Part Five

Buffy's eyes bugged at the horrific sight in front of her.

It was scary.

It was huge.

It was daunting.

*Okay, I'm the slayer...I can do this, right?*

With a determined nod of her head and pen in hand, Buffy stepped up to the notice board and signed her name up for her first night class: Art.

 *Paintings fun, right?*

 Buffy scanned the notice boards as she thought about the last few days.  It had been Joyce who had suggested that she sign up for night classes.  Buffy had been complaining that she was getting restless...and even went as far, at one point, as to mention that she missed school.  Night classes seemed the perfect thing - short classes; good timetable; easy access.  Not to mention the fact that she could go straight to patrol afterwards.

Okay, next class....

Buffy scanned the list again, and another course immediately popped out:  Self Defense.

 Fine, so she didn't really need it, but, rule of college thumb - always choose one easy class, right?  Anyway...fighting good.  Even if it meant major control...she needed the practice!

 Number three....

Well, didn't her Bio teacher once say she had the potential to do well...

But then didn't Wills once say that it was like learning a new language - and Buffy and languages are non-mixy!

 *Okay, that'll be a maybe....*

"Come on number thr-"

"Buffy?"

 Buffy almost dropped her pen at the unexpected intrusion.

 "Uh, Riley...hey!"  She smiled, unenthusiastically.

 "I...I tried to call back, but Joyce said you were out.  I think we had a bad line before..."  He looked to her for reassurance.

 "Yeah, mom said you called...I-I've been busy..uh, signing up for, um courses!"  Buffy quickly moved the subject off anything veering towards Spike.

"Yeah, have you chosen anything?"  Riley smiled at her.

"Um, not really...I was thinking art..."  Buffy smiled, relaxing a bit.

"Well, that’s good, you know resuming your human life."  Riley grinned at her, reaching out to tuck a stray tendril of her hair behind her ear.

"Most people would just say 'life'..."  Buffy muttered, feeling anger welling up in her.

"But you are, right...you know..."  He lowered his voice conspiratorially.  "...no more vampire stuff, right..."

Buffy saw red.  "No, Riley.  That’s not right!  Its never gonna be right..."  Buffy practically growled the words.

"Buffy wait, I just meant-"  He hastily tried to back-track.

"No, I get what you meant-"

Riley caught her hands, gazing solemnly into her eyes.  "No, you don't.  I want you to be happy.  Buffy, I don't want to argue.."

"Too late."  Buffy muttered, but felt the fight go out of her at the kindness in his voice.

"I just wanna be friends." 

Buffy looked up into his hopeful eyes and smiled softly back.  "Me too."

---

Buffy waved a last good-bye to Riley, after declining his fourth offer to help her patrol or walk her home.  She'd had a nice thirty minutes with him.  Whilst she didn't feel the same way, she felt like they'd moved on; and hey, maybe she'd end up with a good friend after all.  Maybe this break-up didn't have to end in heartache and end of the world...

Buffy was broken from her reverie as she was crushed to the wall by an angry vampire.  She moved to throw him off, but was stunted by an angry growl that seemed to reverberate around the alleyway.  She felt as if her whole body had been frozen in mid-attack. 

She looked up to meet furious amber eyes, "Spike!  What the hell is your problem?"

"I saw you with him.  Laughing...touching him...I told you last night..."  Spike growled the words out, unable to control his anger...his jealousy...or his human features.

"You left me last night!"  Buffy screeched, wriggling in his grasp.

"So you just hop back onto whoever comes along?" 

"Oh my GOD!  Is that what this is about?"  Buffy growled.  "I was having coffee with a friend...not that it’s of any interest to you, I-"

"You belong to me."  He growled, tightening his fingers around her wrists.

"No.  I.  DON'T!"  Buffy felt her face ripple uncontrollably, as her anger overcame her.

Without a word Spike smashed his lips down on hers, grinding into her.  Buffy growled as she pressed up against his body, reveling in both her reaction to him and his to her.  His hands released her wrists as they began to move down her body.  Buffy's hands shot to his face, holding his mouth against hers as their tongues battled furiously.

Spike's hands gripped the back of her thighs and pulled her up.  Her mouth remained glued to his as her legs wrapped around his waist.  Buffy moaned loudly as he thrust his hips into hers, panting heavily into his mouth as his hands slid under her short skirt; grasping her ass.

The older vampire growled loudly as the slayer bit down gently on his lower lip, sucking the droplets of blood that seeped from it.  Buffy shivered violently as she felt an orgasm rush through her body, and she cried out in to his mouth as it over took her.

"Wah...wha..what was that?"  She breathed, as he continued to grind against her, his lips brushing against her moving ones with every dry thrust.

Spike grinned at her.  "Sire's blood, love.  Another...aphrodisiac..."  He explained between kisses.

Buffy pulled away and smiled coyly at him, "What about childe's blood?"

"Bloody amazing too..." 

"And, slayer-childe's blood?"  She brushed her lips against his, reaching down to squeeze the bulge in the front of his pants.

"Uugghh..." 

Buffy's amber eyes smirked into his at his eloquent response.  "Wanna taste, baby?"

"Fuck, yeah.."  His eyes flashed with lust.

Buffy brushed her lips against his, "'m all yours..."

With a vicious growl that her words endued, Spike sunk his fangs into her exposed neck.  Buffy screamed as she came again, gasping and grinding against him as he continued to suck sensuously at her neck.

"You.  Are. Mine."  He growled at her, when he finally retracted his fangs.  "My slayer.  My childe.  Soul or not: you belong to me."

Buffy whimpered, practically coming again at his words alone.

"Say it."  Spike growled at her.

"Yours."  Buffy panted, moaning as he brushed his lips against hers.  "I'm yours.".

----

"Something has to be done."

"I thought we had your assurance, Mr. Finn, that the slayer was, uh...soulful?"

"Times change.  He's changed her."  Riley muttered to himself, before picking up his original line of thought.  "The threat has to be eliminated. I apologize for the lack of vigilance on my part, but it was unforeseeable.  It has her family and friends fooled."

"Don't worry, Mr. Finn.  A plan has been set into motion.  Sunnydale will be slayer-free within a week, I assure you."

"And Hostile Seventeen?"

"The Initiative does not like to leave loose ends...loose.  Lets leave it at that."

 Riley smiled, saluting correctly then turned and exited the 'new' initiative. 

Chapter Six

Buffy leant over, carefully lighting one of the three vanilla candles at her bedside, then the second.  She felt the bed depress next to her and quickly lit the third before the flame burnt her fingers.  She was about to turn when she felt cool fingers brush back the hair from her shoulder. 

Her eyes rolled back in their sockets, as soft lips pressed gently to her shoulder and along her neck.  Buffy turned her head to meet his lips, tilting her neck to get a better angle.  His mouth moved gently across hers, his tongue massaging hers with none of the violence previously shown, but with all the tenderness in the world.

Buffy pulled back and sighed, leaning her forehead against his.  His nose nudged hers, his lips seeking hers once more, and she acquiesced for a moment before detaching.

"Spike...do you think...maybe, you could just hold me tonight...you know...sleep?"  She asked timidly, wary of his reaction.

Spike smiled gently, tipping her chin up so that his lips could meet hers briefly, "I'd love to, pet."

Buffy smiled back and stood, crossing to the window to shut the curtains.  When she turned a barefoot-Spike had just finished unbuttoning his shirt.  He stood there, his body shadowed by candle-light alone.  Unconsciously, she licked her lips as he walked forward.

He leant down and brushed his lips against hers.  As she stood there, his blue orbs seamed almost mesmerizing, his fingers slowly began untying the lace that held her top together.

"Spike..."  Buffy began, only to be cut off by his lips.

"I know...just thought I'd make us a little more..."  The top slid from her body, revealing her to him, and his unneeded breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. "...comfortable."

"I'm not sure this is conductive to sleep.

As his hands moved to carefully remove her skirt; her own fingers came into play, slipping the shirt down his body.  It caught at his arms and he let go of her long enough for her to slide it from his arms.  Buffy stepped up on her tip-toes and brushed her lips against his.

"But good right?"  Spike grinned boyishly at her, which was a strange sight.  Turning her gently, his hands, slowly massaging away the pains of the day...and the last vestiges of clothing.

"I'm sleepy...."

"C'mon, pet...lets get you tucked in."  Her skirt fell from her body as Spike lifted her up and settled them both under the covers.

For the first time since she'd been turned Buffy felt content as she fell asleep, in her last moments of consciousness she whispered, "Stay the night..."

Spike doubted she heard his reply as he curled his cool body around hers.  His face buried against her neck, Spike snuggled her into his arms as he slipped into the best night’s sleep he'd had in weeks.

---

In her own bed, Joyce sighed happily as she awoke to the sound of.....nothing. 

No tears.

No wails.

Just the occasional soft snore.

With a happy tear in her eye Joyce slipped back into slumber, content that for this night her eldest daughter wasn't in pain.

---***---

The following night....

"Hello Willy!" 

The bartender cringed as Buffy and Spike; his most volatile 'customers' entered his establishment.  He hastily put out two glasses of blood as a good faith gesture...hoping they'd leave him long enough so that they'd know he had some good information for them.

"Slayer!  Spike!  Fancy seeing you here!  Here, have a drink - on the house!"

Buffy eyed the glass of blood, "I see you've heard about my life change."

"Uh, yeah!  Good news travels fast, right.  I mean it is good news..."  He smiled nervously.

Spike growled at the man, as he wrapped an arm around the slayer's waist, his other hand came forward to down the blood-shot in front of him.

"Mmm..." Buffy intoned as fangs dragged across her jugular. "...my sire seems to think so."

Willy reached into his back pocket for a tissue, which he began to wipe over his brow at the sight of bumpies.  "Yeah, great!  So, uh, what can I do ya for?"

"Just came for some supplies..."  Buffy indicated the blood in front of her.  "Is it human?"

"Uh.."  Unsure which answer would get him the most beat up, Willy stayed silent.

Spike provided the answer.  "Yeah, love."

Buffy's hands shot across the counter, grabbing Willy's lapels faster than sight could follow and dragged him across the bar, sending glass and blood everywhere.

"Now Willy, what have I said about stealing from blood banks."  She punched him in the nose, and Spike winced from years of similar abuse.   "I'd hate to think that you-"  She'd cocked her fist back.

"Nah, wait, slayer, you got it all wrong."

"Right, I guess those people just gave their blood away?"  Buffy asked, unbelievingly.

"Well..."  Buffy pulled her fist back again.  "No, I got some information for ya!"

"Why would I want to know?"  Buffy asked, dropping the man into Spike's custody.  She crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"It’s about the Initiative." 

Buffy exchanged a glance with Spike.  "I'm listening."

"Your boy..."  At Spike's growl he changed tack.  "Uh, the army bloke..."

"Riley."

"Yeah, him.  He came in here the other night.  Real upset.  Talking about how his crew's gonna sort Spike out for good and all that."

"Whatever.  Like they could."  Buffy tossed her hair back, but Willy wasn't finished.

"A-also something to do with the chip..." Spike growled but he continued.  "Didn't sound pretty."

"And..."  Buffy knew there was more.

"He mentioned you too....and your new vamped state....seemed like you were in on the deal."

"What?"  Buffy's flippancy turned to ice. 

"Something about 'Loose ends'...."  There was a pause as the slayer took the information in.  "Way I see it; you run, they can't touch you."  Spike let Willy drop as the Slayer walked out.

"Your welcome!"  Willy shouted after them, as he picked himself off the ground and watched the door slam shut.

------

"Buffy?  Love?"  Spike hurried to catch up with Buffy.

She suddenly stopped and turned, causing Spike to nearly bump in to her.  He looked into her eyes, knowing what was coming before she even said it.  She would do anything to protect him...them.  It was in her blood.

"You know he's right."  She began walking again.  "We have to leave."

"We can fight."

"No.  I can fight.  You can't.  Spike, no, don't interrupt.  We have to get out of here...maybe we can even look into getting the chip out."

Spike looked at her sharply.  "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"This isn't our usual fight.  I...I can't kill humans..."  Tears sprung to her eyes as the real root of her fear came out.  "God, Spike, I don't even know if I can trust myself to just defend myself!  What if I..."  She left the sentence trailing.

Spike stopped them from their fast pace, his hands on her shoulders.  "I know, pet.  I wouldn't let anything happen, slayer.  I promise."  He leant forward and brushed his lips against hers.  Buffy sighed, reciprocating gently.

"We need to regroup.  Buy us some time to lead them away from my friends and family.  And get the gang working on...okay, so I'm not really sure..."

"Okay.  Where to first?"  Spike tried to pick up the mood.

"Your car.  Then mom.  She'll have to tell Giles.  Then...LA?"  Buffy shrugged as she looked up at him.

"Lets go."

---

Two days later....

 "Rupert something has to be done.  Surely the council wants to protect their slayer?"  Joyce suggested. 

Buffy and Spike had been gone for two days.  After they'd collected a few bits of Buffy's clothes they'd left.  They'd explained the threat and that they had to leave.  If Joyce had managed to take anything away from the conversation it was that her daughter was scared.

Not of her opponents.

But of herself.

And Joyce felt helpless… Again.

"I have contacted the Council Joyce, and my request is being considered."  Giles explained yet again.  He'd spoken to them as soon as he'd been informed of Buffy's departure.  Whilst the council was archaic they were not suicidal, and Giles knew that Quentin did not approve of these non-council members throwing their own spanner in the works, so to speak.  He had put forward an idea to remove the threat that the initiative posed.

Just how devastating it would be...was uncertain to say the least.

"Considered?  My baby is running scared and they're considering it?!"  Joyce stood up in anger, and the rest of group looked shocked at her out burst.  Except Dawn who was equally enraged.

"Trust me Joyce, I know how you feel. Buffy...is like a daughter to me, and I agree this isn't good enough.  We can only hope that the council makes the right decision..." *Before anything happens to Buffy.*  "...I'm unsure what the 'removal' of the Initiative would entail; especially in relation to Buffy."

"Don't worry, Joyce, Buffy's strong, she can handle it."  Xander put in.

 "A-and she has Spike!"  Dawn added with a hopeful smile.  "That’s good, right?"

 There was silence from the group. 

"Yeah, honey."  Joyce smiled at her youngest.

  Dawn looked around at the rest of the group for support.  None came.

"I don't care what you think.  Spike would never hurt Buffy."

 "I hope so Dawn.  She's very...upset right now."  Giles smiled at her. *I just hope he doesn't manage to turn her vulnerability about her calling against her.*

---------

<<

Lately when I look into your eyes,

 Baby you're my life....

 You're the only one I need in my life.

 Baby, I just don't know how to describe;

 How lovely you make me feel inside....

 >>

"This is nice."  Buffy murmured, rubbing her face into Spikes chest, as he moved her slowly to the music.  They were in a club somewhere in LA.  They'd laid low for two days, but after scouting the area had decided a couple of hours of freedom wouldn't hurt.  For all they knew the Initiative didn't even know they'd gone.

 "Yeah."  Spike agreed.

<<

You give me butterflyz...

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

 You give me butterflyz

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

>>

Buffy smiled softly at the twin purrs she felt reverberating through her body.  Tilting her head up at the same moment that Spike's lips moved down on hers.

<<

This seemed like the life we'd live...

 From the start you told me, I would be your Queen, but

 Never had I imagined such a feelin'

 Joy is what you win.

 I wanna give you everything...

>>

"You know, even though the world is trying to kill us...well, okay that’s normal..."  Spike chuckled but let her finish.  "....I'm really...happy."

Spike smiled down at her, his blue eyes twinkling.  "Me too, pet."

<<

You give me butterflyz...

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

 You give me butterflyz...

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

 >>

Buffy smiled as she continued to sway with Spike to the music.  As they moved she thought back to their journey down to LA.  Fragments of the conversation seemed to stick out most in her mind.

"Thing about vampire's love, we're pretty much the same as humans....fuck what the council says.  We need food, we need companionship..." He'd grinned at her.  "...we need sex...."

 "Eyes on the road, mister!"  She'd thwapped him on the head, trying to ignore the throbbing deep within her that his words had caused.

<<

You and I...

 Our destiny...

 I know that...

 You were made for me...

>>

"Anyway, I'm not sure how the whole sire/childe bond will work; what with you bein' the slayer and all, pet."  Spike wrapped his free arm around Buffy as they turned into an unlit alleyway; his other hand raising a lit cigarette to his lips.

"What's it like normally?"  Buffy asked instead.

"Bloody amazing..."  Spike admitted, taking another drag.

After a moment or two of deliberation Buffy finally asked.  "Do you still feel Dru?" 

Spike looked down at her, "No pet...not for a long time."

"But it was…amazing?"

 Spike smiled at her, leaning down to brush his lips against hers.  "Not like us."  He assured her.

<<

  Ooooh, I can't control it...

 You're driving me...

 Taking over me and I...

 Oooh

 >>

"You know, I kinda expected that there were less demons outside of Sunnydale."  Buffy had commented the night before, as she brushed demon goo off her shoe.

 "Sunnydale is only the home of suicidal demons." 

 "You included?"  Buffy asked, absently staking the vampire trying to sneak up on her.

 "Or love-sick vampires..." Spike grinned at her, leaning down to kiss her.

<<

  You give me butterflyz...

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

 You give me butterflyz

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

>>

Buffy smiled as she broke from her memory at the feel of soft, cool lips on her own, and she tightened her arms around him.

<<

 You give me butterflyz

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky..

 I can't control...I can't control it...

 You give me butterflyz

 Help me flyin' so high in the sky.

 I can't control the butterflyz.

>>

Back in Sunnydale, everyone looked up as the phone suddenly rang.  The loud noise shocking everyone out of their individual thoughts; all revolving around the slayer and her vampire.

Joyce answered the phone then held it out to Giles.  "It’s for you."

"Hello?"

"Mr. Giles.  The council has reached a decision..."

<<

You give me somethin' I just can't deny

 Something thats so sweet.

 I just can't control the way I feel...

 You give me somethin' I just can't deny

 Something thats so sweet.

 I just can't control the way I feel...

>>

Buffy slid her fingers in to his hair, tugging his face down to hers, slowly covering his mouth with hers.  As they kissed she wondered how a song could so accurately portray how she felt...

<<

I've never felt like this...

>>