Chapter 9 - The Dinner

September 28, 2007 6:17 PM

All Buffy wanted was to curl up somewhere and hide but she forced herself to stand there behaving normally when she knew that it wasn’t. Normal that was or maybe it was just her that wasn’t normal. Spike had said it was okay. Raven had said it was okay. Then they had rushed to the store to get the deli chicken she was now arranging on a platter because she had forgotten to turn the oven on so that dinner could cook. When you thought about what she had done it was trivial but it wasn’t the first time that she had forgotten to do simple things.

The lists that everyone had teased her about at one point or another were becoming her lifeline to get through the day. There hadn’t really been anything major and it had only happened a few times so she was trying not to take it too seriously. Not until she had seen the doctors. Hopefully it was related to the pregnancy and would fade soon. And that was why she hadn’t told Spike yet because he was looking into all the mystical reasons for this blackness that was coming so she was going to concentrate on the physical and mental problems she was having now. The forgetfulness, the non-touching and the mood swings. Kate had said that most likely it was all pregnancy related and not to worry.

But Monday she had an appointment with Dr. Parker for further tests which she had asked Giles to take her to. That was something else that she hadn’t told Spike about. If there was something wrong then she wanted the chance to deal with it before telling him. Spike would be devastated if there was something physically wrong with her that he couldn’t fight.

She had also told Sara everything that was going on and the fear that was threatening to take her over as surely as the blackness that Lorne had predicted. Sara had said the same thing as Kate but wanted to discuss the results of her tests with Kate and Dr. Parker. So, Buffy had signed the release forms for them to have a conference to discuss her condition. She trusted Kate and Sara and knew that they wouldn’t give up until they knew for sure what was wrong or wasn’t wrong with her.

Sara had also requested that Buffy start coming back once a week instead of the every three weeks schedule that they had just started. It felt like a step back but she wanted to do the best thing for her family so she had agreed. The baby came first above everything and hopefully by next week she would know that everything was fine and they could concentrate on the mystical threat.

Now she just had to keep all this from Spike for just a couple more days and they would be set.

“Mummy,” Elijah whispered and patted her arm.

“What’s up?”

“The rolls, we forgot the rolls.”

And her son, always knowing her pain, had become her co-conspirator in her problems. He kept helping her when she was forgetful or spacey and she was afraid to ask him what he felt around her. If he felt the fragmentation in her that she did. So, he became her fellow schemer in trying to keep anyone else from knowing that something wasn’t quite right.

Buffy squatted down so she could look him in the eyes, “Thanks, baby. I appreciate it.”

After she stood again and reached for the rolls to take to the table, he laughed and patted her stomach.

“I’m not the baby. Baby in there, I’m your little prince.” He chortled.

Buffy laughed along with him bending down to kiss the top of his head. “Yes, you are my little prince and Mummy loves you.”

“Love you, too.”

Taking the plate of rolls in one hand and the chicken in the other, Buffy headed toward the dining room with Elijah right behind her.

~~~~~~~~

There was an awkward atmosphere around the dinner table as the family passed the food around, helping themselves as they stole glances at each other. Raven had invited Dawn and Josh to dinner to discuss the protest that they wanted to do and, of course, to get her parent’s permission. Unfortunately without the distraction of a party and a crowd of people no one was completely comfortable. In the past Dawn had always sat at Spike’s side so they could gang up on everyone else and especially Buffy. But now Dawn was sitting at the other end of the table with Josh being a buffer between her and Spike.

Everyone jumped when Spike spoke even though he was using his quiet, accent fully on, ‘I’m in control’ voice.

“Sean, I’ve left two messages for your parents and they haven’t called me back.”

It was times like this that Raven could see the awkwardness that her Dad still had about his new role and this life he led. It was like his skin was borrowed from someone else and he was playing a game as he sat at the head of the table, dressed in civvies clothes, and eating chicken and green beans. How did you go from a hundred years of mayhem and murder to being Eric Camden in just a few years? How did you go from being a warrior that saved the world all the time to a gentle father?

It almost didn’t make sense and sometimes she would imagine that one day he would stand up, throw off this suburban costume and leave in a flash of smoke with dramatic music playing. She wondered if he was happy like this. Was this what he had really been working for on his road to redemption or if this was something that he fell into and wondered how to get out of? Like the day of her birthday when he had needed to flex his muscles and hit something? The nest would have been there later but he had needed to fight to remind him that he wasn’t all this. Was it worth giving up for this?

She picked up the plate of rolls, took one and as she passed the plate to Spike, she was reminded why it was worth it for him. His face softened into a countenance of such peace and devotion that it almost hurt to see it. Her father was looking at her mother. It was love that had tamed him so completely and she wondered if he would be able to hold it together without her. To keep the family a family if this blackness took her away.

She and her brother weren’t supposed to know about the blackness but she had listened to conversations and had heard the whispered words. And she knew why they hadn’t told them yet. It was because they didn’t know anything about it yet but they forgot about Elijah. That Elijah knew things and felt things that went on in the world around him. And he always came to her first so that she could tell him what to do about it. It was the old game of children versus parents and Raven liked being the interpreter of his ‘feelings’ so he told her before anyone else.

And Elijah felt the blackness.

If that was what it was that was making Mum act the way she had been lately. Like not turning the oven on and the constant list checking to make sure everything was done. Until her parent’s knew what was going on she didn’t want to burden them with the fact that they knew. There would be time because Elijah said that Mum’s light was only a little dimmer than what it used to be.

So, Raven had told him to help Mum any way he could and to keep her informed about things that happened. Every thing that he told her and that she saw she marked in a little book that was hidden in her room. Once Mum and Dad knew about what was going on then she would give them the list so they knew a little more.

She waited until Sean told Spike he should be able to get a hold of his parent’s this weekend. Weekends were always a little easier because they were pretty much at home.

It was time. Time for her to start forging her own path and it wasn’t because she doubted her parent’s love. Raven knew that they were loved and wanted here. She and her brother had been drawn into the brilliant light of her parent’s love and it was warm and safe here. There was no doubt that Sean was being pulled in too despite the things Mum and Dad didn’t know yet she was confident that he would soon be a permanent member of the house.

Just in case the blackness couldn’t be defeated then she needed her own life; a purpose besides being Raven Sylvia Montgomery Blood, elder sister to Elijah Martin Montgomery Blood, and daughter of William and Buffy Blood. And with her fingers crossed under the table, she added, the future wife of Connor.

So, taking a deep breath she opened her mouth to start her well prepared speech.

~~~~~~~~

It was one of those cases of not knowing what to do or how to do it. What do you say to your wife’s little sister who had confessed that you were what she measured even her husband by? That was a lot for anyone much less a souled redeemed vampire to take. He was afraid to even look at her because it might give her the wrong impression. All those times when he had hugged her, held her and danced with her it had been arousal he had smelled and he had denied it. What was he going to do? Enjoy it? It was Dawn who was always a child to him although not as much now that she was a married woman but it was still a completely unwanted knowledge.

So, he sat at the end of the table like a good little denier and shoveled food in his mouth. Even as a vampire he had loved food but now it had more flavor and texture than ever before even washed down with the blood he still needed. Buffy teased him and said it was because he had quit smoking but food was definitely a priority in his life now. Cigarettes and sex were gone so food was it. So, much so that he had gained ten pounds in the last month and a half.

No one was talking. It grated on his nerves. Buffy was embarrassed because she had forgotten to turn the oven on, Dawn was as afraid of him as he was of her, Josh didn’t know whose side to be on, Sean wasn’t comfortable in his new environment, Elijah was just taking everything in and Raven was working up to something. She had that humming quality about her that teenage girls had and soon she was going to burst out with it.

Forcing himself to open his mouth he asked Sean about his parent’s again. It was weird that they hadn’t called them back. When Raven even went to a family member’s house to spend the night he was on the phone to check up on her. There just wasn’t something right about having your son across the country and not making sure that he was safe. He would give it this weekend before pushing the issue. They had paperwork to take care of him and if his parents didn’t want to care than Spike and Buffy did.

And that brought him back to Buffy; his wife who seemed to be in one kind of trouble or another and keeping secrets from him again. She forgot that he knew her too well. Every motion and gesture was imbedded into him, he knew her relaxed, tense, fighting, angry, lustful and broken in defeat, or like she was now, secretive.

Giles had called him to let him know what Buffy was up to. It wasn’t that he was trying to betray her confidence but just to make sure that she was kept safe. And Spike decided not to call her on it. If it helped her to think she wasn’t worrying him then let her have that much piece of mind. Kate said that what Buffy was afraid of was probably nothing more than pregnancy woes compounded by this blackness threat. The tests would prove she was fine and then they could concentrate on other things.

Raven handed him the plate of rolls and after grabbing two passed them to Josh all the while watching his wife.

Elijah and Buffy were whispering to each other. Both of them wore this intensely goofy grin as they decided if they wanted fried or rotisserie chicken as if the fate of the world depended on it. And his insides turned to mush as he watched them. He had fought them being parents and it was something that Buffy had taken to like a duck to water. Even having problems like she was she was totally focused on their children even enough to include Sean into the circle.

Buffy was his world because she had given him the world. She was the catalyst for this life he had now. When he had chosen to be in a living body again he had allowed himself to fully surrender to this life and path they had followed. To allow himself to be vulnerable to her and his love for her by giving up lifetimes without her and this was it for better or worse. The one shot for his happiness was here and not out there somewhere or eons from now or even with someone else it was here in this house with this family and he would fight for it and her with everything he had.

He heard Raven take a deep breath and turned toward her. She was ready to let the cat out of the bag.

~~~~~~~~~~

Josh figured if he concentrated on his food enough he could ignore the tension between his wife and his brother-in-law. It practically danced on the air between them and it made him wish that he could leave. To leave her and Sunnydale and this whole mess behind him but he knew that he wouldn’t. Eventually Dawn would see that her feelings for this vampire were just a fairy tale that wasn’t real. That he was her future and her life and could give her the love she wanted. That one day she would see that he could give her the attention she wanted without her having to screech for it.

In a way he had hoped that they would never make up because during her estrangement from the family she had been happier and more confident than she was when she was around them. Not that he was blaming them. It was her. She had never really gotten over losing everything and feeling that everyone she loved had failed her.

For five years now he had been the one that had held her secrets and dreams; had been the one to soothe her when no one else noticed something wrong. But yet she had always vied for Spike’s attention and when it failed Dawn had turned to him to make her feel like a woman.

Spike passed the plate of rolls to him and after taking one passed the plate to Dawn who accepted it with that soft sexy smile of hers. It was too much sometimes to love Dawn but then the rewards were what made it so worthwhile. He had been her first lover and she responded so easily to him. To his touch and he knew that in bed there was no one else there.

Josh sighed softly and let his attention drift around the table to Elijah and Buffy discussing chicken, to Spike’s look of adoration for his wife, to Sean trying to be inconspicuous but yet fit in and to Raven rehearsing her speech and working up the courage to say it. In spite of it all this was family and would always be his family even if Dawn decided to leave him one day.

He had grown up knowing up about demons and their world but they had never touched his pristine life on the upper west side of New York. It was his parent’s life not his as he did all the things a kid like him was supposed to do. The private school, the piano lessons and soccer games on Saturday were his world until his Dad had trusted the wrong demon and had been found stabbed in an alley.

Then the rules changed as his mother closed herself off from everything and became a cold desolate woman. The love he had taken for granted was no longer there until it all changed again. In a demon war on the street his mother had done what she had always done and he had been there to help her tend the wounded. Then when they had been hunted for helping the wrong side it had been mad dash to close off their lives so they could come here to Sunnydale. It was where Kate could fight another war but she had found her soul mate instead. Now Josh knew love and family again and to his surprise they included vampires, demons, fairies, brownies, Slayers and a very special key. And he was happier than he had ever been in his life.

He heard Raven take a deep breath and knew it was time. It was time for a new chapter even though they didn’t realize it. Raven, Dawn and Sean had never really seen war but if they did this protest that was what they were declaring. War. And he hoped they were really ready for it.

~~~~~~~~

He hadn’t even looked at her when she had come through the front door and as a matter of fact, he had run muttering about checking something in his study. But it was her fault. Dawn Summers had done it again. She had ruined their relationship and now because of that everyone at this table was uncomfortable. Well, not totally her fault. She knew that Buffy was upset because she thought she had ruined dinner and Raven was going to throw herself on a limb about the protest but still, a lot of it was her.

From under her lashes she glanced at him as she accepted the plate of rolls from Josh. She hated this estrangement from the man who had once been her best friend because she had let go of secrets that were the kind better not ever told. It wasn’t like by telling him that she had expected anything to change or even wanted it. Josh was her life now, her lover and best friend. That horrible year that Buffy had left them was the year she had known that Spike was never going to be hers no matter what happened. But it was also a wonderful year because Buffy had come home and made Spike happy and she had met Josh and Giles had married Kate.

And her life had changed from then on. It would never be without the demons and the fighting but the uncertainty and pain of those years from the technical beginning of her existence through that year was gone. She had been happy. Happier than a lot of people she had known. Josh had never wavered in his love for her and she had a whole family. A Mom and Dad again, something that Buffy had missed out on.

But now finally Buffy had what she had always wanted; the home, the husband and the kids.

Dawn was happy for her as she looked around the table. If only this thing that was threatening her sister could be defeated then everything in her future looked great. She swore that she would be there for Buffy no matter what and if she could she would take whatever the blackness was upon herself. Buffy had died for her once and had defended her even when others suggested she be destroyed and she would return that devotion with her own.

Spike handed Raven the plate of chicken and Dawn observed the look on his face. It was one of amusement, indulgence and love as he made a comment about her needing to work off the food as she took two pieces. It was the one he used to give her a long time ago when she wasn’t much older than Raven and she realized that he had never left her or stopped loving her. His feelings had evolved because life and time had gone on and she wasn’t a child to be played with but a married woman who needed a more discreet distance from her brother-in-law and once again she felt foolish.

If they were ever going to be any kind of friends again it would be up to her. And it was time to mend the fences. She heard Raven take a deep breath and knew the speech was going to be made and she looked up and caught Spike’s eye. He was wearing that pained look of an older adult knowing that a scheme was about to be unfurled for him to deal with and she flashed him that smile that Buffy always used to give him when she thought Dawn wouldn’t notice. It was the one that asked for continued patience and love in dealing with the child. And Spike smiled back and for the first time in months she felt hope for their relationship.

~~~~~~~~~

Sean smiled as he looked around the table trying not to draw too much attention his way. These people were different from any people he had ever known. His whole world had been Lankasha and its people. For him to pack up only one bag to bring with him and travel across the country to Sunnydale had taken every bit of courage he had. He watched the plate of rolls passed from one person to the next as if an invisible thread linked them with the passage. Family. He didn’t know what that really was except for Raven and her families. It was funny that Raven had been given two families in her lifetime and he really had none. But he was grateful because his friend was willing to share hers.

He heard Buffy laugh as she talked to Elijah and he really hoped the problems she had been having was just pregnancy related and not the blackness everyone feared. Buffy was a special woman, stronger than any female he had known and it wasn’t physical. It took someone with a very special heart to have survived her life and now to create life. It wasn’t just having a baby but the opening of her doors to children who weren’t her own and loving them as if they were. He only hoped that she and her vampire mate would allow him to stay.

This was what he had been craving for all of his lonely life and he would give everything he had to keep it. So, he had vowed to always be a help around the house, to be quiet, to do good in school and to fight their fights including the one that was coming for Buffy. To see the light go out of those eyes would be a loss for everyone and he wasn’t sure if this family could survive without her. She was the center of everyone’s life here. Without her it would never have existed and how did a universe continue to exist without its sun.

He reached over and plucked the last of the roll from the plate and as he reached for the butter he heard Raven take a deep breath and knew the first explosion was coming.

~~~~~~~

“Okay, Mum, Dad, I was thinking, well, Dawn and I were thinking, see there’s going to be a protest at the university next weekend by that human club thingie and we want to stage a counter protest.” Raven spit out as she complete forgot the speech she had practiced for days. And now because she sounded like a complete idiot they would tell her no.

Dawn laughed which turned to giggles then Sean joined in and Josh started in with that weird baritone guffaw he had. Elijah screeched in laughter just so that he could be included.

“Thanks a lot for the support people.”

She had wanted so much for everything to be right. Sean had helped her with writing the speech and she had actually stood in front of the mirror to practice. Instead she had babbled out a sentence that probably no one could figure out. But as she listened to the laughter around her and her father’s lips twitched and her mother hid her mouth behind her hand, Raven couldn’t help but laugh too.

And as the laughter filled the room the tension between everyone shattered like fine crystal.

Suddenly everyone was talking over the other as questions were asked and answered about the protest and Buffy and Spike kept having a silent conversation about it.

“It’s going to be at the university?” Spike finally asked and everyone fell silent as they realized that it was serious time now.

“Yes sir.” Raven answered.

“The club protest is permitted by the university?” Buffy asked.

“Yes, it is. I already checked it out and we can get the same permission as they did.” Dawn answered.

“Mum, Dad, this is what Giles was talking about when he came over to tell me I was the Slayer. That it was about changing the future for humans and demons and I feel that this is an important step in that direction.” Raven said. These words were from the heart and not part of the speech.

There was one more silent conversation between her parents in which their brows did a mirror raising as they decided.

“Fine, but I want to see permits or whatever else to show that this is okay with the university.” Spike said.

“Thanks Dad.”

It was settled. They had permission. The rest of dinner was a noisy comfortable affair that signified a true family meal. The demons of doubts and insecurity were now banished from their lives even if only for a few hours as everyone bonded together again. The talk covered the protest, school, and Buffy’s pregnancy. Normal things for a normal family with normal lives and for a little while they all forgot that their lives were anything but normal but yet somewhere they all knew that they would be reminded of the truth another day.

TBC

Chapter 10 - Bronzing It

October 5, 2007 9:25 PM

Carefully he lined up the shot, drew the pool stick back and then let it fly.

“Yes,” Spike muttered as the ball sank into the center pocket as planned. “Shit,” was his second phrase as the cue ball bounced off the side and slowed to a stop giving Xander a perfect set up.

“Thank you,” Xander smiled as he leaned down to take aim. “Going bronzing with you while you are spying on your daughter is definitely good for my game.”

“Speaking of…” Spike said as he began to look around for Raven.

“She’s fine. She is in the back on the right dancing with Sean.”

Spike glanced in the direction that his friend had indicated and saw the two teenagers bouncing around in what they considered dancing. He smiled as he watched her for a moment longer taking in Dawn and Josh next to them before turning back to take his next shot.

To know that his daughter was having a good time made him glad that he agreed to bring her and Sean out for the night. When she had first asked if they could just go with Dawn and Josh he had said no. And he had been right. Connor was going to be at the Bronze also. But then she had pouted and said that Sean needed to know the night life and why didn’t he come along and bring Xander to play pool or something. Buffy had said that it would probably be good for them to get out and he had finally agreed. He couldn’t even remember the last time that he and Xander had hung out and talked so he had relented. Knowing that Buffy and Elijah had gone over to Anya’s for some girl time had helped with the decision.

“So, what is going on with this protest thing?” Xander asked while gathering the balls from the pockets to send down to Spike.

“That club the Soldier’s had started is holding this protest to keep demons out of the university.” Spike said as he racked the balls. “So, Raven and Dawn are holding a counter protest. Each of them have claim to different ends of the quad on Sunday.”

“Is it just Raven and Dawn or other people going to be out there?”

“Sean, Janice, Connor, the Chickies…”

“The Chickies? What are they doing there?”

“Reliving their youth, I think. It seems they were quite the flower children in the sixties. Plus they all have adopted Raven as an unofficial grand-daughter.”

“Delores? A flower child? Can’t quite picture it but you never know. And having some more adults around should make you and the Buffmeister feel better about things.”

“Yeah, it does.” Spike sighed. “She’s only fifteen but it seems she is going on twenty. Break ‘em” He said gesturing toward the pool table.

~~~~~~~~

The black leather pants were hot but Raven knew she looked good in them so she would put up with it. That was one of the good things about having a younger Mum was the clothes factor. Buffy had mega clothes to borrow and now that she had gone through a growth spurt in the last month they fit just right over her new curves. Even Sean’s eyes had widened in appreciation when he had seen her in the pants worn with a frilly pink top that showed her totally flat stomach and whatever little cleavage she had. Now if only Connor would glance her way it would be totally cool but he was hanging out at the bar with Janice.

“Quit fretting and staring. He knows and you are not doing anything but feeding his ego.” Sean whispered as he shifted closer to her on the couch.

“I can’t help it. I spent almost two hours getting ready and he hasn’t even glanced my way.”

“And that’s because he knows that you didn’t decide to come until you knew he was going to be here. Relax and have a good time.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered before turning to smile at her best friend. Raven couldn’t believe that he was going to end up almost being her brother. Spike and Buffy had confronted them earlier in the week to find out the truth and not having a choice they had finally revealed it. That Sean after his parents had recently divorced and his father had taken off with a girl Dawn’s age and his mother had moved to New York to find herself had decided to make a life for himself. And since neither one of them had really wanted the responsibility of their almost grown son had willingly agreed for him to come to California just to be free of the burden.

Spike and Buffy had thrown a fit, called Morgana to have papers drawn up for legal guardianship of the Brownie and now they were being federal expressed around the country to get the signatures. As soon as they came back Sean would be an official member of the family.

Now, if they had only bothered to tell her parents that Sean’s fiancé ‘Elise’ didn’t exist.

~~~~~~~

“Yellow ball, right pocket,” Xander said as he took his shot. “The test results were all negative?”

“Yeah, everything was clear. Of course, there are tests that they couldn’t do because of the pregnancy but,” Spike hesitated for a moment while he eyed a shot, “Kate and Dr. Parker both think it’s just the pregnancy doing all this.”

The blond moved around the table to check out another possible shot while Xander watched him.

“Any more stuff happen? Beyond the bitchiness, forgetfulness…”

“And me, jerking off twenty times a day, nope, nothing else.” Spike leaned across the table. “Blue in the corner.”

“I feel for you, man, nothing would ever stop Anya from getting sex even the lack of sex drive.”

“Thanks for the encouragement,” Spike said as he took a sip of his beer. “It’s not the sex really. It’s the lack of Buffy. Just holding her and smelling her and the way she tastes.”

“TMI, buddy, TMI. And it is the sex. You’re a guy. It’s always about sex.”

Spike laughed and nodded. “Yeah, and I am missing the sex. Bad. Even with using pictures of Buffy the hand just ain’t doing it.”

Xander stood up and stared at Spike then shook his head slowly. “Pictures? Buffy? Whoa, visuals…having visuals about my best friend’s wife. Not good. Don’t do that.”

“It was your wife’s idea and your camera. Okay, didn’t need to go there either. Not that Anya is well, you know what I mean.”

They both laughed. It was an old comfortable joke by now of how they had each had a thing at one time for the other’s wife. After years of being friends and being married it didn’t bother them anymore. It was also the complete trust in their friendship that made it all right to joke about it.

“Seriously, Spike, nothing more on this blackness thing?”

“Not a damn thing. It’s frustrating as hell but at least the family is together on this.”

“What do you mean?” Xander asked as he returned part of his focus back to his game.

“Well, when we got the test results back, Raven and Eli demanded to know. Eli was feeling things about Buffy. The problems she’s been having and told Raven. Raven didn’t say anything to us and had Eli taking care of Buffy. But we’ve all talked now and everybody is being kept informed. So, if she does something strange, the kids tell us and vice versa.”

“That’s good. You don’t think she was serious about your stalker, do you?”

“Hell yeah, I don’t know who she is but she had better think twice about messing with a hormonally charged pregnant Slayer. Cuz I’ll find her chained in the basement and be drinking her for dinner.”

“Are you sure it’s not Donna?”

Spike shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I really don’t know. Max was going to try to have it checked out but I don’t think so. Donna was always pretty forthright about everything.”

Xander took his shot and stepped back whistling as it totally missed and rolled back breaking some other balls that had been in a group together.

“Forthright didn’t get her anywhere. Maybe she is trying something new.”

“Maybe, I just hope it isn’t because if it is her I might be tempted to let Buffy deal with her.”

~~~~~~~~

Raven looked good, really good. The pants really showed off the new curvier swell of her bottom and she obviously knew it from the way she was dancing. The bell sleeves of her pink top fell over her hands and when she raised them above her head they revealed the rings that adorned each finger. They twinkled in the lights and her eyes almost flashed in time to the driving beat of the music. The glitter that adorned her face and her cleavage sparkled giving her an ethereal quality as she moved. It was almost as if she had been incarnated from pure magic and he waited.

He waited for the wave of desire to move through his body from looking at her. He waited to feel the jealousy of watching her dance with someone else.

And it didn’t come.

Not even a spark of ancient fire.

Not even a turquoise shade of the green-eyed monster.

He sighed. It wasn’t going to change no matter what he wanted. And he wondered how to tell her. It was going to hurt her once she knew because the lie had been going on for a long time.

He was gay.

Not how the hell was he going to tell his best friend? The same best friend that had lost her virginity to him and in that act had sealed what he had already suspected?

Sean looked around to find Spike and watched for a moment while he laughed with his friend. The two of them were so masculine. There was not way he could let the secret out. They wouldn’t accept him and he would be on his own again. They could accept Willow and Tara because didn’t all straight guys have this thing for lesbians? His own parents couldn’t accept him so why should they?

So, his secret would remain his secret. He would continue to chase girls and hope he didn’t slip up. Spotting two girls from his science class staring at him from across the floor, Sean smiled and made his way toward them. No time like the present to continue the charade that was his life.

~~~~~~~

The waitress put down two more beers in front of them and the onion appetizer. After telling her thanks the two friends turned their attention to the food.

“Anya says you’re gaining weight.”

“Gee, thanks Love, are you telling me I’m fat?” Spike grinned as he popped some petals in his mouth.

“Yeah, and that dress, so not you, it makes your butt appear about three times bigger.” Xander said as they both started laughing.

“Thanks,” Spike said when he quit. “I love them but I get so caught up in the females it’s nice to be reminded that I’m a man.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

Spike froze as he stared out onto the dance floor and watched his daughter dancing with a man that had to be older than even Connor. He growled unconsciously as he started to stand. Xander grabbed his arm as he followed his friend’s gaze.

“Leave her alone, Spike. You go out there and she will never live it down. As long as she’s visible on the dance floor she’s fine.”

Spike pulled his arm free, “She’s fine on the dance floor? Buffy and I have had sex on that dance floor.”

“Sit. And so have Anya and I but she was wearing a skirt, what about Buffy?”

“What the hell does that have to do with anything?”

“Raven is dancing, getting sweaty,” Spike growled louder at the image and Xander hurried to finish his point before it was too late. “And she is wearing leather pants. There is no way he could get to her. So, as long as she is visible she’s fine.”

Reluctantly Spike sat but he kept his eye on his daughter anyway.

“So, you don’t worry about Sean being in the house?”

“Nothing has given any indication that they are in the least bit interested in each other. Buffy and I are keeping an eye on them anyway.”

“You okay with having another kid around?”

Spike took another drink of his beer before answering.

“Yeah, I’m fine with it. Sean is a good kid, too good, actually. We know that he is trying to be on his best behavior so that we don’t send him away. So, we are waiting until that moment when he is so relaxed that he is just Sean. I have a feeling there is a lot hiding in that kid that even Raven doesn’t know about.”

This time when Spike searched the dance floor he was looking for someone else and he spotted him dancing with two girls. They seemed to be totally into Sean but there was an almost bored air about the boy. Like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was.

~~~~~~~

It was power. And she was finding out that she loved power. The Slaying adrenaline rush kind and this power that she was just discovering she had. The guy, ‘Sam’ that she had danced with had escorted her over to his two friends and all three of them were trying to impress her. Cracking jokes and asking her about school. It was funny because they all thought she was in college. There was definitely something to be said about applying the correct make up and the wearing of your Mum’s clothes.

When Sam bent and whispered in her ear asking if she wanted a coke, she nodded her head yes.

“So, what are you all doing on Sunday?” She asked after he had ordered her a drink.

“If you want to do something, I think we can arrange something,” one of his friends cracked while looking at her breasts.

That made her uncomfortable but she forged on.

“My friends and I are holding a protest for equal rights at the university. Why don’t you all come down and join us?”

“Equal rights for who?” Sam asked.

“For everyone who inhabits this town.”

He shrugged his shoulders as he turned to pay for her drink. One of his friends made another lewd suggestion and as Sam handed her a drink he gave his friend a ‘back off’ glare.

“Sounds interesting, maybe I’ll check it out.”

Raven smiled her appreciation as she took a sip of the drink. His friends might be jerks but Sam seemed okay. Maybe this evening wasn’t a total loss after all.

~~~~~~~

For the first time in a while, Spike felt totally relaxed and felt maybe he could sleep good. The six beers he had consumed had definitely contributed to his state but he felt he deserved it. He hadn’t tied one on since he couldn’t remember when and he figured if he was doing something all that wrong then Xander would have said something.

“You know what, brick layer?” Spike slurred slightly. “I think we need to do this more often. Where’s the waitress? I want a whiskey this time.”

“It’s a good thing I drove,” Xander said but didn’t protest Spike’s ordering of a shot. It wasn’t very often that either of them indulged anymore. And it wasn’t like Spike was really drunk just feeling more relaxed about things.

Raven appeared at the table with Sean behind her. They both seemed to be upset about something and whatever buzz Spike had was instantly gone. Something was wrong and it wasn’t time anymore to slide into the seductive haze of the alcohol.

“Can we leave, Daddy? Now, please,” Raven pleaded with trembling lips and eyes that were rapidly filling with tears.

“What’s wrong? Did somebody hurt you?”

She grabbed his hand and tugged.

“Please, just get me out of here.”

Spike did a quick scan of the room but didn’t see anything amiss. He stood putting his arm around her to lead her out. Sean and Xander were right behind them. Raven buried her face in his side and he felt her body heave in sobs. A cold anger swept through him at the thought that someone had hurt his little girl and they had better be running at this point because when he found them they were going to pay. He smiled evilly as he thought of the power he now had without the chip. No one could mess with his family now.

TBC

Chapter 11 - Taken Like the Wind

October 5, 2007 12:50 AM

If Raven would just tell him what or who had upset her then he might be able to forget about it like she kept telling him to. But he couldn’t. Despite her protestations that she was fine and Xander’s telling him to give it time, Spike was going to return to the Bronze and tear it apart until he found someone who knew something. It had been humiliating for him not to be able to protect his family before and now he could. And he would.

Spike watched the taillights of Xander’s car drive down the street and turned to follow Raven and Sean into the house. He told himself that he would give her one more chance to give him a target or he was going to go and find it himself. Maybe if he knew what had happened to her it might help but all he knew was that his little girl had cried all the way home. Someone had hurt her deeply and that didn’t set well with him.

When he stepped through the back door of the house, Raven was sitting at the table with her face buried in her hands as Sean dished out a bowl of ice cream for her. Ignoring the boy Spike took a seat at the table and pulled Raven’s hands away from her face.

“Tell me what is wrong. Now.”

She shook her head, “No, because you won’t understand.”

“Did one of the men at the Bronze do something to you? The guy you were dancing with?”

She shook her head again.

“Do you want me to get Buffy so you can tell her?”

“It’s not like that Daddy.”

Raven pulled her hands away and dropped her head onto her arms. A fresh batch of sobs came as her shoulders shook. Sean joined them at the table putting the ice cream in the middle of the table then ran his hand down his friend’s hair.

“Tell him.”

“I can’t.”

Spike sighed. This was getting out of hand and he was tired of the teenage histrionics. If one of the men hadn’t accosted her then why was she crying so much?

“Raven, tell me why you are upset or I am heading back and I will tear the place apart until I find out the answer.”

Her head flew up with such a look of horror on her face that Spike almost smiled at it.

“No, you can’t. No. Don’t embarrass me like that.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

He carefully watched her face as she tried to decide to tell him or not. By this time he pretty much knew that it wasn’t anything that he had assumed it was and just something that Raven was carrying to the extreme. Maybe not for her but it probably would be in his opinion. At this point he was thankful that he had decided to spend time with Xander and get away from Buffy and his daughter’s emotionalism even if for a little while.

“I had finished talking to the guy I had danced with and I caught up with Sean.” Raven paused and looked at Sean for a moment before joining her hands with his. “And we headed over to the bathroom. And they were in the hallway kissing.”

Raven started crying again and Spike had reached his patience quotient for the night.

“Who was kissing?”

“Connor and Janice were. I don’t care as much when he’s kissing girls I don’t know but this was Janice. She knows how I feel.”

It was with great effort that Spike didn’t laugh. Not only in relief but because he also thought Raven was making more of a scene than was needed. His imagination had gone into overdrive and his adrenalin had been pumping for this. Raven was upset about Connor kissing a girl, no a woman, his own age.

“Go ahead. Tell me I’m stupid and that it shouldn’t matter.”

Buffy’s words came back to him. Telling him that Raven would need him more as the pregnancy progressed and not to alienate her. In the end he stood and leaned over to kiss Raven on the cheek.

“All I’m going to say is if Connor can’t see how wonderful you are, than he’s a fool.” Spike said as he patted her back, “Good night.”

With a wave to Sean and a mouthed ‘good luck’, Spike made his way toward the stairs. It had been a long day and he was tired. He hoped that Buffy was already asleep so that he wouldn’t have to feel like he had to sleep on the edge of the bed. As he made his way through the living room he began to undo his shirt anxious just to fall into the softness of his side of the bed. Hopefully sleep would still come and he could forget everything that was going on in their lives even if for a few hours.

It was at the bottom of the stairs that he smelt it, sandalwood and cinnamon. He breathed deep letting the scents wash over him as they took him back to when they had burned candles during sex. Her body coated in perspiration that had taken on the scent and it had intoxicated him as he had held her close to him. Now, he figured that Buffy had been burning them just to relax or take a bath.

At the top of the stairs he made his way to Elijah’s room first to check on him but was surprised to find his bed empty. Turning he made his way toward his room, “Buffy, where’s Elijah?” He asked as he opened their door and stopped. His eyes quickly glanced around the room. There had to have been twenty candles burning around the room. The fans were blowing softly across the bed and he froze when he saw Buffy.

Swallowing he took a second glance at his wife propped up against the pillows in the middle of the bed. Her hair was loosely flowing around her shoulders while her face was heavily made up. She was wearing a short blood red gown with lace across the bodice. When she saw him she moved slightly while running her hand up her thigh pulling the gown with it until he could see that she wasn’t wearing anything under it.

“I’ve been waiting forever for you. Thought I’d have to do this all alone,” she purred as her hand slipped between her legs and languidly stroked herself.

“What’s going on, Baby?” Spike asked as he finished pulling his shirt off and kicked his shoes off. “Where’s Eli?” Wearing only his jeans he sat on the edge of the bed facing her.

“Our son is staying the night with his best friend. And if you don’t know what’s going on then it has definitely been too long. ”

With a laugh she shifted again bringing one leg across his lap leaving herself open to his gaze. She sat up and kissed him softly before bringing the hand that she had touched herself with to his mouth.

“Do you want a taste?” She asked even as he began to suck on them. “Do you like that? Do you want more?”

He watched in amazement as she lay back down and opened her legs even further. Her hands ran up and down her thighs before moving across her stomach and then came to fondle her breasts.

“Spike’s been a good boy for so long that he deserves a reward,” she whispered as she tweaked her nipples.

Finally he shifted so that he was leaning on one hand on the other side of her. Spike looked down at her as he brushed her hands away and fondled her soft mounds himself.

“So, what happened, Buffy? If you’re only doing this to ‘reward’ me then I don’t want it.”

A part of him was telling him he was an idiot to question this. Her arousal was as heavy in the air as the scent of the candles and if he had any sense he would be inside of her already. He wouldn’t take her until he knew for sure that Buffy really wanted this.

“You want it,” she smiled as she cupped him through his jeans. “Why are you waiting?”
Buffy grabbed the hand that had been softly massaging her breast and pulled it between her legs. “Feel how much I want you. How much I love you.”

The temptation was too great and there hadn’t been enough between them lately. Not since the afternoon in the van had he been inside of her and he wanted her too much. Spike stared down into her eyes and only saw his Buffy looking back at him with so much want in her eyes.

“Are you sure?”

When she nodded he capitulated to her. He leaned forward until he was covering her and kissed her with all the loneliness that had he had been denying. When her hands went to undo his jeans he raised up and let her free him. The jeans were shoved down his hips but he didn’t wait to take them all the way off but lowered himself into her waiting heat instead.

“Let it go,” she whispered to him as he started to move within her.

Her hands softly kneaded at his shoulders as she reassured him that she could handle his pent up need. One of his hands moved to grab the bars on the bed to help him move faster and deeper into her. Her legs wrapped around him even as her hands ran over his back and arms. All he could think about was her, being in her again, loving her again. He felt her nails scratch at him but he reveled in her need for him and only drove them further until she exploded around him. Only a few thrusts later and he followed her.

“Oh, God, I love you,” he panted as he disentangled himself from her and finished pulling his jeans off to drop them over the side of the bed. When he lay back down he held his arms out so that Buffy could cuddle into his side.

“I love you, too.” She said as her hands began to roam over his flesh again. “It’s been too long since we have been together.”

Her lips moved over his chest as her hand covered him and he chuckled at her touches. It seemed that his insatiable minx was back as she brought him to arousal again. Buffy straddled him and continued to kiss his chest, nipping it and suckling at his nipples while her hands caressed him before she sank down on him.

“Keep this up, Pet, and you’ll be the death of me.”

For a moment she kept her eyes closed as she moved over him and found a rhythm that took his breath away.

“Just want you with me,” she whispered as her hands came to rest on his shoulders and she leaned over to look into his eyes.

“Only want you, too.”

Buffy sat up again and then started to rise and fall over him as her hands rested on his stomach.
She rode him, squeezing him and grinding until he came again. His hands came to her waist flipping her until she was on her back and his face was buried between her thighs. She tasted so sweet and so hot and he took her to the edge then backed off only to drive her crazy again. It wasn’t until she begged that he let her cry out in relief.

When her spasms had slowed and she lay there so spent and compliant he came to lie on her again. His hands pushed her hair back from her face before he kissed her again. Their mouths and tongues stoking the blaze again while their hands rediscovered once familiar flesh. Finally he pulled back to whisper against her mouth, “again?”

She nodded and went willingly as he positioned her on her knees this time with her hands holding onto the headboard. He loved the mewling sound she made as he entered her again and his hands flowed over her satin covered stomach and breasts before dipping between her legs. He loved taking her like this so that he could touch her and feel her as they moved together. The feel of her bottom pushing back against him as she sought more of him made him only drive harder into her.

“Yes, Spike, oh God, I need you.”

And that was all he needed to become lost to her body again. This was the reunion he had been waiting and dreaming about and she hadn’t failed him. She gave him what he had been fantasizing about for so many nights of sleeping without her. And he wouldn’t stop taking her until they were both too tired to even move.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was time.

Buffy opened her eyes slowly, letting them adjust to being open, and to the dimness of the light of the candles. Her body was sticky and hot. Coated in their sweat and combined fluids. Her thighs had the remains of his seed between them. All the seed that overflowed from the times she had opened her legs and allowed him inside of her. And her body ached from the force that he had taken her with. Her new gown was bunched around her waist so that even now her cunt was pressed against his hip so wantonly begging for his touch. She had been his whore last night. She had waited for him with her womanhood exposed. All wet and needy while she hungered for his cock to fill her.

Just like the others.

She had warned him. And he hadn’t listened.

His mistress had called last night. Hanging up when she answered.

And she wondered how many there were that she didn’t know about. In only these past few months there had been Donna and now this one.

Buffy slipped away from Spike while primly pulling her gown back down over her hips. Turning she opened his nightstand drawer and took out what she needed.

He hadn’t understood. His reward was only a reminder. He should have known that she would find out. Find out that he hadn’t gotten rid of the slut.

How could she have ever thought that she would be enough for him?

She had seen all of Spike’s whores. All the hundreds he had fucked; the women, the men and the children. She had felt every moment of pleasure that he had as he took them whether by force or by mutual want.

How could she compete?

She had never been enough for any of them. They had all left her. Eventually Spike would, too. This woman was going to destroy their family but Buffy wasn’t going to give him up without a fight.

He needed to be reminded who he belonged to.

He stirred slightly at the first click. His eyes opened at the second click of the handcuffs on his wrist.

“What are you doing?”

His voice was so innocent in sleep. Like putting handcuffs on him was something they did all the time. It was always her; always her that wore them because he wanted to make her submissive like his other whores. And she wouldn’t be and that was why he was going to them. They liked the games, the pain he could inflict and could give him the pain that he liked.

But Buffy knew she could learn to give him pain.

She slid down the bed fastening one restraint on his ankle and tying it to the bed post before moving to do the other.

“Pet, what are we playing?”

His voice carried just the bit of worry in it as he tested his movement and found he had none.

“Not playing,” she whispered as she climbed back onto the bed. “You need to be taught a lesson.” Her fingers danced across his mouth. “Scream all you want because no one will hear you. Remember the spell.”

It was then that she saw a trace of fear in his eyes and she laughed.

“Why are you afraid?” she asked as her hands ran over his chest. “I told you that I wouldn’t hurt you much just enough so that you remember who you belong to.”

“I know who I belong to.”

“Do you? Then why did she call?”

Buffy leaned over and kissed his chest then straightened up again so she could continue to look at him.

“Who called, Love?”

“Your whore. She called tonight and hung up when I answered the phone.”

“Damn it, Buffy, you know that I don’t know this woman. She’s some fucking nutcase that won’t leave me alone.”

“I want you to remember.”

Spike started pulling on the headboard so that it rocked under the force.

Buffy slapped him.

“Stop,” she commanded as she pulled the knife out from under her pillow.

“Shit,” he exclaimed as his eyes widened as he looked at the knife in her hand as she tested the sharpness of the blade.

Buffy looked from the knife to him then tossed it aside as she decided to make it more personal than the coldness of a blade. Her hand took a hold of his face and she leaned down toward him.

“Just let me do this and it will all be over. I claimed you once but it wasn’t enough. Now, I am going to mark you.”

She straddled him and laid her head down on his chest.

“Beat, beat, beat,” her finger kept time to his heartbeat that she was pronouncing. “Beat, it beats so fast for me because you love me. My heart.”

“It is yours, Baby. Only yours. Now let me go and I can show you how much I love you.”

She giggled then sat up again.

“Showed me already. Now I show you.”

She rested her hand on his chest while the other came to rest beside it. With one last glance at him her fingernail dug into the softness of his flesh and with careful precision she proceeded to carve a heart into his chest.

When she was done, she blew softly across it.

“My heart.”

She slid off of him and curled into his side while pulling the comforter over them. Anyone who looked at him now would know that he was loved and wanted. And she was satisfied at what she had done. It took her only a few minutes to return to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~

October 5, 2007 7:54 AM

He had been trussed here for over two hours. There was pain from where she had carved into him like he was nothing more than a piece of wood. At first he had told himself that something was wrong. That Buffy wouldn’t do that if everything was all right but the longer he had lain there the more the anger ruled out anything else. He was cramped and cold except for where she was touching him. It had been a long time since he had been in this position and wasn’t used to it anymore and he wanted loose.

“Buffy, wake up,” he called while he moved as much as he could against her.

“Spike,” she mumbled as she started to stretch. Then she turned to look at him and her eyes opened in horror. “What happened? Spike, are you all right?”

“Yeah. I’m just fine. Now do you mind letting me loose.”

She quickly moved to undo the ankle restraints and then started to rummage through the nightstand drawer.

“Where are the keys for the handcuffs?” She asked.

“Don’t you know since you’re the one who put me in them?”

He watched her as she started to panic and she was tossing everything out of the drawer to find them. Tears were streaming down her face but he turned away so that he wouldn’t see.

“I can’t find them,” she whimpered.

“Fine, I’ll tear the fucking bed apart.”

“No, don’t. Spike, please?”

Buffy began to tear the covers off the bed to search for them then when that didn’t yield them she started to pull the pillows off. One pillow was pushed to the side knocking over the lamp on the nightstand and the keys fell from the switch.

“Here, I found them, Baby.” Buffy said as she unfastened them.

Once he was free he rolled off the bed rubbing his sore wrists. Standing he stared down at her, “What the hell was that all about? You know if you want to play its fine but damn it, I was asleep and you shackled me down then you carved me like a bleedin’ turkey.”

“I did that?”

He could see her swallow as she looked at her design on his chest.

“Nobody else in this room but you and me and I sure as hell didn’t do it.”

“Don’t be mad at me. Please.”

“And what else should I be? Oh, this is great. Thanks, Buffy, for threatening me and not caring about how I’m feeling.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Understand what?” He shouted. It was bad enough that she had done it in the first place then had fallen asleep but now all she could do was cry about it like he was supposed to feel sorry for her. He was pissed as hell at her for making the damn threats earlier about torturing him and now doing this. “What’s next? Are you going to cage me in the fireplace or set the bed on fire with me in it? I told you I don’t know who this fucking woman is.”

It was then that he realized he was scared. Scared of whoever his stalker was and scared of his wife and her reactions. He watched Buffy stand as he was shouting and back up until she hit the wall then slid to sit on the floor. She was still crying as her eyes darted around the room.

“I don’t remember.”

“What don’t you remember?”

“Spike, help me, please. I don’t remember doing it.” Buffy wrapped her arms around her legs again and began to rock back and forth. There was fear in her eyes as he came and knelt before her.

“Buffy, don’t lie to me.”

“I remember last night. I wanted to be with you so much and I remember making love with you and going to sleep in your arms. I was having nightmares about her. That woman. She called last night at least I think it was her and I remember dreaming about her. She was telling me that she was going to take you away from me. And I remember wanting to make sure that you were still mine. But the rest of it is in snatches. Not whole, you know? The handcuffs, the knife, but it’s like it was a dream I can’t fully recall. Spike…”

When she reached her arms out to him all he could do was pull her toward him and hold her. His hands slowly stroked her as she burrowed against him seeking his comfort and protection. And that was what he had sworn to do in love for her. Protect her.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay. It was just a bad dream. That’s all. You were sleepwalking. I’m sorry for yelling at you like a bad man. It’s okay. It’s all over with.”

He buried his face in her hair and wished that it was all over with but he knew that whatever was happening was just beginning.

TBC

Chapter 12 - So Proud To Live

October 6, 2007 2:11 PM

The warm water flowed over her hands soothing her as she rinsed the dishes from lunch. The simple chore gave Buffy reassurance that maybe everything was going to be all right after all. The house was relatively quiet for a Sunday afternoon. Raven and Sean were both with Dawn getting ready for the protest and Elijah had fallen asleep a few minutes ago. Spike was in his study going over the personal appearances that Barney wanted him to make and avoiding her. He had been since yesterday morning and last night he had pulled away from her and had slept as far away from her as possible. Not that she really blamed him after her stunt the other night.

She sighed as she tried to tell herself that it wasn’t her fault. Yesterday morning when she had calmed down she had called Sara to tell her what had happened and had ended up going into her office with an emergency appointment. After talking everything out Buffy had finally admitted that she was concerned about losing Spike especially in light of what he had given up for her. All that love made her feel inadequate and she had suppressed it. This was supposed to be the happiest time in her life and she had made herself feel guilty for any hint of anything that might tarnish it. In the end her suppressed feelings, the stalker, and her new knowledge of how people in Spike’s past had ‘kept him in line’ had come through in her sleep provoking the attack on him.

Once again she was assured that she wasn’t crazy just going through things. Sara had talked to Spike and he understood what had happened but it only made him feel guilty for being angry with her. The anger had only been revived when Buffy had insisted they have Kate look at his wound. Kate had confirmed Buffy’s worries by cleaning it out and giving him a tetanus shot that had only made her realize Spike had never had any immunizations. He had never needed them so now he had to get all those shots on top of this one. And he was livid at her for all of it. Not that she blamed him. Not lately. His love for her was making his life hell.

Sighing she put the last plate in the drainer and turned to wipe her hands on a kitchen towel. It was time to make up. She knelt down and took a bag from the back of the cabinet with all the handcuffs and restraints in it that he had been throwing away and made her way to his study. Knocking softly she called out his name.

“Yeah,” he called.

“May I come in?”

“Buffy?”

She opened the door and slipped inside. He was making some notes and didn’t look back at her so she quietly put the bag on the desk next to him and waited. It didn’t take long. His brows furrowed as he looked at it and she could see the exasperation on his face. He leaned back in his chair to look up at her and waited.

“Did I tell you I’m sorry?”

“Yeah, about a thousand times. What are those for?”

“If it makes you feel safer at night I want you to tie me down. If I had known I would never have hurt you. Do you believe me?”

His hand encircled her wrist pulling her down onto his lap. Buffy stroked his face with her fingers as he watched her then she could see the release of emotions on his face.

“I believe you.”

She kissed him gently as his hand moved across her waist to settle on the roundness of her bottom and as she deepened the kiss he pulled her closer to him.

“I love you, Spike, so much.”

“Don’t. I know. It took a long time but I know. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Buffy nodded relieved at his words. Maybe if she kept telling him she was sorry and he kept telling her that he wasn’t going anywhere eventually they would believe it. But for right now here in the circle of his arms they were as they should be and no more words were needed.

~~~~~~~~~

So, far everything was going great. The club outnumbered them by about twenty-five people but it was okay because they getting more attention. They had an assortment of people and demons walking their line. Clem, Josh, Janice, Connor, all six of the Chickies, and some other demons and students had shown to support their humble beginnings. In all there was almost twenty for their side. Raven and Dawn were handing out leaflets outlining what the human club wanted to do about keeping demons and other undesirables from the university. Sean was in charge of making sure that everyone kept in line and keeping an eye on the other side.

“Hey, girl, what’s up?”

Raven whirled around to find Sam there.

“Hey, you here to help?”

“Sure, why not?”

Raven showed him where some extra signs were and set him in line next to Connor. It was turning out to be a beautiful day after all. Connor and Janice had shown up separately and were barely speaking. She didn’t ask. Just decided just to be happy for whatever blessings she could get. As she grabbed some more leaflets to hand out to passersby she noticed some people she didn’t recognize coming closer to them from behind but shrugged as they took seats on a wall. As long as they were watching what difference did it make?

~~~~~~~~~~

Spike couldn’t remember the last time he had felt such peacefulness. After making love to his wife he was wrapped around her watching television in their living room. Such a simple thing to have his head nestled on her stomach with her arm around him but it meant so much to him. It was times like this that he had dreamed about when he had first realized he loved her and now it was his. This was one of the better things in their lives in his opinion. Just because there was no effort or pretense in moments like this only the total comfort of each other’s company.

“Mummy, Daddy?” Elijah called.

“In here,” Buffy said and smiled as she listened to him thunder down the stairs toward them. It was only as he rounded the corner of the couch ready to jump that she hollered, “Whoa, don’t jump.”

But it was too late and he was in mid-air as Spike grabbed and kept him from hitting his target. Buffy’s stomach.

“Careful, son, can’t jump on the baby.”

“Torry,” Elijah said as Spike gently lowered him onto his wife where Eli instantly kissed Buffy on the cheek. “Love the baby.”

“I know,” Buffy cooed as she cuddled her son against her.

Spike wrapped his arm around the both of them and they settled in to watch more television. Spike flipped through the channels until he found something that was more appropriate for Eli than the movie they had been watching. Neither Buffy nor Spike wanted this quiet interlude to end so they resigned themselves to watching ‘Aladdin’ for the thousandth time.

A sleepy haze had begun to take hold of all three of them when the news bulletin broke through. Spike and Buffy were instantly on alert when the university was mentioned as they announced a riot that had broken out over the two protests in the quad.

Spike was up and pulling his shoes on as Buffy struggled to stand still holding Eli to her.

“Find them,” she pleaded knowing this was one fight she couldn’t be involved in.

He cradled her face in his hands. “Lock the doors and turn the alarms on. This smells of the Soldiers. Just do it.” He snapped when she started to protest. “I’ll be back with all of them. Okay?”

She followed Spike as he ran out of the house, locking the door behind him and setting the alarms. Their family was in the middle of the riots and she was terrified for them. She headed for the phone to call Kate and Giles to make sure that they knew what was going on. While they waited for news the telephones between the family members constantly rang as news was heard.

~~~~~~~~~~

Everything was chaos. Her father had told her to always follow her instincts that they wouldn’t lie to her. But that’s exactly what she had done. She had ignored the niggling feeling about the strangers sitting so close to them and now they were under attack. The strangers had slipped into their ranks and had instigated an argument with the club. Now she knew that it had been a ploy to put them at fault. So the demons could be blamed for causing problems and use it as an example that they could never integrate with humans.

People were being hurt as rocks and whatever was handy was thrown at them. She could see the Chickies struggling to get away and Josh’s forehead was bleeding. Panic rose in her as she saw the police coming their way and the first tear gas bomb was thrown into their midst. Tears started to flow as she froze and then arms encircled her from behind and a shirt was tied over her face.

“I’m here for you. I will always be here for you,” a masculine voice told her. “Now move your ass we need to get these people out of here.”

Confidence instantly filled her and she started to search the ranks for the able bodied and yelled instructions for them to get the older women and the injured out of there. Connor picked Delores up and took her toward a building when Spike ran toward her. He took only a second to assure himself that she was okay before his eyes searched for the others.

“Dad, we need to get these people out of here.”

“Sewer entrance there,” he pointed.

Without waiting Raven started to instruct people where to go. She heard her father tell Dawn to go into the tunnels and lead the injured back to the house. With direction and renewed faith everyone started to withdraw heading toward the tunnel entrance while Raven, Spike and Connor held off the attackers and avoided the police at the same time.

With one quick glance around to ensure that everyone on their side had retreated to safety, Raven jumped into the tunnel followed by her father. No one came after them and they could hear the ‘club’ shouting their victory that they had made the filthy demons run. Spike hugged her quickly before they headed home.

Their living room was filled with the protestors some injured and some not. Raven quickly scanned the room to see who was there. Kate had apparently been called because she and Buffy were sorting out the injured into seriousness while Sean followed behind cleaning and bandaging wounds. Some of the injured humans like Mrs. Davis with a twisted ankle were being driven to the hospital by the Scoobies that had shown up to help. Even Sam was there staring in stupefaction at the assortment of creatures around him.

Everything was finally calming down in the wake of her first ruinous attempt at changing the world. She had thought it was going to be so easy. Tears filled her eyes and she turned to find her father still standing there and she threw herself into his arms.

“This is my fault, Daddy. I led them there and it wasn’t anything like I thought.”

“It rarely is, Princess, but this is what you wanted to be a Slayer for.”

“Buffy does it so easily. I don’t know how to lead or any of it.”

He laughed softly as he hugged her tighter for a moment then pushed her away. With his hands still on her shoulders he looked down at her, “She’s been doing it for almost eleven years. It took her a long time to get that comfortable in it. Understand? Don’t underestimate yourself or your mission.” Then he kissed her softly on the forehead.

“Excuse me.”

Raven and Spike turned to find a Brachen demon waiting for their attention.

“Do you need something?” Spike asked.

“The people are getting restless,” he said with a gesture toward the living room. “We are waiting for Raven to tell us where we are going from here.”

Raven’s eyes opened wide as she stared at the demon then slowly turned to look at Spike.

“Give her just a second.” Spike said dismissing him. When he was gone he pulled Raven a little further into the hall. “This is it, Raven. They have accepted you as their leader and it’s time for you to act like it. You are the Slayer.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Raven squealed in teenage dramatics. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Lead,” Buffy said behind her. She waited until Raven turned to look at her. “You started this and you will have to see it through. Tell them that you are proud of them and you appreciate their sacrifice and tell them it will continue. But they are looking to you to for assurance that they haven’t put their asses on the line for nothing.”

“Will you two go with me?”

“No, it’s time for you to pick your lieutenants and take them with you.”

“Like Dad and Xander and Willow are yours?”

Buffy only nodded at Raven and then opened her arms. Raven flew into them for a hug and Spike enveloped both in his arms. They both knew that this was the last time she would truly be their little girl and they engraved this moment forever in their hearts. When Raven stepped away from them they clasped hands as she walked to the edge of the living room.

Raven looked around the room until she found Conner and nodded at him. He smiled slightly and came to join her then her eyes found Dawn, Josh, Clem and Sean. After they had gathered by her side she stepped a little further into the room, took a deep breath and stepped into her role as their leader.

~~~~~~~

October 6, 2007 11:45 PM
.

It was finally quiet in the Blood house. The injured demons that were staying the night were scattered about the house in an attempt to give them some privacy. Kate and Buffy were in the kitchen drinking tea and trying to unwind. Everyone else had gone home and Raven was tired. Her bones ached with the physical and emotional toll of the day and with resignation she stepped out onto the front porch. She took a seat next to Connor on the steps and just let out a long slow breath as she tried to will her body to relax.

“Thank you for earlier. I needed to get my ass in gear.” She said as she turned to look at him. It felt good when he smiled at her gratitude.

“First time out, it’s forgivable.”

She laughed softly. “Glad you understand. I’m sorry about the cold shoulder this afternoon.”

When he looked away she could have kicked herself. Things were going just fine and she had to kill it by bringing up her childish reaction to him being with Janice.

“I meant what I said when I said I would always be there for you…”

“Leave it there, please,” she whispered. Her eyes locked with his and she knew that they were glowing from her emotions and she liked the look of entrancement on his face as they took in the full effect of her fairy background. “I understand.”

He nodded and when she half lay across his lap he didn’t protest. His hands slowly stroked her back as they contemplated the step they had taken tonight. Both steps and as she enjoyed the first touches of his hand on her body she relaxed in the knowledge that one day he would be hers. Until their time came he would be there to fight by her side, protect and guide her like he had that afternoon and be there with quiet comforting at the end of the day. And it was enough for now.

TBC

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