Title: Miracles of Darkness

Author: Spikey’s_gurl

Distribution: Sinister Attraction and Fanfiction.net-if you want it just ask.

Disclaimer-Do I really have to say this? I don’t own Buffy or any of the characters. I made some up for the story. I don’t plan to make money off of them nor will I ever. Just don’t sue-hello! Broke here!

Rating-R

Spoilers-Set after Smashed. I didn’t see the episode, just read the summary. Don’t kill me if I don’t get the details right. After Buffy wakes up with Spike, she bolts and Spike turns angry. He claims he never loved her and leaves. But now he returns almost twenty years later to find that some things changed. Buffy is still alive and MARRIED? The thing is she got what she wanted-a caring husband, and their children. But when Spike comes back, will she tell him about the secrets she’s been keeping? Because everything is not as it seems.

Helps: “…” are spoken

<…> are thoughts

//…// is flashbacks

~* This will be a major Riley bashing fic. It has some B/R in it, but definite B/Spike on the way. *~

Sunnydale-2020

“What the bloody hell am I doing back?” Spike grumbled to himself as he totally plowed over the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign. It had been twenty years since he’s seen this town. And in his opinion, it hadn’t been long enough. Willow and Dawn <God love ‘em> always kept in touch. They emailed him on his cell phone. No one knew he had one but those two-and Angel, if you included him. Angel kept tabs on his childe, always checking up on him. He had received a phone call from a desperate Willow claiming that she couldn’t reach Spike. That surprised him to no end. He agreed to reach his childe because Willow claimed they needed him to perform a ritual that could permanately bind the Hellmouth forever. But he had to come very quick. So that was why he was here now. He drove to Willow’s apartment, which he thought was very quaint. Willow and Tara had gotten back together and shared this apartment. When he pulled up in his Desoto, and yes he still had that car, he got out and rang the doorbell. He leaned up on the doorframe and waited.

When Willow finally came to the door he smirked. She was clad in blue pajamas with little monkeys all over them. She didn’t look like she had been sleeping, but the fact that her hair was scattered across her face, her shirt was inside out and her pants were backwards clearly said that she was doing anything but sleeping in her bedroom.

“SPIKE!” Willow threw her arms around the leather-clad vampire and engulfed him in a hug. He looked just like he did nineteen years ago. In other words, he was still totally hot. Tara came in looking a little better than Willow, but still a little flushed. When she saw Spike she smiled.

“Come on in Spike! Do you want anything to drink? I’m afraid we are out of blood at the moment.” Spike raised his eyebrows at the blonde witch but shook his head. Willow said she wasn’t as shy anymore. Willow was still attached to him and so he picked her up and carried her inside-over his shoulder. Willow squealed and swatted him when he put her down.

“So how’s my Red and Glenda been doing? Last I heard, the Whelp’s and demon girl’s kids were making trouble.” Spike smiled at Willow when she handed him a warm mug of hot chocolate with the little marshmallows. Willow just rolled her eyes at his statement.

“That is the understatement of the century if I ever heard it! His eldest was almost suspended again.” Tara just smiled at the next statement.

“Sounds like the whelp actually taught his little buggers something.” Willow reached for the phone when it rang.

“Hello? Hey Buffy. Um…yeah, I’ll watch him. No it’s only nine thirty. I was already rudely awakened.” She said it loud enough to where Spike could hear her. “I’m just kidding Buffy. He’s no trouble at all. Sure. I understand. See ya in a few!” Willow hung up the phone and went into the living room. It was furnished in dark mahogany furniture and dark leather couches and chairs. That was where Spike and Tara were.

“Tara. We have to go watch Trevor for a while. At least until Buffy gets back from patrol. Dawn had to bail again.” Tara smiled.

“Again-she really owes us. Spike, you wanna come with?” Spike just shrugged and nodded. Ten minutes later, they piled into the Desoto which was fairly clean. They pulled up at the Slayer’s house, which hadn’t changed a bit as Spike noticed. When Willow reached the top step, a prepped Buffy came bounding out of the house.

“Thank you so much Will. I don’t know what I would do without you. Trevor thinks he’s old enough to do anything and needs constant watch. You know where everything is. I gotta go so…” She froze when she saw Spike talking to Tara behind Willow. Willow’s brow furrowed and she turned around. When she saw the Slayer’s interest, she smiled.

“Tara and I found a spell to close the Hellmouth permanently. I think he can also help our little rebellion problem. He just came back to help Buffy. He’s hasn’t done anything unworthy.” Buffy didn’t hear a word Willow said. She was amazed that Spike was back. He didn’t look any different than he did when he left. She was about to turn 40. Imagine that! A slayer turning 40. She really looked at the most 30. So did everyone else, except for Giles, who was going on 54 next year.

“Spike?” It came out a squeak. She wanted to stomp her foot for sounded so foolish. Spike just smiled. Not a smirk or a sneer or anything else like that-he honestly smiled.

“Hello Buffy. Who would have thought it? A Slayer turning forty. I wonder what my present should be to the Slayer who was cheated death seven times now.” Buffy gaped at him. Its true-she died five times after he left. The third time she was drained, but her body never died. She had to have blood IV’s running in her for two months, but she didn’t mind. The fourth time was a heart attack. Just a normal heart attack. Xander had performed CPR again and had saved her. The fifth time was because she was electrocuted. Damn those Electricity demons. She didn’t want to tell the details of her sixth and seventh death encounter. She would tell him when the time was right. When she came back to this universe she did something totally out of character. She laughed.

“Spike? Oh my God!” She ran to him and threw her arms around him. He was startled for a minute but responded quickly. God, it killed him to have her this close and yet not have her it all.

“So I take it you missed me?” He got a playful swat on the arm for that. She looked at her watch and flinched.

“I gotta go. These demons…”

“…that are planning on taking over the world with an amulet, sacred stone, and bones of three innocents are dead. Smashed ‘em up real good before I got here. Consider it a personal favor from me to you.” Buffy gaped at Spike for the second time that night.

“How did you…”

“Know? Angel sent me word along with Willow and Glenda here.”

“MOM-IS AUNT WILLOW HERE YET? I NEED HELP WITH MY MATH HOMEWORK!” The 12 year old boys voice was VERY loud-a sure sign he was Buffy’s child. She just rolled her eyes and turned and faced the house.

“YES NOW BE QUIET SO THE WHOLE UNIVERSE DOESN’T HEAR YOU!” Spike winced. He was standing right next to her and with super sensitive hearing, it didn’t help at all.

“A little too late for that pet.” Another playful swat on the arm followed.

“Do you mind Wills? He really needs to bring his grades up.” Willow just smiled.

“Sure Buffy. I’ll be right back Tara.” Willow hurried up the stairs to Dawn’s old room which was now clearly a boy’s room. Sitting at the desk on the far wall was a boy-medium height, brown eyes, brown hair and a gorgeous smile. Give him another four years and he would have girls lining up at his door.

“Hey Wills. This math is totally killing me. Help?” Willow smiled.

“Sure Trev.” Meanwhile, downstairs, Buffy and Spike were engaged with a conversation about earlier this night.

“The demons weren’t any trouble at all. I swear Buffy! Not a scratch on me! In fact, I’m gonna patrol after I leave which would be right about now.” Buffy smiled at him and led him to the door. Before she closed the door she called to him.

“Hey Spike?” He turned around to face her.

“I did miss you.”

She closed the door on a smiling vampire.

“I missed you too Buffy.”

///////////////////////////////

Spike wandered around the old cemetery where he had spent good two and half years. He heard the sounds of struggling and screeching as a vampire turned to dust. He turned around to be confronted with a sight that he didn’t expect. There was a girl who looked about eighteen or nineteen holding a stake. Her hair was dark brown, almost black, with purple, blue, red, yellow, and green streaks in it. Her nose and left eyebrow were pierced. She had on a t-shirt that was torn to show her stomach, which had a belly-button ring. The shirt was black with a huge skull on it. They eyes were red and its mouth was open with snakes crawling out of it. Her pants were a baggy black jean-like material. She had on huge hiking boots that come up to her calf. She had on tons of jewelry-rings on every finger and necklaces and bracelets galore. Her earrings were also skulls. She made slayers LOOK dangerous. Spike really liked this one.

“That is a Rogue Slayer if I ever saw one! You have got to be one of the most gothic-decked slayers I have ever seen.” The slayer turned to the intrusion.

“I’m also the last one you’ll see.” She lunged for him. Boy was she good! He barely matched every punch and kick she decked out to him. With every punch, he tried to find a weakness, but never saw it. She was perfect.

<Not as good as Buffy, but still-she’s good>

That’s when he saw it. She started to drop her shoulder back making it easier for him to predict a punch. The next time she swung at him he was ready. He grabbed her arm and swung her over his shoulder. She landed with an ‘oof’ on the ground. He straddled her in an attempt to hold her still.

“Pet, calm down! I’m not gonna hurt you.” She glared at him. ‘

“You know that doesn’t sound convincing when your on top of me, holding my throat and arms and about to KILL ME!” He just rolled his eyes.

“Oh, I should have know you would find each other. Will you please get off my daughter?” Buffy was standing above him with her arms crossed over her chest. She looked amused. He got up and offered a hand the other slayer who didn’t take it, no wait! Buffy’s daughter-did she just say daughter?

“Daughter-you family is so bloody weird.” Spike stared at the girl who stared right back.

“Who the fuck are you?” Buffy gaped at her daughter.

“Amanda Jasmine! Watch your language!” Spike smirked.

“I like this girl.” Buffy turned her evil eye on him.

“You would.” She then turned to her daughter. “ A.J.! You were supposed to be home over an hour ago to help with the demon problem!” A.J. just rolled her eyes.

“Braids just told me that the ritual was stopped. So what? I’m late-what are you going to do about it? Report me to the council?” Spike shook his head. This girl was WAY too arrogant.

“Buffy, A.J.! I couldn’t find you any…SPIKE?” Spike turned around and groaned.

“If it isn’t Captain Cardboard back from the Amazon. Find any more vampire whores to suck you off?” A.J.’s eyes went wide. No one told her why her mother had first broken up with Riley. This was very interesting. <Wait! Spike?> Her eyes went from Riley to the blonde in front of her. Like her aunt Dawn had said, he was VERY cute. <Where did that come from>

“What are you doing here Spike? Want the chip out?” Spike just grinned.

“Nope. It’s been out mate for almost fifteen bloody years. Don’t have to worry though. I don’t need another death threat from anyone else. I got the drill-I don’t kill. See ya around mates.” Spike left and turned so only A.J. could see him. He motioned slightly towards a crypt not far from where they were standing. She nodded and turned to her ‘guardians.’ She hated calling them parents-mainly because they weren’t. They never acted like it at least.

“I could have handled myself! I didn’t need you barging in on me like always.” A.J. stared at her mother.

“He wasn’t going to kill you but he still could hurt you. He’s a cold blooded killer. Just like Andrew.” Riley stared at her the entire time he was talking. A.J. just gaped at him.

“HOW DARE YOU SAY THINGS LIKE THAT! YOU NEVER KNEW HIM! YOU’RE NOT MY FATHER!” A.J. ran as fast as she could to the crypt Spike had mentioned and stormed in. He had seen angry Slayers before, but this one topped them all.

“HOW DARE HE! HE’S NOT MY FATHER! HE CAN’T MAKE MY CHOICES FOR ME! UGH!” She punched the wall nearest her, which happened to be right where Spike was.

“Hey now! Bloody Hell!” Spike ducked just in time to miss the flying fist. “Who are you talking about love?”

“That stupid Captain America. ‘Hi my name is Riley Finn. Worship the ground I walk on! HE MAKES ME SO FUCKING MAD!” Spike just raised his eyebrows. This one was a spit fire.

“Wait-you’re Spike. Oh my God!” Her eyes were bulging out of her head and her jaw was on the floor.

“Yeah, so what of it?” Spike snapped. He didn’t want it to come out so hateful, but she didn’t care.

“It took you long enough to get back. I have been waiting for you! I’m gonna need some more people in the “Let’s Bash Riley Club.” You look like just the member I’m looking for. And to become an honorary member, you have to spill everything about when you knew Riley and my mom before I was born. Not about the lovey-dovey stuff. But gore. I wanna know about what you said earlier about the vamp whores. And I WANT TO KNOW EVERY DETAIL.” She was now sitting on a tomb in the middle of the room with her legs crossed and her eyes daring Spike to disagree. He just shook his head and trotted over to the tomb. He grinned evilly and turned to the slayer on his old ‘make-shift’ bed in his old crypt from twenty years back.

<She’s just like Dawn>

“Well. I was out patrolling the neighborhood one night when I say G.I. Riley coming out of the house at about two a.m. When the slayer didn’t come out after him, I followed. I followed him to a vamp bar. He was paying vamps to suck his blood.”

A.J. returned his evil grin and nodded for him to continue. This was going to be good.

///////////////////////////////////

A.J. sat gaping at the legendary vampire in front of her.

“Just like that-he just plunged it in?” Spike smirked.

“Yup. Just like that. It hurt like hell too. He even has the guts to share a drink with me afterwards. Little ponce. If I purposely fake-staked my enemy, I would have the decency to…oh bloody hell, I wouldn’t fake it, I’d do it.” A.J. looked down at her watch.

“Oh SHIT!” Spike’s eyebrows raised.

“You’re a spit fire you know that? You sure got a mouth on you.”

“I gotta meet Aunt Dawn in twenty minutes.” A.J. started to get up from the sarcophagus and head towards the door. Spike jumped up also and grabbed his legendary duster.

“I’m coming with you.” A.J. spun on her heels. She was fuming.

“What? Don’t think little A.J. can’t take care of herself?” Spike just rolled his eyes.

“No. You are more than perfectly capable to take care of yourself and you know it. I just want to see ‘Lil Bit.” A.J. smiled.

“She told me that you used to call her that. I think she would like seeing you. Willow, Tara, Anya, and Dawn are the only ones who really liked having you around you know. They still tell me stories about how you tried to kill them and everything. Willow even told me about the time when you were drunk and you kidnapped…”

“THAT’S enough of that story. Let’s go. I’ve had my share of demons tonight and I don’t want anymore.” A.J. slapped herself on the forehead.

“You were the one to kill the demons tonight. Braids said she say a punk killing them.”

“Hey! Who’s Braids?” Spike asked suspiciously.

“Braids is an official member of ‘I Hate Riley Finn’ club and vice-president of Scoobies version 2.0. As you can tell I hang around with Willow and Dawn too much. Let’s go. She’s worse than mom about me being time. She never is so I don’t see why…” Spike just smiled as the Slayer led the way through the cemetery to the nice apartment in front of them. He hadn’t been listening to a word the girl was saying. He was just looking around at all the differences and similarities between the old and new Sunnyhell. That’s when he noticed a figure running out of the house fuming. It was a pretty figure. WAY too pretty.

<Oh my God. It’s Dawn.>

“A.J.! Your mother has been calling me and everything! Why were you so…” Dawn’s eyes became big and her mouth stood wide open. Spike smirked.

“You’ll catch flies like that love.” She quickly closed her mouth and then opened it to say something.

“Spike”

That was all she said before she passed out.

/////////////////////////////////////

Spike caught Dawn before she hit the ground. A.J. rolled her eyes.

“And she thinks that I’m a baby. She just passes out in the street like that!” Spike picked her up and A.J. led him to the nice apartment that she had come running out of. When he got to the door, he paused.

“Um, love, I don’t think that…”

“Come in, Spike.”

“A.J., I don’t think…”

“It’s okay. I live here.” Spike went into the house and A.J. took him into the living room where he laid Dawn down. Spike and A.J. went into the kitchen where she served drinks. She made sure Dawn was still out before taking a key out of her back pocket and unlocking a cabinet. Inside was all kinds of alcohol. A.J. pulled out a brandy and some glasses. She also grabbed some cigarettes out from a purse on the counter and took one out. When she offered the pack to Spike, he took it but raised his eyebrows.

“Lil Bit lets you smoke in here, let alone drink?”

“Nope. But it annoys the hell outta her.” Spike and A.J. both smirked and lit up. After a few seconds of comfortable silence, Spike asked a question.

“Wanna tell me why you live here and not with mum and Captain Cardboard?” A.J. glared at him but gave in.

“Riley and I don’t get along and that’s a VERY BIG understatement. With my Slayer powers and Riley’s military training, fights between us kinda get physical.”

“So your mum didn’t want you hurt?” A.J. smiled.

“No, that’s the thing. She doesn’t want Riley hurt. Last time we fought, he was in the hospital for a few days.” Spike laughed out loud at that. That’s how Dawn found them. Spike laughing and A.J. smiling. Genuinely smiling. She hadn’t seen a smile out of her in a long time. Dawn picked up a pillow and chunked it at Spike.

“YOU STUPID VAMPIRE! You can’t even say hi to me before you see A.J.? You don’t even know her. At least I don’t think you do, which you shouldn’t because you act like you don’t and I’ve been spending was too much time with Willow and I’m shutting up now.” Dawn took a deep breath and smiled at Spike.

“I really missed you”

/////////////////////////////////////////////

Spike smiled at Dawn.

“Missed you too Bit.” Dawn rolled her eyes.

“Ugh. Do you have to call me that? I mean, hello-I’m not fifteen anymore. I’m thirty four ya know. God, I look almost as old as you.”

“Dawn, I’m 153 years old. I look good for my age.” A.J. just was taken by surprise at that statement. <God he’s old>

“Let me guess, you met A.J. fighting?” Spike and A.J. smirked.

“Yup. By the way, we’re out of chocolate. You ate it all again.” Dawn glared at A.J. Spike grinned.

“Yup, you’re definitely 34.” Dawn hit him again and turned to A.J.

“Buffy called. You got in another fight with Riley? You didn’t break his nose again did you?” A.J. rolled her eyes.

“So I have a bad temper. Can I help it if he’s conveniently standing right there? I mean his face just screamed ‘Hit Me’.” Spike laughed and then looked outside.

“Gotta go pet. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Dawn hugged him and A.J. perked up.

“Hey, where ya stayin?” Dawn glared at Spike.

“You are not staying in that old run down crypt. You can stay with us. It will make Buffy and Riley mad. Tara and Willow are already coming over tomorrow to work on the spell. Yours truly is almost as good as she is in Wicca magic thank you very much.” Spike smiled.

“And I bet big sis wasn’t very happy when she found out.” Dawn returned the smile.

“Actually I raised her from the dead again. She was electrocuted…”

“And it was all Riley’s fault.” A.J. jumped in. Spike snorted.

“Why am I not surprised?” Dawn glared at them.

“So, will you stay with us?” He looked reluctant but nodded his head.

“YES!” Dawn and Spike turned to A.J.

“What? Can’t I help it if I’m a little excited.”

“Go to bed A.J. You have school tomorrow.” Dawn smiled when she heard the groan.

Title: Miracles of Darkness

Author: Spikey’s_gurl

Distribution: Sinister Attraction and Fanfiction.net-if you want it just ask.

Disclaimer-Do I really have to say this? I don’t own Buffy or any of the characters. I made some up for the story. I don’t plan to make money off of them nor will I ever. Just don’t sue-hello! Broke here!

Rating-R

Spoilers-Set after Smashed. I didn’t see the episode, just read the summary. Don’t kill me if I don’t get the details right. After Buffy wakes up with Spike, she bolts and Spike turns angry. He claims he never loved her and leaves. But now he returns almost twenty years later to find that some things changed. Buffy is still alive and MARRIED? The thing is she got what she wanted-a caring husband, and their children. But when Spike comes back, will she tell him about the secrets she’s been keeping? Because everything is not as it seems.

Helps: “…” are spoken

<…> are thoughts

//…// is flashbacks

Part 2:

Spike wandered around the old cemetery where he had spent good two and half years. He heard the sounds of struggling and screeching as a vampire turned to dust. He turned around to be confronted with a sight that he didn’t expect. There was a girl who looked about eighteen or nineteen holding a stake. Her hair was dark brown, almost black, with purple, blue, red, yellow, and green streaks in it. Her nose and left eyebrow were pierced. She had on a t-shirt that was torn to show her stomach, which had a belly-button ring. The shirt was black with a huge skull on it. They eyes were red and its mouth was open with snakes crawling out of it. Her pants were a baggy black jean-like material. She had on huge hiking boots that come up to her calf. She had on tons of jewelry-rings on every finger and necklaces and bracelets galore. Her earrings were also skulls. She made slayers LOOK dangerous. Spike really liked this one.

“That is a Rogue Slayer if I ever saw one! You have got to be one of the most gothic-decked slayers I have ever seen.” The slayer turned to the intrusion.

“I’m also the last one you’ll see.” She lunged for him. Boy was she good! He barely matched every punch and kick she decked out to him. With every punch, he tried to find a weakness, but never saw it. She was perfect.

<Not as good as Buffy, but still-she’s good>

That’s when he saw it. She started to drop her shoulder back making it easier for him to predict a punch. The next time she swung at him he was ready. He grabbed her arm and swung her over his shoulder. She landed with an ‘oof’ on the ground. He straddled her in an attempt to hold her still.

“Pet, calm down! I’m not gonna hurt you.” She glared at him. ‘

“You know that doesn’t sound convincing when your on top of me, holding my throat and arms and about to KILL ME!” He just rolled his eyes.

“Oh, I should have know you would find each other. Will you please get off my daughter?” Buffy was standing above him with her arms crossed over her chest. She looked amused. He got up and offered a hand the other slayer who didn’t take it, no wait! Buffy’s daughter-did she just say daughter?

“Daughter-you family is so bloody weird.” Spike stared at the girl who stared right back.

“Who the fuck are you?” Buffy gaped at her daughter.

“Amanda Jasmine! Watch your language!” Spike smirked.

“I like this girl.” Buffy turned her evil eye on him.

“You would.” She then turned to her daughter. “ A.J.! You were supposed to be home over an hour ago to help with the demon problem!” A.J. just rolled her eyes.

“Braids just told me that the ritual was stopped. So what? I’m late-what are you going to do about it? Report me to the council?” Spike shook his head. This girl was WAY too arrogant.

“Buffy, A.J.! I couldn’t find you any…SPIKE?” Spike turned around and groaned.

“If it isn’t Captain Cardboard back from the Amazon. Find any more vampire whores to suck you off?” A.J.’s eyes went wide. No one told her why her mother had first broken up with Riley. This was very interesting. <Wait! Spike?> Her eyes went from Riley to the blonde in front of her. Like her aunt Dawn had said, he was VERY cute. <Where did that come from>

“What are you doing here Spike? Want the chip out?” Spike just grinned.

“Nope. It’s been out mate for almost fifteen bloody years. Don’t have to worry though. I don’t need another death threat from anyone else. I got the drill-I don’t kill. See ya around mates.” Spike left and turned so only A.J. could see him. He motioned slightly towards a crypt not far from where they were standing. She nodded and turned to her ‘guardians.’ She hated calling them parents-mainly because they weren’t. They never acted like it at least.

“I could have handled myself! I didn’t need you barging in on me like always.” A.J. stared at her mother.

“He wasn’t going to kill you but he still could hurt you. He’s a cold blooded killer. Just like Andrew.” Riley stared at her the entire time he was talking. A.J. just gaped at him.

“HOW DARE YOU SAY THINGS LIKE THAT! YOU NEVER KNEW HIM! YOU’RE NOT MY FATHER!” A.J. ran as fast as she could to the crypt Spike had mentioned and stormed in. He had seen angry Slayers before, but this one topped them all.

“HOW DARE HE! HE’S NOT MY FATHER! HE CAN’T MAKE MY CHOICES FOR ME! UGH!” She punched the wall nearest her, which happened to be right where Spike was.

“Hey now! Bloody Hell!” Spike ducked just in time to miss the flying fist. “Who are you talking about love?”

“That stupid Captain America. ‘Hi my name is Riley Finn. Worship the ground I walk on! HE MAKES ME SO FUCKING MAD!” Spike just raised his eyebrows. This one was a spit fire.

“Wait-you’re Spike. Oh my God!” Her eyes were bulging out of her head and her jaw was on the floor.

“Yeah, so what of it?” Spike snapped. He didn’t want it to come out so hateful, but she didn’t care.

“It took you long enough to get back. I have been waiting for you! I’m gonna need some more people in the “Let’s Bash Riley Club.” You look like just the member I’m looking for. And to become an honorary member, you have to spill everything about when you knew Riley and my mom before I was born. Not about the lovey-dovey stuff. But gore. I wanna know about what you said earlier about the vamp whores. And I WANT TO KNOW EVERY DETAIL.” She was now sitting on a tomb in the middle of the room with her legs crossed and her eyes daring Spike to disagree. He just shook his head and trotted over to the tomb. He grinned evilly and turned to the slayer on his old ‘make-shift’ bed in his old crypt from twenty years back.

<She’s just like Dawn>

“Well. I was out patrolling the neighborhood one night when I say G.I. Riley coming out of the house at about two a.m. When the slayer didn’t come out after him, I followed. I followed him to a vamp bar. He was paying vamps to suck his blood.”

A.J. returned his evil grin and nodded for him to continue. This was going to be good.

Part 3:

A.J. sat gaping at the legendary vampire in front of her.

“Just like that-he just plunged it in?” Spike smirked.

“Yup. Just like that. It hurt like hell too. He even has the guts to share a drink with me afterwards. Little ponce. If I purposely fake-staked my enemy, I would have the decency to…oh bloody hell, I wouldn’t fake it, I’d do it.” A.J. looked down at her watch.

“Oh SHIT!” Spike’s eyebrows raised.

“You’re a spit fire you know that? You sure got a mouth on you.”

“I gotta meet Aunt Dawn in twenty minutes.” A.J. started to get up from the sarcophagus and head towards the door. Spike jumped up also and grabbed his legendary duster.

“I’m coming with you.” A.J. spun on her heels. She was fuming.

“What? Don’t think little A.J. can’t take care of herself?” Spike just rolled his eyes.

“No. You are more than perfectly capable to take care of yourself and you know it. I just want to see ‘Lil Bit.” A.J. smiled.

“She told me that you used to call her that. I think she would like seeing you. Willow, Tara, Anya, and Dawn are the only ones who really liked having you around you know. They still tell me stories about how you tried to kill them and everything. Willow even told me about the time when you were drunk and you kidnapped…”

“THAT’S enough of that story. Let’s go. I’ve had my share of demons tonight and I don’t want anymore.” A.J. slapped herself on the forehead.

“You were the one to kill the demons tonight. Braids said she say a punk killing them.”

“Hey! Who’s Braids?” Spike asked suspiciously.

“Braids is an official member of ‘I Hate Riley Finn’ club and vice-president of Scoobies version 2.0. As you can tell I hang around with Willow and Dawn too much. Let’s go. She’s worse than mom about me being time. She never is so I don’t see why…” Spike just smiled as the Slayer led the way through the cemetery to the nice apartment in front of them. He hadn’t been listening to a word the girl was saying. He was just looking around at all the differences and similarities between the old and new Sunnyhell. That’s when he noticed a figure running out of the house fuming. It was a pretty figure. WAY too pretty.

<Oh my God. It’s Dawn.>

“A.J.! Your mother has been calling me and everything! Why were you so…” Dawn’s eyes became big and her mouth stood wide open. Spike smirked.

“You’ll catch flies like that love.” She quickly closed her mouth and then opened it to say something.

“Spike”

That was all she said before she passed out.

Part 4:

Spike caught Dawn before she hit the ground. A.J. rolled her eyes.

“And she thinks that I’m a baby. She just passes out in the street like that!” Spike picked her up and A.J. led him to the nice apartment that she had come running out of. When he got to the door, he paused.

“Um, love, I don’t think that…”

“Come in, Spike.”

“A.J., I don’t think…”

“It’s okay. I live here.” Spike went into the house and A.J. took him into the living room where he laid Dawn down. Spike and A.J. went into the kitchen where she served drinks. She made sure Dawn was still out before taking a key out of her back pocket and unlocking a cabinet. Inside was all kinds of alcohol. A.J. pulled out a brandy and some glasses. She also grabbed some cigarettes out from a purse on the counter and took one out. When she offered the pack to Spike, he took it but raised his eyebrows.

“Lil Bit lets you smoke in here, let alone drink?”

“Nope. But it annoys the hell outta her.” Spike and A.J. both smirked and lit up. After a few seconds of comfortable silence, Spike asked a question.

“Wanna tell me why you live here and not with mum and Captain Cardboard?” A.J. glared at him but gave in.

“Riley and I don’t get along and that’s a VERY BIG understatement. With my Slayer powers and Riley’s military training, fights between us kinda get physical.”

“So your mum didn’t want you hurt?” A.J. smiled.

“No, that’s the thing. She doesn’t want Riley hurt. Last time we fought, he was in the hospital for a few days.” Spike laughed out loud at that. That’s how Dawn found them. Spike laughing and A.J. smiling. Genuinely smiling. She hadn’t seen a smile out of her in a long time. Dawn picked up a pillow and chunked it at Spike.

“YOU STUPID VAMPIRE! You can’t even say hi to me before you see A.J.? You don’t even know her. At least I don’t think you do, which you shouldn’t because you act like you don’t and I’ve been spending was too much time with Willow and I’m shutting up now.” Dawn took a deep breath and smiled at Spike.

“I really missed you”

Spike smiled at Dawn.

“Missed you too Bit.” Dawn rolled her eyes.

“Ugh. Do you have to call me that? I mean, hello-I’m not fifteen anymore. I’m thirty four ya know. God, I look almost as old as you.”

“Dawn, I’m 153 years old. I look good for my age.” A.J. just was taken by surprise at that statement. <God he’s old>

“Let me guess, you met A.J. fighting?” Spike and A.J. smirked.

“Yup. By the way, we’re out of chocolate. You ate it all again.” Dawn glared at A.J. Spike grinned.

“Yup, you’re definitely 34.” Dawn hit him again and turned to A.J.

“Buffy called. You got in another fight with Riley? You didn’t break his nose again did you?” A.J. rolled her eyes.

“So I have a bad temper. Can I help it if he’s conveniently standing right there? I mean his face just screamed ‘Hit Me’.” Spike laughed and then looked outside.

“Gotta go pet. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Dawn hugged him and A.J. perked up.

“Hey, where ya stayin?” Dawn glared at Spike.

“You are not staying in that old run down crypt. You can stay with us. It will make Buffy and Riley mad. Tara and Willow are already coming over tomorrow to work on the spell. Yours truly is almost as good as she is in Wicca magic thank you very much.” Spike smiled.

“And I bet big sis wasn’t very happy when she found out.” Dawn returned the smile.

“Actually I raised her from the dead again. She was electrocuted…”

“And it was all Riley’s fault.” A.J. jumped in. Spike snorted.

“Why am I not surprised?” Dawn glared at them.

“So, will you stay with us?” He looked reluctant but nodded his head.

“YES!” Dawn and Spike turned to A.J.

“What? Can’t I help it if I’m a little excited.”

“Go to bed A.J. You have school tomorrow.” Dawn smiled when she heard the groan.

A.J. POV

Here I am, a Vampire Slayer, sitting in bed with a 150 year old Master Vampire listening to me telling stories of when I was young. Why does that seem wrong? Spike is sooo cool. He’s everything Aunt Dawn and Willow said he was. Oh the blackmail I could muster up is amazing. I don’t really have to blackmail him to make him do anything. He’s already wrapped around my finger. Dawn said I got that from Mom. Yeah right. If Riley was under my control, there wouldn’t be a Riley Finn. Granted my mom’s last name is Summers still. When I was born she didn’t have the heart to change it. She held the name Finn for about five years before getting it changed again. That’s when I learned that I’m not Riley Finn’s real daughter. Mom told me when I was thirteen. She and Riley both sat me down on the couch in their house-notice I say theirs and not ours-and told me the story of how I was the product of a one-night thing. Mom said she was drunk one night and met this guy named Eddie. Mom said he had come from South America and had the cutest accent. I was shocked to say the least. Mom looked at me with sadness in her eyes. Ah, YES, I still remember it well. I grin at Spike. Here goes nothing.

~* Yes, I have to have a corny flashback, work with me here *~

“…So that’s how it happened. I’m so sorry baby.” Sorry? Was she sorry for having me? I must have voiced my question because she stared at me wide-eyed and shook her head violently.

“No, sweetie. I love you so much. I just couldn’t keep this from you any longer.” I looked at Riley, who couldn’t keep my gaze.

“So,” I started out slowly, dreading the answer, “does this mean that…” I looked at Riley.

“I’m not your real Father.”

“YES! Yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes!” I was jumping up and down on the couch.

“Yes!” I ran out the door and went straight to my friend Carrie’s house.

~* Hee hee-I’m done *~

Spike looked at me like I had grown a second head. I was grinning smugly.

“You actually did that? I’m impressed.” For some reason, I like the idea of Spike being proud of me. Maybe because he’s cute and I’m single, or because I kinda look up to him, but I really like the feeling of pride that was coming from him.

“Well, it’s late Bit.” AH! He called me Bit. Aunt Dawn said he called ‘his girls’ special names and that was one of them. I tried to keep my feet planted on the ground. I must have looked pretty stupid but then I felt something. HE’S KISSING ME! Granted its not on the lips, but a kiss, even on the head, is a kiss- A KISS!

“ ‘Night pet.” Pet is right. I’ll…WHOA girl. Stop the drool flow. It’s Spike. I looked up at him and smiled.

“ Night Spike.” I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. But my last thought was how safe I felt knowing he was next door.

A/N: IN CAST YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, THIS IS A MAJOR RILEY-BASHING FIC. HEE HEE. DID YOU LIKE IT SO FAR? THANX TO ALL THE AWESOME REVIEWS!

She actually did that to G.I. Riley? HAH! I’m impressed. She has guts. Bit said that after Buffy had told her she ran straight here. Oh, to have the look on Captain America’s face. She really is a great girl. Tough, but good. It’s getting late and Platelet would have my head if I didn’t get A.J. in bed soon.

“Well, it’s late Bit.” That face is hilarious. If she got that look slaying she would be gone before she could blink. Might as well rub it in.

“Night Bit.” She smiled at me. God I love that smile. It’s like Buffy’s, Willow’s, and Dawn’s rolled into one.

“Night Spike.” I go into the room next door and shut my door. This was going to be a very confusing week.

A/N-I know this is major-ly short. I am about to leave and thought I should at least add some dialogue. Check out my other stories!

Normal POV

A.J. glared at the alarm clock on her bedside table. It read 6:00. It was too damn early. She just rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head.

“SHUT THAT BLEEDIN’ THING OFF!”

The pillow went flying across the room as A.J. shot out of bed. THAT woke her up. She started to remember yesterday’s occurrences. She never noticed the door open or the pissed-off master vampire in sweatpants only glaring at her.

A.J. closed her eyes to block out the angry silver-blue pools of annoyance.

“Earth to A.J., are you there?” Spike frowned when he didn’t get a response. He padded over to where she was and waved a hand in front of her face. That’s when he noticed her heartbeat and breathing were even.

She was asleep.

He chuckled and carefully put one arm under her legs and the other under her back. He gently lifted her up and walked out of her room and into the door across the hall. He gently sat her down in the small space and turned the silver dial to ‘C’.

//////////////////////////////////

Dawn ran upstairs at A.J. screams. She found Spike laughing and staring inside the bathroom. When Dawn looked inside, she couldn’t help it.

She completely lost it.

After she controlled her laughter, she took in the angry…

…and wet…

…Slayer in front of them.

“Think of it this way A.J., you already have your shower.” Dawn was trying to hold in the giggles that threatened erupt.

“And your clothes are already washed pet.” That did it. Dawn lost it again. Neither Spike nor Dawn saw A.J. unhook the Shower head and point it at them until they felt the cold spray.

“HEY!”

A.J. smiled when she slammed the door.

“That’ll teach ‘em.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

A.J. walked into the kitchen ready for school and raised her eyebrows at the scene in front of her.

“That totally takes away the whole ‘I’m an evil vampire’ thing ya know.” Spike glared at her. Dawn just giggled. Spike was flipping pancakes and doing other breakfasty things in an apron with flowers and apples on it. When A.J. sat down at the island counter, Spike plopped a plate in front of her. It had sausage, blueberry pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and some French toast. Her eyes went wide.

“Still makin’ fun of me pet?” Spike smirked. Her face was of pure bliss when she took her first bite.

“Never.”

/////////////////////////

At school, the day went pretty uneventful. A.J. and her friends gave the teachers as much trouble as possible. During fifth period, one of the teachers had enough.

“Amanda!” A.J. flinched at her first name.

“I asked you a question! I demand an answer!”

“I gave you an answer. I don’t give a d…”

“Say that word and you will have another in school suspension. You can join your fellow trouble maker Jesse Harris and then you both will be sorry.” The teacher was turning red in the face which just encouraged A.J. more.

“Sing me a new song sometime in the near future. Didn’t your mom ever sing you any songs Mrs. Taylor? Or did the dinosaurs do it?”

“DETENTION AND SUSPENSION! GET OUT OF MY CLASSROOM.” A.J. smirked and gathered her things and headed out the door.

//////////////////

“You have got to learn not to push Mrs. Taylor like that. At her old age, she’s bound to get another heart attack.” A.J. turned around to face her best friend in life and in crime, Jesse Harris. He was the spitting image of his dad, Xander. Well, Xander doesn’t have the nose ring, the eyebrow and tongue piercing, and the blue and red spiked hair.

“You would have done the same thing.”

Part 5:

A.J. tuned out the lecture she was getting from the principal. Something about unruly and inappropriate actions. Then came the words that made her wince.

“Miss Summers, you have received a month’s worth of detention and a two month suspension. What do you have to say for yourself?”

TWO MONTHS?????

A.J. stared at the principal.

“Two months? Sir, that isn’t fair.”

“Interrupting a class, swearing in a classroom, being disrespectful towards a teacher, disobeying teacher orders, riling up a class, being a bad example, and being just a pain in my ass is enough don’t you think? Your accomplice in crime here will be serving the same amount of time as you.”

Jesse gaped at the principal.

“I didn’t do anything!”

The principal turned on him now.

“You started a fight and sent a boy to the hospital with a broken arm and a bloody nose. Now, call your parents and go home. I expect to see you back here in two months. You will also be getting half credit on all your work you turn in, unless I find exceptional. Like I said, half credit.” The principal dragged them out of the room and slammed the door. The secretary, Mrs. Pine, held out the phone in one hand while scribbling something out in the other hand. She never even looked up.

“When will you to learn?”

When she did look up her face was lit up with a smirk and amusement in her eyes.

A.J. grabbed the phone.

“Shut up.”

////////////////////////////////

Spike heard Dawn, or rather a screaming Dawn, come in. A.J. and another boy. The boy looked like A.J. except more like…

…Xander’s kid.

That’s who was.

Jesse Harris.

That’s when he noticed what Dawn was saying.

“TWO MONTHS! YOU ARE NOT ALLMIGHTY A.J.! YOU CANNOT ACT LIKE THEY ARE YOUR LITTLE BROTHER-YOU OWE THEM RESPECT!”

Spike snuck up behind Dawn.

“Two months for what pet?”

She screamed and held a hand up to her heart.

“SPIKE!”

He smirked and looked at A.J. and Jesse.

“Wait, you’re THE Spike? Aunt Dawn, can I call Dad now?”

“NO!”

A.J. and Dawn glared at him.

“Dude, if your dad hears about this then he’ll call my mom and my mom will kill me! She might send me to boot camp.”

Jesse glared. “Well at least you didn’t get sent to Juvi!”

“At least your mom and dad don’t go ballistic when you get in trouble!”

“Wrong. My dad goes ballistic. Mom just tells all her friends about me and how I am just like her at that age.” He shivered for affect. Dawn smacked him upside the head.

“Be nice to your mother.”

A.J. gaped at her.

“You just used the words ‘nice’ and ‘mother’-referring to Aunt Anya in the same sentence. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU?”

Dawn glared and Spike laughed.

“Go up to your room you to. No talking, no electronics, no nothing. Sit there and stare at the wall while I try to cool your parents down. Don’t even think about talking because Spike can hear you. NOW GO!” The teens marched upstairs with a glum look on their face.

Spike turned to Dawn.

“I think I know what to do with them.”

A.J. sighed when she finished dusting the 6th vampire of the night. It was hard to stay concentrated. She had just been suspended and now she bitching at her friends. The next vampire that jumped of the ground was taken totally surprised when the newer slayer jumped out of nowhere and started pummeling him. The girl in dreadlocks sighed and grabbed a crossbow. With deadly precision, she nailed the vampire in the heart and he turned to dust. A.J. glared.

“I didn’t need your help Lee.”

“I know you didn’t but he did. What’s buggin’ you girl? You only beat the crap out of the vampires when you’re majorly pissed. What’s up?”

A.J. sighed. “Complications in the world of A.J. right now Lee. I just need some time.”

The boy, Tyler “Ty” Hood, went up to A.J. “Time for what A.J.? And why the hell didn’t you tell us that THE Spike was staying with you.”

Jesse saw A.J.’s eyes light up and felt a little jealous.

“Willow thought that he could held her with a spell to permanately close the Hellmouth. So he’s staying with Dawn and me.”

Braids shook her head. “You are so lucky girl. He is ssooo fine.”

“I know,” A.J. said, “but he says as soon as the spell is done he is outta here again.” All of a sudden, A.J. flinched and her face contorted into pain. She started to breath quickly and she doubled over in pain. When she did, everyone saw the dagger sticking out of her back…

…and about a dozen vampires heading towards them. They could take out about half, but not all. Lee turned to Jesse.

“Go find help and go to a hospital. Tell them that A.J.’s coming in and ask for Rhonda.”

Jesse ran off and searched desperately for help. He finally found it.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

“Ty, get her outta here!” Lee was the second in command when A.J. went down, which was rare. But before Ty could get to A.J., vampires surrounded him. He had no choice but to fight them. He ducked a punch to his head and kicked a vampire in his stomach. He quickly turned around and blocked blows from various vampires, sometimes getting his in. He whipped out a blade about a foot in length and started to cut off heads. They were all slowly losing the fight. Only seven were left, but they were all tired. Lee and Braids were covered in scratches but were trying their best to be strong. Ty went to pick up A.J. again, who was on the ground, when another vampire, but much stronger, intercepted him. The vampire threw him into a tree where we was knocked out. Lee turned around in time to dodge the blow. After a well-landed punch, Lee was on the ground holding her broken nose in which blood was freely pouring from. She looked into Braids tired eyes and hoped that Jesse had found help. Her prayers’ were answered. She saw two vampires surprised faces before they turned into dust. When she caught sight of bleached-blonde hair, she sighed in relief and promptly passed out.

Pain.

That’s all A.J. could feel.

Pain.

Horrible pain.

She felt someone grab her hand.

Nothing.

Peace

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Spike shook his head at the pacing Slayer.

Buffy Summers was literally wearing a hole in the carpet.

“She’s going to be okay, right?”

He looked up into the concerned eyes of the woman he once loved and sighed.

“I hope so love.”

A.J. was moaning and tossing in her bed. He went over to her and took her hand. She stopped. Buffy looked at Spike and smiled.

“I need to ask you something.”

Spike encouraged her to go on.

“I think I want Eddie to come back. And I think he wants to also.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

A.J.’s eyes fluttered open. She blinked a couple of times before she could see anything. Her neck was stiff and her back hurt. She tried to move. Bad choice.

//////////////////////////////

Spike heard A.J. moan and looked over to her bed. She was awake.

“Hey pet. How are you?”

He took her hand and squeezed it gently.

“Okay. What happened? Oh that hurts.”

Spike chuckled.

“Being stabbed in back with a dagger covered in Krishna demon’s poison does that to you. You’ve been out for almost 5 days.”

“This is one of the times I am actually glad I got suspended.”

“I’ll go get your mum.”

He was stopped with a hand pulling him back.

“Let me do it.”

He could see the smile on her face clearly. He bowed and motioned for her to go ahead.

“MMOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!”

Spike flinched. Definitely one of Buffy’s kids.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Buffy’s heart stopped when she heard her name. She knew which of her children’s voices that was. But she couldn’t believe it. She used all her strength and raced up the stairs. She slid into her daughter’s room and her eyes became wide when she saw A.J. sitting up n her bed. Wide awake. And laughing. She rushed over to the bed and took A.J.’s hand that wasn’t occupied.

“Sweetie! Are you okay? I was so worried!”

“I’m fine mom. I just needed some rest, that’s all. I can even walk.”

Spike started to slowly back away from A.J.’s bed and towards the door.

“HOLD IT!”

Spike cringed and turned around.

“Pet, she needed to…”

“Don’t you ‘pet’ me. God, that sounded bad.”

She shook her head to clear all previous thoughts and started again with the firm mask in place that was known as the Resolve Face.

“How dare you let my daughter walk when she was not well! You knew that she was poisoned and you even found her! I still don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Spike noticed the tears in her eyes.

“If it weren’t for you I don’t know what I would have done and you let her walk? She can’t Spike!”

Buffy closed her eyes.

“Oh God. It’s Glory all over again.”

Spike grabbed Buffy in a hug. A.J. got out of bed and hugged her mother and Spike.

“Mom, I’m okay. But what’s wrong? You never cry. Where’s Trevor?”

“He’s at Willow’s. I’ve lost so many people, I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you.”

A.J. steered her mom over to the bed and held her as she cried. She looked up and Spike motioned that he was going to go. She nodded her head and smiled sadly.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

“Is A.J. and mom going to be okay with Spike there? I mean, he is like this big bad vampire. Right? And the only means of defense were actually removed over fifteen years ago.”

Willow and Tara listened as Trevor played the part of defensive brother to an eighteen year old Slayer who was almost six years older than him. Oh the wonders.

“Spike wouldn’t hurt a fly Trev. I think he likes A.J.”

Tara smirked. “Heaven knows they have enough in common.”

The doorbell rang and Willow went to get it.

“Hey guys.”

The Scoobies Version 2.0 was there. No doubt they were about to go see A.J.

“What are you guys doing? A.J. isn’t here. She’s at…”

“We know she isn’t here. We’re here to tell you something. It’s about Mr. Finn.”

////////////////////////////////////

Buffy took deep breaths. Lee and Braids were standing nearby to catch her because she looked like she was about to faint. Ty had gone off to get Spike. He wasn’t really happy about going to get him but he didn’t want to face the Slayer’s wrath either.

Buffy looked into Lee’s eyes and sat down.

What they told her couldn’t be true. It wasn’t possible. Riley couldn’t have done that to her daughter.

///////////////////////////

“And so he totally insulted mom. Well I looked at him and then let my fist fly an-Ty?”

Spike turned around to glare at the intruder of A.J.’s privacy. To his surprise, Ty turned to him. And he only had to say three things to get him out the door.

“Buffy needs you.”

/////////////////////////

Spike grabbed the teen and literally dragged him out of the door.

“Where is she?”

“Her house.”

“Did she say why she needed me?”

“Something about Mr. Finn, sir.”

Spike stopped short. He slowly turned to Ty.

“What about Riley?”

Ty almost cowered in front of this master vampire.

“Something about the attack. He was involved.”

Spike ran as fast as he could to Buffy’s house. He knew it was bad.

//////////////////////////

Buffy’s head snapped up when the front door opened and slammed.

She smiled as familiar arms embraced her.

“What’s wrong love?”

“Riley. They think he was involved. I…”

“Shh, I think you need to talk to A.J. about something. Now would be a good time. She can walk and you really need to talk to her.”

He pointedly looked at her with raised eyebrows.

“I know. I’m just worried about her reaction. Will you come by later?”

At his nod, she left the three teens with a pissed off master vampire.

And they were scared shitless.

He turned around and narrowed his eyes.

“Tell me everything you know. I want nothing left out. You sugar coat it and I hurt you. I want facts and not rumors. And I want them now.” He closed his eyes in an obvious attempt to calm down.

“Riley Finn was seen in a vamp bar two nights before the attack. He was seen talking to a demon whose poison was found on the knife embedded in A.J.’s back. We asked around and found out a deal was made with the demon to get rid of what he described as ‘unnecessary filth’. We can’t find him anywhere. But we have a feeling that he will turn up soon to go back and finish what he started. He never was a quitter.”

Spike nodded in agreement. Riley Finn never gave up. And Spike knew what he wanted gone, he would destroy it. He knew firsthand.

“Alright, here’s the deal. You,” he pointed to Braids, “take Willie’s. You,” he pointed to Ty, “go through the sewers and pick a fight with anyone and get info. You,” He pointed to Lee, “scope the cemeteries. I want complete reports when you get back at 12 o’clock sharp. I don’t care if you beat the shit outta any of ‘em. I just want to find Riley.”

Spike started out the door. But he remembered something.

“If you find Riley, don’t kill him. I want him first.”

The teens let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding after the door slammed shut.

/////////////////////////

Buffy walked up the stairs and to her daughter’s room. How could Riley do that? She knew Riley didn’t like A.J. because she wasn’t his daughter, but how could he? He tried to kill her.

“Mom? What are you doing here? And why did Spike leave.”

Buffy took a deep breath and smiled.

“We found out who attacked you.”

A.J.’s eye’s lit up.

“Who?”

“Riley.”

To Buffy’s amazement, she saw shock in A.J.’s eyes.

“Riley, but who-how, why?”

“I don’t know sweetie.” Buffy shook her head. “But I do know Spike is about ready to rip off his head, literally.”

A.J. smiled at the name of Spike.

But if quickly faded when she saw that her mother’s face was serious.

“I need to tell you something that you may or may not want to hear. I talked to him and Eddie wants to come back. And I think I want him back to.”

///////////////////////////////

Spike looked at the house with all the lights on. Who the hell would leave all the lights on at two in the morning? The Scoobies would. Spike sighed in frustration. The teens plus himself had found barely anything. It wasn’t anything the didn’t know. Oh well. Time to face reality. He was going to be introduced to Eddie. Spike wasn’t really sure about this.

/////////////////////////////

When the doors opened, A.J. immediately looked to her doorway. She looked questioningly at her mother who smiled and nodded. He was here. Her father was here. She ran downstairs and saw him. She saw her real father.

///////////////////////////

“Dad?”

Spike turned around and looked at A.J. who was at the stairs.

“Yeah baby?”

A.J. ran to Spike and threw her arms around his neck. He fiercely hugged her and she returned it.

Buffy smiled when she saw her only daughter and the father reunited. Spike looked up into her eyes and she saw so many emotions.

Guilt, happiness, compassion, sorrow, frustration, and love.

Oh did she see love.

She slowly walked down the stairs and paused when she saw her daughter was crying. She also heard the words he was saying to A.J.

“I’m so sorry baby. If I had only known I would have stayed. If I had only known. I love you so much A.J. I’ll never leave you again I promise.”

Buffy couldn’t take it anymore. She let it all out. All the anger, hurt, love, and compassion towards everyone come out and she cried. She felt a strong arm wrap around her and looked up into Spike’s eyes. He had one crying Slayer on the left arm and another crying Slayer on the right. She laughed softly at the amazing scene she was apart of. It was perfect.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

A.J. looked up into her father’s eyes and then to her mother’s.

“I thought you said my father’s name was Eddie!”

Spike smiled down at A.J.

“What? You mean you never knew my middle name was Edward?”

A.J. rolled her eyes and sighed. This felt so right. Just being with her family. But something was missing.

“Mom?”

“Hmmnn?”

Buffy obviously didn’t want to be disturbed.

“What about Trevor?”

Buffy’s eyes popped open. She looked up at Spike.

“That’s where he is.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Despite her injuries, A.J. ran as hard as she could. She had to get to Trevor. Riley hurt her bad and she couldn’t stand it if it happened to her little brother. Even if it was Riley’s kid in the first place. She stopped when she heard the vampires jump out behind her. They obviously didn’t see her or didn’t want to bother with her because they were focused on her parents. God, it felt so good to say that.

“Run A.J.! Go help Trevor!”

A.J. ran after hearing mother’s voice. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her. When she arrived at the house, she felt vampires. But how could they get in the house?

She ran up to her room and her mouth fell open.

Trevor was on the bed bound and gagged.

But that wasn’t what surprised her.

What surprised her was Riley.

He had a taser and was in full game face.

Riley was a vampire.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Riley shot the electric bolts at A.J. and she barely missed them. She hit the wall instead. It knocked the wind out of her.

Riley grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the wall.

“Riley let go of me!”

He snarled in her face.

“Why should I?”

“Riley, you’re hurting me!”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Spike and Buffy finished off the vampires as fast they could. A.J. had run ahead and they both hoped she would be fine. Spike saw that Buffy still had three more vampires to deal with. He started to go help her.

“Help A.J.!”

He reluctantly ran as fast as he could to the house. He ran inside and listened. There was another vampire here.

“Riley, you’re hurting me!”

Spike growled.

Riley was hurting his daughter.

No one hurt her and lived.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Riley pinned A.J. against the wall and lunged for her throat…

…when he was thrown off of her and thrown against the wall.

“Stay the hell away from my daughter.”

Spike was standing there in game face protecting A.J.

Riley was almost afraid to go near the Master Vampire because of the power coming off of him.

Almost.

“So you finally have a reason to stick around!”

“Don’t ever come near me or mine again. Because I’m not the only Master who’s claimed the Summer’s women.”

“Don’t you know it.” Riley turned around to look up into the golden eyes of Angelus.

“I don’t like it when people mess with my childe or his claims. We both have one on Buffy. I don’t think you wanna find out when I get REALLY pissed off.”