Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

**


Chapter 22 - A Solution

Spike leaned against a tree as he lit his cigarette and watched Buffy work her magic. The night proved to be entertaining with four fledglings, a stray werewolf and a small gang of biker demons on the menu, not to mention the last group of vampires that decided they could take on the Slayer. What some of them didn't count on was the fact that this Slayer had an extra set of muscles working in her favor.

Spike watched Buffy’s lithe body move with grace and power as she dispatched the last two vampires into a dusty end. She stopped to catch her breath, her eyes glaring somewhat at Spike who was happily smoking and picking at his nails.

“Enjoying yourself?”

“Was enjoying the view!” he said with a devilish grin.

“You could have helped you know!”

“And what? Be accused later that I was being chauvinistic? Besides I helped with the werewolf and the sodding biker demons.”

“But you're suppose to be my knight in shining armor!”

Spike stood up straight and mockingly gave her a curtsy. “Bugger that! Now come here!”

Buffy stuck out her tongue and playfully ran away from him. Spike couldn't help but smirk at the game she wanted to play. He chased after her since he knew that was what she wanted. He let her run for a few more feet before he caught her arm and swung her around. He sucked his cheeks in before leaning down to attack her lips. "Want you ... you minx." he said as he reluctantly pulled away from her.

They had one more cemetery to patrol before going home. They both knew that when they got home, a different kind of stalking was going to take place. As they reached the end of the cemetery, Spike couldn't help but pull Buffy in for another kiss, savoring the feel of her body against his and the sweet taste of her lips with remnants of a little bit of Buffalo wing sauce from dinner. The sucking motion he was doing to her lower lip made her giggle. She took a second to catch her breath then renewed the kiss, showing just how much passion and love she had for him.

"Hmmm ... keep that up love and we might have to skip the last cemetery or I can just ... "

Buffy slapped him playfully before he could finish. "Hey, don't be a perv!"

"You bring it out of me, love. Of course I didn't hear you complaining last night."

Buffy blushed slightly remembering how Spike took her over and over again the night before.

"Based on your cheeks and your heart rate guess I did the job last night."

"Oh I wish you'd stop that. That's so unfair."

"Yeah, but you love it."

"I love you." she gave him a quick kiss then slipped her hand into his as she led him towards their next destination.

Spike stuck his free hand in his coat pocket and smiled at the night sky. He was happy for once, as long as he had her, everything seemed right with the world.



**

But unbeknownst to them, two sets of eyes were watching them from a far.

"So that is the Slayer. My my, I would have never known dear William could weave such a spell. I may have underestimated him."

"But sire? "

"Now daughter, all will be well. Perhaps it's time for a change."

"I do not like it."

"Are you questioning me?"

"No, sire."

"I know it will pain you, but William has captured the Slayer. She is the only one that can stop us. But with William, perhaps our family would grow stronger instead of being destroyed."

"What of Angelus?"

"What choice does your child have? We shall see how insolent he has grown and then I will make my decision."


**

Two days later, Buffy and Spike returned from patrol. As usual, when Buffy closed the front door, Spike was on her, engulfing her in his coat as he pressed her against the door. He caught her ear in his mouth, playfully nibbling on it giving her a preview of what was to come. Buffy was giggling profusely as the feel of his lips on her ear sent her into a ticklish fit. She tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t relent, grinning and happy to hear her laughter.

He finally pulled away, and watched her catch her breath and calm down. His eyes turned from tenderness to something more wicked as he thought of all the things he was going to do to her tonight. She had teased him relentlessly all night as she went on patrol. There was the way she would angle her body to give him a better view of her assets or the way she would fling her hair back, exposing the flesh of her neck. They didn’t have to hide their emotions anymore, spending most of their waiting time between slayings with kisses and caresses. She offered both her body and blood. And now being back home, he intended on taking her up on her offer.

“I have the day off tomorrow. You know what that means?” She said in a sweet seductive voice.

Spike’s grin grew at the thought of what that meant. He leaned down for a kiss.

“Movie night!” she squealed.

“What?”

“No work tomorrow so I can stay up all night watching movies!” She stuck her tongue out then started giggling like a little girl.

Spike shook his head and let her go. He was always amazed to see how different she was now – his property turned lover. She was happy most of the time, but of course there were always things bubbling just beneath the surface. There were three things that Spike never brought up – her mother, her job and Angelus.

He knew that it would never be easy to talk about her mother. There was still no change, and each day that passes he knew that the likelihood of her recovery was getting smaller. He felt helpless not being able to help Buffy, but what could he do? Sometimes he wondered which would hurt more, seeing one’s mother wither away slowly or watching one’s loved one almost lifeless trapped in a state of unconsciousness. He knew what it felt like to lose a mother, he only hoped that the time would never come when Buffy would have to play god with Mrs. Summer’s life.

Now when it came to something he could help out, he would get reprimanded. Ever time he brought up the fact that he could take care of her, she would put her foot down and give him food for thought. He had ways, he had connections, he could get her anything she needed. But she insisted on continuing to work. At least she seemed to enjoy it, but he knew that at times she was spreading herself too thin. But she had made up her mind and there was no changing it. Perhaps it gave her a semblance of normalcy. He knew being with him was far from normal and he wished things were different.

And then there’s the Poofhead. For obvious reasons, neither one of them wanted to bring him up. He would catch her at times … a look … a touch … a split second of panic when something triggers a hated memory. Spike knew what Angelus was capable of. The head of the Aurelius clan in Sunnyhell relished in anguish as well as death. He loved to see pain and despair in his victims and he would go through any lengths to achieve it. Ironically, it’s because of his grandsire’s nature that Spike is happy today. His desire to destroy his grandsire still hadn’t wained though, and he knew Buffy most probably felt the same. Angelus was, is responsible for her mother’s current condition. But if they hope of defeating him, he had to be alone. Minions though nothing but a bother still took one’s concentration and with both Darla and Dru by his side, there were just too many variables that could go wrong.

Buffy saw that he was deep in thought and playfully poked his chest with a finger. "What's wrong? You going broody!"

"Just thinking."

"Oh no! The world must be ending."

Spike responded with a smirk. "Seems like my Buffy likes making fun of me. You know you'll pay for that!" he said sucking his cheeks into a devilish grin.

He was enjoying this time with Buffy until he sensed something near the front door. Apparently Buffy felt it too as they both looked at the door. Spike let his demon out, heightening his senses. He let out a low growl, announcing to whoever or whatever was on the other side of the door that he was treading into his territory. But whoever it was didn't stay long. Spike waited a few more seconds, before opening the front door. There was no one. Could he have been mistakened? But Buffy felt it too. He stepped outside cautiously, his foot hitting something on the porch. He looked down to see a package. That wasn't there before. He crouched down, picking the box up and sniffing it. Buffy walked up from behind him, trying to look at what he had in his hand.

"Stay back, love. Don't know what this is. Don't want to take it in just in case it might hurt you."

Spike looked at the package again warily and smelling nothing that seemed dangerous, he opened the box and found a smooth blue green gem accompanied with four white crystals.

"What is it?" Buffy asked from behind him.

"I don't know."

"What's that thing at the bottom of the box."

Spike peered in and saw a piece of paper. "I thought you might find this useful for your little problem." Spike read out loud.

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I know, love. Seems pretty harmless though. Maybe your Watcher would know more about this. Guess we have to visit him tomorrow."

"You know he doesn't like it when you come with me."

"Tough shit! I'm going with you." Spike said standing up as he put the gem and crystals back in the box as he stepped into the house. He wondered why there was always something interrupting them. But the night was still young and his girl wanted to snuggle on the couch. Who was he to argue?