Taking The Hard Way Out
 Part 13-18


 Written by: JBF_Hair Round Robin ~ Pandora, Deli, Richess, Kira, Raven, Shelby, Barb, Diurnal, Julia, Paula, Valerie, Bree, Guinan, Stacey, Wajoma, Munchkin, Gabriella, Valerie, Vic & others along the way

Summary: Set mid-season 2, the Scoobies and the Scourge of Europe find themselves scrambling to find out the meaning of a mysterious prophecy before time runs out and disaster strikes. A S/B fic, with B/A, W/O, D/S, C/X and D/A undertones.
Distribution: Heat. Desire., Strictly Fic, MirrorofDarkness, and all other author's sites.
Disclaimer: The show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all of it's characters belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, & Fox Prod.
Feedback: I will forward all email to the group, onegoodlaysb@yahoo.com, or you can email each other directly.





PART: 13/?
AUTHOR: Paula
FEEDBACK: iluvnaac@yahoo.com
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Buffy and Spike climbed out of the trapdoor, one at a time, looking around the room they had just entered.

Expecting to see her friends waiting on them, Buffy gasped. "Spike, this is NOT the lobby!"

Spike continued looking around at the oddly decorated room as if he might be able to discern an explanation for their presence there from something on the brightly colored walls. He ignored Buffy completely as he studied their surroundings.

"UGH!" Buffy wailed, throwing her arms up in the air. "WHAT NOW?" she yelled. "What do you want from us, damn it?"

Complete silence was her answer.

Realizing she was freaking out, Spike grabbed her by the arms and shook her. "Get a grip, pet! I need you to focus. . . This is some sort of game, a test of sorts. That's all. You can do this; you're the bloody Slayer."

Buffy heaved a sigh of resignation and nodded her head. "Spike, there's no door. How do we get out of here?"

"We have to roll the dice to proceed, I expect." he said sarcastically.

"What. . . dice?" she asked, confused. She didn't see any dice. What the hell was he talking about?

"Just a joke, pet. The door in the dungeon wasn't visible until the vision came, so maybe we've got another one in store. That's how we're able to find our way out," he explained, looking around as he replied. He let go of her arms and started feeling around the walls, trying to find where another door could be.

"Spike, I don't think this some computer game where we can solve puzzles and move to the next room. The ghosts seem to be in full control here. Maybe we should ask them?"

"Do YOU know how to contact ghosts, luv?" he retorted, still feeling around.

"No, but it's a better idea than feeling walls like you're in a Scooby Doo movie."

He glared at her, stopping his search momentarily. "Since you know everything, then YOU figure it out. Bitch," he muttered, pulling his smokes out to calm his nerves.

"You know, below, you were different. Especially concerning Drusilla. What happened to you? You switch personalities at the drop of a hat, Spike. One minute you're all soft and tender and the next you're trying to prove you're still the Big Bad. I don't buy that you were always bad after what I just saw."

Spike sighed, a deep sadness washing over him as he looked into her eyes. "I was very different when I was alive." He looked away, deciding whether he wanted to share this with her. He'd never even shared some of it with Dru.

"I had a family: a sister whom I loved dearly and a mother who doted on us. I was quite the dandy in my day. My father passed away when I was a lad, and my mother, bless her soul, never remarried. She never wanted another, said none could take my father's place and their love was made in heaven. I, like my mother, had the heart of the poet and the mind of a fool." He smiled wistfully. "I was in love then, and she didn't love me; she thought I was beneath her."

Suddenly, Buffy didn't hate Spike so much anymore. In fact, she was having a hard time not wrapping her arms around him and giving him a huge hug. He looked so forlorn and upset that she couldn't imagine ever telling him he was beneath her. **What kind of person says something like that anyways? Could she be more full of herself?** An intense dislike formed in her mind for the girl who had broken Spike's heart, and she couldn't bring herself to ask why.

After a moment of silence, he rubbed his eyes, and continued. "Dru turned me and I didn't have to be a weak fool ever again. The end." Looking into her eyes, he saw the tears there. Reaching out, he touched her cheek, his thumb catching a tear as it fell. As his head bent toward hers, a door became visible.

"I guess we passed the test then. Shall we proceed?" he asked, taking her hand.

They walked through the door just as Xander was walking by. Xander stopped, looking confused. Staring at their entwined hands, he mumbled, "You're not there; this door is not here. You're not holding her hand, and I'm going now."

Buffy stepped forward. "Xander?"

Xander continued to mumble to himself as he walked away.

Buffy shook her head ruefully. "Xander!"

Xander stopped walking and slowly turned around, looking at Buffy closely. "Buffy? Real Buffy or non-Buffy?"

"Xander, what are you talking about? It's me, Buffy. The ONLY Buffy. Are you feeling okay?"

"Well, you were there, and now you're here. Giles is worried, and obviously, I'm not feeling very well."

"Come on, Xan, you need to lie down," she said, taking his arm as they walked towards their rooms. "Where's Giles?"

Xander looked at her strangely. "Oh Giles, he's in the-- We're supposed to meet in Giles' room in a few minutes to go look for you and Junior."

Buffy nodded and motioned for Spike to follow her. Surprisingly, he did, opening the door to the Watcher's room for her so she could steer Xander in more easily.

Giles stood up as they walked into the room. "Oh, Buffy, there you are! We've been quite worried."

"Sorry, got a little detoured. This place is one big maze, and someone has a yen for me. Doors are there, and then they're not."

"Sit down. I've been thinking, and I believe this place is a puzzle of sorts."

Spike harrumphed. "A kewpie doll for the Watcher. Of course it's a bloody puzzle! Then again, you'd know that if you'd been traipsing around like the Slayer and I have."

Giles gave Spike a curious look, then continued on as if he hadn't spoken. "The puzzle is yours, Buffy, and you must fit the pieces together. If not, we may all be doomed."

Buffy groaned. "Bearer of bad news much? Why is it always me who has to do these impossible tasks in order to save everyone?"

"Well, you are the Slayer," Giles started to say.

"I know. The Chosen One, the one girl throughout the world who has no life." She rolled her eyes. Buffy walked towards the door. "I'm tired. I'll be in my room if the puzzle requires a new piece or something," she grumbled. Turning to face the vampire, she asked, "Coming, Spike?"

He nodded, surprised at her invitation. "Sure, pet." He turned to the other men, a smug smile on his face. "Watcher. Whelp." With that, he followed Buffy to their room, leaving the two remaining men in shocked silence.





PART: 14/?
AUTHOR: DivaDelilah
FEEDBACK: divadelilah@aol.com
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Xander looked at Giles and cleared his throat. "When did Spike become one of Buffy's girlfriends?"

Giles sighed, turning his attention back to the young man. "I don't know, Xander. I'm not sure it's entirely safe, either, but we both know how far my advice on such things goes with Buffy."

The door opened and Drusilla floated in, her long white dress swishing along the stone floor as she whispered to the doll in her arms. "Miss Edith tells me you are in need of guidance, Rupert." Her dark eyes danced as she draped herself on the bed, looking up at the two men.

"Giles, what in the name of all that's holy is she doing in here?" Xander asked incredulously.

"Well, I-she's." he sputtered.

"The moaning ones have asked me to help him. He was looking for my Angel, but his head was full of the Slayer, and that made Rupert burn like the sun inside. Now I get to turn the words for him so he can help us go home. So Daddy will come back," she trailed off, her eyes straying to a point just above their heads. She seemed to be listening to something.

Giles, who had grown quite used to her insane ramblings at this point, turned back to Xander. "She's helping me translate the prophecy papaers. Amazingly, she speaks a multitude of languages fluently, having learned them, despite her insanity, during travels with Spike and Angel."

"Okay, mega creepy that you're macking on the whacko. But all things considered. with Spike painting Buffy's toenails, she has to have someone to ramble to. Where's Angel in all this?"

"I haven't seen him much. Drusilla seems to think he's obsessing over Buffy, but for some reason, he rarely approaches her."

"It's kinda hard for him to spend time with her lately. What with babysitting Drusilla, and Buffy disappearing with Spike to puzzle rooms, neither of them have been very available. Oh!" Xander exclaimed, remembering what he'd wanted to tell the Watcher. "The other night, a ghost came into mine and Cordy's room. It said.it said something about the Slayer and the vampire must join as two. Like Cordy and I were." He realized what he'd just said, and blushed furiously.

Drusilla jumped up and clapped her hands. "Uh-oh! Naughty Slayer isn't getting her toenails painted. Rustle, rustle, smack," she said gleefully. Her eyes darkened, and she screamed. "It's not. Oh, my Angel. The dark wants to blend with the light, and the spirits are singing with joy. Now there are two, and I'm alone in the darkness," she sobbed.

"O-Okay. Well, on that note, I would normally leave," Xander said, watching Giles escort the vampiress back to the bed and hand her Miss Edith. "But I'm wondering if you think I should tell the Buffster and her pet vamp about this."

"No, I don't think you should tell Buffy and Spike just yet," Giles answered distractedly, trying to remember what he'd said when he'd ordered Drusilla a cup of blood tea the other day.

"Um, G-man? Buffy and SPIKE? I think you meant to say Buffy and Brood Boy, right?"

Giles' looked at him in befuddlement, then shook his head. "Of course I did. Did I say Spike? How very strange," he murmured.

Drusilla sat up and looked at the Watcher. "Poor man. The ghosties are whispering to you now, too. I think I'd like a cuppa tea again," she said, talking to the empty air in front if her. And like that, a small tea cup with reddish tinted tea appeared in her hands.

Giles smiled at her almost fondly, and went back to his books. "Is that all, Xander?"

The dark haired teen looked at him uncertainly, then nodded. "Yeah. I guess so. Tell no one; take a hike. Got it," he grumbled, leaving quickly. **Maybe Cordy's right. Maybe I AM imagining things. Still, gotta wonder what the loon meant about Buffy not getting her toes painted and being naughty.** he thought.





PART: 15/?
AUTHOR: Shelby
FEEDBACK: tonka_toy7@hotmail.com
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Buffy threw open the door to her guest room angrily. Spike followed close behind, admiring the way her hips swayed in those tight jeans she was wearing.

**Dru never walked like that. Slayer's even more arousing when she's brassed off.**

Spike's eyes snapped up quickly to see Buffy's face right in front of him, ranting about her duties. Lucky for him, she didn't notice what the blonde vampire was gawking at.

**Whoa, that was a close one mate. Let her catch you looking at her ass and you're in for a broken nose.**

"Chosen one. Blah blah. Meant to fight the forces of evil. I mean broken record much? That's all I hear from him. So what if the puzzle is mine? According to all his moldy old books, the puzzles are always mine! I always lost the pieces when I was little anyhow."

Spike continued to watch her pace back and forth, waving her arms as she rattled on. **This is nearly as amusing as the telly.** Spike dug in his pocket for his smokes and lit up. Out of nowhere a glass ashtray appeared on an end table.

**Accommodating little spooks aren't they?**

Buffy disappeared into the bathroom to change. Spike flopped down on the loveseat, arching his neck for a possible glimpse of a naked Buffy.

"So you're what, tired of this whole slayer gig? Not that I blame you. Who wants to play the goody two shoes all the time?"

Buffy came out of the bathroom wearing a pink tank top and gray sweats. **He understands me. How is that possible? Evil Spike understands good little Buffy. It must be the house.**

"Yeah, I guess that's sort of what I mean. But if I get tired of it, innocent people die. I can't get tired of it." **It's my duty, I know. My duty to kiss Spike. Why does he have to look so sexy sitting there? Why would it be so wrong if we kissed? Bad Buffy bad!**

Spike smirked. "All work and no play, makes for a very bitchy slayer."

"I'm not bitchy." Buffy told him matter of factly.

"Are so."

"Are not! Spike!" Buffy wailed. "You are so not right! I happen to play all the time."

Spike raised a disbelieving eyebrow at her. "When was the last time you went -- oh, let's say -- dancing? Eh, Slayer?"

"Dancing? I uhm -- I went dancing just the other -- Oh shit. You're right. I've been on patrol every night since forever."

**On patrol with quiet, broody Angel. There's a lovely bunch of coconuts for ya.**

"Sure, on patrol with Peaches. I'm sure that's a hoot. C'mon, luv, you need to relax."

Spike rose to saunter towards her. He took Buffy's hands in his own and gave her a warm smile. Buffy smiled back, blushing slightly.

**He's holding my hands. Be calm Buffy. Be calm. My cheeks are on fire! How can I be calm?**

"Let's you and me do a spot of dancing pet. It'll make you feel better, get your mind off all the parlor tricks and spooks." His blue orbs danced merrily into her hazel ones. Spike caught a glimpse of a woman, desperate for some fun.

As though it was always there, a phonograph appeared by the door. Immediately it started pumping out a 19th century waltz.

Spike bowed graciously at his dance partner who was fighting not to burst into giggles. "Oh, Spike, I can't do these dances," she protested.

Spike shook his head no. "It's easy, luv. Just follow my lead." Spike whirled Buffy around and around as the music played on. Much to her surprise, her feet were her own, and Spike was a marvelous dancer.

"You're actually good at this." **Who would have thought he could dance?**

"Yea, but then I'm good at everything I do." He grinned. **She's not so bad herself.**

Buffy laughed as Spike threw her into a dip when the song ended. **OMG, he's going to drop me.**

Spike's eyes were sparkling with laughter. "I'm not going to drop you, pet." Spike yanked her upright; Buffy smacked him in the arm.

"Quit that!" Buffy demanded.

"Bloody hell! I didn't do anything to you!"

"Yes you did! You keep reading my thoughts."

Spike let out a sigh. "I did not. Drucilla is the one that does that. It was the look in your eye that told me what you were thinking."

"Oh. Uh, sorry?" Buffy's lower lip pouted sexily at Spike.

"See how you are, Slayer? I try to help you, and you hit me." Spike ran a hand through his blonde locks, tousling them slightly.

Buffy reached out for Spike's hands. "I'm sorry. I really was having fun. You want to try again?"

Spike was hesitant to accept her invitation. **It's that lip. I can't resist that lip of hers. Drucilla was right. I'm going soft.** Spike let out a sigh and stuck out his hand. "Fine, I'll dance with you, Slayer. Just lay off the arm, eh?"

As Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata begins to play, their simple guestroom transformed into an elegant ballroom. Polished hardwood floors met deep mahogany wainscotting, which gave way to cream colored walls. The chandelier hung beautifully in the center of the room, the crystal shining tiny rainbows all over the room.

No words were spoken as they took each other hand in hand. It was like a dream beyond imagination. They danced together flawlessly: each step precise, each twist and turn bringing them closer to each other. Moving in tune to the melody, their bodies melded to each other slowly, sensually.

Buffy leaned her head on Spike's chest.

**He's not so bad. Evil vampire and all. Angel -- think about Angel.** Nothing she could do would drown out the images they'd seen in the dungeon. Just the way Angelus held that riding crop in his hand gave her the chills. **Angel's different now. Quiet and brooding. Spike is fun, sexy, and loving. Whoa -- sexy?**

**What am I doing? I can't tell her how much I fancy her. What about Drusilla? C'mon now, Spike, get a grip. You can't like the Slayer.**

Spike enclosed Buffy in his arms, holding her tightly to his body as their feet glided around the dance floor. Time was irrelevant for what seemed like hours as they danced, the music playing over and over.

"Don't you do much dancing like this?"

"No, not like this. I don't have anyone to dance with." Spike smiled. **Angel, mate, you've been mistreating your lady.**

"Doesn't Angel take you dancing?" he asked.

"No, we never really do anything fun. He just stares at me with those sad eyes. It's kind of creepy sometimes." **I can't believe I just told him that! But I think I can tell him anything. He's listening to me, like he cares.**

Spike chuckled. "I'm sure he's just mezmerized by those pretty little eyes of yours. Makes a man speechless."

"Spike, that's so not like you. What's --"

"It's the house. Making me all gentleman-like," he told her quickly.

**What if she never sees me as anything but a killer?**

**I'm not ever going to stop dancing with him.**

Spike inhaled the scent of her hair; a satisfied smile crept upon his lips. **I've got to tell her I like her.**

The music stated to fade; the lovely ballroom faded with it until Buffy and Spike were left standing once again in their guestroom. Spike gazed down at her hazel eyes.

"Music's over pet. We should stop dancing right?" Spike's arms stayed firmly in place, his fingers locked together around her waist.

"Well, we don't have to. Unless you want to. Buffy's arms clung to the vampire, her fingers laced in the belt loops of his jeans." **Please say yes, please say yes.**

"Oh sure, I mean if you want to keep dancing, I'll --" Spike's eyes suddenly were wide with shock.

**Lips! Lips of Buffy.**






PART: 16/?
AUTHOR: Wajoma
FEEDBACK: ctibbie@yahoo.co.uk
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The good spirits smiled benevolently down at them both, locked in each others embrace. Things were moving along as planned, and everything would soon be as it should. A whoosh of light and flame suddenly pierced through the spirits, though, and the darkness that accompanied it enveloped the good spirits and dragged them down towards the caverns and basements that wound underneath the hotel. The yowls of pain and the sounds of struggle shook the hotel to its foundations. It was as though time had stopped to pay its respects.

The chill in the air that had been nagging at the guests since their arrival intensified. Giles drew his coat tightly around himself. He hated this feeling of being so out of his depth. He was a watcher god-damn it, and just sitting around waiting for the next clue to land in his lap was driving him slowly insane.

**Ahhh insane,** he thought to himself, **like the vampiress Drusilla.** She fascinated the more curious side of his nature. She was such a contridiction, so dark and evil, yet still retaining her childlike innocence. He coughed unconciously and adjusted himself slightly in his seat. How he would love to study her more closely, purely for the sake of research, of course. It was incredible to him that she could be so seperate from reality but still managed to have learned so many things, like the demon languages. That had been totally unexpected, and he wondered what other secrets she held. Perhaps he shouldn't be so quick to dismiss her ramblings. After all, those ramblings could well turn out to be of importance to the Scoobies' wellbeing.

He needed to do something now, though, something distracting. It was time to head back to the library; perhaps he could glean some more information about what they had to do.

Giles stood, gathering the tools of his trade -- the parchment with the prophecy, a notepad, pencil and eraser -- and headed out of his room in search of knowledge. As he exited the room, he strode straight into a waiting Drucilla.

"Ah, Drusilla, I was hoping we'd have a chance to speak again. The deciphering of the parchment last night was very enlighening, and I wanted to thank you for your assistance. I did, however, want to ask you what you thought, in particular about the archaic phrasing. I found it a little perplexing, to say the least."

Drusilla hummed quitely to herself, and Giles couldn't place the tune. It was something old, and strangely hypnotic. He unconciously began to hum along with the vampiress. She smiled secretly and took his hand, dancing around him in circles and rubbing gently against him.

Giles snapped back into himself as her thigh made contact with his. He pulled his hand quickly away from hers and moved away from her. "Perhaps later we can all meet in the parlor and discuss this further, but right now, I have to go."

Dru pouted in her very best little girl face, and whined at him, "Dance. We all have to take our turn. All they ever do is dance." Then her whining lifted into a higher pitch as she became agitated. "Ooohh . . . Up, down, over and over goes my pretty pretty. Why do I have to wait in the line? Where's my ticket?" Drusilla keened into Giles ear, "Over and over, round and round, the birdies won't land for the winter." Her hands traced the air around Giles' face, fluttering without landing. "They'd rather die than be in the warmth."

"Yes well, its hardly warm in here is it? This infernal chill will be the death of me." Giles tried to move past her. "If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere I need to be right now. Perhaps you should go and find 'Daddy'. I'm sure you're being missed."

Drusilla started to wail at the mention of Angel. "He's dying and he can't be saved. What's the time? There isn't time." She paused and looked at Giles with a terrifying clarity. "Why do they call you Watcher? You don't wear a watch. Do you just watch as we all drown and die til the darkness has been consumed?"

Drusilla sounding lucid was infinately more frightening than her insane ramblings. Giles found himself backing away from her, but she just moved closer to him, shadowing him down the hallway. Her eyes were wild, and even though she didn't have a need for breath, she was panting anyway. Like a lioness after a kill. The golden glitter in her pupils flashed intermittently, looking for all the world like twinkling starlight.

Giles felt the panic rising in his chest, even as his groin was rising with arousal. He groped behind him, searching blindly for an open door, a means of escape. Hardly dignified Watcher-like behaviour, but he knew if he stayed things were bound to get even less watcherly.

"Thank god," he muttered to himself, as the handle gave way and the door behind him opened. He turned swiftly and threw himself into the room, slamming the door behind himself.

As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he began to make out shapes. He could see chains and a large wooden chair, similar to a thone but nowhere near as elegant. The chair had cuffs on the arms and legs, obviously meant for restraining the wrists and ankles of its guest. There was a table to one side. Laid out with surgical precision was an impressive selection of whips, some knives, and two paddles -- one made of wood, and another that was leather on one side, and velvet on the other. Giles couldn't stop himself from picking the latter up and testing its weight. It felt good in his hand, like it had been made for him. He quickly put it down, afraid to get too comfortable with it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a movement in the shadows. He jumped slightly, startled, his movement taking him unconciously toward the chair. She was on him in an instant, forcing him backwards even further til the chair hit the back of his legs, knocking him into the seat. She snapped the manacles shut before he could even think to struggle.

"How did you get in here Drusilla? I locked you outside."

"The whisperers wanted me to be with you. ALL the darkness and light will be as one. Watch me, be in me, timekeeper; be in me." Her voice took on a hypnotic quality as she took his mind on a journey with her own. Their eyes locked as she swayed to and fro, beckoning his mind and body to join with her.

"Tic-tok . . . tic-tok . . . tic-tok." Her head flicked from side to side in time with her words. Then she stopped. "It's time."

She glided towards him, slowly stripping her dress from her shoulders. Giles hardened as he watched her striptease. Her hips swayed and shimmied as the dress fell the rest of the way to the floor, leaving her naked before him. She danced and swayed, turning so that he could see her from all angles. He strained against the chair, desperate to break free, not sure if he wanted to run away from her seductions or towards them.

She leaned into him, so close that he could smell her, almost taste her skin. She licked slowly up his jawline towards his ear. The tension was angonising. As she laved her tongue against his skin, her hands slowly, but deliberately unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it open and off his shoulders. She whispered against his neck, "Awwww, poor birdy, Miss Edith says I need to rip you, tear you open, and let all the pain fly away. Do you want to hurt?"

"I, I . . . No, I mean, I don't know, please no . . ."

She reached around his neck, so that her breasts rubbed lightly against his cheeks. He tried to pull back and away, not wanting to give in to the temptations laid before him. As he pulled back, Drusilla took hold of a leather collar that was attached to the back of the chair. Her nimble fingers made quick work of locking the buckle into place, and Giles found that with his head secured, his entire body was now immovable.

"Pain loves company my birdy. Are you where it's warm yet?" Drusilla sliced along his collarbone with her fingernail as she asked, smiling with glee as his blood dripped down his chest and snaked towards his nipple. "Go south for the winter little robin, down down down." Then she dipped her head and lapped at the trail of blood on his chest, circling his nipple and painting little patterns with the red stain. Giles' hips bucked involuntarily. Dru took pity on his condition and, reaching down, flicked open his belt and pants, easing him loose.

Then she left him.

He couldn't turn and see her, but he could hear her at the table. Trying to imagine what she was doing was making him harder and harder. The anticipation was agonising. He strained his ears, desperate for any clue as to what lay ahead for him. Then, just as the tension was becoming unbearable, it happened: the sting as the riding crop landed over his collarbone, right where she had cut him. He screamed out, as much from suprise as from actual pain.

She began to giggle. "That's what my birdy wanted, wasn't it?" The crop fell again, across his other shoulder. He wished that he could see her. He wanted to watch her body as she put all her strength into the swing. He wanted to appreciate her power.

"Your birdy wants to see you." His voice was a harsh whisper.

"Tut tut. Birdies can't talk. Not little robins with red breasts. You can only whistle. Call out to your mate."

Giles pursed his lips and made a low whistle.

Drusilla grinned widely. "Birdy likes to play," she singsonged, clapping her hands and dancing around into sight. "What a good good birdy. Miss Edith says we can let you out of your cage a little now." She reached forward and released one wrist. Giles reached out and grabbed her as soon as he felt the small amount of freedom. He pulled her in, and latched onto her breast with his mouth, rolling the nipple between his teeth and flicking it with his tongue. She moaned with pleasure as he devoured her. "You're getting warmer," she whispered. "Will my birdy burn for me?"

A low rumbling in his throat was his only reply.

He spun her around so that her back was facing him . . . and pulled her closer, so that her buttocks were pressed against him. He thrust his hips up, and she pressed back even further in reply to his unspoken request. His fingers tweaked her nipple as the weight of her breast rested in the palm of his hand. Not being able to take control of situation was driving him to the brink. He needed to feel her under him, and surrounding him, soon, before he came in his own lap.

The heat radiated from him, as he fought for control of himself. Drusilla's head was laying back on his bloodied collarbone, and he was thrusting his tongue into her ear as he dry humped the cleft of her ass. He dropped his hand from her breast, and down to her clit. He teased her, just brushing gently against her.

She was torn. If she moved forward to get more contact with his hand, she would lose the delicious feel of his cock against her, but she needed more from his fingers. She growled and vamped out. He wasn't supposed to be the one controlling her. She leapt up and turned around, stepping through the arms of the chair so that her feet were back on the ground, but she was directly above him. She sunk onto his erection with a ferocity befitting her demonic existance. He gasped as he realised that she had vamped. It was all he could do not to come. She was so feral, completely wild and untamed. And he was inside her. He was part of that wildness. He thrust into her, and she pushed back against him as hard as she could. Her legs wrapped around the back of the chair, giving her more leverage. Her strength was terrifying, and he prayed that he came before she snapped him in two.

His free hand clung to the cheek of her arse, and one finger probed against her, seeking entrance. His mouth latched onto her neck, suckling and biting her as she came in waves around him. The chill of her fluids shocked him into his own orgasm. They sunk against each other, both of them damp with his sweat.

After a few moments, Drusilla climbed off and started to clean the both of them with her tongue, lapping up the salty sweat, still with her vampire visage on. She lifted one, then the other of her breasts and licked them for his viewing pleasure, never breaking eye contact. When she had done as much of herself as she could reach, she started on him, like a cat cleaning its kitten. Occasionally, she would slice him slighty with one of her fangs and then quickly lick the wound shut again. By the time she was done, he was covered in tiny cuts in a zig-zag pattern over his chest and thighs. He was hard again from her ministrations, and she gave him a leisurely blow job before gathering her dress up like everything that had just happened had been the most normal thing in the world, and started towards the door.

Giles cleared his throat, then asked softly, "Are you going to untie me, Drusilla?"

"No need to, birdy. The others will take you where you are needed now."

"What others?" Giles struggled against his binding. "NO! You can't leave me here like this, DRUSILLA! What others?" He tried to manipulate the bindings on his right hand using only his free left one, but the buckles were on the outer side and he couldn't get the angle right. He watched as she stepped back into the hall, her clothing bundled up under her arm, naked as the day she was born.

There were voices outside. It was Xander and Cordelia. He looked down. His shirt and pants were unbuttoned and his flaccid cock bare for anyone to see. He tried to one-handedly stuff himself into his pants as the voices got closer and closer. He could hear them clearly now, talking to Drusilla. She was telling them where he was. The blush of shame left him feeling like he truly was Dru's burning birdie.

Xander walked into the room. "Hey, watcherman, you ready to go then?"

Cordelia followed. "You know, Xander, this hotel really isn't good enough. How can I work my tan without a pool? We really need to find a way out of Bates Central."

They both stopped and looked at Giles, as he flustered and blushed an even darker shade of crimson.

"Well, G-man, you're not going to just sit there all day are you? Places to go, ghosts to bust, ya know."

Giles looked down at himself, only to realise that he was sitting in the parlor chair in his suite, fully clothed and as dignified looking as ever.

"Did you two just see Drusilla in the hall?" he asked tentitively.

"Yeah, Giles, she said something about us needing to go to the library with you, and then some rambling about letting the birdies all fly free. She is one seriously sick puppy."

"And . . . ehem . . . she was clothed?"

The two teenagers looked at him like he'd just grown two heads. "Of couse she was. Are you feeling all right?" Cordy asked.

"Perfectly," he answered quickly. "Right, we best be off then, and get the others."





PART: 17/?
AUTHOR: Valerie Lockett
FEEDBACK: ValerieLockett@yahoo.com
______________________________________________________________________________


**Arms of Spike. Lips of Spike. What could possibly be better than this? This is Heaven.** Buffy had closed her eyes just as her lips connected with his. The next thing she knew, she was being torn from her own personal heaven, and the temperature dropped.

Buffy opened her eyes and looked around. **Where am I? Wait, I know this room; there is the fireplace that Xander chipped.**

"Spike, are you here?" To this there was no answer except the echo of her own voice.

**This is weird.** Before, when she had wanted to be away from Spike, the house kept pushing them together. Now when being in his arms was exactly what she wanted . . . no, NEEDED . . . the house had seperated them. **No way is this house going to get the best of me.**

Just as she was getting ready to leave the room, the door opened and in walked the last person she expected to see. He didn't seem to notice her and he sat down looking at the fireplace. As he sat down the fireplace lit up, and Buffy walked over calling his name. "Angel?"

He didn't even acknowledge her presence, so she called his name again. No answer. **Great, another trick of the house.** Just as she reached out to touch him, she noticed that they were no longer looking into the fireplace.

She looked around, seeing what looked like the inside of a church. It was set up for a wedding! People were seated in the pews and there was a group of men standing at the front. She could make out a minister, but the other two men were blurred for some reason. Then she looked toward the back of the church. Giles and Xander were standing next to a bride.

**The dress is beautiful; it looks like my dream wedding dress.**

Suddenly, instead of being an observer she was part of the scene.

"Buffy, I can't belive you are actually marrying a blood-sucking fiend," Xander said.

"I wish that I didn't believe it," Giles muttered.

Buffy felt words coming out of her mouth, though she didn't know what was being said until she actually heard it. "Guys, I know you aren't happy with my choice, and I know that you don't trust him. Yes, he is a vampire, but he is my vampire. I love him and trust him with my life, heart, and soul. Xander, as one of the groomsmen, you had better get up front. Oz is over there; grab him on your way."

After Xander and Oz reached the front of the church and took their places, the processional music started and the bridesmaids started up the aisle. First was Willow, and as she glided forward, her eyes caught Oz's. Buffy caught a glimpse of a gold band on Willow's left ring finger. **Oh, this is a very nice vision; Oz and Willow are engaged.**

Next came Cordelia, looking so very regal and polished. She was looking at Xander with a very determined look in her eyes. When Buffy looked at him, she saw the traditional "deer in the headlights" look that a lot of men get before they either commit or run.

**Ok this is it.**

"Buffy, wait, don't forget you have one more bridesmaid," Giles said.

Just as Buffy was about to ask who, she saw her. **Why would I ever ask Dru to be one of my bridesmaids? I don't even like her. Oh, well I guess since she is related to the groom in a way, it would have been only proper to include one of my bridesmaids from his family.**

As Dru walked by, Buffy heard her make a whispered comment to Giles. "My lovely timekeeper. Don't be a white rabbit and miss our dancing under the stars. Such pretty ribbons of colors await us." **Giles and Dru? No way. Couldn't happen.**

Finally, it was time to walk up the aisle to her beloved. As Buffy walked with Giles, she felt a tremendous wave of peace rush over her. As she got closer, she realized that she still couldn't make out who the two men were. A feeling of anxiety started in the pit of her stomach. **Who am I marrying, and why can't I see him?**

The minister started reciting his lines, and whenever it was time for the groom's reply, both men answered. **This is weird. I know that I am marrying a vampire and that I love him, but which vampire is he?**

"I now pronounce you man and wife. Sir, you may kiss your bride," the minister stated.

**Now I will find out who I married.** Just as both men reached down to kiss her, she was once again just an observer of the scene. As she stood behind the chair she realized that Angel was talking.

"Mr. and Mrs. Angel . . . I love you."

**NO. No way in hell.** It wasn't right. After what she had seen here and what she felt for Spike, there was no way that she could ever see herself marrying Angel. **Obviously, he saw the same thing I did, but whereas I saw two grooms, he only saw himself. Maybe that just means this isn't set in stone and I can change what I saw. Oh, please, don't let it be Angel.**

With that last thought she found herself zapped into her room again. Even though it felt like hours had passed, she still felt Spike's lips and hands on her. **This is where I belong. In Spike's arms.**


**********


Angel sat in front of the fireplace re-living the scene that he'd just watched. **That was really weird. I knew that I was getting married. The only thing is, who did I marry? It is like her name was on the tip of my tongue the whole time, but it never came out. Maybe if I sit here a while longer more of the details will become clear to me.**





PART: 18/?
AUTHOR: Gabriella Eve
FEEDBACK: gabri_ella_eve@hotmail.com
______________________________________________________________________________


**This is where I belong: in Spike's arms,** Buffy thought as she snuggled closer, catching Spike's mouth in a deep, soft kiss. She pulled back slightly, thinking, **But, what about Ang--**

All thoughts of her brooding boyfriend were chased from her head as Spike brought a cool palm up to her fevered chest.

"Oh!" she exclaimed out loud as his deft fingers found her nipple through her shirt.

He stopped, concerned. "Pet?" There was more then one question in that simple word.

Buffy leaned into his caress and moaned slightly as her deft fingers traveled up his shirt and began toying with the top button.

Reassured, he bent, claiming her mouth with his as he began to work her nipple again.

"Buffy? Buffy, are you in there?" The voice from the hall sounded worried and more than a little stressed out. Buffy and Spike broke apart with a mutual groan of annoyance.

**This better be damn good,** she thought with a mental growl. **Can't these people spend five minutes without me holding their hands?** She caught herself before she answered, coaching all annoyance out of her voice.

"Yeah Giles, what's up?" she called as she walked towards the door. She paused before she opened it to whisper, "Later," softly to Spike, her eyes clouded with promise and something else. With a small sigh, she turned back to the door and opened it to find one very disturbed watcher with a mystified Xander and Cordelia in tow.

"You know, G-man, I still don't understand why we had to come get Buffy. I mean, all that happened was some typical Dru-like nonsense. I mean -- birds? Escaping and flying free? You? Not exactly emergency prophecy material, there."

Buffy turned quizzical eyes to Giles. "Birds? Dru? Why were you with Dru, anyway?" Her confusion was evident.

"Um, yes, well, you see, it was . . . That is, I was . . . The Prophecy! It was the prophecy; I needed some help translating it, and Dru offered to help." He blushed as four pairs of eyes watched his stammering with bemused amusement.

Buffy laid a calming hand on his arm. "What did you find, Giles? About the prophecy?"

Giles began to flush again, and when he opened his mouth, nothing came out but stuttering.

The looks of mirth faded to concern as the spluttering worsened.

"Giles? How bad is it? I'm not going to die again, am I?" Buffy's tone was teasing but her eyes held real concern.

"Well, actually, you see, the fact is, we didn't actually get the Prophecy deciphered," he finally managed to spit out, looking rather miserable about having to admit this fact.

"So, what were you and Dru doing all that time?" Xander interjected, perplexed. "I thought you said that she was helping you with a problem?"

Giles blushed miserably and started to falter out a reason when Angel suddenly came flying into the room.

"Where the hell did you two go?" he exploded. "I leave for two minutes, and you disappear? I thought you needed my help URGENTLY with this prophecy. And where did you put Dru?"

While Giles attempted to hem and haw out an explanation to a very angry Angel, Buffy leaned against the wall and observed the people in the room. Xander and Cordelia had long since lost any interest in the whole proceedings; they were huddled together in the corner, oblivious to the rest of the people. In fact, they were downright indecent. With an effort, Buffy jerked her attention away from the two groping teens and attempted to focus.

Her eyes came to rest on Giles. He was completely incoherent. **What the hell HAPPENED to him?** she mused. **It's almost as if he's HIDING something.** She continued to stare at him, trying to extract his secret through the air.

Angel's angry gesticulation drew her attention. Now THERE was an interesting predicament. He was the object of her affection, the love of her life, the man of her dreams. Buffy's nose wrinkled involuntarily as Angel spat out another insult about inconsiderate British men. THIS was what she had chosen? This, this . . . poofter?

She felt herself drawn to the other occupant of the room, and her knees went weak with the memory of their earlier kisses. She closed her eyes briefly and leaned against the wall. When she opened them, she was pinned in place by Spike's blue gaze. She tried to look anywhere but at him as his gaze burned into the very depths of her soul.

Angel shook his head, finally satisfied by whatever explanation Giles had managed to stutter out. Casually, he walked over to Buffy, who seemed to be staring into space, lost in her own thoughts. He wrapped his arms around her. "How are you holding up?" he breathed into her ear. "Last night wasn't too terrible, was it?"

He sounded genuinely concerned, but as he touched her, Buffy tensed. **This isn't right,** she thought frantically to herself. **I don't want his cold, dead hands touching me; I want --**

"Oi, mate, what do you think you're doing?" Spike sounded irritated, possibly even jealous. Buffy registered his voice with a thrill.

Angel turned around, annoyed. "I'm speaking with my GIRLFRIEND. What's it to you, MATE?" He put a heavy sarcasm on the last word.

Spike shot Buffy a hurt look; she glanced away, conflicted.

"It's nothing," Spike offered brusquely. "It's just that SOME of us are trying to keep our breakfast down over here, and we don't need to see you and the missus playing kissy-face in the corner." He spun on his heel and stalked to the other side of the room.

Buffy pushed Angel away. At his injured statement, she merely shrugged and said, "Well, he's right; there are other people here." Angel didn't look appeased. "Look, we'll talk later," Buffy promised over her shoulder as she walked over to talk to Xander and Cordy.


* * *


"MmmmmMmmmooo Oz, comeonmmm. MmmOz, Nomm I mmmean it." Willow broke away from her persistent boyfriend with a laugh. "Come on, we've got to get back to work -- the prophecy said something about hallowed ground. So we need to find some hallowed ground and --" She broke off to swat his grasp away from her breast.

"Right, so we're looking for a church or a graveyard or something?" Oz said, calmly grabbing the offending hand before it could do real damage. At her nod, he shrugged. "Shouldn't be too hard to find. Let's go."

It felt as if they'd been searching for hours. Willow suppressed a groan. Surely this was some sort of obscure torture; for goddess sake how many rooms did this damn house have? And Oz smelled so good. **Mmm Oz, good . . . NO!** She snapped back to attention, gamely examining the hallway for any concealed entrances.

"Will." Oz's voice sounded muffled. Willow walked a little further down the hall and felt herself pulled into a small alcove.

"Oz!" she giggled in protest. "We're working!"

"But if we found the chapel --" Oz trailed off suggestively.

Willow considered. "I guess, yeah."

Oz grinned and turned her head to the right. Willow gasped. There was a narrow entrance covered with a velvet cloth embroidered with interlocking crosses. She gasped again as Oz grabbed her up in a tight embrace and carried her into the sparsely furnished room.

"Oz!" she protested. "This is a ch --" She broke off as he began to demonstrate exactly how much he didn't care.

Willow cast her head back in ecstasy as Oz ran his tongue over and around her firm pink nipples. Each gentle lap of his mouth sent a bolt straight to her core. She ran her hands through his hair, gently pulling to bring him back up to her face. Their mouths met in a tangle of tongues: probing, pushing, searching, tasting. Willow's fingers drifted to Oz's chest. She mumbled a protest as her questing met cloth. With a growl Oz pulled back to yank the t-shirt over his head before descending back to down to Willow's mouth. She moaned in approval as his hot palms searched her breasts again. With a quiet gasp she lowered her own small hands to his pants. She felt him stiffen as she grasped his shaft and gently began to stroke. He let out a groan of pleasure and pushed her towards the altar.

They stumbled backwards at a frantic pace until Willow bumped up against cold stone. Without breaking the kiss, Oz reached down and scooped her up onto the low granite table, pushing her skirt up around her waist as he did. Willow reveled in the hard, rough texture under her ass, and then let out a rather undignified squeak as she felt him, warm, soft, and wet between her thighs. She managed to half sit up for a moment to see the spiky red hair bobbing up and down between her legs. With a guttural groan, she collapsed backward and absorbed the sensations flooding her body.

Oz gently lapped at her folds, waiting for her to get used to the new sensations. When he felt her relax, he moved deeper. Licking and nipping at her clit, he slowly moved a hand up. As he gently bit her clit, he slid a single digit into her. She let out a small giggle, and he smiled. Pulling back slightly to blow on her heated skin, he slid another into her tight opening. Suddenly, he curved them UP, and she shuddered under his ministrations. Making sure to keep his fingers busy, he brought his mouth to hers for a searing kiss.

Her body jerked in time with his movements, and as she screamed while she crested for the first time, he gently pushed into her. As he entered her, she opened her eyes, and they locked gazes. He rode her slowly and gently while they stared into each other's souls. They both had tears from the emotion of just being together, joined so emotionally, was so overwhelming. They were moving faster now, more urgently, murmuring words of love, never breaking eye contact. They came together, the waves shaking them both simultaneously as they collapsed onto the stone altar, satiated and exhausted.


* * *


A scream rang out, echoing through the empty halls. Six heads snapped up in unison.

"That sounded --" Giles began.

"-- a lot like --" Xander continued.

"Willow!" Buffy and Cordelia finished in harmony.

The two vampires exchanged a look at this bizarre chorus and said together, "Humans."

Buffy shot them a look. "You should both consider yourselves lucky that we're in a hurry," she said darkly. She looked at Xander. "Do you know where she is?"

He shook his head. "I thought she and Oz where in their room. You know." He blushed and continued hurriedly, "Guess not."

Buffy threw open the door and nearly ran into Drusilla, who was spinning madly outside the door, humming a tuneless song.

When she saw Buffy she crooned to her, "The Fire, The Fire, she burns; On holy ground, she burns." She drifted back into her tuneless crooning and Buffy's eyes widened in panic as she absorbed the meaning of Dru's words.
 



TBC...


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