A/N – Thanks to Marsters’ Girl for beta’ing
this fiction!
Three hours
later Buffy, Willow, and Xander entered Giles' condo, happy, after an
uneventful patrol and a quick Bronze trip.
Buffy shouted for Giles as she entered. She paused in the
doorway as the distinct scent of her sire's blood hit her nose, causing Willow
and Xander to bump into her.
"Buffy are you okay?" Willow asked, concerned and
confused as to why her friend had just stopped.
Instead of responding to the hacker, Buffy whispered,
"Spike."
Her eyes darted around the room until they fell on his prone
figure lying down on the couch. She ran to his side, and gasped at the black
eye and badly cut lip and cheek she was presented with.
Tears streaming down her face at the sight of her unconscious
lover, Buffy picked up the damp wash cloth that was on the table next to him
and gently began cleaning his cuts.
Giles walked through the front door at that moment, carrying
four blood bags. He calmly stepped over to the slayer who was trying to rouse
Spike.
Buffy didn't acknowledge his presence; she just continued
trailing her fingertips across Spike's uncut cheek, whispering to him. "He
needs blood Buffy - here." Giles said quietly offering her the bags.
Buffy gently moved Spike so she was behind him, his head
resting in her arms, half-lying over her. Kissing the top of his head, Buffy
motioned to the blood bags in Giles' hand. Giles passed her one, and watched as
she tried to get Spike to drink some of the blood.
When his lips didn't open, Buffy placed some of the blood in
her mouth and opening his mouth with her lips, placed the blood in his mouth.
When Buffy put the blood to his mouth a second time, he drank
eagerly.
Neither Xander nor Willow had made a sound during this entire
exchange, both concerned for Buffy and to some extent Spike.
Buffy fed Spike all four of the packets, watching as the cuts
and bruises mended before her sight. Spike opened his eyes to see his mate
looking down at him, tears streaming down her face. Slowly sitting up, Spike
pulled her onto his lap and into his arms.
Closing her eyes Buffy morphed, sinking her fangs into his
neck - a show of strong vampiric emotion - letting Spike see how scared she had
been and how much she loved him.
At the feel of Buffy's fangs in his neck, just marking - not
drinking- Spike could almost taste her emotions; her fear, her happiness that
he was okay, and most of all her love.
Spike kissed Buffy's neck, before sinking his fangs in to her
neck, allowing her to feel his reciprocating emotions.
A sated smile crossed Buffy's features as she felt Spike's
fangs enter her neck, acknowledging her concern and expressing his love. They
sat, with Spike gently rocking them.
Willow and Xander gasped as Spike bit in to the slayer's
neck, Xander moving forward intent on removing Buffy from Spike, however both
were stopped by Giles’ restraining hand and a look from the watcher's knowing
eyes, saying in his glare that he would explain later.
Eventually Buffy removed her fangs, licking the wound to help
it heal, as she felt Spike doing the same thing. Raising her head from his neck
she met his contented yellow eyes with her own, and melting back into her human
features pressed her lips to his.
At the touch of Buffy's soft lips on his Spike also reverted
back to his more handsome face. Moving back, Buffy looked deeply into Spike's
eyes, resting her forehead on his, whispered, "I love you……I was so
worried."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled her fear. Spike
caught them with his thumb as they spilled over.
I know……I love you too. I'm okay."
Both oblivious to the others in the room continued their
quiet conversation, "What happened?"
Spike smiled ruefully at her question before responding,
"Angelus."
Spike watched as the tender love in her eyes changed to the
murderous rage he knew so many of her victims had been witness to. "Did he
leave town?" Buffy asked, attempting to contain her desire to let her face
change, and rip her old love apart, for inflicting so much pain to her mate.
"I think so, love. I doubt he'd stick around with a
pissed off, murderous slayer mad at him!" Spike responded with a chuckle,
his blue eyes twinkling sardonically, the pain that once marred them
retreating.
Buffy's eyes remained angry as she threatened, practically
growling, "He better be, or he wouldn't be around much longer."
Spike leaned forward and kissed her gently on the mouth,
"Thank you, slayer." he said gazing lovingly into her eyes. Love and
desire suddenly replaced the anger in her eyes as she moved forward, kissing
him in return.
The other three occupants were shocked by this quiet
revelation. Not only had Angel inflicted this pain on Spike, but Buffy had
actually been wanting to kill Angel because of it. They too had noticed the
cold calculation in her eyes, having seen it before in many-a fight.
*** *** ***
Outside, Angel watched through the small window in the
courtyard, as the love of his life tended to his unruly childe with a
tenderness that she had never shown even him.
He observed, in complete shock, the vampires embrace, well
known among vampires to only take place when not only did the person love the
other, but the demon itself had formed its own attachments as well.
Tears rolled down his face at Buffy's words of love and
concern to Spike. When he
heard and viewed her response to the knowledge that he had
inflicted this to his childe a harsh sob escaped his lips, and he turned and
ran back to his car. He sped towards LA, away from the Hellmouth, away from his
one true love and the pain he'd brought her.
He swore nothing short of an apocalypse would bring him back.
Nothing at all.
*** *** ***
Once Buffy and Spike had separated, they began to tell the
group of the vamped slayer's ability to sun walk.
Giles had said that, so far, his research in to previously
turned slayers was as of yet unfruitful. However, with Buffy being a turned
slayer herself, they should be able to find new and updated information.
"I must ask you to precede with the utmost caution, we don't want any harm
to come to you." The watcher told his slayer, fondly smiling at her.
"Don't fret watcher, I'll keep her away from the big bad
to our kind. Oh yeah she is the big bad to our kind, so no big there." he
responded, smiling at his mate who was still seated in his lap, her fingers
entwined with his, playing with the ring on his middle finger.
"So, junior - " Xander began, but Buffy interrupted
him sharply, "Shut up, Xander."
"Chill, Buff I was only gonna ask if he was okay
now." Xander said truthfully.
Buffy frowned at him, then said "Oh....sorry?" She
asked with a smile. Xander shook his head at her, jokingly tutting her. Buffy
playfully growled at him, and Xander attempted a growl in return.
Spike not liking the boy's flirtations pulled on his game
face, growling warningly at Xander.
Buffy squeezed Spike’s hand, and the angry sound dissipated.
Xander just said, "Don't sweat it dead-boy junior, I'm
not looking to move in on your undead turf."
Buffy and Willow looked at Spike and then at each other and
burst out laughing at the tension in the room. Xander smiled, and Spike calmed
when Buffy leaned back against him and kissed his neck, and he pulled the demon
back in.
No one brought up Angel's arrival, or what he'd done to
Spike. The vampire seemed okay now, but still looked in need of rest. The
slayer's anger appeared to be subdued, but everyone knew that she was still
furious at the souled vampire.
Ever so often Spike would nuzzle at Buffy's neck,
involuntarily causing her to purr quietly. Only Willow had noticed the sound
and had smiled at her best friend when she saw the contented look on Buffy's
face.
"So Giles," Buffy said suddenly, "Anything new
on the Hellmouth factor, any certain apocalypse or unbeatable bad on the
horizon?" She was still flowing with the adrenaline being angry with Angel
had brought and wanted something to do, or rather kill.
"Actually, its been rather quiet.." Giles began.
"And you know what that means..." Xander ended in
an Game Show voice,
"...impending apocalypse! Yay!" he completed
sarcastically.
Xander pretended to shoot himself, landing half on top of the
hacker who just laughed.
Buffy giggled lightly while Spike and Giles rolled their eyes
simultaneously.
Xander catching the vampire's and watcher's actions asked,
"Are you Brits synchronized or something?"
In response they both snorted together, sending the girls
into fits of laughter. Giles sent Xander and Willow a withering look, and Spike
playfully growled at his mate. He was having a hard time holding the facade
though, with her being all happy and laughing.
Buffy simply turned in his arms and growled back, challenging
him to fight with her.
Spike wrestled her to the ground, and they playfully fought
until Spike ended up on top. Buffy tried to get him off her, but he'd pinned
her down successfully.
His deep sea eyes bore in to hers and he whispered, "Mine."
before slipping into his demonic face and sinking his fangs into her neck;
claiming dominance. Buffy keened in his ear and he extracted his fangs and
raised his head, his human features in place and whispered, "I love
you," before sweeping her away in a loving kiss.
The other occupants of the room watched the exchange in
silence. They were amazed by this supposedly soul - less vampire.
One minute it was a power struggle and the next heart-felt
words whispered with true emotion. Even Xander had to admit Spike was not like
other vampires. He was able to care, to love. Not that he would admit it!
For the first time in forever, the entire group was filled
solely with happiness for their sister's, their daughter's - their friend's
love.
Each continued with their research, giving the still-kissing
couple a wide berth.
Buffy and Spike broke apart and stared adoringly into the
other's eyes for a couple of minutes before the slayer quietly spoke,
"Shall we go home?".
Spike smiled sappily at her, before responding just as
quietly, "Sure, love."
He stood then helped Buffy to her feet, entwining their
fingers as Buffy spoke to the group, "We're gonna do one quick sweep and
go home, will you guys be alright?" she asked, concerned for her friends
safety.
To everyone’s surprise Xander was the first to speak,
"Don't sweat it Buff, we'll be fine, see you tomorrow?"
Spike nodded his approval,
*The little wanker does have some brains in that fat head of his after
all.*
"Yeah, thanks, bye." Buffy responded, seeing her
sire was okay with it.
"Bye Buffy, Spike." The hacker said pleasantly,
glad to see that she would be able to see her best friend tomorrow.
"Yes, quite, goodnight you two. I shall continue
researching sired slayers, but I think, as you mentioned earlier, we should
keep our eyes open for any impending threats." Giles said, more to his
slayer then the rest.
"Okay, bye." Buffy said again before leaving with
Spike.
*** *** ***
Harmony was walking through a cemetery close to the Bronze,
with the Slayer gone...somewhere, she didn't see the need to hide herself. She
hated herself for being upset at the news that her Spike had been sucking face
with the nasty bitch.
As she continued looking for a meal she spotted a leather-clad
figure, apparently feeding from a girl who was pressed up against a mausoleum.
"Blondie Bear?" she whispered, walking closer she found that it was
indeed Spike and she squealed happily,
"BLONDIE BEAR!!!" practically ripping Spike from
his 'meal'.
She was about to grab him to her in a hug, but her movement
was disrupted by a very powerful kick from the direction of the 'meal'.
"OW!" Harmony rose shakily to find a very angry slayer standing in
front of her.
Harmony still didn't understand until Buffy slipped into her
demonic face, growling threateningly at her. All vampires knew that particular
sound meant that property had been attempted to be removed from its owner, and
the owner wasn't happy about it.
Harmony watched morosely as Spike walked behind the slayer
and slid his arms possessively around Buffy's waist, kissing up her shoulder to
her neck. Buffy's growling died out as she spoke,
"Get out of this town Harmony and don't even think about
coming back. This town is mine, everything in this town is MINE." The last
word was said with such deadly intent that the other vampiress shook with fear,
before nodding her head in submission then fleeing the cemetery, and Sunnydale,
too scared to question why the slayer was a vampire.
Buffy sighed and slipped her human mask on as she watched
Harmony run; she smirked at the idea that Harmony thought she ever had Spike's
affection.
Buffy turned back to Spike and smiled. He returned the smile
with vigor, ecstatic about his mate's reaction to his ex - well...girlfriend he
supposed.
"Now," she said breathy, "Where were we?"
Spike picked her up, resting her once again against the brick wall and
continued nibbling her neck. "'bout here, pet." he murmured between
licks and nips. Buffy slid her hands under his t-shirt, her fingertips reeking
havoc on his control. He was about to take her right then, when he felt his
vampiric senses tingling.
He felt Buffy tense in front of him as she unwraped her legs
from around his waist, dropping to the ground.
As they moved away from the mausoleum the ground began to
shake and three robed figures came out from the trees, each with a golden,
metallic pentagrams imbedded in their foreheads. They spoke quickly in Latin
before gesturing to the crypt behind Buffy and Spike and then to the slayer
before vanishing.
Before either could say a word, three golden pentagrams,
similar to the ones on the foreheads of the robed figures, fell in front of the
slayer from the top of the mausoleum door.
They looked at the ground, then back at each other.
"Giles." They said together, then picking up the slightly hot
symbols, they traveled back to Giles' hand in hand.