Chapter 45 – Where Do I Go

Where is the something

Where is the someone

That tells me why I live and die

Where do I go

Follow the children…

            From the Hair Soundtrack

The bright city lights meant they were close. It wouldn’t be long until they were at the Hyperion. The source of the constant stream of messages that were assaulting Eli’s mind. From the moment his Mum had left the house, they began. At first they were distant whispers, but the closer his mother got the more demanding they became. Elijah knew Mum was also receiving the same warnings, but she was pushing them aside in her effort to deal with the more urgent problems.

That was a crucial mistake, because the First was using her as a conduit to discover their weak spots. Drusilla, who was still part an integral part of his mother, was attracted to the evil they were facing, it fascinated her and she welcomed a chance to play with it. Mummy didn’t see it. She couldn’t because it would be admitting to a weakness that would be hard for her to accept. How could she tell everyone that she still suffered under Dru’s influence? They would make her go away, and Elijah wouldn’t let that happen. He did his studies on building mental walls to help his Mummy keep the bad things away.

“Shit,” his father muttered, glancing first at the instrument panel to where it said they were going almost fifty on a side street. He shook his head, and then peered into the rearview mirror. “Why now?”

The Navigator began to slow down, making Eli look over his shoulder. There was a police car behind them with its lights flashing. Journey whimpered and rubbed her eyes as she turned around to see what was happening, too. Elijah patted her hand to let her know that it was all right. Without coincidental intervention they would lose time they didn’t have in getting to the hotel. Making a decision, Elijah waved his hand as he sent out a silent command.

“Don’t stop, Daddy,” Eli said, turning to look at his father. Then he added as Spike sent him a quizzical look, “I jammed their radar.”

“Thanks,” Spike responded, with a chuckle. “Probably shouldn’t encourage you doing that.  Your mother would kill us both, but in this case I think getting to her is more important then doing the right thing.”

“Go Daddy,” Journey encouraged. “Mummy is waiting for us.

They turned another corner, bringing them increasingly closer to their destination. It was then that a wave of fear swept through him, making the little boy clutch the door handle beside him. It was his Mum. Something was wrong with her. Sweeping the area, he knew that someone was closer to the hotel then they were. Eli reached over, placing his hand on his Daddy’s arm to get his attention.

“Call Raven,” he whispered. “There’s trouble…it’s Mum.”

Spike didn’t hesitate, or question his request. Instead he reached for his phone, and punched in Raven’s express number.

~~~~~~~~

The ringing of her cell phone startled Raven, making her jump. She threw aside Connor’s jacket covering her to grab her purse that held the offending instrument. Lost in thoughts of her nightmare, she’d almost forgotten where she was, and where she was heading, but now she was back to reality with frightening clarity. It was a lightening flash compared to the darkness she’d been traveling in.

“Hello,” Raven said, flipping the phone on.

“Hey, Princess,” her father’s voice came to her. “You on your way to the Hyperion?”

“Yeah,” she responded, looking around her. They were already off the highway, and maneuvering through the side streets. “We’re probably five minutes away…if that. Where are you?”

“We’re probably not that far behind you,” Spike said. “Look, your mum is already there…”

“Why didn’t you go together?” Raven asked, and then from the silence knew his answer. She sighed even though it was something she was expecting. Sometimes to pass the tests placed before you, everything had to be lost first, before one could clearly see their choices. “Oh, Daddy,” she whispered. “What happened?”

“It’s not something I really want to talk to you about,” he replied, letting her know that Dylan’s plan was beginning to unfold. “Look, Elijah wants to talk to you. Everything else can wait…hold on,” there was a fumbling as the phone was passed from father to son.

“Raven?” Elijah called to her.

“Was it bad, brat?”

“Yeah,” Eli said. His voice was filled with a sadness that tore his sister apart. “Mummy isn’t in a good place. I made Daddy bring us tonight. The closer we get the worse the feelings get…everything has started.”

“I know,” Raven said, wiping at the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. Her brother was scared of losing everything. Even with all his powers, he wasn’t privy to the ending of this one, and he wasn’t the only one that was frightened of losing the life they had. “Hold on, okay? We’re going to win this one,” she told him with as much confidence as she could manage.

“Get there as soon as you can. She needs us.”

“Okay, squirt. We’ll be there in just a minute…Take care of Daddy.”

After her brother’s murmured agreement, she closed the phone, putting it down on the console between the front seats. The moment her hand was free, Connor wrapped his around it. She leaned against him for the strength he always gave her. Gone were their free moments until the prophecy had played out. Nothing was ever going to be the way it was before her father had left home. Although, it was a necessary action, it still wrought a pain of regret for all the wasted time on things that didn’t matter.

“Mum and Dad are fighting,” Raven said, sitting back up to stare out the window. “They went to Los Angeles separately. Elijah is worried about Buffy.”

“Your father will make the right choices,” Connor comforted her, squeezing her hand. “Trust him.”

“I’m trying,” Raven said. “It’s just hard when you look into Dylan’s eyes and know what he wants. He’s just so…attractive in a bad way and Daddy is so…”

“He loves your mum with every fiber of his being.”

Raven, Elijah’s voice broke into her mind, something is really wrong. Mummy is scared.

“Hurry,” Raven demanded. “There’s trouble and my Mum is in the middle of it.”

Connor didn’t question her. He pressed on the gas pedal pushing the speed of the car even faster. They were only two blocks from the Hyperion, and somehow they reached it within seconds. Without waiting for him, Raven hopped from the car, sprinting as soon as her feet hit the pavement. She felt the pull of an evil presence, but she ignored it as she burst through the front door of the hotel.

The doors banged into the walls as Raven ran down the steps into the main lobby with Connor close on her heels. She could hear the sound of another vehicle screeching to a stop at the curb.

Someone is going to hurt her…

“Get away from my mother,” Raven barked. She wasn’t sure what was going on but she could see that Rona and Faith were in the midst of a struggle. She hurried to stand beside Faith who was still in front of Buffy. It wasn’t hard to figure out that it was Rona who was assaulting her mother. “If you ever threaten her again, I will personally make you pay for it,” she added, slipping into an aggressive stance.

“I am so sick of this,” Rona spat, stepping back.  “This is bullshit. Which side are you playing for anyway? You go away and all of a sudden you’re like all goodie-two shoes or something.”

“You’re threatening my frickin’ mother,” Raven exclaimed. “What do you expect me to do? There is no way I’m taking anyone else’s side but hers.”

“You would have a few weeks ago,” Rona said, with a twisted smile. She held her hands out to her side. “No one understood you but us…your sisters…and now you’re pulling this good, little daughter shit.”

Raven knew there would be trouble when she returned. Those few days in the woods had changed her on so many levels. The love she once had for being a Slayer returned to her tenfold. The ideals she’d been running from were now being embraced. Yes, a couple of weeks ago, she would have stood beside Rona and her peers, against Buffy and the others who had already ventured down the path they were just beginning to traverse. Everyone else was to blame for her relationship with Connor going bad, and nothing was her responsibility unless it brought her pleasure. It was all clear to her now and she was ready to fight even if it meant alienating her friends.

“I’ve matured while I’ve been away,” Raven responded, reaching her hand out to her friend. “It’s given me time to think…”

“You mean time to get laid,” Kennedy interjected. “You come back here…thinking you’re all grown up and above us.” She gestured toward the adults standing behind Raven. “Just like them.”

“They don’t think they’re above you,” Raven said. Her hand dropped to her side again, but she felt it being filled by Buffy’s. Her mother didn’t need to say anything for her to feel the approval radiating from Buffy. It made her straighten up just a bit more.

In the entrance of the hotel, she saw her father watching their interactions. In his arms was Journey and holding fast to his hand beside him was Elijah. The loving expression on her father’s face aimed solely at her warmed her soul unlike anything else could in the world. Taking the power it wrought she turned her gaze back at the other Slayers.

They’re scared, too, Elijah whispered in her mind. They don’t want the death he promises them…they want what you wanted only a few days ago.

With those words, Raven understood a lot of what was happening to the other Slayers. They were where she was before Connor took her away. And she knew from Buffy and Faith’s past accounts that they once experienced it as well. Life was a precious commodity, but it needed to be defended against those who took it for granted.

“I understand where you’re coming from, Rona…Kennedy…everyone but they’ve already been through what we’re just starting to go through. No, we don’t want to die, and no, we didn’t ask for this life, but it’s ours. With their help, maybe we’ll survive a little longer than other Slayers have through the years.”

“We’re just their little pawns to play with,” Kennedy argued. “Buffy just runs around, lording her superior authority over us without giving us any choices.”

“You have a choice,” Spike declared, moving among them to stand beside his wife and daughter. “You can stay or go. I don’t really care, but I won’t have my wife treated like this, or any of us. Rave is right; we’ve already paid the price for this life more than once.”

Raven, be careful…the First is controlling one of them, Elijah told her. It’s too noisy in here. I can’t figure out which one.

“Go to hell, vampire,” Rona sneered. “You deserved everything you got.”

~~~~~~~

Connor moved along the fringes of the Slayers. He still preferred isolation to being in the midst of all these people. They made him uneasy, and he could taste the fear that hung heavy on the air. It was here. The First, controlling with lies. It was so much easier when the only opponents he had to deal with were creatures that he could both see and touch. Kill them, and it was over with.

Not like this. How could you fight something that wasn’t really there except in the games it played within your mind or in the guise of deceased people that you once knew? At one time he waited to see if Holtz would appear to him, but soon realized that even if he had that he wouldn’t have listened because he knew the truth now. The past no longer influenced him. It was over with, and only the living concerned him.

“Everything okay?” Angel asked when he stopped next to his father.

“As well as can be expected with an ancient evil stalking us,” Connor responded, with a shrug. “I don’t understand why they want to be on their own. It’s much more dangerous that way.”

“Yes, it is. Women in my day did as they were told,” Angel mused, then laughed. “No, they didn’t.” He sighed. “I don’t understand them either.”

“Maybe it’s not our job to understand. Maybe we are only here to help them,” Connor replied, remembering the things he’d been told. “Or at least I am.”

It was his place. To be there with Raven, to help her in her destiny, and thus fulfill his own. By taking her as his mate, his fate was sealed, and he was content with that.

~~~~~~~

Raven pushed past Rona, diving into the middle of the Slayers. She didn’t even question Elijah. It was here, just like her mother had felt, like she’d felt when she’d gotten close to the building. Turning in a circle she tried to figure out who it was…and what he wanted from them.

“Shut up, Rona…everyone,” Raven demanded, turning back to the girl. It wasn’t her, because it would be too obvious. Rona was the distraction so the First could fulfill his plan. The chaos of a fight just brought the evil more pleasure. It was the time of betrayals that would divide their ranks and one of the adults would be the sacrifice. It was the only logic that made sense. “You don’t understand. You’re so caught up in making a point that you’re missing what is really happening.”

“And what is that?”

“The First is dividing us,” Raven declared, once again trying to make a connection with her comrades, hoping to discover just who was friend or foe. “He’s making his case. If we are so arrogant that we will no longer listen to our teachers then we are doomed when the final battle begins. We will have nothing honorable left, but that arrogance which will fail us in our quest. It’s time to pick your side, and show where your loyalties lie. If you don’t want to stand with us, and learn what they can teach us, then leave now.”

Not one of them moved. Instead they turned to each other, the murmuring returning as they tried to determine what they wanted. There was motion as they spoke to each other, girls closing ranks then dividing as they decided where they stood. Raven watched as Spike handed Journey to Buffy. The tender look between her parents gave her hope for their future. She smiled wistfully as Buffy took over rocking the little girl who was still half asleep.

Things were beginning to escalate fast, and from what Eli was able to relay to her, not only would the Slayers be divided but the adults as well. The first battle was a trial would be to hold onto everyone on their side. Losing anyone to the First’s lies would create a permanent rift, a weakness they could never recover from.

There’s fear…really bad, Elijah told her. She’s going to lose it. Soon.

Who is it, Eli?

I don’t know. It’s too much…I can’t figure it out.

Damn it, I need a clue…something.

Her pain is so big. It hurts me, too.

Raven turned to her brother who was still standing on the steps by the front door. He was crying. It nearly destroyed her to not be able to tell him to put up his walls so that he was protected from the agony of feeling everyone’s hurt. She needed him though.  They all needed him. She could only pray that he would survive this mental assault intact and be able to handle the price of his gift.

Forcing herself to look away, she once again tried to find the one. No one stood out. If only she could freeze them where they were, she could take the time to study their expressions. But they were still talking amongst themselves; she turned to look at the adults on the opposite side of the room. Buffy was staring at Elijah, and Raven knew that their mother was trying to comfort him and help him through his ordeal. Giles, Wesley and Faith stood together, waiting for someone to make their next move, and lastly Spike had moved to stand beside Angel. The two vampires were talking to each other; their whispers were indiscernible to anyone else.   

Shaking her head in frustration, Raven turned back to her brother, in hopes that that he was able to figure who the pawn was that the First was manipulating.

~~~~~~~

It was an honor to be able to serve the Powers that Be. Her grandmother had taught her that in the last few days. The comforting voice from her childhood kept the nightmares away, and taught her the true meaning of what her dreams revealed of others like her.  Dana now knew what her mission in life was, to take out the ones the others trusted and reveal the truth that they didn’t understand.

Vampires couldn’t change. In the end they would return to their evil ways, just like the monster who took her family away from her. She would make these vampires pay for it. Exultation raced through her at the glory that would be hers. Peace would be her reward for ridding the world of them.

She slipped through the other girls toward her prey. No one paid her any mind as they talked about such silly things like whether they would leave or not. This was their life as preordained from the beginning. To have the power to make things right, to protect others from the evil of the world, and Dana wanted to revel in it. Her grandmother would be there to guide her, and protect her against future evil.

A smile danced across her lips as she saw the vampires stand side by side. It would make things so much easier that way. All she would have were mere seconds to take them both out without a fight. If she had to fight she would, because she only had one goal.

Destroy the evil.

Dana slipped behind them, staying on the fringe of several other Slayers, until she was ready. Patience was something she’d learned in the series of foster homes she’d lived in. Maybe one day…maybe in a few minutes…but now she knew it wasn’t far away.

~~~~~~~~

Why wasn’t Daddy with her and Mummy? Why didn’t Angel come and hold her? Journey sniffled, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder. Mummy swayed a little more in an effort to soothe her, but she didn’t want to be comforted. There was lots of bad stuff happening, but she wasn’t sure what it was. Her brother was all upset, and Daddy was tense, while Mummy was sad.

The fight earlier had scared her, because Mummy left. It used to be when her parents fought that they would yell for awhile then they’d go away so they could kiss and stuff. Not this time, and she knew they were all worried that Daddy would go away for good and never come back. Why couldn’t they just go home and forget all this stuff?

“It’s going to be all right,” Mummy soothed, kissing her forehead gently. “Don’t worry about anything.”

It was then that she saw the strange girl slipping through the Slayers to stand behind Daddy and her Angel. Connor was there, too. It wasn’t good. Her little body tensed as she watched what would happen. Clutching her mother’s shoulders, she whispered, “Mummy, that girl…”

She didn’t get a chance to finish the thought. The Slayer raised her hand that was clutching a stake, and just as she plunged it toward her father’s back, Journey screamed for her Daddy.

to be continued…

Chapter 46 – Gates of Eden

Of war and peace the truth just twists

Its curfew gull just glides

Upon four-legged forest clouds

The cowboy angel rides

With his candle lit into the sun

Though its glow is waxed in black

All except when ‘neath the tress of Eden

                        Bob Dylan

The little girl’s scream ripped through them with the ferocity of a lioness defending her cub.  Everyone first turned to the child then to where she was pointing.  As the stake was about to enter Spike’s body.  Raven yelled, launching herself toward the source of the attack, feeling her body soar with a speed she didn’t know she possessed, hoping somehow to stop the inevitable.  She watched in slow motion as her father turned to block the blow.  Already too late, the wood sliced through the skin of his shoulder as a hot knife through butter. It’s downward motion still intent upon finding his heart.

Simultaneously, two things entered Raven’s mind, her mother’s terrified screech and the image of the attacker and her stake flying through the air.  She froze, watching as the wayward Slayer sailed away from the vampires, then hitting the wall with enough force to send the plaster cracking in zigzagging patterns toward the ceiling and floor. Dana slumped to the floor, unconscious for the moment.

“How dare you?” a thundering voice cried out.  Everyone turned toward the sound, and several gasps accompanied Raven’s when they realized it was Elijah.  “It is not your place, nor his time, and I will rectify the wrong before allowing you his soul.”

Except he seemed to be possessed.  His small body trembled from head to toe, his eyes were a vivid blue, and his raised hand was still surrounded with the blue energy that he’d sent toward Dana.  The ground beneath them began to quake, a few screamed, but Eli continued to stare beyond them.  Raven turned in the direction of his stare, and took a step away from the monster standing before them.  It was the Master.  He returned Elijah’s stare with the same intensity as the two appeared locked in an unseen battle. 

The ceiling cracked, causing a large piece to come tumbling down upon the Slayers.  They scrambled out of the way, shouting that they needed to get out of the building.  Giles took control trying to move everyone out of the way.  It was a whimper from a woman that still had not conquered the fears from her youth that brought a few to their senses.  Spike rushed to his wife’s side, cradling her in his arms along with their daughter. 

The Master cackled from his perch on the staircase.  “You a mere child have no hope of winning against me in a head to head battle.  He will bring about his own downfall.  Events are already set in motion.”

And with that he vanished from the room.  Raven hurried to her brother, dropping to her knees in front of him.  She cradled his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her.

“Elijah, it’s over, baby,” she cooed.  “Relax for me, okay?” 

It took a few moments more before he seemed to register her presence.  Tears welled up, before trickling down his cheeks in rapid torrents before he threw himself into his older sister’s arms.

“I was so scared,” Elijah whispered.  “She was going to take Daddy away from us…and Grandpa Angel, too.  He would have won…nothing would have balanced.”

“I know, I know,” Raven responded, rubbing his back.  “You fixed it. Just like you’re supposed to, and we’ll have a fighting chance to win.”

~~~~~~~~

So intent upon taking care of his wife, Spike didn’t even seem to notice the wound that was causing blood to run down his back.  Angel’s nostrils flared at the thought of his Childe dying before his very eyes without him being able to help him.  It was only because of Journey that William the Bloody still remained standing.  He watched as Buffy pulled back to look at the blood on her hands.  Her tears increased as the realization of what might have been hit her. 

Unable to stand on the sidelines anymore, Angel hurried over to them.  First, he took Journey away from Buffy, and kissed the little girl’s cheek.

“Go to Connor so I can take care of your Daddy, okay?”

Joy sniffled, but she nodded when Angel put her on her feet, and prodded her toward Connor.  He never took his eyes off the child until she was safely in his son’s arms.  It seemed that her parents did the same because when he turned back to Buffy and Spike, they were also watching Journey.

“She’s safe,” Angel said, turning Spike so that he could look at his back.  “This needs to be cleaned.”

“Yes, Pops,” Spike joked, provoking a weak smile from Buffy.

It was what his Childe had intended.  To alleviate a few of his wife’s fears.  It irritated Angel that Buffy wasn’t more in control, not only with protecting her children but in caring for Spike.  She needed to be stronger if she were to hold onto her husband.  Despite Spike’s change to being more human, he was still a vampire with the need for a mate that was his equal.  He wished Buffy could accept that more.

“Come on,” Angel said, giving a smile also as he directed the couple toward the hotel office.  “Buffy, there is blood in the small fridge,” he directed.  “Heat it up for him.”

“Uh, okay, Angel,” Buffy said, nodding as she rushed off to do his bidding.

“Thanks,” Spike said, pulling his shirt off. He took a seat on the desk with his back to his Sire.  “I probably would have bled to death before noticing.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Angel responded, grabbing some napkins on the coffee side board.  He pressed them to the jagged tear in Spike’s shoulder.  “Is everything okay?”

“No, but…,” Spike stopped as Buffy returned to them. 

She handed a mug of blood to Spike and a wet towel to Angel.

“We had a fight, Angel,” Buffy said.  “The usual.”

“Yet, he’s still here for you when you need him,” Angel stated.  He hoped that Buffy wouldn’t continue the argument between them, but instead be grateful for her husband’s presence in Los Angeles.  The dissension between them would only hinder their future battles with the First.

“I’m sorry, Spike,” Buffy whispered, cupping his face between her hands.  Something seemed to break in her as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She leaned her forehead against Spike’s while he pulled her closer to him until she was standing between his legs with his arms tight around her waist. “I love you.”

Neither noticed when Angel slipped away as they comforted one another.

~~~~~~~

Would the nightmares ever end?  They kept rolling through their lives like bulldozers over their hearts.  It didn’t matter how angry Spike was with Buffy, he knew she was terrified facing her every fear personified before her.  He held her trembling body against his, rubbing her back, and whispering over and over how much he loved her.  No matter what else occurred in their lives, this tiny Slayer would hold his heart forever. 

“How did he know? The First using the Master to intimidate me,” Buffy whispered through her tears.  “Oh, my god, he’ll never leave me…us alone.”

She wasn’t talking solely about the Master who was the epitome of her childhood fears.  This one was much more grown up.  The First used one of her fears to further add to his own terrifying presence in order shake her up.  It was a direct hit against the Slayer who had already driven him back twice. 

“Yes, he will,” Spike reassured her.  He believed it.  “Once he realizes that he won’t win in this camp, or at this time he’ll take his games somewhere else, and for another time.”

Buffy pulled back to look up at him.  “What if we can’t beat him?  What if we lose this time?”

“We won’t,” Spike said with more confidence than he felt.  Since they still had no idea of what the final battle would be, the First held all the cards.  But they had to have faith in themselves, and he could only pray when the time was right that his wife would trust him with unwavering faith.  “We can’t.  We have too much at stake, Buffy; I’ll die protecting what’s ours.”

It was the truth as honestly as he could express it in words.  Their relationship may once again be floundering, but somehow they’d always managed to pull through before.  Spike had no reason to believe that they wouldn’t work through it this time, too.

“I know you will,” Buffy responded, cupping his face.  “I just want…,” she dropped her head.  Her tears fell onto her chest as she shuddered back a sob.  “I’m just tired, Spike, and I want to go home and sleep in your arms.”

In the scheme of things, it wasn’t a lot to ask for, but it wasn’t something he could give her.  Something told him that it would be a long time before they would be at home together.

~~~~~~

The monster used the darkness to hide itself from view. 

But Max knew it was there.  Her blood laden breath stank up the air in the small room making him want to gag.  He wondered if tonight would be the night he would die.  It was too soon though.  A hundred scenarios and this one was the last one he had imagined.  Prayers were habits he’d left some where in the past.  Buried in the same grave as his wife. 

“Let me make it out of here,” Max whispered to no one but himself.

There wasn’t anyone else there to listen to him.  The quick patrol around the Hyperion at Buffy’s request had turned into his personal nightmare.  He should have gone back to obtain help instead of getting himself into this situation, but the scream was heavy with the victim’s terror and he had to try a rescue.  Unfortunately, the vampire before him hadn’t been alone, and the innocent died anyway. Yet so did this creature’s companion.

“You won’t you know,” she whispered back, stepping briefly into the moonlight that shown through the only window.  Her beauty was incomparable to any creature he’d ever seen.  An angel in view, a demon in fact, and she wanted him.  “You think you’re such a hero, when you are nothing more than a sniveling coward.”

“Yeah, so?”  Max asked.  “What makes you such a great judge of character?”

“Because I can smell your fear, and the sweat pouring from your hot skin,” she said, stepping closer again.  “You reek of humanity and it sickens me.” She giggled.  “Soon though, you won’t and then you won’t want to get away from me.”

He pressed himself against the wall as she moved toward him.  His eyes darted around looking for something to use as a weapon, but saw nothing.  Nothing left but his own wits and a lot of hope for being able to return home again.

“I will never be yours,” Max declared.  “I would rather die.”

“Really?” she asked, leaning toward him. “You will at first,” she laughed at her own joke.  “I will give you eternal life.”

It was now or never to fight, Max reasoned, as she slipped into her game face.  Moving fast, he brought his knee straight into her groin.  If it worked on men, why not women and the startled screech she let out told him he’d been correct.  Before she had a chance to react, he punched her with his left fist, and enjoyed watching the blood spurt as her lip split.

“Don’t think so,” Max said, keeping his momentum up by slugging into her abdomen.  He skirted around her to try to get where he could find some wood or something to destroy this thing.

She was quicker than he expected, and with a growl that reverberated around the room she leapt onto his back.  Max hit the stone floor with a loud smack that left him breathless. 

“Mine,” she roared, just as her fangs tore into his throat.

It was then he realized there was someone else in the room.  They weren’t alone, and he couldn’t tell if it was an enemy or someone who could help.  Combined with the fact he wasn’t ready to give up, he lifted himself with his hands to try and dislodge the vampire.  He didn’t have to.  In the next second he was enveloped in a cloud of dust that was all that remained of her.

“Mate, you do get yourself into some predicaments,” a familiar voice said.

Max rolled over onto his back, and found himself staring up at Dylan.  A hand was held out to him to help him off the floor.  As much as he hated it, Max was grateful that the punk had shown up when he had.  He accepted the hand up, while his other held his neck where the blood was still flowing.

“What are you doing here?” Max asked.

“Doing what I do best,” Dylan smirked, with a shrug.  “Demon hunting…and you?”

“Actually I was patrolling around the Hyperion when I heard a scream,” Max explained, wincing at the pain.  “Unfortunately, I was…”

“Out vamped,” Dylan said.  “You’ve had a lot on your mind lately.  Can’t say I blame you.”

“I can,” Max muttered, turning to leave the room, but a wave of dizziness overcame him.  Instantly, Dylan was there, helping him.  “Thanks.” 

And surprisingly, he meant it as they headed back out onto the street.  Maybe there was room for a friendly truce.  How much could you hate someone who just saved your life?  If Dylan had wanted him out of the way, he could have just slipped away and left him for dead.  Perhaps he had an ulterior motive, but Max was too tired to figure it out.  For now he would accept his help.

~~~~~~~

The family was still divided.  The Slayers stood huddled together away from the faculty, and from the little boy with immeasurable power and his family.  If measures weren’t taken, even without Dana’s interference, the whole system they’d created would fall apart.  It was his job to set things right before this mess escalated any further. 

Giles rubbed his weary eyes, and then quickly moved over to the fallen Slayer.  Kneeling, he pressed his fingers to her throat, then sighed.  Dana was thankfully alive, but still unconscious.  He turned to Wesley. 

”Call upstairs,” he instructed.  “Get Kate down here immediately.  Tell her we need her to bring a sedative.”

“What? You just going to drug her?”  Rona hissed, rushing over to kneel next to her fallen comrade.  “Maybe she had a reason for attacking Spike.”

“There was no valid reason,” Giles barked, standing again.  “No reason other than the First was using her as a means to further his cause.  We,” he waved his hand toward the adults, “have no plans for you and the other Slayers except to help you fulfill your purpose.  It is up to you to choose as to whether or not you wish to accept our academic and physical training.  If you think you can make it out there on your own, then I suggest that you go back and read some more of the chronicles of past Slayers.  Most of them did not survive long enough to even reach your age.  Now, make a decision, stand with us so that we may get through this, or leave now.” He turned around to face everyone.  “And that goes for all of you.”

No one answered him, but he could feel the resentment in the air.  Even after the presence of the First among them, they still refused to accept what was happening to them.  What was happening to them all?  He’d failed them.  It was his job to make sure they were prepared, and he hadn’t done it.  Shaking his head he looked down at the floor. 

Kate slipped past him to examine Dana.  He’d gotten soft since he’d married, and his son had come along.  Fatherhood had become more important to him then his duties.  What had happened tonight was his responsibility, and he needed to accept that burden.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Tanja said, taking a place by Giles’ side.  She looked out to the other Slayers.  “I spent weeks living with Buffy in her house, I’ve trained with them, together we went down into that cave filled with all those monsters, and I survived.  I keep having nightmares, and every morning Mr. Giles asks me about them.  Not just to learn their meaning, but because he cares.  Like my father would have.  I’m staying.”

Slowly, others stepped forward until they were all together again.  Giles felt someone staring at him, and looked up to meet Buffy’s gaze.  She smiled at him, and he realized that his role as a father figure over the Slayers was just as important as being their teacher.  He swore that he would find a way to bridge the gap between him and Buffy again.  By whatever means possible at his disposal

~~~~~~~

Anger coursed through his being.  All of his plans for this night were destroyed.  From ridding himself of the vampire’s, to the division of the Slayers, and the rescue of the lamb.  The latter made him the angriest.  Dylan was his, signed and sealed, and he’d been amongst the ones to ruin things.  Those disgusting flesh wearers were getting to his toy.  Tonight he would pay the price for that betrayal.  With a grin, the First slipped into the guise of Marguerite and prepared to wait for the moment.  Torturing Dylan would help to assuage his bitter disappointment and help to lift his spirits.

to be continued…

Chapter 47 – Save the Day

Hey, Baby, I don’t wanna be your Superman

I just wanna be your man and I’ll be super, baby

You’ll be standing in the sunshine

I’ll be standing right here in the rain

You save me and I’ll save the day

Train

The door shut softly behind her. She didn’t make a peep as she crossed through their living room, down the hall to their son’s room. He listened as she rearranged his covers, told him goodnight. Her strong maternal instincts was one of the reasons, Giles loved Kate so much. She was just so damn good about caring for people that he couldn’t help falling in love with her. It was her magic. And it showed in everything she did, coming through in her smile and in the softness of her fingertips. His cock grew restless thinking about the woman who was coming down the hall toward him. Into their room. She sighed, kicking off her shoes in the direction of the dresser, before turning to their bed.

“Hello, Rupert,” Kate whispered as she sat next to him. She kissed him, lingering for a moment before she laid her head on his chest.

“How is Dana?” Giles asked, twirling a strand of his wife’s long, brown hair around his finger. With his other hand, he caressed her back, hoping that the necessities of conversation wouldn’t take too long.

“She’s still sedated. It will be morning before the drugs wear off,” Kate sighed. “How did we miss the signs?”

“The signs of what, dear?” Giles asked, already knowing the answer. Despite what he wanted, Kate needed to talk about the events of the evening.

“One of our girls being so lost,” Kate said, propping her head on her chin so that she could look at him. “We…I thought we knew them all.”

“You know them all,” Giles replied, putting his hand over his eyes. He couldn’t bear the scrutiny from his wife. “I’ve been so busy putting on all the airs of knowing them, and running the school, and the Council that I haven’t gotten to know them or made sure they were under someone’s watchful eye.” He paused for a moment then continued softly, “We need to change things, Kate. Give them back Watchers of their own. Someone who can really know them.” He absently rubbed his forehead, before letting his hand return to her back.

“You’re right,” Kate assured him. “We’ve been shuffling them all in the same direction. It’s no wonder so many are rebelling.” She paused, letting a finger trace patterns on his chest while she seemed to contemplate something. “On the ride to Sanctuary, Raven was talking about being out in the woods with Connor. He was training her to survive in that situation and she said that she really felt alive out there. A part of her was missing by being in the city. She misses home, and Lankasha.”

“Does she want to return?”

“No, not really. But she’s right, you know, there’s evil in the country, too,” Kate said, with a soft sigh. “Spike and Buffy just finished that trip out to Tyler to fight demons that had taken up residence there. So, why are we concentrating all our energy on keeping the girls in the city?”

“I don’t know, Katie girl,” Giles responded, wondering why himself. There were only a few teachers available to work with girls with their abilities. If they didn’t want them spread too thin, it was easier to keep them all in one place. It was also safer for them. But now that Kate had brought it up, well actually, now that Raven had brought it up. Wouldn’t some of the girls be more predisposed for slaying in the country? It was just something they’d never considered. “Next board meeting we’ll bring it up, I promise. We do need to change things before we lose them all.”

“You’re a good man, Rupert,” Kate said, flashing him a look that told him how proud she was of him. It warmed him from his heart all the way down to his toes and everywhere in between. This woman owned all of him, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I love you for it, you know?”

“I know,” he said with as much pompous arrogance as he could.

“Ass,” Kate teased, tickling him with fingers that were caressing as much as torturing him.

“Yeah, you love me for that, too,” he said, laughing as he pulled her over him. He rolled on top of her, capturing her hands on either side of him. She giggled. It was amazing. He was over fifty and he still felt like a randy teenager sharing a bed with this woman. Thanking whoever was in charge for bringing Kate into his life, he bent his head to kiss her. He knew that life didn’t give second chances, and he wasn’t going to regret any lost moments with this woman. None at all.

~~~~~~~~

How many years did they waste before they could reach this friendship? Youth and arrogance was so blinding. It kept her from seeing the truth. Now, all she had was truth. It was terrifying.

“I don’t know if I can even move,” Buffy whispered, shuddering from another sob that rocked her too thin body.

Faith rubbed her back, wishing she could make all of Buffy’s fears and pain go away. She couldn’t. Every step of the lesson was as valuable as the conclusion.

“You need to sleep,” Faith said. “Things will be clearer in the morning.”

“Yeah, it will be clear that he’s gone,” Buffy responded, leaning against Faith like a child.

Spike deserved a smack in the face for his attitude toward his wife and children. At least in Faith’s opinion. Outwardly, he’d done everything expected him after the chaos at the Hyperion. He supported his wife, comforted his children, made all the right decisions, and then taken off with the guys to Max’s apartment for a drink and a testosterone-filled re-telling of the event. Spike performed the façade of the ideal family man expertly, but his heart seemed to be missing. It was Faith that brought Spike’s wife and children to the beach house for the night. It was Faith that helped put Elijah and Journey to bed for the second time. Moreover, it was Faith that was trying to keep Buffy from falling apart while he was gone.

“When was the last time you slept?” Faith asked, in her best auntie voice. It was a cross of a stern ‘don’t mess with me’ edge, and a compassionate, “I love you’ tone, that usually made the kids listen. She hoped Buffy would, too.

“Oh, god,” Buffy said, sitting straight up. “I’m sorry.” She wiped at her face. “Go home, Faith. Really, I’m fine.”

“It wasn’t the point I was trying to make,” Faith responded, gently. She pushed Buffy’s hair out of her face. “You’re beyond exhausted. You need sleep before you can even make sense out of everything. He’ll be back. You know it. You’re just afraid to hope for anything else.”

“Yes, mom,” Buffy said, with a smile.

“Getting good at it, aren’t I?”

It was amazing. How did such a bad ass like Faith end up being everything she never wanted to be? A little death could change anyone. That and a taste of heaven. How she ever got in, Faith still wasn’t sure, but she was grateful she had. Life was different now. If you could call, what she had life. The only regret was Max. It tore her in two knowing she was breaking his heart. For her, though, he was out of reach. She prayed there was someone to love him in his future.

“Yes, you are,” Buffy sighed. “Any ice cream in the kitchen?”

“Doubt it,” Faith said. “Angel doesn’t like it, and well…”

She didn’t finish the thought. It was too wrenching to think of their friend on death’s door just down the hall. Cordelia was barely conscious now. The morphine taking her from them. Faith only hoped that there wasn’t any pain left for Angel’s wife in this realm. Buffy’s hand slipped into hers, and she squeezed it. They both knew what was waiting for Cordelia, and in a way they could only hope it was soon.

“I’m not pregnant,” Buffy said, breaking through Faith’s musings. “We just started trying. Why did you make that slip about a baby?”

“Hopeful thinking,” Faith said, with a smile to lessen the guilt of the lie. “Dylan told me you and Spike were trying to get pregnant again.”

“Word moves fast,” Buffy muttered. “The little bastard doesn’t have any morals at all, does he?”

“It’s easier to hate him, then to hate Spike?”

“What?” Buffy asked. “He’s chasing Spike without caring that he’s married with children.”

“And it’s Spike’s decision whether to fall for it or not. Isn’t it?” Faith prodded after a moment. “There’s a lot of people who would willingly fall into bed with Spike without caring if he’s married or not. Look at him. He’s gorgeous. The bad boy with the heart. Spike doesn’t look twice at them.” She held up her hand before Buffy could protest. “Yeah, I know he has…at a couple, but he didn’t do it. Why crucify him for it?”

“Because I wonder why the hell he wanted me in the first place,” Buffy whispered, covering her face with her hands.

“Oh, Buffy,” Faith chided. “You know why. You just don’t choose to believe it.” She stood up. “You need to get under the covers and get some damn sleep, woman. This is all the kind of stuff you shouldn’t be thinking about when you can’t think straight.”

Buffy didn’t protest this time. She crawled under the covers, letting Faith tuck her in like a child. Faith figured that everyone needed someone to take care of them once in a while. She was just thankful that she had this chance to rebuild a few of the bridges she burned a long time ago. She crawled on top of the bed next to Buffy, letting the other slayer snuggle close to her as they both fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~

With one last wave at Angel and Spike, Dylan turned to enter the Armstrong Hotel. A cheap room with no questions was its motto and the perfect place for someone without ties to anyone. Dylan was as alone as anyone could be; he hated it but couldn’t let anyone close enough for the truth. At least at a distance, they were still around, instead of being gone like everyone else.

He ran up the three flights to his floor, enjoying the slight winded feeling it gave his body, but hated the stench that permeated the building. Grease, sex, and garbage hung heavy in the air, and Dylan was sure that imbedded into every piece of wood and steel of its construction was the same stench. Just like his soul.

It figured. Marguerite was waiting for him when he entered his room. She was sitting seductively on top of his bed, as she always did when waiting for him to return with his nightly earnings. He sighed, trying to ignore her as he moved into the bathroom to take a leak. There was no reason to close the door behind him. She’d just appear next to him. At least this way she stayed in the other room even if she watched every move he made.

“You were quite the hero tonight, weren’t you?” Marguerite purred.

Trying to ignore the small curl of fear in his belly, Dylan zipped up his pants, tossed his hair before turning to lean in the doorway. He stared at the woman who he once loved so much. She didn’t seem to get to him as much as she once did. She was dead after all.

“I saved a friend.”

“He’s not your friend,” she laughed, holding her stomach. “You’re a fool if you think Max thinks of you as anything other than trouble. Oh, yes, I saw the touching scene of the toasts they gave you for being such a good boy. They were lying to you, watching you, wondering what you wanted in return for your good deed.”

“They’re my friends,” Dylan protested. An echo of a much younger boy saying the same thing to his mother, only to find out the other boys wanted something different from him after all. He was too pretty to hang out with the tough guys. He pushed the memory away. He was tough. Tougher than all of them. Most of who were dead now or rotting in prison. Hopefully they were getting the same treatment they’d given him.

“You’ve always liked to make up fantasies to sooth your poor hurting heart,” Marguerite said, coming to stand in front of him. “You’ve never fit in, have you?”

“I’m fine,” Dylan snapped, turning away to get some clothes to sleep in. He didn’t need to listen to this. Spike was going to love him, and then he’d have everything he wanted. Someone to love him, family, and friends. “Why don’t you go bother someone else?”

“Already have, luv.”

“What…what have you done?” Dylan straightened up. He looked at her through the mirror. His stomach rolled under the fear that those few words brought to him. She’d done something. As punishment for his saving of Max. After all, he ruined her plans. She only smiled at him. “What?” Dylan demanded, turning to face her smiling face.

“I helped her,” Marguerite said, with a wave of her hand. “She was so lonely here in the big city. You certainly didn’t have time to have a conversation with her, or be able to bother helping her out. So, now she’s with the angels.”

It had to be the runaway staying at the end of the hall. So young, and frightened, she’d tried to talk to Dylan. Get some advice, but he’d been in a hurry to leave for his mission, and he didn’t stop to listen. He told himself he would find her the next day, but the next day never came.

“You sick bitch,” Dylan snarled. He didn’t waste any more time as he ran down the hallway. Her door was unlocked and he prayed that Marguerite had lied to him. She hadn’t. The girl who couldn’t have been more than seventeen was dead. Lying in a bathtub of bloody water, a razor blade floating on top.

Dylan screamed in pain and guilt.

“It’s all your fault,” Marguerite whispered behind him.

to be continued…

Chapter 48 – The Book of Love

The book of love is long and boring

No one can lift the damn thing

It’s full of charts and figures and instructions for dancing

But I love it when you read to me

And you can read me anything

Peter Gabriel

Spike sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers drifting across Buffy’s shoulder. She was sound asleep, tucked against Faith, resembling a child after a nightmare who’d crawled in with her parents. Except Buffy’s nightmares never ended, and every day she dealt with monsters of the human and demon type. He wished he could keep them at bay for her, god knew he’d been trying for years, but even he couldn’t make the world a happy place for her.

“She’ll be okay,” Faith whispered, opening her eyes to gaze at him.

“Will she?” Spike asked, brushing back the hair from Faith’s face. He tilted his head as he realized how warm her skin felt. Sometimes he almost forgot. “You taking care of her for me?”

“I tried,” Faith said, leaning on one elbow above the subject of their conversation. “She seems so lost. All she wants is to feel safe, and I wish I could give her that.”

“You and me both,” Spike replied, with a wry chuckle. “It’s her fear that chokes me sometimes. But I’ve always loved her, and I try to make her happy,” he paused, and then sighed. “But I can’t do it.”

“It’s something she’ll have to figure out on her own.”

Spike nodded. He knew it was true; it was just hard sometimes to accept. He was supposed to be her savior and he wasn’t. He couldn’t. Not anymore. There were too many other things to do, and besides he was tired. Not tired of Buffy, or their marriage, but tired of always trying and it never being enough. He kissed his wife’s cheek, and then stood.

“I need to talk to Angel,” Spike said. “If you need us, we’ll be in the study.”

“Okay,” Faith said, settling back into the bed.

Spike waited until Faith’s eyes drifted closed again before he left the room. Angel was waiting for him, but Spike hesitated outside Cordelia’s room. He stared at the door as if he could see through it. He didn’t need to, the rasp of the oxygen machine, and the beeping of the IV machine told him all he desired to know. Cordelia was still hanging on. He held his breath listening for her heartbeat. It gave a soft thud, paused for almost too long, before it gave another weak beat.

He couldn’t imagine how it would feel if it was Buffy lying near death. Memories of that long summer without her clenched at his heart, and almost brought him to his knees. During even their most difficult times, just knowing Buffy was somewhere out there always brought him a measure of comfort. How could he ever let her go again? He couldn’t, and he wondered if he’d done everything he could to reassure her of his love? He’d just told Faith that Buffy’s fear weighed heavier on their relationship then their love, but was it true? Did she know in her head, not her heart, of how much he loved her?

It was a question worthy of soul searching, but one that was too overwhelming to deal with at this time.

“Spike, is…is everything all right?” Angel asked, his large frame filling the hallway, and blocking the light, thus casting everything into shadows between them.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Spike was quick to reassure the other man. He slipped into his demon visage so that he could see his Sire better in the darkness. “I was just checking on Cordy. She’s sleeping.”

The sigh of relief Angel gave was clearly visible as his frame shuddered, and he rubbed his cheek. He was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. There would be no rest for Angel until his wife passed away. Nor could he ask for any measure of peace without being racked with guilt. It had to be an impossible road to walk, and one that made Spike regret every wish of harm he’d ever uttered toward the other vampire.

Spike stepped toward Angel, squeezing his shoulder with one hand, hoping that it conveyed his sympathy and support for his Sire. Together they turned and walked into the study. An unspoken destination for the talk between them. Spike was looking forward to relishing every word of the tale of how Angel defeated the monster who tried to harm Raven. Grinning, Spike plopped into his usual chair, draping one leg over the arm, while Angel took the seat next to him. This time they skipped the ritual of the whiskey they shared in these moments of victory. Everything in their lives was too volatile to risk not being clearheaded.

“Well, come on, Angel,” Spike prodded. “How did it feel to close him down? Did you make sure that he knew he’d messed with the wrong man’s daughter?” His exhilaration was dampened when Angel suddenly leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. Something was wrong. Spike’s feet hit the floor, his body tensing for the news he knew he wasn’t going to like.

“No,” Angel said. His voice is so quiet that Spike almost couldn’t hear him.

Spike’s mind told him that he should be enraged, ready to fight for his daughter’s honor, and to defend his territory by making sure Angel knew he was wrong by letting it go. Instead, he was filled with weariness. He didn’t want to fight. He was tired of the constant battles, being angry, and a disappointment that had become almost too much to bear. He whispered a tortured why as tears splashed onto his hands that were clenching his thighs. The last twenty-four hours of his life had finally broken him in so many ways.

All he wanted was peace. Closing his eyes, he searched his mind for the last time that he felt happiness…a real delight in living. It came to him in a blinding clarity of remembrance; the day they were riding in the mountains. Buffy holding him tight as he maneuvered his motorcycle through the winding roads. The view had been breathtaking and his woman even more so as she let him know that she felt safe in his care. He yearned for that moment again. He looked up when he realized that Angel was speaking again.

“I have to prove my loyalty to the Senior Partners,” Angel was explaining in a hushed tone. “If I’d closed down the nightclub it would have proven to them that I had a loyalty stronger than the one I had for them.”

“What in soddin’ hell are you trying to accomplish?”

“I know I can’t defeat them, but I can give them a big kick in the ass. Mess up their plans for awhile.”

“It’s always going to be there,” Spike commented, leaning back into the chair. He stared with disinterested resolve at the ceiling. “No matter how many times we think we’ve defeated evil, it always comes back stronger than ever.”

“Maybe, but I can put a big dent in their operation. Make them start from scratch again,” Angel said. He paused for a second. “Make Cordy’s death stand for something.”

“And you’ll die in the bleedin’ process.”

“If necessary.”

“You know what,” Spike shouted, jumping to his feet. He pointed at Angel. “It’s a bloody excuse so you don’t have to face the future without your wife.”

“Come on, Spike,” Angel yelled back. He stood so that they were face to face again. “You have the future I always wanted. Me…I have nothing, and it’s never going to happen for me. So, why the hell should I keep trying for something I’ll never get?”

“Because it’s what you do,” Spike said. He hung his head while his hands found purchase on his hips. “You keep trying no matter how bad it gets.”

“That’s you,” Angel replied. “Not me.”

In the end, Spike couldn’t argue with Angel. What could you say to someone who’d lost more than any man ever should? This wasn’t the time to push. To do so would only cause more pain. He understood how helpless Angel felt, so he let it go. Hopefully, there would be time after Cordelia’s death to talk some sense into her husband. Angel’s plan was the thread that was keeping him going. To take it away would lead to consequences that were possibly worse than Angel’s death. He could lose his conscience, and allow Angelus free reign again. A man could only take so much before he would snap.

“If I could change things, I would,” Spike answered. He looked Angel in the eyes. “It’s not fair, and it never will be.” He sighed. “Look, I’m too tired to even be angry with you. I’m going to go and get some sleep. Talk to you in the morning.”

“Goodnight,” Angel said.

It probably wouldn’t be, but a man could hope. Spike nodded, before leaving the room. He was surprised to see Faith asleep on the couch. The message was clear. He needed to be with Buffy. It didn’t seem to matter how he felt about it. And it didn’t seem to matter how Buffy felt about it. Wanting to delay the reunion with his wife, he stopped in the other guest room to check on his children. They made him smile. They were curled up like their mother and Faith were only a short time ago. Their innocence gave him the peace he’d been looking for earlier.

Suddenly, he wanted to see the woman he shared his life with, the mother of his children, and his lover. Buffy was still sleeping. Spike pulled his shirt off, throwing it over a chair before he sat on the edge of the bed to remove his shoes. He felt Buffy’s hand on his back, and he stiffened, unsure of the welcome he would receive. He froze as he listened to her shift in the bed. Without saying a word, she kissed his wound. When he didn’t argue, she slipped her hand down to his waist. Her tongue lapped at the scar tissue making him arch from the sensuality she was giving to the act.

“Oh, Love,” Spike groaned, as he felt her tongue flat against his back, then the sound of her swallowing the blood she’d coaxed by reopening the wound. Her arousal was heavy in the air, and he suddenly needed her. He turned, pushing her back against the bed. Her eyes were wide as he covered her body with his. There was no protest, so he buried his face in the soft curve of her neck. Sniffing at his mark, he let the deep joy of possession wash over him. Buffy was his, and only his. His growl was muffled by the closeness of their bodies, and she answered him with a submissive mewl.

Buffy wrapped her legs around him, her fingers buried in his hair, keeping him close to her. This was as close to paradise as he’d ever gotten, or ever hoped to be. She was all softness and strength beneath him. He could feel his body responding to hers, his cock hardening against the sweetness of her mound, his heart racing to match the beat of hers, and his instincts demanding that he take her in every way possible.

Her lips moved across his cheek, moving as she murmured her love and desire for him. There was too much between them, his jeans and her boxers, and he moved to rid them of the obstructions.

“You’re still bleeding,” Buffy whispered into his ear. She sucked lightly on the lobe, before releasing it. Her hand wiped at his back, smearing the blood across his flesh. “Let me lick it off.”

“In a minute,” Spike said, not caring if he would owe their hosts a set of sheets. The combination of the scent of blood and sex was creating a humming in his ears that was taking him out of the very reality he was enjoying. A high that only vampires could enjoy this much. He bit the flesh of her neck with gentle nibbles, sending her into frantic writhing beneath him. She arched her hips, pressing against his erection in a mating call that was all too obvious.

It was time; he slid off her to lie on his stomach beside her on the bed. She uttered a small noise that was a cross between a giggle and a groan. Without wasting a second, she followed him, settling on her knees beside him, and her hands pressing him down into the bed by his shoulder and lower back. Then she attacked him with a ferocity that almost made him cum by the sheer passion of it. His hips moved of their own violation, rubbing against the bed in rhythm with her tongue, licking and sucking the blood from him.

“Roll over,” Buffy commanded, in a voice satiated with lust. He almost expected to see her in vampire guise, but she wasn’t. She was still human, still in command, and oh, so very sexy. She didn’t waste anymore time. She pulled her t-shirt, throwing it to the floor, the boxers she wore quickly followed. He waited, enjoying the show with wrists crossed above his head. It was too bad they weren’t at home, he thought with regret. He knew the rules even without the physical accompaniment of the handcuffs though. She undid his jeans, yanking them down to his knees, leaving them there to bind his legs. He’d taught her well in the past few years. “Do you want me?” But beneath it all, she was still the girl she’d once been; he could see a flicker of doubt in her hazel eyes.

“Yes, I want you,” he was quick to reassure her. “I want you more than you will ever know.”

Her hand cupped his cock, trailing fire with her fingertips as she lifted it so that she could position it at her entrance. She rubbed it along her slit, wetting it before she slid down on it. His eyes rolled back in his head from the sensation of her velvet walls squeezing him. He couldn’t help it. He arched up, forcing himself deep into her. Buffy threw her head back, moaning as she ground against him.

“I love you, Spike,” Buffy called out as she began to ride him.

She held herself steady with her hands on his belly as she rose and fell, almost letting him slip out of her before she would engulf him again. Their lovemaking was powerful, driving all of his doubts from his mind, until only Buffy existed. It was a quick coupling. They came within a few minutes. The need between them too much for them to delay. Spike pulled her down on top of him, caressing her back in long strokes while he peppered kisses along her brow.

“Always yours, Buffy,” he whispered, hoping she would hear him.

“I know,” she said, kissing his chest. “I know you are.”

To be continued…

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