Riley was driving, Buffy across from him in the passenger seat with her knees drawn up and her chin resting on them. Willow had not been able to rekindle the spell to seek William and naturally Buffy had been crestfallen. But since Gabriel's visit something had been awakened inside her and it had quickened her spirit. She didn't know what it was in so much as she could define it, it was simple a deep seated knowledge that filled her with joy. She knew her children were safe. She longed to hold them, desperately; she wanted to nourish them at her breasts and caress their round cheeks as they suckled; she wanted to make them warm, make them believe she'd never let anything tragic and horrific happen them again. She wanted Spike to have his arms around them all as she did this. For the first time in over a week she believed it could happen. Dawn was asleep in the back seat, seemingly very accepting of Michael's unplanned return to command his army. Perhaps true love sustained her sister just as did herself. Love was power and made the Summers sisters strong enough to take on any foe.

"Ah!" Giles suddenly exclaimed, every one's attention turned to him.

"Giles?" Buffy inquired, turning around. He'd balanced several volumes of books on his knees and had copious notes scribbled on a pad of loose leaf. How he managed to find anything, not to mention not become car sick was beyond her.

"Mammon...I knew he was the key to all this!"

"Giles! What is it?"

"Sorry....sorry...it's all here, it's all fallen into place. I know where Pandemonium is going to be raised!" That made Riley suddenly veer the SUV off the road and consequently waking Dawn. All eyes were focused expectantly on the Watcher as he seemed to formulate his sentences very carefully in his head before speaking them.

"Mammon was an artist, so much more than just an architect. Before he fell with the other wicked angels, the, er, On High as it's been referred to had him designing all sorts of significant sites - The wall and gates around Eden, the Tower of Babel and so on. When he switched sides he used his craft and skill to erect monuments and settlements that could conduct and harbor all the evils in the world, the evils of man. Two such places were Sodom and Gomorrah!"

"So are you saying he's going to raise Pandemonium under Sodom and Gomorrah?" Riley asked.

"No...no not there, they're in the fertile crescent, the Middle East. As we've been told demons are converging to a place in the United States - East of California, but west of here. The factors all must be precise....a city of sin, or in proximity to one...."

"What? Vegas?" Buffy huffed.

"Yes! Exactly Buffy!"

"Figures."

"Well, not, not specifically Las Vegas, he'll need more than that...what is one of the most telling tales from the Bible about the two cities?

"Lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt?" offered Riley.

"Yes! The salt. Beyond the metaphysical significance there must also be a alchemic one also....the Salt Plains over Nevada and Utah! That's where it will be." The revelation was a major one, no one could deny that.

"But William is still missing," Buffy added soberly,"My son..."

"Is the priority, of course Buffy. Where ought we to go then?" Buffy almost laughed at the irony of it.

"We go west."

***

Angel, Xander and Tara all slept like the dead the rest of the night, and long into the morning. Spike had a stretch of 4 hours slumber, but after Allegra wakened him with plaintiff little cries of hunger and in need of a change he hadn't even tried to try and sleep again. Instead he lay her on the bed between him and Tara and lay his face next to her's and let her small hand grasp firmly to his index finger. She seemed content enough, certainly calm and alert, but the fact that her left eyebrow was marred by Battle's knife cut deeper into Spike's heart. He kissed the healing wound, suspecting it would likely scar."Just like your daddy, huh pixie? Your mum's gonna say something silly, like it gives you character or some such rot. It doesn't make you any less pretty, you're the most beautiful girl in the world, Allegra. You n' your mum. Wish one of us had thought of gettin' sodding cell phones...she doesn't even know that I've found you....and we don't know if she's already got your brother. Just you, me, the Wicca, Bruce Lee n' Peaches...what a sorry bunch we are....except for you of 'course, my sweetest thing....you're our shining star....be careful, the Great Poof might get jealous, he doesn't like it when there are girls spiffier than he is."

"I heard that," Angel spoke up, sitting up from his spot on the couch,"Allegra, don't listen to a thing he says....he's just jealous because he's fried his follicles."

"Pardon me, Peaches, but I happen to be a damn handsome fellow.....so at least my wife tells me. But we're all put to shame by my little girl."

"That we are...Spike I never in my wildest dreams ever imagined you like this....you're an amazing father, I mean it."

"Still hate me?"

"Absolutely, you slept with Buffy."

"Many, many times in many different positions for many, many hours at a time."

"You're such a total prick."

"I know....but I also married her, and with a little mojo from the Nibblet...gave her the two most perfect little darlings in the world." He snuggled in close to Allegra and kissed her cheek.

"So what now?"

"We have three choices...head back to Sunnydale....go in search of my son....or go in search of Buffy and the others."

"What about Semyaza and the Sefiroth?"

"Screw him...he can't do it now that he doesn't have the twins."

"But he might try something else."

"Don't give a bloody damn....just want m'family back, then we're gettin' as far away from the Hell Mouth as possible. England maybe, Devonshire...always liked Devon....where Allegra's namesake lived, my gran."

"Don't you think you should talk to Buffy about this?"

"She'll come, she'll take one look at the cut on her baby's face and we'll be in England the next bloody day."

"Someone needs to stop Semyaza." Spike sat up abruptly, starling his daughter and bringing forth a loud wail from her. Spike chastised himself and picked her up, laying her against his chest and cajoling her. The crying woke both Tara and Xander and now he had an audience to the disagreement that was brewing between him and his grandsire."You do it....you think it's so bloody important. Take your world loving soul and go stop the armies of God....you don't even know where they've raised Pandemonium! I'm taking my little girl, my boy and their mum and aunt and getting us a bloody normal life!" He grabbed the bag with the baby's things, then looked pointedly at Tara,"M' givin' her a bath...."

"I'll help...be right there...." she replied as Spike went into the bathroom and almost slamming the door behind him. Tara sighed and stretched out before standing up and walking in the direction Spike had gone, but not before turning to give Angel an apologetic look.

"You can't blame him....after what he's been through. For what it's worth, I'm gonna side with him for now. If you think you want to go after Semyaza let me tell you first that there isn't a demon I've ever seen or heard of that's more terrifying or evil than two seconds in his presence....you think you know, but you don't. Don't go after Spike like that again, or you'll answer to me." With that she followed Spike into the bathroom and closed the door firmly behind her. Angel flopped down on the bed and looked to Xander for his side of the argument.

"I think if you just told him it was because he didn't have a soul, he'd believe you and not say another word about it," Xander offered,"I think you're right....that Semyaza has to be stopped, but I don't think Spike's the one to do it this time, or Buffy. I think for right now the only thing to do is get that family back together. Then we can see about saving the world."

"You think he'd let me apologize?"

"Probably not....tell him Allegra's beautiful and he'll let it slide." Angel laughed to himself, Xander was right again."Listen, I know you and Spike can't go out right now, but I'm gonna go scare us up some food. I'll get some blood."

"Get some more things for the baby too." Angel reached into his wallet and passed Xander a wad of bills,"Buy her something cute...and don't tell him it's from me."

Chapter 37 - O Treachery

"You're dead for a year and suddenly the whole world's been turned upside down! Dawn's the Key of Creation, you and Buffy are married....Angel, you've got a teenager!" Tara exclaimed.

"Well, now you and Buffy have something new in common, pet," Spike answered with a sly grin,"Back from the dead n' all that. But hey, it's not all so different. Willow's still got a few of those shirts with the dreadful fuzzy characters on them, Giles still polishes his glasses into a fine dust every time he thinks of me doin' his Slayer.......and well, just look, Angel's still got stupid hair!" The older vampire gave Spike a glare.

"Yeah, you're right and hey, another apocalypse impending."

"There yah go, it's all good." Tara sighed and lay back on the bed, stretching out her lithe, athletic body. Xander had gone for food an hour ago and had not yet returned. When Spike emerged from the bathroom with Allegra, leaving Tara to continue with her morning routine, Angel had indeed taken Xander's advice and complimented the baby girl. Spike was well aware of what was going on, but accepted it graciously. He and Angel would never be friends, but they were family in a sense. The three of them now fawned over Allegra as they continued their conversation. She lay on the bed, demonstrating her infant flexibility and trying to fit her foot in her mouth, her mobility advanced beyong her age. Spike wondered if it was possibly a sign of his and Buffy's inherant supernatural abilities having been passed on. All the while she kept eye contact with her father, whining if he went more than three feet away from her. Whenever she did that Spike felt a thousand pangs shred his heart, so now he lay shoulder to shoulder with her helping her with her foot dilemma.

The light was so vibrant and kinetic that both Angel and Spike's first instinct was the somehow that wall of the motel room had been torn away and the sunlight was assaulting them with full force. Reacting before the thinking of it, Spike had Allegra up in his arms and was darting towards the bathroom. Tara cried out and grabbed for Angel to pull him along after Spike and the baby. The light was already dying away and being replaced with another sensory over extenuation in the form of the baby's loud crying. Her father held fierce to her as the angel settled upon his feet and folded down his massive wings.

"Be calm...I come in peace," he explained in a soft almost pubescent voice. He was smaller than Michael, thin and wiry like Spike, with a mop of frizzy dust colored curls upon his head and eyes like amethysts."I am Raphael....steward to Michael."

"I don't give a bloody damn who you are...." Spike snarled, both he and Angel in game face and poised for attack,"Get the hell out of here!"

"Fear not, you are in no danger from me. Though I do not bring glad tidings, however...the war has escalate and the situation is grave."

"Grave? Grave how?"

"Michael has fallen into shadow...in a confrontation with the mighty Azazael he was slain and the Key of Creation taken as prisoner..."

"Dawn? No!"

"The Slayer......" Spike's face, despite the lack of blood flow, fell ashen white and he began shaking in conjunction with his daughter's cries escalating to screams. "The Slayer lives. She is going to Pandemonium to rescue the Key....as an archangel I was compelled to seek you out and impart the message. I cannot remain, I must return to battle. We are weakening, or resistance is fading....if Semyaza is not defeated, all hope is lost." As quick as he came, the angel was gone. Angel and Tara still stood dumbfounded, but Spike had already turned away form where the angel had appeared and was attending to his frightened daughter.

"Allegra...shhh...shhhh...he's gone, darling. No one's gonna touch you...you're with daddy, all safe....shhhh...." It did not help matters that he was just as frightened and trembling as his daughter."Come on, sweetheart, I'm not letting any one hurt you ever again." She calmed, ceased her wailing and turned her wet, tear streaked face into his chest. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head, she believed him.

When the door to the motel room opened the three were ready attack. Xander stood there with grocery bags in hand and eyes wide,"Um, I've got pig's blood and Doritos. Hey...what's the deal? "

***

Raphael, as he'd called himself, walked along the beach dressed now in a Hawaiian shirt, khaki Bermuda shorts and a streak of white zinc on his nose, the wings were gone. He ambled up to the dark man lounging on the beach drinking a cocktail,with one of those ones with the cute mini umbrellas. He was clad from head to toe in heavy black leathers and boots. ."You know what I love about your shapeshiftin' ways, Merle?" Lucifer spoke, looking up over the rim of his Ray-bans.

"What's that boss?" Merle replied as he morphed into a stunning blond woman in a cyan blue bikini. She...it, produced a bottle of Corona, with a lime, from thin air.

"Well...come to think of it, I don't even really like you all that much. What I really like is that humans, or things that used to be human are so damn stupid."

"They bought it."

"They sure did."

"Merle?"

"Yeah boss?"

"That's a really good color on you."

to be continued.....

Chapter 38 - Guidance from the Mad

"This feels wrong," Spike repeated, chewing mindlessly on his bottom lip, still mulling Raphael's words over in his mind. He had the baby cradled on her stomach along the length of his forearm, her cheek comfortable in the crook of his elbow. Her father had been pacing, thinking, verbalizing, trying to suss out what disturbed him so much about the angel's visit.

"Of course it does," Xander,"We all love Dawn..."

"It's not like that, Xander. Raphael was here just a minute, and I admit I wasn't exactly payin' too much bloody attention, but he didn't feel the same as Michael, even Xuxael last year. They're distinct from everything else, just like vampires, just like humans. This blighter didn't feel right, not by a long shot."

"I agree," added Angel,"Could it have been a demon in disguise? Trying to trick us?"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking....but if we ignore the possibility that this was real."

"Then Dawn, and Buffy....and the others are heading into the largest gathering of demons....ever."

"Oh!" Xander suddenly exclaimed,"That reminds me!" He rummaged around in the bags he'd brought with him, haplessly passed a stuffed toy dolphin to Spike, who accepted it with odd surprise. Eventually Xander produced a newspaper and spread it out on the bed until he found the right page.

"Here it is, last night a ship arrived and when the scheduled workers and longshoremen went to unload it the ship was empty, no crew whatsoever. Not a trace, but the report says that the men claimed that the shadows moved, that the presence of evil was all around them," Xander related.

"Demons, from Europe...stow aways. Likely vampires among them, fed off the crew. They're all heading to Pandemonium," Angel concluded.

"There might be clues..."

"Bloody hell," Spike suddenly let out. He moved his daughter to lay her against his chest, still rubbing circles on her back with his hand,"We don't have a choice, I know that. I don't want to go to Pandemonium, but if what Raphael said is true...if Michael's dead, Dawn's missing...I know Buffy will be on the mission to save the world again. William's out of the immediate equation, I hope, but my wife and the others aren't. I don't want to take my little girl anywhere near there...but how can I abandon Buffy and Dawn? I can't. I don't want to go to Pandemonium, but I will."

"Spike, you and Tara go home to Sunnydale. Angel and I will..." Xander countered. Spike held up his hand and Xander let his words fall by the wayside.

"My wife, my sister-in-law, I won't put them up for slaughter....but Allegra. How can I take her into hell? Oh god..."

"Let me take her then," Tara offered. Spike wrapped both arms now around the baby and in reciprocation Allegra smiled at him, perhaps her first real smile, even if Spike didn't see it.

"I can't let her go, not for a second. I'll die if I'm not holding her."

"Let's check out the docks after sundown, then start going west," Angel sighed,"Spike if you try, you think you can find Buffy like you did Allegra?"

"Yes."

"Soon as the sun sets then."

***

Spike waited until they were about to leave the motel before picking up the phone and dialing home. As expected after four rings the message recorder picked up. He smiled to himself as he listened to Buffy's voice welcome the caller to the Summers family's home. After the beep his inhaled deeply and let it out.

"Sweetness if you actually stop and think to check the messages...well, I'll be bloody amazed. Buffy....oh love, I'm holdin' her now, our Allegra. She's safe in my arms...she's...perfect as ever. I'll bring her to you, love, I'll find you. I love you and I promise to keep our girl safe. Don't....don't worry about Dawn, we'll get her back too. The nibblet can take care of herself...bye, my heart, we'll be together again soon." He put the receiver back in its cradle and pressed a soft lipped his atop Allegra's head, drawing in the scent of innocence and baby powder to his senses. The baby gurgled, nothing in the least to do with her father's indulgence. She yawned and he just about crumbled at how adorable and bright a thing she was."Come now, my baby bit, let's go find mummy, hmm?" An hour later, a little ways down the coast and away from the tourist area he watched the other three head off towards the ships and crews just beginning the graveyard shift.

Spike sighed long, this was the first real time he'd had alone with his daughter since she'd been found. He moved about until he was sitting crossed legged and he could lay Allegra in his lap. He unfolded her from her blankets and undid the toes of her sleeper so he could rub her bare feet just like he knew she loved."Oh, sweetest darling, daddy's been half out his mind lookin' for you..." He was trying very hard not to cry, not that she'd know. Simply put, he wanted to share this quiet time with her and be happy, as best he could considering the uncertainty of what happened with Buffy and the others. If it wasn't one thing it was another, he'd just got his daughter back and now Dawn might be in danger with Buffy following straight after. Allegra was oblivious to his turmoil and cooed at him with wide, delighted eyes as well as curling her toes and moving her arms about as he massaged the underside of her feet."Heh, heh....you are beautiful thing, aren't you? You and your mum, breathtaking lovelies....you slay me, tiny bit. I love you, Allegra." His care at her feet had lulled her and she settled into position to fall asleep. Spike wrapped her back up in the blanket and took her up in his arms, holding her face close to his whilst he rocked her and hummed a lullaby. It was then that the passenger side door was opened and someone slipped inside and next to him."Should have sensed you were near, Dru."

"You're very far away from me, Spike...perhaps too far, you are not my brave knight," she said with melancholy.

"You're right, pet. I'm not the same...I was never the same after we came to Sunnydale." She seemed to mull over his words, perhaps having a brief moment of lucidity.

"Have you brought us a treat?" She eyed Allegra as little more than a meal, Dru couldn't understand how precious his daughter was beyond the concept of being a delicacy. Spike was crushing the baby so tight against him he was half afraid he'd smother her. His hand covered her chest, his fingers shielding her tiny face from the other demon in the back seat of the car.

"No, love, you can't have a treat. This one's not for you." Dru looked at the little girl being held by her former lover and devotee, oddly fascinated just as a small animal might behold something shiny reflecting the sunlight. Then suddenly Drusilla darkened, morphing into her vampire face, poised for attack.

"Slayer!!!" The clarity invading her addled mind had awoken a fierce wrath, but it had also wakened the biological imperative within Spike to protect his precious offspring. His demon fired forth, fangs bared and eyes a blaze. Just as Dru was about to lunge for the baby Spike roared a thunderous sound that quickly subdued and dominated his sire, never had she felt such a rage in him in all their decades together. The vampiress cowered in her corner and whimpered, pulling at her hair and rocking her body nervously. She was still in game face and Spike knew the stalemate was only temporary. His took his hand from Allegra's chest and pricked his index finger with the nail of his thumb. He let a thick bead of blood form before careful drawing a cross on his daughter's forehead. It was an affirmation of her safety in his arms."You got her from the Slayer....but you're the one who put her in there, my Spike?"

"Yes, pet, you could always see the truth couldn't you?"

"You're not my Spike."

"No, Drusilla, I'm not...I'm the Slayer's now...it was meant to be." The demon face faded away as she erupted in riotous peels of laughter,"Love, you are a wonder, to be sure. Go from thinkin' of elephants to thimbles in a split second, don't you?" Her laughter subsided and she looked intensely into Spike's eyes, her dark ones flickering with promises and secrets.

"Does her heart beat strong in the little bundle? Is her blood sweet as pixie water? Is it thick and syrupy, full of bubbles? Can you not taste her on your tongue...a sumptuous treat...we can share."

"Dru, your hypono-thrall mojo never worked on me....not since that first night when you sired me. The baby is my daughter and to protect her I won't hesitate to kill you." The sound of charging footsteps came rushing up to the car and the doors were opened and Angel was hauling Drusilla out by her throat. Spike struggled with Allegra still in his arms to get out of the car and stop the elder vampire from making a mistake."Angel.....Angel, wait..." He looked back at Spike, confused and angry, wondering how on Earth Spike was even questioning whether or not to dust Drusilla as his daughter was cradled in his arms."Angel....listen...."

"Spike?" Xander questioned with the same doubts as Angel.

"Drusilla, pet....there's going to be a party, yes?" Spike's reasoning finally dawned on Angel and he released Dru, who hung on every word Spike was saying.

"A bright party....a fun party....with streamers and cakes and the sky burning over a lake of blood."

"Charmed, I'm sure. Do you know where the party is going to be?"

"Oh yes, oh yes, my Spike......where the snow eats our skin and makes us so thristy...."

"Uh....right....pet, can we come with you? Will you show us the way?"

"We can make a parade! We'll all go marching one by by one....dance like the oompa loompas..."

"I was thinking more like driving....but tell you what, you can ride shotgun." She nodded her head enthusiastically and twirled about.....at least the trip wouldn't be boring.

to be continued.....

Chapter 39 - Highway to Hell

Spike had said something to her once upon their reminiscing over the many apocalypses they'd faced, that the mythical Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse would probably ride in on motorcycles nowadays. As it turned out he'd guessed right. Coming up on the Great Salt Lake Desert, Death, Famine, Pestilence and War went whizzing past them on the highway. Furthermore it was obvious that any other vehicles on the road were being driven by anything other than humans. Also, demons of all varieties walked along the sides in the dust and rock. Buffy shuddered imagining that her two innocent children were supposed to have been here in and amongst all this evil. They drove on, the sun setting before their eyes, as the throngs of demons grew more and more dense until the SUV crept along under thirty miles and hour.

"This is unreal!" Riley breathed out, half out of his mind with fright despite himself,"The towns should be evacuated, I should call my superiors."

"I imagine all the humans left long ago...this is beyond terrible. The Hellmouth never saw this many at its worst," Giles added,"I fear it will only get worse once we reach the epicenter."

"I want us off the main road, approach from another direction, maybe we can avoid being noticed. We can't afford a confrontation, we're way too outnumbered," Buffy ordered and Riley complied, taking them off into the outskirts of the desert. Buffy looked out the window and tensed all over, her hackles were up and her instincts were flaring. She had no intention of coming here, but yet because of her role as Slayer she knew somewhere deep inside she'd let herself be lead here. The fact that she wasn't actively looking for William cut her to the core. Fact of the matter was she was lost, inside and out. Without Spike at her side she felt like a compass surrounded by magnets, without direction and spinning around madly with no hope of finding herself. She thought back to the previous month, the morning after she'd given birth and they'd been a whole family, new and safe. She covered her face with her hands and tried not to break down. Willow reached around from her seat behind Buffy and hugged her. It was a gesture that meant the world to the young mother.

***

"Oh come on, it'll be fun!" Faith urged, practically bouncing up and down in the passenger seat of the car. Joyce sighed, tried to concentrate on driving, but her lips crooked in a half grin for the younger woman."Have you ever been? It'll be so hot and there's all that cool turquoise jewelry n' stuff....."

"That's New Mexico, dear," Joyce corrected. Faith pouted and turned around to tickled William's tummy, the little boy smiling back at her."But there is the Grand Cayon...." Faith immediately brightened,"It's mostly just a big hole..."

"Don't spoil my fun. Come on mom, I know it's just a big hole...but...."

"Yes?"

"I kinda don't want the road trip to end, you know? I mean, I like the kid, he's a cutie pie and Buffy hasn't had the chance to teach him to hate me yet. And you're being all nice n' stuff...."

"I've given you a second chance, Faith, I'm not going to revoke it once we arrive in Sunnydale." Faith smiled inwardly, an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her, starting at her heart.

"And the Grand Canyon's totally on the way when you look at the map....well a little bit off to the right, but still lined right up with SunnyD. Or there's always Salt Lake City and those plains of white salt...that could be interesting. Or Vegas? We probably shouldn't take Junior to Vegas though huh? Wait until he's older before we corrupt him. What do you say? Salt plains or a big hole?"

***

"Spike? You okay man?" Xander asked when the vampire suddenly straightened up next to him the back seat between him and Tara, the baby sleeping soundly in his loving arms. Angel looked in his review mirror and mentally knocked his head to the steering wheel when he realized the redundancy of it, he saw no reflection of course. Next to Angel, Drusilla had the window open next to her and had hung her head out like an over excited boarder collie as they came ever closer to what would inevitably the Great Salt Lake Desert. Spike looked out to his left, towards the south, eyes focused on the horizon."Spike?"

"Wha? Noth...nothing...just felt something. Felt a pull."

"Buffy?"

"No, not Buff, but someone familiar....and my son too I think, hard to tell. We'll keep to this road, keep going to Buffy." Suddenly Drusilla acted and clamored out of her seat and tossed herself out of the window of the moving car. The remaining four passed each other looks of shock and confusion, looking behind them at the lunatic vampire rolling in the dust. Spike chuckled to himself for a moment, then relaxed again."Peaches, all kidding aside...why the bloody hell did you let her sire me?"

"Spike, if I'd had my way we'd have left you in the alley."

***

It was her dream in living color. There were throngs of thousands, hundreds of thousands, a sea of bloodied wings and mutilated warriors. Angels had speared the bodies of the dead upon stakes and made ornaments for the battlefield. Demons alike lay dead, strewn over the miles of salted plains.

The below their feet was only blood, crimson red and viscous, rivers washing over the righteous as it did the damned. There was no tact or strategy to the fighting, just mayhem, chaos and destruction. The angels had divided themselves into the wicked and the good and fought each other, fighting until one side had smote the other. The war had indeed come down to Earth.

Buffy and the others watched the abominable rawness of pure unfettered violence and bloodshed taking place far below and huddled together. Michael and Dawn had been reunited upon their arrival and were still embraced, for that at least Buffy was grateful. Lovers should never be separated. In the absence of Spike she held on to Giles and Willow. When she couldn't look any longer she turned her face into the tweed clad shoulder of her once Watcher. She didn't know if this was an apocalypse she could stop from coming. She was still just one small girl.

to be continued.....

Chapter 40 - Mother Love

Spike was anxious, nervous, scared, all of the above as they honed in on the SUV they'd spotted in the distance perched at the top of a long, sandy slope. There was a streak of white against the black, a pair of wings that stretched out and them wrapped themselves another person. It was Dawn and Michael. Raphael had been a liar, or rather, not Raphael at all for he knew. And there was Buffy, his wife and the mother of the tiny one he held close.

Angel stopped the car a few yards behind the SUV. The others hadn't noticed, they were still transfixed upon the melee of demons and angels on the plains below. Tara gripped Spike's forearm when she spied the red headed figure at the precipice's edge. "Go to her, love," Spike whispered,"Go to the one you love." Xander got out of the car and let the young woman climb out. Spike turned to Angel,"Send Buffy over...then give us some privacy?"

"Absolutely. Spike, maybe this is the wrong time to be saying this, or maybe it's right right time. I'm sorry for everything, especially right at the beginning. Seeing you with your daughter has made me realize..."

"Whatever, peaches. Very noble of you. Listen, mate, what's a little torture n' torment between family members? Water under the bridge, all of it, on both sides, alright?"

"Alright."

"Go n' send Allegra her mum. It's time for supper n' cuddles."

***

"Willow!! Willow!" an unknown voice shouted from behind. All turned to see this tall young woman rushing towards them, her long black hair flying out behind her. Willow was perplexed for a moment, then when the realization overwhelmed her she clamped her hands over her mouth to hold in her screams, perhaps even her soul lest it leap from her in an effort to reach Tara quicker. Her soul was more than willing, but her body was wracked with sobs as she crumbled to the ground. It was then that her lost love fell with her and took her in her arms,"Shhhh...," Tara cajoled, kissing the top of Willow's crown,"I've found my way back to you. I promise I won't get lost again."

Even though Buffy wanted to try and understand what was occurring, she tore herself away from the scene when Xander and Angel approached, but not Spike.

"Where is he? Oh god! Something's happened! Angel, what happened to my husband!?" she cried.

"Buff, calm down. He's in the back of the car waiting for you..." Angel began, but she sprinted away and straight to the Plymouth. Spike had the baby snuggled under several blankets and under the leather of the duster. She'd only just wakened and would want to be fed, but he would hold off for Buffy to do the honors. The car door was opened and his wife climbed inside. He frowned looking at her, she was tried and thin, even a little sickly. Their days apart had clearly been hard on her. She closed the door behind her and turned to him whilst he leaned forward to meet her at the divide between the front and back seat.

There was an instantaneous attraction bringing them together for a deep and passionate kiss. Tongues drew them together, bonding and locking, relishing in the flavors and sensations they'd each been denied for too long. Buffy pulled away first, her eyes already filled with tears.

"It's been so hard without you!" she sobbed.

"I know, love, I know...but..."

"I tried, I tried my best to find William! I couldn't find our baby...I'm sorry, please forgive me..."

"Oh, Buffy darling, don't cry, don't worry. He might not be with us right now, but I know he's alright. I swear it. But my heart, look..." Slowly he settled back in his seat and unveiled the tiny person snuggled under his duster and layers of blankets. Buffy's eyes shot wide and she began to shake, vibrating with too much emotion swelling inside her all at once,"Come into the back with us, Allegra needs her mum." He positioned one leg along the length of the back seat and gave Buffy room to sit between his legs and lay back against him. He held the baby up until Buffy had snuck under his arms and formed to his body. He brought their daughter down and presented her to her mother.

"Allegra! Oh Spike!"

"Just like I promised." The baby's slight weight settled in Buffy's arms while Spike's held secure around his wife's slim waist. Buffy was weeping, kissing all over Allegra's round face. The little girl was squirming under the blankets, trying to grab for her mother, but hampered by the layers of fabric. Spike obligingly pulled away the hindrance until the baby could touch Buffy's warm skin."She's hungry, pet, been waiting for you..." He helped them by unbuttoning Buffy's shirt for her, then unclasping the fastening of her bra and releasing her bare breasts. He held up on buoyant, full breast in his hand for his wife to guide the baby's eager mouth to.

Allegra greedily took the swollen leaking nipple and began tugging at it with her little mouth until she'd totally consumed it. Spike watched in continual fascination of a mother nursing her child, a gentle thuck, thuck, thuck sound of Allegra feeding filling their ears."It's real heaven, isn't it, my sweet?" Buffy acknowledged his comparison by tilting her head back and seeking his lips for another kiss. Love and warmth flowed between the three of them, just as it should always be. Spike pulled away this time and breathed out,"I have to tell you, there's so bloody much I have to tell." Spike traced above their daughter's brow, Buffy saw the gash and gasped,"She's fine, don't fret. It all started the night after they were taken, when I'd gone off my rock n' gotten drunk." He paused to thank the On High that Buffy was calm, otherwise he'd be in major trouble for keeping the secret. "Lucifer came to me and offered the services of two of his lackeys to find the twins, I turned him down, but he sent them after the children regardless. On of them, he's dead now, cut her. The other's gone for William."

"But you said....!!"

"I know our boy's safe because his grandmum Joyce is with him now....and you remember how handy she was with that ax."

"My...my mother? Spike I don't understand."

"See that black haired girl out there with Wills? That's Tara, her soul in a new body. That's what's happened with your mum, they're the ones who rescued our babies."

"I don't know if I can handle all this..." Buffy took a moment and carefully moved Allegra to her other breast to continue the meal,"I don't know if I should laugh or cry. This is all too much." He hugged them close, sighing in her ear.

"I know, pet, good n' evil's swarming all around us, we just have to keep on as we always have. We must have faith. There's one more thing I need to tell you. I don't know why, but I need you to know this. Lucifer also offered to restore my soul."

"And you told him no. I'm sorry."

"It would have cost too much. I may have lost you and I couldn't bare that. My soul is worthless if you're not here to nourish it."

"You don't need one for us to love you, please believe that...you're my whole world, just as you are."

"I want it nonetheless." Allegra, content and full of warm milk released the nipple and yawned, making a contented sort of sigh. Buffy laid her daughter over her naked chest, patting her back.

"Until then you have mine."

"And I cherish it. I love you, Buffy, with everything am."

to be continued.....

Chapter 41 - Pandemonium

After Buffy had straightened out her clothing she'd turned herself over so Allegra was nestled between their torsos and their arms were around each other. The baby was asleep, breathing softly with her mouth open, her tiny fingers holding on to her mother's clothing with an iron grip.

"I though I couldn't feel anymore low, miss them anymore than I did half an hour ago...but the second I touched her, the pain was all the worse," Buffy lamented, still with tears falling. Spike's hand ran itself up and down her upper arm, while the other cradled the back of her head,"I've been dying more and more each day I've been away from them, Spike."

"I'm sorry, my heart, I'm sorry that there's only the one. William will be with us again someday, I will go to the ends of the Earth to bring you your son."

"Our son. My mother protected me every day of my life, she took you on without a hint of fear, she'll take care of William. There's no one else in the world I trust more with him. But it's not the same...I want to hold him like we're holding Allegra, this will do for now."

"Love, I want you to do something for me, for them, for all of us...give up the slaying, leave Sunnydale. Let's go to England and start over. Leave it all behind and give ourselves a real chance, let our children grow up." She was quiet, then in a moment of synchronicity they each placed a kiss upon the top of Allegra's head.

"BUFFY!!!!" The shrill of Dawn's scream alerted them to danger not a second before the car was tilted up on its side and spun around as if some large beast was trying to drag it off like wounded prey. The parents braced themselves as best they could between the two seats, the stars spinning around before their eyes outside the car. Allegra of course was shaken from the attack and began to cry, but Buffy held her safely against her. Spike on the other hand was furious and acting accordingly. He reached above them and torn out the canvas roof of the convertible, giving them a chance to escape. To add to his fury he discovered that half a dozen of Semyaza's troops were trying to kill them. He struggled to get his footing at the same time as grabbing around Buffy's waist to pull her and their daughter up to him. The Slayer hooked one arm around her vampire and the two of them leapt from the vehicle moments before it was successfully dragged over to a fifty foot drop off. They landed hard on the ground, Allegra was mercifully unharmed, however terrified she was. Spike and Buffy were both on their feet, trying to ignore the sound of crashing metal and the following explosion as the car hit the flats below. With Allegra in their arms, they ran back to the others who were already mounting up with weapons to repel the assault.

"She hurt?!" Spike asked urgently. Buffy shook her head, bundling up the screaming baby.

"She's fine...god, Spike, why did we come here?!"

"We were driven, they still wanted us to be here." Spike tore off his duster and put it over Buffy,"Keep her under the leather, keep the dust off, you too." The angels had flown away, no doubt to amass more of their kind for a second attack. The others had encircled them; all of Angel's traditional weapons having gone the way of his car and therefore they'd taken possession of Riley's."We need to leave this place, now!"

"Spike, we can't just leave, they're going to raise the demon city at any time! We have to do something!" He grabbed her hard by the shoulders, jarring her rougher than either expected.

"No Buffy, we don't! This is not your fight Slayer! You have our baby in your arms and the other is lost out there somewhere waiting for us to find him. This time we walk away." She reached for him, taking his bare forearm, but anything she had to say was cut off by a swell of angels rising over the cusp of the cliff and coming for them. A slight reprieve was given in the form of Gabriel leading a company of the Brothers of Light coming to their aid. Dawn and Michael strode forward to engage the enemy. The young girl was consumed by flowing green energy.

The wicked angels overcame them like a wave, crashing them to the ground despite the hail of bullets unleashed as a counter. Spike cut into the sand and rocks on his hands and knees in an effort to protect his wife and child, but he was unceremoniously plucked out from the middle by a pair of dark angels then tossed down the hillside. His skin was lashed and torn by thorny bushes and rocks alike as he rolled all the way down to the base. He could faintly hear Buffy calling his name and his sweet Allegra still crying; he heard the din of swords and the gunfire and in the far distance he also heard the war. He was immobile, pain firing down the lengths of each limb; salt and sand burning into each gash and piece of torn flesh. His only concern was to get back to his family. He pushed himself up on to his hands and knees just as his face came within an inch of a pair of seemingly brand new black leather boots. Spike looked up, blinking rapidly from the grit in his eyes to behold who he now knew had set the entire sequence of events in motion, Lucifer.

to be continued.....

Chapter 42 - The Voice

Buffy held tight to the tiny body of her screaming baby, both of them enveloped by the leather duster. She searched frantically with her eyes for Spike, but couldn't find him anywhere in the dark. Her friends and sister had formed a ring around her as angels swarmed around and over them. Buffy crouched low, trying to avoid getting take as her husband had. The Slayer was afraid, her fear coursing through her every vein and invading each cell. She couldn't fight back, not while she held daughter, she couldn't get to Spike, she felt helpless, she felt despair. It was then at the lowest that a darkness crept into the Slayer, a primal ancient call from her sisters past - her ultimate enemy had come to her.

Semyaza had never set eyes upon the Slayer, not until this moment - when he set his feet down upon the Earth and stalked purposefully towards her and her protectors. Even cowered in the dust under a heavy coat he could apprecuate what Xuxael had wanted to claim her. The fallen angel had amassed and absorbed power from the demons that had answered his call to Pandemonium. He had strength and power beyond angelic, beyond night and day, he would tear apart all human should and break the Earth, but first he had a mother and child to claim and kill.

The fallen angel drew out his sword, a blade in black, its shine dulled, but as sharp as a lightning bolt. With a sweep of his hand he scattered them all, save the young mother who was now exposed for his attack. Vulnerable, Buffy rose defiantly to her feet and locked her cold, resolute eyes with those of the wicked angel. Her arms held her child close, but she'd become fierce and raw and in want of his death.

"To the death Slayer, you will be the first," he proclaimed,"Your blood will...." His threat was aborted by a recovered Michael and his flaming sword arching out to defend Buffy and Allegra. It was quickly obvious why Michael was the chosen warrior of the On High as he and the enemy engaged in a fast and heated exchange of slashes and clashes. Meanwhile Dawn was at her sister's side, her power teeming at her fingertips and in her eyes.

"Buffy..." Dawn gasped, but before another word was spoken her sister handed Allegra to her.

"Look after her," Buffy bade as her baby was taken by her aunt. Without a look back, Buffy moved in to show Semyaza what a Slayer was really all about. Stepping in between the two angels when the opportunity presented itself, Buffy landed a sledgehammer of a fist straight into Semyaza's solar plexus. In pain and shock he reflexively dropped his sword. Another blow landed squarely on his jaw, sending him stumbling back. Then Buffy was upon him, beating mercilessly at his face and chest. When he started to fight back, she only hit harder and faster. As she unleashed her rage, fears and hatred upon the one who had stolen her newborn twins, Buffy began crying. When the maelstrom of her violent emotions reached its pinnacle Buffy plunged both hands into Semyaza's chest and pulled out his heart. He never stood a chance.

***

"You are a tough son of a bitch, I'll give you that, Spike," Lucifer chuckled, kicking sand and salt in the vampire's face. When Spike heaved and tried to stand, Lucifer moved and kicked him hard in the ribs,"You're also very stubborn."

"Go back to hell!"

"Sorry friend, I wouldn't miss this for all the tea in China. You fascinate me, vampire."

"Yay me, do tell..." Spike rolled away and managed finally to stand while his body inwardly screamed its protest.

"Because you're one of a kind...you're made to crash and bash, to make mortals suffer and bleed - not play house with the Slayer." Spike laughed softly in spite of himself, his voice deep and gruff.

"I, me, William the Bloody, a demon of your own making turned away from you and you couldn't take it? Bloody hell are you ever a sad bloody wanker! Get over it!"

"Acts of selflessness, love, kindness, compassion...a man - that's what you've become, all without a human soul. Let me clue you in, you're NOT a man, you're a monster, a demon."

"The demon loves, he has a wife and two children conceived and born in love. I took back what you and Dru stole from me in that dank London alley."

"You think so? You think you can keep them? Keep them safe? I'm always lurking...and one day...."

"I'll kill you! I'll kill you before I let this happen again!"

"You can't kill me, William."

"We'll see about that." Lucifer waved him off with a laugh that danced in the air like a court jester.

"Oh you could try, but I'm pretty good in a scrap. That's not what I meant. There is a reason that I am the top dog. I calculate my risks very carefully, I make smart deals and I choose who I make my own. I was the most proud of Aurelius and all in his line, Darla, Angelus, Drusilla..."

"Darla staked herself so her son could live, Angel got a soul and Dru's a flippin' loon...and me, I've turned to the light."

"You could still come back, I'd make it real special."

"Cut the Vader crap, I ain't your bloody Luke Skywalker!"

"I did this for you, you know? Letting Semyaza and the others out of prison. Come on, bring Buffy and the little ones, I'll even baby-sit when you n' the Slayer want to fu...." Spike grew enraged and flew at Lucifer, but in his battered and weakened state, the dark one easily repelled him. The vampire landed hard on the ground, knocking the wind out of him, leaving him gasping for breath. Lucifer knelt down and clutched around Spike's throat."Look at you, you're a vampire, forget you don't breathe? The Slayer won't find a grain of your dust out here. I think I'll have your wife once you're gone. In a few years your daughter..." Unexpectedly Lucifer fell silent, there was something in Spike's eyes, something that made the first fallen angel, the ultimate evil, a little frightened. He loosed his grip around Spike's throat but stayed close.

"I once had a voice inside me and then that voice was taken from me. When my children were born and I held them, I thought I heard that voice again...then you and your bloody angels took that voice away. I've wanted that voice back more than anything...I can hear it now, I hear it again, it speaks to me - after a century in the dark I can hear the Voice and it's bloody glorious!!!"

"Oh shit!" Lucifer got to his feet and ran, ran as far away from Spike as he possibly could, he sure as Hell didn't want to stick around now that he knew it was coming.

Chapter 43 - The Touch

A hand came to rest on Buffy's shoulder and the Slayer turned to see her sister, smiling sympathetically down on her. Pushing herself off the dead body of Semyaza, Buffy rose to her feet and reached for Allegra, wanting nothing more than to comfort and hold her crying baby. She suddenly noticed that her hands were drenched in blood and she recoiled from her own child, unwilling to touch her when covered in the filth of the wicked angel.

"No, Buffy...wait, give me your hands," Dawn asked gently. At her sister's touch, Buffy was made clean, the blood was gone and soon enough, Allegra was back in her mother's embrace,"Buffy, there isn't much time left, we have to say goodbye."

"Goodbye? Wha...what do you mean, goodbye?"

"Mammon must be stopped, he could still raise the city."

"You're not coming back...even if you defeat them, you're not coming back. Are you?" Dawn couldn't help herself, for all her wisdom of the ages, her true nature, so much of her was still just Buffy Summers' younger sister. She began crying too.

"No, Buffy, I'm not. I can never go back to just being a teenager, it's not who I really am anymore. I'm part of the On High's plan, part of the Fighters for the Light and the Word...and I belong with Michael. It's like you could never leave Spike, not now, not after everything you've become to each other. I love Michael and he needs me, not just to fight by his side, he loves me too."

"But you're my sister! How can I..."

"You can go on without me, Buffy. You're the strongest person I know and we'll always be sisters." Dawn let Buffy do what she'd been yearning to, take her baby sister in her arms and hold her for them to share one last cry together."Buffy, listen to me. You've grown up, your more than the Slayer. You have a husband and children and you have them to take care of, and they'll take care of you too. Spike needs you most of all....you know what he's like."

"He'll be miserable without you. You're his Little Bit, his Nibblet."

"I'll miss him too, but there's nothing that can be done about. I have to go Buffy." The two sisters pulled away from each other and Dawn bent forward to kiss Buffy's cheek. The kiss infused Buffy with enough love to last a lifetime, but it wouldn't be the same as having Dawn with her. The younger Summers jerked back and gasped, spinning around and looking down the slope of the hill.

"Dawn? What's wrong?"

"Oh my..."

The first thing Buffy noticed was that Allegra had stopped crying, after that she realized that everything had stopped. The angels and demons had ceased their fighting; there were no voices, nary a whisper on the wind, in fact there was no wind. Perfect silence. Then, above them the skies began to churn, clouds and stars swirling together as if caught in a cyclone. There was a weight under their feet, pulling their center of gravity down was a vacuum of power was also pressed upon them. Dawn and Michael knew what was occurring. This place, the battlefield and all the surrounding area was becoming the void, the nothing before creation occurred and there was only one reason...something was coming to fill it. Buffy clutched her baby tighter, her soul screaming for Spike, but he was still lost.

The skies then opened, revealing Heaven above them and there was a chorus in the form of white noise, all voices all at once and there there was Light. Dawn stepped away from the others and down the slope a ways, she wanted to be closer, this was her calling after all, she wanted too see the Light again for the first time since the first time. It came.

A shaft of white, blinding, all consuming, restoring, came down - reaching the ground and enveloping one solitary figure. Spike. Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone. The battle resumed, the noise returned and so did the stars. With Allegra protected under the duster, Buffy started to run down the hill. She ignored the pleas of her friends to wait, and took off as fast as she could through the impediment of the deepening sand. Where she found him it was so dark she nearly passed him by, but her foot caught part of his, almost tripping her over. He was huddled in a fetal position, his arms shielding his face as if the light was still upon him. She knelt down, pressed against him and pried his arms away.

"Spike...Spike? Please be okay," she begged. He stirred at her touch, then lurched and grabbed her hand, crying out and fitfully grabbing at her until he locked his arms around her waist and buried his face at her soft stomach. Allegra whimpered and started to squirm, causing her father to look up at her.

"The baby...the baby...tell me she's alright!" he cried.

"No, she's not hurt...Spike....what hap..." And then she saw it in his eyes, on his face, she felt it in his body. He'd been given back his soul, given it by the Oh High.

God had give him back his soul.

She let Allegra slip a little from her grasp until she was down on her mother's knee and her face was close to her father's. He was filthy, cut up and bruised all over, but Allegra didn't noticed or care, she cooed softly and touched the scar above his brow with her tiny fingers. His tears came and he held on to Buffy for dear life, thanking whoever the On High was that he wasn't alone in some cave in Africa, that he had his wife and daughter to see him through these agonizing first moments."Shhhh...." Buffy whispered, running her fingers through his hair,"I know, baby...I promise it'll be alright, we'll get you through this."

"Don't....don't leave me alone."

"I'm not going anywhere, ever."

"It hurts all over...Buffy....Buffy....I know I'm a monster, that I'm awful....but please don't leave me alone."

"I'm not going anywhere, I love you."

"I can't do this...it's coming down upon me all at once."

"Yes, yes you can."

"Please, I want to go home." As if ordained, the SUV's headlights illuminated the trio as it stopped in front of them. Angel and Xander leapt out, followed by Willow and Tara, Giles and Riley coming up slower. In conjunction, the sky lightened on the horizon, dawn was coming soon.

"Help him, Angel, Xander, get him into the car." They pulled his battered body up, he was as unsteady as a new born foal and he fought them until Buffy too rose and threaded her fingers with his. She kissed him on his lips and moved to whisper in his ear,"Don't be afraid, I'll protect you." They helped him into the SUV and the others prepared to abandon Pandemonium, all except one.

Riley was busying himself by loading his body down weapons; grenades, extra clips of bullets, and other technologies Buffy didn't recognize,"Riley? What are you doing?" Buffy asked, incredulous.

"My orders are to remain and observed until reinforcements arrive," he replied coldly, adjusting a pair of night vision binoculars.

"Reinforcements? What are you talking about?"

"This is a military operation now, and even though you've never been able to see it in the past, you're a civilian Buffy. Carry on home."

"Is something wrong with you?! This isn't a military operation...this is a war being fought by angels and demons! I can't believe you called headquarters!"

"This is a threat to national security, I am obliged to..."

"You're a fool! What about Sam? If you stay here you and every soldier you bring here will die! There are more important things in this world, can't you see that?" He did see it, in his eyes Buffy knew he did. She refused to carry the burden of guilt for this, if he died. Riley's blind faith, or rather his ignoring of reality, was going to get him killed."Please don't do this. Walk away, go home to your wife."

"I can't do that Buffy." His eyes were cold and his jaw was set. Spike called out her name from inside the vehicle.

"Yeah, Riley, you can and it would be easiest thing in the world you've ever done." She shifted Allegra over her shoulder and went to get into the SUV,"Goodbye Riley."

to be continued.....

Chapter 44 - More Than One Way to Slay a Demon

It was an indignity for Spike and Angel alike to have to endure the ride home sitting behind the back seat of the SUV with blankets over their heads. All to avoid the harmful rays of the sun. Spike had been staring at Angel's shoes for over two hours. When at first he couldn't bare not to be touching Buffy, now he couldn't bring himself to ask her to reach back and hold his hand. He wondered why on Earth he'd thought he'd be able to handle the burden of his soul. All the blood he'd shed since his turning was washing over him in waves. His former self had been so innocent, William didn't deserve the guilt incurred by the demon's crimes.

He'd begun to tremble, tears making painted on marks on his dust covered face. It was then, as if she sensed his need, that his wife's delicate hand came under the blanket, her wedding band gleaming when the light hit it. The hand waited, suspended before his face, until he couldn't endure the torment of not touch her her and took it in his own, having her palm cut his wet cheek while he kissed her fingertips.

***

"Honey, I'm home!" Faith called out into the vacant Summers house, after picking the lock to get inside. Joyce came up behind her shortly after, carrying William in his car seat."Huh, guess they're out."

"They're probably looking for the twins, Faith," Joyce offered, putting down the luggage she also carried. Faith sighed, then turned to unbuckle William from his car seat and take him in her arms.

"How's my chubby little vampire spawn? You like the big hole in the ground didn't you? So did auntie Faith and Granny Joyce."

"Make that Grandmother, I'm not even fifty."

"Actually, you look more like 35, did you check out how old your bod was on the driver's license?"

"Mariam was 36."

"Hey, not bad, got a babe of a body and an extra ten years. I'm taking you out dancin', we'll land you a rich hottie."

"I think I'll go back to Granny then, thank you. I just want my family back together."

"Sorry, I know, me too. As much fun as this has all been, I want Buffy to have her son back. A kid shouldn't be taken away from his mom."

"Is that what happened to you, dear?" Faith cast her eyes down, gnawing a little on her bottom lip. She cuddled William, such a soft, warm, beautiful little boy. But then suddenly Faith's head shot up and William was lurched into Joyce's arms. The older woman was pulled back and flung on to the couch in the living room. William started bawling at the rough and suddenly movement and Joyce's eyes widened in terror when she saw the tall pale man in a long black coat coming down the stairs. He clutched a teddy bear between long bony fingers, gently stabbing it through and through with a long bladed knife.

"Been waiting for you, yes?" he gurgled, putting pieces of teddy innards in his mouth and rolling them around on his tongue."Been waiting a long time." Faith took up a fighting stance, fists up and body tense, ready to unleash holy hell on the demon the second he stepped outta line.

"Who the hell are you?" the Slayer demanded.

"They've called us the Pitch, the black Earth, the muggly slimes...but we're not ones for talks n' explanations. We wants the boy for suppers, and some left over for sandwiches at elevensies the next day."

"Yeah? I want your head stapled to my front door for Christmas with a wreath, let's see if Santa thinks I've been a good girl this year, huh?"

"Battle liked's the fightses, liked's the bloodies. Pitch'ums likes to plays."

"I'm gonna play yah into a bloody pulp on the floor."

"Haven't's gots blood. But does have other liquids."

"And can I declare a resounding, eeeewww."

"Less talks, more of the..." Faith, fed up with the posturing, leapt forwards and delivered a solid side kick to Pitch's abdomen. The demon squealed like tires on the pavement. Pitch dropped his knife and bear, then took off his black fedora and tore it in half. Faith grabbed his head and twisted his head 180 degrees. To her shock, the broken neck unwound itself and Pitch looked at her with a glitter of rage in his eyes.

Pitch struck out against the Slayer, striking her across the face and sending her sprawling into the living room at Joyce's feet."Faith!!" Joyce cried, scrambling back with William in her arms as Pitch advanced slowly.

"Nots nice, nots nice!! We'll have your ears for toe hooks!" Setting his sights on baby William, Pitch held his knife up high and moved quickly. Joyce staggered back, nearly falling, still clutching her grandson.

"Don't! you come any closer!" she warned, fierce as a lioness with her cub.

"The Pitch and Battle outgrabed the mome raths! Now's only the Pitch and he will haves his!" With steely resolve Joyce grabbed the poker from by the fireplace when the demon made like he would slash with his knife. She matched it with her weapon when it came, unfortunately Pitch was much stronger than she and the poker was sent flying. The demon made a second attempt and Joyce blindly grabbed for anything to throw at him. On the window still was a potted aloe vera plant, she raised it high,"Eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!" Pitch shrieked, recoiling instantly and back away quickly. He was met by Faith drop kicking him to the ground and proceeding to beat the living daylights out of him. After a time the Slayer realized her fists were having little effect on him.

"Faith? Faith dear, I think he was afraid of the plant."

"Huh?" Faith stopped raining blows on Pitch and accepted the cactus from Joyce."It's an aloe vera."

"Yes, I know."

"No, it's an aloe vera!"

"But he was terrified."

"Okay, whatever frosts your cookies." She snapped off a stalk of aloe and held it menacingly over Mr. Pitch's face. Upon seeing the element of his demise above him, he threw a fit.

"Gets it away! Gets it away! Oh sweet mother love bone! Oh birch trunks and seahorses and attractive silverware! Eeeeeeek!"

"It's an ALOE VERA!"

"It burns! It bites! It freezes!"

"Does it really?" Faith squeezed the stalk of aloe and the pulpy, viscous flesh of the plant and it began to glob at the end. A chunk fell and landed on Pitch's nose. He let out a scream at such a high octave that only night creatures and dogs could detect it. This was affirmed by the neighborhood outside erupting in howls and barks."Now this is just...neat! Fun times with Faith..." She wrung out more aloe, letting it drop all over his face and in his mouth. All the while his body jerked in distress and his skin cracked and peeled."Joyce, you gotta get in on this!"

"Faith, you're torturing him!"

"He was going to eat your grandson."

"Give me some aloe, dear."

Chapter 45 - Journey's End

Shortly before sunset, when the sun was hovering just along the horizon and behind them, Spike and Angel came out of their hiding places. Angel left the back seat for Spike and Buffy, giving them as much privacy as possible. The newly souled vampire had not spoken since the desert and his wife was eager to know what he was thinking, but she too said nothing. He huddled against her with his blanket up to his ears, a sad, desperate man searching his mind for answers. When Buffy undid her blouse and pulled out a breast to feed their daughter, he tried to move away. She promptly ensnared him with an arm around his shoulders and held him close. He watched in almost religious rapture at the child being nourished by her mother, a purity he was convinced he should not be privy to. Buffy giggled when Allegra unexpectedly kicked Spike on his nose, he tried very hard not to cry the jovial innocence.

The presence of the Lexus parked at 1360 Revello Drive went unacknowledged when the SUV arrived, it was already dark out after all."We'll get a few hours sleep, re-pack our clothes and supplies and then get back on the road to look for William and my mother," Buffy directed as the gang got out of the vehicle.

"Buffy?" said Spike, almost at a whisper. She turned back to her husband, facing him and putting her arm around his waist, Allegra between them.

"We're home."

"Yes I know, I can bloody see that...sorry, sorry. I don't mean to be like that, don't mean to snap at you. I don't know where my mind is going, I can barely think straight..I..." His voice cracked and he let out a broken sob. Buffy was kissing him barely a second later. When their lips parted, he had fresh tears running down his cheeks, following the trails washed away on his dusty face. "I'm making you all filthy. I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry."

"William is close, I think, your son is near."

"Our son." He shook his head vehemently.

"I have no right to claim him, or your daughter, or you..."

"Spike, damn it, please stop. Don't say these things, it tears me apart. They are yours, we all are, body and soul, forever - okay?" He nodded slightly, but clearly not believing it."Let's go inside, get you cleaned up, you'll feel better." The others had waited outside on the front porch for the couple, thinking it one right that they should enter first. Spike waited in the wings while Buffy went ahead, seeming as if he would sneak away when the moment presented itself.

***

"Who's auntie Faith's chubby cubby?!" The Slayer sing songed as she fed William his bottle. The boy was comfy and adoring of her in her arms.

"Chubby cubby?" Joyce questioned with a smile as she swept up the last remnants of Mr. Pitch.

"Would you prefer it if I went back to calling him a vamp spawn?"

"I suppose chubby cubby's perfectly acceptable, really."

"Whatever, until we know his name..."

"WILLIAM!!" Buffy's excited cry came from the front hall, Faith and Joyce hadn't even heard the front door open. Buffy stood there alone, holding her daughter, eyes wide as saucers and her entire body trembling. Upon realizing that it was Faith, criminally insane Faith, holding her son she felt her instincts flow with protective rage.

"Hey B! There you are, got something of yours!"

"F..Faith, please, just give me my son, don't hurt him."

"Woah! Rein in that temper, I ain't gonna hurt the little guy, here take him." Buffy rushed down into the living room, the dark skinned woman going unnoticed. Faith took the bottle from William's mouth and he began to whine until suddenly a sublime peace overcame him. His mother's scent, softness and warmth was immediately known. The baby boy snuggled into her, grabbing at her clothing and making tiny sounds and cries that broke her heart. Allegra inched over until she too could be holding him.

Buffy held both her children to her chest as she bonelessly sunk to the floor, weeping with relief and joy. Even Faith had tears in her eyes. Joyce touched the Slayer who'd helped her on the shoulder, giving her reassurance, as she passed to go to her daughter. By now all but Spike had come inside and with hearts full, they watched the young mother's reunion with her children.

"Buffy?" Joyce spoke softly, kneeling downbefore her daughter and grandchildren. Buffy looked at the African American woman and furrowed her brow in concentration, trying to place the familiar face."It's me, it's mom." Joyce reached out and tucked a strand of Buffy's hair behind her ear,"Your children are so beautiful Buffy."

"Mommy? Mom, is this really you?" Joyce nodded and bent to kiss her daughter's forehead.

"Yes, darling."

"You saved my babies."

"They're my grandchildren, of course I did. I'm so proud of you and of Spike." The utterance of her husband's name sent her searching for him. Spike stood separate from the others, the last one to come inside. He still had the blanket over his shoulders.

"Spike! William, he's here, he's alright!" For a moment, the barest moment, he smiled at seeing Buffy holding the reunited twins, but he was overwhelmed by emotions, confusion and exhaustion. He collapsed completely unconscious to the floor.

to be continued.....

Chapter 46 - First Step

When Spike awoke he was in his own bed, sitting upright with an array of pillows under his back. He was clean and naked - like he was beginning a new life, covered in both bandages and their quilt in addition to several other blankets. On the other side of the bed Buffy lay on her side facing him, sound asleep. She wore a pretty sage colored silk camisole and the tendrils of her golden air spread over the pillow; she was an absolute vision of beauty. Between them slept the twins, William closest to his father, each nestled under their baby blankets. They were his whole world, his family together again. Unable to help himself from disturbing his sleeping son, he took William up in and lay the baby on his chest. The child was remarkably warm, soft and vibrant with life. William yawned and nuzzled Spike's tepid skin, with his tiny hands played out over his father's pectorals. The scent of baby powder and newborn filled the vampire's nostrils and comforted the him.

"My sweet William, I'm so sorry son, I wish I could have done better by you and your mum and sister. You don't deserve this wrecked, ugly monster for a father...god, I shouldn't even be touching you..."

"Don't....Spike," Buffy whispered in her waking,"Keep hold of your son. He's missed you." She took Allegra in her own arms and maneuvered herself over until she could lay with him, laying her head next to her son's on Spike's chest."We love you and you will be strong enough to reconcile all of the burdens the soul must have brought with it. You will be strong enough because you're responsible for our happiness. Now, put your arms around us and never let us go." He did as she bade, never able to resist her.

"Where is Dawn?"

"She stayed with Michael, there wasn't time for her to say goodbye to you. She's where she belongs, they're in love, like us. I'm guessing they're alright, considering the world didn't end, I hope they're happy. No, I know they are. "

"Joyce?"

"Downstairs with the others."

"Who washed me up?"

"I did, in a very erotic, playboy kind of way. I swear." She looked up to see him smiling."Knew I could get a grin. I know this isn't going to be easy, but you'll never be alone. If you fall we'll catch you and bring you up again."

"I'm scared, Buffy, love."

"We'll keep you safe. Mmmm, you're cold, honey."

"Oh..take, take William."

"Calm down, hold Allegra." Before he could continue his protest, his daughter was on his chest next to her brother. Buffy got out of bed and delved into the blanket box on the far end of the room and retrieved the chenille throw Giles had brought her at the hospital. She fit it around his shoulders and tucked it around the children. She pulled the covers and quilt up over him and the twins, making a cocoon. She climbed back into the bed with them, putting an arm around his waist and laying her head on his stomach, facing him."There, that's much better, all snuggly."

"Buffy, you're..."

"Crazy, I know, but you love me anyways."

"No, love, I was going to tell you that you're amazing and that I love you more than life. I'm so grateful to have you as mine."

"Oh, well, good, I love you too and our vamp spawn."

"Our what?!"

"Nevermind, sleep now."

***

Given that the last time Spike had allowed he and Buffy to sleep with the twins just a close as now, the most horrible nightmare of his existence had begun. Therefore when the bedroom door was innocently opened, his instincts snapped him out of slumber. The vampire face appeared immediately, along with a growl and the demon's yellow eyes.

"Are you awake in there?" a kind voice he'd never heard before called out.

"Who's there?" he replied, still with three vulnerable bodies in his protective embrace.

"Can I come in? It's Joyce, Spike." The mere mention of her name calmed him immensely, the demon visage fading.

"Joyce?"

"I don't want to disturb you, but we're all worried and I wanted to see you." She'd already come into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She turned on his bedside lamp, to the lowest setting, barely illuminating them. She stood next to him and his sleeping wife and children on the verge of tears. She had a new body, but he knew it was her, his pseudo-mother. He'd always thought, even in those early days in with Dru when they'd first come to Sunnydale, that he'd never have killed her. She was too much like his own mother.

"Joyce." Her name hadn't been spoken aloud by him in what seemed forever, at least not in the sense of actually acknowledging her before. But here she was, beautiful as ever with the same kindness in her eyes. She'd always, always accepted him, never judged him, and there was the issue of cocoa and tiny marshmallows, what was better than that? She looked down on him, William and Allegra sound asleep in his arms, with their little heads tucked under his chin, and Buffy snuggled down against his stomach, curled up in a little ball. Joyce bent over and pressed her lips to Spike's forehead.

"Thank you for all you've given my daughter."

"No, no, she's the one, she's given me everything good I've ever know. I thank you for her."

"Buffy is a very strong girl...woman, but she always had something missing, a peace in her heart. She would never have found it with Angel, and certainly not with that Riley. I think I always knew it would be you. I always liked you best."

"You did? Joyce, pet, I was evil."

"At that point I think you were growing out of it, just my intuition. I was right, though, wasn't I?" She gestured to the three sleeping in his embrace.

"Yeah, you were right, mum."

"Now, if it's alright, the others..."

"They're all waiting out in the hallway, aren't they?"

"Pretty much."

"Come to see the sideshow? The newest vamp with a soul? The poof just must be stewing in his own juices."

"His son's here too, and some others from LA, Fred and Gunn? They brought back your car."

"Ah. Right then!" He nudged Buffy and she hazily sat sat up.

"Spike?" she asked.

"Here, pet, take the little'uns." She yawned and happily took the twins as each was passed to her, they barely stirred."Oi! Bloody in with yah!" The bedroom slowly filled with sheepish looking friends and family. Someone flipped on the overhead light and suddenly Spike knew he was in the spot light. He wry grin spread across his face and something amused flashed behind his eyes. Buffy caught it and smiled in return. He sat up straight, stretching out a bit and cracking his neck and a few other joints."Well, do I look alright?" The nodded and mumbled."Hey Connor, how goes it?" All eyes turned to the teenager and he picked up on Spike's mood.

"Fine...yep, everything's good."

"Got the keys to the DeSoto?" Conned held them up.

"Congrats, kid, you just got yourself a cooler car than daddy...his of course is at the bottom of a cliff. You'll let him borrow it?"

"Maybe." Conner gave his father a smirk that was classically Spike.

"Woah...Spike...you can't give..." Angel sputtered.

"Can and did. Let me ask you something, Peaches. How many years post ensoulment did you mope and brood? Hide in alleys and sewers sucking on rats?"

"Um...about, about 80 years, give or take. Is it just me or is he getting a bit snarky? There should be brooding." The crowd mumbled, somewhat in agreement.

"And how long have I been doing it?"

"Huh?"

"I'd wager about 20 hours, I think that's enough? Don't you?" Buffy snickered next to him and he took the moment to attack her mouth with his lips for a albeit short, but fiery kiss."I have an unlife to live, a wife that is my sunshine and two beautiful, healthy babies. I've got you lot, my friends and family...except you three, 'cause I have no bloody clue who you are..." He pointed to Faith, Fred and Gunn, giving them a quick wink,"I've also got a shiny new soul and this horrible scratchy need to help the helpless and write some bloody awful poetry...I also kinda wanna shag Buffy until she passes out, but I digress. So, if you don't want to see me naked, and I know some of you do," He gave Angel a pointed look and the older vampire rolled his eyes,"I'm about to get up out of this posing sick bed and get on with my life!" On cue there was a stampede out of the room, all except Joyce and Faith.

"Faith?" Buffy inquired, giving the other Slayer a cross look.

"What? He said if," she replied. Joyce took her young friend by the shoulders and directed her to the door. Once they were alone Spike slipped out from under the covers and walked over to the dresser, pulling out a comfortable pair of charcoal slacks and a black t-shirt. After dressing he came back over and sat on the bed.

"Give us a baby," he asked holding out his arms. William decided it would be him, holding his small arm out. Spike took him up and lay him comfortably in his arms,"Bloody hell."

"Why bloody hell?"

"They're my children...our children. I love them, love isn't even a strong enough word, it doesn't say all of it."

"I agree. You'll see...life will be beautiful, so long as the four of us are together."

"Think the babes would mind if I kissed you for a very long time?"

"As long as they get snack breaks I'm sure they'll be good about it. Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me."

***

When Joyce left the bedroom, closing the door behind her, she found Giles waiting. Faith continued on downstairs, unaware of the pensive, worried look on her once Watcher's face.

"Joyce...may we speak?" he asked.

"Of course, Mr. Giles."

"Just, Rupert, please. Joyce, I must ask...Mariam...is she?"

"She's with Olivia." He smiled, just a slight turning in the corners of his mouth. The woman, identical to the one he once loved, lay a comforting arm on his and brought him solace.

to be continued.....

Chapter 47 - Coming Home

For immortals, such as vampires, time passes sometimes very slowly, though also sometimes too quickly. Spike was grateful it was the former that he'd weathered these past couple of months. Naturally there were dark hours, when his soul would prey on his mind and heart, making him relive the past. He had spent times in Los Angelos, talking incessantly with Angel, the pair of them finding a camaraderie in their uniqueness. He'd had the pleasure of getting Conner drunk one night, much to Angel's extreme displeasure; especially considering that Spike was the designated driver, a promise to Buffy. Fact of the matter was that they were family and he cared for them. There wasn't always quite so much fun. There was anger too, when he hated himself and everything around him so much that he had to leave the house. He'd kill every evil demon he could find, running on pure adrenaline. Eventually he came back to his senses and returedn home. He'd put his head in Buffy's lap and told her he was terribly sorry. She was always so forgiving. There were most of all, times when he wept. He wept ong and hard until he'd exhausted himself. He cried for himself and for his victims; he cried because he missed Dawn, his Little Bit. His wife held him the entire time, then brought him one of the babies to hold and the pain and sadness was often miraculously assuaged.

Arrangements were made and identities squared away with the issues of Mariam and Carly; names officially changed, moneys and legalities handled. Lives were put back on track. Xander got himself an apartment and started back with a construction crew; Faith's criminal record seemed to miraculously disappear, but virtue of the Council of Watchers, redemption granted for a small price. Faith was now the official Slayer, which suited her fine. Lastly, in a few days Giles, Tara and Willow were returning to Bath.

Buffy and Spike were in synch moreso now than ever, except for one aspect. Both were in want of each other constantly, but the gnawing fear of what could happen if they let the twins alone without them prevented it. But now, more time had passed and they felt secure in the safety of their family.

Buffy could feel him undressing her with his eyes, he'd been doing it all day. Whenever they crossed paths, he didn't once not grope some part of her body. Even now as he rubbed William's back, the baby laying up at his shoulder, she could tell he was trying to ignite her erogenous zones by will alone. It wasn't working, well maybe just a little. She continued packing the overnight bags for the twins' sleepover under the care of Tara and Willow at Xander's new apartment. In fact everyone had made arrangements to be elsewhere until morning, at Buffy's request.

She'd sprung that boon upon him the night before, her intentions clear - hours alone in the house, nothing to except the very obvious. The truth of it was, she wanted him so badly she could barely concentrate on anything else. Over the past few days in fact she'd catch herself day dreaming of being under him, her body given no reprieve or rest as he made love to her for innumerable hours, subjecting her to orgasm after orgasm. Her breath hitched and she shuddered as she exhaled. She looked at Spike and turned away immediately, blushing furiously, trying her best to ignore the self-satisfied smirk on his face.

Spike secured William in his carrier on the bed, next to where Allegra lay sleeping in her own. He moved over to where Buffy was, minding her own business. There was a definite confident swagger to his hips and a determined look in his eye that could cut through steel."What?" Buffy said quickly, avoiding locking their eyes. He advanced on her as if she were prey. His hands raised and insinuated themselves to rest under her breasts, supporting the weight of them in his palms. She was unable, and unwilling to stop him as he thumbed her nipples into hard pebbles through her bra and shirt."Stop that...." She invalidated her protest by caressing his rear end.

"I need inside you Slayer," he growled, squeezing her plump flesh,"Need you to burn me up."

"Soon, Willow and Tara should be here soon. Oh god.....it's been too long."

"Two months, three weeks, four days and nineteen hours, not that I've been counting. Are you ready for me, pet? Ready for the Big Bad?"

"I was ready for you three weeks after we have the twins. Question is..." Her hand maneuvered around to take hold of him in his jeans, kneading tenderly, then rougher, he groaned,"Are you ready for me." Their game was brought to an abrupt halt when Allegra awoke and demanded her afternoon snack. Her parents begrudgingly let go of each other,"Go on downstairs, take the bags and I'll feed them."

"Save some for me, sweetness." He kissed her temple and departed. Buffy nearly swooned, but eventually took up her daughter.

"Wish mommy luck, I think I'm in big trouble!"

***

After Spike had seen the twins off with Tara and Willow he took his time making the way back up to the bedroom, letting his lust simmer just a little longer. She'd been sitting on the corner of the bed waiting for him, having already taken off her shirt and bra. He came in and closed the door, then turned off the lights. The room glowed a soft yellow from the late afternoon sun filtered through the drawn curtains. Buffy closed her eyes, feeling him approach slowly. He went to his knees before her, running his hands up her thighs and then over to her center to unbutton her slacks. Meanwhile the tip of his nose circled around one pert nipple. She shivered, goosepimples spreading over the canvas of her skin. One of his hands covered a breast, rolling and crushing the hardened nipple between two fingers. The other was rolled languorously with his tongue, droplets of her sweet milk alighting his taste buds. He wanted to break and cry for mercy, so blessed to be given the sanctuary of her body.

"Spike!" she gasped,"Spike, hurry, I can't wait any longer...please." He broke away from her, stripping himself of all of his clothing before doing the same for her. When the heady scent of her arousal consumed his senses and his length rose up for her. She went to recline but he grabbed her wrist and yarded her up to her feet, spun her around and pushed her hard against the wall. He held her up off the ground by both wrists, craning his neck up to lock her mouth with his in a wildly passionate kiss. In one rapid motion he released her arms, grabbed her thighs and impaled her. She cried out into his mouth, and almost immediately began jutting her pelvis out into his. Spike buried his face at her neck and under her hair, growling and moaning as he began to thrust in and out of her.

Within the first second of becoming immersed within her body he felt his soul come alive. All this time he'd been wracked with guilt and remorse, but this was pure enlightened bliss, pure happiness. He felt the pull of their hearts, minds and souls tune in as their bodies moved together. On the flipside she was hot as a flame, flowing wet for him and as just as tight as the first time he's take her against a wall,"So bloody good, so bloody good," he practically howled, making her laugh and moan at the same time. With every surge into her he gave a twist with his hips, making her gasp and dig her nail into his back.

He'd take her a bit by surprise, pushing her against the wall and claiming her. The initial shock of him thrusting all the way up inside her had her nearly coming right then and there. He was as soft as velvet, but hard as stone. How she'd survived these past months and weeks without having this every day was beyond comprehension. They were finally home.

After a time of him slamming her backside against the wall, she managed to wrap her legs around his waist. She hugged him with both arms too, stilling his frantic movements. They were panting heavily, her heart racing and inner muscles fluttering around the portion of his flesh buried deep inside her. He steadied her back against the wall and rolled against her hips, grinding against her hardened clitoris and causing her to whimper in his ear as she sucked and chewed on the lobe. Perspiration made her hotter, her skin skin glowed and her scent was swarming his senses. He groaned loudly when she tensed around him.

She drew back searching for his clear eyes,"Blood," she whispered, her finger tip glancing over the jugular vein in his neck.

"Buffy?"

"Your blood, can I taste it? Just a little? I want to know what it's like for you. I want us to share this."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, because I love you." Taking hold of her backside and keeping them joined, he walked them over to the bed. Bringing them down to the mattress gently, Spike lay himself upon her, fusing deeper inside her passage. He clenched his buttocks and pushed as deep as she could take him, she bit her bottom lip and arched into him with a slow sigh. He repeated the action continuously until she about to break from the pleasure. He bit into his own wrist, letting droplets of his blood fall into her open mouth and on her tongue. This was the first time he'd showed his vampire face since regaining his soul - she thought him truly beautiful, her husband. He lowered the wrist and her bow lips closed over the punctures and began to suck ever so slightly. As her consumption of his blood increased in pressure, he began to thrust a little faster into her soft body. They climaxed simultaneously, bodies shocked with mutual ecstasy, strung as tight as guitar strings, then there was the snap when they were undone, becoming writhing, screaming masses of pulsing wet flesh.

Chapter 48 - Nature of the Beasts

Buffy was limp and listless, laying face down on the bed. She wondered absently where Spike had gotten to before a cool pair of hands settled around her ankles and began a path upwards. Her thighs were encouraged to spread themselves, giving him room to kneel behind her. Then those same hands planted themselves on either side of her and his lips were on her spine slowly tracing the path down her back.

"Your skin...is...very.....hot, my love," Spike purred,"You taste like sugar and spice...sex and salt. You taste like heaven." His tongue was back up to lick at her shoulder and then dipped down to swathe over the flash of a breast pressed into mattress that was peaking out."I'm going to have you every way tonight, Slayer..." She then felt herself being lifted up on to her knees. She clutched needily to her pillow and moaned long and loud as he pushed himself back inside her. He hugged around her middle and pulled her back, making her grunt lewdly, until he'd been completely consumed. She moved back at him, giving another flow of wetness from her to continue their hours of carnal coupling. With heated gasps and snarls he kept a frenzied rhythm of thrusts while Buffy nearly squeezed the stuffing out of her pillow.

She loved being take roughly by him, it was thrilling in a primal way that made her feel closer to her essence as the Slayer. A hunter of animals, demons, beasts being dominated by one of them. The same could be said for the beast ravaging her, a demon though tempered and restrained by his soul and his love for her, having his torrid way with a beautiful, and quite willing, human woman gave him a deep, powerful satisfaction. He kept pumping as he came, a resonating roar accompanying the stream of his release before he clutched her hips and held her to him until he was finished.

When the last shudders of ecstasy passed through Spike, he pulled out of her and turned her slack body over. She was writhing and aching for her own climax and he was only too willing to oblige. He slid down until he could settled his head between her thighs. He could smell himself mingled with her juices, soaking over supple flesh that was all his for the taking. Easing two fingers back inside, Spike thoroughly massaged and pressed at her top wall. He always could find just the right spot of nerves. The stimulation was overwhelming to his wife,. Buffy choked and sobbed on her breaths until she shattered and arched off the bed. She cried and shook and he sunk his fangs into the femoral artery on the inside of her thigh and drank.

***

Some hours later, nearing 4am, the Summers house finally seemed to have quieted, at the least the walls had stopped humming. However, not all was quiet or in the least restful. Spike lay grouted into the mattress of the bed with his head uncomfortably sandwich in the middle of a pillow whose stuffing had been dispersed to either side of him, leaving him with a flat nothing to support his aching neck. Buffy sat astride him, still stretched around his perpetual erection, trying desperately not to move in any fashion. Sweat pooled at the divot above her lip before it trickled down past her chin to the stream between her breasts, not that one could notice in the blanket of perspiration that shrouded her and made her shiny in the darkness. She was pretty sure that she could discern each individual vein up along his length, for someone with supposedly no circulation, he certainly throbbed inside her like an electric pulse under the ground. Every now and again he'd shift his position to try and get comfortable again, seating her even more heavily upon him.

The sheets were soaked and the room was heavy with the scent of their sex. Spike may have been bone tired under the unwillingness of his wife to call it quits, but he was swimming in nirvana. Besides the fact that he though he might fall asleep from exhaustion, he was still rock hard for her, always in want of her. She whimpered with an involuntary spasm of her inner muscles, any twitch of his cock setting her off again. She bounced on top of him for a few more pumps, then sat still again, her head lulling forward and her long tresses falling over her face and tickling his abdomen.

"Can you speak again yet?" he asked with a hoarse whisper. She shook her head and he smiled, somewhere between the 14th and 18th round she'd lost her voice. Not from the screaming or the moaning, it was as if her brain had turned that function off in order to supply her with more energy for the sex."We can stop anytime you want, love, I'm knackered..." She tightened herself around him and he cried out, when she let him lose he was certain his vision had been suspended like her voice,"Or not...."

He swept his fingers across her clit, mad and red from over use and she tried to push his hands away."That's mother nature tellin' you it's time to stop....we're going to bloody kill each other..." She flung her head back, hair bursting out like a fireworks display and hitting wet against her back. She bore into his eyes with her own, he knew that look all too well, he was about to have his penis twisted up into a nice salty pretzel like some cheeky party trick inside Buffy. He wasn't about to have that, William the Bloody Ensouled Vampire was not the sort to lay like a cold fish. In a sudden rush of vampire stealth, Buffy landed on the hardwood floors on her back with her knees draped over Spike's shoulders. She yelped when he grabbed on to her hips and bore into her. Holding himself deep inside he curled back his pelvis and sliced along her upper walls with his length. The Slayer came alive again, twisting and fighting with him until he was underneath her like before only now she was calm and sensuous, pressing her breasts to his chest and giving the underside of his chin kitteny sweet kisses."Nice n' slow, love...nice n' slow..." She nodded her head and worked away the tension in his shoulders with her hands.

"Love you," she whispered under his chin.

"Found your voice afterall? I love you, sweetheart." He felt her lips curve into a smile as she relaxed into the form of his body, letting herself be heavy, too overheated for another burst of energy, but just enough to push their joined bodies to one last orgasm. She made slow grinds back at him, like gelatin sliding down one's throat. He wrapped his arms around her back and jutted up his hips to meet her lower half. In no time at all a long, intense, but quiet climax was achieved. Muscles tensed and released, shocking pleasures set off every synapse and spread to every cell. Sleep was quick to come, setting in before the last pulses of ecstasy had even run their course.

to be continued.....