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.

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CHAPTER 9 – Saints and Dances


Buffy was sitting down on the training mat, trying to find a comfortable position. She had insisted on being told everything that was going on after she found out from Spike that there was indeed a master vampire behind all the havoc that was going on.

“Are you sure they’re going to attack on that night?” Merrick asked.

“Sì. I’ve been hanging out near that area for a while now and a few minions don’t know how to shut their mouths. I think Lothos feels confident that he can overpower the Slayer on that night.” Nikolai replied.

“Night of St. Vigeous.” Angel muttered.

“Okay, what’s so special about this St. Vigeous day or Um night?” Buffy asked.

“St. Vigeous led a crusade of vampires that swept through Harran, Edessa and points east. It’s one night when a vampire’s powers are at their greatest.” Merrick said matter of factly.

“Oh! … Wait. … You mean this Friday? St. Vigeous is this Friday?!”

“Yes, why? What’s wrong Buffy?” Merrick asked.

“It can’t be this Friday. There’s a dance this Friday.”

“Well you’re just going to have to skip it.”

“I am not!” Buffy protested.

“Buffy, it will be dangerous and you’ll be endangering the rest of the school.”

Her face grew stern before her lips formed a sad pout.

“Buffy you have to understand.”

“No I don’t. How much more do you want to take away from me Merrick? You’re asking me to throw my whole life away for what? Can’t I have one night. Just one night!”

“Buffy?” Angel spoke up.

“No! Just leave me alone. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want any of this!” She said storming out.


**

Buffy took a deep breath as she looked herself over in the mirror. She knew she looked good on the outside but deep inside she was feeling a little guilty. She had refused to go on patrol for the past three nights and completely ignored Angel’s presence when he stood outside her window. She didn’t want to hear any lectures from him nor hear his reasoning as to why Merrick was right and how she should just accept her fate.

A knock on the door brought her back from her thoughts. It was most probably her Mom telling her that it would be time to go.

Mrs. Joyce Summers opened the door to her daughter’s bedroom and smiled seeing that she was ready.

“Is it time to go?” Buffy asked sweetly.

“For you anyway, dear. You’re date’s here.”

“Date?”

“Yes, he’s waiting downstairs. Though I have to say Buffy he looks a bit older than you. And why haven’t you told me about him?”

Buffy gave her mother a puzzled look as she quickly headed down the hallway towards the stairs. Half-way down the stairwell, her senses registered someone familiar but what her slayer senses told her didn’t match what her eyes were telling her. In the middle of the living room was Spike but it wasn’t the Spike that Buffy was used to. The leather duster, boots and slicked back hair were gone. In its place was a sharp black suit with a dark blue tie. His hair wasn’t completely slicked back revealing for once that his hair was a little curly. It was spiked and styled in just the right way that it softened his features and made him look a little younger than what she was used to seeing. They stared at each other for a few seconds, neither one moving from where they stood.

“You look beautiful, Buffy.” Spike said finally breaking the silence first.

“Um ... thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself.”

“Now, William, how was it again that you and Buffy met?” Mrs. Summers asked curiously, somewhat concerned about this boy that she felt was too old to escort her daughter.

“Um. ... Mom?!”

Spike smiled warmly. “We both volunteer at the local animal shelter. Buffy’s really good at handling all sorts of animals.” He said with a slight smirk.

“Buffy, you didn’t tell me you were working in the animal shelter?”

“Um ... It must have slipped my mind. But yeah, anyway…” Buffy said hooking an arm through Spike’s and leading him to the door. “We have to get going now Mom or else we’ll be late for the dance.”

“Now William, I trust that you’re going to take care of my daughter.” Joyce said from the doorway.

Spike glanced behind him and with a smile said, “I won’t let her out of my sight Mrs. Summers.”

Satisfied with his answer, Joyce returned his smile and waited till they reached Spike’s car before closing the door.

“William?! Is that you’re real name or some make up name because your real name is much much worse than Spike?”

“It’s my real name Slayer. Now shut up and get in.” Spike said as he opened the door for her. She climbed inside the sleek black sports car and was impressed that Spike even owned something so luxurious.

“I didn’t know you owned something as nice as this. I didn’t even know you owned a car period.” She said once he settled into the driver’s seat.

“This ain’t mine, pet. I just rented it for the evening. My real baby is tucked away somewhere safe.”

“Rented? This must have cost a fortune.”

Spike grinned. “Definitely a pretty penny and the great thing is I ain’t paying for any of it. ‘m going to let the Council foot the bill on this one.”

“So I guess Angel sort of had his way and that’s why you’re here right? To watch over me?”

“Actually, pet this was my idea. Angel was in full agreement with Merrick. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. So what if it’s St. Vigeous day. Means me and the mates are stronger too and it would be pretty pathetic of us if a couple of master vampires couldn’t take care of a couple of minions and a damn poofter of a self-proclaimed Vampire King.”

Buffy smiled warmly. “Thanks Spike.”

“Well, you deserve it Slayer.”

“He’s coming for me isn’t he? No matter what, he’ll be coming for me tonight.”

“You never know. Let’s ‘ope Niko is wrong, but if ‘e’s not I know you’ll be fine, luv. You’re strong Buffy. Just remember that.”


**

Buffy smiled happily when she and Spike entered the school gym where the dance was being held. She could tell that a few of her classmates were giving her envious looks and she understood why. Spike did look quite sexy in his suit and the way he was holding her was enough to make any girl melt.

He held her close when they danced and Buffy wished that maybe this was the reality… not the fact that she was a Slayer, but that she was just a regular teenage girl, being swept of her feet by a really great, yummy looking guy. She didn’t have a date to the dance but that didn’t really matter. She was determined to go because she just wanted one night where she didn’t have to think about vampires and demons. And now here she was, dancing with a pretty hot date and the envy of all the girls in her class. Heck maybe even the entire high school. She had caught a few seniors giving her the evil eye.

She was swept of her feet. Well, who wouldn’t be swept of their feet? She knew she could get lost in Spike’s blue eyes. She knew she could melt into his embrace and he would make everything better. Why did he have to be a vampire? This was most probably nothing more than another job to him. There would be no way he would find her interesting. But his touch, his words… They all felt sincere some how.

She let out a sigh as she rested her head on his chest. At the very least, whether this was a lie or not, she would enjoy it. It was in a way, she realized, a small gift from him… maybe a peace offering for all those times he annoyed her ceaselessly.

“You alright, luv?”

She looked up at him and smiled. His eyes were searching hers and then he lowered his head and she felt it. His lips were soft and gentle as they brushed against her own.

Spike wasn’t sure what he was doing but the feel of her against him as they danced to the slow music was intoxicating in itself. She always seemed to call to him, draw him in and there was really nothing in particular that did it. It was just her – who she was. It was the way she laughed and even pouted. It was the way she fought and the way she danced with him and against him. It all called to him and all he wanted to do was to fill his senses with her. He was undone. For once in his unlife there was something that called to him more than the hunger and violence.

He looked at her in disbelief at what he had just done. He didn’t regret it but now he was unsure of how she would react to the fact that he just kissed her. He was searching her eyes to get some inkling of what she was feeling on what just happened.

“Spike?”

“Yes, luv?”

“Did? “ she pulled one arm away from his neck to touch her lips as if trying to see if what she felt was real. She looked up and saw his searching eyes -- those same intense blue eyes.

As if mesmerized, Buffy moved her fingers from her lips to his tracing them slowly as if in wonder that but a few seconds ago they were pressed against hers. He smiled, then took her hand and pressed a kiss into her palm before moving to place it back behind his neck. He leaned closer and Buffy waited almost breathlessly to feel his lips on her again. This time the kiss was not as innocent as the first but he was still gentle. Buffy couldn’t believe what was happening. It felt like a fairy tale as he kept her close and continued to kiss her sweetly. It felt like nothing was going to ruin this moment. But her fairy tale was short-lived as a blood curdling scream pulled them away from their fantasy.

Spike looked up towards the direction of the scream and unknowingly let out a growl.

Buffy sighed and her lips pouted.

“ ‘m sorry luv. I wished that Niko ‘ad been wrong.”


The gym quickly turned into a chaotic event with students and teachers screaming while vampires began to feed. Spike and Buffy held their own, fighting and dusting vampires as they came near them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Niko and Caden pulling vampires off of victims and dusting them as they helped some of the students and teachers escape.

As Niko made his way towards Spike, the bleached vampire paused and started sniffing the air.

“You smell it too don’t you Spike?” Niko asked.

“Yeah. Demons. … Fyarl. Damn it! Niko, watch Buffy’s back. I’m going …” Spike was about to rush over to one of the Fyarl demons when Niko held him back.

“Where’s Buffy?”

“Wot?!” Spike turned around quickly. “Bollocks! She was here just a minute ago. Damn it. I can’t sense her can you?”

Niko shook his head. “This isn’t good.” He said ducking then turning around to face the vampire that dared to attack him. With a slight hiss, he pummeled the minion with punches before he shoved a stake into its heart. “Spike! Fyarl!”

Sure enough the Fyarl that the bleached vampire was targeting earlier had decided to target him instead. The demon had the bleached vampire by his shoulders, lifting him up over its head and throwing him a few feet away. A table broke the vampire’s fall.

Spike quickly recovered and hurled himself at the Fyarl demon. He poured all his anger and frustration at the demon that had distracted him and made him lose contact with the Slayer. The Fyarl put up a decent fight, but anger was on Spike’s side and it didn’t take too long before he was able to snap its neck.

He took a moment to assess the situation as Angel made his way towards him, dusting a few of Lothos’ minions along the way. “Spike, where the hell is Buffy? She was your responsibility.”

“I don’t sodding know alright. I’ve been busy, Peaches.”

“Spike! I told you this would happen. This is why I was against this whole stupid plan of yours from the beginning.”

“Have a little more faith in the Slayer will you? And it’s not like I can’t track her down.”

“Perhaps you will, but I don’t think Master Lothos would appreciate it if you interrupt his date with the Slayer.” A voice said from behind them.

Spike let out a menacing growl.

“Master Lothos only wishes to meet with the Slayer. He has no desire to associate with her lapdogs.”

“I’ll show you who’s a lapdog you blabbering git.” Spike said as he slipped into game face but Angel held him back.

“No Spike! Amilyn is mine.”