Cretian Escape4

Cretian Escape

By MadRog (madrog@ev1.net)
www.sunnydale-tales.com

Summary: (WIP) S-B My entry to the post-Chosen club. This also includes some Angel characters but none of S5. Spike is back, but then Buffy is gone. The rest is summed up in two words, Cretian Escape.

Rating: R

Chapter 16 - Awake

Buffy felt like she had finally come down from the clouds to the land of consciousness. Oh, how she prayed she was actually awake. Again, the room wasn't her cell. That was a plus. Spike was gone, which unfortunately matched reality. In reality, he was gone, turned to ashes. Spike singing to her the last time he was in her room was the main indicator that she had dreamed him up. Spike was gone, not crooning in her ear.

On the other hand, if it were a dream, Xander wouldn't come bustling into the room with water and food. Cordy wouldn't be following after him, and Angel wouldn't be standing in the doorway with a hint of a smile on his face. Would they?

"Hey, Buffster, you had all of us scared...no, terrified. Boots shaking." Xander gave her a tight hug the best he could with her sitting up in a bed. Nope. No dream. Xander was like an anchor, as he had been for her so many times in the past. "Willow says hi. She wanted to come, but she's still in bed like you, weak and kitten-like."

Buffy eyes grew large. "What happened?"

"No, no, she's alright." Xander quickly sat down next to her and held her hand. "She is just resting after the magic her little wiccan self whipped out on that clan of fanged fools. She'll be up and about soon. Probably about as soon as you are."

Buffy looked back at Cordy with a mixture of confusion and panic. "But...what...where am I? What happened?"

Cordy swatted at Xander until he got out of the way and let her sit down with Buffy. "What happened? You've been rescued. All of us are here on the island with you now. We went in and took you out from under their noses. Now you're in a villa in Irakleio. You're safe. Safe safe."

Angel stepped into the room. "In case they didn't tell you, the reason you've been in bed so is the two sedatives in your system, one from the clan and one from us. But from the looks of it, you're coming along fine." Hers and Angel's eyes met and held briefly before he looked over to Xander. "I'll go get him. Glad you're back with us, Buffy. "

"You need anything else?" Xander fussed over her again.

'Only Spike,' Buffy thought. "No, Xan, I'm doing A-Ok."

Xander gave her another hug. "Good. Cordy and I are going to make ourselves scarce because I bet he wants a little privacy since you're good and awake. He's been so frantic to save you that he deserves some quality time."

It was killing her. Who was "he"? While it was most likely Giles, she could not help but feel excited about the prospect that it would be someone else. A certain someone else. Someone who was supposed to be dead but was back. Ha, ha, very funny. That's a good one. She hadn't wanted to ask Xander if the person was Spike in case she had only dreamed she saw him the other times. Xander, Cordy, and Angel would think she was going coo coo in the express lane.

Then "he" walked into view. "He" was her Spike, and he was coming through the door to her room. She had really had seen him those other times. She had seen him with dark brown hair at the viewing and in the hallway outside the room she was in now. She had seen him with light brown hair Wwhen Dawn had been with her here in the bed and when he had sung to her with his arms around her. And she saw him here now with his bleach-blonde hair. Dawn must have helped him bleach his hair after all. He was wearing blue jeans and a teal t-shirt, very different from the signature Spike, but the blue eyes set off by the teal were undoubtedly Spike's. She knew those blue eyes that seemed to always look into her soul. And it was her soul that belonged with his.

Spike had no idea what was going through her mind, her insecurities. All he saw was a smile directed at him, and then arms lifted up for a hug.

She hugged him so tight that it was a good thing Spike was a vampire and didn't need to breathe. "I had to make sure you weren't a dream. I dreamed of you so many times."

"One hundred percent real, luv."

No more was said. He sat down beside the bed and laid his head in her lap and cried. She could feel the wetness of the tears on his face, and she was sure that he could hear her own sobs. She threaded her fingers threw his hair as her tears rained down.

Neither knew how much time passed, how many tears fell. Neither cared about anything but each other.

Finally, after Spike sat up and hugged her again, Buffy spoke, but Spike had no idea what she said with her lips pressed into his t-shirt. "Try that one again, pet."

"Sleep in here with me tonight, or day or whatever. Sleep with me from now on."

Wow. What a shocker. No way would he have won the million dollar question of what she had said into his shirt. This was much better than the million dollars. "I..." Spike's voice cracked. "...I would be honored, luv."

"Good. Bed arrangements settled." Buffy took a deep breath and pulled back so she could look at him. "I don't understand, Spike. You should be gone. I saw you die. How did you get back?"

"Just a little magic and a medallion, and poof, good ole' Spike's back. Hey, you're not one to talk since you have been resurrected two times. Allow me to at least do it once."

"While I was captive, I had lots of time to think." Spike watched as she stared off into space. "You were on my mind more than usual because I thought I saw you in Irakleio...That was you, wasn't it?"

Spike hugged her tight, bringing her back to him. "Yes, and I could feel you, too, pet. I thought about how strong and familiar the feel of the slayer chasing me was. I was a stupid ponce to not know that it was you. And I was crushed to find out it was you they caught."

"Upset enough to call Angel?" She was guessing, but it was an educated guess and an excellent tease.

Spike tried his best to give her an evil glare, which would work on anyone but her. "Never remind me of it. I am sorry I didn't follow my instincts that night."

"No, it's nice to know I hadn't been going crazy thinking it was you. Anyway, I thought a lot about those days leading up to...to losing you in Sunnydale." Hazel eyes met and held blue ones. "I'm sorry for kissing Angel. That should never have happened."

"I've made my peace with grandpa and with that kiss. No worries."

"I also thought about that last night. We should have made love."

He wiggled his eyebrows at her, trying to lighten the serious mood. He didn't like the feeling that she felt she should have had sex with him because he might die. He wanted it to be because she wanted to just be with him. "Time for that soon enough, luv."

Buffy could tell exactly what he was thinking, that it would have been a pity fuck. Grrh argh. "There was this vampire. There was this man."

Ducking his head, Spike started tracing an imaginary pattern on the top of her blanket. "Two different blokes."

"No, just one." She watched his finger's movements with fascination. "After a few years he grew on me."

"What? Where? There?" He wiggled his finger into her ribs making her squirm and both of them smile, and it successfully lightened the mood.

"Quit it." She slapped at his hand. "Listen, would you? I leaned on him for honesty and inner strength."

He was still drawing fanciful designs, but his voice was more serious when he spoke this time. "The bint's inner strength was already there."

"But only he could tell me that and so many other things about myself and get me to listen. Only him." She reached up with both hands and dragged his head down so that they were practically nose- to-nose. "Could you believe me now?"

"Huh?" With her so close, all he wanted to do was kiss her, not answer questions.

Even though she was dying to feel his lips on her own, Buffy held him away. "Would you believe me now?"

Now Spike was starting to get suspicious where she was going with this. Call it a gut instinct. The best kind. "Believe you about what, pet?"

She looked into his eyes, just looked for a moment, making sure that she had this moment memorized. "I love you." She watched his eyelids widen, and she smiled. "Yes, I love you." When his eyes returned to their natural position, her smile widened.

Tilting his head, he kissed her deeply, meshing their mouths together, before pulling back. If she had been looking at his mouth, she would have seen a smile that mirrored her own, but regardless of his expression, he still asked as if he hadn't heard her. "What did you say?"

"I love you."

"What?"

"I love you."

"I couldn't quite hear you."

"I love...hey, faker. You just want me to keep saying it."

"Well, yeah. And luv?"

"What?"

They came together in a greedy kiss this time, all of their bottled up emotions breaking free. When Buffy had to take a breath, Spike rested his forehead on hers. "I love you, too."

"I thought you might still feel that way." Running her fingertips along his cheek, Buffy kissed the tip of his nose. "When I said I regretted not making love before the final battle, I meant just that. Making LOVE!" Changing her focus, she ran her hands all over his back and then down to squeeze his buttocks. How was that for a big hint?

"Make love, huh? I think I'm your man." Spike walked over to the door and shut and locked it. "Pet, you have way too many clothes on."

Buffy eagerly chewed on her lower lip. "I'm only wearing a night shirt and panties."

Clicking his tongue against his teeth, he shook his head. "Like I said, way too many clothes on."

"Now, let's get rid of this shirt." He lifted it over her head and threw it haphazardly into a corner of the room. He cupped one breast with his hand while he bent his head to the other breast and drew her nipple into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the hard nubbin before lightly biting down and giving it a small pull. Buffy's passion was roaring by the time he repeated the same treatment on her other breast. When he stood up, he took the blankets with him, exposing all of Buffy except what her bikini underwear covered. Those were quickly removed and flung somewhere in the room.

When all of Buffy's clothing was taken care of, Spike crouched down at the foot of the bed, and with his hands, nudged her legs farther apart. "Spike, they'll hear us."

"You haven't heard Peaches and Princess go at it yet, or you wouldn't be embarrassed." He ran his hands up her thighs until his thumbs met in the coarse curls at the apex of her leg. She jumped when one thumb and then the other lightly stroked across her clit. The pressure of his touch slowly increased, alternating his thumbs, leaving her anticipating every new touch. Her was breathing hard now, and her body arched up to try to increase her contact of his fingers.

Finally, he slid two fingers into her heat, groaning as loudly as she did. He slowly pumped in and out while he still moved his thumb over her clit. Buffy didn't think it could get any better. She began to feel her orgasm build. When she felt his cool breath blowing on her most sensitive skin, Buffy nearly came at that moment. Next, his talented tongue licked and teased while his fingers, now joined by a third, continued to move inside of her, angling up to hit her special spot. His hands were massaging her inside and out. Her orgasm now built fast until she was screaming her release, and Spike could feel her muscles contract around his fingers.

Keeping his eyes on hers while she was still coming down, he stood up and took off his clothes. 'God, he is so sexy when he does that,' Buffy thought. 'But when wasn't he sexy? And he is all mine, ladies.'

The sex was truly lovemaking, slow, achingly emotionally-driven lovemaking. Spike kept his eyes on Buffy's as he slowly slid into her heat. {N.B. I don't think this last part adds anything to the sentence, and makes the structure a little awkward. I can't think of any way to make it flow. It's probably best omitted all together. You have enough description going on here to evoke the feeling that they're looking at each instead of closing their eyes, looking at the wall, etc.} Her hips rose to meet his, and she wrapped her legs unyieldingly around his waist. As he started to move, she stilled him by tightening her legs even more. As she spoke in a soft voice, he leaned on his forearms and listened. "You are my miracle. I loved you. I lost you. Now I have you back again to love. My miracle." Mirroring her own, tears formed in his eyes, one dropping and landing on her face near her lips. He watched her tongue lick it away as a smile formed on her lips. Their hearts, dead and alive, were perfectly timed together.

Spike followed Buffy's rocking motion, letting her set the pace, gliding in and out of her heat as her hips thrust up to meet his every move. Their intimate dance took on a lingering, leisurely pace. Not one kiss was shared. Neither could bear to loose sight of the other's face or expressions. Buffy savored the gleam of pleasure in his eyes. Spike relished her cries of pleasure.

Her hands clung to her lover's bare back as the pace increased. He stretched and filled her over and over until the waves of her orgasm struck her full on. Greedily, she arched her back, straining to ride them out as long as possible. "I love you."

Her words pushed him over the edge. He drove himself into her as deep as he could go, trying to be a part of her as much as possible. He came with his head thrown back, crying out in intense pleasure as he pumped his seed into her welcoming body thrust after thrust after thrust. "I love you, too. I love you, too."

As both of their orgasms began to ebb, he heard her sleepy voice. "Remember, you're sleeping with me." It was more of a question than a statement, like she wasn't sure what he would do. Silly bint. They had slept together before in Sunnydale, sure. But those times were out of pure exhaustion, and she left as soon as she woke up, leaving him without a good bye whether he was awake or not. This was the first time she had ever asked him to stay with her after sex. He shivered in pleasure just thinking about it. She wanted him to stay after they had made love. Made love. "I wouldn't leave you right now for the world, pet."

How did he always do that? Know exactly the right thing to say? But, Buffy thought, this time she had said the right things, too. She had always known what he had been waiting to hear, and she had said it. And even more importantly, he had believed her. Her miracle. Her miracle that she intended to cherish for the rest of her life. She had "I love you's" galore for him to hear.

She cuddled into his side with his arm wrapped around, holding her tight. With a tiny sigh she fell asleep. Tightening his arm just a little bit more, Spike smiled as he nuzzled into her hair. At least for the moment, all was right with the world, a vampire's and slayer's unlikely world.

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TBC

Thank you guys for all of your support!!

Dana

Cretian Escape

By MadRog (madrog@ev1.net)
www.sunnydale-tales.com

Rating: R

Chapter 17 – Guest Who?

An hour later, just before Spike and Buffy heard Xander's voice, there was a knock on the door. "Sorry to interrupt...really, really sorry, but, Spike, we need you downstairs."

"Give me a sec, whelp." Before he started putting on his clothes. , Spike kissed Buffy on the nose. "Sorry, pet, but I will be back ASAP or sooner." With that, Spike was out the door, leaving a sleepy slayer, who was feeling very left out. Being a smart vampire, Spike rushed out of the room before the slayer could get all worked up about being left behind.

Spike followed the sound of Xander's voice. "... are already there because..."

At the top of the stairs leading to the street laid a beaten and tortured vampire. To be precise, it was Argonia's second in command, Vassilious.

Spike froze at the sight, but Xander kept talking, "...because you three had direct contact with him."

Cordy walked up behind them. "Hey, that's the vampire at the viewing that was the red-headed bitch's bitch."

Shaking his head as if shedding water, Xander asked, "Can I get a translation of that Cordy speak?"

Spike stared hard at Vassilious, wishing he could catch the vampire's eye in order to read him better. "The bloke appeared to be second in command of that lot of gits."

Vassilious couldn't even manage a sitting position but mustered the energy to positively acknowledge Spike's statement with a small nod. Hell, he had barely made it to their villa, and he still didn't know if they were going to stake him or not. If this wasn't a good test of their group's compassion and belief in change that Buffy told him about, then he didn't know what was.

Giles shut the book in which he had been looking for notes on Vassilious' history and joined the conversation. "Yes, Spike, you were correct. And as Xander was explaining, you, Angel, and Willow are the most qualified to say what we do with this...er... vampire, who could be...uh...valuable. Excluding Buffy from the list, of course, until she is feeling better. Now let us begin to sort out all the facts and pertinent observations."

Not surprisingly, Cordy spoke up before any of the trio could. "At the viewing, he seemed to be in charge of Buffy, and then at the auction, he let her go? Choc full of contradictions."

"He knew." Everyone turned to see Willow, who was standing farthest away. She moved closer as she spoke. "He knew who we were." Xander, Giles, Dawn, and Cordy, none of whom been at the auction, looked at Willow like she was stepping closer to the loony bin.

Spike held up a hand, adding his support to the witch. "Red is right. Somehow he did know we were there to save Buffy, and he pitched in with the distractions."

Willow was now standing just a few feet away from Vassilious, looking down at him. "When Angel and Buffy were gone, he came to let Spike and me know that Buffy made it out. And to raise the creep factor up a few notches, he knew exactly who Spike was."

Moving so that he could catch Vassilious' eye, Angel asked in his straightforward style, "How?"

Looking at Spike for a moment longer, Vassilious pulled the two bloodied sketches out of his pocket. Everyone could tell that a talented hand had done the sketches, and they assumed it was this vampire's hand that wielded that talent. One was of Buffy, and one was of Spike. Still not strong enough to speak, Vassilious pointed once at Spike's likeness.

Willow watched closely as Vassilious moved. Something about him just touched a place in her heart, made her want to be his advocate. "He knew Spike was Spike and didn't put the guards on us. Giles, he even vouched for us so we could leave the auction with no problems. He actually made sure we made that last step through the portal." Xander broke the silence. "Ok, facts out there for all. So?...? Do we dust him or cage him?"

Shaking his head, Angel spoke up. "The question right now is not whether to kill him, but what the hell is he doing here and in such bad condition? What does this mean and can it help us in some way?"

"Let's at least give him a chance to tell his side," Willow tried to keep any pleading from her voice, "and maybe when Buffy wakes up, she can have a say, too."

"Vassilious, Willow has bought you some...." When Angel looked down, the bloodied vampire had passed out.

Spike tilted his head speculatively as he looked at their new dilemma. "Looks like it will be a race to see who wakes up first, Buffy or this pitiful chum. Well, Peaches, grab an end."

"Cordy, start rounding up anything strong to tie him with." As Angel went to pick Vassilious up by the arms, he asked in general, "And where are we carrying him?"

"Follow me." Willow led the way to her room. "It was my idea to give him a chance, so I will be the one to look after him."

After setting the vampire on the bed, Spike pulled Willow back to a safer distance. "Red, I don't think the jailor can do much in his condition but keep a stake handy."

Xander stepped up. "I'll be with her and hold a stake above his heart when he wakes up."

Spike shook his head. "Now hold on, Van Helsing. We need any information the bloke knows, which should be a barrel full. Just stab him in one of his wounds and call for the poof. He knows how to torture."

Before Angel could respond to Spike's jab, Xander responded. "Someone already beat us to the bamboo shoots under the fingernails part, so it should be easy to get intel."

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Despite Xander's diligence with a stake over Vassilious's unconscious form, neither Spike nor Angel ever left the room. Much to Cordy and Dawn's anger, the vampires kicked them out of the room altogether. In the face of their fury but with their safety in mind, it was decided that all humans would stay out in the hall, except for Willow, over whom they had no worries about her ability to defend herself.

When Vassilious finally woke up, Willow had several glasses of blood ready for him. For some odd reason, she had such sympathy for him. She hurt just looking at the vampire. Before they began the questioning, she helped him to drink two glasses.

Giles began. "We can tell that you have been tortured good and proper. Who did this to you?"

Vassilious didn't answer at first. After looking at everybody in the room and in the hall, Vassilious focused on Willow closely for two reasons. Not only because she was providing him with some precious blood, but also that she was beautiful. When she looked him in the eyes, he was struck with a sense of familiarity. Eyes narrowing, he looked between Willow and Cordelia, who was standing out in the hall. Tilting his head, he continued to ignore Giles' question and spoke to Willow. Even with the blood, speaking was difficult. "You are the witch. I...was very impressed....by your abilities." He was amused when she blushed with pleasure. Next he addressed Giles. "...Who did this to me?...My mistress. I was tortured all day then...staked out for the sun...but escaped. It has taken me...all night to get to you."

So this vampire had brains. Spike was impressed that he so easily saw Willow through the Cordelia disguise. But impressive wasn't enough; they needed many more questions answered. "How did you know where to find us?"

Vassilious shut his eyes before answering that one. This was a dicey one. They had to think that they were safe, which they were, but they might not believe it yet. "I had a fledgling follow you...after the auction...Found out the information and then staked him...Your secret is safe...That is...if you deem me safe...and let me stay...Sanctuary of sorts."

Spike wasn't too convinced about the safety issue, but they could always come back to that. "Ok. For the next big question that'll get you closer to sanctuary, mate, why were you tortured?"

Before Vassilious could answer, Angel added, "And we want more than 'for helping us save Buffy.'"

After first drinking another glass of blood that Willow provided and faintly feeling its healing effects throughout his body, Vassilious explained. "At first she beat and...burned me for letting the slayer...escape. As was said before, I was in charge...of the slayer...and therefore was the one...to take the fall when she escaped...but then Argonia decided to not just torture me but to kill me...But no, she didn't...find out about me helping...Buffy escape. That wasn't the reason for my condition." Vass drank another glass of blood and could feel the effects more strongly this time.

Suspicious, Angel wasn't satisfied with his answers. "If you deceived your mistress, why should we trust you?"

"I'm sorry..." Vassilious shook his head. "...I know you don't want this answer...but the only proof you have that I am trustworthy is...that I helped you free Buffy." No one in the room missed his use of Buffy instead of slayer, a tell tale sign that she might not be an enemy to him any longer, but a person, --- a definite plus. With the last glass of blood he drank, his speech came more easily. "All I can do is tell you what has happened to me over the last two weeks through conversations with Buffy."

Vassilious talked of their conversations about change, redemption, and choices. Then he spoke of their conversations about Angel and Spike, the choices they had made and the model they had set for Vassilious about his ability to make his own choices. "I still don't understand Spike's choices when he was without a soul. Let me just say I am impressed at your ability to make such choices."

"It was all Buffy." Spike gave him a ghost of a smile.

"I can understand that." Vassilious nodded his head, agreeing with his point. "After my contact with Buffy, I made the choice to go against my mistress, whom I have been loyal to and loved for over a decade, and help you save Buffy. By the night of the auction, I was ready for a different path than my mistress'." Next, no matter how uncomfortable Vassilious was with the subject, he talked about his own personal thoughts. "Buffy also challenged me to make choices that go against vampiric instinct. First, to go without human blood. Second, to go without killing any living thing. I took her up on her challenges and stuck to them. I'm not going to say that it is easy, but I've become a regular at the butcher's shop. Buffy also challenged me to use my powers for good instead of bad, to help people. She didn't know it at the time, but I had already done that before the challenge. In Athens, I saved a girl from a werewolf, and then took her to safety. I found it to be as...satisfying as Buffy said I would. Satisfying just as helping you save Buffy was. Satisfying enough to want to do it again."

Dawn was fascinated. This vampire reminded her so much of Spike. She knew quite a bit about Spike's choices before he won his soul and how hard they were for him. "A challenge is not enough. So what was your reason to switch sides? It has to be a strong one."

Angel nodded his approval of Dawn's question. "You weren't cursed with a soul."

Spike was also proud of his Bit. "It wasn't for love." He tilted his head as he stared at the vampire. Spike could tell that Angel was just as skeptical as he was of the quick change Vassilious claimed to have undergone. It had taken Angel decades of guilt and then meeting Buffy. And for himself, it had taken a chip shoved in his head and love for Buffy for him to change. And now, this bloke did it in two weeks?

Vassilious could tell that no one fully believed him. He was not surprised. All showed varying degrees of disbelief, but he had to continue to try. "No, neither of your reasons, but mine is equally simple and strong. I no longer see humans as food."

In the room, it was like an anvil had been dropped. Silence prevailed. No one spoke. Giles, in particular, was astounded into silence. He had always found Spike and Angel to be unique among vampires. Two vampires crossing to the side of good was unheard of. Many of the watchers had never believed it, which didn't surprise Giles. He himself had doubted Spike on more occasions that he cared to count, including the doubt that lead to his attempt to kill him those last months in Sunnydale. However, Spike had proved himself true to the cause. But now...another vampire? Of course, Vassilious had said about fighting for the side of good. He had only implied that he wasn't going to kill anymore.

Willow was starting to believe the black-haired vampire, but could tell many of the others still did not. 'I no longer see humans as food' was a good start, but they all needed to hear more. "So, what are you trying to tell us?"

Startling everyone, Buffy moved into the room straight into the circle of Spike's arms. "What he is trying to tell all of you is that he wants to be and is on the road to redemption."

Well, that was a little much for Cordelia. "Another?!"

"Amazing!" Giles, trusting his Slayer, was now starting to believe.

Xander snorted. "That road is getting pretty crowded."

"That's my girl. She makes one hell of an influence, right, Peaches?" Spike tightened his arms around Buffy and looked at Angel, who rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Me, me. Call on me." With her hand up, Cordy was jumping up and down in the hall. Angel motioned her in so that he could put his arm around her waist. "You've got to be kidding me. Are we really considering letting this vampire loose with us just because he changed over two weeks?"

"Good question." Angel looked over at Buffy. "You know best. It is your call."

Buffy looked at all the faces of her family and friends, knowing that her decision could not only effect everyone, but also cause one or more of their deaths. "Look guys, I realize that this is a mega important decision, and I so hate to tell you that my decision will probably not be one hundred percent exact-o. However, Vass and I spent a lot of time together and, during that time, I came to believe he was as honest with me as I was with him. He didn't just wake up this morning and say, 'Hey, why don't I be a white hat now.' No, this had to have been coming for awhile." Buffy looked down at Vassilious. "I'm gonna have to say yes that he has changed, and not over just two weeks."

"Think about it. You don't just up and stop killing one day. He had to have been thinking about it for some time. Ya know, he reminds me of Spike before he got his soul. He was evil because he was a vampire and supposed to be, but then Spike helped me save the world. And then later he switched sides altogether." She glanced up at her lover. "Spike, you can't tell me that was overnight or even a one time shot. Before the chip, I bet there were other times you chose to not hurt someone, weren't there?"

Spike paused, but Angel nodded his head to answer for him. "My grandchilde was always disappointing Angelus."

Buffy smiled, but then she looked down at Vassilious. "But Spike isn't the one on the grill. Vass is, and I don't know all of his history, but I am willing to bet that he has some more instances like the girl in Athens in his past. So do I trust my jailor? Yes. And...if he makes even the smallest false move, I will stake him myself."

Giles still couldn't believe there was now a third vampire on their side, but he was willing to go with Buffy's decision, especially with both Spike and Angel around. "Then that is that, but I do believe we still need to maintain some security measures. I suggest that we are always armed and that we always stay in pairs."

Waving a hand at Vassilious, Spike moved the questioning on. "Sounds good, watcher. But what we need now is information. Lots of information."

"What he needs now," Willow interrupted in a firm voice, "is to have his wounds tended. If he is to fight with us, he needs to be able to fight with us." With that, Willow shooed all but Xander from the room.

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Spike approached Willow's room and was immediately disturbed by two things. First, Willow was alone with Vassilious. Where the hell was Xander? The second was a little strange. Willow was giggling. Giggling? Giggling like a high school student. No, that wasn't right. He had been there in Sunnydale during her high school years, but she hadn't been giggling when he had been attacking her. No, her speech and laugh now sounded more like when she had been with Tara. Surely Willow wasn't falling for this guy? Tall, dark and handsome. Oh, bullocks. It was already bad enough that Buffy thought so highly of him, and now Willow?

Spike knocked on the door frame to get their attention. "Red, may I have a word with your patient?"

Startled by Spike's sudden presence, Willow answered quickly, "Yes...I'll...I'll just go and get...something."

Once she was out of the room, Spike shut the door and got right to the point. "Are you in love with her?"

Vassilious knew that the 'her' wasn't Willow, but Buffy. He wasn't surprised by the question. In fact, he was surprised that Spike hadn't asked before. "If I was, it would be a waste of my time. She's deeply in love with you. Even when she still thought you were dead, she couldn't have loved you more." Vassilious shook his head, a far away look in his eyes. "No, my heart was crushed by another and is still bleeding."

"I know how that feels – was done to me by the same lady that loves me now." Spike sat down in a chair. What he didn't add was how much Vassilious' words had meant to him. 'Even when she still thought you were dead, she couldn't have loved you more.' That was immediately memorized.

Unlike Spike, Vassilious was not thinking of Buffy, but of Argonia, the hell bitch. "No, we are going to kill the one that crushed my heart."

"So that is your reason for turning traitor."

"I would be lying if I said it wasn't a part of my reason, but what I told you earlier was true. Humans are no longer food to me, and I have found that helping is more satisfying than hurting. Just thinking of what Argonia does to humans makes me sick. I've been nauseated for awhile now."

"Time will tell just who and what you are." Spike tilted his head, assessing the vampire in the bed. "Have you given us all the information that you know?"

"Yes."

"If not, Peaches will be glad to show you his skill," Spike flicked his wrist, indicating Vassilious' wounds, "which will make this look like a jaunt down the yellow brick road. Legends of Angelus' skills in torture aren't exaggerated. Believe me."

Vassilious looked him in the eye and shook his head. "I've told you everything. I want to crush Argonia as much as you do."

"In that, I do think that I believe you, jailor." Spike looked Vassilious up and down. "Heal up. We go in one night. Twenty-four hours. See if you can get Willow to whip you up a little something to help you out. Oh, and about Red. Don't toy with her affections, or you will have all of us after you. She has had a rough few years, and we all look out for her."

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TBC

A/N: Let me thank Evilawyer for beta-ing this chapter.

And thanks for all of your support of Vassilious. He has really grown on his own.

Cretian Escape

By MadRog (madrog@ev1.net)
www.sunnydale-tales.com

Rating: R

Chapter 18- The Attack

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The original plan had been to spend a couple of nights studying the enemy and the third night attacking. Now with Vassilious, who designed the clan's security, they decided to shave the reconnaissance back to one night and attack on the second. The sooner, the better. They kept one night of reconnaissance to confirm that Vassilious' information was correct and to check for any changes in his old security plan. After watching through the night, they saw only one minor change. Probably fearing an attack by Buffy and friends, Argonia had doubled the number of guards on the perimeter of the house. Vassilious had said five and now there were ten, a minimal change. Other than that, the overly confident vampires came and went out of the mansion like normal.

Vassilious' accuracy about the perimeter defenses caused some amount of trust from the Scoobies, but his information regarding security inside of the mansion could not be verified. In that, they would have to take a leap of faith. Vassilious told them to expect four guards in the hallway that ran the length of the house, but that would in all likelihood be doubled as it was outside.

According to Vassilious, the clan's living quarters in the villa were divided into two parts. The above ground part of the villa housed the fledglings and the majority of the elders. Below the villa there was a maze of connecting rooms and a few hallways. A small handful of favored elders, such as Vassilious had been, lived in these subterranean rooms. The two rooms farthest from the entry of the house belonged to Argonia. One was her receiving room, and the one in the corner of the underground facilities was her bedchamber. Vassilious told them that Argonia rarely left her rooms. The fact would be guaranteed with her fearing that Buffy would come back for revenge. So Argonia would be easy to find. It was just a matter of making their way to her.

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The night of the attack, they waited for many of the vampires to leave. Spike, Buffy and the others wanted as little resistance as possible while they made their way to Argonia. At the appointed time, Xander, Giles, Cordelia, Willow and Dawn, who had surrounded the mansion, took out all of the guards with crossbows. Doubling the guards had not been nearly enough protection for the Sepatuccis. From there on out, they shot any vampires leaving the house.

When the entire enemy outside was taken care of, Buffy, Spike, Angel along with Vassilious entered the house. Surprisingly there were only four guards inside as Vassilious had originally said, and they were sloppy, talking to each other instead of doing their duty. Crossbows quickly took them out with a minimum of sound.

When the four of them moved inside, they found a very common floor plan just as Vassilious had described. Buffy was sassy. "See, you skeptics. This is the main hall with rooms to the left and right. Simple."

Vassilious lead them to the back of the hall and pulled back a heavy, navy velvet curtain to reveal a door.

Spike nodded at him. "And if the jailor's information holds true, this door's the entrance to below."

As planned, Angel stepped forward to go first. Before Angel turned the door knob, he placed the point of his crossbow on Vassilious' chest. "Listen, boy, I make it out, Buffy makes it out, and so does Spike. Anything different and you will die."

"Peaches, I'm touched or gagging. Whichever." Spike went ahead and pantomimed in an attempt to release some of the built up tension.

Vassilious locked stares with Angel and raised his hand to push the crossbow away. "First, I'm not your boy, and second, you have my word. It is my guarantee."

Spike grew serious. "Your words better be worth something other than air, mate, or I'll take you out if grandpa doesn't."

Rolling her eyes, Buffy groaned. "Enough with the testosterone rise to power. Let's make with the dusting."

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After going down the stairs last, using his magic, Vassilious put a barrier over the opening so no other vampires could come in behind them. Once in the tunnels below, the foursome split into pairs. Buffy and Spike took the first hall to the right, while Angel and Vassilious took the tunnel to the left. But first Angel turned to Vassilious. "Once again, if you..."

"Save it. I've even already been threatened by the witch that she will flail me if I betray any of you." Vassilious said this with a smile, obviously not believing Willow could carry out such a threat.

No one smiled back. Buffy filled him in. "She's done it before."

Vassilious couldn't believe what she implied. "That gentle, warm woman has flailed someone before?"

Buffy just nodded. "Alive."

Vassilious' jaw worked by nothing came out. Angel slapped him on the back and pushed him towards the left hallway. "With that settled, let's get going, shall we?"

When Spike and Buffy entered the first room, and it was empty, Spike tugged on Buffy's arm before she could get to the next door. "Beating a dead horse here, but I don't like this, pet. Peaches' got no one to watch his back."

Buffy's eyebrows drew together. "What are you talking about? Vassilious is with him."

"My point exactly, luv. What if Vassilious turns out to be a bad egg, regardless of Red's threat."

Shaking her head, she again started for the door. "He won't."

"Are you one hundred percent sure, pet?"

That stopped her. "Yes...no, but what can we do now?"

Shaking his head, Spike opened the door for Buffy. He gave a hollow chuckle. "Angelus was a right mean bastard. If needed, hope he pays a visit tonight."

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To the left, the first room was empty. In the second room, Vassilious took care of one vampire while Angel moved forward to the third room, which turned out to be an ambush of sorts. Five vampires must have heard the sound of fighting, and they were ready and waiting. After Angel's entrance and a fierce but brief struggle, they had Angel pinned to the ground.

When Vassilious walked into the room, Angel stopped struggling, waiting to see what would happen next. Vassilious came in pumped up with the air of authority. "Seti, who do you have there?" Vassilious, as if he was still Argonia's second-in-command, questioned the tall blonde vampire that appeared to be the leader.

Seti looked up shocked. "Vassilious, I must be seeing a ghost. I thought that the mistress had you killed, staked you out to die in the sun. I was there when she gave the order."

"That's obviously what you get for thinking because I am here in front of you." It was still painful to think about his torture and attempted murder. There was no more physical pain. The sweet Willow had used her magic to help him heal. The lingering pain was mental. He had loved Argonia so much, with all his dead heart. He had shown her his devotion by making sure her every whim, whether he agreed with it or not, was attended to. Once she had asked for a three year old for a special dessert. Even though he couldn't bring himself to do it, he had sent out minions to grab the child. This was a good example of what Buffy had said about him being different, that a regular vampire wouldn't have been bothered by the sucking a three year old dry. Instead, he had thrown up all his blood in private after Argonia had her fun. Now his last memory of her was of her torturing not a child but him and then issuing his death sentence. Yes, now was the time for revenge, starting with these five who had enjoyed witnessing his torture. "Again, who is this that made it past my security?"

"This is a prize of prizes that the mistress will treasure. We will undoubtedly earn great favors. I should be in her bed for a week." Seti taunted him, knowing how Vassilious felt about Argonia. "Judging from the pictures you provided, this is the mighty...fallen Angelus." One of the other vampires proudly held up a picture of Angel.

Angel lay there, not fighting, waiting to see how the drama played out. Normally, with a good partner, Angel would not have worried about five. However, he wasn't sure if it was five against two or six against one for this fight. Vassilious was still the swing player yet to prove himself, and this was definitely the proving ground. On one hand, Vassilious could stay on Argonia's side. Angel and Vassilious knew full well that if Vassilious brought Angel to Argonia, he would in all probability get back into her good favors. On the other hand, Vassilious could stick to his word and help Angel get off the floor, and they could dust all five of the cocky vampires together. Angel was going to give Vassilious one more minute to show his hand, and then he was going to take out the five vampires, all of whom had relaxed when Vassilious entered the room and were now off their guard. After that, of course, he would take out Vassilious.

Vassilious walked up close enough that the tips of his shoes were against Angel's side. "Seti, I think you will like this." He pulled back his boot to kick Angel, but his kick went high, up into Seti's gut. Before Seti hit the ground, Vassilious pressed the advantage he'd gain through the element of surprise and staked two of the vampires holding Angel down.

"Well, what do you know?", Angel thought. "Vassilious came through." Angel wasn't sure who was more surprised, himself or Seti. As far as Angel was concerned, Vassilious had proved himself to be true to his word. He still didn't think he could yet completely trust him yet in things such as not killing humans, but he now thought it was possible.

After all five were dust, Vassilious turned to look at Angel. He knew what the older vampire was thinking. He had earned some measure of trust, and Vassilious was shocked that Angelus', no Angel's approval meant more to him than he had anticipated. Ugh. He was going soft.

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Spike and Buffy had it pretty easy. They didn't encounter any vampires until the fourth room.

"On three. One, two, three." Buffy pulled the door open...and had to step back from the cloud of smoke that came rolling out of the room.

Laughing, Spike lowered his stake. "Just our bleeding luck to get the group smoking some pot. They're so stoned that the gits will probably set themselves on fire. But we don't have time to wait on'em. Let's do it, luv."

"Maybe we had better not inhale."

"Maaayyybbbeee I should." He had a mischievous light in his eyes, which just earned him an elbow to the ribs.

There were a total of six vampires in the room. As slow as those pot heads were moving, Spike and Buffy killed them in record time.

The next room had two. Buffy had again entered the room first so Spike let her at them both. Kick, spin, punch, crunch, stake. Buffy was grace in motion. He had forgotten just how glorious she was when she was fighting. After the last vampire was dusted, Buffy, with a huge grin, spun around to face Spike. Spike grabbed her, slammed her against the nearest wall and then covered her mouth with his own.

The kiss was savage, with Spike devouring her mouth, and she gave as good as she got. When she came up for a breath, she had to ask, "Not that I'm not enjoying this, but what's with the smacking?"

"Ah, pet, I had forgotten how hot you look when you fight. The only thing better is when we fight each other. Then I want to come in my pants."

"Eeewww." He kissed her again and moaned when she lifted up and wrapped he legs around his waist.

Finally reality crept back in. They were having sex with their clothes on in the Sepatucci clan's stronghold. Buffy found it funny, erotic, and also sobering all at once. "Spike..." He was nipping and kissing along her neck. "Spike..." She unwrapped her legs and pushed at him. "Spike! We have to get busy. Remember room to room. Kill vampires. Kill Argonia. Remember?"

Spike growled. "Yes, but just you wait until later, missy."

Before she stepped back to head to the door, Buffy told him. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Now he could do anything.

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Buffy and Spike finished searching their hallway and met up with Angel in Argonia's receiving room. The only room not yet searched was Argonia's bedchamber

Upon walking in, Buffy and Spike came to a halt only a couple of steps in the room. Spike was too mad to talk, and Buffy didn't even want to ask, but had to. "Where is Vassilious?"

"That is a very good question, and frankly, I don't know what to tell you." Glancing down, Angel shook his head and clenched his jaw.

Spike was so angry he had switched to game face. "Well, tell us a tale, grandpa."

First Angel told them how Vassilious had saved him and that he had decided to extend a certain amount of trust to Vassilious in return. "But in the last chamber to this one, we encountered two vampires. We each took one, but when I finished and turned around, all I found was a pile of dust from his opponent, and Vassilious was gone."

Buffy was still hopeful. "Gone as in out of the door?"

"Not a door. I would have seen that. My back was to a wall, and he did it behind my back. Just gone."

Spike felt a cold burn, slapping his stake against his other hand. "Make a note to find him and kill the buggering bastard after Argonia is dust."

"Get in line, Spike. You can kick the dust I make out of him." Angel could already picture the torture.

"Let's get to business, guys." She walked over to the door that Vassilious' description said was Argonia's bedchamber. This was the last room; the mistress had to be there, but there may be others. "On three."

The immediate scene before them was of four naked, writhing bodies. No surprise from what Vassilious had told them. Buffy went through the door first and immediately staked a female. Angel came in second and got two to the left. That left just one naked female, Argonia. Her red hair made it easy to recognize her.

Spike sauntered through the door last. "Hey, chicky. Look at the tits on you. Real or Fake?"

Flinging her arm around, Buffy hit Spike in the shoulder. "First – eewww. Second – put some clothes on. Third – Spike, no boob questions."

Argonia was afraid, but wouldn't show it. "Slayer, who are your pet dogs? Good in bed I presume. Blonde or brunette. Tasty choices." After picking up a robe, Argonia started backing away. She enjoyed causing Buffy discomfort by her nudity, and would continue toying with her, but she needed some clothes. Shoes too, but that would make it too obvious she was about to make her escape. She stopped backing up when her back was against the farthest corner. Perfect.

Spike gave a bark of laughter. "Accurate, well, at least for me, but you don't even know or recognize us. What a pip? You auctioned some fake artifacts that you attributed to me."

Buffy raised her hand. "Let me have the honor of the introductions. That is Angel. You know – Angelus. I'm told you passed his picture around. Maybe you should have looked at it yourself. And the cocky blonde is William the Bloody as you liked to call him at the viewing. We affectionately call him Spike."

Angel's looked around at Buffy and then Spike. "I don't know if it is affection."

"Now, peaches. I'm hurt." Spike blew him a kiss to irritate his grandsire just a little bit more.

Angel growled at Buffy. "Now I don't know whose ass I want to kick first. Yours or his."

"You can't be Spike." Argonia was completely thrown off. "He's dead."

Spike dramatically threw up his arms. "Everyone keeps saying that. Do I not look like I am sodding up and walking?"

"Hmmm...gee...maybe because you were...DEAD!?" Buffy shook her head.

"Ohhh, is that it?" He gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head. "Right smart you are, pet."

Letting out a sigh over his grandchilde, Angel tried to focus everyone again. "Let's get to business so we can go kill all the others upstairs, shall we?"

Spike made a show of counting. "There are three of us and one of the she bitch. What we need to do is decide who is killing this trollop."

Angel gave a nonchalant shrug. "Well, either you or I could do it because she kidnapped and tried to auction off Buffy, who is near and dear to us."

Raising an eyebrow, Spike pointed out, "But then Buffy was the one kidnapped."

"That's right. Let me decide." Buffy's smile looked devious.
"Yes, let this lady decide," Argonia threw in with a wave of her hand to indicate herself. She was happy, cocky, throwing out her taunt just before her back touched the wall and a secret door swung open. Argonia was preparing to step through before Angel, Spike, and Buffy could even process what was happening. Vassilious hadn't said anything about secret doors. But then, before Argonia could get a foot out the door, Vassilious appeared and grabbed Argonia so that his arm was around her throat.

Now everyone knew where Vassilious had disappeared to and what he was doing.

Spike recovered fastest. "Wait a sec, mate. We were just deciding who gets the privilege of killing her. We have the possibilities of Angel or me because your clan kidnapped Buffy. We have Buffy because she was kidnapped. And now we have you, the jailor, because of the torture and the mental torture of living with this strumpet for years. So let's see how the slayer votes."

"I vote for Va..." Before Buffy could finish, Vassilious snapped Argonia's neck and dust rained down. Buffy was startled but still finished her sentence. "...ssilious because he had to put up with her the longest."

Silence reigned in the room. Vassilious had joined them again and had again proven himself. His trustworthiness was growing fast.

No one was quite sure what to say. Vassilious wasn't sure if they were going to stake him or what. He had just stolen their kill. His voice was tentative. "Hello?"

"Nice, clean. Good kill, bo...Vass." Angel nodded his approval. "Now let's get out of here."

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When the quartet was clear of the building, Giles and the others outside switched from their more subtle crossbows to flame throwers that came courtesy of Wolfram and Hart. They began burning the house to the ground.

Cordy was hidden on one side of the building while Giles was on the other. Xander was in the back behind some rocks, leaving Willow and Dawn in the front. While Willow started hurling fireballs into the mansion, Dawn took the flame thrower to those running out.

When Buffy and her crew joined them, they spread out with the others. Buffy joined Xander, Spike with Giles, Angel with Cordy, and Vassilious rushed to join Willow.

"How is it going?" Vassilious was anxious to find out.

Willow was surprised by his sincere curiosity regarding killing fellow vampires. "Good."

"Let me help you." Vassilious started pitching more fire balls into the mansion up on the second and third floor. After a few more minutes, the first story was burning well, and the second floor was starting to burn. Vassilious looked over at Dawn. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, but why?" Shrugging, Dawn had no idea what he was talking about.

Without answering, Vassilious ran up the steps of the mansion and stepped inside. Willow was horrified and took a couple of steps after him.

"This is Vassilious. The killers outside have been cleared out. Hurry. Get out." Then he ran back to his position. Willow touched his arm and smiled before hitting the first vampire out of the door with a fire ball.

Twenty minutes later, the majority of the Sepatucci Clan was decimated. The only thing left was to hunt down any stragglers.

The gang would spend the next couple of nights cleaning up the island. After that, Cretian patrol duty would be assigned to the other slayers in the different locations such as Athens and Rome.
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Once back at the villa, Spike and Buffy made no excuses for their rudeness and went straight to their room. Their juices were still flowing from the fight, and they had to have each other.
Before the door completely shut they were on each other. Their mouths fused together in a hungry kiss while their hands clawed at each other's clothes. Spike ripped off Buffy's shirt, then pulled his mouth away from hers to latch onto her nipple. He suckled the hard nubbin while pinching the other. Buffy threw her head back and used one hand to hold his head to her breast.

Finally growing needy for more, she pushed him away so that she could pull his shirt over his head. Next, she attacked his belt and the fly to his jeans. In under a minute flat, Spike had stepped out of his jeans and divested Buffy of hers. He picked her up and threw her on the bed, stopping her bouncing by laying his naked body on hers. Their mouths melded again, each trying to devour each other. Spike ground his arousal against Buffy's leg until she squirmed underneath him and his shaft was between her legs, the head rubbing against the lips of her entrance. And there Spike stayed, teasing her.

Buffy was going wild, trying to move enough to impale herself, but he wasn't having any of that. After some more play, Spike finally pulled up and looked deeply into her eyes and said, "I love you." With that, he drove into her hard. Buffy's head flung back as she cried out from the feeling of stretching and the wonderful fullness that worked so well with his declaration of love. As she angled her hips so that he could stroke even farther into her channel, she whispered against his lips, "I love you, too." Then their tongue swirled and danced.

As the pace picked up, Buffy started to go into a sensory overload of pleasure. She pulled her mouth away and concentrated on the feelings of her sex. She was raising her hips, meeting him thrust for thrust so that his pelvis met hers, slamming against her clit.

Spike could feel her orgasm building, her muscles clamping down on his cock, milking him. He snaked a hand between their bodies and began to rub on her clit. That was all it took to send her over the edge, and her pulsing muscles took him with her. They both yelled out of their release before fusing their mouths together again as they floated back down to the ground. Spike pulled back and brushed her sweaty hair out of her face, caressing her as he whispered to her, "I love you. You know that, but what was that you said that I was supposed to believe, pet?"

Buffy loved his mischievous smirk. "I don't know what you are talking about." Two could play at this game.

"What?! You know. I am supposed to believe that...?"

Buffy finally took pity on him. "I want you to believe that I love you."

"I believe, luv. I believe."

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TBC

Cretian Escape

By MadRog (madrog@ev1.net)
www.sunnydale-tales.com

Rating: R

Let me thank whoever it was the nominated my stories in the Vampire's Kiss Awards. I am incredibly flatted. Thank you!!!

Chapter 19 – A Day at the Beach

The beaches at Moni Toplou were beautiful to say the least. This time of day, the side of Hotel Crete that was facing the water was in the shade. Could someone see a trio of three men on a balcony up close, he or she would be struck by their masculine beauty. They had little in common physically. One had brown hair, one black and one white-blonde. What they did have in common was that their eyes were trained on the beach below on a small party enjoying the sun.

The white-blonde spoke up. "Well, Peaches, I've got to say that those flame throwers you will be donating to the slayers will come in handy."

"They should help. I'm just glad to establish a stronger bond with the watchers and slayers again. Things had been strained since I came to be in charge of Wolfham and Hart." Angel glanced over at his grandchilde. "Well, we are headed back to LA tonight. What do you plan on doing when we leave the island?"

"You mean when you can get Princess to leave? I thought I might go to Amsterdam...Ha! Of course, I will do whatever Buffy does, wherever she goes. How about you, Vass?" Both Angel and Spike turned towards Vassilious. "Care to try on a new, white hat for awhile?"

Angel looked Vassilious in the eye. "It's hard. The hardest thing you will ever do. Even with souls, we still have demons in us that fight to be set free. It is a constant battle."

Spike nodded, but was again reminded how he was still unused to agreeing with his grandsire. "But if you liked this life you've had with us the last few nights rounding up loose vampire ponces, that's a good sign. Demon hunting satisfies your demon's hunger for violence, leaving you in control."

Angel motioned to him and Spike before down to the beach. "If you want to try, you have all of us to help you. Not just Spike and I watching your back, but also a slayer, a watcher, a witch....Everyone will help you."

Spike turned more serious than Vassilious had become use to seeing him. "Now, if you don't choose to help and go back to killing, we have no problem dusting you." His cocky smirk returned. "So what will it be, jailor?"

Closing his eyes, Vassilious pictured his last century, especially the last decade, and how he had changed. If he chose that path, he had no doubt that he could evade this pair and his certain death. Not really a deciding factor there. Keeping how Spike and Angel live in mind, he then thought about what the future may hold for him. His choice was easier than he thought. "I've thought about it..."

Angel smiled. "I think the fact that you are still here tells us your answer, am I right?"

Vass wanted to elbow Spike for chuckling at his expense. "Right, I suppose you're right. So what do I do with this white hat?"

"Today? Today, mate, enjoy yourself." Spike went back to the gorgeous view of Buffy laying out in a bikini and thinking about what he was going to do with that bikini later. Shredding it with his fangs was his favored idea so far.

Smiling at the two vampires whose eyes were glued back on their mates, Vassilious felt envy. Maybe one day. Lately, all sorts of possibilities were opening up for him. "Then today, I think I will head down to the bar."

Giles had no trouble picking out his group as he left the bar laden down with drinks. Xander and Willow were swimming and playing in the water while Dawn stood in about a foot of water trying to attract the attention of a young man three umbrellas down. Their umbrella was currently shading Buffy with Cordy in the sun next to her.

Once there, Giles set the drinks down and handed a bottle to Cordy. "Cordelia, here is your sun block."

Cordelia huffed. "Don't even use that b word with me."

Buffy was biting the inside of her mouth, trying not to laugh. "Cordy, Giles didn't call you a bitch, even during the times you did deserve it."

"Ha, ha." Cordy shot Buffy a semi-hot glare. "The b word as in block." Both Buffy and Giles still looked at her blankly. "You know, sun BLOCK. I wanted sun tan lotion, preferably with the SPF below 12. But ichk, this sun block is a SPF 30. What good is anything not less than SPF 12? How am I supposed to get any sun if it blocks out the rays?"

Shaking his head, Giles held out a drink for Buffy. "No liquor for Buffy."

"Thanks, Giles. You're not kidding. I don't want anything mood altering or even near a sedative for a long while." Looking at her watcher, Buffy still had to put her hand over mouth to hide her smile at the sight of Giles in "bathing trunks" as he called them. "And Giles, you and Mr. Sunshine need to get together more often."

Looking over her shoulder, Buffy spotted Angel and Spike on a balcony shaded by the hotel, watching them on the beach. Knowing Spike would hear with his enhanced, vampiric hearing, she called out. "Stop staring. You're giving me the creeps." His salute told her that he had heard her. "Are you going to stop?" His next wave told her no. "Come on, Cordy. Our fanged ones are waiting for us."

Cordy knew that Spike and Angel had seen them get up and start into the hotel because Spike's whole body language relaxed when Buffy starting walking towards the hotel. Captain Peroxide was still a nervous knot of paranoia when Buffy was out of touching distance. But Cordelia didn't blame him. He had two good reasons. He had been away from her for over two years and then she had been kidnapped.

Upon spotting Giles, Willow and Xander came up to the umbrella to retrieve their drinks. Looking over Giles' shoulder, Willow appeared to recognize something, or rather someone. "My skin can't take this much sun. I see Vass over at the bar. I think I will head over there and keep him company."

Xander's and Giles' eyebrows shot up. Xander started to protest or make to go with her, but let his friend go. It was hard, but he needed to practice trusting her, or risk being turned into a newt. Besides, he and Giles needed to stay and watch over Dawn, who was still trying her best to attract any males within a one mile radius. It would take two of them for the job.

Vassilious was considerably – ok, completely surprised to see Willow walking directly towards him. He had been sitting in the open air bar, as close to the edge of the beach that the shade would allow, enjoying himself, sketching and admiring the red-headed witch from a far. And he did appreciate everything that he could see, the fire in her hair, her slim curves and her laugh that floated to him on the wind. That was when he was surprised to see her get up shortly after Buffy and Cordelia had, but not follow them. Instead, she walked directly to his table.

"May I sit down?" Willow smiled when he stood up for her to sit. This vampire was ever the gentleman.

"Please do." He had wanted to beg but settled with prayer that she would join him.

"I could see Angel and Spike up on the balcony, but you're down here. I was just wondering if everything is ok." She knew that everyone was leaving that night, which meant Vassilious had to decide if he wanted to join them or not. She also knew that the "or not" would be very dangerous. It meant that Angel and Spike would or at least try to stake Vassilious. He had much too much power and knowledge now to be left to his own devices. Regardless of that condition, Willow hoped he would join them. She suspected why but wasn't prepared to examine those feelings yet. She liked this vampire as a friend. That she could admit. Accordingly, she wondered what was up with him that would lead to sit alone in the bar.

Vass pushed a couple of sheets of paper her way. One sketch was her, Dawn, and Xander frolicking in the water and the last was of her getting up to come inside. Both sketches were wonderful. "Those are great. Did you know that Angel sketches, too? You should compare sometime." She was secretly thrilled that this gorgeous man would choose her as a subject to sketch. Whoops, friend right? "So, we leave tonight..." Obvious much Willow?

Smiling, Vassilious looked into her green eyes. She was so easy to read. "Are you asking if I am going with you?"

"Yes, in a not so blatant way." Willow was thankful that she hadn't turned a bright shade of red.

He tapped his pencil against his glass for a few moments. "I've thought about it a great deal. It would be drastically changing my lifestyle that I have kept for over a century, and I've only lived like this for two weeks."

"Hard would probably be an understatement." Willow felt for him but hoped he would take up the challenge.

"Yes." Vass looked out across the beach. "But I can't go back to what I was."

Willow tilted her head in question. "Do you want to?"

He turned his gaze back to Willow. Looking at her, someone so exciting but yet so...good, he knew he would never want to go back to the dark side of existence after glimpsing the light. "No, I like my new path. I will be leaving with you tonight."

"That's great...Oh, with us to Cleveland or to LA with Angel?" Willow worried that she had made a hurried assumption.

He smiled when she looked so anxious. And he felt humbled. "With you to Cleveland."

"Oh, oh, great. You are going to be such a huge help, and I can show you around town. It can be a fun town, and the Hellmouth is never boring...Or...or...you may not want me to..."

"No..." He lifted her hand to kiss its back. "...I would be honored if you would show me around my new home." Her blush was just bright and just as adorable as he had suspected it would be.

She tried to gently pull her hand away, but actually didn't try very hard. "I really should tell you that I'm gay."

"I've been told." He kissed the back of her hand again. "But your blush and increased heart beat tells me that it can't hurt to try."

"Ah...well...ya see...Oh, my." Willow looked into his dark brown eyes and saw all sorts of possibilities.

Spike and Angel were stepping in from the balcony as Buffy and Cordelia came into Angel and Cordy's room. The men tried to appear cool and unbothered, but the women knew they had been impatient for them to come up to the room.

As a hello, Cordy swatted Angel on the chest. "It wouldn't have killed you to wave at me. Spike waved at Buffy."

"Kill me?" Angel shrugged. "Then what's the big deal? I'm already dead."

Hands on her hips, Cordelia took another shot. "That is so not going to get you out of this, mister."

Spike took a seat in one of the chairs at a small table and made himself comfortable, sitting back to enjoy the Angel/Cordy show. He didn't think he would ever tire of listening to Cordy give his grandsire a hard time.

But this time, he wasn't welcome. Cordy glared at him. "Don't get all comfy cozy. Go away, Spike."

"It's all right, Cordy." Buffy reached down and grabbed Spike's hand. "I think I can keep him busy in the next room." But instead of pulling him up, he pulled her down onto his lap.

"Ah, love, Peaches just made a being dead joke, and I want to see if he can make it two for two on jokes."

With a twinkle in her eyes, Buffy tried again. "Come on, Spike, Cordy has other plans. We need to...uh...leave this room before I see way more than I need to see. Again."

The implication flew right over Cordy's head. "Ooh, Buffy. You've just seen me in a bikini."

"I didn't mean you." Buffy knew she was playing with fire, but she figured she could get singed for the sake of this joke.

Spike didn't get it at first either. When he did, he stood up so quickly that Buffy was dumped on the floor. He didn't take kindly to a reference to Angel's single episode of sex with Buffy.

Cordy was even slower to catch on. But when she did, instead of going on the attack, she turned the tables. "Then why don't you two love birds," she waved her hand between Angel and Buffy, "stay in here together, and Spike and I will go into the next room." Spike was still steaming and glaring between Buffy and Angel while Angel was watching Cordy head through the connecting door between the two rooms with Spike in tow. "Remember, Spike, you promised to compare tattoos with me." She jerked the door closed. The lock being thrown echoed in the now silent room. That, Cordy thought, should get Angel and Buffy considering where a couple of tattoos were located on her body.

A reaction wasn't long in coming. Angel walked up to the door and growled, "Cordy...open this door...NOW."

Having now bought into Cordelia's plan, Spike answered with his smirk evident in his voice. "You'll just have to brood a while longer, Peaches, we're not finished in here yet...Oh, that's a nice one, luv."

Buffy pounded on the door. "Damn it, Spike, don't. You better not...hey, you don't even have a tattoo." She and Angel relaxed, figuring out that they were being had.

Cordy was having a hard time keeping her mirth out of her voice. "I'm going to show him mine, and then he's going to show me his new one."

"Slayer, you haven't seen me in two years. You don't know what I did to my body, do you?"

That did it. Spike and Cordy were laughing too hard to talk before the door came crashing in. Angel actually made it through the door before Buffy. He picked up Cordy in a fireman's carry and headed back into their room, slamming the second, undamaged connecting door behind him.

Buffy stopped in front of Spike. She was itching to punch him for putting her through that scare. "Aren't you lucky, fang face, that there was a door for each room. I want privacy to pound you into the ground for that little stunt." She didn't want to let on that she was deeply relieved to find him fully dressed. Instead of violence, Buffy started searching under his clothes for a tattoo.

Spike arched his scared eyebrow. "What are you doing, Slayer?"

"Looking for a tattoo." Buffy kept at her task.

"Oh, in that case, look down here." He pointed to his back just above the waist line of his jeans.

At first look, the tattoo looked like a Roman numeral two. Upon closer examination, she could make out a railroad spike and a wooden stake side by side. A ribbon was loosely wrapped around the two, binding the spike and stake together. Incredibly touched, Buffy was frantically trying to blink the tears from her eyes. "When did you have this done?"

"Last year. I was very snockkered." His voice choked up. "At the time, when I had sobered up, I was glad that it was on my back where I couldn't see it. It hurt too much to look at it. Now I wish it were in the front."

She ran her finger tip over it, watching goose bumbs raise on his alabaster skin. "I can't believe I didn't see this before." She leaned down and placed a reverent kiss on it.

Turning around, Spike chuckled and ran a hand over her delectable backside. "Well, we were pretty busy the last few days, jumping in and out of bed. No time for a look see."

"But there is time now." Buffy moved so that she straddled him. "Any others I missed?"

"One more. Look down here." He unzipped his pants and pointed down below.

Buffy's eyes widened comically. "Spppiiikke...That's not a tattoo."

Smirking, Spike could feel his member starting to stiffen. "It can be a spike or a stake. Give it a few more seconds."

"Spike!!" Buffy thought for a second and could feel herself getting hot. "Show me?"

"Love to."

The End

I don't know about you, but I am sad to see this one end. If you did enjoy the story, please drop me a line. I would so love it.

What's next? Quid Quo Pro - travel both distance to another country and travel in time, visits ancient cultures, and encounter danger at every turn! And of course, SPUFFY! Sound good? Look for the first chapter soon.