Buffy saw no reason to delay the confrontation with her Watcher so as
soon as Wesley walked away she headed towards Giles sparing a glare
for Wesley as she passed him.  She became aware that Spike was
following her and stopped, turning towards him.  "Let me handle this,
Spike.  Okay?"

"It's on my head more than yours, Buffy.  I shouldn't have bitten you
this morning; I know that.  Giles doesn't trust me, and he'll think
the same as Angel, that I'm doing it to keep you off-guard so that I
can kill you easier.  He won't understand, sweetheart."

Buffy looked into the concerned eyes of her lover and smiled softly. 
Drawing his head down towards her she kissed him slowly and deeply,
well aware that all eyes were drawn to them.  "Just wait here,
honey.  I can handle Giles."

Turning back around, she once again walked towards her Watcher. 
Giles was even more furious and frightened than he had been when he
had first learned of their relationship.  It had been hard enough for
him to accept the fact that Buffy had chosen yet another vampire as
her lover, but to be told that she was allowing him to bite her was
devastating.  It went beyond foolishness.  It was suicidal.

"Let's go into your office," Buffy told him quietly when she finally
reached him.  Giles nodded brusquely and entered the office closing
the door after Buffy.

"So what did Wesley tell you?"

"You know exactly what he told me, Buffy.  That you are allowing
Spike to feed off you when you and he are..." Giles couldn't even
finish the sentence.  He still tried to blank the thought of Buffy
and Spike engaging in sexual relations from his mind.

"Not feed, Giles.  He doesn't feed from me.  Look."  Turning her head
and moving aside her jacket collar she showed her Watcher that the
bite was already healed with only the tiniest bit of pink showing
where the fangs had entered.  "He doesn't even mark me.  The Master
left a scar.  Dracula left a scar.  Angel left a horrible scar. 
Spike doesn't."   Sighing she straightened her collar again and
continued.  "What we do is make love, Giles."  As he turned away in a
gesture of distaste, she latched onto his arm pulling him back around.

"I know you don't like my relationship with Spike, Giles.  You've
made that abundantly clear.  I've also made it clear that I love him
and he loves me.  We make love.  And part of that sometimes - not
often - includes biting.  I like it.  He doesn't hurt me; he doesn't
endanger me.  And he only does it when I ask him to.

"Giles, please understand." she continued, trying her best to make
him see her point of view.  "What Spike and I do gives us both
pleasure, and I'm never in danger from it.  He never takes enough
blood to even make me lightheaded.  It's a taste.  That's all. 

And I like it." 

The last was said with emphasis.

Giles looked hopelessly at his Slayer.  She would never listen to
reason when it came to Spike.  She would endanger her life because
she was so sure that a soulless demon loved her.  And there was
absolutely nothing short of staking Spike that Giles could do to
prevent it. 

Still he tried to reason with her one more time.  "Buffy, if he
should change in his feelings, then you are leaving yourself open to
be killed.  Or worse, turned.  I've told you over and over that he
isn't to be trusted.  And now this.  It's a dangerous game you play,
one that could very well cost you your life.  Please, I'm begging you
now, end this unnatural relationship, and since you obviously can't
bring yourself to perform your duty and slay him, at least send him
away."

"No."

"Buffy..."

"No!  God, Giles are you even listening to yourself?  Every time I go
out on patrol, I could be killed, but you don't try to talk me out of
it.  In fact, you've taught me it's my sacred duty to go out knowing
that it's possible that I might die every time I do.  And now you're
all wigged because you think I'm in danger from Spike, the man who
loves me?"

"Buffy, he's not a man.  He's..."

"Don't say it, Giles.  I know what Spike is much better than you do. 
Look, I think this conversation has hit a dead end.  I told Angel and
now I'm going to tell you.  What Spike and I do is our business, not
anyone else's.  So please, just drop this whole thing.  I'm in less
danger of dying from Spike's love bite than I am of dying from Dengue
fever."  Glancing out of the office window and spotting Anya coming
into the shop, she added, "We have more important matters to worry
about right now, like getting Vampire Willow back to where she came
from.  Okay?"  Opening the door to Giles' office she hesitated. 
Turning her head slightly towards him she said softly, "I hope I
don't have to warn you about not attempting to stake Spike."  With
those final words, she walked out.

Giles stood there alone for a few minutes worried but resigned.  He
could only hope that in the event Spike did loose control that chip
would stop him before things got out of hand.  Sighing, he left the
office also. 

***

As soon as Buffy left Giles' office, a concerned Willow hurried up to
her.  "Buffy, is everything okay?"

"God, Will, don't tell me you're going to get all preachy on me too,"
Buffy said with exasperation.  "Everything's fine, okay?  Spike
doesn't hurt me when he bites me.  I like it.  Get the picture?"

Willow looked shocked at this new information.  "Spike bites you? 
Why?"

Buffy stared in surpirse at her friend and asked, "You don't know? 
Didn't Xander or Angel or that big mouth Wesley tell you?"

Willow slowly shook her head, eyes wide.  "No.  Why does Spike bite
you?"

Buffy looked faintly embarrassed.  "Oh, um, well it's when we, uh,
you know," she stammered out.

Willow looked confused for a moment and then eyes widening in
understanding, she blushed and said, "Oh!  You mean when you and he,
uh..."

"Yeah, then."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Willow looked down at the floor for a few seconds and then asked
quietly, "Why didn't you ever tell me about this, Buffy?  I thought
we could tell each other anything."

Buffy looked uncomfortable and then asked her friend, "Do you tell me
everything you and Tara do when you're together?"

Willow, surprised by the question, blushed deep crimson, gave a
little laugh and said, "Point taken.  Guess I don't give too many
details.  It'd be TMI, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, something like that," Buffy smiled.  After an uncomfortable
pause she asked quietly, "You wigged out about it?"

"The biting?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know.  It could be dangerous, I guess, but I know Spike
loves you like crazy and I don't think he'd intentionally do anything
to hurt you." 

Buffy smiled relieved that at least one of her friends was taking the
news so well and nodded agreement.  Willow took in a deep breath and
asked, "Do you like it?  When he bites you, I mean?"

"Oh god, yes!" Buffy exclaimed with a breathy voice and a laugh. 
"Will, it's amazing."

Just then Giles came out of his office.  Glancing over at him, Buffy
told her friend, "I promise I'll give you full details later, okay? 
We need to get rid of Skank Willow first before I just decide to dust
her."

Willow smiled and whispered, "I'll hold you to that.  I want all the
juicy details."  Looking into the training room, she saw Tara looking
at the young vampire with fascination.  Vampire Willow was looking
with equal interest at Tara.  Deciding that she should join her
girlfriend, Willow hurried back into the room leaving an amused Buffy
behind. 

Buffy watched as Giles walked to the shop door, flipped the sign back
to "Closed" and locked the door.  Anya looked up in surprise from the
cash register she was preparing for the day's sales and said, "Mr.
Giles, why did you relock the door?  It's time for the shop to be
open.  If you lock the door we will miss sales."

"Yes, I'm aware of that, Anya," Giles said, "but we have another
situation today and your assistance is required."

Anya looked decidedly nervous and said hesitantly, "What situation,
Mr. Giles?"

"Come with me please, Anya," he answered walking back to the training
room.

Anya followed her employer with a certain reluctance in her step. 
Buffy waited until she had passed before following.  Giles entered
the training room and waited for Anya to join him.  Anya entered and
then halted in her tracks as if hitting an invisible wall.  "Oh no,"
she wailed.  "Why is she here?  I thought Buffy was going to dust
her."

"Yes, well Angel and Wesley decided that it would be best to return
her to her own dimension.  Buffy has agreed.  We need to know what
spell you and Willow were using that brought her here in the first
place."

Anya felt her whole world dissolving around her.  There was no way
that the two Watchers would fail to realize that the spell was
transdimensional in nature, meant to pull something from another
dimension.  How could she possibly explain that she was trying to
retrieve her "stolen" necklace from another dimension?

Shaking in fear, Anya turned and bolted from the room.
 

Shaking in fear, Anya turned and bolted from the room, only to run
smack into Buffy.  The move surprised Buffy and she fell back from
the impact.  Anya gave her a sharp shove and sped towards the front
door ignoring Giles' surprised voice calling her name.

She almost made it to the door before small, strong hands grasped her
and swung her around.

"Anya, what's wrong with you?" Buffy asked, not a little confused at
the girl's reaction to Giles' request.

"I-I can't do a spell to return her to her dimension.  I-I don't know
what happened.  I just want to leave.  Mr. Giles," she cried out
looking past Buffy to where Giles stood in the training room
door, "I'm sorry I've caused such a problem.  I resign my position. 
I'll just get my purse and go."

She attempted to step around Buffy to fetch her purse from behind the
counter only to find her way blocked by an increasingly pissed-off
Slayer.  "It doesn't matter whether or not you know a spell to return
the vampire to where she belongs.  We have two Watchers here, one of
whom is extremely smart, and two witches, both of whom are also
extremely smart," Buffy explained with forced patience.  "Just give
them the spell you were using and they'll figure out a way to reverse
it."

Anya stood before Buffy, twisting her hands nervously.  Never since
her pendant had been broken had she felt so frightened and
defenseless.  When the Mayor was planning his Ascension, she had just
skedaddled out of town until the danger had passed.  But now, faced
with such a formidable group, Anya was terrified.  What would they do
to her?  She was human now, yes.  But she had been a Vengeance Demon
for over a thousand years.  She had killed more people and destroyed
more lives than she could count.  It had been her spell, her endeavor
to regain her power source, her desperate attempt to become a demon
once more, that had brought forth the vampire.  Would the Slayer
ignore her now human state and kill her anyway? 

Tears welling in her eyes, she looked desperately at Giles and
begged, "Please, just let me go!  Please!"

Xander pushed past Giles and walked slowly towards the distraught
young woman.  Her distress was touching a place deep inside him, and
he felt the need to offer her comfort.

"Anya?  I don't know why you're so upset, but whatever it is, we're
your friends.  Just help us with Vampire Willow and we'll help you. 
Okay?

Xander's voice was calm and when he reached Anya he ran a soothing
hand up and down her arm.  Anya looked at him with tear-filled eyes
and then breaking down she flung herself into his arms, soaking his
shirt with her tears.

"Please don't let her kill me, Xander.  Please!"

Looking at Buffy with shocked eyes, Xander found himself wrapping the
weeping girl in his arms and making calming shushing sounds to her. 
Spike had come to stand next to Buffy and he was watching the current
drama with narrowed eyes.  When Anya had finally pulled herself
together somewhat, he said, "You know, pet, I've felt there was
something not quite right about you since the first moment we met. 
You want to let us in on your secret now?"

"Secret?"

"Well, there's obviously something not right here, Slayer.  For a
young mortal woman she knows too damned much about demons and such. 
She's no family we've ever heard of and from what you've told me, she
just appeared at school one day claiming to be a transfer.  I'd say
there's more to her than meets the eye. 

Am I right, Anya?"

Sniffing and wiping her eyes, Anya nodded her head in defeat.  There
was no use in pretending anymore.  They weren't going to allow her to
leave until they had the truth out of her.  She could only hope that
they would take pity on her now helpless human status.

"I'll help you send the vampire back where she belongs," she said
with a shaky voice.  "Just let me gather up the ingredients, okay?"

"Sure," Buffy said coldly.  "Just as long as you don't try to leave
our sight."

Anya nodded again, swallowed nervously, and began gathering up the
necessary items, her arms filling up with the supplies.  She was
surprised when strong hands reached out to take the overflow from
her.  Xander was standing next to her, looking at her with kind
regard.  Why hadn't she ever noticed how nice his eyes were? 

When she had gathered everything she needed, she slowly walked
towards the training room.  Stopping near the chained vampire, she
knelt down and began to arrange the items in a circle.

"I'm going to need Willow's help again," she stated softly. 

"Please explain to us exactly what you are doing, Anya," Giles told
her firmly.

Taking a steadying breath, Anya replied, "I'm going to perform a
transdimensional temporal fold.  It's nearly the same as the original
spell I cast with the exception that I'll be returning something
instead of trying to call something forth."

"A transdimen...  Are you telling us that you *meant* to pull
something from another dimension when you originally cast the spell?"
Giles asked incredulously.

Anya looked up at Giles and then looked around for Xander begging him
with her eyes for support.  He was standing close to her and reached
out to squeeze her shoulder comfortingly.

"I was trying to recall my pendent," she said in a voice barely
breaking a whisper.

"Pendent?" Giles asked in confusion.  "You lost a pendent in another
dimension?  How?"

Spike was staring at Anya with widened eyes.  "Pendent?" he
echoed. "I'll be fucked!  You're a Vengeance Demon, aren't you?"

Anya gave him a startled look, while Giles and Buffy said
simultaneously "A Vengeance Demon?"

"Sure," Spike answered with a snort.  "Knew one once.  Name of
Halfrek. Had Daddy issues.  You know her, pet?"

At Anya's nod, he continued.  "Vengeance Demons are human women
who've been hurt or betrayed in some way.  Sometimes by men,
sometimes by parents.  Doesn't matter really, just so they burn with
the need for vengeance. D'Hoffryn, the grand poobah of Arashmahar,
recruits these women and turns them into demons.  Then they set about
wreaking vengeance on behalf of those who summon them. Those pendants
they wear are the source of their power."

Everyone was staring at Anya.  "Are you saying that Anya is one of
these Vengeance Demons?" Buffy asked.

"She's human, not a demon," Tara insisted.

Anya gave Tara a tremulous smile.  "I am now, but Spike's right.  I
was a Vengeance Demon until Mr. Giles broke my pendent and turned me
back into a human."

"What?!" Giles exclaimed.  "I did no such thing.  I'm sure I would
remember if I had met you in the guise of a demon.  I've only known
you as a student and now my employee.  And I've broken no one's
pendent"

Swallowing again, Anya explained.  "I was a Vengeance Demon when
Cordelia summoned me."

Cordelia, who had been listening in fascinated silence jerked in
surprise and exclaimed, "I never summoned you.  The first time I ever
saw you was when Harmony introduced us."

Anya nodded.  "That was after you found Willow and Xander kissing,
remember?  You performed the proper ritual, I heard your plea and
answered it."

All eyes now turned to Cordelia who protested, "I never performed any
ritual to summon any demon!"

"Did you not cut up and burn all of the pictures you had of Xander
and did you not weep and wish vengeance against him?"

"Well, yes.  But-but I wasn't trying to summon any demons.  I mean,
he had cheated on me with *her* for god's sake," Cordelia pointed an
accusing finger at Willow, who blushed and looked down.  "I was just
mad and-and humiliated.  I *did not* summon a demon."

"I answered the pain in your heart, the burning of your lover in
effigy, not your words.  You summoned me, Cordelia.  I answered the
summons."

"Xander was *never* my lover," Cordelia insisted indignantly.  Xander
glared at her in reply and she glared back.

"Well this is very interesting," Giles said, "but just how exactly
does all this tie in with your claim that I broke your pendent and
turned you back into a human?  And just where does this vampire
double of Willow come in?"

"Well, you see," Anya said,  "it all came about because of Cordelia's
wish."

"It all came about because of Cordelia's wish," Anya said.

"I didn't make any wish!"

"Yes, you did," Anya insisted.

"Cordelia wished me to be a vampire?" Willow yelped.

"Not exactly," Anya explained.  "Cordelia wished that Buffy Summers
had never come to Sunnydale."

"Oh," Cordelia said softly.

"What?  What did my coming to Sunnydale have to do with anything?"

"She thought that hanging out with you made Xander looked cooler than
he really was."

"Hey!" Xander protested.

Ignoring Xander's interruption, Anya continued.  "She then wished
that you had never come to Sunnydale."

"So?" Buffy asked.  "I wish things all the time. Doesn't make any
difference."

"Makes a difference when you wish to a Vengeance Demon, doesn't it,
Anya," Angel, who'd been silent until now, said coolly.

Anya nodded her head.  "I made it so."

"Huh?"

"I created a reality where you never came to Sunnydale."

Everyone except Spike and Angel gasped in surprise. 

"Good lord, are you telling us that you have that much power that you
can completely change the reality of the world?"

"Had," Anya asserted.  "I *had* that much power."

"So Vampire Willow is actually me?" Willow asked tremulously glancing
over to a very amused double.  The vampire made a kissy face at her,
and Willow looked away in discomfort.

Anya nodded.  "When I made it so that Buffy never came to Sunnydale,
The Master's servant completed the Harvest.  The Master and his
minions were able to take over Sunnydale.  There were very few humans
left.  Mr. Giles was one of them."

"So I somehow figured out that the new reality was false?"

"Cordelia still had memories of the old reality.  She found you and
told you to call Buffy to Sunnydale, that the Sunnydale you knew was
different from the one she knew.  Somehow you figured out what had
happened.  You summoned me which, by the way, really angered me,"
Anya emphasized with a glare at Giles.  "You weren't a scorned
woman.  It was totally against the rules."

Giles merely gave her a steady look and she nervously returned to her
story.  "Anyway you broke my pendent making me human again and
reverting the new reality back to what had been at the exact moment
the wish was made.  I was stuck in the persona I had created to get
close to Cordelia."

"But if our reality was returned, why does Vampire Willow still
exist?" Buffy asked.

"Because once something is created it cannot be destroyed, only
changed.  That reality exists from the time I made it until my
pendent was broken.  Vampire Willow exists in that reality in that
time.  As does my pendent."

Buffy frowned and asked, But if we really lived it why wouldn't we
remember that alternate reality?  I don't remember anything about it."

"No you wouldn't remember it because, to you, it never really
happened.  It's really hard to explain, but the other you wasn't
really the you you are.  Understand?"

"Uh, no."

"So you were trying to reclaim your power source so that you could
become a Vengeance Demon again, is this correct?" Wesley inserted
himself into the conversation for the first time.

"Yes, that was my intention."  Looking around at all the shocked,
disapproving faces, she exclaimed.  "You don't understand!  I hate
being human.  I hate being weak and powerless and friendless and
dependent on a stupid job in a stupid magic shop for my livelihood. 
I just want to be what I was."  Putting her head in her hands, she
began sobbing once again. 

Sighing, Xander knelt down beside the weeping girl and patting her
back gently he said, "You aren't friendless, Anya.  We're your
friends."

Looking up with tear-filled eyes, Anya said, "Are you really?"

"Of course we are. Aren't we, guys?" he said forcefully.  Everyone
obediently if not enthusiastically nodded assent. 

"See," Xander smiled at her.  "You're not alone.  You have lots of
friends."

Anya smiled a watery smile at Xander.  "So does this mean that
Buffy's not going to kill me?"

Buffy looked shocked at the question.  "Hey, I don't kill humans,"
she insisted.

"Oh.  Good then.  I was afraid that since I had been a Vengeance
Demon for over a thousand years..."

"I *knew* it," Tara exclaimed.

Everyone's attention turned to Tara who blushed and said, "Sorry. 
Nothing.  Sorry."

Turning back to Anya Buffy asked, "So how does this work?  When she
returns to her reality, will she remember us?

Anya nodded agreement.  "Probably.  We're not changing anything about
the realities this time, just returning her to where she belongs.  It
should even be to the exact second from which she was taken."

"She won't be able to come back, will she?" Xander asked nervously.

Anya shook her head.  "No, I don't think so."

"You don't think so?  Look, Anya, if there's a chance that The Master
from that reality can come into ours..."  Giving the vampire a cold
stare, Buffy added, "Maybe it's best if I just dust her.  Remove any
possibility of that happening."

"Hey!" the vampire shouted.  Buffy glared at her.

"Oh."

"Willow?  Something wrong?"

"Uh, no.  It-it's just that, knowing she really is me, or rather
another me, it just seems, you know, kinda ooky to just dust her.  I
mean, I understand why you're worried.  The Master, bad.  Turning to
Anya she asked, "Do I understand correctly?  That reality doesn't
exist past the time the spell was broken?"

"It shouldn't," Anya answered.

"So how much time will, uh, Vampire Willow have once she's returned
to her own reality?"

"I'm not sure, but not too long I don't think.  I was trying to
retrieve my pendent from the time right before Mr. Giles smashed it."

"See," Willow said with nervous enthusiasm, "she probably won't have
time to even tell The Master about us."

The vampire started pulling at her chains when she heard this.  Buffy
walked over to her and pulled out a stake.

"Buffy, please!"

Buffy looked at Willow and sighed in surrender.  "Fine, but can we
just get on with it?  I'm really tired of all of this and I'd like to
take a shower and go to bed sometime this week."

"Yes," Anya said.  "We can do it right now."  Looking at Willow, she
said, "I really do need you to help me, okay?"

Reluctantly, Willow left Tara's side and went to join Anya in the
spellcasting.

Buffy moved away from the vampire.  Lowering her head she began
massaging her temples with her fingertips.  Strong, cool hands began
rubbing at the tight cords at her shoulders and neck.  "You okay,
love?"

"Yeah," Buffy smiled at her lover enjoying the feel of his strong
hands on her tense muscles.  "It's just trying to understand Anya's
explanation gave me a headache.  It doesn't make any sense.  That
reality existed for a period of time but then the spell was broken
and we went back to where we were before it was cast but that other
reality still exists for that same period of time.  Oh, my poor
brain."

Spike chuckled and turning her around pulled his Slayer into his
arms.  "You should know by now that things in Sunnydale don't always
make sense, sweetheart.  Look at us."

Buffy had laid her head on his chest when he had pulled her to him. 
Now she raised her head and said softly, "Out of everything in my
life, Spike, you're the one thing that makes the most sense."

Spike swallowed hard fighting to contain the emotions that flooded
him upon hearing her words.  Pulling her tight against him he lowered
his head to rest on the top of hers.  Wrapped in each other's arms,
they clung together in a cocoon of comfort.

Chapter 25:

Tara watched with concern in her eyes as Willow went to join Anya. 
She knew the spell was necessary in order to return the vampire to
her proper place, but there was no doubt that it was an extremely
powerful one and would drain even more of Willow's energy.

"So, I'm a witch here?"

Tara looked at the vampire that wore her lover's face and looked away
again.

"Yes, we both are."

"So, you're what? Her girlfriend?"

Tara merely nodded.

"How come she's doing the spell and not you?"

"Sh-she's stronger than I am."

"She has power?"

Tara swallowed nervously and nodded again.

"Bet she enjoys the power."

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"The spells, the power she wields.  Bet she loves it.  I love my
power."

"She's n-not you.  You're completely different from her."

"Different, but still her.  We were weak and now we're not.  I didn't
know about the magic.  I'd like to have that too.  Maybe the demon's
wrong.  Maybe my reality won't cease to exist once her spell's
broken.  Maybe I'll experiment with magic when I get home.  I think
The Master would appreciate a witch-vampire."  Flicking her eyes up
and down the blonde witch's body, she smirked, "Maybe I'll find you
too.  Then we can have fun like you and she has, only better.  Ever
fuck a vampire?"

Tara turned to walk away from her taunting voice.

"We're really good, you know.  Why do you think the Slayer's fucking
that one?"

At Tara's look of distaste at the her crudity, she gave a mocking
laugh that brought Buffy over.

"I don't know what you're saying to Tara, but if you want to stay
undusted long enough to get back to your own world you'll keep your
mouth shut."

Willow smirked and said, "Just telling her how much fun a vampire can
be, Slayer.  You never filled her in on our staying power?"

Buffy pulled a stake from her pocket and said coldly, "I think I'll
just save the girls all the trouble of doing that spell."

The vampire glared at her.  "You know, where I'm from The Master
killed you.  I saw it just before I was pulled into this world.  He
grabbed your head and gave it a nice twist.  The sound of your neck
breaking was like music."

"Is that right?  Well he killed me in this world too.  But you know
what?  I got over it.  And then I killed him right back."

The vampire's eyes flashed gold at Buffy's taunting words.

"Buffy?"

Buffy turned in response to Anya's voice.  "Yeah?"

"We're ready to start now.  You and Tara should step away from her."

They moved away with alacrity and when they were far enough distant
from the vampire, Anya began the supplication.  This time there were
no hitches.  The sacred sand was poured, the power released and
suddenly empty chains fell to the floor.

Vampire Willow was gone.

***

She found herself back in her world, struggling with two of the White
Hats, Larry and a short, skinny boy with a wolfish face.  They pushed
her back and before she could free herself, she felt a sharp piercing
in her back.  As she felt herself begin to disintegrate she only had
time to say, "Fu...".

Larry and Oz turned away as the vampire's dust filtered down to the
floor of the factory. 

***

Buffy heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the vampire had
disappeared.  Looking at Anya she asked, "She's really back where she
belongs, right?  You didn't just teleport her to another part of
town?"

Anya lifted a shaking hand to brush a loose strand of hair out of her
eyes.  "No, she's back in her own reality."  Looking down, she noted
with disappointment that she hadn't been able to grasp the pendent
when the portal had opened up.  She had been too afraid to make that
part of the incantation too obvious, but apparently her quickly
revised spell hadn't worked.  Looking back up she found herself
staring into smiling brown eyes.

"So," Xander said, rubbing his hands together, a huge grin on his
face, "Anyone up for pizza?"

Though addressed to the room at large, it was obvious he was really
asking only one person.  Anya smiled and nodded agreement, her
disappointment fading away.  Xander's smile broadened.

***

The shop finally opened for business after everyone had eaten.  Anya
had insisted that since she was going to remain human, she needed to
earn money to live on.  Tara and Willow returned to school although
both were really too worn out from the last few days to attend
class.  They weren't too tired however to enjoy a little together
time in Tara's dorm room.

Xander dropped the two girls off at their dorm and returned to his
musty basement apartment for a quick nap.  He was surprised that his
dreams involved Anya, the chains that had confined Vampire Willow,
and the feather duster that Anya used at the shop. 

Spike insisted that Buffy go home for some rest.  She insisted that
he return to his crypt and away from Angel.  He was happy to comply.

Wesley and Giles spent the rest of the day getting reacquainted. 
Giles was surprised by just how much the younger man had changed.  He
suspected that given time, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce would become a
formidable man.

Cordelia decided to pay visits on some of her friends while Angel
rested and allowed his wounds to heal.

***

Evening found everyone back at the Magic Box knowing that the group
from LA would leave as soon as it was dark enough for Angel to travel
safely.  As they prepared to leave, Buffy accompanied Angel out to
his car.  He was still in considerable pain, but his accelerated
healing powers had already repaired much of the damage he had
sustained.

"Buffy, I know you don't want to hear this..."

"Then don't say it," Buffy said firmly.  Sighing she continued, 
"Look, Angel, I know you have concerns.  Giles has concerns.  Wesley
has concerns.  They're unnecessary."  Looking directly into his eyes
she told him, "What Spike and I have is...good.  It's not what you
and I had.  It's not even what you and I could have had if it wasn't
for the whole Angelus issue.  It's different but it's good.  It's
very good.  I love him so much sometimes I ache with it.  Please try
to understand, Angel.  And don't sneak back into town to try and kill
him."

Angel looked into Buffy's eyes trying to find the girl he loved but
instead found a woman he no longer knew.   She had moved on.  Perhaps
it was time he did too.

"You ever need me, Buffy, you know where I am."

"Ditto."

As Angel got into the backseat of the big convertible, Buffy turned
to the two already ensconced in the front.  "Wesley, Cordelia. 
Thanks for your help."

"Sure," Cordelia waved her thanks away.  "I haven't had this much fun
since graduation day.  No, wait a minute, yes I have."

Buffy just smiled.  Cordelia was Cordelia and would never change. 
Looking at Wes she said reluctantly, "You really were a big help,
Wesley.  Thanks."

"I'm glad I was of some small assistance, Buffy.  I hope this makes
up for a least a little of my incompetence when I was your Watcher."

"Uh, sure, Wesley."  Backing away from the car as Wesley started the
engine she gave one more small wave and watched them drive away.

When the car had disappeared from view she walked back into the Magic
Box to rejoin her friends, her Watcher and the man she loved.  

Chapter 26:

The crypt was lit by only one fat pillar candle.  The dim glow was
just enough for a Slayer and a vampire to make their way across the
well-known space and to the ladder that led to the lower level. 

After Angel's departure they had left the Magic Box for patrol. It
had been unusually busy.  The demonic denizens of Sunnydale had
sussed out that the Slayer was otherwise occupied the last few nights
and had taken advantage of the situation. 

They now understood that things were back to normal.

Making their way to the ladder, Buffy and Spike descended to his
bedroom.  It too was dimly lit by a single candle.  Separating, the
two made a circuit of the chamber lighting more candles until the
area glowed warmly in the soft light.  Coming together again, they
embraced and kissed gently.  Lips slid softly against lips, arms
encircled bodies pressed closely together.  Their tongues danced
together, tip touching tip then retreating only to come together
again.  Buffy felt desire growing in her as she ran her hands across
her lover's firmly muscled back.  Pulling away from him, she slid his
duster from his shoulders to puddle on the ground at his feet.  He in
turn slid her jacket off her arms.  Next his shirt, and then hers.   
She pulled at his t-shirt tugging it from the waistband of his jeans
and when it was loose she pushed it up and over his head.  Returning
to his mouth, Buffy kissed him tantalizingly, nipping at his full
lower lip, sucking his tongue into her mouth, then pulling back to
pepper his collarbone and chest with light, teasing kisses, stopping
to suck briefly on his nipples and then returning to his mouth.

Spike reached behind her and unhooked her bra, sliding the straps
down her arms and throwing it across the room.  Pulling her to him,
he crushed her breasts into his chest drawing a moan from them both.

They traded long lingering kisses for several minutes until Buffy
pulled her mouth from his. Sliding her arms from around his neck she
lightly ran her hands across his shoulders and down his chest,
rubbing across his nipples and then down to his firm, flat belly. 
Spike's head dropped back at the wonderful sensations her touch gave
him. 

"You're so beautiful," Buffy murmured as she continued her journey
down his body.  Kneeling in front of him, she unbuckled his belt and
unfastened his jeans.  Pulling them down, she freed his erection. 
"So very beautiful."  Her voice was almost reverential as she slid
her warm hands up and down his shaft pumping him gently.  Gathering
his balls into her hands, she massaged them tenderly before she took
one into her mouth sucking gently, then switched to the other. 

Spike's moans were like music to her.  Whenever she gave him
pleasure, it filled her with such warmth she fairly glowed.  Moving
her mouth up, she licked along the vein until she reached the head,
swollen and begging for attention.  She loved this part most of all
she thought as she took the sensitive tip into her mouth lapping at
the droplet that awaited her.  Running her tongue around the smooth,
cool flesh, she slowly began to draw even more of him into her
mouth.  Sucking deeply, she moved her head up and down the thick
shaft, opening her throat to allow in as much of him as she could
handle. 

Spike's hands were wrapped in her hair, moaning out praise to
her, "God, baby, that feels so good.  Yeah, love, like that, just
like that.  You've the sweetest little mouth, love.  Yeah, baby, god
yes, ah, sweetheart."

It was when she lightly dragged her teeth along his shaft that he
lost control.  An animal-like growl emanated from deep in his chest
and he grabbed her up, kissed her roughly and tossed her onto the
bed.  She gave a surprised little "Oof!" when she hit the mattress
and bounced.  Looking over at him with wide eyes, she saw him lunge
for her.

He had every intention of ripping her remaining clothing from her
body and burying himself deep within her.  It was a good plan.  One
of his best.  Unfortunately for Spike, he forgot that his pants were
pooled around his ankles.  As Buffy watched him leap forward, he
tripped and landed flat on his face on the faux Persian rug that
covered the floor.  As Buffy sat up in concern, Spike pushed himself
up cursing a blue streak.  Reaching down he tugged at boots and
pushed at trousers trying desperately to remove the tangled
garments.  "Get off, you motherfucker!  Goddamnit!  Get! The! Fuck!
Off!" 

Buffy tried to hold the laughter in, she really did.  But seeing
Spike trying to wrangle his way out of his boots and jeans, getting
more angry and frustrated as the stubborn clothing seemed to fight
him, kicking out with his legs trying to shed the unwanted garment,
tugging and pulling while a steady stream of profanity erupted from
his mouth was more that she could bear.

At first it was just one small snort, then another and then another
until she was laughing so hard tears streamed from her eyes and her
breath hitched.  Spike glared up at her as he at last kicked his
jeans off.  Jumping up he growled, "Oh you think that was funny do
you, Slayer?"  This time his leap was more successful.  He actually
made contact with the mattress.  However Buffy had rolled off the bed
while was he still in midair.  Standing on the far side of the bed
Buffy squealed, "Oh no!  A big bad vampire is after me!  Whatever
shall I do?"  A light flashed in Spike's eyes and he quickly switched
into game face.  "That's right, little girl, I'm going to get you. 
Run all you like.  You can't get away from me!"

Spike scrambled off the bed and the chase was on.  Buffy shrieked and
giggled and dodged while Spike chased her all over the bedchamber. 
Every time he almost had her she would twist out of his reach with a
shrill little scream at the last second.  Her naked breasts bounced
enticingly before him, her squeals and giggles floated back to him. 
She looked like a golden nymph and he grew harder with each second
that passed.  His speed was less than vampire fast and when she
shoved a chest in his way, he made a great show of falling over it. 
Buffy took advantage of his fall to remove one boot and throw it at
him.  As he dodged and stumbled, rolling out of the way of the deadly
missile, she removed the second boot and tossed it too.

Spike knocked the boot away this time and reaching out managed to
grab her by the waistband of her slacks pulling her down to the
ground.  As they wrestled, he unbuttoned her slacks and when she
kicked out trying to get away from him, Spike pulled them off her. 
Now clad only in her panties she escaped his grasp. Scrambling up she
ran away again only to find herself trapped between Spike and the
bed.  She jumped in an attempt to leap over the bed, but Spike
tackled her as she left the ground and landed with her on top of the
mattress.  Straddling her, he held her hands above her head.  She
struggled against his grip, although not very hard.  "Got you now,
don't I," he growled in mock fierceness.  Looking up into his demon
visage, she cried out in a high breathy voice, "Oh no, you've caught
me!  What are you going to do to me, you big bad vampire?"

Leaning down, he growled into her ear, "I'm going to eat..." 
Switching out of game face he trailed kisses down her neck, across
her shoulder, and down her chest to her breasts.  "you..."  Covering
one breast with his mouth he licked across her nipple, rolling it
around with his tongue, pulling at it as it hardened.  Switching to
the other breast, he nibbled lightly on the swollen bud, sucking and
swiping his tongue over the pebbled tip drawing groans from his
captive.  Continuing his journey down her body, he kissed his way
down her stomach until he reached the waistband of her panties. 
Tearing the swatch of material from her hips, he spread her legs and
settled himself between them.  Looking up from his position he held
her gaze as he finished, "up."

Buffy hips thrust up as he opened her and flicked his tongue over her
sensitive button.  At her little gasp of pleasure he pulled her
swollen clit into his eager mouth and sucked gently.  Now it was
Buffy's turn to entwine her fingers in his hair and moan as he
pleasured her with his mouth.  She loved it when he stuck his long,
tightly pointed tongue into her, moving in and out and then returning
to lap at her clit.  His tongue circled and then pressed deeply into
the sensitive bundle of nerves causing her to cry out again and
again. 

Spike felt her muscles begin to clench and knew she was close to
climax.  Crawling up her body, he positioned himself so that the tip
of his penis just barely pierced her opening.  Buffy stared at him
with passion-glazed eyes, wondering why he wasn't entering her. 

"Tell me you want me."

"I want you, Spike.  You know I do."

He entered her just a tiny bit more.

"Tell me you love me"

"I do love you, very much."

He began pushing his way more deeply into her, all the while staring
into her eyes.

"In fact..."

He stopped moving.  "In fact?"

Buffy smiled gently and ran a hand down the side of his face running
her thumb over his cheekbone, sliding it across his full lips, her
eyes tracing the path her thumb took.  Returning her gaze to his she
said softly, "I not only love you, I like you."

Spike blinked.  "You do?"

"Uh huh."  Pulling his head down so that his ear was close to her
mouth she whispered, "Don't tell Willow or Xander this, but you're my
best friend."

Spike looked at her with wonder in his eyes.  Never taking his eyes
from hers, he slowly pushed himself the rest of the way in.  They'd
made love hundreds of times in the past few months but this night's
was special.  They moved against each other slowly, gently allowing
the desire to grow but never allowing it to consume.  When their
climax came, it wasn't an explosion but a melding of essences, a
flowing together of two beings until there was only one. 

Neither had ever felt anything like it.  Spike felt as if a warm
light was invading him, as if Buffy was sharing her soul with him. 
The demon in him bathed itself in that light and relinquished a
little more of its control allowing the man that had been to reclaim
a little more sovereignty. 

Spike was a monster.  He knew that.  But with Buffy he was becoming a
man.

***

London, England

"You're sure she has that much power?"

"Sir, my considered opinion is that her untapped potential is
astounding.  As I said in my report, she cast a very powerful black
magic spell without benefit of spoken incantation or preparation. 
She merely pointed her finger and called out "Pain!"  If it hadn't
been for Miss Summers and that other young woman, I believe we would
have been relieved of our Faith problem right then. 

"Interesting," Quentin Travers mused.  "Very interesting."

The End