Chapter Twelve


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It was just another night, just like any of the thousands of nights she had spent patrolling Sunnydale, keeping its streets safe. Except it wasn’t. Because she had never ever felt like this: never felt like she was truly sharing this patrol. Sure enough, Spike was at her side, ready – itching even – to fight. She sent a soft smile in his direction and then turned her attention back to the cemetery.

This was the most relaxed she had ever been on a patrol as well, she realised with a start. And once again, it was thanks to Spike’s presence. His presence did not irritate – not any longer – nor did it set her on edge, worrying about him and his safety. He was her equal in this night-time pursuit and it made what had become an everyday, almost monotonous task into something she could enjoy, something she could share with someone who truly understood.

Angel had never fought with her – he had stood back and watched from the shadows. And Riley had never been strong enough to fight with her as an equal, much to his dismay. Even her friends were always a danger on patrol, one extra thing for her to worry about. But with Spike, there was none of this – this was his patrol as much as hers. If a demon were to pop up in the next second, they would fight it together, as a team. And hell, if that wasn’t a strange thought.



They were more than just a team though, as she was reminded as Spike suddenly drew closer to her, one arm settling around her shoulders. She glanced up at him and he gave her what might have been an almost shy smile, making her smile and wrap her arm around his waist. He leant in and she felt his breath stirring her hair, could tell he was breathing in the scent of her – one of those weird vampire intimacies that had annoyed her before. Now though, surrounded by his smoky, musky scent, she kind of understood: it was sort of comforting, knowing his scent.

She gave a little giggle at her strange thoughts and she could feel Spike watching her in confusion.

“Nothing,” she whispered.

He came to a halt and she looked up at him with a smile as he studied her face. After a few long moments, he softened, smiling gently and reaching up to brush her hair from her face.

“Love your hair when it’s down.”

She smiled and leant into his touch as he twirled a hair around his finger.

“S’getting long again.”

She nodded and then flushed with embarrassment, remembering the reason why she had hacked her long hair off. To spite him, of course, because he loved her hair. But back then, she hadn’t wanted to please, hadn’t wanted him to love stupid things like her hair. It hadn’t worked either – and that was the kicker – because it really didn’t matter what her hair was like. Spike wanted her no matter what. It still surprised her just how stupidly she had acted – and just how unbending his love was.




“What you thinkin’ about?” he murmured, startling her back to the present.

“Hmm?”

“Can practically hear your mind racing,” he commented with a smile, wrapping his arm around her and propelling them into motion again.

“I was just thinking about us.”

He tensed for a moment and she frowned, but a second later, he relaxed.

“What about us then?”

“Well, about how stupid I was before. You know I cut my hair off just because you liked it so much long?”

“Yeah, kinda figured that, love. You really weren’t too keen on the ‘Goldilocks’ thing.”

“I’m still not,” she remarked with a playful frown and he laughed, drawing her tighter against his side. She relaxed into him and closed her eyes, her head resting against his shoulder. To think, things could have been this easy from the beginning if she hadn’t stupidly fought her affection for him.

They had been heading this way from the moment she had been brought back, but her own fears and insecurities had made her push him away as soon as he got close. God, she had been an idiot. All that wasted time. She stopped suddenly and turned to him and he raised an eyebrow in question.

Without a word, she leant up and kissed him, her hand just touching his cheek. She sensed his surprise but instead of pulling away, he rested one hand on her lower back, holding her to him. She pulled back and met his gaze, savouring that look of love in his eyes for a long moment.

“What was that for?” he asked quietly.

She shrugged and leant up to kiss him softly once more. She forced herself away and he fell into step with her as she headed towards the cemetery gates.

“It’s so quiet tonight,” she commented – for once, not out of irritation, “It’s nice.”

She glanced at Spike and he smiled, moving closer and catching her hand with his. She smiled again and squeezed his hand in hers, wrapping her fingers around his. It should have felt weird, she mused – holding hands with her one-time enemy - but it actually felt kind of nice, comfortable in a way. Her world really was turning upside down.



Hand-in-hand, they left the cemetery and travelled the short distance to the next in a comfortable silence.

“Buffy!”

A voice broke their quiet and with a frown of recognition, she turned and let out a little sigh as she spotted Jonathan – alone for once.

“I thought I was pretty clear yesterday,” she remarked, “Stay away from me or you get your asses kicked.”

“Yeah, erm, right,” he got out awkwardly, “But the thing is, I… I brought this.”

He held out his hand and in it, she spotted the zapper that had triggered Spike’s chip. She sent him a quick look and turned back to Jonathan, scanning the area for his friends.

“You touch that button and you’ll regret it,” she threatened and Jonathan recoiled visibly.

“No, I… here.”

He held out the device and she frowned in confusion.

“Huh?”

“Take it.”

She slipped her hand from Spike’s and warily edged forward, expecting an ambush at any minute. She finally came to a stop just short of Jonathan and he held out the device to her, smiling weakly. She quickly snatched it out of his hand and took a few steps backwards.



There was a pause and then she spoke, her tone betraying her confusion.

“Okay, what just happened here?”

Jonathan shrugged awkwardly and then spoke up.

“I was fed up with Warren.”

“So you decided to come give me his zapper-thingy?”

“Actually, they kind of forced me out,” he explained with another awkward shrug, “I stole that.”

“I… thanks.”

“I also broke Warren’s balls,” he added.

“Excuse me?!”

“The balls… that’s where he was getting the strength from.”

“Oh,” she got out, turning her head and meeting Spike’s slightly bewildered look.

“Well, I should get going.”

She turned back to Jonathan quickly, stepping forward and making him flinch.

“Why did you do this?”

He looked at the ground for a moment and then shrugged once more.

“I mean, you were always pretty good. You saved my life and all. I just didn’t think it was right.”

All she could do was stare at Jonathan, not quite sure this was actually happening.

“I really should go. My mom doesn’t like it when I’m late.”

He turned and before she could say anything, he was hurrying away and she was left stunned. She looked at the device in her hand and turned to face Spike slowly.

“That was… strange.”

Spike nodded when she met his gaze and then both of their gazes went to the black box in her hand. She considered it for a moment and then held it out to Spike.

“You want to do the honours?”

He smiled and took it from her, studying it for a brief second before dropping it to the floor and crushing it under his foot.