Chapter 30 – Child of Destiny


Unable to sleep, Buffy wandered around the hallways of the hotel. Even dressed in jeans and a sweater, the drafty hallways still had a chill creeping up her spine. Rubbing her hands over her arms, she slowly descended the stairs, looking at the lobby that was illuminated only by a soft moonlight around the edges as it crept through the doorways. Her vision automatically adjusted as her natural abilities took over.

‘The perks of having two vampires for parents,’ she thought with a slight smile.

Wandering into one of the offices, Buffy let her weight fall into the supple leather chair, idly swiveling in a circle. Seeing the picture of Fred and Wesley smiling in a silver frame, she smiled.

‘At least some people are happy,’ she thought, leaning her elbows against the flat surface of the cluttered desk. ‘Maybe I should just patrol. It might help me sleep later…then again, if I run into Dad while he’s out there, that could lead to all kinds of badness…oh well,’ she thought with a shrug, spinning around in the chair as she prepared to leave.

Groaning when her arm accidentally knocked over a stack of papers, Buffy knelt down to attempt to restack them with some semblance of order.

Daughter of Prophecy

The words seemed to jump out at her as she dropped the papers on the desk. Frowning while she picked up the simple piece of notebook paper, Buffy found herself falling back in the chair as she began reading.

Feeling the tears burning her eyes, she swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat.

“…the child of destiny…forever,” she whispered, reading the last line on the page before dropping it onto the desk.

Numbly standing up, Buffy walked through the office, quietly shutting the door behind her and leaning against it.

‘This can’t be happening,’ she thought in shock, sliding down to the floor and letting her head fall into her hands.

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed. The tears had managed to stay controlled, but just barely. Hearing a noise, Buffy slowly looked up, noticing the sky was lightening with the first rays of dawn.

Seeing Angel and Spike walking through, each looking a little winded after combing the streets all night, she didn’t bother to stand up, letting her head fall back into the palms of her hands, hoping that they wouldn’t notice her until she had a chance to sort out her thoughts. She should have known better.

“Buffy?”

“Luv?”

Looking up when she heard her father’s voice, closely followed by Spike’s, she slowly narrowed her eyes on Angel as she stood up on shaky legs.

Spike looked at her, worried about her ashen face and frail figure as she pushed herself to her feet, gripping the doorframe next to her, for balance. Everything in him demanded that he go check on her and make sure she was okay, but something in her eyes told him to stay back.

“Were you ever going to tell me?” she asked softly, causing Spike’s brows to knit together as he looked at her in confusion.

Unable to figure out if she was talking to him, he watched her clench her jaw, directing her gaze at Angel who was staying quiet. Looking over at his grandsire, he narrowed his eyes when Buffy continued.

“Was it just going to be this big secret for me to find out on my own? I guess so…since I did.”

“What are you talking about, pet?” Spike asked quietly, looking between father and daughter.

“You want to tell him or should I?” Buffy asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at Angel with a challenging expression.

“You know.”

“Damn right- I know. You didn’t exactly try and keep it a huge secret, since it was lying out on Wesley’s desk. So, yeah…I know.”

“Know what?” Spike asked, getting sick of the runaround these two were having.

“It would seem that Wesley has discovered a nice little prophecy about me,” she said to Spike, clenching her jaw and never taking her eyes off Angel.

Glancing over at his grandsire, Spike raised an eyebrow, seeing the sheepish expression on his face.

“Would it be faster for me to read the bloody prophecy or does someone want to fill me in on the specifics?”

“I’ll tell you,” Buffy said in a chipper tone that even made Angel cringe with the insincerity that laced through her voice. “The daughter of prophecy, known as many things, by the way- the child of destiny, descendant of fate…you get the idea. Anyway,” she continued in the same upbeat tone. “It looks like what my dear old Dad didn’t want me to discover is that the daughter of two vampires will go on to live forever.”

Silence seemed to smother all of them as they stared at each other.

“It’s not that big of a deal, Buffy,” Angel began, trying to make a weak argument.

“No?” she asked, tilting her head to study him. “I get to go on with this hellish existence until the end of the world, and you don’t think that it’s a big deal?”

“You’re being a little dramatic,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at her.

“How the hell would you know?” she asked, narrowing her eyes on her father. “You have no idea what I’ve been through.”

“It’s not like you live the life of a Slayer, Buffy,” Angel started to say. “It could be worse.”

“Yeah? And you know why it is worse? Because the Slayer does die. She gets a reprieve from this world after fighting the good fight and paying her dues. But me?” she continued, gesturing to herself. “I don’t have that luxury. According to your little unearthed prophecy, I get to live forever…fighting the fight that needs fighting. Being a born warrior, because hey,” she said in a bright voice, spreading her arms out to her sides. “Who cares if she has a normal life? Who cares if we strip everything away from her until she’s left with absolutely nothing! Who cares if no one gives a shit about me!”

“Buffy-”

“No!” she screamed at Angel. “You listen to me. You expect me to trust you when you can’t even be honest with me? You were never there for me. I’m tired of being the daughter of prophecy or the child of destiny or whatever the hell you want to call me this week! I’m not some damn statistic for a book…I’m me. I’m just me,” she trailed off in a whisper before rolling her eyes to fight back the tears as she looked at the ceiling, not wanting to see the expressions on either of their faces. “You know…when I want to be special, when I want to stand out and be noticed,” she said, shooting a pointed look at Spike. “I’m a nobody. But when I actually want to have a try at a normal life, I find out something like this and…God,” she said in exasperation, trying to keep her tears in check before looking at her father. “Were you ever gonna tell me?”

“When the time was right,” Angel murmured.

“And when would that be?” Buffy replied angrily, clenching her hands into fists. “Whenever you felt like it? Or whenever it was actually good for me to know? You think you’re the all-powerful Alpha male, but you’re not!”

“Watch your mouth,” Angel growled. “You may think you’ve grown up, but you’re still my daughter, Elizabeth.”

“Don’t call me that,” she said in a menacing whisper, practically running from the lobby, wanting to get as far away from him as possible. “That’s not my name!”

“It’s always been your name,” he yelled after her, causing her to stop halfway up the stairs. “‘Buffy’ is just a costume. Just a disguise to hide who you really are.”

“Yeah,” she muttered, turning around to face him with tears glittering in her eyes. “Because that’s what my whole life has always been. Just a mirage.”




 

Chapter 31 – Contradicting Emotions


Hearing the soft knock on the door, Buffy brushed the tears away, closing her eyes as she stretched out her senses. Letting her shoulders droop in relief when she recognized the familiar signature, she sighed. “Come in, Spike.”

Opening the door, everything in him was practically screaming at him to offer whatever comfort he could provide for her. Closing it with a soft click, he slowly walked over to the bed, sitting down and gently pulling her toward him, breathing a sigh of relief when her arms banded around his waist, seeking the comfort he was providing.

Letting a few tears spill free, Buffy took a deep breath, unable to look at him as she asked, “Did you know?”

“About the prophecy?” he murmured, feeling her nod against him. “No…you heard me downstairs…they didn’t keep me in the loop about it.”

“Would you have told me?” she whispered.

“If things had been different…yeah. I would have told you when you were old enough to handle it.”

“Why?” she whispered, her breath tickling his neck as her shoulders shook with sobs. “Why didn’t he just tell me? Why does he think I can’t handle it?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart,” he murmured into her hair. “I wish I could tell you, but I just don’t know.”

“Was he just going to wait and see what my reaction would be as I watched everyone I loved die while I never aged?”

Pulling back to look at him, Buffy felt her heart speed up when he tenderly brushed the tears away from her cheeks. Not wanting to give herself a chance to think, she let her lips gently brush against his in a soft kiss, pulling back after the barest caress to see his reaction. The shock registered in his eyes before he eagerly leaned forward, reclaiming her lips.

Neither made a move to deepen the kiss for the moment as her hands pushed the duster from his shoulders, allowing him to shrug out of it and the red shirt beneath it before she pulled him down to the bed. His stomach clenched in anticipation when her hands ran over the muscles in his abdomen and chest as she helped him remove his t-shirt before pulling him more forcefully on top of her.

“Make me forget,” she murmured against his lips, letting her eyes roll shut when his hand slid beneath her sweater, gently squeezing her breast, his thumb brushing over her sensitive nipple, leaving Buffy aching for his touch. Hesitantly pushing away from him for a moment, she quickly removed her sweater, leaving her in nothing but a lacey white bra and blue jeans, which Spike made quick work of removing. Feeling his body tighten in preparation as he looked at her, he wasn’t about to question this. Looking at her, sprawled beneath him in nothing but a bra and matching thong, he’d wanted it for too long to stop now. Even if this wasn’t the circumstance he was hoping for, Spike wasn’t going to deny her this.

Feeling his hand trailing along her thigh and brushing against the lace, Buffy moaned when his fingertips brushed her soaked thong out of the way. Arching her body against his as their lips met in a passionate kiss, she gasped against his lips when she felt one of his fingers slowly enter her while his thumb gently massaged her clit, sending little jolts racing through her body.

Squeezing his eyes shut when he felt her inner muscles clamp around him, Spike involuntarily breathed as he gritted his teeth, opening his eyes to see the surprise and pleasure wash over her when he slowly began moving his finger inside of her. Using all of his willpower not to unzip his jeans and pound her into the mattress, Spike settled for nipping at her neck with his blunt teeth.

Groaning when her hand cupped his covered erection, he fought his demon for control as Buffy hurriedly worked on his belt buckle.

“I need you,” she whispered frantically, pushing his jeans past his hips and moving until he was cradled between her thighs, giving him the control he obviously needed.

Parting her legs even more, Buffy arched her body against his. Barely feeling the tip of his cock inside of her, she was practically craving the penetration as her nails dug into his back, leaving deep scratches and nearly drawing blood as she clung to him.

“What the hell is this?!”

Feeling Spike practically leap away from her, Buffy rolled her eyes, letting her full weight briefly fall back to the bed as she heard her father’s voice.

‘This is not happening,’ she thought, shaking her head in frustration, running her hands through her hair.

“Don’t you knock?” she asked, sitting up and grabbing Spike’s red shirt, which was lying on the end of the bed. Glancing at Spike as he finished zipping up his jeans, she could practically feel the nerves radiating off of him.

“Not in my own home,” Angel finally said through clenched teeth, obviously restraining himself from inflicting some immediate violence as he watched Buffy rearrange the shirt so it wasn’t inside out before slipping it on and quickly buttoning it.

“What?” Buffy countered. “Privacy’s not an issue here?” she asked, standing up and smoothing the wrinkled fabric of the shirt before flipping her long hair over the collar.

Angel’s eyes darkened as he watched Spike close the distance between them, reaching out to wrap his arm around her waist.

“Get the hell away from my daughter,” Angel growled, his demon coming to the surface.

Spike reluctantly took a step away, recognizing the danger of the situation, but at the same time, pissed off that he couldn’t be with the woman he loved when he wanted her.

“Get out,” Angel continued in a low voice.

“No,” Spike replied, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I asked you to protect her, and you turn into a cradle-robber?!”

“Excuse me!” Buffy cried. “Standing right here!”

Spike bravely let a smirk come over his lips, tilting his head to study his grandsire. “I think it’s safe to say that she couldn’t be more protected, considering the situation. I don’t think anyone would be able to get to her. And it’s hardly cradle-robbing when she’s over eighteen and clearly wants it.”

Anticipating the blow, he quickly dropped his shoulder, rolling away from Angel and spinning around to retaliate, his eyes widening when Buffy was suddenly standing between them.

“Enough!” she cried, shooting each of them an angry glare before focusing on Angel. “I know what decisions I’m making. I know exactly what I’m getting myself into, and I don’t need you trying to play the protective role.”

“He’s family! You don’t sleep with family, Buffy!”

“Right,” Buffy said with a fake nod. “Because we’re so related, right? The only ‘family’ link I have with Spike is due to the fact that he helped raise me.”

“That’s not true,” Angel growled. “You’re practically related. It’s just…wrong.”

“And tell me, father dear,” she said sarcastically, crossing her arms over her chest. “Was Darla your lover, mother, or mate before she gave birth to me?”

Seeing his face drop when he realized what she said was true, Buffy whirled around to face Spike.

“And you,” she said, turning toward him with a glare. “I’m not some damn trophy! I’m not a possession that you can flaunt whenever you feel like, because you know what, Spike? I’m not yours.”

Feeling the possessiveness wash over him as she continued to glare at him, Spike suddenly had the urge to show her exactly who she belonged to.

“Get out,” she whispered, shaking her head in disbelief of the entire situation.

“The hell I-”

“Get out!” she yelled, looking at Angel and preparing herself to physically remove him from the room.

“What’s going on?”

Everyone turned in time to see Cordelia standing in the doorway with a shocked expression on her face.

“Oh boy,” she breathed, taking in the disarray of Spike’s clothes and the fact that Buffy was standing there in his red shirt that practically fell to her knees. “Angel…I think we should leave them alone,” she said quietly, walking forward and gently taking him by the arm.

“I’m not leaving her alone with him,” he growled.

“Angel,” Cordy began in a slightly patronizing tone. “Buffy is a big girl. She can take care of herself. You know that, so why don’t we just give her some privacy, and you can talk to her when you’ve cooled down, okay?”

Sparks still seemed to shoot between father and daughter as they glared at each other. Finally relenting, Angel allowed himself to practically be dragged from the room, leaving Spike and Buffy alone.

“Buffy,” Spike whispered, taking a step forward to wrap his arms around her.

“Don’t,” she said softly, turning around and pushing him away. “I don’t want to see you either. I just want to be alone.”

“I thought that’s what you didn’t want,” he countered with a glare, trying to cover up the hurt that was welling up inside of him. Seeing Buffy look at the floor with tears shimmering in her eyes, Spike was suddenly reminded that she was just a girl. Just someone who had unknowingly fallen in love with him and was now fighting it with everything she had. And he had practically mocked what she was willingly ready to give him. “Alright, luv,” he whispered, seeing her raise her watery eyes to look at him. “I’ll give you some time. Just promise me we can talk later.”

Hesitating for a moment, Buffy finally nodded. “I promise.”




 

Chapter 32 – A Father’s Love


She was anticipating it.

It’s not like it was completely unexpected. After all, she’d been awake for over two hours, pacing through the room, not bothering to change her clothes as she waited for the sound of that fateful knock.

Opening the door to see her father on the other side, Buffy decided to offer a meager peace offering, giving him a hesitant smile, which, to his credit, he tried his hardest to return.

“Come in,” she said softly, opening the door even more.

“What’s going on, Buffy?” he asked, barely even inside the room before he turned to face her, cringing at the fact that she was still wearing Spike’s shirt, in spite of the fact that it fully covered her.

“No pleasant small talk- check,” Buffy muttered to herself before turning her gaze to her father. “There’s nothing going on,” she finally whispered. “I thought that…I thought that I loved him…a long time ago.”

Crossing the room with a heavy sigh, Angel suddenly wished that it wasn’t daylight, wanting to be able to look out the window or do something that wouldn’t be hazardous to his health. He just wanted something to get the mental images out of his brain of Spike on top of his daughter.

“You don’t love him anymore?” he asked, turning to look at her after a long moment.

“It doesn’t matter,” she whispered, looking at the floor to fight the tears in her eyes. “We can never be together.”

Angel sighed heavily, closing his eyes before speaking. “Not that I’m pushing for this relationship…this is simply for my own curiosity…why can’t you ever be together?”

“Because he doesn’t love me,” she said in a choked whisper, never raising her eyes from the floor as she continued to hold the tears back. “Not the way he loved Lucy,” she said in a barely audible whisper, causing Angel’s eyes to nearly snap up to her. “Nothing is going to happen,” Buffy continued, doing what she could to reassure him. “What you saw…it was just about comfort. Nothing else.”

“Do you still love him?”

Unable to meet his gaze, Angel felt his heart fall with every second that ticked away without an answer.

“I’m not going to be with him,” she finally whispered.

Running a hand over his face, Angel had no idea what to say. ‘Maybe I should have let Cordy handle this.’

“Look,” Buffy said, turning her gaze to him as she sat down on the bed. “You don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to offer any fatherly advice or make threats against Spike or give me ultimatums. You’re as new to this as I am.”

Angel hesitantly walked over to the bed, sitting down next to her.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be the father you wanted,” he said softly, looking over at her.

“I’m sorry I seem like an ungrateful brat half the time,” she replied with a slight smile, feeling tears spring to her eyes when he kissed her temple.

“I love you, Buffy.”

“I know,” she whispered. “That’s never been a question…not really.”

Giving her a slight nod, he slowly stood up and walked toward the door. “I’m not happy about this, but…”

“It’s okay,” she said with a forced smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be back to my bright and shiny self before you know it.”

* * * * *

Walking into the lobby, Angel suppressed the growl in his throat when he saw Spike standing by the open back door, smoking a cigarette in the shaded area.

Clenching his teeth as he walked toward him, he watched as Spike crushed the cigarette under his heel.

“Come to stake me?” he muttered, not bothering to turn around and face his grandsire.

“Maybe.”

Slowly turning to face him, Spike’s jaw set as he looked at his grandsire. “Let’s have it out, then. Get it over with,” he said, holding his arms out to his sides, inviting Angel to do whatever he needed to do to get it out of his system.

“Has it happened before?” Angel asked, ignoring the statement as he glared at the other man.

“Once,” he replied honestly, preparing himself for a fight when he saw Angel’s jaw tick.

“Have you claimed her?”

“No,” Spike said, shaking his head. “I would.”

Taking an unneeded breath, Angel briefly closed his eyes, wanting to disassociate himself from the situation. “Have you bitten her?”

“Twice.”

“Twice,” he muttered, clenching his fists, knowing that Buffy wouldn’t forgive him if he did something to Spike. “She loves you, you know?” Angel said, gritting his teeth.

“She did,” Spike replied miserably, looking at the floor for a moment.

Not bothering to correct him, Angel took a moderate amount of pleasure in the fact that Spike didn’t know Buffy’s current feelings.

“I wanted you to watch out for her, because you were the only one for the job.”

“I know,” Spike said quietly.

“I knew you would protect her, in spite of how much you might hate me…and if you hurt her, I’ll kill you and make you suffer in ways Angelus can’t imagine.”

Eyes widening in surprise, Spike watched as Angel, with an enormous amount of willpower, turned and walked into his office, slamming the door so hard, the casing cracked.

* * * * *

Stepping into her room, Spike looked around, surprised to see Buffy moving around the room, throwing her clothes into one of her bags as she haphazardly packed.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked, shutting the door behind him as he watched her back straighten with the question.

“Leaving,” she muttered, resuming what she was doing as she picked up a pair of jeans to put on.

Snatching them from her grasp, Spike held them out of her reach as her eyes finally met his.

“You said we’d talk.”

“It’s called a phone,” she replied, turning away from him. “Handy little invention.”

“I don’t want to do this over the phone.”

“Well, too bad,” Buffy cried, spinning around to look at him. “I don’t want to do this at all.”

“Yeah? Have a nice life.”

Seeing the panic flash in her eyes, Spike watched as she quickly masked it, biting her lip as she turned to face the bed.

“What are you saying?” she whispered, refolding a shirt while she waited for his answer, trying to maintain the illusion of being in control.

“You’re always the one running away…I’m tired of chasing you.”

“I never asked you to chase after me,” she cried, spinning around to face him again. “I recall mentioning how I wanted to be left alone- you were the one who insisted on staying. You were the one who…”

“Who what?” he asked in a low voice, grabbing her arm when she tried to turn away. “Who what?”

“Who made me fall in love with you,” she whispered, keeping her eyes downcast when she felt his hand fall away from her arm, not trusting herself to look into his eyes.

“Where are you going?” he asked softly, after a long moment.

“Away,” she whispered.

“Away?”

“I don’t know where I’m going,” she said softly.

Gritting his teeth as he looked at the ceiling, Spike closed his eyes, knowing what he had to do. “I’m going with you.”

“I don’t need a guardian…I’m eighteen, I’m sure my father will release you from your obligations.”

“That’s not why I’m going,” he said softly, seeing her shoulders tense at the implication in his words.

“I can’t offer you anything,” she whispered, taking a deep breath.

“I didn’t ask,” he replied calmly.

“I’m not the same person, Spike,” she said softly. “I’m not used to answering to people and I won’t make myself go back to that.”

“I can handle it.”

Buffy looked up at him, studying his expression for a moment. “Okay…let’s say we go somewhere. And since you’re obviously not asking me for anything, like you said, what if I leave for a day or a night with another guy? Because that’s what people do when they’re on their own…can you handle that?”

It was a test. She knew it. He knew it. The question was- would he take the bait?

Tilting his head to the side, Spike regarded her for a long moment before she finally saw a spark of yellow flash in his eyes. “You go off with a strange man or any man, for that matter, and rest assured I would snap his neck before the night was out.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow in response, turning to face the bed.

“Not the answer you wanted, sweetheart?” he asked in a condescending tone.

“You know what? You’re nothing but a typical man!” Buffy cried, spinning around to face him, finding herself inches away from him. “Possessive and demanding. I offer to give you everything I have and you throw it back in my face. But the second, the very second that I could possibly move on with my life, you have to wedge yourself back into it and play with my feelings again! It’s all just a big game to you, isn’t it, Spike?”

Smashing his lips to hers in a crushing kiss, they practically battled each other before Spike felt her submit to him, melting into his embrace as she clutched at his duster, before noticing what she was doing. Breathlessly pushing him away, her eyes narrowed when she realized what happened.

“Don’t do that!” she cried indignantly. “You don’t…you can’t just control me, Spike.”

“Never said I could.”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head with a mocking smile. “Why say anything when you just use something else…something intimate to control me.”

Closing his eyes with the realization that he’d done it again, Spike let his weight fall to the bed. “I’m sorry, pet,” he said with sincerity. “It’s the demon…craves dominance and submission.”

Reminding herself that he was technically still a soulless monster, she took a deep breath, knowing that she wasn’t being fair. Sitting down with a heavy sigh and a dejected expression, Buffy let her shoulder brush against his as they stared at the wall. “It’s not just your fault,” she whispered. “I could have said no at anytime, but I just… how can I have so much power and still feel so…”

“Powerless?”

“Yeah.”

Turning toward her, Spike let his hand gently massage the small of her back as he affectionately nuzzled her neck, wanting to give her something tender for a change. “Luv, you couldn’t be powerless if you tried.”

A/N I wanted to give you guys the big Angel/Spike confrontation and I really tried. It would have easily flowed out if he was the jealous lover, but I didn’t feel like the ‘father’ would do it. I kept thinking about season 4 of Angel and it just didn’t fit, so I hope none of you are disappointed.

Chapter 33 – A Simple Request


Sitting in comfortable silence, Spike finally pulled Buffy fully into his arms, smiling when she curled her body against his.

“Can we just stay here?” she whispered. “Just for a little while.”

“Here in L.A. or here in the room?”

“Maybe both,” she murmured, feeling her heartbeat speed up when Spike picked her up and easily maneuvered them until they were laying down on the bed.

“Alright,” he said softly, briefly closing his eyes when she rested her head against his chest. Laying in contentment with each other, she relaxed even more when she felt his fingers gently run through her hair before he slowly bent down and left a lingering kiss on the top of her head.

Fighting the shiver that threatened to run through her, Buffy sighed in contentment, letting her mind wander for a few minutes, pretending that he actually wanted to be here with her and she wasn’t a poor substitute for someone else.

“Why does this scare you so much?” he whispered into her hair, inhaling the sweet scent as he waited for her to respond.

Snapping out of her fantasy, Buffy suddenly remembered the prophecy she had discovered that led to the events of the night.

“Because I’ll be alone,” she replied in a choked whisper, trying to take a deep breath.

“What?”

“What happens when Dad becomes a real boy, Spike?” she asked, sitting up and turning to face him with a watery gaze. “What happens when he gets his happily ever after and I’m stuck here to wander this earth until the apocalypse that finally takes? I’m alone. He’ll Shanshu and…”

“And you’ll stay the daughter of prophecy,” he murmured, remembering the term that she had used earlier. “But you won’t be alone. Don’t think for a second that you will be,” he said softly, brushing the hair away from her eyes.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because you have me,” he said simply.

“No, I don’t,” she murmured, sitting up and moving to the edge of the bed.

Catching her before she could leave, Spike pulled her back to face him. “You always have me. Nothing is going to change that.”

“Then prove it,” she whispered, her eyes wide with clarity as she sat up a little straighter.

“What?” he asked in confusion, tilting his head to study her.

“Prove it,” she repeated, inching closer to him. “Take me…make me yours.”

Feeling the shock seeping through him, Spike’s lips parted as he contemplated her for a moment, wondering if she was serious.

“Do you have any idea what you’re asking me to do?” he asked, pushing the hair off her neck as he eyed it hungrily.

“I know exactly what I’m asking,” she replied, swiftly moving until she was straddling his lap. “This doesn’t have to mean anything,” she continued in an urgent whisper, not knowing that the darkening of his eyes was desire and not confusion. “I just want to know that I belong to someone. I want to know that no matter where I am, I won’t be alone…even if I am.”

“Buffy,” he said softly. “Pet, I always imagined that when this happened, it would be because we both wanted it and not because you feel you have to do something to keep me close.”

Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Spike made a move to grab her as she slowly tried to lift her body away from his. “I understand,” she murmured.

“You understand what?”

“That you don’t want me,” she whispered, unable to look into his eyes. “I know it’s a big deal to claim someone and you’d want to save it for somebody you can really care about, but I thought that…”

Trailing off in a choked voice, Spike watched as she battled the tears in her eyes.

“Don’t think that,” he said in a quiet voice, shaking his head, trying to control himself. “I’ll make you a deal, pet,” he continued, cupping her cheek and running his thumb along her cheek. “You think about this…make sure it’s not just an impulsive decision, and if you think it’s what you really want…I’ll do it. I’ll do it in a heartbeat,” he added with a smile.

“Really?” she asked in disbelief. “You would…you would want this…me?”

“God, yes,” he murmured, bringing her closer to brush his lips over hers in a brief, tender kiss. “When are you going to realize that I want you for you?”

“Spike…”

“Yeah, luv?” he replied, pulling away from her, trying to control his sudden erection, making it that much harder with her body on top of his and his hands resting on the bare expanse of her thighs.

Nervously running her fingernails along his covered abdomen, Buffy hesitantly looked into his eyes, biting her lip as she tried to get through her nervousness. “Claim me,” she whispered, tilting her neck in invitation.

“Wasn’t exactly what I meant when I told you to think it over.”

“You don’t have to…go by the traditional rules. I just want to feel safe.”

“If you want me to do this, then there’s no going back,” he said with a serious expression. “You’ll be mine and no one will touch you.”

“You really want me?” she whispered, unconsciously moving closer to him.

Cupping her face in his hands, Spike could see the insecurity in her gaze. “Listen to me,” he said softly. “I love you…I love you, Buffy.”

Feeling her chin tremble when his lips met hers in a tender kiss, Buffy let her lips play on his for a moment before pulling away and tilting her head.

Seeing her neck exposed as the long hair fell away from her shoulders, Spike’s fangs itched for freedom.

“Please, Spike,” she whispered.

“It shouldn’t be like this, Buffy,” he said, shaking his head. “It should be right.”

“How much more right can it get?” she asked, looking at him with pleading eyes. “You just told me that you love me…that’s as right as it gets in my book.”

“Then tell me,” he whispered, seeing a brief flash of panic in her gaze before she took a deep breath.

“I love you,” she murmured, avoiding his eyes as she battled her tears. “I don’t…I didn’t want to, but…I never stopped.”

“I know,” he said softly, pulling her close and gently biting her neck with his blunt human teeth. It was his way of testing whether she really wanted this or not. If she had tensed at all, he knew he wouldn’t be able to go through with it.

But she didn’t.

Hearing her breathy gasp as she leaned closer to him, Spike could feel her fingers digging into his shoulders. Calling his demon forth, he felt her tremble with anticipation when his tongue trailed along her throat.

“Please,” she said in a hoarse whisper, practically letting her body melt against his.

Running his hand up the length of her back, he gently gripped the back of her neck, holding her in place before pulling back to look at her.

Seeing his true face, Buffy stared at him with wide eyes before giving him a soft smile, knowing that he was asking for her silent acceptance. Reaching up to slowly trace along his ridged brow, she tentatively leaned forward, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss, careful to avoid his fangs before slowly pulling away and giving him a slight nod.

Taking a deep breath, Spike pulled her closer to him, feeling his previous mark practically calling to him.

Piercing the tender skin of her throat, he could feel her thigh muscles contract around him as she tensed before slowly releasing the pressure. Hearing the soft moan that escaped her lips, he took deep pulls of her blood, relishing the sweet taste of it on his tongue.

‘The blood of a Slayer didn’t even taste this good.’

The feeling of his teeth in her neck, combined with his hard body pressed intimately against hers, Buffy felt like she was going to explode. Unable to control herself any longer, she frantically worked on his belt buckle, freeing his erection as she brushed the fabric of her panties away. Impaling herself on his cock, she was vaguely aware of Spike extracting his teeth to pull back and look at her.

Hearing her moan at the loss of contact, he let the demon visage slip away as she frantically moved her hips with his. Gently caressing his lips with hers in a tender kiss, Spike pulled back, seeing the need on her face as he pressed his forehead to hers, never letting his gaze leave her eyes.

“Mine,” he whispered, brushing his lips over hers again, in the lightest touch.

“Yours,” she murmured, trembling when her orgasm began to build, feeling the strange, encompassing feeling of warmth as the claim took effect, binding her to Spike, letting her know who she belonged to. Crying out when he latched onto her throat again as his hands ripped open the shirt, exposing her to his wandering hands, she felt the pull on her neck go straight through her body, moving more frantically when she felt him reach up to palm her breast before twisting her nipple until she was screaming in climax.

Gripping her hips in a bruising hold, Spike continued to move her, pumping into her at a rapid pace, seeking his own release. Feeling her teeth in his throat, his entire body shook with the force of his orgasm as her muscles strangled his cock, pumping into her with a final thrust, he tensed while he emptied himself inside of her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he let his head fall to her shoulder as Buffy removed her teeth and relaxed against him, completely sated.

“Mine,” she said breathlessly, offering a halfhearted smile when Spike pulled back to look at her.

“Yours,” he whispered in amazement, tilting her neck to expose his mark before tenderly running his tongue along her throat, lapping up the blood that was pooling from the wound and sealing it.

“Thank you,” she murmured, pulling back to look at him as she ran her hands through his hair.

“Nothing to thank me for, baby. You’re mine, Buffy.”

“Forever?” she asked, her nervousness threading through her words.

“Forever.”

A/N Not finished yet- still have several chapters to go :-)

Chapter 34 – Never Let Go


Watching as Buffy slowly opened her eyes, Spike had to smile at the confusion that seemed to materialize for a moment before she realized where she was.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly as she raised her eyes to his.

Hesitantly touching the marks on the side of her neck, she bit her lip as she nodded, an unreadable expression on her face as she avoided his eyes. “Yeah,” she murmured. “I’m fine.”

“Do you regret it?” he asked, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice as Buffy turned her gaze to his.

“Do you love me?” she replied, needing to hear it again.

“I love you,” he whispered, relaxing when a brilliant smile lit up her face as she eagerly pulled him closer to kiss him.

Pulling away after a long moment, Buffy shook her head. “I don’t regret it.”

“Good to know,” he said with a smile. “Did you sleep well, luv?” he whispered, unable to resist the urge to nuzzle the swollen mark on her neck.

Instantly calming under his touch, Buffy’s heart rate skyrocketed at his close proximity, trembling when she felt his lips gently caressing his mark.

“What are you doing?” she whispered breathlessly.

“I seem to remember you asking me what the point was with claims,” he murmured against her skin.

“Th-that was when I was claimed without really wanting it,” she said, letting her eyes close when she felt his fingers easily parting the fabric of her shirt.

“One of these days, we’re going to have to do this without clothes,” he murmured, pushing the shirt over her shoulders and maneuvering her until he was able to throw it to the floor. Pulling back to admire her body as her smooth skin was exposed, he slowly traced a finger along her abdomen, smiling when she shivered and lifted toward his touch.

“No time like the present,” she replied, her voice practically pleading with him.

“Not this time,” he whispered, slipping a hand beneath the lace of her panties. “This time, it’s just for you.”

Gasping when his blunt teeth nearly attacked her throat, Buffy shuddered as his finger put pressure on her clit before trembling when an unexpected orgasm washed over her. Biting his shoulder to stop her screams from ripping from her throat, she slowly pulled away, seeing Spike with a smug expression on his face.

“What was that?” she asked breathlessly, gasping for air.

Arching an eyebrow as he smirked, Spike tilted his head to look at her. “I believe it’s called an orgasm, luv.”

Smacking him on the chest, Buffy rolled her eyes. “Not that,” she said in exasperation. “I meant, whatever you did,” she murmured, suddenly unsure of herself as her fingertips ran over his mark on her neck.

Watching her frown when she didn’t get any feeling that was close to the same result, Spike had to smile as her brows drew together, causing a tiny crease to form. Leaning over her once more, he took her hand in his, letting his blunt teeth scrape over the swollen skin of her neck, pulling back when she gasped.

“One of the benefits,” he said softly, looking into her eyes and getting lost in her gaze.

“No complaints,” she said breathlessly, giving him a soft smile before snuggling against his chest, frowning after a moment.

“What is it?” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

“What’s what?”

“You’re unhappy about something…what is it?” Sitting up to look at him, Spike gave her a small smile as they linked their hands together. “There’s a lot that goes with this, Buffy. Especially considering you not only returned the claim, but made one of your own.”

“But I’m not a vampire,” she said in confusion.

“No, but you’re the daughter of two. You have the strength, the immortality…makes the bond that much stronger.”

“Then you can feel what I’m feeling?” she asked softly.

“I can,” he said with a nod, tilting his head to look at her. “Now, what made you unhappy?”

Smiling sheepishly, Buffy avoided his gaze for a minute before giggling and pulling at the fabric of his shirt. “I just wanted this off.”

Chuckling with her, Spike sat up and quickly stripped off the shirt, pulling her back into his arms as he lay down. “Better?”

“Mmm, much,” Buffy purred, snuggling close to him, enjoying the feel of her skin against his, letting her eyes close in exhaustion. They hadn’t rested much, and the exertion of the day was catching up with her. “We still have to tell my dad,” she whispered, biting her lip when she felt his muscles tense. Fighting back the tears at the reaction, Buffy closed her eyes as she took a deep breath.

Even without the claim, Spike would have been able to feel the nerves and sadness radiating off of her as she tried to pull away from him and sit up.

“Stay here, pet,” he said softly, holding her close, unwilling to let her leave so soon, especially when something was obviously bothering her. “What’s wrong?”

“Do you want to keep it from him? From…everybody?” she asked sadly, hating the fact that after everything they’d been through, he might want to keep her as his dark little secret.

“No,” he replied, shaking his head and pressing a kiss to the top of hers. “Just worried about what your poofter of a father is going to say, that’s all.”

Closing her eyes when she felt his fingertips graze over his mark, Buffy sighed, relaxing against him. “I can talk to him. While you’re away…far away. Possibly in a neighboring town.”

“He asked me if I bit you.”

Shooting up to a sitting position, Buffy turned her wide eyes to Spike. “He did? What did you say?”

“Told him the truth,” he replied with a shrug. “That it happened twice.”

Watching her with an amused expression as Buffy began prodding his chest with her fingertips, Spike tilted his head with a slight smile.

“What’re you doing, pet?”

“Wondering why you’re not dust,” she replied with a smirk, giggling when he flipped their positions on the bed, pinning her beneath him.

“Are you saying I couldn’t take him in a fight?” Spike asked, arching an eyebrow as he looked at her.

“I don’t know, Spike,” she said with a skeptical look, struggling to keep a straight face. “He’s pretty tough.” Hearing the warning growl that came from him, she smiled before continuing, “But, I guess you have your own attributes that you could bring to a fight.”

“Bloody right, I do,” he replied with another growl, unable to keep up the false pretense as he looked at her for another moment before smashing his lips against hers, kissing her with such passion, Buffy felt as if she was being claimed again.

Breaking away after a moment, he looked at her flushed face and rapidly heaving chest. Not saying anything, he pulled her toward him again, rolling over and settling back into their previous position.

Closing his eyes after a moment, Spike sighed when he felt her fingertips gently trail along his abdomen. Her cheek rested against his chest, letting her silky hair spill along her shoulders and onto his.

“What’s going through that mind of yours, pet?”

“Do you think I’m going to age?” she asked, her hand never stopping its movement.

“I doubt it,” he murmured, closing his eyes as he inhaled the sweet scent of her hair. “Not much more, anyway.”

“How do you know?” she asked, turning her eyes up to his face and smiling when she saw how relaxed he was.

“That’s the way it works,” Spike said in a soft voice, focusing on her gentle touch. “You obviously have a purpose in this life, and I doubt you can fulfill it as an eighty year old woman.”

Giggling softly, Buffy relaxed even more, closing her eyes and letting the exhaustion begin to take over. Her body was craving these stress-free moments that she was getting.

“You know,” Spike said with a smile obvious in his voice. “We could always go to Hollywood. You’ll be young and beautiful forever- just what that town is always looking for and never finds. You could make millions, luv.”

Laughing together, Buffy turned to look at him again. “Beautiful?”

He could feel the nervousness coming off of her as she looked at him. “I already told you that you are. Still don’t believe me?” he asked, tilting his head to look at her.

“That was a year ago,” she replied, cuddling closer to him. “I’ve changed since then.”

“And it’s made you more bloody gorgeous than you were,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head before settling in for a nap.

Spike was nearly asleep when he realized that Buffy wasn’t sleeping. “What’s wrong, Goldilocks?” he murmured, running his hands through her hair.

“Do you ever get the feeling that you’re living the wrong life? Like there’s been this massive mistake and the life you were dealt is just this big, cosmic joke?”

“Can’t say that I have, pet. You saying that this, between us, is a mistake?”

“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head as she looked at him. “You’re the one thing in this life that I am sure of.”

“Good to know,” he murmured, brushing his lips against hers. “Because I’m not letting you go.”




Chapter 35 – Permanent Decisions


Looking over at her sleeping lover, Buffy let a smile play on her lips as she moved closer to him. Her naked body pressed against his, causing him to unconsciously seek out her warmth, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him.

Glancing at the clock, Buffy bit her lip, seeing that it was past midnight. Hearing her stomach growl as it reminded her that she hadn’t eaten in twenty-four hours, she slowly disentangled herself from Spike’s embrace. They had been in bed for hours, and after their most recent round of lovemaking, Buffy didn’t expect him to wake up for a while.

Standing up, she smiled as she watched Spike smack his lips and scratch his chest before rolling over to her side of the bed. Stifling the giggle, Buffy pushed her pillow next to him, running her hand through his hair as he snuggled closer to the pillow, inhaling her scent.

Reaching for the red shirt that had ended up on the floor at some point in the night, Buffy frowned. Chances are, she would run into her father at this hour, and it probably wouldn’t be the best idea to smell like her lover.

* * * * *

Twenty minutes, a hot shower, and some fresh clothes later, Buffy wandered into the kitchen of the hotel. Taking in the stainless steel appliances as she walked toward the huge refrigerator, she let her fingers trail along the flat surface of the counter.

The kitchen was spotless, considering the fact that it’s only use was to hold blood and snacks. Cordelia definitely didn’t cook, but Buffy was hoping that she would be able to find something edible at this hour.

“Guess I could always go to Steak and Shake,” she muttered to herself before smiling. “Have to take a stake, though.” Jerking open the door to the refrigerator and freezer at the same time, she smiled when she saw the pint of Cookies and Cream ice cream that was sitting in front of her. Eagerly grabbing it out of the freezer, Buffy began searching the drawers for a spoon.

Finally finding one in one of the many drawers, she moved toward the center of the room. Sitting down at the huge counter, she couldn’t help but smile as a memory of the more naïve fifteen-year-old Buffy seemed to surface.

“Spike, it’s mine!” Buffy shrieked, running around the kitchen island as she tried to catch the vampire who was holding her ice cream hostage.

“Not nice to not share, Princess,” he taunted with a playful smile, dipping a finger into the melting substance and bringing it to his lips, briefly closing his eyes as he savored the taste. “Mmmm.”

Narrowing her eyes, Buffy leaped over the island, surprising both of them with her speed. But apparently she wasn’t fast or tall enough, since Spike merely chuckled and held the carton over his head, laughing harder when she made an attempt to jump and recapture it.

“No fair,” she pouted, crossing her arms over her chest and stomping her foot, inwardly thrilled that he was showing her so much playful attention. The kind of attention that only she was on the receiving end of. “You’re taller than me. And besides, you can’t even taste it, and you’re hoarding it for yourself.”

“I can taste it,” he replied indignantly. “Just don’t need it for nourishment…and it packs on the pounds.”

Buffy snorted, imagining Spike gaining any weight from a few bites of ice cream when he probably burned off a pound a night patrolling.

“You can taste it?” she replied with an arched eyebrow.

“Okay, maybe not the same way you can, but that’s still no reason to be stingy.”

Giggling softly, Buffy tossed her hair over her shoulder as Spike took a step toward her. Dipping his finger into the ice cream again, her eyes briefly widened when he offered her the taste.

Letting a soft smile play on her lips for a moment, she slowly stepped forward, accepting the offer.

Resisting the urge to close her eyes as it began to melt on her tongue, Buffy watched as Spike’s jaw tightened before she swirled her tongue around the tip of his finger, smothering a smile when his eyes rolled shut.

Unknown to either of them, that was the moment when everything changed…it would just take another three years before either of them were able to do anything permanent about it.

“You look lost in thought.”

Her spine straightened as she was pulled out of one of her favorite memories at the sound of the familiar voice. Turning toward the entrance of the kitchen, she let herself relax and smile when she saw her father. “Not really,” she replied with a shrug, letting her brow furrow when he walked toward her before shrugging off the uncomfortable feeling with a brighter smile. “Ice cream?”

Studying the offered carton for a moment, Angel finally smiled, reaching into a nearby drawer for another spoon.

“What’s going through that head of yours?” he asked, sitting down next to Buffy and digging into the ice cream.

“Nothing much,” she said around a spoonful. “Memories…I guess.”

“Good or bad?” he asked, glancing over at her.

“Definitely of the good,” she replied, trying to control the blush that was rising to her cheeks.

“Didn’t see you much today,” he said, not looking over at her as he got another helping.

“Yeah…I was, um…clearing things up with Spike.”

“About that…Buffy, I don’t like it.”

Turning toward him with a frown, she slowly tilted her head, studying the deep brown eyes and familiar face that suddenly didn’t look as familiar as it once did.

“I’m capable of making my own decisions now, Dad,” she said softly.

“Spike’s not a good decision,” Angel said with a slight shake of his head.

“Why? A man who would do anything for me? Who has stood by and protected me, worried about me and comforted me? A man who you trusted enough to watch over me, suddenly isn’t good enough for me?”

“It’s not about that, Buffy. I just don’t think you should let things go too far.”

Biting her tongue as she looked at the countertop, she felt as if her heart was being pulled in two different directions. But there was no doubt about who the real winner would be.

“I’m not giving him up, Dad,” she said quietly, turning toward him with a pained expression.

Her heart rate sped up when she saw his expression immediately darken, showing her a side of the man that she’d never met.

“That’s too bad,” he replied in a cold voice before slamming his fist into her cheek, nearly shaking his hand when a dull pain shot through his arm with the force of the punch, knowing that it would leave an impressive bruise on her cheek. Watching as Buffy toppled off the stool and landed on the cold cement floor, unconscious, he slowly stood up with a maniacal smile as his eyes hardened even more. “Guess we’ll have to rectify this in a more permanent way.”


 

Chapter 36 – Daddy Dearest


Groggily opening her eyes, Buffy frowned as the dull pain seemed to evolve into a full explosion inside of her head. Groaning in pain, she slowly pressed her hands against the cold, unfamiliar cement floor and pushed herself up to a semi-sitting position. Looking around the bare room that looked like a converted warehouse, she frowned when her eyes settled on her father, staring down at her with a cold smile.

“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice laced with pain as she slowly reached up to touch her tender cheek with the back of her hand.

“Someone needed a lesson in discipline. That’s what I’m here for,” he said, clasping his hands behind his back and pacing around her in a slow circle.

Narrowing her eyes as she studied him, Buffy felt her stomach drop when she realized what was going on. “And you are?”

“Oh, forgive me,” he said with a lazy smile. “I forget we’ve never been properly introduced. The name’s Angelus.”

“Thought as much,” Buffy replied, painfully pushing herself to her feet with a grimace. Locking eyes with him again, she suppressed a smile at the dejected look on his face that she didn’t seem as scared of him as he thought she should. “And how are you here?” she asked, refusing to back down from a demon she’d been warned about her whole life.

“Don’t know, don’t care,” he replied, resuming his pacing, obviously not concerned that the young girl wasn’t chained or tied up. “What I care about,” he continued in a slow, drawn out voice. “Is how you’re here…or more accurately, why you’re still here.”

Narrowing her eyes, Buffy crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to be intimidated. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Angel knew,” he interrupted, never faltering as he continued to walk around her in a slow circle while Buffy’s cold gaze followed him. “He was willing to do the upstanding thing and let it happen.” Coming to a stop in front of her, he turned to face her with a deadly glare. “I’m not so forgiving.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she repeated, becoming more uncomfortable with the situation.

“And you never will,” he replied, lunging at her throat.

* * * * *

“Where the hell are they?” Spike growled, pacing around the hotel as Cordelia and Wesley sleepily sat on the couch, watching him.

“Spike, Angel knows this city,” Wesley said, suppressing a yawn. “He’s lived here for over twenty years, and if Buffy went with him, nothing is going to happen to her. Why don’t you go back up to your room and get some rest.”

“Because she would have told me,” he growled, frustrated that the claim was still at such a new stage that he couldn’t pinpoint her location. He just knew that she wasn’t in the hotel. “She would have left a note or done something. She wouldn’t have just up and left. And I wouldn’t have woken up feeling a flash of her pain.”

“She probably just needed some fresh air after she stubbed her toe or something,” Cordelia said, trying to appease the frustrated vampire and ignoring the fact that he had obviously claimed her. “I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”

Opening his mouth to respond, Spike froze when he felt a distinct tremor of fear rush through him as the marks on his neck tingled before panic seemed to explode through his body.

* * * * *

Swallowing a gasp when Angelus came rushing at her with his demon visage firmly in place, Buffy ignored her fear as she threw her arms up to block his attack. His impact propelled them backwards, sending her crashing to the floor. As her back came in contact with the hard surface, she tried to ignore the fresh pain in her body as she struggled to keep his teeth from sinking into her neck. Or from discovering Spike’s marks, since she didn’t know what kind of reaction this version of Angel would have regarding the claim.

Cringing when she pushed against his chest, Buffy managed to thrust her knee into his stomach, hearing a groan of pain and giving her the opportunity to shove him away before rolling over and jumping to her feet.

Panting with the exertion, she watched as Angel got to his feet with a smile on his face that could almost be…pride?

“You know…I knew Angel wasn’t that bright, considering I’m the real brains of the operation, but sending you away just takes the cake.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, narrowing his eyes on the ghost of her true father, unwilling to let him get to her with his fucked up mind games that she’d been warned about.

“Having such a young, willing body at his disposal,” Angelus clarified with a slow smirk. “I definitely won’t mind breaking you in.”

“Okay…one- ew. Two- you’re a little more psycho than I would have thought. And three- eww.”

“It’s not bad if you want it,” he said before dropping his voice to what should have been a seductive whisper, but it was a voice that Buffy found just a little more than disturbing considering the situation. “And don’t worry,” he continued. “After a while, you’ll want it. Oh, there’s definitely some things I have planned for that body,” he said, looking her up and down with a leer.

“Are you trying to test my upchuck reflex?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him, continuously reminding herself that this man wasn’t her father. He was merely a mask that Angel was forced to wear.

“Come on, Buffy,” he said, drawing out her name as he looked her up and down. “You know you want it.”

“Can’t say it’s ever crossed my mind,” she replied, tilting her head to the side, not letting him see that he was affecting her as she offered him a tiny smile. “Never been much for the ‘Daddy’ fantasy.”

“And what about Spike?” he asked with a slight growl. “Because that’s what he’s been to you. You really thought he would be good for you? Spike doesn’t know what to do with a woman.”

“Oh, trust me, he’s anything but a father figure. And I’m well aware of what he’s capable of. Consider me broken in.”

Seeing the anger cloud the vampire’s vision, Buffy briefly thought Angel had come to the surface of those brown eyes but soon realized that it was merely Angelus’ rage. Bracing herself for an attack, she was surprised when he merely continued his casual perusal of her body before cocking his head to one side as he narrowed his eyes, studying her face.

“Your eyes,” he said in a soft voice that sounded so much like Angel, gazing at her with a look Buffy didn’t recognize. “You have Darla’s eyes.”

Seeing the flash of pain and curiosity in her gaze before she carefully hid it away, Angelus smiled.

‘And there’s her weakness.’


 

Chapter 37 – A Father’s Legacy


“She hated being pregnant, you know,” Angelus said, walking around Buffy in a slow circle, watching as her eyes followed his every move, wisely not trusting him.

“Yeah, well, judging from the fact that she had to kill herself to have me, I didn’t expect the pregnancy was all roses and puppies,” Buffy replied, trying not to show how affected she was by this conversation.

“She hated you,” he said with a wicked gleam in his eye, seeing her chin tremble slightly. “Everything about you, from the way you squirmed around inside of her until the time she went into labor. Until finally, she just…jammed a stake in her own heart so she would never have to look at your face. Kind of makes you ache inside, doesn’t it?” he asked in a soft voice, bending down to look into her eyes.

“No,” she replied softly, tilting her head and staring at a spot over his shoulder as if she was thinking of something instead of trying to hold back her tears. “You know what I am?” she asked, turning her attention back to him. “Bored.”

Throwing her fist toward his face, Buffy was moderately surprised when he rolled his shoulder, practically sending her crashing into him with the momentum of not connecting with the punch. Catching herself before she was in a vulnerable position, she quickly angled her arm, letting her elbow smash into his temple in a forceful blow, knocking him to the ground.

Slamming her foot into his face, Buffy breathed a sigh of relief when he collapsed on the ground, unconscious.

Temporarily debating with herself about whether or not she should attempt to tie him up or take him with her, Buffy bit her lip before looking toward the exit of the building.

“No,” she muttered, glancing at Angelus one more time before running through the warehouse. “I’m not one of those idiot girls from a horror movie who doesn’t know the danger she’s in.”

Slamming through the door, Buffy didn’t bother to stop to get her bearings. She knew Angelus would be able to track her, and she wasn’t about to risk letting him get close to her.

* * * * *

“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but you’re bloody well going to help me find her! Do a fucking locator spell or something! I don’t care, just find her!”

Spike’s frantic voice traveled toward her before she even entered the hotel. It was nearly sunrise by the time she’d made her way back to the Hyperion, and Buffy was exhausted from running the entire way.

“Spike, listen to me, if you would just calm down, we’d…”

Trailing off when she heard the doors open, Cordelia turned and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Buffy practically fly through. Spike met her halfway, lifting her into his arms and squeezing her with his full strength. Closing his eyes and breathing deep as he reassured himself that she was alright, he didn’t bother to loosen his hold on her.

Buffy clung to him with equal strength, letting the tears spill free as she squeezed her eyes shut, burying her face in his neck and sobbing as the events of the night finally caught up with her.

Loosening his hold on her so that he was no longer crushing her, Spike pulled back to nuzzle the mark on her neck, doing what he could to settle her down through his touch. He didn’t know where she was or who she was with, but the distress that he was feeling from her was practically knocking him over.

“Calm down, baby,” he whispered, kissing his mark on her neck, ignoring the other people in the room as he attempted to calm her. He was terrified of what could have happened to her, but the fact that she was in his arms was enough to keep his questions silent until he made sure she was okay. “You’re safe.”

Taking a shuddering breath, Buffy slowly pulled back to look up at him with wide eyes. The fear was evident in her gaze, causing more fear to pass through to Spike. Cupping her face in his hands, he tenderly smiled down at her, not willing to let her know how worried he was as he brushed a tear away with his thumb. Watching her chin tremble, he briefly closed his eyes before offering her a tentative smile, needing to stay strong for her.

“What happened, luv?” he asked, tilting his head to look at her, never breaking contact for fear that one of them would collapse as the stress of the day caught up with them.

“Angelus,” she whispered, glancing over at Wesley and Cordelia, feeling a shudder pass through Spike and into her. “He’s…I don’t know what happened, but…”

“He’s back,” Wesley said, swallowing hard as he looked down at the floor as everyone sat in stunned silence.

Pulling Buffy closer to him, Spike gritted his teeth, turning to look at the other man with narrowed eyes. “And why don’t you sound surprised, mate?” he asked, feeling Buffy snuggle closer to him, seeking the comfort that only he could give her.

Slowly rubbing his eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose, Wes disappeared into his office.

Clenching his jaw, Spike took a deep breath before turning back to the woman in his arms. “Are you alright?” he asked, studying Buffy, stretching out his senses to make sure she wasn’t injured, other than the dark bruise on her cheek.

“Yeah,” she whispered with a hesitant nod. “Just a little shaken up. He’s, um…he’s not the best company.”

“No,” Spike agreed, glanced at the door of the office and seeing Wesley reappear with an old piece of parchment. “He’s not.”

“This is why,” Wes said in a soft voice, seeing Buffy turn her eyes to his.

“What is it?” she asked, never making a move to leave Spike’s embrace.

“A prophecy,” he said softly, obviously not wanting to tell her what this particular prophecy entailed.

“Of course it is,” she replied with a sardonic laugh. “I mean, why wouldn’t it be, right? I am the daughter of prophecy, after all.”

Cringing at the sarcasm-laced words, Wesley nodded. “Quite literally, actually.”

Pulling away from Spike but keeping his hand firmly locked with hers, Buffy stared at the other man in confusion. “What do you mean?” she asked softly.

“You are, literally, the daughter of prophecy,” he muttered, unable to look at her as he held up the piece of paper. “This prophecy. You’re his daughter.”

“The prophecy itself is about Angel,” Spike muttered, drawing his eyebrows together in confusion. “What’s it say?” he asked, trying to keep the anxiety out of his voice for Buffy’s sake.

“That the daughter will kill the father,” Wesley said, never looking up from the scroll he was holding, unwilling to see the expression on the young woman’s face. “It’s cryptic, at best, but we do know that Buffy will have to kill him.”

Frantically looking around the room, Buffy took in the different expression on everyone’s faces. Cordelia’s sadness, Wesley’s indifference, Spike’s compassion as his eyes met hers. She quickly looked away, knowing that she would crack under the force of her emotions if she continued to look at him.

“That’s what he was talking about,” she murmured, closing her eyes to try and stop the pain.

“What?” Spike asked, turning her to face him. “What did he say?”

“He said that Angel knew. That Angel was willing to do the upstanding thing and let it happen,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she recalled Angelus’ words. “And then he said that he wasn’t as forgiving, but he wouldn’t tell me why.”

“It has to happen, Buffy,” Wesley said softly, still looking at the prophecy in front of him, reading what he could from it. “So it is written…so shall it be.”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head, clutching at Spike’s forearm, trying to keep her strength. “I can’t…how can they expect me to…”

“We’ll figure something out,” Spike murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist, trying to soothe her as he attempted to calm her through the claim. He could feel the tension rolling off of her. Feel the despair wafting around her at the thought that she would have to kill her only blood relative.

“So this is his reward? This is what he gets for all his years of fighting the good fight and nearly getting himself killed in the process? He gets to die anyway?” she asked, finally looking into Cordelia’s eyes and seeing the sad acceptance on her face. “You knew,” Buffy whispered in disbelief. “You knew and you didn’t tell me.”

“We all did,” she said softly, glancing over at Wesley. “Wes and Fred found the prophecy a long time ago, but Angel thought that you would have to kill him to fulfill the prophecy. I’m sure he never dreamed it would be Angelus or he would have warned us. He would have told you.”

“And he was just going to let me kill him?” Buffy asked, trying to unsuccessfully control the volume of her voice as she picked up the paper and threw it on the floor. “For no other reason than a fucking prophecy has it written?”

She looked around the room as everyone watched her. Unable to handle it anymore, Buffy collapsed on the floor, burying her face in her hands as she cried.

Vaguely aware that Spike was sitting behind her, pulling her into his lap as he wrapped his arms around her, Buffy turned and sobbed into his chest, clutching at the lapels of his duster as he tried to calm her. “I can’t do it, Spike,” she whispered, trembling when he gently kissed her neck. “I can’t kill my father.”

 

Chapter 38 – Moment of Truth


Leading Buffy into their room, Spike almost couldn’t turn around to face her, listening to her soft sobs.

“Come here, sweetheart,” he whispered, closing the door behind them and pulling her into his arms, closing his eyes when she buried her face in his chest and cried as she clung to him.

“Why?” she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt. “Is this just some Higher Power who’s wanting to get a good laugh at my expense?”

Pulling back to look at him, she felt her chin tremble as she looked into his eyes.

“I don’t know,” he whispered, brushing the tears away from her cheeks.

Stepping away from him, she wrapped her arms around her body, slowly pacing the room, muttering to herself. “Let’s have her mother kill herself, and then she has to kill her father. That’s poetic justice. Because it brings the family full circle and leaves her right where she should be…alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Spike said softly, trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

Turning around to face him, Buffy’s eyes widened when she realized what she’d said and the fact that she forgot she wasn’t alone in the room. “I’m sorry, baby,” she whispered, offering him a soft smile when she saw the slight pout forming on his lip.

“Why do you keep saying that?”

Letting her smile fade, she glanced at the floor. “Maybe that’s how I feel sometimes,” she murmured, not wanting to see the look on his face.

“Is that what you want?” he asked, looking at the floor, trying to keep his throat from closing with the emotions he was feeling.

“No,” she whispered, feeling the tears spring to her eyes as she shook her head. “No, that’s not what I want at all…I just…”

“Just…what?” he asked, tilting his head to study her as she swiped at the tears on her cheeks. He could feel her pain radiating into him, and it felt as if he was growing weaker by the moment.

“I just know you can’t help me with this,” she murmured, her chin trembling with emotion.

“I’ll always help you,” he whispered, finally closing the distance between them, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.

“The prophecy says I have to kill him, Spike,” she said softly, her fingernails digging into his back as she held onto him, obviously not ready to let go. “Not you…me.”

“Doesn’t say anything about you having help, though,” he replied, feeling a wave of uncertainty pass through her before she slowly looked up at him. Seeing the honesty and the desperate need to help her, Buffy finally smiled as she nodded.

“I guess that’s true.”

* * * * *

“How’s this going to work?” Fred asked, looking from Wesley, who was sitting at the reception counter in the lobby, to Buffy, who was restlessly pacing back and forth, checking her watch every few minutes as she waited for the sun to set.

After resting with Spike for a few hours and spending the remainder of the day sparring with him to be ready for the confrontation, Buffy was getting edgy. She wanted this finished.

“Simple,” she replied, not making contact with anyone in the room as she continued her pacing. “I find him. I kill him. It’s pretty cut and dry.”

Furrowing his brow as he watched her, Spike tilted his head, disturbed by the disassociated tone of her voice. He was tempted to leave his spot against the wall to attempt to talk to her, but he could tell by her rigid stance that she was simply preparing for battle.

And it was really turning him on.

Finally snapping out of her thoughts, Buffy let a small smile pull at her lips as she turned to Spike, feeling the wave of lust that hit her through the claim. Suppressing a smile when he merely smirked at her and arched an eyebrow, Buffy rolled her eyes as she resumed pacing.

Frowning after a moment, she slowly looked around the room, feeling a distinct presence missing.

“Where’s Cordy?”

Seeing everyone look toward Angel’s office, Buffy swallowed hard before taking a deep breath and walking toward the door.

Not bothering to knock, she slowly walked into the small room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

“Hi,” she whispered, looking at the woman who, by all rights, was her mother.

Sitting at Angel’s desk, Buffy could see the picture frame in the brunette’s hands as she gently ran a hand over the glass that separated her from the picture of her with the man she loved.

“I used to say that he didn’t photograph well,” Cordy whispered in a choked voice. “Isn’t that silly? He obviously looks good, no matter what the situation is.”

Feeling her heart ache for the other woman, Buffy felt tears come to her eyes, wondering if she could be this graceful and mellow if the situation was changed and someone was prophesized to kill Spike.

No.

She knew she wouldn’t be.

Maybe that was a lack of maturity on her part. Maybe she just wasn’t as adept to hiding her emotions. She knew that Cordelia loved her father more than anything, so it definitely wasn’t a question of that. But then again, Cordy had known about the prophecy for some time. She’d probably been through the denial, anger, and disbelief that any normal human goes through when faced with the death of a loved one.

Now it was just quiet acceptance.

“I’m sorry,” Buffy whispered, fresh tears streaking down her cheeks as she remained huddled next to the door.

Looking over at the young woman, Cordelia offered her a watery smile. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about,” she said, shaking her head. “Angel knew all about the prophecy. He accepted it. That’s part of the reason he stayed away while you were growing up. He knew that it would be even harder on you if you had to kill a man you were close to.”

Nearly choking on a sob, Buffy’s legs gave out, sending her crashing to the floor as she curled into herself, weeping into her hands.

Feeling herself wrapped in a comforting hug, Buffy was vaguely aware when she was passed to a stronger pair of arms, realizing that Spike had entered the room.

Knowing that he was feeling everything she was, Buffy snuggled closer to him as she cried, trying to give and receive comfort at the same time.

“He knew,” she whispered. “He knew the entire time and I…I just acted like a spoiled rotten brat because my father couldn’t be bothered with me. He was trying to save me from even more pain and I…”

“Shh,” he whispered, nibbling along her neck to soothe her. His mate was distraught and it was affecting him more than he thought possible. “He understood, luv. He knew what he was doing and how you would react.”

Resting her head against his chest and finally relaxing when he wrapped her tightly in his arms, pulling her even closer to him, Buffy was about to respond when the door opened.

Everyone turned to see Wesley standing in front of them with a somber expression on his face.

“It’s time.”
 

Chapter 39 – Living Among the Dead


It didn’t take long to find him.

Buffy practically had a sixth sense when it came to knowing where her father was. Or more accurately, where Angelus was.

The group was small. Wesley and Spike had insisted on backing her up, but everyone was in agreement that Fred and especially Cordelia should stay at the hotel. It was bad enough that Buffy would have to see her father die at her own hands- she didn’t want that image being the last thing Cordelia ever remembered. Even if he technically wasn’t the man she loved, Buffy knew that Cordy’s last memory of his face shouldn’t be him turning to dust.

Walking into the warehouse, her jaw was set in a firm line as she looked around the open area.

“Looks like someone’s been busy today,” she muttered, double-checking the stake that was tucked in the waistband of her leather pants before hoisting the sword up in a defensive maneuver, waiting for Angelus to jump out at any given moment.

The space had obviously been cleared out fairly recently, leaving a huge open area in the center of the building.

Spike could feel the familiar presence of his grandsire. Looking around, his jaw clenched in frustration as he glanced up at the catwalk. Even in full vampire guise, he couldn’t pinpoint the exact location.

With a heavy sigh, Buffy walked to the center of the room, standing in the dim light, giving herself a slight advantage that he wouldn’t be able to sneak up behind her, out of the shadows.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” she called in a sing-song voice, giving the sword a good twirl as she looked upward, not willing to let him sense how unnerved she really was.

Whirling around when he heard a soft thump behind him, Spike snarled as he watched a two-by-four connect with Wesley’s head, knocking the other man unconscious.

“Should have known you would have brought reinforcements,” Angelus said, shaking his head with a slight smile as Spike approached him. “Tsk, tsk, tsk…should have known I couldn’t trust you around her.”

Not giving Spike a chance to comprehend what he was saying, Angelus pulled out a small crossbow, aiming it at Spike’s heart and firing.

“No!” Buffy screamed, running for the two vampires, feeling as if she was going to faint from relief when she saw Spike turn, letting the arrow embed in his shoulder.

Growling as he pulled the arrow from his shoulder, he flung it back at the older man, letting a smile cross his face when it stabbed him in the stomach.

“You should know better than to give me a weapon,” he said in a low voice.

All Buffy saw was a blur as Angelus jerked the arrow of his stomach and bent down to pick up the sword Wesley brought with him. Letting it slice through the air at Spike’s neck, Buffy immediately planted herself in front of her mate, stopping the sword with her own.

“Spike, get out of here!” she yelled, using all of her strength to push Angelus back, trying to retain a semblance of control.

“No!” he yelled back.

“Better listen to her, Willie,” Angelus said with a smile. “She’s having to fight defensively to keep you safe, and I gotta tell you, I really want to see what she’s got.”

Growling possessively, Spike dove for his grandsire, vaguely aware of the sword slicing along his stomach as he tackled him.

“Spike!”

Punching the other man, Spike heard Buffy’s frantic cry but didn’t dare take his eyes off Angelus.

Wondering why the older vampire wasn’t fighting back, he was mildly surprised when he found himself hurtling through the air, landing on his back on the hard cement floor.

Jumping up with a roar, Angelus stalked toward Buffy, seeing the shocked look on his face. For a split-second, she thought that this was her father, merely walking toward her to reprimand her about something. It wasn’t until he’d angrily grabbed her hair and forcefully jerked her head to the side that she remembered who she was truly dealing with.

Struggling against his hold, Buffy cried out in pain when his other hand twisted her wrist, forcing her to drop the sword with a clatter.

Inwardly feeling a tremor of fear pass through the woman he loved, Spike jumped up to a standing position, running toward the couple in the center of the room. Surprised when Angelus let go of Buffy’s wrist to spin around and slam his fist into Spike’s jaw, the blonde vampire quickly righted himself, freezing in terror when he saw that Angelus could snap Buffy’s neck at any moment.

Panting as she glanced at Spike, Buffy tried to control her emotions, for his sake. She knew that he wanted nothing more than to get to her, but if anything happened to him, she wouldn’t be able to live with herself. Briefly closing her eyes, she waited for the final blow that would come at any moment, marveling to herself that not all prophecies were right.

Gritting her teeth when Angelus still didn’t make a move, Buffy turned her eyes to his, seeing the anger simmering below the surface.

“You claimed her?” he growled, narrowing his eyes on Spike. “You claimed the woman who’s rightfully mine?”

Seeing her window of opportunity, Buffy spun around, bringing her arm down hard on his elbow, breaking his hold on her.

“Yes,” she replied, delivering a high kick to his head before spinning around and letting her foot connect with his stomach. “After I begged him.”

Reeling back, Angelus snarled as he punched her, knocking Buffy off her feet. Growing irritated when Spike stepped up, the two attacked each other with renewed force, one fighting for a woman he thought rightly belonged to him and no one else, the other fighting for the woman who willingly belonged to him.

“How’s it feel, mate?” Spike asked, smashing his fist into the other man’s nose, feeling sickened by the fact that Angelus wanted Buffy for himself. “Knowing that she chose me. That she wants me!”

“You’ll always be a poor substitute, Spike,” he replied, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the floor. “That’s all you were to Drusilla. Just a partner to have around when she couldn’t have me. Hell, you couldn’t even have Lucy. She wouldn’t give you the time of day. And Buffy? You just wanted something that was mine. You tried to take something from me since you couldn’t have anyone you really wanted.”

“Never mind the fact that she chose to be with me. Because I love her. And you’re also forgetting one thing,” Spike said.

“What’s that?” Angelus asked with a sadistic smile, gritting his teeth when Spike grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around to face Buffy.

“Me,” she replied in a deadly tone. Not giving Angelus a chance to react, Buffy slammed a stake into his heart, feeling as if her own heart was shattering with it. Seeing the demon slip into the face of her father before exploding in dust, she felt her body grow weak.

Catching her before she collapsed, Spike held her close as she began to cry. “I’m sorry, luv,” he whispered, stroking her back and running his hands through her hair as she cried.

“I didn’t think it would be this bad,” she murmured against his chest, grateful that he was there to hold her. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never,” he said in a strong voice, cupping her face in his hands to look in her watery eyes. “I love you. I’m never going to leave you.”

* * * * *

Feeling numb as she walked into the hotel, closely followed by Spike and Wesley, who was rubbing the bump on his head, Buffy briefly made eye contact with Fred before walking toward Cordelia.

“Are you okay?” Cordy asked, hugging the younger woman and looking at Spike as he paid close attention to Buffy.

“Could be worse…I guess,” she muttered. “I mean…killing my father, not exactly on my top ten list, but we’re all still here,” she finished, glancing at Spike and Wesley over her shoulder, giving them a soft smile.

“But you’re okay?” Cordelia asked again, looking at Buffy worriedly.

“I will be,” she murmured, blinking back the tears in her eyes as she turned and walked toward Spike, letting him take her pain away for a few brief moments as he held her.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Buffy sniffled as she pulled away from the comforting arms of her lover, turning to the front of the hotel. Her eyes widened as she gasped in disbelief, unwilling to believe what was right in front of her.

“Angel?” Cordelia whispered, swallowing hard as she took a step toward the man.

A brilliant smile lit up his face as Cordy ran for him. Lifting her in his arms, he eagerly kissed her, spinning them in a slow circle.

Buffy watched in stunned silence with everyone else, her lips parted in astonishment.

“It’s impossible,” she murmured, reaching for Spike’s hand and squeezing it for reassurance.

“Yeah,” Angel said with a smile, approaching his daughter. “It is. But it’s true.”

Trembling as he closed the distance between them, Buffy felt more tears spill over, looking into the warm brown eyes of her father, nearly breaking Spike’s hand with the pressure she had on it as she hugged her father.

“I’m sorry, Buffy,” he whispered with a remorseful expression.

“This…it’s not happening,” she muttered, shaking her head, seconds before she threw herself into her father’s arms, nearly breaking his bones with the force she was holding him.

“It is,” he said with a slight nod, holding his daughter close. “And I never wanted you to see that side of me…to hear…”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said softly, slowly pulling back to look at him, willing to forget everything that Angelus had said to her as long as her father was back. “But…how?”

“Looks like there was another attachment to the prophecy,” he said with a slight smile, glancing at Wesley and Fred, who were as stunned as everyone else.

“What attachment?” Wes asked, looking at him in disbelief.

“The prophecy that mentioned the daughter will kill the father…it was the first part of a larger one…”

“The Shanshu, of course,” Wesley said in understanding as if he should have known it all along. “The cycle- you get to live until you die. To die and to live again. The vampire with a soul, once he fulfills his destiny, will Shanshu…become human…it’s his reward. And turning into Angelus was the final test?”

“It was,” he said softly.

“You’re human?” Cordelia and Buffy asked at the same time.

Angel smiled at his daughter before turning to the woman he loved and embracing her again. “I am.”

Walking back to Spike, Buffy snuggled closer to him, Her sadness seemed to evaporate as he held her, watching her father so happy with the woman that he was meant to be with.

Glancing around the room, Spike pressed a kiss to Buffy’s temple, smiling at her when she looked up at him with a blissful expression.

“Thank you,” she whispered, closing her eyes when his lips brushed over hers in a tender kiss.

“For what, Goldilocks?” he asked, running his hand over her hair.

“For being here. For being supportive guy.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he said with a smile. “Among other things.”

Giggling quietly, Buffy rested her head against his chest, smiling as Wesley and Fred slipped out the door.

“Spike?” she whispered, not wanting to disturb the other couple.

“Yeah, pet?”

“Let’s go home.”

“Sounds good,” he murmured, gently biting the mark on her neck, smiling against her skin when she shivered. “I think it’s about time we started on our own ‘happily ever after’.”

 

Chapter 40 – End of the Beginning


Looking into his eyes as she pulled him down to lie on top of her, Buffy felt her breathing escalate as her eyelids fluttered shut.

Spike suppressed a groan of desire when his bare skin came in contact with hers, his body sliding sensuously along hers while she moaned, arching her back to encourage his movements. Meeting her lips in a tender kiss, he smiled against her lips when she cried out in pleasure, digging her fingernails into his back.

Slowly pushing into her until their hips met, Spike pulled back to look at her clouded eyes, seeing the love and devotion shining in them.

“You’re mine, Buffy,” he whispered, slowly pumping in and out of her.

“Always,” she gasped, closing her eyes when his blunt teeth gently bit along her neck, sending chills of anticipation racing through her.

Placing her feet on the firm mattress, Buffy forcefully thrust her hips against his, craving his touch while he continued to tease her with the nibbling bites along her neck. Sinking her teeth into his shoulder, she smiled against his skin when a low, rumbling growl of approval reverberated to her.

“I need you,” she whispered frantically.

“You have me,” he said in a soft whisper, sending more chills running through her when she felt his cool breath on her ear.

“Spike, please…”

“You want me to bite you?” he asked, suppressing a smile as her inner muscles clenched around his cock in anticipation.

“You know I do,” she whispered, pulling his head down to her neck and trembling when she instinctively sensed the demon visage come over his face.

Trailing his tongue over his previous mark, Spike felt her shiver beneath him, feeling the need in her body before gently letting his fangs slice into her neck, smiling against her skin when she screamed out her release, letting her muscles clench around him as stars burst in front of her eyes.

Unable to hold off any longer as the blood flowed onto his tongue, Spike plunged into her welcoming body, pulling his lips away from her neck with a roar as he practically exploded inside of her.

Feeling her hands lose their hold and fall to the mattress, Spike smiled against her neck as he involuntarily breathed against her skin.

“That was amazing,” he whispered, pulling back to look at her. “You’re amazing.”

“You got the job done yourself,” she said with a smile, struggling to keep her eyes open as the exhaustion seemed to weigh her down.

Gritting his teeth as he pulled out of her, Spike reluctantly left the warmth of her body. Immediately rolling them so Buffy could snuggle against his chest, he let his eyes close as he absentmindedly ran his hand through her hair.

“This home now, pet?” he asked after a quiet moment.

Glancing around her bedroom, Buffy bit her lip. She liked Las Vegas. She really did, but it no longer felt like home. They had only been back for a day, but it didn’t feel the same.

Maybe that was because she never felt at home anymore unless she was in Spike’s arms. Maybe it was because he had claimed her in Los Angeles and now she felt an undeniable pull back to the same place. Of course, that could be because her family was so close to the area. It had been hard enough leaving her newly human father and coming back here.

“I don’t know what this is,” she said after a moment. “I love it here, but…”

“You’re young,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “You want to see the world.”

“Yeah,” she whispered. “It would be nice. But we have a lifetime to do that, right?” she asked, turning to look at him with a questioning gaze.

“That we do,” he replied, offering her a soft smile as he caressed her cheek.

“Ever seen Paris at night?” she asked with a teasing grin.

“Not in this lifetime,” he said with a chuckle. “Is that your not-so-subtle way of asking me to take you to Paris?”

Raising an eyebrow, Buffy sat up, watching as he raised an eyebrow, appraising her bare torso as the sheet slid down her body, leaving her hair to fall over her shoulder in such a way that he felt himself growing hard again.

“I don’t need to ask you to take me anywhere,” she said, irritation making its way into her voice as her independent nature came through. “If I want to go to Paris, I can be on the next plane out.”

“Not without me, you couldn’t,” Spike replied, putting one arm behind his head, unashamedly perusing her naked body as he spoke.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, obviously becoming more frustrated with him.

“It means,” he began, quickly reaching out and jerking her arm that was bracing her body out from under her, sending her crashing against his chest. “That you are my mate, Buffy. You don’t go anywhere without me.”

Staring into his serious eyes, Buffy finally let her expression soften. “I know that,” she whispered with a gentle smile, relaxing when she saw his eyes become clear as the minimal anger receded. “I was just saying…”

“That you don’t need me to protect you,” he filled in with a smile. “I understand. I don’t need to protect you, Buffy, but I am going to be with you.”

“That’s fine with me,” she murmured, laying her head down on his strong chest and closing her eyes in exhaustion. “That was the point of the whole claimy thing,” she whispered sleepily.

“Wasn’t the only point, Goldilocks,” he replied, tugging on her hair in amusement.

“I know,” she said with a slight yawn. “But having you around for eternity could have its advantages.”

Hearing the smile in her voice, Spike gently kissed the top of her head before replying, “I feel the same way. After all, having you could have its advantages, too.”

“How so?” she asked, turning toward him with a curious expression.

“Well, let’s see,” Spike replied, looking up at the ceiling as he pretended to think before turning back to her. “Having the woman I love with me forever…not a bad deal. Especially when she’s hot.”

Giggling softly, Buffy brushed her lips against his in a tender, loving kiss.

“Not to mention the biggest advantage,” he continued with a teasing smile. “The fact that you’re the daughter of prophecy.”

Chuckling when she swatted his chest, Spike watched as Buffy giggled and rolled her eyes, shaking her head slightly.

“You know…I really, really hate that phrase.”





THE END…

A/N That’s not all folks. Part 2 will be posted in the near future…if anyone is interested. I’m going to try and finish Criminal Games and then I’ll work on the second part. Thank you so much for all of the reviews and support! You all are so wonderful!