January 16, 2008 4:12 PM

It was sickening to watch. Sean rolled his eyes as Raven giggled and flirted with the guy behind the counter at the bookstore. They only had an hour left before their parents picked them up after Buffy’s doctor’s appointment and his sister was wasting time. He thumbed the flyers in his hand as he waited for her to finish and catch up to him.

“What is wrong with you, Seanie?” Raven asked, leading the way to the next store. “You’ve been positively a pain since we left the house. You should be enjoying your freedom.”

“I wouldn’t have been grounded if you hadn’t ratted on me.”

Ignoring her, he pushed the door leading to the pet store open. It took only a moment and the manager gave the approval to hang the flyer in the front window. Raven taped it up while he held the supplies.

“It wasn’t my fault that you skipped school,” Raven said, smoothing down the tape. “I was worried and maybe if you had shared, I wouldn’t have told Dad.”

“Yeah, right,” Sean complained, holding his hand to help Raven crawl out of the display. “You just did it because I didn’t take you with me.”

His anger deepened when she laughed and he knew he was right. Raven hated being left out of anything and she had made sure he was punished for not including her in his self-proclaimed day off from school. The fact that he still hadn’t told her where he had been was only grating on her nerves more but that was fine with him.

“Oh, come on,” Raven said. “What was the big deal? You probably went to the mall and drooled over comic books or something.”

“Wasn’t drooling over comic books,” Sean muttered. He looked up and noticed the music store across the street. “I’m going to hit the music store and I’ll catch up with you down the street.”

“Mum and Dad told us to stay together.”

“And when have you been such the good girl,” Sean teased and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek. “Go on and I’ll be right back.”

Without waiting for a reply, Sean took off across the street. He didn’t even look back to enjoy the confusion Raven was most likely experiencing. His mind was focused on, Bryant, the clerk at the music store. Bryant was Sam’s roommate at UC Sunnydale and the two had met when Sam brought him along to a strategy meeting. In his sophomore year and nineteen, Bryant was an art major and everything that Sean had been looking for. The young man from Santa Fe had been out since he was fourteen and didn’t mind sharing experiences with the newcomer to the gay community.

No one knew about them yet and Sean wasn’t sure how Buffy and Spike would take to him dating someone in college. At first they had just been friends but it had quickly grown beyond them and they were teetering on letting everyone know they were a couple. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to the brownie and for the first time in his life, he wanted to be selfish and keep this a secret for as long as he could.

The small bell over the door rang when he stepped into the store and he smiled at the first sight of his friend. Bryant was helping a customer and Sean took the moment to just watch. Shaggy light brown hair fell over one eye as a crooked smile from full lips made Sean weak in the knees. It was freeing to be with someone like Bryant who threw social conventions to the wind. He sported two tattoos, one on his lower back and one on his arm and there was a small stud through his bottom lip. Yet, somehow the art major was in many ways very conservative and believed in family and loyalty having come from a large passel of kids.

As soon as the customer left the counter, Sean darted over.

“Hey,” Sean said, “I come bearing the flyers you designed.”

“Knew I was wanted for only one thing,” Bryant said, smiling and reaching for a copy. “I haven’t seen the finished product. You pick them up today?”

“Yeah, just before we came down here,” Sean replied handing over the newest flyer. It had a picture of Dakmin and detailed his death. It also described the attack on Chad. The new flyers weren’t just going up on campus. This new batch was being distributed all over Sunnydale and Raven and Sean had gotten the downtown detail.

“We?”

“Me and Raven. I sent her down the street and told her I’d catch up in a minute.”

“Oh,” Bryant whispered. “I’ll get this hung up for you.”

Something was wrong and Sean tilted his head, in a perfect imitation of his father’s tilt, and studied his friend.

“I just wanted to see you without the world’s nosiest female around,” Sean said. “It’s not like I don’t want her to meet you.”

“And that’s why you said the other day that you wanted to wait to introduce me to your family.”

Sean wanted this relationship to be theirs for awhile and Bryant wanted to shout it to the world. It was his first relationship, the first time he had kissed another man and he was afraid of losing it. And afraid that everyone would know that he wasn’t worth having when Bryant finally figured out that he didn’t want to be with a kid like him. That was why he had risked cutting class to spend time with Bryant. He sighed and studied the young man’s hazel eyes.

“My mom’s birthday dinner is Saturday,” Sean said. It was a risk but he had already told Bryant about Buffy’s mental illness in a weak moment of needing to talk to someone. There wasn’t much the young man didn’t know about the Blood’s. “Why don’t you come over? May as well meet the whole dysfunctional lot at one time.”

The smile that lit up Bryant’s face was worth taking the risk for and Sean wished they weren’t in such a public place.

“That your sister?”

Sean looked over his shoulder to see Raven watching them through the window and he laughed as he turned back.

“Yep, that’s the nosy one. Told you I couldn’t have a moment’s privacy.”

Bryant wrapped his hand in the front of Sean’s shirt and pulled him closer.

“So, let’s give her something to be nosy about,” Bryant whispered before meeting his lips.

If he hadn’t been so lost in the sensation of the kiss, Sean probably would have been able to hear Raven’s audible gasp. As it was the mouth on his was the only thing in his world that was important at that moment and he let everything else fade away. ‘

January 16, 2008 8:10 PM

“And they lived happily ever after,” Buffy said, closing the book of Lankasha fairy tales.

“It didn’t say that,” Elijah crowed.

“I know but it sounded good.”

They both laughed and Buffy scooted over so she could pull the covers over her son.

“Mommy, I want to play the game,” Elijah said, wrapping his hand in hers.

“I know but Daddy says no and we have to listen to him.”

“He’s mean.”

Buffy sighed and smoothed back a lock of Elijah’s hair. It was hard to explain to her son that the game was part of her illness and that she didn’t really remember everything they had done when they played. There was a part of her that was scared that she had actually been teaching Eli about vampires even if those vampires were family. Xander and Spike were both right. It was too much for a young boy to handle but she missed the bonding it had created between them.

“He’s not mean, Eli,” Buffy said, running her fingers along his cheek. “He loves us very much and he wants to protect us. So, we need to listen to him if he says it’s bad for us.”

“But we just got to the part when they were in China and you said somethin’ important was going to happen with Daddy.”

As Elijah spoke those words, Buffy’s could feel him. He was close by. The tingling along her spine and the tightening of her womb let her know and it angered her that he was standing in the hallway and listening to them instead of walking in. Did he forget that she could feel him? What was he doing throwing trust completely out by listening in on her conversations?

“It did and when you’re older, I’ll tell you all about it,” Buffy said, leaning down to kiss him. “Give Mummy a kiss good-night and I’ll see you in the morning.”

After getting her kiss, Buffy shut the light out and stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She flashed an angry look at her husband and went to their room, knowing he would follow. As soon as the door was closed, she whirled on him.

“Why don’t you just put a damn microphone on me so you know everything I say? Or maybe put cameras everywhere so you can sit there and watch me?”

“Buffy, I’m sorry,” Spike said, reaching for her but she sidestepped him. “I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Bullshit, you wanted to find out if I’d say something that you could use against me.”

He stared speechless at her, pain and confusion marring his features. It hurt her more than she could bear and she strode to look out the window as she waited for his reply.

“I’m just trying to understand,” Spike said, coming to stand behind her. His hands ran up and down her arms in a gesture of comfort. “There is something going on that I don’t understand. Something that you and Elijah won’t share with me.”

She leaned back against him, letting his arms encircle her and his chin rest on her shoulder. This was where she belonged but she needed him to quit this inquisition. To let things lie for now.

“Spike, I love you but there are things that I have to hold onto. For me.”

The security was gone as Spike stepped away. It left her alone and vulnerable and her hand rested on the cool pane of the window. She traced an invisible pattern with her fingers as she listened to his breath that was coming in rapid spurts confirming the anger radiating around him.

“No, Buffy, there is nothing that you need to hold onto,” Spike said. “Right now, you need to be completely open with me for your own sake. And to have Elijah keep secrets from me is downright dangerous.”

As much as she hated doing it to him, it had to be this way. Buffy pushed her emotions aside and stared at her husband in cool detachment.

“You’ve been waiting for this for years, haven’t you?” Buffy whispered, her hand cupping his face. “Wasn’t that your fantasy? To have me completely under your control. To be able to watch me every moment. To know that I am dependent on you and if you wanted you could do anything you wanted with or to me.”

The horror on his face broke her heart but she needed him to stop digging and analyzing the nightmares in her mind. They terrified her with their magnitude. And as the meanings became clearer and knowing she was powerless against what was happening made her want to protect him as much as possible. Pushing him away was the best thing she could do for him. One day he would see it was the only thing that she could have done.

“That’s not true, Buffy,” Spike said, choking over the lump in his throat. “The only thing I want to do is make sure you’re safe and that Elijah is safe. If I don’t know what I’m fighting than I can’t.”

“There is nothing to fight. Nothing you can do,” Buffy said, a wry smile twisting her lips. “The expiration date is up on this package and all you can do is watch and wait.”

“Why are you doing this, Buffy?” Spike said his voice a hoarse whisper as he pleaded with her. “I don’t want to fight with you not when I’m leaving tomorrow.”

It was time for the final twisting of the knife and she turned her head so she wouldn’t see the pain she was going to bring.

“Why not? It will give you the excuse you need to have a dalliance while you’re gone.”

It worked. There were no words only the sound of the door closing behind him and Buffy covered her face in shame. She sat on the bed and tried to reassure herself that it was the only choice she had. The truth had to be protected and she slowly caressed her stomach. It would be all right once the baby came and it wouldn’t be long now. Everything would be understood once he was in the world.

January 16, 2008 11:25 PM

The channels flew by as Spike held the button down on the remote. He didn’t even see the flickering images. His mind was focused on the words she had spoken. Was it a test? Did she want to see if that was what had caused his lapse? That anger between them would make him want another woman? He searched himself trying to find the answer. Donna. Nikki. Nothing alike. Nothing similar that had attracted him. And neither was like the woman upstairs that he loved like no one else. Was it even love at this point? Two stars destined to collide and create a new system. All he knew was that he belonged to her and there was no one else that would ever replace her.

A hand covered his and took away the remote.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Angel asked, returning the channel to a movie he had been watching.

“No,” Spike answered, glancing briefly at his Sire. “It’s…she just…” He sighed. “Nothing.”

Angel nodded and they both turned their attention to the screen. It was reassuring to know that there was someone to talk to if he needed it. If he could just find out what Buffy and Elijah was holding secret then he might be able to do something. But neither would talk. Buffy pushed him away but never like tonight and Elijah just shut down. He was afraid to push the boy. Tara said he was developing his empathic and telekinetic abilities rapidly and emotionally he was vulnerable under the burden of his powers. Eli wouldn’t talk to anyone about it and if questioned, he only looked afraid and refused to talk.

It left Spike in a quandary. It was if the tighter he held on to them, the more they slipped away.

He glanced over his shoulder when he heard footsteps on the stairs. It was Buffy. Her face was serene but the smile flashed at him was almost predatory and he shivered under the feelings it invoked. Half expecting to see fangs flash under those lips dotted with a hint of pink lip gloss, he forced his gaze to move over the rest of her. She was clad in a long white negligee with an empress waist that left the silky material to glide freely over her stomach while her breasts were barely bound by a lace bodice. Her blonde hair swung freely around her shoulders and the scent of jasmine wafted on the air around her. His groin tightened as her tongue darted out to taste her lips. And a streak of possessiveness rushed through him as he watched her lean over to kiss his Sire on the cheek.

“Hello, Angel,” Buffy said, reaching for Spike’s hand. “Do you mind if I take my husband away?”

Even Angel was speechless and only shook his head in agreement. The two men exchanged a knowing smile as Buffy led him upstairs. It seemed that maybe the night wasn’t wasted after all as they made their way to their bedroom. She closed the door behind them and shut the lights off.

“Buffy…”

Her fingers pressed to his lips stopping his attempt to reconcile the Buffy of earlier with the amorous creature before him. He decided that these times were precious now and he wouldn’t waste it by holding onto something that was already gone.

“No talking,” Buffy whispered. “Just feel.”

He surrendered to her as she undressed him and escorted him to their bed. Her negligee was left to pool on the floor as she joined him. The only light was the moon that shone through the window as she directed him onto his stomach. A mere whisper of a kiss was placed on his lower back before massage oil was spilled across his skin. He moaned in anticipation as she began to work it in. It had been so long since Buffy had tended to him like this and he didn’t question her desire to please him. There wasn’t a part of him that wasn’t massaged or caressed, from his toes to neck. Fingers and kisses floated over his heated skin before she returned to his buttocks. Her tongue licked along his cleft before fingers stroked him.

Spike froze as she tickled at his opening. The only other time she touched him there was when she was pleasuring him orally and he wondered what she was up to. A finger slid into him, fondling and slowly thrusting. He groaned as a second finger joined the first.

“Do you miss this?”

Her murmured question was almost a sigh as he pushed back toward her plunging digits. Buffy chuckled as she picked up the pace and she guided him onto his side. She was still straddled over him as she encased his hardened length in her tiny hand. He had to know why she was doing this. Why she was pushing him to enjoy something that he hadn’t had in forever? Her hands were working in unison and he lost the power to think as he gazed into the passion filled pools of her emerald eyes. It was hypnotizing as the feelings took him to another time and place when it was Angelus fucking him.

The bedroom window was open over the garden letting the sweet scent of jasmine into that cold hell. Drusilla, his love, was there encouraging her Daddy in his rape. She whispered in her madness, encouraging him to let go and drown in their erotic nightmare. He was lost in the memories, of his weakness as he had surrendered to the familiar satisfaction that came only with pain. And he cried out as Buffy coaxed him to an orgasm bringing him back from the torment of other times. Turning onto his back he closed his eyes trying to sort through the past and the reality of the present until he felt the wet warmth of a washcloth touching him. He opened his eyes to watch as Buffy wiped away the evidence of his gratification.

That smile still danced on her face and he pulled her down to him. This time it was his game and his choice as he made love to her. Her eyes never left him as he moved over her, kissing and fondling her. He went out of his way to ensure that those small breathy sounds fell from her lips. The ones that washed over him and made him feel complete and whole in spite of it all. He positioned her on her side, molding himself to her back and slid so easily into that heated channel that was his heavenly escape.

Buffy dragged his hand to her stomach, drawing it over the mound that was their baby and whispered to him. “Our baby is the only thing that matters. He was created from our love, from this.” She pushed back against him, pushing him further into her and as he thrust against her womb, her head fell back exposing her neck. “Drink from me. Make our union complete.”

His fangs slid as easily into her neck as his cock had into her cunt. The intoxicating taste of her blood flowed down his throat at the same time as he filled her with his seed. The giving and taking of their life forces and Spike was lost to the power of the woman in his arms. Whatever happened, whatever was to come, he would stand by her, even if the eerie feel of evil hanging in the air around them was their future.

January 18, 2008 1:12 AM

The flight home had been hell. All he wanted was to be with Buffy. Spike couldn’t fathom everything that had happened between them the night before. They had made love over and over again and each time she had pushed him to a new height or…a lower depth. Sometime toward morning they had both been smeared with blood, his and hers, spilled in the frantic push for domination. Always the baby had been there with them protected and loved while she had whispered of the future. The family they would be and the love that would hold them together. More secrets and riddles that he had forgotten as soon as they were uttered as she played his flesh and brought him a bliss that he didn’t know was possible because it was given with the deepest parts of her heart and soul. His memories of the night were hazy and dreamlike as if he had been drugged. All he remembered clearly was the carnal lust that she had wrought so easily and he needed to see her and touch her to feel real again.

Spike had rushed them through the meetings promising to finish whatever negotiations were necessary by telephone and express mail. The foundations were laid though and the movie would go through without him writing the script but he had been given final approval. And after explaining a little of what was going on to Barney they had agreed to wait a year to discuss a new contract instead of closing the door completely.

The taxi pulled into his drive and Spike felt relief as he grabbed his bag and paid the driver. He smiled as he imagined the look on Buffy’s face when she saw him. He wasn’t due to be home until that afternoon but something was pulling him home. Curbing the urge to whistle he stepped into the house and stopped.

The aroma slammed through his senses and his stomach lurched as he recognized the scent that hung heavy in the air.

Buffy’s and Angel’s arousal assaulted every fiber of his being and he could hear muffled voices from the back of the house. On leaden feet he followed the sounds to his study. The door was slightly ajar and there was no mistaking the noises that echoed from that room.

“Buffy,” Angel moaned.

A murderous rage blinded him and he pushed the door open with every intention of staking his Sire. Of all the nightmares that haunted him this was the worst. And it had come true in spite of all the pretty lies he had been told to the contrary.

Buffy was straddling Angel while his hands were wrapped around her upper arms. Spike blinked hoping it would go away but it didn’t. His wife was leaning over her first lover. Her tongue sliding over his chest and when he gagged they turned to look at him.

“Thank God, you’re home,” Angel gasped. “Get her off of me.”

His words didn’t register with him as he watched Buffy giggle and lick his Sire’s nipple before sitting up. If he hadn’t been holding onto the door frame, Spike knew he would have collapsed as anger and pain seared his soul. He was thankful of the tears that blocked the sight of his deceiving wife but her next words shocked him even more than the act she had been about to commit.

“Look, Daddy, my little Spike is home,” Buffy cooed, clapping her hands together. “Can he play with us?”

to be continued…
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