Chapter 6 – Cowboys and Angels

 

 

 

I know you think that you're safe
Harmless affection
That keeps things this way
It's the ones who persist for the sake of a kiss
Who will pay
Cowboys and angels
They all take a shine to you
Why should I imagine that I was designed for you
Why should I believe
That you would stay

            George Michael

 

 

“Hey, old man, time to rise and shine,” Someone shouted in Spike’s ear, waking him from a deep slumber.

 

“Bloody, fucking, hell,” Spike muttered, opening his eyes to stare at the digital clock. “It’s 6:30 am and I don’t have to be at the office until ten. Leave me alone.” He rolled over to face away from Dylan, his new partner, when he suddenly wondered how he had gotten in the house. “How did you get in here?”

 

Dylan plopped down on the end of the bed, crossing his legs and leaning forward. “In the house or in your bed?” Spike kicked out with his foot to shove him off but Dylan reacted and jumped back up, laughing. “Too slow. Reflexes going?” He shrugged. “Some chick let me in.”

 

“She’s not some chick,” Spike said, sitting up. “Her name is Cordelia and you treat her with respect.”

 

“She yours?”

 

“No, she’s a good friend,” Spike said, watching Dylan wander around the room perusing everything. “Now, that I know how you got in here, why are you here?”

 

“To bond with you,” Dylan said, grinning. He threw his arms out, making his already tight t-shirt accentuate his well defined pectoral muscles. “You and I are to be best buddies, friends and pals according to our boss. I got my ass reamed out yesterday after you left. I got a lecture on how wonderful you are, and that you can teach me so much. So, here I am. Mold me into the perfect demon hunter.”

 

“Before dawn?” Spike asked, incredulously. “Go away and I’ll see you at the office.”

 

“Nope, Daddykins, I’m yours.”

 

“Don’t call me that,” Spike growled before lying back down. “I have no interest in putting up with your shit this early.”

 

“Oh, that’s okay,” Dylan said, reaching for Spike’s cell phone. “I’ll just call Jake and tell him that you’re only available when you decide to wake up. That you have no interest in training me and that someone in your age…”

 

Spike got up, snatched his phone away, and backed Dylan into the wall. His forearm was against Dylan’s throat. He morphed into his demon guise and gnashed his fangs.

 

“Someone my age,” Spike said. “Take a century of feeding…just think of how many insolent assholes I’ve left dead.”

 

“Is that supposed to frighten me? Because it didn’t,” Dylan said, pushing him away before stepping around him. “I’ve killed hundreds of your kind.”

 

“You don’t know what my kind is,” Spike said, slipping back into his human guise even as he reached for his jeans to cover his nudity.

 

“Umm, not true,” Dylan said. “I studied you once I found out that you were coming to work for us. Don’t have much use for vampires’ even redeemed ones. They’ll turn eventually…like Angelus.”

 

“You’re in his house,” Spike said, chuckling softly. “He can also hear every word you say. If you’re not careful you’ll have not one but two pissed off vampires after you.”

 

The boy shuttered his eyes. A trace of his fear hung between them and that surprised Spike. He cocked his head as he studied the beauty of the creature before him. It was too bad that the outside covered up someone that was so shallow. Kind of like Dorian Gray, Spike thought as he watched as Dylan moved to the dresser and picked up a picture of Buffy.

 

“This the Slayer you married? I bet she’s a good ride.” He looked up at Spike innocently. “Is she? All those Slayer muscles…”

 

Spike zipped up his pants then walked slowly across the room. He snatched the picture away and put it back in its place. He let his finger trace the curve of his wife’s face that was displayed behind the glass. He wouldn’t take the bait. His grand-sire was down the hall. To let this boy push him out of control would bring shame to his family, to Buffy, and to himself. This moment would define his entire relationship to Dylan. Either he would always be the one defending himself or he could be the one on the offensive.

 

“Let’s make a deal,” Spike said softly. “You keep your hole shut about the women in my life and I won’t kill you.”

 

Dylan shrugged. “Women? Apt choice of words. Let me see,” he counted on his fingers, “Donna…the chick in Florida…your sister-in-law. Did I leave any out? Is it an open marriage? Both of you get to fool around? Because Sunnydale isn’t that far away…”

 

Spike’s fist slammed into Dylan’s jaw, staggering the young man. There was no anger in his eyes, only a clear-cut line being drawn in the sand.

 

“I really hope that was you holding back,” Dylan said, laughing and rubbing his jaw. “If that was your best then…”

 

“We both know it wasn’t,” Spike said, turning and walking out of the room. “I want some fresh blood then we can discuss the terms of our partnership.”

 

Spike didn’t wait for a response. He headed out of the room and toward the kitchen. He grinned when there was no smartass comment in retaliation, only the sound of footsteps following him. The lesson was just beginning.

 

~~~~~~~~

 

Buffy squinted into the sunlight, enjoying the warmth on her face. It was a beautiful day that boasted a few fluffy clouds to dot the wide open blue sky. No tension, or stress, only the laughter of her children to fill her conscience. The girls and Faith had taken off for the mall to do some shopping, giving her some play time with her kids. She sighed and took another sip of her lemonade. Her gaze automatically returned to where Journey and Elijah played on the monstrous swing set / fort combination that Spike had insisted on getting them. She felt a surge of pride for her husband. He always put their children first, no matter what else was going on.

 

This was the kind of day that she dreamed about when she was younger except then it was Angel that shared her life. So long ago it seemed. The dreams of a girl had given way to the reality of the woman. And she was happy about it. Spike was the one who had fought for her, had stayed even when she had tried to drive him away, had taken her shit and she loved him all the more for it.

 

She sighed and hugged her knees. The condensation dripping onto her bare legs sent a shiver through her but she didn’t move. She was too content right where she was.

 

“Mummy, mummy,” Elijah shouted. “Watch me.”

 

Dutifully, she kept her gaze on her son as he swung upside down on the trapeze. She put her glass down so she could clap her hands for him.

 

“Woohoo, Eli,” Buffy called, stifling the urge to tell him to be careful. He needed to be a little boy as much as he could.

 

The sound of a car pulling in made her look around. The SUV came to a stop behind the Navigator. It was Willow and Tara with their two children. She smiled as she watched them climb out, waved to them, before they opened the back doors. The couple was even stronger than they had ever been. Before the birth of their second child, Willow and Tara had both changed their last name. It now matched the last name of their children’s father. He had decided that he wanted to be a part of their lives because he knew he could never have his own family. Friendship, love and time could make any situation workable.

 

Willow had gone into labor with Tara and Daniel Osborne by her side. Oz’s love for the spunky witch had never dissipated and he had willingly given her the one thing he could. Children. He was rarely in town but he never forgot birthdays or holidays and called on a regular basis.

 

“Buffy, Buffy,” Daniel Jr. shouted as he ran to her.

 

She opened her arms and he flew into them.

 

“Hey, little buddy,” Buffy said. “How you doing?”

 

Danny laughed, wiggled out of her arms and headed off to play with the other children. His brother, Jacob, was already at the fort. He was quickly climbing to join Elijah in the small tower room. The couple of year’s difference in their ages didn’t even come up in their friendship. The eldest child from each family took his place to rein over the younger ones.

 

“Hey, Buffy,” Willow said, sitting next to her on the top step as Tara took a seat next to her. “How’s it going?”

 

“I’m fine,” Buffy laughed. “How are the two of you doing?”

 

“We’re fine,” Tara replied. “We spoke to Xander. He said that they have to stop by the store to pick up a few things then they’ll be here.”

 

“Good,” Buffy replied, looking out over the yard again. She watched the children running and screaming in their innocent games. She prayed they could be that way for as long as possible.

 

The family day that her friends had organized was an effort to make her feel less lonely. It wouldn’t work but she had her pride to maintain so it would be smiles all day. She was missing half of herself when Spike wasn’t there.  Without conscious thought she made her way toward the children. Laughing, she reached out and touched Journey.

 

“Tag, you’re it,” Buffy said. She started to jog slowly away from the kids, purposefully waiting for Journey to catch up with her.

 

“Mummy, wait up,” Journey called as she started to run.

 

“We’ll help,” Elijah called.

 

And with that all the children started to chase Buffy. She grinned, grabbed her daughter up in a hug, kissed her cheek then set her down. The children were all advancing on her and she took off running. She sped toward where her friends were sitting but Willow and Tara were waiting, ready to grab her. The kids were screaming for the couple to get her. Buffy laughed again before she catapulted over the picnic table to get away from them.

 

This was what life was about even when she wasn’t whole. There were times, at night when she was alone that the absence of Spike sounded throughout her being with painful intensity. But other times, times like this, she was beginning to understand that Spike leaving wasn’t just about him finding his way. It was just as much about her learning to live without him beside her. Although it wasn’t her ideal situation, she had to live with it.

 

And for now, she was okay with that.         

 

~~~~~~~

 

They were running between the ocean and the sun. The sand sucked at their shoes and the water splashed over them when they couldn’t avoid a wave. Spike’s body felt the strain, sweat poured down his face and bare chest, trailing down his stomach to finally disappear into the waistband of his jogging pants. The few people on the beach that early stared as they passed them. He felt good.

 

Victories always did even the small ones.

 

Dylan had kept trying to start conversation earlier but Spike had refused to acknowledge him. He had drunk his blood then a nice, hot cup of coffee while the younger man watched. Once he was sufficiently awake he informed Dylan that they were going to go running. There hadn’t been any argument so here they were, pounding the miles away on the sands of Malibu.

 

“I’m not going to take orders from you,” Dylan said, as they turned to head the five miles back to the house.

 

“You will if you have to,” Spike said, smiling because he already knew he was taking control of the partnership.

 

“I don’t need you to teach me anything,” Dylan said, trying to hold onto his arrogance in the face of someone he knew was more experienced than he was.

 

“Everyone has something to learn,” Spike said, indulgently as he jumped over a wave and sped up. 

 

“I still think you’re going to wimp out and head home for your family,” Dylan said, as he started to pant from trying to keep up with the vampire.

 

“They’re what makes me strong.”

 

“I’m going to enjoy taking you down a peg or two.”

 

“I’m not going to enjoy anything about being around you,” Spike said, laughing. “You’re an arrogant prick that annoys me.”

 

“As long as we understand each other,” Dylan said, laughing along with Spike as the two settled back into an easy pace for the duration.

 

 

 

to be continued…

Chapter 7
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