Marshmallows

Title: Marshmallows

Author: Juliatheyounger

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy et al own these characters

Summary: Sequel to Hot Chocolate…Marshmallows (of course). Not only is Buffy going out with Spike but now she's got Armageddon to deal with as well.

Rating: R (I expect)

Spoilers: Season 5

Feedback: Yes please (with sugar on top?)

Distribution: If anyone wants it then, yes, please! But let me know so I can feel all flattered.

Author's note: Yup I've done it, started the Hot Chocolate sequel (yeah as if I could leave it there, we haven't even dealt with the chip or Angel yet!) mwhahahahaha… Let more pointless crap ensue!

For those who came in late and can't be bothered to read Hot Chocolate

Buffy has finally admitted to Spike that she loves him after quite a bit of sex and a fight or two. Buffy has told the Scooby Gang she is seeing the blonde undead one. Xander has accidentally walked in on Buffy and Spike during a rather inopportune moment and Willow and Tara, not knowing Spike and Buffy were sort of seeing each other, asked him to be the…er…three in a threesome. Giles thinks they are just going on a date.

Oh yeah and there was stuff about demons and crap.

******************************************

Chapter 1: Pizza and disappearances

Buffy and Spike stood outside the door to the Magic Box, bickering about whether or not to hold hands as they walked in. They were there for a late night research session and the Scoobies were waiting for them inside. This was their first appearance together since Buffy told the gang she was seeing Spike. And Buffy wasn't exactly sure how they were going to react. Hopefully not too wiggy.

" Just give me-" Buffy grabbed Spike's hand in exasperation.

Spike tried to pull away but Slayer strength held him.

"Buffy don't worry about it," he growled.

"Spike! You just said - Fine." Buffy let go of his hand. She looked up and saw Spike smiling down at her. He leant over and kissed her on the cheek.

Buffy turned to goo. A little shyly she reached up and kissed him on the mouth.

"Come on Big Bad, lets go face the music."

Spike gave Buffy a crooked grin and followed her inside. Just walking in together would be more than enough for the Scoobies to cope with in one go anyway.

Six pairs of eyes looked up as the door to the Magic Box opened and they walked in.

"Hi!" said Buffy.

Spike waved a hello. He happened to glance at Willow and caught her eye. She immediately turned bright red and looked away.

There was a mumble of hellos, almost everyone trying to avoid looking at Buffy and Spike. Except from Anya, who was very intrigued by everyone's behaviour, Dawn who was grinning like a cheshire cat, and Giles who didn't realise the full extent of their relationship. Buffy had told him Spike was taking her on a date, following the sound principle that what Giles didn't know he wouldn't lecture her about.

"Hi guys!" Dawn cried, jumping up. "Want some pizza?"

"Thanks Dawny."

Buffy sat down and Spike hesitated a moment before sitting next to her. The silence in the room was palpable.

Anya looked between the various faces. Xander, Willow and Tara were all looking rather embarrassed and were doing everything in their power to avoid eye contact with Spike and Buffy, particularly Spike. Anya sighed. Xander had been going on and on for the past three days about walking in on Buffy performing oral sex upon Spike. Anya had suggested to Xander that perhaps they could have sex in front of Spike and Buffy, if it would make him feel better. For some reason, however, he didn't find this idea comforting at all. He'd just muttered something about bleached vampire's witty comments. It had seemed a perfectly logical solution to Anya.

Spike also surveyed the Scoobies. If Buffy hadn't been looking so nervous he would have revelled in this. The love of his life looked so pained however that he was almost sorry he was responsible for putting her through this.

They all sat there for a few minutes in tense silence.

"Oh for pity's sake!" Giles exploded. "This is getting ridiculous. Buffy and Spike are going on a date, yes. True, I hope it will be the first and last, no offence, Spike. But it's not the end of the world. So would you all stop being so awkward about it." He glared around the room. "And for heaven's sake Spike would you please stop looking at Buffy like that!"

Spike looked up startled, completely oblivious to the fact that he'd been gazing at Buffy with undisguised adoration and longing.

Buffy looked at the others, panic evident on her face. Please don't let them tell about the smoochies, she thought. Thankfully they all just murmured apologetically and Giles settled down with a huff. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief and caught Xander's eye. He winked at her, and she knew it would be ok.

"But-" Anya began. Luckily Xander chose that moment to kiss his girlfriend very, very soundly on the mouth.

"So what have you found out so far?" Buffy asked, deciding to change the subject.

"Not a great deal," said Giles grateful for the relief from tension. "Eviscerated corpses, people going missing then being found days later, disoriented, but apparently unhurt: it could be practically anything."

Spike grabbed a slice of pizza.

"Don't forget the livers," put in Xander just as Spike took a bite. "They've been finding household pets minus their livers. And eyeballs."

"Xander..ewww?" Willow said with a warning glance at a wide-eyed Dawn.

Spike kept eating, not at all put off by the descriptive conversation.

Buffy was looking at Spike hoe into the pizza with a slightly sick expression on her face.

"This better not be giving you an appetite," she groaned.

Spike looked at her, his expression one of wounded innocence. Then took another piece of pizza.

"Don't mind me pet, I'm just enjoying the pleasant dinnertime conversation."

Buffy shuddered and turned back to Giles. Her Watcher was also looking slightly sick at this moment, but it might have been the almost relationship quality to the exchange than anything else.

"Anyway getting back to the case at hand…" Giles said.

"Its aliens I tells ya," said Xander firmly.

"Xander, here believes it all points to extra-terrestrials," murmured Giles, pinching the bridge of his nose in a long-suffering manner.

"Well it does make sense Giles," Buffy said brightly. "Unexplained disappearances, animals missing their squishy bits. Looks like its anal probe time in good ole Sunnydale."

"Buffy, there is no such things as aliens."

"But there are demons, vampires and hell gods."

"Exactly."

"Fine, we'll put Xander's theory on the back burner for the moment. Any other suggestions?"

"Er..no, but that's what tonight is for. Research." Giles reached for a book.

"Damn, looks like my plan to come up with a quick and easy solution just fell through." Xander grinned.

"I don't know why you are all so keen to believe in aliens. I don't know how you propose to fight them if it is indeed extra-terrestrials causing these problems."

"Same way they did in the Tommyknockers G-man. Same way."

"And how was that, pray tell?"

Xander looked embarrassed. "I don't know, but it was a long book."

Giles didn't dignify that with a response.

"I'm with you Rupert," put in Spike. He was leaning back in his chair, feet propped up on the table, taking in the proceedings. "If there are such things as aliens I imagine Mr Adams had it right and they're getting ready to demolish the earth for a hyperspace bypass as we speak. Sides, I met the bloke what did them crop circles."

"Oh?" Everyone looked at him in interest.

"Yeah, very nice blood type. Piquant."

Buffy glared at him, and Giles winced.

"I was joking?" Spike rolled his eyes. He grumbled to himself. "Would've been bloody funny if any of you lot had a sense of humour."

"Well…there…there could be aliens.." said Willow thoughtfully. "I mean, we already know there are a lot of dimensions…who knows what's out there."

"And what's different between aliens and big scary green demons?" put in Buffy.

"Yeah but why the bloody hell'd they want to come here and stick bits of medical equipment up Billy Joe's posterior?"

"Kicks?" suggested Xander. He and Spike grinned at each other, they thought they were funny.

Anya decided it was time she aired her extensive real-life knowledge of all things not particularly nice.

"Actually people have been claiming that kind of thing has happened to them long before anyone even knew about flying saucers. They've only been calling them aliens since about the twentieth century."

"Yes, the whole Visitors concept is quite old," agreed Giles, warming to the topic. "I recall reading about victims, in the middle ages even, waking and finding themselves unable to move, claiming odd looking people visited them in the night and performed weird-"

"Uh, Dawn, can you please go into the training room and get my sweater for me?" Buffy asked suddenly. Dawn was listening to the conversation with wide terrified eyes.

"Buffy!" The thought of going alone into the dark training room suddenly scared the socks off Dawn.

"Dawn! Please? Now?"

Dawn frowned and bit her lip. "Can you come with me Spike?" It was the closest she was going to come to admitting she was scared.

Spike shot a glance at Buffy. The Slayer gave him a pleading look. A grin flickered at the corners of his mouth but Spike only nodded. "All right, come on then Little Bit."

"See, you guys have scared her," Buffy hissed when they were out of the room.

"So you sent the kid into a dark room with a vampire?" noted Xander.

Buffy's eyes grew wide. "He better not tell her anymore stories!"

"I'll go too," murmured Tara. Truth be known, she was getting a little creeped out by the discussion as well. She remembered the Gentlemen all too well to take stories of visitors in the night lightly. Willow squeezed her hand. She'd noticed Tara had been a bit quiet.

After a little while the trio returned. Tara had found Spike and Dawn sitting on the training mat pigging out on some chocolate they'd discovered stashed behind the weapons cabinet. Dawn was complaining about some horrible girl at school. Tara had been a little embarrassed near Spike at first, considering what they'd been doing only a week earlier, but he didn't mention it and the witch soon relaxed. They had sat there for awhile, eating chocolate and talking about not much, until Tara and Spike decided it was safe for Dawn to go back inside.

Everyone was in full research mode when they returned. Tara sat down next to Willow who was surfing the Net on her laptop. The red-headed witch gave her lover's hand a squeeze.

"Here's your dumb sweater," Dawn said, dropping Buffy's sweater in front of her. "And was that your chocolate in there, because I just ate it."

"Did you now?" said Buffy, trying not to rise to the bait. She knew Dawn was just trying to salvage some pride.

Spike brushed his hand gently across Buffy's back as he moved back to his seat. Buffy smiled at him and gave his hand a quick squeeze as he sat down. Spike winked at her and picked up a heavy tome to start some Scooby-style research.

Chapter 2: Smoochies

It had been about an hour and quite frankly Spike was bored. He occasionally found a mention of someone he knew in the books he was looking through but nothing very interesting. He used to have minions to do this sort of thing. Spike considered offering to make Giles some minions but thought the Scoobies wouldn't get that joke either. He glanced at Buffy. She looked so bloody cute. She was twirling her finger through a strand of her hair and was nibbling on the end of her pencil as she concentrated on the book in front of her.

It had been two days since she said she loved him and he still couldn't get over it. He didn't think he could be happier. Ever. Spike took a sheet of paper from Red's pile of printer rejects.

"Going slaying tonight?" he wrote and slid the paper towards Buffy.

Buffy glanced at him, amused. Spike was writing notes in class?

"In about an hour," she wrote and slid the paper back.

Spike twiddled his pencil for a bit, considering whether to ask if she wanted some company. If he didn't ask, she couldn't say no.

"Like that top you're wearing," he wrote at last.

Buffy quirked her eyebrow. "Thanks. Like that not-black shirt your wearing."

"Shouldn't that be you're?" Spike wrote.

"Picky."

"Sorry, gorgeous, lovely Buffy."

Buffy turned pink and took more pains to hide the piece of paper.

"So you should be, sexy, -." Buffy wrote "fuckable", scribbled it out and finished with "handsome Spike."

Spike peered at the paper trying to make out the word Buffy had crossed out. Spike suddenly had a coughing fit. He smirked as he slid the paper back to her.

"Fuckable? Aren't I fuckable?" Spike casually returned to studying the book.

"I thought handsome was more appropriate," wrote Buffy. Then added. "But, now you mention it, you aren't that handsome either." Buffy primly returned to reading her book.

There was a decided pause while Spike pointedly pretended not to have read Buffy's note. Then he scribbled.

"But I'm still sexy."

It was Buffy's turn to pointedly pretend not to have read the note. After about five minutes during which Spike pretended not to be glancing at her, she wrote:

"Ok, sexy."

Spike wriggled an eyebrow at her.

"So Spike," Xander suddenly said. Buffy looked up and blushed, certain Xander had seen them passing notes. But he hadn't. He was just bored of researching too. "Where you taking Buffy for that date?"

Spike looked up startled. Then he remembered. Buffy had told Giles he was taking her on a date.

"Oh date!" he said aloud. Xander was grinning, knowing he'd put Spike on the spot. The whelp could be a bastard sometimes. "Er yeah…well that would be a surprise then wouldn't it Harris."

Anya, Willow, Tara and Dawn all looked up, very interested.

"Buffy go out of the room so Spike can tell us!" Anya said.

Buffy was very embarrassed at this attention, especially over a non-existent date.

"Guys, I'm sure wherever we go will be…not…horrible."

"Thanks for your confidence, pet," Spike said. It wasn't a bad idea though. He hadn't really gotten to the part where he was allowed to be seen in public with Buffy yet.

He was still stuck in Buffy "I love you Spike" land, after travelling through the state of "I'll tell the Scoobies about us". Still, once they had this "date" they needn't tiptoe around Giles anymore neither. A thousand possibilities suddenly flashed through Spike's head. Movies. He wanted to take the Slayer to the movies. That'd be fun.

"Go on Buffy, go away so he can tell us." Willow was getting into it now too.

"Why would I tell you lot?" said Spike. "You'd probably all tag along like big gooseberries." He gave them all an evil look. "Might take the Slayer parking."

Giles suddenly sounded like he was choking.

"You will not take me parking for our first date Spike," said Buffy. She looked at the others, Giles in particular, and added firmly, "He won't."

"First pet? That means there'll be a second!" Spike was enjoying this.

"Not if we go parking."

"Ahem," said Giles. "If you don't mind people, there is some sort of evil lurking about. I really think we should put in some effort towards stopping it."

"Yeah but Giles, there's some evil wanting to lurk about with Buffy. We're just putting effort into researching that."

"Xander - I really, truly, do NOT want to know about Buffy and Spike's impending…social interaction. If you don't mind. Now please. Research!"

Buffy looked at her watch. She stood up.

"Well anyway, I should get going. Slaying time you know. Dawn, want to stay here until I'm finished?"

Dawn nodded. She looked tired though.

"Er…perhaps you could have a nap…er over in the corner here," said Giles. He fetched a pillow and blanket from behind the shop counter.

"Thanks Giles," said Buffy as Dawn gratefully took the bedding and made herself a little nest in the corner of the shop, not too far from everyone.

Spike stood up. "Er…well probably time for me to go too. Not much point me researching, seeing as I'm evil and all that."

He followed Buffy out of the shop.

"Why can't I be evil," grumbled Xander. "You just know they're heading straight back to Spike's crypt to-" he stopped, remembering Giles and the not knowing.

"They're going on a date," said Giles firmly, not looking up. He repeated the Giles Happy Land mantra. "They are going on a date."

"Why can't Xander and I go and have sex now too?" Anya asked.

"Date," said Giles, turning a page. "Going on a…"

*************

Buffy and Spike walked along the usual patrol route.

"So what do you think this thing is anyway?" Spike asked.

Buffy shrugged. "Dunno. Like Giles said, could be anything. It'll show itself soon enough and then we'll slay it."

"I like your tactical thinking there, Slayer."

"It's not like it's killed anyone yet."

"Don't forget the eviscerated corpses."

"Oh yeah, eviscerated corpses. They're always fun." Buffy sighed. "But hey, on the bright side, at least its not Glory."

"Always a bright side, pet, always a bright side," murmured Spike.

They walked on in silence for a bit.

"So Slayer, you free Friday night?" Spike asked.

Buffy smiled at him. "Why, are you asking me out William the Bloody?"

Spike grinned. "Course I am Buffy Summers," he said in his best 70's teen voice. "You're the neatest girl in Sunnydale."

"Only Sunnydale?"

"All right," he said, grabbing her and swinging her around. "The bloody universe."

Buffy laughed and looked down into his blue eyes. Her expression grew soft and she kissed him softly. Spike kissed her back and set her down.

"Friday night sounds fine," Buffy said. "Oh wait, no, I can't. I'm washing my hair."

Spike launched himself at her with a growl and it was only after some merciless kissing and neck nuzzling that she relented. They lay on the ground together, quite mussed. Buffy's face was flushed and she was breathless.

"Have I mentioned that I think I love you William the Bloody?" she said.

Spike lay very still. He couldn't get enough of those words. He reached out, not looking at Buffy and squeezed her hand.

"Thought I might take you to a movie Buffy," he said quietly. "One of them chick flicks, get popcorn and what all."

"That sounds nice Spike," said Buffy also quietly. She held Spike's hand and looked at the stars. Who'd have thought that a vampire would do such normal things with her. And who'd have thought a vampire could make such normal things seem so special. She turned her head and looked at him. He sensed her movement and turned his head too.

"I love you a lot Summers," Spike said. "Too bloody much, and don't you forget it."

Buffy leant forward and touched her lips to his.

"I know, and I won't," she said. And kissed him again.

*************

Buffy and Spike stopped outside the door of the Magic Box as they finished patrol. They kissed goodnight gently, their hands resting lightly on each other's waists.

"Come back to my place later?" Buffy asked.

"I'd love to pet," Spike said softly. "You get Little Bit and I'll follow along."

Buffy went into the shop. Xander was fast asleep on top of a book and was snoring. Anya was stroking his hair and still reading.

Giles looked up as Buffy came in.

"Notice anything unusual?"

Buffy shook her head. "I'm going to head home. You guys should too. You especially Giles. And no reading under the blankets with a flashlight."

Willow and Tara stood up a little stiffly from sitting in front of the computer all evening. "Think we'll call it a night too. I'm getting all computer-screen eyes," said Willow.

"Xander," said Buffy softly. Then when he didn't stir, added more loudly. "Xander!'

"Huh? What?"

"Don't drool on the books." Xander sat up bleary eyed and Anya took charge of him.

"Ok I'll see you all later," Buffy said and picked up Dawn.

"Do you want me to drive you home Buffy?" Giles asked.

Buffy smiled at her Watcher. "Yeah, thanks Giles, that'd be great."

Buffy carried Dawn upstairs and tucked her into bed. Then she went and showered and changed into one of her sexier nightgowns. Combing her damp hair, she went back into her room and looked out the window. She smiled as she saw Spike waiting under the tree, as he had done so many times before. For so long she hadn't even noticed. Then he'd told her he loved her and confused the hell out of her and she'd noticed him ever since.

Spike looked up as Buffy opened her window. In a few steps he was at the porch and climbing up to her.

The blonde vampire slipped in her window. He always waited for an invitation now, had done ever since Buffy had uninvited him, that time after he'd told her how he felt. That time he'd fucked things up incredibly badly. The way he did things, the way he viewed the world, had changed so much since Buffy had become his everything. He'd tried so hard to be good to win her love, but then she had rejected that and suddenly he found he had to be good, just because he loved her. So now he waited for her invite.

And now, she did love him. And things were bloody fantastic. It was worth everything, Spike thought. This was worth everything.

"You know you could just use the front door," Buffy said as he climbed in through the window.

"I could love," said Spike, standing up. "But where's the romance in that?"

Buffy smiled, walking towards him. "Hmm, climbing through my window at night is pretty romantic. Unless you're a soulless killer. Oh wait."

Spike smirked but there was pain evident in his expression. Buffy's bit her lip. She hadn't meant it seriously.

"I mean, unless it's a nice soulless killer," Buffy blundered forth, trying desperately to repair the damage. "One who is kind to children and small furry animals. And very, wonderfully terrific in bed?"

Spike grinned and caught her in his arms. "All right," he growled softly, burying his face in her hair. "That's enough. I'm not that soft."

Buffy wrapped her arms around him and sighed. It felt so wonderful to be held like this.

Spike pulled back. He shrugged off his duster and let it fall to the floor. He cocked his head to one side and looked at Buffy speculatively. Her skimpy little nightdress left only the best bits of her wonderful body to Spike's very fertile imagination.

"Now you love, are very fuckable."

It was amazing how Spike could go from Mr Sensitive to Lust Monster in the space of a second. Not that Buffy minded. Horny Spike had his distinct advantages. Buffy gave him a deliciously sexy look.

"How fuckable?" she asked approaching him.

Spike undid his pants and dropped them to the floor, letting a certain more salient part of his anatomy speak for itself.

"Oh," said Buffy. "That fuckable."

"I guess pet," said Spike, enjoying the effect his body had on her. "The question now is, do I pass?" He pulled off his shirt and stood there completely naked, except for the jeans around his ankles. He held his arms out to the side, displaying his body for her approval.

Buffy took in his sculpted chest, his taut abdomen, and then, somewhat lower, his very, very fine specimen of…masculinity. She tilted her head to one side and mischievously considered him. He watched her walk around him, studying his body. Buffy did a full circle and stopped in front of him. She ran a nail down his perfect chest, making Spike shudder.

"I take it back," she said. "You are fuckable."

Spike tugged her to him and kissed her very soundly.

"That's a relief," he breathed and promptly tripped over his own trousers as Buffy turned and pulled him to the bed.

Chapter 3: Dates, visitors and unpleasantness

Cordelia Chase sat in the foyer of Angel's hotel. She tapped her foot impatiently and examined her fingernails. Finally Angel came walking down the stairs.

"Sorry Cordy I just -" Angel stopped mid-sentence as Cordelia stood up. She was dressed in something very flimsy and very silky and very figure hugging. "Got…caught…up…"

"Well, are we going or not?" Cordelia demanded. "Those reservations aren't going to last all night you know."

"Oh yeah, sorry." Angel couldn't take his eyes off her. "You, ah…look…nice."

"Of course I look nice! This is a date isn't it? I always look nice on-" Cordelia stopped at Angel's look and suddenly smiled. "I mean, thanks."

Angel grinned, the particular grin only Cordelia could elicit from him. "Reservations," he reminded her, holding his arm out. Cordy raised an eyebrow at this old fashioned behaviour then slipped her arm through his.

"This will be nice," Cordelia said. "And we won't have to worry about all that 'will we sleep together afterwards' stuff."

"No," agreed Angel, silently cursing that the fact that sleeping with Cordelia may just equal perfect happiness. "It'll be nice."

"Really -" Suddenly Cordelia stopped. "Oh gees, no, not nowwwww…." Angel grabbed her before she fell. Cordelia clutched her head as images flashed through her mind. Horrible, not of the good images.

"Demon. Seven…heads…ten horns….There's a crown on each head…His tail is dragging stars out of the sky. Oh God, there's a woman…Clothed in…the sun…She's giving birth…and the demon…the demon's going to eat the baby…oh God…But someone's taken the baby and she's…she's gone into the desert. The demon…its chasing her.." Cordelia gasped in pain as wave upon wave of images crashed on her. She vaguely heard Angel speak, as if a long way off.

"The woman, what does she look like?"

"I - Oh she's, she's escaped. But the demon… NO!"

Angel hugged Cordy to him. "What, what is it?"

"A beast…The beast." She gasped and looked up at Angel in a moment of clarity. "Sunnydale."

*********************

Spike looked around his crypt, as if the answer would be written on the wall somewhere.

His date with Buffy was in two days. Which was great, fantastic, very exciting and all that. Except he had no money. And it would be bloody humiliating if he had to ask Buffy to pay for the movie. And the popcorn. And flowers. Real suave that would be. After all, he had asked her out and deep, deep down, Spike was still a nineteenth century kind of guy. The bloke paid. His eyes rested on his trunk. It was worth a shot.

The vampire knelt on the floor in front of his trunk and rummaged through over a century's worth of possessions. Had to be something in here worth hocking.

He dragged out the shotgun. That ought to fetch a few dollars somewhere.

It was only a stop-gap measure however. That money would soon be spent. Spike had been so busy wanting Buffy that he hadn't really considered what he'd do once he had her. He hadn't really indulged in any long term Buffy related fantasies, they had all sort of stopped at "I love you Spike" and "Oh God, Spike I'm coming". They all involved things being pretty much as they stood now. Bloody fantastic times with Buffy wherever, whenever. Now, amazing, wonderful miracle of miracles, he had her. He looked around the dusty old crypt. Now he thought about it, internal changes weren't the only ones he'd have to make to keep his Slayer.

For starters. He needed money. And this crypt really wasn't the sort of place you wanted to bring your girlfriend home to. No plumbing for starters. Buffy and girlfriend. Buffy was his girlfriend. Spike grinned as he rolled the phrase around.

"My girlfriend, Buffy. Buffy, my girlfriend. Buffy is my girlfriend. This is my girlfriend, Buffy."

It still seemed unreal.

She was his girlfriend and he was going to treat her right.

Bloody hell, thought Spike. I'll have to get a job.

Vampires didn't get jobs. They took what they wanted. The only jobs vampires had were ones they did for their sires. And Spike had never considered what he did for Dru work, and had stopped doing his grandsire's dirty work as soon as he was strong enough to say no. But Spike couldn't take what he wanted, well not easily, anymore, not with the chip. And somehow, he knew Buffy wouldn't look upon thief as a very suitable occupation for her boyfriend, anyway, even if it was easy. And besides, Harris would soon get sick of funding their night's out with the money Spike pick-pocketed from him on a regular basis. He really would have to get a job.

Things I do for that woman, Spike thought with a rueful smile.

****************

Buffy rushed around the house. Spike had said seven. It was six fifty-eight and she still hadn't finished putting on her makeup. Buffy couldn't believe she had butterflies. It was only a movie. It wasn't like a real first date. But she was still excited.

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Dawn!" Buffy called. "Can you get that? I'm not ready yet!"

"You get it. I'm not ready either!"

"Dawn!"

"Buffy! Its not like Spike hasn't seen you without your makeup before! Gees."

Dawn also had a date. Kevin was taking her to the school dance. Buffy sighed. It probably did rate more highly on the life crisis scale. She finished applying her foundation then threw on a robe before hurrying downstairs.

******************

Spike pulled up outside the Summer's house. He had foregone his preferred black and black ensemble and was clad in some of the Impress Buffy clothes he'd "borrowed" from one of them trendy shops a while back. He felt like a sodding walking Gap commercial. He still wore his duster though. Spike wished he could use a mirror to check his hair. He'd left the gel out and had eased up on the eyeliner too. He was boyfriend Spike tonight, not creature of the night Spike. He swore as he realised he'd forgotten to take the nail polish off. He shrugged. Close enough. Spike got out of his DeSoto and retrieved the bunch of flowers from the passenger seat. Satisfied that things weren't too shoddy he started up the path to the house. It was only then that he noticed the other car.

*******************

Riley Finn pressed the doorbell again. He knew they were home. He could hear female voices. He'd come as early as he could, catch Buffy before she went out for the evening.

"Look who's back from the dead."

The low British drawl made the soldier spin around.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Might ask you the same question," Spike replied with a smirk. "Thought you were off playing Rambo in South America or something."

Riley slammed Spike back against the wall.

"Don't tell me you're still hanging after Buffy, Spike. That's pretty pathetic, even for you."

Spike smirked, full of cocky bravado. "Not anymore pathetic than you showing up now. Do you really think she'll want to see you after everything you put her through?"

"She made her choice," Riley said stiffly.

"Rubbish. What kind of bloody fool lets a woman like that get away?"

Riley pushed Spike hard against the wall again.

"You know nothing about it-"

"Riley!? Spike!" Buffy stood at the door, shock and amazement written all over her face.

"Er hello Buffy," said Spike from where he was pinned against the wall.

Riley let go of Spike. "Buffy!" His gormless Iowa farmboy face beamed at seeing Buffy again.

"Riley?" Buffy couldn't believe it. He was back. She was torn between the desire to jump into his arms and to punch him senseless.

"Yeah look what the cat dragged in pet," muttered Spike. Not very pleased that Buffy wasn't exactly telling Riley where to go.

"Buffy, I'm back. I can't tell you the details, but they're stationing some of us here in Sunnydale. I…I thought I'd come and see how you are."

"I - wow." A million thoughts and emotions jumbled through Buffy's mind.

"I know its been a long time, I've just - look can we talk. Alone." Riley glared at Spike.

"You'd love to, wouldn't you pet," said Spike. "But the thing is, me and the Slayer have plans."

Riley shoved Spike back against the wall. "I can't believe you haven't been dusted yet, Hostile 17."

"Pet, will you tell him or will I?"

Buffy shut her eyes, Spike was not going to make this easy. She needed to talk to Riley, without having Spike gloating in the background.

Suddenly a small voice said. "Excuse me Ms. Summers?"

Vampire, Soldier and Slayer turned. A kid about 15 was standing nervously at the foot of the steps.

"I- uh -my name's Kevin, I'm here to pick up Dawn…"

"Oh!" Buffy blushed. She peered out into the dark and saw Kevin's mother waiting in the car. She waved. "I'll just go get her." Buffy glared at the two men then ran inside. They both looked at her sheepishly before glaring at each other.

"Dawn! Kevin's here!"

Buffy walked her sister to Kevin's mother's car. Dawn was torn between embarrassment about the necessary interaction between her sister, her date and her date's mother and curiosity over the presence of Riley. She had given Spike a questioning look as she walked past. He'd rolled his eyes behind Riley's back and told her to be good at the dance.

Dawn had rolled her eyes then.

"Thanks so much for driving them Mrs. Berman," Buffy said to Kevin's mother.

"No problem, what time does Dawn have to be home."

"Ten o'clock," said Buffy.

Dawn was trying to make a good impression on Kevin's mother so she merely glared at her sister.

Buffy waved them goodbye, then sighed as she turned back to the porch and the two men waiting on it. The hostility in the air was palpable. Buffy looked at Spike, all dressed up, clearly annoyed, and at Riley. Riley. Buffy felt overwhelmed. At least one of them had to go so she could think straight.

"Spike, can you please - "

Spike swallowed and drew himself up. He knew where this was going. Soldier boy was back, barging in where he wasn't wanted, and Buffy needed to talk to him. It was to be expected.

"All right pet. I'll be at home, if you -"

"I will," Buffy said firmly answering his question. The look that suddenly appeared in Spike's eyes touched her. She was grateful to him for being reasonable about this. "Thank you."

Spike nodded, glared at Riley, handed Buffy the flowers then walked off.

Buffy looked ruefully at the bunch of red roses in her hand.

"This is so bad timing," she said to Riley.

Riley looked at the roses and then at Buffy, taking in the makeup, the way her hair was done. He put two and two together. "No, maybe its just in time," he said.

Buffy sighed, this was not what she needed. So many mixed feelings churned inside her. "Riley, come inside."

They went into the lounge room and sat down. Riley on the couch, Buffy in the arm chair.

"Buffy -" Riley began. "You look…great. How have you been?"

Buffy bit her lip. "Good. Not good. Then good again. You know how it is."

Riley nodded. Then paused as he tried to think of how to begin. "I missed you," he said.

Buffy looked down, old pain resurfacing. "I tried to meet you…that night," she said. "I got there just as the helicopter was taking off."

"Oh Buffy," said Riley, his voice catching. He stood up and moved to her. He knelt beside her and took her hands in his. "Buffy," he began, his voice deep and sincere. Buffy found herself looking up at him, her heart in her throat and a stone in her stomach. "I'm sorry about that…about how we left things…it…Buffy, I want to make things up…I want to try-"

"Riley, stop." The sharpness in her voice startled him. Buffy felt suddenly angry. All the anger she'd felt at his leaving her, at the whole vampire whore thing, at just generally feeling sucky over him, rose up.

"Buffy?"

"Riley, so much has changed since you left. You can't imagine all the things that have happened."

Riley's eyes hardened. "Spike."

Buffy's eyes flashed. "Like my mother dying. Like having to save my sister from a god! Like - like I don't know, so much. So much you weren't there for. You left Riley. You can't expect to be gone for so long then just pick up where you left off. I'm different now. Things are different."

"Buffy - I'm so sorry. Your mother…what happened."

Buffy looked away, tears in her eyes. "Complications from a brain tumour…"

"Buffy, I'm sorry. I didn't know…"

"No, you didn't know. You vanished off the face of the earth. I had to get over you Riley."

"Buffy…" Riley held her hands tightly. "I know, I stuffed up. I was angry and hurt. I loved, love you so much. I just needed…"

"No, Riley, don't do this. You can't do this. You can't just dump this on me. I'm seeing someone else now. You and me are the past Riley. I got over you."

"You're seeing Spike." It was a statement. The disdain in his voice was like a slap in the face to Buffy. She lifted her chin and looked him in the eyes.

"Yes. I am."

"I knew it! I knew you'd never be satisfied with a human after-"

"How dare you!" Buffy pulled her hands from Riley's. "Don't you dare cast judgements on me. Spike was here for me. He stayed. He…" Suddenly she knew she didn't care. Didn't care an ounce about what Riley thought of her seeing Spike. Buffy looked her ex-boyfriend square in the face. "I don't love him because he's a vampire. I love him for his humanity."

"You love him? How can you say that?"

"Because I do," said Buffy. "I think you'd better leave."

"Buffy-"

"It was great to see you again Riley, but there can't be anything between us now. It's over. I hope you understand."

Riley stood up, anger on his face. "Yes, I understand. Loud and clear."

****************

Half an hour later Buffy pushed open the door of Spike's crypt.

"Spike?"

She saw him, sitting on his old couch, staring at the tv.

"Spike we can still make a later session of that movie-"

He stood as she said his name and Buffy's stomach suddenly twisted. His expression was cold, unreadable.

Spike looked at Buffy. She was beautiful. She had this little black thing on and her hair was up in curls. Bloody hell, why'd she have to look so bloody good? He strode towards her.

"Right. Let me say this before I change my mind." He took an unnecessary breath. "Buffy, I know you and Captain Cardboard have unfinished…stuff you need to sort out. And if you need to-" Spike stopped mid sentence his jaw working painfully. This was the hardest thing he'd ever done in both his lives. "If you need to spend some time with him…see if whatever you used to feel for him is still there, then, I won't stand in your way."

"Spike-" Buffy's heart caught in her throat for the second time that night, but this time there was no stone in her stomach. How could he be so incredibly sweet?

"Only because, only because I don't want to have you if you're going to spend the rest of your life wondering what might've been with Soldier boy."

"Spike-"

Spike kept on talking, warming to his martyrdom. "I can't say I'll like it, but if that's what you've got to do then-"

"Spike!" Buffy snapped.

Spike looked at her, startled. Buffy's eyes softened.

"I know exactly how I feel about Riley," she said, gently touching his cheek. "It's over. I'm in love with you."

Spike closed his eyes savouring her touch. He stood very still, overcome by Buffy's statement. Then he felt her lips upon his, soft, warm. He sank into her kiss. Her embrace.

"Bloody glad you said that Slayer," he murmured. "Cos I don't know how long I could've kept that up."

"Spike," Buffy said, after a few more kisses.

"Mmmhmmm?" said Spike from where he was nuzzling Buffy's neck.

"Want to see if we can still make it to that movie?"

Spike considered it. He was quite comfortable where he was at the moment, actually.

"Movies will be on tomorrow night Slayer…" he murmured.

Buffy pulled back. She was also a bit torn, it was getting quite comfortably warm around Spike, but she had been looking forward to the date. "Come on, we're going. I'm not going to let Riley spoil this evening."

Spike smirked. That put a whole new light on things. "Well you are all dressed up Slayer," he said. "Would be a shame to just take all those clothes off without showing you off a bit first."

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "And you're looking pretty reasonable yourself, Fang Boy."

Spike gave her an evil grin. "Gonna show me off then pet?"

Buffy smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist. "No I don't think so. I think I'll keep you all to myself."

"What happened to the movie?"

"Oh that's right. I guess I can let you out in public for a little while."

"Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't let you out though. You're looking very delicious in that little dress of yours Summers."

"I am?"

"You are."

Buffy drew a deep breath and actually managed to take a step towards the door. "Ok. What movie are we seeing?" Spike reluctantly trailed after her.

"How about that one about that British bint, Bridget whatsit? Birds are sposed to like that."

"Ooh Colin Firth…" Buffy said mischieviously.

Spike grabbed Buffy around the waist as she reached for the door and pulled her to him. "Yeah baby, I know you have a thing for Brits."

"Some Brits." Buffy smirked, trying to wriggle free. "Ones who actually manage to make it to the movies when they promise to take me."

Spike pouted.

Buffy kissed his pout then slipped out of his arms. Spike grinned and followed after her.

Surprisingly enough they did make it to the movies.

About three hours, a bucket of popcorn and a hot chocolate and a cappuccino later they returned to Buffy's house.

Spike was complaining about Colin Firth. He'd been a little too dark and brooding for Spike's liking. Too bloody much like Angel.

"I thought he was lovely," sighed Buffy as they stopped outside the front door.

Spike growled. "Least Hugh Grant was interesting."

"And a complete two-timing pig!"

"Do you think I should do dark and brooding pet?"

"Hmmm…" mused Buffy, considering it. "I think bleached and smart mouthed suits you just fine."

"You like my smart mouth?"

Buffy couldn't stop herself from smirking. She raised an eyebrow. "Uhuh." Spike leaned in for the kill, but Buffy pulled back.

"So…" she said, one hand on the door knob. It was 9.30, Dawn wouldn't be home for another half hour. "I'd invite you in for coffee, but you know, we've already had that…"

"You could just invite me in for sex," Spike suggested hopefully.

"How about I invite you in and we see what happens?"

Spike unconsciously moistened his lips.

"Suits me fine pet," he purred seductively, noting with satisfaction the faint scent of eau du Buffy Arousal. Yeah, she was his.

Buffy paused at the foot of the stairs.

"Come on, Dawn's going to be home in half an hour."

Spike ran up the stairs after her.

He caught her at her bedroom door and they fumbled and kissed their way into the room and shut the door behind them. Still undressing, they made it half way to the bed before giving up and falling onto the floor in a tangle of limbs.

Buffy kissed her way down Spike's now naked chest, over his stomach and then, after pausing briefly to remove some annoying tan pants, even lower. Spike lay back looking at the ceiling, not able to think at all, not able to move. Buffy found the noises he was making very edifying. She took that as a good sign and kept doing what she was doing.

"Buffy," he moaned. "Oh deargod, fuck, Buffy, oh yes." Those were about the only intelligible things to come out of his mouth as Buffy kept on sucking and licking and stroking him in places nice, good Slayers didn't suck, lick and stroke vampires. Buffy thought it was a good thing her little sister wasn't home. The walls of the house weren't that sound proof.

Spike arched his back and cried out her name as he came, then collapsed, completely spent, on the floor. Buffy tried not be obvious as she wiped her mouth and the spillage but her touch on Spike's now very sensitive parts made him draw in a breath sharply. Buffy smiled evilly. There was nothing more satisfying then making Spike squirm. She crawled up his body and kissed him soundly. He'd become very cuddly all of a sudden. Without warning, Spike recovered and their positions were suddenly reversed. Ok, there was one thing more satisfying. Spike pinned Buffy to the floor and kissed her lips, softly at first and then deeply before very slowly and torturously making his way downwards.

Where he proceeded to do some very mind-blowing things to her.

It was Buffy's turn to stare at the ceiling, eyes glazed over, complete jelly. By the time Buffy screamed his name in a very earth-shattering climax, Spike had well and truly regained full use of all his parts and as Buffy gasped with the last waves of orgasm, he entered her.

And they started all over again.

It was slow, languorous sex and had more to do with closeness than lust. At times they barely moved against each other, just held each other at close as possible and looked into each other's eyes and murmured how much they loved each other.

"I'm sorry things got messed up tonight Spike," Buffy whispered.

Spike rocked against her gently, caressing her face and placing kisses on her jaw.

"It worked out all right in the end, love, from my perspective anyway."

"It was very sweet of you, what you said." Buffy ran her hand over his cheek, into his hair. Spike turned his head and nibbled on her forearm as it brushed past him.

"What was that love?"

"About not minding if I had to sort things out about Riley."

Spike returned his lips to Buffy's collarbone and the little hollow that formed beside her neck.

"I meant it. I love you too much Buffy, to have you unhappy. I don't want you wishing for anyone else when you're with me neither." He kissed the tantalising pulse in her throat. "So it was entirely selfish on my part."

Buffy felt a little trembling breath rise up. Spike felt her shudder and lifted his head to look into her eyes. There were tears there, waiting to fall.

"I love you so much Spike."

Spike swallowed hard.

"I know," he said and his voice was slightly choked. And even though they heard Dawn come home and slam the door downstairs, then bang the door to her bedroom loudly, they didn't stop holding each other like that for quite a bit longer.

The end of part 3. Tbc.

Back <chapter2.html> - Next <Chapter4.html>

Home <../fiction.htm>

Title: Marshmallows

Author: Juliatheyounger

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy et al own these characters, except the Divine Comedy and the beings within. They're mine dammit, well my interpretation, sort of.

Summary: Sequel to Hot Chocolate…Marshmallows (of course) ;) Not only is Buffy going out with Spike but now she's got Armageddon to deal with as well.

Rating: R for grown up stuff.

Spoilers: Season 5

Feedback: Yes please (with sugar on top?)

Distribution: If anyone wants it then, yes, please! But let me know so I can feel all flattered.

Author's note: Yup I've done it, started the Hot Chocolate <http://www.geocities.com/juliatheyounger/fiction.htm> sequel (yeah as if I could leave it there, we haven't even dealt with the chip or Angel yet!) mwhahahahaha…

*************

Chapter 4: Divine Comedy

Jack O'Higgins the manager of The Divine Comedy collared Frank Assisi as he walked off the stage to thunderous applause.

"Great set Frank," O'Higgins said shaking the saint's hand. "Put you down for 10 minutes next Friday?" The manager slapped the comedian on the back before heading off to talk to some of the other up and comings at the club.

The Divine Comedy was a stand up club in one of the less reputable parts of L.A. O'Higgins ran it with an iron fist. Pissing off O'Higgins equaled no comedy career, at least in L.A.'s non-human community. O'Higgins was human but most of his comics weren't. And they weren't all demons either. Some of the wittier of Heaven's Host graced the club with their presence at least a couple of times a week. Comedy was peculiarly the one thing that both sides saw the merits of. True, the demons were edgier in their humour, but comics like Marty Luther could get a sharp edge with their political stuff. The audience was, for the most part, human. Most of the comedians at the Divine Comedy passed for human, so unless they knew any different, the audience was none the wiser.

On stage the MC, Baal, hottest demon comic in L.A. was introducing the next act, Joanie. The petite little Joanie got up on stage and launched into her man-hating bitch feminist routine. Up the back, where the comedians stood, drinking, rehearsing, talking and occasionally watching an act, O'Higgins was talking to Paul.

"I'm not saying lose that stuff, just tone the anti-gay and women-bashing stuff down a bit." A big man walked past. "Legion- like that split personality bit."

Charles Wesley was up next with some of his poetry. The timid looking man paced the floor looking at his palm card intently as he practiced his act.

Suddenly there were assorted beeps and buzzing noises. As one, demon and saint alike stopped. There was some scrabbling in pockets, then they were all looking at various models of pager.

"Well lads," said the Brit, Tom Moore, support act for the night and famous for his incisive social commentary. "Looks like we've got Armageddon."

***************

Buffy shifted in her bed and felt Spike stir beside her. He wrapped his arm tightly around her and kept on sleeping. Suddenly Buffy realised that the noise she'd been trying unsuccessfully to ignore was the sound of someone knocking on the door. Disengaging Spike's arm, she climbed out of bed, fished around and found her panties. She pulled them on and threw on her dressing gown. Spike rolled over.

"What is it?" he mumbled, still asleep.

"Someone's at the door."

'"Mmmph."

Buffy hurried downstairs and pulled open the front door. Buffy stood there for a whole minute, completely lost for words.

"Angel?"

***********

Upstairs, the realisation that Buffy wasn't in bed anymore finally dawned on Spike. Rubbing his eyes he got up and pulled on his trousers before heading down to find his Slayer.

Angel and Cordelia stood at the door.

"Cordelia had a vision-" Angel looked up and saw a very familiar blonde vampire walking down the stairs. He quickly pulled Cordy behind him.

"Buffy! It's Spike!"

Then it occurred to him that Spike was not actually wearing a shirt. Then it occurred to him that he could smell something that was distinctly sex-like. Angel gaped at Buffy. He then turned his gaze back up to the blonde vampire. And gaped some more.

"Quick Buffy, shouldn't you be doing the staking thing or something?" Cordy demanded, not noticing the consternation on either Buffy or Angel's faces.

Spike stopped midway down the stairs as he saw his grandsire.

"Now Angel?" he demanded incredulously. "What is this, the visitation of all your ex-boyfriends love? Who's next, that little prat you had the one night stand with?"

Buffy looked from Angel to Spike. Oh this was very not of the good.

Cordelia's eyes suddenly widened as she realised what was going on.

"OH! OH! You and -" Cordy looked from Angel, to Buffy, to Spike. Then she smirked. "What is it with you and vampires Buffy?"

Buffy swallowed. Angel was looking at her with a mixture of stunned indignation and kicked puppy dog. She glanced up at Spike and winced when he saw the look of belligerent possessiveness on his face. This was so going to be awkward. Spike finished walking down the stairs and slipped his arms around Buffy's waist, resting his chin on her shoulder, well and truly staking his claim.

Angel still gaped.

"Spike? Buffy?" Obviously he was having trouble wrapping his mind around this, Buffy thought.

"Hullo peaches," Spike smirked, leveling a look of challenge at the older vampire. The room's testosterone levels soared through the roof.

Angel drew himself up, regaining some of his senses. He glared at his grandchilde. Spike smirked back smugly, but Buffy could feel his body tense against her. The air crackled with hostility. Buffy suddenly realised she was the only thing between two increasingly pissed off vampires.

"Uh, as much as I'd love to see you two tear each other's throats out over Buffy, I, uh, don't," said Cordy, a touch waspishly. "Come get me when you're finished with the macho posturing." She turned and walked out the door.

Buffy was inclined to agree with Cordelia somewhat. She took a deep breath.

"Angel, before we deal with this vision, I think we need to talk. Alone."

Spike sighed and let go of Buffy. Time for him to do the disappearing act again.

"I'll be outside," he muttered, glaring at Angel as he brushed past him out the door as well. Bloody hell, this Understanding Boyfriend business was getting a right pain in the arse.

*************

Spike went out the back and sat down on the porch next to Cordelia. They both sat there in silence.

Bloody poof thought Spike. Waltzing in and acting all bloody high and mighty. Bloody arrogant, nancy boy haired, bloody great poofter. He thought about the look on Buffy's face. The one that tied his stomach in knots. Fuck.

Spike sighed deeply. He really wanted to go in there and set Angel on his ear, tell him a few home truths. But he couldn't 'cause Buffy'd get upset and he knew she'd want to handle this and sooth Peaches' touchy bloody feelings. Fuck.

He sat on the steps ruminating about the problem and wishing horrible death to his grandsire.

**************

Buffy and Angel went into the lounge room and sat down. Déjà vu, thought Buffy. What, was she going to have explain Spike to everyone tonight?

Angel looked like he was going to launch into a concerned-about-your-safety lecture. Buffy looked at him firmly. "Before you start, let's get a few things straight. One, Spike can't hurt anyone. He has a government chip in his brain that prevents him from hurting humans. And two, he's changed. A lot."

"A chip?"

Buffy sighed and started to explain the whole Initiative/chip-imbeding in Spike's head thing.

*************

"Oh! You're not going to, like, kill me or anything will you?" Cordelia asked suddenly.

Spike looked up slightly startled. He'd completely forgotten she was there. He cocked his head and smirked. "Nice to see someone still appreciates me," he grinned, a touch of bitterness from his Buffy/Angel considerations still in his voice.

"Whatever, just don't go all fangy. I carry a stake now you know."

"What under that little thing?" he asked, indicating her dress. Spike may have had a sore heart and be worried, but he still noticed short little slips of dresses.

"Hello, handbag?" she said lifting her purse up in demonstration.

Spike grinned. After a moment he sighed. He glanced over at Cordelia, the brunette was also looking a bit dejected, and not a little pissed off. He cocked his head to the side and looked at her.

"So you and Angel…"

"What?! No! Well I mean…yes, obviously not as much as you and Buffy…" Cordelia sighed. "Tonight was supposed to be our first date."

Spike chuckled. "Talk about bloody coincidences. Tonight was our first date too. Nearly bloody wasn't." He patted his pockets, wishing he'd gotten dressed a bit more, then he'd have his cigarettes. "Buffy's bleeding soldier ex-boyfriend shows up out of the blue. Now the great Poof's here too. Feel like I'm running a gauntlet or something." He leaned back. "Any minute I expect something else to pop up and this time Buffy'll go, actually no, don't think I want to go out with Spike after all."

"You too huh? It took us years to even get this far. All we were going to do was have dinner together. Just pretend for one night that we were a couple. Believe me, I definitely wasn't going to risk any happy time with Angel."

"Still got that little curse of his has he?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. It can't be good, being that celibate. Not that I can talk, every guy I've even been interested in lately turns out to be a demon who wants to impregnate me with its spawn or live in another dimension."

"Must put a bit of a crimp on your love life then."

"I'm starting to think I ought to just date Dennis?"

"Dennis?"

"My ghost. At least he's always there."

Spike chuckled. "Might be interesting. Like the invisible man." He sat back and leaned against the rail. "So what's happened, how come you two aren't having your dinner as planned?"

Cordelia let out an annoyed sigh. "Vision girl here got another, er, vision. One involving Sunnydale. So instead of eating at a restaurant it took me weeks to get reservations at, we went for a little road trip."

"Not good, these visions of yours I take it."

"You could say that yeah." Cordelia ran her hands through her hair and almost growled. "Ugh! Like I know Buffy and Angel have history but like it's been over for ages."

Spike looked away. He was actually more worried than he'd admit, even to himself. He loved Buffy and knew she loved him, but the whole Buffy/Angel thing…he wasn't sure Buffy was over his grandsire yet. It was worse than Riley. Part of Spike knew he'd be safe standing by and letting Buffy give Riley another go 'cause he knew he really had nothing to worry about from Soldier Boy. But Peaches…he was Buffy's first love. Another vampire. Her first. Couldn't compete with that. Fuck. No Spike was not going to make any noble gestures when it came to his bleeding grandsire. This was it, letting Buffy do her talking thing, this was the extent of Spike's concessions to Angel.

Spike really wanted to go back inside.

**************

"Buffy…this chip…he's still…it's only preventing him from doing evil." Angel felt hurt, and a little bit angry. It was Spike, his Buffy was with Spike. Spike who'd tried to kill both of them. Spike. His childe, well, grandchilde. His grandchilde was trying to take Buffy. Angel tried to be reasonable. It was hard. The last time he'd seen Spike had involved a lot of sharp pointy things. Suddenly Spike was good? And Buffy wasn't staking him? In fact Buffy was…Angel couldn't even think it.

"Angel, he loves me. He won't hurt me. And he's helped me so much. Me and my family. Yeah I know the chip is just holding him back, but it doesn't change how he feels about me. It's taken a while, he's had to prove himself, but I trust him. Even without the chip, I think he would still love me. He just can't do things I'll have to stake him for."

"Buffy…when, when I left, it was so you could have a normal life - have a normal boyfriend…"

"The normal boyfriend decided Buffy didn't love him the right way. And Spike…it just happened. You don't need to tell me about why it isn't a good idea." Buffy sighed. "Its funny, but I'm happy with him, Angel. Can't I have that? I'm never going to have a normal life. It's not like we're getting married, we're just together, seeing how this goes. Trust me, I'm not expecting anything long term here."

Angel was quiet.

"Buffy," he said suddenly, intensely. "Its just…if you're going to be with a vampire…you might as well be with…"

Buffy looked up and the expression on his face made terrible strange familiar feelings form inside her.

"Angel, don't say that," she said. "Don't say that unless you mean it." Buffy looked away. After a moment she said. "And besides, you didn't want me when you were all vampire-vampire instead of soul vamp."

"I did want you…just…not in a nice way. And Buffy, that' s why you have to be careful with Spike." Angel sighed. "I know I don't have any right to tell you what to do…but Buffy, please be careful. I've known Spike for a long time. And if he doesn't have a soul…"

"Angel, I know its weird. At first I thought it was just another way to get at me. Some trick. But he really loves me. He could hurt me so easily now, emotionally, but he doesn't. He loves me. Even without a soul."

Angel looked away. He really loved her. Had really loved her. But not without a soul…at least, not that he'd been able to admit. But then Spike had always been…able to love. Willing to love. His devotion to Dru had proved that time and again. But Dru had been Spike's sire. Unconsciously his eyes drifted up to Buffy's neck. Bile rose in his throat at the thought of Spike drinking from…

She saw his gaze.

"He hasn't," she said, answering his unasked question. Spike had not even asked about it. Buffy could sense sometimes, when their passion got too intense, when he vamped out mid-sex, that he wanted to. But he'd never even tried. It might have had something to do with the chip, but Buffy got the feeling that if she'd wanted it…if she'd wanted him to do it to her…Sometimes, when she was just on the edge of a very intense orgasm, just about to fall, she almost told him to. Buffy shook herself, best not to go there. She hid, even from herself, the intense feelings she'd experienced the three times vampires had drunk from her: the Master, Angel, and Dracula.

"All right, enough with the chitchat, don't we have a world to save or something?" Spike asked too cheerily as he walked into the room. He deliberately sat next to Buffy. Angel looked hurt. Spike's expression was slightly odd, but Buffy was too irritated all of a sudden to notice.

"I'll go get Cordy," said Angel stiffly. Buffy winced. She hated the thought of him being upset with her. Things weren't good between them yet, over this. She knew Angel felt betrayed.

"Have a nice little talk Slayer?" Spike asked, his uncertainty making him sound snide.

Buffy glared at him. "Spike! Why'd you have to barge in like that!" Buffy looked away. She didn't know what she felt. And then Angel dumps the "why don't you date me then" thing on her. Damn Angel. Buffy suddenly felt irritation towards that vampire too. He was like a selfish child, he only wanted her because Spike did. It wasn't a pissing contest for crying out loud. Buffy felt Spike watching her and she looked up. It was then that she saw Spike's expression. The questioning, uncertain, almost fearful look. An intense feeling of love for this annoying, frustrating, sensitive and loving man flared up inside her. Buffy was overcome by emotion. Tears pricked at her eyes. She didn't quite know what to say so she punched him in the arm.

"Ow, what was that for?" Spike complained rubbing his arm, suddenly grinning because the tension between him and Buffy had dissolved.

"For coming down here with no shirt and acting like a big jealous macho ape." Buffy said, trying to still be irritated but losing the battle as the suspicion and fear in Spike's expression disappeared a little.

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous?" Spike grumbled. "Just because the love of your life shows up at the door, stupid hair sticking up, like the magnificent poof he is and tells you he'd do anything, have you back as long a you're not with me." He hadn't meant to say that last bit but the diatribe about Angel's hair had gotten him worked up and it had slipped out.

Buffy just looked at Spike and decided not to take him to task for eavesdropping.

"Who was I just in bed with?"

A smile began to slide across Spike's face.

"Me," he said.

"Exactly. So shut up and be good. Angel is my friend. You were cool about the Scoobies' reaction to us, so be cool about him too." Spike bent his head in a brief old-fashioned gesture of acquiescence.

"And for the record," Buffy continued. "If that's the only reason Angel has for wanting to get back with me, then I'm sorry, but I'm not that desperate." She looked at Spike archly. "He'll also have to do something about anchoring that soul of his too. I'm getting used to having nasty vamp sex fun."

Spike grinned. He bent forward and kissed Buffy a little too warmly on the mouth. "Keep saying things like that Slayer and you'll be too busy to hear about Cheerleader girl's vision."

Buffy smiled. "Well then I'll just have to say things like that later."

"I bloody hope so," said Spike. "Like it when you talk dirty." He smiled at Buffy, and wriggled his eyebrow playfully, glad that things were ok.

"Might just go put some more clothes on," he said as a peace offering. "Getting a bit cold sitting around here half-naked."

Buffy knew Spike putting clothes on was supposed to be a good thing, but all of a sudden she couldn't remember why.

**************

Cordy stood as Angel walked outside.

"So, what's the verdict, not going to rip off Spike's extremities tonight?"

Angel gave Cordelia a rueful smile. "Not tonight. Buffy wouldn't let me give her the be careful speech, but I'm sure as hell giving him the hurt-her-and-I'll-rip-your-entrails-out talk."

"Charming," said Cordy, a little icily.

"So…" said Angel, sensing Cordelia's obvious irritation towards him. It didn't take vampire senses to pick up on that particular mood. "Did you…and…Spike have a…nice…" he couldn't believe he was going to say this. "Chat?"

"Lovely. We talked about you and Buffy," Cordelia swept past him. "So are we going to tell Buffy about this vision or not. I've got an audition tomorrow and I'd like to get at least some sleep tonight."

Damn, the audition. And he'd dragged her here to Sunnydale when she should have been…getting to bed early or something.

***************

Dawn stuck her head out her door as Spike walked past it back downstairs, this time fully dressed.

"Who's here?" she asked sleepily.

"Bloody peaches," grunted Spike. "Go back to sleep Bit."

"'k," she paused, remembering something. "What happened with Riley."

"Big Sis told 'im where to go."

"Mmm good," and Dawn shut the door. She opened it again. "Hey Spike?"

"Yeah, Nibblet?"

"Like the clothes."

***************

"Giles?" The voice at the other end of the phone said.

"Yes Buffy?" Giles looked at his bed-side clock. 3 am. He immediately sat up. "What's wrong?"

"Angel's here, Cordelia's had a vision. I think you should come over."

***************

Giles, Buffy, Angel, Cordelia and Spike sat in Buffy's living room.

Cordelia had repeated her vision to them, complete with hellfire and brimstone.

"Revelations," said Giles. "It sounds exactly like the book of Revelations."

"Bloody hell," murmured Spike.

"Yes quite," said Giles. He was pretending not to think about why Spike would be at Buffy's home at this hour of the night and why she would be only wearing a dressing gown.

"I know," said Angel. "Wesley's poring over all the books he can get his hands on in L.A."

"Book of Revelations? Sounded like Book of Not Making Much Sense." Buffy frowned.

"Revelations, last bit in the bible. Scared the socks off me in Sunday School," said Spike.

"You went to Sunday School?" asked Buffy. She could just picture Spike being an evil little blonde angel. Then she remembered the geek-boy Spike had described his former self as and that the blonde was probably brown. Sometimes she forgot that things were different when Spike was human.

"Yeah 'course, didn't you?"

"Nope not of the religious upbringing me." She looked at Spike. "And yet, you're the one who ended up the vampire. And to think they want religious instruction in schools."

Giles cleaned his glasses, ignoring this comment and deciding that Buffy obviously needed a definition of the term Revelations, Book of. "Basically, the book describes the end of the world, Armageddon, it was written in a prophetic tone - some scholars think to obscure the meaning from the authorities and that it described the Roman Empire and Emperor. Others believe the events described are literal or that it predicts a future apocalypse."

"Well I wasn't exactly picking up on any analogy vibes," said Cordelia.

"Hmmm," said Giles. "And it was definitely Sunnydale you saw."

"Oh yeah, can't forget a hellmouth."

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose. "Armageddon is actually a place, a town in the Middle East, the Hebrew word for Meggido, it was the scene of wars and battles since ancient times. But apparently, it seems that when they said Armageddon in revelations, they actually meant Sunnydale."

"Arsunnydale?" asked Buffy. "Great, well, what's going to cause this apocalypse and how can we stop it."

"I don't know," said Giles. "I got the impression that this particular apocalypse was meant to happen if and when the Powers that Be chose. Trumpets sounding etc."

"But if the Powers want it to happen why bother warning Cordy with the headache?"

"Good point."

"Unless," said Spike. "They want you to be on the side of good. Spose'd to be a battle of sorts isn't there."

"The beast," said Cordelia.

"Nuh-uh, been there, done that, bought the amusing t-shirt. Glory is now a convenient vacuum-packed size, courtesy of her own black-hole."

"Maybe its not meant to happen yet," said Angel.

"Possibly," said Giles. "Maybe something's going to happen to precipitate it - something we're supposed to stop."

"The thing was - Cordy's vision focused on this woman, the woman clothed with the sun, who was being chased by a demon. Usually that means we've got to save her."

"Except she got away," said Cordy. "And then the demon was in Sunnydale and all sorts of badness was happening."

"Buffy?"

Buffy looked around.

"Go back to bed Dawn."

"What's happening? Is the world going to end again?"

Cordelia's eyes widened as she saw the brown-haired girl at the top of the stairs.

"Her!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"What?"

"It was her!"

Buffy, Spike, Giles and Angel looked from Cordy to Dawn and back again.

"Ooh that was weird," said Cordelia. She looked at Dawn, a different kind of recognition in her eyes now. "I don't know why I didn't recognize her before. Your sister was the woman in my vision."

Giles did some more frowning. "Of course! Cordelia has never met Dawn - the monks spell obviously only took effect now - that's why she didn't recognise Dawn as the woman in the vision."

"What do you mean," said Cordelia, now fully convinced she'd always known the key. "Of course I've met Dawn. Hello, so many annoying Scooby meetings?"

Giles turned to Buffy but she was already gone, running upstairs after Dawn.

*****************

"Why did she have a vision about me?"

"I'm not sure," said Buffy, stroking her sisters hair. "But nothing bad happened, in the end…" an idea was forming. An idea of what the vision may have meant. "The woman got away."

"I'm…why would she call me a woman, why not a girl, that's all I am, I'm just a girl."

"I don't know," said Buffy. "But don't worry about it, Giles will look it up in a book or something, then we'll kill what we have to kill and you won't flunk the math test you have tomorrow."

"Ms Reicher is such a bitch giving us a math test the day after the swim team homecoming dance."

"How was it?" Buffy asked, in sister gossipy mode. She was still amazed that Sunnydale high now had a swim team sans weird fish creatures worthy of a homecoming dance.

"Good, no it sucked. Melinda asked Kevin to dance twice, I mean he was with me, skanky ho."

"Did you bitch slap her?"

"Gees Buffy, no." Dawn rolled her eyes. Then giggled. "But I did tell Kevin's friend Joey about how Melinda wet her pants in fifth grade."

Buffy laughed. "For an innocent you sure can be evil."

There was a hesitant tap on the door and Spike poked his head around.

"Learnt it from the master," smirked Dawn.

"You pair all right up here?" Spike asked.

"We're fine, tell everyone I'll be down in a minute."

Spike nodded. "Night 'Bit, how'd the dance go?"

"That lopsided arsed ho Melinda Green asked Kevin to dance."

"Twice," added Buffy exchanging amused looks with Spike.

"Did you kick said arse?" asked Spike.

"No! Gees, Spike you're worse than Buffy."

"Yeah, coulda told you that." And the blonde head disappeared again.

"Better get back down there before both Giles and Angel kill Spike," said Buffy.

"Ok," said Dawn, sleepily. "Just, this time, if it's a Glory situation again, can we please just leave town?"

"It's a deal."

"Buffy?"

Buffy paused at the door. "Yeah?"

"I'm not stupid you know. I know you just asked about the dance to distract me."

"I know. But I still wanted to know what it was like."

"Whatever."

******************

end of pt 4. tbc

******************