Spnae - Spnae

Chapter 5 A New Leaf

A few hours later Buffy woke up to a knock at the door. Rubbing her eyes, Buffy opened the door to find Faith holding a cup of coffee and a bagel, “Hey, girls are going to be coming down soon. I brought these up for you. I want to introduce you to the girls at training this morning. Spikie boy too if he wants. Don’t want any of the girls thinking he’s target practice.”

“Humm, thanks, you didn’t have to do that.” She took a tentative sip of the coffee Faith handed her. It was disappointingly void of cream or sugar. But it’s coffee…

“One time only deal, B. Are you going to get pretty-boy up?” Faith asked, poking her head around the edge of the doorframe.

Buffy glanced over at Spike sprawled out on the bed with a pillow over his face. “He’ll join us later.”

“Right, whole creature of the night thing.” Faith smirked.

Buffy leaned against the door frame and took another sip of coffee, letting the unadulterated flavor wash over her taste buds. “Give me a couple minutes to get dressed. Which training room are we in?”

“The one by the library, it’s bigger. I want to get this done before Giles leaves with the older girls. They’re going to be gone for a few days.”

Buffy straightened up, a frown clouding her features. “I didn’t realize they were going to be gone that long. What’s he doing with them?”

Faith rolled her shoulders, stretching like a cat. “Taking them on one of those spirit journey things, it’s supposed to be the beginning of the end for them as they wrap up their training with us before they go on to their placements. He’s had this on the schedule for months. Gonna be gone most of the week.”

“I should have known. Giles did tell me he had some girls that would be ready to leave soon. I guess I just lost track of time,” she said with a sigh as she turned her face back towards Spike.

He had rolled over onto his side petulantly with the pillow clamped over his head. He grunted, “You birds keep it down, you’re waking the dead.”

Buffy couldn’t suppress a grin, “Oh good, you’re up. Faith wants us to address the masses.”

“Bugger all,” Spike huffed as he pulled himself up, the sheet slipping down precariously. “Can’t it wait? Not like we’ve got a big bad on deck.”

“Things have been a bit quiet,” Faith agreed, “can’t be good.”

“Always something brewing,” Spike added as he grabbed his clothes and started pulling them on.

Buffy shifted her body, blocking Faith’s view of Spike. “I saw a ghost last night.”

Faith redirected her attention back to Buffy with a confused look on her face. “Seriously? In here?”

“Yup, right over there,” Buffy pointed to the corner behind her where she had seen the apparition.

“Explains a few things,” Faith huffed, folding her arms over her stomach and leaning against the cool stone wall in the hallway.

“Like what?”

“Never saw anything, just heard a few knocks and bangs, couple of things moved when I was in here alone. That kind of stuff barely registers on my weird-o-meter anymore.”

“Tell me about it… “ Buffy said around a bite of bagel.

Spike snorted, making a poor attempt to cover it up with a cough as he walked towards them pulling on a clean dark gray t-shirt. “Humm, dusty in here…”

Faith tilted her head, “Right… anyway… I’ll let you two get ready and just meet you down there.” With that Faith turned and left.

Buffy crossed her arms and turned towards Spike, “Really?”

“Oh come on, Love. You have to admit. It’s more than a little funny that you, one of the most badass supernatural forces for good on the planet, got spooked by a wee little ghost.”

“I’m really trying to be mad at you right now.”

“How’s that workin’ for ya, Pet?” He replied with a knowing smirk.

“Don’t push your luck,” she grinned as she pulled workout clothes from her bag, “Ok, so first chance I get, I’m unpacking.”

“Add it to the list.”

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

“Good morning ladies!” Faith walked up and down as she addressed the girls in front of her. Giles, Buffy, and Spike stood behind her like members of a stage cast. “As you can see we have some special guests who will be staying with us for a while. Some of you might remember Buffy-“ Whispers rippled through the girls, a few of the older girls hushed them, “That’s right, the original slayer, is in the house. Buffy and I will be splitting training duties. With her is one of our closest friends and allies, Spike aka William the Bloody Slayer of Slayers. Vampire with a soul. Good guy. Teacher NOT target practice—“

“Wait— That’s William the Bloody? I thought you said he was dead. That he died in the Battle of Sunnydale,” one of the girls blurted out.

“Got better; still dead,” he answered.

Faith snorted, “Yeah well, he’s here now to help with your training. Buff, you want to say a few words?” She added as she turned to Buffy.

Buffy switched spots with her, “I know a few of you already and the rest I know through your progress reports. But those can only go so far. Spike and I are here because we agree it’s time we take a more personal role in your training. I don’t really have a lot to say, does anyone have any questions for me or Spike?” She gestured towards him as he placed a hand on the small of her back.

“Yeah, I got one. If he’s the Slayer of Slayers, how are we supposed to trust this guy?”

Buffy rolled her eyes, I should have expected this, “You can trust him because I do. I trust him with my life, and yours. But I get it. Trust is earned and even if you don’t trust him you should be grateful for the insights he can supply. Better to be prepared. I’ve learned a lot about what it is to be a Slayer from him, you can too.”

Spike adjusted his hand on her back as he stepped a little closer to her, “That and you lot got the advantage of safety in numbers.”

A girl standing in the front of the group cocked an eyebrow as she eyed the two of them, “Just how close of a friend is this guy?”

Spike tried not to grin at the blush coloring Buffy’s cheeks as she shifted a little before answering, “Spike is my… partner.”

That earned a few low snickers.

She rolled her eyes at how stupid that sounded, “Alright fine yeah, I guess it’s pretty obvious Spike and I have a lot more than just a working relationship.”

“Not like they weren’t going to notice we’re sharing a room,” Spike smirked.

She shrugged, and turned back towards Faith and Giles, “They’re all yours.”

Giles turned to the group of girls, “Level 4 girls with me,” he said heading towards the stairs.

Faith’s voice cut through as she stepped forward, “That means levels 1, 2, and 3 fighting stances. We’re going to jump right in.”

“Giles, can I have a word?” Buffy asked, pulling him aside.

“Quickly, we really must be off,” he gestured towards the older girls to go on without him, “I’ll catch up.”

Buffy moved Giles to the corner of the room, “I saw a ghost last night. Know anything?”

“I don’t, but generally they are innocuous. I can look into it when I return if you like.”

“I’d appreciate it,”

“Right then, upon my return. See you soon!”

“See you!” She called after him.

Buffy turned around and started walking around the room correcting stances and provided assistance.

“What’s with the level thing?” Spike asked as he sidled up to her.

“What? Oh that’s just the system they came up with. Helps to break them up into smaller groups by age and level of training. Sort of our version of martial arts degrees meets high school.”

“Got it.”

With that, the two of them got to work with Faith training and sparring with the girls.

***

After the first training session Spike went back to their room whilst Buffy and Faith took the girls for a run. Sleep seemed relatively pointless so he decided to give himself a tour.

The first thing he did was head upstairs, to the other two floors they hadn’t seen yet. The one right above them consisted of three large bedrooms and one very big communal bathroom that had been recently renovated. The top floor was nothing more than one large bedroom and an access he imagined went to the roof. He meandered around the castle until he found himself in the large training room and he made his way back up to Giles’ private suite.

“Now that’s more like it, Rupert,” Spike said out loud as he looked around. It was a large room with a sitting area on one side that reminded him of Giles’ living room back in Sunnydale.

“If I were a Watcher with a stick up my ass, in charge of fifteen underage girls and Faith, where would I keep the good stuff? Ah right then…” Spike opened the doors to the wardrobe and found a bottle of scotch and a set of glasses on the top shelf, “Predictable.”

He helped himself to a drink, put Billy Squire’s ‘Don’t Say No’ album on the record player then sat back listening. As much as he agreed with Buffy about the importance of the work they were starting at the castle, it was nice to hide away with a drink in hand. A trip to the liquor store was definitely in his near future.

Spike made his way back downstairs into the training room where he heard voices. The girls were back. The rain had started.

Spike peeked his head out from behind the screen blocking the staircase from view. Buffy was there with a smaller group of girls guiding them through some tai chi exercises as a cool down after their run. He stepped out from behind the screen watching them. Buffy didn’t break form, but she did give him a quick smile when she saw him. A moment later she finished the sequence, “That was great guys, thank you! That’s all for now, I’ll see you later.”

Buffy watched as the girls filed out through the library and down the stairs before turning to Spike, “What were you doing?”

“Havin’ a nip with Squire.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow, “Ah huh, what happened to punk rock?” She asked as she picked up a towel, dabbing sweat off her face and neck.

“You really got me pigeonholed don’t you, Slayer? Remind me to tell you all about Woodstock sometime.” He drawled as he came closer.

“I— Spike-”, she stammered a little before she realized he was teasing her, “Jerk.” Buffy swatted at him with the towel.

“Not like Giles has The Ramones or The Buzzcocks up there anyway. Got a point though don’t I?” He chuckled.

She sighed as she picked up the zip-up hoodie she had worn on her run and started towards the library stares, Spike followed. “Faith told me she put a bottle in the roll top desk in our room. And there’s a portable stereo in the kitchen. What were you doing up there anyway?”

“Just nosin’ about. That bit about the booze would have been useful information, but then I wouldn’t have discovered Rupert’s record collection. That’s one thing about a mostly nomadic lifestyle, I’ve lost more records than Giles has seen in his life.”

“Could always get you an MP3 player.”

“Two sides to that; Mobile, but vinyl is better.”

Buffy laughed, “Not really the point here.”

He nudged her shoulder as they went, “Oh come on, Love, just getting the lay of the land. Not like I trashed the place.”

“I just don’t like the idea of you being in there when Giles isn’t here. He’d be pissed.” She huffed.

“I wanted to sleep. I’m only up because you requested my presence.” He answered, as he opened the door to their bedroom.

Buffy stripped out of her workout tank and turned towards him. Standing in front of him in a pair of jogging capris and a sports bra she grinned at him, “I’ve got some time to kill, I can think of something that might help you sleep. Can’t have you cranky for the field training tonight.”

“Damn, I like it when you tuck me in,” he murmured in a gruff tone as he pulled her closer and kissed her passionately.

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

Buffy grinned as she watched Spike laying next to her on the floor. They’d made it to the bed this time but had fallen off of it at some point. When she made a move to get up, Spike grabbed for her wrist, “Leaving so soon?” He asked without opening his eyes.

“Yeah, Slayer training stuff I told Faith I’d come find her to train after a while. Met you in the entry hall at 9:00 alright?” She kissed him.

“Better get going then, don’t want to start something and be late. Nothing like shagging in the middle of your first day at your new job.”

“It’s not like it’s really my first day. I do the same thing in Rome, just on a much smaller scale, and not in a castle.”

“I love seeing you shine,”

“Now who’s trying to start something we don’t have time for? Get some sleep.”

Buffy made her way down to the second training room where Faith was working out alone using one of the punching bags. They often gave the girls the afternoon off now it was summer and they were dotted round the castle and the grounds. Faith looked up from the target she had been hitting, “Hey B, what’s up?“

“Nothing really, thought I’d practice my staff work. Figured you’d be in here since a couple of the girls were already in the other training room when I came down,” Buffy picked up a quarterstaff and squared up against the dummy closest to Faith.

Faith steadied the heavy bag, “Yeah, kind of a rare opportunity to have the place to ourselves. That rain didn’t last long, a lot of the girls are out in the orchard, sort of nice.”

“Yeah,” Buffy grunted as she hit the training dummy.

“So what’s Spikie-boy up to?”

“Getting some much-needed rest,”

Faith’s eyes twinkled and she gave a barely there a grin, “Ah huhh, I hear that. Damn that man is fine.”

“Yeah, well hands off,” she said as she struck at the dummy again.

“Already tested the waters there, he didn’t bite, not even a nibble.”

Buffy paused, dropping her fists and turned towards Faith who was still hitting the bag. “Wait, what?” Buffy asked.

“Flirted with him a bit in your basement back in Sunny-D. No big thing. Even if you hadn’t come in, I doubt he would have gone for it, that guy has a one track-mind and you’re it—“ she grunted the last word as she delivered a kick.

Buffy watched her a second longer before resuming her staff work, “I guess that sort of answers my question.”

“What’s that?”

“I was going to ask you why you are the only one I haven’t had to explain everything to,” Buffy said as she continued practicing.

“Because I totally get it. I mean the soul thing is a given, plus he’s super hot,” she punched the bag in front of her a few times and continued, “must be nice having someone who can keep up with you and gets the whole Slayer thing,” she paused, hitting the bag again, “vamp’s sex on legs and he only has eyes for you B.”

“Yeah…” she agreed as she struck the floor with a particularly hard strike.

Faith stopped to look at her, “Do we need to talk?”

“No,” she waved a hand dismissively, “It’s good. I got my guy, I’m happy. What about you?” She continued twirling her staff, plunging it into the dummy’s chest, “Opps…”

“Ehh, yeah, let’s try pulling our punches on the equipment huh?”

“Sure.”

Faith hesitated, “Anyway— You already know I tried to make a go at a real relationship with Robin for a while.”

“Mind if I ask what happened?”

“Might tell you if I knew. Just packed up one day and said he wanted to go back to New York,” she shrugged, “Hurt ya know… but, sort of made me realize maybe I’d been missing out too. Something I didn’t know I actually needed before. Probably sounds stupid…”

Buffy shrugged her head before delivering another strike, “No it doesn’t. So what now?”

“Oh I’m good… There’s a hottie in town I got my eye on, just— Slayer stuff and work and— damn, when the hell did I become responsible?” Faith paused, rubbing the back of her neck.

“I think it’s a Spider-Man thing.”

Faith resumed her stance, squaring up her shoulders, “And for the cool kids?” She asked.

“Xander… it’s this whole ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ thing… sort of comes with the territory,” Buffy shrugged.

“Kinda like it, is that weird?”

Buffy chuckled darkly, “Ohh yeah… super weird…”

They both laughed at that.

“Seriously though, I need to get laid, bad,” Faith sighed.

“Could always hook up with the Scottish hottie. What’s he like anyway?”

Faith walked over to the edge of the mat to pick up a towel and let out a little groan as she whipped sweat off her neck. She grabbed her water bottle, taking a drink.

Then sighed, “He’s really nice. Freaking gorgeous. Tall, broad shoulders, great head of thick black hair, the most gorgeous baby blues, and a smile that could melt a chastity-belt.”

Buffy’s eyebrows raised with interest at that. “Hottie got a name?”

Faith didn’t look up, “Callum, his name is Callum.”

She eyed her, “He doesn’t know you like him does he?”

Faith set down her bottle and the towel, still not making eye contact. “I’m- we talk. Every time I see him he’s working.”

The corner of Buffy’s mouth pulled into a half smile, “Bartender?”

“No… he isn’t.” Faith said a little heatedly and deflated quickly, taking a deep breath. “Alright fine, he works at the hardware store, and recently started a construction business with his cousin.”

Buffy’s eyes widened and she relaxed her staff at her side, “Oh my God, that’s what all the freaky remodeling stuff has been about! The training rooms and the girls' rooms upstairs and the girls bathroom. Faith!”

“I don’t want to make things… you know— I actually think I like this guy… he’s—” she stammered uncomfortably. She was showing more vulnerability than Buffy had seen in years.

“Wow, and here I was thinking you just jumped any guy you saw.”

“God I want to… trying to turn over a new leaf…”

“Wow.” Buffy said, letting her shoulders drop.

Faith sighed in agitation. “Don’t sound too surprised. This is hard… trying to be a nice girl for a nice guy.”

Buffy shook her head and held up a hand for her to stop, “You can’t do that, you have to be yourself.”

Faith sat down heavily on the mat with her legs folded in front of her. “That came out wrong. I just mean I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to be better and if I’m going to have a guy at all, then I want one that will help me do that. Sort of thought Robin could have been that guy…”

Buffy frowned, “And now you think this is the guy?”

“I didn’t say that. I just said he was a nice, really hot guy I like.”

“The fact that we are even having this conversation is kind of a big deal. Maybe just try getting to know the guy. Let him see the real you, the good you— before you jump him.” Buffy said as she slipped her staff back into the rack by the wall.

“Like dinner and a movie? I don’t know if I could handle that, B.”

She walked over to sit across from Faith. “Who says it has to be? Let him like you for you, whatever that is.”

Faith chuckled mirthlessly, “God that’s lame, you sound like a freaking shrink or a fortune cookie or something.” Then she shot Buffy a serious look, “Guess I sort of needed to hear that, thanks.”

Faith stood back up stretching, “It’s times like this that I really miss Angel.”

“You guys really got close huhh?” Buffy asked.

“He’s a good friend. Gave me a second chance and didn’t give up on me.”

Buffy twirled her staff slowly in front of her and cleared her throat. Never thought I’d see the day when Faith getting close to him wouldn’t bother me but here it is— wow… “Anyway, what's the game plan tonight?” She asked as she stood back up and went to grab her own water bottle.

“Taking the new girls out for their first field trip.”

Buffy eyed her over the bottle as she took a long drink. “Are you sure that’s a great idea? Leaving the rest of the girls alone?”

“I’m putting Ava in charge while we’re gone, they’ll be fine for a couple of hours.” Faith said, stretching out her shoulders.

Buffy shrugged. Faith knew the girls better than she did. “Humm, yeah, I can see that… as long as they don’t start a mutiny while we’re gone. We’ll come back to find Ava tied to a chair.”

“Oh come on, have a little faith,” Faith smirked.

“Oh now that’s lame.”

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 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.”

Chapters: 2/? Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Spike/Buffy Summers Characters: BtVS Ensemble, Buffy Summers, Spike (BtVS), Willow Rosenberg, Tara Maclay Additional Tags: Fluff and Smut, Spuffy, Family, Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, daddy spike Summary:

Written for an EF writing prompt:

Before Buffy jumped to her death in “The Gift”, she slept with Spike. When Willow resurrects her, she essentially re-animates Buffy’s dead cells – including Spike’s sperm, traces of which are still in her body.

In other words, not only does the spell resurrect her, but it also gets her pregnant.

When Willow finds out, she gets an ego boost from the knowledge that she created life from a vampire.

Bonus points for Buffy yelling at Riley when he comes back.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.