith said as she followed them into their room.

“I’m no expert but it’s hard not to pick up a few things along the way. Anyone can become a Jack-of-trades if they live long enough. I figure an elevator as old as that, well it’s not exactly complicated is it?”

“Yeah, sorry, not really overwhelming me with confidence right now. I think I’m going to ask around.”

“Ask Callum,” Buffy insisted as she sat down on the loveseat in the seating area of their bedroom. She shrugged off her lightweight jacket and leaned back against the seat. Buffy took a few breaths and grimaced.

“Let’s take a look, Love,” he said, motioning for her to lift her shirt. Her right side was already bruising badly. Spike gingerly pressed his fingers to the area, Buffy let out a hiss of pain.

“Sorry, Pet,” he frowned as he moved to check the other side. The bruising wasn’t nearly as bad there.

“How’s our patient?” Faith asked.

“Definitely a couple a broken ribs on the right side there. I count two for sure, the third one is questionable, it's at least cracked.”

“I’m going to make sure the girls cleaned up the kitchen and I’ll bring up a couple of ice packs for you alright, B?”

“Thanks,” Buffy closed her eyes for a moment, “Spike, would you get my sweats and a clean tank, please?”

“No problem. Need help?”

“I’ll let you know.”

Spike shrugged one shoulder as he got the requested items from her drawers. “Are you cold?”

“Yeah, a little. Not everyone is impervious to temperature change.”

“I wouldn’t say that. Extreme heat or cold can be a bother.”

“Well sure, burning up or freezing solid would bother anyone,” she laughed weakly clutching her side.

“See what you get for poking fun?” He said teasingly as he handed her the clothes. “Are you sure you don’t want me to help?”

“Thanks but I think I got it, it's not my first broken rib.”

It did take her a little longer than usual but Buffy managed to get changed on her own. After which she went into the bathroom. While she was gone Spike decided to turn on the gas fireplace in their room. For the end of June it was unseasonably cool inside the castle that night.

He fished out two glasses and the whiskey from the desk, taking them over to the little table by the fire, and poured a small measure into each glass. Spike downed his glass and poured another.

There was a knock at the door before Faith pushed it open without waiting for an answer, “I got the big ice pack and a— Where’s Buffy?”

“In the loo.”

Faith eyed the glasses on the table, “One of those for me?”

“You bought the bottle. Ta by the way.”

“Figured we could use it at some point,” she said, taking a glass and sitting down on one of the chairs.

Spike sat across from her on the loveseat, “Yeah, doesn’t matter how many times I see her get hurt, it still gets me.”

“Guess that’s what love is huh?” Faith took a drink and settled back into her seat.

“Guess so,” he swallowed his drink and poured himself another, “Whiskey’s good, all that matters.”

Buffy came back in, walking stiffly, “Drinking without me?”

“I poured you one, Love,” he said, handing it over to her.

“Thanks, honey” Buffy moved to sit next to him and tilted her head up for a kiss, “Hum, whiskey.”

“You could almost get a bloke’s heart beating again.”

“Are we drinking or should I leave you two alone?” Faith interrupted.

“Drinks, then some serious sleep and healing,” Buffy said, curling up on the loveseat as best as she could.

He laid his hand on her knee, “You’re taking some time off. I’ll take over your training classes.”

“He’s right Buff, you definitely don’t want to re-break those suckers. I should know,” she paused to take a drink, “He shouldn’t have any trouble, they’re mostly in the training rooms anyway, we’ll work it out.”

“I can't just sit around,” Buffy said, taking a swallow of whiskey. She looked at the glass perplexed, “Wow. I normally don’t like whiskey.”

Spike grinned as he remembered the first time he shared a drink with Buffy in his crypt.

“Ok that’s it!” Faith groused, “tomorrow afternoon I’m going over to the hardware store and I’m asking Callum out for a drink.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Buffy said, emptying her glass, “You can ask him about the elevator too.”

“See, all this stuff here,” Faith twirled her finger in a large circle, “This is why I’m kinda hoping Callum is just a regular vanilla kind of guy… an open mind would be good though. Maybe vanilla with a little wild cherry.”

“Nice guys don’t often have bull-whips,” Spike smirked.

“Nice memory but its the quiet ones that surprise ya,”

Buffy narrowed her eyes and looked between the two of them, “Bull-whip?”

“Just an old story Faith told me a while back.”

“I probably don’t want to know.”

“Probably not,” Faith grinned as she took another sip of whiskey.

Buffy adjusted herself in her seat, wincing. Spike reached for Buffy’s drink, “Here, Love, finish this. We’ll get you to bed.”

“Humm, you just love getting me in bed.”

“True,” he stood up, holding his hand out to her. Buffy took his hand, allowing him to pull her up, “Tonight I’ll settle for you getting some rest and letting those ribs heal.”

“I should get going too, I need a shower.”

“Night!” Buffy called as Spike led her over to the bed.

Spike directed his attention back to Buffy, as Faith closed the door behind herself.

He pulled the blankets aside for her, “In you get, Slayer.”

Buffy slipped into bed carefully, “Spike?”

“Yeah?” He answered absently as he pulled the blanket over her.

She stilled his hand with hers, “I’m really sorry I freaked out like I did earlier.”

“Oh that-“, Spike started to say.

“Everything is so new. I just—”

“Hadn't thought that far ahead?” He asked, raising an eyebrow, as he stood up straighter.

Buffy didn’t release his hand, “Well no. I mean yes, you’re right, I haven’t… and when I did, it just really—“

“You just get some rest, Goldilocks,” he said, squeezing her hand and moving around to his side of the bed.

Buffy furrowed her brow finding it extremely difficult to get comfortable, “Are you sure we’re ok?”

“Course we are.” He gestured for her to sit up and slipped an extra pillow behind her.

She rested back onto the pillows, relaxing while Spike stripped down for bed. “You just seem off,” she stated.

Spike crawled into bed with her. Propping himself on one elbow to see her better. “You’re the one who’s hurt, Love. Let’s just focus on that alright?”

Spike laid awake half the night thinking and watching Buffy sleep.

God, I love her more than I’ve ever loved anyone. Course she loves me too. I know that— otherwise we’d both be barmy or dead. Don’t go questioning her now you nit.

But when we decided to make this official, I just assumed we would be together in all senses of the word. Including living together. But if Buffy isn’t sure… where does that leave me?

At arms length or worse. Bollocks, William. It’s you she comes to when she is in trouble and needs help. Must count for something. Or does it? Is simply loving someone enough?

He watched her as she took a deep breath and started to cough a little. She didn’t wake up but by the look on her face it was clear she was in pain.

He rested a hand high on her chest by her collarbone and she relaxed instantly. Her breathing eased and the look of anguish on her face melted away. It was a little thing but in that moment it was what they both needed. A comforting hand for her and reassurance that she didn’t just want him but also needed him. Spike fell asleep with that thought, his hand still resting on her chest. He didn’t notice the slim ghostly figure of a teenage girl watching them.

Chapter 42 Cabin Fever

Faith brushed dirt from her hands and sat down in front of Guinevere’s fresh grave. Callum threw down the shovel Faith had pilfered from the B&B’s garden shed and sat down next to her. “You alright?”

She shrugged, “She was a Slayer and I killed her.”

Callum straightened his back, “Self defense against a crazy woman thought to have been dead long ago, who just stabbed someone you care about. You didn’t know Buffy was going to pull through.”

“That’s just it, I’m not sorry… Not for that anyway.”

“But you feel sorry for her.”

“Yeah, I guess I kinda do. I mean this whole thing was seriously messed up from the beginning. Who’s bright idea was it to lock her inside a freaking cave anyway? That thing about it being for her protection was a crock of bull.”

He looked around at the seemingly idyllic forest landscape surrounding the cottage. It looked like something out of a Disney film. “Agreed. This place screams gilded cage.”

“Probably some Watcher’s Council BS, or maybe she was already going nuts or something. Who knows.” She said plucking a blade of grass and tearing it into little pieces.

“Are you going to be alright?”

“Always am.”

He wrapped an arm around her. “Babe, it’s me. Couples therapy, remember?”

“So much more fun when you’re naked.”

Callum chuckled, “Come on, beautiful, you wanted to check out the cottage some more, might find some answers.”

She sighed and pulled herself up. “Yeah, better see if there are any more bombshells waiting for us.”

*****

Buffy pushed herself up out of bed unsteadily. She was healing well but her chest and back seared with pain at every movement. She watched Spike sleeping for a moment as she gingerly shrugged on her robe before creeping out of the room. The bathroom door at the end of the hall was open and Buffy shuffled towards it. She was feeling fairly weak after everything and wouldn’t have gotten up at all if she didn't have to use the bathroom so badly.

She stood at the sink washing her hands and examining her reflection in the mirror. She was pale and looked exhausted. There were circles under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in a week. Her breathing was still a little off but at least she was ambulatory. Barely. This was definitely worse than the wound she had suffered at the Hellmouth.

The corner of the shower curtain caught her eye in the mirror.

Mmm… hot water sounds really good— I should probably get cleaned up and check out the damage for myself…

She sighed as she shrugged off her robe and the oversized shirt she had slept in. Then turned to look at herself in the mirror. She peeled off the bandage a few inches right of her sternum. It was a testament to how much the ordeal had upset Spike since he had yet to make a joke about her being stabbed in the boob. The slash was crusted over with blood. It looked like it was a few days old and had started to heal. She proceeded to contort her arm around to pull off the bandage at her back. Using the mirror she was able to see that side was healing just as well. The hilt of the sword had left a nasty bruise.

There were two baskets on the countertop filled with tiny bottles of shampoo and conditioner. A third basket was filled with what looked like little seashell shaped homemade soaps. Buffy grabbed one of each along with a fresh washcloth and proceeded to the shower. It was just as glorious as she had hoped it would be. The wounds were raw and burned under the water but it felt so good to get clean. She washed gingerly, watching trace amounts of blood and dirt run down the drain.

Could be worse, at least it doesn’t look like the shower scene in ‘Psycho’— She thought.

By the time she got back to their room she felt like she had just finished an extensive training session with the girls. She took the towel off of her wet hair and pulled her robe tighter around herself. Then collapsed back onto the bed as smoothly as possible and let out a hiss of pain as she eased against the pillows. The wound at her back stung dully and felt like one large bruise.

Because it is one big bruise.

She shifted awkwardly as she tried to get comfortable and swore under her breath. Spike lifted his head towards her groggily, “Alright, Pet?”

“I’m fine. Just doing the healing thing.”

He turned, propped himself up on one elbow with his head in his hand, “You smell nice. Shower help?”

“Yeah. I’m feeling better. Still hurts but you know how that goes—“ she cut off with a wince of pain.

“What do you feel like doing? Do you want to head home early or take a few more days here?”

“I hadn’t really thought about it. We should probably check out the cottage again.” She said pulling the blanket back over herself.

“Faith and Callum went this morning, been gone all day as far as I know.”

She nodded, “Alright. What about phone calls? Did you call Willow?”

Spike frowned and cleared his throat, “Not yet, I thought it might be better if you talked to her.”

Buffy looked towards the clock, “Almost dinner time. I’ll call later.”

“You should definitely eat something.”

“I look like death.”

“Nonsense. I look like death and no one bats an eye.”

“You look like you should be a male pinup in some dirty magazine.”

“You say the sweetest things,” he chuckled, “but seriously, you need to eat. Sure you’re a bit peaky but just as beautiful as ever, nothing a little makeup can’t fix if you’re all that worried.”

“Gee thanks,” her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Come on, you know I’m right.”

“Fine. can you hand me some clean clothes?”

“You need fresh bandages.”

She glanced over at the clock again, “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. They are looking better but I really don’t need them popping open if I have another coughing fit or something. Dinner actually sounds like a pretty great idea right now.”

Spike rolled out of bed and grabbed a clean pair of jeans and a shirt for himself. His own wound looked significantly better than hers but he was still moving rather stiffly.

“How are you feeling?” She asked.

“I’m alright, Pet. Bit tender, but then I don’t have to breathe so there’s that,” he said as he pulled his shirt on gingerly and went to get Buffy’s clothes out of her bag. He tossed them onto the bed next to her before grabbing the first aid kit.

Buffy slipped her robe off of her shoulders and Spike raised his eyebrows when he saw the wounds.

“Well, at least it’s starting to close a little.”

“Yeah, it’s not as bad as yesterday, still hurts like a bitch.”

“I hear you on that one.”

Spike moved around to her back laying a cool hand on her shoulder as he applied a fresh bandage. When he finished he ran his fingers down her arms, kissing her neck.

Buffy inhaled sharply at his tender caress and started to cough a little. “Sorry, Love,” he murmured as he moved back around to her front. He shook his head as he secured the bandage, “Likely to leave a scar.”

“Guess it’s a good thing my boyfriend thinks my scars are sexy.” She smirked.

“Bloody well right they are,” he crooned and leaned in to kiss her.

Buffy slowly pulled back from the kiss, “Humm, yeah, better not start anything we can’t finish.”

He pushed her clothes towards her, “Better put these on then.”

“Any idea what they are serving for dinner tonight?” She asked as she started to dress herself.

He sniffed the air, “Hard to tell over your soap but I’m thinking it smells a bit like a curry,” he answered as he helped her with her shirt.

“Sounds good.”

*****

Faith had spent the past couple of hours going through the cabin and more specifically the things in Guinevere’s bedroom. Her room was the most orderly place on the entire second level. It was also the only room they had found so far that didn’t have any drawings on the walls. The only thing that really stuck out was the enormous bookcase along one wall that was completely filled with journals and sketchbooks. They were stacked on top of the bookcase until they reached the ceiling. There were no other books. Not one.

This is a job for the brains… I can’t do this shit…

Faith thought as she flipped through one of the journals.

She scoffed and went back out into the hall behind Callum who had brought his camera along and was now taking pictures of the drawings covering the walls in the upstairs hallway. The drawings looked like they were done in charcoal from the fireplace. It looked as though Guinevere had tried to wash them down a few times but had started over again. Most of the drawings were of things that happened years before she and Buffy were called but a few looked familiar. One such drawing looked remarkably like Angelus and it made Faith shudder.

Another drawing showed a depiction of what was clearly mayor Wilkins turning into a giant snake. She had been in a coma at the time and had only heard about the events after. Although, surprisingly, it wasn’t half as bad as seeing the Beast she had faced in LA just after she broke out of prison; when Angel had lost his soul.

There was even a scene depicting Angelus feeding off of her. She had nearly died from the substance she had injected into herself in order to knock him out. It had ended up being an odd bonding experience for them in the end. It was strange and more than a little unnerving to see it on the wall like that.

Faith sat down on the floor staring at the drawings.

Callum lowered his camera and looked down at her, “You alright, darling?”

She didn’t respond immediately, “All of this is just seriously freaking weird. Like scenes from my life and it’s just really nuts-o-plenty.”

“I can imagine. I don’t know how I’d feel if it were me.” He shrugged, “Did you see the one in the bedroom at the end? There’s one with a guy collapsed over a cross, I swear it looks like Spike from the back. Got the hair anyway. It’s really freaky.”

“Yeah it really does. What did you think of the ice monster one?”

Callum shrugged, “Bit over the top aesthetically, speaking. Looks like a giant icicle thing with claws and teeth.”

Faith had to laugh, “Yeah pretty much. Got to say I’m kind of glad I haven’t had to fight that one. Not really a fan of the whole snow and ice-mountain cave-dweller scene. And what’s with the Yeti looking thing with the box?”

“You’re the expert here.”

“Right—“ she gave him a skeptic look and shrugged it off.

“What do you make of that one?” He asked, pointing to his left. Most of the drawings there were so corrupted by intersecting lines, neither of them could figure out what they were supposed to be.

“Not a clue, most of this looks like complete garbage. Make sure you get pictures of everything though.”

“On it, Lass.”

“Did you have a chance to check out those last two rooms?”

“Ahh, I got the one on the left you already checked out . Not much in there, in the way of artwork. You already saw the two sets of bunk beds without mattresses. Kinda looks like she just piled stuff up in there that reminded her of her family,” His shoulders dropped a little, “This place is bloody depressing.”

She crossed her arms over her chest as she scanned her eyes over the walls. “Giles would blow his intellectual wad in here. Probably wouldn’t be able to get him to shut up about the place.”

“Trust me, if it weren’t for the creep-factor I’d probably be right along with him.”

“Yeah well I’m going to check out that last room.”

Faith padded down the hallway a little. The door opened a crack and she gasped when the sight of a woman met her; before she realized it was yet another drawing. The room had been completely cleared out. Every reachable surface had been drawn on. Black lines of charcoal covered nearly every inch.

The drawing of the woman that had first caught her attention, took up about half of one wall. She was thin, dark haired and wore a white empire waist gown with blood dripping down the front of her. She was surrounded by children of various ages, and fire.

A wall of blood red fire stood behind the figures in the drawing. It was one of the only drawings that had any color added and Faith realized with a jolt that it was probably blood. Maybe from one of the animals Guinevere had killed.

Faith pulled herself away from the intense stare of the two dimensional woman to examine the rest of the drawings. Demons in all shapes and sizes dotted the walls. A flayed man bound between two trees. Another man arched in pain as light shot out of his eyes and mouth obscuring his features. A woman with blonde hair that looked like it could be Buffy, punching her fist into a demonic Frankenstein’s monster. There was an odd image of a woman floating, dressed in all black with black hair and eyes and unnerving black veins running across her exposed skin.

Faith had no way of knowing if most of these drawings were from the past, present, or future. She had heard stories about Willow going dark and wondered if the last drawing could possibly be her.

Callum walked in, disrupting her thoughts, “Bloody hell—“ he breathed, “Glad I brought extra film.”

“You’re not kidding.”

He pointed towards the picture that had originally caught Faith’s eye, “Who do we think that is?”

Faith frowned, “That would be Spike’s ex.”

*****

Buffy and Spike had just gone into the great room after dinner when Faith and Callum returned to the Inn. Buffy was starting to feel significantly better after getting some food in her stomach. Spike had been right to insist she eat.

Faith plopped down on the couch next to Buffy, jostling the cushions and making Buffy wince.

She turned to glare at her, “Easy, bouncing Betty.”

“Sorry about that B, kind of a rough day.”

“How so? What did you guys find?”

Callum sat in a wingback chair next to the spot Spike had taken up on its twin in front of the unlit fireplace.

Faith sighed and shifted further into the cushions, “Well, we took care of Guinevere and checked out her graffiti. It’s really extensive, there is so much crap to go through there.”

Spike leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Anything of note?”

“Lots. Some of it was stuff I know already happened. Like she was having Slayer dreams about us. I really don’t believe she didn’t know Slayers were still around. I really think she was playing us from the get-go.”

Buffy hugged a throw pillow to her chest, “I wondered when you first told us about the drawings. It’s really wiggy.”

“She had to have known.”

“Maybe it sort of added to driving her round the bend.” Callum suggested, “Don’t forget bout the journals and the sketchbooks we found too.”

“Ohh yeah, thanks babe. Yeah she had like hundreds of these things on a big bookshelf in her bedroom. I only flipped through a couple of them but she was definitely losing it for a while.”

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Buffy frowned.

Faith turned back to Buffy, “I had Callum get pictures of all of it. And we grabbed a few of the journals for Giles but there are too many of them to even think about taking with us.”

“At least we have the sword and we can get back in. I’m sure Giles is going to want to check it out.”

“Probably. But one thing at a time. We’re going to have to get the film developed when we get back. I can tell you one thing though,” she rolled her head towards Spike, “there’s one hell of a portrait of your ex in there.”

Spike shifted forward a little more, “Dru?”

“Oh yeah. Looking real creepy with a bunch of kids around her and all this blood dripping down. It’s freaky.”

“Well that tracks. She always did have a thing for kids.” His tone was matter of fact, he wasn’t surprised in the slightest.

“Not helping the creep factor here,” Faith groused.

“Anything else?”

Faith adjusted herself on the couch, “Not a clue really. You figure some of those drawings could be almost as old as the cabin. I only know the ones that I either lived through or heard stories about. Like this one that looks like it could be Willow when she went all dark-side, but I couldn’t tell you if that already happened or if she’s going to go dark again.”

Buffy frowned at that, “Will has been doing really well with the magic stuff but this thing with Kennedy—“

“Yeah what’s going on with that bitch anyway?” Faith asked.

“As long as she’s still in Australia and far far away from Willow and my sister, I don’t really care.”

“You better be careful she doesn’t come back round. My sister-in-law had that problem with her ex before my brother. Sort of how they met, actually.”

“I know Giles has connections in Australia; they are supposed to be keeping tabs on her.”

Callum raised his eyebrows and glanced over at Spike, “Probably for the best I take it?”

“Any more trouble out of her and I’ll happily rip her throat out.”

“Never did get that third notch did you?” Faith said.

He smirked, “Oh I got my notch alright. Brought the house down.”

Buffy blushed, “Oh my word, do you have to bring that up?”

“Don’t care what you say, Pet. You don’t forget your first time, especially when we started out on the ground floor and ended up in the basement. God, that was a fun night.”

Callum bit back a laugh, “Now I understand why you laughed at me for breaking the bed.”

“Wow, B, didn’t know you had it in you.”

“How’bout all the furniture I had to replace in my old crypt?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Buffy glared at Spike, “You are—“ Doing this on purpose.

You bet I am, Slayer. Know it’s gonna be a bit before you’re up to anything, got to keep things interesting.

She rolled her eyes at his smirk, “Anyway… enough about our sex-life; what are you two up to tonight?”

“I could definitely use a drink or twelve,” Faith answered.

“Absolutely,” Callum stood, extending his hand towards her, “can I buy you a drink, beautiful?”

She let him pull her up, “You know it.”

Buffy let out a tired sigh, “I have some serious phone calls to make, I guess.”

Faith turned toward her as Callum wrapped an arm around her waist, “You still haven’t checked in with Giles and Willow?”

“No, not yet.”

Faith snorted, “Good luck with that.”

“Gee, thanks.” Buffy pouted a little.

“Giles can wait a bit can’t he?” Spike asked.

She sighed, “Yeah, I won’t be able to get him off the phone if I mention Queenie. I definitely need to call Will and Dawn though. Get her filled in and make sure everything is alright there. Go on, you three go get your drink on, I’ll be phone-call girl.”

Spike leaned forward taking her hand, “Doesn’t seem fair.”

Buffy shrugged a shoulder, “I’m not really feeling the drinks tonight. I’m actually thinking more sleep.”

“Probably do you some good, Love.”

*****

The inn had a small bar at the back of the dining room. The three of them sidled up to the bar, Faith sitting between the two men.

“How is B doing, I mean really?” Faith asked abruptly.

“She’s alright. Don’t think it’s all sunk in just yet.”

Callum raised a finger in the air to get the bartender’s attention, “Could we get a bottle of whiskey and three glasses here?”

“Straight to the point. Can see why you like this one, Doe-eyes,” Spike said as the bartender set down the glasses and retrieved a bottle of whiskey.

“It’s not the only reason but it’s definitely a perk.”

“I bet,” Spike gave a weak chuckle and shook his head, “this little trip has gone a bit sideways, hasn't it?” he added as the bartender set the bottle down in front of them and started to pour.

Callum chuckled darkly and took his glass, “Never a dull moment with you lot, I’ll say that.”

“I’ll drink to that. Cheers, mate.”

“Cheers,” Callum and Faith echoed.

The three of them shot back their drinks and clunked them down onto the bar before Spike refilled them.

“So what now?” Callum asked.

“Probably just finish out our long weekend here and head home. Don’t think Buffy is too keen to head back early and should be just about healed by then.”

“Brilliant. It’ll give me a chance to paint the view.”

Spike snorted into his shot glass.

Callum grabbed the bottle and refilled Spike’s glass, “What’s that? You going to write us a sonnet?”

“Piss off,” he muttered, biting back a grin. He had to admit, it was nice having another guy around he could call a friend.

“Do I need to leave you two creative types alone?” Faith smirked, downing another drink.

“Oh is that what you think?” Callum laughed as he wrapped an arm around her waist, “Cheeky one, you are,” he pulled her into a kiss, delving deep and leaving her breathless.

“Wow,” Faith sounded dazed when she spoke.

Spike downed another shot, “Maybe it’s me that should leave the two of you alone.”

“You’re good. Promise to save it for the bedroom, mate,” he squeezed her to him, “Right darlin’?”

“Might be time for us to turn in.”

“I probably shouldn’t make a night of it anyway. No telling how things are gonna go if Buffy gets into things with Dawn. Bit’s libel to take it badly.” He paused looking at his glass and filled it again, drinking it quickly.

He was more than a little apprehensive about what this all meant for their relationship. On one hand he was overjoyed with the prospect of having her by his side indefinitely but at the same time he worried about how she would handle watching her loved ones grow old and die. He had never really had that problem but he was sure she would.

“Girl can be savage when she wants to be.” Faith commented.

“Got that right,” he downed another shot and slid from his stool slapping some money down, “I’m going to see how she’s faring.”

*****

When Spike got up to their room, Buffy was in her pajamas and sitting up on the bed with her phone in her hand. She glanced up at him when he came in and he immediately noticed her yes were slightly red at the corners.

“Alright, Slayer? You get through to Roam?”

Buffy cleared her throat, “I talked to Willow.”

He strode over to sit with her, watching her intently. “What is it?”

Buffy shook her head, “I hum, I sort of chickened out.”

“You didn’t call?”

Her voice was rough, “I did. I talked to Willow, checked in on the Rome situation with Kennedy being gone. Violet has sort of taken over, who would have thought huh?”

It was clear she was stalling. “Timid little ginger right?”

“Yeah. Turns out she’s kind of a natural leader, just needed a confidence boost.”

Spike nodded, it was always good to have an update but he couldn’t let her change the subject either. “Good for her but what about Red? What’s going on there?”

She twisted her hands together around her phone, still clutching it, “Oh I got her all filled in no problem. Told her everything we know so far and then— I asked to talk to Dawn. Spike, I completely froze. I don’t even know why. I was doing fine and then when I heard her voice—- I just couldn’t tell her what happened. I started babbling about the B&B; what a nice room we have. I sort of tried to push past the freak-out and started to tell her about the cave but then I just made it sound like we went sightseeing or whatever. It was so stupid.”

Spike pulled her into him, letting her rest her head in the crook of his neck. “This hasn’t exactly been a lovely seaside holiday, Pet. Point of fact I’m not surprised in the least. You’ve been through a lot, we all have. You’re so used to just gettin’ right back up no matter what knocks you down like some sodding punch-clown. You’re still human, sweetheart.”

“Am I?” It was almost a whisper.

He had half expected her to say something like this but it still struck him like a kick to the stomach. “Course you are, Love. You’re just a little something extra. Like a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream and a cherry on top.”

Buffy snorted a tiny laugh, “You’re such an idiot.”

“Yeah but you love me so what’s that say about you?”

“As long as we get to be idiots together.”

“Always.”

Chapter 2 Demon

It was well past noon when Buffy slipped out from Spike’s side. He hadn’t been sleeping long. She had been watching him, reveling in his presence, before hunger got the better of her. In a matter of minutes, Buffy snuck out of the hotel to make it over to the cafe and the butchers for their “breakfast”.

It was a bright, beautiful day. She had the man she had been longing for fast asleep in her bed. A box of French pastries in her hands, a large cup of coffee for her and a bag with a container from the butcher for Spike. So what if the big bad caught up with them tonight? They had faced bad before, now they were together they would face bad again.

Buffy smiled brightly as she returned to the hotel lobby. “Bonjour, Mademoiselle!”

“Bonjour! Beautiful day isn’t it?”

“Oui, it is. Was everything alright this morning with your- eh, guest?”

“Oh yeah, he found me just fine,” she smiled.

“I don’t mean to intrude but there had been a few complaints of noise coming from your room after your visitor arrived this morning. There was some concern for your safety.”

“Sorry if we disrupted anyone. I assure you, we’re both totally fine.” She was trying not to grin.

The receptionist looked her over. Buffy looked like the very picture of health and happiness in the yellow sundress she had thrown on with her slip-on tennis shoes, “I am glad to see you look well.”

“Yup, I’m great, better than great. Thanks!” She added as she scurried away back to her room.

Spike hadn’t moved a muscle since she left. Damn, he looked good laying there. He was lying on his stomach with his head under a pillow. The sheet had slipped exposing his bare back. She took in the sight a little longer than necessary, she could hardly believe he was real.

Buffy grinned as she slid off her shoes. She made herself comfortable on the bed next to him with a pastry in one hand and the TV remote in the other. “That didn’t take long,” he drawled before she even flicked on the TV.

“Sneaky, I thought you were asleep” she said as she clicked it on and started to flip through the channels.

“You should talk, Love. You’d better have something over there for me” he said as he reached his arm around Buffy’s thigh.

“Down boy” she giggled “I figured you’d want some sleep before tonight.” She set down the remote, settling on what looked like a French comedy of some sort.

“I am a bit knackered, but hunger’s winning out.”

Buffy grinned “Me too, I got pig’s blood and pastries, what do you want?”

Spike gave her thigh a squeeze before sitting up next to her “Let’s have the blood then.”

She handed the blood over to him, and grabbed her coffee. “There were a few complaints at the front desk. Apparently we were a little loud, they were afraid for my safety after you showed up.”

“Oh that’s rich,” he chuckled and took a drink of blood.

She swallowed a bite of her croissant, “I thought you’d find that funny.”

“The bad boy look strikes again.” He smirked.

“The eyebrow scar really sells it.”

“Yeah, got a couple of new ones to go with it too.”

“I noticed.” She quipped, and took a sip of coffee. “So what else do we know about this thing?”

“I couldn't find a lot on it on my own, Willow found a bit more. From what she says and what I’ve pieced together from those dreams I had been having, it's a breeder and that one I just killed was its mate. I’m thinking that this thing can track a whole lot better than I can. I only found you so fast because I had help. This thing… I’m not sure… I haven’t been near you till now so it couldn’t have smelled you on me… it would have gone for Harmony first if that was it but it came straight for you.”

Buffy’s mouth dropped open, “Harmony?”

Spike winced, “Remember that thing I said I regretted?”

“But— Harmony?” She slapped his shoulder.

“Ouch!!” He recoiled slightly, “She was Angel’s secretary…”

“You and Harmony? Again?”

“Not like you never sought out an ex. Besides, it was more of a ‘Hello’ really…”

“You’re going to throw Angel back in my face? That was a kiss! Not… oh my god— Harmony?”

“Yeah well there were extenuating circumstances, sure she’s got the IQ of a potted plant but you got to remember that I’d just got back to a solid body. Harmony was standing there and… eh well, coming back like that, it huh— had side effects… ” he mumbled the last bit then added, “It was just the once, not even really— didn’t go well to be honest… ” He shifted closer to her, resuming his original place.

Buffy raised her eyebrows, “Uhh Huhh…”

“Oh, yeah? Like you’ve been a nun since I left.”

She looked a little uncomfortable, “Well yeah, pretty much.”

“Pretty much?” He frowned.

“Well I didn’t join a convent but I only had the one boyfriend-“

He snorted, “Right boyfriend, I had what amounted to half a nooner. While you shacked up with the freakin Immortal… can’t stand that guy.”

“How’d you--” she tried to speak around a mouthful of pastry.

He sighed, leaning back against the pillows, “Angel and I were on a business trip in Roam.”

“You were? Why didn’t you come find me then?”

“Not for lack of trying I’ll tell you. Probably stopped by your apartment three times before we had to leave; even caught a glimpse of you for a minute in a nightclub. Saw you with the git. Stake to the heart would have hurt less. The whole trip was a massive pain.”

“You really have a problem with him, huh? You know, I bet if you got to know him you’d realize he’s actually a pretty good guy.”

“Oh trust me, I know the Immortal about as well as I want. If he’s such a catch then why’d you ditch ‘im?”

“Well yeah we broke it off; we both knew it wasn’t love for either of us. We had fun together, we talked a lot. Sometimes even about you.”

“You talked about me with that—” he cut off, biting the inside of his cheek.

“Not by name exactly, might have found out about your history with him if I had told him your name, but yeah. He knew I had lost someone I was in love with. I hum— I was pretty cut up after you died. I tried to hide it from the rest of them but he picked up on it. He was really insightful.”

“Next you’ll tell me he ‘felt like sunshine’… you know, if you tell me I have him to thank for our, ehh— reunion… I might just have to stake myself.” He bit back a growl.

“You’ll do no such thing! And I never said anything about ‘sunshine’ . Who talks like that? Except… Drusilla…” she grabbed a second croissant from the box, this one was studded with pistachios. “Now, how is this thing tracking me? How can we draw it out?”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” he said as he took a large gulp of blood, “far as you knew, I was properly dead,” he shrugged, “can’t really get too twisted up about that, Love.”

He cleared his throat as she shot him a disapproving look.

“Fine, I’ll drop it. As for drawing out this beastie… well, if this thing is what Willow and I think it is, then I’d say we’ve already done it.”

“Eww…”

“Not sex, well yeah… alright maybe that.” he grinned wolfishly, “I’m thinking it’s on a much deeper level than just great sex, it’s more mystical. This thing could be sensing who we’re bound to or—”

“Bound to?”

“You know damn well what I mean.”

She gave him a little smile, “Yeah, I think I do,” she cleared her throat, trying not to let herself get distracted, “So this thing is what exactly, some kind of a ‘Love’ demon?”

“Don’t scoff, you of all people should know how love can be twisted and turned into something horrific. This thing isn’t to be trifled with.”

“We both know something about that.”

“Couple of sodding experts, we are.” He took a drink and swallowed as he sat up a little straighter “So our ‘Love Demon’, stupid name by the way…”

“Hey!” She swatted him playfully.

“Just call ‘em like I see ’em, Pet. What I’m saying is that this thing feeds off the energy love produces. The information on the thing is sketchy at best and the dreams are more like nightmares. I’d get flashes of what the demon had intended to do to you and that was worse. I’m sure he wanted to draw me out and I complied like a sodden fool in love, but what was I supposed to do? I don’t know, do you have a better idea?”

“Not really… You really are a romantic aren’t you?”

“Oh come on now, you’ve known that for years,” he rolled his eyes then added, “you tell anyone, I’ll bite you just for fun.”

“Your not so secret, secret is safe with me,” she smirked. “Should we be concerned that we just lured this thing into the most romantic city on the planet?”

“Should be a grand time” Spike said dryly as he downed the rest of his blood and grabbed a pastry “I’ll say one thing, the French definitely know food.”

“You are a really weird vampire.”

He shrugged, “What can I say? I like having a different texture every once in a while. Spice things up a bit. Try something different.”

“I don’t think I ever saw Angel eat anything solid.”

“Yeah well consider the source, git never did get the idea of just having fun for the sake of it.” He took a bite, chewing thoughtfully, “The last time I was through here I met a bloke that used to be a chef, he liked to experiment with different foods, flavors, textures, usually mixed with blood. That’s where I picked it up.”

“That’s right, you’ve been here before.” She frowned slightly.

“Didn’t really get to enjoy it. Dru hated it here so we didn’t stay long. Doesn’t really seem to have changed all that much, a bit more modern of course. I’d love to take you around, maybe take in some of the sights.”

“I’d like that.” She paused thoughtfully as they continued to eat. Then she had an idea. “Do you think this demon could be in the catacombs?”

“I was thinking along those lines too, there’s a fair bit that’s blocked off from the public, it would be a prime spot for a baddie like that. If memory serves correctly I think there should be an access point not too far from where we are.”

She shifted herself as she cleared the pastry box off the bed. “So it’s settled, you get some sleep. We’ll head out after sunset, see if we can’t bag a baddy.”

“I’ll sleep on one condition, Love .”

“What’s that?”

“Stay with me?” He asked softly.

“Well, since you asked.”

****** ******* ******

The sun was just setting as Buffy leaned against the wall watching Spike get dressed. She had already changed into a pair of jeans and a pink short sleeved top.

“Something a matter, Slayer?”

“Nah, just enjoying the reverse striptease.”

“Uhh, humm?” He shot her a wicked smile.

“Don’t worry, you can strip for me later” she grinned.

“Oh I’d be happy too, Pet.” He pulled on his shirt, “You about ready?”

“Sure am,” she said, giving her ax a twirl, “Kinda wish I had my sythe, but this little guy gets the job done pretty well.”

“Got a sword and another ax like that one in my bag.” He gestured behind her.

“Fun, fun, fun!” She said as she turned around to pull them out of the bag, “Did you steal these from Angel?”

“Training room at Wolfram and Hart, some people steal paper clips,” he shrugged.

Buffy grinned, “Much more useful than a paperclip.”

He got his jacket, took the sword and strapped it into a scabbard at his waist.

“Did you forget to tell me you became a knight?”

He laughed, “Don’t be daft, Love, it’s just easier to conceal under the coat.”

“Nice thing about stakes and the smaller crossbow, they fit in my bag. Not so much with the ax.” She frowned down at the ax.

“Yeah well with any luck we won’t see too many people.”

“If it wasn’t so warm I’d take a page out of your book and wear my long jacket,” she shouldered her ax and handed the other one to Spike.

“Yeah well I’ve been thinking about this jacket. It’s more like armor anymore, put it on when I’m getting ready for a fight.”

“I can see that. I also think it suits you, but that’s probably because I’m used to it. There’s nothing wrong with switching it up.”

“Ehh well, maybe. Right this way, my lady…” he said as he opened the door for her.

“If ax throwing is your idea of a date, you got some work to do mister,” she said loudly as an older couple passed them in the hall, gaping at the weapons.

“Laugh it up, Pet.”

She giggled and looked up at him as they walked down the stairs then out into the lobby. ”Think about it, we’ve never actually been on a real date.”

He inclined his head in agreement, “After we handle this bad boy, I’ll take you out proper if that’s really what you want.”

“I’d like that” she answered as they stepped out onto the street.

“Now that’s something that never gets old,” Spike murmured as he sniffed the night air. He tilted his head back, inhaling deeply.

Buffy glanced over at him, “Wait, did you pick up on something already?”

He shook his head grinning and slipped his hand into his pocket fishing for a cigarette. “I’m good but I’m not that good, Love. No, I was talking about the city. Paris at night.”

He pulled out his lighter, lit the cigarette and took a long drag. They walked a little while before Buffy spoke again. “It’s funny, I’ve been here for almost a week, and I really haven’t gone out at night.”

“She who stalks the night stalkers, hasn’t been out at night?”

“Vacation, Spike. This is my vacation,” she huffed.

A plume of smoke came out as he chuckled darkly, “Right, are you sure you don’t want me to just handle this thing myself so you can get back to your vacation, Dear-heart?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, stopping on the sidewalk. She rested the head of her ax on his shoulder, hooking it around the back of his neck and pulling him into a kiss so roughly that he nearly dropped his own ax. They released the kiss but stayed standing together. “I was actually just thinking vacation is kind of boring without killing something.”

Spike ran his freehand over her hair then reached up to release her ax from the back of his neck. He ran his hand along the handle until he reached her hand wrapping his fingers around hers. “Now you’re singing my tune, ma belle petite fleur,” he murmured as he kissed her again.

She pulled back from the kiss, “Aren’t you just full of surprises?”

“Don’t get too excited, my French isn’t great but I get by.”

The two of them walked through the streets to the nearest entrance of the catacombs. It was a quiet night. They only passed a few people here and there on their way. None of them seemed to really notice them until a group of drunk coeds passed noisily. One of the guys dressed in a slim blue suit, started hitting on Buffy in French. Both Spike and Buffy ignored him until he tried to grab her ass.

Spike turned but Buffy was faster. She dropped the ax she had been carrying and twisted the kid’s arm behind his back. Then pushed him into the arms of his friends. He made a move to get up just as Spike stepped up behind Buffy looking menacing without really trying. Buffy waved him down “Not worth it…”

Spike simply scooped down to pick up the ax, “Didn’t think it was. Just getting this, Pet.” he said as he gave the ax a flick, twirling it in the air and catching it before he handed it back to her. As he did he gave her a kiss on the temple. The kid and his friends gaped at them both.

Buffy waved them away with a shooing motion. “Go on, nothing to see here.”

Spike gave a mirthless laugh, “You heard the lady— Vous avez entendu la dame! Circulez, il n'y a rien à voir,” he repeated in French. Buffy gave him a sideways glance before turning to him, ignoring the co-eds Buffy gave him a chaste kiss. They turned away from them as she put an arm around Spike, “I seriously don’t miss stupid college kids.”

“You do realize they are nearly the same age as you right?”

Buffy snorted, “Age, maybe, but that’s about it.”

It wasn’t long after that when they reached the hidden entrance to the catacombs Spike remembered. It was blocked off but that didn’t stop them. Once inside they followed the tunnels, twisting and turning under the city like a labyrinth.

“Always thought, this was pretty cool down here—“

Buffy shot him a look, then shrugged, “You know what, I can’t believe I’m saying this. You have a point, actually, it is kind of cool in a super creepy kind of way.”

They had only been walking through the catacombs for about an hour and a half when they heard it. A deep rasping voice emanating from the shadows “Foolish vampire, you think We can’t sense you coming? And your little bitch too?”

Spike put a hand out to Buffy, “Sort of counting on it, Elphaba.”

Buffy gaped, “Elphaba?”

“What? I get out… shhhh…” he said in an undertone.

“We could taste you. You and the little one there... coupling… it was… delicious. The pleasure, the pain, the passion… love…” it sneered and gave a shuttering gasp. As it spoke Buffy had the impression that the two heads were taking turns to speak. They could barely make it out in the dark, but they knew it was moving closer.

The creature continued on, “So raw, so pure… so decadent, not like most of the love We’ve tasted. This place is ripe with it and yet you, Vampire; the soul you possess sings with it! It is on fire with love. Love, delicious love in all its complexity. The air around the two of you is thick with it” the creature let out an indecent moan.

“Alright, that was way too much information… you get the feeling we just walked in on this thing’s ‘personal happy time’?” Buffy murmured, disgusted.

“Think so, Pet.”

As they drew closer to it, the demon came into view. Its two heads sat squarely on top of extremely broad shoulders that looked as though they were encased in golden scales over its grayish green rock like skin. The beast was broad and muscular. As it drew nearer they could see their suspicions were correct. The demon was indeed holding himself in a clawed hand.

“Spike? Is it? Oh god…” Buffy screwed up her face in revulsion.

“Really wish it wasn’t… Damn, looks like big boy’s happy to see us.”

“Yuck! Oh that’s disgusting. Yeah buddy, you’re going down just for that!”

“Can say that again. Very, very, very happy to see us… pervert.”

“The girl, she is nearly as delicious,” the demon continued on, as though they were not speaking, the heads still taking turns to speak. “She, oh… she has known love with not one but two vampires! Both possessing souls, how rare, how delicious… the first, her first, we taste it… desire for flesh, desire for acknowledgement, a love ripped away, forbidden… and now… nearly forgotten— oh how tragic…” the demon’s eyes flashed, “you have both known lesser lovers; they matter not to us,” both heads spat.

Spike whipped his head towards her and back to the demon, “Don’t listen to it…”

Buffy stood transfixed, staring at the eyes of the head speaking directly to her. The other head turned looking at Spike, as its body moved slowly forward. The eyes flashed a bright flame red and Spike also became transfixed despite his efforts to pull away.

The head holding Buffy’s gaze continued speaking, “This one has known death, intense passion and lust.”

The head looking at Spike picked up speaking, “With you vampire. Lust, passions, and yearning for flesh like none we’ve ever tasted, vicious desire. The flesh knows what the soul does not, a twisted love grew in you… how very interesting…” the demon drew in a shuddering breath, “the soul too has known deep love for this girl… was in fact acquired as a gift— for her. How- oh how sweet! Like eyeballs in honey! Love in its purest form… mind, body, and soul—” it sneered vehemently.

The heads spoke together now, in a sickening hiss. “A true love grew… forged in the fires of battle. We sense loss, the vampire—” the head looking at Buffy continued, “and yet love grew— grew out of mourning… until…” the thing gasped and let out a loud moan. Both heads suddenly broke eye contact with Spike and Buffy. The demon’s heads looked up at the ceiling of the Catacomb, calling in unison “Reunited!” the thing yelled, shaking the bones in the walls.

Spike broke out of his stupor, “Bugger that!” He swore as he swung his sword towards the thing breaking its focus. It shot fire towards him. Spike dodged the flames.

The hulking beast lurched forward, “You killed our love, Vampire, now We shall kill yours!”

“Doubt that, but you can try. It’ll be fun!” Buffy managed a quippy tone, breaking free of the demon’s psychic hold.

Spike lept, swinging the sword he carried. Buffy was ready for it. She attacked low in an attempt to knock it off balance. But it shifted as it dodged another blow from Spike.

The demon shot another blast of flame towards Buffy, this time catching her on the upper arm. It reached out a large clawed hand, pinning Spike to the wall. Both sets of jaws opened as though to bite.

It was the window Buffy needed. She picked up Spike’s dropped sword, plunging it through the thing’s side piercing clear through the chest cavity. She pulled the sword out sharply and thrust it in again. This time the massive creature dropped Spike as it howled in pain. The sound reverberated off of the bone-lined walls in a deafening cacophony.

“Buffy! It’s heads!” Spike gasped as he pulled himself up from where he had landed against the wall.

She pulled the sword up and out with a jerk and swung for one of its heads. The first head rolled out of sight as the second one screamed. The scream was cut short as Spike rolled out of its way as the thing stumbled. He grabbed the second ax and pulled out the one he brought. Buffy made a lunge for the demon’s back, stabbing it through the lower back. Spike jumped at the second head and lopped it off with an ax in each hand.

The demon’s body fell to the floor of the tunnels with bone shaking force. Like a great oak falling. A cloud of dust flew into the air.

“That…” Buffy choked on the dust, “was beyond disturbing…”

“No kidding, I could have lived a good long time not seeing that… sick bastard.” He added kicking one of the heads “Talkin’ like we were his own personal pay-per-view. Talk about a bloke that likes to watch, that was just… I’ve seen a lot of things in my day but that…”

The two of them walked back to the hotel in relative silence. Once back in their room Buffy spoke “Ok so I’m not the only one super creeped out by that thing right?”

“Oh hell no… I’m well disturbed, Love .”

“Some of the things it said… it was…”

“Disgusting?”

“That’s a given, especially what that thing was doing with… himself” she shuddered in revulsion “That was seriously gross!” She paused to take off her boots.

“Why am I sensing a ‘but’ in there?” Spike asked as he followed suit, shedding his soiled clothing and grabbing a clean shirt from his bag but not putting it on yet.

“Not ‘but’ exactly, more of an ‘also’. As in, it was also sort of nice to hear, even if it did come from a super freak.”

“Not sure if I follow. He didn’t say anything we hadn’t already sorted out for ourselves.”

“No, I guess not,” she shrugged.

“But?”

“I don’t know, it was just weird hearing it talk about our past…”

“Angel you mean,” he said, cocking his head.

“Well yeah, but, not just that. He didn’t even mention Drusilla, not by name.”

“Noticed that too, did you? He seemed awfully interested in the whole vampire with a soul angle if you ask me. Probably didn’t even register what Dru and I had. Neither one of us having’ one all that time we were together and all. I always thought I loved Dru, we definitely had ‘something’, not sure anymore what it was really. I didn’t really realize that until after I got my soul” he shrugged, “Did it bother you; that bit he said about Angel?”

“Forgetting?” She paused as she peeled off her jeans “Now that’s just wrong” she said holding them up, they were covered in demon blood.

“It is, but that’s not the question.”

She dropped her jeans in a heap on the floor “Not as much as I thought it would. It’s weird… Angel and I have an understanding. We know we can’t be together because of his curse— we agreed to stay out of each other’s personal lives. I sort of think we both always figured that part of that would include forgetting what we once meant to each other. I guess I’m just surprised that it happened to me without really noticing.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“Honestly?”

“Would be nice”

“I feel… fine. Like it’s how it’s supposed to be now. Don’t get me wrong, I still love him. I probably always will in some way. But it’s different than before.”

God, I want to believe that… “So you’re not going to start snogging him the next time you see him?”

She actually smiled at that, “I doubt it… although, it might be worth it just to see your reaction.”

“Oh, that’s it! You’re so going to get it now!” he snarled playfully, pulling her close for a kiss that sent an electrical pulse through them both.

Buffy backed up slightly, panting for breath, “Oh hey there, we’re both caked in that thing's blood. The only thing I’m getting right now is a shower and the first aid kit in my bag. I’ve got a jar of salve in there Willow made up, it’s great for stuff like this,” she said, indicating the burn on her arm.

He smirked at that, “Not without me you’re not, I’m headed for one myself. That sodding demon’s blood is rank. I’ll help you dress that arm after.”

“Thanks, it doesn’t even hurt right now. You know, I don’t even want to know what would have happened if we hadn’t finished that demon off… before he… hummm…”

“Finished off?”

“Oh I really just walked right into that one, didn’t I? Eww…”

“Well that’s the mood gone, nice mental that was.”

“Sorry,” she answered ruefully.

Spike pulled off his bloodied jeans. “Hope there’s a laundry around here, these are fowl.”

She watched him as he stood there holding out his jeans. He dropped them unceremoniously into the pile with Buffy’s blood-soaked clothes. He looked at them a second then grabbed an extra bag from the bottom of the tiny waste paper bin provided by the hotel and quickly shoved the soiled clothes into it. It was a simple task, nothing extraordinary about it, and yet he was looking good enough to eat.

Heat pooled low in her belly and she felt a tingle spread over her skin. She sighed, “You good there?”

“Yeah, it’s a little better. Still nasty but not as bad.” He said, shaking his head as he knotted the bag.

“Vampires. I mean yeah it’s gross but I didn’t really notice anything super unusual.”

“The joys of a predator’s olfactory sense, great when you need it, not so much when you don’t.”

“I don’t envy that particular superpower.” It came out in something like a purr when she said it. Her tone perked his attention and he turned to look at her.

Buffy raised an eyebrow, “Speaking of, I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do to bring the mood back, is there?” She asked, turning away from him as she stripped off the rest of her clothes, being mindful of her arm.

“No idea what you’re talking about, Love,” he said distractedly as he followed her every movement as she walked to the bathroom.

“Shower? Never tried it before, did we?” Buffy asked in a sultry tone.

“Buffy—“ he said, taking a small step back, suddenly reminded of another time.

She realized what he was thinking immediately, “Not even close to what I was talking about, Spike—“ she said as she turned around striding towards him, “I’m talking about fun times, with the man you’ve become. The man I know now could never intentionally hurt me, Spike,” she pulled him down to kiss her, “We’ve moved past that haven’t we?”

The tension that had gathered along his spine, dissipated as he melted into her kiss. “You are an amazing woman Buffy Summers,” he murmured before he kissed her again.

She turned back around stepping into the shower to turn on the water, letting it heat up before stepping into the spray. Spike watched for a moment as the water mixed with the dried blood stuck to her and trailed down her slender body. A predatory grin on his face as he watched her. His beautiful blood-drenched Slayer. “I’m always up for a little fun,” he said, stepping in behind her.

Spike took the soap and the washcloth Buffy offered him, “I think you might need these first,” she grinned.

“Saying I’m dirty, humm?” he crooned in her ear as he began to wash himself, lathering up his chest. The sudds turning pink with the blood covering his skin. He pressed in against her back letting his slick skin glide delightfully over her’s.

Buffy could feel his hard cock bumping into her backside and gave a little shudder of pleasure as he took his time massaging her tired muscles and tending her burn carefully as he ran the soapy cloth over her skin. The soap and blood mixture swirling off of her and down the drain was mesmerizing. He pulled her back against his chest, kissing her neck, sucking her skin into his mouth. Buffy moaned as she pressed her hands against the shower wall as he gripped her with one hand holding her in place as the hot water hit them both.

He ran his other hand down her front starting with her breast teasing her nipple between his fingers and working slowly down past her navel, “Like that, sweetheart?”

Buffy let out a small moan then slowly turned to face him, still pressing her wet skin to his, “No, I want to see you, William. Really see you.”

“No arguments, Love,” he murmured as he trailed a hand down again. This time he grasped the back of her thigh, pulling it up to allow him access to her hot center. Buffy moved accordingly to receive him, tilting her hips. Kissing every inch of pale skin she could reach as she did so. Spike moved to pin her against the wall of the shower and she let out a little gasp as he thrust deeply into her. She hooked a leg around his back, digging her heel into him making him growl.

“Oh god, Spike!” She cried out as she felt her first orgasm build.

He moved a hand back to grip the thigh she had wrapped around him, giving him a little more leverage to thrust into her. He growled as he felt her convulse around him. She screamed as her back bowed, pressing into him even harder to meet his thrust. The wave crashed over her again and again as he continued to push her further over the edge until finally she fell. Spike bit down on her neck with blunt teeth sending her shaking and screaming as he pressed her into the wall.

He crashed his lips to hers in an all consuming kiss and let out a moan when she bit his lip. The bite sent him over the edge, spilling into her with a growl. Buffy dug her nails into his back, heightening the sensation and pulling a rough scream from his chest.

Buffy released her hands from around his back and gripped the sides of his head, pulling him into a heated kiss as they came down together, the water still pouring over them. She didn’t release him from the kiss until the need for air forced her to.

“God I missed you,” Buffy gasped.

He leaned his forehead against hers panting, as he held her against him, bodies still joined. “Likewise, Goldilocks. I love you.”

She kissed him again, “I love you too.”

41 Breathe

Spike crumpled in over Buffy’s still form in his arms. The gaping hole in his own chest practically nothing compared to the pain of feeling her limp against him. He was so consumed by grief that he didn’t even notice the hand lightly gripping the back of his head. Until the fingers gripped harder and dug into his scalp. “Go on, Faith, just leave us alone… I can’t—“ he shuddered weakly.

Faith looked up from where her eyes had fixated upon the floor a few inches away from Buffy. “It’s not me. Spike look.”

He shook his head, still unwilling to move.

“Spike?” The hand gripped tighter in his hair, pulling him back a little, “You’re crushing me.”

He blinked several times, letting his eyes focus on Buffy. Who was looking back at him with wide green eyes. His grip on her increased involuntarily and she gasped. “Babe, kinda hard to breathe.” She gasped again.

In his shock Spike nearly dropped her before adjusting his grip on her. “Oww!” She groaned.

“Buffy? Oh thank God. You really had me going there for a minute, I thought I’d lost you again.”

“Doesn’t exactly tickle,” she coughed and a little blood came up with it, “oh that’s gross.”

He pressed his ear to her chest, “I swear your heart stopped, Pet. It’s In working order now, bit fast. Bitch got you in the lung.”

She took several shallow gasping breaths. “That would explain it.”

“What the hell?” Faith’s voice came from behind them, “not that I’m not super stoked or anything but what the hell B?”

Spike looked back at her. “Not now, let’s get her back to our room and let her heal up a bit and we’ll explain.”

“She has a right to know.” Buffy gasped again.

“And she will.”

She grumbled and started to sit up with a grimace of pain. Spike adjusted himself to help her up better.

“Should she really be moving like that?” Callum asked, shock lacing his voice.

“Fought off Uber-vamps— and ran rooftops, after the last time this happened,” she rasped weakly before gasping for breath. She coughed several times before continuing, “Think I can handle this.”

Spike supported her over to a comfortable chair setting her back allowing her to breathe easier. “Rest a bit. This one is considerably worse, Slayer. Your heart literally stopped.”

“Like it hasn’t done that before.”

“You know what I mean. Lung is a bit different than the gut.”

Callum shook his head. “All right, but I’m with Faith on this one. What’s going on, is this some sort of Slayer thing? Is that what all those questions you were asking Guinevere were about before she went mad?”

Buffy and Spike exchanged a look. She coughed again grimacing and glanced over to the spot where Guinevere’s head had landed. “Spike’s right. We should— get out of here.” Her breathing was off. Weak. But she was determined to push through.

Spike gave a nod, “Faith, can you run up and see if you can find a blanket or something to wrap around her? We don’t want to cause a ruckus back at the B&B.”

“Sure, whatever. I’m just glad she’s alright.”

Faith’s head was swimming as she took the stairs at a run. The breath caught in her throat when she saw what was at the top of the stairs. “Huhh, guys! You might want to see this!”

Spike growled, “Cal, go on. See what she found.”

Callum met Faith at the top of the stairs. The walls of the upper landing were completely covered with what looked like hellish graffiti. Drawing atop drawing until they were barely legible. “God, what are these?”

“Slayer visions,” Faith said flatly. “She must have still been having them… These— and she had stopped fighting. No wonder she was looney toons.”

“You mean this is the kind of stuff you dream?”

“Well yeah, but this— Cal, when I get some slayage in, this sort of slides away and they're just dreams. Freaky ones sure, but we get used to them and the slaying sort of calms things down. They don’t build up. Not like this. Guinevere was doing some extreme ignoring and it drove her crazy.”

“Holy shit.”

“You can say that again.”

“Oi! Can we hurry this along! Slayer healing notwithstanding, Buffy still needs tending to here!” Spike’s voice bellowed up the stairs.

“Right,” Faith muttered as she pushed open one of the doors onto a neatly kept bedroom that must have been Guinevere’s. She quickly grabbed a dark green wool blanket and the two of them turned back down the stairs.

In a moment Spike had Buffy wrapped in the blanket and was carrying her out of the cottage. Faith and Callum following behind carrying the weapons they’d brought with them, including Lancelot’s bloodied sword.

“Spike, you really don’t have to carry me,” Buffy complained before having another coughing fit that made her wince and gasp in pain.

“What and pass up a chance to be useful? Not likely,” he grinned at her as they made their way out of the forest clearing and back into the dimly lit cave. The water spirit was standing sentient at the edge of the water when they came out.

“Am I hallucinating?” Buffy wheezed.

“Shh, no you’re not, Love.”

“Vampire, the Slayer within is no more.”

“I didn’t kill her if that’s what you’re thinking. But you knew what would happen before you let us in didn’t you?”

The watery figure inclined her head. “I confess it was foretold. The Lady’s demise would come in the form of two like her, and two men, one living, one dead; carrying the sword of Lancelot.”

“Could have warned us.”

She shook her head wearily. “That I could not.”

“Now what?”

“This is the Slayer you spoke of, the one you wish to make your bride?”

“She is.”

“She is injured.” The spirit moved forward, reaching out a translucent hand towards Buffy. “She is strong despite being weakened so. She should rest. Her body will heal.”

“Ta, sort of already figured that one out.”

Callum gaped a little at the water spirit, “D-did you need the sword back?” he stammered.

“I do not. I think it would be best if the Slayers kept it, this place may still be of use to you in the future.”

Faith glanced down at the sword and back at the entrance that had already closed behind them. “I think I’m gonna be back to check things out if that’s alright.”

“As you wish my Lady, this place is now at your disposal.”

“Ah yeah, thanks. I guess.”

Spike gave a quick nod and proceeded towards the raft where he quickly helped Buffy get situated and then they were off heading back towards the Bed and Breakfast. At the mouth of the cave Spike helped settled Buffy down onto a large rock.

“Not going to be a laugh getting up that hill, Pet. How do you feel about a piggyback ride?”

Buffy glared at him and started coughing again, clutching at her chest she nodded, “Fine, you win this time.”

“Don’t worry, no one here is going to think you’re any less of a badass,” Faith chuckled darkly. “What was all that in there? The anti-aging questions and this and— What the hell Buff! Didn’t you think this might be shit I should know about?”

“It’s not like that,” Buffy gasped.

“Then what’s it like then? What if she had run me through?”

“You probably would be dead. You have a few more years,” Buffy coughed again, wheezing.

“We don’t have all the answers. We will tell you what we know and piece it together with whatever the hell just happened in there. After! Buffy is in bed.”

“Fine.”

“Damn right. I don’t remember anyone grilling you for answers when you got blown-up.”

“You got blown-up?” Callum eyed her dubiously.

“Not exactly. More like the shockwave and some shrapnel. Spike wasn’t even there for that.”

“Don’t get me started on why. At least I was there for the after party,” he grumbled.

“Let’s hear it for the Big Bang!”

At that Buffy grabbed Spike’s arm pulling herself up to stand. “Knock it off you two!” she hissed painfully.

Spike turned, grabbing her tightly, “Come on, Pet,” he murmured as he pulled her around to his back. Squatting down he grabbed her legs, pulling them around his waist as she gripped him around the neck and shoulders. “Cal, fetch the blanket.”

“Sure, mate.” He grabbed it from where Buffy had left it on her rock, “You don’t want this now do you?”

“Not cold or shocky are you, Lamb?”

“Less talk. Giddyup.”

“Should’ve seen that one comin’.”

Buffy pulled her arms tightly around him. An intense sting radiated through her chest at the movement but she didn’t dare release him.

The four of them made the trek up the rocky slope. Callum and Faith followed behind. At the top of the path, Buffy slipped from his back and continued to the B&B only pausing long enough at the van for Faith and Callum to stow the weapons and get the first-aid kit they had started keeping in there since they first arrived.

Back in their room, Spike settled Buffy onto the bed while Faith gathered a bowl of water and a clean rag. Callum tossed the first-aid kit onto the bed exiting quickly as Spike started to pull her shirt off. He examined the wound and pressed his ear to her chest again, “I’m no doctor but I swear it’s sounding better. How are you feeling?”

“Super tired,” she took in a tentative breath before coughing again, “Breathing still sucks.”

“Blood has stopped. That’s good. Not crazy about seeing you coughing up blood.”

“Babe, if I can survive this, I think I’m in the clear.”

He cupped her cheek, “Looks like we got some time to work through those issues of ours after all.”

“Little bit.”

His eyes were filled with wonder as he gazed at her. Thankful she was alive. He smiled. Time. They had time. She was alive and they had time. A lot of it, it would seem. “Guess we got some answers tonight, ehh?”

“I’d like some of those too,” Faith said as she came in, breaking the moment. She threw some navy blue towels onto the bed and set the bowl of warm water on the little table next to Buffy. Then she sat down on the bed behind Buffy and started cleaning the wound at her back, “Don’t let me stop you, go on, I think I need to hear this too.”

“She’s right babe,” Buffy murmured as she slumped into Spike’s shoulder, letting him support her while Faith worked.

“We’re going to have to call Red I bet.”

“She’s been thinking this has all been because of her spell and it’s not,” she paused trying to catch her breath, “Guinevere just gave up— got past her— 26th birthday without— dying first. Which means—“

“Which means that the wankers who started this whole Slayer thing put a cap on your lives with that damned death-wish thing.”

“Exactly.”

“Someone want to back up here?” Faith groused as she pressed gauze to the wound harder than necessary, making Buffy gasp in pain.

“Yeah, easy, Florence Nightingale, we’re patching up a wound not the Hoover Dam.” Spike snapped.

Faith looked at her hand pressing on the gauze and released some of the pressure. “Sorry, B,” she mumbled, “go on, you were about to start story time.”

Buffy took a minute to regulate her shallow breathing, “It goes back to the original spell that created the first Slayer. From what Willow says it has— ah— something to do with the demon they used, like a type of vampire which—“ she gasped, “makes sense because—“

Faith nodded, “Vampire Slayer, duh.”

Buffy shook her head grasping for breath and tapped Spike on the shoulder.

“I can fill in for a bit.”

Buffy nodded.

“Looks like that death-wish thing you all share is there by design and serves a rather twisted purpose. Keep the line rolling with pretty young things.”

Faith stiffened, “You want to clarify that?”

“Death is our gift,” Buffy interjected, a little stronger this time.

“Right. They seemed to think that if you made it that far it was a job well done and you should just reap your reward, everlasting peace...” his voice trailed off, knowing it was still something that stung at Buffy, knowing what she had lost.

“So is that how Queenie was like a thousand or something.”

“Dunno about that really but yeah, bird was up there. She was apparently the one who made it past the expiration date because she stuck her head in the sand instead of fighting the good fight.”

“So she stopped aging.”

“And apparently can’t be killed unless you chop her head off. We’re pretty sure that’s the reason the original watcher’s wrote in that little caveat. Didn’t want an immortal woman with super powers wandering round. Basically, these sick bastards decided that no one, including the chosen one, should have eternal life so they instilled a sort of death-wish in Slayers ensuring they would never make it past 25. Probably why they started that whole Cruciamentum thing at 18 too.”

“Holy shit.”

“That was pretty much my reaction too.”

“Okay, so explain Buffy, she’s only a few months older than me.”

“I’m what happens when you return a gift.”

Faith stopped what she was doing, “You don’t mean—“

“You too can be just like me if you either get ripped out of heaven or live to celebrate your 26th birthday. Apparently…” Buffy tried a weak parity of an infomercial, but then trailed off with several more raspy breaths and a fresh round of coughs.

Spike noticed the blood had stopped completely now and her breathing eased slightly. As did some of the tension in his shoulders along with it.

“Well shit.”

“Yeah, really.” Buffy sighed.

Faith got up and took a second to let the news sink in before speaking, “Lay back, your back is done, we got to get the front patched up.”

Spike helped ease her back gingerly, “Give me that,” Spike held out a hand to Faith, and she handed over the gauze.

“How long have you guys known about this?”

“Not long. Tonight sort of filled in some of the bigger gaps.” Spike answered as he tended to Buffy’s wound.

“Yeah… I guess I get that…” she said distractedly, and cleared her throat, “You eh, you got this right Spikey-boy?”

“Sure, you go on. Mull things over.”

“No kidding,” with one last glance back at them, Faith slipped out the door and into her own room where Callum was waiting. He had taken off his shirt and boots and was sitting in the comfortable reading chair in their room, elbows resting on knees and staring at his shirt clutched in his fists. He looked up when Faith came in, “She’ll pull through, I gather?”

Faith nodded, “Yeah. Spike‘s got this. Slayer healing has the rest. She’ll probably take it easy for a few days but she’ll be fine.”

He nodded, “And how are you fairing?”

She sat down heavily on the bed and let out a huge sigh, “Honestly, I have no freaking clue. They just filled me in on some crazy shit going on with Buffy. And apparently all the slayers including me, if I don’t bite the big one first.”

Callum shifted over to sit next to her, “You want to talk about it?”

His eyebrows rose as she filled him in, and he shook his head. “That’s a lot to take in.”

“Yeah but from the sounds of it, I kind of have a while before I really have to worry about any of that.”

He looked back down at his hands, took hers in his and gazed at their entwined fingers. “Look, Faith, I’m not gonna pretend that this isn’t freaking me out. I’m still wrapping my head around what I saw tonight.”

She yanked her hand away. “You’re going to run for the hills aren’t you?”

Callum narrowed his eyes at her and turned to look at her squarely, “Whatever gave you that daft idea?”

“Humm hate to break it to you but tonight was definitely not the weirdest thing we’ve ever seen. Yeah the whole thing with Buff was pretty intense but it’s still just another freaking day.”

“Doubt this sort of thing is typical, even for you, Lass.” He shot her a small grin.

“I— well not exactly—“

He shoulder bumped her gently before taking her hand again. It had been a long night. “It’s alright if you need to talk. I sure as hell could use an ear.”

Faith watched him, “Talk?”

“Well yeah, you know, that thing you do with your mouth that helps you express your thoughts?”

“Are you sure we’re talking about talking?”

“Normally I’d let you get away with that but I’m serious, Faith. We should talk about this.”

“I’m not great with the talking.”

“Fine, I’ll start. Today started off as a fun road trip. The biggest thing I was worried about was trying to get Spike and Buffy to come round to figuring out what they want to do in the duplex. Then meeting Guinevere was pretty amazing—“He cut off when she gave him a dubious look, then continued, “well it was at first. Until she went crazy and I watched my girlfriend decapitate her after she stabbed Buffy through the blasted chest. Who is apparently going to be fine by the way… which is great news, but holy shit, Lass! It’s just been a bloody weird night and I’m still wrapping my head round it all.”

She bit back some snappy retort at the vulnerability he was showing, like a shark smelling blood in the water. She didn’t want to be a shark. She wanted to be a better person. A better her. Angel had helped her a lot and she was better, but this kind of thing still didn’t come naturally to her. Spike‘s Florence Nightingale jab came back to her.

She took in Callum’s hulking muscular form, tattoos rippling across his skin, his disheveled hair hanging limply, and the mix of indiscernible emotions on his face. Here was the man who had practically moved into the castle with her after losing one of her girls and he never said a word. He never complained. He didn’t look at her like she would break and he wasn’t overbearing. He was just there when she needed him. Now he was asking for the same treatment and she wasn’t sure how to do it.

“Did that help?” It was a weak attempt, she knew, but she really was trying.

He bit the inside of his cheek, “A bit. Might take me some time. I mean you’ve been honest ever since I found out about the whole Slayer thing. But knowing it and seeing it are pretty different things.”

“Okay so now I’m thinking you’re going to bolt on me again.”

He threw up his hands standing up abruptly and turned to her. “God, would you stop that? Can you just for once— it’d be nice to know that you are capable of having a little faith in us.”

“I’m not used to this. Having someone I— none of this comes easy for me, ya know? I mean I’ve never really had too much experience with—“

“The whole lone wolf bit. You’ve told me.” He huffed and sat back down next to her.

She shook her head, “It's not just that, Cal. Every time I would start to get close in the past, I— I didn’t just push people away, I made them hate me. It took going to prison and Angel helping me out the whole time I was in there for me to realize what I was doing and I’m still working on changing that. Teaching at the castle, getting as close to Giles as I have, burying the hatchet with Buffy and getting to know the girls— I’ve changed a lot, but it’s hard.”

Callum shifted back towards the headboard looking at her. “Not telling me anything new. I’m not asking for a miracle, sweetheart. Just stop acting like I’m going to bolt every time there’s a bump in the bloody road.”

“Most people would probably say this is more than a bump.”

He rearranged one of the pillows to give her a comfortable spot next to him and leaned forward to pull her closer. “Yeah well maybe it’s more like a crater but I’ve been told I’ve got to adjust for slayer weirdness so why split hairs?”

She actually laughed at that as she eased herself next to him. Stretching her legs out she examined her bare feet as she spoke, “Definitely got the weirdness.”

“We both need to deal with it. You saw tonight what happens when you don’t.”

“I also saw what happens when everyone you love dies.”

He shook his head, “Think that probably goes two ways, could also be what happens when you wall yourself away from letting anyone else in after loss.”

She pulled her legs up to her chest defensively. “Maybe— I don’t want to do that, Cal. I don’t want to be like her.”

“Then don’t,” he shrugged his broad shoulders, “you said you wanted to go back in there. Do you think that will help you deal with this?”

“Won’t know until I try. If nothing else, maybe I’ll find something the brains can use.”

“Then we’ll go back tomorrow, together.”

She let her legs fall as she turned towards him a little more, “I’m going to have to deal with the body, Cal. Are you sure you want to see that?”

“No, but I will. I’m not letting you go back there alone.”

“Who’s the badass here?” She asked, raising an eyebrow.

He grinned at her, “No question it’s you, babe. This isn’t about that.”

“So what now?”

He shrugged, “I don’t know. But it’s like you said ain’t it? You’ve still got some time before any of this affects you directly. All I know is I want to spend as much time with you, as either one of us might have. If that’s a day or a thousand years I want to be a part of your life as much as possible.”

“So like the whole ‘Carpe Diem' thing?”

“Suppose so.” They sat quietly for a long time, both lost in thought. “So does this mean this is something that could’ve happened with any slayer throughout history?” He asked, thinking about the aunt he never knew.

“Apparently. Well no, not really. That’s what the death thing is for I guess.”

“And that’s all slayers, you too?”

“Yeah. I mean—“ she broke off. Thinking about her darkest moments when things were the worst. It seemed almost like someone else’s life compared to where she was now. She shook her head, “It's different though. We’re fighters, it's who we are and we’re not going down without a fight. But sometimes there’s just— it’s like this split second when things get really clear and everything seems— and then the next second it’s gone. Like it never happened.”

“And my aunt?”

“Yeah, her too. Guinevere is the only one that we have ever heard of in the history of, well ever, to actually get past the termination clause. Hell, even Buffy has died twice. Three if we count tonight but— yeah that’s just going to give me a headache.”

He leaned towards her, taking her hand, “What about you?”

“Close a couple of times, but no.”

Settling his arm around her and he pulled her back onto the bed with him, “Keep it that way, yeah?”

She snuggled her cheek against his chest, getting comfortable, “That’s the plan.” She ran her fingers over the lines of the bear’s head tattooed on his chest and wrapped her fingers around his shoulder following the line work of it’s body.

He tilted his head down to watch her and caught her eye. “But right now you just want to shag so you don’t have to think about it, don’t you?”

“Don’t you?” She asked a little gruffly as she gripped him through his jeans.

Callum caught her wrist and pushed her back, pinning her to the mattress. “Sort of beside the point isn’t it?”

She grinned wickedly, pressing herself up to catch him with a hard kiss, “It’s one way to cope.”

“Carpe Diem,” he growled as he returned the kiss and let her flip him over to his back, not that he could have stopped her, not that he’d want to. He landed with a hard thud onto the mattress and a fierce grin on his face as they melted into one another. He worked his fingers under the soft fabric of her t-shirt and cupping her breast through her bra. Faith pulled back allowing him to push it over her head and unclasped her bra for him.

They were both topless, clad only in jeans that certainly had to go. She kissed him hard, biting his lip and pulling back a little. He groaned a little and returned the kiss with abandon. Without breaking the kiss Faith shifted back onto her knees enough to unbuckle his jeans and hers. She had no more than undid her zipper when he had already pushed her jeans and underwear down around her hips. She rocked back to remove her jeans and Callum followed unexpectedly. He shucked off his own as he pushed Faith back towards the foot of the bed. She pulled him down to her wrapping her legs around his waist feeling his cock bounce against the inside of her leg and over her center. The anticipation was driving her crazy.

He pulled back a little, grinning, “Something you want, beautiful?”

In response she reached down to grip his cock firmly. His grin widened as he pulled back slightly. “Sorry darlin’, patience, please. I wanna go slow with you tonight. Coping with trauma takes time after all,” he murmured as he nipped at her neck, making her shudder.

“Are we calling this couple’s therapy?”

“God, I love you.”

*****

Spike laid on his side propped up against a couple of pillows, watching Buffy sleep. Her breathing was still labored but better. What had been alarmingly ragged painful breaths before now resembled the breathing of someone with just a nasty chest cold.

The wound he had received from the same stab of the sword hurt like hell but he didn’t have to breathe. She was the one struggling for breath, and he hated it. She was as immortal as he was, had apparently been ever since she had been resurrected. They just hadn’t known for sure. The thought made his head hurt.

It was a long moment before he realized she was looking at him. “Hey there, Goldilocks.”

“Hey yourself,” she rasped as she adjusted herself on the bed to see him better. She winced as she settled back onto the pillows.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like a seriously thirsty pincushion.” She hissed in pain as she adjusted the pillow behind her.

“Thought you might. I managed to scrounge up a pitcher of water for you,” he held a glass with a straw sticking out of it for her, “drink.”

She ended up only taking a few sips but it was better than nothing.

“Your breathing and heart rate sound a lot better. Think your healing is concentrating on the internal damage.”

“Thank you, Dr. Pratt.”

He shuddered comically, “Oi! Now that I can do without.”

Buffy laughed weakly, “You should get some sleep too mister. Clearly I’m going to heal just fine.”

“Not the point is it? I still don’t like seeing you hurt.”

She sighed, “Okay, yeah, but you were part of the shish kebab too last I checked.”

“I’m alright.”

Buffy frowned, “How long was I out?”

“Few hours. Sun came up a couple of hours ago. You need your rest, sweetheart.”

“Notice the total lack of backflips.”

“Ahh huh, let’s have a look at that shall we?” He gestured towards the bandage on her chest.

Buffy gave a little nod and watched as he pulled back the bandage with deft fingers. He gently prodded the skin around the wound. It was puckered together although the skin hadn’t yet begun to heal. Just as he had said, her body was working from the inside out.

“We should probably try to get some food in you. Do you feel up to it?”

“Are we talking jello?”

He laughed, “I’m serious, you need to keep your strength up. I already had some blood. You sure you don’t need anything?”

Buffy considered that. She was thirsty but that was all. She didn’t think she could eat anything. “No, just water for now.”

He reached over for her glass, holding it up for her again. “You scared the hell out of me, Pet. Why didn’t you dodge? A stab like that would have been nothing more than a sodding inconvenience for me,” he pulled up his shirt and gestured to his own chest at the wide gash located a little lower than Buffy’s much more severe wound.

She turned a tired gaze towards his face, “I was trying to get you out of there, you idiot. Did you see how fast Queen Crazy was?”

“It keeps running through my head. I really thought—“

She reached to cup his cheek and he leaned into the warmth of her hand, “Spike, honey, I’m going to be alright. We both are.”

He shook his head a little. She had known of the possibility longer than he had but he wasn’t sure if she had taken the time to really consider a life of immortality. “Buffy—“

She squinted a little, worry was rolling off of him in waves, his thoughts simmering at the surface. “I know.”

“Do you?”

“Dawn, Giles, Will, Xan… yeah… I’ve thought about it. I’ve been thinking about it.”

“And?”

“It’s just one more layer of weird isn’t it? But hey at least we’re in this together right?”

“Till the end of the world.”

Unless of course the prophecy actually was referring to him and not Angel. For the first time since he had heard about it, he desperately hoped it really was Angel.

The stupid ponce can have his mortal cake and eat it too. He thought venomously.

“What was that?”

He straightened, he hadn’t really meant for her to hear that and he didn’t know if now was really the best time. He sighed, “Just thinking about Angel and his bloody prophecy. I’d been a mite jealous a while back.”

“Is this the one you keep dancing around? The one that could mean you?”

He nodded, “Had wanted it bad before. Beat the shit out of the ponce for a chance at it that turned out to be a sodding fake. But this changes things. He can keep his chance at becoming a real boy if it means I get you.”

Buffy let that process in her mind. They had fought over mortality and over her. A life with her and Spike had won in more ways than one. He had her heart, no question about it, even if he would have lost the battle he had won the war. Even if she didn’t know about it. “How long have you known about this?”

“Bout a year I suppose, bit longer, maybe. Angel’s been working himself ragged for years trying to save enough lives so he can reap his big cosmic reward and I just sort of stumbled into the running by mistake. Rather doubt it’s about me,” he shrugged, “s’why I didn’t say anything about it before. Besides, Angel’s been after this particular merit badge for this long and doesn’t seem to be any closer. Even if it does mean me, who’s to say it won’t be in a couple hundred years? It’s too vague.”

Buffy closed her eyes and opened them again, slowly, “I get why you didn’t say anything but I still wish you would have.”

“Rather thought you might know bout it already. Bound to be in those files Wes passed on to Willow.”

“She hasn’t had a chance to go through everything.”

“Should probably call the witch, you know. Fill her in.”

“Giles too. God, what am I going to tell Dawn?” Buffy sighed.

“That someday you’ll be the younger sister?” Spike chuckled.

“Oh yeah that’s definitely not going to wig her out.”

“All part of the glamorous lifestyle. At least you have a pulse.”

“True. Sunlight is a bonus too.”

“Oh now you’re just being mean.”

Buffy just grinned sadly, “Too bad I didn’t keep the Gem of Amara. If I knew Angel was going to throw it in the ocean like an idiot, I would have.”

He sighed and straightened up, “Yeah well it’s gone now. Think maybe you can eat something? Soup maybe?”

“I can give it a try.”

He leaned in, kissing her on the forehead. “That’s what I like to hear.”

Chapter 10 Electric

***** ****** ******

Moments later the doorbell rang. Faith ran downstairs to get it but Spike was already there. “Evening, Cal, Faith’ll be along in a minute.”

“Callum,” he corrected gruffly, “and thanks.”

“I’m here, I’m here!” Faith declared, rushing to the door, “Hey!”

Callum looked her up and down taking in her black lacy top, sexy blue skirt and borrowed boots, “Wow… you look…”

“Too much? I knew the skirt was too—“

“You look amazing… gorgeous in fact…”

“Oh… humm, thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said, gesturing to his blue dress shirt.

Callum handed her a small bouquet of tulips in red, white and yellow, “I hope it’s not too girly.”

“Nah, you’re cool on this one. I actually do like tulips, thank you.

He shot her a thousand watt smile that nearly made her melt. Faith stood there dumbstruck for a few seconds before she snapped out of it.

“Here, I’ll take care of these and put them in your room,” Buffy said, making Faith jump in surprise with her sudden appearance.

Faith quickly schooled her features as Buffy took the flowers from her, “Oh, sure. Cool.”

“Now that’s taken care of, ready to go?” Callum asked.

She cleared her throat, “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Have fun kids,” Spike sing-songed behind them.

“Shut up, Spike!” Faith threw back over her shoulder as they headed out the door.

Once they were gone Buffy turned to Spike, “So what about us?”

“I assumed the bubble bath was your way of saying you weren’t ready to go out yet,” he smirked.

“You really do get me don’t you?”

“I’ve always liked to think so, but then I’ve been wrong before haven’t I?” Spike asked, shifting himself to lean against the wall.

Buffy gave him a wistful smile, “Not recently. I have been looking forward to trying out the bathtub… and the bubble bath.”

He bit his bottom lip, “Then that’s what we’ll do, Love.”

“Well since nap time is out, I’m going to grab something to eat, you want anything?”

“I’m fine. You take your time, I’ll see you upstairs, Pet,” he said, pushing himself off the wall.

“Ahh huh, ok,” she shrugged, “I know you, you’re scheming…”

Spike grinned wickedly, “I prefer ‘planning’.”

“Have it your way.”

“Oh I plan to, Goldilocks.”

***** ****** ******

Back in town, Faith and Callum arrived at the pub. It was a cozy place with booths set all along the walls and a small stage opposite the bar with wooden tables in between. They had barely set foot inside the pub when a strongly built older man jovially shouted, “Cally my boy!”, from behind the bar.

“Bloody hell…” Callum mumbled, “Faith, I’m really sorry about this.”

“About what?” Faith started to say when the older gentleman had come up to Callum giving him such a strong bear hug that he actually picked him up off the floor a few inches before releasing him, “How are you, Lad? I’ve barely seen you all week. Who’s the pretty Lass?”

Callum rolled his eyes but smiled goodnaturedly, “Didn’t know you were going to be here tonight. Mum said you had off now you cut back your hours.”

“Oh aye, I did. Hadn’t actually planned on it, but when you’re needed… had to take care of a few things.”

“How come I can’t call you ‘Cal’ but this guy can call you ‘Cally’?” Faith interjected.

“Now you see what you’ve done? Got me in the doghouse before it’s even built,” Callum teased the man. “Excuse my manners, Faith. Unfortunately, this one here gets to call me whatever he fancies and I can’t do a damn thing about it… this here is my father. Dad, this is Faith. It’s largely thanks to her and her uncle that Angus and I are finally getting things off the ground,” he cleared his throat, “This is meant to be our first date.”

Mr. Ross raised his eyebrows, “That right now?”

“Yeah, well unless you count last night with my cousin,” Faith countered.

“What’s this?” Mr. Ross asked.

Callum shook his head with a chuckle, “It’s nothing, Dad. Faith asked me over to look at a new job. Professional visit. After that, her cousin and her bloke sort of roped us into watching a film with them.”

Mr. Ross crossed his arms over his expansive chest. “Must be someplace if you’ve hired my boy for multiple jobs.”

“Yeah, big old place. Needs a lot of work done,” Faith answered.

“They’re in the old castle just outside of town,” Callum interjected.

Mr. Ross gave a hum of interest, “And what’s some princess in a castle doing out with a working-class lad like my boy?”

Callum clapped a hand on his father’s shoulder. “Now Dad, Faith isn’t some—“

Faith cut him off, “Naw Callum, it’s cool. Been called a lot of things, but ‘princess’? Damn, that’s a new one on me,” her voice had a slight edge to it.

Callum’s dad smiled and suddenly the resemblance to his son was uncanny, “Oh aye. See why this one caught your attention, Cally.”

“Huh, yeah. Well, I’m no princess, my uncle sort of inherited the place. Started a private school for girls. I teach there,” Faith said.

“What is it you teach, Lass?”

“Advanced Martial Arts and Hand-to-Hand. That enough backstory for you?” She countered.

“Oh aye, that’ll do,” his eyes twinkled as he glanced at his son, “Might have met your match with this one, Cally-boy. Good to meet a woman who can handle herself.”

Callum grinned warmly at Faith for half a second before turning to his father, “Yeah well, I thought you had things to do, Dad.”

“Done, just heading home to your mum now. She’s making mussels tonight and you know what happens if I’m late for dinner,” he widened his eyes comically, “Ross men love a feisty woman.”

Callum rubbed the back of his neck, “Right then before mum’s mussels go wonky. Give her my love, will you?”

“Course I will, Lad.”

“I’ll see you soon, Dad,” Callum gave him a pat on the back and made a move towards the bar guiding Faith with a gentle hand on the small of her back. Faith realized with a jolt in her stomach that she didn’t mind the gesture coming from him.

Callum’s father followed them over, he had a quick word with the bartender and a very pregnant-looking waitress. Then he grabbed his hat from a hook behind the bar, “Alright Cally, I’m heading out, mind your manners. You’ll get in trouble if you don’t mind your manners. Just ask your mother.”

“I’m sure we’ll do just fine,” Callum replied.

“See that you do,” he gave his son a pat on the back and headed out.

It wasn’t until Callum turned to the bartender that Faith realized she recognized him. “Oi, Angus, a couple of beers for me and the lady. Faith, chicken and chips alright with you?”

“Yeah, I could eat.”

“Coming right up,” his cousin answered. The two men looked a lot alike except that Angus had bright red hair instead of Callum’s black hair. The difference was staggering. Angus set two beers down on the counter, “Your dad wants us to take a look at the storage room door. Damn thing keeps getting jammed.”

“Yeah alright,” Callum answered, slightly annoyed.

“How’d it go with that other job you were looking into last night?” His cousin continued.

Callum hitched a thumb at Faith, “Got the client here with me.”

“Blimey, thought you looked familiar,” Angus said as he offered his hand, then turned to his cousin with a knowing look, “you’re taking the job aren’t you?”

“I think we can do it.”

“Yeah, alright, we’ll talk later,” he said with a nod before turning toward another customer.

The two of them grabbed their beers and headed over to a secluded booth. “Must be rough, you guys both working two jobs,” Faith said as she sat down.

“Nah, it’s alright. My family is full of the entrepreneur types, and we all sort of help out at each other’s businesses,” Callum grinned.

“You are all really close then huh?”

“Now. Not always the case, I’d become a bit of a black sheep for a while but I’m over it. Moving on. What about you?”

“Pretty much the same,” Faith shrugged uncomfortably.

He eyed her for a moment before speaking, “Faith, I’m really sorry about my dad. I never imagined you’d meet both my parents before we’d actually been out on a proper date… really bungled things up coming here didn’t I?”

“Naw, it’s fine. Your dad actually seems alright. But what did you mean about meeting both your parents?”

Callum gestured to Faith’s necklace, “I stopped by my mum’s shop earlier. Told her about our date, and she remembered a couple of American girls coming in. Heard you talking, not hard to put it together.”

Faith had a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Callum took a long pull of his beer and gave her an appraising look, “You're the Slayer aren’t you?”

Faith sat up looking around then noticing his gaze she relaxed a little, “Why would you say that? What do you know about Slayers?”

“So it’s true?”

Her stomach clenched and she leaned forward pinning him with a hard glare, “Look I don’t know what you think you know but if you don’t start talking I’m out.”

He stretched out a hand to cover hers, “It’s alright, Faith. Really, it’s okay.” There was something about his tone that almost reminded her of Angel and had a disarming effect on her. She looked down at his hand covering hers and fought down the impulse to pull away.

“How do you know about Slayers?” She said calmly.

“Didn’t until today, thought my mum was off her nut, until just now. Apparently, my aunt was one. I knew my mum had a sister and that she had died very young but I swear I never knew anything else about her until today.”

“Your mom’s sister? When?”

He thought for a moment, “Think she died in 1970, or thereabouts. Why?”

Same year Robin’s mom was called… the Slayer before her? Damn, I am not history girl.

Faith swallowed dryly, “Say your story tracks, how’d your mom even know?”

“Yeah, well I guess she wasn’t supposed to but they were really close, sort of like you and Buffy I gather… All I know is what she told me.”

“Which is?” Faith prompted, slowly pulling her hand out of his grasp to pick up her beer.

Callum shifted back in his seat, concern on his face. “According to her, there’s only one Slayer in all the world. Now that’s the part I’m really having a hard time swallowing; she says you have these powers to kill vampires and demons and the like— Which seems stupid, how is one person, even one with supernatural abilities, supposed to fight all the vampires in the world?”

“And demons, and save the world at a seriously alarming rate. Does that freak you out?” She asked, taking a drink.

He took a sip of beer and eyed her critically, “You’re serious, it’s true then?” When she didn’t answer, he took a deep breath and bobbed his head, “I guess I’m just trying to wrap my head around it. I was really hoping Mum was just losing it,” he huffed, resting his forearms on the table and rocking his head back, accepting defeat.

“She’s not… but how did she-“ Faith started to ask but stopped herself, unsure if she really wanted to know the answer.

He dropped his gaze, shifting uncomfortably before answering calmly, “I guess from a few things you must have said in the shop, my mum was able to put together enough to realize you were like her sister. And you were having doubts about coming tonight because you’re afraid.”

His answer caught her off guard. “She ah, caught all that did she?”

He turned his beer in his hand, running the pad of his thumb over the glass, clearly holding back a torrent of questions. He

. “How long have you been the Slayer? Does your uncle know? How—“

“Ok so, wait a minute with the twenty questions… are you sure you really want to know all this? I mean really?” Faith asked seriously.

“I know I really want to get to know you. The way mum describes it, it sounds like this is a pretty big part of who you are.”

“This is why you asked to come by early.”

“I was supposed to check out another job, but after talking to mum I rescheduled that appointment. I figured you were more important than some built-in shelves.”

Faith was a little shaken, she wasn’t used to being put first like that. Like she was important. “You know I could bench you easy, and my job involves sticking stakes into vampires, and fighting demons, right? Just last night we evicted a vengeful spirit from Buffy and Spike’s bedroom. This isn’t an every-so-often kind of thing, it's every day. Do you really want to hear about that?”

He took a long drink and waited for the pregnant waitress to set down the chicken and chips they had ordered, “Maybe this is me being bloody stupid. I don’t know, but I do know that I have never met anyone like you in my life and I’d really like to know you better.”

“You’re sure none of this is sending you running for the hills?”

“Not yet anyway. I’ve been waiting to ask you out since we met but I didn’t think I was ready for another go at a relationship yet. When I thought you had a boyfriend, I… Well, I was really glad when you asked me. All this comes as a bit of a shock, sure, but it definitely makes you interesting.” He took a long pull of beer while Faith watched him, “Something I don’t get though, if you’re the Slayer then why does Spike call Buffy ‘Slayer’?”

“You caught that huh?”

“I just thought it was some kind of kinky nickname he had for her until now.”

Faith cleared her throat. Then chugged her beer, set the empty bottle down in front of her, and signaled the waitress for another. “Alright, so, first thing first; the way Spike says it, yeah, there’s definitely some serious kink he has going on there. You have no idea... Second, few things have changed since your aunt was the Slayer. Buffy is ‘The Slayer’ as in the original ‘to every generation’, blah blah…”

“But my mum said, you—“

“Oh I am. Long story short; Buffy died. For about a minute but it was long enough to activate another Slayer. When she was killed, I got called up.”

“Holy… so there’s two of you… and she isn’t really your cousin is she?”

Faith tapped her nose, “More like ‘chosen’ family. Same with Giles.”

“Wow… so… Wow, this is what you have to do… you have to lie to everyone?” He sounded more concerned than angry.

“About certain things, yeah… but it’s just—“ Faith stammered.

“To protect people. It sounds like a really complicated way to live. You’re sort of like a superhero.”

“Just no weird outfits or capes,” she laughed, “Yeah it is I guess, but it’s cool, not like I ever had anything else.”

“But Buffy and Spike; obviously he knows.”

Faith laughed again, “Oh yeah, he knows almost as much about Slayers as Giles does, only from a different angle.

“Should I assume he’s not exactly your typical guy?”

“You catch on fast. Yeah you could say he’s part of a eh- unique set, just like Me and Buffy,” she cocked her head, “Sort of.”

“What’s his story anyway?”

“Oh no, I’m not going there. Let’s just say he can keep up with us in a fight pretty damn well. He’s a good guy to have on our side.”

“Sounds complicated...”

“I haven’t even started on my backstory. It’s almost as complicated as his. You sure you want to get into all this?”

“I am if you are.”

Faith took a deep breath, unsure about what she wanted to tell him, “How do I know you’re not going to—“

“Blab it about town? My own father thinks my aunt died in a horrible rock climbing accident in the highlands. My mum only told me today because she thought, given your concerns, I should know what I was getting into,” he smirked, “Trust me Faith, I won’t say anything you don't want me to.”

Faith took a breath and cleared her throat, ”Good, because we tend to be a little iffy about straights finding out.”

He raised his eyebrows, “You’re not like the mob, I’m not going to find a bomb in my bed or something…”

“You know you’re leaving the door wide open for a great sex joke right?”

Callum flashed a sexy smile, “Not my intention, but ah, if that’s where your mind went with that I take it I’m safe.”

“Yeah, our business is protecting people from the baddies. We’re the good guys.” Faith replied.

“Okay, so what are the good guys doing running a girls school?”

She watched him drink his beer and took a sip of her own, “Alright…” she said as she proceeded to tell him a little more about the school and her role in it.

Callum sat back against the corner of the booth stunned, “So basically, it is what you say it is. You're just very selective on who you take on. So all those girls you teach… they’re—“

“Yup… freaked out yet?”

He let out a low whistle and shook his head, “That’s a lot to take in,” he took a sip of beer and nodded, “Alright I’m good, I’m hanging in. Wow, I bet Spike was really having a laugh about that whole superhero training camp thing.”

“Yeah well wouldn’t you?”

“Suppose so,” he tilted his head slightly and grinned.

“What’s that look for?” Faith asked, cocking her head to the side.

“Most of my adult life, I’ve been dealing with Superman jokes. Comic geeks wanting to call me ‘Kal-El’ or ‘Clark Kent’. Especially now there’s that Tom Welling bloke everyone says I look like. Not sure I see it myself, but that’s not the point. The point is that all this time I’ve tried to distance myself from that and then here I am. Falling hard and fast for a girl who is an actual real-life superhero. Who, by the way, looks like I should be able to pick up with one hand.”

“Did you say you were falling for me?”

He suddenly looked slightly bashful, “Afraid I think I am. That— is that alright?”

Faith covered her sudden desperate need to run by digging into the basket of chicken and chips in front of her. “As long as you’re okay with the fact I could toss you across the room without really trying, and I’ll never need your help opening a freaking jar.”

“Remind me not to piss you off.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t usually go well for the other guy,” Faith grinned and let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding as she relaxed against the booth. She suddenly stiffened slightly again, “Are we talking about incarcerations tonight or are we saving that conversation for another time?”

Callum shifted in his seat, “If you want to…but ah, given everything else, I’m voting another night.”

Faith nodded, “Sorry, didn’t mean to bring down the mood.”

“Impossible.”

“Ah huhh, say that again after you get to know me better,” she chuckled darkly, “So anyway, is that why you don’t like being called ‘Cal’, something to do with comics?”

“Kal-El, with a ‘K’, is Superman's Kryptonian name, it’s just a little too close to ‘Cal’ when you look like the Man of Steel as much as I do.”

“You won’t hear me complain. Never got into comics myself but damn, maybe I’m missing out,” she grinned.

“I’m starting to think this slow and steady thing might be harder than I thought.”

“Kinda getting that vibe too,” Faith took a sip of her beer as she eyed him, his muscles straining under his shirt. The urge to rip it off of him like tissue paper was strong.

She set her beer down, “As much as I’d really, really like to find a nice quiet spot somewhere and make it a whole lot less quiet... Like a week ago. I really want this time to be different. What your mom overheard was all true. I do like you, a lot which is big for me and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“So the bit about the bathtub?”

Faith nearly choked on her beer, “Your mom heard that too?”

“In her defense, the acoustics in that place are wicked. I used to think my mum was magic or something. I learned fairly early on you can hear everything from behind the counter even when you’re not trying to,” he laughed, “So, I take it this isn’t the tub on the fourth floor then.”

“No, we have a massive jacuzzi type tub in our bathroom. It takes forever to fill so we don’t use it much, but it’s seriously amazing after a long day.”

“Don’t really do baths myself.”

“Not manly enough?”

“Piss on that, I’m just too damn tall for most tubs.”

Faith laughed, “I think this one would work for you.”

Callum raised an eyebrow, “Maybe I’ll have to check it out,” he smirked.

“Maybe the third date,” she said, taking a drink.

Callum gave her a slow smile, “Now, ya know something. That raises an interesting point, is this date number one or number two?”

She watched him as he casually leaned towards her a little and her heart suddenly sped up, “Sort of depends on how the next one goes, I’ll let you know.”

“Already planning another date?”

“Kinda thought this one was going pretty well so far. You already know one biggy. So I’m game if you are.”

Callum grinned, “Oh I’m game.”

***** ****** *****

Back at the castle, Spike rummaged around in the wardrobe in their room looking for candles. It took a minute but he struck pay dirt, a whole box of white candles. They were really there for power outages and spells but they would do just fine to set the mood. He knew he didn’t have much time. He had managed to grab some blood just as the girls came into the kitchen with pizza they’d brought back with them from town for dinner. Buffy had stayed down stairs to eat but he knew she wouldn’t be long.

He had started lighting the last of the candles in the spacious bathroom when he heard Buffy calling for him from their bedroom, “In here, Love. Bring your special bubble bath would you?”

Buffy chuckled to herself. She grabbed the bubble bath and padded her way barefoot into the bathroom carrying it and a bottle of wine and two glasses. It was dark except for the dozen or so candles he had lit. The tub was still filling as Spike stood there shirtless waiting for her. She smiled when she saw him. “I was hoping for candles,” she said, setting down the bubble bath on the side of the tub.

“I’ll take those,” he added, taking the wine and a glass. He poured some into each glass. They touched glass before each taking a sip, “Thought we were out of wine.”

“Got some more today, what do you think?” Buffy set her glass down and started shrugging off her top revealing the lace camisole she had on underneath.

“Little sweet for my taste but it’s not bad,” Spike said as he continued to watch her with hungry eyes as she leaned over to pour bubble bath into the tub.

The scent of blackcurrant and honey filled the air, “That’s better huhh?”

He looped a finger into Buffy’s waistband, pulling her towards him roughly. Buffy gave a playful little squeal as he did so. He tugged at the bottom of her camisole, “I think we can do better,” he smirked.

****** ****** *******

Faith let out a crow of triumph as she sunk another billiard ball, winning her second round against Callum. A local band had begun playing about an hour into their date and the place had filled up.

“You warned me you were good. Best three out of five.”

“You’re just looking to have your ass handed to you.”

“Rather have yours, but I’ll take what I can get,” he grinned.

Faith returned it with her own, “Obviously. Alright, rack’em up, pretty boy.”

“Pretty boy?” He repeated, getting closer to her. Faith allowed him to pin her against the table. “Where do you come down on kissing on a first date?” He asked.

“Sort of feeling like a second date, don’t you think?”

Callum’s grin widened as he leaned in to kiss her. Faith snaked an arm behind his neck to deepen the kiss. It was electric. Faith had never been kissed like that in her life and that was saying something considering the amount of practice she’d had. They broke apart breathing a little heavily, “Holy shit,” she gasped.

Callum steadied himself, he was also feeling the effects of the kiss, “So, ah that wasn’t a one-sided Slayer thing I take it, you felt that too?” he gasped.

Faith nodded, still catching her breath.

“Definitely feels like a second date,” Callum breathed in her ear.

“I’ll say,” she pulled him back down for another kiss as he picked her up onto the billiard table. She felt him pressing hard against her through his jeans and felt her own body responding to him. Gears clicked inside her head, she wanted him now. It was more than clear that he wanted her too. But no. It couldn’t happen, not here, not now. Not yet.

Faith placed a firm hand on his chest just as he started to pull away, “If we don’t stop, Lass, these folks are going to get a very different show than they came in here for.”

They both looked at one another, eyes blazing and breathing heavily. Callum took a step back, allowing Faith to slip down off of the table. She pressed her lips together relishing the after effects of the kiss, “If that’s any indication, I’m thinking you might be right about a bomb going off in your bed.”

Callum’s eyes flashed and he grinned a little, “You’re ruddy dangerous you are. Like you’re trying to take a sledgehammer to my resolve.”

“I could say the same thing to you,” she said, pushing him back just a little, a sly smirk playing on her lips. “Rack'm up, mister, we're not done here.”

*****

A few hours later Callum and Faith were standing at the castle’s door once again. “You want to come in for a drink?” She asked.

”Not so sure that’s the best way to go about this going slow bit, beautiful. Especially after our little display at the pub,” he grinned.

“Who’s stupid idea was this taking it slow thing anyway?”

“Pretty sure it was a mutual consensus,” he chuckled.

“So next time?”

“Next time? How soon can we do next time?”

Faith smiled, “How’s next Friday?”

He pulled her to him, “That’s too far away.”

Faith let out a shuddering breath, “I’m on duty tomorrow night. You’re off from the hardware store on Tuesdays right?”

“Probably coming here to start on the elevator if I can get the parts. How do you feel about mixing business and pleasure?”

She shrugged one shoulder, “Doesn’t bother me.”

“So, Tuesday?”

“Unless I can talk you into coming upstairs now.”

Callum hesitated as Faith pulled him down for another electrifying kiss. “Didn’t we just go over this?” He asked breathlessly.

“Just making sure. Gotta say, your restraint is pretty damn hot.”

“I don’t go into the hardware store until afternoon on Wednesday.”

“Tuesday it is.”

“Tuesday. I’ll take you back to my place, we’ll have a night in. I’ll cook.”

“You cook?”

“Man’s gotta eat. The crockpot is my best friend. Does all the work for me.”

“Fair enough,” she smiled.

They shared one last long kiss before Callum finally left for the evening. Faith’s heart pounded in her chest as she closed the door. She couldn’t help the broad smile on her face as she made her way upstairs. Tuesday. She’d never allowed a guy to get to her like this before. Not even Robin. Sure she had thought they had something going. Neither one of them had ever used the dreaded “L-word”.

This connection she was feeling with Callum, just felt different. Hadn’t Callum even said he was falling for her? Was that what this was? Love… the real deal? The thought put her stomach in knots but then she thought of his smile and couldn’t help but smile again. She was still smiling when she reached her floor. The door to Buffy and Spike’s room was shut but she could still hear muffled sounds from within. Clearly their night hadn’t ended yet.

37 Living Dead Girl

“Buffy? Spike? Buffy?”, there was yet another knock at the door and Buffy realized she couldn’t ignore it and started fumbling blindly for her bathrobe; which wasn’t where she normally kept it… Shit.

She lifted her head. It felt like the roadrunner had smashed an anvil into it. Buffy let out a groan and the arm she hadn’t realized was snaked around her constricted. Spike.

The pounding on the door resumed, “Buffy?”

She groaned again, “What do you want, Xan? We’re half dead in here.”

“It’s too early for your puns, Love. Make the boy go away,” Spike grumbled into a pillow as he shifted onto his stomach like a sullen kid.

Buffy huffed without looking over at Spike, “Go away, Xan!”

“Come on guys! I’m supposed to get you up! The coma girl’s parents are here. She woke up and they want to talk to you so get some clothes on!”

Spike groaned and pulled himself up out of bed, “Bugger all,” he grumbled, pulling on his jeans gingerly over his injured leg and limped over to the door pulling it open fully. Xander’s eyes grew wide in shock when he saw Spike’s bare chest.

“Dude, what the hell is going on here? Have you looked at yourself in a mirror?”

“Not as of late, no, you ninny,” he murmured as he looked down at himself. He knew she had written her name under his left collarbone, but he hadn’t realized she had also drawn swirling doodles and a few hearts into his skin. The doodles interspersed with the numerous cross burns dotted all over his chest certainly told their own story. The burns were nothing more than little pinkish-red marks now but they stood out in sharp contrast against his pale skin, “Bollocks. How bad are the bits I can’t see?”

“Got a turtleneck?” Xander scratched his own neck indicating corresponding marks on Spike, “Those are pretty obvious, man. What the heck did you do to him, Buff?” he asked as he tried to poke his head into the room to talk to her.

Spike blocked him, “She’s not exactly decent, mate, getting dressed and a bit hungover too. Who’s with the Andersons now?”

“Faith answered the door and sent me to get you. Will and Giles are in serious book mode. I think they’re in the library but I’m avoiding. Faith wants me and Callum to put the girls to work on the duplex, while she takes the grads to the airport.”

“Right, we’ll be down,” he closed the door as Xander turned away. “You hear him, Pet?”

Buffy had pulled on a purple sleeveless top over a long black skirt with purple embroidery. Her hair was still a mess from sleep and it made him smile as she tamed it.

Buffy nodded as she finished and pulled out a pair of cute but practical sandals, “Yeah, we better get down there.” She looked up at him, “Maybe you should just stay up here. Keep off of that leg.”

“It’s about Sheena and Ruby. I need to be in this.”

She paused taking in the extent of the marks on his chest, “Fine, but maybe go with one of your dress shirts and that new black infinity scarf I just got. I really did a number on you last night,” she grimaced apologetically.

“Nonsense, I love your handiwork. As for that scarf, I might be a bloody poet, Pet, but I sure as hell aint about to dress like one of those trendy wankers running around nowadays.”

“Do you want to make Mrs. Anderson faint again? Because I’m pretty sure advertising evidence of kinky vampire sex might just do it, call it a hunch. Xan’s right, I must have left it on too long in a few spots, a couple of those don’t look good. Look at it this way, at least it’s a plain scarf, no frills.”

He frowned, “Yeah alright. I hear you. As nice as they were, I get the feeling they aren’t going to be all smiles in regard to Ruby’s new living arrangements and lifestyle as is.”

“Which part? The dead but soulful part, the undead-living-here part, or the liking women part?”

“Hard to say.”

“Let’s see what they want first, they might just want to tell us about Sheena.”

“Phones work.”

“True… let me track down Willow. Sheena might have said something to them about our visit.”

“Right, I nearly forgot ‘bout that. Got a bit distracted last night. All went well I take it?”

Buffy shrugged, “I was just the guard dog, but the mind walk Will did with Ruby did the trick. I didn’t really do much except help get Ruby’s stuff out of her room and lend a minimal hand with Odette. Ruby ‘did pretty much all the work. Odette didn’t seem like much of a fighter to be honest.”

“Probably just the regular demon stuff. I certainly didn’t teach her anything. I’m still dumbfounded that Dru just let her go.”

“It’s crazy to expect crazy people to make sense”

Spike shook his head, “Dru is insane but she always made some sort of sense. Even if I didn’t see it right away. In the end she almost always did.”

“I don’t know how you put up with her for so long.”

“Can’t really explain it to be honest,” Spike said awkwardly and rolled a shoulder.

“We better go, I want to see if Will is in the library.”

*****

When they reached the library they were surprised to find Ruby lounging with her leg up over the arm of the chair in the corner with a book in hand. She was situated a short distance away from the large table where Willow and Giles were pouring over books and a stone tablet.

“Hey guys!” Buffy interrupted them, “Ruby’s parents are downstairs.”

Ruby’s head shot up from her book in alarm, “Do they know about me?”

“We don’t really know what they know. Just because we didn’t say anything to them doesn’t mean that Sheena didn’t.”

“How do you want to play this Buff?” Willow asked.

“I think Spike and I need to get down there. Give us a minute or two and then come down with Ruby, but maybe just hang out in the stairwell by the living room so you can hear what’s going on. Oh and by the way, once I get him downstairs, Spike is forbidden from getting off the couch.”

Willow and Ruby smirked at each other and Spike rolled his eyes. Soberingly, he looked squarely at Ruby, “You and I need to have a talk young one. I was out of line but there are things you need to know.”

Ruby nodded, “Whatever you say, g-“

“And don’t you bloody well dare call me grandpa!”

“I was going to say, go see what my parents want. And maybe don’t mention Willow is a witch, I just don’t think they’d respond well.”

“Oh, well right then.”

Buffy put her hand on Spike’s chest, pushing him back slightly from where he was leaning against the doorframe, “Talk later.”

In a matter of minutes the two of them were downstairs greeting the Andersons. Faith took a step towards the staircase, “Sorry to cut and run Buff but I got to make sure Addison and Ursula make their flight.”

“No, it’s fine. I know you got a busy day, thanks for doing this.”

“No problem, B. Hey,” she grabbed Buffy’s arm and gave Spike a barely perceptible glance, “Everything 5x5?”

“Yeah, all good.”

“You gonna fill me in later?”

Spike gave Faith a nod, “Mind yourself, Doe-eyes, doin’ much better now, thanks. You get the beer later and maybe Buffy and I will spill the relevant bits.”

“You’re on, pal,” Faith replied as she headed up the stairs.

Buffy turned back to the Andersons and directed them into the living room.

“What can we do for you?'' Buffy asked cordially as she and Spike sat down together on one couch, the Andersons took the other.

“We’ve just come from the hospital. But I think you already know Sheena is awake.”

“Oh, well I was just there visiting and—“

“Ruby was with you wasn’t she? You found our girl and you didn’t tell us?” Mrs Anderson was trying to keep the accusation out of her voice but it was still there.

“It’s more complicated than that—“

Mr. Anderson bristled, “Our daughter is alive and you didn’t think we should know? When did you find her? How long has—“

“Mr Anderson, please calm down. We were planning on calling you when Ruby decided she was ready. She’s been through—“

“She is our daughter!” he roared, standing up, “What gives you the right to keep her from us!?”

Spike stood up with a deep growl, “You need to have a seat, mate. The lady is trying to explain the situation.”

The Andersons looked a little shocked, they hadn’t missed the growl but they didn’t understand it either. Mr Anderson didn’t sit down, “Young man, perhaps we should be talking to Mr. Giles. I don’t—“

“Don’t you ‘young man’ me, I was—“

Buffy reached for Spike’s wrist, “Sit down, you need to rest that leg.”

“Leg’s not so bad, Pet. I’m fine. But if he thinks I’m just—“

“William, please.”

“Buffy, you know as well as I do that we’re the only ones willing and able to help them and they—“

“Don’t know the whole story.”

Spike deflated as he sat down, his leg really wasn’t fine and he stretched it out in front of him on the coffee table.

Buffy hit Mr Anderson with a hard gaze until he relented a little and sat down too. “Thank you. Now maybe we can talk like adults. As I was saying. Ruby has been through a lot. We have been helping her.”

“Helping her?” Mrs. Anderson asked, “What has happened to our girl? First you tell us she might have been turned and now we find out she’s been hiding out here and you didn’t say a word. Where is my daughter? I want to see her!”

“You will. But I think you need to hear what happened after Ruby attacked Sheena.”

“After— but—“

“We haven’t been keeping you in the dark so please stop acting like we have been. You know she was turned, you know she attacked Sheena. Denial isn’t going to help anyone here. What you don’t know is that we were able to capture her afterwards and hold her here.”

“You held our daughter hostage?”

“We held a demon inhabiting your daughter’s body as a prisoner,” Spike corrected, “You’re welcome.”

Mr. Anderson wrapped an arm around his wife tightly. “But she was with you at the hospital wasn’t she?”

Buffy inclined her head a little, “Yes. We were able to have someone retrieve Ruby’s soul and put it back in.”

“So what does that mean? She has her soul, she’s cured? I thought you told us that it couldn’t be done.”

Spike huffed, “It’s not a cure. That’s utter nonsense. She’s still a vampire, she’s still dead. Crosses still burn and she still needs blood to survive. Animal blood, that is. She hasn’t had human since she’s been with us.” He paused looking at Mrs. Anderson. She had blanched at the mention of blood but didn’t look faint so he continued, “She’s also more her true self now. She has all her humanity back. She can discuss literature sensibly again, and thank god for that because trying to talk with her about Oscar Wilde without a soul was just— bloody painful…” he stopped catching a bewildered look from Buffy, “Point is, she can make opinions and decisions based on morality and has a working conscience again. It doesn’t mean she’s any less of a vampire. It also means that she essentially has multiple— How do I put this?”

“Just tell them what you told me,” Buffy reassured him.

He bobbed his head once and continued, “There’s more to her now. A lot of it she doesn’t even understand yet. First off she’s what we call a fledgling. Her demon didn’t have a lot of time to get real used to things before she got the soul shoved in. She’s getting off easy but she’s still got, sort of, multiple voices in her head.”

“Like multiple personalities?”

“No, no, think of it like the angel and devil on your shoulder kind of thing except a bit more literal. She has a lot she needs to work through before she can figure it out. Takes some getting used to. The guilt alone is enough to drive anyone mad.” Spike looked down, only just noticing Buffy’s hand clenched tightly in his own.

Mrs. Anderson’s eyes flickered from their hands and back up to his face, “You’re speaking from experience, Mr. Spike.”

He turned earnest eyes to her, “Yeah I am, and I know first hand how difficult it is. I was fortunate to have someone to fight for and who fought for me in return when it got to be too much. The least we can do is try to do the same for Ruby.”

Her eyes flicked to Buffy, “But you’re a Slayer like Sheena aren’t you?”

“The original, yeah.”

“Ruby is in good hands.”

“That’s what you said about Sheena and she still—“

Buffy bristled, “That was out of our control. It’s thanks to Spike and one of the other girls stabilizing her before the paramedics got to her that she is even alive. And further thanks to my friend Willow and Ruby for her waking up. I shouldn't need to tell you that Spike has cared for your daughters like his own family. Our family. We only want to help and part of that is helping Ruby make amends, getting her back on her feet and letting her make her own choices.”

“That’s why she was with you at the hospital.”

“Yeah, she wanted to see Sheena, help her if she could, and she did.”

Spike nodded, “She’s been doing really well, all things considered.”

The Andersons shared a look, Mr. Anderson turned back to Buffy and Spike, “I think we understand. May we see our daughter now?”

Spike turned towards the door concealing the staircase, “You get all that, Rubes? What do you say, feel like having a chat with your folks?”

The door opened and Ruby walked into the living room followed by Willow.

Ruby had pulled on what Buffy recognized as Giles' cardigan. She was holding it closed around her middle tightly, giving her the look of an awkward child, “Hey, Mum; Hi, Daddy.” Her parents descended upon her immediately enveloping her in a hug.

“Ruby! Oh my sweet girl! We thought we’d lost you!” her mother was crying.

“Well, you did, Mum, you did but I’m me again. For the most part. Not completely, but it’s mostly still me, like Spike was saying,” she nodded heavily as she pushed her parents back a little at arms length so she could look at them better, “He’s right it’s— it’s not easy and I was afraid to call, yet. I didn’t want them to contact you so please don’t blame them. Don’t be angry with Buffy and Spike, they’ve done nothing but help me.”

“We’re just glad you’re safe. When will you be coming home, sweetheart?”

Ruby shook her head, “I’m not coming home. I just can’t.”

Her parents looked at each other “But why not? I don’t understand,” her mother pleaded.

“What about uni?” Her father interjected.

Spike stepped in, “It’s Ruby's choice of course, but I have to say I agree with her. For one thing, living in a regular house like that can be kind of dangerous for a vampire, especially a young one. We are experienced here. Buffy has been dealing with the likes of me for years now and the castle is vampire safe. Ruby has already started to make herself comfortable and has a private space to call her own. Buffy and Willow here even went to help her clean out her room at University so you don’t have to worry about that. We’ll see to getting a phone line set up for her at some point here.”

“What happened to your mobile?” Her father asked.

Ruby shook her head, “Lost it the night I died.”

The phrasing seemed to strike her parents hard and Ruby‘s mom looked at her a little bewildered. With some effort she seemed to collect herself, “Well that’s simple enough, you’re still on our family plan, we will simply call our carrier, let them know that you lost your phone and see about getting you a new one. At least let us do that for you, sweetheart,” she nodded and looked pleadingly.

He nodded, “Seems silly not to. We’ll be happy to get it replaced, that way you can keep in touch.”

The unease in their voices didn’t go amiss to anyone, least of all Ruby, “Mum, Dad, I really do think it’s best for everyone that I stay here. I can train with Spike and Buffy and help them out where I can. I really think it’s what’s best. My afternoon class would kill me proper. I’d be a pile of dust on the sidewalk before I even got there. But yeah, a new phone would be brilliant.” She smiled at them both.

“But what about your future?”

“I’m dead Mum. The only future I have at the moment is right here, doing work with them. Fighting the good fight.”

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson exchanged another troubled look.

“It’s part of the deal I made when they offered me my soul. I chose this. I’m sure. Besides, it’s not like I’ll be that far, I can still visit.”

Willow stepped forward next to Ruby, “Absolutely! I can even bring her over tonight or tomorrow. Ruby was talking about wanting to get the rest of her things moved in.”

“That’s true, it would be nice to have the rest of my books and a proper bed,” she looked apologetically at Buffy and Spike, “I appreciate the cot but I’d love to have my own bed down there.”

Buffy rolled a shoulder, “Yeah of course, whatever you need; it’s your space. As long as your parents don’t mind you taking it, you can move whatever you want in there. It’s totally Ruby-ville.”

“Thanks. So what do you say? Can I come get my stuff?”

Her mother seemed a little overwhelmed, “I- we— If— yes of course. Can we see where you’re living?”

Ruby frowned a little, “I don’t really have it finished yet. Willow was going to let me paint.”

“This is Willow?”

Willow stuck out her hand, “Sorry! Yes, Willow Rosenberg. I teach math and science. I’ve invited Ruby to take the basement bedroom on my half of the duplex we started renovating.”

“You’re the one who helped Sheena?”

“I sure am. I’m also the one that ensouled Ruby too. I’ve sort of been keeping an eye on her, she’s been doing a lot better the last day or so.”

The Andersons seemed stunned, “But didn’t you say you teach maths and science?”

“I’m a woman of many talents.”

“And thank the Lord for that, and for everything you’ve done for our girls already. So Ruby will be living with you, not at the castle?”

“It’s on the grounds, you’re welcome to come and see it if you don’t mind a construction site,” Willow turned to Buffy, “do you know if they are working on your side or ours today?”

“No idea, Xan just gave Spike a quick rundown, and Faith didn’t say anything at all.”

“Or you’re welcome to come back another time after Ruby has had a chance to fix it up the way she wants.”

They glanced at each other, “I think we just want to see where she’ll be, that's all.”

“Willow—“

“It’s fine Ruby, Buffy and I can show them around, you just hang out with Spike. You two have a lot to talk about anyway.”

Ruby nodded to Willow, “Yeah alright, what do you say, Spike? Mind if I join you while you heal up and get that talk out of the way?”

Spike had already rested himself back onto the couch with his bad leg up, the other foot still on the floor in case he needed to intervene, “We can bond over a pint— or tea if you prefer, I’m not particular.” He was about to say “a pint of blood” and caught himself just in time, he wasn’t sure if Mrs. Anderson would have stayed vertical or not.

“Ruby?” Willow looked worried, remembering the tea incident from only a few days ago, “Are you sure you’re all right to go back in the kitchen?”

Ruby shrugged, “Feeling a little more stable. Giles said it was better in there now and at least I know Sheena is gonna be okay. I can’t stay out of the kitchen forever, I like to cook too much.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have said anything, we might put you to work, Slayers like to eat,” Buffy joked.

Ruby laughed at that and hugged her parents again, “I have a good feeling about this, don’t worry about me alright?”

They nodded reluctantly and pulled away

Buffy frowned at her skirt, “I hope they aren’t going all dust happy over there,” she looked up at the two vampires in the room, “You know what I mean, alright, let’s see what’s going on over there.” She said firmly as she leaned into Spike, squeezing his shoulder and applying a little pressure with her thumb where her name was burned into him. “Remember to stay off that leg.”

“Yes, Slayer,” he had managed to keep his tone even, but it still hit Buffy the same way as if he had purred into her ear with his hand down her pants.

Oh my god Spike.

It’s not my mind that’s in the gutter for once, Slayer, he said silently with a smug grin on his face.

You just behave yourself, Mr. Pratt, don’t make me tie you up again.

His grin widened, Yeah like that’s a real deterrent.

She rubbed a hand over her eyes, I really hope I didn’t create a monster last night.

Oh sweetheart, I’ve always been a monster. You just unchained me…

Unless I decide I want you in chains again, however you wanna look at it. It was Buffy’s turn to smirk.

Willow caught the interaction between the two of them and raised her eyebrows, “Buffy, are we going to get going here or do you two need a moment?”

Buffy tried her best not to blush as she turned to her best friend, “Right, okay, Mr and Mrs Anderson, come along with us. We’ll show you out there, It’s the big stone building you guys sort of past on the way in and it needs a lot of work so it’s going to be a while before anyone else is going to be moving into it but the basement on Willow’s side is in exceptionally good shape so since Ruby doesn’t really need a whole lot it’s fairly well set up for her already.”

“What do you mean by that; she doesn’t need a lot?” Mr. Anderson asked as they headed outside.

“Well she’s dead, she doesn’t really need a lot of creature comforts, it’s just a fact. You should have seen Spike’s place when we first started,” she cleared her throat, “seeing each other,” she ended diplomatically.

Willow shot her a glance but didn’t say anything.

“You both went by ‘Summers’ at the hospital but you’re not married are you? I just assume because you all call him ‘Spike’.”

She cleared her throat again, she had really wanted to talk to Willow about Spike, but not like this. It really was like Spike said; that in many ways they already were married, so what was the answer; Not yet, but we’ve been talking about it OR Yes, we accidentally eloped in Paris and we’re technically on our honeymoon but we’re probably going to have a wedding anyway?

Before Buffy could make up her mind about how to answer the question Willow chimed in, “Oh no, they got married a few months ago. William took her name but we have all known him so long we still just call him ‘Spike’ out of habit.”

Buffy gaped at her best friend, had Spike talked to her about their plans? Mrs Anderson smiled “Well I’m glad to hear it. It certainly makes me feel better knowing that she will be around people who are setting an example for a normal life.”

Buffy‘s eyebrows shot up “Normal?”

“Well, yes. It gives me hope that despite all this, that perhaps someday she can still settle down. She has never shown much interest in finding someone but now she won’t be at university. Maybe she’ll be able to get her nose out of her books long enough to focus on finding a good man and make a life for herself.”

Buffy caught Willow’s eye and she shook her head warningly. “Ahh huh, yup,” she tried to sound convincing. Any more comments like that and she wasn’t sure if she would be able to stop herself from breaking her nose. If Willow didn’t beat her to it first.

Ruby stood in front of the microwave waiting for the timer to go off. Her eyes kept darting towards the corner she had thrown the girls into. The memory of it mixed with the vision from the mind-walk were colliding violently in her brain and it was all she could do to stand still where she was. At least her stomach wasn’t trying to expel itself, although actually drinking the blood in her mug might not be so easy.

She was having very mixed feelings about blood. On one hand, her body and her demon demanded it, but at the same time the idea was repulsive to her. She figured that would just be one of those things she would have to come to terms with. She tried to distract herself by looking out the window towards the partially burned orchard and another pang of guilt shot through her.

Despite several of the girls receiving various injuries, only one Slayer had been lost in the attack and that was on her. She didn’t think they knew of the extent of her involvement in the attack and in some ways that was worse. Looking back at it now, she couldn’t blame the dark haired girl who had snuck in to beat the crap out of her while she’d been tied up in the utility room. She didn’t know the Slayer’s name but she did know that she had left the castle already. Which really just meant that she never had a chance to apologize. She couldn’t blame any of them for hating her and she knew she didn’t deserve their forgiveness, apologies be damned.

She took a deep breath to settle herself just as the microwave finished. She gathered their mugs and whisked them out to the living room where Spike waited for her. “Here ya go,” she murmured, setting it down in front of him.

“Ta, luv,” he eyed her carefully.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Thought I’d start with an apology for last night. You did good. Buffy told me you took Odette out pretty easily.”

“Did she also tell you I was blind with rage?”

“Didn’t need to,” he sipped the blood.

“So is that what you wanted to talk about, me killing Odette?”

“Partly. Did Buffy tell you anything about our line?”

“Sort of, you were sired by your ex and she was sired by some bloke named Angel. Then from what I gathered from your outburst last night, I’m guessing that there was quite a bit o’ funny business going on between the three of you.”

He ignored the comment, “You’ll probably meet Angel before long and I rather hope you never meet Drusilla. Don’t much fancy seeing her again myself.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because Buffy will likely have to be the one to put her down when it really should be me or Angel who does it.”

“Oh…”

“There’s a lot there. I could start anywhere and just keep goin’ into next week. So let’s start with some questions. Anything you want, ask.”

Ruby puffed out her cheeks, “Why were you so upset last night when Buffy mentioned Odette?”

“Hadn’t given her a thought in years and thought she was dust long ago for starters. For all the carnage I’ve been responsible for over the years, I never really turned too many vampires. Turned Odette just to get back at Dru. I imagine it’s why she left you in the crypt the way she did, it’s what I’d done to her except that I was waiting there expecting a shag when she woke up.”

“You like to keep it in the family, huh?”

Spike laughed, “You’ve read Dracula, you got the gist of things. Stupid ponce and his bloody brides,” he grumbled and took a sip of blood.

“What?”

“Nevermind, I don’t think he’ll be gunning for Buffy again anytime soon so you won’t have to worry about that wanker. Go on, drink up. It’s best when it’s warm.”

She looked at her own cup, “He’s real?”

“Git still owes me money.”

Ruby gave him a look that said she would be expecting more of that story later, “Sure… so what’s the plan for me?” She took a tentative drink from her mug. It wasn’t Slayer blood but Spike had been right about the herbs. The sip turned into a gulp.

He watched her with interest as she gulped it down hungrily. She clearly hadn’t been feeding properly which he had expected. “Good question. I thought I’d start you out joining in with the Slayeretts’s training. You can fight, that comes standard with your demon. But there’s always more to learn. Don’t get complacent. The best way to take advantage of the whole immortality thing is to roll with changes.”

“Says the punk rock poster child?”

“Pot. Kettle. Changes can be slow and I quite like my hair this way so I’m not likely to change that anytime soon. That and it’s sort of what keeps me alive with the Slayeretts when we go on field trips.”

“Are you saying I should start dyeing my hair a distinctive color?” She smirked.

“Don’t get smart.”

“Can’t help that, just am.”

“Yeah alright smarty pants, there’s still a lot I want to cover with you.”

“The girls hate me,” she blurted out suddenly.

“True. Deloris was a sweetheart. The girls aren’t real happy with you being here. Won’t do anything with me and Buffy around though.”

“Yeah, sort of already got that message.”

“Yeah, well that is just something you’ve got to deal with. Fact of the matter is that we don’t really belong much of anywhere so we got to make our own place in the world. I sure as hell didn’t just wake up one day and say ‘Oh I’m just going to be good now’, not that I didn’t try. I was a sodding mess, one big bloody morally-gray mess for a couple of years. Trying to suss out what I should do and how I should act to make Buffy happy, make her tolerate me, even if she couldn’t love me. Then something happened… I— I lost control— I nearly hurt Buffy beyond forgiveness. If she hadn’t…” he flinched inwardly, he couldn’t bring himself to talk about that night. “If she hadn’t knocked some sense into me... Left in search of my soul just after that.” He added weakly.

“So that’s what you meant before. The thing about it being a grand gesture of love. You did it for her.”

Spike hung his head down, he had almost forgotten he had said anything to her about that, “I was out of my mind in love with her but the demon can’t really process love the same way as a human soul. It’s close. Damn close. But there’s this— line in between and I nearly crossed it. Knew I couldn’t look her in the eye. Not after she’d seen me for the monster I was. Not when all she deserves is a good man to support her in everything she does. I couldn’t blame her for hating me, so I went to find the thing that would turn me into the man she deserves. I got it; and everything fell apart after that. Lost my mind. Buffy helped me shove my marbles back in place.”

“But clearly things worked out between you, I mean you’re together now, and you seem sane enough.”

“Sure as hell wasn’t overnight. Whole thing is far too complicated to get into now. You’re coming along quickly but then I sort of figured you would, pipsqueak. You and I aren’t exactly brooders like Angel. Can crack a smile for starters.”

“You don’t like him much do you?”

“We’re getting on alright now. Lots of unpleasant history there. Some of its guilt. Angel is big on guilt. Blames himself for everything he did plus everything me and Dru ever did. Well I don’t know about Dru really. I don’t think he can look at her without feeling at least a little pride. She was his greatest masterpiece after all. And then when she turned me, he thought he’d take on a new pet project. Taught me everything I know. Tried to twist me to be just as nasty as him but it just never did quite work. No one was more twisted and sadistic than Angelus. I didn’t bother trying to be like him after a while, became my own monster as it were. Started hunting Slayers.”

“Until you fell in love with one.”

“Yup.”

“Almost sounds like you were searching for your soulmate even then.”

“Bollocks, didn’t have a soul,” he said a little too quickly. The truth was that it wasn’t a new thought. The idea had often kept him awake, especially just after he had first realized his feelings for her. The thought had crept back into the forefront of his mind after Buffy had told him about meeting his soul in the heaven dimension she was in.

“No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some prophecy or something out there that says you were destined to fall in love with a Slayer.”

There was a ring of truth there that he wasn’t sure what to do with, so he just kept his response clipped. “What do you know about prophecies?”

“Nothing really. Willow has just been filling me in on some of the basic things she does with your group and mentioned something about them.”

“Good storyteller is she?”

“Could probably listen to her read the dictionary if I’m being honest.”

“Got it bad for the witch don’t you?”

She shrugged, “Not really a secret. She’s kind, sweet— generous.”

“You’re going to make your own choices no matter what I say but can I give you some advice?”

“It’s what you’re here for isn’t it?”

“Red is working on getting out of a crappy rebound relationship after losing the love of her life. A real nice girl I liked a lot too. Now Red clearly likes you, but the last thing that girl needs right now is some hot little thing twisting her head round.”

“But—“

“I’m not saying stay away from the girl. Just take it easy. Pump the breaks. Do you both a favor and take the time to get yourself right in the head first. By the time you do that, maybe the time will be right for you both.”

She nodded glumly, she suddenly wasn’t feeling as secure about her situation as she had less than a half hour ago when her parents were in the room. Now she was feeling almost claustrophobic, the weight of unknown possibilities pressing in on her. She looked at the thin layer of blood coating the bottom of the cup and grimaced.

“Ruby?”

“Hum?”

“You alright there?”

“Yeah, just thinking.”

“Willow?”

“Yeah but also— This soul thing, and the fighting evil thing and–”

“The blood?”

“Yeah…”

“You need your strength. You’ll get used to it, and so will the girls. Willow too. Just wait and see.”