Chapter 20: ‘What the Hell Is Going On Here!’


A/N: This chapter is kind of all over the page…hope it makes sense, soon.


“Buffy,” Willow called from the bedroom door, softly, apparently too afraid of the bound Slayer to just waltz inside, again. This was odd, really, since it was Buffy who was trussed up like a Christmas Goose, not anyone else, right?

“Oh, just come in, Wills,” Buffy sighed in exasperation and nodded her head at her red haired friend. “You will anyway, whether I really want you to or not…”

Willow shuffled into the room, careful to keep her eyes off of Buffy. Buffy, on the other hand, continued to stare, hotly, at Willow.

“Wesley’s here,” Willow mumbled, never even looking at Buffy. “He downstairs, with Giles and Xander, waiting to come up and see you. “Can he?”

The red head finally looked at her ‘ex-best friend’ sadly.

‘She’ll lose it completely, before this mess is over,’ Buffy realized, eyeing Willow, almost, but not quite concerned.

“Of course,” Buffy blurted, eagerly, “hopefully he’s come with some back up and to talk some sense in you assholes!”

“Well, he is here to talk, that’s for sure,” Willow blushed brightly, but Giles wouldn’t let those guys, Gunn and Lindsey? I think that’s their names. He wouldn’t let them come inside,” she finished with a scowl.

“Bring him in!” Buffy cried, trying not to let the relief in her voice show. ‘If anyone can talk some sense into Giles? It’s old Wes, that’s for sure,’ Buffy reasoned to herself.

“I am here, Buffy,” Wesley Pryce hurried into the small room, a worried look on his handsome face.

“Are you all right, dear,” the young Watcher asked with concern. He gave Buffy a quick respectful ‘once over’ with his dark eyes. Just to check things out, tentively.

“No, I’m lousy,” Buffy groaned, feeling another pain hit her, right in the chest area. Especially right in her heart region.

“I know,” Wesley whispered in sympathy, “Spike’s not doing too well either, I’m afraid,” he added with a grimmace.

“Spike! What’s wrong with him?” Buffy cried in anguish, ignoring her fresh pain, again in the heart area.

“He’s feeling a bit peckish, dear,” Wesley shook his dark head sadly. “Much as I fear you are?”

“In the heart?” Buffy murmered, fearfully as another ‘sympathy’ pain overwhelmed her yet again.

“Yes,” Wesley sighed with a heavy heart himself. “Your mate is suffering, as you are, I fear. I tried to talk to Giles, make him understand, but…” Wesley’s voice trailed off, weakly.

“Oh, I understand,” Buffy hissed, suddenly feeling a little more power then she had before. “They’re assholes,” she growled, her green eyes filled with yellow fire.

“Yes, they are,” Wesley nodded in agreement as he patted Buffy’s little hand. “I’m not giving up, Buffy,” he assured the Slayer, “just taking a break and trying to figure out another course of action. One that is successful, I hope,” he finished with another sigh.

“There is the Riley Finn factor,” Wesley mumbled, under his breath.

“What? Who?” Buffy gasped in shock. “Riley? What about him?” she asked through narrowed eyes.

“Gunn and Lindsey,” Wesley stammered, “they caught Mr. Finn out, before school, I guess. Took him to Angel and Spike to use as a bargaining chip. With the others, I mean,” the young Watcher nervously shrugged his shoulders and avoided the Slayer’s green eyed gaze.

“Good for them!” Buffy cried, gleefully, completely shocking Wesley, well, kind of surprising him, mildly that is.

“They, Angel and Spike, thought that Finn would make a perfect patsy, or hostage, I should say,” Wesley rambled, excitedly. “I have not told Rupert or the others that we have this ace up our sleeve,” he continued in a conspiritory whisper. “However, I have told them that you are not the first Slayer to mate with a Master Vampire. It has happened, at least twice before, that we know of, anyway,” he added with a bright blush of his own.

“Get out of here!” Buffy giggled, for the first time in days. “You mean that a sister Slayer, or should I say ancestor Slayer of mine got jiggy with a Vampire?”

“Well, if you mean ‘mated’ by the term ‘jiggy’ then yes,” Wesley blushed again. “Once, almost two-hundred years ago, in Germany, or somewhere Slavic. Another time, way back when, well over a two thousand or so years ago. In Rome, it was,” Wesley murmered, deep in thought. “The ancient tomes claim that the Slayer was from the Julian line of ancestry.”

“Julian?” Buffy scrunched up her brows, trying to remember that ‘name’ in her head. “You mean like the calendar?” she asked, innocently.

Wesley had to laugh, well, chuckle, kind of at Buffy’s naivity. “Well, yes, sort of,” he smiled down at the poor little bound Slayer. “However, more the that? I mean Julian as in the ‘House of the first Caesars’ that is.”

“No way,” Buffy gasped again, truly intrigued by now. “You mean like Julius Caesar? The big guy? The great Emperor dude!” Her green eyes were round as saucers by this time.

“Yes,” Wesley laughed out loud, happy to see Buffy’s color return to her face, briefly anyway. “However,” he grew serious, “if you knew your history better, Buffy dearest? You would know that the name of ‘Julius’ was taken from the female line of the earliest of the Caesars. It began as ‘Julia’ and belonged to a few very formidible, truly great women of the family. Including Caeser’s Aunt Julia, the woman who groomed Julius himself.”

“Wow!” Buffy exclaimed, stunned at the implications here. “So you’re telling me that a Slayer, from thousands of years ago got cozy with a Master Vampire? A really big, bad vampire from the time of the Caesars?”

“So it would seem,” Wesley replied with a warm smile at the young girl. “It makes sense, really,” he continued, deep in thought. “Slayers are strong, beyond reason. Physically, emotionally and mentally. Just as Master Vampires are. Makes perfect sense that a Slayer chosen from one of the most monumental families in history would choose a mate from the enemy’s lineage. Political marriages have been a main stay of society for thousands of years. I’m not saying that these matches, the ancient one and the most recent,” Wes continued, “were totally political. Apparently, they were true love matches, based on passion with a little power thrown in for good measure. Much like you and your mate’s match? At least, that is what I gathered, correct?”

“Correct,” Buffy whispered, a little overwhelmed by all this political, passion play intrigue.

“Spike and I, we love each other, Wesley,” Buffy assured the young man.

“I know that Buffy,” Wesley sighed, “but where the Council is concerned? Most importantly, where Rupert Giles and your friends are concerned? The love and passion part are insignificant in this matter. However,” he continued, his expression brightening a little, “if I were to ‘push’ the positive aspects of the polictical or power issues of your match with William the Bloody?”

Buffy watched Wesley, carefully, finally, perhaps getting what the man was trying to tell her.

“If you make Giles see what’s ‘good’ about Spike and me? How truly phenomenal a match between us could be?” Buffy mumbled, verbalizing her thoughts. “Then he might relent and come to our side in the matter?” She began to smile, just a little at the thought of this new turn of events.

“Exactly!” Wesley gushed, happily. “And I do believe I can get Rupert to see things our way,” he nodded eagerly. “It’s this Rayne fellow that bothers me, though,” he added with a frown.

“Ethan Rayne is a fucking moron,” Buffy hissed, suddenly very angry and unhappy again.

“Buffy!” Wesley gasped at the vulgarity from the Warrior of the People.

“Well, he is,” Buffy pouted.

“Hey, Giles,” Buffy greeted the Watcher, hovering in the doorway of the bedroom. “Care to come in? Have a little history lesson via old Wes here?” The greeting would have been ‘nice’ if Buffy hadn’t used such a sarcastic tone.

“He’s already ‘enlightened’ me, Buffy,” Giles grumbled lowly, his own mouth twisted in a silly pout.

“Please, Rupert,” Wesley stood up from the bed and motioned for Giles to join them. “I think I have some information that may help change your attitude, as to our Slayer’s ‘marriage’ with William that is.”

“She’s ‘my’ Slayer, Pryce,” Giles grumbled, again, as he shuffled over closer to the bed and sat on the empty chair beside it.

“Buffy,” Wesley began, his voice almost a scold, “is a young woman, Rupert. Her own woman and therefore, she should be treated as such. I just wish you would come to your senses man and see the positive aspects of this mating. With one of the strongest, most intelligent Master Vampires as a mate, Buffy will be more assured a ‘future’ for herself. William the Bloody, who apparently loves ‘your’ Slayer beyond reason, is the perfect mate and partner for Buffy. Even Angel agrees with this.”

“Hmph, Angelus!” Giles snorted in disgust. “There’s a bloody great judge of a mate for Buffy, I must say.” The older Watcher crossed his arms in anger and glared at the younger Watcher with a stubborn grimmace.

“I am in the room you know,” Buffy growled lowly at both of the Watchers. Suddenly, she cried out in anguish, her mouth twisted in pain and fear.

“Fuck!” Buffy screamed shrilly, unable to place her hands over the source of her physical pain, her chest.

“Buffy,” Giles leapt up from the chair and clasped his Slayer with his gentle hands. “My God, are you all right dear?” he cried, desperately.

“No!” Buffy cried back at him. “I won’t be all right until Spike and me are united, can’t I make you see that?”

“She is correct, Rupert,” Wesley confirmed Buffy’s statement. He hovered behind Giles, anxiously watching the little Slayer’s reactions.

“I, I only want what’s best for you, Buffy,” Giles stammered, his voice shaky with threatening tears. “Just wanted you to have a normal life, normal love and maybe even a family someday. Is that so wrong?” The older man could not bring himself to look into his Slayer’s lovely green eyes.

“I don’t ‘get’ normal, Giles, not ever,” Buffy hissed, still in pain, apparently. “I probably don’t even get a future life. Especially if you keep me from my mate,” she whimpered.

“Rayne claims he can break the spell, dear,” Giles murmered, more to himself then either Buffy or Wesley.

“Rayne’s a fucking liar!” Buffy hissed harshly. “He’s just using you, me and every one of us. For his own agenda, Giles, dammit! Why can’t you see that?”

“It’s true, Rupert,” Wesley said evenly, getting a bit frustrated himself, however. “I doubt if Ethan Rayne can break this spell and if I remember him? He ‘is’ in this for his own selfish motives. And, I am sure that they are evil motives as well,” the young, handsome Watcher nodded, a serious look on his face.

Ethan Rayne, Xander Harris and Willow took that opportune time to enter the bedroom.

“My ears are burning,” Rayne chuckled in a sadistic tone, “you aren’t talking about ‘me’ are you? Very rude Ripper. And you Wes? Come now, the ‘proper’ way you boys were raised? I’m shocked!”
The old wizard grinned, wickedly and sauntered up to the bed.

“Are you filling my collegues’ minds with little Slayer lies, Miss Summers?” Ethan smiled, but menacingly, down at Buffy.

“No,” Buffy replied, glibly, “just telling them the fucking truth, asshole.”

“Tell them, Wes,” Buffy blurted out, suddenly. “Tell them about the ‘ass’ up our, oh, I mean, ‘ace’ up our sleeves.”

“Angel and Spike have a ‘bargaining’ chip in their possession,” Wesley began, carefully. He sounded very diplomatic, at least Buffy thought so.

“What would that be?” Willow asked, warily.

“Riley Finn,” Wesley replied simply and held his breath.

“What!” Giles gasped. “You can’t be serious! How in the bloody hell did Angel and Spike get a hold of Finn?”

“Well, actually,” Wesley grinned, slightly, “it was Charles Gunn and Lindsey that acquired Mr. Finn. On the Sunnydale University campus, I believe,” he ended with a smug tone.

“This is just a power play!” Xander interjected, “just a way to make us feel pressured to hand Buffy over and…”

“They ‘will’ tear him apart, piece by piece,” Wesley interrupted the silly young man, Harris. “Finn that is. Angel will bring Angelus out to play with the boy. Make him pay, dearly, for aiding in this ridiculous farce of all of yours. One thing you must remember,” Wesley continued, his handsome face was deadly serious. “Angel puts ‘his’ family first, above anything else. William the Bloody is his family, just as Buffy now is.” Wes nodded down at the grinning Slayer, then gave her a wicked wink.

“My employer, Angel, will do anything he must to secure William’s mate, Buffy, back to his Grandchilde. No human laws, or human soul will ever come before that. Or stop Angel from that intent.” Wesley finished with a warning look at the humans present and shrugged his fine shoulders.

“Riley knows the pitfalls,” Xander mumbled in the background, “knew what all this might entail. He’ll take the punishment from those sick fucks, like a real man and…”

Again, Xander was cut off, but this time by Buffy, first.

“Harris,” Buffy hissed as she shot deadly glares at Xander, “if you ever call my mate, your superior, anything like fuck, blond menace, peroxide boy or evil undead thing, again? When I’m out of here? I’ll rip ‘your’ body limb from limb and see how you like it!”

“Angel happens to be my friend, besides my employer, Mr. Harris,” Wesley Pryce sputtered, indignantly. “I do not want to hear his name slandered or him called anything but Angel. Is that clear, boy?” The young Watcher matched Buffy’s ferocious glare with one of his own.

“Okay, okay,” Xander backed up and down, simotaneously. “I won’t be calling either of the Deadboys bad names. I get it,” he grumbled and kicked the dresser with his right foot.

“Ouch!” Xander cried in pain.

“This is ridiculous,” Rayne sighed loudly and strode to the bedside. “Ripper,” he grunted, exasperated beyond anything. “Just call the police and inform them that a young man is being held against his will, it’s that simple, really. You always did make things so bloody difficult, Rupert.”

“Oh, that’ll just be great,” Buffy chuckled, finally saying something again. “Send Sunnydale’s finest over to save Riley Finn so they can find out that old Giles here is holding ‘me’ hostage? That’s gonna’ be just great front page news, eh Wes?”

“Doubtful,” Wesley replied, dryly. His smirk was noticed by everyone in the room.

“Then let the boy die,” Ethan Rayne shrugged, indifferently. “A mere loss, compared to the losing of the greatest Slayer that ever walked the face of the earth, right?” Rayne smiled, manevolently, at Buffy and Wes. “Besides,” the evil genious continued, “I’m near the spell to break the claim and…”

“See here, Rayne,” Giles began, quite fed up with everything by now. “All human life is important and while I wish Buffy would come back to us, on her own accord and such, I can’t have a young man’s life torn from him because…”

“Besides,” Buffy broke in, maliciously, “you know damn well, Rayne, that there is ‘no’ way to break the claim. Especially if neither me or my Will don’t want it broken. Don’t you?” She grinned, smugly, noticing that Ethan looked very, very uncomfortable at that very moment.

“You little bitch,” Ethan began in a harsh, angry voice. “You think you and your fucking vampire lover can take on me and win? Just because you spread those long, lovely legs of yours and…”

A loud noise, much like the slamming of a huge, oaken front door, disrupted the ‘conversation’ that was going on in the bedroom.

Before anyone in the room could make a move, a very flushed, very enraged ‘mother’ made her appearance in the bedroom’s doorway. A virtual ‘mama lion’ in the guise of Joyce Summers stood, glowering in the doorway, anger radiating from her body.

“Just what the hell is going on here? And why the hell is my baby being held hostage in this God damned prison!” Joyce roared so loudly, that the rafters of the Giles’ house shook in fear.

 

Chapter 21: ‘Buffy Unbound!’



“So, is anyone going to let me know just what the hell is really going on here!” Joyce Summers roared again as she strode over to the bed where her daughter, Buffy was being ‘held’ against her will.

“I suppose we have ‘you’ to thank for calling in the re-enforcements, eh Wesley?” Giles groaned fearfully. The Watcher eyed Joyce, a little more then intimidated by this formidible woman.

“Actually, no,” Wesley countered, taking off his glasses and wiping them on his crisp, white shirt. “I believe it was my wife, Cordelia, that rang Mrs. Summers, on the telephone,” he grinned, a proud tone in his voice.

“It was,” Joyce growled at Rupert Giles, then glared at Xander and Willow. “Pity it had to be my daughter’s one time cheerleading rival who had to let me know what was happening, here. I’m really ashamed, of all of you,” Mrs. Summers hissed at the shamefaced people, Giles, Willow and Xander who were present in the room.

“Joyce,” Xander stammered, “we just wanted to protect Buffy, make sure that we get her away from that ‘thing’ she fell under the spell of and mated with…” Xander cringed in disgust at his own words.

“My daughter is perfectly capable of deciding who and what she mates with, Xander Harris,” Joyce snapped at the dark haired man. “And for the record? I’d rather have Buffy ‘mated’ as you so politely put it, to a real ‘man’ like Spike, then some other males I could think of!” Joyce glared at Xander Harris with total contempt.

“Get her out of this,” Joyce ordered Willow, specifically, having figured out who was behind the invisible chain crap. “You get my daughter out of this and set her free, Willow Rosenberg,” Joyce spat, “or I’ll rip your red hair out of your head, strand by strand and…”

“Joyce, please,” Giles gasped, “there’s no need for violence here. Willow was just trying to help us and Buffy. We believe she’s been seduced by Spike’s thrall and has no voice in this so…”

“Mom,” Buffy finally piped in, “there’s no thrall, no seduction, unless you consider the great sex that Spike and me have together that is. I…”

“Buffy, please,” Joyce sighed heavily, “I don’t want to hear about my daughter’s sex life, even if it is with her mate. However,” Mama Summers spun back around and glowered at Giles, Xander and Willow, oh, and on this ‘newcomer’ guy with them. “If you don’t release my daughter, immediately? I’ll wreck such havoc on all of you that…wait a minute,” Joyce halted her tirade and really ‘scrutinized’ this new man who stood before her.

“I know you,” Joyce gasped in shock, “you’re the little maggot that orchestrated that Band Candy fiasco, from last year! You turned us all into teenagers again, through the candy and caused the mojo that ended in Giles and me….” Joyce turned ten shades of red and swallowed, hard. “Nevermind,” she gulped weakly.

Ethan Rayne raised his well plucked right eyebrow and smirked at the lovely Mrs. Summers. “Can you say ‘police car’ Mrs. Summers?” he chuckled, smugly.

“Whatever!” Joyce hissed, turning her wrath once again on Rupert Giles. “Make Willow break the chains on Buffy,” she ordered her daughter’s Watcher, firmly.

“Joyce,” Giles began, carefully.

“Don’t you Joyce me, you, you, sick old reprobate!” Joyce cried, angrily. “My daughter has given and given, for years, to you and your sadistic group of old bastards that you call the Council. She’s risked death, turning, horror at every corner, just because ‘you’ and a bunch of old control freak fucks said she should. That it was ‘her’ duty. Well, now she wants something for herself, with the ‘man’ she loves and I’ll be God damned if she’s not going to get it!”

Joyce looked as if she was about to explode, literally, from all of the righteous indignation that had built up inside of her. Her face was bright red, still, and her blue eyes burned with hatred and anger for everyone in the room. Everyone, except of course, Wesley and her own child, her Buffy.

“Mommy!” Buffy suddenly cried out in desperation, “it hurts!” the young woman shrieked, desperately. Tears of anguish began to pour down Buffy’s cheeks as the intense pain in her chest multiplied, by the second.

Joyce Summers threw her body onto her daughter’s prone one and cuddled her close. She then roared, once again at Willow, “release her!” before burying her face into her only child’s damp, chilled neck.

“I’m going to, Joyce,” Willow cried, her voice filled with agony and remorse. “Release….!” Willow began the magic chant to free her best friend from her invisible bonds.

“I think not,” Ethan Rayne hissed, striking Willow’s long arms down. He pushed the red headed would be witch aside, virtually silencing her, for the moment anyway.

“This little Slayer is mine now, you, none of you pathetic, useless morons have any say in this. Not anymore,” Rayne continued, smugly. “New game plan, Ripper,” the old wizard chuckled.

Rupert Giles looked physically ill by this time. Probably finally realizing that Ethan Rayne was as evil as always, no matter what he had promised.

“Buffy becomes ‘mine’ now, completely. I’ll take her, and her evil undead lover away with me. Don’t try and stop me, Ripper,” Ethan raised his fist and held it before Rupert Giles. “If you don’t let me leave here, safely, with the Slayer? I will make sure that her vampire mate is dust before the next sunrise and she will die, Rupert. Your precious Buffy will die from want of her dead mate. Do you understand, Ripper? I am more powerful then your little witch here,” Rayne grinned in contempt at the now fuming Willow.

“I’m more powerful then you ever hoped to be, Ripper,” Rayne spat in even more contempt at his one time friend. “You never understood that, did you Ripper? That you are a weak, worthless, useless piece of shit, Rupert Giles!”

‘Meanwhile, over at Oz’s’


Spike eyed Riley Finn, with contempt, wondering just how much of a headache it would cause to beat the shit out of old GI Joe here.

“What?” the now wide awake Riley asked Spike, warily. He’d seen the way Spike was watching him. Almost like he, Riley, was on the menu for Spike’s next meal.

“Just thinkin’ Captain,” Spike chuckled, wickedly. “About how it’d be worth a fucking migraine. To kick your sorry arse that is. For takin’ my baby, Buffy, and causing us this pain. But, you’re good at causing pain, aren’t you Cardboard man?”

“Fuck off,” Riley spat, confident that Spike wouldn’t do a damn thing to him. Not and risk major head pain in the process. Unfortunately? Riley did not truly understand how much Spike really loved Buffy and how much he wanted to avenge his mate.

Spike leapt up from his place on the chair, and before Angel could stop him, the blond vampire flung himself at Riley Finn. He began to pummel that smirking human, mercilessly, even as the chip in his brain flamed like a burning fire. Ignoring the searing, unbearable pain in his head, Spike continued to beat Riley senseless. After untieing the feckless human, Finn, of course. Spike was nothing, if not fair that is. To keep Riley tied up, while Spike kicked his arse? That just wouldn’t be cricket, now would it?

Angel stood back, watching his Grandchilder beat his old enemy, Riley Finn, to a pulp. It nearly killed the master vampire, Angelus, to see his childer, Spike, suffering the enabling pain of the piece of metal that this fool, Finn had helped ingage in his head. But he allowed the gory, brutal beating to take place anyway. Feeling a sense of self-satisfaction and pride at his Grandchilde’s strength and self-sacrifice in this tribal rite of revenge.

After all, Angel reasoned, Riley had helped the enemy take Spike’s mate from him. Aided them in binding and holding Buffy, for purely selfish, egotistical motives. Angel was not fooled, as Spike was not. Riley had hoped to secure Buffy for himself, after all this was finished and William the Bloody deserved retribution against his and his mate’s trespassers.

As Riley fell off the couch, nearly beaten to death, Spike fell backwards from his nemesis and back into the chair he had occupied earlier. Spike didn’t have a visible scratch or bruise on him, but Angel could tell that his Grandchilde was suffering, physically, in his head and heart. Terribly.


Before Angel could comfort his Granchilde’s distress, Spike reared back his handsome head and directed his gaze at the apartment window.

“Sunset!” Spike roared, suddenly. The blond vampire pushed himself up from the chair and stumbled, drunk like to the front door. “Let’s roll, Angelus,” Spike hissed at his Grandsire. “I’m going to go and break my Buffy out of that prison. Tonight!” he growled gleefully, his vampire and husbandly prowress overpowered the pain the chip had caused him, just moments before.

“I’m going too,” Oz offered, grabbing his car keys. “I’ll drive,” the short, red-headed wolf boy stated.

‘At Giles’

“So you think that we’ll just allow you to take Buffy out of here?” Willow finally spoke up. In her strongest, most indignant Willow voice, that is.

“You have no choice, little Witch,” Ethan chortled, evilly. “I’ll take what I want, no worries there. And Buffy is what I want. Even if it means having to drag that worthless vampire scum with her, to make the deal complete. Eh, Slayer?” Rayne grinned at Buffy, who frowned back at him.

“You can’t just accept this ‘thing’ between Buffy and Spike!” Xander cried in disgust. “Take Buffy, if you have to, Rayne,” Xander continued, stunned. “But at least kill off the evil undead thing that’s confused her,” he pleaded. “I’ll go with you,” Xander rambled, ignoring the horrified looks from the rest of the humans present. “I’ll ‘help’ you with Buffy and…”

“You’re a fool, little boy,” Ethan hissed at Xander in contempt. “I don’t need you, you little worm. Don’t need you or even that vampire your Slayer is so hot for!”

“Enough!” Willow screamed loudly. “I’ll free you, Buffy,” the red head whimpered, rushing over to the bed to join her friend and Joyce. “I ‘will’ release you from this binding spell and break the barrier around this house!”

“Oh Fea,” Willow began, reverently, “nasgaidh…”

Rayne broke Willow’s concentration with his own spell words, his face contorted in powerful anger:

“Potens unus,” Rayne began his steady chant in Latin, “necto sua ut mei!” He continued, in a gruff even voice. (This translates from Latin to) Mighty one, bind her to me…


Willow leapt at Ethan Rayne and pushed him, with all of her strength to the floor. The little witch began her own chant, again as she held her hands out and down over Rayne, menacingly.

“Oh mor Fea,” Willow cried loudly, nasgaidh an, a’ saoi abh a’ aiteam!” (Translates from Olde Irish/Gaelic into English: “Oh great Fea; release her, the warrior of the people!”)

Buffy felt the restrainsts that had bound her, for days now, fall from her hands, wrists and ankles. She lay there, on the little bed/prison that had held her for what seemed like months, for just a moment longer. Getting her bearings, so to speak.

As Buffy rose from the bed, she gently moved her mother off of her and stared at Xander Harris. “Here puppy,” Buffy hissed, sarcastically as she closed the gap between her and Xander.

Xander stepped back, quickly, trying to make a run for the bedroom door. He stumbled and fell to the floor, right next to Ethan Rayne.

“You really need to work on your dance steps, Xand. You’re a bit clumsy on the uptake,” Buffy chuckled wickedly, pulling her ex-best friend up from the floor. She raised Xander up to meet her glare, face-to-face, and then oddly enough, grinned, maliciously at him.

“It’s payback time, little buddy,” Buffy purred, silkily as she drew back her right arm. The one that had just regained it’s strength, shockingly quickly, that is.

Buffy pulled back her right arm and then swung her right fist, full force, into Xander’s terrified, stupid face. Xander flew from Buffy’s clutches, backwards into the guestroom wall. His body hit the wall and fell, useless onto the floor there.

When Buffy was satisfied that Xander would be ‘out’ for a while, she turned her vengeful glare down on Ethan Rayne, who still lay on the floor of the bedroom. Buffy leaned over, grasped Ethan by his collar and pulled him, roughly up off of the floor.

“Remember me?” Buffy chuckled, wickedly at her nemesis. She gave Rayne the evillest, most self-righteous ‘look’ she could manage.

Meanwhile, outside, around Giles’ house? The barrier that kept Spike and all other vampires and demons, and yes, even Lindsey and Gunn out? It cracked into a million invisible pieces, even as Buffy began to kick Ethan Rayne’s sorry ass.

Spike, Angel and Oz arrived, outside on Giles’ lawn, just in time. Just in time to ‘hear’ the clear barrier crack apart and disintegrate before them.
 

Chapter 22: ‘Reunited’


Buffy continued to kick the shit out of the now, nearly lifeless form of Ethan Rayne. Finally, Xander, from his position on the floor, close by, cried out, “enough!” to the Slayer.

“You’re the Slayer, Buff,” Xander whined loudly, “you can’t ‘take’ human life. Only demon life and…”

“Kick his ass, baby!” Joyce exclaimed at the top of her lungs. “He put the mojo on your mom and Giles here, last year. Now the son-of-a-bitch tries to come between you and Spike! Kick the shit out of him, honey,” Joyce finished with a self-righteous roar.

After one, final good kick to Rayne’s ribs, Buffy halted her onslaught of the man. “Xander’s right, for once,” Buffy grunted, “I’m the Slayer and I don’t take human life. Doesn’t mean I can’t kick the hell out of this worthless piece of shit though,” she finished with another swift kick to Rayne’s ribs.

Ethan Rayne lay groaning on Giles’ guest bedroom floor. He looked as if he’d had the shit kicked out of him, which, basically? He had.

“Buffy!” Spike roared, victoriously from Giles’ front yard.

“Spike,” Buffy exclaimed joyfully in reply.

“Go,” Joyce pointed out the window and gazed at her daughter, sternly. “Your mate is waiting for you,” the mother smiled benevolently at Buffy.

“Go on, Buffy,” Giles sighed in defeat. Rupert glared down at the semi-conscious Ethan Rayne, who lay at his feet. The old man’s blue eyes were filled with tears of shame.

“You may be bound by Slayer scruples, not to take a human’s life, dear Buffy,” Rupert added, an evil smirk appearing on his fine mouth. “However, I have no such boundaries as that,” he mumbled gruffly. Giles eyed Rayne’s limp form in disgust.

“You can’t be serious!” Xander squealed in shock. “We can’t just let Buffy waltz out of here. Into that evil undead ‘things’ arms and…”

“Put a lid on it Xander,” Willow growled at her best friend. “It’s over!”

“Not if I kill that fuck, Spike!” Xander grumbled, menacingly. “I’ve got a crossbow, right in the other room and when that bleached blond menace enters this house, I’ll…”

“You touch a hair of my mate’s head, Xander Harris?” Buffy hissed as she stalked up to the dark haired man. “I’ll rip your balls off and shove them down your throat!” Buffy growled, a low, throaty sound, like a she-wolf.

“Buffy,” Xander began, in a whimper.

“I mean it Xander,” Buffy continued, gruffly. “My mate and I want to be left alone, completely. From now on. Understood?”

Xander searched his life-long obsession’s green eyes, deeply. He saw the anger, hatred for him and yes, love in their depths. Love for Buffy’s mate in her emerald green eyes.

“I understand,” Xander replied, sadly. “We just wanted to help you Buffy,” he offered, weakly, his heart breaking, silently.

“Go,” Giles pointed at the door of the guest bedroom. “The last thing I want or need is for two pissed off master vampires coming in here and…”

“See ya’ all!” Buffy called as she flung the bedroom window open and hurried out onto the ledge. She had no intention of leaving by some mundane route, such at the door and hallway!


“So,” Angel slapped his grandchild on his leather clad back. “I’m thinking that it’s a pretty sure thing that you and I have carte blanche to enter the Watcher’s house?” The tall, dark vampire grinned wickedly.

“Right,” Spike rasped as he pulled from his grandsire’s hand and headed towards the front door of Giles’ house.

“Spike!” Buffy cried, from all places, the Watcher’s second story window ledge.

Spike gazed up at the most beautiful sight he’d ever witnessed in his whole unlife, or his human life for that matter.

His mate, his Buffy was perched on the window ledge, smiling down at him. Her honey blond hair flew wildly about her lovely face and shoulders.

“Wait there,” Spike ordered his mate, lovingly, “I’ll be right up!”

The blond vampire leapt onto the elm tree that reached up, well over the roof of Giles’ house. He scurried up the trunk and reached the second story window in seconds.

‘Bless vampire speed,’ Spike thought to himself, proudly.

‘Bless vampire speed,’ Buffy thought to herself, so proud of her mate, Spike.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Spike leaned over, from the branch he perched on and swept Buffy into his strong arms.

Spike smothered his Buffy’s face, mouth and neck in a million kisses. Some soft as kittens’ kisses and others passionate and strong, like the man he was.

“Oh, baby,” Spike moaned into Buffy’s sweet mouth. “God, I’ve missed you, needed you. Love you so much, sweetness,” he whimpered.

“Me too,” Buffy sighed against her mate’s chest. “I would have died without you,” she purred, gazing up into her Spike’s indigo blue eyes.

“I would have too. Again,” Spike whispered, just before he took Buffy’s mouth with his, passionately.

“Take me home, baby,” Buffy pleaded softly, as she wrapped her arms, even tighter about her man’s neck.

“Immediately,” Spike murmured in reply, even as he leapt from the tree branch, Buffy securely in his arms.

Spike literally ran, with Buffy in his arms, off in the direction of the Summers' home. Their home, together.

“Well,” Angel sighed, suddenly calm after all of the upheaval. “What do you say, boys?” The dark haired vampire grinned at Gunn and Lindsey, evilly. “Should we go in there? Kick ass and take names?” Angel practically squealed in anticipation of the upcoming battle in the Watcher’s house.

“Oh yeah,” Gunn hissed in pleasurable anticipation himself.

“I’m in,” Lindsey chuckled wickedly, as he rubbed his hands together.

“Oz? Care to join in the fun?” Angel nodded at the red-haired wolf-boy in question.

Oz, who was always reserved (?) and rarely spoke, just shook his red head, slowly.

“I’m finished here, man,” he sighed at Angel. “As far as I’m concerned? From here on in?” The hybrid man/wolf mumbled softly, “this is over for me. I’m through with this so called gang of do-gooders and my girl, Willow,” he finished with a shrug of defeat.

Angel noticed that the short part-human young man’s hazel eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears. However, the souled vampire said nothing about it.

“See ya’ all around,” Oz called back at the trio on the front lawn as he sauntered off into the night. The two men and one vampire watched Oz leave, until he disappeared from sight.


‘Meanwhile, back at Buffy’s house…’


Spike and Buffy hadn’t stepped one foot into the Summers’ home, when they both began to tear at each others’ clothing, desperately.

“I’ve missed you baby,” Spike rasped, lustily, even as he ripped his Buffy’s top off, up over her shoulders and head.

“Me too, I mean you,” Buffy hissed in desire, as she tore her Spike’s shirt open and pulled it off of his shoulders.

“Love you,” Spike gasped, especially when Buffy grabbed his cock, through his jeans.

“Love you,” Buffy moaned, rather loudly, especially when Spike pulled her half naked body to his half naked body.

Before Buffy knew what was happening, she felt herself being lifted up, once again, in her mate’s strong arms. Spike carried Buffy up the staircase, into their bedroom and laid her on the bed, tenderly.

(Okay, so it wasn’t all that tender, but it sounded good!)

After flinging his half-naked body on top of his wife’s, Spike began kissing her. Starting with her soft, silky forehead, then her funny little nose; then her cheeks. Back up to her eyes, and down to her mouth.

“Mmmmm,” Spike purred, silkily, “my Buffy’s sweet mouth,” he hummed in pleasure. He ran his rough hands, gently, over Buffy’s silky skin.

“Likewise,” Buffy purred in response as she twirled Spike’s curls, right at his neckline, with her tiny fingers.


“I love you. Welcome home,” Spike and Buffy stated to each other, in unison…
 

Chapter 23: ‘Plans’


A/N: Time for the final chapter of this tale. I might do an epilogue, I’m not sure, but this chapter should at least answer some questions as to Buffy and Spike’s future plans.


Summary: Spike and Buffy make love and reclaim each other. That’s really pretty much it, except that they come to a decision about their future plans.


Spike did not waste any time at all as he thrust into Buffy’s slick, wet, hot and oh yeah, tight core. If the vampire had learned one thing from this whole drama of the past few days, it was that time might be short. Even though it was a well known fact that vampires could possibly survive eternity.

Buffy was now everything to Spike and he was sure she felt the same way. She had accepted and returned his claim after all. It was a claim that meant more then even human wedding vows.

“I love you,” Spike rasped as he pummeled into his mate and kissed her sweet face, desperately. “Never leave me again,” he ordered, unnecessarily.

‘As if,’ Buffy thought to herself, giddily. ‘Leave him? Never.’

“Never,” she repeated out loud to her mate as she thrust up with her slim hips to meet his.

“I love you too much to ever leave you again,” Buffy gasped out between her moans of pleasure.

“See to that,” Spike growled lowly, his blue eyes were now tinged in the amber fire of his possessive demon. “I wouldn’t want to have to rip the western hemisphere apart, searching for you, Princess. I would do it, of course, but why waste this great shagging time together and…”

He hissed in deep pleasure when his Buffy clenched her cunny muscles around his engorged cock.

“You wouldn’t want to rip apart North America? Or even Europe, Africa, Asia and oh yeah, Australia for this?” Buffy nearly giggled as she clenched that ‘special’ muscle once again around her mate’s wonderful, huge, delightfully cock.

“I said,” Spike panted as he nearly gnawed on her cheek and jaw, then her lush lips. “I wouldn’t want to have to, baby, not that I wouldn’t. For the record,” he continued in another ‘grr argh’ growl, “I would rip apart the fucking world to find you. However, why waste the time when we could be doing this together and all? I’d rather skip the searching for you, tearing apart bodies and heads off and all that crap. Beating down our enemies to get to you? Not when we could be together, the two of us, doing this and all? Right?”

“Right,” Buffy moaned as she felt herself cum for the third time. Or was that the fourth, or the fifth? Oh, hell, who gave a damn if she had lost the number count?

“That was my fifth,” Spike suddenly blurted out as he came deep within Buffy. “My glorious, wonderful, amazing and effulgent fifth orgasm in the last two hours my precious, dear, sweet love. My mate. My wife,” he finished with a rather nice moan of his own.

“Right,” Buffy giggled saucily, “the fifth time. That was it!”

“Bite me,” Buffy murmured into Spike’s ear after he had collapsed on top of her, again. “Claim me again, baby,” she coaxed him with her deft little hands.

“Mmmmm,” he purred in contentment. “We should reclaim each other, sweet,” he advised. He had not moved an inch from his last position atop his Slayer. However, he was careful not to crush her in any way with his weight.

“Sounds like a plan,” Buffy whispered, silkily. “Maybe we should do it now, huh?” She met his indigo blue eyes with her emerald green ones. Her expression was a mix of wonderment and innocence. It was a Buffy ‘look’ that Spike loved so very much.

“Sounds like a plan,” Spike responded with that deep, gruff chuckle of his that Buffy loved so much.

Spike wasted no time, again, in thrusting into his wife and pounding into her, lovingly, of course.

Buffy eagerly offered her silky, exposed neck to her husband. They both moaned in ecstasy when the Spike sunk his fangs, tenderly, into the very spot he’d claimed Buffy with the first time.

As they rode out their sixth orgasm (yes, count them, six!), Buffy used her blunt teeth to bite into Spike. In the very spot she had claimed him with the first time.

“Mine!” Spike roared loudly in pleasure as he came.

“Yours!” Buffy responded in pleasure.

“Mine,” Buffy panted her mates' words as she came.

“Yours, always,” Spike responded in another roar.

Afterwards, the couple lay, entwined on the bed that Buffy once slept in alone. They were wrapped up, completely in each other and near exhausted sleep from their love making.

“Princess,” Spike broke the comfortable silence between them. “I need to ask you something,” he said, a slight pause in his voice.

“Uhm huh,” Buffy purred in response, barely able to keep her eyes open after all their activity.

Spike suddenly propped himself up, on his left elbow and gazed down lovingly at his mate. His dark brows were scrunched together in thought and his blue eyes looked clouded with concern.

“What is it?” Buffy asked, suddenly a little anxious by the look her mate’s face.


“We need to make some plans,” Spike mumbled quickly. He held her green-eyed gaze with his own dark one.


“Plans?” Buffy asked, a bit confused by the seriousness in her lover’s tone.

“About our future together, baby,” he replied. “About what you and me need to do, very soon. Now, really.” He gave her another serious look and then ran his fingers, gently, down her cheek.

“We need to leave Sunnydale, baby,” Spike sighed heavily. He was not so sure of his Buffy’s reaction, but this had to be said. “And we need to get this done. And the sooner, the better.” Spike knew that although Buffy and he had averted this recent catastrophe, this time? Then? What about the next time? They might not be so lucky.

“Oh,” Buffy whispered. “I see,” she finished with a slight frown. She felt the sting of hot tears in the corners of her green eyes.

“Do you see baby?” Spike asked her. “I mean do you understand what I’m saying? This time,” he continued with a clenched jaw, “it was your little gang of friends. What about the next time? It might be the Watchers’ Council or the fucking Initiative.”

Buffy flinched, visibly, causing Spike to regret his quick words. However, he knew his woman had to hear this and understand the severity of the situation here.

“Baby,” he continued again, evenly, “how long until the Council or your ex, soldier boy, comes around to fuck us over? Again?”

Buffy looked down at her mate’s beautiful, pale chest and swallowed very hard. She was trying very, very hard to be brave and smart about all of this.

“Not long,” Buffy rasped as a lone tear slipped down her cheek. The Slayer was becoming very aware of just what her Spike was getting at. While she and Spike stayed in Sunnydale, they would never, ever be totally safe or at peace. That was a given.

“We need to leave, huh?” Buffy whispered sadly as she buried her blond head into her mate’s strong, cool chest. “You and me? We need to leave here. Go away from my home, my family and all of my friends?”

“Yes,” Spike murmured roughly. “We have to leave, baby. If we ever hope to find peace together and…”

“Then we will,” Buffy replied in defeat. “We’ll leave. You and me, baby.”

“I love you,” Spike purred into Buffy’s warm little ear with is cool, loving breath.

“I know. I’m grateful, Spike. I am grateful for your love and devotion. I am, promise. I’ll just miss…” She began to weep, softly, against Spike’s cool, wonderful chest.

“I’m grateful too, sweetheart,” he murmured into her soft, fragrant hair. “I'm so grateful for you, my light. You are my love and salvation. Never thought I’d have this in this unlife of mine. I've never had it at all. I never had it in my human life either. But now? To have everything I want? You, our future together? Do I deserve it? Probably not, but I want it. Now I have it and I’m not going to lose it. Ever.”

“I’m going to take you away, baby,” Spike promised softly as he snuggled Buffy to him. Her little warm body felt like a silky little glove against his hard, cold one.

“To England, first, I think,” he said wistfully. “Would you like that? Go snoop around in London? Or how about Paris? Rome is wonderful, Buffy,” he continued excitedly. “Oh, the art and the city itself? It's breathtaking!" It’s magnificent. I promise you’ll love the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, baby. The artwork alone will overwhelm you.”

Buffy cuddled deeper into her mate’s comforting chest and began to purr in contentment. She listened to his pretty words and the tales they spun of the things she would see. The woman part of Buffy loved to hear the poet part of her William/Spike ramble on about the beauty in the world.

“I’ll show you things you never thought you’d ever see my Princess. Things the Watchers’ Council could never promise you. Those bastards took your teenage youth, my sweet girl. I’ll give it back to you. I’ll give back the life they took from you. They can’t have it anymore. It’s our life. Together. Yours and mine, sweet Buffy.”

“All the dreams and beauty you thought you’d never have in your short life. I’m going to make sure you live a long, long time, my love. You are going to see the world. You and me, together and when your time is through? I’ll be there, to go with you. To the other side.”

By the time Spike had finished with his beautiful description of their future together. Buffy was sound asleep in his strong arms. Her lovely mouth had the most peaceful, contented and happy expression on it.


 

DANCE OF THE MATES


Epilogue:

Summary: This epilogue takes place about a year after the last chapter of the story. I hope it puts the tale to rest, at least for the present!


‘A letter from Buffy to her mother, Joyce’




‘Dear Mom,

Spike and I are doing just great, here in London, England. Who would have thought that your little girl would end up in one of the history capitols of the world?! Especially since I was lousy at ‘history’ in school, huh? Almost as awful as I was in French! (tee hee!)

Anyway, I wasn’t surprised, a bit, when I heard about Angel and Anya’s fledgling relationship together. Actually, my ex, Angel, always did need a little demon in his woman, and since Cordelia Chase was spoken for? The ‘Angya’ ship is more then expected and certainly whole-heartedly accepted.

Speaking of Cordy and Wesley, I was thrilled to find out that they had a healthy, big boy! I think Wesley Jr. is the perfect name for their child!

As for Oz’s disappearance, after that mess in Sunnydale? Again, I’m not surprised at all. Oz needed to spread his ‘paws’ and take his rock and roll act on the road. Willow was never really prepared to allow that, so…

What does surprise me is the situation between Xander and Willow. Or, maybe it doesn’t surprise me at all. Frankly, I’m delighted! I think that San Francisco is the perfect place for those two to settle down together and start popping out a bunch of Harris/Rosenberg spawns! Don’t you? However, at this point in time, neither I nor my mate, Spike, wishes to lay eyes on either one of them. I do believe you truly understand, right?

Thanks for keeping me updated on the sinister doings of Riley Finn and his precious Initiative. They can’t hurt us anymore, mom, I promise. Just let them try!

As to Ethan Rayne? Well, what can I say about that one? The man was a horrible accident just waiting to happen. That Angel, Gunn and Lindsey had a hand in Rayne’s final demise is inconsequential to me, Spike and most probably to Giles.

Now, we come to my beloved Giles, my Watcher and mentor. The jury is still out on Rupert, mom, and may always be. I loved him like a father, but he did betray me and my mate so…

I leave the rest of my musings up to you and your imagination. I am very happy to see you are dating again. This guy, Ted is it? He’s a good, solid bloke, as Spike would say?

Anyway, I’m signing off now, mommy, with love and kisses. I do miss you and everyone else in Sunnydale, CA. We, Spike and me, will try and stop by there when we hit the States again in a year or so. Spike and I love each other so much, mom. It’s everything that I had always hoped for. (Even if it’s not what you’d call ‘normal’ in the human sense!)

Spike is busy pouring over old tomes of prophecies and such. He believes that he can obtain his soul! Or, maybe even become human again, if he tries hard enough! My mate has this notion that he’s going to ‘go out’ of this world with me, when it’s my time that is. Since I gave up slaying, the most dangerous thing I do is cook meals for the two of us!

My ‘man’ does want to make me happy so he thinks he needs to be human and give me children. I think he’s hoping that some ancient prophecy will give him carte blanche and enable him to knock up his human, ex-slayer of a wife!

The poor dear doesn’t get the fact that I love him, soulless and all. I don’t necessarily need children to make out little family of two complete, but I hate to discourage him. Especially since it gives him something to do during the day when we are stuck inside so how can I complain!

Oh! It’s nearly sundown and Spike has promised me a trip to one of the local museums! I have to go now mummy, but remember this. I love you and admire you for so many reasons.

I will write again soon and please keep the E-mails, letters and phone calls coming!

With love,
Buffy


Finished (at last!)


A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you!