When the door closed, Buffy raised her red eyes to Spike’s blue ones and smiled weakly. "Being popular really sucks, huh?"

A smile quirked at the corners of his lips until it finally broke into a short laugh. "Guess so, pet." Then a snicker. Then a snort. Then a full blown guffaw escaped his lips.

"What’s so funny?" Buffy asked, her brows furrowing.

"Where do I start, luv? Okay, first of all, we were snogging on Angel’s couch in Angel’s apartment when he walked in. God, that must have chafed his willy. Then we were both buck naked in front of everyone you know for about twenty minutes. Not only that, but you threw Peaches like a rag doll (still naked, I might add), and knocked him flat on his ass while he was trying to be all scary. Then the demon girl is the only one bright enough to figure out what was going on, even though there were, count them, two Watchers in the room. And to top it off, Cordelia knew all this would happen and she never told Peaches! It couldn’t get much funnier than this." Spike finished, drawing in a deep breath and wiping the red tears off his face.

Buffy giggled. "When you put it that way, I guess it is funny. Except for the me naked part. I mean, Xander’s eyes nearly bulged out, but that’s Xander; he’s always had a thing for me. I’m not real comfortable with everyone seeing…" she trailed off, her eyes cast downward.

Spike looked at her like she grown another head. "You can’t be saying you’re embarrassed about the way you look naked?" he asked incredulously. At her small nod, he gaped. "Slay-Buffy, you’re beautiful, luv. All golden and fiery, thin yet curvy, you smell like vanilla, and," his voice dropped to a whisper, "I fit you just right." His hands lowered the blanket from her shoulders and roamed her curves lightly.

She grinned slowly. "After all that mess, you still want to have sex?" she asked wryly.

"No," he said, shaking his head emphatically. His eyes pierced hers and he corrected himself. "I want to make love to you."

A breathy gasp escaped from her throat when she understood what he meant, and Buffy gazed up into his deep blue eyes adoringly. "Carry me over to the bed? I mean, since it is technically our wedding night," she teased shyly. As he stood, she wound her arms around his neck and held on until he deposited her onto the bed gently. His body covered hers in a way that left no doubt that he was right about well they fit together, and Spike pecked small kisses along her brow line. She squirmed restlessly beneath his feather light touches, and when she grew so frustrated she could barely breathe, Buffy flipped their positions and straddled his waist, grinning evilly.

"Well, well, Summers. What exactly are you gonna do up there?" Spike drawled in amusement.

The smirk was wiped right off his face as she backhanded him, snapping his head back painfully. Her hazel eyes narrowed to slits, and she crawled up his body and pressed her nose to his, looking deep into the cerulean orbs in front of her. "Shut. Up."

Her lips descended on his, giving him a bruising kiss that left his lips swollen and achy. Then she slid her nails down his chest hard enough to draw blood, leaned over and licked up a trace of it, a devilish grin on her face. His face changed, and he got aroused all at once, and something between a growl and a purr erupted from his chest as her tongue drew patterns on his taut abdomen. Spike had no idea what had come over Buffy, but he had intention of distracting her by asking. Her fingers grasped his stiff penis and began stroking it roughly. She looked up at him and said, "Spiiiiiikey. I know this must be working you up pretty well. So how much do you want me to fuck you?"

His eyes popped open and his jaw dropped. He caught himself quickly, though, and replied, " More than you could ever imagine, baby. Do you know how hard it is to keep my hands off you from up here?"

Buffy smiled in a purely feline way, lifted herself up on her knees and impaled herself hard and fast. Before Spike could register the pleasure from the penetration, she began rocking her hips fiercely, and all he could think of was the Faith-Buffy’s words. ‘I could ride you at a gallop until your knees buckled, make you pop like warm champagne, and in the end, you’d beg me to hurt you a little more.’ He’d known it wasn’t Buffy then because of her untamed sexuality, her cold eyes, and the fact that Faith had no idea Buffy and he were already shagging. This, though, this was unadulterated sexual hedonism, and Buffy was absolutely entrancing when she let down all her guards.

A sharp head butt brought him back into reality and Buffy glared down at him, squeezing him with ‘muscles he’d never dreamed of’ until felt like he was going to pop right then. Sex. Violence. Buffy. Claimed. Not Angel’s, MINE. His thoughts babbled as he tried to fight off his unstoppable orgasm. "Buffy, Buffy… can’t… luv…"

"Already?" she pouted, then grinned wickedly. "Well, if you really can’t hold it." Her eyes turned dark as she leaned over and jerked his head to the side, sinking her teeth into his neck, tearing as best she could with her blunt teeth. She whispered, "You’re MINE, Spike. MINE." Then lapped at the little rivulets flowing from the wound as his eyes nearly crossed and his dick exploded, a burst of cum so heavy and cold that she almost yelped.

When it was over, Buffy felt magick swirl around her, the air growing thick and heavy, and then nothing. She looked down at Spike to make sure she’d done it right, but he was out cold. A giggle escaped her lips, and she lifted herself off him, snuggling up to his side and falling into a deep sleep.

Back at Xander’s apartment, everyone was sitting around the living room, half camped out for the night, listening to Anya explain all she knew about vampire claims. Strangely enough, the one person who could tell them the most had said nothing since they’d left his former apartment.

Angel sat on the balcony, a tall glass of the scotch Giles had bought and a cigarette on the table beside him. He stared out into the sky wordlessly, his brooding consuming his entire being. He sank deeper and deeper into the blackness of his thoughts as every hour went by, and he had long since stopped worrying whether this would allow Angelus to rear his head again. He simply did not care. Nothing mattered after Buffy’s betrayal. Nothing.

One by one people would come out, stare off into space, offer some inane platitude, and then finally saunter off when he ignored them for long enough. And that was fine with Angel. He wasn’t going to sit in there and discuss this… this absolute abomination of what two people in love should have. No fucking way. A low growl emanated form Angel’s throat.

"Oh, put the pointies away. You know that doesn’t scare me anymore, Brood Boy," Cordelia said, flopping down next to him.

He merely looked at her, and sipped his scotch.

"Okay. You’re mad. It’s a given, and I guess, maybe even your right. This probably wasn’t the best way for you to find this out. The timing was absolutely the worst. But you know, there is a bright side to this mess. Besides Buffy being unbelievably happy, I mean."

"What? What could possibly be good about this Cordelia?!" he shouted angrily, smashing the glass on terrace.

"Well, first of all, you didn’t lose her to Xander."

Angel’s face spasmed then broke into a full blown grin as he laughed wryly. "Yeah. There is that," he muttered, chuckling still.

"But there is something you need to know."

Angel looked at her expectantly, inherently knowing that this would be a bombshell.

"I had a vision a while back about this. And I didn’t tell you. I knew you had so much on your plate already with Wolfram and Hart, and I wasn’t real sure what you might do once you found out. But I knew one thing…Buffy was not in danger. Spike would never hurt her. I think the Powers wanted you to know that," she explained quietly.

"Cordelia, I raised Spike. I made him the killer he is, and I will tell you that, as Spike once said, demons do not change. The soul tied my demon down; it didn’t change it. And Spike doesn’t even have that. I know he loved Dru, but he never once tried to claim her. From what I know of claims…it just does not make sense that Spike would ever do this with Buffy. Not even if he did love her, which I also doubt."

Cordelia looked at the haggard vampire and felt her heart constrict. He’d gone through so much this year. "Angel, you are the most knowledgeable person in this apartment when it comes to claims. Anya may know some sketchy details, but you know everything. You need to go in there and explain to them if you want them to believe you about Spike. Because, unfortunately for you, they may not want Buffy with Spike, but it sounds like they’ve began to trust him as a team member. You heard Tara say he patrols with her. And about Willow’s spell. He even lived with Xander for awhile. They need to know what has you so upset."

Angel sighed, knowing that what he told them might work against him since he never attempted to do it with Buffy. It was because I want nothing to do with vampire culture, he told himself. I didn’t want her to be part of it, either. I guess I was wrong to not even mention it, and now I’m regretting it. He nodded curtly at Cordy, and headed into the apartment, much to the surprise of its occupants. Anya wisely gave him the floor, knowing he was about to impart crucial information. He sat down and put his forearms on his knees, looking up at their expectant faces.

"I’m sorry I’ve been…withholding the things I should be sharing. This is very hard for me since I’ve tried for over eighty years to disassociate myself from vampire culture, and this, well, it’s a large part of the culture in a way."

"Angel, we know you love Buffy, and probably Spike in some way… a Sire-like way not-not a ‘ooh, I want him way’ and…" Willow stammered trying to finish without sounding silly.

"S-She m-means that we kn-know this hard for you, and we d-don’t blame you for being upset," Tara said, hugging a bright red Willow to her.

Angel smiled. He had suspected Willow might be repressing something like this ever since he’d met her doppelganger, but this wasn’t the time to discuss her sexuality. "Yes, you’re right. Now let’s see..where to start," he mused.

" Vampires have several rituals that are passed down to every Childe… not minions or fledglings, but Childer, because they are traditional and very much held as part of our past that shouldn’t be forgotten. To Sires, they are like reading Bible stories…you tell them, but you certainly don’t expect your children to go out and emulate them, though some obviously do. The rituals of claiming people, Siring, becoming a Master, thrall, clan initiation, and many others are pretty much confined to Europe anymore due to America being the land of the more modern vamps. However, this is not to say that American vamps don’t know them but they are less inclined to use them because they tend to be younger than the European vampires."

He took a deep breath, and went on. "I don’t know many vampires who have actually claimed people. Basically because it’s like… well, the only human thing that’s equivalent is marriage. The participants claim each other to the death, and would quite readily die for each other. The ritual involves some very strong reciprocal magick, meaning it ties the claimants together magickally as well as mentally. They will share properties, be able to read each other minds and communicate without words, even feel each others’ pain. Which is why vampires very, very rarely do this. We’re selfish creatures and not all of us can love that strongly.

"The Master had claimed Darla; the Gorches claimed one another. And understand, being claimed is even better than being a favorite Childe, because that’s much more common. The ritual of favorite Childer is much safer route, and less revered. I was Darla’s and the Master’s, Spike and Dru were mine, etcetra. Lastly, you should know that even though Dru begged him quite a few times, Spike never claimed her. Angelus never claimed anyone because he’s a selfish prick, though if he had, it would have been Spike if he had been willing. He was always my favorite," he murmured.

"Question?" Wesley asked, interrupting the heavy pause.

They all turned to stare at him and he shrugged. "Yeah Wes?" Angel asked.

"Why did Spike refuse to claim Drusilla? I mean, besides the possiblity of sharing her madness through the bond?"

"I don’t know Wes. It’s not like he didn’t love her. He did, obsessively even. Maybe he knew he never really had her love. Not fully."

Giles cleared his throat. "How common is it for vampires to claim humans?"

"More than rare. I’ve never heard of it happening. A thrall would be a much better, and easier, way of manipulating them, like Drusilla discovered. But Buffy isn’t really all human, and we all know that, right?" Angel replied.

"Is that why it smelled so foul when they…" Willow asked uncomfortably.

"Well, yes. But usually it's not really much muskier than humans… unless…" Angel turned his back on them, brooding again. His thoughts turned to a time way back into his past when a strange rumor had floated through the vampire community. It wasn’t possible, was it? That was only a rumor. Even the Master passed it off as impossible; he killed the minions who repeated it to him for lying. It couldn’t have been true. He cleared his throat and turned around. "Anything else?"

Anya stood. "Okay, if no one else has the stones to ask, I will. Angel, why didn’t you ever claim Buffy? It would have kept this whole mess from ever starting. Technically, I know Spike could not have touched her if she were claimed. You would have known instantly."

Angel’s face flickered for a moment in frustration. He knew she was right. "It’s hard to explain, but I wanted Buffy to have no part of the vampire side of me. I wanted her to have the man…and claiming is inherently vampiric. There is nothing human about it. The blood sharing, the violence of the act, the visceralness of possessing one another just isn’t…. human. And I didn’t want her to have to be a demon hunter in the day, and a demon's possession at night. I also didn’t trust to demon to stop at just a sip to claim," he finished quietly.

The room fell silent as he turned, adding, "But Spike has always had more control than Angelus. It’s his greatest gift: his demon and his man rarely war, even before that chip. He likes humans, earth, this life. Most demons do not. Mine certainly doesn’t."

Xander watched everyone contemplate this and felt the whole mood grow lighter. "Hey, how about we get some DVDs, some booze, and relax? Cause I know if I stay like this any longer, I’ll have to shop for some poetry with Deadboy here."

Cordy snorted, then Wesley almost giggled, and Willow covered her mouth over a snicker. The room seemed to completely change in atmosphere as even Angel barked out a short laugh. Anya smiled at Xander and took his hand, pulling him down on the couch next to her. "I like dating the funny guy."

Angel looked at the snuggling couples wistfully, remembering when he and Buffy had been so close. What had changed so much in a such a short time? He caught Cordelia’s eye and she smiled, scooting over and putting her hand on his knee, patting it lightly. He noted Wes and Giles retreating to their books in the dining room. Sighing deeply, he leaned his head on Cordy’s shoulder and watched the TV, hoping his previous thoughts had completely off track. It just couldn’t be true. And it certainly couldn’t have happened to Buffy…especially with Spike.

Spike’s mind began racing as soon as he pried open eye open. Thoughts that he couldn’t possibly be having. Was he drunk again and hearing things? He tried to clear the cobwebs, and only succeeded in making the voice in his head louder:

What do I do about Angel? I mean, I love him but…oh wow… Spike. And oh God Giles saw me butt naked… They know I shave my…how totally embarrassing! Did Willow and Tara get turned on, I wonder? I mean, I am a girl; they like girls. When did Cordelia get visions? Ice cream would taste great right now. Ooooh, I could drizzle it all over lil Spike and lick it off… giggle… Does Angel still think I’m hot? I wonder if he’s had sex since… if not, he must masturbate a lot. I wonder if Wes or Cordy walk in on it ever? Is he an ‘in the shower’ type? Good God when is Spike going to wake up and give me some vampire luvvins? I can't wait forever!

Spike laughed aloud at the random thoughts. These had to be Buffy’s thoughts. No one else thought about the Great Poofini that way. "In the shower, luv?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

Buffy’s face turned sheet white at his words. "Did I say that out loud?" she asked incredulously.

"You might as well have. I can hear your thoughts. Or at least, unless I block them out. You can do it, too, but I probably have more interesting thoughts than Hairgel’s spanking habits on my mind. More along the ice cream train of thought… now that’s my kinda fantasy," he said, grinning.

"Spike!!! Don’t listen to my.. my personal thoughts! They’re personal.. meaning not for you to hear," she said, glaring at him.

I like it when you command me, pet. It makes me all tingly, he purred. His grin spread wider as Buffy’s eyes grew round when she realized she could indeed hear his thoughts.

Her eyes narrowed to slits, danger lurking in their intensity. His smile widened as she crawled up on top of him, glaring down into his face. Suddenly, she collapsed, groaning loudly. "Oh, God, Spike…I think I need more recovery time. That magick frenzied sex takes a lot of a girl, you know," she giggled.

He laughed again, and pulled her into a fierce hug. "You know Slayer, about what you said to the poof," he started uncertainly. He frowned, deciding whether it would be right to get her hopes up.

"When I tipped him over?" she asked, all innocence.

Maybe I shouldn't say anything. It might just be a legend, he thought. His brow furrowed and he put his arms behind his head as he stared at the ceiling absent-mindedly.

"What might be a legend, Spike?" she demanded, sitting up next to him.

"Bloody hell I forgot the telepathy deal," he sighed. "Guess I might as well give it up now, huh?" She nodded and he explained.

"You said you were probably sterile, which is very perceptive of you, luv, because from what the rumors said, you are. Slayers are biologically sterile from the time they are called.," he began.

"How? And how do you know this? What rumors, Spike?" she asked, a flicker of pain hiding in her eyes. The last possibility of normalcy I could ever have just flew out the window, she thought glumly.

"Now, Slayer, that's not true," Spike cut in, then stopped short as he realized she'd only thought the last part. "Sorry. But if you'd just let me tell the story before you hurl questions at me," he grumbled.

She nodded and he continued. "When I was a newly turned vampling, Angelus and Darla started spending a bit of time with the Master and his court again.."

"Know him. I ground up his bones and staked his vessel. He killed me, too, once. Boy, was he an ugly one," Buffy interrupted.

"Yes, yes I know. The Annoying One was complaining about that before I fried him. Anyways-"

"You fried the half-pint? Cool. Do you know how much easier that made my life?"

"Buffy, do you want to hear the story or not?" he asked in frustration. When she rolled her eyes, he began again. "The Master's Childer were always hot on gossip…twittery as hens, I recall. One helluva rumor came about right at that time, and of course, they knew all. Now, this is a bit sensitive, pet, and I don't want to get you all riled on our wedding night but," he grinned, "you need to hear this."

Buffy curled up next to him, seeking comfort for what she knew was going to be at the very least a startling tale. A rumbling purr formed in his chest as she cuddled and an affectionate smile formed on her lips. We've come so far in being comfortable with each other in a such a short time. It's no wonder I love him; his only care in this world is for me, she thought. "Go on, baby."

"Someone had supposedly captured the Slayer at that time, which was always a cause for celebration. The twist is, however, that the master of that clan had decided not to kill her immediately. He enthralled her, keeping her subservient while they schemed. He had his Childer hunt down the chit's Watcher, and the master turned him before her eyes.

"Interestingly enough, that wasn't the extent of his plan. He watched the Council scramble about trying to locate the missing pair, they finally sent the Watcher, whom he'd made as a Childe, to infiltrate the Council's headquarters and get at their library. He was to come back when he found information on how to stop Slayers from being called, or some kind of defect that would help defeat future Slayers with ease. It was a great plan, though they didn't realize how great until later on," he paused, gearing himself for her reaction to this next section.

"What did they find out, Spike? And why hasn't Giles ever mentioned this to me?" Buffy demanded.

"He doesn’t know about it; the Council never knew. Only some old timers like me n Peaches and most of us didn't believe it. Hell, I don't know if I do now. But I felt I should tell you. It gets worse though, luv."

"Tell me."

"What the vamps found, was an amazing biological and magickal fact that the Council was either hiding or had long forgotten. Slayers have a defect alright, but it isn't completely natural. When they are called, they become mostly sterile through some magick interwoven with the calling process. It gives you your powers, and takes your reproductive capacity. You can't reverse it without reversing all of it, but no one could even begin to try. Some thought the PTB gave the council the spell. Luckily, most Slayers don't live long enough to find out, especially with the tiny amount of social interaction they're allowed."

"What the fuck does 'mostly' mean, Spike?" Buffy asked softly, her eyes moist and watery. Her heart screamed at the unfairness of the lives of the few Chosen girls who were destined to save the world. She understood the reasons for the Council's keeping Slayers from conceiving, but it didn't mean she agreed with it.

"Mostly means this, luv: Slayers can conceive under very specific circumstances. Almost impossible due to their nature and the precise measurements required. Not to mention almost no one knows about this anymore. The girl must be truly love with her mate, at the right hour of her menstrual cycle, the correct moment in the lunar cycle, and… she must mate with a Master vampire at least four times her age," he finished quietly.

Her face scrunched up, trying to take it all in at once. "But how many Slayers take vampire lovers? Especially masters," she queried.

"Almost none, that's the point. I mean, it's a bigger number than you'd expect, but in the great scheme, not many. Apparently, the mating is followed by an ungodly smell that only humans can detect. Guess it's to alert the Watchers that her heat cycle is over," he mused, scratching his chin.

"What happened to that Slayer?" It was a whisper this time.

"Understand, everyone thinks this is a bunch of shite, Slayer. It may not be remotely true. Angelus and Darla had clearly explained that short of turning a small child or Siring, vampires can not have children. Rumors did filter back about this attempt regardless. She had been, well, experimented on is the only nice way to put it, and eventually became pregnant with that master's child. They were dreaming of creating a superpower, a child with the strengths of both Slayer and vamp, but none of the weaknesses of either." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. I don't want her to hear this part, to realize what a monster I could have be if not for her, but I know she'll make me tell.

"And then what? They bought a house and a dog and lived happily ever after?" Buffy retorted sarcastically, tears starting to trickle down her cheeks.

"Well, they killed the Slayer; too much upkeep what with the thrall and food… The child was treated like fine china for a couple of years, until they realized she wasn't especially strong or smart or quick. Nor did she get pointies or lust for blood. She had no powers that they could see. So they drained her on their master's orders. Unfortunately, they discovered shortly after that the child, like a Slayer, who not inherit her powers until she turned 16. They had eaten the best weapon evil would ever know. The minions dusted the master, and burned all their research and books. It was generally known that the Council would never let a missing Slayer stay alive for that long ever again. It was a one time shot."

Buffy sobbed into his shoulder for a few minutes then swiped at her nose with the comforter. A sudden thought popped into her head and she barked a short laugh. "You mean Blade almost existed?"

Spike snorted, and a grin spread across his handsome features. Does this mean she's forgiven me for what I've seen and done? he wondered. "Yeah, I s'pose so pet."

She grew serious again, pulling his face close others and looking into his sparkling eyes. "Why did you tell me that story, Spike?"

"Because you're not sterile, not cold and lifeless. And because-"he faltered. "Because I thought…I thought it would make you feel better to know that there is a chance… I know it's remote and you'd never want to, you know, do that with me, but…it's there. Maybe somehow Angel…," he said through gritted teeth, his eyes boring into the comforter, unable to look her in the eyes any longer.

Buffy's eyes grew wide and watery as she wrapped her brain around what he had said. What he'd meant and not said was that he'd be willing to try if she wanted to; he'd even let her try with Angel if that's what she wanted someday. When did Spike grow a soul? she wondered. She knew enough to keep her mental wards up so Spike wouldn’t get a simulcast of her thoughts as she pondered. A grin formed on her face, slowly taking over her features and she whispered in his ear. "Baby, are you saying you wanna donate some baby batter someday?" she teased.

His eyes flew up to hers, and he stared at her, his gape quickly turning into a smirk. "Only everyday, Slayer. You got a problem with that?" His arms encircled her and pulled her back onto his lap, grinding a little bit.

A fierce kiss was her answer, and they didn't speak again for a long time. Their mouths had much more important things to do.

Continued......