Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own all the characters contained within. I hold no claim on them.
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Set during Buffy versus Dracula and then goes seriously AU after that! Buffy is missing and Spike is the only one who has noticed. Where is Buffy and why is Spike the only one who is worried? Will the peroxide vampire be able to find her before it's too late? What has happened to the Scoobies and will they save Xander before he really becomes Dracula's butt monkey?

Chapter 15

“So you’ll get it sorted, right? Windows and all…Yeah… I know it’s a lot, but you owe me big and now I’m callin’ the marker in, Clem,” Spike whispered into his mobile. He was sitting on the edge of the bath in the hotel room; Buffy was curled up asleep in the king-size bed.

He’d slipped into the large bathroom and started organising a place for them to call home. He had some dosh stashed away, but he had decided to call in an old debt. The saggy skinned demon owed him for bankrolling him at the poker table, and the tidy sum of a hundred Tonkanese kittens added up to a lot.

It was early morning and he was trying to delay heading over to face the firing squad; he wanted his Childe to rest a bit more. But he knew that Buffy wanted to see her Mum and the others now that they were back. Spike had picked a hotel with access to the sewers and they had only a short walk to the basement of the Magic Box.

For now, he left her sleeping - she needed her strength.

Spike also wanted some time to sort out their digs before they left so as to give Buffy something to look forward too. He was worried like hell about the Scoobies reactions towards her change and was desperate to protect her from them. But with the chip in his head, all he could do was attack them verbally and hope that it’d work.

Though the chip wasn’t going to stop him from ripping Harris’s head off.  The blond vampire wondered how much pain he was going to suffer through when he did that. Not that it mattered; Harris was in for a world of pain for his betrayal of Buffy and he couldn’t wait to be judge, jury and executioner.

A squawk from the phone drew his attention back to the conversation.

“Right, so the place’ll be sorted for tomorrow? Good…you can get me on the mobile until then…I don’t want to hear anything about problems – just sort it and then we’re even, mate.” Spike paused and nodded, “yeah, Clem.  I’ll see you tomorrow night. Thanks for this…” With that he snapped the phone shut and left it on the counter.

*********

Giles waited until everyone was seated. Tara, Anya and Joyce watched as he paced back and forth. He had been shocked to the core when he had opened up the shop that morning and had found the message on the answer phone. He had called Joyce immediately and organised for her to meet him along with the others as soon as possible.

Joyce had arrived quickly after dropping Dawn off at school and the two girls had arrived soon after. All of them looked as tired as he did, dark circles around their red-rimmed eyes. They took their seats and gratefully accepted the coffees that Joyce had brought with her.

“Right, umm…” Giles turned to face the three women and sighed. “I think you might want to hear this.” With that he turned and pressed play on the shop phone.

“Watcher, thought I’d give you a heads up.  Slayer and I’ll be in later. Can you get the troops gathered so we don’t have to go over and over the situation. Also, Watcher, anyone who makes the Slayer cry answers to me.” The message ended with a growl and then it was cut off. 

Joyce looked up at Giles, hope filling her eyes. “Buffy’s coming home?”

Giles nodded, “it appears so.”

Tara and Anya glanced at each other.

“Are you going to tell them about…” Tara trailed off and gestured to the empty training room. She couldn’t bring herself to say their names – their absence was already deeply felt even though it had only been twelve hours or so. She had fretted all night about Willow, wondering if she was scared or missing her. The coven had called to say that she had arrived and that they would contact them. Nothing else was said.

“Well, I imagine we’ll have too…I can’t imagine how she’ll react though…” Giles sighed and sat down. He rested his head in his hands. Anya reached over and patted him awkwardly on the shoulder. He looked over and smiled briefly at her, the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

Anya folded her arms and wondered whether or not Xander was still alive. She knew that the Powers could be capricious and was worried sick about him. But on the other hand she knew Buffy had a right to vengeance and she had no idea how she felt about that…

Joyce cleared her throat.  “So, what do you think will happen? How will Buffy behave now she’s, well, you know…I mean, can I hug her or not?”

Giles stared at the resilient woman for a moment, he was constantly being amazed by her adaptability – especially since she had discovered Buffy’s calling. “I think you can hug her, but maybe wait until she approaches you. I can foresee that she’ll be feeling uncomfortable. And please, all of you remember that she most probably hasn’t been around humans since she was, well…”

“Turned?” Anya supplied when he faltered.

“Yes, quite.” Giles nodded.

“She will probably be very confused by our heartbeats and the sound of blood rushing will be an added distraction,” Anya continued realising that Giles was unable too.

Joyce nodded in thanks.  “Thank you, Anya. I guess we need to play it by ear?”

Tara smiled at the older woman and nodded. “It’ll be okay, Mrs Summers. We’re all here for Buffy and Spike.” She added Spike into the mix to gauge the others reactions.

Anya seemed unconcerned; of all of them she had the most demonic exposure and would probably take it in her stride. Mrs Summers appeared to be nervous yet accepting of Spike; Tara suspected that Buffy’s mother had spent more time with the peroxide vampire than she was admitting.

Giles was the wild card in this situation - his Watcher’s training was battling with his fatherly concern for his charge. Tara was worried about his reaction to the new dynamic of Buffy and Spike in the group. She knew that whatever happened was meant to happen, it was fate.

*********

Spike sat on the edge of the bed and stared down at the sleeping vision of perfection that was his Childe. He was still in shock over her announcement that she was staying with him. Thrilled yet stunned. He was looking forward to Riley’s reaction to this, and also everything else. Stupid ponce deserved everything that was coming to him!

He shifted and lay down next to his girl and lay facing her and watched her sleep.  A feeling of peace stole over him and his eyes drifted shut.

*********

An hour later Buffy woke with a small yawn. She stretched out like a cat in the sun; purring contentedly she rolled over onto her sleeping Sire and began to wriggle around. She wanted to snuggle and Spike wasn’t playing. Kneeling up she straddled his waist and scratched his stomach gently. His cock hardened at her touch but he still slept. Sliding back, Buffy slipped his erection into her and took him into her depths as far as he could go. Pushing down she shuffled from side to side until he was completely enveloped in her depths.

She sat still and waited, her eyes glued to Spike’s sleeping face. But he didn’t move a muscle. Buffy huffed and ran her fingers up her body to her breasts and began to circle her puckered nipples with the tips of her fingers. She dropped her head forward and teased Spike with her hair.

Nothing.

Buffy cocked her head, ‘Is he faking?’

A small growl erupted from her and she decided to up the ante. With a rippling wave of her internal muscles she tightened her hold on Spike’s cock and then reached behind her and gave his balls a hard squeeze for good measure.

Spike’s eye flew open and he whimpered at the sensation of his cock being tormented by his girls’ inner muscles. Her slender fingers danced over his balls and then squeezed again. The sensations chased the blue out his eyes with gold and he vamped out with a purry growl…

His hands flew to her now moving hips and he grinned through a mouthful of fangs. “Well isn’t this a nice wake up call, Slayer?”

“Stoopid vamp, I’ve been sitting on you waiting for ages!!!” Buffy’s eyes turned lavender and her sharp fangs dropped in response to Spike’s loving growl.

“All good things come to those who wait,” Spike winked as his hands trailed around to where they were intimately joined. Using his fingers he spread her lips and watched as his cock appeared and disappeared into her depths. His index finger slid down and began to tease her erect clit, the other fingers lingered at her opening and the sensation of his cock sliding in and out of her made him sigh in contentment.

His other hand was busy at her firm breasts, massaging and cupping one. Buffy laid her hand over his and guided his fingers to her pink nipple leaving it there she dropped her hand onto his stomach to steady herself. The sensation of his muscles flexing under her palm made her pant even harder. The other was busy on her other breast pulling and twisting her nipple, which sent shocks of pleasure down to her core.

Spike watched Buffy coming undone as she danced on his cock. His hands were busy on her body, playing her like a fine violin. Unable to stop himself, he flipped her onto her back and hooked her legs over his shoulders.

Buffy grunted at the new position, the angle he held her at was driving his erection deeper into her than ever before. She raked her nails across his chest and drew blood.

Spike growled at her and leant over and ran his fangs over her quivering breasts- which shook with each hard surge of his hips. The blood that seeped out was licked away by his rough tongue.

Buffy snarled at him and she clawed at his shoulders with her sharp nails. She could feel her orgasm coming and her eyes flashed an even darker purple. Turning her head she sank her fangs into his neck and drank deeply of her lover’s blood.

Spike bellowed in rapture and bit down hard around Buffy’s areola, a feral growl erupting from both of them as they shuddered to completion. They coiled around each other with smiles of pure satisfaction and love.

*********

“Luv, we’re going have to go in sometime, my back won’t recover if we don’t. I’m not going to stand here forever!” Spike grumbled up at his Slayer, who was currently ensconced on his back after turning her nose up at the stinky sewers, refusing to walk. Little did he know, Buffy was an old hand at sewer patrol and just wanted to see if he’d give her a piggyback. And to her surprise he had, without any snarky comment.

 She had also needed close contact with her Sire; Buffy needed the reassurance of touching him and being held by him. Her nerves were all over the place at the thought of seeing her Mom and the others.

Spike had admitted to her as they dressed that he had called and left a message. She’d known that he’d done it to make sure she didn’t back out of seeing the Scoobies and Giles. Her Mom he instinctively knew she would want to see, but the others…

Spike patted her thigh and tried to suppress a laugh, he had known she was faking about being a Miss Priss – but who was he to deny her? The added bonus of her firm little bod wrapped around him was ruddy perfect. He knew she was worried and craved contact with her Sire for reassurance, but his lower back was starting ache.

Spike pushed open the door, and ducking down, he entered the basement of the Magic Box. He straightened with a very manly whimper and let Buffy slide off his back.

“It hasn’t changed at all!” she exclaimed as she examined the basement and it’s mystical contents.

Spike quirked a brow at her. “Well no, it’s only been a few days, pet.” He reached over and pulled her into his arms. Buffy buried her face into his hard chest and inhaled his comforting scent. A sense of rightness and peace flooded her being and she purred at him. Spike rested his chin on the crown of her head and savoured the moment. Their impromptu and feral lovemaking earlier had created a stronger bond between them. Something to hold onto whilst they faced the music. “Come on, Childe.  Your mum’s waiting.”

With that he pulled Buffy towards the stairs and out into the front of the shop.

*********

“Buffy!” Joyce exclaimed at the sight of her eldest daughter. She took a hesitant step forward and then her eyes filled with tears when Buffy shrank back into Spike. Spike wrapped his arm around her stomach and whispered something into her ear.

Giles’s eyes narrowed at the intimacy of their bodies. A rage filled him and he stepped around the counter to go and separate them. Only to be stopped by Tara’s hand on his elbow. She shook her head in warning and then stepped in front of Giles to give him a moment to recover.

“Buffy?” Joyce whispered. She took a tentative step forward and held out her arms. “Baby…please…I missed you.”

Anya looked up from the till and a small frown appeared between her brows. “Stop breathing, Buffy.  It’ll help,” she offered as she watched Buffy struggle with her emotions.

“Listen to demon girl, she’s right,” Spike muttered as he watched Joyce starting to weep at what she thought was a rejection from her daughter. His heart broke for his surrogate Mum, but Buffy was his priority for now. He couldn’t go to Joyce and calm her.

Buffy’s senses where filled with the sounds of four racing heartbeats and the scent of their skin, and the gushing of the their blood was overwhelming her control over her demon. Spike’s whispered reassurance had helped and she was battling to control herself. She wasn’t ready to vamp out in from of her friends and family, but her control was slipping. Until Anya’s suggestion- she consciously stopped breathing and it became easier.

“Luv, your Mum.  Go to her.” Spike whispered.

With that Buffy flew into Joyce’s arms and the two women sank to the floor, weeping and holding each other tight.

Giles stood and stared at the huddled forms of the two Summers women and then glanced up at Spike. The two Englishman stood and stared at each other, a pair of duellists waiting for the other to make the first move.

Giles felt a guilty fury flood him, he had forgotten Buffy and yet the plonker facing him hadn’t. He knew that his anger was unfair but he couldn’t help himself.

Spike stood with a faint smile lingering on his lips, he knew exactly what the Watcher was thinking and waited for the misplaced self righteous attack.

Anya broke the tableau, she came over and stood in front of Spike, she reached over and shook his hand. “Well done, you managed to save Buffy when we couldn’t. I think this proves without a shadow of a doubt you’re one of us.” She turned to Giles and fixed him with a stare, “isn’t that right, Rupert?”

Giles’s face flushed red with anger and he opened his mouth to dispute her statement only to be stopped again by Tara’s soft touch. He looked down at the Wiccan and she shook her head. Giving him a lopsided smile, she patted his arm and then went to Spike and gave the pole-axed vamp a massive hug.

“Thank you, Spike.” She looked up at the still frozen vampire and gave him a small grin.

Spike’s arms raised and then hesitantly wrapped around Tara and he gave her a small hug. He looked around the shop trying to spot Willow and then looked back down at Tara’s strained face. The observant vampire noticed her red eyes and the pallor to her and Anya’s complexions. “What’s happened, pidge?”

Buffy pulled back from her Mom and looked over at the others- she frowned and then stood helping her Mother up. Joyce stood next to her daughter and took her hand in a firm hold. “You better sit down sweetie, there’s a lot to tell.” She fixed her eyes on Giles, “maybe some tea?”

Giles nodded, relieved to have something to do. He turned and left the room, without a word to Buffy. Buffy’s lower lip trembled at what she thought was a rejection from her Watcher. Tears filled her eyes and fell onto her cheeks. “Spike, he hates me…” she whispered sadly.

Spike came over and cupped her chin in his hand, with his free hand he wiped off her tears. “Hush luv, none of that. Watcher’s in a bit of a muddle, that’s all…”

Buffy sniffed and gave a watery smile to her Sire while stepping into his comforting embrace. Unaware of the reactions from the three women watching them, Spike held her close and purred softly, trying to soothe her. He could sense through their Sire/Childe bond that his girl was a jumble of mixed emotions.

Tara, Anya and Joyce watched the two of them holding each other. They could see that there was a bond and strong feelings between the two blonds wrapped around each other.

“Oh good lord!” Giles exclaimed as he came through and spotted the two vampires wrapped around each other. “This is too much!”

Joyce turned on Giles and took the tray from his hands with a jerk; handing it to Tara. She turned back and poked Giles in the chest with her index finger. “Don’t, Rupert! I won’t tolerate any derogatory comments directed at my daughter and Spike. He and she are a done deal…you may not like it, but there is nothing you can do about it! He was there for her when we weren’t, and if my daughter chooses to be with Spike then we will all support her.”

Buffy had turned in Spike’s arms and he pulled her back against him while they both watched the showdown. “Go Mom,” she whispered. Spike chuckled and squeezed her tight.

“Giles, I believe you have an apology to make to my daughter, and Spike.” Joyce crossed her arms and waited.

Giles whipped off his glasses and ground out a muttered apology.

“Sit down, everyone.” Tara gestured to the research table. Everyone sat down and Giles managed to suppress a comment about Buffy sitting on Spike’s lap. He did grind his teeth at the casual togetherness the two of them projected unwittingly.

“So where’s Willow?” Buffy asked, deciding to get the conversation rolling. She winced at the sight of Tara’s face filling with pain. “What’s happened? Oh god, is she hurt…dead? It’s my fault.  I wasn’t here to protect her!” Buffy wailed and to the fascination of the mortals her eyes turned lavender and her fangs erupted.

“Wow, you’re pretty!” Anya reached over and ran her fingers over Buffy’s unlined forehead and then lingered on her small fangs for a brief second.

“That she is, demon girl.” Spike smirked at Anya, and at the same time, his eyes conveyed his thanks at the ease in which she touched Buffy. He knew that it would go a long way towards Buffy being comfortable amongst her friends.

“No…no…Buffy, she’s alive, but there have been some unfortunate events.” Giles hastened to console the distressed girl being held by her vampire. “I believe we have a lot to cover, maybe it would be better if I did the talking?”

Joyce reached over and took Buffy’s hand; her calming touch enabled Buffy to lose her game face.

Giles cleared his throat and for the next hour he filled in Buffy and Spike with the sequence of events that had occurred since her kidnapping. Both blonds sat in stunned silence when he concluded the sorry tale with Willow’s emotional meltdown that lead to her attack on Xander.

“So they’re both gone?” Buffy whispered. Her eyes were huge in her face from the shock of finding out her best friend tried to skin Xander alive.

“Willow should return as soon as she has spent time with the coven, learning to control herself. I truly blame myself for her fall. I should have trained her, or at the very least advised her, but sadly I was remiss in helping her.” Giles sighed. He was exhausted; having to recount the sorry events had been painful.

“What about Xan…Xan…you know,” Buffy couldn’t bring herself to mention his name.

“Whistler and Kendra have taken him to the Powers.  Other than that, we have no idea as to his fate.” Giles answered and for the first time since Buffy and Spike had appeared he made eye contact with his Slayer and smiled. “We have to trust that they can help him, as we couldn’t…”

Buffy nodded and then turned to Anya and Tara.  “Can we go and talk in the training room?” The two girls nodded and rose. Buffy turned to Spike, “behave okay?” Spike nodded and let her slip off his lap.

**********

“Alright mate – now the kiddies have gone, lets hear it.” Spike rocked back on his chair and waited for Giles’s attack.

“What you did was remarkable, Spike.” Giles quiet statement shocked Spike to the core. Joyce’s eyes widened in surprise at the complete about face from Rupert.

“Wot?” Spike stuck his finger in his ear and pretended to clean it out.

“You saved her when we couldn’t, for that I thank you.” Giles replied ignoring Spike’s antics. He nodded at Joyce briefly, “as it was pointed out to me so succinctly by Joyce, you appear to be with Buffy and either I try to accept it or I imagine I will lose her.”

Spike nodded.  He was aching for a cigarette but knew Joyce would probably smack him if he lit up in the shop, and probably Giles too. “Right, well…”

“How is she, really?” Giles’s strained whisper caught Spike’s attention, he could sense the desperation and fear emanating from the Watcher. Spike realised that Giles’ cool reception of Buffy wasn’t due to her being turned and having him as a Sire. But because he felt he had let her down and hadn’t rescued her himself. The Watcher was struggling with his sorrow and despair. Combined, his stiff upper lip Britishness and Watcher training lead to him being reserved and cold. Spike knew with a bit of time Giles would come around – well, he hoped the prat would!

“She’s doing okay, them upstairs have helped a bit and she’s adjusting, we’re both adjusting.” He added with some force.

“Indeed, I imagine that this has been as much of a shock for you as it has been for her, and us.” Giles hesitated and glanced at both Joyce and Spike, he was offering an olive branch to the vampire and hoped like hell he’d take it.

Before anything else could be said the door swung open and Dawn skipped into the shop clutching her schoolbooks to her chest.

“Spike!” she shrieked and threw herself into the startled vampire’s arms. “You're back! Where’s Buffy, is she okay?”

Spike stared down at the teen and frowned- she flickered in and out for a moment and then solidified.

“Dawn sweetie, let Spike go and come here.” Joyce pulled the exuberant teen off the very still vampire. She smoothed Dawn’s hair off her face and kissed her on the cheek. “Your sister’s in the back, she’ll be out in a second.”

‘Sister? What the bloody hell is going on here?’ Spike scented Dawn and grew even more confused. She smelled like Joyce and Buffy, but he knew his Childe didn’t have a sister. ‘Is this some more of Drac’s tricks?’  He stood and edged away from the table.

“Spike? What’s the matter?” Giles noticed the blond vampire’s disquiet.

“Nuthin, just going to war…get Buffy.” Spike squinted at Dawn and frowned. ‘It’s not Drac’s mojo, but what the hell?’

“I’ll get her!” Dawn pulled away from Joyce and bounced to the training room, ignoring Spike’s growl. Before she could open the door the front window was smashed in and a massive snake slithered through it.

Spike turned with a snarl and his jaw dropped. “It’s a ruddy big snake, that’s not normal!”

“No honey, but it is something we can kill!” Buffy yelled as she appeared by his side,  tossing him an axe and then she launched herself at the hissing intruder.

Joyce thrust Dawn into Anya’s arms and slammed the training room door shut. She put her back to the door ready to defend her baby girl if she had too. Giles ran towards her and joined to strengthen the barricade. They watched as Buffy and Spike fought the snake demon.

The two vampires fought with a panache and glee that surprised their two observers. Giles noted that Buffy’s strength had increased, as had her speed. He watched mesmerised by her flurry of blows and amazing feats of strength and agility.

“She’s incredible! Has she always fought like this?” Joyce gripped Giles’s arm in excitement and pride coloured her features.

“No, she appears to be stronger.  I’m guessing that her turning has changed her more than we imagined. I agree she’s incredible.” Giles added.

“What the hell is that snake thing?”

“I have no idea, Joyce.   We’ll research it as soon as we can.” A smash distracted him and he winced at the sight of his bookshelves being crushed by Spike as he was flung off the demons back. The blond vampire bounced up with a snarl and launched himself at the snake.

Between the two vampires the snake didn’t stand a chance and within moments it lay dead at their feet.

Spike ran his hands over Buffy checking for injuries, as did she.

He turned to face Giles, “well, what the hell was that?” he jerked his thumb at the rapidly decomposing snake demon as he lead Buffy down the stairs.

“A big snake?” Giles offered with a shrug.

“Welcome home pressie, more like.”  Spike chuckled and winked at Buffy.

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