Not Beneath Me - (10) More Like Family

By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Buffy asked Spike to spend the night in her Mom's room while Joyce is waiting for surgery. Dawn now knows that she is the key, and her relationship with Buffy and Spike has not suffered because of it. The Summers' house is quiet now, but their thoughts are not. How will Joyce's surgery go?

***Warning: This chapter begins the R portion of the story. It includes semi graphic depictions of past sexual encounters.***

Author's Note: Some quotes in this chapter are direct from the episode "Listening to Fear".

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed on the Index page of this story.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

Hands clasped behind his head, Spike stared up at the ceiling. Nighttime wasn't the most natural part of the day for him to sleep. His thoughts jumped from one memory to another about the last few days.

Spike himself was different from many vampires and yet the same. Vampires were comprised of part demon, part humanity, and a little soul. Usually the demon part controlled all the actions and thoughts of the vampires. Vampires weren't known to retain many of their human or soulful qualities, which resulted in their lack of guilt, and atrocities that they loved.

For Spike, he'd never lost all of his soul nor the majority of his emotions. Of course the demon, after being punished and molded by Angelus, had more control over his human self for well over a century now. Even still, all of William was not gone from him. Spike could love, and he usually loved with all of his unbeating heart.

What few seemed to realize was the kind of control that he had regained over his demon side in the last few years. Although Spike cursed the chip with each unneeded breath, it had allowed him an excuse to let more of his emotions and kindness resurface. The demon would always just chalk it up to the chip making him soft. In reality the chip did nothing to his emotions or desires. It only stopped him from harming humans.

Over the last couple of years the fights between the demon and his humanity were fierce and constant. Sometimes his mind would listen to one's ideas and sometimes the other's. It was only when the two parts of his being could agree on something that the whole Spike finally found some peace.

There was one thing that all of him realized. All of him loved Buffy. Of course each part had its different reasons or signs of love, but they were there. William, his human side, was the romantic at heart. He was passion with subtlety and romance tempered with propriety. Spike, as the demon side usually called himself, was passion with fire, lust and bite. His romance was full of twisted bodies writhing in the pleasures during groping sex and claiming.

It was both of these sides of him that Spike Jamison, the combination of both parts, were now fighting on just what to do next. They both wanted Buffy and loved the Nibblet and Joyce, but their ways of wooing the girls were as different as night and day.

'Who knew that it would take just a little tongue to get into the Slayer's bedroom?' The inner Spike demon grinned at the thought. Boy did that demon loved to pull strings. 'Told ya I could get her going.'

'What a rude and crude assumption you impertinent buffoon.' William chastised Spike. 'Besides we are in her mother's bedroom. I don't think we'd endear ourselves to Buffy by getting all happy about sleeping in her mother's bed.'

Spike laughed inwardly. 'You really are a fool, William. Joyce is a right hot looking lady.'

'Watch your tongue you ruffian.' William mentally slapped Spike upside the head. 'If you ever want to make it to Miss Buffy's bedroom you need to keep those thoughts in check. Besides I have a feeling that Watcher would stake you in an instant for even thinking that about Mrs. Summers.'

'Come off your high horse you poncy Mama's Boy. What would you know about getting into any woman's bedroom?' The inner demon taunted William. 'I don't remember getting laid as a part of your human days.'

William huffed. If he had a physical form he would've had his glassed removed and be cleaning them rapidly. 'There is more to being intimate with a woman than a ... What do they call it nowadays? Oh yes, "Wham, Bam, Thank you, Ma'am".'

'You don't know what you're missing, you stupid git.' Spike laid back in Spike's whole mind, relaxed as he thought of a few good shags from the past. 'The feel of a warm woman surrounding your cock makes you burn from within and without. The softness of her breasts pressing against your hard chest makes your skin tingle.'

'Oh dear Lord.' If William could have blushed he would be beet red from Spike's words. 'That's enough. I was with you during all those encounters you know.'

Spike delighted in his other half's nervous twittering. 'Then you remember the feel of those inner muscles clutching and milking us as a woman cums from our pounding her? The way a woman's breath hitches at the first feel of our fangs in her skin, suckling and drawing her life's blood from her body?'

"Bloody hell." Spike Jamison panted at the warring thoughts in his brain. He beat his head back into the pillow to try and make himself more comfortable. His hands stroked down his body to find his rigid shaft saluting the ceiling. "I'm going to die. I swear I'm going to dust if I can't get this bad boy down." He groaned.

'Now see what you've done.' William waggled an imaginary finger at the demon. 'There is no way we are "whacking off" in Mrs. Summer's bed. That is just not proper.'

'Aw, you're no fun, Willie. It would probably be more action than this bed has seen in a hell of a long time.'

William started sending thoughts of Angelus and Dru together in the mansion, memories of being in the wheelchair, and memories of holy water burning his skin. 'I let you get away with a lot, Spike, but not this.' He knew the thoughts would tick off the demon as well as help him deflate the erection. 'I draw the line.'

'Nancy boy.' Spike grumbled. He wasn't going to fight too hard because he really didn't want to get off from the feel of his hand anyways. He'd much rather be sliding into the warmth of Buffy's inner sanctum, joining with her in mind, body and spirit to claim her fully.

Spike sighed to himself. His raging hard on retreated enough that he could turn over and bury his face in the pillow. "I should have known that I couldn't be this close to her without wanting her even more." He muttered into the pillow.

A faint rapping sounded throughout the room. Spike perked his head up halfway. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Dawn." The voice replied softly. "May I come in?"

"Sure, Nibblet." Spike propped himself up on his side, resting his head in his hand to see what Dawn needed.

Dawn hugged her fanged teddy bear fiercely. She walked over to the bed and sat on the side edge of it. "I'm scared, Spike."

Spike scooted closer to Dawn thankful that he'd kept his jeans on. He sat up straight exposing his bare chest. He pulled the covers back to sit directly next to Dawn. "There's a lot going on now to be scared about, Little Bit."

Dawn gazed up at Spike doe eyed with tears starting in her eyes. He buried her face in Spike's chest. She clutched to him like a lifeline. Everything was overwhelming her now: her key status, her mother's illness, and feeling so scared of it all.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy spent the last couple hours tossing and turning in bed. She couldn't get her mind off Spike. He was just down the hall, and yet he felt he was miles away. Earlier in the night she'd felt so aroused by his touch on her hand. She thought that she would cum right there in a quivering puddle. As more luscious thoughts raced through her head again, she tore off the covers. "Enough of this."

Buffy stormed across the room to her door. She pulled the door open a crack. Just as she was about to step into the hallway the door to Dawn's room opened. She watched the young brunette creep into the hallway and knock on the door to their mom's bedroom lightly.

Buffy heard a muffled voice ask who it was, and after a response from Dawn she walked in. "What in the world is Dawn doing sneaking into Spike's room in the middle of the night?"

Buffy creeped down the hall to her mother's door. She felt like such a peeping Buffy when she placed her ear against the door to try to hear what was going on.

"Oh Spike!" Dawn's voice whimpered behind the door. "I don't think I can do this."

'Do what?' Buffy held her breath. 'Please don't make me have to kill another man I love.' With that thought she jerked straight. 'Whoa, man I love? Uh oh.'

"But it's just too hard, Spike." Dawn sighed from inside Spike's room. "I'll never be able to handle it all by myself."

"No one can, Nibblet." Spike cooed soothingly. "Everyone would need help with it."

'Oh my gosh!' Buffy thought. 'Is he seducing my sister? I will so stake him if he is.' She was just about to barge in with fists blazing when she heard Dawn speak again.

"Yeah well anyone else that wants to be the key can, and they can deal with it all. I don't know what to think about any of it anymore."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike looked up at the closed door. He heard Buffy's heart start beating faster and then slow down. 'What is she doing? It sounds like she's right at the door.' He inhaled deeply, drinking in her scent. 'Yep, she's at the door. I wonder what she is up to.' He paid attention to every word Dawn was saying, but at the back of his mind he was worried about Buffy too.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy visibly relaxed against the door. 'I have got to get my mind out of the gutter. Spike loves Dawn like a sister, not a lover.' She shook her head at her own silliness that she thought otherwise. 'We don't have a father figure or even a brother for her to look up to. Spike has been that for ... well those monks put it in our brains that he's always been like that with her.'

Buffy tilted her head to the side as she thought. 'Though I know that he's treated her well the last few weeks that weren't induced memories too. Even after learning she was the key, he swore to protect and care for her. He truly loves her like a sister.' With that thought in mind, she placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn and Spike looked up from their place on Joyce's bed. "Hello Buffy. I didn't wake you up, did I?" Dawn clutched her fanged teddy bear tight to her chest.

"No, Dawn." Buffy smiled at Spike. She ran her fingers through Dawn's hair soothingly when she neared the two of them. "I wasn't really sleeping very well either. I stepped into the hall just as you came in here." She looked back at the door nervously. "I didn't want to interrupt anything. So, I waited outside for a few moments."

Spike quirked a scarred eyebrow at Buffy. From the blush in her cheeks he knew there was a little bit more to her reasoning than that. "We were just having a chat, weren't we Bit?"

"Yep, just a chat." Dawn petted the teddy bear.

"I thought I could try to talk her into laying down for a bit more. Care to join us?" Spike's gaze locked with Buffy's. As soon as he realized how that might have sounded he tried to correct himself. "Safety in numbers, and all that rot."

Buffy laughed. She crawled onto the bed on the other side of Spike. Spike centered himself in the bed. He wrapped an arm around each one of the Summers' girls. He hugged them closer to his body and each of them rested their heads on his shoulders and a hand on his chest.

The three of them finally found some peace in the night with different thoughts as their last for the day.

'Heaven. I swear this is as close to heaven as I'll ever get.' Spike purred at the thought. How did he tell this woman that he loved her for all that she was or could be: woman, warrior, friend, lover, mate, or wife?

Dawn exhaled softly onto Spike's shoulder. 'Never fear. The Big Bad is here.' She inwardly chuckled at an old tease that Spike used to taunt her with. No matter how he played himself off as evil those days, she knew he had a good heart (unbeating or not).

'I never thought I could feel so relaxed in someone's arms.' Buffy reflected back on how she always felt swallowed up in Angel's and Riley's embraces. They seemed to squish her or be forcing dominance on her even when sleeping. This felt right, being in his arms. 'I know this is where I belong. I need him more than I've needed anyone before.' That thought scared her. She was never someone that wanted to need another person, but she was soothed at the thought of Spike taking care of her. For some reason it didn't seem scary at all. It truly felt meant to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The blaring sound of a phone ringing pounded through Spike's head. 'Someone answer the damn phone.' He growled. Another couple rings forced him to twist in the bed to reach for the cordless phone on the nightstand.

Giles tapped the wall at a pay phone on the other side of the phone line. 'Come on, Buffy. Answer the phone.' He thought worriedly. 'I knew I shouldn't have let them go home with Spike. If he's hurt them, I'll stake him. Chip or no chip.'

"The world had better be bloody ending." Spike snarled in the phone when he answered it.

Giles sighed with relief despite the curt tone in the vampire's voice. He didn't want to believe that Spike would hurt the girls, but experience dictated that he needed to ere on the side of caution in these cases. He'd learned his lesson the hard way with Angelus. "Spike?"

"Yeah, Watcher. It's me." Spike rubbed his eyes. Buffy stirred next to him on the bed. Her heart rate increased, and he knew that she'd wake up soon. "No other man had better be answering the bloody phone here at this hour."

"This hour?" Giles looked down at the watch on his wrist. "It's two in the afternoon, Spike." He rolled his eyes.

Spike sat up, hitting his head on the headboard of the bed. "Bloody Hell!" His cursing awoke Buffy fully. Dawn also stirred out of slumber.

"Spike, what in heaven's name are you doing?" Giles held the phone away from his ear. The loud cursing added to the growing headache he'd procured over the last few days.

Buffy took the phone from the grumbling vampire. "Hello?" She asked tentatively.

"Buffy?" Giles removed his glasses quickly. If Spike was sleeping, how had Buffy taken the phone from him so quickly? Did he even want to think about the possible reasons for that?

"Giles?" The last vestiges of Buffy's sleep were wiped away the moment she realized that Giles was the one on the phone. "Is Mom all right? Please tell me that nothing more has happened."

Dawn jerked out of her remaining sleep. "Mommy?" She muttered.

Spike pulled Dawn into a close embrace. He draped his arm across Buffy's waist as well to pull her in closer. He wanted to protect these women with every ounce of his being. It frustrated him so much that he couldn't save them from the pain they were going through with their mother's illness.

"No, nothing like that, Buffy." Giles reassured his Slayer. "I'm calling to let you know that they were able to get the equipment a little sooner than they'd anticipated." He returned his glasses to his face.

Buffy let out the breath she'd been holding. "That's great. How soon?"

"2 hours." Giles absentmindedly rubbed a smudge on the metal of the pay phone's casing. "She really wants to see you both before she goes in."

"We'll definitely be there." Buffy jumped out of bed. She got up so fast that she forgot what blankets she still had wrapped around her. Her leg caught in the comforter, sending her crashing to the floor. "Shit!" She dropped the phone.

"Slayer!" "Buffy!" Spike and Dawn yelled simultaneously. Both leaned down to help Buffy up off the floor. Spike picked up the phone. "How long do we have to get there, Watcher?"

"2 hours Spike, but I know Joyce would like to see them as soon as possible."

"I'll have them there in less than 45 minutes." Spike looked back and forth from the disheveled Slayer to the rumpled Key. "That is if they can forget all that putting on their faces crap for a day since they don't need it."

Giles half laughed on his side of the phone. He could well imagine the dirty looks that Buffy and Dawn were sure to be giving Spike at the moment. He was glad that it was directed at the blonde vampire and not himself. "All right. I'll let Joyce know."

Buffy ripped the phone from Spike's hand. "We'll get there as soon as we can."

"See you soon, Buffy." Giles hung up the phone. He rested his forehead against his arm for a few moments while he leaned on the pay phone booth. He needed to collect himself before he headed back into Joyce's room. He didn't have a lot of time left before the children would arrive though it seemed to be strange calling a 200-year-old Master Vampire a child. Sometime Spike truly acted like an adolescent. There were some things he needed to tell Joyce now. He couldn't wait until after the surgery. If something happened, he would always regret not telling her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Put our faces on?" Dawn hovered over Spike on the bed, tickling fingers ready. Tickling was something she discovered a while ago to be one of Spike's weaknesses. She would never consciously give away his secret, but she couldn't resist the teasing glint in her eyes.

"That wouldn't be nice to do, Nibblet." Spike backed warily away from the wriggling digits. "I paid you both a compliment. You are both beautiful enough without all that fake crap that women put on their faces nowadays."

"Suuurreeee, that's what you meant. Of course it is." Buffy pulled herself back up onto the bed. "At least it had better have been." She rubbed her sore head.

Spike leaned over to kiss the top of Buffy's head. He knew that her Slayer healing would heal the scratch and bump in no time flat, but he couldn't resist the urge to add his own healing to the wounds. His tongue flickered out of his mouth and lovingly licked over the lump forming under the small cut on her head.

Buffy's body shivered at Spike's touch. Her insides churned into a gelatinous goo at the sensations coursing through her. She gripped her hands tightly on Spike's wrists. Her breathing was labored as her heart raced.

"Cor, Buffy." Spike pulled back to rest his forehead against Buffy's. He forgot about Dawn's presence for those moments, lost only in Buffy's scent and warmth. "You are the most beautiful woman in the world. Nothing could make you more perfect." He spoke honestly and from deep within his heart.

"Oh, Spike." Buffy cooed. "Need you so much." She tightened her grip on his wrists.

Dawn took in the scene next to her. A soft "awwww" escaped her lips before she could pull it back. The look on Buffy's face told Dawn all she needed to know about her sister's feelings for Spike. Dawn knew that she'd never seen that look on Buffy's face while she was dating Riley. She looked content and passion filled.

Buffy jerked her head back. Dawn's voice broke her mind's drifting reverie. "Um, yeah." She cleared her throat, blushed and slipped off the bed. Wanting to reassure Spike that she wasn't leaving because she didn't want to be with him, Buffy kissed his lips softly. "We really should get ready."

Spike nodded. "Right, Kitten." He cleared his throat trying to remove some of the hoarseness from it due to the rolling desires in his mind and body. "Where would your garbage bags be, Nibblet?"

"Garbage bags?" Dawn looked at Spike strangely. "Under the kitchen sink, but why do you need them?"

Spike playfully ruffled Dawn's hair. "Because we're going to take some shortcuts to get to the hospital, and I don't want my girls to smell nasty when we get there." He teased.

Buffy raised a curious brow to Spike. "Just where are you going to be taking us?" She stood at the door with one hand on the knob and one foot out the door. "Or don't I want to know?"

"You'll find out." Spike's smile twitched into more of a grinning smirk. "Now hurry up and get dressed. Mum needs to see you both as soon as possible."

Dawn hugged Spike. "She needs to see you too, Spike." She smiled, hopped off the bed and headed for the door. "You're her "Passions" partner." She giggled and ran out the door just as a pillow hit the back of the door.

"Crazy Bit." Spike collapsed back on the bed. "I sure do love the Nibblet though."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"You've got to be kidding me." 40 minutes later Buffy, hands on her hips, stood in the kitchen with a look of disbelief and disgust on her face.

"Pet, it's the fastest way to get there, and you'll need these." Spike held up the large garbage bag with a couple carefully placed holes in the end for her legs. Two smaller trash bags were ready to have her step into them and be wrapped at her knees for complete safety. "No one will see you in these."

"Spike, we still have to get from my house to the manhole cover. Don't tell me no one will see us." Buffy wouldn't admit that the idea did seem ingenious to her, but she balked at following the sewers from her house all the way to the hospital wearing garbage bag protection.

"We'll run fast. I can't stroll down the street with the sun blazing, and I'm not letting you two out of my sight." Spike was frustrated. The girls took longer to get ready than he liked. An argument over proper shower time had ensued between the sisters. Spike broke it up by timing them each to ten minutes with the threat that he would physically remove whoever was in the shower over their time limit.

Buffy huffed, crossed her arms, and turned her gaze to her sister. "Don't tell me that you are okay with this?"

Dawn shrugged her shoulders. She watched the argument go back and forth like a spectator at a tennis match. "I don't care. So long as we get to Mom as quick as possible."

"Don't let your vanity get in the way of necessity." Spike sighed. "I made these so that you won't get dirty or smelly."

"But they look absolutely ridiculous. It's absurd." Buffy frowned.

"Trust me, pet." Spike readied Dawn with her garbage bag cover gear. "This is the best way."

Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed in defeat. "Fine." She muttered under her breath a few choice phrases about their situation ending with, "If you would just let me drive Mom's car."

Spike and Dawn both yelled. "NO!"

Buffy pouted. The covered trio opened the front door and made a mad dash for the manhole cover in the middle of the street in front of the Summers' residence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Joyce?" Giles rubbed Joyce's hand slowly. The nurses were back to recheck her IV and take some more blood before surgery.

"Rupert?" Joyce rubbed her eyes with her free hand.

"Sorry to disturb you again Joyce, but we need some more blood." Joyce offered her good arm to the nurse. "You guys take so much blood, I'd swear you were vampires."

Giles stiffened at the reference. He gazed at Joyce questioningly, but he tried to laugh off her comment.

The nurse laughed too. "We've been accused of that many times especially in this town." She winked at Giles. She filled up two long vials before she bandaged the wound closed. "That should do it. Good luck with your surgery." She patted Joyce's arm gently. "You'll be back with us up here in no time."

"I hope so." Joyce gave a weak smile. She felt horrible. Each day she felt worse, and now she added feeling cabin fever to it.

Giles nodded to the nurse and smiled. "Thank you." He turned back to Joyce. He squeezed her hand in assurance. "You're going to get through this Joyce. I know it."

Joyce turned her head to gaze at Rupert Giles. She missed some of the old talks that they used to have when she first found out about Buffy's calling. She was so mad at him then, which later turned into a different kind of fire during the "band candy" incident. She missed having another adult who shared in her problems with teenagers and understood about her needs. "I know, Rupert. It's just so hard."

"My dear ..." Giles removed his glasses and set them on her nightstand. He pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand. "I don't know what I can say to reassure you, Joyce."

Joyce cupped her free hand against Giles' cheek in a caress. She trailed her fingertips down his jaw and ran the tips of her index finger over his lips. Her gaze held the physical pain that she felt, but it also held a pain of the heart for things unrealized. "I'm so sorry, Rupert." Her voice was soft and choked.

Giles looked back up at Joyce. He sat straighter in his chair. He held her hand tighter, drawing it to rest on his chest. He knew what she was sorry about, for he had felt sorry many times about the same thing. "I am too, Joyce. We were foolish to let it go." He brought her hand up to his lips to kiss the tops of her knuckles. "You've still held the place in my heart, even if not in my life."

Joyce felt the tears form in her eyes, and she swiped them away as quickly as she could. She never dared to hope that Rupert would still feel any love for her. He was an attractive man. Surely he had women a plenty that would wish to snare his affections. The fact that he still cared for her was beyond what she had thought possible. "As have you, Ripper." The twinkle in her eye showed the teasing that her voice could not convey.

"Joyce, you will get through this." Giles spoke with determination. "And this time we aren't going to let the chance pass us by, are we?" His eyes held the wisp of hope that they could pursue what it seemed that both of them wanted.

"No, we won't waste it, Rupert." Joyce drew him closer to her to embrace him. "If nothing else this whole experience has taught me that life is too short to let your dreams pass you by."

Giles hugged Joyce delicately. He didn't want to bring any more pain upon her body than she was already facing. "I hope that you truly mean that Joyce Summers because I promise you this ... This time I'm not letting you go." He squeezed her a little tighter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy, Spike and Dawn emerged from a storage room near the lower level janitorial department. They quickly dispatched their now dirty garbage bag gear into the garbage itself. All three of them looked and smelled pristine despite how they arrived at the hospital.

The banter between the three of them was playful and light. While in the tunnels Buffy warned Dawn not to talk about her "status" with anyone. She said that not even all the Scoobies knew about it, and she didn't want to tell them all just yet. She said they also had to be careful where they talked about anything because you never knew who might overhear. Dawn understood the need for caution, and she agreed to keep everything private between the 5 of them: Buffy, Spike, Giles, herself, and hopefully their Mom. After their mother's bout of "insanity", they all felt it was necessary to let Joyce know what was going on if she didn't already.

The three were laughing lightly at some dirty limerick that Spike rattled off when they opened the door to Joyce's room. All of them stopped and stared wide-mouthed at Giles half on Joyce's bed and half not, holding Joyce tight.

Buffy couldn't resist a bit of a tease. Giles always mocked her for her actions. "You two haven't been eating chocolate again, have you?" She teased. She couldn't let this fly with nothing. "Something you should be telling me, Mom? Giles?"

"Right nice spot you have there, Watcher." Spike smirked. "Best seat in the house if you ask me."

Buffy playfully slapped Spike in the arm.

"Ow, Slayer!" Spike rubbed his arm as if he had been decked hard. "I meant the best seat for him. You know where I want to sit." He pulled a giggling Buffy down into a nearby chair with him. "Or be sat on."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Oh brother."

Giles sat up straight. His cheeks were crimson and warm with the force of his blush. Joyce was the first to recover her voice. She eyed her daughters and the blond vampire with amusement. "Be careful how you say that Dawnie." Joyce teased. "He just might be someday."

Buffy nearly fell off of Spike's lap at the comment. If Spike hadn't tightened his grip on her in that moment she would have crashed to the floor. "Mom!"

Joyce shrugged and looked up at Giles. "Makes sense to me, doesn't it to you?" She squeezed his hand, knowing that Buffy really needed her father figure's approval.

"Um, yes. Quite." Giles cleared his throat. His gaze evened on the vampire holding his daughter like charge. He planned on having a heart to heart with Spike soon enough to find out his true intentions towards Buffy.

Spike gaped at Joyce in amazement. That statement sounded like her approval for such a thing between him and Buffy. He knew Joyce liked him, but he hadn't realized that she liked him that much. He grinned from ear to ear in delight. He bounced Buffy in his lap, giddy as a jaybird.

Dawn held back the peels of laughter and giddiness that she felt from all the acceptance in the room. This was just too awesome. All of them here together, like a family. Giles was like a father to the girls and of course Joyce was their mother. Spike was the older brother that she never had. If Spike and Giles could just cooperate with each other, they would be a true family.

"Rupert, would you take Dawn and Spike with you to get some sodas and coffee for all of you?"

Joyce's face told Giles that she needed some time alone with Buffy. To what end he was not sure, but he nodded his head in agreement. "Of course, Joyce. We'll be back shortly."

Spike hugged Buffy before he left the room. He whispered in her ear that he'd be back as soon as they could if she needed him. Buffy nodded as the trio headed out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What do you suppose she wants to talk to Buffy about?" Dawn asked as soon as they were out of the room.

"Whatever it was, she wanted to do it in private, Nibblet." Spike looked back at the closed door with concern. These were the times when he sorely wished his relationship with Buffy was more progressed. He wished that he and Buffy were truly together in all ways. He'd be able to feel her emotions and know if she was all right or not if they had bonded and claimed each other.

Giles put an arm around Dawn's shoulder, drawing her towards the snack machines. "I'm sure she just has a lot on her mind."

Dawn nodded, but none of the three seemed relieved or relaxed about what the secret conversation might entail.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Buffy, I wanna ask you something, and if I'm being crazy you just tell me okay?" Joyce was lost in the jumble of thoughts.

"You got it." Buffy slid onto the bed at her mother's feet. She caressed her thumb over the back of Joyce's hand.

"The other day ... Well, actually I'm not sure when. The days seem to bleed together." Each day seemed to run into the next and the previous one. It was hard to keep it all straight. Her dreams and nightmares clashed with reality. What was really true and what wasn't?

Buffy's eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. "It's not important."

"No, I guess it isn't." Joyce said resignedly.

"I do know I was pretty out of it, and I had ... not ... not like a dream exactly. More like I had this knowledge." Joyce tipped her head to the side. She was confused. It all seemed so stupid to blurt out, but it was as if she just knew that she was right about this. "It just came to me like truth, you know. Even though it doesn't seem possible. Even though I shouldn't think such things."

"What?" Buffy had a feeling that she knew what her mom was going to ask her. She'd heard Joyce's ranting at Dawn when the tumor made her seem insane. Perhaps in some ways she had gone temporarily insane. The other mental patients seemed to have a knowledge of Dawn's key status that others could not see. Maybe her mom had sensed the same thing.

"That Dawn ... She's not mine, is she?" Joyce silently counted the seconds in-between her question and Buffy's response.

Buffy frowned. "No." She looked down and back up at Joyce.

Joyce slowly shook her head trying to push away the disbelief and the pain that this knowledge now lodged in her heart. "She's ... She does belong to us though."

"Yes, she does."

"And she's important to the world, precious." Buffy nodded to her mother. "As precious as you are to me?" Joyce added.

Buffy continued to nod, a hint of a smile played on her lips even as she forced the tears in her eyes not to fall.

"Then we have to take care of her." Joyce's voice was urgent and demanding. "Promise me if I don't come through this ..."

Buffy cut Joyce off. "Mom."

"No. No matter what she is, she still feels like my daughter." Joyce paused for her words to sink in. "I have to know that you'll take care of her; that you'll keep her safe. That you'll love her like I love you." Joyce needed the reassurances about Dawn that only Buffy could give her right now.

"I promise." Buffy was losing the fight with her tears. Each word was another arrow to her heart that left a hole of loss. She refused to let her mother go yet. She couldn't let her go, and she hoped that she didn't have to any time soon.

"Good." Joyce started to cry. "Good." She pressed forward and hugged Buffy tightly to her like she never wanted to let go. "My sweet, brave Buffy. What would I do without you?"

Buffy's heart clenched. "What would I do without you, Mommy?" She let the sobs start to fall.

A RN came into the room at that moment to prepare Joyce's gurney to be wheeled down to the operating room. Giles, Spike and Dawn returned to the room.

"May we have a moment?" Giles asked. The RN nodded. "Just let me get her into the hall first." He helped Joyce move from her bed to the gurney he'd brought. He wheeled the gurney into the hall, locked the brakes, and stepped away to take care of some paperwork.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike was the first to bid Joyce farewell. He placed a kiss on her forehead. His blue eyes glazed over slightly. "See you soon, Mum. You still have that hot chocolate recipe you need to teach me."

Joyce chuckled. "You betcha." She rubbed his arm tenderly. "I know you'll take care of my girls."

"With my life." Spike spoke with serious conviction in each word. "And so will you." He wasn't going to let Joyce go thinking that she wouldn't be coming back. "You'll be there to whip my arse to make sure that I take care of em proper like." He stepped back to let Dawn in closer.

Dawn hugged Joyce tightly. Her tears fell freely. She couldn't hide them even if she tried. "Come back soon, Mommy."

Joyce kissed Dawn's forehead, reached out her hand towards Buffy, and pulled both of her daughters in for a tight hug. "Don't you worry. We Summers women are strong, and that includes you." She tapped the end of Dawn's nose.

Giles was the last to step up next to the gurney in the hall. He looked down at Joyce with love shining in his eyes. "We have much to look forward to now, my dear." He caressed her cheek then left a brief kiss to her lips. "We'll be here when you are done."

The RN adjusted the brakes on the gurney and took his place at the head of it. "They're ready for her now. You all can wait in the surgical lounge." He pointed down the hall.

The four of them stood there and watched as Joyce Summers was pulled away from them. Each of them was holding a hand or holding onto another to link them all together. No one moved until the doors finally flapped closed to hide their mother from them.

Their lives were going to change for the good or bad depending on the outcome of this surgery. No one wanted to think about the bad, but they all knew it was a possibility. With heavy hearts the quartet turned in the hall and headed to the lounge.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Not Beneath Me - (11) A Joining Of Hearts

By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Joyce has gone in for her surgery. Giles, Dawn, Spike and Buffy are waiting as patiently as possible for her to get out. Dawn, Buffy and Spike became even more like a family before they left for the hospital and Giles declared his love to Joyce before the other three got there. Joyce now knows that Dawn is not her daughter, and important, but not exactly that she is "the key".

***Warning: This chapter is a definite NC-17. It includes graphic descriptions of sex between a male and a female. There is also a little bit of biting and blood play in this one.***

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed on the Index page of this story.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

Dawn, Buffy, Spike and Giles sat in the surgical waiting room at Sunndydale General. The hours ticked by with still no word from the doctor, nurses, or any of the surgical staff. Buffy's hands twisted into little fists in her lap and then relaxed once more.

"What time is it?" Dawn meekly asked Giles.

"It's 10 minutes past the last time you asked me that question, Dawn." Giles tried to hide the irritation from his voice, but he failed. He knew that he shouldn't be hard on Dawn, but his nerves were shot. He was as worried about Joyce as the rest of them were.

Dawn hung her head. "Sorry, Giles. It just seemed like a lot longer had passed."

Giles turned to his other surrogate daughter and half smiled. "It's okay, Dawn. I didn't mean to snap at you." He removed his watch. He wrapped it onto Dawn's wrist. "There you go. You're all set now."

"They're taking forever. Shouldn't we have heard something by now?" Buffy gazed at Spike worriedly.

Spike patted Buffy's arm. "No news is good news, luv." He looked up at the clock. "If they came out right away, that could mean they weren't able to do anything." He rubbed his thumb over the top of Buffy's clenched hands. "The brain is a complex part of the body. Don't want to rush."

"I know." Buffy sighed. "This waiting all the time is just killing me."

"I know, luv." Spike pulled Buffy against his side. "I know."

The whole group sat for another half hour before even Giles grew too restless to sit still. "I need to walk a bit. Would anyone like anything from the cafeteria?"

Dawn and Buffy put in requests for something to drink. Neither of them figured that they could eat anything until they knew more about their mom.

Spike stood up. "I think I'll join you, Watcher. If that is all right?" He smiled reassuringly at Buffy's curious look. He leaned down to whisper something to her. "I'd like to talk to him a little, okay?"

Buffy nodded. "Be careful, Spike." She squeezed Spike's hand. She picked up a nearby Cosmo magazine and tried to get into reading it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Giles walked side by side down the long stretch of hall to the cafeteria. "You know you can't smoke in here, Spike." Giles spoke blandly, hating the silence between the two.

"I didn't join you so that could have a smoke, Watcher." Spike half chuckled. "I actually wanted to talk to you about a few things."

"Oh really?" Giles adjusted his glasses. 'What would he want to talk to me about? Maybe it is because he knows I don't trust him. Is he going to threaten me about Buffy?'

"Yeah." Spike shoved his hands in his duster pockets. "I know that you might find this hard to believe, given your experience with Peaches, but I wanted to tell you that I do love Buffy."

Giles blinked in surprise. 'Love? How can a soulless demon love at all?'

"I know what you're thinking, Watcher." Spike sighed. He'd seen the look on Giles' face as soon as he said the word love. "Vampires can love just as well as any human can. I loved and took care of Dru for over a century."

Giles nodded. He couldn't refute that statement. Drusilla had been quite the crazy Vampiress, but Spike remained by her side during all of that. He'd even seen evidence of what could be construed as loving actions between the vampires. Though he suspected the feelings were more on Spike's end than Drusilla's.

Spike stopped outside of the cafeteria. He turned to face Giles. "Buffy is a woman unlike any I've ever met over the centuries. She's amazing in her capacity to love." His eyes glossed over in pride, desire and love at the thought of her skills. "And she's the best Slayer I've ever seen. Certainly the best I've ever fought."

Giles nodded along with Spike's compliments. He visibly cringed when reminded of the Slayer's that Spike had fought and knew that he had killed. "Yes, well the chip keeps you from taking her down like the others." The underlying anger and concern for his surrogate daughter was apparent.

"Look, I know that I can not undo my actions of the past, but I wanted you to know that I did hear you that day after I helped you as a Fyarl demon." Spike sighed. "It didn't look like I was listening, but I was."

Giles looked at Spike amazed. He was sure that the vampire had just ignored him during his little speech about the chip giving him a chance to switch sides and be good.

"You may not believe it, but I never lost all my humanity." Spike groaned. 'Why are you telling the Watcher about that you pillock?' The inner demon argued. 'He's going to use that to his advantage.' He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "When the Judge was here, he accused me of reeking with humanity. I didn't think much of it until Angelus came in and the Judge said that there was not even a spark of humanity in him."

"Fascinating." Giles removed his glasses and cleaned them with the ever present cloth from his pocket. "I never knew that."

"Well I wasn't going to go around advertising that fact, now was I?" Spike huffed. "This bloody chip hasn't helped me in the vampire way either." He leaned back against the wall outside of the cafeteria. "Still a demon. No doubt of that, but it seems that there are two parts of me now that do battle. They're trying to find a commonplace where they both can live."

Giles ached to have his notebook with him. He wanted to take some serious notes about this conversation. Why was Spike telling him all of this though?

"I'm sure you don't believe me, but I had to tell you." Spike held his gaze even with the Watcher's. "I will not hurt, Buffy. I won't leave like the Poofter or Captain Cardboard when Buffy isn't who they want her to be." He inhaled deeply. "I love her just as she is, and what I know she will be."

"How can you be so sure of that Spike?" Giles was surprised he even got the words out. The vampire before him dumbfounded him.

"I can't explain it, Rupert." Spike spoke honestly and from the heart. His usual swagger and rough British accent gave way to the more refined one of his birth. "I only know the draw that I feel for her. The desire I have to be a better man and the man that she deserves. I can only hope that someday I will be enough for her."

"I must admit you have quite astounded me, Spike." Giles returned his glasses to his face. "What you are saying to me is unprecedented and certainly unproven given the experiences we have had with soulful and soulless demons."

Spike hung his head down. He needed the Watcher not to fight Buffy and him about their relationship. Buffy had so much to deal with already. He needed the Watcher's support, or at the very least he needed his trust. "All I'm asking is that you give me a chance to prove myself, Rupert. I would give my life for her and the Nibblet, and I love them both. Heck I seem to have a weakness when it comes to the Summers' women. I love them all." He half laughed.

"What you ask is not an easy thing to do. You have tried to kill us many times." Giles considered every word that Spike said.

"Yeah, I know." Spike sighed. "I only tried to break you guys up during the Adam incident because I was trying to prove to myself that I could still be the Big Bad. Red's spell made me realize some things, and I didn't want them to be true. Figured if I helped Adam, I'd prove that I wasn't a Scooby."

"You nearly got us all killed, Spike, but you did help us with him in the end." Giles pondered what to say a few moments more before he continued. "I'll tentatively trust you Spike, but you are going to have to continue to earn it and prove yourself worthy of my trust. I won't fight this for now, for Buffy's sake, but if you cross us ... I promise you that you will not survive your next "slip up". Are we clear?"

Spike admired the bit of Ripper that flashed in Giles' eyes. He knew that the Watcher loved Buffy like a daughter, and he was acting like he would protect her as one too. "That's all I can ask for, Watcher. I think you will find that we have a lot more common interests than you would believe."

"Common interests with William the Bloody? A ruffian from human days and evil vampire beyond that?" Giles scoffed.

Spike laughed. "That's where your bloody council of wankers is wrong, mate." He couldn't stop the laughter from bubbling forth harder. "They have no idea what my human days were like. They are so far off as to why I was William the Bloody, that it is bloody hilarious. Maybe one day I'll tell you about it."

Giles' eyes widened. He'd never seen Spike laugh and definitely not that hard. "I will look forward to it. If you would give me the pleasure of documenting it."

"Only if it doesn't end up in that Council of yours' hands, mate. It's their stupidity." Spike may be trying to work things out with the Scoobies, but he was not going to be some pet project of the council of wankers.

"Agreed. I'm sure it will be an interesting chat." With that Giles walked into the cafeteria to get the drinks for the girls. Spike followed close behind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn watched Giles and Spike walk away. She moved over to sit next to Buffy. "What do you suppose is going on with those two?" She pointed to the retreating pair.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure, but Spike said that he wanted to talk to Giles about something."

"You aren't the least bit worried about what is going on?" Dawn questioned.

"No, not really." Buffy looked up from her magazine. "Giles seemed much better around Spike when we were in Mom's room this time. Maybe he's getting used to the idea."

Dawn stretched to look down the hallway to see if she could still see the two. "I hope Giles doesn't push him away. I like Spike being around."

Buffy refused to voice her concerns about the same thing. "Spike won't leave just because of Giles. He cares too much about us."

"Does he know that you love him?" Dawn queried.

Buffy gasped. "Love him?" She put the magazine back down on the table. "How would you know that I love him?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "It's written all over your face every time you look at him silly." She playfully jabbed Buffy's arm. "But guys still want to hear it especially Spike. He seems like someone that needs to hear it."

Buffy sighed. She hoped that she'd told Spike enough about how she cared for him to believe that she loved him too. "It is so hard for me to say. You know that."

"Has he told you that he loves you?" Dawn hugged the little fanged teddy bear in her lap. "Cause you know he does."

"He hasn't said the words yet, but I thought he was going to say them a couple times." Buffy thought back to some of their conversations over the last few days. "I know he wanted to say something after he cleaned our wounds." She shivered in pleasure at the memory.

Dawn cooed. "Oh yeah. She looked down at her hand. Only a small red line remained of the cut from the night before. "You are so lucky. If he wasn't so gone over you, I'd be throwing myself at his feet."

"Dawn!!" Buffy sat back in shock.

"Come on. Don't tell me you can't see what a major hottie he is." Dawn scoffed.

"Well ... um ... Yeah." There was no way that she could get out of answering this question. Of course Buffy realized how sexy Spike looked. The glimpses of his chest the night before made her nipple taunt and tingly, wishing they could rub up against him. "But he's way too old for you."

Dawn laughed. "Oh and he isn't over a hundred years older than you too?"

"That's different."

"How?" Dawn was still chuckling.

"I don't really know, but it is." Buffy slouched in the chair. She was oh so not with the witty comments today.

"Okay, Buffy." Dawn shook her head back and forth. "Whatever you say."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander stepped out of the elevator onto the floor they'd been directed to. They searched the first waiting area for Buffy, Dawn and Giles. When they didn't find them there they headed to the second waiting room.

"Hey, Buffster." Xander walked over to wrap both Summers' girls in a hug. "I got the message about the surgery as soon as I got off work. Came as quick as I could."

"Thanks, Xander." Buffy hugged him tightly. Xander may act like an idiot sometimes, but he was still one of her best friends. She hoped that she could get Xander to accept Spike in her life somehow.

"Any news yet?" Xander sat down in the chair Spike had been sitting in.

"Nothing yet. It's already been 6 hours." Buffy sighed heavily. "I'm starting to get worried."

Xander patted Buffy's back in comfort. "She'll pull through. She's strong."

Buffy smiled up at Xander. "Thanks for being here."

Xander looked back and forth around the area. "Where's the G-Man? I figured he'd be here for sure."

"Oh he is." Dawn piped in. "He and Spike went to get us something to drink. I think they needed to stretch their legs a bit."

"Spike!?!" Xander sat up startled. "What in the hell is he doing here?"

Buffy leaned forward and slapped her head in her hands. She did not need this crap right now. She would fight Xander tooth and nail on this, but she didn't have the strength to do it right now. Instead she started to cry.

Dawn stepped right up when she saw her sister's distress. She slapped Xander's arm. "You leave him alone. Spike took care of us last night, and he's here today. We all want him here. So you'd better not start anything or ... or I'll let him eat you."

"That's not even close to a threat. The Bleached Wonder can't hurt a fly." Xander protested. He pointed at Buffy. "Even the mention of him and Buffy starts to cry. How can that be good?"

Buffy jerked up. She glared at Xander. "Spike didn't make me cry, Xander. You did." She spat out at him. "You just can't leave it alone. I need him here." She cried more loudly, putting her head back in her hands.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giles and Spike talked amicably as they headed back from the cafeteria. They spoke of the different places that they'd lived in England. They even talked about recent Scooby business and news of the Magic Box. Everything seemed to be going well for them until they neared the waiting room again.

Spike was the first to pick up on the sobs coming from Buffy. His vampiric hearing alerted him to her pain, and he took off in a run barely keeping from spilling the drinks he held in his hand. He burst into the waiting area and slid down in front of Buffy. He feared that bad news about Joyce had come while they were gone. "What is it, Buffy? What's wrong?"

Xander tried to comfort Buffy but Spike turned to him and growled. Instinctively he backed off from the game faced vampire. It didn't hit him that this was a chipped vampire. His face was still scary enough to make him nearly pee his pants.

"Spike?" Buffy raised her head from her hands. She wrapped her arms tightly around Spike's neck, and she buried her face in his shoulder.

Giles finally caught up with Spike in the waiting room. He looked between all four of the people there trying to figure out what had happened. "Oh dear Lord. What's going on?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Xander came in and got all demon bad on Buffy and made her cry." She rubbed Buffy's back to try and help calm her down.

"What were you thinking, Man?" Giles chastised. He may not totally trust Spike, but he knew well enough when to let things alone. Buffy was under a lot of pressure right now, and she didn't need one of Xander's tirades.

"Me?" Xander was shocked by everyone's reactions. "Since when did I become the bad guy and not him?"

Giles set down the cups he was carrying and the packages of snacks. "Buffy doesn't need any more to deal with right now."

Spike turned to Xander and snarled. "She told you in the park to give it up, whelp." He pulled Buffy to stand up, sat down again, and pulled her onto his lap. He hugged her close to him. "She told you we were together. So, why wouldn't I be here?"

"Maybe because you are a soulless demon that can't care for anyone but himself?" Xander spat back at Spike. He didn't' care how many times Spike helped them out. He was still a soulless and heartless creature to him.

"He obviously cares more about Buffy's feelings than you do right now, Xander." Dawn threw angrily at Xander. "Spike isn't making Buffy cry. You are."

Buffy, who had been silent again until now, spoke up. "Xander, leave. Just go away."

Giles, Dawn, Spike and Xander all stared at Buffy in shock. Spike never expected Buffy to push one of the Scoobies away from her so that he could be there. Dawn knew that Xander had been Buffy's friend forever, but she was pretty peeved at him. Giles felt torn between backing Buffy and backing Xander. He felt that it would be best to eliminate any more disturbances. Tensions were already running high enough.

"Buffy, you can't mean that." Xander's heart ached for his friend. 'This is a spell. It has to be. He has her in some sort of thrall like Dracula did.'

"Yes, Xander." Buffy evened her gaze directly at Xander. "If you can't be here and treat Spike with respect, then I don't want you here." She looked up into Spike's eyes, letting her love for him show in her eyes. "He's my boyfriend now, and he's family to Dawn and Mom. He's won't be leaving any time soon." She looked back over to Xander. "You can either accept that or leave."

Xander stood up, fists clenched. He was furious. How dare she put Dead Boy Jr. up there with her family over him? It was ridiculous. He was going to find out what the hell was going on. "Fine, but I'm going to find out what's happening here." He poked Spike in the upper arm. "I know you've done something to her, and I'm going to stop you."

Spike wanted to stand up and force his fist through Xander's face. Buffy put her arm on Spike's chest. He looked at her, and she shook her head. He sighed. He stayed sitting for Buffy's sake. "Whatever, Whelp. I haven't done anything but love her. No spell can truly create that."

"Willow's did. You were both all over each other like dogs in heat." Xander huffed. "I'm sure this is a spell. It has to be."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Red's spell said that we were supposed to get married. She didn't say anything about loving each other." He shared the thoughts that had gone through his mind over and over since the day of that Willow's "thy will be done" spell. "I've thought about it a lot. Many marriages, especially in my human days, had nothing to do with love and all about arrangements."

Buffy looked at Spike in awe. He was making a lot of sense, and he wasn't even using his fists to make his argument. 'I do love him so much. He will protect me with all that he is.'

"Anything else we did other than the actual engagement was all us." Spike drove his point home. "We might not have realized it at the time, but we've always been attracted to each other. So, get over yourself, whelp. She's mine, and I am hers."

If Angel or Riley had made such a declaration she was sure that she would have fought it. Spike saying that she was his didn't bother her as much as she thought it would. She actually felt warm and loved by his statement. She did belong to him, and he'd admitted that he belonged to her too. They were equal.

"I'm not going anywhere." Spike finished. "I will never leave her. So, get used to it." He picked Buffy up, set her on the ground, and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I'm taking Buffy for a walk. Be gone when we get back or know your place. Because if you start up again when I get back I'll suffer the migraine to punch your lights out." He made sure everyone there realized just how serious he was. Then he turned and walked away with Buffy down the hall.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Xander kicked the runner on his truck. "Stupid idiot vampire." He jumped from one foot to another from the pain that now radiated through his foot. He hadn't stayed in the waiting room long enough for Buffy and Spike to return. He was too ticked to be civil to anyone. Even Giles had spent a good ten minutes lecturing him on how he should have been more considerate of Buffy's feelings especially if she had already warned him about Spike's involvement in her life.

"Has everyone gone crazy?" Xander put the key into the lock of his car door. A hand covered his. He spun around to face what he thought was an attacker.

"Easy, Xander. I'm not going to hurt you." Riley smiled wide at Xander. He caught the tail end of Spike's speech to Xander at the hospital. He had then followed Xander down to the parking garage. He knew that the brunette would be on his side. "I tried to warn you, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but I didn't want to believe it." Xander sighed. He'd gone to Riley earlier in the day after Buffy's accusation yesterday. After a long time of venting and talking he'd agreed to help Riley get Buffy back. Of course Riley denied punching Buffy, and in Xander's land of denial he believed Riley over Buffy.

"He's twisted her mind." Riley further drew Xander into his web of revenge. "We both know that Buffy would never pick a soulless vampire over me if she was thinking straight. He's manipulated her while she is down from everything going on with her mother."

Xander shook his head back and forth. "I can't believe I'm saying it, but do it." He gripped the keys tighter in his hand. "He won't know the chip isn't working until its too late?"

"Good choice, Xander." Riley grinned evilly. Everything was going just as he expected it to. "He won't know until he tries to hurt a human. Then the absence of pain will give him away."

"This is so going to hurt me when he hits me, but it will be worth it when I see his dust flying in the breeze." Xander cringed at the thought of the pain, but he reasoned with himself that it was for the greater good. He could endure some pain if it saved Buffy from herself.

"I'll get it taken care of tonight." Riley clapped Xander on the back heartily. "Give it until tomorrow afternoon at least just to be sure."

Xander nodded. "I just hope this works."

"It will. I'll make sure it does." Riley opened Xander's car door. "By tomorrow night Spike should be nothing but a bad memory."

Xander hopped into the truck and started the engine. He waved to Riley before he disappeared from the garage.

Riley waited until Xander was no longer in sight. He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the number given to him earlier in the day. No greeting was exchanged. He was direct and to the point. "Do it. Send the signal and scramble."

"You'd better be right about this Finn or our asses are in a sling." The familiar voice of Graham Miller came through the line. "If she doesn't dust him ..."

"She will." Riley ground his teeth together. "She will."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Upstairs, completely unaware of the plotting below them, Buffy and Spike met with Dr. Kriegel on their way back to the waiting room. Buffy clutched tightly to Spike's arms.

Dr. Kriegel smiled warmly. "Miss Summers." He removed his surgical hat. "The surgery was a complete success. We were able to remove the whole tumor and repair the damage that the growing tumor was causing."

Buffy let out the breath she had been holding. She jumped on the doctor in a big hug. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She squeezed him hard.

Dr. Kriegel started choking from being unable to breathe. Spike tapped Buffy to let her know that she needed to let go. "Easy, luv. The Doc needs to breath."

Buffy blushed and let go. "Sorry. I'm just so happy."

"That's all right." Dr. Kriegel walked with Buffy and Spike back to the waiting room. "She is going to be in the recovery room for at least 8 hours. She was under for a long time, and we have to keep her sedated to allow her more time to heal without moving."

Giles and Dawn looked up at the doctor. From the looks on Spike and Buffy's faces they knew the news was good.

"I want you all to go home until tomorrow morning and get some sleep." Dr. Kriegel put up his hand at the objections that started to surface. "No buts. Once she's out of recovery we are going to try to keep her sleeping in her room too. She needs the rest, and so do all of you."

Giles nodded to the doctor. He didn't like it one bit, but he could really use a good night's rest in his own bed. "Thank you, Doctor. We'll get some sleep." He herded Dawn towards the elevator.

Spike's arm was around Buffy's waist. He led her towards the elevator as well. Buffy spoke up as they walked. "Giles, do you think Dawn could stay at your house overnight? I have some things that I'd like to go over with Spike."

Giles looked in shock at Spike. Spike returned the shocked gaze. He sent a questioning glance her way. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Buffy nodded. "I want to ask you about a favor for my mother, and some other things." She shifted nervously when the elevator doors opened. The four of them stepped in.

"That is fine with me, Buffy. I'll drive you all home." Giles looked at Dawn to see if she seemed to have a problem with the arrangement. To his surprise Dawn was grinning from ear to ear. "Dawn can pick up a few things then."

Buffy nodded. They exited the elevator onto the lower level and finally into the parking garage. As the four of them slid into Giles' car, no one noticed the brunette glaring at them from the shadows. He hopped into his car and trailed the group to their destination.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike and Buffy waved to Dawn. Dawn was a quick packer when she wanted to. It seemed that today she wanted to leave Buffy and Spike alone as quickly as possible. She prepared her overnight back in less than 15 minutes. Now Spike and Buffy were waving goodbye to Giles and Dawn.

Buffy shut the door with a sigh. 'Alone at last.' She thought. She drew Spike towards her by wrapping her arms around his neck.

Spike pushed Buffy gently back against the door. He wrapped his arms around her waist, one hand splayed down her lower back and the other halfway up her spine. His face lowered as hers rose until their lips met in the middle.

They swayed to a light melody that only they could hear and feel with their bodies. When their lips met all of the pains of the day floated away. Buffy pressed her body tighter into Spike's embrace, and Spike gripped Buffy tighter to him. Neither needed to worry about the passion of the embrace because Slayer and Vampire strengths would prevent them from truly hurting each other. After all, one didn't need to breath, and the other could hold out long enough to move away when need be.

Spike moaned into the kiss, deepening it. His tongue slipped past his lips to outline Buffy's, seeking entrance within. Everywhere any part of his body rested against hers, he felt the searing heat that her body radiated. It sent his senses towards an overload. He longed to feel that heat completely around him, to be wrapped in her warmth and her love.

Buffy ran her fingers up through the back of Spike's neck. She twirled her fingers amidst the bleached locks that were becoming loosened from their gel hold. Her lips parted slowly to allow Spike's tongue to dance with hers. Just as his tongue slipped past her lips, she suckled it hard to bring it deep within her mouth and intertwine them more tightly.

'Oh gods, Buffy.' Spike thought to himself. His cock hardened and pressed against the confines of his black denim jeans. Just being in her company and embrace was enough to make him hard. Having her suck on his tongue made his cock weep in need and harden in desire to have that mouth around it.

Buffy didn't know exactly what she was doing. Every movement seemed to lead to another on instinct. Her body knew that she needed to feel Spike close to her. She needed to know she was loved, and she needed to be showed that this man loved her. She felt her whole body tingle and a surge of desire course directly to her core. She couldn't help but to notice just how perfect the two of them seemed to be in size to each other. She only had to lift her head slightly to kiss him, and their bodies rubbed against each other in all the right places.

Spike growled low, his body in overdrive. What were they doing? Were they ready for this? 'Hell yeah.' Spike thought. He ached to taste and touch HIS Slayer. He'd longed for such moments for longer than he'd care to admit.

'Careful, Spike. Make sure this is what she wants.' The inner William noted back. He wanted to be with HIS Buffy as much as Spike wanted the Slayer, but his insecurities still feared that Buffy would change her mind later on. He wanted to be sure and save them both from future pain.

Spike pulled back from Buffy. He panted in and out with unnecessary breaths. "Buffy." He rested one hand on the door to hold himself up and away from her. "I thought you said we needed to go over a few things?" He tried to gain some control over himself.

Buffy's eyes glazed over in desire. She nodded slowly, panting. "Yes, I wanted to ask you if ... Well it seemed like a good idea at the time." She stuttered. She was off balance, partly because of the desire coursing through her and partly for the fear of rejection.

"It's okay, pet. Just say it." Spike secretly grinned. 'At least I know I'm not the only one affected by this.'

"Mom, Dawn, and I all love you Spike." Buffy began. "Mom has been trying to push me to get back to my classes, and with Dawn being the key I worry about her being here alone." She gazed down at the floor for a few moments. She needed to word this right. She didn't want him to think that she was trying to take advantage of him.

Spike inhaled deeply only to be assaulted with the full force of Buffy's arousal. He fought his demon back as he growled in pleasure. He wanted Buffy with all of his being, both to have and to protect. Whatever was worrying her hadn't dampened her desires. She still smelled so sweetly of need.

"I don't want Mom to be here alone either once she gets home." Buffy looked back up at Spike. "What I want to know is if you are willing to move in here with us?"

Spike's little scent exploration was cut short at her request. "Are you serious?" He expected her to ask him many different things, but this wasn't one of them.

"If you don't want to, I understand. I know it is a lot to ..."

Spike cut off Buffy's babbling. "I would be happy to move in here, luv." He took one of Buffy's hands in his, caressing the back of it with his thumb. He rested his forehead against hers. "You just caught me off guard is all."

Buffy caressed her free hand along Spike's cheek. "I hadn't meant to tell you this so soon. Heck this has all kind of hit me at once." She cupped Spike's jaw, rubbing her fingertips over his lips. "But it feels right to tell you."

Spike tilted his head to the side to gaze at Buffy. "Don't rush yourself if you don't feel like it, pet." He was sure that Buffy was going to tell him that their little make out session earlier wouldn't be happening again any time soon.

"The strange thing is that I don't really feel it is a rush." Buffy smiled. "I need you, Spike. I want you not only as a boyfriend, but as more." She looked down for a moment shyly before she returned to his gaze. "I lo ... I love you."

Spike stepped back in shock. His face was almost unreadable as it switched so fast from one facial expression to another: from shock, to awe, to disbelief, to joy, and finally to love. "Say that again?" His voice shook as he asked the question.

Buffy wanted to take back her words when the first phases of his facial expressions changed. Had she read him wrong? Did he not feel the same for her? She breathed a slight sigh of relief when he finally spoke. "I love you, Spike." She repeated. She drew his face down to hers. Her lips pressed against his lightly at first and then with growing depth.

Spike stood immobile during the first seconds of their kiss. Once the realization hit his brain and was processed, he pulled Buffy hard against his body and started to devour her lips with his.

The kiss went from slow and tender to hard and feral. Any doubts that Buffy had about Spike returning her affections were gone in the moments that Spike's kiss became more demanding.

Spike picked Buffy up by the waist and spun her around in the entryway. He laughed heartily when he put her back down and broke apart from her. "Cor, Buffy. Those are the sweetest words you could have ever said to me." He cupped her face in both of his hands. He kissed her forehead, temples, cheeks jaw and finally her lips again.

Buffy giggled with glee. She felt like she was soaring through the air like a bird when Spike twirled them. Her heart felt as light as her feet, and she knew that she'd made the right choice. Her hands gripped his shoulders tighter to keep from falling.

"I love you, Buffy." Spike said reverently when their kiss ended temporarily. "I have for so long that it killed me when you told me I was beneath you." He fought back the tears of joy and sorrow.

"Spike, I was so wrong about that." Buffy buried her face just underneath his chin. "You are not beneath me in any way. I'm so sorry."

"Shhh. It's okay, pet. You apologized before." Spike rocked Buffy back and forth to calm her. "You loving me makes up for anything we've been through in the past, believe me." He scooped Buffy up into his arms and headed for the stairs.

Buffy giggled and whooped. Spike practically flew up the steps, he took them so fast. He headed right for her room. 'I wonder how he knows just what one is mine.'

Spike could see the wheels turning in Buffy's mind. He figured it was better to confess now then have a problem later. "I've been in your room before, pet."

"You have?" Buffy questioned.

Spike set her down on the floor. "Yeah. I wanted to be near you in any way that I could." He hung his head down. "So sometimes I'd come up here just to smell you and feel the remnants of your presence." He waited for the recriminations and anger from Buffy.

Buffy cocked her head to the side. She knew she should be mad, but it all seemed so sweet and romantic. "I should be pissed at you, Spike, but I'm not." She held onto Spike's hand and led them both to her bed to sit on the side of it. "I've gone by your crypt many times in the hopes of just seeing you myself.

Now it was Spike's turn to be amazed. "I didn't know that."

Buffy nodded. "Even when I didn't want to admit to myself what I was feeling, I was seeking you out."

"Oh, Buffy." Spike pulled Buffy close. "We've already wasted so much time. If I hadn't acted so disgusted after that spell maybe you wouldn't have gone out with Captain Cardboard."

Buffy stroked her fingers through Spike's hair. "No, what if's Spike. I acted the same when the spell was done. We acted as we figured everyone expected us to. I've always tried to do what the rest of them expected me to do." She looked over at her vanity where pictures of the Scoobies littered the mirror. "Neither of us were truly ready to admit what we felt back then. I'm just glad that now we can."

Spike kissed Buffy hard. He wasn't going to let her go anytime soon. She was his reason for still existing. She was the sunshine in his darkness, the soul in his body's void. She was everything he thought he could never have, and having her in his arms was literally a dream come true.

Buffy pulled back from Spike to catch her breath after several minutes of caresses and kisses. Her hands continued to roam up and down his arms. One hand moved to lightly scratch her fingertips up and down his chest. "Spike?"

"Yes, pet?" Spike panted unnecessarily. Buffy brought out every desire and need that he hadn't ever felt for anyone. He had loved Dru, but not like this. This was deeper. This love burned him from the inside out as if he would burst into flame if he didn't quench it with Buffy's love in return.

"Make love to me. Please." Buffy's gaze never wavered from Spike's. She wanted to be sure that he knew she was serious. "I want to show you how much I love you. I need you." Her desires continued to grow and her body ached to be filled and completed with his touch.

Spike gulped and nodded. Without a word he lowered Buffy onto the bed. He propped her head up on the pillows and kissed her until she needed to breath again. His hands were never idle, constantly caressing down her chest and up under her shirt to caress the swells of her breasts covered in lace.

Buffy closed her eyes. She used her senses to memorize each moment and each touch. She licked her lips, nibbling on her lower lip when his lips left her mouth. She inhaled sharply when his blunt human teeth suckled and nibbled down the left side of her neck. She felt more than heard the growl that passed Spike's lips when he encountered the marks left by the Master, Angel and Dracula. She knew enough about vampire mating rituals to know why he was upset.

Spike forced his demon to remain more docile the moment his lips hit the marks on Buffy's neck. He knew what his demon wanted to do. He wasn't going to allow the demon to take over the first time with Buffy. They needed to talk about claiming and bonding before he would subject Buffy to it. He didn't know if he could even bite her at all because of the chip.

Buffy yelped in surprised pleasure when Spike pinched her nipples hard. A moan followed the yelp and she squirmed against the bed sheet. "Please, Spike." She whimpered. She wriggled underneath him.

Spike chuckled. He left the marks on her neck alone for now. He would talk to her about them later. It irritated his demon and his romantic side to have another's mark on the woman that he loved. He lifted Buffy's top over her head. He then easily snapped the back clasp of her bra. He liked being able to snuggle close to her to reach the clasp in the back. Though front closures had their advantages too. He'd have to remember to snap the first front closure bra she wore with his teeth.

Buffy tightened her grip on the curls of Spike's hair. She tried to direct him to the places that she wanted touched. Her nipples were hard and aching to feel his mouth on them. He didn't disappoint.

Spike nipped the hardened pebbles of her breasts. Careful not to draw blood, he let the tips of human teeth nibble and pinch Buffy's nipples between them. His tongue curled out and around as much of her breast as it could without letting go of her nipples. The saltiness of her sweat actually tasted good to him. He let the nipple go and licked full strokes on the underside of one breast. He cupped it in his hand, rolling the nipple between his fingers, while his tongue began circles that started tightly around the nipple and grew bigger and bigger until he was circling the entire breast with each stroke.

Buffy wriggled back and forth on the bed. She let go of Spike's hair with one hand to fist her hand in the bed sheets. She needed to find some perchance to keep from bucking him completely off her body. She moaned in need as her core seeped more past her nether lips to glisten in the curls of her mound.

Another wave of desire assaulted Spike's nose. He practically snarled on the other breast that he was now giving attention to. He sat up quickly to remove his shirt. He needed to feel her skin against his. He looked from Buffy's face down her body. When his gaze reached her pants, he decided that he could wait no longer to see the treasures hidden by her denim. He slowly popped the button and then drew the zipper down. With a quick jerk he pulled both legs of the pants to remove them. He tossed them over the end of the bed.

Buffy gasped. The cold air of the room hitting her heated core sent a shock of pleasure through her. Her body hummed in need. Her passions were not going to be tamed this night by making out and a little cuddling. She needed oh so much more. She pulled Spike down on top of her body.

Spike tsked and grinned up at Buffy. "Now, now Slayer. No rushing."

Buffy growled, a pitiful sound from a human as compared to a vampire, but effective in getting her point across.

"I won't leave you wanting, luv. I promise you that." Spike lowered himself between her legs. He tucked his hands underneath her butt and kissed her inner thighs. "Going to worship this beautiful body of yours." He licked a trail from Buffy's knee to the focal point where the leg met the torso. He paid special attention on the way back down to suckle just below the hip and then nibble behind each of her knees.

"Oh gosh, Spike!" Buffy panted and gasped. She couldn't believe all that she was feeling. No one had ever kissed all over her body like this. He hadn't even touched her pussy yet and she felt like she would cum. She tightened her legs around Spike's head trying to trap him. He moved back up the other leg, resting his cheek against her inner thigh.

"Hmm ... I see the bottle doesn't fall far from the sink, does it?" Spike teased as he nipped at the dark curls surrounding Buffy's sweet mound. "All that teasing about my bleaching and you ..." He nipped along the left lip. "Aren't ..." He nipped along the right lip. "A natural ..." He flickered his tongue up between her slickened lips to lap up the sweet juices of her desire. "Blonde." He grabbed her clit between his blunt human teeth and worried the bit of flesh before he sucked hard to draw it into his mouth fully.

Buffy exploded into orgasm when her clit was tortured with his teeth and mouth. "Spike!" She called out his name as her body crested over. She wasn't even allowed to come down from her first peak when she felt two fingers slip into her tight channel.

Spike groaned. Cor, she was tight. Her grip on his fingers was tight and strong. 'Must be a Slayer muscle thing.' He twisted and scissored the two fingers in Buffy's hot canal. He added a third finger and arched the tips when he pulled the fingers out to graze over the bundle of nerves that he knew would send her over the edge again. The second time he plunged all three fingers in he did a little tap dance on the inner bundle. He was rewarded with Buffy's second orgasm and a flood of her juices gushing out of her lovely pussy and wetting his face.

Buffy screamed. She wasn't usually a loud lover, but this was beyond any pleasure that she'd felt before. Her legs held Spike's head between her thighs so tightly that it was a good thing he didn't need to breathe. She would have killed a human man, squished his skull like an overripe strawberry. Her hips bucked off the bed, pushing her pussy into his face time and time again.

Spike rode out the waves of Buffy's pleasure. He made sure to get every drop of her sweetness. It tasted like the ambrosia of the gods. He was sure that the only thing that could be sweeter would be her blood. His demon surfaced demanding to be heard. His fangs elongated while his tongue was lapping up her nectar, lightly piercing both of her lips on the edge. As her blood started to trickle into his mouth he snarled and dove into her pussy harder.

"Spike ..." Buffy grunted out. "Yes ... Harder ... Oh Harder please!!" Buffy crested over the precipice again not even caring that the reason for her latest orgasm was the nicking of Spike's fangs on her sex. All she knew or cared about was the waves of pleasure that ripped through her.

Encouraged by Buffy's reaction and a bit surprised that the chip didn't fire since he bit her, Spike buried his face into her pussy deeper. He pressed his fangs harder into her lips and allowed the flow of her blood to satiate his needs. He forced himself to keep from cumming in his pants. The taste of Slayer blood was an aphrodisiac as much as it was a powerful jump start to a vampire. He savored each little drop.

Buffy's body quivered and shook. Mini orgasms continued to fall through her, but she failed to keep her breath. She was near to passing out. She didn't want him to stop, but she knew that she needed a few moments to collect herself back together and rest.

Spike withdrew his fangs and fingers from Buffy's pussy. His cock was harder than he ever remembered it being. He wanted nothing more than to plunge himself deep within her tight chasm, but he could see her strength waning in bliss. He stood up and made a show of licking his fingers clean. He left one slightly coated. He brought it up to Buffy's lips, sitting next to her. "Taste, pet. Taste how sweet you are to me."

Buffy cringed at first at the thought of tasting herself. None of her previous lovers had or even wanted to eat her out in the way that Spike had. So surely they'd never suggested she taste herself. Spike's encouraging smile made her willing to give it a try. A tentative tongue slipped out of her mouth to the tip of the finger. She licked it slowly until she found that she did like the taste. She suckled the finger deeply into her mouth to be sure that she got it completely clean.

Spike groaned. Every time he thought that Buffy had done the hottest thing he'd seen or acted the sexiest he'd ever known, she'd out do the previous act. Watching her suck his finger dry turned him on beyond belief. He had to stand up and adjust himself. He realized that the curtains were still open. He moved over to close them.

Buffy felt the loss of Spike's nearness. She whimpered and reached out for him. 'Don't leave. Please don't leave.'

Almost as if he heard her, Spike turned back to Buffy. "Just closing the curtains pet while you rest for round two." He grinned. He closed the window and the drapes making sure that they were secure. He picked up another blanket and clipped it over the curtain rod. This was turning out to be the best night of his life. He didn't want to wake up toasting.

Buffy gathered Spike in her arms when he returned to the bed. She nestled her head against his chest, drawing circles on his abdomen with her fingers.

"Rest luv. Gonna make it real good again for you soon." Spike purred to her touch. He would be patient. She was going through a lot. Letting go of one's emotions was very draining, and he was positive that Buffy felt the freedom to let it all out while he pleasured her. They would just rest here a little bit and then he'd show her just how close they could get.

"I love you, Spike." Buffy sighed softly, rubbing her cheek against Spike's chest.

"I love you too, Buffy." Spike ran his fingers through her long blonde tresses. "Always will."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Outside Buffy's window a lone figure stood in the shadows of the tree there. He kicked the trunk several times in frustration. The window to Buffy's bedroom was open, and the curtain had be separated for long enough for him to see just what was going on in there. 'I knew that bitch would be fucking that damned vampire soon.' He punched the tree. His knuckles bleed, but he didn't care. 'I hoped I could get back to her before she did. Now, she'll have to pay for violating herself in that way.'

Riley turned away from the Summers' household. He knew just where he needed to be. He'd go where someone wanted him, or at least they wanted his blood. Tonight was a partial celebration ... the even of his enemies demise ... and part need to be satisfied. He knew just where he could get both fixes. So, he headed back down to a seedier part of town to his little vampire whorehouse. His brain didn't register the hypocrisy of his visiting a vampire whorehouse when he swore that vampires were vile and shouldn't be touching Buffy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Not Beneath Me - (12) Let No Man Put Asunder

By Tasha

Chapter Summary: Riley and Xander have a surprise planned for Spike that they hope will get Spike dusted. Buffy and Spike spent the night together in her bedroom. Dawn is at Giles' house. We begin where we left off in Chapter 11. Spike is watching over Buffy while she sleeps.

***Warning: This chapter is a definite NC-17. It includes graphic descriptions of sex between a male and a female. There is also a little bit of biting and blood play in this one. There is Riley/other at the end of this chapter, but you will see that it is necessary.***

Author's Note: Everyone has a different viewpoint on claiming, mating, etc for vampires. I've tried to define out how I feel about that subject within the terms of the story. I hope this will help clear up any possible confusions.

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed on the Index page of this story.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.

Spike strolled his fingers down Buffy's side while Buffy slept. Her body spooned in his embrace with her back to his chest. Never did he think he would have the chance to be this close to her, let alone touch her. He memorized every curve and dip with his fingertips. He vamped out into his game face to see her more clearly.

Although Buffy really hadn't overexerted herself while Spike pleasured her, she was pretty tired. All of her emotions and tensions tightened her muscles into firmly wrapped tight coils. The release of her orgasms unwrapped each tense muscle until her body felt like a blubbering mass. Her mind tried to stay awake for Spike's sake, but her body refused to heed to her will. As she drifted off to dreamland she hoped Spike would understand. She'd make it up to him somehow when she woke up.

Golden eyes savored every inch of the Slayer's body. The demon was quite proud of himself for his ability to please a woman. He'd learned many tricks over the decades, and he wanted to use every last one to bring His Slayer pleasure.

It was almost amusing how many vampires viewed sex and fidelity. For the strong, sex was a tool merely to gain satisfaction and release of one's tension or feel pleasure. Sex was also used to dominate or hold power over the young and weaker vampires. In some vampires it was an extension of love or passions shared, but it was uncommon for a vampire to find its true mate. Those who were fortunate enough to find their mate claimed or bound themselves to them. At that point everything was different and shared. One mate was usually still termed as the Alpha of the relationship, but that all depended on the individual vampire's personalities.

Mating was a sacred ritual to vampires. It was stronger than any human bonding or marriage. To claim a mate meant the pair was bound for eternity. When one mate died the other wound follow shortly to death not being able to bear the separation. A mate's mark was recognizable to others as a means of protection as well. If the vampire or vampires were strong the identity of the mate's other half would be clear upon scenting. Otherwise it would simply be known that each one was mated to another.

Vampires did not encroach upon the relationship between mates like humans did to try and steal another's boyfriend or girlfriend. Among some of the familial clans an elder vampire might challenge a younger ones claim to mate within a certain timeframe of the original mating bite. This was rare, and it was only allowed if the challenging vampire was in a direct line of Sirehood. Even then just cause must be given and the other mate must be willing to accept the challenger as their mate if the challenger won.

Spike's demon craved and loved Buffy as much as his William side did. His demon demanded that Spike claim all of Buffy properly and fully. It was a sign of the demon's love, his loyalty, and his willingness to protect her until death. In the back of his mind he feared Buffy's rejection. Once rejected another claim could not be reinitiated by him. Buffy would have to initiate a claim later if she changed her mind. He was also concerned that Angel would return to challenge the claim. With Angelus being his true Sire, he would have the right of challenge. Angelus was always a possessive bastard. He would challenge Spike if for no other reason than to keep Buffy from Spike. Once Buffy had a taste of being mated would she leave him for Angel, if challenged?

Spike's demon forced a snarl from Spike's mouth at the thought. Angel was always a sore spot of insecurity in the back of Spike's mind. As Angelus he'd taken from Spike anything he wanted or held dear. Would Spike survive if Buffy, as a mate, was taken from him? He doubted it. His undead heart would be crushed beyond repair. He would surely take a walk in the sunrise if that happened.

Perhaps it would be safer to talk to Buffy about a more familial claiming. It only needed to be one way. That kind of claiming mark served as a protective measure. It would bind Buffy to be protected by Spike's clan, the Clan of Aurelius, and more specifically himself. His clan was feared enough to serve as quite a distractive message to any wayward vampire that wished to tangle with the Slayer. Although other side effects were known to happen if the two involved had strong feelings for each other, they weren't common. This kind of mark was more easily broke if the claimed one wanted to accept a "stronger" champion.

Spike's demon was disgusted with the thought of only a familial bonding. He wanted Buffy as his true mate. William tried to calm the demon with thoughts that as a human Buffy might need to take this in steps and not just rush into everything full force. 'We want to be sure that she wants us as much as we want her, don't we?'

Spike sighed. 'Yes, but we've waited so long already. We can't take the chance that Peaches will come back soon. He never seems to stay completely away for long.' His gut twisted again at the thought of losing Buffy to his Sire. 'If he's even half the vampire he was, he'll feel the change in the family.'

'I fear the rejection as much as you if not more, Spike.' William sighed. 'I've faced nothing but rejection during my entire life. If she would so easily turn from us to Angelus then she was never really ours.'

Spike growled. 'I'll die before I let him take her from us. I was foolish to think that Dru was our destiny, but I still hate that her took her from me.'

'She was your "savior" in your eyes, Spike. It is understandable why you thought she was the one you should cherish above all.' William responded.

'Both of us want Buffy, William.' Spike reasoned with his inner ponce. 'We both know that we'd rather die than live without her.'

William nodded. 'I know.' He hoped that tonight was the first night of the best time of his life. It was a huge step for both of them, and he didn't think he could go back to being the dirt under her feet again. 'Okay. We'll try to explain it to her, but we have to be patient. If her Slayer side fights this we'll never win.'

'I think that there are a lot of things about the Slayer side of her that the humans don't realize. Why do you think the Slayer can sense vampires so well?' Spike might be just a demon, but he also knew how to feel his own. 'There is a bit of vampire demon in that Slayer. I just know it.'

'We'll have to hope you are right, Spike.' William mentally crossed his fingers. Spike seemed to have a certain intuition and ability to read people's thoughts and emotions. In this he needed to trust in Spike's abilities.

Spike pulled Buffy closer in his embrace. He draped his arm over her waist, caressing his hand up and down her abdomen to her chest. He nuzzled his face in her hair, inhaling her scent. He would never tire of smelling all that made up Buffy, slayer and human. Her scent called out to him. Everything felt like it was his to love, protect, and claim.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy cooed aloud while lost in her dreams. She was at peace, enveloped in warmth, and safe. She felt loved like she'd never felt before. Her arms outstretched, she twirled around with Spike in the sunlight of her dream. They ran through the lush green fields of a meadow. Wild roses and daisies interspersed amongst the green to add to the vibrant color of her dream. She felt the emptiness of her life disappear. Everything was so full of life. Here she was whole, complete at last.

Spike and Buffy laughed while they danced amongst the foliage. They raced each other to a nearby lake. Spike's skin seemed to glow in the sun's rays. Nothing seemed able to harm them here. Buffy dove into the water. She came up for air to a splashing Spike. Both of them playfully tossed water at the other. They were having a grand time together.

Their happiness was not to last. All too quickly the skies above darkened, and the clouds grew thicker to form a blanket over the sun. Spike was sucked underwater, and Buffy was thrown out onto the hard ground. She shivered, pulling a now dry sweater more tightly around her thin frame. Her eyes scanned the landscape searching for a place of refuge. She couldn't see Spike anywhere. She was afraid for him. A storm was brewing, and it looked like it would be quite a big one. She needed to find some cover and soon.

The wind whipped Buffy's hair back and forth. A landscape that was clear before was now littered with large stones, trees and other foliage. Tree branches pulled at her sweater. A trip over what appeared to be a headstone entangled her further. The sweater was ripped from her back and she landed face first in the dirt.

Buffy raised her face from the ground and spat out a mouthful of dirt. The sounds of snarling, crashing stones and raised angry voices echoed in the air. She fought the dizziness that clouded her brain when she tried to stand up. She held onto the headstone tightly when the two figures became clearer.

Riley, in game face, was attacking Spike full force. He lifted half of a broken headstone from the ground to pitch it at Spike's head. "She'll never be yours. My Sire will see to that." He snarled at Spike.

"No one will take her from me." Spike ducked quickly and kicked out his foot at Riley's knees. When Riley hit the ground he laughed harder at Spike. "You can't stop it this time. Your twisted heart won't let you because you loved my Sire before."

Spike looked confused at Riley. He pulled him up by the collar. In full game face he demanded answers from Riley. "What are you blabbering about, pillock?"

Riley pointed towards Buffy. A dark, Victorian dressed, woman stood behind Buffy with a raised sword. So lost in the scene before her, Buffy didn't even notice the Vampiress sneaking up on her.

Spike dropped Riley. He took off in a run towards Buffy, screaming. "DRU! NO!" Riley's delighted laughter echoed through the dark night. The wind kicked up harder throwing debris around the now cemetery landscape.

Buffy turned around face to face with Dru. The two fought hard in a flurry of kicks and twists. The sword was knocked from Dru's hand. The point was embedded in a nearby tree. She heard Spike continue to call out to her from behind her, but he didn't seem to be getting any nearer to her. In a moment of distraction she turned around to find him.

Dru caught Buffy's arms in that moment. She pinned them behind Buffy's back. She leaned down to whisper into her ear. "Watch and learn, pet. Leave my men alone, Slayer."

Buffy watched in horror as Spike writhed in Riley's embrace. A needle stuck out of Spike's arm, and he seemed to grow weaker by the moment. What was wrong with him? Riley had to be a fledgling. Spike should be wiping the ground with Riley's hide.

"See what happens when you try to take what is mine?" Dru pushed Buffy closer to Spike and Riley. "I'll take them from you in any way I can." She nodded to Riley who now held a neatly sharpened stake.

One moment Buffy was staring into the blazing but glossy blue eyes of Spike, and the next she watched the mass of his dust blow away in the force of the wind.

"NO!" Buffy screamed.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"RILEY NO!" Buffy screamed into the dark night. She lurched up in bed, grasping and punching at whatever she could reach.

Spike, who'd been confused at the scent of fear and increased heart rate of the sleeping Slayer, fell off the bed when Buffy punched him. "Easy there, Slayer." He climbed back onto the bed. He grabbed her hands, trying to calm her down. "Shh ... It was a nightmare, luv. Calm down, Spike's here."

Buffy openly sobbed. Her eyes opened to find herself no longer staring at the ex-commando but the penetrating blue eyes of the vampire she'd just seen dusted. She clutched onto Spike like a lifeline. "Oh God, Spike. He killed you." She wept.

Spike held Buffy against him. He rocked her back and forth in soothing motions. He learned a few things after spending a century with an insane Vampiress. "I'm here, Buffy." With great care he stroked his fingers through her long hair. "No one is taking me from you now."

"Spike ... Dru ... Riley ..." Buffy tried to tell him about her dream, but she couldn't form coherent sentences amongst the pain the dream had evoked. She scratched at his arms and back, trying to get as close to him as she could.

"Just a nightmare, luv." Spike kissed Buffy's forehead.

Buffy pulled back from Spike. She was desperate to assure herself that Spike wasn't dust. She needed him close to her. She needed to feel one with him, to make all of the nightmares go away. She wrapped her arms around the back of Spike's neck. She smashed her lips to his in a searing kiss.

Spike blinked. Buffy went from scared to practically devouring him whole. His demon beat at the surface to come forth. Spike pushed Buffy back onto the bed, covered her body with his and plunged his tongue into her mouth. His tongue battled with hers in a lover's embrace. He scooped it around her mouth just as he had her pussy a couple hours before. His hands gripped her hips hard.

Buffy moaned into Spike's kiss. She arched her back to press her body closer to his. Her hips rolled and rocked, coating his curls with the sweetness of her arousal. She nibbled on Spike's lower lip, suckling it into her mouth before she bit down on it hard.

Spike ground his cock into the mound of curls that covered her luscious gift. He tasted his own blood from the bite, and it stirred him further. "You should be careful about biting vampires, luv." He snarled, attacking her lips, neck and breasts with his mouth and tongue. He was able to keep his demon face buried, but human teeth bit and nibbled hickeys all over Buffy's upper torso and neck.

Buffy slipped her fingers into Spike's hair. She gripped his head to try to force his face back up to hers. She needed to feel him within her. She thought she'd die without being joined. "Spike, please. I need ..."

"What do you need, pet?" Spike growled. He removed Buffy's hands from his hair. One hand grasped both of hers and pinned her arms above her head. "Because I don't think you're in the place to make demands right now."

If anyone else heard the words he spoke they'd be afraid that Spike was hurting Buffy. She saw the look in his eyes when he spoke, and she knew that if she asked he would stop. He was toying with her. She squirmed underneath him. She wanted to tease him. His eyes were a tint of green as the demon fought to emerge, mingling his blue eyes with the demon's amber ones. "You, Spike. I need you. All of you."

Those words were music to Spike's ears, demon and man. He used his knee to push Buffy's legs further apart. His cock head hovered over Buffy's clit. He rubbed the tip back and forth over the sensitive area to tease her. "You think you can handle it?" He tormented her with words and movements, slipping the length of his cock up and down the length of her folds but never entering her.

Buffy whimpered. She twisted her hands to try to break free from his grasp. He held them together too tightly for her to make any headway though. She pleaded with him with her eyes. "Yes, Spike. I'll die without you. I love you."

The last of his will broke at those words. No longer was this a matter of playing with her. He had to have her. She loved him, and he loved her. With one sure and solid thrust he pulled back and pierced her pussy to the core.

"SPIKE!" Buffy screamed out in pleasure. She nearly came from his entry alone. Her fingernails bit into Spike's hand that held her. She bucked against Spike to meet his thrusts. With each push between them he was buried to the hilt in her heated canal.

"Cor, Buffy." Spike groaned. He couldn't believe just how she felt. He didn't usually have sex with humans. He'd forgotten just how hot it could be. The sensations could never be repeated with another vampire. She was also unbelievably tight. Did Captain Cardboard have that tiny of a prick or is this an effect of Slayer muscles? "You're so tight, luv. So bloody hot."

The two lovers writhed on the bed. Spike let Buffy's hands go. Her whimpers and begging to be able to touch him broke him. Buffy's fingernails scored Spike's back, drawing blood. The harder he pounded into her, the more lost she became. "Harder, yes. Fuck me. Please, harder."

Spike's demon kicked into high gear. He forced himself to the surface. With powerful thrusts he pounded Buffy into the bed. The headboard slammed against the wall so hard that it rattled the pictures on it. Each plunge was driven deep into Buffy's core. He buried his face into her breast. His fangs pierced either side of her nipple, and he lapped up the blood in slow pulls while he tormented the little nub.

"Yes!! Spike!!" Buffy squealed when Spike bit her. Her whole body tensed in pleasure. Her muscles tightened around Spike's cock, and she started to cum even harder than she had earlier to his tongue. She twisted back and forth in his arms, pressed her hands on his ass to push him hard against her body, and rubbed her clit against his curls to prolong her orgasm. "I love you!"

"Love you too!" Spike ground out in a muffled voice around her breast. He sat up off her chest. The sheer ambrosia of her blood and the pleasure of her body clenching and pulling on his cock were driving him insane. He wanted to hold off to make her orgasm again, but when he looked down to see the look in her eyes he froze.

Buffy's gaze locked with Spike's. She was in a state of nirvana. Heaven had to feel as good as this. She panted beneath him. With trust and love in her eyes she turned her head, pulled back her hair, and tightened her still pulsing center around him. She wanted him to know that she loved all of him. She knew he needed this, and she was willing to give it to him.

Spike dove for Buffy's neck. This was a gift even more precious than the one he was already receiving in her heat. He pumped several crushing thrusts into Buffy before his fangs slipped into her neck. He felt no pain in his head, but he paid no heed to anything but the sweet coppery liquid that slipped down his throat.

Buffy crashed over into another orgasm with the first pull of her blood. The pain of his fangs was nothing compared to when Angel drained her. It was certainly nothing like when the Master or Dracula bit her either. This was so much more than that. This was pleasure, not just pain. The pain was fleeting, and the pleasure was sustaining. Her body quivered and shook at the multiple crashes over the edge with each subsequent gulp that Spike took.

Spike's demon was in heaven. William was in a state of pure bliss. Both luxuriated in this joining. With the second pull Spike erupted into Buffy. Thick streams of his cool seed coated and filled Buffy from within. His milky cream soothed the inferno within Buffy's pussy, cooling it down some. He buried himself to the hilt, hitting her cervix, with the last pull of blood and burst of his cock.

"That was amazing." Buffy's heart was pounding rapidly in her chest. Every inch of her body tingled. Her fingers were wound tightly in his hair. She softly murmured words of love and encouragement as they both recovered from their orgasms. "I love you, Spike."

Spike removed his fangs from her neck. He listened intently to be sure that Buffy was in no danger from the blood loss. Both his William and Spike sides were pleased that they'd maintained the right amount of control to make love to the woman they adored. He laved attention to the twin pricks on her neck with his tongue. Content that the wounds were sealed; he wrapped his arms behind Buffy and flipped them over.

Buffy shrieked then giggled when she ended up on top of Spike. His cock was still hard within her. She'd only been with Angel the one time, and both of them had fallen asleep right afterwards. She didn't know if this was an example of vampire stamina or Spike stamina. Riley was always down for the night after he came once. This was a treat. She wriggled her hips back and forth.

Spike growled. "Rest pet." He slapped her butt playfully in chastisement.

"Oh, did I tire out the Big Bad?" Buffy teased.

"Far from it, pet." Spike arched his hips up thrust himself deeply within her a couple times to prove to her that her statement was not true. "But I did take some of your blood. I don't want you to be dizzy or anything."

Buffy nodded. She didn't feel light headed at all, at least not from blood loss. She was giddy with delight though. Warmth spread through her entire body. Every nerve ending felt more alive than it ever had.

"Besides after being awakened by your nightmare, I thought you might need a bit more sleep."

Reminded of her nightmare, Buffy clutched Spike hard. She buried her face in his chest. "I don't want to think about that now." She nipped at his nipple playfully. "Rest first. Play soon. Talk much later." She giggled.

Spike shook his head. "Little minx." Buffy was quite a lover. He ran his fingers through her hair. "I love you, Buffy."

Buffy looked up into Spike's eyes. "I love you too, William."

Spike's eyes widened in surprise. He wasn't used to anyone calling him that anymore.

Buffy kissed Spike softly. She let one hand trail over the scars from when William was turned into a vampire. "We'll have to do something about these later." She smirked at him. She brought his hand up to caress the fang marks that were on her neck from him. "And we'll talk about these in the morning. I don't even want to think about how you were able to do that, tonight."

Spike nodded. He kissed Buffy again. They snuggled together to sleep. How had he been able to bite her? When he'd been thinking about claiming Buffy he hadn't spared a thought as to how he would bite her without the chip firing. Yet somehow he bit the Slayer, and the chip didn't fire. 'Interesting. She isn't running away from me either because I could do it. That is encouraging.'

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Riley stopped just short of his destination. Before him was one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. Her long dark tresses begged to have his fingers in them. Her odd style of dress told him that she must be a vampire. He approached her carefully. He usually chose his woman for the night from the sampling inside. Perhaps this woman was only stepping out for a moment.

The dark vampiress danced closer to Riley. She swayed slowly around him, crooning out her words to sound like a light lullaby. "There you are, my dark warrior. I've been waiting for you." She ran her fingertips down Riley's cheek.

"You've heard of me?" Riley was pleased. His reputation of being a good lover and customer must be preceding him. It delighted him to know that he could have this woman as his own for the night. For if she'd heard of him, she must work here too.

"Oh yes. I knew you would come to me." The woman stood in front of Riley. Her hands caressed down his arms to his waist. She cupped the front of his pants where he was sporting a nice erection. "Oooo ..." She purred. "My nice dark warrior. I shall enjoy the feel of you."

Riley concentrated on her face. The thought that she hadn't asked him for his money yet didn't occur to him. Right now he didn't care. He didn't want her to stop touching him. The Vampiress slipped into her game face. He gasped. "You're beautiful." He was amazed at how lovely this woman was even in her vampiric state. How could such a demon be so lovely?

"Close your eyes, pet." Her sharpened claws ripped his pants opening. She gripped his erection, the edges of her claws drawing blood. The mix of pain and pleasure made the human squirm even more. She gripped him tighter. She pushed him back against the stairs.

Riley moaned. 'This one is feisty. There's nothing passive about her. She is really hungry for me. I'm going to enjoy this one.' His hands wandered up the woman's torso until he could feel her pert nipples against the fabric. He pinched and massaged the full of her breasts as well as her nubs.

"You will help me punish my bad boy." The Vampiress lunged for Riley's throat. She tore into his jugular with her fangs. There was nothing slow or soothing about her bite. She tossed her skirt up and plunged herself down onto his cock.

"Gods!" Riley screamed out. His neck throbbed in pain while his cock pulsed in pleasure. The lingering thought that something was wrong was pushed aside. The mixture of pain and pleasure only aroused him further. "Yes. Oh yes. Fuck!"

The Vampiress pulled on the human's blood with strong gulps. When she felt his cock erupt within her, she ripped her fangs from side to side to make the holes larger. Her orgasm ripped through her body with the last pull needed of his blood. She collapsed on top of the nearly dead man.

She continued to twirl his stiff cock within her folds. "You will be the instrument of my revenge, my sweet." She tore a gash in her wrist. She then placed the bleeding wound at Riley's mouth. She forced his mouth open to receive her treat. When he eagerly gulped her blood, she came again. She waited for him to get enough blood before she removed her wrist from his mouth.

Their spendings dripped down her thighs when she picked up Riley to carry him to safety. This was the kind of sex that she'd been missing. She'd train this new Childe from the start to worship her body and do her bidding. She had plans for him. He wouldn't awaken right away, and the sun would be up soon. They needed shelter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike's eyes opened with a start. He was torn from his precious dreams by a feeling of foreboding. Something was wrong. Something had changed. Then he felt the lingering traces of the woman who'd left him behind and someone else. 'Dru, what have you done? Why are you here?'

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