Alone in Death

            Prologue:

            What had he done?  He stared at the lifeless body lying on the floor.  He couldn’t even bring himself to pick it up and put it on the bed.  It wasn’t that he was horrified.  Oh no, it was much worse than that.  He was exalted.  She would stay like this forever; beautiful and full of fire.  His Buffy.  His beloved.  His childe.  He hadn’t wanted to drink from her.  He wasn’t sure what happened.  He thought he remembered her hitting him; bringing out the demon.  One moment he felt himself burning inside, near death, and the next he felt a gentle sucking motion at his wrist.  It was a warm, gentle pulling that made him want to burry himself inside of her and never leave.  At that realization he had torn his wrist away and let her head fall to the floor. 

            He’d called Giles and Willow.  They were on their way to restore her soul.  On their way to put the Buffy back in the corpse before him.  Only she would never be just Buffy.  Deep inside of her there would be a part of him, a part of his demon, and heaven help him but that sent a wave of joy tearing through his entire being.  He had to get out of here.  Away from her.  Away from Sunnydale.  If he didn’t, he would lose his soul for sure.

            A knock at the door startled him.  He turned away from the body, filled with shame at what he and his demon had done.  He walked to the front door and opened it.  He didn't say a word to either Willow or Giles.  He simply walked past them and into the night.  He couldn’t be here.  He wouldn’t go far in case she needed him.  Perhaps to Los Angeles.  He would only be a phone call away.  He’d help them stop the Ascension and then that would be it.  He wouldn’t even say goodbye.

            And he didn’t.

Chapter 1:  Isolation

            She watched them sometimes.  It wasn’t stalking, not really.  It was just assuring herself of them.  She watched asWillow started to fall in love with the young witch, Tara.  She watched them practice their magic through the dim light of the window.  She watched as they took walks across campus and as they danced in the Bronze.  She usually watched Xander through sewer grates.  He was always working.  Often that former demon, Anya, would be watching Xander as well.  Only she did it out in the open.  Out in the sunlight.  Sunlight was one place Buffy could not go, never again.

            When she had first awoken her immediate thought was of Angel.  Was he okay?  Did her blood stop the poison?  Giles andWillow had assured her he was fine.  When she had asked to see him, though, they became quiet.  Then they started asking her questions.  How did she feel?  Was she hungry?  Was she having any particularly violent thoughts?  She knew something was terribly wrong.  Why wouldn’t they let her see Angel?  Where was he?

            Giles put a hand on her forehead, almost like he was checking her temperature.  He winced slightly and then said the words that changed her life:  “Buffy, you’re a vampire.”

            It didn’t seem like such a big deal right away.  Now she could be with Angel forever.  That was what love was all about.  At least she thought it was, until she’d gotten a note.  Not even a letter.  Just a note saying he couldn’t keep both her and his soul.  He promised to keep in contact with Giles and that he would be within driving distance if he was needed.  Not if she needed him, just if he was needed.  That spoke volumes.  That told her everything.

            Her mother and her friends had tried so hard.  They had been as accepting as they could.  She had a soul, after all.  She was still Buffy.  Only she wasn’t.  She knew it and they knew it.  Her thought processes were different.  Her reactions were different.  Simply put, she was no longer human.  She didn’t have the urge to kill humans or anything, although occasionally they did sound pretty appetizing.  Pig’s blood.  Blech. 

            The major difference showed in her patrolling.  Only it couldn’t be called patrolling anymore.  Hunting was the only word for it.  She was vicious, sometimes playing with her prey for hours.  She’d had to ask the gang to stop patrolling with her.  She didn’t want them to see her like that – as a predator.  So, they couldn’t go out with her at night and she couldn’t go out with them during the day.  She wouldn’t be attending classes or getting a job.  Her mother had tried to convince her such things could be done at night, but Buffy knew better.  Her otherworldliness was something that she hadn’t learned to control.  She had no one to teach her.  She was a fledgling childe without a sire.

            Her mother had been offered a job inSan Francisco at an upscale art gallery.  She would be working in acquisitions and traveling extensively.  Buffy had insisted that she take it.  She also insisted that her mother sell the house.  Buffy didn’t want to live in such a big house all by herself.  Instead she’d found a cozy little crypt.  Xander had helped her to steal water and power.  Neither one of them felt particularly guilty about it.  It had a downstairs area that had invaluable access to the sewer tunnels.

            She andWillow had furnished it well with rich dark colors.  Buffy felt completely at home here.  As her friends got caught up in their lives, Buffy found herself spending more and more time on the fringes of humanity.  Giles eventually made the decision to go back toEngland.  Buffy wasn’t as sad as she should have been at that.  In actuality, she was relived.  She still planned on fighting the good fight.  Hell, she planned on doing that for eternity, or until she was dust, but she just didn’t feel connected to her former life anymore.  Apparently, death will do that to you.

            Tonight she found herself at Willy’s.  She often found herself here after patrol.  She and the demon community had come to an understanding; Willy’s was a neutral zone.  If no one messed with her, she wouldn’t mess with them.  She came to drink, to hang out, and to play the occasional hand of kitten poker.  It never even struck her as odd how accepted she was among them. 

            She’d had a run in with a nasty self-disposing demon on her way here that left her covered in sticky slime.  A quick run home to her crypt had cleaned her up but there was little hope she could get in on a game tonight.  Willy gave her a lopsided smile as she walked in the door and poured her a beer.  She paid him, with former poker winnings, and headed in the back to check out the action.  The usual suspects were sitting around the table and she noticed her spot was empty.

            “What’s with the empty seat, boys?”  Buffy said with a smile as she took a swig of beer.  They usually filled an empty spot within seconds.

            “Oh, he’s under the table,” commented, Clem, a big wrinkly demon.

            “Who’s under the table?”  Buffy said with curiosity.

            “The vamp who took your spot tonight.”  Clem said trying to not look like he was pulling a card out from one of his folds.  No one was fooled or concerned; Clem lost even when he was cheating.  He and Buffy had a system though that worked out for the both of them.  She gave him her kittens and he gave her cash.  Clem had a job in an all night convenience store.  He’d managed to convince the owner that he had a skin condition.  As the owner had lost many personnel over the years to gangs on PCP he was only too happy to hire a guy like Clem.  Clem had been working there for three years now.

            “Why’s he under the table?”  Buffy asked.         “Because he was cheating.  Hargle over here got pissed and knocked him over the head with a shovel.”  Clem pointed to a big dark skinned demon with horns for side burns.

            “Why does Willy even have a shovel in here?”  Buffy asked with confusion.

            “Sometimes after a big fight he has to shovel vampire dust out or else it clogs his vacuum.”  Hargle explained.

            Buffy shrugged.  Made sense.  “So can I finish his hand?”

            “Be our guest.”  The group smiled up at her as she took a seat.  She tried to not kick the lump under the table as she played its hand.  Quite a good hand too.  Several hours later Buffy was in the possession of six tabbies which she gladly handed over to Clem at a rate of 20 dollars a kitten.

            “I can’t believe he’s still passed out.”  Buffy said eyeing the table.

            “Well, he was pretty drunk or Hargle wouldn’t have had a chance at blindsiding him.”  Clem said cheerily as he scooped the kittens up in a box.  “Night, Slayer.”

            “Night, Clem.”  Buffy said as she walked over to take a peek under the table.  The sight of peroxide locks and black leather didn’t come as a great surprise.  She just laughed.  ‘Thought I was getting familiar tingles.’  She didn’t have so much as a thought to leaving him there.  He was family; of a sorts.  She pulled him out from under the table and hefted him over her shoulder.

            Even with her enhanced strength he was starting to become a burden by the time they reached her crypt.  She kicked open the door and dropped him on the floor.  After securing the door she pulled his boots and coat off and then dragged him to the edge of the ladder.  She went down first and simply pulled him after her.  She caught him in her arms and walked over to the bed.  She laid him down on top of the covers and then proceeded to take her clothes off.  She put on a white tank top for decency.  Plus, it matched her white low rise bikini underwear.  Hey, even a dead girl wants to look good. 

            She was about to slip under the covers when she decided that the bleached wonder would smell a lot better without his alcohol laden clothes.  She quickly stripped him of his attire and then placed him under the covers beside her.  She found herself scooting closer and closer until she was pressed up against him.  It was amazing having someone to touch.  She was so very glad that he was passed out.  It had been forever, since Angel, that she had been this physically close to anyone.  A wave of longing washed over her.  She permitted a few tears to leak out as she buried her face in the back of his neck.  She would only hold him for a little while.  Then she would roll over to her side of the bed.

Chapter 2:  Sister Sweetly

            Spike felt a familiar ache resounding in his skull.  He’d gotten pissed again.  Nothing new to him these days.  He started to roll over and that’s when he became aware of two things.  One, he was naked.  Two, he wasn’t alone.  He went very still and tried to figure out exactly where he was and who he was with.  He opened his eyes and was pleased to note that the room he was in appeared to be underground.  No sunlight.  There, that was good.  Now, for the other thing.  His sense of smell was giving him conflicting messages.  Vampire.  Family.  Female.  Slayer.  Slayer?  What the hell?

            Spike just started to panic when he felt a muscular little leg between his thighs give a bit of a rub, followed by a soft little moan.  His body’s response was immediate.  He was as hard as a rock.  Damn anatomy.  You’d think being undead would allow a man some measure of control, if anything it was worse than when he was human.  She moved her leg again.  Well, that was that.  He rolled over so that he was on top of her.  He started kissing her neck.

            “Buffy, wake up, luv.”  He nuzzled the sensitive spot behind her ear.

            “Mmm.”  Buffy moaned and arched into him.  She was having the most wonderful dream about a naked Spike.  Hold on.  There was something about that.  Oh, yeah, Spike was naked.  He was naked and in her bed.  She’d brought him home.  She felt a moist tongue glide along her earlobe.  Correction, Spike was naked, in her bed, and lying on top of her.  She opened her eyes.

            Bright blue eyes looked down at her in mischief.  “I thought to myself, ‘Spike ol’ boy you’re in the Slayer’s bed.  You’d best hightail it out of here.’  Then I thought ‘Spike ol’ boy you’re in the Slayer’s bed.  You’d best give the girl a good seeing to.’  I decided to go with the second thought.”  He rubbed his erection against her poor excuse for knickers.

            Buffy thought about throwing him off of her.  She really did.  Then she thought about the fact that she’d rescued him from Willy’s and carried him all the way home to sleep safely in her bed.  Nope.  No throwing the gorgeous vampire off.  He owed her.  Hell, she owed herself.  She smiled at him and ran her hands over his back until she reached his bare ass.  She gave it a squeeze and then jumped back when he growled.

            “Did I do something wrong?”  She asked him.

            Spike looked at her in confusion.  “No.”

            “It’s just that you growled at me.”  Buffy was feeling very unsure.  This wasn’t turning out to be a good idea at all.  She had only had sex once before.

            “I growled in encouragement, luv.”  Spike rolled over and pulled the sheet tight against them both in an attempt to make her comfortable.  Something was very wrong here.

            “Oh, sorry.  I guess I don’t really know what the different growls mean.”  Buffy explained.  She was both relieved and disappointed that he had given her some space.

            “How long have you been a vampire?”  Spike asked her.

            “Not long.  About six months.”  She toyed with the edge of the white sheet.

            “That’s long enough to figure out some basics.”  Spike turned to look at her.  "Where’s Angelus?  I’m assuming it wasn’t Dru who turned you and you sure smell like family.”

            “It was Angel.  He didn’t mean to.  It just sort of happened.  He’d been poisoned and my blood was the only available cure.”  She hated to think of that dark time.  Not that the recent time had been all that kind to her.

            “Where’s he at, pet?”  Spike took a lock of her golden hair and ran it under the pad of his thumb.

            “He left.  Right after.”  Buffy watched Spike’s fingers toy with her hair.  She was being touched.  Someone was touching her, even if it was only her hair.

            Spike looked at Buffy’s ravenous expression as she watched him.  What the hell had happened here?  Why was she all alone?  Then it hit him.  “Gotcha a soul ‘eh, luv?”

            Buffy nodded in what could only be called embarrassment.  Spike reached out and tilted her chin up.  “Not the end of the world.”  He cocked his head.  “Well, it would be the end of my world, but it shouldn’t be the end of yours.  Why are you here, Slayer?  Where’s Angel and all of your little friends?”

            “Angel went toL.A. and now he runs a detective agency.  My watcher went back toEngland.  My mother lives inSan Francisco.  My friends have their lives.  I kind of lost mine.”  She turned her head away.  “I still slay.  I still have that.”

            Spike didn’t know why but he felt sick to his stomach.  This childe was all alone.  Dead to her old world and alone in death.  He felt indignation rise up inside of him.  This was wrong.  Angel should be whipped.  In fact, the next time Spike saw him, he would see to it.  The girl couldn’t even distinguish a lustful growl from a warning growl.  She needed someone.  She was starving for attention and companionship.  Spike may not have a soul, but he had a demon and it was now raging over the injustice done to this sweet sister. 

            Spike pulled Buffy to him and kissed her gently.  She hesitated for the briefest of seconds and then kissed him back.  He reached his hands under the covers and pulled her tank top off.  Her knickers came next.  Then he started to rub himself against her.  It was sexual because pretty much all non violent interaction between vampires was sexual, some violent interactions as well, but it went beyond that.  It was healing.  He was giving her body the touch it had so long been denied.

            Buffy didn’t know what was happening.  She only knew that every part of her was coming alive in a way that she hadn’t even known a dead body could.  Spike was making her very molecules sing.  She felt herself drowning in him.  “Spike, I want…”  She couldn’t even  begin to articulate it.

            “I know what you want, kitten.”  Spike kissed along the side of her neck.  “I know what you need.”  He bit into her right over Angel’s marks.  He took a few long pulls before breaking away to look into her eyes.  “Mine.”  He growled while holding onto her tightly.

            This is what she had been looking for.  This was what she’d been missing; belonging.  “Yours,” she growled back and kissed him deeply.

            Spike broke away and waited for her to calm.  “You’re mine now, Slayer.  You’ve willingly given yourself to me.  I’m you’re sire.  I will teach you everything and I won’t leave you.”  He plundered her mouth again.  “I’ll never leave you, baby.”  He’d never had a childe before, only mindless minions.  Suddenly, he realized that he needed her as much as she needed him.  Angelus, Darla, Drusilla, they all left him.  No one stayed.  He wanted someone to stay.  He wanted a childe of his very own.  This childe.  Buffy.  His Buffy.

            “Gonna make it good for you, pet.  Gonna make you scream.”  Spike started to kiss his way down her stomach.

            “Yes, Spike, please.”  She moaned.  “I’ve only done this once, with Angel.”

            Spike gave a vicious growl at the name.  Buffy gave a nervous laugh.  “Okay, that was a bad growl, right?”

            “Yes.”  Spike looked up at her.  “There will be no mentioning of Angel when we are together like this.  Understood?”

            “Yes, Sire.”  Buffy nodded unafraid.  She belonged.  She belonged to him.  He wasn’t going to leave her.  Everything about him felt right.  His body temperature.  His voice.  His touch.   His…  Oh, that felt right too.

            Spike was in heaven.  He’d sheathed himself inside of his childe.  Fuck, she was tight.  He had to remind himself that this was only her second time.  He felt her buck underneath him and he started moving.  Only second time, yeah, but she was a vampire and pain and pleasure went hand in hand.  He bent down and pulled one of her nipples into his mouth.  He sucked it gently at first and then harder as he began to thrust wildly against her.  He rolled them over so that she was riding him.  For a second she just froze and looked at him.

            Spike smiled at her.  “Its okay, baby.  There isn’t any right way of doing this.  You’are learning, and trust me, I couldn’t be happier that I’m the one you’re learning with.”

            Buffy smiled back at him and started to lift up and down, using her knees as leverage.  “Can I taste you?”  She asked breathily as she came down on him again.

            “Hell, yeah.”  Spike turned his neck to the side to give her access.

            “Don’t know how.”  She said never stopping her pace.

            “Just shift, luv.  Let the demon come forth and it’ll get the job done.”  Spike turned back so that he could watch her.  He hadn’t seen her vamped face yet.  He watched in fascination as the ridges formed on her forehead and her eyes turned a brilliant yellow.  She was beautiful.  His own little beauty.  “Kiss me first.”  He let his own features morph as she came forward to kiss him.

            This was their first kiss vampire to vampire.  It was fangs and blood and absolutely perfect.  Buffy wanted more.  She felt herself near to letting go.  Spike instinctively broke away and offered her his neck again.  She struck like a snake.  Spike felt himself burst as she broke through his skin.  He’d meant that to last longer, but they had all of the time in the world for another go.  He felt her walls tremble around him as she got her first swallow of his blood which catapulted her into orgasm.  She pulled away in awe and stared at the holes she had made in his neck.

            “Now, lick them to stop the bleeding.”  He said.  She did as she was told.  He pulled her back onto him.  “Let’s sleep, sweet Slayer.”  He muttered against her hair.  Buffy slept soundly for the first time since being turned, wrapped securely in the arms of her sire, her lover, her Spike.

Chapter 3:  Out for a Stroll

            Spike awoke before Buffy.  He thought about getting up to take a shower, but decided waiting to take one with her would be a heck of a lot more fun.  Instead he just watched her sleep.  She was bloody beautiful.  Next time he saw Angel, after kicking the shit out of him for abandoning her, he was going to have to thank him.  He’d come back to the hellmouth to kill her.  He was going to try and prove to Dru that he was worthy of her love.  Funny, how one tiny little blonde could turn his world upside down.  The thought of her being truly dead.  Of never seeing her smile.  Of never feeling her soft skin underneath him.  It was unacceptable.  For a brief moment he wondered if every sire felt like this toward their childe.  Then he thought of Dru, and realized that, nope, it was a Buffy thing.  His Buffy.  Who would have thought?

            As Buffy came into awareness she could almost hear Spike thinking.  She hoped he wasn’t having second thoughts about being with her.  She wasn’t sure she could take it if he was.  Now that she had experienced what it was like to feel cherished, she didn’t think she could go back to her lonely existence. 

            Spike could feel the tension coming off of the tiny girl beside him.  He gave her a squeeze.  “What’s the panic for, luv?”

            Buffy snuggled into him deeper.  “I was kind of wondering if you were regretting this.  Regretting being with me.”

            Spike chuckled.  “Not bloody likely.”  He kissed the top of her head.  “Just thinking about it all.”  He turned them both so that he could look into her eyes.  “You gotta admit that this scenario isn’t one that either one of us ever dreamt up before.”

            Buffy smiled.  “Not so much, no.”

            “I’ve never had a childe.  Dru sired me, but bein’ off her rocker an’ all, Angelus did most of the training.  I’m gonna do things differently with you.  Not gonna try and make you into a monster, and not just because of the soul, but because of you.”

            “Me?”  Buffy whispered in confusion.

            “Don’t want to change you, pet.”  He bent down to capture her lips with his own.  "Rather fancy you just like you are.”

            “I thought you hated me.”  Buffy said sardonically.

            “Well, yeah, as the slayer.  But now your different.  Your accessible.”  He looked away from her and said quietly.  “You would have thought I was beneath you before.”

            Buffy could feel a world of pain in that statement and someday she wanted to address it, but for now she needed to tell him the truth.  “You’re probably right.  The other me saw things in black and white.  I didn’t believe that demons could feel.  Especially after that whole Angel/Angelus thing.  Lucky for you, you’ve got the new and improved Buffy Summers.”

            Spike laughed and looked back at her.  “Yeah, lucky for me.”

            “So, training huh?”  Buffy said warily.  She’d done a lot of training over the years with Giles.  It hadn’t been her idea of fun.

            “Training.”  Spike got out of the bed and scooped her up in his arms.  “First, I’m gonna teach you how vampires have sex in the shower.  You do have a shower, right?”

            Buffy laughed.  “Yes, Xander helped put one in for me.”  She pointed in the direction of her bathroom.  Somehow, she thought training with Spike just might be a bit more exciting than training with Giles.

            After their extended shower, Spike and Buffy came to the sad realization that Spike didn’t have any clothes.  Not that Buffy didn’t like seeing Spike naked, but if they were going to go out, he definitely needed to cover up.  She was surprised at the rise of jealousy that went through her at the thought of anyone else getting a look at his gorgeous body.

            “Do you have clothes in the Desoto?”  Buffy asked him hopefully.

            “Yes.”  Spike started pacing.  Which was really distracting with him being naked.  "I just need to remember where I parked it.”

            “You forgot where you parked your car?”  Buffy asked with humor.

            He gave her a sheepish look.  “Well, I was a bit drunk last night.  To be honest I’ve been a bit drunk for a while now.”

            “How come?”  Buffy asked coming over to wrap her arms around his waist.  His naked waist.  She couldn’t help taking a tiny nip at the skin on his back.  Delicious.

            “Drusilla.  She left me for good.  Said I’d gone soft and that I was covered in you.”  Spike grabbed her hands when she tried to separate herself from him.  “Came here to kill you, Slayer.  To prove to her that I’m still the demon she created.”  He turned, still holding on to her arms, so that he was facing her.  “Somehow I don’t care about all of that right now.  Dru was right.”  He pushed his hardening cock against her jean clad body.  “I’m covered in you.  Only now I know that’s exactly how I want to be.”

            Buffy stood on her tip toes to give him a kiss.  She felt her stomach give a little flip flop.  Uh, oh.  She was starting to fall in love with William the Bloody.  She should have been scared but somehow she wasn’t.  Being in his arms, being kissed by him; nothing had ever felt so right in her life – or unlife.

            Spike broke away.  “Got it.  The Desoto is parked at your mum’s.”

            Buffy just rolled her eyes.  “That’s not even our house anymore.”

            “Well, I didn’t know that last night did I?  I parked there, waiting for one of you women to get home.  Got bored.  Went to Willy’s and passed out in the middle of a poker game.”

            Buffy giggled.  “Not exactly.”

            “What’s that?”

            “You got hit on the back of the head with a shovel.  They caught you cheating.  Pretty good hand, though.  I finished it for you.”  She told him with a wicked smile.

            “Why does Willy even have a shovel in the backroom?”  Spike said not remembering any of it.

            “Don’t ask.”  Buffy gave him a quick kiss.  “I’m gonna head over to the house and get you some clean clothes.  Do you have your car keys?  I should probably move the car someplace where it won’t get towed.”

            Spike went to his neatly folded duster and extracted a set of keys.  He threw them to her.  “Can you drive?”

            “Not so much.”  Buffy said flippantly as she sauntered out of the crypt.

            It took Spike two seconds before he slipped his duster on, put his doc’s on without any socks, and took off after Buffy.  She may be his childe, but that car was his baby.

            Buffy looked at Spike following her and laughed.  “Nice to see that my stalker is a flasher.  Always good to have a well rounded freak following you.”

            “Har bloody har, Slayer.”  Spike said as he caught up to her.  He slipped his hand into hers and took his keys back.  “I’m not about to let you hurt my baby.”

            “Men.”  Buffy said under her breath, but secretly she was pleased to be out walking with him.

            They walked out of the cemetery and turned onto the street.  They made it about two blocks before someone called out from behind them.  “Hey, Buff!”

            Buffy groaned and turned around to see Xander with his girlfriend, Anya.  Spike stopped and turned around as well.  He remembered this boy.  Spike had hit him over the head with a bottle or a microscope or something once.

            Xander sputtered as he came up to the couple.  “Uh Buffy, that’s Spike.”

            “I’m aware of that, Xander.”  Buffy said taking a step closer to Spike.  She knew that Xander would have a stake on him somewhere if he was walking after dark.  She also knew that Spike could protect himself, but she wasn’t willing to take any chances.  She’d just found him.

            “So, did ya lose your soul?”  Xander asked warily.

            “Nope.”  Buffy didn’t think she could possibly explain to Xander what was going on.

            Xander looked at Spike.  “Did ya get a soul by chance?”

            “Nope.”  Spike wasn’t about to waist his time explaining himself to this whelp.

            “Okay then.”  Xander took Anya’s hand and backed up a few paces.  “Guess you’re just making new friends.”

           “Yes.  Now I’m going to take Spike back to his car.”  She smiled at Xander and Anya and then turned back around.  Spike turned with her for about two paces.  He could still feel the boy’s eyes on his back.  Being the evil creature that he was, he turned back around and gave the other couple a good solid flash.  The look on the whelp’s face was priceless.  Spike gave a chuckle before resuming his walk beside Buffy.

            “You did not do what I think you just did.”  Buffy said.

            “I might have, yeah.”  Spike took her hand in his.

            “You’re evil.”

            “Yep.”

Chapter 4:  Explaining

            They got Spike’s car.  They got Spike dressed.  They even made it back to the crypt with Spike agreeing not to kill anyone.  He’d fed off of some bum that Buffy had slipped a twenty to while Spike wasn’t looking.  Spike had insisted on stopping by the store to pick up a few necessary items.  Weird items.  Buffy was quickly learning that her sire was a bit odd.  She loved it.

            They opened the crypt door and neither one of them were surprised to sense several humans inside.  They walked in with confidence and headed over to the area that Buffy considered to be her kitchen.  Buffy started to put the items from the bag into a wooden crate that she referred to as the cupboard.  Spike leaned against the wall and lit up a cigarette.  He and Buffy’s friends just stared at one another.  Patiently waiting for Buffy to finish.

            When she was done.  Buffy turned toWillow, Xander, andTara with a smile.  “Where’s Anya?”

            Xander had a strange look pass over his face.  Willow spoke up.  "Xander wouldn’t let her come after she made some kind of comment about Spike’s thing.”

            “Willow!”  Xander hissed.

            Spike just smiled.  Buffy frowned.  That was her thing.  She gave Spike a dirty look.  She pointed at the member in question and mouthed ‘mine’.  Spike gave her a knowing nod.  She turned back to her friends.  “Okay.  I assume you are all here to find out why I’m with Spike.”

            They nodded their heads.  “That’s pretty much it in a nutshell,”Willow quipped.

            “I found him last night and I decided to keep him.”

            “He’s not a puppy, Buffy.”  Xander warned.

            Buffy’s eyes flashed briefly.  “I know that Xander.  I know exactly what he is, more than you ever could, because he and I are the same.  We’re both creatures of the night.  I can’t go out in the daylight with you anymore.  I can’t have the lives you have.  I have to stay in the dark.  I have to slay night after night, and I am so very tired of being alone.”

            Xander andWillow both made as if to protest, but Buffy stopped them with one hand.  “I know.  You are always there for me, and I appreciate that, I really do.  It’s just not the same.  I’m different.  I need something that I can’t get from the two of you.  That I can’t get from any human…”

            “Angel…”  Willow started to say but was stopped by a growl from Spike.

            “I don’t want Angel,Willow.  Not anymore.  He left me.  I want Spike.  I’ve chosen Spike to be my sire, my teacher, and my lover.”  Buffy thought that should explain it all nicely.

            “You can’t be serious.”  Xander yelled.  “He doesn’t have a soul!  He’s a killer.”

            “Yes, yes, and yes.  That’s between Spike and I.  We will work it out on our own.”  Buffy looked at her friends with a teary smile.  “He makes me happy.  When is the last time either of you saw me happy?”

            They both looked down at the ground.  Willow looked up at her with her own tear filled eyes.  She held out her arms to her friend.  Buffy came to her willingly.  Willow rocked her back and forth.  “I can’t remember, Buffy.  So help me I can’t remember the last time I saw you happy.”

            “He makes me happy, Will.”  Buffy said into the red head’s shoulder.

            “Then good for you.”  Willow gave her a squeeze and looked at Spike.  "Don’t hurt her.  I’m a fairly powerful witch and I’d be only too happy to put a hex on you.”  She stared pointedly at his penis.

            Spike shifted his legs in discomfort and gaveWillow a nod.  Scary bint.

            Xander reached in to add his hug toWillow’s.  “Okay, Buff.  I don’t like it.  I think you’re making a mistake, but okay.”

            “Thank’s Xander.”  Buffy disentangled herself from the group hug.  She walked back to Spike and leaned against him.  Spike snuffed out his cigarette and wrapped his arms around his girl.

           “Listen.  Don’t say anything to Giles or to Angel.  I don’t need them interfering in my life anymore.”  Buffy said firmly.

            The three human occupants in the room nodded their agreement as they got up to leave.  Tara was the last one out the crypt door and she turned and gave Buffy and Spike a shy little thumbs up before she shut the door behind her.  Buffy smiled.  She didn’t really knowTara, but she found herself liking her.

            As soon as they were gone Spike picked Buffy up with a growl.  He walked toward the ladder and jumped from one level to the next.  He walked over and threw Buffy down on the bed.  He dove down on top of her and began ravaging her with a fury.  When he was done they both just lay there.

            “Wow.”  Buffy said.  “That was intense.  What was it about exactly?”

            “About you.”  Spike answered.  “About you choosing me over Angel.”

            She turned and pulled him into a searing kiss.  “Anytime.”  She meant it.

Chapter 5:  Training

            Stealthy eyes followed the prey as it made its way across the wet grass.  Wait.  Wait.  Wait for it.  Now!  The next thing the prey knew, he was being knocked down from above and a pair of sharp fangs were being driven into his neck.  Unfortunately, they missed the jugular entirely.

            “Could we try that again?”  Buffy asked pulling away from the badly dressed vampire beneath her.  “I got the stealth part down, but I blew the bite altogether.”

            “What’s your damage?”  The 80’s Miami Vice reject asked indignantly.  He held two fingers up to his torn neck.  “You do realize that I’m a vampire?”

            Buffy gave him a look of annoyance.  “Of course I realize you’re a vampire.  Like I wouldn’t know a vamp when I’m near one!  Please!”

            “Then why the hell did you bite me?”  The offended vampire yelled.

            “Duh, I was practicing.”  Buffy said in exasperation.  “Now please go back a few yards and let’s try again.”

            The vamp shook its head in confusion.  “You’re serious?  What self respecting fledgling practices on anything but humans?”

            “That would be me.  Now, go back so I can try again.”  Buffy stamped her foot.  She was completely loosing her patience with this idiot.

            He looked down at her and laughed.  “Make me.”

            “Oh, I’ll make you.”  Buffy took a step forward but found a blur of black leather blocking her way.

            “Spike,” the vampire with the neck wound said nervously.

            “Master Spike to you, peon.”  Spike growled.  “You’ll do as the lady tells you and you’ll do it as many times as it takes for her to get it right.  Right?”

            “Uh, yeah.  Of course.”  The vamp was trying not to shake.

            Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike from behind.  “I could have beaten him into submission you know.”

            Spike laughed.  “Yeah, but I don’t think he would have been capable of walking then, luv.  Kinda would have defeated our purpose don’t ya think?”

            “Huh.  Hadn’t thought of that.”  She gave him a peck on the cheek and then jumped back in the tree.

            Spike chuckled and walked behind a mausoleum.

            Stealthy eyes followed its prey as it made its way across the wet grass…  “Here I come.  Just an unsuspecting innocent walking along.  I have no idea that there is a vampire in the tree above me.  Nope, no clue whatsoever.”

            Buffy jumped down behind the vampire and put a stake against his back.  “Spike, he’s killing the mood!  Can I just dust him and find another one?”

            Spike sauntered over to them.  “You’ve already gone through four tonight, Slayer.”

            “Slayer?”  The vamp yelled.

            “Duh, dead boy, didn’t you get the message?  Sunnydale slayer equals vampire.”  Buffy said snottily.

            “I just got into town.”  The vamp whined.  “Damn, I came here to do the slayer in myself and some asshole beat me to it!”

            Both Spike and Buffy burst into laughter.  The vamp thought it best to just laugh along with them.  Spike sobered immediately.  “What exactly is it that you find so funny?”  He said to the Don Johnson wannabe.  The vamp in question stopped laughing.  Spike turned to Buffy.  “Dust him.”  Buffy dutifully did as she was told.  “You’re right, he was getting annoying,” Spike said.

            Buffy shook the dust off and put the stake back in her waistband.  “How come I can’t seem to get the jugular of a vamp?”  She said feeling discouraged.

            Spike pulled her to him.  “I think, luv, that it’s cause they don’t have a pulse.  If you’d try it on a human…”

            “We’ve had this argument before.  I’m not killing…”

            “Not kill, just bite.”  Spike interrupted her.

            “They’d have to be willing.”  Buffy considered.

            “You could always ask your mates.”  Spike suggested.

            “No, they would never understand why I want to know how to do this in the first place.  They would definitely not be on the Buffy mastering vampire techniques train.  They like to ride the Buffy trying to pretend to be human express.”  She gave a weary sigh.

            “There’s always Willy.”  Spike tried again.

            “A world of no.  I’m not biting him.  He keeps trying to see me naked!”  Buffy shivered in disgust.

            Spike vamped.  “What!”

            “Calm down, big guy, Willy tries to see all of the females naked.  It’s just a Willy thing.”  Buffy and Spike realized what she had said at the same time and they both burst into laughter.

            “Well, there’s one more option.”  Spike declared.

            “What’s that?”

            “We go to a flophouse.  There are dens where people pay vamps to bite them.  They get off on it.”  He explained to her.

            “Are you serious?”  Buffy said in astonishment.  “How stupid can you get?”

            “Pretty damn stupid apparently.”  Spike gave her a cheeky grin.  “So long as you don’t mind biting someone stupid, pet, we can definitely find a willing participant.”

            “Okay.”

            Buffy and Spike made there way into one of the seedier sections of Sunnydale.  They watched for a while as people and vamps came and went from the dingy building.  Finally, a clean cut young man came walking down the street towards the flophouse.  He was dressed all in black and had a baseball cap over his dark blonde hair.  Spike looked at Buffy and gave her a little nod.  She broke away from her hiding spot and started to walk across the street.

            The young man noticed the beautiful blonde immediately.  He felt himself stir at the site of her.  He could tell she was a vampire.  Over the last few weeks he’d gotten really good at spotting them.  He stopped walking and let her make her way over to him.

            “Hi, I’m Buffy.”  She gave him a thousand watt smile.

            “Nice to meet you, Buffy.  My name’s Riley.”  He offered her his hand.  She stared at it for a second before giving it a firm shake.

            Buffy pulled her hand away.  “Are you here as a customer?”  Buffy indicated with a shake of her head towards the door.

            Riley blushed.  He didn’t know why but he suddenly felt a little ashamed.  “Yes, I am.”

            “Well, Riley, how about I give you a go for free.”  Buffy smiled suggestively.

            “I don’t want to die.  Inside, it’s safe.”  He looked a little funny.  “Well, as safe as it can be.”

            “Don’t be a fool!  There is nothing safe about this.”  Buffy hissed at him.  “I’m not going to kill you.  I just need to practice this whole vampire thing!  I’m sort of new.  Trust me, I’m a hell of a lot safer than the creatures in there.”  Buffy pointed at the door.

            “Why don’t you want to kill me.  Is it money?  You want money?”  Riley was trying to figure this girl out.

            Buffy shook her head.  “No, this isn’t going to cost you.  I honestly just need practice.  Are you interested or not?”

            Riley knew it was stupid but he couldn’t help himself.  He was intrigued.  He nodded at the gorgeous girl and followed her as she walked back across the street.  They made their way to one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries.  They talked a bit along the way.  He’d told her that he was in graduate school working on his masters in psychology.  She told him that she was a vampire with a soul.  He’d never heard of such a thing.  Of course, until he’d come to Sunnydale, he’d never believed in vampires either.

            “I’m going to disappear now.  I need you to just sort of walk around the cemetery so that I can pounce out at you.”  Buffy said cheerily as she slipped away from him.

            Riley shook his head and started walking around.  This was creepy.  Creepier than the flophouse.  He’d started going there after he’d broken up with his girlfriend.  She just hadn’t been able to give him what he needed.  He didn’t think she ever really loved him.  The first bite had been an accident.  He’d been walking home from the movie theatre when he was attacked by a vamp.  She didn’t kill him.  She said he was too cute to kill.  She told him her name was Harmony and that she was on her way toLos Angeles to see an old friend, or she’d have taken the time to turn him.  He thanked her for not killing him and watched as she walked away.  That was all it took.  From that one time he’d been hooked.

            Suddenly, Riley was knocked to the ground and he felt a searing pain on the side of his neck.  He felt himself get instantly hard.  As the vampire took several long draws from his body Riley found himself cumming in his pants, which was a new thing.  As soon as it started it was over.

            Buffy flew off of the boy when she smelled his emissions.  Ick!  She needed a shower.  The blood had been amazing though.  Way better than pig's.  Not better than Spike’s though.  Nothing was better than Spike’s.

            Buffy and Riley, who had stood up on shaky legs, both turned and stared as clapping was heard from behind a tree.  Riley’s eyes grew wide as he saw a punked out vampire walking towards them.  He took a step back in fear.  The little blonde beside him broke out into a smile and ran into the man’s arms.

            “I did good, didn’t I?”  Buffy squealed as Spike turned her around.

            “You sure did, luv.”  Spike was so proud of her.  “You got it on the very first try.  See, pulse makes all the difference, doesn’t it?”

            “Totally.  It’s like a homing device.”  Buffy declared.  She turned, still staying in Spike’s arms, to look at the willing victim.  “Thanks so much.  I really appreciate it.”

            “No problem.”  Riley said.

            “Look.”  Buffy felt she owed him something.  “You need to stop this.”

            He looked at her sadly.  “I don’t think I can.”

            “Then you will end up dead or turned.”  Buffy stated.

            “I know but I don’t have the strength to stop.”  He gave her a shrug and started to leave.

            “Hey, I got an idea.”  Buffy said excitedly.  “You should join the army.  They’d give you the discipline and the sense of belonging that you need, and plus they’d keep you totally busy; less time to troll for vamps.”

            Riley stopped for a moment and seriously considered it.  He looked back at the strange couple with a small smile.  “You know, that might just work.” 

            When the boy was out of earshot Spike turned to Buffy.  “That was excellent, baby.  You’re becoming a bloody brilliant vampire.  I would love to get you out of this town for a while, though.  Try out your new skills in the big city.  How about we go and visit your mum inSan Francisco.”

            Buffy loved the idea.  “But what about the hellmouth?  What if something tries to open it while we’re gone?”

            “Can’t your little friends handle it?”  Spike new the answer before the words even came out of her mouth.

            “Not so much.”

            “What about that other slayer?”  He suggested.

            “Faith?  She’s inL.A. with Angel.”

            “So, call and ask her to give you a break.”

            “That will mean talking to Angel.”  Buffy warned.

            “Only over the phone!”  Spike growled and picked her up possessively.  He threw her over his shoulder and headed toward their crypt.

            “Okay, I’ll call him.”  Buffy giggled from upside down.

Chapter 6:  The Phone Call

            “Angel Investigations.  We help the hopeless.”  Cordelia said with cheer.

            “Cordelia, it’s Buffy.  Could I talk to Angel for a sec?”

            Cordelia felt everything inside of her tense up.  Buffy meant trouble, especially where Angel was concerned.  “Why?”

            “I need a break.  I want to go see my mom.”  Buffy hated having to explain herself to the former cheerleader.

            “Fine.”  Cordelia spat.  She pushed a button that would put her through to Angel’s phone.

            “Angel.”  The voice of Buffy’s first love came over the phone.

            “Hi.  It’s me.”  Buffy said.

            “Buffy.  Why are you calling here?”  Angel asked evenly.

            Buffy made a face at Spike.  “Well I’m going to go with ‘cause I needed to talk to you.”

            “That’s not what I meant.  What do you need to talk to me about?”  Angel couldn’t even bare to hear the sound of her voice.  It made everything in him ache with longing.

            “I want to go see my mom inSan Francisco.  I need to ask you if it would be okay for Faith to hellmouth sit for a week.”  Buffy explained.

            Angel had never thought about her needing time off.  Did slayers take vacations?  “Uh, sure.  I’ll ask her.  I don’t see why not.  When?”

            “As soon as she can.”  Buffy really wanted off of the phone.

            “Can she stay at your mother’s?”  Angel asked.

            “My mother’s?”  Buffy rolled her eyes at Spike.  “What part about wanting to visit my mother inSan Francisco did you not get?”

            “You don’t have to be sarcastic, Buffy.  It’s immature.  I meant can she stay in your house while you are gone.”

            “My mom sold the house, Angel.  I live in a crypt.”  Buffy wished she could see the look on his face.  Spike was holding a pillow up to his mouth to stifle his laughter.  He hadn’t seen Buffy so put out since he’d messed up all of her doilies.

            “You live in a crypt!”  Angel yelled.

            “Yep.  You see, I’m a vampire.  Creature of the night.  Hang out in cemeteries.  Live in a crypt.”  Buffy said ‘cause, hey, she was immature.

            “You have a soul.”  Angel felt that explained everything.

            “Oh that’s right.  The all powerful soul.  I’ll just go out and get that job as a high school counselor that I always wanted.  Oh, and I’ll pick up a husband, two kids, and a dog while I’m at it.”  Now, Buffy was annoyed.  Spike just thought it was funny as hell.  He’d never heard anyone talk back to his grand-sire like that before.

            “Buffy, you know that I’m sorry.  That I would do anything to undo what happened…”

            “Oh save it.  It’s fine.  I’m fine.  I just want to go visit my mother!”  Buffy said in exasperation.  The last thing she needed was for Angel to take off on a brooding tangent.

            “What number can I reach you at?”  Angel asked.  He felt terrible.  Things were clearly not right in Sunnydale.

            Buffy got the number off of Spike’s cell phone and gave it to Angel.  “Just call me to let me know when she can make it.  Tell her I’ll pay for a hotel room while she’s here.”  Spike raised an eyebrow at Buffy; ‘they were paying?’

            “I’ll pay for it.”  Angel hung up the phone without so much as a goodbye.

            Buffy threw the phone back to Spike.  “I can’t believe I even had to do that.”  She looked down at the buttons on the couch and then back up to Spike.  “I can’t believe I was ever in love with him.  He’s kind of difficult isn’t he?”

            Spike smiled at her.  “I’ve been saying that for decades, luv.”  He pulled her to lie against him on the couch.  He shoved the pillow he’d been using under both of their heads.  “Let’s just have us a cuddle and think about all the ways we dislike Angel.”  Spike suggested.

            Buffy giggled.  “He won’t dance.”

            Spike nodded his head.  “He thinks he knows better than everyone else.”

            Buffy agreed.  “He won’t sing.”

            Spike shivered.  “Be thankful for that one.  Trust me.”  He’d heard Angel sing many a drunken Irish reel in his time.  It was a form of hell.  “My turn,” Spike said.  “He has stupid hair.”

            Buffy smiled quietly thinking about Spike’s slicked back look.  “He doesn’t say good bye.”

            Spike felt the pain of that one himself.  They weren’t laughing now.  “He always gets the girl,” Spike said quietly.

            Buffy turned to face him.  “Not this girl.  Not this time.  Even if Angel were to call back right this second and say that his soul was bound, it would be you.  It will always be you for me, Spike.”

            Before he could answer, his cell phone gave a piercing ring.  He handed it to Buffy.  She added ‘interrupts’ to her list of Angel annoyances.  “Hello?”

            “Faith will be there next Tuesday at eight.”  Angel hung the phone up.

            “A permanent soul you say?”  Buffy said into the dial tone.  “I’ll be right there honey bunny.”

            Spike had heard the dial tone, of course.  He just growled, “not funny” and took the phone away from his childe.  “I think someone deserves a spanking.”

            “Oh a spanking!”  Buffy said in a high voice and clapped her hands.  “I want a spanking.  And me.  Spank me.”

            A look of wonder and appreciation came over Spike.  “Horrid accent, luv, but I couldn’t be more pleased that you like Python.”

            “So, no spanking?”  Buffy mock pouted.

            “Oh, there’ll be spanking.”

            And there was.

Chapter 7:  The Honeymoon

            Buffy and Spike headed toSan Francisco right after sundown on the following Tuesday.  They didn’t see the point in waiting for Faith if Angel was arranging her accommodations.  Buffy had called her mother ahead of time to let her know that she would be coming to town.  Joyce hadn’t understood why Buffy wanted to stay at a hotel and not with her.  Buffy didn’t really want to tell her mother about Spike over the telephone.  News like this was definitely more of a face to face thing.

            “Are they going to be able to tell that I  have a soul?”  Buffy asked Spike.  He was taking her to a hotel that had a demons only policy.  He’d stayed there a few times before and really liked it.

            “No, pet, it’s like Willy’s – a violence free zone.  Only where Willy has a slayer as an enforcer The Darling uses magic.  There’s a bar inL.A. called Caritas that uses the same thing.  Pretty nifty, actually.”  He threw both bags over his shoulder and led her toward the lobby.  She would have packed a whole lot more but Spike had promised to take her shopping.  Spike laughed silently to himself.  She thought he was treating her.  Hardly, he just wanted to be the one to pick out her new wardrobe.  There was going to be a lot more leather in Buffy Summer’s future.

            Buffy looked around in awe.  This was positively the most amazing place that she had ever been in.  She thought you could fit Sunnydale’s largest hotel inside of the lobby alone. There were trees and fountains all over the place.  Huge glass fish tanks were placed in all of the walls.  There were demons everywhere but no one was fighting.  It was all so… normal.

            Spike put their bags down and took out his wallet.  He showed it to the concierge who gave him a knowing smile.  He handed Spike two card keys.  “The honeymoon suite.”  He gave Buffy a good once over.  “I envy you.”

            Spike took the cards from him and said, “You should.”  He picked up their bags and headed for the elevator. 

            Buffy waited until they were alone to say anything.  It was one of the many lessons on being a good childe that she was learning.  As the elevator doors closed she turned to him with a wry smile.  “Honeymoon suite, huh?”

            Spike actually looked a little embarrassed.  “Well, it is a lot like our honeymoon.”  He took her hand in his.  “I’d marry you in a second baby if we were human.”

            Buffy thought that might be the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.  She felt both of her eyes well up.  She looked at the ground but inched closer to her sire.  There was no doubt left.  She loved this man.

            Spike had meant what he’d said.  She was everything anyone could ever want in a mate.  She was loyal, loving, brave, and sexy as hell.  He’d heard humans over the years refer to one another as a keeper.  Buffy Summers was definitely a keeper.  The elevator opened and they walked down the hall to their room.  The hallway was as beautiful as the lobby had been.  There floors were a rich Brazilian cherry lined with a long mosaic patterned runner.  The walls were painted a grey-blue color and were lined with reprints of modern works of art that echoed the patterns on the runner.

            Spike opened their door and swooped Buffy in his arms to carry her over the threshold.  She buried her face in his neck and nipped him softly.  He sat her down on the thick soft oyster shell colored carpet and gave a tiny peck to the top of her head.  Buffy looked around at the elegant suite.  Honeymoon suite.  She hoped that meant it had a spa tub!  She could think of all sorts of wonderful things to do to Spike in a great big tub.  Buffy got lost in lustful thoughts.

            The sudden scent of his childe’s arousal hit Spike like an axe.  He went in game face as he turned back to her.  “Something you want, luv?”

            Buffy laughed until she saw the look on Spike’s face.  She could feel herself grow very, very wet.  “Always, Spike.  I always want you.”

            He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom.  Buffy caught the barest glimpse of a huge Jacuzzi occupying as much space as their bed.  Spike threw her onto the large four-poster bed and began to remove her clothing.  Buffy helped him out by kicking off her shoes and socks.  She then moved on to Spike.  When they were both suitably un-attired Spike made his move.  He flipped Buffy on her stomach and bit her neck.  Buffy knew that this was a sign of domination.  She accepted it like a good childe and waited for Spike to release her.  Before, when she was human, such a show of possession would have pissed her off.  Now it just made her horny as hell.

            “Patience, pet.”  Spike hissed in her ear as he let go of her neck.  He gently turned her around.  He was met with yellow glowing eyes and a succulent mouth with razor sharp fangs.  He felt himself grow impossibly hard.  He opened Buffy’s legs with his knees.  He placed each leg over his shoulders.  He looked right in her eyes and he shoved himself deep inside her.  A wild animalistic growl tore out of Buffy’s throat.  Spike growled back and began pounding into her.  Buffy’s nails dug deep furrows into Spike’s back.  She didn’t think he’d ever been so deeply inside of her.

            “Spike, please…”  Buffy moaned.

            “Please what, baby?”  Spike said knowing damn well what she wanted.

            “Make me, make me,…oh..”  She trailed off as he did exactly what she wanted him to.  He knew how to please his girl.  A few hard rotations of his thumb against the side of her clit always sent sharp stabs of pleasure through her.  He pumped furiously until he reached his own release.  He howled out in rapture as he poured his dead seed inside of her core.  He gave her a goofy grin as he carefully removed her legs from his shoulders.  She lay in a puddle of completion on the top of the bed.

            He laughed as he settled beside her.  He scooted them both to the center of the bed.  “A nap then?”  He muttered to himself.  She was already deep in the throes of sleep.

            Hours later Buffy awoke to the delicious feeling of comfort that only comes from being wrapped in the arms of a lover.  She shifted a bit so that she could look at her sleeping sire.  A breath that she didn’t need caught in her throat.  He was so beautiful.  She allowed her eyes to follow the hallows and peaks of his face.  He was perfection, and for now he was hers.  The existence she led before he came back into her life seemed like a dream time.  A horrible reality that she wanted to deny.

            Spike brought passion, belonging, companionship, and fun to her life.  She snuggled deeper into him.  “I love you.”  She whispered softly into his chest, right over his heart.

            Spike felt warmth spread into his cold body.  One declaration of love, whispered in secret, never meant to be heard did more for him than a hundred years of Drusilla’s tongue and touch.  This girl truly was his in both body and heart.  He would never let her go.  He swore right then that no one would ever come between them; not Angel, not Dru, and not Joyce.  Somehow, he had to make the whole world understand that the two of them could not and would not be separated.  He might need to do a little research while they were in the big city.

            Spike pretended to wake up.  “Nice nap?”  He said in a husky sleep laden voice.

            “Mmm.  Very nice.” 

            “You ready for a bit of fun?”  Spike asked.

            “This late?  It’s almost sunrise.  We probably shouldn’t have fallen asleep when we did.  We’ll be up and bored all day.”  Buffy sat up beside Spike.

            Spike laughed.  “I think we’ll find a few things to do.  There’s sewer access to this hotel, pet.  We can travel just about anywhere.”

            Buffy tried to hold in the squeal of excitement, but really, it had been far too long since she’d been shopping.  She squealed, “Shopping!  We can go shopping.”

            Spike stood up and pulled her with him.  “Into the shower with you missy!”

            They got cleaned up and headed out to the mall.  Spike seriously doubted he could find Buffy the kind of clothes that he planned on her wearing at a mall, but she was so excited that he couldn’t deny her.  What was it with malls?  Even Dru had loved to stroll up and down the brightly lit isles.  Of course, she’d been shopping for food. 

            Ten stores later and Spike insisted that they take a break.  They were seated in some bizarre restaurant that was filled with televisions everywhere and had a bar.  All in all Spike thought it wasn’t too bad.  He ordered them an appetizer plate and a pitcher of beer for himself.  Buffy had wanted to try a fruity mixed drink but they both realized that she didn’t have any I.D.  That was another thing he would have to take care of later. 

            Spike put a fat onion ring into his mouth and pointed a finger at Buffy.  “You have to talk to the whelp when we get back.  I’m buying us a computer, and we need to run a phone line into the crypt so we can have Internet access.”

            “Why do we need Internet access?”  Buffy was finding that she still enjoyed food.  It wasn’t fulfilling like blood, but it was fun and tasty.  Just another thing that Spike livened up her existence with.

            “Because, luv, I’m never goin’ in another bleedin’ mall again.  We found some okay things, but the sort of garments that I mean for you to wear can’t be found in a mall.  Plus, the Internet provides an awful lot of entertainment for a couple of vamps stuck indoors all day.”

            “You’re scaring me a bit on the ‘garments’ thing.  I mean you did see what we just bought?  Lots of black leather, safety pins, short plaid skirts, combat boots.  Lingerie.  I hardly think you can complain.”  Buffy pointed to the myriad of bags that occupied the table and the floor underneath.

            “That’s all nice, luv, and I can’t wait for my own personal fashion show later, but the stuff I want is a bit more unique.”  Spike put his tongue to his teeth in gesture that Buffy knew meant he was having kinky thoughts.  Only Spike could make kinky look charming.  He was talented that way.

            She reached across the table and took his hand in hers.  “I can’t deny you anything you know.  If you want to dress me up like a fifties house wife in pearls and pumps, I’ll do it.”

            Spike squeezed her hand.  “You are a dream come true.  If you promise to keep it all black and absolutely no turtlenecks I might let you pick out a thing or two for me.”

            Buffy laughed.  “Okay, no pastels and no turtlenecks.”  She got quiet for a minute.  “So, black Bermuda shorts with a black boat-neck t-shirt, black socks, and black loafers will be fine?”

            Spike let go of her hand and looked genuinely horrified.  Buffy started to laugh, “Please, like I don’t have better taste than that.”

            Realizing that she was teasing Spike relaxed.  “One word slayer – Angel.”

            She threw an onion ring at him which he caught of course.  “Oh, shut up.”

            “Wonder how that slayer of yours is holding up?”  Spike said idly.

            “She’ll do fine.  She has the Scoobies if she needs them, and I’m sure tall dark and broody will help her if she wants him to.  It’s only me that he leaves alone to fend of the hoards of hell.”  She said sarcastically without any bitterness.  It made Spike’s smile even wider.  She could joke about the poof.  She was over him.  Unlife was good.  Now, all he had to do was find someone to help him out with a few things.  He was going to make Buffy his for good and get her set up with some fake papers.  Papers that would fit in nicely with his own.

Chapter 8:  An Angel on the Hellmouth

            “I just don’t feel comfortable with you taggin’ along is all.”  Faith harrumphed as she threw her bag on the twin bed closest to the window.

            “I already told you why I’m here.”  Angel began putting his things away neatly in the bedside drawer.

            “I didn’t say I was confused, big guy.  I said I don’t like it.”  Faith sat down and watched the anal-retentive vampire.  “B is showin’ me trust again for the first time in, well, ever.  I don’t want to blow that.  I also don’t see what business it is of yours how she’s livin’ her unlife.”  She kicked her feet against the bottom of the bed frame.

            Angel finished putting away his things and then turned to the frustrated brunette.  “Look, Faith, you couldn’t possibly understand.  Buffy is my childe.  I’m responsible for her.  If she’s not living her life like she should be then it’s up to me to help her do so.  I just thought with her gone it would be the perfect opportunity to see how things are going for her without her getting upset with me for interfering in her life.”

            “Which you are doing.  You are here to interfere in her life.”  Faith was grumpy from the long drive and from the position Angel was putting her in.  She was also a little bitter over the whole thing.  Normally the chance at having Angel to herself, and in the same hotel room to boot, would be giving her a major happy, but Angel couldn’t seem to go anywhere without bringing a shitload of emotional baggage.

            “Yes, I know, and I explained why.”  Angel was trying not loose his patience.  He understood where Faith was coming from.  He had been surprised himself when Buffy requested the other slayer’s help.  “The first thing we should do is talk toWillow.”

            Faith just rolled her eyes.  “Why don’t you talk toWillow while I patrol?”

            “Let’s do both.  We will patrol on our way to talk withWillow.”  Angel told her firmly.

            Faith got up in defeat and followed her boss out the door.  She hopedWillow was prepared for this.  Faith figured there were probably a few things that Buffy didn’t want to share with Angel.

********

            Tara heard a knock at their dorm door and sinceWillow was in the shower it fell to her to do the opening.  She looked through the peephole and frowned.  She’d never seen this couple before but there was something slightly familiar about them.  She opened the door a crack.  “Who is it?”  She stuttered.

            “We’re looking for Willow Rosenburg,” Angel said noncommittally.

            “I asked who is it?”  Tara may be shy but she wasn’t stupid.

            Faith decided she had better speak up, “I’m Faith and this is Angel.  We’re old friends ofWillow’s.  Does she live here?”

            “Yes.  She’s busy right now.”  With the addition of namesTara was able to place these two people.  The girl was the other slayer and the man was Buffy’s ex.  Oh, boy.  She opened the door wide.  “I’m not inviting you in.”  She left the door open and Faith, knowing what the girl was doing walked through the door.  OnceTara was sure that Faith wasn’t a vampire she felt she could allow Angel an invitation.  “Come in Angel.”

            Angel came into the tiny room with a growing respect forWillow’s pretty roommate.  “Thank you for letting us in.”

            “You’re welcome.  Please have a seat.”  Tara indicated a tiny love seat that was littered with pillows and scarves.  She andWillow had gotten rid of the twin beds and put in a double which allowed room for the somewhat couch.  They decorated their room in reds and pinks with the occasional peachy-orange.  It was lush and inviting.  They had candles lit and unlit all over the room which was heavily scented by a variety of exotic smells.

            Angel and Faith both noticed the solitary bed.  Angel felt the unseen flush of embarrassment at the realization that this probably wasn’t justWillow’s roommate.  Faith that it was totally cool.  GoWillow.

            Willow came out of the bath in a fuzzy pink robe with fishes on it.  Angel winced.  He still felt guilty about that.  Maybe he should buy her some more?  A tank even?

            Willow was beyond surprised to see Angel there with Faith.  She looked atTara to make sure she was okay.  Tara gave her a sweet smile to let her know that everything was alright.  Willow sat down on the bed besideTara and looked at the two visitors.  “Hi, guys.”

            “Hey, Will.  You’ve done well for yourself.”  Faith said with a knowing smirk.

            “Thanks,”Willow tookTara’s hand.  “I have, haven’t I?”

            “Congratulations.”  Angel said awkwardly.  All the women had to stifle a giggle.  He cleared his throat.  “I need to talk to you about Buffy.”

            Willow nodded her head.  She wasn’t going to tell this guy anything.  The nerve of him leaving Buffy like he did.  Why, he was nothing but uh… but a fish killer!  “Sure, what do you want to know?”  She said innocently.

            “Everything.”  Angel didn’t really know where to start.

            “Well, she was born inLos Angeles,”Willow started but the look on Angel’s face stopped her.  “Just kidding.  Buffy’s doing great.  She’s still all with the slaying.  She hangs out.”  Willow thought ‘just not with us’.  “She has a great place.  Xander did a lot of the big work and I helped her with the decorating.  She got a lot of cool stuff from her mom when she sold the house.  That’s why she’s not here.  She’s inSan Francisco visiting her mom.”  Willow hoped she hadn’t rambled too obviously.  Tara gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

            “Good.  That’s good.”  Angel said absently.  He looked at Willow again.  “Why does she live in a crypt exactly?” 

            “Oh, that.  She’s just getting’ lazy in her not-old-age, doesn’t want to commute.”  Tara gave a little laugh at her lover’s joke.  “Thanks, baby.”  Willow said to her.

            “Seriously, Willow.  Is there something I should know about?”  Angel wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

            Tara andWillow gave him their most innocent looks.  Willow shook her head.  “Nope, nothing you need to know.”

            Angel and Faith got up.  “Okay.”  He took a card out of his pocket and wrote something on the back.  “This is my card.  It has my cell phone number on it and I wrote the name, room number, and phone number of the hotel on the back.  I’ll be here with Faith all week.”

            “Sure, thanks.”  Willow waved them out the door.  As soon as she felt they had made their way enough for Angel’s vamp hearing not to pick anything up she made a B-line for the telephone.  “Pick up.  Pick up,” she chanted.

            “Hello.” 

            “Xander it’sWillow.  Angel and Faith were just here.  Angel was asking all sorts of questions about Buffy.  He’s going to stay here all week with Faith.  He’s a big snoop!”

            “That sneaky bastard, coming around while Buffy isn’t here.”  Xander shook his head.  “I have half a mind to get Anya to kick him in the shins.”  His little lady had a mean shin kick.

            “Well, opportunity will be a knockin’ in about 15 minutes.  I’m sure he’s on his way to your place right now.”  Willow added helpfully.

            “Thanks for the warning.” Xander said with wide eyes.  Anya was riding him with a cowboy hat and boots on.  She’d wanted to wear spurs but Xander had threatened not to neigh.  He won.  What fun is cowgirl and pony without the neighing?

            “No problem.  Bye.”  Willow hung up the phone.

            Xnader bucked Anya clear off of him.  She picked herself up off the floor and stared at him with lust filled eyes.  “That’s my wild pony.  My wild, nasty little pony.  I’m gonna have to break you in good.”

            “Not now Anya, we’ve got company!”

            Anya looked around.  “Where?”  She could be so literal sometimes.  Xander found it both disconcerting and charming.

            “Not yet.  They’re on their way here.  It’s Faith.  I told you about her.”

            “Oh yes, the one who took your virginity.”  Any said matter-of-factly.

            “Yes, that one, and Angel.”

            Anya said quickly, “The one who took Buffy’s virginity.”

            “Exactly.  They’ll be here in a few minutes asking questions about Buffy.”  Xander turned and took both of Anya’s hands in his.  “We can’t let them know that Buffy is with Spike.  Angel would freak.”

            “Got it.  No Spike.”  She made a zipping motion with her lips and pretended to put the key in her…  Doesn’t matter really.

            “That’s right.  Now let’s get some clothes on.”  Xander suggested.

            Anya pouted a bit but did as she was supposed to do.  Honestly, humans were so uptight sometimes.  She put on a faded pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt.  Xander had just come out of the bathroom when the door bell rang.  Anya made as if to go get it but Xander stopped her.  “Let me.”

            He headed out to the living room.  He took a deep breath and then answered the door.  “Hey, Angel.  Faith.”  Xander tried to act surprised.

            Faith smiled.  “Willow called you.”

            “Yep.”  Xander nodded his head.  “Come on in, both of you.”  He stepped to the side so that they could get by him.

            “I’m Anya.  Xander and I live together so that he can afford this nice apartment and so that we can play cowgirl and pony whenever I want.”  She directed the two sex-interrupters to the couch.  “This is our seating area.  Sit.”

            Angel and Faith both took a seat staring in awe at the strange, but beautiful girl.  Xander was used to her musings and had learned to accept them months ago.  He took Anya’s hand and led her over to the other end of the couch.  “So, what’s up?”

            “I want you to tell me about Buffy.”  Angel said.

            “Well, she was born inLos Angeles…”  Faith’s snort cut him short.  He smiled at her.  At least someone could appreciate his humor.

           “That’s not what I meant.  Why is she living in a crypt?  And no jokes.  I’m not in the mood for jokes.”  Angel stated.

            “Well that’s a surprise.  Okay, no jokes.  Buffy’s great.  She’s off on vacation.  She’s probably hitting the shops as we speak.”  Xander said honestly.

            “The crypt?”  Angel’s mind was a bit one tracked.

            “Yeah, she lives in a crypt.  It’s rent free.  Close to work.  What more can I say?”  Xander said with annoyance.  Maybe now was the time for Anya to get kickin’?

            Faith turned to Angel.  “Come on.  Let’s go patrol.  Buffy’s fine.”

            “Oh, she’s more than fine.  You should see the size of her boyfriend’s penis.”  Anya declared.  “It’s quite nice.  And I don’t mean in just its length but its girth as well.  It is quite possibly the most perfectly sized penis I have ever seen.  Not overly large but enough to fill a girl right up and then some.  Of course, being the slayer gives her an advantage over other girls.  She can handle a lot more penis than most.  Why, when I was a demon I used to be able to…”Xander placed his hand over her mouth.

           He turned to look at Faith and Angel.  He was trying to decide what to do.  What to say.  Faith helped him out.  “So, B’s got a honey?”

            “Yes, a honey.”  Xander nodded his head.  Really, there was no point in denying it now.

            “Who?”  Angel asked.  He didn’t like this at all.

            “Just a guy, Angel.  Look these are questions you should be bringing up with Buffy.  I’ll be sure to let her know that you want to talk to her.  It’s up to her to decide if she wants you to meet her significant other or not.  You left Angel.  You left her here alone and now she’s moved on.  She’s happy.  Let it go.”  Xander told him.

            Angel gave him a hard look.  “Like you said, I should talk to Buffy.”  He got up and headed to the door.  Faith had no choice but to follow him.  She gave a little whisper in Anya’s ear as she walked by “Good for Buffy.”  Anya could only nod.  Xander’s hand was still firmly placed over her mouth.

Chapter 9:  Hello Mum

            Buffy was nervous.  They were walking up the stairs to her mother’s place.  Joyce knew that Buffy was bringing someone but she certainly didn’t know who.  Spike grabbed Buffy’s hand and gave it a squeeze as she rang the bell.

            A few seconds later the door opened and a beaming Joyce held out her arms to her daughter.  Buffy gave her mom a sad little smile and pushed her hand against the barrier.  Joyce turned red.  “I’m so sorry honey, of course you can come in.”

            Buffy didn’t immediately go forward.  “Mom, I would like you to invite someone else in as well.”  She moved aside so that Spike could be seen.

            “Spike.”  Joyce was stunned.

            “Hello, Joyce, nice to see you again.”  Spike said politely.

            “Yes,” she looked at Buffy.  “So, this is your mysterious friend.”  She gave her a daughter an encouraging smile and looked back at Spike.  “Spike, please come into my home.”  She moved aside and let the two vampires enter.

            They found themselves in a cheery little space done in warm woods and stark white linen.  A variety of third world art was displayed on the walls and shelves.  It was so different from the house in Sunnydale.  It was clean and modern yet the artwork placed a rustic charm to it all.  Buffy turned to her mother.  “I love it, mom.  This place is great.”

            “Thank you, honey.  I love it too.  You two have a seat.  I bought blood.  I’ll just go into the kitchen and pour you both a glass.” 

            Spike looked at Buffy with a pained expression.  She pointed a finger at him and then made a drinking motion with her hand.  He nodded to her.  He hated pig’s blood, but he’d drink it just this once to get in good with Buffy’s mother.  It dawned on him then – he had in in-law of sorts.  That was just bizarre.

            Joyce walked back in with two wine glasses filled with blood.  Spike grabbed his and that’s when the scent hit him.  This wasn’t pig’s blood.  It was human.  He took a sip.  Not as good as from the tap but it would do.  “Thanks, Joyce.”

            “Your welcome, Spike.”  Joyce looked at Buffy expectantly.

            Her mother had gotten her human blood.  Buffy just couldn’t wrap her mind around it.  “Thanks, mom, but how did you get this?”

            “It’sSan Francisco, honey, you can get anything here.”  Joyce took a seat on a white high backed chair.  “So, anything you care to tell me?”

            Buffy felt suddenly shy.  How to explain this to her mother?  Spike came to her rescue yet again.  “Well, Joyce, I’ve taken it upon myself to take care of your daughter.”

            “Why can’t you take care of yourself, dear?”  Joyce asked Buffy.

            “I can take care of the outside of me, mom, but Spike takes care of the inside.  He fills me up.”  Buffy leaned her head against Spike’s shoulder.  He gave her knee a gentle squeeze.

            Joyce noticed the exchange.  She wanted Buffy to be with someone but Spike wasn’t exactly her first choice.  It wasn’t because he was a vampire.  That argument had gone out the window when Buffy had been turned.  It was because of Drusilla.  Joyce distinctly remembered the lovesick vampire pouring his heart out to her over the other woman.  She looked at Spike.  “I need to ask you something, and I want you to know that I’m not trying to shake things up.  It’s just that I’m her mother and…”

            Spike interrupted her “It’s alright, Joyce.  You can ask me anything.”

            “Good.”  Joyce tried to phrase it as kindly as she could.  “What about Drusilla?”

            Spike felt Buffy tense beside him.  They hadn’t discussed this.  He felt like such an idiot.  She’d told him exactly how she felt about Angel but he’d never explained how he felt about Drusilla, not really.  “I will always love Dru.  She’s my sire and I was with her for over a hundred years, but your daughter has possession of my heart now.  I’m not going anywhere.  I will never leave Buffy, not for Drusilla, not for Angel, and excuse me, Joyce, but not for you either.”

            Buffy felt her heart soar.  She had needed to hear that.  He’d said similar things to her before, but she needed to hear that she came before Drusilla.  Spike pulled Buffy closer to him and tilted her face up to his.  “I love you, you know.”  This wasn’t how he imagined first telling her.

            “I didn’t know.  Thank you.  I love you too, you know.”  She smiled up at him with watery eyes.

            “Yeah, I knew actually.”  Spike said sweetly and smugly at the same time.  They just stared into each other’s eyes.

            Joyce cleared her throat and the spell was broken.  They both turned to look at her.  “That’s just what I wanted to know.  Thank you, Spike for loving my baby.”

            “The pleasure is all mine.”  Spike said without any innuendo at all.

            “So, tell me everything.  How areWillow and Xander?”  Joyce asked.

            As the night wore on Buffy was in a bit of shock.  Her mother had asked a million questions just as she thought she would, but none of the questions were about what Buffy had expected them to be.  Her mother never asked about Spike’s feeding or killing.  She only asked normal questions like how they got together.  She wanted to know if they’d be staying in Sunnydale or moving on.  She asked about Buffy going back to school.  It was weird.  Buffy couldn’t decide if her mother was totally cool about all of it or if she was just in denial over Buffy’s vampirism. 

            Joyce was showing the couple to the door several hours later.  She gave Buffy a fierce hug and told her to come by again before she left.  She gave Spike a much gentler hug.  She looked down at the ground and then back up at them.  “I know you think my behavior tonight is a bit unexpected.”  She took a deep breath.  “I never wanted to let on before how much I hated that you’d been turned.  All of the hopes and dreams I had for you from the moment I found out I was pregnant had been destroyed.  I couldn’t stand it.  I wanted to weep and I wanted to scream but I had to be strong for you.  It’s a mother’s job.  Being here inSan Francisco allowed me to do all of the grieving that I hadn’t been able to do in Sunnydale.  I think I needed to do that.  I’ve accepted things now, Buffy.  I’m so proud of who you are, of all that you do.  I’m not going to fight it anymore.  You are my daughter and you are a vampire.  You’re boyfriend’s a vampire.  I understand that.”

            Buffy threw her arms back around her mother.  “Thank you.  Thank you, mommy.  I love you so much!”

            “I love you too, baby.”  Joyce kissed her daughter.  “Now, you two go and enjoy the city and make sure you stop by the gallery.”

            “Will do, Joyce.”  Spike said taking Buffy’s hand and leading her from the apartment.  They walked down to the Desoto and Spike opened the door for Buffy.  She slipped in and gave him a smile.  He got in on the other side and started the car.  He turned to Buffy.  “Your mother is a hell of a woman.”

            “Yeah, she really is.”  Buffy agreed.

            Spike drove back to the hotel and turned into the circular drive.  Buffy looked at him with a question in her eyes.  Spike gave her a wicked grin.  “Get out woman.  I’ve stuff to do that doesn’t include the likes of you.” 

            His tone of voice was playful so instead of being worried Buffy was just intrigued.  “Like what?” 

            “None of your business.  Now out.”  He pushed her toward the door.

            She got out and gave him the biggest pout she could manage.  He just shook his head as he drove away.  Spike had a few things to take care of.  He had some surprises for his girl that should put any doubts she had firmly to rest.

Chapter 10:  The Cold Demon Shoulder

            Faith and Angel were completely perplexed.  They’d staked a few fledglings but overall there wasn’t a whole lot of activity on the hellmouth.  “I’m bored.”  Faith complained.

            Angel hated to admit but so was he.  “Yeah,” he sighed.  Last night had been a lesson in frustration.  He knew thatWillow and Xander hadn’t told him anything he wanted to know.  Thoughts of Buffy’s boyfriend had plagued his sleep during the day, and now there was little to no action.  This trip was turning out to be a waste of time.

            “Let’s go to Willy’s.”  Faith suggested.  Man, she needed to let off some steam.  Having Angel sleep in the bed next to her all day had been torture.  She’d taken what relief she could in the shower, but somehow that just didn’t cut it.

            “Why would we go to Willy’s?”  Angel asked, though a beer sounded pretty darn good to him.

            “Well,” Faith knew just how to play this.  “We could ask around.  We didn’t get anywhere with the human community, let’s see what the demon community knows about B.  Maybe get a word or two about her stud.”

            Angel bristled.  That’s another thing.  How had Xander’s girlfriend seen Buffy’s boyfriend’s penis?  That was just one of a million thoughts that were plaguing Angel.  A foursome maybe?  The thought of Xander with Buffy in any way made both man and demon sick.  What the heck was happening with Buffy?  He turned to Faith.  “We’ll go.”

            “Hot damn!”  Faith jumped down from the headstone she’d been balancing on.  This should be fun. 

            They quickly made their way to the bar.  All heads turned to look at them as they walked in the door and then just as quickly they turned away.  They knew exactly who this was and they wanted to no part of it.  Angel and Faith made their way over to Willy.  “What can I get for you?”  Willy said not even looking up at them.

            “I’ll take a rum and coke,” Faith spoke up before Angel could.

            “I’ll take a beer, Willy.”  Angel said taking a seat next to Faith.  Angel watched as she slid her jean jacket off and put it on the floor at her feat.  He felt himself tighten up.  Oh gosh, she was wearing another halter top.  He hated those things.  They just showed way too much skin.  He had to will his eyes away from the tan skin of her back.  He could almost feel it under the palm of his hand, soft and silky.  He shook his head to clear it.

            “You alright, Angel?”  Faith asked innocently.  She knew damn well the affect her halter tops had on him.

            He cleared his throat.  “Fine.”  Willy sat their drinks in front of them and started to turn away.  Angel stopped him.  “Willy.  How are things?”

            Willy knew this would be coming.  Angel wouldn’t get anything out of him this time.  As scary as the master vampire was it was nothing compared to the Spike/Slayer combo.  “Things are good.  Business has been steady.  How about you?  How’s the city of angels treatin’ ya?”

            “Good.”  Angel glanced around the room.  “Not a lot of action out tonight.”

            Willy shrugged his shoulders.  “Well, what can ya do?”  He tried to walk away.  The firm hand placed on his back kept him held in place.

            “I’d like to talk with you a bit more privately.”  Angel stated. 

            “Sure, Angel, follow me.”  Willy walked away and Angel followed.  They entered a room where there was a poker game going on.  Angel noticed the big box of tiny kittens.  He turned to Willy.  “What are the kittens for?”

            “We’re playin’ for kittens asshole.”  A big grumbly demon said from the table.  Angel took a good look at the guy.  He had horns for sideburns.  He was one of four players at the table.

            “Okay.  Not like I care.”  Angel turned back to Willy.  This was private?  Before he could say anything the wrinkly demon at the table laid his cards down and gave a shout.  Angel and Willy looked at him.  Apparently he’d won.  He seemed really happy about it.  Angel thought it was kind of cute until the guy said “Wait until I tell Buffy!  She’s gonna be so proud of me.”

            Angel was on the demon in a flash and had him pinned up against the wall.  “What do you know about Buffy?”

            Clem hadn’t meant to say the slayer’s name.  He’s just gotten so excited.  He knew who this guy was.  Buffy and Spike had told him to be careful this week.  That another slayer would be in town and that she might have a souled vampire with her.  Clem swallowed hard.  “Nothing.  I don’t know anything.  She’s just my friend.  We play poker together.  I lose a lot, but Buffy trades me her kittens for cash.  That’s all.”

            Angel put the wrinkly demon down and turned to Willy.  “We talk.  Now!”  He growled.  The demons in the room took their winnings and left the room.  Angel gave Willy a fully vamped face.  “Tell me everything you know about Buffy, and so help me if you mention that she was born inLos Angeles I’ll rip your throat out.”

            Willy gave a nervous laugh.  “I didn’t even know that she was born inLos Angeles, I swear.  She just comes into the bar sometimes.  Hangs out.  Plays poker with the guys.  Has a drink.  The usual stuff.”  Willy figured that cat was already out of the bag no sense in hiding it.

            “Why would she do that when she could hang out with her friends?”  Angel growled.

            Willy was finally annoyed.  “What?  Go to frat parties?  Maybe she should meet them at the park for a nice sunny picnic.  She’s a vampire, Angel.  She feels comfortable here.  She can be herself.  No questions.”

            “She’s not a normal vampire.  She’s better than that.  She has a soul and she’s still the slayer.”  Angel yelled.

            “She knows that.  She knows exactly what she is, but obviously you don’t!”  Willy yelled back.  He actually yelled at Angel.  Wow.

            Angel was just about to hit him when he saw Faith running into the room with what appeared to be every demon in the bar behind her.  She came to Angel’s side and turned back around ready for a fight.  Angel forgot about Willy and turned to face the mob crowding the doorway.  “What’s this about?”

            A big demon covered in midnight blue scales was the first to speak.  “We don’t want any trouble here.  We want you to leave.  Leave Willy alone.  Leave Clem alone.”  The wrinkly demon from earlier gave him a salute.  “Leave the slayer alone.  We discussed it and we are willing to make sure the hellmouth stays closed for as long as Buffy’s gone.  You two can leave.”

            Angel thought for sure that he’d fallen down the rabbit hole.  These demons weren’t here to fight they were here to keep the peace.  “I’m sorry, but I don’t get it.”

            “Look,” Clem thought maybe he could smooth things over.  “We have a system with Buffy.  If she doesn’t catch us out she doesn’t bother us.  If she catches us at something were dead.  It’s a fair system.  It works for everyone.  We like this much better than in the old days.  Most of us don’t even want hell here on earth anyway, and we appreciate the slayer’s efforts to stop it.  We’re offering to police things until she gets back if the two of you will just leave.”

            Angel thought he might faint.  He really did.  He caught a glimpse of Faith out of the corner of his eye.  She didn’t look any better than he did.  She’d tried to pick a fight in the bar after Angel had left.  No one would fight her.  It was terrible.  She’d taken off to find Angel and complain and that’s when she felt everyone following her.  Now they were asking them to leave. 

            “Okay,” Faith started.  “This is how it’s going to work.  Angel and I will leave the bar now.  No one gets hurt.  But I said I’d patrol for Buffy and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.  Understand?”

            Everyone nodded and started to disperse.  Angel and Faith both let out a huge sigh of relief.  They turned to Willy.  “Back door open?”

            He nodded at them and they turned and left.  They were completely silent as they made their way back to the motel room.  Faith threw herself down on her bed and Angel did the same.  She was the first to speak.  “It’s like we’re in some old western.”  She turned to face him.  “We’re the renegades.  They’re the townsfolk.”  She just kept looking at him.  “They asked us to leave.”

            “I know.  I was there.”  Angel closed his eyes.  “It’s worse than I thought.  She’s socializing with demons.  She’s got some kind of deal going with them.  I’m afraid she isn’t strong enough to handle the demon inside of her.  I’m going to have to take her back toLos Angeles with us.”  He opened his eyes to look at Faith.  “It’s up to you and me.  We’re the only ones strong enough to handle her.  She needs our influence.  We have to set a good example for her, Faith.”

            “That’s a switch.”  Faith said under her breath knowing darn well he could hear her.  They sat there for another few minutes each occupied with their own thoughts. 

            “Wanna fuck?”  Faith asked Angel out of the blue.

            Angel was quiet for a minute.  “I’m not feeling particularly happy at the moment.  Sure, why not.”

            And they did.

Chapter 11:  Beyond a Claim

            It had been years since Spike had been in the Boarmule.  He was pleased to find it still in the same spot.  He walked the four steps down to the door and entered.  The smell hit him just as it always had; dark moss with pungent spices.  He let his eyes adjust to the dim light.  The shelves in here were tightly spaced and filled to the brim with both magical ingredients and dust.  Spike made his way to the back where he hoped to find the old demon that used to run the place.

            “I’m over here.”  A raspy voice that reminded Spike of crumpled newspapers spoke from behind a pile of crates.

            Spike walked over and peered around them.  There she was.  The same old shopkeeper.  She was a halfbreed.  One parent had been human and another had been a Gruagach.  She was probably several hundred years old.  She looked basically human except for the long golden hair that covered her body.  Spike had the hardest time not referring to her as Cousin It.  “Hello there.  I’m looking for a binding spell.”

            She came out from behind the boxes.  “What for?”

            “Well, I want to bind myself to someone.”  Spike was a little uncomfortable explaining himself to this creature.

            Two shiny black eyes peered out from the long golden hair.  “No shit.”  She walked away and Spike followed.

            “I have a childe.  I love her.  I want to make sure nothing separates us.”  Spike gave in and told her.

            “And does this childe want to be bound to you?”  She asked without looking at him.  She was picking through a wooden box that looked to Spike to be filled with buttons.

            “Yes.  I haven’t asked her formally, but yes.  We’re in love.”  Spike thought that should explain everything.

            “She’s your childe, you’re in love.  What do you need a binding spell for, eh?”  She seemed to find the button she was looking for.  She held it up to the light and then placed it on her tongue.  Apparently she swallowed it, because Spike didn’t see it come out again.

            “Well, I’ve claimed her as my childe.  She was abandoned by her sire after she was turned.  I’m from the same family line, but it isn’t enough.  I’m worried her sire will try and reclaim her, or that my sire will try and interfere.  We just want to be left alone.”  Spike was tired even thinking about it.

            The Gruagach studied him for a moment.  “Okay.  I’ll help.  It will cost you.  What you want isn’t a binding spell.  Might as well save those for the unwilling, no, you want a marriage.”

            “We’re dead.  Not likely to see the inside of a church or a courthouse anytime soon, luv.”  Spike drawled.

            “No shit.”  She walked over to a small stack of silk brocade boxes.  She pulled out a red and black one and handed it to Spike.  “Wedding in a box.  No church.  No court.  This magic.  It stays.  A spiritual binding and a physical binding.  No divorce.” 

            Spike opened the box.  It was a kit.  So help him it was a marriage kit.  It contained a booklet, herbs, a mortar and pestle, a candle, and some leather ties.  He looked up at her.  “Thanks.”

            “Don’t thank me.  Pay me.”  She held out her hairy hand.  “Two thousand dollars.”

            Spike tried not to choke.  He had the money, but still.  He reached into the inner pocket of his duster and pulled out a wad of bills.  He carefully counted out two thousand dollars and then added an extra hundred.  He handed it to her.

            The Grugauch had watched him as he counted out the money.  The extra hundred did not go unnoticed.  She pulled a paper bag out that had Boarmule written on it in dark green Gaelic script.  She grabbed the box from Spike, put it in the bag and handed it back to him.  He took it and gave her a thank you as he left the store.  As he walked through the door she called out to him “I’ve blessed your marriage, boy.  No shit.”

            Spike gave her a nod of thanks and a brilliant smile.  The hardest part of his mission was completed.  Well, outside of asking Buffy.  His next stop was to a forger he knew.  He had called ahead of time to have an identity set up for Buffy.  She would be over twenty-one and she would also be married to Spike on paper.  He was in and out of the forgers in less than ten minutes.  He had one more stop to make.

            He pulled the Desoto up to the curb in front of an Indian restaurant.  The sign on the street said he had thirty minutes.  That should do.  How hard could this be?  He walked in the restaurant and straight through to the backroom.  It was a jewelry store.  It served the needs of the demon community.  It had the largest collection of unique and magical jewelry on the west coast.  The designer also ran the restaurant.  Spike made a mental note to bring Buffy here to eat before they left the city.

            “Mr. Spike.  Welcome.”  Said an extremely small dark skinned man.  Spike had bought things from him before for Dru.

            “Hello Mr. Kinnara.”  Spike greeted the little man.  He looked entirely human except for the occasional feather that snuck out of his buttoned down shirt. 

            “Here for your dark princess?”  Mr. Kinnara had made a lot of money selling unusual items to this vampire for his pampered lady.

            “No.  She left me.  Good thing too.  I’m with the person I’m supposed to be now.”  Spike said sheepishly.  He felt like such a git running around doing all of these things.  “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

            Mr. Kinnara smiled with joy.  He had always liked Mr. Spike and was quite pleased to see him in a less codependent relationship.  He’d been watching Oprah.  A demon could learn a lot about the world from Oprah.  “I have several things that might please you, but first tell me about your lady so that I may serve you better.” 

            “She’s beautiful.  Her hair is like sunlight and her eyes are as green as the grass in spring.  When she smiles it lights the whole world up.  She’s no bigger than a minute but as strong as an eon.  Her heart holds hell itself back.”  Spike looked down at the man.  “She’s everything.”

            Mr. Kinnara took a ring out of his pocket and handed it to Spike.  “This belongs to your girl.”

            Spike looked at the small golden object.  It was perfect.  On either side of the ring were engraved two dragons, one black and one red.  They met in the middle; mouths open wide, to hold a dark green emerald.  Spike looked at Mr. Kinnara, “This is exactly what I never knew I was even looking for.”

            Mr. Kinnara laughed.  “Yes.  I know.  It wasn’t made until you spoke.  That is why it is the ring for your girl.  It was made from your love and your sincerity.”  He took the ring back from Spike and put it in a black velvet box.  He walked to the cash register and wrote up the bill of sale.

            Spike gladly paid the man.  This was better than he had ever imagined.  He couldn’t believe how hopeful he felt.  Were vampires supposed to feel this good?  He supposed that was just another thing Buffy had done to him.  He thought his demon would feel some sort of resentment over all the lovey dovey feelings but instead it was perfectly overjoyed at the thought of binding itself to the slayer’s demon.

            Spike parked the Desoto and headed up to their room.  The weight of the ring in his pocket, the feel of the papers in his duster, and the bag hanging on his arm were things he was painfully aware of.  He opened the door and didn’t see Buffy in the living area but he could sense her in the bedroom.  He took off his duster and laid it over the back of the chair.  He placed the bag down beside it.  With the velvet box held firmly in his hand he made his way into the bedroom.

            A moment of William-like panic hit him.  What if she dismissed him like Cecily had done?  What if she laughed?  He closed his eyes and tried to steady himself.  Then he heard a giggle.  She wasn’t on the bed.  The giggle had come from the other side on the floor.  He got up on the bed and looked down at the floor on the other side.  There was his girl.  She looked up at him with childlike glee.  She had a spoon between her toes and was trying to feed herself ice cream with it.  She’d placed a towel beneath her to catch any droppings.  This was something that she’d apparently put some thought to.  The ice cream container sat down at her feet with several chunks taken out of it.  He started laughing.  All of his panic went away.  Damn, but he loved this woman.

            “Hi, honey.  Wanna bite?”  Her cute little toes poked their way up toward the bed.  Spike opened his mouth and took the offered bite.  “Delicious, pet, thanks.”  He looked back down at her.  “Got bored did we?”

            “Uh-huh.”  She began to put the ice cream items away.  “I’m glad you’re back.  I missed you.  A honeymoon suite just isn’t any fun when you’re by yourself.”  She walked into the living area and put the ice cream in the fridge.  She washed her hands and the spoon and then came back into the bedroom.  “You gonna make it up to me?”

            Spike smiled shyly.  He pulled her to him, hugged her for a moment and then sat her down on the bed.  He got down on his knees before her.  He felt the nervous tingles coming back.  Oh, boy.  Here it goes.  “Buffy, I love you.  I want to spend eternity with you.  Will you marry me?”  He held out the ring box.

           Buffy felt tears fill her eyes.  “Yes, oh yes.”  She wrapped her arms around Spike and buried her head in his shoulder.  She was sobbing.  Spike heard another, deeper sob sound and wasn’t all that surprised to realize that it had come from him.  They held on to each other.  Time seemed to stop.  It was just them, alone in the universe. 

            Spike realized he was still holding the box in his hand.  He gave a little laugh.  “You didn’t even see the ring, baby.”

            “There’s a ring?”  Buffy said with excitement.  She pulled away from Spike, not too far, and looked at the box he held up.  She reached out with a shaky hand and opened it.  Her mouth fell open and a tiny gasp caught in her throat.  “That’s mine.  I can feel it.  It belongs to me.”

            “That it does, my love.  The man I bought this from made it especially for you from my love and my sincerity.”  The poet in Spike was in heaven.

            “I know.”  She said in awe.  “The dragons, they’re us, and the emerald is our love.”  She handed the box back to Spike and held out her left hand.

            He smiled and shook his head.  “Not yet.  We have to get married first.”

            “We can’t really get married Spike.  We’re dead.”  She said perplexed.

            “In the words of an old hairy woman, no shit.”  He got up and pulled her with him.  Buffy had seen the bag sitting by his duster earlier.  She figured it might hold a present for her; that it was probably the reason he went out tonight.

            Spike pulled box out of the bag and sat it on the table.  He opened it up and handed the booklet to Buffy.  She read it.  Then she read it again.  She looked at Spike.  “This is a wedding in a box.”

            “I know.”

            “Huh.”  She started pulling all of the ingredients out.  She held the booklet open with one hand studying it.  This was a side to Buffy he’d never seen before.  She was so serious, so studious.  After a few minutes she looked up at him.  “Okay, I got it.  You ready?”

            “Now?”  Not that Spike didn’t want to do it right away, but he thought that perhaps she might want to make a big deal out of it.  A dress at least.

            “Getting cold feet already?”  She teased him.  She wasn’t about to wait another minute.  She wasn’t letting anything get in the way with her being with Spike.  She wanted all of him and she wanted it right now.

            Spike smiled at her and held out his hand for the booklet.  She gave it to him and began undressing.  Spike was trying to study the booklet, he really was, but Buffy was distracting him.  “If you’re not going to read it, then at least take your clothes off.”  She instructed the ogling vampire.

            Spike looked back down at the booklet trying to ignore the disrobing female.  Oh, you had to be naked.  No dress then.  Good.  He read on.  They really could do this right now.  He was glad that Buffy didn’t want to wait.  Glad that no one but them would bare witness to this.  It was their moment.  Their lives.  Their marriage.

            Buffy arranged all the items.  She had spike grind the herbs while she lit the candle.  When he was done she took the leather ties.  They had to be tied over their left hands in a pattern shown in the book, binding their hands as one.  When that was done, they each vamped and opened up the wrists of their right arms.  They put their wrists together and let the blood mix in with the herbs.  They both started chanting as a mist came up out of the blood mixture.  They kept up the chanting as the mist covered them.  Buffy and Spike could feel the mist enter their bodies.  It coursed through them and then settled deep inside.  When it was done they stopped the chanting and blew the candle out as one.

            They turned to look at one another with big goofy grins on their faces.  “Ladies and gentlemen I introduce Mr. and Mr. Foxmoor.”  Spike said.

            “Foxmoor?”  Buffy looked at him with surprise.

            “Yeah.  It’s my human name.”  He untied their wrists and reached into his duster to retrieve her papers.  Buffy looked at her name:  Elizabeth Anne Foxmoor.  She looked back to Spike.  “We’re really married.”

            He took the velvet box out of his pocket and opened it.  She held out her hand to him.  He gently pulled the ring from its snug placement.  He held her hand in his right and put the ring on her finger with his left.  She held it up in the air just looking at it.  It felt so right. Nothing had ever felt so right before.  Spike watched her.  This was his bride.  Then it dawned on him he hadn’t even kissed her yet.  With a growl he pulled her to him and kissed her deeply.  It was another first kiss for them.  The first kiss of forever.  They were one.

            When they pulled apart Buffy had to hold onto him to steady herself.  She looked up at him.  “Wow.  That was… wow.”  She looked down at Spike’s very hard member.  “Isn’t there one more thing that you’re supposed to do to seal a marriage?”

            Spike growled again and picked up his bride.  One more thing indeed.

Chapter 12:  Crypt Crashing

            They had been walking for hours in the Sunnydale sewer system.  Not exactly what Faith considered to be a romantic morning after.  The sex had been great.  More than great.  Angel was the first guy that she had ever been with who could keep up with her.  She knew that he didn’t love her, but she also knew that he cared about her.  You wouldn’t think that that would be enough, but it was.  In some ways it was a relief.  She knew that he would treat her well and that he would never expect more than she was capable of giving.  All in all it was a sweet deal.  She stepped in something gushy that let out a fowl puff of air; okay a mostly sweet deal.

            “Here.”  Angel said and tugged her along with him as he opened a doorway.  She didn’t understand how he’d even noticed it.  It blended in completely with the sewer walls.  They stepped into what looked to be someone’s bedroom.  It was rather nice for being located right next to the sewers.  Angel secured the door behind them.

            “This is Buffy’s place.  I can smell her.”  He vamped suddenly.  “And her boyfriend.”  He began walking around the underground area smelling things.  It was really disturbing.  Faith was given a harsh reminder of just how not human her new sex partner was.  He turned to Faith suddenly with wide yellow eyes.  His face morphed back to its human visage and he looked like he was about to faint.  He said one word, “Spike.”

            “As in your grandkid or whatever?”  Faith was a little shocked.  Buffy was doin’ the nasty with a vamp.  An unsouled vamp.  This probably wasn’t good.  Maybe Angel was right and they did need to take her back to Los Angeles with them.

            Angel sat down on the bed in shock.  Then just as quickly he shot off of it.  He turned and looked at the bed in horror.  Faith came up behind him and put her arms around him.  “It’s okay.  We’ll get her when she gets back, take her back to L.A., and do some major rehab.  B’s gonna be just fine.”

            “She’s having sex with Spike.”  Angel growled.  “How will that ever be fine?”

            “What?”  Faith stepped away from him.  “You think she’s permanently tainted now?”  She didn’t like the sound of this.  She didn’t like people marking other people.  It went against everything he had ever told her about being able to change.

            Angel realized how Faith was taking what he’d said.  He was in shock but he wasn’t completely out of it.  He walked towards the dark haired slayer and drew her into his arms.  He kissed the top of her head gently.  “I’m sorry, Faith.  I didn’t mean it like that.  You’re right, Buffy will be just fine once we’ve straightened her out.”  He held her for a while just stroking her back.  “I don’t understand how Giles and Joyce could have just left her like they did.”  Angel murmured.  “Didn’t they realize how vulnerable she was?  How much she needed them now?  And Willow and Xander.  They seem to be pretty cozy in their own lives.  I bet they don’t even involve Buffy anymore.  No, they’ve all failed her.  It’s up to us now.”

            All this snuggling was nice, but Faith wanted a little more, and she was sick of talking about Buffy.  Yeah, she’d help the other girl, but right now she wanted to help herself.  “Angel?”  Faith said huskily.  “You want to add a new scent to the room?”

            Angel couldn’t help himself; he laughed.  “That would be wrong.  Funny.  But really wrong, Faith.  No, as tempting as that is we had better check out the rest of the crypt.” 

            Faith sighed in disappointment, but the thought of snooping through Buffy’s things cheered her somewhat.  They both started walking around and looking through things.  They were surprised to find a crude bathroom with running water.  Faith had to stop herself from letting out a snort when Angel turned distastefully away from the two towels hanging on hooks on the wall.  Must be Spike scented.

            They made their way upstairs and were once again surprised by how nice everything was.  Buffy had really made this crypt into a home.  She even had somewhat of a kitchen.  Faith found herself lingering over the video collection.  She found several risqué titles and assumed those must be Spike purchases.  She pushed them to the back of the shelf.  No sense in upsetting Angel any further.  Unless, of course, she could talk him into watching one of them.  She started to pull them back out when she remembered who she was dealing with and just shoved them back in.

            “I suppose we can go.”  Angel said coming up behind her.  “Did you find anything important?”

            “Nope.  Nothing.”  Faith said.  “Everything looks pretty normal except for the whole crypt part.”

            “Then let’s get the hell out of here.  Their scent is everywhere.”  He looked pained.  “Apparently they’ve managed to have sex an every corner of this place.” 

            Not for the first time Faith was a little envious of Buffy.  She felt a sudden stab of guilt for what they were planning on doing to her.  “Angel?”  Faith asked as they made their way back to the sewers.

            “Yeah?”

            “You aren’t going to dust Spike are you?”  Faith felt a little weird about that.

            “I don’t know.”  Angel answered honestly.

Chapter 13:  Mama Bear 

            The next night Buffy and Spike went to the Indian food restaurant to celebrate.  Buffy loved the atmosphere in the place.  It reminded her a little bit of their crypt and gave her all sorts of good ideas for when they got back.  The food was incredible.  Spike had ordered them the spiciest things on the menu, which she had already learned was the best thing for vampire taste buds.  Funny, how all the other senses became heightened except for that one when you were turned.  After their meal they walked into the backroom.  Buffy wanted to thank Mr. Kinnara for the ring and to see about getting something for Spike.

            Mr. Kinnara clapped his hands and smiled as the couple entered his shop.  “Such a beautiful bride.”

            “Thank you,” Buffy said with a shy smile.  “I just wanted to tell you how much I love my ring.  It’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen besides Spike.”

            Mr. Kinnara laughed.  “Yes, a very handsome husband you have there Mrs. Foxmoor.”

            Spike’s eyes widened.  He didn’t know that Mr. Kinnara even knew his real last name.  Then he thought of the magical wedding ring and realized that Mr. Kinnara probably knew of a lot things.

            “I was wondering if we could pick up a ring for Spike?”  Buffy asked the little man.

            Mr. Kinnara pulled something out of his pocket.  “You mean this ring?”  It was the mate to Buffy’s.  It looked almost the same except that it was wider and instead of having the gem mounted out of the ring it was encased in it, making for a smooth masculine design. 

            Buffy was delighted.  She couldn’t help herself, she gave the man a big hug.  “That’s perfect!”

            Mr. Kinnara had never been hugged by a vampire or a slayer before.  He was pleased as could be.  He made a note right there to design some special stuff just for Buffy. 

            Spike and Buffy paid for the ring and thanked Mr. Kinnara one last time as they left the shop.  They got back in the Desoto and headed over to the gallery to show Buffy’s mother the rings and tell her the good news.  Parking was impossible.  Spike was quickly loosing patience for the human world.  He never had any trouble finding parking in the demon sections.  They had driven around the block three times and finally Spike decided he was sick of it.  He saw someone sliding into a space and he pulled along side of them.  He had Buffy open the window.

            “Here’s your next lesson love.”  Spike said wickedly.  “I want you to flash fang at him when I give your hand a squeeze.”

            Spike called over Buffy to the other driver.  “Hey.  I want that spot.”

            “It’s good to want.”  The man in the car said dismissing them entirely.

            “Hey.”  Spike called again to get the guy’s attention.  The man turned back with one raised eyebrow, “Yes?”

            “My girl wants this spot and she always gets what she wants.”  Spike said with a smile and squeezed Buffy’s hand.

            Buffy vamped and gave the man a wide, wide grin.  “Pretty please may we have this spot?”

            The man’s face lost all color as he started the car immediately and pulled away.  Spike put it in reverse and edged his way into the tight spot.

            “See where a polite request can get you.”  Buffy said with a straight face.

            “Well, what can I say babe.  I’m all about manners.”  Spike leaned in and licked one of her fangs.  Buffy morphed back into her human face.  Then she waited as Spike got out of his side of the car and opened the door for her.  He was so old fashioned sometimes. They walked arm in arm into the gallery.  Buffy and Spike both looked around.  They were impressed.  This was about three times the size as the Sunnydale gallery.

            “Buffy!  Spike!”  Joyce came at them in a near run.  “Am I glad to see you!  You didn’t give me the name of the hotel you were at, and I couldn’t find Spike’s cell phone number.  I’ve been in a complete panic!”  Joyce was nearly out of breath.

            “What’s wrong?”  Buffy asked with concern.

            “Willow and Xander called.  Apparently Angel came to Sunnydale with Faith and is asking all sorts of questions about you.”  Joyce suddenly turned bright red and deliberately looked away from Spike.  “And Anya let a little something slip.  Well, not a little something apparently, but the long and the short of it is…  Oh damn, this isn’t coming out well.  What I mean to say is that Xander’s girlfriend mentioned that you were seeing something, I mean someone.”

            Buffy and Spike knew exactly what Joyce was referring to.  Buffy was mortified that this information had been shared with her mother, and in fact, so was Spike.  “How could she say something to Angel?  And what business is it of his what I do?”  Buffy hissed.

            Spike grabbed both women around the waist.  “Let’s find a place to have a private chat, shall we?” 

            Joyce led them to her office where they all three took seats.  “Xander said that some demon approached him and told him that Angel and Faith had made some huge scene at Willy’s.  They were apparently trying to get information about Buffy out of the demon community as well.”

            “What the bleedin’ hell is he up to?”  Now Spike was worried.  He looked down at the ring on his finger.  He was glad they hadn’t waited.

            “I know what he’s up to.”  Buffy said in anger.  “It’s the crypt thing.  He found out I wasn’t living my life like a good little human girl and now he’s come to investigate.”  She looked at her husband.  “He’s going to try an intervention.”

            “The nerve of that man!”  Joyce yelled.

            Spike was confused.  “What’s an intervention?”

            “It’s when a person’s friends and family get together to stop them from doing something that’s harmful, like drugs.”  Buffy explained.

            Spike shook his head and sucked in his cheeks.  He was trying to contain his anger.  “Well, he ain’t your friend and he’s sure as hell not family.  I’m your family!”

            Joyce cleared her throat.  Spike gave her an apologetic look.  “And you two of course, Joyce.”

            “Oh my gosh!  With all of this we almost forgot.”  Buffy held out her hand.  “Look mom, Spike and I are married.  Not in a legal sense, but it’s totally binding in the demon world.” 

            “Buffy, that’s beautiful!”  Joyce exclaimed. “I’m so happy for the both of you.”  She got up and gave them both a hug.  “We are not going to let that cradle robber interfere with your lives!”  Joyce stood up and started pacing.  “We need to leave for Sunnydale right now and set him straight.”

            Spike and Buffy just watched Joyce as she paced back and forth.  It seems that taking a girl’s virginity and then bragging about it to her mother was not a good thing.  Spike winced at a few of Joyce’s suggestions regarding certain parts of Angel’s anatomy.  No not a good thing at all.  He was more pleased than ever that he had found away for him and Buffy to marry.

            They dropped Joyce off at her place to pack a few things and pick up her jeep.  Spike and Buffy went to the hotel to check out and to have one last moment with the Jacuzzi.  They met Joyce back at her place and she followed them to Sunnydale.  They called Willow and Xander to let them know what was up.  Spike had laughed at how young and girlish Buffy sounded as she told Willow all about the ceremony.  There was no mention of a wedding in a box.  In stead it sounded all mystical and romantic the way she told it.  Spike loved that he could do this for her.  He thought back to the shaken and confused girl that he had awoken next to just weeks before.  The girl who had hungered for any touch at all.  He looked at her no, flushed with excitement and chatting to a friend that she had almost let go.  He wondered how something as corrupt and evil as he was could possibly have done so much good for just one person.  For the first time ever, Spike felt completely at peace with himself.

            They arrived at Xander’s apartment a few hours later.  The three made their way up to his front door and rang the bell.  Xander opened the door and said, “Come in, all of you.”  They walked into the room and Spike froze in horror.  Anya, Tara, and Wilow were standing there armed to the teeth.  He turned back to look at Xander and saw the young man twirling a stake.  “I always hated that bastard.”  Xander grumbled.  That’s when Spike realized that these weapons weren’t meant for him or his girl.  They were meant for Angel.  Damn,  if he was starting to like these humans.

            Of all the reactions that Spike had expected out of Buffy, her running toward the three women and holding out her ring finger wasn’t one of them.  Didn’t women have priorities?  Xander slid up next to Spike.  “You have no idea how nice it’s going to be having another guy around here.”

            Spike watched as all five women oohed and awed over the ring and Buffy’s wedding.  “I get that, mate, I really do.”  No sooner had he said that then all attention was turned on him.  No, correct that, on his hand.  He held it out and let them paw him for as long as they needed.  He looked over at Xander and saw the man giving him a look of pure sympathy.

            As suddenly as it started it stopped.  “Okay, let’s go tell Angel the good news.”  Joyce said as she picked up an axe that was leaning against the wall.  Spike rubbed the back of his head.  For a moment he thought he might just feel sorry for Angel.  Naw. 

Chapter 14:  Laying Down the Law; Sunnydale Style

            They made an amusing sight, a not quite magnificent seven, as they walked in mass to the hotel.  Joyce was slightly out in front with her Burberry coat blowing behind her.  Spike and Buffy followed in black leather and red silk.  Xander, Anya, Tara, and Willow brought up the rear in a flash of young color.  Several demons had taken notice of their progress and retreated silently.  Goofy of not, these were the most dangerous people in Sunnydale.

            When they got to the hotel entrance Buffy turned to the group.  “Listen.  I want to give Angel a chance to explain himself.  If he doesn’t cooperate you guys can ride in to the rescue, okay?”

            They all nodded their heads, even Spike.  Human’s turned to look at them just as the demons had as they walked into the hotel and headed for the elevator.  The quiet in the ascending elevator was oppressing.  “Whatever happened to elevator music?”  Xander said aloud.  Six heads turned to give him the evil eye.  “What?  It’s better than no music!”

            The elevator doors opened and they filed out.  They turned the corner and stopped, letting Buffy go around the corner and approach the door alone.  She was a little nervous even though she knew that Spike would be in their in a flash.  No invitation needed for public places.  She knocked.

            The door opened.  “Buffy.”  Angel said as he stepped back to let her in.

            “Angel.”  Buffy said evenly, walking into the room of doom.  She tried not to giggle at her mental rhyme; room of doom.  She stopped short before an actual giggle could creep out her when she noticed the man seated next to Faith.

            “Gee, Giles so nice of you to visit.”  Buffy said acerbically.

            “I do believe that an act of kindness would be considered a nicety, yes.”  Giles eyed her carefully.  Angel was right.  She’d changed and if her leather attire was any indication, not for the better.

            “What act of kindness would that be exactly?”  Buffy could feel the anger building inside of her and she had to steel herself from letting the demon out.

            “To help a friend.”  Giles got up and walked towards her.  “I want to help you, Buffy.  I know it’s hard to have a demon inside of you, but you can learn to control it.  It simply takes time and training.  You have all the time in the world, and Faith, Angel, and I are more than willing to train you.”

            Buffy gave a harsh laugh.  “Thanks for the offer but I already have a trainer.”

            “Spike!”  Angel growled.  “I can imagine the kind of things he’s training you to do.”

            “Really?”  Buffy purred.  “Cause he outdoes my imagination every night.”

            Angel made a move as if to slap her.  She quickly moved out of his way and turned to Faith.  “Reign in your dog!”  She growled to the other slayer.

            Faith jumped up to restrain Angel who just shook her off.  “Let me go.  I’m fine.”

            “Perhaps it would be best if we all sat down to discuss this.”  Giles indicated the beds and chairs with a sweep of his hand.

            “No.  Sorry, Giles, but I have other plans.  Why don’t all of you sit and listen to me.”  Buffy said with her hands firmly planted on her hips.  She wasn’t trying to look tough; she was just trying not to hit anything.

            “Explain yourself then.”  Giles said and sat down to try and quell the air of animosity in the room.

            “You left me.  Both of you.  I’m not weak.  I’m not succumbing to my demon.  I’ve always been able to control it.  That was never my problem.  Being alone was my problem.  Xander and Willow have their own lives.  Good lives that they deserve to live.  I lost my life.”  Buffy put a hand out to Angel as he started to interrupt.  “It’s no one’s fault, but it is a fact.  I’m dead.  Being left alone in death, now that’s your fault.”

            “Buffy, I…” Angel started.

            “Hush.”  Buffy hissed.  “I’m not finished.  I felt myself fading away.  The only thing I could identify myself by was my slaying.  That’s all I was – a dead girl who slays demons.  I started hanging out at Willy’s just because it gave me something to do.  Some small connection outside of the cemetery.  Then one day I came across Spike.  He was drunk and passed out under a table.  I took him home.”  Buffy looked at Angel.  “What would have happened if Angelus had awoken next to a sound asleep, vamped slayer?”

            Angel didn’t even have to pause.  “He would have tied you up.  Had sex with you, tortured you, and then staked you.”

            Buffy gave him a sad little smile.  “I know.  Somehow I knew Spike would never do that.  You want to know what I did with a passed out Spike?”  Buffy looked down at the ground.  “I took his clothes off and laid him down on my bed.  Then I slid in next to him and snuggled with him.”  She closed her eyes remembering.  “It was so amazing to feel someone, even if they didn’t know I was there.”

            “Buffy, I’m so sorry.”  Angel said with tears in his eyes.  He hadn’t realized how alone she was.

            Buffy looked up at him with a brilliant smile.  “Don’t be.  I can’t thank you enough.  If you hadn’t left me I would never have discovered what love is.”  She looked down at the ring on her hand.  “I’m loved.  I’m really, really loved.”

            “You know I love you, Buffy.”  Angel stated.

            “Oh, yes I know that, but Angel, it wasn’t enough.  Not for either of us.  What Spike and I have… well, it’s indescribable.  He is the best man I’ve ever known.”

            “He is not a man, Buffy.  He is a demon.”  Giles spoke up.

            Buffy turned to him with flashing yellow eyes.  “A council of fools!  You don’t know anything.  Spike is a demon and so am I, and what’s more, I’m happy to be one.  I get to spend forever in the arms of my love.”

            “Please,” Angel said snidely.  “Just as soon as Drusilla crooks her little finger he’s going to leave you flat.”

            The door burst open.  “That’s it.”  Spike said walking up to Buffy.  “Sorry, luv, tried to wait.”  He turned to Angel.  “You have no idea, mate, what you’re talking about.”

            Angel had vamped the moment his grand-childe had entered the room.  “The hell I don’t.  It’s the sire and childe bond!”

            Spike put his arm around Buffy.  “The bond of love is stronger.”

            Angel just laughed.  “Buffy,” he growled.  “Come here.”  It was a command.

            Buffy just laughed at him and leaned into Spike.  Angel made a step toward them.  “What did you do?”

            “You left her.  You abandoned your rights as her sire.  I’m her sire now.  I’m her sire and her husband.”  Spike growled back.

            “That’s not possible.  The most you could do is a willing claim.”  Angel’s head was spinning.

            “Yeah, did that first.  Then shagged her senseless.”  Spike looked perplexed.  “Least, I think that was the order.”

            Angel threw a punch.  Spike caught it in his fist and sent Angel flying against the opposite wall.  At the loud crash the rest of the Scoobies poured into the room.  Angel got back up and looked at Spike.  “Your stronger.”  He said accusingly to the younger vamp.

            “Love makes you strong.”  Spike said.

            “It also gives you wings,” Xander quipped.

            “That’s just not true.”  Anya explained.  “It’s a myth.”

            “Enough!”  Giles yelled.  “I want to know what you are all doing here.”

            Joyce stepped forward.  “I’m protecting my family.”  She turned to Angel with her axe held high.  “Buffy is my daughter and Spike is my son-in-law.  I suggest you go back to Los Angeles.”

            “Joyce,” Giles said.  “Perhaps you should put that axe down.”  She just gave him her best ‘here’s Johnny’ smile.  Giles continued, “Or not.  I feel I must point out, however, that vampires cannot marry.  Technically they’re dead.”

            “There was a wedding.”  Buffy assured him.

            “In a box.”  Spike added.

            Everyone turned to look at him.  “You got married in a box?”  Willow asked thinking it no great wonder that Buffy had left that part out.

            “No.”  Buffy thought she had better explain.  “It was a Wedding in a Box.  Everything to do the ritual came in this really pretty box.  It kind of matches my ring.  Did I show everyone my ring?”

            Faith almost said ‘no’.  She actually did kind of want to see the ring.  She was having a tough time remembering whose side she was on.

            “You two are actually bound?  By a ritual?”  Angel felt all hope slipping away.  Were they going to have to dust the two of them?

            “Yeah, you stupid git, Buffy is my wife.  It’s permanent and before you start thinking that you’re going to have to take us both out, why don’t you try sitting down and listening for a change.”  Spike was getting bored.  He just wanted to go back to their crypt and shag.

            Angel didn’t move.  “I’m listening.”

            “Fine.  I’m not killing.  Buffy’s not killing.  Well, humans anyway.  I’m still drinking human blood, but Buffy won’t let me kill them.  We’re going to stay here at the hellmouth for now.  Keep it closed and all that.  Someday, however, we plan on seeing the world a bit.  Any questions?”  Spike finished.

            “Are you serious?”  Angel looked around the room.  “No one is really buying this?”

            Everyone but Giles and Faith nodded emphatically.  “You’re nuts.  He’s evil!”  Angel yelled.

            “Angel,” Buffy said to him.  “This isn’t up for debate.  If it makes you feel better about your own demon to label Spike as purely evil, then do it.  I don’t care.  I may be a vampire but I still have choices.  I choose Spike.  I choose him as my mate, as my husband, as my lover, as my friend, and as my sire.  I’m his and I know without a doubt that he’s mine.  We are stronger than you.  You felt it when you went to punch Spike.  Let this go.  We don’t want a fight.”

            “Well…” Spike began but a foot stomp from Buffy had him shutting up.

            “Faith.”  Angel said.  “Pack.  We’re leaving.”  He gave Spike and Buffy a hard look.  “Don’t come to L.A.” 

            The Scoobies started to leave the hotel room one by one.  Joyce was last out the door.  She turned to look back at Giles.  “You coming?”

            Giles gave her a tired smile and stood up to follow.  He wasn’t happy about this but he was willing to wait.  To watch as he always did.  Perhaps it was time for him to move back to the hellmouth.

Epilogue:  Home Sweet Crypt

 

                        After a little victory celebration at Xander’s, Buffy and Spike were finally able to make it back home.  He insisted on carrying her over the threshold again.  He closed the crypt door with a kick and put his bride down.  They walked over to the couch and collapsed in exhaustion. 

            “That was not how I planned on our honeymoon ending.”  Spike laughed.

            “No?”  Buffy purred suggestively.  “How did you think it would go?”

            He bent down and whispered before capturing her lips, “Something like this.”

            And he showed her over and over again.