Pairing: Spike/Original Character
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea and Ashley. Joss, Mutant Enemy, WB, UPN, etc own everything else. Believe me, if I owned, there is no way Spike would have thought he was in love with Buffy. I think it is completely untrue to the character.
Distribution: My site 'Gunnin' Down Angel' http://angel.wicked-raine.com , and anyone who already has permission to archive. If you would like permission, just tell me where it is going, and I'll say yes!
Feedback: Oh please!!! I crave it like I crave Spike and Lindsey McDonald!!
A/N: I wrote this fic after I saw 'Fool for Love' in S5. I'm guessing I only have S5 and before spoilers in it. If you have not seen 'Fool for Love', then this will not make sense to you. I found it odd and really cool that someone on the Buffy writing staff had something similar on his/her mind.*** PS...the title is a quote from Spike on that ep.
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~Part: 1~
The Scooby gang decided to spend their night from demon hunting at the Bronze. They even managed to convince Spike to join them. Of course, he had said no, but showed up anyway. Hell, even Giles showed up for a little while.
"Wow, G-man," Xander said. "I can't believe you actually showed."
"I can't believe SPIKE actually showed," Willow added.
"Yes, well I'm sure Spike probably doesn't want to admit it," Giles said. "But I believe he's happy that he was invited."
"Dream on, Watcher." Spike said as he walked up to the table. "I'm only here for the beer." Actually, he was pretty content with his arrangement with the Scooby gang. When had be become such a Nancy boy? He thought to himself.
While Spike was still deep in thought, the music changed. A crowd developed around the dance floor.
"What's going on over there?" Buffy asked. Just then, there was a break in the crowd long enough to see a woman that they had never seen before on the dance floor. She moved to the music, as if oblivious of the crowd watching her.
"Oh. Wow." Xander said, obviously mesmerized.
"Xander!" Anya whined.
"Oh, what now?" Spike started to say, as he finally noticed the woman. The last word faded away. She was amazing: 5'8, long dark hair, big brown eyes that a guy could get lost in, perfect lips, fantastic body, cocoa skin. She was wearing black denim jeans with a tight red silk tank top and a black leather jacket. Spike was starting to drool.
"Hello!" Buffy said, obviously annoyed. "You guys act like she's the only girl here."
"Oooh," Willow said jokingly. "Jealous much?"
"I'm not jealous, I just...Oh forget it." She replied and took a sip of her drink.
~~~*~~~
After getting fed up with everyone's attention to the woman on the dance floor, Buffy decided to go patrolling. Xander and Willow decided to spend quality time and join her. The trio entered the last cemetery for the night.
"So, who do you guys think she was?" Willow asked.
"I don't know, but she sure did make an impression." Xander replied.
"Yeah, even Giles thought she was a hottie." Willow added.
"Did you see the look on SPIKE's face?" Xander said laughing. "I thought he was going to try and shag her right there on the dance floor."
"Guys," Buffy said. "Let's go ahead and call it a night."
"Are you sure, Buffy?" Willow asked, as the blonde shushed her.
Buffy had heard a shuffling, and her Slayer sense kicked in. They were surrounded. The Slayer prepared for battle. The first 3 vamps attacked. Buffy ducked and one missed her. Willow tried to stake it, and it knocked her unconscious. Buffy then stood and punched one with a hard right while kicking the other with a left back kick which sent it flying into Xander, who was seeing about Willow. The first one came back and tried to deliver a punch that the blonde easily blocked. She then pulled out Mr. Pointy, and staked that one. The second one ran towards her. Buffy staked it while it was still running. The third one was about to attack Xander and Willow when Buffy staked it from behind. Then, she heard mock applause.
"Very nice, Slayer," the vampire said, with his game face on.
"Oh, if I would've known I was being watched, I would've shown more skin." Buffy replied.
"You're funny, Slayer."
"You're dust, Ugly Vampire." was the Slayer's response as she became surrounded by 9 vamps. Buffy then realized her situation. "Oops." She amended.
"Oops?" Came a female voice from behind the leader of the gang of vampires as he turned to ashes. "I thought Slayers were supposed to have a more witty comeback."
"You." Was all Buffy could say. It was the girl from the Bronze that everyone was watching.
"My name is Ashley." The woman replied. "Do you want my help or not?"
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
Ashley raised her elbow to the face of a vamp that was trying to sneak up behind her. "Watch me." That's when the real battle started.
Ashley then delivered a spinning side kick to a vampire behind her while Buffy blocked a couple of punches from another one. Then, Buffy staked it while punching a third. Ashley was quick and resourceful. She took out a water gun and sprayed what appeared to be holy water into the eyes of two vamps. Xander was in a trance watching her. Buffy was extremely impressed with the new comer, as well. She watched as Ashley kicked a vamp into a tree branch that pierced its heart causing it to crumble to dust. Buffy turned a flip in the air and kicked another vampire. She then delivered a series of punches and kicks to three that surrounded her.
"What the hell is going on here?" Ashley yelled to Buffy as she continued to fight off two of the vampires.
"Welcome to the Hellmouth," was all the Slayer could reply as they backed toward one another, completely surrounded by vampires.
"Oops," Ashley said to Buffy.
~Part: 2~
"Told ya!" Buffy taunted.
"Um, suggestions?" was Ashley's response.
"None at the moment." Buffy answered.
"For two people surrounded by vampires, you ladies really are calm." A familiar British accent commented. The two women turned to see Spike stake at least two fledglings before they sprang into action.
"Spike!" Buffy yelled.
Ashley did a spinning side kick to the two vamps closest to her, while Buffy threw one against another knocking both vamps unconscious. Spike blocked the kick of another vamp and delivered his own front snap kick sending the vamp flying 10 feet. The other two fledglings didn't even see Spike pull the stake from his duster and ran straight for the bleach blonde vampire. Spike staked the first one, and ripped the throat from the other one. Xander came to his senses and shook Willow awake. They looked up in time to see Ashley and Buffy trading vamps with alternate punches before staking them in unison. Even Spike stopped punishing a minion long enough to gawk and be impressed. Finally, all the vamps were dusted except Spike. Ashley looked from Buffy to Spike and charged after him, trying to stake him. Spike was too shocked to make any comments, and just blocked each of her attempts to kill him. Buffy saw what was going on and managed to subdue Ashley.
"What the hell are you doing? He was helping us!" She yelled.
"He's a vampire!" Ashley replied. "Or did you forget that?"
"But he helps us." Willow reiterated as she walked towards them, supported by Xander.
"He killed my sister!"
"Huh?" was the collective answer.
"He. Killed. My. Sister." Ashley said more calmly.
"Are you sure it was him?" Xander asked, knowing Spike is chipped.
"I'd recognize that bleach job anywhere." She said as Buffy released her. She then faced the Slayer. "You're wondering how I know about vampires. And about you. My sister was the Slayer from 1974, the year I was born, until 1977 when she died. In New York. She was killed by a certain punk rock looking vampire."
Everyone was stunned to silence. Ashley turned to Spike. "Sound familiar?" She then turned back to the Scooby gang. "I was 3 years old. We were on the subway when she sensed him. She brought me to the next car and told me to stay there and hide. I saw him." Her eyes locked with Spike's eyes. "He broke her neck. My family moved to California shortly after that, afraid I would be too traumatized if we stayed in New York. I was too traumatized already. So, forgive me if I don't give a shit what he does RIGHT NOW." She paused, and then walked slowly over to the blonde vampire. "I. Will. Kill. You." She then left the cemetery before anyone else could say anything.
Buffy realized that in all the years she'd known Spike, this was the first time she ever saw him speechless.
~Part: 3~
The Scooby gang took a very silent Spike to The Magic Box and told him to stay put. Willow made a makeshift bed for him and he lay down without an argument. He was actually relieved when the group left him alone.
He couldn't stop thinking about her. Her. What was her name? He didn't even know. And then he finds out she's the sister of the Slayer he killed in 1977. How is that possible? He was completely fascinated with this woman. And she wanted him dead. Would he have still killed the Slayer if he had known she had a 3-year-old child with her? Yeah, he would have. No doubt about it.
The next day, everyone showed up to research Ashley. Her name is Ashley, Spike thought to himself. The beautiful Ashley who wants to kill me. He remembered telling Buffy that the Slayer was "cunning, resourceful, oh, and did I mention-hot."* And now, look at her sister. She's amazing.
"Hey! I finally found something!" Willow yelled to the group. It was 8:45pm.
"Let's hear it, Wills." Buffy said. "I'm completely lost here."
"Ashley Swan. Born November 28, 1974 in New York City. Older sister, Melody, born August 21, 1960 was the Slayer. She died December 11, 1977. The parents were extremely wealthy. Here's where it gets interesting: The Swan family moved to San Francisco in early 1978. Ashley got a top-notch education (graduated in the top 5% of her class at Brown University), but also trained to be a warrior. Guys, she's completely human. No super powers or anything like that. Ashley's been fighting for the side of good all her life. However, she DOES want to avenge her sister's death."
Everyone looked at Spike.
"Listen," Anya said. "Why don't we tell her about the chip and how Spike has been helping us fight the forces of darkness for over a year now. Maybe she'll understand that she CAN'T kill him, because he's on our side."
"But he's not. Not really." Xander retorted. "He's helping us because demons are the only things he CAN kill."
"Xander has a point," Giles said.
"I'm sitting right here." Spike said dryly. "Don't talk about me like I'm not in the bloody room."
"Fine. Spike," Giles said. "Maybe you should stay with me for a few days until one of us can find Ashley and talk to her."
"No."
"Huh?" Willow said.
"I said no." Spike replied, looking at the floor. "Maybe it's time I faced some of the consequences of the last 120 years." He then stood up, grabbed his duster, and headed out. Everyone stared after him in amazement. He didn't really believe what he had said concerning facing the consequences. He just wanted to see her again. To talk to her. To watch her. To hold her. Sure, she wanted to kill him, but he was sure she could get past that.
~Part: 4~
By the time Buffy, Xander, Willow, Anya, Giles, and Tara realized that Spike was going to try and find Ashley; Buffy, Xander, Willow and Anya decided to try and find out where she was before the vampire could get to her first. Willow hacked into the records of all of the hotels and motels in the area. She found that Ashley was staying at the Sunnydale Hilton. They headed over to the hotel in hopes of convincing her to NOT stake the vampire.
"Did you guys ever, in the almost 4 years we've known Spike, think that we would be trying to stop someone from killing him?" Willow asked, after they stepped on the elevator.
"How weird is that?" Xander replied. "I remember a time when we would've helped her turn him into a big pile of dust."
The elevator stopped on the 5th floor. The group went to room 507, where Ashley was staying. Buffy knocked on the door and waited for an answer. There was none. She forced the door open. Ashley was nowhere to be found.
"Maybe we should search the room." Buffy suggested. "We may find something useful." The group searched the room. With no luck so far.
"Hello!" Xander screamed from the bathroom.
The rest of the gang ran to see what he'd found. Taped to the mirror was an old drawing of Spike, the way he must have looked in 1977.
"We've got to find them before it's too late." Willow said.
~~~*~~~
Spike walked into the Bronze, with an expressionless face. He was determined to find Ashley. He moved to the shadows and looked around the club. There she was. She was engaged in a game of pool that she was obviously winning. Spike watched her with an intensity, fascination, and arousal that would scare most people. She was a highly skillful pool player, a sexy predator at the table. She finished the game without letting her opponent get just one shot in. The guy wasn't too upset because she told him to keep his money; that she wouldn't take it from him. She then walked over to the dance floor as the music changed. Spike recognized the song as "Battle Flag" by the Low Fidelity All-Stars. The way she moved was like a song, with her hips swaying to the music, her eyes closed, and her arms gracefully swaying. Not only was she graceful, but also rhythmic, unique in her movements, and watched by every male-human AND vampire-in the building. She knew what she was doing. She didn't care. They didn't matter. All that mattered was that she would finally get to kill William the Bloody.
The song ended, and she walked off the dance floor and went to the bar. She ordered a drink, and felt someone standing behind her. She knew who it was.
"Why would you show up here knowing I'm going to kill you?" she asked calmly after taking a sip of her drink.
"We need to talk."
"No talking. YOU will be a pile of dust."
He looked her up and down, with those piercing ice blue eyes, appraising her. For the first time in her entire life, her confidence wavered. He then looked her in the eyes again.
"Let's play." He said nodding his head toward the pool table.
Ashley was so amazed and fascinated by the bleach blonde vampire with the blue eyes, chiseled cheekbones, hypnotizing voice and sexy smile; she stood and walked to the pool table. He followed her like a puppy dog on a leash.
~Part: 5~
"I don't mean to NOT be a gentleman, but I'll go first." Spike said as they reached the table. "I saw how merciless you were with your last opponent."
"You thought THAT was merciless?" Ashley asked as she finished racking up the game balls. "Wait until I show you the true meaning of the words 'no mercy.' I believe you opted to start the game."
"Oh, if THAT were true." Spike retorted as he took the pool cue and started the game. His first shot sank 3 stripes and 2 solids. "Well now, I guess it's what they call beginner's luck."
"BEGINNER'S luck? Yeah, and that's your NATURAL hair color, right?"
"Ouch."
"Don't underestimate me, vampire."
He didn't respond to that comment. It really hurt him. He just took another shot. And missed.
"Oh, are we not concentrating?" Ashley asked condescendingly as she took off her black leather jacket. Spike gulped loudly as he noticed her tight, long sleeved, very low-cut dark red top and tight dark blue jeans that showed every curve of her beautiful body. Spike wanted to take her right there on the pool table, but knew he couldn't get away with it. What she did next was sheer torture to him. She located the 5-ball across the table and leaned over to shoot it. Spike thought about taking her in that position as he felt his jeans become even more uncomfortably tight. Oh, this was torture. But, he could handle torture. He was the favorite childe of Angelus, after all.
"Nice shot." He said. She stood and turned to him with a look that seemed to be confusion. He couldn't understand why. He'd just given her a compliment.
Ashley couldn't figure out why Spike was complimenting her when he knew she would kill him. She was thoroughly confused. She then turned back to the table and found the 2-ball. That was her next shot. She leaned over to shoot the ball.
"You'll miss it, Pet." Spike said before she hit the cue ball.
"What?"
"You'll miss it." He repeated. Then, he walked over to her and took the cue stick from her very gently.
"Face the table." She did as he said. She couldn't figure out why she was responding to his sex appeal. That deep, sexy voice. Also, she had to admit that she was a sucker for men with British accents. "You were too high." He said. "Here," he said as he positioned her hands around the pool cue and bent over with her as he helped her aim it at the cue ball.
Ashley could feel herself responding to him. She couldn't believe her wetness wasn't showing through her jeans. She let him guide her through the shot. It went in with no problems whatsoever.
"I suppose I should thank you." She said as they both stood.
"Why?" Spike asked. "I'm just trying to keep a good game going."
"No game lasts forever." She said as she walked up to him and had him pinned between her and the pool table.
"So you say." He replied with his famous smirk and raised his scarred eyebrow.
=My God, his eyes are a beautiful blue= she thought to herself as she stared at him wondering what it would be like to look into those eyes, so full of emotion while he was inside of her.
Spike saw the lust and fascination in her eyes. He couldn't believe it. "It's still your turn, Luv."
She took the cue and missed her chance to sink two. She knew her concentration had gone out the window the second he touched her.
Spike took his pool cue and put two more in. He looked up at Ashley who was now sitting on a bar stool sipping her drink. He watched her take another sip and lick her lips while deep in thought. He stood up.
"Okay," he said as he took her by the hand and headed towards the sofas on the other side of the Bronze. "Maybe that wasn't the best idea I've ever had."
"Where are we going," she asked shaken from her reverie as she grabbed her jacket from the barstool.
"To sit." He replied in an expressionless voice. "And talk. Really talk, Ashley."
"No William!" She stopped walking and pulled away from him. "No more talking!"
"No!" They heard a familiar voice scream as Ashley was taking a stake out of her jacket pocket.
"Stay out of it, Buffy." Spike said very slowly, but still kept his eyes on Ashley's as he spoke to her. "If you can do this; if you really believe that I'm the same demon I was 23 years ago, then do it."
Ashley picked up the stake and aimed it at Spike's undead heart.
"Ashley, don't!" Buffy screamed again as she grabbed the stake. "He can't hurt any living thing!"
"What?!?!" was all Ashley could say.
"He's neutered." Willow said.
"Oh, c'mon." Ashley replied. "You don't really expect for me to believe that, do you?"
~Part: 6~
"Let's get out of here," Buffy suggested. "We're starting to get an audience."
The trip to Buffy's house was made in silence. Once there, everyone took his or her seats. Spike and Ashley were on opposite sides of the room. Their eyes never left each other's during the entire explanation from Spike being captured by the Initiative, to Spike willingly helping the Scoobies fight demons and vamps. When Buffy was done explaining, Ashley stood.
"I need some air," she said, and walked out the back door.
Spike stood up to go after her.
"No," Xander said. "Let this sink in for her." Spike turned and walked out of the front door.
"I'm going for a walk." He said.
Meanwhile, Dawn was in her room and curious about the stranger downstairs. When she heard the back door open and close, she went to a window that showed her the back yard. And there was Ashley pacing the back yard. Dawn saw her opportunity and headed downstairs to the back yard.
Ashley turned when the door opened, not ready to face Spike.
"Hi," Ashley said smiling at the young girl. She couldn't have been more than 14 years old.
"Hi. I'm Buffy's sister, Dawn."
"It's nice to meet you, Dawn." Ashley said as she walked over to the girl and shook her hand. "I'm Ashley."
"Wow." Dawn said, as she looked up at Ashley.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Dawn replied. "It's just, well, you're beautiful."
"Thank you," Ashley said, obviously shocked.
"So, why are you here?" Dawn asked.
"Oh, its nothing you'd want to know about."
"Does it have to do with the Slayer thing?"
"Yeah." Ashley said, again surprised by the young lady. "How'd you guess?"
"Oh, just a hunch. I hate being the Slayer's little sister."
"I was a Slayer's little sister, too!" Ashley said.
"Really? When?"
"Oh, a long time ago. She was called the year I was born. That was in 1974." She giggled. "Yeah, I'm old."
"Not as old as Spike." Dawn volunteered.
"No, not as old as Spike." Ashley said with a chuckle.
"Buffy's the oldest living Slayer." Dawn said proudly.
"You're proud of your sister. That's good. I was proud of mine, too."
"If it's not too personal," Dawn hesitated for a second. "How old were you when she died?"
"I had just turned 3." Ashley said as she stared at the night sky.
"Wow." Dawn replied. "That's why I don't take Buffy for granted anymore." Ashley looked back at the teenager. "I know the life expectancy of a Slayer is not long at all. I mean it's inevitable: the Slayer is going to die matter. So, I try to remember that when we get into an argument or something like that."
Ashley looked at Dawn differently. She had just gained a newfound respect for the girl. She started rethinking her goal.
"Thank you, Dawn."
"What for?" The girl asked, confused. Just then Buffy opened the door.
"Dawn," the Slayer said with a warning tone. "What are you doing out here?"
"Relax, I was just talking to Ashley." Dawn replied annoyed.
"Yeah," Ashley added, smiling at her new friend. "We have something in common. We're both little sisters of a Slayer."
"It's late," Buffy said to her sister, thinking this is probably what Ashley needed to hopefully change her mind. She smiled at her sister. "Why don't you go up to bed?"
"Oh, alright." Dawn whined as she stood and walked to the door. "It was nice to meet you, Ashley."
"You too, Dawn" She smiled at the girl.
"So, how are doing?" Buffy asked after Dawn had shut the door.
"I'm...not sure." She replied honestly.
"That's understandable. You could've cut the sexual tension between you two with a knife. That's gotta make it hard--um, difficult. I meant difficult."
Ashley chuckled. "Yeah, I need to think about everything. Meet me later for patrol?" she said as she stood.
"You got it. Same place as last night?"
"Yep." She started to walk away, and then stopped and turned. "You're very lucky to have Dawn for a sister."
"Thanks. I know. Your sister was lucky to have you, too."
"Maybe." Ashley replied, and then sighed. "That's what I need to figure out." She turned and walked away.
~~~*~~~
Buffy was on her way to meet Ashley when she ran into Spike.
"Where have you been?" She asked.
"Does it matter, Slayer?"
"Spike, I'm trying to help."
"Why? The chit wants to kill me."
"I don't think she does anymore." Buffy said thoughtfully.
"How the bloody hell would you know?"
"Because," Buffy replied with a smile. "She has that same look around you as you do around her. And I can honestly say that you never had that much of a pathetic look around me."
"Yeah, well, maybe the Hellmouth drove me a little insane for a while." Spike paused. "Sorry about the stalking. I'll return everything I took from your house."
Buffy laughed. "Do I really want to know EVERYTHING you took from my house?"
Spike thought about it for a second. "Probably not," he said with his trademark smirk as they approached the cemetery. "Why are we here?"
"We're meeting Ashley."
"What!"
"Come on, Spike."
"No, she hates me!" Spike whined. Just then they both heard it.
"Hey, someone's fighting without me." He said, and ran towards the commotion with Buffy right behind him.
When Buffy reached the destination of the fight, she found Spike in the process of staking one vamp, as another blocked Ashley's kick, and threw her against a crypt, head first. She was knocked unconscious.
"NO!" Spike yelled, and headed for that vampire, as Buffy took on the third and final one.
Spike wasted no time in blocking a punch from the Ashley's attacker, and ripped his heart out. Buffy spinning side kicked the one she was fighting, and he fell over a headstone. The Slayer flipped over the headstone and staked it. By the time she turned to find Ashley, Spike already had her in his arms.
"Let's take her back to her hotel." Buffy told the blonde vampire. He followed her without saying a word. Whenever she looked back to make sure they were still behind her, Spike was staring intently at the unconscious woman in his arms, and didn't look up at all. Once in the room, Buffy gathered the first aid kit while Spike laid Ashley on the bed, and removed her jacket. Her right temple was bleeding. Buffy gave Spike the first aid kit, and walked over to the phone on the other side of the bed. She called the rest of the Scooby gang to let them know what had happened, all the while watching Spike nurse Ashley's wounds. A few minutes later, as Spike bandaged up the last cut, he looked at Ashley's face. And jumped. She was staring at him with a confused look on her face. Buffy noticed the vampire when he jumped and looked at his patient. She was awake. And looking at Spike. The Slayer stood, and quietly walked out of the room to wait for the rest of the group.
~Part: 7~
"What are you doing?" Ashley asked.
"I'm draining you dry and throwing away the body. What does it bloody look like?"
"I can't believe YOU are giving ME attitude." She remarked, sitting up.
"You want me to fit in an ash tray." Spike retorted. "What the hell am I supposed to do?"
"But why are you doing this?" She indicated the bandages.
"Because. I want to." There was silence for a few moments.
"Well then, can I tell you something?" Ashley asked, hesitantly.
"At least you're talking to me."
"You aren't the same person you were 23 years ago."
"I'm not a person at all, Luv."
"Oh, ha ha." She said sarcastically.
"Just trying to lighten the mood here." Spike said smiling at her beautiful face. Those eyes and those cheekbones alone could make a man cry from want and need.
"So, what happens now?" She asked.
"Well, you can stop trying to kill me, for one." Spike answered.
"And?"
"And...You can be a little nicer to me." He said shyly.
"Nicer?" Ashley repeated as she leaned toward him. "How?"
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Doing what, William?"
"Oh, bloody hell!" He said as he leaned in and put his lips against hers. He couldn't go another second without kissing her just once.
She didn't push him away. Ashley let his lips brush against hers.
When he realized she wasn't going to stop him, he deepened the kiss, as he waited for her to comply. She slowly opened her mouth and let her tongue run over his lips. Spike shivered and opened his mouth, letting his tongue duel with hers.
Just then, the door opened. The Scooby gang looked on in utter shock as Buffy quickly closed the door once again to give them privacy.
"Wow." Xander said. "I guess I saw that coming, though."
"Yeah," Buffy replied. "I'm just glad she finally admitted it."
"But, think about how tough it was for her to do that." Willow said. "She's kissing the vampire who killed her sister."
"But her sister was a Slayer, Wills." Buffy said. "If he didn't do it, some other vampire would've."
"And besides," Xander added. "He's not even the same Spike from a year ago, let alone 23 years ago."
Meanwhile Spike and Ashley had progressed to rolling around on the bed. Spike wanted to feel every inch of her body, and he had unspoken permission to do so. He was not going to pass that up. Ashley couldn't believe what an amazing kisser Spike was. She was lost in the feelings he was bringing out in her. She hadn't even noticed when they'd fell backwards on the bed. Or when his hands found their way under her shirt.
Suddenly, Spike stopped kissing her and sat up.
"What's wrong?" She asked as she too sat up.
"I should apologize."
"What for?"
"Oh, I'm not sorry I kissed you. But I am apologizing for it."
"If I didn't want you to kiss me, you wouldn't have." She said the last part of that threateningly.
"You need to clear your head and make sure you're certain before we start something like this."
"You mean, something this intense?" Ashley asked. "I know you feel it too, Spike."
"Of course I feel it!" He stood and started pacing. "That's why I'm doing this!"
She just looked at him.
~~~*~~~
Outside, Xander was getting anxious.
"Not meaning to sound like my girlfriend, but, what if they're having sex?" He asked the two girls.
Willow punched him on the arm. "Xander!"
"Well, I'll settle this once and for all." He walked towards the door. "Well, I guess we should go in now, huh guys?" He said, letting his voice project so the occupants of the room could hear.
"Oh, very smooth." Buffy said sarcastically. She then knocked once and opened the door. All 3 gasped at what they saw.
Spike was watching Ashley sleep while he was stroking her hair and caressing her face. He was so focused on the sleeping beauty that he didn't notice the others enter the room.
Buffy cleared her throat and Spike looked up. "Is everything okay?" She asked.
"She'll live." He replied, still stroking her hair, his eyes not leaving her.
"So, I guess you don't need us here." Willow said.
"I can handle it. Why don't you all go home and get some rest." They turned to leave. "Slayer," Buffy turned toward him. "Thanks." The Slayer nodded with a smile and left the room.
He watched her for another few minutes, and then decided that it was best to leave. For now. Spike stood and reached for his duster.
"Where are you going?" Ashley asked sleepily.
"Home, Luv." He replied.
"Why? I'm not asleep."
"But you were, Pet."
"Well, I'm not anymore." She insisted, as he put his duster back on the chair and returned to his seat on the bed. "Talk to me some more."
"Okay," Spike complied. "Any idea what you'll do now that the whole vengeance thing is kind of on the back burner?"
"Not a clue." She said honestly. "The vengeance thing is gone, Blondie."
"Well, if you don't have a pressing engagement," Spike said. "Maybe you can stay in Sunnyhell for a while."
Ashley laughed. "SunnyHELL?"
"Well, yeah." He said matter-of-factly.
"We'll see." She said. "Will you stay here while I sleep?"
"Of course, Luv." He crawled into bed with her and kissed her forehead before putting his arms around her. Ashley snuggled into the vampire and the two eventually fell asleep in each other's arms.
The End