Part: 6/?
Notes: So sorry it's taken me so freaking long to get this out. Actually, there were several very good reasons. Mostly lack of time and creativity. Anyway, I opted to write this chapter instead of updating my web-page today or writing a paper I have due soon. :) So, I hope you guys like it!

The Victorian style house, shaded by trees, was huge. Much more intimidating that any house Buffy had ever see. The outside was a dark grey color. Paint peeling. Grass on the lawn, and flowers in the flower beds all dead. Making the home look rundown. But, the thick black curtains blocking the windows could easily be identified as a velvet material. She chewed on her lower lip as she gazed up at it from the sidewalk. She quickly re-read the number on the small piece of paper she held to confirm the address of the fourth time.

She slipped the paper into her pocket and walked up the steps. She rung the doorbell knowing she'd probably be waiting for a while. Vampires generally slept during the day. Of course, generally, teenage vampire slayers should be at school, not waiting to be admitted into a house full of vampires to see her vampire lover.

But, she'd been forced to spend nearly a week playing the girl she'd been before she and Spike began their little affair. Her friends had been pestering her to no end about why she was being so distant... why she wasn't at home, yet not with them. So, she fought back her desire to run from them and into Spike's waiting arms and smiled. She researched with them. She Bronzed. They did group patrols again.

And it was killing her.

She couldn't stand being away from Spike as long as she'd been. Even though he called her on her cell phone and at home dozens of times a day. One of the last times they'd spoken, he'd given her his address and practically begged her to go... even if only for a few minutes.

She'd decided she'd go. Though she was leaving at lunch, if she was late for or missed a class, she'd be fine. Her grades were high since her mother had insisted she keep her grades up in order to keep seeing Spike. Missing one class wouldn't hurt her.

The door slid open about an inch. A vampire peaked though the slit, yawning. He fished a pair of ancient looking spectacles out of his shirt pocket and slid them on. He smiled a little. "The Master's been expecting you." He moved behind the door, opening it so she could enter. "I'm Dalton." He shut the door, then bowed slightly. "It's my pleasure to be of service to you, Mistress."

"Um... right."

"The Master is up in his bedroom, shall I take you up there?"

"Yeah. I mean, yes, please." She managed to answer. She was fascinated by the decor of the house. It was very, very expensive looking, though not in a gaudy way. The few lights that were on, gave it a soft inviting glow.

They walked up a long flight of steps and down a hallway. There was only one door at the very end of the hall. "That is his room, Mistress."

"Thanks." She quickly went inside, shutting the door behind her.

The room was decorated in dark colors. The carpet a deep red. The curtains surrounding the large bed black. She could see Spike laying under the covers of his bed. His sleeping form frighteningly still.

She made her way to join him, when a small book on his dresser caught her attention. There was a sketch of her on one page. On the neighboring page there was some writing.

"I fear I will have to go without her
My golden goddess
For she deserves much better than I
The creature who kneels before her
Subject to her perfection"

There were a few false starts for the next line. But, nothing seemed to satisfy him. Buffy picked up a pen that was next to the book and wrote something down before laying the pen down on the page and shutting the book. She brushed a few tears away from her cheek.

He drew her... and wrote a poem about her. It was sweet... and touching. Yet, it made her worry just a bit. He felt like he didn't deserve her? He wouldn't dare leave her, would he? "No." She thought. "He wouldn't." Wasn't how frequent he'd called her since they'd been apart a screaming indication that he wouldn't?

She pushed the curtains apart and sat on the edge of the bed. "Spike?" She whispered. When she got no response, she kicked off her shoes and laid on the bed, head on his chest. She pulled his arm around her and snuggled closer.

Spike's dreams of when he was a child morphed quickly into some strange perversion of "The Tell-Tale Heart". He could hear the beating heart loudly... it was deafening. And... he could practically feel the slow pounding against his skin.

He slowly opened his eyes when he felt a heavy warm weight pressed against his left side. His lover's scent washed over him before he looked down to see her. He sat up against the headboard, pulling her with him.

She looked up at him when he did that, smiling. "Hey, Sleepy-head." She pressed a quick kiss to his lips. Spike frowned when he tasted salt there. On her cheeks he could see faint tear-tracks.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming." He shifted her so she was sitting on his lap.

"I wanted to surprise you. I didn't come at a bad time, did I? I mean, I know this is when you sleep and all... but you did say I could come over anytime. And that little vampire guy said you'd been expecting me..." All through her ramble, the pout she'd been sporting got more and more pronounced.

"I know, Luv, I'm just saying... I wouldn't of been asleep if I knew you were coming." He kissed her pouting lips.

"I can't stay long. I have to get back to school in a..." She glanced around for a clock, but found none. "In about a half hour. I haven't been here long, but it took a while to get here."

"See... if you'd of told me, I would have picked you up."

"Nag, nag, nag." She giggled.

"Are you free tonight, Pet?" He kissed along her collar bone.

"Mmmm... Yeah... er..." She shoved his head away. "Stop. I forgot. My dad's picking me up tonight. I'm supposed to spend the weekend with him and his secretary of the week."

It was Spike's turn to pout. "Too bad. When'll you be back?"

"Sunday night."

"How 'bout we do something then?"

"Okay." She smiled brightly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike got back from driving Buffy back to school and was trying to settle back to sleep. Having had her in his arms... even though it was only for a short while, inspired him.

He'd spent the past few days actually writing down the poems that came to mind when he'd thought of her. Of course, he'd spent the time thinking about how he shouldn't be with her... or more... how she shouldn't be with him.

Take away the fact that she's the slayer... and she's still a human. A human with an expiration date that'll most likely come before his. A human who he'd never get to show around to his friends... because they'd want to make a meal out of her.

Turning her had crossed his mind. But, he couldn't stand the thought of her being a vampire... killing others... never able to be in the sun.

No. He'd have to be content with the thought of being with her for whatever time he'd had. Be it tomorrow... or years from now when she's old and grey.

He got out of bed and grabbed his journal off his dresser. He opened it where his pen was wedged between his latest drawing and poem about her. He was about to flip to a blank page when he realized the last two lines of the poem weren't written in his writing. He read them over and over again. Shocked... and pleased to no end. It was Buffy's writing.

"But, I would die without you
Because I love you beyond words"
 

Part: 7/?
Notes: Sorry. This one was kinda short. But, hey, it is out a whole lot sooner than I imagined. :) Thanks for all the reviews so far, too! They make for great inspiration!

"This book is really fascinating." Willow thought. Her face was buried in a book about the mating rituals of some demon. The words bled into each other. The horrifying pictures of the boinking demons were blurs.

The harder she tried to focus on the book, the less she seemed to be able to. All she could hear were Xander and Cordelia's lips smacking, their giggles and their hushed whispers.

They were supposed to be researching. The lack of demon activity had Giles worried. He feared something big was going to happen.

She wished Buffy wasn't at her father's house for the weekend. At least then they could rush off somewhere... away from the cause of her heart breaking. At least Buffy would be back the next afternoon. She'd be able to spill her guts then.

Xander and Cordelia had come out about their relationship earlier in the week... when they'd been discovered in a broom closet. A good deal of the Sunnydale High population had seen them. Their was no point in them lying about it anymore.

"Hey Will, whatcha reading?" Xander asked.

Willow lowered her book from her face to see look at him briefly. Cordelia was on his lap. She forced herself not to cringe. "Reading?" She closed the book to look at the title. "The uh... "Mating Rituals of the Disamorlrek Demon."

"I think you need a boyfriend if you're reading that." Cordelia snickered.

Willow blushed and stood up. "I better go. I told my mom I'd be home early tonight." She grabbed her things and quickly rushed out... but not before she heard Cordelia shout that she'd forgotten her book.

She could feel her heated face, and the tears that had begun to form. She would not cry about Xander Harris anymore. If he liked someone as cruel as Cordelia, fine. She could have him.

She was rushing down the street when a pair of bright headlights came rushing towards her. She was still as they stopped inches form her.

Her whole life had flew before her eyes. It was sad. She didn't want to die when she'd done so very little with herself in her sixteen years.

The driver of the large van rushed out. "Hey! Are you alright?" It was a boy with orange hair.

"Yeah. Sorry." She blinked a couple of times, then looked at him. He was really cute. Probably just about her age. In fact, he did kind of look familiar.

"Sorry I almost ran you over." He stated.

"It's okay." She smiled weakly. "I'm Willow."

"Oz." He held out his hand, smiling. She shook his hand.

"You shouldn't be out this late at night by yourself."

"I guess not. I was just heading home, though."

"Come on, I'll drive you." He held the passengers side door open for her to enter.

"Thanks." She climbed in and pulled the seat-belt on.

Oz rushed around and got in the drivers seat. He smiled at her again as he pulled away from the school.

Xander frowned as he and Cordelia watched from the entrance of the school. "Looks like Willow made a new friend." His girlfriend said.

"Yeah. I guess so."

"Come on." Cordelia tugged on his arm, pulling him to her car. He kept glancing back down the road where the black van had disappeared down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow gleefully introduced Oz to Xander and Cordelia the next day, when they'd bumped into each other on the street. They were going out on a date to the park later, which was just fine with Willow.

There was something about Oz. He was so sweet. And, he seemed to really like her. And... he was in a band. How cool would that be, if they actually got to couple status, to be able to say her boyfriend was in a band? It'd be way cool.

She'd called Buffy and told her all about Oz after he'd dropped her off at home. Buffy sounded truly happy for her, and said she couldn't wait to meet him.

But, Xander... he didn't seem too happy with Oz there. Cordelia said she'd known Oz for ages. Having dated the lead singer of the band Oz played with.

After a few moments, she and Oz left. They went to the park and set up the picnic things they had taken with them.

"This is nice." Willow sighed happily. Her feelings for Xander were all forgotten. All there was left was a warm blossoming feeling inside her for Oz. It was just... boom. They met and all her misery was gone.

She wondered if it was love at first sight. It felt like it. Or... what she thought it should feel like.

"Yeah, it is." Oz agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow spent all day with Oz. At night, they went to The Bronze. They'd been there for about an hour or so. Dancing a little, but mostly sitting and talking... getting to know each other.

"So, how many concerts have you done?"

"It's hard to say. I guess maybe fifty or so."

"Wow. I hope you guys are gonna have a concert soon. I'd love to hear you play."

"We're having a concert next Friday."

"Really? Cool. I am so there."

"That's great." He took her hand from across the table. Willow's face was bright red. It was the first time any boy had ever done that. Well, aside from Jesse and Xander. But, it had always been friendly.

"I'm gonna go... to the bathroom." Willow squeaked. She had to compose herself. She didn't want Oz thinking she was a loser or anything. She could only begin to imagine how she'd react if he ever kissed her.

She ran into the bathroom, splashing water on her heated face.

"Hey, Willow." Harmony stood beside Willow, putting on lipstick. "Who's that total hottie Buffy's making out with?"

"Huh? Buffy's here?"

"Yup. Up on the catwalk with a babe. Though... he does kinda seem like a freak. So, maybe they're perfect for each other."

Willow frowned. Great. She was back with Angel. It made sense, though. How withdrawn she'd been recently. "Is he a big, tall guy... brown hair?"

"Nope. He's a little taller than her. Bleach blonde hair. Wearing all back."

Willows eyes widened. No... it couldn't be. "Long black coat?"

"Yup. So what's his name?"

"Spike."

"Spike? Yup. Freak." Harmony shrugged, losing interest, and walked out with her friends.

"No, no, no, no, no. It can't..." Willow walked out and climbed up the steps of the catwalk. In a dark corner, she could see Spike's back. She paused on the step she was on. There were tanned arms around his shoulders. Well manicured nails digging into his jacket. "There's no way..."

"Let's get out of here, Pet. We have a lot of time to make up for." Spike said.

"Okay. My mom's gonna be working at the gallery late tonight, so we could got to my place." It was unmistakably Buffy's voice.

"Sounds like a plan." Spike pulled away, giving Willow the perfect view of her best friend. Lips a swollen pink color, hair slightly messed up. They held hands as they walked down the other stairs, luckily for Willow.

She stood there, shell-shocked. Buffy and Spike? Buffy and Spike making out? Spike not killing Buffy? Buffy and Spike going to her home when her mom was gone... to make up for lost time?

It hit her then. Buffy had worn a long black coat some weeks ago. No one had thought anything of it. But... that was Spike's. "Oh, god."

"There you are." She spun around on to see Oz, concerned. "I was getting worried. What were you doing up here?"

"Nothing. Sorry. I didn't mean to take so long." Taking the hand he offered to her, they walked back to their table.
 

Part: 8/?
Thanks: Thanks for all the reviews so far! I tell ya, inspiring... motivating... :) So, thanks over and over. :)

Buffy rubbed her eyes as she and Xander walked to the library. Earlier in the morning, Giles had told them that they'd really have to hit the books on the lack of vamps situation. The Council had found out about it and wasn't too happy. When they threatened to send some people out there to help figure out what was going on, Giles promised they'd figure it out... that they didn't need their help.

"Wow, Will looks like she's on a mission." Xander pointed towards Willow, who was making a be-line towards them. Her resolve face on. Her eyes focused on Buffy's face.

"Hey Willow." Buffy smiled when the tiny redhead stopped right in front of her.

"We need to talk." She said shortly, walking off.

"I wonder what's up with her?" Xander questioned. Buffy shrugged and followed Willow.

"Hey, slow down. What's wrong? You seem upset."

"What's wrong?" Willow cried angrily once they reached the girls bathroom. "What's wrong? You've been lying to me... us, and making out with a vampire! That's what's so wrong!"

Buffy quickly scanned the bathroom, making sure it was empty. "I don't know what you're talking about Willow." She did, though, She figured Willow somehow connected her not being around a lot of the time to her being back with Angel.

"Last night at The Bronze." Willow seemed to calm down a bit. Patches of red were still on her cheek. "I saw you on the catwalk." Buffy's face paled. "With Spike."

Buffy shook her head violently. "Willow, it's not...."

"Buffy... why? And why didn't you tell me?"

Buffy started crying. "I don't know. It just happened. I can't help how I feel about him. I wanted to tell you... so bad. But, everyone was so happy when they found out Angel and I were over... and Spike doesn't have a soul..."

"And has tried to kill you." She suddenly reached over to feel for a pulse. Buffy slapped her hand away, shocked.

"Willow!"

"I just wanted to make sure. When did this all happen?"

"The night I saw Angel with Drusilla. She was Spike's sire. He was hurt. I was hurt. We just... it just happened."

"So... it's all about comfort then?" Willow's eyes widened when she'd processed what Buffy had said. "You slept with him!" Buffy nodded. "Wow. What was it like? No! I mean, Buffy, he's a vampire! A no-souled, evil, bad, bad, bad vampire."

"It's not about comfort. And he's not what you said. Well, okay, he has no soul, but he's not bad. He's so sweet to me."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. I saw this poem he wrote about me. It was so sweet. And, he hasn't made any attempts at our lives since we..."

"Buffy, I have to tell Giles."

"No. No, you don't. You can't. Please."

"Buffy, maybe you care about Spike, but, he's still a vampire. Maybe he hasn't made any attempts at our lives, but... what about all the other people he's killed? Have you thought about that? At least with Angel... he had a soul and wouldn't kill people."

"I love him, Will. And, he cares about me. I know he does. You've seen that the death rates have gone down to almost nothing! You can't tell Giles. He'll kill him."

"I'm sorry Buffy." Willow said sadly, exiting the bathroom.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike smiled at Joyce that evening as she opened the door for him. "Good evening, Mrs. Summers. How are you?" He handed her a flower out of the bouquet he'd brought for Buffy.

"Thank you, William. I'm all right. But, I'm afraid Buffy's not too well. She's been locked in her room all day. I'm glad you're here. Maybe seeing you will lift her spirits."

Spike frowned, laying the bouquet down on the coffee table in the living room. "Can I go up?" Joyce nodded.

Spike bounded up the steps three at a time. He knocked lightly on the door. He heard a muffled, "Go away."

"Pet? It's me. Can I come in?"

The door flung open after a few seconds. "Spike." She whimpered, practically throwing herself into his arms.

"Luv, What's wrong?" He pulled her tightly to him as he shut the door to her room and pulled her to her bed. He sat, pulling her onto his lap.

"Willow knows about us. She's going to... or maybe she already did tell Giles about you. I practically begged her not to."

"She thinks she's doing the right thing." Spike kissed her furrowed brow.

"I can't bear the thought of losing you." She burrowed herself deeper into his embrace.

"Shhh. Luv, it'll be all right. I promise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike leaned against the wall near the door of the Bronze. The bouncer kept giving him glares. The burly man had even asked him what he thought he was doing. Spike had glared hard at him, telling him he was waiting to have a word with someone.

And he was.

The little redhead, Willow, who knew about him and Buffy. Assuming she hadn't already told Buffy's Watcher, he'd make sure she wouldn't.

He'd been waiting outside the Bronze for some time. He knew she was in there. With some boy, obviously on a date. How she could be so carefree, when she was causing so much pain, he couldn't begin understand.

Willow and her date walked out of the Bronze. She did seem a bit distracted as the boy talked to her. She was answering him only with nods of her head.

"I need to talk to you." He stepped out form the shadows, stopping them from walking.

Willow let out a squeak. "Spike!" She fumbled in her jacket and whipped out a cross.

"I thought you were Jewish?" The boy asked, puzzled.

"Will you put that away?" He growled, annoyed as she gathered up her nerve and moved closer... the cross dangerously close.

"Willow?"

"He's evil! He'll try to kill us." She said. The boy moved in front of her protectively.

"I will do no such bloody thing. I only wanted to talk... though I've half a mind to rip that pretty little head of yours off your neck for all the pain you've caused Buffy."

"I never meant to cause her any pain." Willow lowered the cross, though still clutching it tightly. She nudged Oz from in front of her. "It's okay, Oz."

"I know I've missed something really big here."

"Spike's a vampire." At Oz's look, she promised to explain later, before giving him the quick brief of what was happening. "And, Buffy, she's the vampire slayer. When we were here the other day, I saw him and Buffy making out. Mr. Giles... the librarian, is Buffy's Watcher. I'm going to tell him, because slayer's shouldn't be with vampires"

"She was with Angel and you never said a thing!"

"Angel has a soul."

"Yeah, and see how that stopped him from cheating on her with Dru."

"What did you want to talk about?" She huffed.

"You can't tell her Watcher... or any of your other mates. It's killing her. If you care about her at all..."

"And let her keep whatever she has with you a dirty little secret?"

"It's not like this has hurt anyone."

"It will. Buffy. When you kill one of us, or her mom. Or her!"

"I've stopped killing humans."

"What?" Willow asked wide-eyed.

"Why do you think there's so many people running around at night... and so few vamps? Ask around at the butchers shop if you don't believe me. Its costing me an arm and a leg to keep me and my minions in pig and cow blood. I'd do anything for Buffy. And, if you tell her what I just told you, I'll make an exception about not killing."

"You really care about her." Willow seemed surprised.

"Yeah, what of it?" He mumbled.

Willow bit her lip. "I won't tell. But... if you hurt her..."

"You don't have to tell me, Red. I'm not an idiot." He smiled gratefully, before walking off down the alley. He had to tell Buffy the good news.
 

Part: 9/?
Notes: I'm sorry this had taken so long to get up. But, it's full of stuff that'll effect the rest of the fic.

Angel glanced down at the sleeping Drusilla. She was so beautiful. Her sad, tragic style of beauty would of been lost hundreds of years ago if not for him. But, her innocence would have been preserved. He couldn't think of which was the better. He'd never stop feeling guilty about her.

His guilt fueled him. It was all he had besides her.

He'd had Buffy. How it killed him to think of how she'd felt in his arms. The sweet scent that was all over her and on everything she ever touched.

He hadn't seen her in months. Not up close, anyway. He'd see her sometimes at the Bronze with her friends. But, she scarcely went there anymore. She definitely didn't research with the others anymore.

He went often enough to the high school's library know that. Giles was still looking up the curse, but had little luck. Angel'd taken Dru a few times with him. Which had proved to be a mistake. He'd been forced to chain her up while he was gone at night... it made her irritable.

Surrounded by the teenagers, one night she'd snapped. She'd started raving about Willow and her secrets and lies... and told Xander his heart was a traitor, even to himself. The worst thing was when she tried to feed off Cordelia. He'd decided it'd be best to leave her chained up, instead of letting her out until she got a soul.

"You don't love me." Dru sat up, weeping.

"Of course I do, you know I love you." He forced her to lay back down. She'd been having trouble sleeping as of late. "Go back to sleep, Dru."

"You say you love me, but, I know you're thinking of her. Do I not make you happy, my sweet Angel?"

"You're the only one I think about." He groaned inwardly. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with her like this now.

"I see her swirling all over your mind... your heart. Good angels don't tell lies." She climbed out of bed. "I don't know what it is about her that makes you love her."

"Who?"

"The Slayer. You think of her while your with me. You think I don't know, because you scream my name, but I do. I see it when you shut your eyes. Pretending I'm warm and alive... not cold and dead. Not the monster you made me. I think Miss Edith was right when she said you never really loved me." She looked at him, smiling sadly. "I should have never betrayed my William. He loved me. But, I had hoped you might really love me. Now he's lost to me. Lost the same as you."

Angel sighed, getting out of bed, he gathered Dru into his arms. "I do love you Drusilla. We're meant for each other. Yes, I think about Buffy, but, only like you do of Spike. I swear, I love you more than anything."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike watched Buffy as she spoke to a few of his minions animatedly. They were girls, probably in their twenties when Dru'd had them turned. His lover was giving them tips on the latest fashions and hair styles.

"Just because you're dead doesn't mean you should let yourself go. I mean, you're gonna be around for a really long time. You have to look your best. And you can't look like you came with a bang right out of the Disco era, ya know?" The vamps nodded. "Don't be afraid to pick up a fashion magazine or two. It's not like they're laced in holy-water. Fashion magazines can only prove to be your friends." Buffy handed them the latest Cosmo, Vogue, Vanity Fair, In Style, and a few teen magazines.

Spike was surprised that she didn't seem to mind socializing with them. Considering it was her calling to kill them all. But, he figured if she was willing to shag the Big Bad, then being nice to a few vamps wasn't such a hard thing for her to do.

"Spike, I gotta get home. It's almost midnight." Spike pouted as she headed to the door.

"You're gonna be late no matter how quickly we leave. Why not stay a bit longer?" He followed her reluctantly.

"Because there's a difference in getting in trouble for being a few minutes late and getting home hours later than I should. You don't really want me to be grounded, do you?"

"No." He sulked.

"Come on, big baby," She teased. "Mom did say that I could stay out way late on my birthday."

"Mmmm. True." He slid an arm around her waist as they left his house. "What do you want for your birthday, Luv?"

"Well, I get to spend the night with you. What more could I want?" She stretched up to plant a kiss on his cheek.

"I'll just have to surprise you then." He opened the car door for her and she slid in the seat.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike shifted from his right foot to his left. He found it impossible to meet Joyce's angry eyes. He kept looking at Buffy, who stood behind her mother, biting her bottom lip. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears as Joyce was threatening to make Buffy stop seeing him.

The two had gotten to Buffy's house right at midnight. Buffy found a note from her mom saying she'd be at the gallery to unpack a shipment that had arrived late for a showing the next day.

Thinking they were in the clear, they'd gone up to her room. About twenty minutes later, Joyce came into Buffy's room to see her daughter underneath Spike, gasping, moaning, and very naked... in the middle of their orgasms.

"She is just a child!" Joyce cried, angry, upset and more than a little unhappy that she was having to deal with this now. She knew that teenagers were having sex far younger than Buffy, but, she just didn't want to see her child go through any of that.

"Mom... I'm sorry." Buffy said quietly. "But, I love him." Spike froze. Sure, she'd written those words in the journal where he kept his poems, but, she'd never said the words to him. His unbeating heart swelled. "And, I know you're upset and disappointed, but, it would of happened sooner or later."

Joyce faced Buffy. She seemed a little less angry than before. She stroked Buffy's hair, before facing Spike. "Did the two of you use protection?"

"Yes." Spike lied easily. There was no way he could explain to her that there was no need without dragging out what he was, or what Buffy was for that matter.

"I'm not happy about this at all." Joyce sighed. "You're older than Buffy, a fact which I brushed aside because I could tell she really liked you, and I thought you'd be more respectful of not only her but of myself as well."

"I respect you, Mrs. Summers. And I respect Buffy more than you could know. And," He sighed. "I love her more than I've ever loved anyone."

He smiled at Buffy when she let out a squeak of surprise. Her were wide and her mouth was opening and closing, like she was going to say something. "You do?" She finally managed.

"Yeah."

Joyce ruined the moment by launching into how Buffy would be seeing a gynecologist first thing after she got from school the next day, and how the two were not to do anything until Buffy was on birth control.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy was rushing towards her house. She had a date with Spike in less than an hour and she had to get ready... she was a mess from training with Giles. "Gotta get home. Gotta get home... Ahhh!" Buffy was down on the ground before she knew what hit her. "Sonofa..."

"I'm sorry, Buffy." Buffy looked up to see Angel standing over her, his hand out to her.

She stood on her own, pretending to not have seen his offered hand, and backed away from him. "Uh... hey, Angel."

"It's been a long time."

"Not long enough." She thought. She wasn't angry with him. No. She'd gotten over that the second she and Spike first kissed. It was just... weird. "Yeah, it has been."

"I've really wanted to talk to you. It just felt like it'd been too long. That this would be too awkward."

"You took the words right out of my mouth." She laughed a bit. "So, how's Drusilla? Giles' said you wanted to get her a soul. How does she feel about that?"

"About Dru, Buffy, you gotta understand..."

"Angel, I do. I'm okay with it. Really. I mean, it was a shock at first. But, I'm okay about it."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Buffy, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about. I thought about mentioning it to Giles, but, I didn't want to bother him anymore than I already have. Spike used to be with Drusilla. After she and I..." Angel looked away for a spilt second. "He was gone. All his things... his minions."

"He must of left town, right?" She shrugged, hoping to turn the conversation away from Spike.

"That's what I thought too. But, a while back, I saw one of his minions at the butcher shop getting a truckload of blood. I just thought you should be careful. He might have something big planned."

"Yeah. I will. Thanks. Look, I gotta run. My mom's expecting me home." Confused by Angel's little bit on news concerning her lover, she turned away and started walking.

"Buffy, wait." She stopped and faced him. "We can be friends, can't we? I'd hate to lose you in my life."

"Of course, Angel." She tried to smile, but couldn't. All she could think of was Spike... and a minion of his getting blood from the butchers?

She'd kind of accepted he'd gone on hunting, but was perhaps discrete about it. Funny she was willing to let him, if he had been. But, what Angel said, that meant he wasn't feeding, right? Or his minions. For her?

She have to ask him about it tonight, that was for sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel frowned as he watched Buffy walk away. She'd almost crashed into a street lamp. She'd always been a strange girl, but, something was wrong.

He decided he'd better follow her home. No sense in getting her killed by some stray vamp because she wasn't paying attention to where she was walking. He made sure he was far enough behind so she wouldn't sense him.

When she walked onto her street block, past a large bush, a vampire jumped out at her. Or more particularly, Spike. He grabbed Buffy around the waist, his mouth latching onto her neck.

He knew Spike was up to something!

Buffy let out a yelp, shoving him away. Angel was going to rush over to help her, but didn't when she spoke, "Spike! You startled me!" She socked him lightly on his arm.

"Didn't sense me?"

"I was thinking about stuff."

"Like me, perhaps?" The blonde grinned, moving to hold Buffy around her waist. Angel wasn't sure if that, or the fact that she placed her arms around him as well, shocked him more.

"Sort of. Spike, I heard that you had your minions buy blood... from the butchers."

"Yeah, I do. What of it?" He let go of her and lit a cigarette. Angel knew this was a habit the blonde had picked up in his fledgling days. Whenever he got nervous or uncomfortable, he'd light up a cigarette. "Who told you? Red?"

"Willow knows? Why does Willow know and not me?" Buffy pouted.

"So, Red didn't squeal. Who told you, Buffy? Was it Dalton? I swear I'll wring his bloody neck..."

"Angel told me. Just a little while ago."

"You spoke to the Poofter?"

"Only for a minute."

"Didn't let him get too close, did you? If he smelled me on you, I'm dead."

"Er."

"Huh?"

"Deader. Duh." She giggled. "No. He kinda stood far away from me the whole time. But... I didn't think he could smell... wait, does that mean other vampires can smell... what we do?"

"Probably." He tossed the cigarette to the ground. "What'd you two talk about?"

"Nothing, really. We kinda bumped into each other on accident. But, he seemed like he wanted to make sure my girlie feelings weren't hurt 'cause he's with Drusilla."

"And were your girlie feelings hurt?"

"You of all people should know how glad me and my girlie feelings are to him for that night." She took his hand in hers. "I mean it, Spike, that I love you."

"I know, Buffy." Spike pulled her to him and kissed her.

Angel just stood there, hidden by his distance and a few trees, horrified, shocked and jealous. He'd always hated his grand-childe. But, he'd never more wanted to torture him and see him burst into a cloud of dust than in that moment.
 

Part: 10/?
Notes: Thanks for the reviews and the patience. :)

Buffy bit her lip. Spike wondered if she kept biting long or hard enough, if she would bleed. That thought had his eyes fixed on her lower lip as he was being grilled by her father.

He'd simply nod or grunt his responses. That, he knew, would gain him little favor in Hank Summers eyes. But, he really didn't care. Though Buffy only praised her father to him, even when mentioning his obvious ho women, Spike knew the mans lack of actual parenting and bonding time bothered and hurt both Summers women. In Spike's eyes, the man was not worth his time or effort.

Buffy's red, swollen lips were a much more interesting point of attention, anyhow.

"What exactly do you do, William?" Hank asked, intentionally moving into Spike's area of vision after seeing where the boys gaze was.

"I uh..."

"He goes to Sunnydale U, Dad. I told you that the last time we talked on the phone." Buffy said, quickly.

"What's your major?"

"Hank, Buffy's told you all of this before." Joyce interrupted. "Dinner's all ready."

That evening was planned out to be a nice dinner with Spike joining Buffy and Joyce. He was also being allowed to spend the night in Buffy's bedroom, (seeing as how the next day was her birthday and a weekend), so long as the door was kept open at all times. Spike figured Joyce thought they wouldn't try anything if there was the chance of her popping in at any moment. But, Spike knew they'd try something. He was a very creative man after all.

But, then Hank had shown up. He'd wanted to be there for his baby girls birthday. Joyce had tried to explain that Buffy would be spending the chief of the day and night with Spike, and a couple of hours with her friends, but, Hank had pretended not to hear.

Nobody would be able to say Hank Summers was a deadbeat, or bad dad. All he had to do was put in a few extra hours with the ex and the kid, and he'd be a great dad.

The four of them sat down at the table. The tension was thick as Joyce served them with Buffy's help. They ate in silence for sometime before anyone spoke.

It was Joyce. "What hotel are you staying at, Hank? Maybe Buffy could visit you between the things she has planned."

"I actually didn't book a room." He said, his mouth full of pasta. "I was hoping I could stay here."

Buffy paled. "Here?"

"Yes. Wouldn't you like that, Sweetheart? I can make you and your mother my famous omelets in the morning."

"I..." She glanced at Spike, then Joyce.

Joyce shrugged. "Would the sofa be alright?"

"I guess if you don't mind sleeping on it..." He glared when Spike choked on his food.

"She meant you on the sofa, Dad." Buffy said, patting Spike's back.

"Oh... right." He laughed a hollow little laugh. "I was... just joking around."

"Yes. Always the kidder." Joyce muttered with a roll of her eyes.

"So," wanting to divert attention from himself, he faced Spike, "Buffy says your twenty. Don't you think you're a bit old for her."

"S'only a three year difference." Spike answered. "Doesn't seem like such a vast difference. I mean, I could be a hundred years older than her."

"Yeah." Buffy slapped a hand over her mouth when she laughed. "That'd be uber old."

Hank frowned at the two. "How long have you been seeing each other again?"

"Almost three months." Buffy and Spike answered in unison.

Hank frowned at the dreamy look his daughter got whenever she looked at Spike. As though he were the end all be all. He didn't like that. Weren't father's supposed to be that for their daughters until they were much older?

The rest of the meal was spent in silent simmering tension. The tension broke into full fledged anger, on Hanks part, as Buffy and Spike headed up to her bedroom right after dinner.

"You're letting her take him up to her room?" He shouted at Joyce. Buffy and Spike stood on the steps, watching the scene below them.

"He's spending the night here, Hank." She said taking a shaky breath. She had hoped to put off telling him for as long as possible. She knew just how he would react.

"What!?! You let that man sleep in her bed?"

"This is just a one time deal." Joyce explained. She would never tell him abut the time she caught them together, or Buffy's later confession that whenever she was out of town, Spike would spend the night. "The door to her bedroom will stay open, I'll be down the hall. It's perfectly innocent."

"Nothing about," He glared and pointed at Spike, "him is innocent."

"This is not up for discussion, Hank. All Buffy asked for her birthday was to be able to spend time with William. Besides, she's very mature, as William is respectful."

"Daddy, please, Spike and I won't do anything. Don't be mad." Buffy, for all she was, sounded so much like a little girl. Spike remained silent, holding Buffy's small, shaking hand in his. His thumb making itty-bitty circles in her palm.

Hank mumbled something and marched into the living room. Joyce told the two goodnight before they rushed up to the sanctuary of her room

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy smiled when she sat up. The sun was peeking out from around the shut blinds. She was officially seventeen. And, it looked like it was gonna be a killer day. Her lover lay sleeping still.

They'd spent most of the night up, talking and trying to do stuff without arousing Joyce's (who'd stayed awake all night, continually walking in on them), suspicions. Even Hank had gone up to check on them his fair share.

Buffy bent and placed a kiss atop Spike's unruly hair. He always looked so gorgeous first thing in the morning. It made her heart do little flip-flops to think that she was privileged enough to see him like that as often as she did.

She slid her hands under the tight tee-shirt he wore, raking her nails over his sculpted abs. A smirk played over his lips when she did it. "I think I could get used to this sort of wake-up call." He murmured in that sultry bedroom voice of his. Buffy shivered. God, how she wanted him... how she loved him. He pulled her on top of him and kissed her softly. "Morning, Beautiful. Happy birthday."

"Mmm... good morning to you too." She smiled against his lips assault on her own.

"Think your mum would object if we showered together?"

"Spike..." Buffy , she was going for a firm tone, but ended up giggling.

"What? She never said we couldn't, per-say."

"I'll thank you not to ravage my daughter while I'm under the same roof." Both blondes looked up to see Joyce in the doorway. She was smiling a bit. Spike made Buffy happy, she could see that. And, since giving the threat of making Buffy stop seeing him if her grades were bad, Buffy's grades had actually gone up. She was getting "B's" in her classes. All the girl needed was the right incentive. Maybe it wasn't what the best parents would do... but, she wanted Buffy to live. She wanted her to be happy. And, she knew Spike would never hurt her.

Buffy was in good hands. Though... she wasn't too ecstatic about the literal part of that.

Buffy moved away from Spike, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Morning."

"Happy birthday, Buffy." She held out a small box. "There's more, but, I wanted to give you this first."

"Yea! Presents already!" Buffy squeaked, hoping up to grab the box. She shook it before ripping at the pretty and lovingly put on wrapping. Buffy pulled out a green dress she'd seen at a store that had cost over a hundred bucks. She'd mooned over the dress for days. "Oh my god, Mom ,thank you!" She jumped up, clutching the dress in one hand, and hugged Joyce tightly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You welcome." She hugged Buffy back. "Willow called. She wanted to know what time you were going to meet them for breakfast."

"Ugh." Buffy made a face. She hated having to hang out with her friends. It wasn't that she didn't love them... 'cause she did. Well, she still sort of hated Cordy... but... she tried to be nice for Xander's sake. She just didn't want to spend all day with them... and leaving Spike trapped in the house with her father was so not of the good.

Sure, he could run out to his car if he really wanted to. But, he was still at risk of walking into an open windowed living room. She had debated telling her mom. But, she was still so afraid of being rejected for being the slayer-freak that she was.

"Guess I'd better call her back." She folded the dress and laid it on the bed. Spike snatched it up immediately and began examining the scar of lace and silk she'd no doubt end up wearing for what he had planned later that night. Buffy called Willow and told her she'd meet her, Xander, Oz, Cordelia and Giles in an hour.

Buffy rushed to shower. She put on skin tight pants that flared at the bottom, and a tank top. "I'll try not to be too long." She kissed Spike's cheek as she yanked on a pair of huge platforms. "Please don't kill my dad."

Spike smirked evilly. "I wouldn't kill him. Can't guarantee anything else, though."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Bye, Spike."

"Wait, Luv..." Buffy stood in the doorway. Spike searched though his duster for his car keys and tossed them to her. "There's something for you in the trunk."

"You got me something? You didn't have to get me anything."

Spike shrugged, looking mildly embarrassed. "Saw it and thought of you."

Buffy ran down stairs and out to Spike's car that was in the driveway next to Joyce's SUV. She popped the trunk to see a long white box there. There was a red bow on top that looked like it had seen better days. There was a little white card with her name scrawled in Spike's writing. She pulled the lid off and grinned. It was a long black coat, just like his, except new and it fit her perfectly.

She slipped it on and went back inside to thank him for it. After twenty minutes, she made it back downstairs and said goodbye to her parents before going to the restaurant where she was going to meet her friends at.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Happy birthday, Buffy!" Everyone shouted when she rushed into the little back room the hostess had ushered her in to. Willow, Xander, Cordelia, Oz and Giles were there, throwing confetti in the air and blowing into little party favors.

They each hugged Buffy... even Cordelia. It did seem as though it pained her, however.

Everything was wonderful. The presents, the food. Buffy was glad she'd come. Sure, spending time with Spike would have been better, but, this was good.

Except... something was wrong with Giles. Everyone else seemed to be having fun, but, the Watcher gaze was leveled on his slayer. Buffy couldn't figure it out, but, it was making her uncomfortable... and very nervous.

She didn't doubt for a second that Willow wouldn't tell everyone about her and Spike. But, she wondered if maybe she'd let something slip by accident. She had been playing cover for Buffy since she found out... but she was the worst liar.

When he'd gotten up to pay the bill, she followed. "Giles, is something wrong?"

"I don't know, Buffy. You tell me. Angel called me two nights ago, telling me he had something disturbing to tell me about you. He was going to show me whatever it was tonight. Now, you can tell me whatever this is now, or wait until Angel inevitably tells me."

Buffy bit her lip. Angel knew. Two nights ago was when she'd bumped into him. Maybe he did smell Spike on her. Or maybe he'd gone by her house later and saw Spike's car in the drive.

"I-I'll tell you. But, not here... not in front of them."

Giles frowned a little more. "I had hoped Angel was making something up. Apparently not."

They walked back to the table. Buffy's head hanging low.

"Did you like your presents?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, thanks again, guys."

"Yes, unfortunately, Buffy and I have to train. It's a requirement for slayers to make sure they are up to par with each passing year. We will see you this Monday."

"Buffy?" Only Willow noticed the look on Buffy's face.

"I'll call you later Will." Buffy said before following Giles out onto the street.

"All right, Buffy, what is this disturbing news?"

"It's not... not bad, so to speak. Just..." She took a shaky breath. "SpikeandIhavebeentogetherforawhilenow,butIswearhe'sstoppedhunting."

Giles stopped walking. He removed his glasses and blinked rapidly. "Could you repeat that? I thought I heard you say you and Spike have been... together?" He let out a bark of a laughter. "I must of been hearing things. At least now whatever it was won't seem so terribly awful."

Buffy shook her head, tears spilling from her eyes. "That's it. He's at my house right now. He... he spent the night. He bought me this coat for my birthday. I love him. And, he loves me."

Giles laughed again before swaying and falling towards the ground. Buffy caught him before he hit the cement. "Giles?" She whimpered. Of all the things he could have possibly done... the man fainted like a little girl. She'd expected yelling, or furious cleaning of his glasses at the least. Definitely not fainting.

She looked up when a crowd started gathering. "Is he all right?" "Do you need help?" "Should we call am ambulance?"

"He'll be fine. I think getting an ambulance would be a gross misuse of Sunnydale's emergency workers." She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Jenny Calendar.

Five minutes later, Giles was still out cold. Jenny pulled up to the curb and they got him in her car. "What happened Buffy?" She asked.

"I told him something. I guess he wasn't too happy with it... not that I blame him."

"What did you tell him?"

Well? What was one more person? Everyone would know soon. "Remember Spike?" Jenny nodded. "I've been with him for, like, three months. Willow's known for a while. I guess Angel found out. He was gonna tell Giles. It's better that I'm the one that told him, right? Isn't that's how it supposed to work?"

Jenny sighed. What had she ever gotten herself involved in by coming to Sunnydale? It was supposed to be so simple. Make sure Angel suffered for his crime against her people... against humanity. She wasn't supposed to care for these people. To share their pain.

"I wish I knew how he would react, Buffy. But, I don't. Spike's tried to kill you all numerous times."

"Only a few times." She mumbled. "Ms. Calendar, he's gonna hate me and I don't want him to. They all will. They won't understand that I love him... that he completes me. I mean, Willow's known, but, she's always saying he'll kill me if I turn my back, and that's not true. He's changed. He really loves me."

Jenny didn't say anything. She knew what happened to her people at Spike and Drusilla's hands after Angel got souled. There had been no torture, but, the carnage... their clan was depleted greatly because of him and Drusilla.

She'd been working for months trying to translate the curse. She'd give it to Giles once she was done. Until then, she'd held her tongue about having the actual curse in her hands. She'd happily curse Drusilla. She needed to suffer for her crimes against her people. Maybe she could do a curse on Spike too. Assuming she could find more than one Orb of Thesulah.

**I had more I wanted to write to this chapter, but, this is all I got... and I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up since my muse booked a one way trip to Paris. :( But, I do think the next chapter will still be Buffy's birthday.
**Again and again, if you wanna be the first to know when I update, you can 1. Join my mailing list, or 2. Send me your e-mail and I'll add you to this fics update list.

Part: 11/?
Dedication: The chapter is dedicated to Pat. Thank you. :D
Note/Apology: This is really short, because I can't think. I can't write. I can't nothin'. I had most of this done from before my muse went bye-bye, so I figured I'd brush it up and post it.

Waiting had never been one of Buffy's strong suits... especially when it was waiting to get yelled at. At least, she thought Giles would do some serious yelling once he woke. Jenny had been upstairs, talking in a low tone to him. What she was saying was beyond Buffy.

Her mind kept drifting to Spike. Spike who was trapped all day indoors with her parents. And, she was due home soon. Only now, she wouldn't' be able to go until Giles was awake.

Jenny walked down the steps. Her face was grim. "Rupert is awake. I told him you were here, but, he told me he doesn't want to see you right now."

"What?" Buffy felt like crying. "But, he needs to understand..."

"He just needs some time to digest it, Buffy. Go home. Enjoy your birthday. I don't think he'll be talking to you about it today."

Buffy glanced upstairs. She couldn't see Giles from where she sat. "All right. Tell him I'll call him later?" Jenny nodded as Buffy left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike had essentially locked himself in Buffy's bedroom. He told Joyce he would be on the phone most of the day making sure his arrangements for his night with Buffy were going as planned. She happily excepted it. It was a lie, of course. He'd had everything set up since the night before. And, Dalton was making sure everything remained perfect.

He'd only gone out once to shower and change for the night. There was something especially erotic about showering in Buffy's innocent bathroom. Whatever it was, exactly, he wasn't sure, but he'd spent nearly two hours in there doing lots of not showering.

When he walked back into Buffy's bedroom, he father was sitting on her bed, holding a stuffed animal in his hands. He set it down as he saw Spike. "I wanted to have a word with you."

"Okay." Spike ran his fingers through his wet hair, sitting in front of Buffy's vanity hoping Hank wouldn't see his lack of reflection.

"Buffy's a naive, young girl. Only seventeen. You, you're much older than she is. Frankly, I don't like that. Don't you think it'd be much better for her to be with someone her own age, if at all."

"I don't know. Buffy and me, we seem just about perfect for each other." Spike answered shortly.

This was the last thing he wanted right now. Lookin at the clock on Buffy's bedside table, he saw she'd be back soon, then he wouldn't have to put up with Hank's crap.

Hank glared at Spike and stood up. "You do know, regardless of whatever Buffy thinks she might be feeling towards you, her family... her father's wishes would always come first."

"And her mum's would come even before that, and Mrs. Summers likes me. Are you really willing to alienate Buffy more than she already is from your life just because you don't like me?"

"Is that a threat?"

"No. I'm just sayin', things are already testy between the two of you. Say she does end it with me because you ask or tell her to... don't you think she'd always resent you for that?"

Hank moved to the door, his back to Spike. "You're no where near good enough for her." He just needed to get that final dig in. And, boy, did it go deep.

"I know. S'not gonna stop me from loving her and trying to hold onto her for as long as I can."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy bounded up to her room quietly, passing her parents in the dining room without being noticed. She opened her bedroom door, shutting it behind her.

Spike was sitting at her vanity. A forlorn, sad look on his face when he looked up at her. It was gone almost immediately, but, she had seen it. "Spike, Angel knew. I don't know how or when, but, he was gonna tell Giles. So... I told him instead." She went and sat down on his lap.

"What'd he say, Luv?"

"Nothing. He kinda fainted. Ms. Calendar told me that he said he didn't want to talk to me when he woke up." She wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled his neck. Being in his arms... it made it worth all the heartache she was going through, all the disapproval she knew was facing her come tomorrow.

"I'm so sorry, Pet."

"Don't be." She looked up at him, placing her small hands on his cheeks. "I wouldn't give you up for anything or anyone in this world. I'm just worried about what might happen to you. Angel, or Giles, or the Watchers Council. But, I'd never let anyone hurt you."

Spike pulled her head down to his and kissed her. Their lips fused tightly together, opening together to allow Spike's tongue into Buffy's mouth. All Buffy's worries for the moment melted away.

All there was for her was Spike. Thought, to be honest, ever since that first night, all there was, was Spike. But, when she was in his arms, nothing could touch them. Nothing could taint the pure feelings of love she felt.

Nothing could make her doubt his love for her. Which is what she knew Giles would most likely do. He'd question Spike's motives.

Not that she would ever doubt Spike. She could see the love he held for her in his eyes every time he so much as glanced at her. It would be all over his face whenever they made love.

Spike slid his hands under Buffy's shirt, caressing the skin of her back. His fingers deftly flicked the clasp of her bra. He kissed along her jaw-line as his hands journeyed to caress the sides of her breasts.

"Spike," She panted, pulling his head away from her neck. "My parents are still downstairs."

Spike sighed, resting his head on her shoulder. He quietly re-clasped her bra and moved his hands from under her shirt. "Party pooper." He pouted.

Buffy giggled. "Speaking of which, when are we going for my mysterious night out with my ever so handsome boyfriend?"

"You still up to it?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"'Cause your Watcher knows about us. I don't want that to be a cloud over tonight for you."

"The only thing that could ruin tonight is staying in and worrying about it." She kissed him again before hopping off his lap to get her new dress out of the closet. "Besides, I look way hot in this dress an who knows when I'll get a chance to wear it again."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel was near growling as he headed home a little after sunset. He was impatient to hear from Giles so he could take him to see Buffy and Spike together. But, earlier Dru had complained about being hungry, so, he'd headed to the butcher's via the sewers.

The only reason she's been hungry in the first place was that, in a fit of anger, she's thrown all the packets he's had into the garbage disposal. Which was another thing. He'd have to remember to call someone to see about getting that fixed.

Along with the butcher's blood, he'd gotten some human blood from Willy's. He figured that might sate her better than the usual pig or cow blood. It was a whole lot more expensive that butcher's blood... and he had the sneaking suspicion that Willy charged him more than the usual.

He quickly unlocked the apartment door and stepped in. "Drusilla, I'm back. I got you some human blood." He called, heading to set it in the fridge.

As he finished putting it away, he looked up to the wall where he'd left Drusilla chained earlier. The wall was broken off where the metal had been attached. The links of the chains twisted and broken.

He looked around; all of her stuff was still in place. Everything but that stupid doll.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The inside of a cave, across town, was lit brightly. It was decorated for a party. And, it was a festive occasion, after all.

An assortment of ten demons and vampires were setting up the final preparations when Drusilla walked in. "Hello, Dearies. What have you gotten Mummy for her birthday?" She clutched Miss Edith, who was dressed in her new dress, tightly to her.

One demon stepped forward. "This is what we have for you." He knelt, holding out a small slip of paper.

Drusilla took it and looked it over. "Miss Edith is very pleased with the present you have gotten me."

"We have something else, Mistress." Another demon spoke. He held a young girl, bound and gagged, in front of him.

"And more pretty surprises." She clapped, delighted. "Tonight, my pets, shall be the best birthday I've ever had."

Part: 13/?
Notes: Wow. Talk about uber-delays on this, huh? I'm so sorry it's been forever since I've done anything with this. But... yea... new stuff.
A/Note: I'm not really using my "sputiehead@aol.com" e-mail anymore, so for those who've archived this, or any of my stuff, or if you wanna e-mail me for whatever reason, the e-mail I'm using the now is "blackqueenphoenix@yahoo.com"

"Hey Wills, what's wrong?" Xander plopped down on the sofa next to Willow. They were at Cordy's house. Oz was flipping through a mass of CD's on the other side of the room. Cordy was in the kitchen being a good hostess by getting her guest's drinks.

"Nothing." She replied absently. That was a lie, of course. Something had been up between Buffy and Giles earlier and she was a little more than worried that that something was Spike. There was no way that their relationship could be kept quite forever.

They were together too often nowadays. People must know. Maybe someone had tipped Giles off. Or maybe he'd just found out on his own.

Spike hadn't exactly been discreet in renting out the Bronze for Buffy's birthday. She knew about it... and she hadn't even been in the loop. His and Buffy's name had been tossed around by the Bronze's employees when people asked why it was going to be closed.

"Okay. Uh... how're things with Oz?"

She smiled at the thought of her boyfriend. "Good." She looked over at him, and he looked at her at the exact same moment. Her smile brightened and a faint smile cracked over his usually stoic face. "Really good."

"That's, uh, good." Xander squirmed a bit.

"And with you and Cordy?"

"Super." He answered a little too quickly.

"Xand, what is it?"

"I'm afraid she'll break up with me. Her friends have been..."

"Making fun of her since you two started going out?"

"Yeah."

"I think you should give her more credit than what you're thinking. Kinda wacky how much you two like each other considering all of our childhood was spent with the two of you hating each other."

"I think maybe it was just misplaced passion."

"When did you get all wise?"

"'Round the same time Buffy started boinking the undead. Kinda opened my eyes to things."

Willow's eyes widened. "What?"

"Will, I'm not an idiot. She's been practically MIA for months now. She and Angel must be back together."

Willow sighed in relief. Not that Xander was an idiot... he was just very blissfully ignorant. "That's not why she hasn't been around. We both know Angel's with Drusilla."

"Well, he hasn't been around lately. Maybe he dumped her and got back with Buffy."

"No. Trust me, that's not why."

"Then why hasn't seen been around?"

"Uh... her mom. She's been wanting major bonding time. That's partly why. And, she's been doing all kinds of extra school stuff to keep her grades up."

"Well, that's good. I really didn't like Angel. I mean... he was a vampire for goodness sakes! Could she pick a worse person to hook up with?"

Willows intended laugh came out as a snort. "I guess not?"

"You guess not what?" Cordelia walked into the room, carrying a tray full of drinks and snacks.

"Guess that Buffy couldn't go out with a worse person than Angel."

"Well, Harm said she's seen Buffy with some complete goth guy in the Bronze a few times. At least Angel's..." She stopped mid sentence at the hurt look Xander was giving her... knowing very well how that sentence ended. "You know, I really hate that they allow people to rent out the Bronze."

"Wait... Buffy's been going out with some guy?"

"That's what Harmony said. She said his name was Sparky... Spanky... or maybe Sparkly. You never know with those freaks. Whatever it was, it was something lame."

"Willow, did you now this?"

"Know what?" She squeaked. "I don't know anything."

Oz walked over. "I wonder if that's the same guy that talked to you that night?" Willow shook her head and waved her hands frantically. "Wasn't his name Spike?"

Willow groaned and buried her face in her hands. She knew she'd forgotten to tell Oz never to mention Buffy's undead lover in front of anyone. She kinda thought he would have gotten the whole not telling anyone thing when Spike had confronted her.

Oz must have realized his slip and looked as shame faced as he could possibly look. "Sorry."

"S-p-p-pike?" Xander's face contorted from surprise, disbelief, then to shock and disgust.

"Isn't Spike a vampire... the one who wanted to kill us? And almost killed Buffy when she was all weepy, weak costume possessed girl on Halloween?" Cordelia asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was an hour or so later when Xander finally stopped grilling Willow about what she knew. She stayed as true to Buffy as she could. But she did tell Xander that it was true. He was her best friend... they'd grown up together. She couldn't completely lie to him.


She knew Buffy would be hurt because of that. She was worried a little more about what Spike would do to her.

"So why aren't we at the Bronze right now? You know... staking his evil, undead butt for trapping Buffy."

"Because, Xander, she's in love with him."

"Maybe he has her in some thrall thinggy... like the Master..."

"I don't think that's what it is. And, if it was some evil trick, he'd of killed her by now. He's probably had plenty of chances."

"I'm with Xander. We should go to the Bronze." Cordelia said. "I mean, who are they to think they should have the Bronze all to themselves on a Saturday night?"

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