Broken Circles

By Larilyn

Larilyn1@hotmail.com

www.geocities.com/larilyn1975

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Buffy et al belong to Joss and ME. "I Know" written by Anna-Lynne Williams. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: AU. What if Angel had never been cursed with a soul? How would that change Spike?

This takes place during the fifth season of B:tVS. Things in Sunnydale are very different without Angel & Spike’s interference. Answer to a challenge on Buffy/Spike diaries.

"Don't you get tired of fights you know you're gonna win?"

Spike to Angelus, Fool for Love

Broken Circles

by Larilyn

London 1880

"Drusilla?" Angelus and his companion entered the alley way of the dark London street.

"Daddy? When will my playmate rise?" Angelus’s dark princess was dancing in wild circles around a bookish young man laying very still on the ground.

Angelus regarded the young man collapsed at Drusilla’s feet. "Dru? Did you remember to feed him?"

"Oh, my boy needs to be fed." She sang out, still twisting and swaying in her demented dance.

Darla commented harshly, "Its probably too late…"

Angelus quickly examined Dru’s prize. "No, I believe there is still time to turn him. It’s just… are you sure about him, Dru? He’s kind of scrawny."

"Oh yes, he is my boy."

Angelus sliced his wrist open and pressed it at the Englishman’s mouth. "Drink boy," he commanded.

***

Sunnydale, California. Present Day

"Welcome to Sunnydale," proclaimed Angelus as he pulled the black convertible up to the abandoned mansion. Loose stones were heaped on the garden floor and vines threatened to pull more loose from the structure as they wound their way toward the sky. "I must say, Dru, the lodgings are quite lovely. Shall we ladies?"

Angelus leaped out of the car. He strode like a bear across the grounds. His chestnut hair looked nearly black in the moonlight, making his skin seem even paler. Under his prominent brow his eyes twinkled mischievously and a sly smile played across his lush lips.

Dru was at his heels and she soon began spinning around like a child intent on making herself dizzy. Drusilla was enchanting tonight. She had left her black curls loose around her face and they bounced as if they had a life of their own as she spun around and around.

The flaxen-haired beauty in the passenger seat turned to look at the lean male sitting behind the driver’s seat whose eyes were fixed upon Dru. "We’ll have none of your nonsense this time, Spike."

"Don’t see why you give a damn, Darla," the vampire answered with his thick British accent. "I mean it, Spike. This is your last chance. Angelus is at his wits end with you." Darla tossed her hair as she gracefully stepped out of the car. Even though it was late in the twentieth century, Darla still had the refinement and elegance of a lady of an earlier day.

"Poor baby," Spike mumbled as he climbed out of the convertible and lit a cigarette. It was a ridiculous car, really. All of Angelus’s talk about blending in and he buys this monstrosity. The car practically screamed, ‘notice me.’

Darla and Spike followed their companions inside and Spike watched as Angelus and Dru danced around the mansion. "Tell me it doesn’t bother you." He challenged Darla as they watched their lovers grope each other, Angelus’s tongue snaking out and capturing Dru’s earlobe in his mouth.

"He always comes back to me," Darla said with confidence. "But if you ever get lonely…"

She insinuated herself into Spike’s space and draped herself around him. Spike shrugged her hand off his arm and snapped, "Not in this un-lifetime, luv."

He stalked away from Darla and pulled Dru off of their sire, "C’mon, pet, lets go explore."

"Do you like our home, pretty Spike? I saw it in my vision." She warbled in her cockney accent as she bobbled away from the dark man that had sired her.

"Bleeding beautiful." Spike commented as he towed her away.

Angelus returned to Darla’s side and she wrapped herself around him. "Hello beautiful," she proclaimed as she met his kiss.

***

Spike was enjoying the night air, the intoxicating blend of night blooming jasmine and nicotine, in the mansion’s courtyard when he heard Angelus’s heavy footsteps behind him. Spike didn’t bother to turn around.

"I think you hurt Darla’s feelings, William." Angelus’s smooth voice echoed throughout the courtyard.

"She’ll get over it." Spike took another puff of his cigarette and blew it in Angelus’s face.

"You have strange tastes, my boy."

"Why? Because I don’t want your sloppy seconds?" Spike snuffed his cigarette out on the sole of his worn, black boot.

Angelus laughed at him. "Poor Spike, always in Daddy’s shadow."

"Is there something you want?" mumbled Spike, "Cuz if your just out here to…"

"Do you remember the last time we were in California, Spikey? You ate that nice young man…"

"You mean that lunatic that called himself the Zodiac?"

"That boy had potential."

Spike sighed, readying himself for another lecture. "Do you have a point?"

"You have strange tastes, Spike. You like the taste of evil."

"As opposed to the oh- so- original- vampire who prefers virgins." Spike mocked.

"Was he worth it? All of the work you put into finding him… How’d he taste Spike? How do they taste? The rapists, the murderers, the pedophiles…"

"I’m a hunter. I prefer dangerous prey."

"How about the pig’s blood Spike? How’s it taste?"

"I’m not in the mood for another of your lectures. What in the hell do you want?" The peroxide blond mumbled.

"Spike, Spike, Spike, I’m here to offer you what you’ve always wanted."

"And whas’ that?"

Angelus smiled another of his evil grins, "Dru. Free and clear. All yours."

Spike scoffed, "And why would you be so generous?"

"Oh, she’s not a gift, Spike. She’s a prize. Darla wants you gone. So, when we leave Sunnydale, you aren’t coming with us."

Spike couldn’t identify the feeling inside him. Relief? Anger? His reaction would depend on one thing, "And Dru?"

"Dru? Well, I’ll make a little wager with you Spike. You win, Dru’s yours. I win. She comes with us."

"All right then, what’s the bet?"

"The Slayer. She lives here, but you probably knew that." Spike nodded. "The bets simple, Spike, first to kill her wins the prize. And lets do it with style? For once? "

***

Dawn & Joyce Summers were on their way out the door when Buffy came up the sidewalk. The young brunette was laughing at something her mother had said.

The older Summers woman greeted her daughter, "Buffy, Dawn and I were just heading to the mall for some shopping. Care to join us?" Mrs. Summers allowed a hopeful smile at her oldest daughter.

"Love to, but I have a date."

Dawn answered her older sister, "No you don’t. Riley canceled." Buffy didn’t look all that surprised or even a little disappointed but Dawn added a quiet, "Sorry."

Buffy put on a fake smile and replied, "S’okay."

"Wanna go with us?" Dawn re-extended the invitation.

"That’s ok. Hey, I haven’t seen Cordelia’s show in a few weeks."

"Rerun." Pouted Dawn.

"Oh. Well, Willow said she was going to the Bronze tonight with Tara, maybe I’ll meet her there."

"Your loss." Muttered Dawn.

"Are you sure Buffy?" Joyce’s voice was bubbling over with empathy.

"Really, I’m fine. Go." As Buffy entered the residence she fought off the disappointment and loneliness that were threatening to overwhelm her. Riley had been physically and emotionally unavailable for weeks so she shouldn’t be surprised that he had canceled on her yet again. She should probably call him and rip him a new one but she couldn’t seem to muster up the energy to care.

She was absorbed in her thoughts until she entered the kitchen and felt a presence there.

***

"Hey kid."

Buffy reflexively gripped the stake in her pocket even though she knew that the man in her kitchen wasn’t a vampire. "Who are you and what are you doing in my house?" she asked in her most authoritative voice, then, after taking in his attire she asked, "And what’s with the hat?"

The man examining the fruit bowl on the counter was short, even by Buffy’s standards. He had a round face smattered with freckles. He was dressed in gaudy clothing topped with a bowler hat.

"The answer to the first question is: I’m Whistler. The answer to the second would be that I’m here to help you, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. "

"And you can help me how?" Disbelief tinged her voice.

"There’s someone coming to town. Someone with a real knack for evil."

Buffy sighed and explained, "If you mean the bitchy hell god, I already got this message."

"I’m talking about a vampire."

"Whistler, who ever you are, this is Sunnydale, home of the hell mouth. Vampires here are a dime a dozen."

"Like I said, this one has a real knack. He’s more evil than most. He travels with two women, both vampires."

"Let me guess, you want me to kill him." She droned.

"It’d be a bonus but, he’s not as important to me as companion number three."

"Another vampire?"

"Yeah. This one, though, is on a special path. A mission of redemption. He just don’t know it yet."

***

Spike gathered his things and after informing Angelus that he would be back to collect his prize he set off for a cemetery to find a respectable tomb to take up residency in. The one he found was perfect. It not only had a cemetery entrance but it also had a lower level, complete with sewer access.

First thing on his agenda was to find the Slayer before Angelus did. Not that his sire would challenge the girl right away, it wasn’t his style. Angelus would probably set out to torture her psychologically or put on his brooding routine that worked on all the doe-eyed virgin types.

Angelus was a lousy excuse for a vampire in Spike’s estimation. What kind of hunter picked on little girls? Spike preferred the danger of hunting prey as dangerous as he was. And if it ticked off his sire and the chippy, well that was just a bonus.

A crowd of teenagers hustled past his crypt, yammering at the top of their lungs. Spike decided to follow them. Where teenagers were, vampires were, and where vampires were was where the Slayer was likely to be.

***

Buffy let herself into Giles’s apartment and found him on the phone. He was typically dressed in sensible tweed but tonight Giles had let his hair down and was wearing blue jeans and a sweater. ‘Quite handsome,’ Buffy thought. ‘For an old guy.’

"No, I think its wiser for Kendra to stay in your care. I do appreciate the warning though. Yes thank you. And a pleasant evening to you as well."

"Let me guess, Kendra’s watcher?"

"Um yes." Giles absently wiped his glasses.

"Big evil brewing, blah, blah, blah? Already got the message. Creepy dude in my kitchen told me all about it. Three big bad vampires. And one vamp on a mission of redemption. I mean, way lame, right?"

"A mission of redemption?" a feminine voice asked from the couch. Buffy again marveled at the woman’s beauty. Her eyes looked like melted chocolate against her fair skin. The word exotic always leapt to Buffy’s mind when she saw Jenny.

"There’s an old Gypsy curse," explained Jenny, "Restores a vampire’s soul."

"A vampire with a soul?" Giles questioned.

"Whistler didn’t say anything about a soul."

"Did he at least give you a name? Something to work with?" asked Giles.

"Nada," asserted Buffy, "he said redemption boy would find me."

***

Once Buffy had briefed Giles she decided to head to Sunnydale’s only real night spot and join her friends. Willow and Tara had grabbed a table near the dance floor. Willow’s eyes shone brightly as she chatted with her girlfriend. Her red hair alternately appeared green or blue, depending on the club’s strobe light.

Her mousier companion possessively kept her hand on Willow’s arm as they spoke to one another, leaning in to hear over the music. Tara smiled at something Willow said and all hints of plainness disappeared under her devastating smile.

Buffy reluctantly joined them, feeling like a third wheel but her friend’s grins eased her concern.

"Buffy!" Willow beamed, "We didn’t expect to see you tonight. Where’s Riley?"

"Riley who?" kidded Buffy.

"Poor Buffy," soothed Tara, "He canceled again?"

"Yep same old, same old." Buffy laughed the situation off.

"You know Buff," Willow said, "I like Riley and all but sometimes I want to kick him in the spot where I shouldn’t. You know?"

"It is beginning to be a habit," Tara said.

"I know. I think we’re on the road to Splitsville."

Buffy filled her friends in on her visit with the mysterious stranger in her kitchen.

"A mission of redemption?" questioned Willow, "I mean is that even possible?"

"I think its romantic," Tara quietly replied.

"Its just one more thing to worry about." Buffy slumped in her chair, cupping her face in her hands.

A popular song began to blare over the speakers. "C’mon, Buff, we’ll dance the blues away," Willow insisted as she pulled her two companions across the dance floor.

***

He watched the crowd from the balcony. His piercing blue eyes spotted her as soon as she began to dance. The saffron headed girl moved to the music like it owned her. Her movements weren’t conscious, they were pure reflex. Her frame was petite but her presence was mammoth. The way the girl moved, commanding the attention of every male in the room, that had to be her. The Slayer.

Spike wanted her like he’d wanted no one since Drusilla.

When he pulled his eyes from the sight of her, he saw that he wasn’t the only one watching the Slayer tonight. Angelus was stalking the girl.

And where his sire was…

"My pretty Spike. Your eyes are burning."

***

Buffy was being watched. Her Slayer senses didn’t need to tell her, her feminine intuition was doing the work. She caught his eye as she swayed to the music. It was exciting, the way he watched her, while Willow and Tara were none the wiser.

He was a bear of a man, taller than even Riley, every movement disclosed the power in his body. His hypnotic eyes pulled at her from across the room, just as the music changed to a slow haunting melody.

I know I’ll never see you

I know I’ll never run into your body

walking through the crooked streets

I know I’ll never hear you

I know I’ll never hear you like a sound

that wafts inside from outside there

I know that if I waited

I know that if I wait a thousand days

will lie wasted with thoughts of you

Drusilla slid her hands down across Spike’s shoulders and his solid chest while she whispered in his ear, "You’re turning to ashes."

"What do you mean, pet?"

Drusilla’s hands snaked lower, causing Spike to inhale sharply as she cupped his crotch.

"She’s sunlight. And you are darkness. Come into the dark with me, pretty Spike."

Spike spun around and grasped both of Dru’s wrists firmly. "Don’t tease, luv."

Drusilla smiled insanely at her sometime lover.

my love I’ve pictured this: your violet eyelids

opened to say "here's where you've been"

your lips open to say "my darling it's been

so very long and I’m in pain"

It was if her body no longer obeyed her commands, because she was moving toward him, and he didn’t appear to be surprised. Before she could register what was happening, Buffy realized that they were dancing.

Words came out of her mouth before she could process them, "Who are you?"

"What am I?" he teased.

I know I’ll never feel you

I know I’ll never get so close to you

that I can't smell anything else

I know that it is raining

and I know that the rain will soak you through

and leave you like the tattered sky

I know I go in circles

I know that window panes bring only rain

and not your face

"I know what you are. Give me a reason why I shouldn’t do something about it."

"Because I’m not what you think I am. I’m Angel." Buffy felt her power slipping even farther away as the vampire dragged his hand across her arm, up her shoulder, across her neck and reached up and cupped her chin. Buffy was too shocked to react when the vampire placed his cool lips on hers and tenderly kissed her. As he released her he said, "I’ll be around, Buffy the Vampire Slayer." She watched as he disappeared into the crowd.

my love I’ve pictured this: your violet eyelids

opened to say "here's where you've been"

sometimes I picture all your fingers

sometimes they're crawling down my spine

sometimes they're buttoning your jacket

sometimes you're far but you're still mine

"Come with me, Dru." Spike begged, "Lets leave this place. Just you and me."

"Leave my Angel?" She purred, pressing herself against Spike.

He closed his eyes in pleasure with her touch. When she pulled away, his eyes snapped back open. Dru looked near tears. "You can’t kill her, Spike. You’re going to burn me with her light. Why are you burning me?"

Not understanding, Spike reached out to take her back into his arms. Instead, she lashed out at him, raking her nails across his cheek.

"You’re going to burn us all. Burn us with her light." She hissed, before she ran away from him.

sometimes I picture all your fingers

sometimes they're crawling down my spine

sometimes they're buttoning your jacket

sometimes you're far but you're still mine

Angel’s smile was so seductive and he was so handsome. Her knees felt weak without his support and Buffy felt a little hazy when Willow and Tara approached her.

"Buffy? You ok?" asked Willow. "Was he…?"

"Spider senses definitely screaming, ‘vampire’."

"Maybe he’s the one you’re supposed to be looking for." Suggested Tara.

"God, I hope so."

I know I go in circles

I know that window panes bring only rain

and not your face

***

Buffy was lost in thought as she walked down the alley behind the Bronze. Lost in thoughts of Angel. He was so beautiful, his kiss so tender. Why had she let a vampire kiss her? And she had a boyfriend!

"Don’t tell me you fell for his Anne Rice routine, Slayer."

Buffy didn’t turn to acknowledge the vampire that she knew was behind her.

He continued in his lower class English accent. "I mean you’ve managed to stay alive for what? Five, six years? Figured you’d be a bit smarter than that."

She finally turned to face her tormentor. "Let’s see how smart I am." She raised the stake that she always carried with her.

"Don’t want none of that, Slayer. Just wanted to warn you. You’re dancing with danger with that one."

She took in the vampire. He was handsome with sharp cheekbones that gave his face a sculpted look. A jagged scar raced along his eyebrow, giving him a dangerous aura and drawing attention to his crystal blue eyes. His hair was bleached blonde and it stood out sharply against the black attire that adorned his lean frame. "Who is he?" Buffy asked while mentally comparing this man to Angel.

"Name’s Angelus. Stay away from him, Slayer. He’s the most dangerous vamp you ever came across."

"He’s on a mission of redemption," she asserted. Inwardly she cursed herself. She was jumping to conclusions. ‘All a vampire needs is a handsome face now? What’s wrong with me?’

The vamp before her began to laugh. Loudly. She gripped her stake tighter. "Angelus? A mission of… whaddya call it? That’s rich, Slayer."

Buffy pursed her lips and refused to answer him.

"Mind what I told you, girl. If you want to live." The vampire snuffed his cigarette out and began to walk away from her, bravely showing her his back, as if he wasn’t afraid of her.

Momentarily mesmerized by his black duster swinging back and forth while he walked she came around in time to ask before he disappeared from view, "And you are?"

He rotated his shoulders slightly and smirked at her, "Have your watcher look under Bloody, William the."

End Chapter One

Chapter Two

"Hi ya."

Spike was startled by the intruder in his crypt. He double checked to make sure he had the right place by stepping out and examining the entrance again.

"Oh don’t worry, you’ve got the right place. I’m here to see you."

Spike scowled at his visitor and asked, "Who the hell are you?"

"Me?" Whistler asked, "I’m your Jeminy Cricket."

"My what?" Spike asked, annoyed.

"You know Pinnochio? Wants to be a real live boy? You really need to bone up on your pop culture references."

Spike leaned into the man and growled, "I’m tired, and hungry, and more than a little grumpy, so if I were you, I’d wisen up and get the hell out of my crypt, before I eat you."

"You won’t kill me. Its not your style."

"I’m a vampire, its exactly my style." But Spike backed away from the strange little man, plopped down on the cement tomb and lit up a cigarette. "Whaddya want?"

"Its about the Slayer. She’s going to need your help."

Spike scoffed, "Again…" Spike thumped his chest, "Vampire. I don’t make a habit of helping Slayers."

"Really?" Whistler laughed. "Anastasia would beg to differ. And Nikki."

At the mention of her name, Spike grew despondent. He growled, "I killed Nikki."

"You did what you had to." Whistler soothed.

Spike turned his back to the poorly dressed man. "Get out. Get out before I break your bloody neck."

"I’ll be around, kid. Remember what I said about the Slayer. She’s gonna need you."

Spike vamped out and bellowed, "Out!"

***

Darla stood dramatically in the middle of the mansion’s living room when Angelus came home. "Darling, did you have a good night?"

Angelus grabbed his mate and fiercely kissed her, "I missed you. You have a good time exploring?"

"Oh yes." She seductively whispered in his ear, "I have something for you."

"I’ll bet you do." Angelus reached under Darla’s shirt.

She giggled and twisted away from him. "Information, my boy. I did some asking around about your little Slayer."

Angelus urged her to go on with a look.

"She’s tough. But then every vamp has said that about every Slayer." She drew out Angelus’s anticipation. "Her boy toy…."

"Yes?"

"Has a thing for two bit vampire whores. Want the address?"

Angelus grabbed Darla and spun her around. They both giggled with glee.

***

"Ah. William the Bloody. Also known as Spike. Got his nickname by torturing his first victims with railroad spikes." Buffy half listened to Giles while she watched his wife tend to their small patio garden.

"That’s icky," Willow commented.

"Oh my. It seems he’s killed two Slayers. One in China during the Boxer rebellion. And another in New York."

Interested, Buffy took the book Giles was reading away from him and began to study it herself.

"What about Angel?" Willow asked, so Buffy wouldn’t have to.

"Angelus." Giles perused the second book before him. He snapped it shut and proclaimed. "Well he’s rather, um, unpleasant."

Buffy was mesmerized by the text before her. "It says here that ‘little is known about William the Bloody’s activities after the early 1900’s. Although it should be noted that he was known to be in California during the Zodiac killings, and in New York during the summer that the city was hunted by the Son of Sam.’ Giles?"

Giles took the book from Buffy and glanced over it himself. "I suppose one could infer that Spike was somehow involved…"

"But," Tara piped up, "Wouldn’t that mean that Angel was there at the same time? You said they traveled together."

"Yes," Giles responded, "I’m afraid we’re no closer to solving our little mystery. However, I do have some information from the Council about our friend Glory…"

"Oh," Willow chirped, "Speaking of evil hell bitches…. I got a letter from Xander."

"Not only have I been interrupted, I’m incredibly confused as well."

"Duh. Cordelia. Evil hell bitch."

"Oh yes. Thank you Willow." Giles absently wiped his glasses. "I get it."

Buffy asked, "So what’s the scoop?"

"Xander met Michelle Pfieffer at the Academy Awards. He’s building her an armoire."

"Must be nice to be married to a celebrity." Tara commented.

"Hooray for Hollywood." Giles quipped. "Can we get back to Glory, please? Buffy have you considered telling…"

"No." Buffy asserted. "My family knows nothing. I’m keeping it that way. If I had it my way, Dawnie wouldn’t even know that I’m the Slayer."

"Its just that Dawn and your Mother may be better equipped to…"

"Giles! The answer is no. Discussion over."

***

"Patrolling?" Dawn asked her sister, loudly.

"Shhh. Mom will hear you." Buffy hissed. "No I’m not patrolling. I’m supposed to meet Riley at the Bronze."

"To make up for last night, huh?"

"And you, little sister, are going to stay in."

"Buffy…" Dawn whined.

"I mean it, Dawn."

Dawn crossed her arms over her chest. "You’re not the boss of me."

"Please. For me."

***

Buffy was nursing her second beer at the Bronze’s bar. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Riley was over an hour late. The blonde sitting next to her asked, "Stood up?"

"Looks like it." Buffy sighed.

She smiled at the girl sitting next to her who nodded, "Me too. Men suck, huh?"

Buffy conceded, "Sometimes."

The girl next to her started on a tirade, "Sometimes? I’ll tell you about sometimes. Sometimes I wish that every man on this planet would shrivel up and die."

"You know what I wish…?"

The blonde’s interest was piqued.

"I wish I could just meet ‘the one’. You know? That one true love that I was meant to be with."

Maybe it was Buffy’s imagination. Maybe it was the beer. But Buffy could’ve sworn that the pretty girl next to her turned into a monster when she said, "Done." But then her face was suddenly back to normal. The girl shrugged and said to Buffy with a pat on the arm, "You must’ve already met him."

Buffy watched in confusion as the girl walked away.

A low voice rumbled behind her, "It just doesn’t seem right."

Angel.

"What’s that?" Buffy asked without turning.

His strong arm reached toward her beer and pushed it away from her. "The most beautiful girl in the world. And she looks so sad."

Buffy snorted nervously. The group on stage began to play a unearthly melody. The vampire’s breath, however unnecessary, was on her neck when he asked, "How about a dance?"

She rose and allowed Angel to take her in his arms. Inwardly, she again blamed the beer.

In a moment, what was given was now taken back

At the old dilapidated mansion, Spike climbed in Drusilla’s window.

"My Spike." She breathed.

"Shhh," he scolded, not wanting to attract Darla’s attention. Spike wrapped his arm around Dru’s tiny waist and forcefully pulled her toward him. "Hello, luv," he growled as he pressed his lips to her cold ruby red mouth.

She tilted her head back, allowing him access to her neck. As he nibbled and kissed, he lowered her to her bed.

Spike teased his fingers down her body, all the way down to her ankles. He slid his hands under her dress and eased it up, exposing her milky white thighs.

He slid his fingers into the elastic of her black lace panties and dragged them down.

When his lips again met hers, Dru suddenly hurled him across the room.

With venom, she spat, "You taste like ashes!"

"Dru…" he sputtered, "I don’t know what…"

"You aren’t going to kill her. You aren’t even going to try!"

Spike climbed back out the window, stung. "What the hell do you want from me Dru?"

"Kill her."

He spun on his heel and muttered, "I can’t do this anymore."

She screamed to his back as he walked away, "I feel her! Inside you! Burning you!"

In an old abandoned building across town, Riley Finn lay intoxicated by the feelings this vampire was giving him.

He could feel his pulse. The blood racing in his ears.

It was hours before he remembered, "Buffy."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Buffy whispered to the man dancing with her.

"What do you mean?" Angel whispered back.

As if a fog was lifted, Buffy stepped out of his embrace.

"This is wrong. I think you should go."

Angel handed her a slip of paper with an address on it, "I think you need to check this out." Then he disappeared into the crowd.

As her senses came back to her, Buffy was able to see Riley come through the throng of dancers.

"Buffy I’m so sorry."

She looked him over. This was the man she loved? This was the one true love?

"No." she said simply. "I don’t want to hear it."

"Buffy…"

"Go home Riley."

He didn’t even put up a fight. He just shrugged and left her standing there. Alone.

Buffy ordered another beer. She jumped when a slurred, accented voice commented dryly from a nearby bar stool, "Oh Goody, its the Slayer."

Buffy sat down at the stool next to his, "I’m pleased as punch to see you too, Spike."

He smiled at his nickname. "Did your research then? Oi have a drink." He signaled the bartender to bring him another.

Buffy downed it in one gulp. "Blech! What is this crap?"

"What did Angelus have to say?" he asked in a mocking tone

Buffy laughed and slurped down another drink. "Ugh. I think he wants to get into my pants."

"I think he wants to get into your neck." Spike chomped his teeth down several times for effect.

"I hardly know you and I already way dislike you."

"Feelings mutual Slayer. Cheers."

Buffy made another face as a third drink slid down her throat. "If he wanted me dead then why didn’t he just kill me?"

"What? Oh Angelus. He’s into the whole psychological torture thing. Makes the moony virgins want him and then …" He chomped his teeth again. "Yup, women love Angelus. Love em right up until he kills em." Spike hiccuped.

"I’m not a virgin." She informed him, not believing that that had come out of her mouth. She was feeling more than buzzed.

He scoffed, "Like I care. That your boyfriend? Mr. Upstanding Citizen?"

"You watching me?"

"As soon as I got here," he admitted with a grin.

"I think he’s cheating on me." She said earnestly.

Spike scoffed again.

With indignation she retorted, "Its not funny."

"Could be worse, Slayer. He could carry on like a little whore right in front of your face for the past hundred twenty seven years."

Buffy swayed on her stool. "We’re not talking about me anymore are we?"

"I’ve made up my mind, I have. No more women." For punctuation he slammed the shot glass down on the bar. Spilling some of its contents in the process.

Buffy wiped her fingers in the escaped liquid and sucked them dry. "I’ll drink to that."

"Slayer?" Spike asked. "I think you may be drunk."

She giggled, "I think you may be right…"

***

When Angelus returned to the mansion he saw Drusilla staring into the fireplace. Flames rippled and crackled before her. She looked completely entranced. Darla looked annoyed.

"Drusilla?" he ventured. "What are you doing?"

"Watching my Spike burn." She replied eerily.

"She’s been like that all night." Darla accused.

Angel wound his massive arms around his sire and quietly stated, "You didn’t join me tonight."

Darla pressed herself against him and explained, "This town has other high points than the Slayer."

He nuzzled her neck, "Have a nice meal?"

"Brought you a doggie bag." She gestured to a frightened young women, bound and gagged in the corner.

"You are too good to me," he laughed as he bounded toward his meal.

"How did things go tonight?" she asked as Angelus played with his food.

"Mmm," Angelus swallowed a mouthful of blood. " Its all coming together. If I can just keep Spike at bay…"

"Angelus," Darla nearly whined, "Why don’t you just kill the Slayer? Stake Spike? Our lives would be so much simpler."

"I like to mess with the boy." Angelus dropped the drained body of the woman on the floor. "Remember the Slayer in New York? How much fun we had with her?"

Darla smiled at the memory, "I almost felt sorry for Spike." With an evil grin she added, "Almost." Darla snuggled against her satiated lover.

Drusilla suddenly shrieked, "Spike will turn us to ashes! We’ll all burn."

Darla screamed back, "Drusilla, will you shut the hell up?"

***

"You can come out, Spike. I know you’re there."

Spike stepped out from behind the gravestone and shyly smiled at her.

With her hands on her hips, Buffy asked, "Following me?"

Spike shrugged.

"Creepy peroxided stalker vampire." She mumbled and turned away from him.

"Shouldn’t turn your back on a vampire, pet." Spike called out.

Buffy turned back to him and shot, "Please, you’re even drunker than me. I could so stake you."

"Threatening to dust me? That’s not a nice thing to do to a gentleman who was just trying to see you home."

"That’s sweet," Buffy drunkenly smiled. And then frowned, "Didn’t you read the vampire manual? You’re supposed to try to kill me. Not walk me home."

Spike smiled roguishly, "What can I say? I’m a rebel."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Stop following me."

She started back towards home. After a few steps, she again heard his footsteps. She spun, "Knock it off!"

He slurred, "I’m not letting you walk home alone in your condition. Dangerous at night."

"Fine. Whatever. But walk beside me, huh? Because this creature of the night crap that you’re doing is way annoying."

End Chapter Two

Chapter Three

"Buffy?" Giles called out from the foyer of the Summers home. Joyce poked her head out of the kitchen and informed Giles, "She’s in her room. I’m afraid she’s not feeling well."

Buffy came down the stairs. She looked incredibly pale with dark circles under her eyes.

Giles took in her appearance and raised his eyebrows at her.

"Hung over. Bad night." She flopped down onto the couch, thankfully the curtains were still drawn, the light hurt her eyes.

"So instead of patrolling, you went out drinking?" Giles chastised.

"I did some recon on our redemption boy candidates."

"And?"

"And neither of them tried to kill me." She grabbed a pillow and held it over her eyes. "Unless Spike’s master plan was to make me wish I was dead. And honestly, right now I do."

"I’m afraid I don’t understand."

"Spike made me drink that nasty stuff…"

"Made you?"

"Well not made me, made me. But he gave it to me."

Giles was concerned and annoyed, "You went out drinking with a vampire?"

"No! Of course not." She groaned, "He was there. I was there. Alcohol was there."

"Buffy, he could have taken advantage of your weakened state."

"He didn’t." Buffy analyzed the evening’s events. "They were both perfect gentlemen. No fighties, no stakies, no bities."

"Both?"

"Angel was there too, for part of the night anyway."

"Buffy, I cannot express how concerned I am…"

Buffy laid down on the couch and pressed the pillow to her ears.

***

Buffy nursed the coffee, trying desperately to keep her nausea at bay. Giles’ lecture hadn’t helped. Fortunately, he wasn’t really at his best, since Buffy’s mom was in the next room. He had left, still annoyed with Buffy, to do some research.

Joyce was reading the newspaper. "Oh thank goodness. They caught that awful man."

"What awful man?" Dawn asked through a mouthful of cereal.

"The one that was robbing people at ATM’s. He knocked poor Mrs. Reynolds down and broke her hip."

Buffy jumped twenty feet in the air when the phone rang.

"Buffy, its Mr. Giles." Joyce handed Buffy the phone, which she reluctantly took.

The static indicated that Giles was on his cell phone, probably calling from his car en route to home, "Buffy, I believe we have a situation."

"Shocker."

"Jenny was going through last night’s police reports. She believe there has been a significant attack."

***

Jenny’s slender fingers danced over the computer keyboard, "I’m in the police department’s computer system." She told her husband.

"Is there a surveillance camera?"

"I’m working on it."

Buffy trepidatiously entered Giles’s apartment, "What’s up?"

Giles informed his Slayer in his best ex-librarian voice, "For one, there has been a marked increase in vampire attacks the past few days. I believe you will need to step up your patrols."

"No rest for the wicked."

"Also, Jenny has uncovered something rather strange. The ATM bandit…"

"Way lame nickname."

"…was delivered unconscious to the Sunnydale police department last night. Jenny?"

"Its printing." She promised.

Giles took the photo from the printer with a flourish and showed Buffy, "He was sporting these."

Buffy saw the unmistakable vampire bite on the mugger’s neck. "The vamp didn’t kill him?"

"No. I was thinking that this may be the work of…"

"Redemption boy?"

"I was going to say, ‘our candidate for redemption.’ But if you prefer Redemption Boy…"

"So I’ll talk to the desk sergeant last night. See if I can get a description of whoever dropped the mugger off."

The phone interrupted Giles’s next thought. He answered it and an immediate urgency took over, "Dawn? Slow down… All right… you need to call an ambulance… we’re on our way." He cradled the receiver and told his Slayer, "It’s your mother."

***

Willow apologized for the fifth time, "Sweetie, I’m so sorry."

"Its okay," Tara watched as Willow pulled a sweater over her head, "Your friend needs you."

"But its your birthday…"

"We’ll celebrate later. Tomorrow." Tara chirped. "Do you want me to come with you to the hospital?"

"That’s okay. I know you have a test.."

"I’ll come over after," Tara kissed Willow sweetly, "I love you."

Willow smiled, "Love you too, baby. I’ll see you later."

***

Jenny brought Giles a paper cup full of coffee and pecked a hello kiss on his cheek. As she shrugged off her coat she asked, "How is she?"

"They’re running some tests."

"I talked to the desk sergeant."

"Did you get a description of our vampire?"

"He was, and I quote, ‘a nice young man’."

"That’s it?" Giles asked, disappointed.

"I’m afraid Sunnydale’s finest don’t have the keenest powers of observation."

***

Tara tossed her backpack on her bed and tapped the answering machine.

Willow’s lovely voice was dampened by the recording, "Sweetie, its me. They’re keeping Buffy’s mom for observation. Buffy’s sending me home. Wait up for me? I’ll be there soon."

Just as the message ended, someone knocked at the door.

Tara laughed at Willow, "Did you forget your keys again baby?"

But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Willow standing there.

***

Spike was still a little hung over when he ventured out, just after sunset. He craved the old human cure, a cup of steaming coffee. He simply followed the smell of brewing coffee, right to the UC Sunnydale campus.

His journey for Java was derailed when he heard a woman sobbing. "Please, Donnie no."

"Tara! Shut up, and get in the car."

"Please, I promise, I’ll be good. I can control it. I don’t want to leave."

"I told you to get in the car!"

Spike heard a distinct smack and the girl sob. This was no good.

" ‘Ey, there a problem here?" He stalked toward the car, eyeing the man in the scraggly beard.

"This is a family matter mister."

Spike glanced at the older gentleman in the driver’s seat. He stoically stared forward. Obviously not caring about the pain of the girl clutching her cheek.

Spike held his hand out to the girl, Tara. "You all right, luv?"

"Y.. y.. yes." She stammered as she rose to her feet.

"You wanna get in that bloke’s car?" Spike gestured to Donnie, who was puffed up and ready for a fight.

"N…No."

"Well then," he turned to the pitiful excuse for a man and placed himself firmly between Tara and Donnie. "Girl ain’t going anywhere with you. Family matter or not."

"Listen mister," Donnie listed toward Spike.

Spike didn’t feel the need to waste anymore time on him. The girl was safely behind him, unable to see his face, so he figured, ‘what the hell.’ Spike vamped out and snarled, "No, you listen…"

That was all it took. Donnie stumbled into the car and bellowed, "Go get out of here, Dad!"

The older gentleman, ‘Dad’ blubbered something, "What about Beth?"

"Fuck Beth. Let’s get out of here."

The tires squealed as they sped away, Spike turned toward the girl, his human mask firmly in place. He asked again, "You all right?"

She nodded. The girl looked familiar. The Bronze. Buffy.

"You a friend of the Slayer’s?"

Tara nodded, unfazed that Spike had used Buffy’s title instead of her name.

"Then I’d imagine she’d be right ticked if something happened to you."

"Tha.. Thank you."

"Welcome, pet. Going for coffee. Wanna join me? Maybe talk about what just happened here?"

Tara looked unsure.

Spike assured, "Be safe with me, luv. Won’t let any creepy crawlies get a hold of you."

***

"I brought you something." Angelus tugged on Darla’s ear with his teeth.

"A present?" She purred.

Angelus gestured toward their bed, where the blonde girl was tied.

"Her name is Beth." Angelus informed his mate. "And she’s yours to play with."

***

"Demon? What kind of demon?"

"Just a demon." The girl’s stutter had started to fade away. She was regaining her composure.

"There’s lots of demons, luv. Take me for instance…"

"Y.. you?" She looked around the terrace nervously. Looking for cover.

"Don’t worry, luv. Promised I wouldn’t hurt you, and I won’t. Now, did anyone tell you what kind of demon you are?"

She shook her head. "Just that, my mother was a demon. She could do magic. And I…" Tara stared into her coffee cup. "I can do it too. The women in our family have demon in them."

Realization hit Spike. Human men could be such bastards. "You’re no demon. A witch maybe. Probably from a long line of witches. Nothing to be ashamed of. Some of the best people I’ve known are witches." He patted her hand and stood. "I’ve gotta shove off. Haven’t eaten yet. You’ll be all right, luv."

He was half way down the sidewalk when Tara called out, "Wait! I didn’t get your name."

He didn’t turn back, he just raised his hand in a silent goodbye.

End Chapter Three

Chapter Four

For two nights, Riley had been the perfect boyfriend, sitting at Buffy’s side in the hospital, doting on her and her sister. Holding her hand while the results of the biopsy came in. But now… Buffy glanced at her watch in irritation.

"When’s Mom coming home?" Asked Dawn.

"They want to keep her for a few days before the operation." Buffy said.

"Its been two days," Dawn complained. Quietly, she asked, "He’s not coming, is he?"

Buffy took another look at her watch. She sighed and reached for the phone, dialing the number by heart. "Willow? Hey, I need a huge favor. Riley was supposed to come over and watch Dawn…"

"I don’t need a baby-sitter."

"…but he’s an hour late and I really have to patrol…"

***

Buffy clenched the paper in her fist. The address that Angel had given her had laid forgotten in her coat pocket until tonight. She quietly entered the run down building.

There were men and women, human and vampire strewn about. Half asleep. Intoxicated. A familiar voice rumbled from behind a closed door, "Take more."

She eased open the door and stood there in shock. Riley. A vampire. "I don’t believe this." She hissed.

At the sound of her voice, Riley leapt to his feet, shaking the vampire from his arm. "Buffy… It’s not what it looks like."

Enraged, she spat, "Do they teach you guys these phrases in school? Honey its not what it looks like. She means nothing to me. I was thinking of you the whole time."

"Buffy…"

"Stay away from me. Stay away from my friends. Stay away from my family." As punctuation, she hurled a stake into his paramour’s heart.

***

Buffy walked in a daze back home. She was lucky that she didn’t encounter a vamp or demon thus far. Tonight would be the kind of night where she might be defeated. Tears still streamed down her cheeks, although she had stopped sobbing.

She felt the tingle of a nearby vampire well before she heard the screaming.

"Help my mommy!"

Buffy rushed toward the sound. Across the street she saw the little girl, blonde with pigtails, and clutching a teddy bear. She stood on the front porch of her home in her pajamas.

Before Buffy had taken more than a step, a figure in black had leapt over the porch railing. Buffy clenched her stake and began to walk across the street. That damned vampire was not going to hurt that little girl, not as long as she was the Slayer.

A scream from inside the house stopped Buffy in the middle of the street.

The vampire turned to the child. "I’m going to help your Mommy. But you have to invite me in, all right?"

***

Buffy watched the action from the window.

Spike leapt over the couch and pulled the man off of his wife, he slammed the man against the wall and bellowed at the woman on the floor, "Take your girl and lock yourself in a room!"

The woman numbly nodded and took her daughter’s hand, fleeing both her abusive husband and her rescuer.

"Like beating up women do you?" Spike snarled and slammed the man into the wall for emphasis. "I know a bloke who likes to pick on women and you know what? I really, really, really hate him."

With each ‘really’ Spike punched the man in the jaw. Buffy could have stopped it. She should have. But she was glued to her spot in the bushes.

Spike stood in defense mode and egged the man on. "You want to pick on somebody? Pick on me. Let me have it."

The man swung at Spike and missed completely.

"Bloody hell, you aren’t even trying!"

Spike grabbed the man’s arm and twisted it behind his back, "Next time you think about beating up on your wife or kid, I want you to remember my face."

Spike vamped out and sunk his teeth into the man’s jugular. Buffy stood up to stop him from killing the man, but Spike dropped him after he’d taken just enough for the man to lose consciousness.

Their eyes met, vampire and Slayer, through the pane of glass that separated them. Spike wiped the blood from his mouth and left the room. Buffy could hear him talking to the man’s wife. "Stay with your mum, a friend, whoever. He’s not going to stop. I scared him good, but he won’t stop."

As the woman and child were herded toward the door, Buffy heard her ask, "Is he going to be ok?"

Spike shook his head in frustration, but answered, "He’ll have a headache when he gets up."

She barely afforded Buffy a glance as she got into her car with her little girl and disappeared into the night.

Spike fished a cigarette from his pocket and lit up. He inhaled deeply before he acknowledged Buffy, still standing beneath the window, "Caught me. Gonna stake me now, Slayer?"

"Why’d you do that?" she breathed.

"Do what? The woman needed help." He shrugged his leather clad shoulders, "I helped."

"Why didn’t you kill him?"

"I only kill killers, Slayer. Just like you." He reached out his hand to help her out of the bushes. She took it and they walked several paces in silence. After several sideways glances at her he commented, "You don’t mind me saying so, you look like shit."

Buffy exhaled, "Bad night."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"With you?" she slung, "I’m thinking, no."

"Right then." They walked a few more steps before he couldn’t resist pressing, "Its just that you’ve clearly been crying…"

"Its none of your business." She yelled, facing him.

His short temper ignited as well, "For crying out loud, Slayer. I’m just trying to help."

She was up in his face when she yelled back, "Who said I needed your help?"

Inexplicably, Spike backed off. As he walked away, Buffy heard him murmur, "Short guy. Ugly hat."

Spike glanced at her over his shoulder when he didn’t hear her following him. She was standing in the middle of the sidewalk like a deer caught in the headlights. He turned his body towards hers and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You’re the one."

The girl was frustrating him, "One what?"

She seemed to break out of her trance and approached him, eyeing him funny the whole time.

She had to know, "You killed two Slayers. Tell me about them."

"Slayer…" he warned.

She pushed, "China. The Boxer Rebellion."

"I was young and stupid." He slowly walked away from her. This time, she followed.

"New York. 1977."

He spun and faced her, hostility bubbling at the surface, "Why are you doing this?"

"I need to know. Why’d you kill her, Spike?"

"Its a long story that I don’t want to get into."

"Tell me." She insisted.

"Just… I had my reasons, Slayer. That’s all you need to know."

Discussion over. He left her standing there as he stormed away.

***

Buffy snapped on the radio as she did her dishes. The warm suds therapeutically massaged her hands. She was alone. Dawn was at a friends. And her mom was still… She felt so alone. Alone with a million thoughts beating around in her head. Riley. Mom. Dawn. Glory. Angel. Spike.

The radio betrayed her. The dance beat gave way to a slow, sad song.

Holding out a broken hand
And waiting for the world to understand
Face your demons if you can,
And try not to fall apart

Spike. The look in his eyes. Like she’d somehow violated his fragile trust.

Spike kicked the concrete wall of his crypt. "Damn girl!"

He paced a circle around the room, grabbed his duster, and left.

Buffy dropped the dishrag into the sink and covered her eyes as sobs wracked her body.

Spike cursed to himself as he walked the streets of Sunnydale.

"Vampires aren’t supposed to feel guilty, you pillock."

Buffy retreated to the back porch. She let the tears fall unbidden down her face.

The bitterness that clouds my face
The innocence that's gone without a trace
God, I just can't take this place,
Cuz nobody knows my heart

Spike paused on the front porch of the Summers home. He could hear her. She was crying.

He peered at her from the shadows. The pull he felt was irresistible.

Everyday we walk in circles
Waiting to be born once again
Begging golden gods to save your soul and hell to make you whole
Buffy felt his presence and raised her head from her hands. He regarded her with undisguised concern.

"What’s wrong?"

She choked back a sob in response.

Spike sat down next to her, uninvited. He pulled her into his embrace. It was strangely warm. Buffy cried openly, and for the first time, she didn’t feel alone.

"Luv, we can’t stay out here. Its too dangerous." He gently wiped her tears away with his thumb Buffy took his hand from her face and clenched it tightly. She stood and led him toward the door.

"Come inside, Spike."

End Chapter Four

Chapter Five

"You’re studying the Romanovs," Spike commented at Buffy’s open history book. "Anastasia..." he murmured as he traced the picture in the book with his fingers.

"You knew her?" Buffy asked, curiosity brightening her sad face.

"Yeah," Spike smiled at the memory. "I knew her."

"So," Buffy’s curiosity ebbed, "Did you know Rasputin?"

"Yeeeaah," he wondered why she cared. Buffy seemed suddenly eager, even while the tear stains marred her lovely face.

"Was he…?"

"Grigori Demon. Fallen Angel."

"I knew it! I knew he was a demon." Buffy smiled widely, "I mean he was like impossible to kill."

"He’s dead now, Slayer." Buffy gave him a skeptical look and so he explained, "I killed him. Did it for the bird." He gestured toward the textbook.

"Tell me." She begged, and then remembering his past reaction to her prying she added, "I mean, if you don’t mind."

***

St. Petersburg- 1916

"Madeline is dead!" Angelus made the grand pronouncement to his companions. Only Darla seemed to care.

"What have you heard?" She asked giddily.

"It doesn’t bode well for us, I’m afraid. Several demons report that they have faced the new Slayer right here in Petrograd."

This peaked Spike’s interest, "The Slayer lives here?"

"Not just any Slayer, William, my boy, but a fresh one. Easier to kill."

Spike rolled his eyes at his sire, "Don’t want one that’s easy to kill. I like a good fight."

"We all know about your brawling habits, Spike," Darla chastised, "And you will do nothing to draw her attention. A Slayer is a Slayer. Fresh or not."

"Madeline…" Drusilla stared at her hands as if there were something fascinating about them, "Madeline the Vampire Slayer… She died on her feet…"

"Did you see her death, luv?" Spike asked, wrapping his arms around her.

"It was poetry."

The girl moved with the grace and power of the Slayer that she was. She dispatched the two vampires quickly and quipped, "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." She gave one of the dust piles a swift kick and added, "To dust."

With the force of her playful kick, the Slayer’s cloak slipped from her head. She quickly restored it to its former position and glanced around to see if she had been observed.

From the shadows, Spike murmured, "Well I’ll be buggered. A bloody Grand Duchess is the Slayer."

Drusilla circled the Grigori demon, touching him as she went around and around. "He’s so lovely."

"Ah, and so are you, dear child." Rasputin took Dru in his arms and clenched her close.

Spike sulked in the corner, angry at Dru for her behavior and Angelus for bringing the monk to their lair, "A Grigori demon named Grigory. Trifle redundant innit?"

The mysterious monk answered, "Sometimes it is best to hide in plain sight, child."

"I am not your child!" Spike spit.

"You’ll have to excuse William," Angelus apologized, "What he lacks in style and manners he makes up for in pure cunning."

"I quite understand." Then looking directly at Spike, Rasputin admonished, "I prefer not to be called a demon. I am an angel."

While Drusilla still clung to the demon, Spike answered with, "A fallen angel if I remember my demonology correctly. Banished from heaven for committing sins of the flesh with the humans."

"Pleasures of the flesh, not sins," He corrected, then devoured Drusilla’s mouth.

Spike wanted to laugh out loud at the irony of it all. Darla had warned him not to draw the attention of the Slayer and there she was, shaking the girl’s hand, oblivious to her true identity.

Anastasia was a pleasant enough hostess, entertaining and funny, but in Spike’s eyes, she seemed a little preoccupied.

As the night wore on she retreated to the edges of the crowd, undoubtedly attempting to slip out and patrol.

When she did escape, Spike followed her.

As she reached the edge of the cemetery, she felt his presence. "Is someone there?"

Spike stepped out of the shadows. " ‘Lo luv."

"Mister William, what are you doing out here?"

"I followed you." He explained.

"You…" she backed away from him slowly, "Whatever for?"

"Slayer instincts kicking in, eh?"

Anastasia pulled a stake from her cloak. She was focusing so intently on Spike that she didn’t feel the presence of the other two vampires coming up behind her.

Spike impulsively made a decision, "Behind you!"

Anastasia fought the two vamps bravely, but she was young and outnumbered. Another impulse pulled Spike into the fray. Suddenly William the Bloody was fighting alongside Anastasia the Vampire Slayer.

She dispatched the first and in the ultimate act of trust, threw Spike her stake so he could dust the other.

As she coughed out the vampire dust that had entered her lungs, the Slayer said, "You shouldn’t have followed me, Mister William."

The vampire handed her the stake back and corrected, "Spike."

"Spike. What are you? Vampyre?"

It was utterly charming, the way she pronounced it. Vampeer. Spike chuckled, "I’m a friend, luv. S’all you need to know."

"And your companions? Mister Angelus?"

"Utterly and completely evil. Just like your friend Rasputin."

"Grigory? He is not evil. He is my mother’s dearest friend."

"Really…" Spike drawled, "That what your instincts tell you, luv?"

The Slayer steeled herself, "My instincts tell me…." She deflated a bit and admitted, "That he will be the downfall of us all."

"I want to help you, Slayer."

They walked across the Petrovsky bridge at dusk. To an outside observer they could have been young lovers.

"I know of a plot, Nastasia, to rid you of your problem. I’m going to see to it."

"Grigory?" she asked.

Spike nodded in response.

"Be careful my friend."

Anastasia picked up a stone and tossed it into the river, watching it sink to the bottom.

"Why the long face, luv?"

"I believe my time upon this earth is coming to an end."

"Don’t be ridiculous, Malenkaya, you’ve grown into a talented Slayer over the past year. I’m not even sure I could take you."

She gave a small smile at his compliment. "It is not the Slayer part of my identity that concerns me."

Spike questioned her with a look.

"I am a Romanov. The daughter of the Tsar. I don’t believe I will be allowed to live. But if you could dispatch the fiend that has defiled my family, you will have my eternal gratitude."

***

Spike played with the marshmallows floating in his hot chocolate and continued his narrative, "The humans tried their damnedest to kill Rasputin. Poisoned him, shot him, beat him, and threw him in the river. Wasn’t good enough. I saw to it that he was gone for good."

"How?" Buffy asked.

"A long and rather boring ritual. Dumped his body back in the river for the natives to fish out." He stopped again and cast a glance at the still open history book. "Anastasia was right about time being short. In 1918 she was imprisoned along with her family in Ekaterinburg. I carried on without her."

"Slaying?"

"Someone had to. As long as she was imprisoned, the balance of power could get mucked up." He traced her picture with his fingers. "She was executed along with her family that year. A new Slayer was called. Dru and I left Russia to rejoin Darla and Angelus."

Buffy ventured, "Some say she survived."

Spike shrugged, "Possible that she was revived, I guess. Slayer strength and all. I prefer to remember her as young and beautiful."

"You loved her?" The Slayer asked gently.

"I cared about the girl, yeah. But we weren’t lovers if that’s what you’re asking. She was practically a baby."

Buffy smiled at him, "I’ve never met a vampire like you."

"You ever stop to talk to one long enough?"

"No," she admitted with a smile.

"Good. Don’t get in your head that all vampires are noble or such nonsense. Gonna tell you the same thing I told her. Most of us will kill you where you stand, so you kill them first."

They sat in silence for a moment before Spike asserted, "Well, I’ve told you a story, now its your turn. Why the tears, Slayer?"

Buffy rose and carried her mug of hot chocolate into the living room. The vampire shadowed her.

Buffy curled up on one end of the couch and warned, "It’s a long story."

He sat at the other end and propped his feet up on the coffee table, "Six hours till sunrise. You’ve got time."

***

"Slayer."

Buffy heard his voice through the duskiness of her sleep. She felt his cold fingers massaging her scalp.

"Slayer. Its almost sunrise, I’ve got to go or I’ll be stuck here all day."

Buffy settled back into his chest and murmured, "Stay."

They had talked until the wee hours of the morning. Buffy told him everything about Riley. She surprised herself that she didn’t mourn over their breakup. She had told Spike, "It was like I was with him because I was supposed to be, because it was what was expected. But I held back so much of myself."

She broke down when she talked about her mother. "I’m so tired of being strong," she had sobbed. She remembered him promising, "You can lean on me, luv." She vaguely remembered the vampire holding her while she cried herself to sleep. When she tried to stifle her tears he instructed, "Don’t hold back, Slayer. Don’t hold anything back."

Now, she felt him relax beneath her and answer, "All right, Slayer. I’ll stay."

End Chapter Five

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