Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss & Company own all. Trapt owns the song.
Rated: R
Pairing: W/S, B/R, A/X
Notes: My little twist on Where the Wild Things Are.
Spoilers: Where the Wild Things Are (S4)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Something missing
Left behind
Search in circles
Every time I try
I've been here before
I've seen you before
I can't escape walking down these halls
Hard to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Only straight ahead better move along
Like Clockwork
I commit the crime
I pretend to be
everything they like
I've been here before
I've seen you before
And I trade everything for this
And I trade everything for this
Why do I read the writing on the wall
Why do I read the writing on the wall
I won't lose my place in line
I've been here too long and I've spent to
much time
I won't lose my place in line
I've been here too long and I've spent too
much time
Something missing
Left behind
Search in circles
Every time I try
I've been here before
I've seen you before
I can't escape walking down these halls
Hard to find a place where there are no walls
And no lines begging me to cross
Only straight ahead better move along
And I trade everything for this
And I trade everything for this
Why do I read the writing on the wall
Why do I read the writing on the wall
Why do I read the writing on the wall
Why do I read the writing on the wall
~^~**~^~
"Oh, so you do live here," Willow grinned as Buffy walked in through the door.
"What?" Buffy looked up distractedly but at seeing the look on Willow's face, she knew what the redhead was talking about. "Oh, I know I've been a little..."
"Not coming back to the room lately?"
"Well, yeah."
"Riley?"
Buffy smiled and nodded, "Riley."
"Should I feel jealous?"
Buffy's head snapped up, "What?"
"Jealous. You know. Time being spent with the new boyfriend seems to be amounting to a lot lately." Willow gave her a small smile, "I miss you, Buffy."
A twinge of guilt sprang through her and she plopped down onto Willow's bed, "I'm sorry, Will. It's just, it's new, you know? And I like the new. Newness is of the good. It's exciting, but not in a bad way. I just," she looked down and played with her fingers, "I like him. A lot."
Willow raised an eyebrow, "I can tell."
"Okay, enough about me. I'm here and I'm back to being supporto-gal. How've you been?"
"Good," she paused, debating internally if she wanted to tell Buffy.
"You have but-face."
"What?"
"You look like you're gonna say but."
Willow smiled, "Yeah, you know me too well."
"What is it, Will?"
She stayed silent for a few moments before speaking, "You know that feeling you get when you’re all alone and basically every one else seems to be paired up except you.”
Buffy nodded understandingly, “Oh, yeah, that’s when I resort to cuddling with Mr. Gordo and digging into the Ben and Jerry’s.”
"Well,” Willow bit her lower lip, “That’s kind of how I’ve been feeling lately.”
She cocked her head to the side, “You’re finally in rebound mode, Will!”
“Rebound mode?”
“You’re on the prowl again, looking for someone new. This is great,” Buffy grinned.
“Great? How is this great?” Willow dropped her hands down into her lap, “I mean, I’ve gone through the denial, cursing, and finally acceptance. Aren’t things supposed to be, you know, better now?”
“Love’s tough and complicated. It never makes any sense but you’ll find someone, Will. I promise.”
"Really?"
"Yes," Buffy gave her a sweet smile and leaned in for a hug, "He's just somewhere out there waiting for you."
~^~**~^~
"Bloody hell, I'm bored," Spike muttered as he crawled off the sarcophagus. Stupid chip. He couldn't do anything anymore. Before, if he got bored, he could go out, kill a man, and feel a bit better. Now, nothing. The only thing he could do now was scare teenagers into giving him money for blood and beers. Nothing else.
He was pitiful. Okay, he was beyond pitiful. He was sitting here there in a dark and dank crypt, drowning in his own self-pity. There wasn't even a word for how pitiful he'd gotten. He growled before standing up straighter. He wasn't pitiful. He was still the Big Bad. He could still beat up demons. Maybe he could, right now, just to make himself feel better. He glanced out the window and saw the sunshine pouring through. Or maybe not.
Damn it, stupid Slayer and her bloody Scooby Gang and that damned Initiative had to ruin it all. It was perfect before. He had Dru. That was enough. And they were happy. He let out an unneeded sigh before lighting a cigarette. Alright, he wasn't exactly being completely honest with himself. Back even before he met the bleedin Slayer things were bad. Drusilla was always whining about her Daddy, talking about how the stars or the moons or something or other promised that he was coming back.
Well, she was right. Angelus came back. And he took his dark Goddess with him. Jealousy had raged through him. It had been all he could feel at the time. Now, he still felt a bit of it but he'd accepted it all. He wasn't what Drusilla wanted. He never was and he never would be. Especially not now with the chip in his head.
He growled before putting out his cigarette. Damn it, weren't these things supposed to calm you down? Soothe your nerves and all that rot? Wasn't working. Every time he thought about Dru, this would always happen. He would always get on edge. She still had that effect on him. She probably always would. A part of him still loved her.
And the Slayer didn't help out that much either. Whiny little brat with her holier-than-thou attitude. What he wouldn't give to wipe that stupid smirk off her face every time she looked at him in that way. Like he was a lower being, something not worth of respect. He'd show her. Somehow, he's make her pay, make her hurt. Eventually.
He walked towards the direction of his stash. He had decided to be smart and keep a little place just for his blood, beers, the basic necessities for all vampires of course. He opened the small bin and saw that it was empty. Bloody hell. He needed money. After the sun set, he needed to pay a small visit to the Bronze.
~^~**~^~
Anya rolled her eyes at the ridiculous outfit that Xander was wearing. Out of all the jobs he could've gotten, he just had to pick ice cream man. Okay, so maybe he didn't have the best selection but hey, whatever the hell there was, there had to be something better then *this*. She sighed before looking up at him with an annoyed look. Why couldn't he keep his job as a construction worker? She liked it when he dug. Well, to be more honest, she liked it when he used his muscles and... oh, crap, he was talking.
"Aw, come on. Big party at Riley's house. It's gonna be fun. Why don't you wanna go?"
She shot him a 'you should know' look before replying, "You know why not. Those initiative men make me... not comfortable." She paused. Damn it! Why couldn't he get it? She didn't like them. They were just.. there was something off about them and she didn't like it. That and the fact that they weren't exactly friendly towards demons. Stupid idiotic humans relied on science and technology. Why couldn’t Xander understand that? Was he just not listening to her? Was he getting sick of her? Oh dear god, he was getting tired of her. She should've known it! "And you don't care!" She accused, her eyes getting narrower.
"They don't even know that you're an ex-demon. And we don't know that they'd care even if they did know. Which, by the way, they're not gonna find out." Xander got up and headed to the back of the truck, "Anyways, they'll probably be too busy flirting with every other girl at the party to even notice you."
She was right. He was getting tired of her. He was starting not to pay attention to what he was saying and thoughtless sentences were just pouring out of his mouth left and right. Then again, this was Xander. She shook her head, "So, you don't think I'm desirable enough to be flirted with?" Anya looked down, "Is that it?"
"I'm just not gonna win here, am I?"
And he doesn't even comfort me! Stupid jerk. "You don't find me attractive anymore."
"What are you talking about? I think you're gorgeous."
"Oh, really? Well then, why didn't we have sex last night?" Ha! Got ya there. In fact.. they hadn't had sex in awhile. Damn it, she was a young and attractive creature! She had needs, too.
"Is that what this is about? We've gone other nights without sex."
"I know. Twice!" Anya looked down. God, was this his way of saying he wanted to end what they had? He was getting sick of her. He didn't want to have sex with her. *Sex* with *her*! What kind of guy would turn down sex?! "I can't believe we're breaking up."
"Breaking- We're not! Are we?"
"Of course we are. You, you've obviously grown tired of me. I mean, I've seen it happen to thousands of women over the centuries, I just never thought it would happen to me."
"Anya, there's a lot more to you and me than the sex."
She shot him a skeptical look before rolling her eyes.
"Well, there should be! I mean, a relationship is something that you work at. Work through. Together."
"I don't understand. I'm pretty, I'm young... I mean," Anya stood up and walked closer to him, "Why didn't you take advantage of me?" Or, maybe this wasn't about *her* at all. Oh! Oh! Maybe this was about *him*! Now, what did that show say..? "Is something wrong with your body?"
"There's nothing wrong with my body."
"Well, there must be," She paused and smiled when it finally came to her, "I saw that wrinkled man on TV talking about erectile dysfunction-"
"Whoa! Hey," Xander chuckled nervously, "All systems go here," He gestured toward his crotch, "No function problem, okay?" He clapped his hands together and started to take off his shirt, "You want sex? Let's have sex. Right here. Hot, sweaty, big sex."
Gasp. She heard a gasp. And, it wasn't coming from her or from Xander. Her gaze, along with his, turned to the window and in came the view of a group of parents along with little children.
Damn. This probably meant they weren't going to have sex.
~^~**~^~
Buffy continued to stroke Riley's hand, altering the touches between soft and feather like to full out rubbing. She looked up, oh yeah, Giles was talking. They were also in a public place. That meant no pouncing and no sex. Unless she wanted to get arrested and that really wasn't on the top of her list right now.
"Um, I suggest that, uh, over the next several nights, you two concentrate your patrol in that same area. If there's any other peculiar pairings or groupings, you let me know."
"I'll let the squad know as well. They're patrolling." Riley looked at her before smiling, "We'll have a, uh, reserve unit out during the party."
Buffy looked towards her Watcher. Uh oh, he had that disapproving look on his face. Her attention snapped back to Riley as she felt his hand start to caress her thigh. Did he have to do that? I mean she was already distracted enough as it was. She pouted before looking back up at Giles.
"Party?"
"Tonight. We're having a thing."
"At a time like this? Who, well, whose idea was that?"
"Mine. Boys are pretty ragged, need to let off steam."
Buffy swallowed the lump in her throat. God, his voice. His body behind her. The warmth. Oh, damn, now she was getting... okay, think bad things. No! Not that kind of bad. Bad as in disgusting bad. Demons, monsters, evil mucus-y things. There we go. Better. Oh, there with the stroking again. Alright, not better. She looked at Riley and caught his attention before looking down at their joined hands.
"Point taken."
Right. Giles. Mini-Scooby meeting. Business. Vampires, demons, Adam. She had to focus.
"You're welcome to come."
There he goes again. Talking with that voice and that cute smile. She sighed again.
"Well, much as I, uh, long for a good kegger, I have other plans. The Espresso Pump."
"What are you doing there?" Willow asked with a small smile, shooting a look at Buffy's direction.
"I'm, um, uh, it's a, a meeting of, uh, grownups. It couldn't possibly be of any interest to you lot."
"Buffy, hey, look at the time. Don't you, uh, have a class?"
What? Class? She looked down at her watch, "Uhh, yeah, in about 20 minutes."
"Yeah, but ... I have that ... thing."
She nodded instantly, ahhh, perfect. 20 minutes. That left enough time. Well, maybe she could be a little late. Riley latched onto her hand and she bit back a moan. Alright, or maybe she could just skip class altogether. "Right, that ... thing, we could ... squeeze in ... before."
"Yeah."
Buffy quickly got to her feet, "Bye!"
"Gotta run."
Willow looked at the two before stretching and glancing at Giles, "They, they're probably going to-"
"Yes, thank you Willow, I did attend university in the Mesozoic era, I do remember what it's like."
~^~**~^~
Anya walked down the street, on her way to the Bronze. Stupid Xander and his stupid male self. She sighed before pouting, okay, so what if it was adorable every time he really didn't know what he was talking about. Especially when he got embarrassed; he was so cute. And sexy. Damn it! Now she had thoughts of sexy Xander in her head.
"Grrr!"
She screamed. Oh, god, vampire, oh god… oh, it's just Spike. Stupid impotent idiot. She shot a glare at him.
"Oh, it's you."
"Spike! What are you doing? You made me yell really high."
"Hey! Yeah, I did. I scared you." Spike walked up to her until their faces were only inches away, "Gimme money."
She pushed him away, "I'm not giving you money for scaring me."
"You're not paying me. I'm robbing you."
"Oh, well now that's just ludicrous. You can't hurt me because you've got that chip in your brain. Also, I like my money the way it is... when it's mine." She walked away, annoyed until he spun her around. "Oh, now come on. You're not even bumpy any more."
Spike felt his forehead with his hand, "Oh. I was just a minute ago. Hang on." He stepped back, "Get me mad again."
Ughh. She had better things to do then this. She had a fun-filled evening planned filled with getting drunk off beer and other alcoholic beverages. Apparently, it's what normal humans did when they wanted to get rid of the bad feelings inside. She sighed, "Does this really work? Scaring people into giving you their money?"
"Yeah, it works. Keeps me in blood and beers. Plus, you know, funny. Watching those little humans quail."
"I'm beginning to understand why you're so friendless."
"Look who's talking! I don't see droopy boy on your arm. Did he have better things to do?"
Anya crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, "No," she pouted, "Did you ever think maybe I just wanted a night away from *him*?"
Spike gave her a pointed look and she sighed, "Yeah, okay. He wanted to go to this party and I didn't want to go with but he went without me." She whined and stomped her foot on the ground, "He wasn't supposed to do that!"
The vampire snorted, "Yeah, men."
Anya sighed and began to walk away from the Bronze, "A year and a half ago, I could have eviscerated him with my thoughts. Now I can barely hurt his feelings." She looked away wistfully, "Things use to be so much simpler."
"You know ... you take the killing for granted." Spike let out a small smile, images of his glory days coming forth, "And then it's gone, and you're like, ‘I wish I'd appreciated it more.’ Stopped and smelled the corpses, you know?"
"Yeah. Now everything's complicated."
"It's a terrible thing, love is. I’ve been there myself. It ended badly."
"Of course it did. It always does. Seen a thousand relationships. First there's the love, and sex, and then there's nothing left but the vengeance. That's how it works."
"I don't know, there might be exceptions."
Anya raised an eyebrow, "Exceptions? Yeah, right. Look at me and Xander, obviously following that same pattern. And you," she waved her hands towards Spike, "Well, you're not really with anybody."
"I'm doing fine on my own," Spike replied a bit offended.
"Yeah," Anya nodded, "You are, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
She smiled, a thought coming to mind, "Hey, do you want to go to a party?"
~^~**~^~
Willow stared at the wallpaper in boredom. Why was she here again? Oh, yeah, Buffy had insisted that she come to the party. The blonde had been overly sure that Willow would find someone to interest her here. And so far, nothing, nada, zip. She let out a sigh of defeat, her eyes skimming over the crowd.
It was times like this that she missed Oz. Not because she missed *him*, though a small part of her still did, but mostly because she missed having someone love her, care about her, and just make her feel wanted.
She missed the need, the craving, and the passion of a relationship. She missed the touches, the caresses, and the whispered words. She missed the talking, connections, and the comfort. She missed it all.
And right now, she just wanted it back.
~^~**~^~
"Hey, I know these guys from somewhere."
"Initiative soldiers, they live here. Experiments happen in the lab under the house. It's where they kept you, put in your chip. Let's have fun!"
Spike looked at Anya incredulously, "You brought me *here*?"
Xander stared at her surprised, "Anya? What are you doing?" He pointed at Spike, "You brought *him* here?"
"That's what *I* said! Only I hit the ‘here’ part."
"Anya, this is crazy. We had a little fight. It just means that we have to work our way through some stuff. It doesn't mean that we rebound with the evil undead." He looked at Spike suspiciously, "And what have we been doing with him anyway?"
"Oh, who's the puffed-up manly man? All splotchy and possessive."
Xander glared at Spike before yelling out, "Hey! What a surprise! Hostile 17! Can I get you a drink, Hostile 17?"
Anya rolled her eyes, "Xander, stop."
Spike shook his head, "Pfft!" He nodded towards the keggers, "Well, may be some fun to be had in the lion's den after all. You two keep scraping. I'll be by the liquor."
As Anya and Xander continued to argue over their problems, Spike wandered off further into the party, away from the music and dancing and more into the groups of couples on couches, groping and kissing among other things. He let out an unneeded sigh, what he wouldn't give for just one bite. So caught up in his thoughts, he didn't even notice that he ran into someone until the smell of peaches reached his sense. He looked down and saw that it was Willow he had run into. "Watch where you're going, witch."
Willow looked up at him and backed away instantly, "Spike! What are you doing here?"
"Party, free beer, free food."
"But, the Initiative," She asked, confused. She continued to back away though she wasn't even noticing it at this point.
Spike followed her until he backed her right into a door, "They stupid sods are too busy getting drunk to notice."
"Right," she whispered hoarsely, feeling something unfamiliar rush through her. All thoughts of the Initiative passed through her mind as she raised her hand to touch him. At first contact, she could've sworn she felt sparks. She gasped as he inched closer, they bodies touching but not enough. She shook her head, what the hell was going on?
Spike bit back a groan and fumbled with the door knob, finally getting the door open, he pushed Willow back into the room, looking around and seeing that there was no one in there except them. He shut the door hurriedly and locked it as well. When he looked back up, Willow was still inching away from him, touching her arms, her breath coming in small pants. He rushed to her side and grabbed her head, pulling her in for a rough kiss.
She went with it for a few moments, enjoying the feel of another body close to hers and the coldness of his tongue compared to the warmth she was currently feeling. Regaining a small sense of reality, she pushed him away, "No, we can't do this. Something," even as she said the words, she was walking closer and closer to him, "Something's happening. This is," She grabbed his head and pulled him down for a kiss, "wrong."
~~~*~~~
Buffy was leaning against Riley happily when suddenly he spoke, "Do you like horses?"
She looked up at him in confusion, "Horses? Why do you ask?"
"I was thinking, we could go riding sometime."
"Riding? I don't know, they're kinda big and they bite and I don't know."
He grabbed her hands before kissing them, "Don't worry, when you ride with me, I promise I won't let them bite you or anything."
"Well," she smiled at him, "If you promise to take care of me."
Riley touched her thigh lovingly and she backed away from him angrily, "Don't touch me! That's just disgusting."
"Buffy?" Riley tried to move closer to her but she kept backing away, "What's the matter?"
The blonde shook her head and looked up, her brow furrowed, "Something's wrong." She whispered, "I felt like, like something possessed me. I-I," she looked away, "It's probably nothing."
~^~**~^~
"Anya! What were you doing with him?"
She rolled her eyes at him, "We didn't have sex, if that's what you mean. That's all I do now, not have sex."
Xander tried to calm himself down, "You're overreacting. We had a fight. But see, it's okay. It's normal."
"Yes. The normal part of the ending a relationship right before the vengeance begins."
"Right. No! Vengeance?" He asked, completely confused.
"Relax, I'm not gonna do it. I'm just trying to tell you that we have nothing in common besides both of us liking your penis. And now I don't even have that! So I get to say when it's done. And it's done."
"Okay, you know what? You don't deserve to be the one to walk away from this. I've put up with a hell of a lot from you much of that in the last minute and if anyone gets to be the one to leave, it's me."
"You're leaving *me*?" Anya asked, shocked.
"Yes. I am."
"Where are you going?"
"To enjoy the party," Xander said as he walked away.
"Well then, then I'm staying too, to, to show you how much I'm not bothered by you having fun! Because I'll be having more fun!"
"I'm having fun already!"
"Me too!" Anya yelled back, "Whoo hoo!"
Xander stalked away angrily, what gave her the right? He walked into a different room and saw a group of people sitting down to play spin the bottle. "Huh. Sometimes I just don't get the sophisticated college lifestyle." He looked towards the group and recognized a familiar face. Julie. He had been talking to her earlier, before Anya showed up. She was nice. She was normal. She was 100% human. No ex-demon in her. Fun. He was going to have fun. For him, not for Anya, of course not. He sat down directly across from Julie and smiled, "Gee, it's a good thing Mom's out. We'd be in trouble."
When it came to be his turn, he spun the bottle and it pointed towards Julie's direction.
She smiled at him, "Hey, Xander."
He tried to ignore everybody else’s 'oooohs' as they sat there. Okay, so he was feeling a bit nervous now, "Julie! Okay. This, then, would be the kissing." He looked around hurriedly, seeing if Anya was nearby. He kissed her cheek quickly and backed away, "Very smooth cheek you have there. Do you exfoliate?"
Julie leaned forward and grabbed his face roughly, climbing onto his lap and crushing his lips to hers. He grabbed her arm and pulled her away, "Whoa! Julie. What?"
Julie crawled off his lap, horrified, "I'm sorry. I didn't.. I'm sorry!"
Xander watched as she ran off with confused eyes. Okay, what just happened? He quickly got to his feet and ran after her. By the time he got the bathroom door, she had already locked it. But, he could still hear her sobs through the door, "Hi, uh, you okay? Julie?"
Inside, she completely ignored him. Julie sat on the toilet seat, rocking back and forth, the tears streaming down her face and she took a pair of scissors and started to cut off her hair, repeating over and over again, "I'm bad."
~^~**~^~
Buffy shook her head again as the feeling still remained inside her body. Something just didn't feel right. She walked away from Riley and put her hands out in front of her, "I- umm, I'm gonna go to the bathroom. I'll be right back." She walked off, trying to rid herself of whatever she was feeling. What the hell was it? She walked up the stairs and then opened the bathroom door, peaking inside, "Hello? Anybody here?" Closing the door behind her, she turned on the faucet and splashed some water on her face. There. Better. Refreshed.
She sighed before her head snapped up, she could've sworn she just heard a gurgling noise. Buffy quickly walked to the shower and pulled back the curtain, shocked at seeing a boy underwater, his arms crossed, looking as if he was struggling. She reached down hurriedly but he disappeared as soon as her hands touched the water. Still shocked, she turned around and gasped as the boy appeared right in front of her. Without a second thought, she ran out of the bathroom and down the stairs. She had to get to Giles'.
~^~**~^~
Anya sat in the chair, moping. She sipped the beer in her hand before she felt the straps on her hands, holding her down as well as straps on her feet. She looked around and screamed, "Xander!!!"
~^~**~^~
"Xander!"
The brunette quickly stopped in his tracks, "Buffy? What's going on? You look like you just saw a ghost."
She shook her head confused, "I think I just did or maybe, I don't know. Something's wrong here." Buffy looked back towards Riley as she felt him approach, "Do you feel something?"
Riley shook his head, "No, nothing really."
She sighed, "Okay, you stay here. We have to-"
Before she could finish her phrase, the whole house began shaking and people left and right began to run out of the house. Xander glanced towards the direction of Anya and quickly ran over to her when he saw that she was restrained to the chair. He pulled at the straps and they came off without much resistance. She threw herself into his arms and he held onto her tightly, "God, An, are you okay?"
She shook her head before kissing him passionately, "I'm fine now."
Buffy stood by the door and yelled, "Guys, we have to go, *now*!"
The two quickly rushed over to her when Xander felt something thrown onto his side. He looked down and saw Julie, bald and trembling, "Julie?"
The tears continued to flow down her cheeks, "Please help me."
The group rushed outside and Julie pulled herself away from Xander's arms and ran away. He shook his head and hugged Anya, "What's happening?"
~^~**~^~
Willow moaned again as Spike brought her to another orgasm. "I think," she panted, "I heard screaming. We should," she grabbed at his arm, "We should go out there and check."
He shook his head and got on top of her, "Later," he mumbled as he kissed her.
~^~**~^~
Buffy shook her head confused, "I don't know maybe some kind of disembodied presence in the house or something?" She sighed before looking around, "Guys, where's Willow?"
Xander looked up, "She's, she's," he pointed at the house frantically, "She's still in *there*?!"
Anya cocked her head to the side, "Spike's not here too. I wonder where he is."
"Who cares?" Buffy said as she walked towards the door, "I'm going in. I've gotta get her."
"Buffy, wait."
She ignored Xander as she threw open the door and walked inside. Moments later, she felt herself being flung out the door. She landed on her butt and groaned, "I think it's Watcher time."
Xander nodded worried, "Yeah, we'll go to Giles'."
"No," Buffy said as she got up with Riley's help, "We're going to the Espresso Pump. He said he'd be there tonight for some meeting thing." She got to her feet and held onto Riley, "We gotta go."
~^~**~^~
Anya ran right into Buffy as she stopped in her steps, mouth open in shock. She managed to sputter out, "I-Is that *Giles*?"
On the stage of the Espresso Pump was Giles in the spotlight, holding a guitar and singing.
Anya moved to the side, eyes wide, "Wow."
Xander stared at Giles, "Um, could we go back to the haunted house? Cause, this is creeping me out."
Riley raised his eyebrow, "Does he do this a lot?"
"Sure. Every day the earth rotates backward and the skies turn orange," Xander said sarcastically.
Anya smiled, "His voice is pleasant."
Xander looked at his girlfriend incredulously, "What?!"
"Oh, come on, it is kind of sexy."
"I'm fighting total mental breakdown here, An. No more fueling the fire please."
~^~**~^~
Willow shuddered as another orgasm wracked through her body. God, how many times was it now? She'd lost count and she was tired. Somehow she had a feeling that after this, she wouldn't be able to walk normally for the coming week. And yet, she still wanted him. Spike. Vampire. Evil!
Yeah, she still wanted him.
"You're too far away from me," Spike said, panting unnecessarily.
She moaned as his hand traveled down her body and in between her legs, "I'm right here."
He nodded before rolling over her and catching her lips in a tender kiss. Something was making him behave this way. He was screwing the witch. The innocent, goody-two-shoes redhead. Slayer's best friend, resident hacker, all around White Hat. She was great in the sack and all but hell, to be honest with himself, he never even thought of her as anything beyond the Slayer's best friend before this. Despite the fact she was extremely biteable and very attractive, she hung out with the Slayer. If he turned Willow, he'd be dust. Besides, he couldn't. Damn chip in his head made sure he couldn't do any harm to not just her but anyone.
Spike thrust into her roughly and set up a fast rhythm. He looked down at the writhing redhead below him and a small smile slipped through his lips. It was a spell. It had to be. Vampires didn't look at humans as anything but objects to be used and then thrown away. Especially not pure ones like Willow. No, he didn't feel anything for her and even if he did feel just a *little* bit right now, it would all go away after the spell ended. It had too. She moaned his name and his smile grew. Well, at least it was a nice spell.
~^~**~^~~
"You left Willow and Spike inside?"
Buffy nodded sadly, "I tried to get in but I couldn't. I'm not sure if Spike is in there with her. I mean, maybe Willow's not in there at all, maybe she just got lost." She said hopefully.
"Lost?" Xander asked, "I don't think so."
"She's not lost," Anya commented.
"What?"
"Last I saw, she and Spike were going into a room together. I think they were about to have sex."
"What?!" Xander and Buffy both demanded.
"Sex. Interlocking bodies. Orgasms." Anya rolled her eyes, "Please don't tell me I have to explain this to you."
Buffy shook her head, "You saw them?" She sighed and leaned against Riley, "Okay, first of all, why would she be having *sex* with Spike of all things? And second," she looked at Giles, "Okay, you wanna help me out here?"
"What I don't understand is how in the midst of all that you have described, they were keeping it up. It doesn't sound like Willow."
"She's possessed!" Xander said triumphantly, "Ah ha! I knew it."
Anya sighed and shook her head, "So she found an orgasm buddy, big deal. At least she's getting some."
Riley snapped his fingers, "You know, now that I think about it. People all over the party were acting kind of weird, sexually speaking."
Buffy caught on, "Yeah, you're right."
"Well, it could be some form of, uh, succubi, or a satyr's prank. It could even be energy coming from the, the lab underneath the Lowell fraternity."
Anya looked down at the book she was reading, "I think I found something. It wasn't always a fraternity."
Everybody leaned over her as she read, "Between 1949 and 1960, the Lowell Home for Children housed upwards of 40 adolescents: runaways, juvenile delinquents, and emotionally disturbed teenagers from the Sunnydale area."
"Children?" Buffy asked, "Did any of them die in there?"
"If there were deaths, then, uh, perhaps we're dealing with a fairly standard haunting," Giles added.
Anya looked back down at the book, "It doesn't say. It's mostly about the old house director, Genevieve Holt. "Sunnydale Children's Aid. 30 years of community service. Giving disadvantaged kids the love and care they deserve." She snorted, "Yeah, right."
Giles took off his glasses, "When did she die?"
"She didn't."
~^~**~^~
Buffy and Giles walked down the hallway, following Mrs. Holt as she led them into a small sitting room.
"We do apologize for bothering you this early in the morning."
"No, no, I don't mind at all. I was up. Early morning prayer."
Buffy smiled, "Of course."
Mrs. Holt sat down in a chair opposite them, "And I like talking about my kids. I still call them that. My kids."
Giles sat next to Buffy on the couch, "I, I suppose you were like a mother to them. You did everything for them?"
"Oh yes. I fed them, clothed them, educated them in the way of the lord. I was given a medal."
"Yes, wonderful. Uh, congratulations. Um, this'll sound a little strange, but, ah, did you notice any odd disturbances in the house?"
She frowned, "I don't understand."
Buffy sighed and explained patiently, "Maybe like stuff appearing out of nowhere or maybe the furniture moving by itself. Or you saw someone one second and the next they're gone."
"Why, that sounds like crazy talk."
"Yes, it does, doesn't it? Yes. Um," He looked towards Buffy and sighed, "Well, forgive me for, for asking this, but um, the children in your care, were any of them ever ill, or did anything ever happen to any of them?"
"Well, some had the flu and such. No one died, if that's what you mean. The engraving on the medal says how good I was with the children." Mrs. Holt smiled, "I treated them as I would my own flesh and blood. Gave them hugs and praise when they were good, and punished them when they were dirty."
"Well, ah, children will be children. They, you know, they do like to play in the, uh, the muck."
Buffy saw the disapproving look on Mrs. Holt's face and suddenly realized the truth, "You didn't mean mud dirty."
"My kids didn't think I knew, but I did."
Giles looked at her and tried to find the most appropriate comment, "Very, uh, perceptive of you."
"Without me they would have been shut out of the kingdom. Lost to lust."
"But you," Giles paused, "helped them."
"The girls felt the vanity more than the boys. I'd see them preening like Jezebel. Doting over their pretty hair."
Buffy looked at her in disgust, "So, you'd hack it off."
"I'd remove the temptation to admire themselves. They were better for it."
"What about the bathtub?" The memories came back and Buffy resisted the urge to shudder, "Something happened there."
"I performed baptisms on the most unclean. Those who were tainted with impure thought and deed."
Giles' voice was tinted with shock and anger, "You held them under?"
"They needed to be reborn," she got up, "You choose to pass judgment on me?"
"Well, someone ought to! You traumatized and abused these children, children who, who have no doubt become extremely disturbed adults! You have ruined lives, Mrs. Holt. Furthermore, what you did has now manifested itself as a, a malevolent presence which threatens still more lives! You have a great deal to answer for."
She looked at Giles dismissively, "I refuse to listen to this when I can smell the sin on both of you."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Because of what you did, my *friends*," she paused, "Well, my friend is stuck in that house and she can't get out. You didn't help anybody, Mrs. Holt, you destroyed. God," she shook her head in disgust and stormed out of the room followed by Giles. The two didn't even flinch as the door slammed behind them.
"Well, that totally adds to my "old people are crazy" theorem." She sighed, "I don't get it. I mean, those kids were tortured, but they weren't killed, so where are those ghosts coming from?"
"I don't believe there are any ghosts. I believe they're apparitions. I believe we're dealing with a kind of poltergeist. A whole cluster of them, in fact, born out of intense adolescent emotion and sexual energy."
"Both of which were totally pent up during Mrs. Holt's reign of repression."
"But, something must've started it."
Giles gave her a pointed look and Buffy gasped.
"Oh, don't tell me that *I* started it?"
"Well, it usually involves two people."
"So, what? Riley and I set it free and now it's like feeding off of Willow and Spike?"
"Yes. And now the poltergeists are drawing more and more energy out of them. They're the ones powering this whole thing."
"Okay, they're the battery in the boo factory, so what happens when the battery's drained?"
"They die."
~^~**~^~
His skin felt like it was on fire. Every moment that he wasn't touching her, it felt like he was burning. Spike quickly pulled Willow on top of him and they both moaned. His hands traveled all over her body and he let out an unneeded gasp as she plunged herself down onto him. She raised her body up and started a slow pace.
Spike watched, completely mesmerized by her movements and the look in her eyes. She was so gorgeous. And she was his. For now at least. After all this ended, the feelings would go away. There wouldn't be anymore. His skin would no longer burn with need for her touch. His heart would no longer feel like it was pounding inside his chest. And his body would no longer feel alive.
A sad expression covered his face but he quickly shooed it away and kept his blank face on. She smiled down at him and kissed him softly.
~^~**~^~
Buffy sat at the table in Giles' apartment and sighed, "Isn't there some kind of spell we can do to fix this? Maybe something of the counteracting sort?"
"I suppose we could try to bind the spirits first. That would give you enough time to get Willow and Spike out of there."
She jumped to her feet and looked at him expectantly, "Why are you still sitting? Let's go and do that then."
"It's not that simple, Buffy. I alone do not have enough power to pull off a spell of that sort.”
Buffy looked down, her head snapped up as she realized something, "Anya. She has plenty of experience in the magicks, she could help you.”
Anya nodded, “I’ll help in any way I can.”
Buffy looked at the whole room and let her leader-self come forth, "Okay, Xander, Anya and Giles, you guys stay here and do the spell. Riley and I will go back to the house.” She looked at them and waved her hand, "Get started."
She turned back and gave Riley a unsure look, "Come on, we better get some weapons. I've got some back at the dorm."
Riley looked at her and raised an eyebrow as they walked out of the apartment, "What good are weapons against disembodied spirits? They have no ass to kick."
Buffy shook her head, "Just in case."
~^~**~^~
Giles held out his hands, “Give me your hands. Form a circle.” He cleared his throat and began the spell, "Children of the past, spirits of Lowell, be guided by our light. Come forth and be known to us."
Xander peeked open an eye and asked, "Ho-how will we know when it works?"
Anya gasped as she saw the group of ghost-like children stand around them.
Giles swallowed hard, "We'll know."
~^~**~^~
Riley stepped up to the door and watched as it swung open by itself. He looked in and saw that no one was there, "House is clean."
Buffy nodded and gulped before stepping through. "Anya said she saw them going towards the back so," she turned the corner and saw the vines sprouting from the door of a room.
"How will be know which-" Riley paused when he saw the vines as well, "Gotcha."
Buffy gripped the axe tighter, "We need to work fast. Never know how long before the munchkins get homesick."
"Or the battery conks out."
She walked towards the door and saw the vines continue to grow, "Watch your fingers."
~^~**~^~
"We implore you be still." Giles continued, silently proud of himself for keeping calm. "Find it in your hearts to leave our friends passage."
"Transform your pain. Release your past," Anya said. She looked to Xander.
"And uhh, get over it."
Giles gave him a look and he shrugged.
~^~**~^~
Buffy continued to hack at the vines angrily. She looked back at Riley, "Are you okay?" He nodded at her and she got closer to the door. She grabbed onto the doorknob when a sudden wind rose, blowing her back into Riley. They both stumbled until they caught their balances.
~^~**~^~
A wind suddenly blew into Giles' apartment but the Watcher continued the spell, raising his voice, "Find here the serenity you seek, the peace you-"
The children around the suddenly disappeared and the candles flew up and slammed against the wall.
Anya looked around, "What happened?"
Giles shook his head, "We lost them."
Xander's eyes got wide, "Oh, god, Buffy."
~^~**~^~
The wind continued to blow and it threw Riley against the door of the bathroom, causing him to crash through. Buffy looked back at him, "Riley!" She rushed into the bathroom and saw that he was being held under by some unseen force. She grabbed onto him and pulled him out.
He took a few gasping breaths before finally nodding and rasped, "Go, go get Willow."
Buffy walked back to the door and began hacking away at the vines with even more force, "Shut up! You repressed crybabies!" Finally getting to the door, she grabbed onto it roughly and twisted. She kicked open the door and at that moment, the wind died down immediately and the vines disappeared. She heard a gasp and looked up, her eyes wide. "Oh, god! I didn't need to see that, I didn't need to see that." She turned around quickly and thankfully, Riley was there. She leaned into his chest, still mumbling, "I didn't need to see that."
Willow scrambled off the bed, sheet in hand as she tried to cover her body, "Umm, give me a few minutes." Her face still flaming, she managed, "I'll be out in a few, umm, minutes."
Spike rolled his eyes, "Don't you knock, Slayer?"
Buffy shot him a seething glare before turning back around and leading Riley away.
Willow quickly grabbed at her clothes and tried to get dressed while still keeping the sheet around her body, blocking Spike's view of her nakedness.
"Leaving so quickly, pet?"
She pulled on her jeans and shirt before clearing her throat, "I'm sorry for this, Spike. Whatever *this* was."
He grinned at her, "No need to apologize, luv, I had fun." He winked at her, "I had a lot of fun."
She coughed with embarrassment and quickly ran out of the room without even looking back.
Spike watched as she left with confused eyes. Damn it, wasn't the feeling supposed to go away after the spell ended?
The End