Title: Unexpected
Author: Hils
Email: ImmortalBeloved2000@yahoo.co.uk
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: B/S, a bit of B/R
Spoilers: General season 5
SUMMARY- Set some time after Fool For Love. Buffy finds help in a suprising place.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to any of these characters. It all belongs to Joss and co.
Feedback: My first ever fic so YES PLEASE!!!!

Riley practically jumped on Buffy when she walked through the door of Giles' apartment. He grabbed her and began to cover her with kisses.

"Buffy, are you alright? I was so worried. I wanted to come back for you but..." He stopped as Buffy gently pulled herself out of his tight embrace.

"I'm fine." She reassured "Is Giles here?"

"Yes he is" Said Giles as he stepped out from the kitchen. "I'm glad to see that you're alright. What happened?"

Buffy looked at the floor, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with telling him that she'd spent the night watching over Spike.

"Leon took off, left Spike in a pretty bad way."

Giles took off his glasses and began to clean them

"Is he alright?"

"I left him sleeping in the mansion. He's hurt pretty bad. I'm going to take him to my house tonight, Mom's away for the week and Spike needs somewhere safe to rest until his wounds have healed."

Riley stared at her. She couldn't possibly be thinking of letting that vampire stay in her house. He walked over and put his arm around her.

"Buffy, are sure that's a good idea. I know Spike can't hurt people but maybe he would be better off staying here. Giles?"

Giles shook his head. He wasn't happy about Spike staying with Buffy either but there was no other way.

"I'm sorry Riley, but I have a guest coming over tonight. If Spike is injured then he poses no real threat. I don't see the harm in him staying with Buffy."

Riley desperately wanted to say that he'd seen the way Spike looks at Buffy, that it was glaringly obvious that the vampire had some sort of crush on her. He remained silent.

"Who's coming to visit?" asked Buffy. "Olivia?"

Giles sighed. He'd been dreading this moment.

"Actually no. Buffy, maybe you should sit down."

Buffy slowly sat down on Giles' couch, not liking the tone in his voice at all. Riley sat beside her and took her hand. He sensed a bombshell coming. Giles sat down opposite them.

"I called Angel last night and told him about Leon. He sounded very concerned and said that you would need help fighting him. To cut a long story short he's coming back to Sunnydale...tonight."

Buffy and Riley stared at him in shock. Then Buffy jumped her feet.

"Giles why? Why is he coming? I can handle things here. He doesn't need to go all overprotective."

"He's only trying to help Buffy. Angel will be able to give you useful information on how to fight Leon. He's obviously stronger than we'd anticipated if he was able to beat you and Spike. I know this is difficult for you but I think we need him."

Buffy sighed, knowing that her Watcher was right. He had no idea how hard and painful it was every time she saw Angel. Suddenly she wanted to be anywhere but there. She was also aware that Riley had tensed up, Angel's return wasn't going to be easy on him either. He knew that Angel had a part of Buffy which he could never reach.

"Look, I'd better go. I didn't get much sleep last night and I said I'd get Spike some blood."

She walked towards the door and Riley followed her. He took her arm and spun her back round to face him.

"Buffy, I'd really like to talk about what's going on."

She shook her head, she had so many emotions churning around inside her that she didn't know what she felt. She couldn't talk to Riley until her thoughts were a bit clearer. She pulled her arm out of his hand.

"Riley, I can't. We'll talk later."

Without waiting for his response she walked out of the door and closed it behind her.

As Buffy walked she tried to digest everything that was going on in her head. She hadn't seen Angel since his confrontation with Riley last year, she'd told him that she loved Riley. Everything was so confusing, she knew that she didn't love Riley but it had nothing to do with Angel. Actually, maybe it did. Deep in her heart she knew that the reason she didn't love Riley was because he didn't give her what Angel had. But at the same time she knew that she didn't want to go through all the pain that she had with Angel either. It would be so much easier if she could just disappear, or sit quietly in a corner and wait for all her problems to go away. She'd been through too much to know that hiding wasn't the solution, she'd learnt that when she'd run away after killing Angel. Problems don't just go away, they follow you wherever you go.

Buffy went to the butchers and picked up some pigs blood. She found herself actually looking forward to seeing Spike. There was something comfortably constant about his attitude with her. As much as he annoyed her he very rarely surprised her. He was just Spike.

Buffy walked into the mansion and peered into the bedroom. Spike was still asleep. It figured, she'd only been gone a couple of hours. She sat back down beside the bed and put the blood on the table. Looking at Spike she noticed that he'd discarded his duster and shirt, his now bare chest was covered in ugly looking purple bruises. One of his arms was draped down the side of the bed, his fingers lightly touching the stone floor. Buffy lifted his arm and placed it by his side. She inwardly winced when she saw the bruises. Leon had gotten some really powerful kicks in. Instinctively she reached out and lightly ran her fingers over the swollen skin, Spike flinched in his sleep and she quickly withdrew her hand. She felt her face flush red, what was she doing? Deciding it would be better to leave and come back after dark Buffy stood up and walked out towards the main door. She was just opening it when she heard Spike call her name. Sighing she turned around and walked back in.

Spike had drained the tub of blood she had brought him and left the container next to the bed. Buffy sat back down and he gestured to the pot with his eyes.

"Thanks." He murmured.

"That's okay." She replied quietly. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes until Buffy spoke.

"Spike, I want you to come and stay with me for a couple of days until you get your strength back. I don't want to put you down or anything but you're a sitting target while you're like this."

Spike sighed, ignoring the pain it caused him. He hated feeling like this, weak and helpless. It reminded him of when he'd been confined to a wheelchair a couple of years ago. He wanted more than anything just to get up and lash out at the first demon he came across. Then he thought about what Buffy had just said. She wanted him to stay...with her...in her house...alone. He closed his eyes for a moment trying not to imagine the numerous intimate situations that could arise from this. Then he thought about why she was doing this, probably just to relive herself of a guilty conscience, after all, he'd gotten into this mess saving her ass.

"Listen Slayer, I don't need your pity. I can take care of myself." Spike tried to keep the pain and exhaustion out of his voice.

"Pity? Spike this has nothing to do with pity. I know better than anyone that you can hold your own, I just don't want to see you getting yourself killed that's all."

"What do you care?" He muttered.

"You think I don't care? Look, I know we've never really gotten on but I've known you too long not to care now. You're arrogant, annoying and selfish but I still care." Buffy suddenly frowned. She had no idea where that had come from, all she knew was that she did care about him, despite herself.

Spike tried hard not to start grinning, she cared about him.

"Alright, if it'll make you happy I'll camp out at your place for a bit. It won't take me long to heal and then I'll be out of your way. Pass me my shirt will you."

Buffy stood up and tossed the shirt to him. Spike gritted his teeth through the pain as he put it on, sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. She noticed his pain and offered him her arm to help in stand up. Ignoring her Spike climbed shakily to his feet.

"I don't need a bloody nurse." He growled. Suddenly a wave of dizziness hit him, his vision fading almost completely. He closed his eyes trying to beat it and he instinctively reached out and grabbed Buffy to steady himself. She wrapped her arm around his waist and held onto him while he waited for it to pass. Opening his eyes Spike found himself staring into a pair of beautiful green ones, his face was merely inches away from Buffy's.

"Slayer." He breathed before leaning down and kissing her. Buffy froze for a second when she felt Spike's lips upon hers. Suddenly she found herself kissing him back, and it wasn't unpleasant. The soft kiss became more intense and passionate as Spike wrapped his arms around Buffy's waist and she slipped hers around his back. Buffy was overwhelmed by how good it felt when it suddenly hit her what she was doing. She was kissing Spike, her enemy, a vampire. What about Riley? What about Angel? Part of her didn't care, she felt so safe in his arms. But she had to stop. She pulled away, leaving him still gazing lovingly at her.

"Spike....I can't do this."

Buffy pulled herself out of his embrace and looked at the floor. What had she been thinking? Spike sat back down on the bed, numbly confused. Was it something he'd done?...Of course it was, he'd just bloody kissed her. For a brief moment she'd actually kissed him back and he'd felt happiness that he'd never experienced before, not even with Dru. But she'd pulled away, she hated him. What had he expected? She had her soldier boy to keep her happy.

Buffy sat down heavily on the chair and put her head in her hands, this was not good, everything was so muddled. Riley...Angel...and now Spike too. What am I meant to do?

"I'm sorry" Said Spike softly

Buffy looked up at him, tears in her eyes.

Great you idiot, now you've made her cry. Wanker!

Ignoring the screaming pain in his ribs Spike knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her now heaving shoulders.

"I'm so sorry love, that was a really stupid thing to do. I don't know what came over me, I'm an idiot."

Buffy buried her head in his shoulder, crying softly and relishing in the comfort that his arms gave her.

"It's not you," she whispered between sobs "things are just so mixed up at the moment. I don't want to talk about it. "

She pulled away and looked at him. The pain in his eyes almost reflected her own. She brushed the tears away, feeling really stupid for crying in front of him. Seeing that she'd stopped crying Spike got up and sat back on the bed.

Buffy looked at the floor, feeling more stupid by the minute. Spike said nothing. Finally, after a few minutes she spoke.

"It's dark, we should really get going in case Leon decides to show up."

"Buffy. I..."

"No Spike, don't" she interrupted "I don't want to talk about it, any of it."

"But..."

"Spike, please."

He wanted to press on but when he saw the pain in her tear filled eyes he closed his mouth. She stood up and offered him her arm, this time he accepted having no desire to come close to fainting again. Arm in arm and in silence the couple left the mansion and made their way through the cemetery towards Buffy's house.

As they walked the silence was almost deafening, they were both still trying to digest everything that had just gone on. Spike was desperate for Buffy to tell him what was bothering her, he hated the idea that she was in pain. He decided to try once more and if she still didn't want to talk then he would drop it for good.

" You know it might help to tell me what's going on. I know I'm not the best person to talk to and there are probably a hundred people you'd talk to before me, but I'll listen if you want."

Buffy looked across at him. What was with his sudden desire to be in share-mode? Despite herself she did find herself wanting to talk, she hadn't spoken to anyone since finding out about Angel.

"Angel's coming back to Sunnydale tonight. It's just stirred up a lot of memories."

Spike stared at her for a moment, not really sure what to say. So, his sire was coming back to Sunnyhell, this made things interesting. He wondered what Angel would have to say about everything that was going on, he hadn't seen him since he'd been moping over Dru all those months ago. So much had changed since then. He bet Angel would have a good laugh about the chip and what his childe had been reduced to. Then he remembered Buffy, this was going to be so much harder on her, especially with soldier boy hanging around like a bad smell.

"You still love him don't you?"

Part of him already knew the answer, and it was one he didn't want to hear. He was never going to be what Angel was to her, he was nothing, a soulless demon. He had been insane to think that Buffy would ever see him as anything more.

Spike's question threw Buffy a little. It was true that Angel held a place in her heart that no one else could take, and in that sense she did still love him, but since meeting Riley she'd learnt that she had to move on. She remembered the last conversation she'd had with Angel. We don't live in each other's worlds anymore. They had both moved on but it didn't stop it hurting when she saw him.

"I still care about him" she answered carefully "but we're not part of each other's lives anymore. Seeing him just reminds me of everything we've been through, but I'm not going to sit around and mope. I've moved on, I have Riley now."

Spike scoffed. Angel he could understand, but not Riley.

"What do you see in him love? He doesn't strike me as being the sort of bloke that could keep you happy."

Buffy pulled away from him and stopped, glaring at him.

"What do you know about what makes me happy. Riley is sweet and kind and I happen to be *very* happy with him."

"Really? Then why did you kiss me before? You're the Slayer and no matter how hard you try, a normal guy is never going to be enough for you. The Slayer craves danger like an alcoholic craves booze. You're never going to find that in a guy like him."

Spike stepped a little closer.

"You need a bit of monster in your man and deep down you know it."

"That's not true." Replied Buffy with a little less certainty in her voice. It was like Spike was looking inside her thoughts. "What gives you the right to tell me what I need in my life."

Spike stepped even closer, put his hands gently on her shoulders and looked at her. Buffy looked up at him and gasped slightly when she saw the fire and the emotion in his piercing blue eyes.

"Because I know you." He said softly.

It was true, Buffy could see it in his eyes. He knew her. This wasn't the first time he'd told her something that she couldn't admit to herself. She remembered when he'd told her and Angel that they could never be friends. She didn't know what it was that made him so perceptive but she knew that this was one of those times. She had to accept that Riley wasn't going to be enough for her....and to face the fact that she was becoming increasingly attracted to Spike. Closing her eyes she leaned up and kissed him.

This hadn't quite been the reaction Spike had expected but he certainly wasn't going to complain. He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her back. Suddenly it felt as if everything else in the world had ceased to exist, like nothing else mattered. A small moan escaped Buffy's lips as Spike moved his mouth from her lips to the crook of her neck and began to kiss the soft skin.

At that moment Angel entered the cemetery, figuring Buffy would be out patrolling. He wanted to talk to her alone before they met at Giles'. This wasn't an easy situation for either of them to be in. As he roamed between the gravestones his suddenly stopped in his tracks as he saw Spike with his face buried in a girl's neck, obviously feeding. His childe was clearly more stupid than Angel had first thought. Why on earth would he have come back to Sunnydale after the incident with the Gem of Amarra? He wondered whether Buffy knew that Spike was back. He pulled out a stake and walked slowly towards the blonde vampire. As he got closer his eyes went wide with shock and horror. The girl *was* Buffy...and Spike was killing her! In an instant Angel tackled Spike to the ground, picking him up by the lapels of his shirt and punching him twice before throwing him into the side of a nearby crypt where he fell and lay motionless at the foot of it. Angel raised his stake, ready to end this for good. He was about to plunge it into Spike's heart when someone kicked it out of his hand. He turned and found himself facing Buffy. Forgetting Spike for the moment he pulled her into his arms.

"Buffy are you alright?" He whispered, overcome with relief that Spike hadn't killed her. After a second of not responding Buffy pulled away.

"Angel, what are you doing?" She asked, confusion and a hint of anger in her voice. Was this some sort of jealousy thing?

"I thought Giles told you I was coming." Now it was Angel's turn to be confused, she was acting a little strangely considering he'd just saved her life.

"No I don't mean why are you here, I mean why did you just attack Spike. I can understand if you're jealous that I have feelings for another vampire but I really don't think that killing him is going to make things any better."

Angel stared at her. Was she insane, delirious from losing blood?

"Buffy, what are you talking about? I saw him feeding on you so I stopped him."

"You saw him doing *what*? Spike wasn't feeding on me. Why would you think....oh."

Buffy suddenly realised how it must have looked to Angel and had to stop herself from smiling a little. She turned her neck to him so that he could see there was no wound.

"If he wasn't feeding on you then what was he...ARE YOU CRAZY??" Angel suddenly realised that he had actually walked into something which was to total opposite of the attack he thought he'd seen. "You..and Spike?"

Buffy flinched a little when he shouted, this wasn't going well. Suddenly her eyes fell back on Spike who was still lying on the ground. She ran over and knelt down next to him, he was out cold. Tears filled her eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair and down his cheek. This was the second time in twenty four hours that he'd taken a beating because of her. She looked back up at Angel.

"I don't suppose you've got your car nearby?"

Angel nodded "It's out by the gate."

"We were headed to my house. Can you help me carry him?"

Angel picked up Spike's legs while Buffy lifted his arms. It didn't take them much effort to carry him to Angel's car and lie him across the back seats. They got into the front and Angel drove them the short distance to Buffy's house

When they arrived Buffy and Angel carried Spike upstairs and put him to bed in the spare room. As Buffy placed a blanket over him Spike let out a small groan. She looked back at Angel who was stood in the doorway watching her.

"Angel, can you give me a minute."

"I'll wait downstairs."

She turned back to Spike who had now opened his eyes and was looking at her.

"Are you alright?" She asked with concern. "Spike, I'm sorry, I never meant for this to happen to you."

He kissed her hand "It's not your fault love. Is...uh...he still here."

Buffy nodded.

"You should go and talk to him."

Buffy nodded again before leaning down and kissing him softly.

"I'll come back up and check on you later. I've got some blood in the fridge, I'll bring you some before I go to bed."

Spike nodded and closed his eyes. He found that he healed faster when he was asleep and it seemed like a good way of ignoring all the pain he was in. Buffy switched the light off and went downstairs.

Angel was pacing backwards and forwards, trying to get his head around everything he had seen. He stopped when he saw Buffy. She gestured for him to sit down and when he did so she sat on the chair across from him.

"Angel. A lot has happened since you were last here. I guess I should start from the beginning."

With that she told the whole story. The Initiative, Riley, Spike's chip, how he'd helped her when she wanted to know about the Slayer's he'd killed, the fight with Leon, Spike saving her and she finished with the kiss and Angel's arrival.

Angel sat in silence for a couple of minutes.

"Buffy, you have to understand that this is a lot for me to take in. I can deal with all the stuff about Riley, but this thing with Spike. I can't pretend to understand or to like it. Just promise me that you'll think carefully about it before you take it any further. I know he can't hurt anyone at the moment but if he ever gets that chip out of his head...at the end of the day he's still a demon. As much as I don't like Riley, he can give you some sort of normal life. I don't want you to throw all that away."

A look of disappointment and anger crossed Buffy's face. She had hoped that Angel of all people would understand how she could have feelings for a vampire. Spike's words still rung in her ears.

"Maybe I don't want a normal life. I'm the Slayer, it doesn't exactly scream normality. I don't think I have to remind you that I was happy with you until you up and left. Why shouldn't I have feelings for another vampire. Here was I thinking you'd understand."

Angel looked hurt, Buffy's words had cut deep. He couldn't deny that it was him who had ended their relationship even though it had hurt them both. He also knew that he couldn't hold Spike's past against him as he himself had done things far worse. He sighed.

"All I'm saying is be careful. Look it's late, you should get some sleep. Come over to Giles' in the morning and we'll talk about what to do with Leon."

Buffy nodded. "Angel, I'm sorry to just drop this on you. Believe me I never planned for this to happen. Would you mind not saying anything to the others yet. I need some time to think."

Angel walked over the door and turned back to look at her.

"Sure. Goodnight Buffy."

"Goodnight."

After Angel had left Buffy sat in silence for a minute. Why was all this happening at once? Yesterday her life had been as normal as it was ever going to be and now in true Sunnydale style it was a mess again. Despite her brain telling her that this thing with Spike was insanity she couldn't forget the feel of his lips upon hers, or the depth of his eyes that seemed to look right into her soul. She shook her head. Angel was right, it was late and maybe she'd be thinking a bit more clearly after she'd had some sleep. She drew all the blinds and heated up some blood for Spike before going upstairs.

She knocked on the door and when there was no answer she walked in. Spike was still sleeping. Part of her didn't want to wake him but she knew that he needed to feed and that the blood would help him heal. She sat on the bed beside him and gently shook his shoulder.

"Spike, I've got some blood for you." She said softly

He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Thanks pet" he said groggily before draining the mug of its contents. "How did it go with Angel?"

Buffy sighed "Not so good. I think he just needs a bit of time to take in everything I told him."

Spike nodded and then reached up and put one of hands on her cheek.

"You look tired love. Maybe you should get some sleep."

"I'm just going to bed now. I've closed all the blinds in case you decide to get up in the morning. I know that's normally your sleepy time. I'm going to over to Giles' to talk Leon so you'll have the place to yourself. There's blood in the fridge and just help yourself to the TV and stuff."

Giving him a quick kiss Buffy stood up.

"Goodnight Spike."

"Goodnight pet."

Closing the door behind her Buffy went to her own room, changed into her pyjamas and got into bed. Fairly certain of not having a good night's sleep with all the thoughts of the day still churning in her head she settled down and closed her eyes. She was asleep in no time.




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