Chapter 11
Buffy was humming. This in itself was an event, because there were very few times in her life that was worth that much celebration. And despite Angel’s dire warnings about her status in their lives, she was sure that would all change in time. He’d loved her, always loved her, and hadn’t he said that he was waiting for her decision? Just because he was mated to Spike didn’t mean he’d stopped loving her. She’d never stopped loving him, not even when she was in love with Spike, and she still was in love with Spike. Yes, it was an unusual relationship, but then they were unusual in their own right.
Wrapping the towel around her body, Buffy stepped out of the boys’ massive shower, and into their even larger bathroom. Today was the first day of their plan, not that they had decided upon anything beyond last night, but Reggie would find out about them. That should start some action, and they could layout what they were going to do from there. She jumped when she heard a door slam, and she reached for the door handle to find out what was wrong when she heard Spike yelling.
“Come on, man, you have got to be bloody joking.”
“Why would I be joking?” Angel retorted. “I don’t want her to get too comfortable with us…or us with her because she’s not staying.”
“You’re being a prideful prick. You want her here just as much as she wants to be here so why keep torturing us all with these stupid games?”
“It’s not stupid.” Buffy could just see Angel pulling himself up to his full height with his brow furrowed as he slammed his mental door shuts. “I’m just trying to protect us.”
“By being mean. That’s going to help a lot.” And Spike would be pacing with his arms waving as he worked himself into a tizzy. “Just let her stay in here and we’ll worry about the future later.”
Oh, so that was why they were fighting. Buffy sighed. It seemed she’d gotten ahead of herself yet again. When she was going to learn the difference between sex and making love and that men could turn it on and off like a switch. She’d ignored the voice screaming in the back of her head about what she’d done to Spike. She’d been in love with him even if she hadn’t realized it until it was too late. Whatever it was, she was causing trouble in both of their lives, and their relationship.
Spike would be a gentleman and Angel a brick wall until the cows came home without anything getting solved. It was up to her to solve this problem. Putting her head up, she banged the door open as she marched back into the bedroom. Good thing she hadn’t unpacked yet. Her suitcase was open from where she’d rummaged for clean clothes earlier. The clothes she’d just left in the bathroom. Well, it would ruin her flight for her to backtrack now so she would just have to deal.
Ignoring their closemouthed stares, she headed for her suitcase. She quickly zipped it and pulled the handle up, before turning back to them.
“I’ve decided I really need some breathing room,” She announced as gaily as she could. “I’ll take one of the guest rooms, and if you all decide you want to play with your pet then give me a holler.” With that she opened the door, and left.
~~~~~~
Angel stared dumbfounded as Buffy marched out their bedroom door. He shook his head as he realized she’d heard their argument. Maybe it was what he intended by bringing it into the bedroom. He just hadn’t wanted Dawn and Andrew to hear the personal details of his life. Sighing, he put his hands on his hips as he turned his attention back to his mate, waiting for the lambasting he was sure Spike was ready to give him.
“Well?” He prompted when Spike just stared at him. Usually his mate was the first to offer his opinion whether it was wanted or not. The silence was making him fidget. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“You’re just going to let her go, aren’t you?”
“It solves the problem.” He winced at the callousness of his own remark, and he wasn’t surprised when Spike rolled his eyes dramatically before marching out their door and into Buffy’s room. “Well, Spike I’ll be waiting in the study for you.” He announced to an empty room, void of both his lovers because he was being a jerk. No, not a jerk, he was being cautious even if they didn’t understand it. Someone had to be thinking of the long term consequences of this dalliance.
Angel stared longingly at the closed door to Buffy’s new room, wishing he could just sail in there and tell them that it had all been a game. It wasn’t though, so he forced his feet to continue to his office. If he was honest, he’d hoped that Buffy would have turned tail and run last night so that there was one less person he’d be responsible for during the next couple of months. Sitting at the desk, he stared out the window, drumming his fingers on the leather arms while he contemplated the decision they’d made.
The Immortal wasn’t going to take lightly to Buffy coming back to him and Spike. It would add a more sinister twist to the already apocalyptic game they’d started. Well, the one positive thing that would come out of it, was that all the players would be brought out into the open. All they had to do was watch the reactions on people’s faces as they learned of the addition of Buffy to the picture. That made him smile. Buffy was here with both of them, willing to take both of them, and he wondered how long before someone started to feel left out. Like him, now, knowing that they were together in what was her room.
“Not for long,” he muttered, surging to his feet and back down the hallway.
~~~~~~
Buffy sniffled while trying to blink back the tears as she headed for the first doorway on the right. Apparently, it was the one room in the whole place that hadn’t been bothered with in the redecoration. She sighed. It was horrible, but she wasn’t going to leave now. She sank down on the musty, unmade double bed, wincing at the hardness of the mattress. She gave up and let the tears stream down her face. It was just from being so tired, the jet lag, and all the changes. Being with Spike and Angel couldn’t mean so much to her, not yet, after all she’d been doing without them for almost a year.
“Just fine, too,” she muttered, as she stared at the green wall with the beat-up, cheap dresser against it. “Well, I guess this is home.” Determined to make the best out of the crappy situation she was in, she hauled her suitcase onto the bed.
“Pet.”
Buffy jumped, twirling around to see Spike stepping inside. He looked a bit sheepish, and after fixing her towel, she crossed her arms across her middle. A girl had to have her pride.
“What’s up, Spike? It’s kind of homey, isn’t it?” It was too much, and she hung her head in despair. Why did she always have to hope for the happy ending when she knew the chances of that happening were zero to none? Suddenly Spike was there, like he always used to be, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing her cheek. She relaxed. It felt good to have him there. Safe almost. Oh, not for her heart, but in the ways that made her feel like there wasn’t anything she couldn’t tackle. Even nasty mouthed preachers and a certain vampire who just couldn’t be happy although his curse was gone.
“Angel will come around. It’s just his stupid…”
“Pride, I know.” Buffy
said, looking up into the familiar face she’d daydreamed about so much. In a lot of ways, Spike represented home and
hearth. Maybe it was because she’d been
able to say goodbye to him. Unlike
everyone else who’d left. She sighed. She wasn’t the only one who’d dealt with
death, rebirth, changes, and new places since she’d last been to
“He’s being an ass.” Spike once again, got bluntly to the point. His eyes sparkled with mirth as he tilted his head to stare at her.
“Well, that too.” Buffy chuckled. “Look, don’t let me cause problems between the two of you. It’s the last thing I want.”
“What do you want?” Spike stepped back, and started wandering around the small space. He flung his arms open, and then let them drop again before he looked at her again. “You were dating, and having fun. We got the message loud and clear from Giles and Andrew that you didn’t trust Angel. Now, you’re here and you say you love us, and you want to help us defeat the Immortal.”
“You didn’t let me know you were alive.” She wasn’t going to give in to the guilt that
was making her stomach turn upside down.
Or let him know she was feeling it.
“The two of you didn’t let me know that you were in
They stared at each other for a moment, neither giving an inch, and for some reason it felt good that they were on equal ground. Finally, Buffy grinned. Spike followed her a second later, and then he was back in her arms. She snuggled against him, soaking up the feeling of belonging that he was giving.
“You don’t have to stay in this room.” Spike said. “It stinks in here, and there are a few better rooms down the hall. Or kick Dawn out of your room…”
“No,” Buffy interrupted. “This room is fine. A few changes and it will be perfect. Some shopping today and it will be like home.”
“Get whatever you need, and we’ll pay for it.”
“Uh, Spike…” Buffy ran her fingertips along his waist while she pouted up at him. If she was going to be their mistress, then she was going to play it for all it was worth. Two could play games, and hell, she could be pretend to be under their thumb until they wised up. “I need some clothes and other…things, too. I kind of left home in a hurry, and I wasn’t really planning on being with you two again. I mean, I was hoping but I wasn’t sure.”
Spike cupped her face, searching for something. He must have found it when he chuckled, and shook his head. “Go get what you need and want. Bring the bills to the big poof and he’ll pay for them.” He ran his thumbs along her cheeks. “You’re going to make him regret opening his mouth, aren’t you?”
“I’m going to try.”
“Good girl.”
They laughed together, and then she couldn’t resist. Buffy stood on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his, hoping he wouldn’t push her away. He didn’t. His hands moved to tangle in her hair as he deepened the kiss. Their tongues tangled the way they used to, and she could feel the heat pooling in her middle just as surely as she could feel the twitch of his cock. He was tugging at the towel when the door burst open. They didn’t break apart; instead, they turned their heads to look at Angel.
“It’s time to go, Spike.” Angel barked. He glanced around the room in disdain, and Buffy could have sworn that he wrinkled his nose. “Buffy, there are other rooms.”
“No, this one is fine.” Then she added in the most coquettish voice she could while batting her eyes at Spike. “It’s already got memories in it.” She gestured with one hand. “I’m going to make some changes. It will be perfect when I’m done.”
“If it’s what you want.”
No, it isn’t you big goof, she wanted to say, but bit her tongue. “Thank you, Angel. I’m going to come by the office later and make my big debut.” She ran a finger along the bite mark on her neck.
“Good idea.” He nodded. “The car’s being pulled around front.”
“All right,” Spike kissed the tip of Buffy’s nose. “See you in a bit, love?”
“Yep, with bells on.”
“I hope that’s a joke,” Spike said.
“Yes, it was a joke.” She patted his hip. “Go on. You’ll be late for whatever it is you do.” She walked over to Angel. “No kiss good-morning or goodbye?”
He looked at her as if she was crazy, but nonetheless bent down to peck her on the lips. She smiled against his mouth, cupping the back of his neck and pulling him closer. He didn’t fight her, and she slipped her tongue into his mouth, teasing along his before pulling away. “Bye lover.”
Spike was chuckling again, but he didn’t dare say a word. The look on Angel’s face was priceless as he stared at her in confusion. Then he shook his head, and took off down the hall.
“Take care of him,” Buffy whispered, as Spike passed her on the way out. “I don’t think he can take much of this.”
“Be gentle, pet,” Spike admonished. “You don’t want to break him.”
“Nope…well, not yet anyway.”
Spike only shook his head, before giving her one last quick kiss, and then he was off to follow Angel. Buffy hadn’t planned to start the day this way, but in the end she felt like she had the upper hand. Humming again, she rummaged through her suitcase looking for comfy clothes to wear for the marathon-shopping trip she had planned. Yep, it was time to rouse the troops, and see how much damage she could do to Angel’s bank account in one morning.
Things were definitely looking up.
to be continued…
