Chapter Seven - Sanctuary
Beta by Slinkypsychokit


As they approached Sanctuary's entrance, Buffy immediately grabbed Dana's hand for reassurance. She knew that Dana's Slayer sense had to be going completely berserk. Actually hers was too, but she, unlike Dana, had years of growing accustomed to it and also had the benefit of sanity. She smoothed her hand over the back of Dana's head, shushing her and speaking in a soft, comforting tone.

Surprisingly, Dana reached out and grabbed Bruce's hand tightly. Buffy smiled at this development. Perhaps, she would be okay for a little while. Bruce seemed to have a positive affect on her Slayer sister.

Happily, Buffy took hold of Spike's hand, interlacing her fingers with his. Hearing his surprised inhale at her action, she understood his shock. What he didn't know but soon would have to get used to was that this new and improved Buffy, version 4.0, wanted everyone in the world to recognize Spike as her guy. No longer would she capitulate to what her "friends" - or the rest of the world, for that matter - might think about their relationship. She wanted it open, public and by God if she needed to she'd make love to Spike on top of Giles' mahogany desk inside the Watcher's Council headquarters, then she would!

Yep, see world…she and Spike were going to be together. How about them apples?

Spike's patience was wearing thin. Buffy still hadn't told him anything, and he had never been good at biding his time. If she didn't tell him what in the bleeding hell was going on, he'd…well, he didn't know what he'd do…and really, as long as she kept holding his hand for all the world to see, he might could hold out for a few more minutes.

He still couldn't get over the reality that she was actually here…in Los Angeles…holding his hand…and giving him looks that were making it very difficult to walk. The saucy little minx! He'd show her. He was more than a little tempted to run into some nearby alley, dragging her along, throwing her against the hard brick and taking her right there. But that would be like their past…something he didn't want to repeat.

Buffy was giving him crumbs…more than crumbs…whole bites of cookie. His brain whirled with the possibilities. She told him that she loved him. Did she really mean it? Sure, he said he believed her, because he'd dreamed of her saying it. Whatever walls he'd managed to erect over these past months since his resurrection had gotten huge holes knocked out of them. He didn't want to be Love's bitch anymore, but she was Buffy…and that was a whole other ball game.

Buffy wondered what Spike was thinking. She loved watching the myriad of emotions flit across his face. Again she internally berated her past, stupid self for all those times she'd told him he was just a demon and couldn't love or have any real emotions. Note to self - get help making a new Slayer handbook and burn any left by the old Council.

"Where are we, love?" Spike asked, looking at the non-descript warehouse just before Buffy opened the door.

"You've never been here before?" Buffy queried, and then teased, "And you call yourself a vampire."

Maintaining a smile on her face, she opened the door and said, "Spike, Dana…welcome to Sanctuary."

Spike had not taken both feet inside the door when a blur of skin accosted him and squeezed. He started to vamp when he recognized the scent. Raising his arms, he pushed his assaulter away from him a bit and looked at his face.

"Clem!"

"Spike! Man, am I glad to see you. You are sight for sore eyes," Clem said, relishing his old friend's presence.

"Clem, I had no idea you were in LA. What's this place then?" Spike inquired.

Clem shuffled back a bit and he puffed out his chest. "This is Sanctuary, a haven for peaceful type demons and humans. When Caritas went out of business, my friend decided to fill the niche left in its absence. You'd never guess who owns this place. Oh…oh…where are my manners."

Clem turned around and whistled. Spike looked at Buffy with a raised eyebrow. Buffy just grinned. "Everyone! Everyone, this is Spike," Clem announced, doing his best Price Is Right model impersonation. "Spike, this is well…everyone."

Some demons actually hollered, "Hey, Spike," before turning back to their drinks and to whatever else they were doing.

Bruce inched Dana inside. Even though he seriously doubted he'd regain full use of his hand ever again from Dana's vise-like grip, he felt honored that this damaged, deadly one sought him for comfort. He knew all too well the Watcher's Council's hard line approach to all demons. See a demon; kill a demon; ask no questions. He'd lost his brother to a slayer when they first accidentally traveled to this dimension.

Buffy reluctantly turned away from Spike's reunion with Clem to assist Bruce with Dana. She noticed that Bruce's hand was a stark white from Dana's grip. Grabbing their hands in her left, she began coaxing Dana's fingers to relax their hold with her right. Bruce flashed her a grateful smile.

"Dana, listen to me. No one here will harm you in any way. The ones here…they have good hearts. Okay?"

Dana nodded, but still kept shifting her eyes around the room. The demons could sense her disquiet, silently hoping that Buffy could get the new one under control. Some even thanked the Powers or whatever entity they worshipped for giving the owner the foresight of getting a sanctuary spell cast over the place. The spell, thank the Powers, was more powerful than the one that had been cast at the once-Caritas.

Buffy looked around and saw a Lister watching them. "You," she called out. Everyone ignored her. "The Lister."

The Lister thumbed his chest and mouthed, "Me?"

"Yes, you. What's your name?"

"Rieff, ma'am," he replied, swallowing hard.

Buffy smiled and said, "Don't worry, Rieff. I won't bite…well, only him…" She cocked her head toward Spike. "And only when he's been a very, good boy."

Spike heard her and stopped talking to Clem. "Slayer!"

"What?" she feigned innocence.

"Pet," Spike laughed, "stop teasing the boy."

Pouting out her lower lip, Buffy did her best Dawn. "You're no fun."

"Look at that lip," Spike said, making his way to her. "Gonna get it…gonna get it."

Rieff, Dana, Bruce, Clem and the other thirty demons were quickly forgotten by both Buffy and Spike. Buffy felt her heart race as she watched her love stalk her. Damn, he's sex on legs.

"What 'cha going to do when you get it?" Buffy panted, her eyes now focused on how the muscles in his chest moved and were clearly outlined in his tight t-shirt.

Spike smelled her arousal. For just that moment he remembered the others watching and knew that each and every one of them could smell her also. Slayer musk could be so intoxicating, and none more so than his Buffy. He growled a warning to any other male that might have gotten the wrong idea. This Slayer was his!

He stood before without touching. He bent forward and sniffed her hair. "Gonna get it," he whispered in her ear, biting the lobe before he moved to her lips.

"So get me," Buffy challenged.

Spike's eyes flashed gold as he grabbed her arms and crushed her into his chest. His lips descended on hers, demanding their response. Her hunger matched his own, and when she parted her lips, his tongue invaded the warm cavern of her mouth.

Buffy clutched the globes of Spike's ass and rocked him to her core. Feeling his hardness against her clad center made her quiver with need. She wanted him now. Breaking her kiss and staring into his eyes, she yelled, "Keys! Now!"

Raising her left hand in the air, Buffy caught a set of keys tossed to her from Clem. She then curled the index finger of her right hand in one of Spike's belt loops, making his hips come even closer. "Let's go to my room, Spike," she said, biting her lower lip.

Resting his forehead on hers and running his hands down her shoulders, Spike answered, "Let's."

As Buffy led Spike to her private room, she remembered Dana. "Bruce. Rieff. Take care of Dana for a bit, will ya?" Not waiting for a response. "Thanks. Bye now."


Chapter Eight - A Little Conversation
Beta by Spikeslovebite


Buffy couldn't focus, and she needed to. She had to get the damn key in the lock, but how was she supposed to do that simple, little thing when Spike was trailing kisses down her neck and had his right hand around her and tweaking her left nipple? Really, how could any woman in her position accomplish such a task?

"Spike," she panted. "Gotta…room…key…stop."

"You want me to stop, petal?" he asked, while attending to a particularly sensitive spot on the nape of her neck.

"Gah! No, don't stop…but…"

Spike clucked in amusement. He stopped working on her left breast and put his hand on hers around the key. Together they managed to fit the key in the lock. Buffy spun around to face him as the door slammed open.

Grabbing his lapels, Buffy roughly hoisted him into the room. Using her right foot, she kicked the door closed and slammed Spike against it. She ripped open his shirt and began licking from the dip in his clavicle to the hair that started right below his belly button. She paused and dipped her tongue around his belly button, remembering how he seemed to like that, as she began to unbuckle his belt.

At first, Spike seemed to respond wholeheartedly to her ministrations, but then she felt him tense. His hands found their way to her hair and he softly said, "Luv…wait."

Confused Buffy looked up into his eyes. She could see that his were still filled with lust, but now, they also revealed trepidation. After how he'd been on the other side of the door, he couldn't be about to reject her, could he?

Spike almost winced at the confusion and slight fear in Buffy's eyes. He tilted her chin up higher and said gently, "Buffy…not like this, luv." Spike tugged Buffy to her feet and kissed her lips softly.

"If we do this, it can't be like before. I can't take that. Not again. I won't be your willing slave and have you…" Spike shook with the memories.

Buffy understood. Regret and compassion for her vampire - her man - filled her and she wished, not for the first time tonight, she could find ways to make their past up to him. She could start now. There was so much to tell him. She wanted to do this right. He deserved that and more.

"Spike, I want this. I want us. I want you more than anything. Never again, Spike, I promise. Never again will you feel like you don't matter to me…that you're not loved. 'Cause I love you, Spike."

Ghosting her fingertips across his questioning face, she swallowed hard before she continued. "I can't say I'm sorry enough for that time. It was bad. I was bad."

Spike began shushing her and shaking his head no, just like she knew he would. Buffy put a finger on his lips stopping him from saying anything. "Spike, don't say I wasn't. I was. Over these past months I've had lots of time to think and believe it or not, I went to see someone about…well, everything. No, none of the others know. Not even Dawn. It wasn't about them…it was about me. You might even remember her. Lydia."

Spike looked bewildered. Buffy smiled. "Remember that Watcher who did her thesis on you?"

Grinning but remaining silent, Spike nodded in fond remembrance of that blonde, determined Watcher who had come to question him about Buffy during that whole Glory mess.

"Somehow she survived Caleb's explosion. No one knew she was still alive until after…when Giles and Willow went to set up the new headquarters. She approached them, still bearing the scars from the fire. Lydia's incredibly brave. She told Giles that while she was happy that they survived, she would be retiring from the Council. So, when I started thinking about just whom I could talk to about everything, Lydia came to mind. I researched her and found out she had a degree in psychology. I found her and secretly began meeting with her."

Spike asked, "How is she now? Lydia? What have you told her?"

Buffy took Spike's hand and led him to sit beside her on the bed. "Lydia's still got these horrible looking scars on her face, but she refuses to get plastic surgery to fix them. She told me, 'We all have battle scars, Miss Summers. Some like mine are on the outside, but yours are all internal.'

"She sounds like a right smart lady, pet. Thought so when I met her, too."

"She is. She's been very helpful. I told her about being ripped out of heaven. She asked me how I knew I was even there. Had I done some revealing spell to find out for sure? Lydia said that there perhaps I wasn't in heaven, but rather that the Powers had placed me in a safe place. She asked me if I had seen my mother where I was."

Gripping his hand harder, Buffy fought back the tears. "Spike, I never saw anyone. Not mom, not Grandma Summers, not Celia. It'd been too long, so Lydia can't be sure, but we don't think it was Heaven."

Buffy felt Spike's strong arms encompass her in a hug. She buried her nose in his chest, inhaling his unmistakable scent. He started rocking her in that age-old tradition of comfort. Buffy wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his chest.

"I'm okay, Spike." Wiping the beginnings of tears from her eyes, Buffy sniffed and to her horror realized she still stank.

"Oh God, Spike. I reek. How can you stand me?"

Spike chuckled. "I guess my nose grew accustomed to it. But you're right; you don't smell like yourself. What in the bloody hell did you bathe in, Slayer?"

"You really don't want to know," Buffy replied. "You wanna help me wash it off?"

She could tell he was more than tempted to do just that. He just needed some encouragement to tip him over the edge. "Spike, I can't promise you that I'll never act like a complete bitch ever again. It sort of goes with the whole Buffy-Slayer package. But I can promise you that I'll never willingly hurt you ever again. I love you. I want to do this right. Shower with me?"

"Well, when you ask so nicely, how can a bloke say no?" Spike tickled her sides and kissed the tip of her nose.

Buffy walked to the bathroom, dropping her garments in her wake. Spike watched her from the bed; his hunger for her grew once again. She'd be the death of him one day. But what a way to go!

Buffy bent down seductively, stepping out of her pants, revealing that she'd worn no underwear just for him. Wiggling her hips, she looked back at Spike and said, "Well, are you coming or not?"

Spike bit back a growl and replied, "Yeah." To low for her to hear, he whispered, "Almost did right then."

He sped off the bed, ran to Buffy, grabbed her, and hauled her into the bathroom. Buffy giggled the whole time.


Chapter Nine
A Little Less Conversation, A Little More Action
Beta by Spikeslovebite


As the water cascaded over Buffy's body, Spike watched as rivulets made delightful, enticing trails across her breasts, down her stomach and legs. Twin trails skirted her hipbones and sought the nexus of her thighs. Her head was thrown back, soaking her hair under the shower.

Spike grabbed the shampoo bottle, uncapped it and squeezed out a large dollop. After placing the bottle back on the shelf, he moved toward Buffy and asked her to turn around. With her back to him, he massaged the shampoo in her hair. His fingers made small, concentric circles as he lathered her hair.

Buffy moaned at the pleasure of his fingers. Why they had never done this before she couldn't remember. Every shower should feel this good. She felt like putty in his hands, and he was only washing her hair. She needed more. She backed up and pressed her ass against him. He was already so hard.

Spike groaned as she brushed against his cock. Getting all her hair up on top of her head, he kissed the nape of her neck.

Buffy reached for the soap and lathered up her hands. She then reached behind her, arching her back, and gripped his cock. She smiled as he hissed. Her hands were slippery from the soap, which added to the fun of sliding her hands in tandem up and down his member.

Spike let go of her hair, which through the miracle of the suds stayed in place, and cupped her breasts. He weighed them in his hands, and they felt heavier than he remembered. They were fuller now and glancing at her naked hips once more, he finally realized his girl had gained some much-needed weight. She still didn't have the cute baby fat she had when he'd first met her, but she no longer resembled those anorexic models either.

Gently squeezing her breasts in rhythm to her manipulation of his cock, he circled his thumbs around her nipples and every so often would pinch them. He clenched his jaw as Buffy's hands went lower and started fondling his sack. "Turn around, luv."

Buffy did so slowly. Spike leaned her back under the spray of water and rinsed her hair. Buffy released him to run her fingers through her hair to get out the suds, and Spike grabbed the bar of soap.

She almost stumbled as he began washing her breasts and stomach alternating which hand held the soap. He washed lower and lower, and Buffy bit her bottom lip in anticipation. When he reached her small thatch of curls, he placed his left hand on the small of her back and began washing her sex with his right.

Spike turned the bar of soap in his right hand so that it opened her sex and would spread through her lips. Buffy rocked with the bar as he ran it back and forth, just shy of her clit. When her legs looked like they were about to give, Spike dropped the soap and flicked her clit with his thumb.

"Spike! Please!" Buffy felt so close. By the time he had finished rinsing the soap from her with his fingers, she was a quivering wreck. It had been so long. She opened her eyes when she felt him remove his hand and shut off the water.

Spike said nothing as he picked her up and carried her out of the shower. He paused long enough to grab two towels and headed back to the bed. He stood her beside the bed and unfolded one towel.

Buffy, a little miffed that he got her so close in the shower, sighed and let go of that upset as Spike began rubbing her dry. She took the other towel and began returning the gesture. The rubbing evolved into its own pleasurable experience. Spike started working her into a frenzy again as he concentrated his attentions on drying her nipples. Buffy countered with making sure his sack and the spot just behind were free of water.

Buffy tipped up and caught Spike's bottom lip in her teeth. He pushed her back onto the bed and seized her feet. As Spike kissed each toe, Buffy giggled.

Spike kneeled on the bed and ran his hands up her calves, to her thighs and ghosted just outside her sex. "So ready for me, aren't you?"

"Uh huh. I told you I missed you," Buffy replied, panting with need.

Spike crawled towards her treasure and spread her thighs wider with his hands. Her sex was glistening from the shower and her need. Her scent invited him to taste. He'd dreamed about her taste that last year and since he'd gotten back.

"You ready love?"

"Oh God yes! Please, Spike. I need you so much."

Starting at the base of her sex, Spike ran his tongue up her slit and circled her clit with his tongue. Buffy whimpered and arched her hips to meet his mouth. Spike curled his arms around each thigh and pressed her hips down to control her. This also allowed his fingers to spread her sex even wider.

He became high off her taste and smell. He was like a man who after walking miles in the desert with no sign of water had suddenly found his oasis. He dipped his tongue in her channel and swirled it.

Buffy tried to buck in response, but Spike's hands held her firmly. She gripped the sheets, his hair, her own breasts. She was manic. The things he could do with his tongue would probably be illegal in all fifty states. Damn!

Spike blew on her swollen clit and tapped it with the tip of his tongue. Buffy began to shatter. Using his thumb, he manipulated her clit while he dove his tongue hard and fast into her sex. It was enough.

Buffy came hard. Her body quaked in wave after wave of her orgasm wrought through her body. Spike continued his pursuit, tasting all she had to offer and wanting to draw out her pleasure. She started to cry from the sensations…it was too much and it had been too long and she needed him!

Buffy tugged his hair, forcing him to look at her. "Up here now, mister! I want you inside me."

Spike crawled up her body, stopping and placing kisses on her still quivering belly and breasts. Buffy wrapped her ankles around his waist. "Please, Spike," she whimpered and raised her head to kiss him solidly. She tasted herself and rocked her hips up.

Spike reached down, positioned himself, and surged. His eyes felt like they would pop out of their sockets, so was so fucking tight. He could tell she was in a bit of pain, and he studied her expressions. He would come right then if he moved, so he waited and got a hold of himself.

With teary eyes, Buffy confessed, "There's been no one since you, Spike. No one. You feel so good. Welcome home."

Kissing her lips, Spike began to move. "Ah, Buffy, so good. No one else can have you. You're mine."

"I'm yours, Spike. See how we fit. You fill me," she panted. He looked at her in surprise as their rhythm increased. It was one way she would show him this time would be different. She never used to talk before, never express herself. This time and every time after, she would never fail to tell him how he made her feel.

"Buffy, luv. Oh yeah, pet…do that again." Buffy squeezed her inner muscles clenching his cock. "Love you. Love you so bloody much."

"I love you…oh Spike." Buffy surprised him by sitting up making his cock hit her spot just right. Pulling his lips to hers, she licked his bottom lip, seeking access. She tongued his teeth before letting him bite her tongue as she drew it from his mouth.

Seeking his neck, she found Drusilla's marks. Knowing how sensitive those could be, she licked and nibbled the spot. His thrusts increased, and he moaned loudly. Just beside Drusilla's, she struck. Biting into his hard, but yielding flesh, Buffy felt him almost come from her surprise.

"Love…Buffy?" Spike questioned. His body hummed; his sack felt heavy.

"Meus maritus intemporaliter. Forever my husband," Buffy whispered. She reached around his back and slipped the ring on left thumb to her right hand. Then she sought his left hand and placed the ring on the end of his ring finger. "Be my husband?"

Spike nodded, slowing his pace. Buffy never failed to surprise him, as she kept clenching her inner muscles bringing him so close to completion. He watched with fascination as she carefully placed the ring on his finger. She kissed him, and the soft kiss became deeper as their emotions over what she'd just done enraptured them.

Spike positioned Buffy back onto the pillows, reached between them and used his now ringed finger to pleasure her clit. As she started to climax for the third time, Spike licked her neck, mindful of how she honored his connection to Drusilla by not placing her mark over Dru's. He recognized Angel's mark and wanted to destroy it, if she'd let him.

"Yes, Spike. Make me yours," Buffy requested, seemingly knowing what he was thinking. "His mean nothing to me."

As the wave of her orgasm crested, Spike's fangs sliced through her skin directly over Angel's marks. She shuddered beneath him, enjoying the pull of his fangs. She felt like she was floating.

She sighed happily when Spike uttered, "Meus uxor intemporaliter. My wife forever."

"Yes, Spike! Yes!"

With a few final thrusts, Spike came and collapsed on top of her. After kissing her thoroughly, Spike rolled over and fell sound asleep. Buffy watched him for a few moments before her own eyes drifted closed.


Chapter Ten - Shared Dream
Beta by Spikeslovebite


Buffy found herself in the desert again. Tara and Senaya awaited her approach. In the distance she could see Dana happily kicking the sand and running free.

"She looks so happy," Buffy commented.

Tara looked wistful. "She will be once again. Terrible things happened to that child. Her healing has begun thanks to you, Buffy. If she had committed those murderous acts that we'd foreseen, then Dana would have been permanently lost to us. The guilt would have consumed her, and the sanity she had worked hard to gain would have quickly evaporated with the knowing."

Buffy asked, "Senaya, are you sure?"

"It is my gift, Buffy. I am sure."

Buffy nodded. "I understand, but I'm a little sad, too." She hugged the First Slayer and knew some part of her had been healed. No longer would she feel torn between wanting to be a normal girl and being the Slayer. Buffy now fully embraced her Slayer-side. She too felt healed.

A noise broke the hug and caught their attention. All three turned in the direction in which the noise came from, and Buffy saw Spike shuffling towards them. The sunlight made him look paler than usual, and Buffy recalled what he looked like when he'd approached her with the Gem of Amara.

"'Lo pet," Spike said. "Where are we?"

Buffy held out her hand for him to take. He did, and she replied, "You're in my Slayer dream. You remember Tara?"

"Hey, luv. I've missed you," he directed to Tara.

Tara smiled and stepped up to Spike, giving him a hug. "I didn't thank you for all you did to help me when I was alive. Thank you for punching me in the nose, and well, for everything."

Spike blushed from the attention. Buffy saved him from making a complete ass of himself by turning his attention to Senaya. She watched with some amusement as his shy demeanor morphed into his usual cocky self.

"Spike, this is Senaya, the First Slayer."

Senaya walked in a circle around Spike, as Spike turned to never give her his back. "Yes, we've met many a time, haven't we, William."

"Never had the direct pleasure, no. Sorry about…"

"It was in your nature then. It is now in your nature to protect my sisters. You are our champion," Senaya declared, smiling at him.

"As you are also the champion of the Guardians, Spike," Tara asserted.

"What's this?" Spike asked, looking to Buffy for answers.

Tara replied for her, "You've been granted a gift. You've been brought inside Buffy's dream to be given the knowledge and the blessing from the Guardians, the sisterhood of the Slayers, and the Powers for Good." Touching his chest above his heart, Tara said, "This heart…so full of love. I now hereby bless thee for the Goddess and her daughters." Touching the center of his forehead, she announced, "William, you were cleansed through the fires of the amulet and not found wanting. Your poet's soul, your keen mind…even…" Tara blushed. "Your…umm…devotion to our sister has been noted and appreciated. You are hereby our Champion. So mote it be."

Senaya and Buffy echoed, "So mote it be."

Spike felt an overwhelming sense of peace, hope and love within. While he'd been grateful to feel Buffy's love for him, he began to cry from being found worthy of so much more. As he fell to his knees, Buffy wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him to her chest.

Kissing the top of his head, Buffy told him, "I love you, my husband. See how special you are?"

"Buffy, luv, what does this all mean? Why me?" Spike repeated over and over again.

Shushing him with soothing circles on his back, Buffy began telling him of her first dream with Tara and Senaya, the visions of Dana, her grief at having left him in the Hellmouth…everything. During this time, Spike would look to either Tara or Senaya for confirmation of what Buffy was telling him. As they would nod or answer with a few words, he grew quieter. At the end of everything, Spike rose from the ground.

"Right then. Still don't get why they picked me, but as long as Buffy's by my side, I'll never question it again," Spike finally replied.

"Spike, you've been told too many times that you were nothing…that you were beneath them, when in fact you were greater than them all. Drusilla saw some of this before she turned you. She knew you were destined for greater things, and in fact, in turning you, she'd gone against Angelus' orders for her never to sire a childe," Tara explained.

"She did? Dru never said," Spike stammered.

"Your life and unlife, as you like to call it, has thrown you obstacles and tests. Everything you've endured, experienced and survived from has tempered you, as a smith would eliminate the imperfections in a sword," Tara answered.

"Hear that love, I'm bloody perfect," Spike bragged.

"You would pick up on that, wouldn't you?" Buffy replied.

"Of course." Spike curled his tongue between his teeth and wiggled his eyebrows.

"This is your destiny, honey. Get used to it," Buffy happily said.

"Well, the missus says I gotta, so I guess that's what I must do."

"Wow, I wonder if that will work all the time," Buffy teased.

"Don't count on it, Slayer," Spike replied, grinning.

Senaya coughed and pointed at Dana who was now looking in their direction. "It is time."

*********

Both Buffy and Spike woke from their slumber immediately and turned to each other. "It's time," they both said.

Buffy pounced on him before he could move and kissed him playfully. "Ugh…morning breath."

"Hey, that's Mister Perfect Morning Breath to you, pet," Spike teased.

Buffy gently slapped his stomach and raced to the bathroom. "Come back here, Slayer!"

"No, gotta brush my teeth. We have to get going, Spike. We'll have more time for that later." Buffy peeked around the door and hooked her foot around the frame, rubbing it up and down the wood. "I promise the wait will be worth it, husband."

"Oh wife, what you do to me!" Spike sighed and sprawled on the pillows. Stroking himself under the sheet, he whined, "But I have this problem now, love. As my wife, I demand you take care of it."

Buffy rinsed out her mouth and walked out of the bathroom, hands on her hips. "You demand me? You're actually ordering me? We've only been married for a few hours, and you're starting to give me orders."

Spike saw the fire in her eyes and mistook it for something else. "Love, I'm sorry…didn't mean…" He watched her approach with some trepidation. Despite her angry demeanor, his cock grew harder, tenting the sheets.

"I'm not brushing my teeth again, you hear me?" Buffy said. She pulled down the sheet in a whirl and kneeled on the bed. She positioned him at her sex and quickly slammed down on his groin. Both moaned from the feel of their joining.

Buffy placed one hand on his chest and the other behind her on his leg as she rode him. Spike bent his knees allowing her to rest her back on them, which gave his cock the perfect position to hit her G-spot on every single thrust. She took her hand from his chest and pressed it right above his cock.

Theirs was a hard and fast fucking. Only grunts and animalistic noises were made. No terms of endearment, no promises…nothing was said. The sound of skin slapping skin and the suction of her sex permeated the otherwise quiet room.

Spike came first, grabbing her wrist and biting hard. The bite started Buffy's own orgasm, and Spike used his other hand to bring her off by manipulating her clit.

She collapsed on top of him, kissed him and said, "Wow!"

"I concur," he replied, sated.

"Spike, we really have to get going. The ones who I will not name will be wondering what happened to Dana and to you."

"I know, love. Just needed you."

"Do you still have my ring?" Buffy asked, playing with the few hair on his chest.

"That skull ring? My wife will not be wearing that!" Spike replied, indignant.

"But it was my engagement ring," Buffy pouted.

"No. I'm getting you a proper ring."

"Goody!" Buffy laughed.

Realizing he'd been played, Spike responded by tickling her midsection until she was blue in the face. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry," Buffy giggled.

"Okay, then. Let's go get Noodle."

"Noodle? Huh?"

"Dana, pet. Like that crazy chit in Gorillaz. Noodle."

"I'm not sure she'll like that, honey. Besides, it's lame," Buffy replied.

"But it fits her, love."

"Whatever."

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

Buffy and Spike found Dana entertaining a rapt Rieff in another room. Bruce had fallen asleep on the couch, and Dana was currently spinning in circles. Her hair had been swept up off her face, and both Buffy and Spike noticed how beautiful she was. Spike grimaced with the thought of all the men he'd have to chase away - like Niblet.

"Rieff, thank you for staying with her," Buffy said to the twenty-something Lister.

Despite his gray skin, Rieff blushed a pale pink at Buffy's words. "Anytime I can help out. I've not felt this…I don't know…happy in a long time. Not since the Scourge were killed."

Buffy eyed Spike who raised his hands. "Not us, luv."

"Oh not Spike's Scourge…the real one. Pure demons who were…well, if some still exist are…like Nazis. Any half-breeds - vampires, Listers - must be eliminated, since we have too much human in us. Doyle, our savior, sacrificed his life for us. We thought that the souled one would be our hero, but it was Doyle," Rieff stammered.

"Doyle? Short bloke, half-Brachen, worked with Angel?" Spike inquired.

"Yeah."

"Wondered what had happened to the Mick. Doesn't surprise me that Peaches wouldn't sacrifice himself," Spike snorted.

"So, Doyle saved you? What did Angel do?" Buffy asked.

"Well, he infiltrated the Scourge to find out their plans. Even though he was a vampire, they accepted him based on his reputation, plus I think he had to prove something to them. I'm not sure what; I wasn't there."

"And this was when?"

"Four years ago," Rieff answered.

"Then…that had to be after…"

"Must have been about that time the Initiative had me, pet." Spike gave her a look of reassurance. He knew that despite her love for him and her seemingly recent mistrust of Angel, her past illusions of him still affected her.

Dana spun herself into Spike's arms. "Pretty man."

"Thanks, Noodle," Spike said.

Dana looked as if she didn't know if she liked that or not. A few seconds passed, and then she giggled. "Rieff, I'm a noo-dle!"

"That you are, ducks." Spike shook his head at her antics. He wondered how much she would change after. He'd hate it if she lost some of this innocence. So, much of it had been stolen by that bastard in her past.

Buffy walked over to Bruce and shook him gently. "Bruce. Bruce, wake up."

Bruce stirred and came to rapt attention when he recognized Buffy hovering over him. He sputtered his apologies and searched the room for Dana. Relief filled his eyes when he saw Dana was more than okay.

"Bruce, I need you to get Clem for me, okay?"

"Yes, Buffy. Do you need some breakfast?" Bruce asked.

At the word breakfast, Buffy's stomach gurgled. "I think that's a yes."

"Be back soon." Bruce departed, and the remaining four talked.


Chapter 11 - A Time for Rituals
Beta by Spikeslovebite


Dana and Buffy stood in the middle of a sacred circle of desert sand provided by Clem. He'd been a busy demon over the past several hours. Buffy had told him where to go and he'd persuaded two nice Fyarls to accompany him as bodyguards.

They had driven into the desert and right where Buffy said it'd be, Clem found the remnants of past brush fires. He gathered three gallon jars full of the special sand, and whispered words of thanks to whatever could be listening and watching. After running to the Fyarls, they drove back to LA, stopping one other time for the remainder of the supplies.

Spike circled the girls, with a scented-lavender candled. He kept sneaking peaks at the door. Even though the lavender was distracting his senses, Spike smiled as he sniffed the air. He turned to the door and waited.

Buffy noticed his distraction and said, "Spike, you need to keep going."

"Can't right now, luv."

"Why? What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, pet. Everything's right, now," he replied, as Clem opened the door revealing Spike's surprise.

"Dawn!"

"Hey, sis. You think you can marry Spike and not invite me to the wedding? As if. Who do you think you are?" Dawn huffed, stomping in the room.

Dana actually began to growl at Dawn. Dawn just rolled her eyes and held up her hand. "Oh please, you don't scare me. Stop that now." Dana looked at Buffy who just shrugged with a small smirk and stopped growling.

"Okay, now, as Spike explained this to me; I'm getting another sister." She stepped close to the circle without marring the sand. "Hey, D. Now, I know that you're older than me and I think older than Buffy, but since you're going to be new to our family, you're going to be my little sister. I'll show you the ropes, giving you tips on what it means to be a Summers woman, show you the infamous pout, the hairy eyeball, and all the other cool stuff. Okay?"

Dana visibly relaxed during Dawn's welcome. She quirked her head to the side and said, "Sister!"

"That's right. We'll hug and sing Kumbaya later." Observing the circle and what Spike was doing, Dawn shook her head. "This is why you so needed me here. You are doing this all wrong. Besides Spike needs to be inside the circle with you two."

Turning to Clem, she ordered, "Bring me more sand and a bowl. Really, Buffy, what were you thinking?"

Buffy started crying in happiness at her sister's approval of her marriage to Spike and her acceptance of Dana. Her family was growing again, making her miss her mother so much. She'd always liked Spike, and Buffy thought she would like Dana as well.

Clem handed Dawn the sand first. She poured a wide circle to encompass Spike and the inner circle with Buffy and Dana. After muttering a few blessed words, she said, "Spike, it's safe for you to break the inner circle of sand and join hands with Buffy and Dana."

Spike did so. The three watched as Clem then handed Dawn the bowl. Dawn produced a small knife that Spike thought might have been his old Swiss Army knife and pricked the ring finger of her left hand. Squeezing the tip so the blood would flow, Dawn allowed several drops to fall into the bowl.

Dawn nodded to Clem and stepped just outside the circle. She ordered Clem to clear the room, and Clem followed Bruce and Rieff out the door.

"This is for family only and for Dana," Dawn said. She poured her blood on the four directions - north, south, east, and west - blessing and offering words of praise to each protective spirit.

"We humbly seek the Powers of Good and ask them to watch over us. Bless us and help us heal our sister." Dawn picked up the candle and began walking around the three inside. "We call forth Senaya…the First of the Sisterhood of the Slayers. We humbly beseech her to come."

Like when Dawn directed the Shadowmen shadow puppet wheel, drums started sounding. Dawn spoke louder over the drums. "Come forth Senaya. Heal your sister. Bring her peace!" She directed her attention to Spike, "Now Spike!"

Spike grabbed Buffy's wrist and bit it, allowing the blood to well. He then did the same to Dana and finally to himself. Each put their bloodied wrist over the center of the circle and mixed their blood.

Dawn spoke over the drums. "They are blood kin. Vampire and Slayer alike. As it once was, and now it will be. He shall safeguard the line. Senaya, come!"

A mist appeared where Spike, Buffy, and Dana's hand were joined. Buffy and Spike could smell Senaya's unmistakable scent - desert sun, clay, and wild flowers. The mist hovered for a moment, ghosting a kiss on both Buffy and Spike's cheek before flying into Dana's body.

Dana gasped from the intrusion. Her body rocked from the impact. Spike and Buffy held her arms firm. Dana's eyelids fluttered closed. The drums stopped; everyone waited. Dana wasn't breathing.

Then right before Buffy was about to shake her, Dana gasped for air, her eyes flying open in surprise.

"It's okay, Noodle," Spike reassured. He then started speaking to her in their ancient tongue.

Dana responded to Spike, her eyes clearer and less pained. She cooed a bit when Buffy cupped her cheek. Dana released their hands and looked at her now-healed wrist with wonder.

Dawn coughed, "Okay, to break the circle now?"

Dana answered, "Yes, big sister. You said something about a hug?"

Buffy released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Everything would be okay now. Senaya had seen to it. A part of her wept for the loss of her elder. Now, things would be so different.

Dana turned to Buffy as if she heard her inner thoughts. Her eyes became older than time. Speaking in the ancient tongue, she reassured, "She and I are one now. The line will run from you. You are The Slayer, forever and always." Then Buffy saw Dana's eyes clear and the innocent, once-broken girl emerged. "Thank you, Buffy and Spike."

"No problem, Noodle."

"Oh God, Spike. Noodle? Really?" Dawn asked incredulously. "Could you be any more lame?"

He scooped Dawn up in a hug as she squealed, "Yeah, Niblet, I can."

"Put me down right now, you brute!"

"Yes, put her down, so she can give me a hug," said Dana. Spike watched with pride as his Niblet and now Noodle gave each hugs, welcoming each other.

Buffy grabbed his waist, giving him a side hug. "Look at our little family, Spike. Bet you didn't know when you married me that there would be kids kids involved."

"Ha. Bloody ha, Slayer. You're a riot. I knew bloody well what I was getting myself into." Spike leaned down and kissed her nose. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Dawn focused her attention on Spike, wearing a very Joyce-like expression on her face. "So, when are you going to make Buffy an honest woman legally, Spike? I need the human ceremony. I want to wear the god awfullest bridesmaids dress. One that would rival Anya's toxic green."

Spike looked at Dawn as if she'd grown two heads and then laughed. "That depends on your sister. When are we going to do that, love?"

"Right after we take care of some last minute business."


Chapter Twelve – Family
Beta by Spikeslovebite


Buffy and Spike held hands and together they exited the elevator onto the top floor of Wolfram & Hart. Dana and Dawn followed closely behind them. Harmony, of course, noticed the foursome first.

“Oh my God! Buffy!” Harmony ran up and hugged her former nemesis. “And little Dawnie, too. You’ve grown up so much, Dawn.”

“Uh, hello Harmony. How are you?” Buffy asked, completely perplexed by the blonde vampiress’ attitude. She cast a look at Spike, who for some reason looked down right guilty of something. She narrowed her eyes, which Harmony mistook as meant for her.

Harmony started babbling. “I’m a good vampire now, Buffy. Really, ask Spikey. I’m totally with the 100 % no human blood now. Don’t stake me. I’ve really been good…and it wasn’t my fault that vampire spiked my blood. She was so totally jealous of me…”

“Harmony,” Buffy interrupted, with Dawn giggling behind her. Trying to keep a straight face, she said, “I’m very happy to hear that. Look at you…all career girl now. I’m happy for you.”

“Really, Buffy? Gee thanks, and here I thought you’d be mad at me for sleeping with Spike again…but really he was just using me like usual. Getting his body back like that.”

“Excuse me, what?” Buffy and Dawn both glared at Spike, who took that moment to cough.

“Just got my body back, pet. Meant nothing. Besides she almost tried to kill me during it,” Spike muttered.

“Yeah, ‘cause whatever made Blondie Bear become a real boy again made the whole office go into a murderous rage,” Harmony explained, oblivious to the semi-amused glare Buffy was casting Spike.

Dawn coughed, “Blondie Bear?”

Which broke the tension and Buffy began to laugh. Dana took her cue from Buffy and started laughing, too. Harmony sniffed in irritation, “I don’t think it was all that funny. I mean what if I had bitten someone, then Angel would have dusted me, and it wouldn’t have been my fault.”

“She’s not laughing at you, ducks,” Spike told Harmony. “She’s laughing at me. S’alright. Is Peaches in?”

“If you mean Angel, then yeah. Why you call him a fruit, I don’t understand. But yeah, the boss is in his office. Big meeting…everyone is there. Fred, Wesley, Gunn, and this guy from the Watcher’s Council is there too. He looked sort of familiar.”

“Oh, I bet that’s Andrew…you know, Tucker’s brother,” Buffy said.

“Ah, yeah. Wow, you can’t take the geek out of high school,” Harmony said. “Go on in, Spike.”

“Ta, ducks. Shall we, wife?”

“Wait a sec. Wife? Wife? You married the Slayer?! I mean…er… congratulations. Is there a ring?” Harmony asked.

“Show her, love,” Spike said proudly, puffing out his chest.

Buffy happily held up her left hand, which was entwined with Spike’s right. She turned their held hands to show off her gorgeous ring. It was silver, with a marquis-cut ruby centered by two small diamonds on the side. The silver work displayed great artistry as the artisan had fashioned it to appear like a stem from a rose without the thorns.

“Oh, Buffy, that’s gorgeous. It looks old.”

“It was Spike’s mother’s.” Turning to Spike, she added, “Remind me to thank Clem when we get back. You are so sneaky.”

“That I am, pet. Shall we see the Poof now?”

“Yes, let’s get this over with.”

Harmony backed away from the foursome and ran behind her desk. No way was she going to get near that room, but she wished she could see what went down.

********

Spike threw open the door with his usual bravado. Still clutching Buffy’s hand, he proudly walked in and announced, “This little meeting wouldn’t be about little ol’ me, would it?”

As Angel grumbled, “Spike!”

Another voice said, “Spike?”

“Oh, for the love of —”

“Spike?” Andrew flew across the room, ignoring Buffy and everyone else. He hugged Spike tightly, making said object of his affection very uncomfortable. Andrew said tearfully, “It's you. It's really you! My therapist thought I was holding onto false hope, but... I knew you'd come back. You're like... you're like Gandalf the White, resurrected from the pit of the Balrog, more beautiful than ever. Ohh... he's alive, Frodo. He's alive.”

Buffy and Dawn snickered, but Dana was on to Andrew in a flash. “Let him go!”

“Noodle, it’s alright. It’s just Andrew.” Though mortified by Andrew’s little display, because it ruined his big entrance, he felt for the little watcher. He noticed the tweed and the weird hair.

“Become a Watcher, have you now?” Spike asked Andrew.

Andrew seemed to come to his senses and realize the presence of Buffy and Dawn. “Yes. Buffy, Dawn…what are you two doing here? Mr. Giles didn’t tell me…”

“Giles doesn’t know, Andrew,” Buffy said coldly.

Andrew, who recognized that look from his evil nemesis days, swallowed hard and started babbling. “Oh, okay…so um…how are you? Who’s this? Giles wanted me to pick up a new Slayer, but she escaped the mental institution…and who’s this?”

Angel had had enough. He watched the scene before him and noticed how Spike and Buffy were holding hands. He didn’t like it. How did Buffy find out about Spike? He’d thought he’d drilled it into his grand-childe’s head that Buffy didn’t love him. He didn’t think Spike would have contacted her. No, someone else tipped her off. He’d find them and use the nice facilities down below to unleash his anger on the culprit.

“Okay, so everyone seems to know each other. Why are you and Dawn here, Buffy? That girl with you…she looks familiar,” Angel began. Studying the way the girl stood next to Spike, he knew he’s seen her before.

Wesley spoke up, “I believe this is Miss Dana. Am I correct?”

“But she was supposed to be insane?” Angel asked.

“I was. I’m feeling much better now, and you know I am in the room,” Dana announced.

“Good on you, Noodle,” Spike said.

Andrew stammered, “But she…I’ve seen…we’ve seen video.”

Buffy answered, “Yes, I’m sure Angel was all too proud to show off how his new empire has eyes in every mental facility, hospital, and every administrative building in the city. His need for control no longer surprises me.”

“Buffy, I didn’t know about the cameras until tonight. Eve…”

“Don’t care, Angel. You made your bed with the devil, now you can wallow in the filth. Though why am I not surprised that you dragged your friends with you? Do they know how you basically sold your soul and theirs too? Nice little package for the Senior Partners. All because of Connor,” Buffy declared.

Fred and Wesley asked, “Who’s Connor? What do you mean sold our souls?”

Wesley stated over Fred, “You don’t understand, Miss Summers. We are trying to work from the inside and do good using the resources afforded to us by Wolfram & Hart.”

Buffy shook her head sadly. Dawn spoke for her, “I remembered you as being smarter than that, Wesley. Although I must say the new wardrobe looks good on you, you’re delusional if you think you can do good working in the bosom of evil. Everything you do will be corrupted and tainted by the mere fact that it’s Wolfram & Hart. Have you ever asked yourself; ‘how can we afford all this?’” Dawn gestured to the office and the building in general. “Well, you should. It’s all born on the backs of evil deeds, murder, treachery, and all the seven deadly sins. And by agreeing to work here, you yourselves are soaking in evil. You’ll soon learn that every good deed you do will be washed away and made insignificant through the misdeeds of all the other branches. Have you forgotten about them? Why the one in Rome alone…”

“Dawn, that’s enough,” Buffy interrupted. “They’ve been blinded by Angel’s great big ego.”

“Yes, Niblet. The Great Poof thinks himself a Champion for the Powers. Heard from Whistler lately?” Spike threw out there. “Got yourself a new link to the Powers since Cordelia’s been in a coma?”

Angel looked uncomfortable. Lorne, Gunn, Wesley, and Fred all looked to him to respond. When they realized he didn’t have an answer, they started to argue. Spike was enjoying this immensely. Although he did feel a little bit sorry for Fred, she’d been right nice to him.

“Everyone shut up!” Buffy yelled, silencing the room. “Who wants to know Angel’s price for working at Wolfram & Hart? Did anyone know they had a choice in not working here?”

Fred raised her hand. Lorne said, “Sure thing, firecracker.” Gunn looked put out. Buffy thought it might be too late for him. Angel just looked sick.

“Buffy, don’t,” he pleaded.

“Tell them, luv.”

“The entire last year of your memories is false. Do any of you clearly remember how Jasmine came to being? How she was killed? Do any of you recall why Cordy’s in that mystical coma of hers?”

“Buffy, please,” Angel tried again. He appeared ready to rush her to get her to stop talking, when Dana flew forward and pinned him against the wall with a stake over his heart.

“Shut up,” Dana said. “You are nothing but dust to me.”

Startled from Dana’s protective gesture, Buffy paused to breathe. “Go on, Buffy. They need to know,” said Dawn.

“Angel had sex with Darla…”

“We know that Buffy,” Wesley interrupted. With a growl from Spike, Wesley quieted.

“Yes, you remember that. But none of you remember that eight and a half months later, Darla walked into the Hyperion very much pregnant.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m finding this hard to believe,” Wesley sputtered.

Buffy walked slowly up to Wes and touched his temples. A flash of white light swirled in his eyes, and suddenly Wes was crumpled on the floor. “Oh my God.” Wes looked at Angel with anger and confusion. “You tried to smother me!”

“You stole my son!” Angel blurted out. Gasps from Fred and Lorne were heard. Gunn was strangely silent.

Gunn’s actions confirmed to her that whatever Wolfram & Hart had done to him, he had eventually discovered the truth. He was as guilty as Angel. He was too prideful.

Buffy quickly touched Lorne and Fred’s temples and they too soon became weary from the truth. “Gunn, you’ve been given all the legal mumbo jumbo, right? Wouldn’t their contract with Wolfram & Hart be considered questionable, perhaps even unconscionable?”

Gunn looked startled at her knowledge. “Maybe.”

“Yeah, give me the lawyer answer. I’m sure the legal team of W&H would fight them, but do the Senior Partners really want The Slayer to wage war on them? Where’s this Eve?”

“Evie? Oh, Evie?”

“Please do not call me that,” Eve said as she entered the room. “The Senior Partners have directed me to pass on their congratulations at becoming The Slayer, and told me that they would release Fred, Wesley, Lorne, and even Gunn from their contracts, should they desire to leave. Standard confidentially contracts must be signed, of course, upon their departure.”

“No, no new contracts for those that leave. I know all too well how you people work,” Buffy replied.

“Very well. It was worth the try. I’ll make sure that they are ready by the end of the day.” With that, Eve departed.

“Well, luv, that was brilliant. Never seen Eve so accommodating…well, except during that party when she and Angel…”

“Spike!”

“Oh sod off, you wanker. Dana, pet, let the tosser go.”

Dana pushed Angel hard into the wall one last time, before releasing him to fall on the floor. She walked back to Dawn, who hugged her and told her good job.

Fred asked, “What about Angel, Buffy? I mean, Eve didn’t mention him.”

“Angel knew full well what he was signing and why. I can’t help him now, nor do I want to.”

“But Buffy, you love me. We’re soul mates. You said someday…” Angel whined.

“I don’t sound that bad, do I?” asked Dawn quietly to Spike. Spike stifled his laugh, biting his lower lip and shook his head no. “Thank God.”

“Angel, I told you I was cookie dough…that I wasn’t done baking. I wasn’t being entirely truthful with you. I was pretty much done except for the center then. I’m all done now. Entirely baked.” Holding out her ring. “I’m his wife now…forever. I love Spike. You were my first puppy love…and I mistook it for the real thing. But true love doesn’t leave, Angel. True love doesn’t just show up for a little while and then leave when the going gets tough. True love doesn’t leave my sister alone after I died. No, Angel, you never were my true love.”

“He’s cast some spell on you, I just know it. You don’t feel this way,” Angel argued.

“Geesh, get a clue already. You are history. You are beneath her, Angel!” Dawn announced.

Spike turned all giddy at Dawn’s pronouncement. His kissed her cheek. “Ta, Nib.”

“Any time, bro.”

Buffy calmly took in the smiling faces of Dawn, Dana, and Spike. She saw that Andrew had tears in his eyes and was blowing his nose with a hanky. Weirdly, Lorne was doing the same. “This is my family. Make no mistake. Mess with them, and the full wrath of The Slayer will fall upon your heads. My sisters and my husband, the Champion of the Slayers and the Guardians, will be leaving now. If any of you wish to join us, you are welcome to the wedding reception.”

Spike picked Buffy up and kissed her squarely on the mouth. “I had a long path to walk to discover you, Spike. A very long, winding road…but it was worth every step, because it led me to you.”

“Where to, wife?” Spike asked.

“Sanctuary. Clem’s throwing us a thing,” Buffy replied.

The foursome had walked into Angel’s office alone. They left with Andrew, Fred, Wesley and Lorne in tow.

Angel watched them leave as he sat crumpled on the floor.


The End

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