A Change of Heart



Spike was angry and restless. He had paced every inch of his crypt and managed to stake a couple of newly risen vamps on his way to The Bronze. But here he was, torturing himself, watching the writhing, dancing happy meals on legs that he couldn’t indulge in. Maybe he should just find a quiet corner, down a few beers, hustle some gits at pool…

“Oof!” A twirling Buffy slammed into him.

“Oh you,” now his miserable night was complete.

“A-and you,” Buffy said with a wary confused look.

“What are you keepin’ tabs on me? You gonna give me a hard time now?” Glaring at her with challenging eyes. He sensed something off about her.

“Umm… Do I usually give you a hard time?” Buffy stammered.

“Very funny. Well you don’ have to worry ‘bout me drinkin’, ‘less you’re here to protect innocent beers…” why was she acting like she didn’t know their normal deal? He was intrigued, especially noting the faint aura of magic surrounding her. A spell maybe?

“You’re a vampire?” Buffy peered at his retreating back. Now he knew there was something wrong. Time to bait her again.

“Was. And as soon as I get this chip out of my head, I’ll be a vampire again. But until then I’m just as helpless as a kitten up a tree. So why don’t you just sod off?” He knew Buffy would never back down from a challenge from him.

“’Kay,” she replied turning to walk away.

“Oh fine! Throw it in my face! Spike’s not a threat anymore. I’ll turn my back. He can’t hurt me.” He knew something was different deep in his gut, but couldn’t figure out what the hell it was or what he could do about it.

“Spike… Spike,” she said thoughtfully, advancing toward him with a seductive sway of her hips. “William the Bloody with a chip in his head. I kinda love this town.”

“You know why I really hate you Summers?” He couldn’t resist baiting her, seeing what this spell-ridden version would reply.

“’Cuz I’m a stuck up tight-ass with no sense of fun?” Spell-Buffy replied with a cheeky grin, tilting her head.

“Well, yeah that covers a lot of it,” he didn’t quite know what to make of her.

“’Cuz I could do anything I want. Instead I choose to pout and whine and feel the burden of slayerness? I mean I could be rich. I could be famous. I could have anything. Anyone.” She approached Spike and pushed him softly backwards, running her hot little hands from his chest down to his taught stomach, settling on his trim hips. “Even you Spike,” she continued, looking up at him through hooded eyes. “I could ride you at a gallop until your knees buckled and your eyes rolled up. I’ve got muscles you’ve never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you popped like warm champagne and you’d beg me to hurt you just a little bit more. And you know why I don’t? Because it’s wrong.” Spike couldn’t help staring at her lusciously plump lips, feeling his pants tighten at her seductive play.

“I get this chip out, you an’ me are gonna have a confrontation,” and he knew he’d enjoy every minute of it.

“Count on it,” Buffy sauntered off towards the bar. Spike knew something was definitely not as it should be with the slayer. He felt his frustration rising as he realized he wanted to go tell her watcher. Alert him to the danger. He was the supposed to be the big bad for fucks sake.

In a fit of rage he threw his bottle against the wall, shards flying in every direction. He stalked off toward the door, pushing some worthless sod out of the way and earning a kick in the brain for it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


He hesitated before banging loudly on the watcher’s door, still not sure he should be doing it. Or why he was doing it to begin with.

“Oh, Spike,” Giles sneered at him, “to what do I owe this… displeasure”

“Right, I don’t need this. I jus’ thought you should know the Slayer’s under some sorta spell,” he ground out, regretting his hasty decision, and turned to leave.

“Buffy’s under a spell? I just saw her earlier this evening and she appeared to be fine,” Giles confused voice made him make an abrupt turn back toward him. Was this the leader of the star pack of demon slayers that foiled his best schemes, surely not.

“Was just at the Bronze and though I’m sure the slayer loves me like a bad rash, she wouldn’t be offerin’ to ride me at a gallop unless there was something off. And she reeked of magic,” Spike sneered at the shocked expression on the watcher’s face.

“No well indeed,” Giles stammered and reached to pluck his glasses off his nose, “Care to come in and tell me anything else you know.”

Spike raised an eyebrow and stared disbelievingly at the watcher before shrugging his shoulders, “Might as well have the last of my blood that I left here. I don’t have a microwave yet.”

Giles shook his head and shut the door before making his way back into the living room. He knew he had to question Spike carefully in case he decided his good deed had expired.

“So what else about Buffy’s behaviour indicated a spell to you?” Giles called toward the kitchen.

“As I said Rupes, aside from her offer to shag me,” Spike sauntered into the living room, flopping down on the sofa, putting his booted feet up on the coffee table. “She was just off I suppose. Acted like she didn’t know who I was. Surprised when I told her I was a vamp.”

“Well that is indeed quite odd,” Giles leaned back in his chair, one arm of his glasses between his lips. “Though she did say a couple of things that were a little off-colour earlier. I just figured it was due to Faith’s attack on her mother.”

“This Faith-bird went after Joyce?” Spike’s low growl surprised Giles, but he decided not to dwell on it.

“Yes, she threatened her I believe. Buffy fought her and the police came and took her. Though the council stepped in of course.”

“So Faith’s what? A wanna be bad chick with an attitude problem and a grudge against Buffy?” Spike was intrigued by this new slayer.

“Well considering Buffy stabbed her, placing her in a coma, I’d suggest she still holds some form of grudge.” Giles felt like he was missing something right in front of him.

“Buffy stabbed someone! A slayer! Well I’m impressed,” Spike grinned, then something hit him, “You don’t think there’s some kinda switch? I hear there’s some draconian spell along those lines. Met a poor fella once who wanted to feel what it was to be a chit. That was a funny one.”

“Of course that’s entirely possible. I mean I’ve heard of it before, but where would Faith get access to such potent magicks?” Giles pinched the bridge of his nose, “The mayor! He would have had access to such means and he did take Faith under his wing.”

“Well seems like you’ve got it in the bag then watcher. Well I’ve done my bit for you lot. I’ll be off then, do something evil.” Spike felt around his duster pockets for his smokes before making his way toward the door.

“Are you certain Spike?” Giles was surprised at the vampires help so far and wanted to know what caused him to come in the first place.

“Done enough Rupes. Go find your slayer.” Spike’s voice drifted in through the open door.

Giles immediately set about trying to get in touch with Willow with little success. Trying to reach Xander left him with similar results, so he decided to set about reaching the council and delving into his research to try and find a solution.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The next morning found a frantic and exhausted Giles jumping at the sound of the shrill ring of the phone.

“H-hello?” He rubbed a weary face with his free hand.

“Giles? It’s Willow,” said the anxious voice on the other end of the line.

“Oh Willow, excellent. I’ve been trying to reach you all night. Something is wrong with Buffy,” Giles desperately hoped that Faith was still nearby in Buffy’s body.

“I know. It’s a body switching spell,” Willow replied with a proud tone in her voice.

“How on earth did you figure that out?” Giles was frustrated that he seemed to be out of the loop for this important situation as well. Did Spike know everything before he did?

“Oh. Well, my friend Tara can read auras a-and we ran into her at the Bronze. And she was not acting like herself at all, so we did this really neat spell to find out where she was and I found that she had switched bodies with Faith.” She let out in a rush.

“Very well, I suppose you should come over right away and we’ll set about rectifying the situation.”

“Got it covered Giles, I’ll be over as soon as I can. We just have to find Buffy, and Faith.”

“Well that should prove to be a bit more difficult I imagine,” Giles was interrupted by the sound of his door opening.

Faith’s body walked into the door.

“Giles!”

Giles did a quick double take, trying to keep a level head about the situation, knowing that it was Buffy standing before him, not Faith.

“Buffy?” he questioned carefully.

“Wow, I thought this would take a lot longer to explain,” Buffy sighed, “I was preparing to go through memory lane to prove it was me.” She cocked her head to the side questioningly.

“Yes, well, I was informed of the situation last night, you wouldn’t believe who told me, and well I spoke with Willow this morning who confirmed that you and Faith had switched.” Giles made his way into the kitchen, “Tea?”

“No. Who told you? Riley?” Buffy leaned against the counter, before starting to pace the room.

“Um, well, no. Spike told me,” he closed his eyes preparing for the coming outburst.

“Spike? Spike told you? How the hell did he know? Did Faith use my body to-to, ugh! I don’t even want to say it,” Buffy had stopped pacing, pleading brown eyes turned on Giles.

“He assured me that he didn’t take any advantage of your... um… predicament,” Giles removed his glasses and started polishing them. “I think we should focus our efforts on finding Faith at the moment Buffy. It is imperative to find her before she leaves the country and you become stuck in her body.”

Shoulders slumping, Buffy let out a deep sigh, “I know you’re right Giles. I’m just so angry at her! We have to find her before she does something totally wigsome with MY body.”

Before either Giles or Buffy could explore the matter further, Willow and Tara came in through the front door.

“Hi Buffy! We come bearing gifts, ah well, a gift,” Willow didn’t even balk at Buffy’s current Faith skin, “Oh! And I would like you to meet Tara. Tara this is Buffy, only really this time.”

“Hi,” the shy blonde waved before looking abruptly over to Willow.

“Tara’s a really powerful witch.”

“Not really,” Tara mumbled, wringing her hands.

“No really. She knew right away that you weren’t you. S-So we connected to the nether-realm to find out what happened and we conjured this.” Willow held out an open box containing a glowing green cube.

“Wh-what is?” Buffy looked at the strange object.

“It’s a Katra, or a home conjured version. It should switch you back. If you can get a hold of Faith,” Willow’s eyes reflected her worry. The new girl Tara looked on with equal worry, but there was an air of calm about her.

“Oh thank God,” Buffy couldn’t say how relieved she was. It was time to hunt down the uber-bitch slut-bomb that was Faith. She couldn’t wait to get her hands, and fists, on her.

The ringing of the phone jolted Buffy into the present.

“Do you know where Faith is?” Buffy asked Willow hopefully.

Willow shook her head, not wanting to acknowledge that she may have sent her Riley’s way.

The news report on TV gave them a reason to mobilize into action and take care of more pressing problems; hopefully they’d find Faith in the process.




End of Part 1

Part Two




After the fight with Faith, Buffy felt physically trashed. And after Riley revealed that he had slept with her and never even noticed that she wasn’t really Buffy, you could add emotionally exhausted to that list. She had decided to work off some of the anger and frustration by doing an extra long patrol tonight. She had already slayed ten vamps and one weird green fungusy demon. But she was burning for more.

“Slayer,” a rich baritone voice drifted from behind her. Just what she needed. Well, actually, maybe it was. Buffy turned to face Spike, a newfound respect for him after realizing that he must know her even better than the man who supposedly loved her.

“Spike,” she found herself at a loss of what to say, not wanting to start a thank you with her usual string of insults.

“What’s wrong with you tonight luv? If it’s not a punch in the nose by know, you’d at leas’ be tellin’ me to be on my merry way,” Spike flipped open the top of his lighter and, cupping the flame, brought it up to light his cigarette.

“Well, maybe I’m just not in the mood tonight,” Buffy tried to look convincing, but at his lifted eyebrow, she shook her head and perched on the nearest tombstone. “What I mean is well… thanks.”

“For what?” Spike wanted to see just how far he could push Buffy when she was well, in her own skin again.

“You know what Spike,” Buffy gave him a hard look, but couldn’t help smiling at his mock-offended look. “Thanks for letting Giles know that something was wrong with me.”

“’S nothin’ luv” Spike never thought the Slayer would be thanking him for anything at all. He watched Buffy as she sat staring at him, her brow furrowing in concentration. “What? See something wrong with my handsome face?”

“Why’d you do it Spike? A-and how did you know it wasn’t me?” with her eyes questioning with such sincerity he couldn’t help settling down on the tombstone across from her.

“Knew it wasn’ you Slayer cuz well… she wasn’t actin’ like ya. Spent the better part of a year studying your moves an’ behaviours. An’ the fact that she didn’t know who I was, that was a big tip off. You’re always more punny with your insults, not outright, well, insulting.” Spike crushed the finished cigarette under the heel of his boot and glanced at Buffy.

“Oh,” Buffy wasn’t sure why she felt disappointed at his answer. “Then if you’ve done all this Slayer-study for the purpose of what? Killing me? Why did you go to Giles.”

“Not fun if you’re not yourself Slayer,” he added a leer, “’Sides, I like that hot lil’ body of yours.”

“Pig,” she said without much muster.

“Oink oink baby,” he smiled softly at her. “Why’s this so important to you?”

“It’s not,” defensive-Buffy was back full force. “I just wanted to know that you’re not planning something evil.”

“So tellin’ your watcher there’s something not so right with his precious Slayer is evil then?” his eyes narrowed and he shifted into a more defensive posture.

All the bravado she’s just put up seemed to melt back into the ground. “No, I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she looked down at the ground, shoulders slumping forward. Why was her life always so complicated. Riley couldn’t read her well enough during sex of all things to know that it was Faith, and she was praying she wasn’t so much like Faith that it wouldn’t have been obvious. But Spike, her so-called mortal enemy, who didn’t love her, read it in a matter of minutes, and went to Giles. She had really believed that it would work between her and Riley. Now she wasn’t so sure. She couldn’t help the tears welling in her eyes as she started letting go of her hope for a normal relationship.

“Wha’s wrong luv? Why are you cryin’?” Spike’s voice startled her out of her reverie. She looked up to see him kneeling in front of her, concerned blue eyes holding hers. When a lone tear escaped and ran down her cheek, he reached a hand out, and wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. His compassion was what broke her, the dam of tears erupted and she buried her face in her hands.

“Shh, luv, come on. Help a vamp out here,” he pulled her down onto the ground and into his arms. His inner William couldn’t be stamped down when faced with her tears. “Please tell me Buffy.”

“Riley,” she whispered through her quiet sobs.

“What’s captain cardboard have to do with it?” he was rubbing her back in soothing circles with one hand while the other drew her head onto his shoulder, allowing her to pretend that he was whoever she wanted him to be.

“He didn’t know. He didn’t know she wasn’t me,” Buffy didn’t even know if she could bring herself to say it out loud. Spike’s hands were soothing her ragged emotions, cradled in his arms she whispered, “he slept with her, told her he loved her, and he didn’t know it was me.”

Spike couldn’t find the words. He felt his own anger rise in her defense. How could that ponce not have noticed that the woman he claimed to love wasn’t who she appeared to be. He’d know the minute she looked at him. Buffy’s tears were silent now, a true testament to how much she hurt, and how tired she was.

“I thought that this was going to work,” Buffy needed to share with someone. She needed to share with Spike. “I try so hard. Every day I go out at night fighting for them. I have had broken bones, failed at school, fought with my own mother because I was fighting for them. And whoever it is that makes these stupid decisions couldn’t even give me one normal, happy relationship. Is it too much to ask?” she looked up at him then, eyes misting with tears that fell unchecked, pleading for someone to hear her pain.

“I know pet. I don’t know what to tell ya though. I’s a thankless job bein’ the Slayer. I should know. But you’re the best one I’ve ever faced Buffy. You’re not like any of them. You have friends and family who love you,” he brushed a tendril of her hair out of her face. “Not many of ‘em ever get that. Now, I’m not sure farm boy was a great choice in the meat market. Too much of the Dudley-Do-Right in ‘im. Face it pet, you’re never gonna have normal.”

Buffy just stared up at him in wonder. Why was he even helping her? He was looking at her as if she was a treasure or something precious to care for.

“Now tell me about this Faith bird,” Spike wanted to change the subject because he was finding himself all too happy to take care of the hurting slayer. “She didn’t seem to like you much. An’ wha’s this about you stabbin’ her?”

“Hey, she had it coming,” Buffy smiled up at him when he opened his eyes wide in shock at her comment. “Ok, maybe not. I was the reason she was in a coma for so long so, yeah, she’s grudgy-girl. But she was bad way before then. Joined the Mayor’s side before he became snake boy. It was apparently him who had left her the dragon-cake thing to switch bodies with.”

“Dragonian-Katra pet”

“Yeah, whatever. Anyways, I always felt kinda sorry for her though,” Buffy ran the back of her hand over her cheeks, drying the last of her tears. “Well I would if she wasn’t such a giant ho. She always took everything that was mine, anything I had she wanted, she even went after you. She’s like a nosy little sister who steals your stuff and flirts with your boyfriend.”

“You think I’m yours luv?” Spike was intrigued and surprised by the warm tingling the remark caused in his gut.

“I ah, well, you’re my mortal enemy, not hers,” Buffy ducked her head in embarrassment as her cheeks flooded with colour. “My mortal-enemy slash nemesis, who is currently holding me as I cry my eyes out,” she looked up at him with a half-smile to reassure him that she wasn’t trying to insult him.

“Yeah well, keep your enemies closer an’ all that rot,” Spike’s eyes flashed with humour before he leaned his head back against the tombstone to look out into the night. Buffy laid her head back on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his body against hers and the companionable silence that hung between them.

“So what are you gonna do about Captain Cardboard?” Spike’s low rumbling voice broke the peace a while later.

“I really don’t know,” Buffy didn’t even want to think about it. Especially now when she was happily indulging in Spike’s comforting embrace. “I mean this initiative stuff is still way wigsome. Maggie tried to kill me, Riley doesn’t know who I am after Faith pulls an evil Freaky Friday with me, and there’s a monster even Frankenstein couldn’t have created roaming around dissecting kids. All a day in the life of Buffy Summers I suppose.”

Spike refrained from speaking for once, only murmuring a low acknowledgment.

“I still can’t believe she came on to you!” Buffy’s indignant tone caused Spike to sit up straight.

“Why the bloody hell not? Is it so bleedin’ hard to believe that girls line up for a taste of this?” running his hand down his chest and shooting the Slayer an angry glare.

“No, not that Spike. You’re all with the manly woman-seducing hotness. I was referring to the flirting with a vamp while still being a slayer, and I just totally called you hot didn’t I?” Buffy blushed furiously when she noted the self-satisfied smug smile that Spike’s droolworthy lips curved up into.

“Yeah, Slayer,” Spike lowered his voice to a more sultry level, “Fancy a bit of a rough an’ tumble.”

“Spike!” Buffy cuffed him lightly on the arm, but made no move to free herself from his embrace. “Thanks for not taking her up on her offer, not insulting your manly pride again here bleach boy, just. It would have been like… I dunno… violating me.”

“Already said there’s no need to thank me. You’ll make me question my inherently evil nature,” Spike looked down shyly. “Sides if it wasn’t you in there, then it wouldn’t have been you.”

“What do you mean by that Spike,” Buffy’s eyes searched Spike’s face, he was purposefully avoiding her eyes.

“Don’ mean nothing by it Slayer,” he shifted in agitation and seemed to want to be pacing, but settled for flicking the lid of his lighter open and closed.

“Oh,” the note of disappointment in her voice made him stop all movement and meet her gaze. “Am I not, you know, attractive enough? Maybe that’s why Riley didn’t notice. He’s thinking about some other super-slut when he’s with me.” Tears were forming in her eyes again, making them appear moss colored.

“No, Slayer. Buffy, you’re the most beautiful woman in the world. Especially in Sunnyhell of all places. An if that wanker is thinking about anyone other than you when he has the privilege to be with you, then he’s more of a git than I thought he was,” he cupped her face in his hands, wiping away the tears that fell. “Buffy, any man should praise the powers that be for a chance with you.”

Buffy stared deeply into Spike’s eyes. The deep blue depths held such sincerity, anger, and an undercurrent of some deeper emotion. She couldn’t form any words, but parted her lips in an attempt to speak. His hands felt smooth and rough at the same time against her skin, his thumbs caressing a gentle rhythm over her cheekbones. She dared a glance at his full lips, unconsciously darting her tongue out to caress her bottom lip.

Spike was lost in a sea of green and gold. Her eyes seemed bottomless, full of grief and longing. When her pink tongue darted out of her mouth to wet her lips he couldn’t help leaning forward to tentatively press his lips against hers. Buffy’s lips were soft and she tasted sweeter than anything else he’d ever had the pleasure of tasting before. He’d spouted enough near poetry tonight, a little too reminiscent of William, but her lips, and her soft sighs proved to be his undoing.

Spike was kissing her. His firm, soft lips caressed her own slowly. Buffy couldn’t keep a sigh of pure need escape her lips and when it did, Spike’s tongue begged entrance into her mouth. Her own met his cooler one as they deepened the kiss, unaware of who initiated the intimacy. Buffy’s hands slid up his muscular arms to rest around his neck, one hand playing in the stiff curls at the nape of his neck. Spike’s hands followed different paths, one following Buffy’s lead to rest at the base of her neck, while the second flowed down around her waist to pull her closer against him.

The kiss was gentle and intimate, neither pushing the boundaries to ask for something more. Both seemed content to just explore the others taste and the warmth of the embrace. Reluctantly Spike released her lips to rest his forehead against Buffy’s, leaving her gasping for air. He kept his eyes firmly shut against the soon-to-come denial, wanting to savor the best kiss of his unlife as long as possible.

When Buffy could think clearly again she opened her eyes fearing to see any revulsion from Spike as she had after Willow’s spell. She saw only his tightly shut lids and a seemingly pained expression on his face. Confused she kissed him chastely on the lips.

“Jus’ don’ run off jus’ yet luv,” Spike’s eyes and voice were raw with emotion which shocked Buffy.

“I won’t,” she replied, resting her head in the crook of his neck. “But I need to get home soon Spike. I need to deal with my normal life soon.”

“I know,” Spike cradled her head, letting his fingers move through her hair by their own volition. When Buffy moved to stand, he stood with her, waiting for her to make the next deciding move.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow ok?” she looked up at him, eyes swimming with uncertainty.

“You know where to find me luv,” he caressed her cheek giving her a soft smile.

“Yeah,” she breathed, moving in for a soft kiss, “Good night Spike. And thanks. For everything.” She blushed softly before turning to head off toward Revello Drive.

“’Night Buffy,” Spike stood rooted to the spot until he lost sight of her form, then turned to head back to his crypt. What tomorrow would bring he had no idea, but he couldn’t help the wide grin that was plastered on his face. He knew Buffy would probably wake up hating him the next morning, but he’d deal with that when it came. For now he’d revel in the fact that he’d snogged the Slayer. Better than dealing with the turbulent emotions that had been stirred to the surface tonight.



The End.....


A/N - hope you enjoyed my lil' story, please review!