Future Childe
by Ariel Dawn

Summery: In which Buffy and Dru have a little têtê-à-têtê and Willow mourns her fish.

Disclaimer: Not mine... You know the drill

Author’s note: Another chapter! Go me! Still feel guilty for chapter 9. Quotes from the episodes Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and Passion
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Chapter 11: Tea with Grandmummy

“Ha, ha, ha. This time I'm ready for you. No 'F' for Xander today. No, this baby's my ticket to a sweet D-minus.” Xander stood up with is paper, ready to hand in the vile thing to the teacher.

Buffy shook her head at Xander. Sure he wasn’t the best student, but he sold himself short a lot of the time. Willow walked down the aisle of the classroom and stopped next to Amy.

“Hey, Amy.” greeted Willow.

“Hey,” said the former cheerleader, pulling on her back pack “Are you guys going to the Valentine's Day dance at the Bronze? I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.”

Willow turned to look at Buffy with a huge smile on her face.

“Go ahead. You know you wanna say it,” said Buffy.

Willow faced Amy again, grinning broadly. “My boyfriend's in the band!”

“Cool,” replied Amy.

“I think you've now told everybody,” said Buffy.

“Only in this hemisphere,” said Willow pulling on her backpack.

“What about you?” Amy asked Buffy.

“Oh, Valentine's Day is just a cheap gimmick to sell cards and chocolate,” offered Buffy.

“Bad breakup, huh?”

“Believe me when I say, 'uh-huh'.”
__________________________________________

During training time, Giles felt it necessary to have one of those talks. You know the ones, where the adult in question really gets uncomfortable? Come to think of it, most of her talks with Giles are like that nowadays. Buffy was sitting at the table hugging her knee watching the awkwardness unfold.

“Are you okay?” she asked the watcher.

“Me? I-I-I'll be fine.” Giles scratched his nose and then carefully put his hands back into his pockets. “Um, I was more concerned about you, actually. Uh, since Angel, um... uh... turned...” Giles sat on the table and folded his hands “I've, um, been reading up on, on his earlier activities. Y'know, uh, feeding patterns a-and the like.”

“And?”

“Around Valentine's Day, he, he, he's rather prone to, uh... well, um, brutal displays of, uh... He would think of it as affection, I suppose.”

“Like what?”

“No, no, uh,” Giles removed himself from the table “no need to go into details.” He said as he walked away from the table

“That bad?”

“Suffice it to say I, I think it would be best if you stayed off the streets for a few nights. I-I-I'll, um...” Giles sat down again across from her, “I'll patrol and keep an eye on things. Better safe than sorry.”

“It's a little late for both.”
__________________________________________

Spike watched with glee as Drusilla opened her valentine’s day gift. It was tradition, even now that they weren’t lovers anymore, she was his sire, and there was no harm in giving gifts right?

“Fancy it, pet?” he smiled.

“Ahhh. It's beautiful. Mm,” gushed Drusilla about the gold necklace that Spike had gotten for her.

Truth was that he had sent out minions for it. Spike was still confined to the factory, being unable to walk or even roll out of the wheelchair inaccessible factory. Frankly it was humiliating for the master Vampire to be carried about by Dru whenever he needed to move to a room that he couldn’t get to by his wheelchair. Sure the minions had done a good job by putting ramps up all over, but that didn’t help it when Spike wanted out, out of the factory, out of the frigging wheelchair.

“Nothing but the best for my gir...” Spike trailed off as Angelus entered the room and slapped down a human heart on to the table.

“Happy Valentine's Day, Dru.” smiled Angelus.

“Oh...” Dru walked over the table and held her hand out over the organ “Angel! It's still warm.”

“I knew you'd like it. I found it in a quaint little shop girl.” Then Angelus noticed the gift that Spike had given her. Angelus picked up the necklace and held it out to get a better look at it. “Cute.” Angelus reached around Dru’s neck to put the thing on her. “Here.”

Dru pulled her hair back giving him access to put it on her. With a huff, Spike wheeled towards the pair.

“I'll get it.”

“Done. I know Dru gives you pity access, but you have to admit it's so much easier when I do things for her.” smiled Angelus

“You would do well to worry less about Dru and more about your own concerns. That means leaving my Slayer alone.”

“Dear Buffy. I'm still trying to decide the best way to send my regards,” said the elder vampire as he sat on the table

“Don’t care what you do, as long as you realise that she is mine to kill.“

“Ah yes, my boy, she is yours isn’t she? Got your mark on her and everything, don’t you? Well, I’m still your grandsire, boy, and she...well she thinks you are dust.“ Angelus laughed.

“Don't worry, Spike. Angel always knows... what speaks to a girl's heart.” said Dru looking at the heart that still sat on the table, still and bloody. “Baby won’t forget you, sweet William.”
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Valentine’s day for the boyfriend-less was watching old romantic movies with mom. Complete with popcorn, cookies and various other munchies. A knock at the door had the pair slightly startled.

“Here.” said Buffy handing her mother the bowl of popcorn that had been in her lap as she got up to answer the door.

Buffy walked to the door only to find that there was nothing there, no person, no package. *Weird.* Buffy shrugged and closed the door. She walked back into the living room, only to see her mom not there. Puzzled Buffy walked through the hallway and into the dining room. Still no mom.

“Mom?” Buffy walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. “Mom?” Buffy walked around the island. Buffy’s attention was grabbed by a noise and her eyes went to the window, but saw nothing. Buffy looked back towards the dinning room. Just as she reached the kitchen door it opened, startling her.

“Buffy, it's me.” said her mother, trying to calm her fears.

“Yeah. You just startled me a little.”

“I was just checking the back door,” she said closing the door “Somebody, um, left these for you.”

Joyce set a long black box with a black bow on the island for Buffy to see. Buffy looked up at her mother and raised her eyebrows for an instant before lifting the lid off the box. Buffy stared down at the box and the dozen red roses. Buffy reached for the palm white card that came along with the roses. There was one word on the card. Soon. *Soon what?*
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Buffy left her Valentine’s day mom and movie marathon to let Giles in on the crazy. Buffy walked into the Library and slapped the card down on the table, making Giles jump.

“'Soon' what, Giles? You never held out on me until the big, bad thing in the dark became my ex-something.”

“Where did this come from?” said the watcher looking at the card.

“He said it with flowers. Look, this isn't the time to start becoming Mr. Protective Guy. I can't just hang around, and I can't prepare when I don't know what's coming.”

“N-no, of-of course, you're right. Uh, s-s-sit, sit down.”
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Library time with Giles the next day was full of gory details and fun Angelus facts. Truth was that Buffy had been feeling a little off all day and so wanted to get out of there. *I guess gore and blood don’t have the same appeal as they once had for you eh Buff?*

“Look, here's another. Here. Um, 'Valentine's Day.' Yes, uh... 'Angel nails a puppy to the...'“

“Skip it.”

“Uh, but it...”

“I don't wanna know. I don't have a puppy. Skip it.”

“Right you are. I'll get another batch.”

Giles got up off of the table and headed into his office.

Xander walked in the Library and up to the table.

“I have a plan: we use me as bait.”

“You mean make Angel come after you?” asked Buffy

“No, I mean chop me into little pieces and stick me on hooks for fish to nibble at 'cause it would be more fun than my life.”

“Yeah. I heard about you and Cordy. That's her loss.” said Buffy as she got up and leaned on the table. *Weird, hey, Xander’s looking awfully hot today.*

“Yeah. Not really the popular theory.”

“You know what I'd like? Why don't you and I do something together tonight? Just the two of us.” Buffy offered, flirtatiously.

“Really?”

“Yeah. We can comfort each other.”

“Well, would lap dancing enter into that scenario at all? 'Cause I find that very comforting.”

“Play your cards right...” *What the hell am I doing? You love Spike! No more casual sex with friends Buffy!*

“Okay, uh... You do know that I'm Xander, right?”

“I don't know, I just... heard that you and Cordy broke up, and I guess I was just surprised how glad I was.” Buffy started playing with his shirt “It's funny... how you can see someone every day but not really see them. You know?” *Stop talking! Oh my God! It’s like I can’t control myself, Xander is just so yummy!*

“Yeah, it's funny. And it's just gettin' funnier.” Xander laughed nervously.

Buffy put her finger to his lips to quiet him and slowly leaned toward him for a kiss. Behind them Amy walked into the library.

“Xander, can I talk to you for a minute?” asked Amy.

“Yeah, okay.”

Buffy let Xander leave the Library with Amy. Buffy knew that Amy wanted Xander too. But honestly? Buffy could totally kick her ass. Xander was hers, he just didn’t know it yet.
__________________________________________

Buffy found Xander alone at last in the Library later that night. She was wearing next to nothing, covered by the tiniest raincoat she had.

“Alone at last.”

Xander stared at her open mouthed. Apparently the outfit was worth it.

“Buff, give me a heart attack!”

“Oh, I'm gonna give you more than that.” Buffy walked seductively towards him, then grabbed the tie that was holding her short raincoat closed.

“Buff, for the love of God, don't open that raincoat.” said Xander backing away from her.

“Come on! It's a party! Aren't you gonna open your present?”

“It's not that I don't want to. Sometimes the remote impossible possibility that you might like me was all that sustained me. But not now.” Xander tripped and fell backward onto the stairs, “Not like this. This isn't real to you.”

Buffy stepped up and put her leg over him.

“You're only here because of a spell. I mean, if I thought you had one clue what it would mean to me... But you don't. So I can't.”

“So you're saying this is all a game?” she cried, hurt.

“A game? I... No!”

“You make me feel this way, and then you reject me? What am I, a toy?” *Angel’s toy, Spike’s toy, that’s all I am!*

“Buffy, please calm down.”

“I'll calm down when you explain yourself!”

“Get away from him,” came Amy’s voice from behind her. “He's mine.”

“Oh, I don't think so. Xander, tell her,” commanded Buffy

“What? I, uh...”

“He doesn't have to say. I know what his heart wants.”

“Funny, I know what your face wants.” Buffy raised her fist and punched Amy in the face.

“What is this, you're two-timing me?” exploded Buffy at Xander

“Goddess Hecate, work thy will.” shouted Amy.

“Uh-oh.” gulped Xander.

“Before thee let the unclean thing crawl!” Amy thrust her arm out at Buffy. Buffy watched in horror as the energy enveloped her.
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The next thing she knew Buffy was in the basement of the school.

“Buffy?” called Oz.

Buffy raised her head and looked around from behind the crate. Buffy looked down at herself. Oz immediately flashed the flashlight away from her and turned it off. *Why am in the basement? With no clothes on? * Buffy hugged her arms around herself.

“Hi, Oz!”

“Hi.”

“I seem to be having a slight case of nudity here.”

“But you're not a rat. So call it an upside.”

“You think maybe you could get me some clothing?”

“Yes, I can. Just, uh... don't go anywhere.”

“Really not an issue.”
__________________________________________
Between the blinding urge to kill Xander and the frantic wish to get into some decent, non slutty clothes, Buffy chose the more practical urge and rushed home. Buffy hoisted herself up the tree and to her bedroom window. There taped to her window was a note, written in an elegant script, Come to the Alpert Crypt in Restfield cemetery at midnight. Miss Edith and I have news for you about our beloved William. Drusilla.

Buffy’s heart leapt up into her throat. What could Dru possibly have to tell her about Spike? But, regardless of the fact that there was really no news to tell, Buffy couldn’t dismiss the urge to go. Buffy slipped into her house and changed, grabbing 4 more stakes and storing them about her person.
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The Slayer, she who hangs out in cemeteries, was in fact hanging out in this cemetery, waiting for a vampire, and not a vampire she was intending to stake. Or was she? It was confusing her. Should she stake Dru? Why didn’t she want to?

“My Baby has arrived!” Drusilla gleefully clapped her hands.

“Drusilla”

Dru pouted “Doesn’t Baby want to call her Grand Mummy by her proper name?”

“Excuse me? Not going to be the baby of your sick twisted family anymore Dru. Spike’s gone.” Buffy felt her eyes water again.

“No! Not gone, confined, waiting, waiting for the Sun to find him.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sweet William is not blowing in the wind. He waits for Baby to come to him. So lonely, he is. Doesn't think that Baby loves him anymore.”

“Spike’s not dust?” Buffy whispered.

Dru smiled and nodded.

Buffy shook her head. “No! This is just a trap to get me to follow you to your lair. So you and Angelus can kill me.”

“No! Grand Mummy could never take William’s baby. My Angel couldn’t either. Family is too important. Angel’s angry at Miss Edith now. The stars have been too slow to act, now she has to make her family happy before the sky opens up.”

Buffy stared blankly at the vampire.

“Will sunshine come home with her Grand Mummy, just for a little while?”

“Angel wants to kill me.”

“No, my Angel wants to make you his, wants you to replace me. The stars are angry. The worms are angry. Pitch forks and Tar. Have you ever been tarred and feathered? Will you come? No one will hurt Baby. My Angel is out hunting, angry he is.”

“If Spike is alive, why can’t he come see me?”

Dru stamped her foot in frustration. And shook her head. “Stupid girl! William is hurt, badly hurt, needs his sunshine to heal. Please come.”

Buffy looked up at the vampiress and blinked. Spike was hurt? Throwing caution to the wind, Buffy made her choice.

“Take me to him”
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Clutching Drusilla’s hand, Buffy was led to the Factory. Feeling wary Buffy kept an open eye for minions, and especially for Angelus.

“Mistress! The Slayer!” shouted a minion.

“Shh!” hissed Drusilla, “it’s a surprise”

The minion backed into the corner of the large room. Pulling Buffy by the hand Drusilla led the Slayer up a set of stairs and into a room that at one time would have been a supervisors office. Laid out on a twin sized mattress, propped up on some pillows, and reading a leather bound book, was Spike.

“Spike!” Buffy gasped.

“Did mummy do a good thing my Spike?” asked Drusilla.

“Yeah Dru, did a good thing. Buffy, luv, are you just going to stand there?”

“Are you really alive...uh...undead still? This isn’t a trick?”

“No Luv, no trick”

“My William needs his sunshine like I need my Angel,” whispered Dru as she slunk out of the room, closing the door behind her.

“Oh God!” Buffy launched herself at him, catching him in her arms, and squeezing him tight. “You are real! I missed you so much, I thought you were dead, thought I’d never see you again!”

Buffy raised her head and began to pepper his face with kisses.

“I missed you too, Goldilocks. Never wanted you to think I was dead, love. Just can’t bloody leave this blasted factory.”

“Why?”

“My legs don’t work. Stuck in that blasted wheelchair every bloody day.”

Buffy looked over at the contraption that rested in the corner of the room.

“Oh Spike, I’m so happy you are alive,” she said hugging him tight again. “I need you so much, I missed you so much. Don’t you ever do that to me again!” she said suddenly getting angry.

“What? Not letting you know I wasn’t dust?”

“Yes”

“Alright Goldilocks.”

Buffy sat up and straddled Spike’s two very paralysed legs.

“So just how badly are you hurt then?” Buffy asked seductively tracing a finger down his tee shirt clad chest and lower.

“Can’t feel anything lower than my hips pet. I have a theory though goldilocks.” he said pulling her shirt away from his bite marks. “Slayer’s blood has healing properties.” Spike licked the scars on her neck.

“Dru brought me here so you could drink me?”

“Among other things, luv” he said still licking her marks.

Buffy sighed as she gave in to the wonderful feeling that Spike’s tongue was creating on her neck.

“Do it Spike”

Buffy sighed again as she felt Spike‘s fangs sink into her neck. He took three pulls of blood then licked the wound clean.

“You will be my childe,” he whispered, “and I will be your sire, teach you the ways of our line and add glory to the name Aurelius.”

Buffy rested her body against Spike and closed her eyes. She felt safer and more loved than she had in a long long time.

“I love you Spike”

“I love you Buffy.”
__________________________________________

Buffy returned to her home and her normal slayer life with a song in her heart. Sure she had Angel stalking her, and her lover was now a paraplegic, but hey, he’s getting better, and he isn’t dust. As Oz would say, it’s an upside. She couldn’t wait to see Spike again.
__________________________________________

It was time. Buffy decided she had to tell her mom about Angel now. Her life was in danger, she just didn’t know how to go about doing this, or what exactly her mom’s reaction was going to be. Ok she knew exactly what her mom’s reaction was going to be. Buffy was picking at her food, trying to get up the courage to tell her mom. *Dinner at the Summer’s house will never be the same,* Buffy thought.

“Okay. What's wrong?” asked her mom.

“It's nothing.” *Ooh good answer Buffy, way to avoid. There is something! Tell her!*

“Come on. You can tell me anything. I've read all the parenting books. You cannot surprise me.”

Buffy put down her fork, and her hands in her lap. She looked over at her mother. “Do you remember that guy Angel?”

“Angel, the, um... the college boy who was tutoring you in history?”

“Right. Uh, he... I-I... Oh, God. Um... We were sort of dating.

“Don't tell me. He's changed. He's not the same guy you fell for?”

“In a nutshell. A-anyway, um... since he changed, he's been kinda following me around. He's having trouble letting go.”

“Buffy, has he done anything...”

“No! No, it's not like that. He's just been hanging around... a lot. Just sending me notes, that kind of thing. I just don't wanna see him right now. I mean, if he shows up, I'll talk to him. Just... don't invite him in.”

“I can do that, I‘m confused though, When were you dating Angel? Before Spike or after Spike?”

“Before, but after Spike...After I thought Spike was gone, we sorta um started up again? Anyway it doesn‘t matter, cause Spike and I are back together.”

“That’s wonderful Buffy, this time can I meet him?”

“He’s sorta confined to a wheelchair at the moment, he was...in a car accident”

*My mom is so cool*
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The coolness extended when Willow came over for a spur of the moment sleepover, because Angel had gotten into her house and killed her fish.

“Thanks for having me over, Buffy. Especially on a school night and all.” said Willow, sitting on Buffy’s bed.

“No problem. Hey, sorry about your fish,” Buffy offered

“Oh, it's okay. We hadn't really had time to bond yet. Although for the first time I'm glad my parents didn't let me have a puppy,” said Willow griping her stake.

“It's so weird... Every time something like this happens, my first instinct is still to run to Angel. I can't believe it's the same person. He's completely different from the guy that I knew.”

“Well, sort of, except...”

“Except what?”

“You're still the only thing he thinks about.”

Buffy’s hand absently went to rub her bite marks.

“Buffy!” exclaimed Willow, “You’ve been bit! Did Angel bite you?”

“NO! Not Angel. Spike”

“Huh, I thought Spike was dusty under the organ?”

“Turns out, not so much, he’s paralysed and in a wheelchair at the factory. He’s still alive, undead, whatever, which adds the happiness to the life of Buffy.”

“That’s wonderful news, do you think he’d help us out with the Angel problem, I mean, I love staying at your house with the garlic and the crosses and all that, but really, I might like to have fish again someday.”

“Don’t think he can Will, the whole, stuck in a wheel chair and can’t move his legs bit.”

“Yeah I can see how that’s a problem.”
__________________________________________

tbc...
 

Future Childe
by Ariel Dawn

Summery: Angelus does a bad thing, and Buffy admits her Big Mistake.

Disclaimer: Joss owns it not me.

Author’s note: Thanks to all my reviewers! Quotes from the episodes Passion and I only have eyes for you. italics denote thoughts
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Chapter 12: Haunting you

Spike stared blankly ahead. This was getting ridiculous. He’d fed from Buffy, the god damn slayer, whose blood is supposed to be the most potent and powerful in the world, and he still couldn’t move his freakin’ legs.

“I brought something for you.” Drusilla brought a puppy out from behind her back. “Poor thing. She's an orphan. Her owner died... without a fight. Do you like her? Hmm?” Dru reached her hand out to rub Spike’s stomach “I brought her especially for you... to cheer you up. And I've named her... Sunshine! Open wide.”

Spike looked away from his sire. Feeding me dogs now? Dogs that’s she’s named after the slayer?

“Come on, love. You need to eat something to keep your strength up. Now, rrrrr, open up for mummy.”

“I won't have you feeding me like a child, Dru,” said Spike moving his wheel chair around the table.

“Why not? She already bathes you, carries you around and changes you like a child,” said Angelus coming into the factory.

“Why, Angel. Where have you been? The sun is almost up, and it can be so hurtful. We were worried,” pouted Dru.

“No, we weren't,” protested Spike.

“You must forgive Spike. He's just a bit testy tonight. Doesn't get out much anymore.”

“Well, maybe next time I'll bring you with me, Spike. Might be handy to have you around if I ever need a really good parking space.”

“Have you forgotten that you're a bloody guest in my bloody home?” asked Spike

“And as a guest, if there's anything I can do for you... Any... responsibility I can assume while you're spinning your wheels... Anything I'm not already doing, that is,” taunted Angelus.

“That's enough!” said Spike as he pushed away from his grandsire.

Angelus giggled. It was the most sickening sound Spike had ever heard. The poof was just trying to get under his skin. Never would have happened if I wasn’t stuck in this blasted chair.

“Aww...” cooed Dru.

She leaned down and gave Spike a peck on the cheek and dropped the puppy on his lap.

“You two boys... fightin' over me and all. Makes a girl feel...”

Suddenly Dru stopped and moaned in pain. Angelus stepped over with concern

“Dru, what is it, pet?” asked Spike.

“The air. It worries. Someone... an old enemy is seeking help... help to destroy our happy home. Ohhhh...”

By the time that Dru had managed to tell him what she knew, in a way that he understood with any clarity, Angelus had already started spouting plans.

“You leave the gypsy alone Angelus,” said Spike. “She belongs to the Slayer.”

“And you seriously think I’m going to wait around for old Sit and Spin to get up off his lazy ass and turn the Slayer? Think again Spike. My soul is on the line, this isn’t something you can put off until her 19th birthday.”

“You know?”

“Oh Buffy got quite lonely when she thought you were dust, Spike my boy. We had some very moving conversations. You may have made some fool promise not to hurt her friends and family, but I have so such compulsion.”

Spike wheeled himself into place in front of his grandsire.

“Killing the teacher will only piss off the slayer, it’s not a good idea.”

“Thanks for your opinion, Childe, I’ll take it under advisement,” said Angelus. “I’m gonna have me a good time tonight.”
__________________________________________

Safe now in her vampire unwelcome home, Buffy waited in dread for words from her mother to make her life miserable. Oh wait, my life is already miserable.

Angel had to go and tell her mom that she had slept with him. For that alone, he deserves to be dust in the wind. Her mom was pacing up and down the room.

“That stuff with the Latins and the herbs, uh, he's just real superstitious.”

“Oh.”

“We just thought if...”

“Was he the first? No, wait. I don't wanna know. I don't think I want to.”

“Yeah. I don’t think you want to know,” whispered Buffy.

“Ok. He's older than you.”

“I know.”

“Too old, Buffy. And he's obviously not very stable. I really wish... I just thought you would show more judgment.”

“He wasn't like this before.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“No”

“You slept with him and you weren’t in love with him?”

“I was still grieving from when I thought Spike was dead, mom. I know it was a bad choice. I regretted it as soon as it was over.”

“Were you careful?”

“Mom, this is no time...”

“Don't 'Mom' me, Buffy. You don't get to get out of this. You had sex with a boy you didn't even see fit to tell me you were dating.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Yeah, well, don't just say that to shut me up, because I think you really did.”

“I know that! I-I can't tell you everything.”

“How about anything? Buffy, you can shut me out of your life, I am pretty much used to that. But don't expect me to ever stop caring about you, because it's never gonna happen. I love you more than anything in the world. That would be your cue to, uh, roll your eyes and tell me I'm grossing you out.”

“You're not.”

“Oh, well... I guess that was the talk.”

“So how'd it go?”

“I don't know. It was my first. And I have a feeling that it won’t be the last. We will be having a talk about Spike and Sex and Birth Control. Just not now.”
__________________________________________

Angelus had done it now. Buffy was gonna come in here and dust the lot of them. Killing the gypsy teacher was really not the best idea that the poofter could have come up with.

“Are you insane?! You know that this is just gonna piss her off, and her watcher. The old fart doesn’t have any compulsion not to dust us you know,” lectured Spike.

“But, Spike, the bad teacher was going to restore Angel's soul. Baby‘s sad,” pouted Dru.

“What if she did? If you ask me, I find myself preferring the old Buffy-whipped Angelus. This new, improved one is not playing with a full sack. I love a good slaughter as much as the next bloke, but his little pranks will only leave us with one incredibly brassed-off Slayer!”

“Don't worry, roller boy. I've got everything under control,” said Angelus wisely.

Suddenly a Molotov cocktail flew in and burst on the table, setting it ablaze. Drusilla turned and ran, Spike rolling his chair behind her. They stopped just out of reach of the flames. Spike watched with a combination of glee (that Angel was getting his just deserts), terror (that something was going to dust him and that he couldn’t fight back) and frustration (that he couldn’t fight back.). Angelus was hit with a cross bow bolt.

Giles walked toward the elder vampire with a baseball bat. Angelus pulled the bolt out and threw it aside. Giles put the end of the bat into the flames, and it caught fire. Spike watched as the watcher swung the bat and hit Angelus in the face, then again on the return swing.

“Jeez, whatever happened to wooden stakes?” asked Angelus dazed.

Giles pounded on Angelus' back several times. Drusilla made a move to intervene, only to caught by Spike.

“Uh-uh. No fair going into the ring unless he tags you first.”

Angelus stood back up, but Giles swung the bat into his face twice again, making him fall once more. Giles continued his brutal assault, making the vampire collapse on the floor. Angelus tried to get up, but Giles hit him in the jaw from underneath. He held up the still burning bat over his head, but as he brought it down Angelus caught, and the struggle truly begins. Gaining the upper hand quickly Angelus grabbed Giles by the throat, lifting the watcher off the ground.

“All right. You've had your fun. But you know what it's time for now?” asked Angelus.

Spike let a smile break over his face as his Goldilocks appeared on the scene, and Angelus received a vicious kick to the back. Buffy pulled Angelus back and slammed him into the spiral staircase.

“My fun,” declared Buffy.

Buffy kicked Angelus in the face and shoved him onto the floor.

Spike began to protest as Dru began to wheel him away from the scene.

“Not our fight anymore my sweet William. Daddy’s done a naughty thing. Should never have killed Baby‘s teacher,” said Dru.

“Take me back Dru!”

“My Spike will listen to Mummy and Miss Edith. Let Baby do what she does best. Daddy won’t be gone long.”

Spike craned his neck back to watch his Goldilocks. He didn’t want it to happen this way. Angelus had crossed the line, and deserved what he got. Still he couldn’t help but feel bad that Buffy was suffering from her teacher’s death, she had just gotten over mourning him.
__________________________________________

Buffy was sick, she knew it. She had known it when she had woken up that morning. But there was no way she was going to wait to see Spike.

Buffy snuck into the Factory, keeping a look out for minions and keeping her sniffles to a minimum. The factory was a burnt shell of what it once was. The thing that got to Buffy the most though was that she met no one at all. No guards, no sleeping minions. Buffy reached the second level perplexed. She carefully opened the door to Spike’s room only to find it empty. The only thing left in the room was the twin mattress. They had moved. Made sense after all. I guess I just have to find some minions to beat the information out of tonight, thought Buffy as she walked out of the room and sneezed.
__________________________________________

“Buffy, Spike phoned for you” called her mom, as soon as she walked in the door after school. Buffy turned to Willow, who had come home with her to do homework, and smiled.

“Did he leave a number to call him back?” Buffy asked hopefully.

Her mother appeared with a slip of paper. “He seemed very nice on the phone dear, much nicer than that Angel guy. I’ve given him a standing invitation for dinner, once he feels up to it.”

“Thanks mom, I’m sure he’d love to come for dinner,” said Buffy taking the number from her.

Buffy grabbed the portable phone and Willow’s hand and rushed to her room. Closing the door behind her Buffy dumped her back pack on the bed and motioned for Willow to sit.

“Are you sure you want me to stay here for this? Don’t you want privacy?”

“No, it’s good.” Buffy dialled the number and waited for Spike to pick up on the other end.

“You’ve reached the number that summons the Scourge of Europe, Leave your name, Number and address and some one will be there to drain you dry soon.”

Buffy frowned, but waited for the beep.

“Nice message. Do you really think of yourselves as the scourge of Europe still? I mean, hey not so much in Europe right now are you? Anyway, this message is for Spike, I’m returning your call, You obviously know my number and address already, and there will be no draining! Also, Hello Dru! and Angel? Go Fuck yourself.”

Buffy hung up.

Willow gasped at her friend’s usage of the curse word. “Buffy! You foul mouthed person you!”

Buffy laughed. “Oh come on Will, I’ve said much worse. I just tend not to in a school setting, don’t want to give Snyder anymore ammo than necessary.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird though, that your boyfriend is living with the vampire that wants to kill you? The vampire that killed Miss Calendar?”

“I don’t want to think about it. Spike’s trapped in there. He can’t get out unless someone carries him out of that building. I can’t imagine that it’s nice for him to be there with Angelus lording it over him. The problem is, I can’t get mad at Spike for living with Angelus, family is very important to him. I just hope that once Spike gets better, he moves out on his own. If it was up to me I’d have taken him out of there already. Then again... if you think about it, my boyfriend wants to kill me too. Just he wants to turn me. He’s marked me, no other vampire, with the exception of Angel and Dru can bite me. It makes me safer sorta.”

“Spike wants to turn you into a vampire?”

“Yep, I mean who wouldn’t want to live with the person they love forever. It’s kinda like...well if he was human we’d be engaged or something.”

“That’s kinda Sweet in a morbid, vampire way. Are you gonna let him do it though?”

“No, I want to live my life for a while first.”

“It didn’t make it safer for Miss Calendar.“

“And that’s why Angelus has to die.“

Willow and Buffy set to work on their homework.
__________________________________________

When Buffy had agreed to walk Willow home, she had thought that doing a quick sweep through the cemeteries was a wise idea, seeing as she was pretty sure that she was going to be bed ridden tomorrow. During the course of her homework session with Willow her nose had nearly ceased to function as a breathing apparatus, and now she was stuck saying her d’s as b’s, and a near constant head rush thing going on. Of course, nothing works out to plan and Willow and Xander had decided to tag along. Then Angelus showed up. And this was why Buffy found herself in the hospital. Of course it meant defeating the icky Kinderstod guy, and meeting some fun kids, but now she was doubly sick.
__________________________________________

Buffy sat with her friends in front of the TV. Yes being sick gave her license to act like a big baby. Her mom had just gone back to get Xander the cheesy chips when Buffy heard the phone. Buffy jumped up. Not a wise thing, she was met with the most incredible head rush.

“Buffy, phone!” said her mother with a big smile on her face as she handed Buffy the portable phone. Buffy slid back down into her seat.

“Hello?”

“’llo Goldilocks. I heard you were sick.”

“Ya, pretty badly actually.”

“Did you get the flowers?”

“Flowers?”

“Ya, the Scourge of Europe all pitched in and got you some daisies. Angelus was supposed to deliver them.”

“You had An...” Buffy looked at who was surrounding her in the room. “ You had him deliver flowers? and you really thought that they’d get delivered?”

“Well they were sorta his idea. I signed the card though.”

“Well that was sweet of you”

“Tell Baby Hello!” shouted Dru in the background.

Buffy laughed.

“Tell her, hello back.”

“Will do, luv. So when will you be up and about then?”

“In a couple of days, are you missing me?”

“You know it pet.”

“I miss you too,” she giggled into the phone, earning a look from Xander.

“Right, I’ve got to go then luv, Angelus just got back from wherever he’s been, talk to you soon?”

“Yes, very soon”

“I love you Goldilocks”

“Love you too, Good night!”

Buffy hung up the phone and reached into Xander’s cheesy chips bag.

“Hey Xander did anyone try to give me flowers while I was in the hospital?”

“Besides Angel? No. Who was that on the phone that you were all with the I love yous?”

“That would be my boyfriend?”

“You have a boyfriend? When did this happen?”

“Been for a long time Xander.”

“When do I meet him? When do I get to disapprove?”

“Xander! Leave Buffy alone! Don’t you think that Buffy’s had enough horribleness that she doesn’t need you giving her a hard time about her choice in boyfriends? Huh? Think of that?”

“Jeez, bite my head off. Is it anyone I know?”

Buffy looked away from her friend and back at the TV. Willow joined Buffy in her curious silence.
__________________________________________

Buffy stood on the Balcony at the Bronze. After she started feeling better, Willow pushed her to get back out in to the socializing world. Apparently socializing with the undead crowd did little for your happy outlook on life.

“Hey,” came a voice behind her.

Buffy turned to the voice.

“I'm Ben. We had Algebra II together last year.”

“Sorry, I pretty much repress anything math-related,” said Buffy

“Ms. Jackson? Second period? You sat in the seat three over and one behind.”

“Oh! Yeah, I remember now, it's the one with the desks and the chalkboards and pencils and stuff, right?” Who the hell is this guy?

“That's the one,” he laughed.

“Like a steel trap.” Buffy pointed to her head smiling.

“So, I was wondering, you know the dance tomorrow night? Are you going?”

“You mean the Sadie Hawkins thing? The deal where the girls ask the boys?”

“Yeah. And I thought maybe, you know, if you're free, you might ask me.”

“Oh, gosh...” Buffy exhaled “I...”

“Oh, oh, hey, hey, no, don't, don't worry about it...”

“No, no, you seem like a really great guy, it's......me. I have a boyfriend.

“Oh. That's, that's...I didn’t know. Okay, well, I better...” Ben slunk away.

“Sorry,” Buffy said to herself.

She watched him go for a moment, glanced sadly down at the band and then headed for the stairs. When Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs Willow was there to greet her.

“Hey! You're bailing?”

“Yeah. I'm gonna stop by the library and see if Giles wants me to patrol, and then sack it.”

“You've been doing that a lot. Patrolling and sacking. In fact, you've kind of been All-Work-And-No-Play Buffy.”

“I play. I have big fun. I came here tonight, didn't I?”

“You came, you saw, you rejected.”

“You mean that guy? Willow, if you recall, I have a boyfriend. A boyfriend that if he ever regains the use of his legs would eat that guy in a heart beat.“

“Yes, I recall, and may I say...yuck.”

“Hey I call them like I see them. Besides once Spike finds out that I slept with Angel, He’s gonna hit the roof as it is.”

“You mean he doesn’t know? Didn’t Angel tell him?”

“Considering that they are both still undead, ya, I’d say Angel didn’t tell. I don’t think he’s too proud of if. Angel loved me. I didn’t love him. I don’t think the demon liked that fact too much.”

“I still think that you need to let loose, but fun. Be impulsive.”

“Impulsive? Do you remember the last impulsive move I made? The friend that I slept with? He lost his soul, now my friend's gone forever, and the demon that wears his face is killing my other friends. The next impulsive decision I make will involve my choice of dentures.”

“Okay, the Angel thing went badly, I'm on board with that, but that's not your fault. And anyways, love isn't always like that. Love can be... nice!”

“I agree, and I’d like to keep it nice with Spike, thank you very much.”
__________________________________________

“And this... this is the garden.” Angelus said indicating the room that the trio of vampires had just stepped into.

“Wow! Look. Jasmine,” said Dru picking a flower.

“Night blooming.” The elder Vampire picked up a pair of pruning shears and imagined what he could do with such tools.

“Like us. Oh, Angel, it's fairyland.” Drusilla turned to Spike, “Ooh!”

“It's paradise. Big windows, lovely gardens. It'll be perfect when we want the sunlight to kill us,” snarked Spike from the entrance.

“If you don't like it, Spike, hit the stairs and go. Take a stand, man,” said Angelus coming up behind Dru.

“Well, our old place was just fine till you went and had it burned down.”

“Things change, Spikey. You gotta roll with the punches. Well, actually, you pretty much got that part down, haven't you?”

“Very funny, mate.”

“What can I say? I just love to see you smile, buddy.”

“Yeah, you're a giver.” God they made him sick. It wasn’t bad enough that Angelus was constantly making him feel inadequate, and making a big show about how he was enjoying Dru’s attentions. Spike rolled out of the garden and into the ground floor bedroom he had claimed. He couldn’t wait to get out of this freakin’ wheel chair. And he couldn’t wait to get laid.
__________________________________________

Spike wheeled himself into the garden later to find Drusilla playing in the dirt, while Angelus watched. Why couldn’t we do normal things as a family, like play monopoly or body part bingo?

“Maybe I'll sleep underground. Dig myself a little burrow,” said Dru.

“What about your pretty dress, sweet? It'll get all dirty,” offered Spike.

“Then I'll sleep naked. Like the animals do.”

“You know, I'm suddenly liking this plan,” sneered Angelus.

Drusilla laid down on the ground in front of the planter.

“Fortunately, nobody cares what you like, mate.”

“Oh, yeah? Let's ask Dru.”

“There's a gate!” Dru rolled onto her back, laughing, “It's opening!” She raised herself onto her knees.

“Incoming! I love when she does this.” smiled Angelus.

“What gate, pet? What do you see?”

“It's black,” she hummed “It wants her.”

“Wants who?” asked Angelus who had now crawled up behind her.

“The Slayer. It's time, Angel.” Drusilla stood up “She's ready for you now. She's dancing. Dancing with death.”

“Big deal. He won't do anything. Our man Angel here likes to talk but he's not much for action. All hat and no cattle.” balked Spike.

“I don't know about that. I think this whole Slayer thing has run its course. I'm ready to focus my energy elsewhere.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yeah! What, with you being Special Needs Boy, I figure I should stick close to home. You and Dru can always use another pair of hands.”

Drusilla cooed with delight. Angelus chuckled maniacally. Spike rolled his eyes. I won’t be Special needs boy for very much longer.
__________________________________________

Spike had watched Angelus return home from where ever he had been in a fury. It would have made him laugh if Angelus hadn’t smelt like Buffy. Spike followed his grandsire into the garden and the fountain to see the poof take off this shirt and begin to scrub at his skin.

“You might want to let up. They say when you've drawn blood, you've exfoliated,” he offered.

“What do you know about it? I'm the one who was friggin' violated. You didn't have this thing in you,” complained the vampire.

“What was it? A demon?” asked Drusilla.

“Love!”

Angelus grabbed a clean shirt and put it on.

“Poor Angel.” cooed Dru.

“Let's get outta here. I need a real vile kill before sunup to wipe this crap out of my system.”

He pulled on his jacket over his still-unbuttoned shirt.

“Of course. We'll find you a nice toddler,” she snarled “Want to come, pet?” Dru asked Spike.

“No can do, Dru. I'm sure he'd be hell on wheels, but we don't have much time. Gotta travel light. Sorry. Try to have fun without me.”

Spike watched them go angrily.

“Oh, I will.” He took his foot from its footrest and put it on the ground. He slowly got up and stood tall. He kicked back at his wheelchair angrily. “Sooner than you think”
__________________________________________

Spike snuck out of the mansion and to Buffy’s house. Carefully climbing up the tree to her bedroom window. Peering in, he gimped a vision of blonde, wrapped in a towel sitting on her bed, combing through her wet hair.

Spike knocked on the window pane.

Buffy turned to the noise with a huge smile on her face. “Spike!” she exclaimed happily.

Buffy opened her window and moved back to let her lover in.

“Goldilocks, you are gonna have to invite me in again” said Spike putting his hand up to demonstrate the barrier that kept him up.

“Huh? Oh yeah, we had to do the de-invite spell when Angel turned bad. Come in Spike.”

Spike smiled as he slid through the window.

“Look at you without the wheel chair! You know now you don’t have an excuse to come for dinner with my mom.”

“I know it luv” Spike stood up tall and looked over the girl that stood before him, undressing her with his eyes.”

“You... instead of undressing me with your eyes, you could undress me for real you know.”

“Oh how I know, just savouring the moment, it’s been too damn long since I’ve been able to make love to you.”

“And don’t I know it. It’s no fun with out little Spike up for action,” she smiled.

Spike grabbed her around the waist and launched them both on the bed.

“Your mum home?”

“Nope! Feel free to ravage me!”

Spike moaned.

“I need you Buffy.”

“I need you too Spike.”

Spike ripped the towel from her body, exposing her nakedness to his greedy eyes. Running his hands over her skin Spike inhaled her newly washed sent.

“Angelus smelled of you,” he growled.

“When?”

“Tonight.”

“We were possessed, by ghosts,” she explained.

“I don’t like him touching what’s mine.”

“I’m sorry.”

Spike lowered his lips to her crotch and slowly licked her from back to front, sucking her clit into his mouth for a moment before he flipped her over, and forced her up onto all fours.

Buffy heard him unzip his jeans as she waited in anticipation. Spike positioned himself at her opening and thrust in.

Buffy gasped. She hadn’t been quite ready to take him in. Letting her adjust to his size, Spike forced himself to calm down for a moment, before grabbing her hips and relentlessly pounding into her.

Buffy struggled to remain in position, the thrusts from her lover being so forceful. It didn’t take long before Spike had spent and had collapsed beside her on the bed. He had never taken her before with out letting her come. Buffy felt like she had had been pushed off a cliff.

But before she could make any noise about her rough treatment, she found herself enveloped in his arms and his lips pressed to hers.

“You have no idea how long I’ve needed release goldilocks. All those months thinking about your lush body, without being able to do anything about it.”

Spike’s hands moved lower on her body, eventually finding purpose, one caressing her ass, the other stroking her clit.

Buffy moaned.

“Let me make love to you this time Goldilocks,” he purred into her ear.
__________________________________________

“Spike?” asked Buffy, curled in Spike’s arms 4 hours later.

“Ya, luv?”

“I have to tell you some thing, you aren’t going to like it. You’re gonna hate it and get mad. But I need to tell you.”

“Well?”

“Did Angel tell you how he lost his soul?”

“No, I think his words were, ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,’ or some such prattle. Are you gonna tell me that you are responsible for the Poofter being footloose and soul free?”

Buffy gulped. “Ya. But before I tell you, please believe me when I say that I love you, and I wouldn’t have done it if I thought you were still alive and kickin’, or undead or whatever.”

Spike was worried now. “What did you do?”

“I might have had meaningless sex with him,” she whispered.

Spike pulled away from her and stared hard into her green eyes.

“Please. I don’t love him. I thought you were dust. I was lonely. I know it doesn't excuse anything. I felt so bad after it happened, even before I found out that I’d fucked the soul out of him. Felt like I’d betrayed your memory. It was a mistake. I’m so sorry Spike.”

Spike got up out of the bed. She was crying, the tears streaming down her face. Spike grabbed his clothes and started putting them on.

“Please, say something,” she whimpered.

“What do you want me to say Buffy? I understand why you did it? That you are forgiven?”

“No, yell at me, scream at me. Tell me how angry and disappointed in me you are. Please just don’t leave without saying anything.”

“I don’t know what to say Buffy. Honestly, I just need to be out of your sight.”

A loud sob, left her throat.

tbc....
 

Future Childe
by Ariel Dawn

Summery: Spike and Buffy make up.

Disclaimer: Alas, Spike is not mine.

Author’s note: Thanks to all my reviewers! Short Chapter this time, the end is nearing folks! Quotes from the episode Go Fish. As I’m going camping this weekend and won’t be posting again until at least Tuesday, here is another chapter for today. Happy mom’s day on Sun!
__________________________________________

Chapter 13: Meaningful conversations at the beach.

Buffy sat away from the beach party alone. She hadn’t seen Spike in a week. He hadn’t called. She had left message after message, but still he didn’t call her. She hadn’t felt this miserable since she thought Spike was dead.

“Beautiful. Isn't it?” came a voice from behind her.

Buffy didn’t even bother to look and see who was talking to her. “Yeah. It's just so...”

“Eternal. A true mother, giving birth to new life and devouring old.” He sat down behind her “Always adaptable and nurturing... yet... constant... and merciless.”

Buffy turned to look at him at last “Boy. I was just gonna go with big and wet.”

He laughed “Me and some of the other guys on the team, we come out here once a week to train in it. See, we swim against the current.”

“Funny. That's how I feel most of the time. So, Cameron Walker, you just won the state semifinals. What are you going to do next?”

“I'm going to hang out with Buffy Summers. Get to know her.”

“Hey, pause that tape for a second.”

“Hey. No pressure. I just like being around you. That's all.”

Buffy returns her attention to the ocean. Not the guy I want paying attention to me.
__________________________________________

It was funny how she ran into Cameron again. Stalking maybe? But he had a nice car. And he was on the swim team. Somehow, and she really didn’t understand how it happened, and then she was in his car with him, but oh how she regretted it now. God he was so boring!

“I don't know, a dolphin. A dolphin in the ocean. Because, you know, when I'm in the vastness of the ocean, it's... it's like I'm never alone.” he droned on and on. Cameron pulled the car to a stop and turned off the engine.

“You ever hear of a woman named Gertrude Ederle?” he asked.

“No. No, I can't say that I have, Cam.”

“First woman to swim the English Channel. Same thing. I mean, she would talk to it. I mean, she'd carry on entire conversations with it. Sometimes I do that. I mean, once I was out in...”

“You know what, Cam? Thanks. I'd forgotten how nice it is to just talk, or, in my case, listen, without any romantic pressure,” she said trying to get him to just shut up.

“Hey... I'm not about pressure. I just want you to be comfortable.”

“I'm comfy! I'm so comfy, I'm nodding off actually, which is why...”

“Are you wearing a bra?” he interrupted.

“What?”

“Come on. I mean, tell me you haven't been thinking about this ever since last night.” he leered.

“What I'm thinking about is that I should probably get out of this car...” Buffy reached for the door handle but Cameron hit the driver’s master lock, making it impossible for her to open the door.

“Relax. I'm not gonna hurt you.”

“Oh, it's not me I'm worried about.”

“You like it rough!” He reached over to put his arm around her.

Buffy grabbed the offending appendage and pulled.

“Ow!”

With her free hand Buffy grabbed the back of his neck and jerked him up.

“Oh!”

Buffy smashed his head into the steering wheel, making the horn honk.

“Oh! Ah!”

It was only at this point that Buffy noticed Principal Snyder lurking nearby.

“Oh, you broke my nose!” said the jock holding his hand over the injured body part. “Ah!”
__________________________________________

In the nurse’s office, Snyder set about the arduous task of proving that Buffy was at fault for beating up the swim team member and thereby ruining the schools chances.

“I wasn't the attacker, Principal Snyder. I was the attacked.”

“That's not how it looked from where I was standing.” patronized the Principal.

“I don't know what happened. I mean, first she leads me on, then she goes schizo on me.” said Cameron through this ice pack.

“Lead you on? When did I lead you on?” cried Buffy.

“Oh, come on. I mean, look at the way she dresses.”

Buffy looked down at what she was wearing. What exactly was wrong with this?
__________________________________________

Buffy stared out at the ocean. The sun had set already, and it probably wasn’t the best idea in the world to be sitting out here, alone, but on some level Cameron was sorta right, the ocean was peaceful. On a whole new level, Cameron was a fish thingy now, living in the ocean. He could be looking at me right now, eww.

Buffy heard a car door close and the felt the familiar tinglies of Spike creep across her neck. Buffy felt her stomach flip flop. She hadn’t talked to him since that night when she told him exactly how Angel was freed of that pesky soul. Was he gonna be mad? Still? Buffy kept her eyes to the ocean.

“Spike” she said as soon as she felt he was in hearing range.

“Goldilocks”

Buffy wrapped her arms around herself and faced into the awkward silence. After a few moments Buffy couldn’t take it anymore.

“Are we gonna sit and not talk here or did you follow me for a reason?” asked Buffy quietly.

“I thought you were different than her.”

Buffy looked back at him questioningly.

“Dru, she cheated, took up with demons and minions. She was supposed to be my dark princess. She was my Moon and stars for a century. Then one day she decides to throw it all away.”

“I’m not Dru.”

“No, you aren’t. There are some remarkable similarities.”

“Don’t follow. And I don’t think it’s fair to lump me together with her. I’m not Dru. At the time, I wasn’t cheating on you Spike. I know that’s how it feels, truthfully I thought you were dust. Even Angel couldn’t feel you. I love you Spike. I really don’t know how it all started, Angel said something about thrall, but I don’t care. You once told me that sex for vampires was different, and here you are all up in my face about sex, meaningless I might add, with someone who I used unfeelingly, because I was hurting. I am yours Spike.”

“You are right,” he said as he began to pace. “I told you all that crap about vampires and sex. And you did think I was dusty under that organ. Did you think to even check for my pile of dust?”

“The church is a burnt ruin Spike, there isn’t much to check for.”

“Right, silly me.”

Buffy took a clip out of her pocket and pinned up her hair away from her neck.

“Spike,” she whispered. When he didn’t look at her, she knelt before him. “Sire...”

Spike stopped pacing.

“Buffy?”

“Look, Spike, I don’t know a whole lot about the whole Sire/potential childe thing, but I do know that I’ve displeased you, majorly pissed you off in fact. I don’t know what exactly the vampire punishment is for sex with inappropriate other vampires is, but I have a feeling that it isn’t going to be a spanking.”

“Goldilocks, what are you doing?”

“Don’t you get it?” she cried “I’m sorry! I don’t want you to leave me! When I thought you were dead...Not happy time in the Buffy-verse. More of the hysterical crying time actually. I can’t do that again, Spike. So if you are gonna leave me, you might was well just snap my neck, drain me dry or whatever. I don’t want to live if I can’t be with you.”

The tears were streaming down Buffy’s face. Spike took one look at her wet face and crumbled. Her tears had a way of making him forget everything except her. Ordinarily he would have wanted to kill the thing that was making her cry, but this time it was him.

Spike knelt on the ground in front of her.

“Buffy, please don’t cry, love.” Spike took her hands in his own. “I can’t stand it when you cry.”

“Cause this conversation is so happy inducing” she wailed between sobs.

Spike wrapped his arms around her and held her close. After a time Buffy’s sobbing subsided and she titled her head, exposing her neck to Spike.

“Goldilocks?” he questioned.

“Do it, Spike,” she whispered.

Spike lowered his mouth to her neck and gave his marks a lingering kiss.

Buffy waited in anticipation for his fangs to pierce her skin. Suddenly Spike pushed her down and ripped her jacket off of her. Buffy closed her eyes, letting herself be caught up in the way Spike’s lips fluttered over her skin.

“Spike” she moaned as his hands delved further into the recesses of her clothes. Buffy felt her shirt being pulled off her torso, and the zipper of her pants pulled down.

Spike’s hands continued to remove her clothing, leaving her nude, lying on the pile of clothes. Spike’s mouth left her neck and travelled down the length of her body. Working his way down, he parted her legs gently and ran his tongue along the insides of her thigh. She moaned with anticipation as he teased her. Slowly he used his tongue to explore her flush pink insides, pleasuring her to her very toes. She moaned and writhed as he brought her to climax. He kissed her navel, moving up slowly to her breasts once more, letting his tongue caress them before moving on to her collar bone, neck and ears. They kissed long and passionately before he abruptly thrust inside her causing her to gasp with pleasure. Inside her he could feel her muscles still contracting from her previous orgasm. More abruptly he flipped over so that she lay on top of him. With effort she raised and lowered herself upon him letting him slide up and down inside her, over and over. As he got closer and closer she rode him harder and harder. They rolled again, this time with her nestled beneath him. He pulled out and let his fingers glide over her hot wet pussy, back and forth. His fingers moved brining her closer and closer. Pulling his hand away he slid into her once more, this time slowly, then thrusting hard and fast into her. Reaching the brink, Spike roared and finally slid his fangs into her neck.

“Mine,” Spike said “Forever.”

“Yes..” breathed Buffy, “Please Spike, make me yours.”

“Mine, only mine”

“Yours, forever.”

Buffy screamed as she reached her own climax. Spike rolled off of her and began to retrieve his clothes. Buffy whimpered from his loss, but gathered her clothes together as well.

Fully dressed, the two lovers entered yet another moment of awkward silence. Buffy desperately wanted to know what he was thinking.

“Please say something” she whispered.

Spike stared at her incredulously. She didn’t know what he had just done. He’d claimed her. Granted he didn’t know whether claiming a human would work the same way that did with vamps. Would she be angry? Would she even feel any different? Would it make any difference to her at all?

He really didn’t know what had come over him. He hadn’t intended to actually fuck her. They needed to talk. It still hadn’t happened yet as far as he was concerned.

“We need to talk”

“I thought we had”

“I need to talk...you need to listen”

Buffy nodded, fear present in her eyes.

“It’s about him. Angelus. If it hadn’t been him, if it had been with anyone else...You are mine, mine to fight, mine to kill, mine to fuck. Always been second best when he was in the picture. For a hundred years I’ve followed Dru around like a puppy, first, waiting for crumbs of her affection, cause Daddy was always there, then when the poofter was cursed with that soddin’ soul, picking up the pieces of the mess he left behind. Never been first with anyone before. Not until you. My beautiful goldilocks who turned out to be the slayer. It hurt, when you told me. Hurt that he’d taken what I thought was mine.”

Spike turned to look at Buffy again.

“I am yours, I’ve always been yours. Not his, never his. Yours. Belonging to Spike. Property of William the Bloody. Maybe I should get a tattoo.”

Spike smiled and shook his head at the idea, remembering a previous conversation.

“I thought you had all the marks you needed.”

“Apparently not so much.”

“Where would you get this tattoo, Goldilocks?”

“Somewhere private, where only you would see it?”

“Good answer”

“Are we good?”

“Ya, pet, we’re good.”

“So why aren’t we kissing?”
__________________________________________
tbc...
 

Chapter 14: The Deal

Drusilla came into the mansion’s garden where Spike was reading the newspaper, sitting calmly back in his wheel chair.

“Nice walk, pet?”

Drusilla’s hand flew to her stomach as though she was going to be sick.

“I met an old man. Didn't like him. He got stuck in my teeth. But then the moon started whispering to me...” Dru closed her eyes “All sorts of dreadful things.”

Spike felt the presence of his Grandsire behind him.

“Well, what did it say?” asked the elder vampire.

“Oh. Look who's awake,” Spike said snidely.

Angelus bumped Spike on the head with his fist as he walked past him.

“What did the moon tell you? Did you have a vision? Is something coming?”

“Oh, yeah. Something terrible. Psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst...” rambled Dru.

“Where?”

“At the museum. A tomb... with a surprise inside.”

“You can see all that in your head?”

“No, you ninny. She read it in the morning paper,” said Spike as he handed over the paper.

Angelus took the paper from him. “Oh, my.”

“That's what's been whispering to me. Sh.”

“Oh, yeah. Don't worry, though. Soon it'll stop. Soon it'll scream,” taunted Angelus.
__________________________________________

Buffy had been ecstatic when she found out the spell to re-curse Angel, but now there was madness. And it just made her feel much worse about Miss Calendar’s death.

“Hi! For those of you who have just tuned in, everyone here is a crazy person. So this spell might restore Angel's humanity? Well, here's an interesting angle. Who cares?” asked Xander harshly.

“I care,” said Buffy.

“Is that right,” said Xander

“Let's not lose our perspective here, Xander,” ordered Giles.

“I'm Perspective Guy. Angel's a killer.”

“Xander...” admonished Willow.

“It's not that simple,” declared Buffy.

“What? All is forgiven? I can't believe you people!” yelled Xander.

“Xander has a point.” Cordelia supported her boyfriend.

“You know, just for once, I wish you'd support me, and I realize right now that you were, and I'm embarrassed, so I'm gonna get back to the point, which is that Angel needs to die,” continued Xander.

“Curing Angel seems to have been Jenny's last wish,” noted Giles.

“Yeah? Well, Jenny's dead,” Xander pointed out.

“Don't you ever speak of her in that tone again!” said Giles angrily.

“Can't you hear what I'm saying?” yelled Xander.

The two men stood their ground, looking like at any moment there would be hitting. Buffy rushed over and put herself between them.

“Stop it! Stop it!” yelled Buffy.

The tension was thick. Giles glared at Xander, Xander glared at Giles. Buffy walked away from the two men angrily.

“What do you wanna do?” asked Willow quietly.

Buffy sighed. “I-I don't know. What happened to Angel wasn't his fault.”

“Yeah, but what happened to Ms. Calendar is,” said Xander.

Buffy stared at him in disbelief.

“You can paint this any way you want. But the way I see it is that you wanna forget all about Ms. Calendar's murder so you can get your boyfriend back,” said Xander coldly.

“You have no idea Xander! He is not my boyfriend, never was my boyfriend and I’m deeply sorry that I ... You know what, so tired of apologizing.” Buffy turned and walked out of the library. As the doors swung closed Buffy could hear Xander’s retort.

“When was he not her boyfriend? When did she get this new boyfriend and who is he? I‘m totally confused.”
__________________________________________

Stupid Xander and his ‘It’s all your fault Buffy’ and his ‘Angel needs to die, die, die.‘ Buffy walked through the park muttering to herself. Suddenly a twig snapped and Buffy stopped and looked towards the noise. Slowly she approached the bushes where she heard the noise. Buffy turned as she heard something else. But there was nothing, again. Suddenly the air shifted and Buffy turned to face her stalker. It was Kendra.

“You know, polite people call before they jump out of the bushes and attack you,” greeted Buffy.

“Just wanted to test your reflexes.”

“How about testing my face-punching? 'Cause I think you'll find it's improved.” You nearly killed Spike! Buffy could barely contain her ire at that fact. My town! My Spike!

“I was on my way to your house. Saw you walking. Couldn't help meself.”

“Which begs the question, and don't think I'm not glad to see you, but, why are you here?” Buffy paused. Truth here Buffy, don’t really want to see her at all do you? Then she continued. “Oh, wait. No, let me guess. Your watcher informed you dat a very dark power is about to rise in Sunnydale.”

“Dat's about it.”

“Great. So, you have any idea what this dark power is?” Buffy asked.
__________________________________________

Spike sat in his wheelchair in front of the thing that Angelus and Dru had brought back from the museum.

“It's a big rock. I can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big,” jeered Spike.

“Spike, boy, you never did learn your history.” said Angelus.

“Let's have a lesson, then.”

“Acathla the demon came forth to swallow the world. He was killed by a virtuous knight who pierced the demon's heart before he could draw a breath to perform the act. Acathla turned to stone, as demons sometimes do, and was buried where neither man nor demon would want to look. Unless of course they're putting up low-rent housing.” explained Angelus “Boys...”

Two minions with crowbars started to pry open the large stone coffin. The lid crashed to the floor, letting a cloud of dust waft up. Inside the coffin stood a stocky demon with a sword stuck in his chest. Spike wasn’t really very impressed. You could buy these things at garden centres.

Behind him Dru started swaying back and forth. “He fills my head. I can't hear anything else.”

“Let me guess. Someone pulls out the sword...“ Spike trailed off.

“Someone worthy...” answered Angelus.

“Mm. The demon wakes up, and wackiness ensues.”

“He will swallow the world,” interjected Dru.

“And every creature living on this planet will go to Hell.” continued Angelus. “My friends... we're about to make history... end.”
__________________________________________

Well, he was in a fix. Angelus and his loony sire wanted to end the world, again. Of course this time he was in a position to stop it. No longer confined by that bleedin’ chair. Spike paced his room at the mansion. Truth be told he didn’t want to end the world. It had Buffy in it. And even if she was turned here and now, he still liked the world in which he unlived.

“Spike?” came Dru’s voice.

Spike quickly returned to his chair.

“Spike, my sweet! The fun's about to begin,” she cooed.

Spike wheeled himself out into the main hall of the mansion, only to see minions dragging a young man before the garden gnome. The man was bare chested and bare footed. Angelus always liked his boys young and spry and pretty. Bloody poofter. The minions dropped the whelp in front of Angelus, who was already spouting mumbo jumbo.

“I will drink... the blood will wash in me, over me, and I will be cleansed. I will be worthy to free Acathla. Bear witness... as I ascend... as I become.” Angelus grabbed the whelp by the hair and lifted him up, holding him so that his neck was exposed.

Spike rolled his eyes as Angelus let out a primal roar and sank his teeth into the ponce. Angelus dropped the man with a thud once he was finished drinking. Spike watched as Angelus walked towards the gnome with purpose. He felt lingering trepidation at the act.

“Everything that I am, everything that I have done, has led me here. I have strayed, I have been lost. But Acathla redeems me. With this act, we will be free,” spouted the poofter.

Angelus grabbed the hilt of the sword with both of his bloody hands. Suddenly, a bright light emanated from that general direction. Spike turned away to protect his eyes. Vampire eyes weren’t made to do certain things, and that was one of them.

Turning back to watch his grandsire, Angelus shook with the sword firmly in his grasp. After a moment or two, nothing happened, and the sword remained firmly imbedded in the stone. Then another bright light flashed from the stone, this time red and throwing Angelus to the floor.

Spike smiled. “Someone wasn't worthy,” sing songed Spike with glee.

“Damn it!” cursed Angelus bringing himself off the floor.

“This is so... disappointing!” Dru moaned.

Angelus began to pace. “There must be something I missed. The incantations, the blood... I don't know!”

Too funny for words, Spike tried hard not to laugh.

“What are we going to do?” Dru whined.

“What we always do in a time of trouble: turn to an old friend.” answered Angelus, “We'll have our Armageddon. I swear!”
__________________________________________

Buffy shook her head as she walked through the cemetery. Angelus was really a piece of work sending a minion to burst into flames during school hours to deliver a message. Now here she was wandering graveyards because ‘His hour is at hand’ Buffy snorted in laughter. Truth was that she had contempt, not actual fear of Angelus anymore. Sure he had done nasty stuff, and she would never forgive him for killing Miss Calendar, but Buffy knew that he wouldn’t kill her. She just hoped that her feeling was right, and not some over confident ‘I’m indestructible’ crap that teenagers believe. Out of the corner of her eye the vampire in question walked out from behind a mausoleum.

“Hello, lover. I wasn't sure you'd come,” greeted the vampire.

“After your immolation-o-gram? Come on, I had to show. Shouldn't you be out destroying the world right now, pulling the sword out of Al Franken or whatever his name is?”

“There's time enough. I wanted to say goodbye first. You are the one thing in this dimension I will miss.”

“This is a beautiful moment we're having. Can we please fight?”

“I didn't come here to fight.”

Buffy raised her eye brows, puzzled. “No?”

“Gosh, I was hoping we could get back together. What do you think? Do we have a shot?”

Buffy stared incredulously at him.

“Alright. We'll fight.” Angelus rushed at her. Buffy ducked to avoid his punch. As Buffy fought her mind wandered to Willow. She supposed to restore Angel’s soul. Buffy looked up at her attacker, only to get punched in the face. This is so not going how I imagined it, Buffy thought.

“Come on, Willow.” Buffy whispered, as she regained her footing and punched Angelus.

Buffy made to punch him again, only to be caught up and pushed away.

“Geez, is it me, or is your heart not in this?” sneered Angelus.

Buffy reached into her jacket and pulled out ‘Mr Pointy,’ Kendra’s stake. God that girl needed to get some friends.

“Maybe I'll just go home, destroy the world,” continued Angelus.

“Well, I think Mr. Pointy'll have something to say about that. Come on. Let's finish this. You and me.”

Angelus began to chuckle. “Y-you never learn, do you? This wasn't about you. This was never about you.”

It was a trap! Buffy turned and ran.

“And you fall for it every single time!” he yelled after her.
__________________________________________

Berating herself the entire way back to the school, Buffy was feeling stupid by the time she reached her destination. She should have known. Why? Why had she left them? Because Angelus knows how to push your buttons. He knows you oh so well.

Buffy looked at the damage in the Library. Book cases were fallen, tables and chairs destroyed. Buffy saw Kendra lying on the floor. Buffy rushed to her side, sliding on the floor. But it was too late, Kendra was dead, slashed in the throat. Buffy carefully took the other Slayer’s hand. I didn’t want you dead. Buffy reached up to Kendra’s face with her free hand and petted it lovingly. Kendra had been a sort of sister to her. Sure a sister that she didn’t get along with, and she tried to kill her boyfriend and her other vampire friend... Buffy searched Kendra’s face for answers, suddenly Buffy knew. Drusilla had done this.

“Freeze!” a voice startled Buffy out of her reverie.

She hadn’t noticed the police enter the Library. Buffy slowly raised herself to her feet and raised her hands.

“Look, I didn't do anything,” Buffy calmly protested.

She didn’t have time for this, Angelus and Dru had to pay for this.

“Do it! Now!” yelled the police officer closest to her.

Another officer crouched down and felt for Kendra’s pulse.

“This one's dead.”

“What about up there?” said the first police officer nodding towards the balcony of the Library.

Buffy looked up at the stacks to see Xander lying unconscious on the floor behind the railing.

“Xander...” Buffy started towards her friend only to be stopped by a police officer’s hand.

“Get her out of here!” commanded the officer.

“Wait! Just see if he's okay! Please!” wailed Buffy.

Buffy watched helplessly as she watched one of the officer check on Xander, at the same time as being led out of the Library doors.

“Please. You don't understand,” protested Buffy once they were in the hallway.

“You'd do well to keep your mouth shut, missy.”

“But I didn't do anything.”

“Why do I find that so very hard to believe?” sneered Principal Snyder, who had been just a little further down the hallway.

I knew I should have let Spike eat that guy when I had a chance, thought Buffy.

“You know this girl?” the police officer asked the principal.

“Buffy Summers. If there's trouble, she's behind it.”

“You stupid little troll. You have no idea!” she yelled.

“Attitude problem. Serious,” continued Snyder.

Buffy turned to face the police officer that held her. “Look, I just wanna know if my friends are okay.”

“All right, that's enough.” The officer spun her around and got out his handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and...“

Buffy glanced over her shoulder, and without warning backhand punched the officer in the face. Buffy effortlessly incapacitated the man, giving Snyder a great show. The little troll man took a step back, and watched as Buffy made a run for it
__________________________________________

This day sucked. All her friends were in the hospital, except Giles who was missing and she was on the run from the cops. And that stupid greasy man who was at Giles’ telling her she had to do it alone. Well he was right. This was why Kendra didn’t have any friends, they just got hurt. She was going to have to deal with Angelus by herself, and die in the process. She just hoped that she would take him out with her. Buffy looked up as a car drove by. She turned back to see that there was a cop car coming down the street too. Maybe he won’t see me? The squad car turned on his lights and let out a brief siren blare. Buffy kept walking as the car came to a stop and the cop got out.

“Hold right there!” said the cop slamming his door.

Buffy spun around to face him, and saw that she had a gun pointed at her.

“Put your hands on your head! Do it!”

Buffy began to raise her hands when a blur of black assaulted the cop, knocking the gun out of his hand and the cop to the ground.

“Hello, cutie.” said Spike smiling.

Buffy rushed into his arms.

“Oh my god, Spike!” Buffy began to sob.

The whole day’s events and the stress she had been carrying suddenly overwhelmed her. Something about being in his arms, that made her feel safe.

Spike cooed soothingly, petting her hair and planting small kisses on her head.

After a moment Buffy calmed down, cried out for the time being. Buffy stepped back from him and wiped her eyes.

“I have to stop Angelus, I don’t have time to be weepy girl.”

“Want some help, Goldilocks?”

“Huh?” Buffy was confused. Spike had never ever offered to help her fight the bad guys before, granted since he got to Sunnydale he was one of the bad guys. Even when they had had their patrol dates, he just sat around and watched her dust other vamps.

“Taking out the bad guy and all that rot? I'm talking about your ex, pet. I'm talking about putting him in the bloody ground.”

“He’s not my ex, Spike, he was a mistake.”

“He's got your Watcher. Right now, he's probably torturing him.”

Buffy gasped.

“Why are you telling me this? Are you helping him with some new trap?”

“No, love.”

“Then what do you want? Cause you usually don’t go against the whole family thing.“

“I told you. I want to stop Angel. I want to save the world.”

“Okay. You do remember that you're a vampire, right?”

“We like to talk big. Vampires do. 'I'm going to destroy the world.' That's just tough guy talk. Strutting around with your friends over a pint of blood.” Spike sat down on the squad car’s hood and took out a pack of cigarettes out of the cop’s front pocket “The truth is, I like this world. You've got... dog racing, Manchester United.” Spike pulled out a smoke and dropped the pack on the unconscious cop “And you've got people. Billions of people walking around like Happy Meals with legs. It's all right here.” Spike lights us and takes a drag. “Most importantly, it’s got you.“ Spike stared into her eyes. “But then someone comes along with a vision. With a real... passion for destruction. Angel could pull it off. Goodbye, Picadilly. Farewell, Leicester Bloody Square. You know what I'm saying?”

“Okay, fine. You're not down with Angel. That didn’t stop you from helping Mummy from attacking my friends.“

“I wasn't in on that raiding party, Goldilocks. I made you a promise, no hurting your family and friends. I keep my promises love.”

“You didn’t before”

Spike rolled his eyes, “Angelus doesn’t count. He was my family first. I thought I had explained that little detail.” Spike lowered his voice, “I can't fight them both alone, and neither can you. And I'm all you've got.”

The police officer began to regain consciousness.

“All right. Talk.”

Spike turned to the officer, “I'm just gonna kill this guy.”

Buffy cleared her throat loudly. Spike turned to face his lover.

“Oh, right.”

“Let's get inside.”

Spike grabbed Buffy’s hand and led her away from the cop car.
__________________________________________

Buffy and Spike walked along to Buffy’s house in silence. She was still contemplating what he had told her that night. He didn’t want to end the world? But then why had he helped Dru with the Judge? Assuming that he actually was up and functioning at that point. Buffy’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car pulling up beside them.

“Buffy?!” cried her mother from the window of her jeep. “Where have you been?” Joyce stopped the car and got out, running to Buffy’s side. “Are you okay? The police were here! I've been looking for you!”

“Mom, let's, let's go inside, and I can explain,” said Buffy calmly.

“Who is this man?” asked Joyce looking at Spike “Who are you? Are you okay?” Joyce asked Buffy again.

“Mom! I'm-I'm okay.”

“Buffy, terrible things have happened. What were you doing?”

“What, your mum doesn't know?” asked Spike.

Buffy glared at Spike and in that moment he realised that maybe that wasn’t the way to say it. If Buffy hadn’t told her mum yet...well that really wasn’t his business, was it?

“Know what?” asked Joyce.

Buffy faced her mom, “That I'm, uh... This is Spike...uh...William. My boyfriend.“

“Right. William Aurelius,” Spike offered his hand to Joyce.

“Oh!” said Joyce surprised. “Well it’s good to finally meet you William, it’s about time that Buffy brought you over. So, what do you do? Obviously you aren’t in high school.“

“Well....”

“You know what?” interrupted Buffy, “Why don't we go inside, and, and we can talk about this.”

Buffy starts towards the door of the house, followed by Spike.

“I'm, I'm not sure how I feel about this,” said Joyce hesitantly.

Buffy turned around to face her.

Suddenly a vampire bolted across the porch, pushing Buffy and Spike aside and jumped down the steps at Joyce. Joyce screamed and took a flurry of steps back. Buffy grabbed the vamp by the shoulders from behind and launched him at Spike. Spike occupied the vamp with a series of punches to the face while Buffy got out her trusty stake. Spike’s last punch sent the vamp spinning and into perfect staking position. Buffy thrust the stake in the heart of the offending vamp and watched as he crumbled to dust.

“One of Angel's boys.” Spike noted.

“Yeah, probably watching me. Or you,” answered Buffy.

“Yeah. He won't get a chance to tattle on us now.”

“Buffy... what... is going on?” asked her mother confused

Buffy looked at her mother for a moment and exchanged a look with Spike. God, why now? Please let her understand.

“Mom... I'm a Vampire Slayer.”
__________________________________________
tbc ...
 

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