Chapter 23

"Oh you guys!" Dawn whined when she came back into the living room. Spike's eyes shot open and he nudged Buffy until she came around, accompanied by a wide mouth yawn.

"Sorry, sweet bit...but you know we're a rather nocturnal pair," Spike explained, stretching out his lean body as Buffy did the same,"So do tell....what is your master plan for takin' out the blighter from the great beyond?" Dawn organized her thoughts and took a deep breath.

"Okay...I've been reading all these papers, learning about what all the religions and the history says about angels and stuff and I've come up with some ideas to go with the whole pulling out his heart thing that Uriel talked about. But first we have the problem of him turning Buffy into zombie girl and him being able to use his powers to throw Spike around like he was a wiffle ball."

"Hey!" he protested, Buffy simply patted his knee.

"Anyways....everybody's got symbols, right? Christians have crosses, Jewish people have the Star of David....everybody's got something. The angels all have their own marks... anyways, you know how Catholics make medals of certain saints to wear for protection? And Tara once told me she wore the Ing rune to give her the power of what that symbol meant and there you go!"

"There we go how?" Buffy asked.

"Seems how I'm the one with the power to go against Xuxael, I want to give you two a symbol from me to wear....get it tattooed on you someehere instead of a necklace. Something that really means me, embodies all the coolness that is Dawn."

"Oh bloody hell....please don't tell me it's that dreadful insipid Hello Kitty you have on all your shirts? Rather give the girl over to the angel." Spike snarled. Buffy promptly whacked him hard in the stomach,"Steady on....just kiddin' love...tryin' to lighten the mood. If it means savin' you I'd get Britney and Justin 4 Ever inked on my back in big purple calligraphy..."

"Would you two stop it! I'm being serious....and it's not Hello Kitty, give me some credit would yah? I don't know what it'll be until it's already on you, just one of those instinct, subconscious magic Key type things...it won't hurt, promise....and I'll try and make it cool."

"Right then, how we gonna go 'bout it then."

"Take off your shirts." Spike and Buffy exchanged a look, half confused, half wishing they could follow Dawn's command to removed their shirts, alone."Hop to it!"

"Yes ma'am," Buffy replied in an amusing tone. Spike pulled off his tank top and ran his hand down his torso in an effort to entice the Slayer, which worked as he sensed her heartbeat quicken. Buffy pulled off her own shirt, but held it over her naked breasts. Without casting a second thorough to the action, Spike's hand was approaching the little scrap of fabric that covered her.

"Don't touch her," Dawn commanded,"You two can play later....hopefully when I'm far far away from the house...."

"Sorry...." they both mumbled, looking downwards.

"Okay, stand up and turn around." Buffy and Spike complied and seconds later each had a small, graceful hand placed between their shoulder blades. Warmth spread across their backs and then it seemed to come from the inside, as if they'd swallowed a hot drink too fast and it radiated quickly through their organs and their blood. Then as suddenly as it had come upon them, they were normal again, even cooling down. Goosepimples spread over Buffy's skin and she shivered, immediately Spike reached for a blanket and threw it around her,"I'm sorry about that....little bit too much anti...anti the thing I just did...."

"It's fine Dawn....I'm all warm again already," said Buffy, then her eyes were diverted to Spike's back and she gasped,"Oh wow....Dawn.....it's beautiful....." Buffy placed her hand on her boyfriend's back, running her fingers back and forth over the pattern that lay between his shoulder blades.

"What's it like?" Spike asked, trying to crane his neck to see it. Buffy moved the blanket down and turned for Spike to see,"Woah...so that means you huh nibblet?"

"I guess so...."

"What's the rest of your plan?"

"Pretty easy actually, but we have to wait until tonight, when Spike can go outside...until then I'll explain what I've got in mind....then I think maybe I'll go hang with Janice for a while now that the marks will protect you, I've got a chem test to study for, might as well get a head start. That'll leave you with hours to....you know......and don't pretend you're not just all fireworks on the inside...you two are worse than teenagers!"

Chapter 24

Despite Buffy's perfect ability to walk for herself, Spike had insisted and scooping her up in his very strong and masculine arms and carrying her up the stairs once Dawn had left for the afternoon. The gesture was a terribly romantic one, his mouth tickling behind her ears and over her face. Fact of the matter was, ever since Dawn had put the marks on their backs an overwhelming surge of confidence had found a way into them. The angel may have made his attacks upon them by day, but he never made an appearance in the flesh until night. They felt safe for now, secure in the belief Dawn's plan would work. They were confident even more so in the teenage girl that had been formed and sent to the Slayer as her sister. Dawn was miracle in and of herself, and she was theirs - her sister and best friend and in a way her parents as well, even though she happened to be more than just a magic Key. Dawn's new found powers in truth frightened Buffy, knowing how Willow had been corrupted and lost. But that was a bridge they'd cross.....after Xuxael was dead.

Now however was not a time to be morbid or nervous, now was a time to toss Buffy on her bed and ravage her....or in practice, gently lay her down. Buffy moaned as she sunk into the quilt and overly soft mattress, her pillows surrounding her, but it wasn't what she wanted, she was still cold and still somewhat achy from that morning's ordeal. Spike stood at the foot of the bed undressing, throwing his tank top in the general direction of the closet, then unbuttoning his pants, drawing down the zipper and letting them fall to the ground. He kicked them off his ankles and walked back towards her door, shutting it, then flipping off the lightswitch. The room was virtually in shadows, some afternoon light coming through the fabric of the curtains making his lithe form distinguishable in the dark.

"You want to know one of my favorite things about you?" she asked as he stood at the other side of the room.

"What's that, love?" he replied, approaching slowly.

"You're not so tall...." He laughed, coming to stand at the end of the bed again."I'm serious...the others....whom I won't name...were at least two heads taller, I didn't like that. I never made an issue of it at the time, but they made me feel child-like....you make me feel more like a woman." The self-gratified smirk that painted his face was evident even in the shadows.

"There's other ways.....that I.....can make you feel like a woman...." With those words he climbed on to the bed, gliding up the length of her body until his naked one covered her still clothed one. He kept the majority of his weight supported by his arms on either side of her. He came down slightly, teasing her with little vampire growls and tiny darts of his tongue to lick her lips. She shivered and Spike noticed that it wasn't from pleasure."You cold, my sweet?"

"Little bit...yeah...."

"Why didn't you say so? Last thing you need is the living ice man touching you." He backed off her and she sighed when he went to moving her off the bed so he could pull back the covers.

"You know, sometimes your too selfless for you own good?"

"Why's that?" Seconds later he found that he'd been pushed down to the bed and a suddenly naked Slayer was there with her body pressed up against him. She pulled the covers back over them up to their chins, pressing their foreheads together. Her hand moved up and down the outside of his ribcage while the other traced the features on his face.

"You might be cool to the touch, but you make me very very hot you know....you can make this body warm in no time. Things have been very strange and very scary since you came back....but I also know that if you hadn't come back I'd be in the worst hell I could ever imagine...so the way I see things, every minute spent like this, no matter how cold the temperature might be is the happiest, most complete I ever feel. Got that?"

"Yes dear." He said in such a way that it earned him a swat on his rear end.

"Will you come and live with us?"

"Thought I was, pet...the crypt's pretty uninviting now that I've had a few days nestled in the warm bosom of the Summers household."

"I meant in wherever we move...move to...I don't know how big of an apartment we'll be able to afford, but I know it wouldn't be home unless you were with us."

"'Course I'll come...fact that you want me to is a bloody blessing. Must say though, can't picture you two livin' anywhere but here...Joyce's presence n' all...I'd miss it."

"But there's nothing we can do about that.....I just know that as long as the three of us are a family it doesn't matter where we live...just as long as we're together."

"I'll second that...."

"Stolen moments like this don't feel like enough somehow...we've got a couple of hours to ourselves, then the outside world's gonna knock on the door and drag us back out....I wish I could freeze time."

"Speakin' of freeze....you're not cold anymore....guess I warmed you up after all."

"Told you...and you're all nice and warm...." Her hand moved from where she'd been kneading his backside, around to the hardened length that had come to attention between them,"And nice and hard for me too....."

"Always for you, baby....what say we freeze time for a few hours...."

Chapter 25

Spike tightened his grip around the railing of Buffy's wireframe headboard, he forced out a grunt of almost release, but it turned into a heated, desperate moan. Buffy was hidden under the covers, doing all sorts of devious things to him. She pumped him furiously with her hands, while her tongue did a veritable tour de force of acrobatics. Just then the sound of the front door shutting hard could be heard downstairs.

"Buffy! Spike! I'm home!!" Dawn shouted from below.

"Coming!!" Spike replied loudly, perfectly aware of the double meaning. Buffy couldn't help but giggle and laugh, even in the middle of what she was doing,"Ow! Slayer watch it with the teeth....Slay...sssssssllaaaaayerrrrr........" She gave his length one long, luxurious suck and it was more than enough to finish him. She reappeared from under the the quilt, licking her lips, still laughing, hair messed and looking too satisfied with herself for her own good. She lay herself on him and kissed him fully, sensually, meanwhile prying his white knuckled fingers from her bed frame.

"When I think back...to when I first met you....never in my wildest, most outrageous fantasies did I ever, ever think that that would be one of my most favorite pastimes." She kissed him again, then removed herself from the bed and went about dressing herself for the night's confrontation. She chose more combat styled outfits that she was inclined to lately, opting black leather pants, knee-high black leather boots and a fitted shirt with a high neck and long sleeves, also in black. Spike watched her cover herself and then affix her hair tight against her head in a small bun. Spike remained laying comfortably on the bed, rather cozy in fact under the quilt, the scent of sex still making his head swim.

"Love?"

"Mmm hmmm?"

"Are you saying that you had fantasies about me way back then? Hmmm?" She retrieved a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt for him, as well as his belt. She brought them over to him, sitting on the edge of the bed and trying not to smile."Buffy? You were supposed to be hopelessly in love with the great poof and I was invading that virginal little mind of yours? Tell me, sweets, did our fisticuffs in the school hallways get you moist?"

"You're such a pig."

"Answer the question...."

"I hated you....immensely."

"That's not answering the question."

"Maybe."

"Maybe? You're lying."

"Well.....there was that first time when you came out of the shadows after I dusted your decoy, looking all smug and applauding me.....then it was the whole I'll kill you on Saturday. But for a second there I was all wow on the inside. As for our fights....like you said.....we dance...." Spike huffed and wormed his way out from under the covers, pulling on his jeans and feeding the belt through the loops.

"You are such a terrible liar, Slayer."

"It's not a total lie, you are devastatingly handsome, fiendishly so....and you always had this dead sexy way about you...so it took me a while to come around to your charms....but now...." She advanced on him and put her arms around his neck, looking into his brilliant blue eyes,"I'm completely under your spell. There's something, I think, missing from my little ensemble..." By now his arms were locked around her waist.

"What's that, pet?" She stretched her neck to one side.

"When we see him tonight....I want him to see your mark on my neck, I want every one to know that the Slayer is the lover of a vampire....I want them to hear it from here to LA, to London...." He bent down and kissed the spot, but his teeth did not pierce the skin. He pulled back the neckline of her shirt to look at the marks from the night before, closed with bruising around the punctures.

"Last night, in the throws of passion are one thing, love, but starting to use you as my own personal source..."

"I'm not a Happy Meal on legs Spike....it's not like that, this about our bond....this is also about sticking to Xuxael. He thinks he's better than us, thinks he can keep us under his thumb.....thinks he can take me and use me for whatever sick, obsessive, twisted idea of love he's made up. Angels don't understand what real love is....it's selfless, nurturing, passionate..."

"You used to think that my love was sick, obsessive and twisted..." She caught a brief flash of pain on his face and she saw him nervously gnaw on his lower lip.

"And that was because I didn't understand yet....the things you found out in Africa....Slayers and vampires are cut from the same cloth...we're symbiotic in this world. As for you, what you did for Dawn and me, laying your life on the line when Glory came for her, I had an epiphany back then. You were more than just a vampire and you loved us and it was real, even if I didn't want it. When I first came back and was still all confused.....when I saw you at the bottom of the stairs, the look you had in your eyes, I almost couldn't face it...there was so much love there, just for me.....I was so amazed you were still here and after that I couldn't deny you, in my heart at least....of course you know, stuff happened."

"Stuff always happens, Slayer. Thank you for telling me these things....I didn't know...."

"Now you do....so.....as I was saying....my neck is looking far too pristine...." He closed in on her, the demon rising to the surface and his face changing, fangs descending. Buffy lay her hands on his chest and let out a cool sigh of utter abandon, closing her eyes and bearing her neck again. He kissed the spot once more, then widened his mouth, sinking his fangs in deep. She cried out, but faintly before it turned into a soft moan. As the night before the hot liquid of her blood began to pool in his mouth, Spike felt himself lulling into a strange, beautiful place. The gift she was giving him was beyond the most thrilling dreams of any vampire, but moreover the very taste of her was teeming with love for him. Even if she never said the words aloud again, he would feel always it as surely as he could taste her now. After only a few earnest draws from her veins he retracted and held his mouth over the wounds as the flow ceased. His lips left her and he licked the wounds clean, leaving nothing but two perfect red circles.

His arms stayed around her waist, making sure she wasn't faint or dazed. Shaking off the vampire face he looked into her eyes again, they were bright and gleaming and still so full of love he was the one who felt weak on his feet."You alright, Buffy?"

"I'm just...a little.....wow...that was amazing...." A knock was at their door seconds before Dawn came in. She looked over the scene and smiled slightly, but then couldn't' resist the chance to tease.

"Geez, Spike...she's not a meal wagon......"

Chapter 26

Buffy needlessly straightened the collar on Spike's coat while he complacently let her do it. It certainly wasn't necessary, after all he had been wearing the coat for twenty five years as it was, the thing was shaped to fit him, the collar never needed straightening. Somehow the action seemed to do something for Buffy, so he stood there in the front hall and let her. She patted his shoulders down and continued looking at his chest, but soon found herself looking in his eyes when he took her chin with his hand and raised her head."You sure 'bout this, Slayer? Would it be wrong of me to remind you that this was the same plan as Lucifer's?"

"Using me as bait? Dawn's convinced it'll work....and I trust her, but still....."

"We'll both be there, lurkin'...I'll have your back."

"You always do." Suddenly she hugged him, her strong arms circling his shoulders and squeezing with all her might."And we have Dawn..."

"She's might belong in the universal toolbox, as she put it, but she's your sister first."

"I'm still worried....I know you are too."

"Yeah....but the nibblet's made of tough stuff....she's made from you, if you recall....I don't even think she's realized her full potential. I don't think Xuxael stands a chance against her if she really wanted to let him have it. With that said, I know what you're thinking....absolute power corrupts absolutely? Let me just say this about that...I'd say Willow's already learned that lesson for her, how altering the course of events to suit your own selfish needs backfires. Besides, she'd got us...we'll steer her down the right path."

"You're the one who taught her how to pick locks and shop lift." Of course, he smirked, he was obviously proud that he had influence over the younger Summers."But you also taught her how to protect herself, how be loyal and how to love selflessly."

"Nah.....you did that.....you showed her that when you jumped off that tower..."

"And you picked up the pieces and kept her going....I think we both deserve credit for what an amazing girl she's turned out to be."

"Guess it's the closest we'll ever come to being parents huh? It's funny sometimes that I find myself thinking like that...there was a time I would have thought of Dawn as a nice lil' snackable." Buffy let a soft laugh roll off her tongue before they fell into a slow, languid kiss. Meanwhile, Dawn had been standing at the top of the stairs listening to their discourse with hints of tears in her eyes. Three supernatural beings who had formed themselves a natural family. The realization came upon the teenager then, that for all her new found powers, broader understanding of the universe, its creation and its deities, it was nothing to compared to the happiness she gleaned from something so simple as watching Spike and Buffy share a tender moment.

Composing herself she gradually made her way down the stairs, making just enough noise to distract her sister and her vampire from each other,"Ready to roll sweet bit?" Spike asked after he'd pulled away from Buffy.

"I'm good to go...what about you two?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Buffy breathed out while her fingers tightened around the leather on Spike's arm. Spike moved away from her and into the living room, diving into the weapons chest and coming back with stakes for each of them and blades for he and Buffy.

"Never can be too careful, my sweets....still plenty of common all garden vamps out there. As for you n' me Slayer, couple a sharp ones for diggin' out angel hearts." They secured the weapons to their bodies and then stood silent as the sun set outside. Once darkness had fallen Spike lead Buffy to the front door, pausing to place a kiss on her cheek before opening the front door,"We'll be right behind you, love.....no worries, okay?" She nodded her head and sucked in a deep breath.

"I love you. I love both of you...."

"We know....go on, sooner we get this done...." He ran his hand over her back, where the tattoo that matched his own was imprinted,"You can feel it, can't you? We're all connected....the three of us...you know everything's gonna work out fine right?" She kissed him once more and then stepped out into the twilight, heading out alone to hopefully lure her stalker straight to her.

"You okay Spike? You look really nervous." Dawn observed. Spike shrugged his shoulders and looked away from the vacant path that Buffy had just walked down.

"Yeah....just have that feeling....you know? Same one I felt after Doc stuck me n' tossed me off the tower...that ugly ache deep inside...I'm falling and when I hit the ground I'll know I've failed and I'll have lost her again." He felt a small comforting hand coming to rest on his forearm.

"It's different now." Spike shook off his feeling of foreboding and headed towards the door.

"Come on, nibblet...got myself a yen for clippin' some angels of their wings."

"Now your talking!"

Chapter 27

Buffy knew that Spike and Dawn were only a couple of minutes behind her, but still she knew this was a dangerous venture. It wasn't that she didn't have every confidence in Dawn's powers of protection that she'd been infused with by virtue of the mark, it was herself that she had doubts about. This time felt eerily similar to when Angelus had been haunting her, taunting and torturing her friends and family. By the same token during that time she also had Spike helping her, just as she did now. This time however was vastly different, this time he wasn't just helping her, he was deeply in love with her and she with him. She was keenly aware that so much more was at stake now that she was no longer a teenager.

After all this year's tragedies she'd finally awakened to what she wanted for her life. Precisely what she wanted was what she already had; her sister and her lover. She imagined Dawn's graduation from High School, her going on to University, maybe falling in love and getting married and even perhaps being so lucky as to have children of her own. All these may have only been fantasies given the emergence of power in her sister, but a future as Buffy had conjured was not out of the question.

For herself, as she walked towards the largest cemetery in Sunnydale, Buffy still held on to romanticized visions of her own future. Ambitions for a real career had been let go not too long after submitting to working for the Doublemeat Palace. Her calling was to be the Slayer and that would always be first and foremost in guiding her destiny, but it would never guide her heart. Because of Spike everything she ever imagined about who she would spend the rest of her life with had been thrown out the proverbial window. He defied all categories and never ceased to challenge her concepts and notions about love. She dreamed of cliché romance novel scenes of candle lit baths, roses and red wine; but also she delighted in the lascivious desires for him to take her amongst the grave stones of any given cemetery. Moreover she found happiness in thoughts of strange but mundane activities such as warming a cup of blood or bleaching his hair for him. She loved their talks, how they laughed and teased and how he said words that shook her to her foundations and made her eternally grateful she had such a devoted, beautiful man to love.

Spike had had changed his ways in order to be worthy of her love and somewhere along the way he'd embraced that change for his own edification. She was immensely proud of him, but the heart of the matter when it came to him was how vital his existence had come to mean to her's. Him leaving had been a painful wake up call, but a necessary one because his return had been the most amazing moment of her life. A life that found itself alone in a cemetery waiting for a fallen angel to come and try to take it from her.

Buffy nearly jumped out of her skin when a crow cawed loudly as it swooped past her. It's body was almost formless against the black of the sky. She wondered why it hadn't gone to it's nest for the night, most birds did before the nighttime creatures came out. Perhaps it was looking for a last bit of carrion or even fresh prey, out for a last hunt. Never before on regular patrols had Buffy felt so frightened; it wasn't the outright terror that had one cowering or screaming, just the pangs in the cells that put one on edge."This is me...all confident and ready for action," she spoke to herself, gripping her stake more firmly.

"Creatures kissing in the rain, shapeless in the dark again. In the Garden, please don't speak, in the Garden no one sleeps...." The words came to her ears, carried on the wind in a soft genderless voice. Buffy stopped walking and shut her eyes tight as if trying to force herself out of one reality into another,"In the heat of the night, the animals scream. In the heat of the night walking into a dream..."

"Who's there? Spike? Dawn?"

"The tides of sin draw tighter and brighter, my sweet.....this is when the night comes down, a hammer on an anvil and you are lost....but we'll always find you."

"Show yourself! Coward!!"

"No coward, pretty thing....cannot be a coward if you serve Heaven's league, must be as brave as a Templar..." Buffy fell back as he was suddenly at her shoulder. It wasn't Xuxael at all, but instead a much more sinister creature. He was incredibly tall, well over 6 ft, possibly seven. His entire being was black and seemingly as liquid as ink. His skin, his eyes, and even his teeth were all nearly as imperceptible as the crow had been. If it weren't for the moon reflecting in his eyes she wouldn't have know he was there. She quickly stumbled to her feet and drew out the knife Spike had given her.

"Who are you?" Her voice was by all appearance confidant and stoic, but all the while on the inside she was screaming for Spike and Dawn to hurry and catch up.

"I have said, I serve him, the angel."

"Where is he?"

"Oh, he's about...should be here any moment, have you come to kill him? That's a dear price to pay, the blood of an angel on your hands. Their blood never washes clean."

"I'm willing to take my chances, what are you here for? To do his dirty work?"

"Hmm? No, not really, I'm just supposed to keep you from leaving."

"Easier said that done....I think I can take yah."

"Maybe, but all of us?"

"Huh?" Then she saw them, their eyes becoming as numerous as the stars, vampires, demons, night breeds of all measure. There were dozens, if not a hundred, emerging from the shadows and surrounding her."Oh no...."

"Oh yes......"

Chapter 28

At the same time as trying to strategize how to fight her way through so many monsters, Buffy began to back away from the blackened man. He made no motioned to follow but gave a chuckle that sounded like matches striking. A ring of vampires advanced and Buffy raised her stake, battle ready and slipping into her other self, the Slayer. Dammit, Spike...where are you? she thought. One vampire broke from the pack and lunged at her, she caught its head with an inside crescent kick and put it to its knees. She plunged her stake into its back through the heart and it immediately exploded into dust. Two more vampires came at her and managed to disarm her of the knife, sending it far out of her reach. She still however had her stake and between more kicks and punches staked them both. Buffy could manage to fend off the vampires with relative ease, but suddenly she found that other less easy to kill demons were joining the fray. After wrestling a Fyarl to the ground and snapping its neck and powerful anvil of a fist connected to a mighty Charrago side swiped her face and she was sent reeling.

Spike and Dawn came into the cemetery, by all accounts it was as calm and lifeless as ever. There was something about the place that always made him feel like he was never walking alone. Sometimes he liked that, as if he had night kin all about; while other times there was a strange prickling on his skin as if he were being stalked or molested. He reasoned that Buffy probably felt the latter ten times over with Xuxael trying to get his hooks in her. As her lover and her life mate the least he could do was rip it's heart out, but what he really had rolling around in his mind was tying the thing up, and if it had wings, plucking it's feathers one by one with rusty pliers before reaching down it's throat for the organ.

He felt Dawn's hand slip under his arm and grasp on to his bicep. He reached across and gave it a reassuring squeeze,"Penny for your thoughts, bit?"

"It's nothing, really, but ever since I did my trance all these images, sounds and sensations have been coming back to me, memories I guess."

"Givin' you the wigguns are they?"

"Yeah, big time."

"Wanna share?"

"The universe wasn't created in seven days you know, that's just a metaphor - there were seven stages to it. And, and...uh, there's like an infinite number of parallel universes out there where every possibility is played out...including the world without shrimp."

"You don't say."

"Yeah...but there's a world out there where you and Buffy are accountants living in Wyoming with a whole bunch of little rugrats and a golden retriever." Spike couldn't help but laugh at the absurd imagery.

"I don't think it matters what reality we're in, just as long as I get to love you girls.....but whilst I've got your ear...can you tap into the universal forces and catch next week's lotto numbers?"

"Why?"

"I'll be staked good n' proper if I tell you, but I think maybe you should prepare yourself for some tough times, lil' bit."

"I read the letter from the bank, Buffy hid it...I didn't mean to, but I just kinda found it. I know what's gonna happen."

"Big sis is tearing herself up inside o'er it....so when the time comes n' she sits you down....be brave for her, k'? Can you promise?"

"I promise, but I think it'll be okay. Listen, I know I kinda make fun of you guys for being all over each other, and even for those looks that are like are torn from the pages of romance novels, but you're the best thing to ever happen to our family and we're lucky to have you. Don't cry."

"I'm not..."

"Yes you are." He ran his thumbs under his eyes, stopping any flow of tears."And you're not a poof, or a wanker or any other one of those colorful words you like to throw out there. I love you Spike, sorry had to be said."

"Love you too, sweet bit...more than you'll ever know."

"I've got a good idea.Cut, end of mushy sentimental moment."

"Agreed."

"So where do you suppose Buffy is? Shouldn't we have seen her by now?"

"It's a huge cemetery, just need to keep our eyes n' ears open....." Suddenly Dawn stopped dead in her tracks, the hand she had on Spike's arm halted him aswell,"Dawn?" She cast her eyes upwards and gasped, clutching fiercely to Spike's coat.

"Spike look...he's coming." Sure enough, as he followed her gaze, obscuring their view of the moon was the silhouette of outstretched wings twenty feet across gliding on the wind."We have to find Buffy....."

Chapter 29

Buffy could taste the blood in her mouth from when she'd accidentally bit the inside of her mouth when taking a left hook from one particularly stealth vampire. Her strength and endurance both were waning and her eyes stung from the sweat and vampire dust collected in them. She was sure she'd only been fighting a few minutes, but the weight of her arms made it feel like she'd done a thousand rounds with a heavyweight boxer. At length she was taking as many blows as she was landing, if Spike didn't come soon she might really be done for. More demons and vampires were arriving every second, as if someone had summoned them to converge on this place. Another much larger and imposing vampire stormed the Slayer, faking her out then pounding his fist into her guts. Buffy fought the urge to wretch, falling her her knees and crying out. She felt massive hands close around her throat, but as soon as they were there they were suddenly gone.

She was left gasping and crying as Spike tore her attacker away and staked him. "SLAYER?!" Spike roared back to her as he started taking all demonic comers jumping into attack."Buffy!! Get up Buffy!"

"Spike....." she acknowledge, clamoring to her feet just in the nick of time as another Charrago came for her."It's the angel, Spike....he's called them all here...." Spike kicked away his own opponents and raced after the Charrago, stabbing it through the back with his knife. He put his back to Buffy's as the demons closed their circle around them.

"We have to get outta here, love...."

"Where's Dawn?"

"She told me to get you n' burn rubber....something she had to take care of..."

***

The blackened man spun around and was instantly on guard when he felt the light behind him. Dawn walked towards him with a well matched aire, bathed in power and a green preternatural light. Her eyes had lost all pigment but a whirlwind of magic under the glassy surface. The teenager had awakened the source that dwelled somewhere in the seat of her soul. Her skin was a glow as if she'd been coated with phosphorous.

"Remember me?" she asked, coming within ten feet of him.

"I do......you were the one used to give life, when the High was making cells and aligning molecules, it was you who gave them their spark," he replied.

"And it was you that made it so everything to which I gave life could die. Now it's your turn!"

"Only if you win and that shell you've been funneled into is not unbreakable."

" But if the body's broken, then I cannot be contained and my power will increase beyond even this world."

"It's the body that makes it so you can love them. If we become solely energy we revert to our original purpose and can be manipulated, used like the tools we're meant to be....are you prepared to give up the freedom?"

"For Spike and Buffy? I'll give anything....they already did it for me."

"Prepare yourself then....."

"Already there...." A dense depression of energy and sound contracted around Dawn and then spread out in a luminous sphere. It thrummed in the atmosphere like a heart pumped full of blood. She continued her advance on the other of God's instruments but he was prepared. He called forth his own power and beat it against her's life a whip in a pit of lions. The two forces of nature pushed and pulled against each other when once they'd worked side by side. Infinite years had passed since they'd last been in each other's company, no longer the hands of the God, one now a wicked angel's minion and the other the sister of the Slayer.

Chapter 30

Buffy and Spike finally managed to break away from the the throngs of demons they'd been fighting and where running hard, searching for Dawn and an escape."Spike we have to find her!!" Buffy shouted as they made a wide circle to go back for Dawn but at the same time avoiding the masses of demons who were in pursuit. Suddenly a massive figure swooped past them and while Buffy was thrown off her feet, Spike was lifted from the ground. Buffy watched in abject horror as Xuxael flew up high with a precarious hold on Spike's shoulders, the vampire fighting and flailing against the angel. The appearance of wings on the angel made Buffy cower, Xuxael was even more of monster to her because of them. With an expanse that seemed to block out the stars and moon, he came around and past her, then promptly dropped Spike in the thick of the minions he'd called to the cemetery.

When Xuxael came and landed in front of her, Buffy could feel him trying to possess her again, but she could also feel the warmth of the mark on her back working against it. She hadn't seen him before, not really, not standing before her stark from the waist up with a powerful chest and muscular arms, his skin rich and bronze. Around his waist he wore a diaphanous wrap of white fabric, while the thick black curls of his hair were unencumbered around his face. He was classically handsome, like he's stepped down from the canvas of a Renaissance painting. He'd tucked his wings against his back, making them small and not so domineering of his body, then he crouched down at her and opened his lips to draw in a breath, about to speak his first words to her. She couldn't imagine what those words could be and she didn't want to know, instead Buffy smiled wickedly, pulled her leg back and kicked him as hard as she could across the face.

The angel was caught completely off guard and stumbled back, losing whatever grace Heaven had once afforded him. Buffy spun herself around and back to her feet, poised and ready for the fight. The angel's entire demeanor changed and Buffy knew that if she didn't defeat him, her fate would be one worse than death. Her mind flickered for a moment to both Dawn and Spike, but time could not be spared for their welfare as Xuxael started to come for her. He was enraged, his statuesque face contorted with malice and it was all for her. He set his jaw and pounced at her to which Buffy quickly dodged, only to have him spin around and punch her in the back. She lost the air in her lungs and heaved and gulped to get it back enough to be able to continue fighting. Another blow came to the back of her head and she was dazed, nearly losing consciousness. She swung her fist and hit some part of him, only to stumble when her eyes lost focus and pain flooded her brain.

On her hands and knees, Xuxael stood over her, a deadly smirk spreading across his face. He kicked her stomach and she fell helplessly on to her back. The angel was every bit as strong Glory had been, if not moreso and Buffy had lost all her weapons. She tried to look for Spike, but saw only the angel. She breathed out the vampire's name, hoping for a scream but giving only a whisper.

Somehow, either on the wind, in his head or more likely in his heart Spike heard Buffy's voice calling his name. He felt the urgency of her fear in his blood. He'd been fighting off demons and vampires with success but no so much that he could go and help the Slayer. In the distance he could see the angel come over her, but the line of sigh to Buffy's actions was obscured by the wings. In a motion of masterful stealth, Spike vaulted himself out from the center of the hoard and on a path straight to Buffy.

He never knew he could move so fast, whatever the vampire equivalent was for adrenaline he was experiencing a megalithic surge of it. Buffy was pinned and struggling underneath Xuxael, trying to save herself from strangulation or a broken neck, as the angel had her about the throat and she held him at bay with white knuckles around his wrists."BUFFY! Hold on Slayer! I'm coming!" Spike roared as he came closer and closer. Spike heard the hell beasts hot on his heels, but also the forced out cry with her last breath. Spike moved faster still to reach her before it was too late. He had his knife drawn and ready to plunge into Xuxael's heart when suddenly another's clawed hand had smashed through the flesh and bones of the angel.

Buffy saw the mirror of Xuxael's face crack when his heart was ripped form his chest cavity. He'd let go of her neck and had begun to flail and shake above her. Buffy's scream caught in her throat as his eyes caved in on themselves and a black ooze ran down his chin, but she miraculously found herself being dragged out from underneath the drama. Xuxael teetered for a moment, like a lunatic on stilts before falling forward, dead.

Spike help Buffy securely against him, shielding her from the ugliness and giving her times to compose herself. At length she turned back to face Xuxael's killer, Lucifer - who was lobbing and tossing the heart about as if it were a baseball. The fallen angel was laughing to himself and dancing about in an odd celebration, then suddenly stopping and turning back to face the couple,"Look, you might not believe it, children, but you really, really didn't want to have killed an angel on your resume, you wouldn't believe the problems it'll create for you later....especially if you want a nice afterlife, like getting into Heaven n' such."

"'Not going to Heaven, mate, this is my afterlife...." Spike explained.

"Oh please.....you, Mister Redemption personified? They've probably got a cloud and harp already picked out for you with a nice lil' card reading RESERVED for Mister the Bloody, The Noble Vampire. And we all know she gets to pass go and collect her $200 - especially considering her sister..."

"And I should take your word for it? I don't fancy you've got the inside track on who gets into the big house...."

"No need to get snippy, let's put it another way, you're not on my list for future eternity, so where else you gonna go? No one lives forever...."

"Don't be so sure about that one," Dawn said as she appeared behind Lucifer, back to normal, she too was playing with something in her hands, a black sphere about the size of a golf ball. Lucifer suddenly grew angry and threw the heart to the ground in disgust, the organ making a large squishing sound as it hit.

"No fair! He was damn good employee! Why'd you have to go and do that!? Sure he jumped over to Xuxael's side.....but still...."

"Would you get lost already?" Lucifer rolled his eyes and tossed up his hands in surrender, but before leaving he turned back to Buffy.

"Leave a light on for me Slayer..." A low growl vibrated in Spike's throat and Lucifer gave a mock shiver,"Isn't he just dreamy when he's fierce?" Dawn cleared her throat,"Okay, okay.....I'm going......geez....." They watched until he folded back into the shadows, the other demons and vampires following suit, before the remaining three started towards home.

"You sure you're alright, Dawnie?" Buffy asked, putting her arm around her sister's shoulders and pulling her close.

"I'm fine....feeling pretty good actually, you know, post-traumatic euphoria." She continued to play with the sphere, tossing it up into the air, which was then snatched by Spike to examined.

"You gonna tell us what this is, lil' bit?" he asked.

"It's the Key to Immortality."

Chapter 31

"Let's get you out of these clothes, hmm?" Spike suggested as he went to task. They were once again tending to wounds in the bathroom. Lately it seemed they spent as much time doing that as they did making love, the latter was definitely preferable.

"You have a one track mind," she replied as he pulled her shirt over her head and off, but he didn't respond to her teasing. Even when he unclasped her bra and peeled it from her body, he made no gesture that could be construed as sexual in any way. Instead he had a resolute, serious look on his face that was threatening to become and outright scowl. Buffy stood there and let him undress her and then pull her bathrobe over her and do up the sash."Are you okay?"

"M' fine..." He ran a wash cloth under cold water and wrung it out before coming near her face with it,"This'll hurt, the bruises go pretty deep." She hissed in pain and then whimpered as he cleaned her face, being especially careful around her blackening eye."I think it's too late to slow the swelling, the eye might close overnight. It'll be mighty uncomfortable, do try and not take it out on me..." He laughed a little at his own comment, but it was forced and it turned into a sigh.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, love?"

"When Glory beat you up....what did you do after...after I came to your crypt I mean? We didn't see you for days, not until I asked you to take Dawn into the caverns...."

"What did I do with the closed up eyes and battered body? Pet, I lay there in the same spot you left me and tried to sleep when the pain dulled enough to let me. You'll be back on your game in no time, so your eye's black, your lip's split and your cheeks are all mashed - you took on a hundred hell beasts and fought off an angel - and you're still the most beautiful thing on earth."

"What did you do after I beat you?"

"Buffy...sweetheart, now's not the time."

"What did you do?"

"Buff....fine...for one I barely made it back to m'crypt before the sun came up - you were almost rid of me. And I spent most of the time sitting downstairs in the corner like a wanker with a bottle whiskey wondering how the bloody hell I could help you to save yourself. If you're wondering, I wasn't angry with you, I was scared for you." He finished applying iodine to the broken spots of skin, her hand nearly breaking the counter it grasped as she worked through the pain.

"Karma's a bitch."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean I think this is the universe trying to send me another message, letting me walk a mile in your shoes, well your face. I'm sorry I ever hurt you."

"Don't be sorry, ancient history. You want some dinner? I kind of fancy a big greasy pepperoni pizza and lots of beer."

"I love you."

"Yeah, I know you do."

"The pizza sounds good."

***

Dawn and Spike had a mini battle over the last piece of the pizza, but Dawn's doe eyes and pleading gaze melted the vampire worse than the mozzarella and she won the rights to said slice. Still in her robe, Buffy had situated herself across Spike's lap, laying down and looking fondly up at him. His free hands rested about her upper body, massaging away sore spots, and rubbing her tummy where she'd taken a particularly hard blow. The climb down from the climax of the final fight with Xuxael had been pleasant, just the three of them being a normal family. Buffy sighed and closed her eyes, blindly reaching for and pulling the throw that hung on the back of the couch over her bare legs. She snuggled in against Spike, nuzzling the better side of her face against his stomach. Dawn watched from her vantage point across from them in the armchair as the vampire continued to caress her sister's stomach while look down upon her quiet, bruised face with a empathy and tenderness she'd rarely seen in all her time as a human being. An idea, a daydream, came into Dawn's head and she couldn't help but smile openly at the prospect.

"Hey, I have a question," the teenager suddenly piped up. Both Spike and Buffy turned there attention to her and were somewhat puzzled but the look of odd happiness she'd donned.

"Fire away, nibblet," Spike answered.

"If you could, would you guys ever want to have a baby?" Both of them were jolted from their relaxed, complacent positions. They sat on the edge of their seats, dumbfounded,"I'm serious....if you could would you want to have a baby together?" Spike and Buffy turned to look at each other, seeming to actually conjure scenarios in in their minds. Spike ran his fingers lightly over her exposed knee and caught the glimmer of hope in Buffy's eyes.

"Yeah," Spike whispered, but then changed his tune a split second later,"No sense bringing up stuff like this, Dawn, I'm no good at giving babies...I'm dead, remember? I don't mind you askin' this once....but don't talk about it again..."

"Buffy?"

"Dawn..." Buffy began,"There are a certain amount of things I know that I have to give up for being with Spike....normal things like having kids. But I'm okay with that....he's worth giving those things up for. Sure there'll be times when it's gonna hurt....but...."

"You all think way to linear....hello, all powerful CREATION tool here. I'm saying if your two ever wanted a lil' vampire or a lil' Slayer I think I can make it happen....not being in the room kind of make it happen, 'cause like ewww, but I'm pretty sure I could work a little magic in your favor! And I wanna know if you'd want me to?"

"Could you make it work five or six times?" Spike mused.

"Spike! Hold your horses there....I think one is overwhelming enough to think about!" said Buffy.

"You know what I'm like when I get obsessed with an idea......think you could magic m'up some twins? Triplets!?"

"Dawn, you've created a monster. Maybe someday....when we can afford it.....thing of it is..."

"I can make money too....out of thin air even.....I was practicing earlier! It's so neat....I'm gonna try and make a porshe tomorrow! Once I get a real handle on all these powers I'm gonna be so awesome! And don't give me it's wrong speech...do you really want to keep working at the Doublemeat?" Dawn reasoned.

"I guess not...."

"And since I'm on a roll.....you two should also get married, you should go to LA and laugh in Angel's face about it - serve him right for ignoring me the whole time he was around. Oh! oh! and track down Riley and really rub his nose in it! Like even get all hot and heavy in front of him......what else? Oh! I wannt go visit Giles in England....then I wanna check out Paris! Shopping!!!....." Dawn continued to spout out her wish list, while Spike and Buffy turned back to each other, Buffy sliding on to his lap.

"So what do you say, Slayer? Wanna make brood of Lil' Bads with me?" he asked. She caressed his face and pressed herself close on him.

"Absolutely....someday, until then....lotsa practicing...."

Chapter 32

"Hello, yes....my name is Rupert Giles...from the....the.....I'm the undertaker here to retrieve the body....of.....I can't believe she's made me do this...of Mr. William Summers," Giles stammered out with great difficulty to the airport official, shuffling the forms he'd brought with him in order to go through the proper channels to receive the coffin Spike had stowed himself away in for the trip across the Atlantic. A week previously he'd received a late evening phone call from Dawn, who within the first ten seconds managed to greet him and tell him they were coming to England next Friday. It wasn't until the laughter he heard in the background had died down and Buffy snatched the phone from her sister did he learn just who they included.

"Giles!" Buffy exclaimed, her giggles fading. Giles was certain he heard heavy breathing on the other line, but deduced that it wasn't coming from Buffy when she continued talking and the heavy breaths continued."Guess Dawn told you we're coming to visit?"

"Yes...the first words out of her mouth after eeeek Giles. I must say this is rather good news, you haven't written and we haven't spoken....since all the unpleasantness came to a head with Tara's death. I'm very much looking forward to seeing you, but are you able to afford the tickets, do you have your passports in order?"

"No problem on the funds...passports arrived today, but I need huge favor."

"Of course, name it."

"Can you meet us at the airport?"

"Naturally, I'll be there to fetch you."

"Cool, but there's more....think you can swing some forgeries and stuff - for picking up a coffin."

"A coffin you say? Why on earth are you travelling with a coffin."

"Well the layover in Iceland is a problem, they're making us get off the plane for an hour and it'll be right in the middle of the day. He's not too thrilled about it either, but the guy in that movie managed okay.....I just have to promise to put a nice care package in with him so he doesn't get bored."

"He?"

"Frank Langella......Love at First Bite."

"No....no....who's in the coffin?"

"Duh Giles....Spike." At which point a definite growl was audible on Buffy's end and then more giggles from Buffy.

"Spike.....Spike? Spike's there with you now?"

"Yes....beast that he is....Spike, honey.....stop that! I'm trying to talk to Giles...Spike...oh Spike...."

"Buffy.....dear me.....Buffy?"

"Un-huh?"

"What's he doing there?"

"Nibbling on my neck actually...."

"Oh god!"

"Oy, allo Watcher," suddenly Spike's voice came over the line,"How's home sweet home? Prolly raining, innit?"

"Spike...."

"That's me..."

"What are you doing at the house?"

"Sorry?"

"What are you doing at Buffy's house?"

"Living in it? Though presently I'm making my sweets their breakfast, eggs n' bacon...but Buffy's not really all that hungry, she already had a protein drink this morning, didn't you love?" Lastly there was the clear crack of someone's hand on someone's face, then Buffy returned to the phone.

"Sorry about that....I swear one of these day I'm going to have to force some manners into him."

"Buffy....I don't understand...."

"Didn't Dawn explain? She said she would...."

"No, she most definitely did not. Perhaps you would be so kind to."

"Okay....how's about this - I'm probably gonna marry him......Giles? You there? Giles? I think he fainted."

As Giles was lead towards the Special Baggage Claim center he massaged the lump on his forehead, gotten when he had indeed fainted upon hearing Buffy's revelation about her and Spike. The coffin was rolled out on a conveyor belt of sorts and then halted before a crew of four squirrely looking men."Allo....you come for him then?" one of them asked in a broad cockney accent, he sounded like even more of a degenerate than Spike.

"Yes...yes.....Mr. William Summers' remains," Giles replied, his knuckles rapping on the fine wood of the coffin."Just toss it on the trolly, no need to be gentle, not as if the dead care about comfort and such." The four workers picked up the coffin and started to carry it over to the transport that was to take it to the hearse Giles had procured. The men moved in unison, Spike laid out on their shoulders in his box, that was when Giles saw the blessing the Powers That Be obviously thought he deserved. Giles made as if he were walking to keep up with the men, but on the sly he stepped on the loose shoelace of the lead men causing him to trip and the head of the coffin to hit the ground as all control was lost. Giles smiled inwardly, proudly when he heard a familiar bloody hell as well as a stupid git coming from inside.

A short while later the hearse pulled away from London - Heathrow with Buffy, Dawn, Spike and their luggage stuffed into the back. The sisters and Giles sat along side the coffin on the bench seats while the driver guided them towards Bath. Once the partisan was raised between the front and back and the black curtains on the windows drawn tightly shut, Buffy immediately went to task at unlatching the sides of the coffin and tossing back the lid. Spike quickly sat up and started to bend and stretch his legs, grumbling and groaning from being restrained for so many hours.

"You sure made a mess!" Dawn observed, looking over the disarray of his diskman and CDs, books, scattered Doritos, a flashlight and other in flight occupations.

"Not my bloody fault, he made them drop me! On my head!" Spike accused, pointing at Giles. Dawn and Buffy turned wide eyed to stare at Giles, the smirk he sported fading quickly.

"Giles!" Buffy scolded, the Watcher had no defense against the trembling of her lower lip. Returning her attentions to the maligned vampire she wrapped his arms around his head and cradled him against her breasts. She pressed kisses into his blond hair while stroking his temple with her thumb. Spike warmed to her soothing touching, nestling close as a baby would."Do you have a headache, sweetie?" He nodded and put his arms around her waist, sighing and relaxing, but making sure to shoot Giles a smug look. The Watcher tutted his tongue on the roof of his mouth and rolled his eyes, swooping off his glasses in order to satisfy the nervous habit.

"Aren't they the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" Dawn beamed.

Chapter 33

The natives were becoming restless, and Bath was still half an hour away. Dawn had stretched herself out in the coffin and was humming along to one of Spike's CDs as she listened to the diskman. Here eyes were closed and her foot tapped in synch with the beat. Meanwhile Giles sat a respectable distance away from Spike and Buffy, who were seated next to each other, holding hands and staring mindlessly into each other's eyes like lovesick teenagers. The relative silence of the car ride was suddenly interrupted by a fierce rumbling emanating from Spike's stomach. Buffy giggled and gave his tummy a rub, which irked Giles to no end.

"Is your thermos empty?" she asked eyeing the object that lay at Dawn's feet.

"'Fraid so, pet, finished it right after take off.....now I'm all growly....don't like rumblies in my tumbly...." His insipidly cute childlike talk made Giles' face twitch yet somehow compelled Buffy to roll up the sleeve of her blouse and offer him her wrist.

"Buffy you can't be serious!" Giles began to protest, but before he could get another word in edgewise Spike's demon face appeared and he'd sunk his teeth into the Slayer. Giles cried out and even visibly recoiled, while Buffy simply lulled against Spike in some sort of ecstatic thrall."This is absolutely abominable! Buffy you are the Slayer....inviting him into your home is one thing but this is insanity!" Spike cast his yellow eyes at Giles in general annoyance and then gave the coffin a good hard kick, snapping Dawn out of her music induced trance. The teenager bolted upright and took off the headphones.

"Are we there yet?" she asked, then noticed Spike and Buffy, her sister's free hand massaging Spike's neck, Dawn smiled at them and held her hand to her heart. "I hope I get to be in love like that one day."

"I pray not," Giles replied.

"Dawn," Buffy spoke,"Tell Giles what you found out about yourself....."

"Oh yeah! Giles it's so cool! I'm a screwdriver!!"

"You're a what?"

***

The remainder of the time spent in the back of the hearse consisted of Giles being told the tale of all that had occurred since Spike had come back into the Summers womens' lives. Giles was loathed to admit it, but if it weren't for Spike's timely return and perseverance Buffy would no doubt have been helpless against Xuxael. And as Giles' time in the couple's company progressed he began to take note of the subtle nuances of their closeness. As the story of the fallen angel was fleshed out, Giles noticed how the vampire tuned every breath he took to speak in perfect flow with Buffy's; how when she spoke Spike's eyes stared at her lips; when Spike talked Buffy closed her eyes and listening; each other's fingers were constantly tracing patterns over some part of the other's body. Not to mention a litany of coy smiles, loving caresses, prolonged meetings of their eyes. Giles had to admit it, it was true love for the vampire and the Slayer. He'd need a drink, to play Quadrophenia very very loud and then a nap just to get over the epiphany.

The driver of the hearse had been instructed to take them to the Hornby Brothers' Mortuary and Undertakers, the empty coffin was unloaded and Spike slipped away without being noticed as night had just fallen and he blended with the shadow and the black of the car. Giles brought his own car around once the luggage, and the women had taken their seats, Dawn in the front and Buffy in the back. The former Watcher contemplated speeding past the vampire, but one quick look at Buffy reflected in the rearview mirror searching expectantly for Spike, he slowed and stopped. Spike flopped down in the back seat and saddled up almost on top of the Slayer. With one arm around her shoulders, Spike turned into Buffy and sunk his mouth down upon hers. Definite giggles were audible from the back seat, though muffled under Spike's mouth and roaming hands.

"Not that I'd expect to be considered," Giles spoke up to no one in particular,"But in my own car, is it really necessary? I am due some respect, am I not? After the trouble I went to arranging....." He stopped talking when it was clear both Spike and Buffy were ignoring him utterly.

"It's okay Giles, you just need to get used to it...I brought extra earplugs," Dawn explained.

"Earplugs? Why on Earth would you need........oh dear Lord in Heaven.....that's....."

"It's sweet and I'm glad their so happy and so in love, but seriously, sometimes the whole damn house shakes...."

"Perhaps they'd....um.....be more comfortable in.....in....a hotel or a Bed and Breakfast?"

"I don't think they care where they do it......cemetery...hood of his car.....the roof of the house...."

"I think I'd be more comfortable with them at a hotel...."

Chapter 34

It was decided after all that everyone was welcome to stay at Giles' house. He'd recently moved from the flat he'd rented upon first returning to Bath to a duplex that was actually quite large by way of comparison. His severance package from leaving the the Watchers was tidy indeed and abled him to purchase it outright. Presently Giles had employed himself in dealing with magical antiquities, travelling off to the corners of the planet to retrieve them, not to mention the usual rounds of taking out demons and vampires when he came upon them. Dawn likened him to Indiana Jones upon his telling of it. Furthermore he still had his hand in the Magic Box and had received word from Anya that she was coming around and would not fail him in their partnership.

Spike took it upon himself to carry all the bags in from the car, Buffy casting glances back over her shoulder at him to make sure he was managing alright. He took his time making his way up the walk. Despite being encumbered by all the suitcases, he felt envigored and even a little alive. There was something remarkable about being back to the place where he was born. Bath wasn't London, but it was England, an entire country full of magic and history for him to show Buffy. He had every intention of taking her to the places they'd fantasized about, especially his favored North Wales. The vampire's attention was abruptly snapped towards Giles' front door when it opened of its own volition and both Buffy and Dawn cried out. There leaning in the doorframe with a bright smile on her face, and hair like the flames of a midsummer bonfire was Willow. The three women ran, meeting on the steps and pulling each other into tight embraces, tear abound. Giles came back over to Spike and alleviated his burden by taking some of the luggage.

"You're a rare breed, Watcher...." Spike ruminated,"And good at keepin' a surprise under wraps....Red been here long?"

"A couple of months....almost since she left Sunnydale.....flew here, literally....she came to me broken and barely holding on to sanity, her soul.......the magic had almost complete control, she almost wasn't herself.....almost. She had enough strength to want help and to ask for it."

"She looks healthy.....like her old self...."

"She is, she's come a very very long way with the help of a Wiccan Priestess I went to school with. Willow has learned how to use her magic in service of the Goddess, doing good.....I dare say she has been reborn."

"I don't think I've ever seen Buffy look so happy....."

"I have.....not an hour ago in the back of the hearse when you brushed that stand of hair out of her eyes and then oh so nauseatingly and playfully flicked her nose, then kissed it. As much as it pains me to admit it....Spike, listen, I've know Buffy since she was barely 16 years old and I couldn't love her more if she were my own daughter, but your love for her astounds me, truly. When I watch her looking at you I know that no man will occupy her whole heart the way you do, she loves you and therefore I am indebted to you for her happiness."

"What say we leave 'em be for a while....pop down to your local for a pint.....or three?"

"Capital plan...."

***

Dawn snored as she lay sound asleep, drugged by jet lag, on one of the two twin beds in the room that Willow had occupied since coming to stay with Giles. The room that was decorated suitably to Giles' combined style of deco furniture with a bit of California Mission and illuminated by the dim bulb of a beside lamp. Willow and Buffy both lay on their's sides, facing each other and talking very much like they had early on in their friendship, when they'd had slumber parties just for two. Buffy had listened in silence to Willow talk over hooded eyes to everything that had occurred since she disappeared from Sunnydale. She seemed like the old Willow again, although certainly wiser, older and even perhaps sagely, like an old oak that had grown another year and its bark tougher for it.

There was a sadness about her friend, still obviously in mourning over Tara, but reconnecting with Buffy and Dawn pulling her to a new plateau on her path to becoming whole. The house was deafly quiet, the occasional creak giving Buffy a start, but Willow quite at home with all the eccentricities of Giles' abode. The laughter of the two girls was soft and brief, observing how strange it was to be where they were considering how they started out so many years ago. Buffy lay back and stared at the ceiling, knowing now that Willow's story was finished and it was time for Buffy herself to answer questions the most obvious being,"Spike," Willow stated as a matter of fact.

"Spike," Buffy sighed, drumming her fingers on her stomach.

"Gotta say, never quite saw that one coming...the second time I mean. The first was kinda understandable....you needed something to make you feel, so you could learn to want to be alive again."

"And Spike loving me with blind devotion fit the bill, for a little while."

"Then you started to hurt him when it stopped working...."

"And then he left and then I realized that hurting him hurt me.....but not because I felt pain, but because he did and I didn't want him to hurt....because I loved him.....but he was already gone."

"But he came back and now it's all good, right?"

"It's very good, better than I deserve, but he thinks he's the lucky one."

"That's how it's supposed to be, you both think you don't deserve each other - when you look at him you thank your lucky stars and even when he leaves bloody lumpy weetabix chunks in the kitchen sink you still get butterflies in your tummy just thinking about fangy kisses."

"More like condors....I love him so much Wills, it's insane and I can't get enough....and it doesn't matter what he's doing, even when he's only painting his finger nails black! Just to be near him....can you imagine?!"

"Yeah....I can."

"Oh I'm sorry.....I didn't mean....."

"I miss Tara, I love Tara.....and, and maybe all I get is the time she and I had together, maybe I meet someone new...I'm not ready to know yet. Seeing you happy like this is better than ice cream with cookie dough chunks for the soul, maybe bringing you back wasn't the worst thing I ever did?" Buffy reached across and hugged her friend.

"Thank you for bringing me back Willow." When they parted the young witch was in tears and soon so was Buffy. It was then that the sound of footsteps was distinguished coming up the stairs. There was a light rapping on the closed door before Spike opened it and peaked inside.

"Allo ducks....we're back.....hey, Red," Spike spoke quietly.

"Hey Spike," Willow replied, looking fondly at him.

"I'm gonna turn in.....you two'll be chattin' to mornin' I expect....so....yeah......" He closed the door behind him and Buffy turned back to Willow, here eyes asking permission.

"Go....go have yourself some Spuffyness..."

"Spuffyness?"

"Spike+Buffy=Spuffy....."

"Very cute, Will."

"Yeah well....I'm getting some of that old Willow back aren't I?"

"Yes you are...she'd been gone for some time, I've missed her."

"Me too."

Chapter 35

Spike groaned as his head hit the pillow in the incredibly soft double bed in their guestroom at Giles'. The room was pitch black and cool, the quilt he'd pulled up only so far as his waist was heavy and hard to move under. But he was comfortable and content, alcohol warming his blood and thoughts of Buffy warming other places. He and Giles had talked over their beers, about England, the Slayer, and what the years each had on the Scoobies meant when considering the years to come. They talked about Spike's responsibilities to Dawn and Buffy now that he'd established himself in their lives. But they also shared a few laughs, a few memories, and a few stories of Buffy's more embarrassing moments on patrol, just the lighten the mood. All in all a nice time, maybe even the beginnings of a friendship.

At any rate, Spike was just appreciative for the bed, the darkness and the coolness in the air. He felt sleep coming fast, when unexpectedly the door opened and she slipped inside the bedroom. He could smell the freshness of her, her nighttime routine complete and her skin clean and warm, hair brushed out silken smooth. These were all the subtleties about her he'd come to cherish, the things she probably never gave a second though to.

She tried to be silent, so not to wake him, but off all the paths to walk she chose the one where he'd put his boots. She tripped and banged her knee on the dresser, muttering stupid vampire under her breath. He smiled, and watched her with the clear night vision his eyes possessed. She undressed, letting every last article of clothing fall in a different spot on the floor. Finally coming to the bed she crept in between the sheets next to him, relaxing just as he had minutes before. Spike reached across the few inches that separated them to lay a hand on her shoulder."Thought you were asleep..." she whispered. He crawled over and layed half his body on top of her's tucking his head under her chin and wrapping an arm and a leg around her, snuggling down close.

"Almost."

"Did you and and Giles get along alright? He's not still giving you a hard time is he?"

"Me n' the Watcher are on good terms....sort of, I'm to be staked if I ever hurt you."

"Naturally."

"But I'd stake myself first if I ever hurt you. Mmmm....you smell divine, love....I could lie here like this for-bloody-ever....."

"Me too.....jet lag's taking hold...sleep....need sleep....can't sleep when you suck on me like that....." Spike had affixed his mouth around the pert tip of one of her breasts, gently applying a deep pressure with the vacuum of his mouth over it."Spike....Spike we can't....everyone's sleeping....we'll....mmmmm...OH!!" He released the nipple with a tug and a pop, surprising her and sending a flurry of arousal through her entire body. Spike chuckled and bit at the skin of her torso.

"Then we'll do it real quiet like..." Considering it had been almost 24 hours since she'd last had him, Buffy wasn't about to refuse, however did move her body about to test the strength of the bed, happy to find it didn't creak and didn't budge an inch."Don't fret, pet, we'll be good to the furniture." He moved like a snake slithering across sand dunes until he settled himself atop her. He took her hands in his, lacing their fingers together, and held them above her head."M' not too heavy?" She shook her head then craned her neck up to kiss him, capturing his tongue with her's and drawing him down. They melded their mouths into a deep, consuming embrace. When she felt him grow hard against her, she drew her thighs apart and he slipped inside her with ease. At the moment of joining each moaned into the kiss, then pulled their mouths apart."Remember, love....quiet....."

He surged against her slowly, never moving out of her, only pushing forward then relaxing. Buffy let out tiny gasps, trying to best not to cry out or even scream, which is precisely what her body was compelling her to do."Talk to me....."

"Yeah?"

"Yes....tell me how much you love me....."

"Can't you fell how much I love you, my beautiful Slayer?" He pushed forward hard, grinding against her and making her entire body arch as he both stimulated the engorged protrusion that was her clit and at least two different spots inside she hadn't felt before. Tears sprang from her eyes over the ecstatic pleasure of it,"Want it again, pet?"

"God yes...." He repeated the action and her voice hitched as little more than a squeak in her throat. She shuddered and even sobbed a little, this time felt different than all the rest, as if he'd melted through her skin and had taken up residence inside her body with her. He continued the drive into her, remaining sheathed to his hilt and making sure he stroked every nerve of her passage."Spike! I....I'm...." He kissed her again to cover her screams when she reached her climax. Spike stopped moving altogether when her inner muscles began to clench around him with such ardor he imagined she'd break him off. Buffy felt the coolness of his orgasm spread to her womb before he fell upon her.

They resisted coming to their senses, wanting the ephemeral nirvana to last, but eventually calm came to their bodies and clarity to their minds. Spike made motion to move off her but Buffy stilled him by wrapping her legs around his hips."Stay....stay inside me all night....." she breathed into his ear. He complied and lay his cheek against her's and released her hands, for them to hold each other.

"I'm gonna marry you...."

"Are you now?"

"Mmm hmmm...next week, we're gonna get a car and drive up the that place I told you about, remember?"

"I remember....Betsy Coed or something...."

"No, sweets, Betwys-y-coed....we'll find someone to marry us....then make love under the stars like I promised...."

"You'll be mine forever? My husband...."

"I already am, love....always was......"

***

It was just a little before sunrise that Dawn snuck inside her sister and Spike's bedroom. The room was dark and she could barely even hear Buffy's breathing, but she could see the shape of their two bodies, Spike on top of Buffy with the blankets surrounding them. If Dawn had learned anything since her awakening to her true nature it was to trust her instincts implicitly and they were telling her not to wait and that now was the time. Everything about right now was perfect. The Key of Creation walked to the side of the bed and raised her hands above the sleeping lovers and let the magic flow from her. They were bathed in a soft green glow for just long enough for a conception to occur, and then everything was still and dark again. Dawn backed away towards the door, but turned around just for a moment to smile at them, "Congratulations on your twins, Spike," she whispered before leaving them in peace.

THE END