Sweet William

Chapter 10

Anya glanced up at Xander before smiling at him and going back to her book. This was exactly what we need she thought as she read the spell to herself. "Well, you want Buffy to see Spike for who he really is, right?" Anya asked smiling brightly.

"Yeah."

"Well, then we'll show her," she grinned as she stared at the book in her lap. "I remembered seeing it in here during one of our research parties. It brings out a person's true nature. If Buffy were to see what Spike was really like, then our problem would be solved."

Xander's lips slowly curled into a smile before a small chuckle escaped him as Anya found the page she was looking for. She read off the list of things they would need to perform the spell and he was getting excited just thinking about it. When her smile disappeared, so did his. "What's with the look?"

"It can only be done on the night of the full moon."

"What?" Xander asked sullenly. "That's a week away."

"I know," Anya told him. "Well, at least it'll give us time to prepare everything so we don't have any problems."

Xander sighed heavily before his shoulders slumped. He had hoped to find an end to his problem and solve it tonight. Now he'd have to wait another week. "I guess we have no choice."

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

Buffy stretched her arms over her head and smiled as the weight holding her down prevented a full range of motion. Her eyes opened and a smile lit up her face as she saw Spike. His head was resting on her shoulder and he had one arm wrapped around her waist. She leaned her head to the side in order to see his face. He looked peaceful when he slept and Buffy couldn't resist touching him.

Her fingers ghosted across the sharp plans of his face and her smile was still present. Their earlier fun caused a sigh to escape her as the memory came back to her. She had been worried that he wouldn't understand her not wanting to let things go too far but she was pleasantly surprised when he had just smiled and said that being with her was enough. They had talked and shared soft, sweet kisses that were followed by passion-filled ones. He literally took her breath away. How could someone who prided himself on being evil be so tender and caring? What Spike showed the outside world wasn't even close to what he showed her. He was loving and attentive and with every passing day she wanted to share her newfound happiness with her friends but knew she would never be able to.

"It's getting late."

"I know," Buffy said quietly.

"Anyone know you're here?" Spike asked as he opened his eyes.

"Dawn does."

Spike lifted his head and propped himself up on his elbow before leaning down and placing a brief kiss on Buffy's lips. "She know what's going on between us?"

"Yeah," Buffy smiled. "She's already given me her approval," she chuckled.

"That right?" Spike grinned. "Well, the Bit always was a smart girl."

Buffy laughed before sitting up. "Yeah well, she may be smart but she knows me well enough to know that patrol doesn't take this long."

"Well, maybe she's smart enough to figure out you wouldn't be patrolling tonight once you found me," Spike grinned as he reached out with his right hand and fingered the collar of Buffy's blouse.

"My point exactly," she chuckled as she swatted his hand away when his fingers slid down inside the front of her shirt.

Spike smiled and watched her get up from the bed and start around it before he rolled over and sat up. He winked at her before standing up and grabbing his jeans.

"Oh my God!" Buffy squealed before she quickly turned in the opposite direction Spike was standing. Holy shit, you just saw Spike naked she screamed to herself. His laughter made her cheeks burn before a smile covered her face. "That was totally unfair."

"So, you don't like me naked?" Spike asked as he slipped his jeans on.

"Didn't say that," Buffy whispered out.

Spike chuckled again and Buffy heard the zipper of his pants being pulled up before she turned her head to the side slightly. She could see him out of the corner of her eye and the smile on his face had her shaking her head before she turned around to face him. "You really are evil," she said with a smile before taking a few steps toward him.

"Never claimed to be anything but," Spike said as he picked up his shirt.

"You know your payback for that little stunt will be painful, right?" She grinned.

"Hurt me good," Spike whispered before reaching out and grabbing her around the waist and pulling her to him.

Buffy laughed as his head lowered to her neck and small, blunt teeth bites caused chills to shoot up her spine. Her hands roamed over his bare flesh and the small growl that came from him caused her smile to increase. "So, you want to walk me home?"

"Rather you stayed right here," Spike mumbled against her neck as he covered her flesh with small kisses.

"Me too," Buffy said softly as her eyes fell shut. "But you know I can't."

"I know," Spike told her as he kissed his way across her jaw and finally to her mouth.

Buffy sighed into the kiss and her hold on him tightened as he nibbled on her lip. Why did something that seemed so perfect have to be so difficult? What would it take for her friends to see Spike the way she did?

<><><><><>

Anya sighed heavily as Xander practically bounced off the walls. He had been almost unbearable to live with the past week and now that the time to perform the spell was finally here, he was even more hyper than before. She rolled her eyes as he bounced around the living room, whistling a tune while he lit the candles. Just the fact that he was so happy about this made her doubt her skills. What if she failed? What if the only thing she accomplished was a fancy light show and some smoke? Setting the last of the herbs she needed to the side, Anya stepped inside the circle they had drawn and sat down. "Okay, you remember what you have to do, right?"

"Yep. Don't worry about a thing," Xander grinned.

"Good," Anya told him as she took a deep breath and sat the spell book down on her lap. Closing her eyes, Anya took several deep breaths, trying to clear her mind. The small ticking sound to her left caused her eyes to open and she turned her head in Xander's direction. "Cut it out," she scolded as she saw him flicking the lighter he had used to illuminate the candles. "I need it completely quiet in here, okay?"

"Sorry," Xander smiled sheepishly. "So, how long will this take again?"

Anya sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that night before shaking her head. "Not long. Now just stand over there, light the herbs like I told you and be quiet. Can you do that?"

"Yeah," Xander grinned. "Completely quiet now."

Anya watched him for a few seconds before she shook her head and tried to clear her thoughts. She lit the candle in front of her before she softly started whispering the chant for the spell.

Xander's smile only widened as he watched his girlfriend perform the spell that would change his life. He bounced slightly on his feet as he lit the herbs he held and waved them, sending the smoke through the room as Anya had directed him to do. He knew this spell would work. He could feel it. His only doubt was that it would take longer than he would like for it to. He wanted Buffy to see what Spike was really like and get over her obvious deluded infatuation with him. As Anya's voice became louder, Xander's smile was still present while he thought of what Spike would think when Buffy didn't want anything to do with him anymore. Like I care he chuckled to himself. "He deserves to be treated like the monster he is," he said softly.

Anya's eyes opened when a mystical force rushed through her body and she was thrown backwards. Her head felt like it was going to split open as it hit the floor and she gasped for air as she tried to open her eyes. Softly spoken words she had heard seemed to penetrate her entire body before a bright flash of light lit up the entire room. As the dizzy feelings started to overcome her, Anya heard Xander's voice before everything went completely black.

<><><><><>

"Duck!"

Buffy hit the ground with a roll before springing to her feet and facing the large, red-horned demon she and Spike had come across. The eight-foot demon looked like a stone statue as their attack on him barely even penetrated his skin. Seeing Spike swing his axe, Buffy ran toward the demon as Spike's axe made contact with the side of the creature's neck.

The loud, howling growl the beast let out pierced Buffy's ears and she covered them to block out the noise before she saw the creature lift one clawed hand and swing at Spike. The blow struck him hard, sending him flying backwards to crash into a grave marker and the sound of his voice laced with pain caused her temper to flair. Watching the crumbling stone topple around Spike caused Buffy's heart rate to accelerate before she yelled and attacked. Blows and kicks she didn't even know she had in her after their half hour fight with the creature caused the demon to stagger before a final kick brought it down. Picking up the axe Spike had dropped, Buffy swung it high over her head before bringing it down. The sound of wet flesh and gurgled noises caused a satisfied smile to cover Buffy's face as the creature's head rolled a few feet away. Buffy dropped the axe and ran to Spike's side.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked dropping to her knees beside him as he lay on his side, heaving in large amounts of air. "Spike?"

Spike looked up at her with wide eyes as she grabbed him and pulled him to a sitting position. The fear in her eyes matched his own and he barely even realized she was talking to him as she shook him slightly. He gasped and closed his eyes briefly before the warmth of her hand on his face caused him to open them back up. "Something's wrong," he whispered out.

"What?" Buffy asked worriedly as she looked him over for injuries. "Where are you hurt?"

"Not hurt exactly."

Buffy looked at him with wide, frightened eyes as he continued to breathe heavily before he shook his head and looked up at her. His eyes were wide and the longer he stared at her the more worried she became. "Spike, you're scaring me. What's wrong?"

"I," Spike started but stopped for a second before swallowing hard and looking up at her. "Buffy, my heart is beating."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 11

Anya groaned as her head throbbed in time with her heartbeat and she blinked lazily before turning her head. Through blurry eyes she saw Xander sit up from the floor and rub his head before he looked over at her and stood.

“Anya, are you okay?” Xander asked before kneeling down at her side and lifting her head. “What the hell happened?”

“I’m not sure,” Anya said as she blinked repeatedly trying to clear her vision before she stared up at him. Her eyes went wide when her vision cleared and she saw him before she screamed.

<><><><><>

“You’re,” Buffy stammered as she stared down at Spike. He was sitting there looking up at her with the most unreadable expression on his face. Lifting her hand slowly, Buffy laid it on his chest over his heart and sat quietly. The small thumps under her hand caused her eyes to widen before she looked up at him. “Your heart is beating,” she said quietly.

“I know,” Spike said just as softly.

They both sat there silently as they stared at each other and the hand resting on Spike’s chest slowly rose to his face. Buffy smiled when she felt the warming flesh under her hand and tears filled her eyes. “Spike, you’re alive.”

<><><><><>

“Anya! What’s wrong?” Xander asked worriedly as Anya stared up at him and screamed. He saw her eyes flutter before she slumped in his arms. “Anya? Anya!” Xander shook her hard as she lay there motionless before he stood up and ran to the kitchen. Grabbing a towel, he wet it under the faucet before wringing it out and rushing back to Anya’s side. Sitting beside her, he ran the wet cloth over her face and neck.

He could literally hear a heartbeat pounding in his ears but the sound seemed distant. His fear started to overwhelm him before he gathered Anya up in his arms and stood. He carried her to their room and laid her on the bed before sitting down beside her. He watched her as she slept, not knowing what to do. She looked so peaceful. The soft thumping of heartbeats seemed to ring throughout the room and Xander’s eyes strayed from her face to her neck. He could see the veins in her neck pulse with her heartbeat and a small growl broke the silence in the room.

His mouth seemed to go completely dry the longer he stared at the exposed flesh before an overwhelming need to quench his thirst overcame him. Without a second thought, Xander lunged toward her.

<><><><><>

Buffy finally tore her eyes away from Spike and looked back over at the demon they had killed before she looked back at Spike. “Was it the demon?” She asked.

“I don’t think so,” Spike told her. “When I hit the stone, I felt…I don’t know. Kinda, weird.”

“Weird how?”

“Hard to explain,” Spike told her. “I felt hot and then pain. Lots of pain. Then…my heart was beating.”

Buffy watched him stumble through his words with a dazed look on his face. As confused as she felt she could only imagine what he was feeling. “Well, maybe Giles can figure it out,” she told him before giving him a little smile.

“Yeah,” Spike said quietly before nodding his head. His thoughts were jumbled and he looked back up when Buffy grabbed his arm and tried to pull him from the ground. Once he was standing, he staggered slightly before he felt her arm go around his waist. He smiled down at her before they slowly started making their way out of the graveyard.

<><><><><>

White, hot pain coursed through his entire body and the scream he let out sounded more like an animal’s growl as Xander grabbed his head. He jumped from the bed clutching his head and stared wide-eyed at Anya before what he had attempted to do finally registered to him. “Oh God,” he mumbled before he staggered back a few steps. Looking around the room frantically he saw the phone before he rushed over to it and quickly dialed Buffy’s number. He waited and listened to the ringing before looking around him again. As he heard Dawn’s voice on the other end of the line his eyes landed on the mirror above the dresser and the phone was forgotten as he stared at the empty space where his reflection should have been.

“Xander?” Anya said quietly as she sat up and stared at him. He was standing there staring at the dresser and glancing in the direction he was looking at let her know what he saw. Or couldn’t see. “I don’t know what happened,” she told him as she scooted across the bed. Keeping her eyes on him, Anya reached to her side and opened the drawer on the nightstand before fumbling with the contents inside. Sighing as her hand landed on the stake they kept hidden inside it, she pulled it out slowly before standing.

“What did you do?” Xander asked quietly as he stared into the empty mirror. “I have no reflection.”

“Yeah, I know,” Anya said quietly. “You’ve also got a major case of bumpies right now too,” she stated as she slowly backed away from the bed.

Xander turned yellow eyes in her direction and he could see the fear in her eyes. He could also smell it pouring off her in waves and a part of him savored the scent. A small growl escaped him and his eyes darted from her face to her neck. He could hear her heart pounding in her chest and the sound of it was like music to him. It called to him. The strong thrum of beats that pumped the rich nectar he suddenly craved seemed to pull him from his thoughts and he licked his lips as he stared at the bare flesh of her neck. “Anya,” he said as he took a step toward her.

“Xander,” Anya warned as she took another step backwards before pulling the stake from behind her back. “I know what you’re thinking and please don’t make me see if you’ll dust.”

<><><><><>

Buffy opened the door to her house and helped Spike inside before leading him to the living room. She helped him sit down on the sofa before she stood up straight and looked down at him. He hadn’t said a word all the way to her house and that worried her more than his suddenly alive status. A quiet Spike was just…spooky. “Can I get you anything?”

Spike looked up at her and gave her a tiny smile before shaking his head no. He wasn’t sure anything would help at the moment. He felt - he didn’t know how he felt. He was alive. After a hundred and thirty years, he was alive. He couldn’t hear Buffy’s heart beating or sense the coming dawn. His fingers were on his wrist and even though he felt the tiny thumps of his pulse, he still couldn’t believe it. He was alive. A human. How did this happen?

Buffy had walked out into the hall and picked up the phone. Her fingers had dialed Giles’ number without even looking as her eyes were trained on Spike. He looked so lost. She had never seen him look so vulnerable. When the familiar voice broke through her thoughts, she closed her eyes briefly before looking back at Spike. “Hey Giles. I know it’s late but I really need your help.”

“Buffy, what’s wrong?” Giles asked as he picked up his glasses and put them on before sitting up. He could tell by the sound of her voice that something wasn’t right.

“It’s Spike,” Buffy said quietly as she stared at him. “Something’s happened to Spike.”

“Is he injured?”

“No,” Buffy told him. “Can you come over here?”

“Now? It’s almost two in the morning.”

“Please Giles?” Buffy asked. “I wouldn’t have called if it weren’t important. I need your help.”

Giles sighed heavily before closing his eyes. He didn’t know what was wrong, but if Buffy was concerned it must be something worthwhile. “All right, Buffy,” Giles said. “Is there anything you need?”

Buffy laughed harshly before shaking her head. “Every book you have might help.”

“Books?” Giles asked confused. “What exactly is the problem, Buffy?”

“Spike’s alive.”

“Well, that rules out theory number one,” Giles mumbled.

“He’s alive Giles,” Buffy said and found herself smiling as she said it. “He’s really alive. He has a pulse and body heat and his heart is beating and,” Buffy sighed as she stopped her rambling and her smile was in full bloom. Spike was staring at her and for the first time since he had told her about his heartbeat…he was smiling at her.

<><><><><>

“Xander!”

Xander looked up at Anya when she yelled and he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat when he realized what he had been thinking. Twice he had thought of killing her. Twice he had to fight something deep inside him to keep from hurting the one person that meant the most to him. “Anya, what’s happening to me?”

Anya felt her eyes tear up when his softly spoken question reached her. The demon features covering his face didn’t hide the man inside. She could sense him there through the ridges on his face and the yellow eyes that looked at her. She gave him a tiny smile before lowering the stake in her hand and relaxing her posture. “I’m not sure,” she told him. “I guess the spell went kind of wrong.”

Xander laughed loudly at that before he felt his temper rise as he stared at her. “You don’t say,” he spat out hatefully. “And what exactly gave you that impression?”

“You don’t have to be so mean,” Anya said quietly.

Xander looked at her and saw the glassy appearance of her eyes before he realized what he had done. His temper seemed to be on a short fuse and he closed his eyes for a minute before taking a deep breath and looking back at her. “Sorry, honey,” he smiled. “I’m not sure what’s wrong with me,” he said before taking a few steps to the bed and sitting down.

“It’s the demon,” Anya told him as she watched him.

“Demon?” Xander asked, surprised.

“Well, yeah,” Anya smiled slightly. “Vampire remember? The demon has a mind of its own.”

Xander thought for a minute before nodding his head and staring at a spot on the wall. He concentrated on what he was feeling and he could sense it. “We need to call Giles.”

“And Buffy.”

“Buffy?” Xander asked. “Why?”

“Well, the spell apparently went wrong. If you got all bumpy I’m just wondering what happened to Spike.”

Xander chuckled as he thought of the blonde before he stood up. “Maybe he dusted,” he said as he looked at Anya. “No! Better yet, let him still be around, that way I can rip his throat out.”

Anya watched the toothy grin Xander let out before he laughed. This was going to be harder than first thought. Why did she feel the need to alter the spell? She should have known better.

To Be Continued……

Sweet William

Chapter 12

Buffy sighed in relief as she let Giles inside and he had barely even got through the door before she started bombarding him with questions. “Please, Buffy slow down,” Giles told her. “I don’t even know as much as you do at this point.” Buffy felt her cheeks redden as she looked over at Spike before she sat back down.

“Spike,” Giles said, nodding his head at him as he entered the room. “So, tell me exactly what happened.”

<><><><><>

Anya was staring at Xander as he paced around the room talking to himself. The details of Spike’s death at his hands had her eyes wide and caused her to slowly start backing away from him. She was pretty sure he wouldn’t hurt her, but one could never tell. The demon that was apparently taking up residence inside him was like a loose canon. If Xander could control it then they should be all right until Giles could figure out what went wrong.

Xander turned his head in Anya’s direction and smiled as he looked at her. “I can smell your fear, you know.”

Anya’s eyes widened slightly as she stared at him and her heart rate increased as she continued her slow steps backwards. “Xander, we really need to go see Buffy. Maybe the gang can get you back to normal.”

Xander inhaled deeply, laughing almost hysterically before looking back at her. “You have no idea how this feels. It’s no wonder Spike enjoyed being a vampire.”

“Yeah, well he’s had a hundred years to get a grip on it. You’ve had twenty minutes.” Anya watched the yellow of his eyes darken slightly as he stared at her before she heard a low growl emanate from him. She stopped when her back hit the wall and swallowed heavily as Xander took a slow step toward her before he stopped and closed his eyes.

“Anya,” Xander said deeply before opening his eyes back up and looking at her. “Run.”

Anya stared at him for only a second before she turned and ran through the apartment. The loud growl Xander let out when she made it through the front door caused a scream to finally escape her as she ran down the hall.

“And so it begins,” Xander smiled as he stepped out of the bedroom. “Ready or not, here I come.”

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

“And you don’t think it was the demon?” Giles asked Spike for what he thought was the hundredth time.

“Again, no,” Spike sighed. “Look, I took a hit, fell and my heart started beating. End of story. I don’t know why or how but I can assure you it wasn’t the demon.”

Giles had listened to Buffy and Spike retell what had happened several times and he still couldn’t believe it didn’t have something to do with the demon they were fighting. A vampire didn’t just “have a heartbeat” for no reason. “Well, I guess we’ll have to do a little research in to the matter. There has to be a reasonable explanation for this.”

Buffy had been sitting quietly in her seat watching the exchange between Giles and Spike. Her mind had wondered countless times over what all this would mean. If Spike were human, how different things would be for them.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Buffy smiled as she looked over at Dawn before looking back at Spike. “I was just wondering how this would change things.”

“What do you mean?” Dawn whispered so the others wouldn’t hear.

“Well, if Spike were human…”

“You two wouldn’t have to hide your relationship.”

Buffy gave Dawn a tiny smile before Spike turned to look at her. He looked so different. His skin was still pale, but it had a healthy glow to it now. He looked alive. He smiled at her and Buffy felt her heart skip a beat. She watched him stand and with a final look at her, he turned and left the room.

Buffy’s eyes followed his form until he was out of sight before she also stood. When she made it to the entrance to the hall, Giles’ voice stopped her.

“Buffy, what exactly do you remember?”

“Giles, I’ve told you everything I know.”

Giles sighed heavily before grabbing another volume of the many books he had brought. Nothing he had seemed to help and he knew he’d have to make a trip to the Magic Box to find what he was looking for. “I know, Buffy. I just can’t for the life of me figure out what could have caused this. If it wasn’t the demon…”

“A spell maybe?” Dawn asked from the corner she was sitting in.

All eyes turned to her and for the first time Giles smiled.

<><>

Spike was staring out across the backyard and he sighed lightly as he looked up into the night sky. The assault of questions Giles had been throwing at him were exhausting and even though he wanted answers to how and why this happened, his body was beginning to fatigue.

“Hey.”

Spike’s head turned quickly to the left and he smiled when he saw Buffy. “Hey,” he said softly. “Didn’t hear you come out.”

“Apparently,” she said, returning his smile. “You okay?”

Spike looked back out across the yard for a few minutes before looking back at her. “I’d be lying if I said yes,” he told her. He watched as her smile disappeared and sighed lightly before shaking his head. “You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve wished for this. To be human. Thought it would make a difference.”

“A difference in what?”

“In the way you saw me.”

Buffy stared at him before taking a step closer to him. “It doesn’t matter to me what you are,” she smiled. “Well, I mean it does, but you’ve changed. It took the whole ‘little me’ thing to finally see it, but I did. I do. Vampire or human my feelings for you are the same.”

“And what is that exactly?”

“I care about you,” she said softly. “I enjoying spending time with you and…”

“But you’re not in love with me?”

Buffy looked up at his hopeful face before sighing lightly. “I’m not even sure I know what love feels like.”

“You loved the poof,” Spike told her before looking back out across the yard.

“Yeah, but that was different.”

“How?” Spike asked as he looked back at her. “How was it different?”

“I was sixteen,” she smiled. “Everything is so intense at that age. Now that I look back at it, I’m not even sure what I felt. I cared for him and I still do, but I’m not sure it was love. Not real love.”

“And Captain Cardboard?”

“Completely different from Angel,” she grinned.

“So in other words you’re completely daft and have no clue what you feel. No wonder your relationships always fail.” He smiled.

Buffy chuckled lightly before closing the distance between them. “If getting involved with you makes me daft, then yeah. I guess I am.” A smiled bloomed across Spike’s face and Buffy’s smiled widened as he lifted his hand and wrapped it around her waist.

“So, what are you trying to say?” He asked her quietly.

“I’m saying that I don’t know how to describe what I feel for you. Not yet,” she grinned as she looked up at him. “But, I know that I want you. That I miss you when you aren’t around. And you make me feel alive. Vampire or human, I’ll still want you.”

Spike stared down at her and smiled before pulling her closer to him. He kissed the top of her head before looking toward the back door. “Suppose anyone would miss us if we took off for a while?”

“Probably,” Buffy laughed. “What did you have in mind?”

Spike raised one eyebrow at her before a wide smirk crossed his face. “Did I ever tell you William was a virgin?”

Buffy’s laughter rose before she shook her head and swatted at his arm playfully. “What, you want me to deflower you now?”

“Hey, someone’s got to do it.”

“You’re impossible,” she laughed. “And I thought we discussed the whole sex thing already.”

“Yeah, you said you weren’t ready to jump into bed with another vampire without thinking things through first. ’M human now. Completely changes the rules.”

Buffy’s smile was wide as she leaned up and kissed him. The thoughts of someone catching them never even entered her mind as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss and she moaned when she was met with warmth instead of the cool touch she was used to. The new sensation only excited her more as she pulled him closer to her.

<><><><>

“But who would do it?” Willow asked, looking through one of the books Giles had laid out across the table. “And why?”

“Maybe someone who wanted him out of the way,” Dawn supplied. “Human Spike would be easier to kill, right? I mean no super powers and all.”

Giles looked over at her and smiled as pulled his glasses off. “That may very well be the case,” he told them. “It’s possible.”

“What’s possible?” Buffy asked as she and Spike re-entered the room.

“A spell,” Dawn beamed. “Someone may have done a spell on Spike.”

“Why?” Buffy asked, her brow lifting as she looked over at Giles.

“Hard to say at this point,” he told her. “But it seems like the most plausible explanation we can come up with.”

“Well, can you check, Will? Do one of those tracking spell thingys you do?”

Willow grinned at Buffy before shaking her head. “I could, but I’m not real sure I can.”

“I can,” Giles smiled, looking over at Willow.

“Well, what do we need?” Buffy asked as she walked closer to the group.

“Not much,” Giles told her. “A stop down at the Magic Box will be in order though.”

“Well, let’s go then,” Buffy said as she started for the front door.

“Buffy, it’s nearly three a.m.,” Giles informed her.

“So?” Buffy said as she opened the front door.

“So, it’s late and I’m sure we can wait until everyone’s had a good night’s sleep.”

Buffy looked over at Spike as he stopped behind her and sighed lightly when he nodded his head at her, indicating that Giles was right. With a final look at the others she knew she was outnumbered before she turned back to the door to close it.

She peered out into the darkness and stopped when she thought she heard someone scream. She saw a woman run up her walkway and her eyes widened as Anya screamed and ran toward her. “Anya! What’s wrong?” She asked worriedly as their friend made her way to the house.

“Xander,” Anya screamed as she flew into the house past Buffy and Spike.

“Xander?” Buffy asked as she watched a hysterical Anya. “Where is he?”

The other occupants of the house were already at Anya’s side as she cried through her breathless state. Everyone was stunned at her disheveled appearance before a loud growl from outside caught their attention. Turning back to the door, Buffy sighed in relief as she saw Xander running toward the house. She smiled as she opened the door wider. “Xander, what is going on?” She asked him before looking back at Anya.

“Don’t invite him in!” Anya screamed as she held her stomach and tried to catch her breath.

“What? Why not?” Buffy asked before turning back around to look at Xander. Her eyes widened when she saw he wasn’t slowing down and she stepped back as he jumped up on the porch and charged the open doorway. When he hit the invisible barrier everyone stared with wide eyes as a vamped out Xander stood at the threshold.

To Be Continued….

Chapter 13

Stunned faces stared out the door and the only sounds to be heard were that of Xander when he growled and beat on the invisible barrier as he tried to get inside the house. The yellow eyes and wrinkled forehead he sported had everyone staring at him like they had never seen anyone like him before. No one moved as they all stared at him and after what seemed like an eternity the soft sound of laughter finally caught everyone's attention.

Spike looked at the others as a wide smile covered his face and he wiped at a tear that fell from his eye. His stomach hurt the longer he laughed and at Buffy's annoyed look, he closed his mouth in an attempt to stop laughing.

"What is so funny?" Buffy asked as she turned to face Spike.

"Oh come on, luv," he snickered. "You can't tell me this isn't bloody hilarious!"

"My best friend being a vampire is hilarious?"

"Of course it is," Spike said through his laughter. "The whelp there hates me and my kind with a fiery passion. Now look at him."

Everyone's attention turned back to Xander and Buffy hated to admit it but the whole situation was getting more bizarre by the minute. First Spike turns human, now Xander is a vampire. Will the night get anymore crazy?

"Anya," Xander grinned as he looked inside the house. "You weren't supposed to get away."

Anya's tears fell quickly as she stared outside and she wiped them away before straightening her shoulders. "Xander I promise you we'll fix this."

Xander laughed before taking a step back away from the door. "Don't want you to fix it."

Everyone watched as Xander turned and ran off the porch. He was out of sight before Buffy even had time to make it out the door.

"Buffy, don't!" Giles yelled as she went to follow.

"Giles we can't just let him go."

"No, but what are you going to do with him?" Giles asked her. "You can't invite him in."

"But its Xander," she said quietly. "We have to help him."

"He can't hurt anyone."

All eyes turned to Anya and she wiped the remaining tears from her face before she wiped her hands on her pants. "I think he has Spike's chip," she told them glancing over at Spike for the first time. "He tried to bite me and went all `grrr' with the head holding and screaming."

"Spike's chip? Anya, I take it you know more of what's happening than we do?" Giles asked as he looked at her.

"You could say that," Anya softly replied before giving them a nervous smile. "I kind of did a little spell."

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

Xander walked slowly behind a small group of teens on Main Street and a tiny smile graced his face. His eyes were trained on the petite blonde amongst them and he inhaled deeply to take in their scent as he shoved his hands into his pockets. When the group split, he chuckled at their stupidity and slowed his steps when the blonde ventured off by herself. He followed her for a short distance before quickly darting off into an alleyway. Climbing the fire escape he made his way to the top of the building and followed his victim until she turned the corner. When the city lights no longer illuminated her, he made his move and jumped down into her path. "Not very smart wandering around by yourself," he grinned as he stood in front of her. "All sorts of nasty things running around."

"Who are you?" She asked with wide, frightened eyes.

"The last thing you'll ever see."

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

"I swear I did it correctly," Anya cried as she retold what had happened with the spell.

"Apparently not," Giles yelled before biting his tongue and taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Maybe I haven't made myself completely clear. Magic isn't to be taken lightly. You are invoking powers you obviously have no control over."

Buffy glanced around the room and Willow and Dawn both were looking at their feet. She knew Giles' little speech was as much for them as it was for Anya. How Anya could even attempt another spell after the last one she tried failed so miserably was a mystery. Would they never learn? "Okay, this yelling isn't helping anything," Buffy said as she stood and stretched her legs while getting everyone's attention. "We now know who and what did this but my question is, why?"

Anya sniffed back her tears and looked over at Spike then back to Buffy before sitting up straight in her chair. Did she tell the real reason this happened or the short, safer version?

"Well, we're waiting, Anya?" Giles said as he prompted her to speak.

Anya sighed heavily before shaking her head slightly. If she was going to take the blame for this everything might as well be out into the open. "Okay, but no yelling," she said as she looked over at Giles. "Xander didn't believe Buffy's story about her and Spike. In fact he."

"He what?" Buffy asked feeling her heart rate accelerate as she looked at Anya fidget in her seat.

"He saw you."

"Saw me?" Buffy asked quietly as she stared at Anya.

"Yeah. He saw you and Spike. In the crypt."

Buffy felt all the air leave her lungs and the room started to spin before she slowly sat down. Everyone was looking at her and as hard as she tried, she couldn't bring herself to look at anyone. What did she do now? They would know? What would they think? What would they say?

"What difference does it make?"

All eyes turned to Dawn as she stood and looked over at her sister. "It's not anyone's business who Buffy dates."

Buffy's eyes were wide as she stared at her sister and for a brief second she wanted to run. She turned her head and looked over at Spike and for the first time she could see how vulnerable he looked. This wasn't his fault. He wasn't the monster everyone thought he was. He sat there with his head down, staring at the floor and his jaw was tight. He looked ready to bolt. This was it. The moment she had dreaded from the very beginning.

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

Xander screamed as pained laced through his head and the growl he let out caused the blonde he had bitten to scream louder before she ran. Xander leaned against the side of the building and held his head as his unnecessary breathing increased. The pain was blinding and as tears sprang to his eyes he blinked them away before the pain started to ease up. Looking down the street, he barely caught a glimpse of his victim as she turned the corner before he straightened and wiped at his eyes. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself before he shook his head and looked around him. He was completely alone. No one roamed the streets and he turned and headed back to the apartment with questions running rampant in his mind. Every answer he came up with had Anya or Spike's name attached to them. The longer he thought about everything the madder he became. This was their fault and they'd both pay for it.

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

When the yelling started, Buffy closed her eyes. This is exactly what she wanted to avoid. Dawn was trying her best and it was all out in the open now. Her sister's promise to keep everything to herself came crashing down the minute the words `Spike' and `Buffy' came out of Giles' mouth in the same sentence. She sat and watched as accusations were flung around the room and when Spike stood and started for the door, Buffy stood and called out to him. "Spike! If you think I'm going to stand here and get chewed up into little pieces while you lurk outside then you're crazier than I am."

Spike turned back around and faced her and he could see the fear in her eyes. He wasn't sure what she was going to do. Having her deny everything wasn't something he felt like watching, especially seeing how it was him she would be denying, but to get beat down for being a monster was getting old. A person could only take so much of that before they were ready kill the next person who said it. When Buffy gave him a tiny smile before looking over at Giles he felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Spike and I are."

"You're what Buffy?" Giles asked when she stopped talking and looked back over at Spike.

"Well, I'm not real sure," she said with a little smile before she crossed the room and stopped in front of Spike. "But whatever it is it's between me and him, not you." Buffy gave Spike a wide smile before she turned and stared at her friends. They all looked at her and Spike and for the first time in her life she felt like she had done the right thing "I don't feel the need to justify my actions to any of you anymore and quite frankly I'm not even sure why I've been so scared for you to know. This is my life and I'm free to spend it with whomever I chose."

Spike bite the inside of his jaw. He wasn't sure if it was to keep the stupid ass grin he felt coming on at bay or the tears that burnt his eyes. He didn't think Buffy would ever admit to anyone what had been going on between them, but here she stood telling them all. When the stunned faces of everyone in the room finally caught his attention a tiny smile formed on his face.

"Now it's late and I'm tired. We can discuss this in the morning." Buffy turned and grabbed Spike's hand and led him to the stairs with shocked faces watching them go. When she pulled him up the stairs behind her Spike wondered what twilight zone he had just fallen into. This wasn't really happening. It couldn't be. When the soft click of her bedroom door rang through his head he looked down at her as she dropped his hand and walked to the window and pulled the blinds. He watched her as she fluttered around the room and he let out a long breath when she turned to look at him. "You don't have to sleep here if you don't want," she said softly as she glanced around the room. "I just didn't think leaving you down there to get eaten alive by Giles was a very girlfriend-y thing to do."

Spike smiled as he watched her before he took a couple of steps and crossed the room to where she stood. She was looking at anything but him but when he lifted his hand and ran it through her hair she laid her head down on his chest.

"Can we just sleep now?"

"Yeah, we can sleep," Spike told her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so tired."

"I know." Spike held her for what seemed like an eternity before she finally lifted her head and looked up at him. She smiled before leaning up and bushing her lips across his in a soft kiss. When she pulled back he was surprised to see tears pooling in her eyes.

"Think they'll hate me now?"

"They love you, Buffy. They could never hate you," he told her as he stared down at her. "They might not agree with you or like the things you do but they'll never hate you."

Buffy smiled in spite of her mood and sniffed back the tears ready to fall before she walked over to the bed. She kicked off her shoes and pulled the blankets back before she crawled in. She was still fully clothed and only briefly thought of changing before her head hit the pillow. When she felt the springs of the bed shift she smiled as Spike's arms found their way around her and she was pulled tight against his chest. Her eyes closed when he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck and a soft I love you was whispered against her skin. She listened to the sound of his breathing and the warm air that passed over her neck caused a contented sigh to escape her as she grabbed his arm and pulled it closer to her. With a tiny smile, she feel asleep, feeling safe for the first time in longer than she could remember.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 13

"What is so funny?" Buffy asked as she turned to face Spike.

"Oh come on, luv," he snickered. "You can't tell me this isn't bloody hilarious!"

"My best friend being a vampire is hilarious?"

"Of course it is," Spike said through his laughter. "The whelp there hates me and my kind with a fiery passion. Now look at him."

"Anya," Xander grinned as he looked inside the house. "You weren't supposed to get away."

Anya's tears fell quickly as she stared outside and she wiped them away before straightening her shoulders. "Xander I promise you we'll fix this."

Xander laughed before taking a step back away from the door. "Don't want you to fix it."

Everyone watched as Xander turned and ran off the porch. He was out of sight before Buffy even had time to make it out the door.

"Buffy, don't!" Giles yelled as she went to follow.

"Giles we can't just let him go."

"No, but what are you going to do with him?" Giles asked her. "You can't invite him in."

"But its Xander," she said quietly. "We have to help him."

"He can't hurt anyone."

"Spike's chip? Anya, I take it you know more of what's happening than we do?" Giles asked as he looked at her.

"You could say that," Anya softly replied before giving them a nervous smile. "I kind of did a little spell."

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

"Who are you?" She asked with wide, frightened eyes.

"The last thing you'll ever see."

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

"I swear I did it correctly," Anya cried as she retold what had happened with the spell.

Anya sniffed back her tears and looked over at Spike then back to Buffy before sitting up straight in her chair. Did she tell the real reason this happened or the short, safer version?

"Well, we're waiting, Anya?" Giles said as he prompted her to speak.

"He what?" Buffy asked feeling her heart rate accelerate as she looked at Anya fidget in her seat.

"He saw you."

"Saw me?" Buffy asked quietly as she stared at Anya.

"Yeah. He saw you and Spike. In the crypt."

"What difference does it make?"

All eyes turned to Dawn as she stood and looked over at her sister. "It's not anyone's business who Buffy dates."

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

"Spike and I are."

"You're what Buffy?" Giles asked when she stopped talking and looked back over at Spike.

"Can we just sleep now?"

"Yeah, we can sleep," Spike told her as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so tired."

"Think they'll hate me now?"

"They love you, Buffy. They could never hate you," he told her as he stared down at her. "They might not agree with you or like the things you do but they'll never hate you."

To Be Continued...

Chapter 14

Dawn was holding back her smile. Everyone in the room had been staring at the steps where Buffy and Spike had disappeared over ten minutes ago and no one had said a word. She could see it all on their faces, though.

Anya had the look of "I told you so" plastered across hers with a tiny smirk to go along with it. Giles' eyes were huge and a bright pink tinge colored his cheeks and Willow looked more hurt than anything. Buffy's oldest friend was apparently out of the loop and Dawn knew all too well how that felt.

As the tension in the room began to grow Dawn decided to make the first move and took a step backwards and sat down. The others in turn all started to move but when Giles turned his eyes to her, Dawn sank back in her seat.

"You knew about this?"

"Yes," Dawn answered him hesitantly as she glanced away from him.

Giles sighed heavily before shaking his head and removing his glasses. He mumbled something under his breath and when he looked back up at her, Dawn swallowed heavily. "Dawn you're a smart girl," he stated before replacing his glasses and straightening his shoulders. "And I'm sure you remember all too well what happened with Angel, forced memories or not, so I can't for the life of me figure out why you kept this from all of us."

"Well, Spike isn't Angel," she said softly.

"No, he's worse," Giles said a little too loudly. "He does nothing if it doesn't benefit him in some way. He's out for himself first and him helping Buffy is just an act to further his misguided affections toward her."

"That's not true!" Dawn shouted as she stood from her chair. "He helped when Buffy was gone and no one made him. He was here for me when Buffy wasn't and there wasn't anything in it for him. Nothing. Buffy was dead." Dawn tried to calm herself as tears filled her eyes and she held her chin up defiantly. Spike was the only one who had ever been there for her in that time and she wasn't going to let anyone beat him down for it.

Upstairs, Spike smiled as he listened to the conversation going on in the living room and pulled Buffy closer to him. He had to remember to thank Dawn come morning. His two favorite girls had finally stood up to their "family" for him. Something he thought would never happen.

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

Xander was amazed at how different things looked and felt as he walked the streets of Sunnydale. Scents he never knew existed assaulted him and his mouth watered at the thoughts of them. The small scurrying of animals rang throughout the night and the screams of an unlucky victim caused a smile to form on his face. The thoughts of someone getting what he so desperately wanted caused an angry growl to escape him as the slight tingling in his brain still sent small shocks throughout his head. The chip was there. He knew it now. Getting around it couldn't be so hard. Spike had managed for a while now. If Spike could do it, so could he.

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

"That's enough!" Willow yelled as she looked at Giles and Dawn. "You two screaming at each other isn't going to help."

Giles finally took a deep breath and looked over at Willow before he blushed and gave a quick glance to Dawn. Her face was red and he could see so much of Buffy staring back at him as she stood firmly and confidently. He gave her a tiny smile before looking away and taking his seat.

"Okay," Willow said calmly as she also took her seat. "The Buffy and Spike thing aside, what are we going to do about Xander? He's still out there doing lord knows what."

"Well, he can't hurt anyone," Anya said softly. "At least I don't think he can."

"Okay, that's a start," Willow said and offered Anya a friendly smile. "Do you still have the original spell? We'll need to look at it to see what went wrong."

"Yeah. It's at the apartment," Anya smiled before her eyes widened slightly. "Can Xander still get in there? I mean he was inside when he went all `grr'. Does that mean he can come and go as he pleases now?"

Willow looked over at Giles and his face held the same curious thoughts hers did. "Um, I'm not sure."

"Neither am I," Giles added. "We may need to de-invite him just to be safe."

"But where will he go?" Anya asked as tears filled her eyes. "He's all alone."

Willow gave Anya another smile before going to get the few spell components they kept in the house. A de-invite spell for the apartment was the first thing they needed to concentrate on. Once they got the spell and figured out what went wrong, they could concentrate on fixing the problem and getting their friend back. The Buffy and Spike stuff would have to come last. There was just too much to do to focus on the insecurities of everyone where Spike was concerned. Walking back into the living room, Willow sat everything down on the coffee table and looked at Giles. He smiled at her unspoken question. "Okay, first thing - de-invite Xander from the apartment and get the spell," Willow said as she grabbed her bag from the hall and helped Giles load everything they needed. "Dawn, you go back to bed. We won't be long."

"Why can't I go?" She asked. The look everyone gave her caused a heavy sigh to escape her before she rolled her eyes. "Stupid question, Dawn," she said quietly to herself before shaking her head.

Willow smiled as she watched the teen climb the stairs before the others headed for the door. As they went outside, Willow couldn't help but stare into the darkness around her as they walked to Giles' car. Xander was her best friend. "Was," she reminded herself. He was a vampire now. Did that change things? Would it make a difference to him?

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

The ride to the apartment had been made in silence. Each contemplating what would happen next. Would reversing the spell work? Would Xander be Xander again? Would Spike return to being the vampire they all loved to hate? Would Buffy want him to change back? As Giles finished the spell, Willow looked over at him let out a weary sigh as she felt the magic begin to lift. She knew it would always be this way. Dealing was hard. Not giving in was harder.

"I've got the spell and all the components."

Giles and Willow both turned to Anya as she spoke and they both noticed the bag lying by her feet. She smiled at them as she looked down at it. "He might be a member of the undead, but he has to change eventually, right?"

"I suppose you are, Anya," Giles smiled.

"I was just going to leave it by the door. I'm sure he'll be by eventually. The sun's almost up." She reached down and lifted the small duffle from the floor and looked back up as Giles and Willow stared at her. They probably thought she was crazy. They were probably right. As they collected everything and walked quietly to the door, Anya gave her apartment a long look before locking the door and exiting behind the others. She laid the duffle bag by the door and hoped no one would claim it as their own before Xander came back. As they walked away, Anya said a silent prayer to whoever was listening. This was all her fault and now the close group of friends that had taken her a while to warm up to was her only hope in getting Xander back. Hopefully they lived up to the hype she always thought surrounded them. This was one time they needed to get the job done. They usually did, but this time - it hit closer to home.

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

Xander wasn't even aware he had so much anger in him. It felt good, he had decided and realized now why Angelus had had so much fun all the time. It felt good to be bad. The anger kept him focused. It kept him centered. It kept that small twinge of regret from creeping up his spine. He knew what it was, but wasn't about to call it by name. Vampires with souls were useless. Look at Angel. Luckily for him it wasn't much of a voice. He could feel it - way back in the recess of his mind. A little light that tried to pry itself to the front of his conscience but it didn't take much to push it back where it belonged. In the dark.

As the door banged heavily against the wall, Xander growled in frustration as he threw the duffle bag he had found at the apartment across the room. He had completely destroyed the wall by the apartment door in anger at what they had done and he still wasn't satisfied. He wanted to kill something or more appropriately, them.

He could smell the rich coppery scent of blood and he could almost taste it. It made the hair on the back of his neck stand up and he turned his head to the left to where the scent was strongest. He saw the small, battered refrigerator that sat in the corner of the room and growled as he let his eyes sweep across the rest of the room. His scent was everywhere and Xander's anger only grew the longer he stood there. Trapped. That's what he was. They had left him no choice. He was forced to dwell in the lair of the creature he loathed most in the world. A smile curved his face as Spike's image filled his minds eye and he was reminded. Spike was human. Spike was fragile. A once powerful master vampire reduced to a pathetic human.

Laughter filled the crypt as Xander walked to the mini-fridge and looked inside at its contents. Fresh blood filled the shelves and he wasted no time reaching in and grabbing one of the small plastic bags. The notion of heating it never entered his mind until the first drop hit his tongue and even then he didn't care. The thick liquid slid down his throat and a contented growl escaped him as he drained the first bag quickly. He tossed the shriveled plastic to the floor as he grabbed another before shutting the refrigerator door. He turned, looking at the ratty chair and other sparse furnishings before walking to the trapped down and jumping down. He tossed the empty blood bag to the floor as he rounded the corner and he growled as he saw the bed. Images of Buffy and Spike filled his mind as he looked at it and he stalked toward it slowly before looking around the room. It wasn't his first choice in accommodations, but he really didn't have much of a choice now, did he? The sun was rising. He could feel it. It almost tickled, he surmised. The feeling was new. As were most of the sensations he had now. Foreign, but welcomed. Being a vampire had its advantages. A few of them he was sure he'd learn to love just as Spike had. Others, he'd have to find a way around. If Spike could adjust, so could he.

To Be Continued...