Part VI

I want love, but it's impossible
A man like me, so irresponsible
A man like me is dead in places
Other men feel liberated

I can't love, shot full of holes
Don't feel nothing, I just feel cold
Don't feel nothing, just old scars
Toughening up around my heart

But I want love, just a different kind
I want love, won't break me down
Won't brick me up, won't fence me in
I want a love, that don't mean a thing
That's the love I want, I want love

I want love on my own terms
After everything I've ever learned
Me, I carry too much baggage
Oh man I've seen so much traffic

So bring it on, I've been bruised
Don't give me love that's clean and smooth
I'm ready for the rougher stuff
No sweet romance, I've had enough

"I Want Love"

Elton John

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"She’s a young, blossoming girl. But that’s not the worst of it. You’re immortal. She’ll grow old, and wrinkly; cursing your name for your youth. Watching my Edna Mae age was the hardest thing.... I don’t see any Sunday afternoon picnics either."

Mayor Wilkins

______________________________________________________________________________

Buffy’s Place- following week

"Hey Buff. Can I come in? Ya know as long as there’s no half naked people around." Xander said with a nervous smile.

"Of course. And there’s no one here but me, and I’m decent, well dressed anyway." she said with a grin.

"So."

"So."

"Um, Giles and I were talking and we thought it best if Willow went to that coven for awhile. She’s been improving, but I think professional help is the way to go." he said as he sat down on the couch. Buffy following, sitting on the coffee table.

"Really? How she taking it?"

"Well, she’s been indifferent to nearly everything, but Giles thinks it’s best so... Besides, staying at my place ain’t exactly therapeutic."

"Uh, Xander, about things w/ Spike. Well we sorta worked things out, which I’m sure you noticed."

"Listen Buff, you don’t have to explain things to me. It’s just, it caught me off guard, ya know? And, we all make mistakes. I guess everyone’s allowed forgiveness, once in awhile."

"Wow. I’m impressed. That must have been hard for you to say." she said half jokingly.

"Yeah, well, me and Anya had a long discussion, well, several. I came to realize certain things. Actually did a little growing up. So, how are things between you and Deadboy Jr.?"

"Way better. And things lookin’ up between you and Anya?"

"Yeah. Ya know, just takin' small steps at a time; startin’ fresh.... But like Will said, time’s short. We all have to realize our own mortality- or immortality for others."

Cut to Willy’s Bar, Later that night....

"So, the traitor has been back for awhile now. I think it’s best we make our move tonight- just in case he decides to hightail it outta here again."

"But what about the Slayer? she’ll protect him."

"Don’t worry. I’ve got a present for her."

******************

Near Spike’s Crypt

"Buffy, I thought I was meeting you at your place, luv." Spike said as he swaggered towards her, lighting up a cigarette.

"I know. It’s just, Dawn had a couple of friends over and they were driving me insane. And I was all like ‘been there, done that.’ So I called Giles, he came over, and before he could protest, I bailed."

"So, Niblet and her mates gave you a major headache, huh?" he said while smirking at her.

"Yeah, which you can personally attend to - later. Now is officially Patrol Time." she replied while walking away.

"You’re right, Summers. work first, and hours of pleasure later." he said while dropping his voice seductively on the last part of the sentence.

"Well, that’s one promise you won’t be keeping, traitor." said a particularly large vamp.

"Ooh, goody. A little spot violence always gets me revved up for a good shag." he said nonchalantly, more to Buffy than to the vamp, who was soon followed by five other vamps.

"Spike- look, guys, if you don’t wanna die, well tonight anyways, I suggest you leave (though I seriously doubt it)." she said in a defensive stance as Spike flicked away his cigarette.

"I don’t know if you noticed Slayer, but you and the traitor are greatly outnumbered." he said gruffly and sneering at the both of them.

"Well, it wouldn’t be the first time. Now can we stop the convo and start w/ the fighting? I’m really looking forward to kicking your ass."

"Sure just one thing- a present from me to you." he said with a devilish smile, knowing that his gift was aimed and ready at the Slayer.

"And what’s that, you incredibly, stupid git." Spike retorted, getting quite annoyed at all of the pointless banter. It only worked if both parties were interesting, and those blokes surely weren’t.

"Well, your gift is..."

Buffy felt something puncture her neck, and her entire body went limp. She collapsed to the ground. Spike dropped beside her and pulled the dart out of her neck. While he was distracted, four of the vamps picked him up and held him upright. The other two went to the incapacitated, yet fully conscious slayer.

"You bloody bastards! If you hurt her I’ll-"

"You are in no position to threaten anyone. Besides, we didn’t come for her. The only thing the drug did was immobilize her. But she’ll be ‘ up and kicking’ in an hour or two. You on the other hand..." he took an overly dramatic pause to crack his knuckles. "will be reduced to a pile of ash. See, I wanted the slayer fully aware of what was going to happen to you. Her pain is a lot more rewarding than actually killing her. Besides, killing demons is her job, not yours. You have a blatant disregard of the number one demon rule- to not kill other demons. So, you must be disposed of immediately; well, not exactly immediately. Gonna bet you to a bloodly pulp, first. Oh, and if you try to escape, my guys over there will take a sampling of that wondrous slayer blood."

Spike knew he was in a bind. No one was gonna come for them. It was truly the end.

"Right, then. But uh, you mind fulfilling any last requests I might have mate?"

"Depends."

"Well, could ya just torture me and not dust me?" he just glared at Spike.

"Didn’t think so. Could you give my chain and coat to the Slayer? I’d rather not have them be dust, at least." he gave Spike a nod and two of his minions started to remove said items and tossed them on the ground. Then the larger one and two of the four that was holding Spike beat on him relentlessly. Buffy was forced to watch in horror. Her body couldn’t obey her brains commands to fight back. She couldn’t even move her lips to voice her protest. The situation was hopeless. A deluge of tears silently made its way from her eyes down her cheeks.

Spike didn’t mind the beating. Hell he went one on one with a Hell god. But it was Buffy’s pain that hurt him the most. But after awhile, he couldn’t see ot of either eye. The end was coming.

Buffy thought she might throw up at watching the horrific scene before her. First, it was just your typical beating. Then they brought out a special black bag filled with goodies of holy water and sharp knives. But Spike refused to give them the pleasure of screaming. All that came from him was the occasional grunt or moan of pain. Then it stopped.

"I must say that was fun. But, see you in hell, Spike. Hope ya like it."

With his last strength, he said, "Fuck you, pillock." and then he was gone.

TBC


 

 

Part VII

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"You think you know, what’s to come; what you are; you haven’t even begun."

-Tara

______________________________________________________________________________

"The first guy that ever teally liked me was some robot demon. I thought I was really falling-

"Hey. Come on now. the first guy I had the hots for since I moved here was a vamp."

"Yeah, and let’snot forget my crush on the Praying Mantis biology teacher. Typical love life on the Hell Mouth."

"Yeah, let’s face it; our love lives are doomed."

- Willow, Buffy, and Xander

_____________________________________________________________________

Back Down Memory Lane

"Saturday, I kill you."

"Women!"

"Hey! Truce here. Truth is I like this world."

"And I’m all you’ve got."

"Love isn’t brains, children. It’s blood; blood screamin’ inside you to work its will."

"So, what did it take to part the slayer’s dimpled knees?"

"Slayer."

"I love you."

"I still have Buffy taste in my mouth."

"I’m a friend of Xander’s."

"Hey, I’m bad... Oh and if you’re trying to kill her- (thumbs up.)"

"Yeah, back off, Betty."

"Death is on your heels, baby. Sooner or later, it’s going to catch you."

"You know you wanna dance."

"You’ll find her. It’s what you hero types do."

"I, love you. It’s wrong, I know it."

"What the bleeding hell is wrong with you bloddy women?! What the hell does it take?!"

"Just couldn’t bear to see her in that much pain. Let Glory kill me first."

"Right person, person I loved, I’d do it."

"You treated me like a man..."

"147 days yesterday, 148 today."

"Every night I saved you."

"You belong in the dark, with me."

"You can make me feel."

"Don’t worry slayer, I got your back."

"I know what kind of girl you really are."

"Hey Joan, wait up!"

"You came back wrong."

"I love you. You know it."

"You’re better than this."

"That’s my girl."

"Do you even like me?"

"Do you trust me?"

"I want you. I always want you."

"I love you."

"Let yourself live already."

"I care about you."

"You know you feel the way I do."

"I love you."

"I love you..."

Thoughts of her lover clouded her mind as the Slayer slowly began to regain her equilibrium. His chisled cheek bones, his intense azure eyes, his platinum locks... All dissipated in a pile of ash, mingling with the earth.

A horrible sinse of dread suddenly overcame her. She was finally able to move close enough to his leather duster and chain. As she clutched at it, she began to sob. She wasn’t aware of how long she sat there, but all she knew was that her sorrow was replaced with extreme anger and hatred. Picking up the coat and putting on the chain, she walked back home- all the while formulating her slow and tortuous revenge against the vamps.

Somewhere in Argentina...

"Dru, what is wrong?" the sorceress asked her close vampire friend.

"It is my William; my little Spike. He now dances in the wind." Dru said with a faraway look in her eyes. she began to tremble.

"Fairuza, I want him back. I want the birds to sing and the stars to shine again. He belongs with me."

"But I thought it was over between you two? You said he was lost to you." the tall, svelte, brown skinned enchantress replied.

"Only temporary. We were going to have an eternity together. We could of still worked things out. Once that slayer was gone from his mind... I knew we’d be back together. I want that chance again. Miss Edith wants her daddy back. Would you do it, for me?" Dru pouted.

"Well, I’ll need some of your blood."

"And you shall have it, my sweet."

"Do you know where he perished?"

Dru tilted her head for a moment in thought, then became enraged.

"It’s her fault! The slayer has truly killed him! I told him to leave that terrible place...Oooh."

Becoming bored with her insane friend’s babbling, Fairuza interupted.

"Where, Dru?" she asked in a kind tone.

"Where it all started; Sunnydale..."

********************

"Buffy, well, it’s about time you came back. Where have you been? These girls have been driving me up-" Giles stopped his tirade as Buffy completely ignored him. He watched as she gently placed Spike’s coat on the banister and proceeded to her weapons chest, grabbed an axe and weighed it in her hand. The look in her eyes was completely deadly.

"Buffy, what happened tonight?" Giles asked with sincere concern and worry. Buffy stopped examining the axe, furrowed her brow as if in serious contemplation to the question. She turned and looked at him with misty eyes.

"They killed him. They beat him and killed him and I-" she stopped. The words were too hard to say. She covered her mouth with her free hand as uncontrollable sobs wrecked through her body. Giles walked over to her from the doorway and held her as she continued weeping. His fatherly instincts for his surrogate daughter took off on auto pilot. He knew exactly how she felt. he remembered Jenny; what it had been like to see her lifeless body ... he realized Buffy had no body to bury; no final goodbyes.

"They drugged me, Giles. I couldn’t move. I-I couldn’t stop them." As if answering his unasked question, she continued, " They threatened to kill me if he tried to escape. I couldn’t help him-" Her voice broke. Once she regained her composure, she released from his embrace and stood erect.

"They have to pay. they’re going to pay." Giles gave her a woried look.

"It’s okay. I’m not a witch, and they were all vampires."

"But Buffy, you can’t go alone. You might get yourself hurt, or worse. Remember when I went after Angelus? Anger can only get you so far, and then it’ll get you killed. Xander and I should accompany you. Plus, you don’t know who or-or where they-"

"Got that covered. Anya can help executing my vengence by helping me find them." Giles gave a defeated sigh.

"Well, fine. But we’re coming with you."

"Fine. Tomorrow we’ll go.. But I need to be alone tonight. Will you stay?"

"You needn’t ask. Of ocurse I will. I’ll call Xander tomorrow." she nodded in reply and trudged up the stairs.

******************

She couldn’t sleep. She wasn’t even sure why she even bothered. Whether her eyes or closed or not, she’d see him in her minds eye, disentergrating. In spite of their many bad times, they were just as many good; more so recently. She hadn’t been that happy in a long while.

She didn’t understand why the Powers that Be were so cruel. She’d done her job; served it well after time. Given her life twice. Yet it seemed as if she were being punished for something. First Angel, her mom, now this. Not only was he taken away from her, she was forced to watch it all. Ah suspected that this time, the pain would never go away.

Next morning- Magic Box

"Buffy, I’ve been expecting you. I’m sorry. I didn’t want him to die." she said solemy, coming from around the counter and embracing her.

"So, you seeking vengeance?" her demon senses picking up on her pain and hatred.

"Yes. I want to know who and where- now. And I want it to be slow and painful."

"Buffy I can’t. At least, not without the magic word."

"Fine. I wish to find the vamps that killed Spike and kill them." she said with malice. Anya’s face changed to its demon form.

"Done."

 

 

Sorry for the hiatus, but I had tons of work to do! Also, much writer's block (which totally sucks). So, I'm going to give u a quick explanation of what I won't be typing, cause I'm not too good at explaining certain things. So, I'm asking you to pretend that I told you already about the ritual, plus it would be boring reading anyway. So, Spike is back, being held captive against his will but back nonetheless, but different... And, it’s finally done!! There is a god! My next project is taking us back to S4, but after that one, I’ll (hopefully) have some fresh insight and have a sequel to "S & R." so, hope U enjoy, gentle readers.

~Scarlet~

Part VIII

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"That’s the thing about magic; there’s always consequence. Always!

~Spike~

______________________________________________________________________________

"I don't understand. What's wrong with my poor boy? I can still see him in there, but he's hiding behind William. Why won't Spike come out and play with mummy?" Dru groussed.

"My only guess is that the soul effected the out come of the spell. He should have come back pure human, but the demon is there as well. How peculiar." Fairuza replied nonchalantly.

"So, you're saying I can't turn him? But he's still alive! It shouldn't be this way. Ooh." she whined.

"Well, at least you have him back. He has most of his vampiric strength, so you two could still have fun..." she replied as she examined her nails.

"Suppose you're right, time to play wtih the new dollie."

"Yeah, you do that." Fairuza was thinking on leaving Sunnyhell real soon. She was better than this. Dru was okay, somethimes. But she was small potatoes. She needed friends with real power.

______________________________________________________________________________

Something takes a part of me.

Something lost and never seen.

Everytime I start to believe,

Something's raped and taken from me... from me.

Life's got to always be messing with me. (You wanna feel alive)

Can't they chill and let me be free? (So do I)

Can't I take away all this pain. (You wanna feel alive)

I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.

Sometimes I cannot take this place.

Sometimes it's my life I can't taste.

Sometimes I cannot feel my face.

You'll never see me fall from grace

Something takes a part of me.

You and I were meant to be.

A cheap fuck for me to lay

Something takes a part of me.

Feeling like a freak on a leash. (You wanna feel alive)

Feeling like I have no release. (So do I)

How many times have I felt diseased? (You wanna feel alive)

Nothing in my life is free... is free

~Korn~

______________________________________________________________________________

Other Side of Sunnyhell...

No, friends, no weapons... She was alone. Walking in the bark in the harsh light of day for what seemed like hours. Then she felt a prescence. A familiar one yet somehow different...

"Well, it’s bloody hot, innit?" she spun around and saw Spike squinting at her in the sunlight.

"Guess it takes a bit for the old irises to adjust, huh love? Especially after being in the dark for over twelve decades. Well, ‘cept for that one time..."

"Spike? How, how is this possible? Are you really here?" she said as she lightly touched his face with tears in her eyes.

" I’ll always be here with you, pet. You think something as inconsequential as death was gonna stop me? Didn’t the first time." He said with his trademark smirk.

"Oh Buffy, my effulgent Slayer." he said with mirth while gently cupping her face. He leaned forward and kissed her forhead.

"I will always be with you; you just gotta trust that instinct of yours. You gotta feel it before you see it." She regarded him with great confusion.

"What do you ----"

"Feel it, know it, see me."

"Huh?" he then placed his hand on her chest.

"Feel me. See me." he gave her a wink and began to walk away.

"Spike, wait. Come Back! Spike!"

"Buffy, Buffy what’s wrong? Buffy!?" Dawn said as she shook her sister awake.

"What’s- Dawn. I... what’s going on?" her voice wavered and her eyes stung of tears.

"You were dreaming. Are you okay?" she asked as she tentavily sat on the edge of the bed.

"I’m fine. Just uh, a little stressed out." she said with a nervous lagh.

"Buffy, what happened? I"m worried about you. It might make ya feel better if you talked about it." she said in hopeful voice. Buffy gave her an exasperated sigh.

"I’m fine, really. Fine as fine can be."

"What? Frustrated, insecure, neurotic and emotional?" she gave Buffy a small smile which she returned.

"Very intuitive. Uh, I had another dream about Spike. But it was different... He told me to feel him and to see him."

"Eww! Was this some kinda sex dream that I should not be hearing?"

"No. He was standing in the sunlight. Ya know, when he said it."

"Oh, but I still don’t get it."

"Me neither." But she could only hope as to what she thought it meant was true.

************************

"Oh daddy. Why don’t follow instruction? I shall have to be cross with you. Does my William need a caning?" Drusilla questioned a shackled Spike.

"Dru, luv. Let me go, please. I can’t take much more of this."

"No, no, no! You still haven’t learned the lesson. You’re still all covered in her. YOu’re still-"

"And it’s not going to change, pet. I’m sorry. Why don’t you go find Peaches? He’s your real daddy anyway. If you won’t let me go, then please just kill me now." his already weary voice grew quieter at that last statement. She walked closer to him his touched his cheek. As much as he wanted to turn away, he couldn’t from fatigue, and the fact that he knew what would happen if he did.

"But there’s still hope, my sweet. You can still be my dark prince. If only I could give birth to you again. But the queen says it’s not possible. The darkness is already inside of you, but it’s become brightened by the flame. Don’t you see it’s burning you?" she touched his exposed chest then quickly yanked it back.

"Dru, I’m not exactly sure what I am now, but I’m guessing that with the newfound heartbeat that I’m partly human. So if you want me to live, you know, so I can learn the lesson, you’ll have to get me food. Real food."

The rush of warm blood, the pounding in his chest, the goosebumps on his arms in response to the cool environment. All of his pain and feelings seemed to have enhanced tenfold since he had been resurected as a human. But he still felt the prescence of his demon. Spike was still there. He had no track of time ever since he’d ben brought back, but he surmised about a week- which felt like months after the torture Dru put him through. well, at least she hadn’t resorted to the hot pokers. She used to love to heat them up over the hearth and -

"All right, sweet William. I shall bring you cakes and tea to eat. It shall be a party!" she gleefully clapped her hands and danced with an imaginary partner away. Soon after, Spike passed out.

She left just in time just to see Fairuza walking out of the mansion doors.

"Fairy, where are you going?" Drusilla asked with a tilt of her head.

"Oh, I decided to go for a stroll. See what’s really going on in this quaint little town." she said with a half smirk.

"Do be careful darling. The Slayer is lurking about and I don’t want her breaking up our happy home."

"Don’t worry sweets. It’ll cause wrinkles." Dru arched an eyebrow as her companion left.

Fairuza definitely didn’t plan on staying in Sunnydale for another day. Another hour if she could help it. But she somehow felt obligated to Dru. That and the fact that she really considered her a friend- her only friend. She needed Dru as much as Dru needed her. But put "her William" into the equaiton and the whole thing was pretty much shot to shit. So, not being one to take things lying down, she came up with a plan and headed to the cemetary with evilness shining in her eyes.

********************

"Thanks Buff for taking me out. It’s been awhile since I’ve done the whole patrolling thing. Feels good with the fresh air and imminent death lurking around every corner. Or, ya know tombstone." Willow said as she walked alongside her best friend.

"Yea. Htought you could use a breather. And besides, we haven’t had much of girl time so I figured hey?"

"So, how ya doin? I mean really?"

"Well, actually the dreams are more of a comfort now. Even though he’s not here, I still get to see him every night. Even if it is only in my mind."

"Well, as long as it doesn’t drive crazy like last time. Cause trying to kill ya friends- so not of the good. But hey, I should know." Buffy gave her a sad smile.

"Well, at least we can look back on it and laugh, right?" Buffy asked.

"Right. You, I was just thinking that maybe we should..." Willow stopped and was intently concentrating on something in front of her.

"Will, what is it? Will?" Buffy walked directly in front of her and took a step back as Willow’s eyes became black.

"Buffy, someone’s here. It’s way powerful, and, and I- So, I finally get to meet the infamous Slayer." Willow said in a not so Willow tone of voice.

"Who are you and why are you possessing my friend?"

"Well I’m not stupid. This is the perfect way to avoid a confrontation and to deliver a message." Willow said with a very toothy smile.

"You see, it’s not that I’m afraid of you, it’s just that if I said what I had to say about you to your face, you’d get upset and lash out at me, and I’d kill you where you stand. But I don’t want you dead. I want you on a mission, of sorts. You do something for me, I’ll do something for you."

"Sorry, but I could care less about what you want."

"Oh Slayer. Better watch yourself there. Cause if you don’t play nice, then I won’t tell you where your little boy toy is."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"Oh come now. You must know. Well- Aaahh!" Willow screamed as she clutched her head.

"Get out, get out, get out!" she screamed as she dropped to her knees.

"Willow, is that you? Are you okay?" she asked as she kneeled down in front of the wicca. Her eyes were back to their normal color.

"I’m- she, she was powerful, and evil, and she was all inside my head... all so evil. But Buffy, I saw something, well lots of things, but it’s all kinda obscurred now."

"What did you see Will?"

"I saw blood, and chains, and I think Drusilla and... I think I saw SPike."

"What?" Buffy whispered.

"Well, it looked like him. Except he was really skinny, and naked, and bruised and, not so much with the bleached hair. He looked lost and tired. I’m pretty sure it was him."

"Do you know where he was."

"No, it looked pretty dark. Not any place I’m familiar with."

"Willow, maybe this is a dumb thing to ask considering... but do you think that maybe you could do a locator spell?"

"I’m sorry Buffy, but I can’t. I don’t know how I- it isn’t safe for me to do magic. At least not now." with a crestfallen face, the Slayer helped the red head up.

"Okay, I’m gonna take you back to my place. Tell Giles everything you know and round up the gang. Gonna need a lot of research."

"What will you do?"

"I don’t know. Gonna try to find him. They’ve gotta be close..."

*****************

Later at the Summer’s Residence...

"...so when she was inside of my head, I could see flashes of what was in her head too." Willow continued explaining.

"But you couldn’t figure out who she was?" Anya questioned.

"No, cept that I’ve never known her, and she’s powerful and kinda ancient. She gave off this whole aura of an old power of sorts."

"And you’re sure Drusilla’s in the mix?" Xander asked.

"Yeah. If it wasn’t her, then it was someone an awful lot like her. I only saw a side view, but it was the crazed cakle that tipped me off."

"But I don’t understand how it’s possible that Spike could be back. Drusilla was psychotic and hypnotic, but never powerful as far as magic." Giles said more to himself than the others.

"Well, obviously that’s where that powerful gal who possesed Willow comes in. Take me for instance and some of my demon friends. I mean, I’m more powerful than most of them and happy to oblige to help them in certain situations if need be." Anya said enthusiastically.

"That’s all good and well Ahn, but how does one resurrect a dusted vamp?" Xander countered.

"Well Angel died and came back, right?" Dawn questioned.

"Not exactly, Dawn. Buffy never staked Angel. She just stabbed him, thus sending him to a hell dimension." Giles answered. Dawn made a face of realization in reply.

"It just doesn’t seem possible." Giles said in exasperation and squeezing the bridge of his nose.

"Oh yeah cause, people don’t die and come back like three times over, or being possesed, or bug people, or werewolves, or getting stuck in some kid’s nightmare or-"

"Yes Xander, I get the point. This is a hell mouth after all." Giles conceded.

*********************

Buffy didn’t know where she was headed. One could say it appeared as if she was just wandering around. But all the while, a little mantra in her head profusely repeated itself Feel me, feel me... She knew that that dream she had was no coincidence. Spike was somewhere in the down and she would find... that’s when she felt it. The slight tightening in her gut that spanned to her chest. She started running towards the presence that was pulling her. Her mantra now changed to one word: Spike.

As she approached the old mansion, the feeling became stronger, yet felt weaker at the same time.

"Oh god, he’s dying." with Slayer strength she kicked down the bolted door and her. Her back was turned, but for some reason, Buffy stopped.

"I knew you were coming. The pixies in my head announced your arrival. I suppose it’s just as well. He’ll never learn. I suppose it was wishful thinking on my part. But he’s back now. And he’s yours." she slowly turned around. I know my Fairy Queen had something to do with you finding out, but it is a tad boring here."

"What makes you think you’ll be leaving here at all?" Buffy asked in a deadly tone.

"Because you and I both know that William is slipping away. He doesn’t have much time, and fighting me will slow you down. Take care, Slayer. Take care of our dear William." she walked out of the door without so much as a backwards glance at Buffy. But Buffy paid no heed as she followed her senses to the basement. And there he was, her champion- hanging lifelessly from the shackles that bound his wrists. She covered her mouth with her hand and stifled a sob and an "Oh God!"

"Spike, Spike please. Hold on. I’ll get you out of here soon. Spike?"

******************

"Oh Dru. Stop your sulking. It was for the best anyway. He didn’t love you. Besides, we’ll always have each other." Fairuza said in a placating tone.

"But I could have played with him for a little longer. But you ruined it."

"If you ‘played’ with him any longer, he would have been dead a lot quicker."

"Oh, but you don’t know my William. He’s a fighter. He always comes out on top."

******************

"Aahh!" Buffy screamed as she came, writhing against underneath her much alive lover.

"So, how many is that love? I lost count." he mumbled as he lay his head against her neck.

"Lucky thirteen. Got sixteen more to go to make up for the days you were away." she replied breathlessly.

"How ‘bout I pay you back in interest?"

"In full?"

"Always."

"Spike?"

"Pet?"

"You ever think about having a family?"

"Already have one. And believe when I say I am so not looking forward a reunion of any kind with those wankers." he said in reference to his sire and grandsire.

"No, I mean, with me?" she asked uneasily. He lifted his head up and looked at her in the eyes.

"Honestly, I never thought about it before cause hey, wasn’t possible. But now, I’d be honored." he said and gave her a loving kiss.

"So, uh, when do you wanna start? Or is now too soon or-"

"Spike, I think we’ve already begun the process."

"Oh yeah, Summers. I’ll knock you up good and proper." he said with a smirk.

"God, you’re such a pig!" she said in good humor.

"Yea, you know you love it."

"I love you."

"And I love you."

"Always."

"Always."

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Coursing through my senses, he's prevailing
Floating through the space of my design
Drowning me to find my inside sailing
Drinking in the mainstream of his mind
Filling up the cup of my emotions
Spilling over into all I do
If I only I could get lost in his ocean
Surviving on the thought of loving you

He's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
He's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years

Bathing in the fountain of his essence
He causes my expression to remain
Humbled on a mountain by his presence
Washing my intentions with his name
Sealing off the floodgates of his passions
Saving all his liquid for his own
Moisturizing me to satisfaction
In my imagination? No no!
He's pouring out his soul to me for hours and hours
Drawing out my nature with his hands
Yearning I'm so thirsty for his power
Burning to be worthy of his land

Lauryn Hill

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Finis

That’s a wrap folks! Feedback is much appreciated.