Ch. 34: Battling Demons
 

Angel was descending the staircase when he heard the call for Giles by Spike, then the growled “now.” The authoritative note in his bellow had Angel rushing down the remaining stairs racing to his side. Angel was about to open his mouth and object to Spike’s treatment of Buffy at the sight that greeted him. Then he got a look at her face – her vamped, snarling face – and all thoughts of objecting flew right out the window. Instinctively understanding that Spike needed his support, he walked in the room to stand by his side as Spike sat there straddling Buffy’s waist, his arms pinning her shoulders to the floor. Angel crossed his arms over his chest and gazed down at her. She was definitely a sight to behold – her hair splayed out on the floor, her yellow eyes flashing mutinously up at her Sire as a growl erupted from her lips.

The growl drew a surprised look from Angel; most vampire demons instinctively knew to yield to their Sires, yet Buffy appeared to be the exception to the norm. She blatantly defied her Sire. Spike sensed Angel standing next to him and commented wryly, “Seems we have us a bit of a problem, Sire.” He used the respected title in the hopes that Buffy would recognize the order of things and that he would enforce his will over her, the same way Angel would over him, if necessary. Buffy turned to Angel and growled again, not liking the fact that they were discussing her as if she weren’t even present in the room. The growl at him, Spike could handle; he made allowances due to his feelings for her. But, this second disrespectful growl, directed at Angel – no less – had Spike momentarily seeing red and he reacted before he had time to think about his actions. His demon demanded it. Hell, even Angel’s demon was having fits if his answering growl was any indication. Angel wouldn’t fault him for what he was about to do.

Yanking her head to the side – the one bearing Angel’s, Dracula’s, and the master’s marks – he leaned down and sunk his fangs into her neck. This bite was all about submission, not connection, so he had refrained from biting her on *his* side. Angel looked on as Spike drank from her, the loss of blood slowly forcing Buffy to yield to him. Eventually, Buffy’s vampire demon receded, her human features shifting back into place.

Buffy came out of her violent haze to feel Spike sucking great quantities of blood from her neck. This was no gentle bite either; the sting of it had her whimpering his name.

“Spike?” she asked softly. Her eyes flicked briefly up to Angel’s, confused as to why he was staring back at her in his game face.

Spike quickly retracted his fangs from her neck as he heard Buffy call his name. His human features slid back into place and he quickly licked his lips, removing all visible traces of her blood, before he sat up to stare down into her face. Her confusion tore at him and he wanted to kick himself for what he had done to her. He scrambled off of her prone body and skidded away from her, his back coming to rest against the couch. Buffy didn’t understand what was going on. Spike putting as much distance between him and her – as if there was something wrong with her – had her eyes watering with unshed tears.

“Spike?” He just continued to stare back at her, refusing to acknowledge her. She looked helplessly back up at Angel.

“Angel?” she whimpered.

Angel’s own human features slipped back into place and he turned and looked at Spike. “It needed to be done, Will.”

Spike self-disgust was evident as he looked up at Angel. His own gaze was hard, before it finally softened, an unnecessary sigh escaping his lips.

“Buffy doesn’t understand what’s going on,” he said, then went on a little more forcefully, determined to prod Spike out of his self-hate. “She needs her Sire.” Those words seemed to propel him into action, fear of further hurting Buffy motivating him to return to her side. He crawled back over to her and scooped her limp body into his arms.

“Weak,” she whispered. “What happened?”

“I’m sorry about that, luv. It was the only way to break the vampire demon’s hold over you,” he said softly, running his fingers lovingly through her hair. He pulled her up so that her face was held close to his neck, leaning his own to the side to give her better access. Buffy needed no further encouragement; her face swiftly shifting to allow her fangs to elongate before sinking them into his inviting neck. Spike barely flinched as her fangs penetrated his skin before she began greedily sucking his blood, quickly restoring her depleted supply. Feeling the strength flow back into her limbs, Buffy released Spike’s neck, pausing to lick the wounds closed, before curling into his body. Spike just held her, grateful she didn’t appear to be upset with him.

All three looked up when Giles came rushing into the room, followed by Wesley, Fred, Dawn, and Willow.

~*~*~*~*~

“What is it? What’s happened?” Giles demanded as he came rushing into the room. He looked over to see Spike sitting on the floor, Buffy curled in his lap. Spike’s head was down, refusing to look at him, so he turned to Angel.

Angel crossed his arms over his chest and glared back at the watcher. Seeing that he wouldn’t get any answers from either vampire unless he calmed down, Giles attempted to rein in his panic. Something that was very hard to do considering how quickly his heart had started pounding as both Willow and Dawn had burst into his room, scaring him half to death – their choked out, “Buffy… Spike… vamped… growling… come now” almost impossible to make any sense from. He didn’t bother to analyze their words, just homed in on the “come now” and raced out of the room after them as they rushed back to the living room.

Putting one hand over his chest to help still his racing heart and the other one on the back of the couch to help support his suddenly wobbly legs, he took a few deep breaths and tried again.

“You’ll have to forgive me. Willow and Dawn came barging into my room completely in a dither and I just rushed down here thinking the worst had happened.”

Angel gave him a slight nod, glancing at the two girls clutching each other in the entryway behind Giles. He returned his gaze to Giles and said, “It appears we’ve reached our first lesson, Rupert. Seems that Buffy’s vampire demon may have wanted to make a snack out of some of the young slayers. Spike had to assert his dominance over her to make her back off.” Angel cast a quick glance at the two still huddled on the floor; neither one were paying him any attention, too focused on the other right now.

“But…Buffy…she has a soul. Why would she do something like that?”

“I don’t know, Giles,” he replied, sighing. “Maybe her demons haven’t reached that ‘compromise’ that was mentioned in the prophecy…who knows? But, she appears to be back to normal. Hell, it was the weirdest thing,” he started, running a hand through his hair in agitation, “One minute she’s this great vampiress, growling and ready to claim her next victim, practically defying her Sire and me to do so. The next, it’s just Buffy, lost and confused.”

“Hmmmm… like the vampire demon completely surprised the First Slayer demon,” Giles murmured. Angel just nodded. “Well, all we can do is keep an eye on her for the time being. And make sure she’s not alone… wait, you said she went after the slayers? Is that correct?”

“That’s right…”

“What about Willow and Dawn? They were in the room, right?”

“Yes…”

“Yet, Buffy didn’t go after them, just the slayers?” Angel nodded, unsure quite where Giles was going with this. “Interesting. It’s like her vampire demon only went after the slayers because it could sense the connection the First Slayer’s demon has with them. Anyway. I still think it’s best that she’s not left alone with anyone right now. Either Spike or you should be with her at all times. Just until we can figure out…”

Angel had started to shake his head at that.

“Look, Angel, I don’t like this any better than you. But, you and Spike are the only ones that can force her vampire demon to submit. Not that I expect something like this happening again, but better to be safe.” Angel’s face became an impenetrable mask once more as the futility of the situation washed over him.

“Alright. But, I want someone researching this. I’m not going to be very happy if I have to be the one to make her vampire demon play nice.” Angelus wouldn’t have minded in the least, but Angel damn sure had a problem with it! Giles had better hope it never came to that.

~*~*~*~*~

The group quickly disbursed. Giles, Fred, Wesley, Dawn, and Willow retreated to the dining room to begin research on the portal that was to open next Thursday and hopefully find a means with which to stop it. Angel told them he would make them all breakfast while they got started, and had both Buffy and Spike help him. The young slayers, rather than wait for Angel to fix them something, grabbed themselves some bowls of cereal and ate in the living room so as not to tempt Buffy by being in the kitchen and because the dining room was full of people in “research-mode.”

Angel got both Buffy and Spike to sit down at the kitchen table – after the slayers had cleared out of the kitchen – to have them cut up some fruit. He figured the useless activity would keep them both occupied while he pulled out the eggs, green peppers, ham, cheese, and other various ingredients and set about making omelets for the people hard at work in the other room.

Angel glanced up from his preparations to see Spike’s shocked face as Buffy tentatively offered him a strawberry. He watched transfixed as Spike slightly raised out of his seat to lean over and take the offered treat from her hands. His eyes shut as his mouth closed around the fruit as well as a few of her fingers. Angel felt like a voyeur as his eyes flicked over to Buffy to take in her reaction. The vision of her own eyes closed, her head slightly tilted back, mouth open in a silent “O” as she savored her Sire’s lips on her fingers was imprinted on his brain and had his cock hardening inside the dress slacks he wore. He ignored his body’s response to the scene playing out before him, too entranced by the sight to look away. His Grand-Childe had always been a sensual creature, the sexual benefits of being a vampire something Spike wholeheartedly embraced once being turned.

Angel never before understood why Spike still insisted on eating normal food, but seeing the obvious pleasure he took in eating the piece of fruit from Buffy’s hand, he was beginning to. Maybe having a soul didn’t mean that he had to constantly deny himself life’s simple pleasures. Spike obviously didn’t seem to have a problem with it now that he had a soul; he was still all about pleasure – simple or otherwise.

The pressure of his cock against his pants had started to ease at his silent introspection. But then he watched as Spike swallowed the fruit before reaching out and hauling Buffy up out of her seat and halfway across the table for a kiss. This was no quick kiss either, his cock hardening once again could attest to that. Once more his gaze locked in on the two figures that appeared oblivious to his presence. From his partially hidden position behind the kitchen island, Angel reached down to adjust himself to relieve some of the pressure his hardened length was causing in the confines of his slacks. He watched as Spike’s tongue slipped out to trace the outer curve of Buffy’s lips. Her mouth parted in pleasure and Spike took the opportunity to slip his tongue inside to mate with her own.

Spike knew how to kiss, his memories as Angelus could attest to that. That tongue of his was capable of inducing the greatest pleasure – greater even than his own Sire, Darla – and that woman had been a whore by trade before she was turned. Their lips weren’t fused together and Angel could see Spike’s tongue as it slipped in and out over Buffy’s, mimicking what he could be doing with his cock if they were back in their room.

Spike smelt the burning eggs before Angel did and opened his eyes to figure out where the offending odor was coming from, his tongue never stopping its languid slide along Buffy’s. His cerulean gaze locked with that of his Grand-Sire’s, the normal chocolate-brown color almost black as his pupils dilated from his--- Spike sniffed the air again, searching. Faintly, under the overpowering scent of burning eggs, he noticed it: arousal. And from the unlikeliest of sources – Angel.

He broke off his kiss from Buffy and gazed at Angel, his own eyes darkening perceptively. Memories of days long past flitted briefly across his mind before being abruptly cut off at Buffy’s quiet groan. The noise seemed to break whatever spell had been cast over the two male vampires and while Spike turned his attention to Buffy, Angel turned around to fix the burned mess that had become of his eggs.

“Later, luv,” Spike replied, his smile promising about pleasure yet to come. Buffy just nodded and started cutting up fruit once more.

“Are you burning something?” Dawn yelled, from her position in the dining room.

“Just trying to get used to your burners!” Angel hollered back. The mumbled response of “God, his cooking is as bad as Buffy’s” had him growling softly, and Spike and Buffy chuckling.

He turned around to glare at the two making fun of him and met Spike’s eyes. Spike gave his classic smirk followed by an impudent wink, fully aware as to the real reason the food had started to burn. ‘Insolent Childe,’ Angel thought, determined to put Spike in his place and wipe that smug look from his face. Angel made sure he had Spike’s full attention before his eyes flashed gold; a wide smile reminiscent of his Angelus days transformed his normally dour countenance before he used his tongue to slowly lick his lips. Spike watched mesmerized as Angel allowed his canines to extend and lightly ran his tongue around them. Before his tongue once more resettled in his mouth, he nicked it, allowing the blood to pool, the scent of it hitting Spike’s nostrils causing them to flare. At the pointed look Angel gave him before retracting his tongue inside his mouth and swallowing his own blood, Spike gulped, and Angel watched as he attempted to shift in his seat to ease what Angel knew to be Spike’s own painful arousal.

Smiling in satisfaction, Angel turned back to the stove to dump the now-charred eggs in the sink and start over. ‘That’ll teach him to goad me.’

Ch. 35: Showdown

Angel, Buffy and Spike all walked into the dining room carrying several plates of omelets and a bowl of fruit salad amongst them. The research party was grateful for the interruption and quickly turned away from books and scrolls to devour the food giving off such a scrumptious aroma.

Dawn bit into her omelet and sighed. She turned to Angel and said, “I take back that comment about your cooking being like Buffy’s. This is awesome.”

Angel, slightly mollified, gave her a hesitant smile. Dawn returned with one of her own. Spike, not to be outdone by his Grand-Sire, quickly announced, “Try the fruit salad, ‘Bit. I made that.”

Dawn turned to him and rolled her eyes. Not wanting to hurt her pseudo-brother’s feelings, she took a bite of the fruit and announced, “Also, very good!” At his slightly offended look she added, “Actually, the best fruit salad I ever had.”

Buffy, from her position in Spike’s lap, snorted. “Like it’s so hard to make a fruit salad.”

“Bite your tongue, wench. I slaved hard over that salad.” Buffy objected to the “wench” and gave him a good poke in the ribs. “Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?”

“That, was for calling me a wench.” Buffy smiled sweetly up at him. The others in the room started chuckling, causing spike to frown at them.

Angel hated to break the light mood that had settled over their room, but it was time for him to tell the others what he had managed to find out about the portal. “Now that we’re all here, I guess I can tell you what I was able to find out about the portal.”

Those that were eating stopped mid-bite to look at him.

“You all know that the portal is scheduled to open next Thursday. Well, I’ve found out that Buffy, as the guardian will be needed to close it. This time, once and for all. I managed to pry out of one of the seers that ‘The guardian holds the key.’”

Wesley, Fred, and Giles just looked at one another before announcing simultaneously, “The scythe!”

“It makes perfect sense. After all, that’s what started this whole ‘connection’ thing to begin with,” Giles opined.

“I quite agree,” Wesley added. “Willow can use the scythe as the catalyst that helps to close the portal.”

“Don’t forget about the blood, mate.” This from Spike. They all turned to him questioningly, confused as to how he would know about this.

Buffy answered for him. “It’s always about the blood.” Spike just smiled at her, both remembering his words from long ago.

“I think Spike has a point here,” Giles replied. Soon, the four – Giles, Willow, Fred, and Wesley – were deep in conference discussing various means of enacting the spell.

After a moment, Angel broke into their heated discussion.

“We still need to figure out a plan of attack for next Thursday.” The others stopped their conversation and looked at him. Angel glanced at Spike and Buffy, before turning back to the four huddled on the far side of the table. “I think we need to call Faith.”

Giles started to sputter, shaking his head. “She’s needed on the Cleveland Hellmouth—“

Buffy cut him off, well aware of Angel’s train of thought. “No, Angel’s right. We need her here. She came through before. Besides, if what I’m thinking is similar to Angel, she will give us a good cover.”

“Exactly my thoughts.” Angel went on to explain. “That demon we encountered has no way of knowing his spell was unsuccessful. I say we bring Faith here, leaving Buffy and the other slayers hiding until we get the portal closed, then bring them out as our secret weapon.”

Buffy grumbled at this, hating to wait while the others fought, but realized that Angel was right. Her attacker didn’t know that his plan had failed, but if he saw her, he would instantly know, blowing whatever advantage that they might have.

In the end, everyone agreed with Angel and a call was placed to Faith. It was decided by everyone not to tell Faith about what was going on until she arrived. So when Faith showed up Thursday, a week before the scheduled portal opening, she was completely shocked to see not only Angel and Buffy, but Giles, Wesley, Fred, and Spike. Spike? When the hell did that happen?

Then her eyes zeroed in on Buffy.

“Damn, B! What the hell have you been up to over here?”

~*~*~*~*~

“Damn, B! What the hell have you been up to over here?”

Buffy opened her mouth to answer, trying desperately to wrap her tongue around the words that would explain her situation. In the end, it was Giles that came to her rescue. Good ole Giles. Giles turned to the man standing silently behind Faith.

“Mr. Wood, good to see you’ve sufficiently recovered from your previous injuries.”

“It’s Robin, and thanks. Had some help in that department,” he replied, his arm settling around Faith’s shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. She rolled her eyes at him at that, but a soft smile played across her lips. After Robin had healed, he’d insisted that Faith and he take things slowly. At first, she tried to seduce him into changing his mind, determined to not let her emotions get involved. But, he was having none of that, his will in this being much greater than hers. In the end, Faith had allowed him to set the pace and slowly the two of them had built a relationship on trust and honesty.

“Er, Robin, of course. Faith, Robin, why don’t we step into the office so we can explain what’s going on.

“Giles, we may as well go to the living room. There’s more space there anyway. And, now’s a good time to let the other slayers in on the plan,” Buffy said.

“Yes, of course. The living room, then.” While the others made their way to the living room, Buffy kept walking down the open foyer to the classroom that the girls were currently occupying, Buffy refusing to allow their tutoring to slip. It was the same reason Dawn was currently as school and not here as well. Buffy wanted to maintain some type of normalcy with her girls and schooling helped in that endeavor.

~*~*~*~*~

As Buffy sat anxiously waiting behind the cover of the trees, she thought back over the previous week: the explanation to Faith and Wood of Buffy’s new role as the Guardian slayer and the events leading up to it; the week-long research marathon that left everyone tired, yet determined; the nightly lovemaking sessions that would have her blushing in memory if she were able. She hadn’t had another “vampire episode” in the past week and Buffy was secretly thankful for it. Giles had said that it would become their top priority once this Draemuir dimension issue was resolved. Buffy still hadn’t heard from Xander and she hoped that her friend was ok.

Everyone had decided to remain at Buffy’s place for in impromptu holiday celebration after closing the portal to partake in some American turkey dinner. Well, after some much-needed rest anyway, since it was just after mid-night. By the time this confrontation was over, they’d all be ready for some much-needed rest. Buffy pulled her thoughts from the previous week and concentrated on what was happening now.

Buffy, Willow, Dawn, and the other slayers were hiding in the trees as Spike, Angel, Faith, and the others made their way into the clearing to confront the Draelorn demons that were quickly filtering out of the open portal. Willow and Dawn stayed hidden so as to put up a barrier that made it impossible for anyone to leave. Yeah, some of the demons may have gotten through the portal, but they weren’t going to be going too far. Buffy and the other slayers stayed hidden – temporarily – for another reason; they wanted to lure the demons out, especially the one that had attacked Buffy. He had no way of knowing that his plan hadn’t worked. So, for now, Buffy and the others stayed hidden. Once the portal was closed, all bets were off. Buffy never allowed others to fight her battles and she wasn’t about to start now.

“Have you got the barrier up?” Buffy whispered anxiously to Willow. She blinked in amazement as she noticed Willow’s appearance. She looked like an avenging angel; her hair practically glowed white, yet her eyes were pitch black.

“Uh, Wills, you ok over there?”

“I’m fine, Buffy. Honest,” Willow replied. “I’ve learned to control this a lot better than before. I’ve been busy these last few months.” Buffy didn’t doubt her friend. Willow spoke in a slow even tone, her youthful appearing belying the maturity of the voice that spoke to her.

“Ok….the barrier?” she once more asked.

“It’s up. Now to work on closing the portal. Angel said that he was told that the ‘Guardian holds the key.’ I’m…we’re… sure that means the scythe. After all, that’s what started this whole thing, right?”

“I guess so. That’s what Giles and the others thought, anyway.”

“Ok, then. Let’s get started. Bring the scythe and place it in the circle. Just make sure you don’t disrupt the protective ring.”

“Right.” Buffy placed the scythe inside the circle; Willow sat Indian-style before it.

“Ok, nick yourself and sprinkle a little of your blood on the scythe.” Buffy complied, nicking her wrist with her fangs, allowing her blood to drip along the length of the scythe. Finished, she licked her wrist, closing the cut she had made. Willow began chanting, the foreign words sounding oddly melodic to her ears. Buffy turned to the portal, waiting for it to close, so she and the young slayers could join the others in the battle.

Willow’s chanting came to an end, and she opened her eyes, shaking her head to clear the haze.

“Did it work?” Willow asked.

Buffy glanced over at the portal. Demons were steadily streaming out of the opening. If they didn’t get the thing shut soon, they’d be too many for them to handle.

“No, Willow, it didn’t work,” Buffy cried, her anxiety making her voice sound unnecessarily harsh.

“I don’t understand,” Willow whispered to herself. “‘The Guardian has the key.’ Those were the exact words out of Angel’s mouth. This should have been all we needed to do to get the portal closed.”

“Me either, but if we don’t do something soon, there’s gonna be too many demons for us to handle.”

“Uh, guys,” Dawn broke into their conversation. Buffy and Willow turned to Dawn.

“Ummm… maybe…uh,” she broke off, unsure.

Buffy walked over to Dawn, placing one of her hands under her chin to gently force Dawn to look at her. “What is it, Dawnie?”

“It’s just… I mean…I was supposed to be used to open portals. Maybe I need to help close this one?”

“The ‘Key’. Dawnie, that’s brilliant,” Willow cried from her seated position in front of the circle. “Buffy, you and Dawn come over here. You’re both gonna need to cut yourself. Let your blood mix before letting it fall to the scythe.”

Buffy and Dawn quickly walked over to the circle.

“Sorry, Dawnie,” Buffy whispered, moments before her fangs sliced a line across her palm. She quickly did the same to her own hand. Interlacing their fingers together, their blood mixed before slowly falling to the scythe that lay on the ground.

“That should do it, Buffy,” Willow said, before beginning to chant once again.

Buffy pulled their joined hands from over the scythe. She unlinked their hands, bringing Dawn’s palm to her lips to close the wound before repeating the same action to her own. Buffy reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Dawn’s ear.

“Ok?” Buffy asked. Dawn just nodded, unable to speak. Her sister’s fangs hadn’t hurt as she’d cut a line across her palm, but when their blood mingled before falling to the scythe, Dawn could feel tingles rushing through her body. Instinctively, Dawn knew that this was what needed to be done, that this time the spell would work.

Sure enough, the girls watched as the portal slowly got smaller, before finally closing. It was time for Buffy and the others to go to work.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike quickly found himself surrounded by draelorn demons. He held his sword loosely in his hands waiting for the first to strike. After what seemed like hours, but in reality was mere seconds, the first one made his move, swiftly bringing up his sword to strike in a downward arc. Spike was ready for him and quickly blocked the move. His attacker tried to land several more blows that he was able to easily parry before landing his own death blow: as his attacker made his last lunge, he overcompensated his swing leaving his head vulnerable for Spike’s death blow, effectively severing the demon’s head from his shoulder.

Spike had no time to congratulate himself on his kill as his next attacker made his move. As his second attacker charged him, running full force, Spike waited to the last second before ducking, effectively sending his attacker flying over his shoulders and down his back to sprawl on the ground behind him, momentarily dazed. Ignoring him for the moment, Spike concentrated on the next two that appeared ready to engage him. As they both inched forward, Spike swung his sword in a sweeping arc before him, causing both of his would-be attackers back a few paces. This allowed Spike to regroup and prepare to meet their charge.

His attackers thought they would be smart, one circling around to attack his back while the other made his move on his front. The demon in front of him surged forward, attempting to drive his sword down to imbed in Spike’s shoulder. Spike managed to deflect the blow, surging in close to his attacker so that their bodies were practically touching. Neither was able to use their sword against each other. Out of the corner of his eye, Spike saw the attacker that had swung around move in for an easy kill. Quickly, Spike pushed away from the attacker that had him pinned, the momentum allowing him to swing his body in a complete circle giving extra force for his sword to strike his attacker’s middle. His attacker got in a lucky block, but Spike quickly attacked again. The downward thrust of his sword tearing into the flesh of his shoulder.

He hadn’t forgotten about the attacker behind him, and as Spike saw him raise his sword, he quickly loosed the sword from the first attackers shoulder to bring it up to deflect the blow by the second. His attacker wasn’t expecting to be blocked and was thrown off balance. This allowed Spike to finish off his first attacker. With a sweeping arc of his sword he decapitated the first and used the momentum of his attack to twist around to face the second attacker. A few quick thrusts and this foe, too, was dispatched. Spike allowed himself a quick glance around the room to see how his teammates were doing, before he was once again sucked into the thick of battle.

~*~

Giles, Fred and Wesley stayed together relying on their numbers to make up for their lack of skill. Between the three of them, they were able to make a slight dent in the number of demons left in the clearing.

~*~

Faith was thoroughly engaged in the battle; Robin did his best to guard her backside and keep her alive as she took out one draelorn demon after the other who were foolish enough to try and fight her.

~*~

Angel was dealing with the three demons surrounding him when he heard a bellow erupt from one of the last demons to enter safely through the open passage. He glanced up quickly at the noise – and almost foolishly got his head hacked off – to see the demon both Spike and he had confronted in the barn last week. Apparently, he had just noticed that his portal was now closed as well as the appearance of the slayer – Buffy, that is. With a slight smile playing about his lips, he noticed that Spike was well aware of the demon’s presence as well.

~*~

Buffy, with the aid of her red Slayer’s scythe, was quickly charging her way through the draelorn demons that had managed to get through the portal before it was finally closed. The scythe whistled through the air as Buffy swung it to and fro hacking anything and everything that stood in her way. Since the portal was closed, there was no more need for her and the other slayers to hide.

~*~

The young slayers also adopted Giles’ and the other’s fighting style. They had broken up into several groups as they raced across the clearing behind Buffy, staying close to one another as they fought, able to offer any additionally help to the others if need be.

~*~

Spike recognized the sound of that bellow of outrage. Quickly dispatching the demon he was currently fighting, he turned to see Buffy’s attacker slowly making his way towards her. Seeing red, he raced towards him on an intercept course, his sword raised in preparation of the fight to come.

He reached Buffy before the demon and stood at her back as Damius continued his advance. Around him, the draelorn demons were quickly being eliminated leaving just Spike’s opponent. The others watched as Spike and the last demon entered into a battle to the death. Buffy and the others had no doubt that Spike would be victorious and stood back to watch the fight before them.

Spike was prepared as Damius came at him at a run, his sword held before him in an attempt to skewer him. Spike waited until the demon got closer then swung his sword in an underhanded arc to deflect his opponent’s blade. The move caused Damius to twist to the side, leaving him vulnerable and Spike took advantage, landing a bone-jarring punch to the demon’s face. Before the demon had time to recover, Spike had re-gripped his sword with both hands. He had hoped to finish this battle quickly so that they could all go home and put this behind them, but at the last possible second, the demon was able to block the deathblow.

Spike quickly regrouped and once more charged the demon.

“I told you we’d meet again, demon,” Spike taunted as he moved in for the kill. “It’s a good thing I’m going to kill you because now you won’t have to go back and tell your ruler that you messed up. Not that you could go back anyway. My slayer took care of your little loophole. Looks like you demons are just gonna have to be happy in your own little dimension.”

“I’ll kill you for that, vampire. Nobody makes a fool of Damius, high priest of the Draelorns,” the demon vowed.

Spike snorted at that. “Maybe you haven’t notice this yet, mate. But, you’re the last one standing. Now, make your move so I can go home with my friends there.”

Damius became enraged that the vampire would dare belittle him like that. His anger made him careless, which was just what Spike had intended all along. As the demon attempted an erratic thrust of his sword, Spike was prepared, easily sidestepping the blow and landing his own. His sword penetrated the demon’s chest, where Spike assumed his heart would be. Not taking any chances, he quickly pulled the blade out of the demon’s body and severed its head.

“That was for hurting my girl,” he whispered to the corpse before upending his sword and driving it into his back. Turning, he made his way over to where the others stood waiting for him. Buffy ran towards him and threw herself in his arms. Spike wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a near bone-crushing hug. Buffy just hugged him back.

“Let’s go home, luv.”

“Home,” Buffy repeated softly. “Yes, let’s go.” Together, the two walked towards the group waiting patiently for them.

~*~*~*~*~

It was a grateful, yet tired group that entered Buffy’s home back in Rome during the predawn hours. Without words to one another, they quickly broke off to get some much-needed sleep. Everyone was exhausted after spending the past week researching or planning the coming confrontation, sleep calling to all to recharge the battle-weary bodies.

~*~*~*~*~

Several hours later, everyone began filtering downstairs. Since Angel turned out to be such a good cook, he was nominated by everyone to cook the turkey. Grumbling about the unfairness of the vote, he volunteered Spike, Wesley, and Robin to help him. The women of the household quickly seconded Angel’s idea, snickering behind their hands at the thought of the men finally being the one to cook the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

The women congregated in the living room, while Angel, Spike, and Robin were busy in the kitchen. Giles, not wanting to be the only male in the living room with a roomful of girls, escaped to the kitchen to join the men.

Willow and Faith quickly caught the others up on what they had been doing since they were all last together. Faith blushed a becoming shade of red when mention was made of her relationship with Robin. The other girls, seeing this, soon began teasing the brunette.

“So, Faith, how’s it feel?”

“Yeah, how’s that ‘wood’?” Buffy added. It finally felt good for Buffy to be on the giving end of the innuendos.

The girls all dissolved into giggles at Buffy’s comment. They laughed even harder when Faith didn’t comment, just blushed even more.

“Why, Faith, is that a blush?” Willow teased. She been on the receiving end of some of Faith’s comments about her sexuality, and as they say, payback is a bitch. Although, this time around, there was none of the malice of before. This time, the girls were just gossiping, as women are wont to do.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted their teasing, and Faith pounced on the opportunity to scramble from the room, yelling a quick, “I’ll get it” over her shoulder.

“It’s good that she’s finally happy,” Buffy commented.

“Yeah, Wood seems to agree with her,” Willow replied. She flashed a wide-eyed, innocent blink at the others before dissolving into a fit of giggles again. The others in the room soon joined her.

Buffy stopped abruptly when she noticed the newcomers standing in the entryway. Xander, along with a petite, dark-haired girl, stood hesitantly just inside the living room. Faith had moved behind the two, preventing their escape.

“Xander?” Buffy called softly, coming quickly to her feet.

~*~

Spike sensed Buffy’s distress and quietly left the kitchen to see what was upsetting her. The others noticed his departure and silently followed him out to the foyer. Everyone stopped when they saw who stood just inside the living room entrance.

~*~

“Hi, Buffy,” Xander replied nervously. Buffy wanted nothing more than to rush around the couch and throw herself in her friend’s arms, his anticipated reaction to her room-temperature body staying that action.

“You got my email?” Xander just nodded.

“A few days ago. Sorry. I would have been here soon, but I had to convince Alaine here to come and meet my friends. She was a little hesitant about coming.” Apparently, Alaine didn’t like being talked about as if she wasn’t here, if the elbow to Xander’s ribs was any indication. Xander’s breath left him in a rush and he rubbed his stomach to ease the sudden ache. Buffy liked her immediately.

Buffy walked around the couch and stood in front of the girl. She had noticed the scent of werewolf on her, watched as said werewolf sniffed the air and caught her scent.

“Hi, I’m Buffy. Welcome to my home,” Buffy said to the girl, holding out her hand. Alaine gave Buffy a shy smile, reaching out her own hand.

“Alaine.”

“Alaine, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Buffy glanced over at Xander and noticed his relieved expression. As if she would fault him for dating a werewolf. They’d all been down this road before. “Why don’t you come on in and have a seat? Would you like something to drink? Xander? A beer?”

Alaine told Buffy that a soda would be fine; Xander concurred with the beer request. She looked up as she walked in the foyer on her way to the kitchen and noticed the guys had all come out of the kitchen and were standing there, watching their new guests. Buffy just shrugged her shoulders.

“Spike, can you get a soda and a beer for me?” Spike nodded and turned around to head back to the kitchen. The others followed Buffy as she turned around and reentered the living room.

“So, Xander, what have you been up to?” Buffy asked. He hadn’t sat down, just stood next to the chair Alaine was sitting in.

“Uh… well… that is…” he trailed off. Buffy watched as Alaine placed her hand on his arm, immediately soothing him. Buffy was impressed. It appeared that Xander had come a long way in dealing with demons and such.

“I toured a bit, finding the occasional new slayer to send on their way to you or Giles. But then, well, I got tired. Decided I’d had enough and was determined to start a new life. A normal life. I met Alaine here, and I thought I had found that. Turns out I just wasn’t meant to have normal. See, Alaine here is a werewolf. And, I love her.” His smile said it all. He did love her, and that love had appeared to take away the cynical edge that seemed to mark her friend since his friend Jesse was killed by a vampire.

“Oh, Xander. That’s wonderful!” Buffy cried. There were well wishes all around the room for the couple. Hugs and kisses were exchanged. It was like the Scooby gang had never been apart.

It was as Xander gave Buffy a huge hug that he blurted out teasingly, “So, Buffy, when did you become a vampire?”

Buffy stared at him with her mouth open. “You know?” Xander gave her a knowing look. “Uh, Buffy, have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” Then, he promptly burst out laughing at his own joke. Buffy stared at her friend in shock.

“Ok…who are you? And, what have you done with my friend Xander?”

“Buffy. As long as I spent on the Hellmouth, did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice?” Buffy let out an unnecessary sigh.

“You’re ok with this?” Buffy asked hesitantly.

“He better be ok with this or he can just turn around and walk right back out the front door,” Spike said from the entryway. To prove he meant business, he gave Xander an evil glare.

“Pffft,” Xander replied, his arm slung casually around Buffy. Spike quirked his brow at Xander’s response.

“Hi Spike! Nice to see you among the undead again.”

“Ok, who are you and what have you done to Xander?” Turning to Red, he questioned, “Is this a Xanderbot?”

“Ha ha, deadboy,” Xander replied, although there was none of the malice of before in the name. It almost sounded like grudging affection.

“Watch your mouth, whelp. I don’t have a chip that’ll prevent me from hurting you.”

Spike watched in amazement as Xander just snorted at him. His gaze narrowed as his saw his arm still around his girl.

“And get your hands off my girl!”

“Okay, okay…” Xander replied, raising his arms up in an innocent gesture. “A mite touchy, aren’t we?”

Buffy rolled her eyes and walked over to give Spike a quick kiss. “You’re not burning anything are you?”

“You should be asking Angel that, luv. He’s in charge.” The guys took the hint and vacated to the kitchen, Xander included.

The girls got back to their gossip, eager to get Alaine’s story on how she had met Xander. The retelling had all the girls in a tither, their laughter resounding throughout the room.

When they heard Spike shout, “Bloody hell, Xander. You are a demon magnet,” Willow and Buffy lost it. Tears began to stream down their face in their merriment. They were laughing so hard, they didn’t hear Xander reply, “Shut up, fang face.”

~*~*~*~*~

The meal was finally finished and everyone was seated around the dining room table. Mini conversations were being shared as trays were passed around the table. The smells caused several to lick their lips in anticipation.

It was by far the best Thanksgiving Buffy had had since her mother had died. Tears welled in her eyes as she stood up. Everyone stopped speaking to look at her. She looked around the table at her friends and family, a lump forming in her throat. She swallowed subconsciously to regain control of the emotion that threatened to consume her.

“I just wanted to say… Happy Thanksgiving…to all of you. My friends, some new, some not so new. And my family. And to tell you how much you mean to me. How much I love you. All of you.” Her eyes made contact with everyone at the table. “I hope that all of you may one day experience the joy that I’m feeling right now. And, I want to welcome you to the first annual Buffy Thanksgiving. There’s no reason why we can’t get together at least once a year to see how we’re all doing.” Again she looked around the table, noticed that everyone nodded, and smiled back at them. “Good. Now that that’s settled, let’s eat.”

Giles stood up as Buffy resumed her seat. “To friends,” he said raising his glass. Everyone stood up and raised their glasses.

“To friends,” they chorused.

“To family,” Giles added.

“To family,” they all replied. Raising their glasses higher, they all took a drink, sealing the toast that sounded suspiciously like a vow.

Epilogue: A Very Merry Christmas
 

“’Bout bloody time Peaches finally put the company’s resources to good use,” Spike said as he prepared himself a drink from the bar. Buffy just rolled her eyes at him as she settled back in her plush chair, nodding distractedly at something Dawn said from the seat next to her.

“You’re not gonna get drunk just because we’re spending Christmas in L.A., are you?” Buffy asked, eyeing the double-shot of Jack Daniels he poured into a tumbler.

“Make this soddin trip go a lot quicker,” he mumbled under his breath.

“I heard that. Vampire hearing now, remember? Now, come sit down and keep me company,” Buffy said, patting the seat beside her. Actually, she wanted her pillow back. The long flight from Rome to L.A. was extremely boring, and she was hoping to get a nice nap in to make the time go by quicker.

“Can’t believe I agreed to this…wasn’t Thanksgiving enough? It’s bad enough I’m the only bloke living with twelve females. Now, I’m willingly going to add Angel’s gang, the Scoobies, and your git of a watcher too? For a whole soddin week? Am I bloody insane? I swear… if Giles brings Andrew with him I’m bloody well locking myself in my suite and refusing to come out!”

“Spike?” He looked up from his rant into Buffy’s eyes.

She knew this act was just for show. Spike had come to tentative truce with Xander. Oh… they still traded their barbed nicknames, but it was done more out of habit than malice now. He’d also put aside his differences with Giles. She knew he was secretly grateful that Giles had come to Rome at a moments notice to help her. Shoot, even Angel seemed to be part of Spike’s recent good will. The two had apparently buried the hatchet of whatever had seemed to be bothering them for the last oh…hundred years or so. Sure, Spike still seemed to get on Angel’s nerves. But, Buffy thought he did that to keep Angel from constantly brooding. A smile came to her lips as she thought about what mischief Spike would create with Angel once they arrived in LA.

“Huh?”

“Shut up,” Buffy replied, slipping a little exasperation into her tone of voice. His scarred brow quirked at that and Buffy gifted him with another roll of her eyes. Seeing “Plan A” wasn’t working, she quickly regrouped and switched to “Plan B.”

“I’m tired, Spike,” she half-whined. “Can you come and sit down so I can lean on you and take a nap… please?” Out of the corner of her eye, she made out her sister’s eye roll at her expense. ‘Hey…whatever worked.’ The plaintive whining worked. Spike pushed himself away from the bar and sat down beside Buffy.

“C’mere, luv,” he said softly, guiding Buffy’s head to rest in his lap. As his fingers glided through her hair, she was soon lulled to sleep. She slept until Spike gently shook her awake, telling her that they were about to land.

The nice thing about having your own private company jet was that it was usually stored in your private hangar. This allowed the two vampires to easily switch from plane to limo without worrying about the daytime sky. The limos and the lack of having to deal with baggage claim were a big bonus as well. In a matter of minutes, both limousines were wending their way through the afternoon Los Angeles traffic on their way to the Wolfram & Hart law offices.

~*~*~*~*~

“Peaches!” Spike hollered, throwing open the double doors to his office.

“Spike,” Angel muttered. His voice became much friendlier as he greeted Buffy, Dawn, and the others.

“How was your flight? No problems, were there?”

“The flight was fine…” Buffy started.

“’Course it was fine for you… you slept the whole way.” That remark earned Spike an elbow to the ribs.

“Ow! Bloody hell, slayer! What the hell was that for? ‘S the truth…” Buffy ignored him and turned to Angel.

“Thanks for the use of your plane, Angel. You didn’t have to do that. Giles was going to pick up the tab with Council funds,” Buffy told him.

“Not a problem at all. Besides, half the time the thing is just sitting in the hangar. It gave the pilots a chance to rack up some in-flight miles if nothing else.”

“Well, thanks…so… speaking of… have you heard from Giles? What about Willow and Xander? Anything from them?” she asked.

“As a matter of fact, I just sent the limo after Giles. His flight is due to arrive any time now, and with his Council credentials, he shouldn’t have to deal with a long line in customs. He should be here in about an hour. Willow is already here, probably asleep in her room. Xander isn’t due in for another two hours yet.”

Standing up from behind his desk, he gestured to the elevators in the corner of his office.

“Why don’t I show you all where you’ll be staying and let you get settled in? Sound good?” Murmured assents were whispered from the grateful group. After a ten hour flight, everyone was eager for a shower and a bed, not necessarily in that order. Jet lag was a bitch.

Angel showed everyone to his or her rooms, explaining that he didn’t have a formal meal planned for tonight as he had figured on everyone being exhausted. He did, however, show them how to get food and drink delivered to their rooms via the telephones and that breakfast was being catered in one of the conference rooms in the morning.

~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Spike were alone in their room. The room Angel had given the two to use was rather large. The door opened to a large sitting area that included a huge couch and entertainment center. Further in the room was a pseudo dining area and bar; the bar included a mini refrigerator, microwave and sink. Cabinets above housed an assortment of dishes and glasses. A beautifully decorated folding screen provided privacy for the huge king-sized bed that was tucked against the back wall. The headboard, dresser, nightstands, and foot chest were all composed of the same dark wood, all beautifully handcrafted. Off to the side was – upon further inspection – a huge bathroom. A shower and separate sunken tub made out of beautiful tile beckoned visitors to while away the hours why getting clean.

Buffy wandered out of the bathroom and started unpacking the many suitcases that were brought up by some flunky and were now stacked at the foot of the bed. Spike had wandered to the bar after cutting on the television. ‘Probably trying to see if ‘Passions’ was on,’ Buffy thought.

“Ahhh… good ole Peaches,” Spike said as he pulled a couple packets of blood out of the mini refrigerator. Buffy was unsure what Spike was talking about until she peeked around the folding screen and saw him dangling a couple bags of blood in the air.

Realizing that it had been a while since she fed, Buffy licked her lips in anticipation. Watching her tongue glided unselfconsciously around her lips had Spike’s cerulean gaze darkening to an almost midnight-blue hue. Seeing her effect on him had Buffy repeating the action, this time with seductive slowness.

In the weeks since being turned, Buffy had started taking her blood out of a mug like Spike. But, that was usually when he wasn’t around. Most times, she continued to feed from him. He didn’t seem to mind, in fact, he encouraged it. Both enjoyed the closeness it provided to each other. So, whenever they were alone – like now – Spike would feed from the mug, and Buffy would in turn feed from him… which usually led to other things.

It was those “other things” that had Buffy crossing swiftly to their bedroom door to secure the lock before turning back to Spike with a predatory look. Eyes locked on him as he waited for the blood to heat in the microwave above the refrigerator, Buffy began a slow striptease as she made her way to the huge king-sized bed, negligently dropping items of clothing along the way.

As she reached the screen, the last item of clothing slipped from her fingertips. With a seductive wink and a crook of her finger, she sauntered behind the screen, hidden from his view, to await him on the bed. She held a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing as she heard him mutter at the microwave to “bloody hurry up.” She was surprised he didn’t just open the door and guzzle the blood semi-cold.

Although, it would be just like him to tease her by waiting after that little striptease she just pulled. Just in case he was of that mind, she fluffed the pillows behind her and got started without him.

Licking both fingers in turn, she let them slip from her mouth to trail down her neck to her awaiting breasts. The wicked thoughts running through her head had her nipples tightening. Using a hand on each, she rubbed the hardening nubs between her thumb and forefinger. Vaguely, she heard the timer for the microwave sound. When he didn’t immediately show himself, she realized that she had guessed correctly: he was going to take his time. ‘No matter,’ she thought as she continued to pluck and roll her nipples.

Buffy pushed thoughts of her wayward Sire aside as she got caught up in pleasuring herself. She allowed one hand to fall from her breast to glide down her flat stomach to play with the coarse curls covering her sex. She felt the first drops of moisture as she trailed her fingers around the outer folds. ‘He should smell that. Now let’s see how long it’ll take him now.’

Turning her mind back to the matter at hand, she trailed a finger up and down the length of her slit coating her finger with her juices. When it was good and wet, she allowed it to slip inside her. A soft moan escaped her lips. She pumped her finger inside her a few times before adding a second… and then a third. It wasn’t enough. Removing her other hand from where it was alternately tugging on her nipples, she let it trail down to draw lazy circles using her thumb on her clit.

So involved was she in bringing herself to climax, she didn’t see Spike walk around the folding screen. Was oblivious to his enraptured stare as he watched his golden goddess writhe around on the bed, head thrown back, eyes closed as she attempted to achieve her release.

Spike quickly stripped out of his clothes, letting them fall where he stood. With feline grace he crawled up the length of the bed. Lowering his head to where her fingers were furiously working to bring herself off, he extended his tongue to lap at the juices coating the fingers pumping into her body. His hand came up to replace the one of hers that was circling her clit. Her suddenly free hand worked its way into his hair to hold his head secure at her apex.

The pleasurable feeling of his cool tongue laving her outer folds and fingers had them stilling their insistent pumping. As her fingers slipped from her slick passage, she felt as Spike slipped each one into his mouth to suck it clean. That task out of the way, he bent his head to allow his tongue to lave up and down her slit before plunging inside. Buffy’s hips shot off the bed when she felt his tongue slip inside her core. She groaned in disappointment when she felt his tongue leave her, but moaned in delight as she felt him slide up her body positioning his cock at her entrance and thrusting deep inside.

The mewling sound that issued forth from her lips as her inner walls gloved his staff nearly sent Spike over the edge. He attempted to hold himself still for a moment, taking deep unnecessary breaths, his forehead resting on hers, as he fought to bring his raging desire under control; but Buffy had other ideas. Her hands slipped to his tight ass, each hand grabbing a taut globe and squeezing; she gripped him so tight she knew that her nails were going to leave small, bloody crescent marks.

“Move, dammit,” she commanded. To further illustrate her point, she pushed her hips down into the mattress causing his cock to slip out of her slightly. With her hands still imbedded in his ass, she pulled him forcefully back inside her, while she lifted her hips to grind her clit up into his pelvic bone.

The slim control Spike tried to maintain snapped and with a fierce snarl he let himself go. Slipping his arms underneath her shoulder blades, he used his hands to grip the tops of her shoulders to hold her in place while he proceeded to fuck her into the mattress. If the keening cries issuing forth from her lips were any indication, she didn’t appear to mind. Buffy raised her legs on either side of his hips to wrap around his lower back.

“God… yes… fuck… Buffy…” he got out, as the new position allowed him to penetrate a little deeper. He never slowed his pace and continued to fuck her as if he couldn’t get enough of her, sinking into her body over and over to the sound of her cries.

“Yesssss… Spike… harder…faster…yeah, baby…that’s it… more…” He felt her start to spasm around his cock, watched as head fell back exposing her neck as she climaxed, her juices cascading over his pulsating length. With one more surge within her slick passage, he came, his seed spewing forth within the depths of her body. Her neck was too good an invitation to pass up and he sunk his fangs in his mark then began sucking small amounts of her blood into his mouth. The second penetration sent another orgasm crashing over her.

Spike released her neck, lovingly closing the fresh marks on her neck before he collapsed on top of her. The feel of his weight as he lay on top of her was something akin to heaven, and Buffy wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

After a time, Spike shifted to lie beside her, spooning her backside as he pulled her back in his arms. With a kiss to her bare shoulder, he drifted off to sleep.

“I love you,” she whispered, before she too gave herself over to sleep. She could feed later.

~*~*~*~*~

After a good night’s rest by Angel’s guests, everyone gathered the next day in his office. It was officially Christmas Eve. Angel had given the employees of Wolfram & Hart the day off, much to the shock of the senior partners – who let their displeasure be known via Eve.

Angel just told her politely to “stuff it,” inviting her to leave so that he could spend time with his family and friends. She left his office in a huff, much to the amusement of the people currently occupying his office.

Everyone came armed with their gifts, piling them in a vacant corner, to be opened tomorrow.

The gang spent the afternoon hanging out in Angel’s office, either socializing or watching the television playing the latest in holiday entertainment. By early evening, everyone made their way to their individual rooms to relax after a day of eating, drinking, and being merry.

After the last person left his office, Angel picked up the phone and had his decorators get to work.

~*~*~*~*~

Buffy and Spike finally made their way back to their room after wishing Dawn a Merry Christmas and that they would see her in the morning. Hand-in-hand, the two walked into their borrowed room. Spike looked up in surprise at all the unlit candles scattered about the room. Turning to Buffy, he quirked a brow at her.

She just smiled at him. She had sent him out of the room ahead of her on the pretext that she forgot to grab a gift. After he had left, she’s pulled the candles from their hiding place and placed them all over their room. Quickly, so as not to arouse his suspicions, Buffy got everything prepared for the early Christmas gift she planned to give him.

Now that everything was in place, Buffy was ready to give Spike his early Christmas gift. It was Christmas Eve after all, and it was a tradition in the Summers’ household that everyone got to open one gift the day before Christmas.

Moving forward, she grabbed Spike’s hand in hers and led him to the bed. Telling him to get undressed, she left him there to walk about the room lighting the candles. When she was done, the room resembled her bedroom at her “awakening.” She wondered briefly if Spike realized the significance of the candles, but figured he probably didn’t.

Buffy knew how much Spike wanted to claim her, but had resisted. She was glad, because she wanted to be the one to initiate this. To prove to him how much she loved him. She had heard how he’d tried to claim Dru so many years ago, only to have her reject his claim. It was probably why he hesitated with her now. Although, if Spike had initiated the claim, she would have certainly reciprocated. She wanted nothing more than to tie herself to this man for all eternity.

But, she wanted to be the one to do it.

To show how much she loved him. Would always love him.

After all the candles were lit, she walked back to the foot of the bed, gazing down at her naked lover. The love spilling forth from his eyes had her weak in the knees. With her eyes fixated on his, she slowly undid the buttons to her top before shrugging out of her top. Reaching one hand up between her breasts, she undid the front clasp of her red lace bra, allowing it to follow the same path to the floor as her shirt.

She watched as his eyes blazed hot with his mounting desire. Her eyes flicked briefly to the cock standing so proudly at attention. Licking her lips in anticipation, she reached behind her to undo the clasp of her skirt then lowering the zipper. The garment fell to the floor to pool at her feet. She stood before him in the matching pair of red thong underwear. Slipping a finger into either side of the waistband, she slowly lowered them to the floor, her eyes never leaving his as she worked the cloth down her toned legs.

Finished with her little striptease, she stood back up, allowing Spike to feast on her naked figure. If possible, his eyes seemed to smolder more, his hardened cock straining towards her.

With a smile on her lips, she crawled on the edge of the bed to make her way up his body. As she slithered up the length of his body, her tongue darted out to lick a path from the base of his cock, up along the underside, swirling around the head…once, twice, before engulfing his engorged staff in her mouth. His hands fisted in her hair as she took him all in her mouth, a hoarse, “Fuck… Buffy…” escaping his lips. As her head bobbed up and down on his staff, incoherent babblings issued forth from his lips.

“Oh God… feels so good… don’t stop… harder… ahhh…”

His words spurred her on, increasing her pace as she deep-throated him. Reaching one hand down, she fondled his balls, rolling them around in her hand.

“God… Buffy… gonna cum…”

Slipping his cock out of her mouth so just the head remained, she ran her tongue along the underside of his length, tracing the tip along the protruding veins. Then, in one quick motion, so took him in her mouth to the hilt, sucking hard on the upstroke to send him over the edge, before enveloping him once more.

It was too much for Spike to take. Grabbing the back of her head, he thrust his hips upward and came.

“Buffy…” he hollered, as his orgasm overtook his body.

Buffy eagerly swallowed as his release flooded her mouth, the extra sucking action causing slight tremors to shudder through his body. Slowly, she worked her mouth up and down his cock, making sure he was licked clean, before releasing him from her mouth.

As he collapsed back to the bed, a smug look came over her face. Licking her lips to get any stray bits she may have missed, Buffy moved further up his body. Straddling his hips, she leaned down and kissed his parted lips, allowing him to taste himself on her.

The moan that escaped his mouth had her once again licking her lips this time in anticipation. She could feel him start to swell again as she leaned over him, sampling his lips. Eagerly, she started to rub her wet slit along the length of him, her juices spilling forth to coat his now-hard cock. Reaching one hand between her legs, she gripped him, stroking him a few times, before rubbing the head up and down her slick entrance.

Her head fell back as he lifted his hips to slip slightly inside her drenched passage. A soft mewl escaped her lips. His raised his hips again, slipping a little further inside her core. Unable to stand the exquisite torture anymore, Buffy sank down on his length until she felt his pelvic bone grind into her clit.

She felt his hands slide to her waist to guide her movements as she rode him. She wanted nothing more than for him to flip her to her back and pound into her with bruising intensity, but she needed to be in control tonight. Later, she promised herself. Right now, she just rode him for all she was worth, clamping her inner walls tightly around his cock.

All too soon, her climax was upon her and she ground down on him as she began to quiver around him. Her demonic features slid to the fore and she came with a roar, burying her fangs in his neck, pulling his blood into her mouth, swallowing it down greedily.

Her fangs were his undoing, and with his hands gripping her waist tightly, his hips shot off the bed as he filled her core with his release.

“Mine!” she growled fiercely, as she felt his cock pulsing within her, releasing his seed within her.

His eyes flew wide at her stated claim.

“Yours,” he answered humbly, overwhelmed by her gift.

With a fierce wave of possessiveness, Spike flipped her to her back, careful not to jar her fangs where they clung to his neck. Allowing his own features to shift, he quickly sunk them into her neck, just above his original mark. As her blood slid down his throat, a wave of contentment washed over him.

“Mine,” he growled back.

“Yours,” was her soft reply as she released her fangs from his neck. Buffy nicked her tongue with her fang and brought Spike’s lips to her own, sealing their vow. Releasing each other’s lips, they allowed their own blood to coat the fresh marks they gave one another before licking the wounds closed.

With a sated sigh, he rolled off her then gathered her close to his side. His fingertips trailed up and down the length of her arm that was draped across his middle.

Her head tilted up so that Buffy could look at him. The love blazing from his eyes humbled her. Moving the hand draped across his waist upward, she trailed her fingers down his sharp cheekbones. The gentle caress had him closing his eyes in pleasure.

“I love you, Spike,” she whispered softly. His eyes flew open at her declaration. Sure, she had said the words often after awakening and he never got tired of hearing them. It’s just that now, finally being mated, and the words springing forth from her lips… that little niggling of doubt that whispered to him in the back of his mind was gone. She really loved him…proved it in the claim that she had instigated.

“I love you too, Buffy. Forever.”

~*~*~*~*~

It was early Christmas morning, and everyone was sprawled around Angel’s office in preparation of the gift exchange. Demons and human alike gathered to spread good cheer and bestow gifts of love and friendship to their friends and family. Even Willow – who was Jewish – got into the gift-giving atmosphere that was spreading throughout the room.

All were in awe of the sudden transformation Angel’s office underwent over the previous night. It was as if Santa’s own decorator came in to transform the vampire’s office from a cold, remote workspace to a warm, inviting winter wonderland. Some type of holiday decoration covered every available surface. The once-vacant wall that was the home of the pile of presents now sported a huge Christmas tree, complete with fancy decorations.

At the entrance to his office, mistletoe hung from the frame so that Angel was able to take advantage and place a chaste kiss to each of the females as they entered his office. The other males soon got caught up in the act and began dragging unsuspecting victims to the special branch to claim their kiss.

After a time, everyone took a seat so they could begin passing out gifts.

Spike and Buffy were curled up on the couch nuzzling next to one another. Surprisingly, Xander and his werewolf fiancé, Alaine, were sitting next to them. Dawn and Willow sat on the floor chatting to the two.

On a separate couch sat Fred, Wesley, Giles, and Gunn. Lorne was at the bar fixing himself a drink. The young slayers were scattered on the floor in small groups, talking amongst themselves.

Almost all of them were practically prancing in their seats, each waiting with child-like eagerness to start tearing into the beautifully wrapped packages.

Angel broke into their conversations to say, “I want to thank you all for coming to spend your Christmas here. Rather than go into some longwinded speech, how ‘bout we just get to opening gifts?”

That announcement was met with several “hear hear’s” and a few “yeses” from some of the girls. Smiling, he walked over to the tree and grabbed a gift.

“Giles. This one is for you.”

“Oh, I say…” he trailed off, a blush staining his face. He got up and went to retrieve his gift. Angel started calling out more names until, finally, everyone was loaded down with presents surrounding them.

Some eagerly opened their gifts, tearing into the paper then squealing with delight at what they had received. Others, tentatively opened packages, shocked to be receiving a gift in the first place.

One such person was Angel. Spike and Buffy watched as he fingered the wrapping paper of the gift they had given him. He looked up and made eye contact. ‘Open it,’ Buffy mouthed. Turning his attention once more to the package, Angel tore off the paper, suddenly overcome with giddy anticipation. His normally expressionless face gave way to awe as he fingered the gift they had given him: multiple sketchpads, pencils and charcoals of exceptional quality stared back at him.

“Read the note,” Spike said soft enough that he could be heard, but not overheard by the others as noise erupted around them. Angel glanced up for a second before looking through the supplies for a note. Finding it, he opened it and quickly perused its contents. When he was done, he looked back up at both of them and nodded once.

Angel,

I know this is your gift, but both Spike and I would like something in return. We want a family portrait – a complete family portrait.

Love,

Buffy

(The “complete family portrait” was underlined twice.)

~*~

Giles held the gift in his hand, confused. He looked up to where Spike sat opening a gift. As if sensing his gaze, Spike looked up to see the watcher staring at him. He gave the watcher a slight smile, completely devoid of his normal smirk.

Turning away from the vampire, Giles quickly opened the gift Spike had given him. To say he was stunned was an understatement. The leather-bound book was obviously high quality. He didn’t see a title on the book so he opened the cover for a clue to what was inside. A folded piece of paper slipped down, gaining his notice. He opened it and read Spike’s handwriting:

Rupert,

I cannot thank you enough for all of your help. I’m sure the extensive library your Council maintained on past and present vampires is sadly lacking since the old Council building was destroyed. I hope this helps.

Spike

AKA William the Bloody

Giles thumbed through the text and gaped in astonishment. It seemed like every Master Vampire Spike had come into contact was written about in this book.

~*~

Spike looked at the framed portrait that his ‘Bit had given him. His girls. He could feel tears coming to his eyes as he gazed down at Buffy and Dawn.

“I had it done from a picture I carry in my wallet,” Dawn said softly from her position on the floor by his feet. Spike reached a hand out and ran it down her hair.

“Thanks ‘Bit,” he whispered softly, almost too overcome for words.

~*~

Dawn opened her gift from her sister and Spike. She looked at the golden locket, turning it over at Buffy’s whispered, “There’s an inscription on the back.”

“My family. Forever,” Dawn read. She opened the locket and saw a mini portrait of the three of them together. Tears came into her eyes and she got up from the floor to launch herself into their waiting arms.

“I love you, Dawnie,” her sister whispered in her ear.

“Me too, ‘Bit. Now, open your other gift,” Spike urged.

Dawn pulled back and looked at them. Buffy had a confused look on her face; she had no idea what Spike was talking about. Dawn sat back down and searched among her packages for her other gift from Spike and Buffy. Well, Spike at least. Actually, it was from Spike and… Angel? She dug into the wrapping and her jaw dropped.

Before Angel had a chance to prepare himself, Dawn launched herself at him, squealing her joy.

“Stanford!”

Angel awkwardly hugged the girl in his arms, helplessly turning to his Grand-Child for help. Spike just smirked at him, enjoying his Grand-Sire’s floundering.

“Uh… all I did was to provide the contacts. Spike’s the one that paid for it. Honest.” He was trying to detach himself from the clinging teen.

“I don’t care…. Stanford!” she squealed again, wrapping her arms tighter around the vampire’s neck.

“Uh… Spike. A little help here,” Angel asked, desperation now entering his voice.

“Hey! What about me?” Spike complained good-naturedly, finally taking pity on his Grand-Sire.

Releasing one vampire, she turned and launched herself at the other.

“Thanks, Spike!”

“No problem, ‘Bit. No goofing off either. I expect good grades on that report card,” he said, mock-sternly.

“Stanford?” Buffy questioned. “Stanford!” Her voice was starting to get a little loud.

“Now, pet,” Spike started soothingly, “You knew she was going to be spreading her wings sometime.”

“But Stanford? And all alone?”

“It’ll give you an excuse to come back to the states more often. Besides, it’s not like we can’t relocate your operation back here anyway. Entirely up to you though.” Buffy just crossed her hands over her chest and pouted.

“Buffy, I don’t have—“ Dawn began.

“Oh no you don’t.” Spike cut her off. “You’re going and that’s final. Besides, it’s already paid for. And you,” he pointed a finger at Buffy, “be happy for your sister.”

“Oh, Dawnie, I am happy for you. It’s just…you know…” Tears formed in Buffy’s eyes at the thought of her sister going away to college next summer.

~*~*~*~*~

After their gift exchange, the small group broke up to gush over their gifts. The conference room was opened next door and set up buffet-style for lunch. As people got hungry, they wandered out of Angel’s office to fix themselves a plate of food.

Angel had also hired someone to man the bar all afternoon, so that by evening, several people were on their way to becoming severely intoxicated. In all, everyone’s spirits were high.

At some point, a stereo was cut on and Christmas tunes played softly in the background. A few more rounds of drinks and many of the guests were singing along. Nobody seemed to mind the off-key voices raucously belting out the various carols; alcohol had a great numbing affect on the ears for everyone.

That is, except one person: Lorne.

~*~*~*~*~

Lorne walked over to where Buffy stood surrounded by a group of her friends as they all sang off-key Christmas carols. Between the drinking and just the general lack of singing skills of the people involved, Lorne was attempting to rub away the developing migraine using two fingers to either side of his temples. He tapped Buffy on her shoulder to get her attention.

"Hey sweetcakes, we need to talk..."