Chapter 17 – Promises

June 22, 2007 4:45 PM

The small group stood in Judge Lawrence’s office with Buffy and Spike in the center. The judge stood in front of them with his secretary and Morgana next to Buffy while Raven and Elijah stood next to Spike. It was time.

“Buffy, William, please join hands.” Judge Lawrence instructed.

They turned to face each other joining their hands while their eyes fused together in this moment that was only for them.

“Buffy, repeat after me.”

He began to recite the words of the vows that Buffy had chosen to pledge herself to Spike.

“I, Buffy, take thee, William to be my wedded husband,”

I groaned as my words from last night about wanting to wait until after the ceremony mocked me. Buffy as usual was pushing me under so easily as her hand explored the planes of my back then light as a feather her finger traced my spine from top to bottom.

“Secure in the knowledge that you will be my constant friend, my faithful partner in life, and my one true love,”

“On this special and holy day, I give to you,”

“In the presence of God and these witnesses my sacred promise to stay by your side as your wife,”

As I let my hand fall to the bed beside us. Her tongue dove into my belly button, licking it clean. My shirt was pushed up and out of the way as her lips journeyed toward my chest. She sucked very quickly on one nipple then the other. There was no tenderness in her administrations to this part of my body. Her mouth was harsh against me as she tugged my nipples between her teeth. I inhaled sharply as the pleasure and pain of her bite coursed through me. Buffy seemed to have an agenda and I wasn't sure if it was to please me or punish me but something nudged me telling me to just let her have her way.

“In sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow, as well as through the good times and the bad,”

One eyebrow rose quite haughtily at my question. Never breaking a grin or a giggle this time she replied, "Lived in a house full of women. Remember?"

“I promise to love you without reservation, comfort you in times of distress,”

"If you want to get the restraints with the padding so my wrists don't get rubbed raw, that's okay," she whispered. Her words sent me into a hazy rush of need so strong that I involuntarily arched upward, pushing against her pussy but she only lifted herself away from my reach.

“Encourage you to achieve all of your goals,”

“Laugh with you and cry with you,”

“Grow with you in mind and spirit,”

"No. You have to say please first."

“Always be open and honest with you,”

“And cherish you for as long as we both shall live.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

The judge smiled in satisfaction as Buffy completed her vows with a calmness and power that showed her dedication to the man she was marrying. It was good to see two people so obviously in love and suited for one another.

"Now, William, please repeat after me."

Buffy squeezed Spike's hands as she noticed the subtle trembling in his body. A tear fell across Spike's cheek as he tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat. He knew that his voice was going to crack as he tried to say the vows he had written with Raven but his only thought was he was able to say them for her.

“I, William, take you Buffy, to be my wife, my friend and my soul mate.”

“Before these witnesses I promise to love you and take care of you for all the time we are given together.”

“I promise that I will stand beside you in sickness and in health, in times of prosperity and want, and all that life shows us of good times and bad times.”

“I promise that I will be here as your friend, your lover, your partner in life, the father to our children and to always stand beside you in battle.”

~~~~~~~~~~

“I promise that I will be open and honest with you, be faithful to you, and cherish you for who are because you are the one I choose to spend this lifetime with.”

“Buffy and William in so much as you both have agreed to live in the bonds of Matrimony, have promised your love for each other by these vows, in front of these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife. William, you may kiss your bride.”

There was nothing left to hold onto to keep himself together and Spike sobbed as the judge told them they were married. Buffy reached up to touch his face as he cried realizing that she had tears flowing down her face too. His arms came around her pulling her to him as he buried his face in her neck.

“Come on, Spike, kiss her.” Raven encouraged as she practically danced next to them.

“Yeah, I guess I need to.” He raggedly agreed wiping his face with his hand. With his other hand he pulled Buffy to him. “I love you, baby,” he whispered right before his lips met hers.

“Yay!” Raven and Elijah both shouted when they started to kiss.

The kiss started off sweet but quickly became more as she opened her mouth to him. The rest of the world disappeared as they became lost in their first married kiss. Finally after the coughing of the other adults in the room did they finally separate from each other.

“Okay, all we need to do is sign some paperwork for the children and then you all are on your way,” the judge told them as he headed for his desk.

Within half an hour the new family made their way out of the courthouse and headed for home to begin their life together.

TBC

Chapter 18 – Bubbles and Tickles

June 22, 2007 6:15 PM

The car door opened and a blanket-covered Spike ran for the front porch of the house. Following him were his wife, two children and their lawyer, Morgana. As he reached into his pocket to get his key ring he heard something fall inside the house. Quickly turning he put a finger to his mouth letting the others know to be quiet then he motioned Buffy to follow him in.

“Stay out here with the children,” he told Morgana waiting until he received a nod in reply before he opened the door.

Raven giggled behind Spike and Buffy receiving a warning look from them before they noticed that she was wearing an expression of anticipation. They looked at each other briefly before they carefully made their way into the house,

The house was now silent as they made their way through the entrance hall to turn to go into the living room.

“Surprise!” Their family yelled out as they appeared. Everyone was there, including Clem.

The room was covered in brightly colored balloons and streamers and a table had been set up in the corner that was covered in food. The furniture had all been moved back so that the middle of the room had been opened up. A homemade banner was stretched over the fireplace that read “Congratulations Buffy and Spike”. Piled on the hearth were presents wrapped in birthday wrapping paper.

“Hey, everybody.” Spike smiled at everyone that was starting their way toward them but then noticed Buffy wasn’t saying anything. He looked over at her noticing the stunned look on her face.

Apparently everyone else also noticed because they stopped their movements toward them. Buffy stepped into the room looking quickly at her family before moving slowly toward a bunch of balloons tied to the back of an arm chair. One finger was slowly run over the gaudy purple balloon then followed a streamer to a red balloon next to it. Then without saying anything she walked over to the table checking over the food.

Spike looked from her to the others noting the hurt in their eyes.

“Buffy, we couldn’t get wedding stuff without it being obvious.” Dawn said with an edge of annoyance to her voice. “So, we went with the birthday theme.” She told her quickly before she saw the cake that said Happy Birthday Clem.

Buffy looked at the cake letting the tears fall that she had been holding back all day. Her hands ran down the front of the navy blue suit that was her wedding dress and turned eyes to Spike for reassurance. He was across the room in only a few strides wrapping his arms around her. His guilt for denying her the wedding she had dreamed of ripped through him.

“Baby, don’t be upset with them. They tried to do something for you, for us. It’s my fault,” he told her as her sobs got louder. His hand ran down the back of her hair lost as to what to do for her at this point. She didn’t even have a wedding band on her hand to let her know that she was married.

“Maybe we should just go.” Kate told everyone around her and they nodded as they turned toward the door.

“No.” Buffy said as she raised her head from Spike’s chest. Her hand ran over the spot on his shirt where she had soaked him and sniffled as she tried to regain her composure. A small hand was inserted into the comfort of a larger one as she turned to face her family.

“My life changed completely when I was called and there hasn’t been what you could call a normal day since then.” Buffy smiled as another tear made its way down her cheek. “If I had what could be called a normal day, I would probably run to Giles convinced that we had landed in an alternate universe.”

The others chuckled around her still not understanding what was upsetting her so much. Buffy looked at Spike and leaned against him slightly.

“I know that you think I have been disappointed in our wedding day but it’s not true. In all its abnormality it is actually normal for us. I have just been afraid all day that something else would go wrong but this,” she waved her hand around at the decorations, “is perfect for our lives. I will take all of this strangeness in all it has to offer because to us this is normal. So, thank you everyone.”

Spike turned to her so that he could pick her up and twirl her around as the cheers and clapping sounded around them. After he had set her down on her feet they were torn apart as their family hugged them, congratulated them and welcomed Spike back home.

Someone started the stereo playing typical wedding reception music as they started on the food that had been brought.

“So, you did it, Fangless. You married our Buffy. Do you feel any different?” Xander asked Spike after they had settled into some chairs in the corner.

“Yeah, now I don’t have to feel guilty for shagging her senseless every night.” Spike responded.

Xander laughed as he wondered if Spike was serious but then Spike laughed at him.

“Not yet,” Spike told him as he shrugged his shoulders. There was no way he could tell his friend that even though he could hear the decisive clink of a cage door being fastened nothing could displace the joy and pride that swelled in his chest at the fact that Buffy was his and only his.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The phone started to ring as Spike stacked his plate in the sink with the others. Absently he reached for it as the plate clattered to the side.

“Hello.”

“You finally married her.” Angel stated without a hello or congratulations.

Immediately Spike began to feel irritation lick at him at his Grand-sire’s voice.

“Yes, we were married today,” he told him wondering why he was bothering obviously he had the news and already had an opinion on it.

“I also heard about your little indiscretion with Donna. If you ever hurt or do anything to Buffy again,” Angel started his lecture at the vampire he felt he had the right to criticize.

“Sod off,” Spike snarled hanging the phone up.

Buffy walked into the room at that moment.

“Who was that?” She asked as she added her plate to the pile.

“No one.” Spike answered taking her hand to lead her back to the other room just as the phone began ringing again.

Buffy hesitated turning to head for the phone.

“Leave it, Buffy.”

She looked at him baffled by his sudden bad attitude then turned toward the phone to check the caller ID.

Spike closed his eyes as he hoped that she wouldn’t answer the phone. That she wouldn’t choose Angel over him today. Hurt hit him as he heard the phone stop ringing and waited for her to say hello. But then her hand was in his.

“Come on. Xander wants to propose a toast,” she told him as she tugged on him.

In surprise he looked at her then at the phone, Relief flooded him when he saw that the phone had been unplugged. The symbolism that she had chosen him overwhelmed Spike in a surge of love.

As they stepped into the room they found the others waiting with glasses of champagne in hand and grape juice for the children. Two glasses were quickly handed to them.

“I guess if they had done it the normal way that I would have been the best man.” Xander started as he looked over at Spike waiting for an affirmation. Spike nodded with a smile indicating that Xander would have been the one he chose to stand by him. It seems in his apparent hesitation that he had denied more than Buffy the right to the ceremony. “So, it seems that I should be the one to offer the first toast. It really pains me to say this because it took me a long time to like you much less accept you, Spike. But when you gave us back our Buffy and you fought who you were to be a part of us, you did become a part of us. Today, well, all I have to say is, it’s about time.”

Glasses were clinked all around as the toast was taken. Then Willow stepped up to stand beside Xander.

“Okay, my turn. When I did that spell a long time ago, who would have thought that it actually would have come true but in a way we should have known because you were both so happy. Here’s to fate that brought two people together who should never be apart.”

After the applause had died down some, Xander raised his arms.

“Buffy, Spike, please come to the center of the room.”

They looked at each other then at Xander in suspicion as they did what he requested.

“It’s time for the first dance and Willow and I have chosen an appropriate selection for you.” Xander looked back at Willow with a grin and nodded. Willow pressed the button to begin the music with a mischievous smile on her face.

The first strands of ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ started to play as the ones who understood the joke began to laugh. The laughter was soon quieted though as Spike took Buffy into his arms to dance with her. When she tucked her head under his chin they became misty eyed at the love the couple had became evident for all to see. It was almost as if they had been transported back to the time of the spell and all the hurt had never happened.

~~~~~~~~~~

Steam had taken over the bathroom softly misting everything and blocking the mirrors from doing their job. A mountain of bubbles separated them from each other’s sight as it overflowed the tub onto the floor. Buffy leaned on one side of the tub while Spike was across from her. His toes slowly caressed her hips as he leaned back with his eyes closed. The clinking of glass broke the silence as Buffy poured another glass of champagne. She had been freely indulging all night knowing that she didn’t have to be responsible for the children.

“Do you want some more, Love?” Buffy asked then giggled as she realized she used a nickname that was part of his signature stable.

Spike reluctantly opened his eyes to look at her using his foot to clear a path through the bubbles. The steam had left a mist on her face that was barely above the water leaving her glass to drag through the water as she drank from it. A stray lock of hair that had escaped fell across her cheek. After draining half the glass she held it out for him. Not wanting to refuse the invitation Spike sat up hooking his hands under her knees and pulling her closer to him.

Not ready for his movements Buffy slipped almost all the way under the water but managed to hold the glass aloft. She came up laughing and sputtering bubbles out of her mouth.

“You okay?” He asked laughing at the sight of her.

“Trying to drown me on our wedding night? Drunken Slayer found drowned in bathtub with Vampire husband.”

Buffy held the glass up to his mouth so that he could drink some of the champagne. He willingly followed her lead draining all of it for her. She sighed in contentment as the last of it went into his mouth then she put the empty glass on the edge of the tub.

“Kiss me,” he asked.

Her hand reached behind him to tug him toward her. They met in a dance that was familiar to them, each of them giving to please the other. Their tongues playfully danced to create passion in their partner. Buffy broke the kiss in order to get air into her alcohol induced brain. A hand held her breast softly as his thumb teased at her nipple.

“Let’s go to bed.”

Buffy pulled back at this request until she was leaning on her side of the tub again. Thoughts of him with Donna kept repeating in her mind no matter how hard she tried to push them aside. Her own insecurities kept telling her that her body wasn’t enough for him, that she wasn’t good enough in bed.

“Do I not satisfy you?” The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them. Earlier she had vowed never to bring it up. To just let them go forward in their lives. To be grateful that he had returned to her.

“Of course you do. Now come here.” Spike told her not really wanting to deal with this subject now. Not on their wedding night.

“What am I not doing that you want?” Buffy scrunched her face up as her mouth betrayed her again.

“Let’s not talk about it right now. I want to make love to you.” He purred to her shifting to come closer to her.

“Oh, that’s just fine. You can fuck me but you can’t talk about fucking me.” The hurt and anger started to lick at her bringing her back to sobriety.

“I don’t want to fuck you, Buffy, I want to make love you. “

“Is that what you were going to do to Donna? Make love to her.” Buffy’s voice was rising as her anger took hold.

“No, Donna I wanted to tie to the bed and do all the things I can't do with you.” Spike told her through gritted teeth trying not to shout at Buffy. He was angry with her for not letting it go and angrier at himself that he had let her emotions make him say things he didn't really want to say.

The hurt seared across Buffy’s eyes as she stared at him in disbelief. She watched as he closed his eyes then covered them with his hand.

“Buffy, please don’t do this. We made choices in our relationship to keep you safe. Some of them I didn’t like but I love you enough to keep my word.”

“You also said I was the only one you wanted.”

As Buffy stood water and bubbles splashed over him and the floor in a great wave. Reaching for her robe she pulled it on without drying off.

“Buffy,” he called to her as she left him alone.

~~~~~~~~~~

Spike walked into their bedroom to find Buffy sitting at her vanity brushing out her hair. Slowly he moved toward her letting the vision that she was wash over him. No matter what other urges ran through him, he would never get over how her beauty affected him. It called to him wrapping him in her spell and that scared him.

Stopping her in mid-stroke he took the brush from her so that he could finish what she had started. His hand stroked her hair as he worked the tangles from it when she sobbed softly. The tears ran down her face as she accepted this small gift of affection.

“Why am I not enough for you?” She whispered knowing that until she receives the answers she still won’t feel safe with him.

Sighing he leaned over to lay her brush on the vanity them came to straddle the bench so that he was facing her. His fingers turned her face to him as he wiped the tears from her cheeks. The talk last night, her actions that morning, had led him to believe it was over but he should have known that beneath this new strong Buffy was still the scared little girl afraid of being alone.

“Do not ever doubt my love and desire for you. They are yours for as long as you want them.” Then as she opened her mouth to protest he laid his fingers across her lips. “I have never stopped loving you or wanting you no matter what else I am doing or seem to want. Now they have been promised to you for as long as both of us are alive.”

His hand fluttered across her chin then lingered softly across her throat finally moving down her chest coming to rest on her waist. She sniffled as she tried to restrain her emotions that the champagne had loosened. His hands were as gentle as his words as he tugged her closer to him.

She leaned toward him as she focused on his lips that moved closer to her but they moved to her neck instead of her mouth. With a barely heard moan she opened herself up to him as his teeth nibbled on her, first as blunt then he changed and his fangs were there. Scraping across flesh but never breaking skin.

Then, oh so whispery, his voice was in her ear and he asked, “May I?”

Sometime, she wasn’t sure when, his hand had gone from her waist back to her throat holding it for him while he waited for her consent.

The last few times he hadn’t asked as it had been part of the sexual act and he had just taken what he considered his. But her throat hadn’t been part of it. The last time it had been pierced by him was the night she had tried to force him to kill her. Her consent would be a sign of trust and would give him honor that was his due as her mate.

“Yes.” She said without even an inflection of doubt or nervousness. Their relationship had to move forward. To live without him was not an option any longer with her. This creature was hers and she would meet him halfway if she had to. No matter what anyone told her.

His tongue licked her skin before his fangs pierced into her. Twice in one day he had drunk from her and the power surged through him as the blood flowed down his throat. So sweet it was. This time something changed as she opened herself to him. Her love called to him from her life force. It wrapped around his soul and held him tight. He wanted to lose himself in this, to bath in her blood, to drink from her until there was no more. When the thought danced through his mind he released her. Blood dripped down her skin and he wiped it with his finger then offered it to her.

Buffy looked at the blood on his finger and then up at him. The challenge was clearly there in his eyes. To take another step and participate in his feeding, to do something that was part of who he was. Her hand directed his wrist to her mouth and her lips took in his finger tasting her blood on his skin.

“It’s not about kinky fucking or needing someone else. It’s not that you aren’t enough for me or that I don’t love you. It’s about the call of power and freedom and the thrill of the hunt and the kill. It’s about the instincts that are part of my nature as a vampire.” Spike explained to her hoping that she would understand.

“Does this help you deal with that call?” She asked gesturing toward her neck.

“Some.”

“Does what you wanted to do with…?” Buffy hesitated feeling her heart ache at the thought of saying Donna’s name again. “I want to be the one to give you what you need.”

Spike eye’s opened wider at her offer but knew it wasn’t something that he could accept.

“I need you safe and happy.”

“Giving you what you need would make me happy. I don’t want to play it safe anymore.”

“Buffy…”

Her hand came to touch his face softly as he searched her eyes for what was making her offer to put herself on the line for him but all he saw was love and trust.

“No, we’ve played it safe for too long. We’ve run and hidden from the truths between us and we can’t do it anymore.”

“Is this something that you want to do?” Spike’s resolve was slowly weakening at her protestations.

“Yes, I don’t want you to hold back from me, to be afraid of asking for what you want and need. And I want to know more…I want to feel fully alive again.”

“Then you go back to Sara.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to know that you are safe. We made the decision not to push the limits before at her advice and I know that you will listen to her if she feels you are in…danger.”

This was something he wasn’t going to back down from no matter what she said. If she refused then he would keep things at the level they were at. There was no way he was going to risk losing Buffy to the depression she had been lost in years ago.

“Okay.” Buffy smiled at him with trembling lips. A part of her was frightened at the prospect of exploring this new territory but she made the decision to trust him. “So, when do we start the lessons?”

With a possessive smile Spike stood scooping her up against him. Buffy felt her stomach nervously clench but with his next words she relaxed.

“Not tonight. Tonight I want to make love with you.”

He laid her on the bed so gently that it made her feel like she was floating in air. The hands that pulled her robe off were filled with tenderness. Standing he quickly pulled his jeans from him as if he hated the loss of contact with her and once he was nude hurried back to lay with her in their bed.

When his hands and mouth touched her as if he was worshiping her flesh she felt her doubts slip away.

When his mouth and fingers brought her to ecstasy as he knelt at his altar at the juncture of her legs she knew that his love belonged only to her.

When his eyes unwaveringly stared into hers as he filled her so completely that it felt as if they became one being she knew that all of her tomorrows were safe with him.

And when he held her afterwards and the night called he turned his gaze into its inky blackness as the desire to run and to hunt begin to lick at him but he deliberately shut his eyes against it and burrowed closer to his wife.

TBC

Chapter 19 – Just an Ordinary Night

July 9, 2007 8:45 PM

Buffy stopped dead in her tracks while raising her arms -- signaling those around her to be quiet. Immediately everyone around her ceased all sound in order to give her a chance to get her bearings. She lifted her head allowing her Slayer instincts to take control of her senses. It had to be around here somewhere. Then with a predatory smile she turned to the right and spotted it. With quickened footsteps she headed off to where it was hiding.

"Oh, Buffy, come on." Spike whined as soon as he realized that she was heading for the cobalt blue minivan that she had first looked at over an hour ago. Quickly he snapped his mouth shut when he realized what he had done. Looking around to see who had seen his weakness he noticed the salesman smirking at him with an expression of ‘can’t you control her?" on his face.

"Excuse me, may I test drive this one again?" Buffy leaned out the driver's window to smile charmingly at the salesman, Chad. Raven was bouncing in the seat behind her enjoying every moment of this hunt. Her relationship with Buffy still wasn't always friendly but in times like these it seemed she enjoyed teaming up with Buffy to torture Spike.

"Of course, Mrs. Blood." Chad sighed as he headed for the van giving Spike a long suffering look but only received a mirror of his previous smirk in return.

Spike shifted Elijah to his other shoulder trying not to wake him. This was why he had sat down with Buffy going through the Internet to find out what type of minivan they wanted. She had made a list of all the options that she felt was necessary so they would just have to go and find one that matched their criteria. Though as soon as they arrived she had seemed to forget everything they had discussed and while Spike was talking to Chad about their list she had spotted the line of vans and had taken off with Raven in hot pursuit to find the one that 'felt' right.

A shudder ran through him as something wet hit his neck and realized that Elijah was drooling on him. With a tissue he found in Buffy's bag he cleaned the two of them up then ditched the tissue between two vans.

"Have to do something wrong once in a while just to keep my image up," he muttered, as he looked down at himself coming to the conclusion that since the wedding he was definitely whipped. A hand smoothed down the black knit pull over shirt he was wearing. Raven had picked it out for him on one of her trips to the mall with Buffy and that was the only reason he was lowering himself to wear it was so that she wouldn't be hurt. The shoes though were really too much he thought as he surveyed the sneakers on his feet. Buffy insisted that he wear them during family time ever since he had accidentally kicked Elijah with his steel-toed boots leaving a nasty bruise.

Just then the minivan with Buffy at the wheel pulled back into the parking lot coming to within an inch of hitting another van as she parked it back in its original space.

"Way to go, Buffy," Spike called out sarcastically.

"Yeah, and if you weren't glaring at me I wouldn't have gotten nervous," she declared as she headed for a gray minivan across the aisle.

"Why do I put up with her?" Spike asked jokingly making sure that it was loud enough for her to hear as she moved past him.

Her eyebrows raised and her index finger came up in a warning as she stopped to look at him briefly before trouncing off with her giggling cohort beside her. Spike watched her turn away in a huff which made her bottom bounce quite enticingly in her denim shorts. He unconsciously licked his lips at the memory of his fingers pressing into that very flesh that morning as she had ridden him into sexual bliss. His eyes could almost see the bruises that he had left on the whiteness of her skin through the denim and he ached to touch her again.

Buffy stopped beside a gray van this time and before she could even turn around to ask Chad was already handing her keys so that she could test-drive it. As soon as they were settled in the van Spike took off down the row again to keep Chad from noticing that he wasn't visible in the mirrors. Elijah stirred against him as his small hand clutched at his shirt.

"Go home, Daddy?" He asked in a sleepy voice.

"Soon as Mummy gets back this time." Spike told him determinedly. There was no way he was going to put up with this any longer.

The gray van pulled back into the lot with Buffy driving carefully so as not to do a repeat performance of her last almost mistake. They climbed out with Chad coming to stand next to Spike. Raven was waiting for what Buffy wanted to do next. Buffy stopped in the middle of the aisle her gaze going from the cobalt blue one to the gray one in a pensive state. Then she turned to look longingly at a forest green one down the aisle some. Her mom liked forest green vehicles. As her feet started to head in that direction a hand was laid on her arm that stopped her in mid-motion.

"No, Buffy, make a decision." Spike told her authoritatively as Chad smiled in relief that he was finally exerting some control over his wife.

"But Spike, I can't just decide. Let me go look at this one then…" Buffy took a step closer to him smiling that smile that usually twirled him around her finger. A hand was delicately put on his hip so that her fingers were curled into his rear.

Spike moved so that Chad was behind him.

"Elijah is asleep and I am hungry." Spike told her softly while quickly flashing yellow eyes and fangs at her. It wasn’t an attempt to frighten or threaten her but just to let her know what exactly he was hungry for.

With a sharp inhale of breath Buffy straightened up and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

"Fine, that one." She pointed to the cobalt blue one. "But if I find that I don't like it I will return it."

Without waiting for anyone else she headed for the sales office while Spike smiled at his little spitfire walking away. There was no one else like her in the world when she was in these moods which actually showed that she was happy and feeling in control. And that only made him feel good about her and things in general.

Spike caught Chad looking at Buffy with a bit of annoyance and relief that this was going to be over soon. Spike's smile turned to a grin as he thought of how this would have gone down if he had any clue as to how this really worked. Elijah would have been with a babysitter and he would have drank his full of blood instead of the quick mug gulped before they left the house then he would have just sat back and watch Buffy go. Actually he would have encouraged her to test-drive every van on the lot just to make this chauvinistic ass earn every cent of his commission.

Slowly the others followed her in where she waited with arms crossed to allow Chad to lead them into his area. As they walked into his office he asked them for their IDs which were handed over to him. Spike and Buffy took seats in front of his desk while Raven with Elijah on her lap sat in a chair by the door.

Chad started to fill out some paperwork when he stopped to look at Spike’s driver’s license then curiously looked at Buffy’s. He looked up at them, back down at their licenses then over at Raven then finally back to their licenses.

“We’re mountain people. They’re first cousins too.” Raven told him sarcastically once she realized that Chad was trying to figure out how two people in their late twenties could have a daughter as old as she was.

“No, we are not.” Buffy said emphatically before turning to Raven, “Isn’t there a lounge down the hall that you could wait in.”

“Gee, we can’t ever stay for the good stuff. I guess we will have to make do with watching TV.” Raven replied hiking Elijah up on her hip before heading down the hall.

Chad laughed along with Buffy and Spike but he was shaking his head the whole time. This family was just a little strange for him. If it hadn’t been for their heavy platinum wedding bands crusted with diamonds he might have passed the sale on to someone else. But his commission was worth putting up with anything these two could dish out since they obviously had the money to pay. He looked up at them and started talking price with Spike.

“Now, hold on just a minute, about the price.” Buffy interrupted knowing that Spike had never done this. Well, neither had she but she had at least a clue about how the negotiations should go.

“Buffy, I can handle this.” Spike said as he looked at Chad.

“But Spike…”

“I can handle this. Now sit there while I do this.” Spike raised his hand toward her letting her know that he wouldn’t take any more argument from her about it.

Buffy shifted in her seat to look out over on the showroom floor crossing her arms and legs while one foot swung out her opinion on Spike. Let him louse up the deal and pay too much money. As she listened though her anger turned to surprise then to admiration as Spike negotiated a price way lower than the sticker price.

“Alright, you drive a hard bargain but let me go see my manager and see if he agrees.” Chad held his hand out to Spike. “You are really trying to take us for a ride.” He chuckled as he left the room.

“Where did you learn to do that?” Buffy turned to look at Spike with pride on her face.

“Impressed, weren’t you, pet? Now come over here and reward me.” Spike sexily smiled at her while tugging on her wrist. Buffy let him pull her to him where she settled onto his lap. Her hand cupped his face as she kissed him.

“Mmmm, I’m very proud of you,” she whispered before kissing him again.

“Anya told me what to do.”

Spike let her in on his secret of negotiations before pulling her down to him for another kiss. He slipped his tongue into her mouth as his hand delved between her legs to caress her.

“Stop that. There are people watching.” Buffy giggled as she pulled his hand out.

“That’s okay. I know how to make you wet and achy without touching you there.”

Another giggle from Buffy before she brushed her lips against his.

“How?”

“Like this.”

Spike twisted a little in the seat so she was in front of him then he reached up to pull Buffy’s hair from behind her ear so that it fell in a curtain in front of her face. On the other side of her face he pulled her hair back while his mouth went to nibble on her neck. Her fingernails dug into his arm when she felt his fangs pierce her skin. The pain of the bite rushed through her as pleasure making her moan in response. With a small laugh he released her while sniffing the air to verify that he had accomplished his mission.

“That’s not nice. Make me all hot and bothered and you can’t finish the job here.” Buffy whispered to him before tugging his ear into her mouth and sucking on it.

“Oh, I am going to finish it later and you are going to scream when I do.”

A trail of kisses was forged from his ear to his mouth.

“Unless I make you scream you first.” Buffy challenged.

Spike's hand slipped under her shirt to caress her along her ribs but ended up tickling her softly just so she would giggle again. Unfortunately he forgot to remove his tongue from her mouth first and ended up bitten as she tried to slip away from his punishing hand.

“Oh and how are you planning to make me scream?” He asked before sucking the blood from his tongue.

His hand was pulled out from under her shirt to be placed on her hip but it strayed down so that he could squeeze her bottom. Buffy tilted his face toward her to get his attention then while looking into his eyes she gave him his answer.

“Because we got a new package in the mail today.”

“Yeah and what new toy did my wife order for us this time?”

“You’ll find out.” With a giggle she began to kiss him again.

The sound of someone clearing their throat finally broke them apart. With an embarrassed smile Buffy looked up to find Chad watching them.

“Sorry,” she said as she turned to face the desk.

“My manager agreed to your price. Now all we need to do is fill the paperwork out.”

Spike had previously told him that he would be paying cash for the van so it was just a matter of getting everything signed and filled out. Buffy stayed primly perched on Spike’s knee as they went over the paperwork that was put in front of them. It made more sense to her because that way they could look at the paperwork together and save time. She forced herself to ignore Chad’s staring at her neck as the bite mark bruised against her skin.

The paperwork seemed interminable as one form after another was placed in front of them but finally it was over. They stood as they shook hands with Chad and were handed their copies of everything then the keys. Chad followed them down to collect Raven and Elijah who was now awake and running around the room.

“Let’s go.” Spike said holding out his hand to his son. Once Elijah grabbed his hand Spike swung him up onto his hip again.

Chad stayed behind with his manager as the family made their way toward the door of the showroom.

“That is one strange family,” he whispered to his manager. “He gave her a hickey that looks more like puncture wounds. They are only like twelve years older than their daughter and I could have sworn that girl’s eyes were glowing.” He suddenly grabbed the manager’s arm. “Look he doesn’t even have a reflection.”

In the window of the showroom Elijah seemed to be floating in the air as they made their way toward the door. Buffy was seemingly holding hands with no one.

“What’s their last name? Addams?” The manager joked.

“No, worse. It’s Blood.” Chad told him as they both laughed.

“Good night, gentlemen.” Spike called out to them then once he knew they were looking at him he showed them his middle finger before he waggled the rest of his fingers at them.

“Soddin’ assholes.” He told Buffy once they were outside while Raven and Elijah both laughed at his gesture and words.

“Don’t worry about them. We have a minivan,” she said enthusiastically and once she realized what she said her face fell into a frown. “Now, I feel old. I’m like my mom with a geek mobile.”

“Now you know how I feel.”

It was quickly decided that Spike and Elijah would take the Desoto and head for home while Buffy and Raven took the minivan and stopped to pick up Chinese food on the way. Before they went their separate way Spike leaned down to kiss her but Raven pulled Buffy away in the direction of the van before he had a chance.

“No more. Everyone was talking about you two in there. It’s humiliating and aren’t you supposed to be setting an example for me.” Raven ranted as she pulled Buffy to the van. A hand was slapped over her face dramatically as Buffy blew Spike a kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~

“We’re home.” Buffy called out as she and Raven came through the back door carrying dinner. After putting it on the kitchen table she started to head out to find Spike just as he came through the door with Elijah right behind him.

Elijah had been rejuvenated when Spike had bathed him and now, dressed for bed, he was ready for food and fun.

“Mummy, I’m hungry and so is Daddy,” he announced as Buffy scooped him up into a hug.

“Yeah, I know. That’s why we brought home lots of food. Do you like egg rolls?”

Elijah nodded as Spike moved to help Raven set the table and put the food out. Then while Buffy fixed a plate for Elijah, Spike went to heat a bowl of blood for himself. He reached over and plucked an egg roll off the table as his family helped themselves to food and started to eat.

“There’s a movie on at 11:00 that I want to see. May I stay up and watch it?” Raven asked in a general air but her eyes were peeled on Spike.

He quickly looked over at Buffy then at the calendar on the wall.

“Not tonight, Princess. You and Elijah have therapy appointments tomorrow morning.” Spike told her denying her request. Buffy made coinciding appointments with Sara and Denise, a child therapist that shared office space with Sara. Raven and Elijah had been through too much in past few months for it not to be dealt with and Spike even went to the initial appointment to show his support for the idea.

“Why do we have to go? I just sit there.”

“I like it. They play with me.” Elijah contributed.

“Well, they just want me to spill everything inside of me and it’s none of their business.”

“Maybe you should. You’re having nightmares once or twice a week still and it might help.” Buffy suggested.

“I’m not a nut case like you.” Raven declared trying to get a rise out of Buffy.

“That’s your opinion and you’re still going.” Buffy replied not letting the girl get to her despite how much her words stung.

“And I agree before you even ask.” Spike backed her up.

“God, I hate this.” Raven complained leaning back in her chair with a loud sigh.

“Mummy, want blood like Daddy?” Elijah asked pointing at Spike who was dipping his egg roll in the blood before eating it.

“Ummm, how about some soy sauce instead?” Buffy got up to retrieve a bowl then poured soy sauce in it for Elijah.

“Oh my God, you two are disgusting.” Raven wrinkled her nose and pushed her plate away as Spike and Elijah slopped up their respective dipping sauces with the egg rolls then made grunting noises as they ate.

“Spike, stop that. You don't need to be encouraging him.” Buffy reprimanded with a smile as she moved to the refrigerator to get another bottle of water.

“Kiss me?” Spike asked as she walked by sticking his blood coated tongue out.

“You are gross. No way am I kissing you with pig’s blood in your mouth.” Buffy giggled as she kept going toward the table.

However she ended up detouring back as the phone started to ring.

“Hello.”

Spike’s arm came around her so he could kiss her on the back of the neck but Buffy pulled away holding a hand up as Tara’s worried tone came over the line.

“What’s wrong?”

“Buffy, there’s been a man outside all day. Anya said that he was in the shop earlier just wandering around but never bought anything. Now, he is just standing across the street.”

“Are you and Anya together?” Buffy asked.

Tara’s school was next to the Magic Box and Xander had put in a hallway to connect the two stores making it not only easier for the two women but also for the customers.

“Yeah. The school is closed. I’m at the Magic Box.”

When Spike saw Buffy shift from being happy and giggly to Slayer mode he started to turn toward her when the window behind him suddenly shattered. Raven screamed as the bowl and egg roll he had been holding seemed to drop to the floor in slow motion as Buffy and Spike could only stare in shock at the arrow that now protruded from his chest.

TBC

Chapter 20 – Never Again

July 9, 2007 10:55 PM

Overwhelming fear engulfed Buffy as her hand slowly moved towards Spike realizing the arrow was no figment of her imagination. Her heart kept telling her that he would turn to dust before her eyes and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. He would be gone from her life forever. There were screams surrounding her but she knew that it wasn’t her that made the sound. Tears blinded her as her fingertips made contact with his shoulder. She wanted just one last touch before he was gone forever.

A hand grabbed hers tightly as Spike spoke to her, “Buffy, I’m okay. Snap out of it”. The sound of his voice was commanding and reality flooded back to her. Taking a deep breath, she turned her attention back to the phone.

“Tara, get out of there. You and Anya hit the tunnels to the safe house. We’ve been attacked.” Buffy instructed Tara as she turned with Spike to force the children to the floor. Once she received Tara’s acknowledgement she clicked the phone off and dropped it on the floor.

“They’re coming over the wall.” Spike told her as he held Elijah against him. The sound of their attackers landing in their backyard forced him to recognize how vital the situation was.

“Damn it.” Buffy took Raven’s hand to place it on Elijah. “Can you make the light bulbs in the house pop? We need the cover of darkness.”

Raven nodded through her tears before she closed her eyes to concentrate. She pulled the fear out of her and into the air, making it pulsate around them. Slowly the house was filled with the sound of glass breaking and with each pop a little more darkness fell around them.

“Let’s go. Crawl to the basement door. Move it.” Spike ordered them.

Buffy pushed Raven ahead of her as she took over the cradling of Elijah beneath her as she followed. Spike took up the rear while he punched numbers on his cell phone. Willow had set pre-programmed codes that could be sent to everyone at one time in case of emergencies. Spike typed in the numbers to tell them to head for the safe house.

The kitchen door banged opened just as they were going through the basement door. Quickly they moved down the staircase as Spike threw the locks to hopefully give them an extra few moments to get to safety. Buffy picked Elijah up as they rushed for the door on the far side of the basement that led to the tunnels. She held the door open for Spike slamming it shut as soon as he was in then pushed the locks into place.

“What’s going on?” Clem asked as he came hurrying toward them from his crypt. “Oh, shit,” he added when he saw the arrow still embedded in Spike.

“Buffy get it out of me now.” Spike told her knowing they didn’t have much time.

“Sorry, baby,” Buffy apologized in advance for the pain she would cause as she held the arrow by the piece protruding in the front then snapped in two. Quickly she pulled the rest of it out of his back throwing it to the ground once it was free from Spike’s body.

“Clem take Raven. Get going.” Spike told his friend as he swung Elijah into his arms. As soon as he was settled he headed down the tunnel with Buffy behind him.

Running with the children and the lumbering gait of Clem slowed them down too much. Buffy could hear the bottom door of the basement being broken down. It was time to make decisions and it was her job to make them.

“Spike, I’m going to wait and get them to follow me in the opposite direction. Head for safety and I’ll catch up with you later.”

“No, Buffy, take Elijah. I’ll deal with them.” Spike started to hand his son over when Buffy pushed him back.

“Spike, they’re human. You can’t fight them. Go. Our children come first.” Buffy was filled with sadness when she saw the fear in Spike’s eyes.

Slowly Spike nodded as he turned to head in the direction that Raven and Clem had taken. His hatred for the Initiative spurned him on as he ran. They had not only taken his natural instincts from him but also the right to protect his family. The only thing he could do was hope that Buffy would be safe.

Buffy waited until she knew the attackers were only a short distance away from her when she took off down the tunnel that would lead away from where her family was assembling. Her hands hit against the walls to make sure they could hear the direction she was taking. With relief she realized that they were following her. For awhile she ran away from the safe house making sure that they wouldn’t find their way back in the maze beneath the city. Now she needed to get away from them herself.

Their footsteps behind her made her pick up her speed as she headed for a tunnel that would lead out of the sewers. The ladder she was looking for was waiting for her as she turned a corner. As she approached it she leapt into the air grabbing the ladder about two-thirds of the way up. Scrambling she went up the last third hoping that she wouldn’t be putting herself into the path of a car. The manhole cover was flung off with one push of her hand and she crawled out into the night.

Thankfully the parking lot was almost empty when she came up. There weren’t a lot of people around either as she trotted off for the line of shops to the right of her. Without looking she slipped into the first open doorway quickly disappearing behind a wall of merchandise in the rear. Feigning interest in some ugly knickknacks Buffy stayed hidden for a few minutes waiting to see if anyone followed her in.

Once it was evident that no one was coming in after her, she looked around for an alternate exit. Luckily there was a side entrance that she slipped through almost like a ghost to those around her. Buffy found herself in an alley that ran between the block she was on and the one behind it. After deciding to stay away from the street she had previously been on Buffy headed to the left.

It was several more alleys and street turns before she decided the Soldiers had given up the hunt for the time being. Then it was a matter of looking for a manhole in a darkened corner that she could jump into without being seen by passersby.

“Totally gross,” she muttered to herself as she landed in three inches of foul smelling water. “I so hope that this is not what I think it is.”

Buffy started to move hoping that she could find her way to the safe house as she moved through unfamiliar tunnels. At an intersection in the passages she hesitated trying to ascertain which direction she should go in when a small flickering light suddenly appeared to her right. It buzzed closer to her before taking off rapidly leading her to the right. When she hesitated it waited for her hovering in the darkness then she knew for sure that it was a beacon from Tara to show her the way through the tunnels.

“Thanks Tara.”

Turning in the direction of the light she started to follow it until she was once again back on track. It was just a few more turns then she was standing in front of their safe house. Halting in front of a brick wall Buffy stopped allowing all her Slayer senses to take over so that could be certain that she was the only being, human or otherwise, around her. Once her instincts gave her the all clear she stepped through the brick wall into the area where the original Sunnydale Department Store now stood.

It had been three years ago when a demon had come from the center of the earth creating a massive earthquake in its emergence. That emergence had left a hole in the earth into which the store had sunk. The city council in its usual policy of, See No Evil, Hear No Evil, and Speak No Evil, had decided to just cover it up and rebuild on top of it. Xander had led the construction crew in the building of the new store giving him access to the site. With little effort he had been able to keep most of the original store intact and left ways for them to get in.

On the weekends he, Spike and Josh had gone down to reconnect some electricity and plumbing and reinforcing the structure for them. Even the merchandise had been abandoned in the town’s zeal to forget their most current demon attack leaving them with excess clothing, furniture, and various other items for times of emergency. After everything had been set Willow had placed a spell around it that no one except for them would ever know that the building was there.

“Mummy!” Elijah screamed as he struggled from his father’s arms so that he could run to Buffy.

“Hey, Baby,” Buffy told him as she hugged him carefully so that he wouldn’t get into the mess that coated her from the waist down. Even as she hugged him her eyes looked quickly around the front area to find out who had made it.

She immediately noticed that Kate was not present and, before she could ask, Giles spoke up.
“Kate is at the hospital. They have a lot of traumas tonight and she couldn’t leave. I made her promise that she wouldn’t be alone for any reason.” His expression showed his worry over his wife being separated from him and their son.

“She’s smart. She’ll be okay,” Buffy tried to reassure him. “I need to get cleaned up.” She gestured to her spattered legs. ”Afterwards we’ll talk.”

Buffy headed for the bathroom of the store stopping only long enough to sort through the box with her clothing size to find something clean to wear. Spike stood to follow her into the bathroom hesitating slightly, knowing that was in Slayer mode but he still needed reassurance that she was okay. He leaned against the wall as he watched her pull her clothes from her and started to wash up. When she flipped her hair over her shoulder for the second time in annoyance he grabbed a band from the basket on the sink.

“May I?” He asked as he came to stand behind her. When she nodded her assent he gathered her hair up into a pony tail to keep it out of her way.

“You okay?” Buffy asked softly as she turned toward him noting the tension that was building in him. Her hand came to lay on his arm giving him a squeeze for comfort.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I was worried about you. It’s stupid, I know, you are the Slayer,” he muttered as he turned away.

“No, Spike, I meant your injury. And it’s not stupid.”

“I told you I’m fine. Vampire remember?” He gave her a slight grin that belied his sadness before turning to leave without turning back.

Things had been going well for all of them the last two weeks as they had all settled into their new roles. Tonight had been exceptionally well between them, especially with her and Spike. She sighed as the realization that their honeymoon phase was over and now it was back to the reality of their life.

After she had dressed in jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt she made her back out to join the others. The babies were sleeping in a playpen near the adults while the younger children and Raven were on a sofa watching a movie.

“Everybody okay?” Buffy asked as she walked up to them.

There were nods and several verbal assents as the others acknowledged her. Everyone drifted over to what they referred to as the pit. Several couches and chairs were pulled together in a circle while on one side was a table for Willow’s computer and some reference books that they left there for their use.

After everyone else was seated Buffy went to take a seat on the arm of the chair that Spike was seated on.

“Did you tell everybody what happened?” Buffy asked Spike. At his nod she turned back to everyone else. “Since these people we are dealing with are human, tomorrow morning I want security systems with motion detectors put on everyone’s house. Xander, can you pull some strings with your buddies and have the installations done, like tomorrow? Or rather today?” Buffy amended as Giles held up his watch showing that it was now after midnight.

“Shouldn’t be too much trouble,” Xander replied, his mind already figuring out who he could call for the job that wouldn’t ask too many questions.

Buffy nodded before moving onto to the next item on her mental list she had made on the way there.

“Dawn, Josh, you are moving back in with Giles. In the dorm we can’t protect you as well.”

“Uh, Buffy, I understand where you are coming from but don’t you think we should stay there to keep an eye on the happy humans crowd.” Dawn protested.

“I agree. Willow hacked into the campus computer and we have a list of those that attended the meeting. We’ve been trying to make friends with some of them. Besides Janice is there on campus too and she is going to go to the next meeting for us.” Josh added giving an update on their activities concerning the Soldiers.

Buffy didn’t like the idea of leaving her sister in danger but she also knew that they needed as much information as they could get. Finally she nodded her head.

“Okay, stay there but be careful. Travel in crowds and…”

“Yada, yada, blah, blah, we know the drill, Buffy.” Dawn interrupted her sister with a smug air only to receive an exasperated glare from her.

“Tomorrow morning I’ll call Max to find out if they have any names from Donna,” she reached behind her to take Spike’s hand as she felt him stiffen at the mention of Max and Donna’s names.

“How can you be like this?” Raven was standing slightly behind the circle of Scoobies. “Spike almost died and you act like you don’t even care. You are such a bitch,” she shouted as the tears poured down her face. It seemed to her like Buffy should be comforting them and taking care of them instead of acting so cold. Without waiting for a reply she turned to run off as Buffy stood to follow her when she heard the bathroom door slam shut. Knowing that she would safe, Buffy sat back down to finish the meeting with a heavy heart.

A part of her knew that she should go to her daughter but the safety of the people around her had to take first priority. If Buffy had her way she would be curled in Spike’s arms touching him all over to make sure he was safe then holding her children to make sure they were also safe but her role as Slayer dictated that she couldn’t give into this luxury until everything was set.

“After I get a list of names then Willow and Dawn can see if any of them match the club or any new residents here in town.”

“No problem. I’ve already started a list of new people here in town.” Willow offered.

“Great. Then…,” Buffy hesitated as she looked at the faces around her gaze came to rest on Clem with a smile. “You move into the house with us. We can’t put security on the crypt and they wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you. So, it’s up to the big house for you.”

Clem nodded his approval with a smile. These Soldiers were creating a lot more fear than the Slayer’s name ever had in the demon world making a lot of them considering leaving Sunnydale and going back underground. Mostly though it was Buffy’s words that made him feel good because it showed that Buffy cared enough about him to want to keep him safe.

Buffy closed her eyes for a minute knowing that her next words would probably cause some problems but she knew that it was for the best even if she couldn't force them to heed her advice. With a deep breath she opened her eyes to look directly at a space on the floor in the middle of them.

"I want the children sent to stay with Angel in LA until all the alarms are in and we have a better handle of what is going on. Except Elijah. The Soldiers might consider him fair game and follow him there."

A silence followed her words for a moment as they looked at her in surprise.

"No, you are not sending my children away. Especially when you get to keep yours." Anya exclaimed.

"Buffy, are you sure? The thought of Jake being so far away from me, well, it doesn't feel right." Willow chimed in.

"No, actually. At this point I'm not sure of anything except we don’t know anything but the fact that these people are willing to kill humans for their cause. What if they find out that Aidan and Jessy are the children of an ex-demon or that Jacob is the son of two witches? Will they attempt to stop the contamination before they are adults? I just want a little time to figure some things out to be able to know that they won't be under immediate attack but it's your decision." Buffy leaned forward while she spoke with them making sure that eye contact was made with each parent.

After a few minutes they slowly agreed knowing that Buffy was right. They had to know how bad things were before they could even protect their own families. Plus with them away in safe care that would give them more time to help get the information they needed. Agreements were given to Buffy and it was decided if plans could be made Angel would pick them up that night.

“Anything else that I forgot?” Buffy asked and when no one offered up anything else she told them to try and get some sleep before morning. As everyone broke up to head for the small sections assigned to each family she turned so she was sitting in Spike’s lap. She wrapped her arms around his body squeezing him in a tight hug.

“I love you,” she whispered to him as she tried to pull him down toward her for a kiss but frowned as he turned away. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m no good to you, Buffy.”

“What do you mean? No good to me?”

Spike turned so he was looking at her again. Ever since he had to leave her back in the tunnels every disadvantage he possessed had been replaying in his mind.

“They’re human. I can’t fight them. I can’t be with you or the children during the day. I am completely useless to you in this battle.”

“No, you’re not.” Buffy shifted so she was straddling him and her hands were holding his face. “It’s true you can’t be with us during the day. If it comes down to it we just won’t go out during the day.” She kissed him quickly before settling back with her hands resting on his chest. “Spike, I know that if the only thing between me or the children and a human intent on killing us was you then you wouldn’t care how much pain it caused, you would fight to the death for us.”

Spike wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him until his face rested against the softness of her chest.

“I would, Buffy, I would.” His voice was determined and he knew it would take death to keep him from fighting for her or their children or the Scoobies.

“Okay then. Now, we need to go check on Raven.”

Buffy stood taking his hand so she could pull him along behind her. They stopped briefly to check on Elijah who was now sleeping on a mattress with Aidan. Spike pulled the comforter tighter around them before they went to find their daughter.

Dawn had gone to keep Raven company while Buffy spoke with Spike. As soon as Buffy came into view Raven took one look at her and deliberately turned away. With a sigh Buffy came to sit beside her while Spike sat cross-legged in front of them. Dawn moved away to find Josh so the family could talk.

“I’m sorry that you think that I was being uncaring because it’s not true. I care very much but I have other responsibilities that needed to be taken care of.” Buffy tried to explain.

“You care about those things more than us.”

“No, I don’t. Everyone out there looks to me to make the decisions and to decide the course of the fight. You were safe for the moment therefore they had to come first. If you or Elijah or Spike was in immediate danger, or actually any of them, then they would have my first priority.” Buffy took a risk to put her hand on Raven’s back and was relieved when she didn’t pull away. “I can’t fight if I am being emotional but don’t ever doubt my love for my family.”

“You don’t love me,” Raven responded wistfully. As much as she didn’t want this woman’s love she still needed the warmth of it.

“Yes, I do,” Buffy told her knowing in her heart that it was true, “as if you were my own.”

Sobbing, Raven turned to cuddle into Buffy’s arms while Spike moved to the other side of her wrapping his arms around them. Finally knowing that everyone was okay and taken care of Buffy let her own emotions loose and she was crying alongside her daughter as Spike rocked them both.

TBC

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