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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A/N: Thanks to Amarysso for betaing.
Vocabulary:
testa di merda = shithead
vaffanculo = fuck you



Chapter 15 – You Were a What?

Winter 1998, Sunnydale, California

Joyce Summers was rushing through the house like a tornado, hurriedly checking last minute things before she left for her ten day art acquisition trip for the gallery she was working for.

They had moved to Sunnydale, California a few months ago, much to Buffy’s disappointment for a number of reasons. One, being that she had to transfer schools mid-school year. Two, leaving Hemery meant leaving all the friends she grew up with. She tried to keep a positive attitude about the whole situation. She consoled herself that it was a fresh start. It was a chance to meet new friends and what not. However, that was of course shattered when Merrick told her about Sunnydale’s unknown tourist attraction – the Hellmouth. The vampire and demon population in Hemery was close to non-existent when compared to the number of baddies that lived in Sunnydale. Patrolling was rarely uneventful as the Chosen One found herself being more than just a vampire slayer.

Today though, the Chosen One was happy about the prospect of being free girl – no adult supervision for ten days. Well that’s not counting her watcher. She watched her mother run around the house, checking things and giving her instructions.

“I was really hoping William would be here before I left for the airport.”

“Mom you know he prefers to be called Spike.” Buffy smiled at the thought that her Mom actually trusted Spike. Thought it was hard to explain at first why Spike was moving to Sunnydale at the exactly same time as they moved. They were able to spin it that he was going to be studying and working in UC, Sunnydale. Actually, Buffy was amazed as to how the rest of her guards were somehow able to blend into her life. Caden was working with her Mom in the gallery. Merrick owned a little book store that specialized in hard to find books of any kind. Niko and Angel worked for Merrick in the store, though Angel rarely worked there. The elder vampire was usually out and about gathering information and keeping tabs on anything and everything going on in the Hellmouth.

“Well William is such a nice name and he introduced himself as William first anyway.” Joyce replied.

There was a loud bang coming from the back door and Buffy hurriedly answered it. Spike rushed into the kitchen as soon as the door was opened, biting his tongue as he wanted to spew out obscenities at the sun.

“Good you’re here. Mom wanted to see you before she left.” Buffy exclaimed.

“Sorry I’m late, luv.”

“Goodness William. I will never understand why you prefer going through the back door.” Joyce commented.

Spike just answered her with a sheepish smile.

“Anyway, I don’t have much time. I just wanted to say I’m putting a lot of trust in you two. Now, Buffy you remember our talk about boys, yes?”

“Mom! Spike and I aren’t going out. Sheesh! How many times do I have to tell you that?” Buffy said defensively.

Joyce gazed at the two of them and shook her head, somehow knowing better. As much as Buffy denied that there was anything between them, Joyce could tell through subtle looks and smiles that her daughter definitely liked Spike more than just a friend. It was fairly obvious that he was quite protective towards her and that he was in pretty deep despite the various conversations and teasing she would overhear them exchange to one another. His body language said it all. Being in a fairly new town, Joyce felt more comfortable going on this trip if she knew someone was going to look after her daughter and Spike fit the bill perfectly.


**


At Merrick’s house later that night

Buffy plopped herself down on the couch beside Niko. She was a little tired from tonight’s patrol. Spike had gone into the kitchen to get himself some blood and her a soda while Caden and Angel went into separate bathrooms to get cleaned up. They had come upon a nasty demon who just happened to love spraying wonderfully mucusy goo on its victims. Unfortunately, Angel and Caden got the brunt of it along with jibes and side comments from both Spike and Niko on the way to Merrick’s house.

Merrick emerged from the study, happy to see that his ward was safe.

“So, Merrick, are we still going to do that little camping trip you’ve been like nagging me to do for the past month? Since Mom’s away for a while and I don’t have school, now’s like the perfect time and all.”

“Ah, yes. Well there might be some change in plans.”

“Awww, but Merrick there really isn’t any other time that I can do this without having to make some lame excuse to Mom.”

“I know Buffy. The retreat itself is long overdue. We should have done it last year but with everything going on…” the watcher sighed. “I was really planning on doing it this weekend but I have to go out of town and help my friend with his umm ... little problem.”

“Friend? You actually have friends, Merrick? … So which Watcher needs your help now?” Niko asked.

“How can you assume so easily that it is a Watcher?”

“Come now Merrick, it’s not like you guys really socialize with anybody else. Does this have something to do with those spell books you’ve been looking at lately?”

Merrick shook his head at the vampire’s answer. Unfortunately, he was right. “Yes. I need to deliver him some things that he will need.”

“Well why doesn’t he just come over here to get them?” Buffy asked.

“It’s not that easy, Buffy. Let’s just say he doesn’t want to leave where he’s at at the moment because he doesn’t want to take his eye of his problem.”

Buffy let out a sigh. “Alright, I guess we’ll just have to postpone it.”

“Well I’m glad that you were looking forward to this trip. It is actually a very important piece of Slayer training.”

Spike came into the room with a mug of warm blood and handed Buffy a can of cola.

“Spike ...” Merrick called out.

“Wot?!” the bleached blond vampire said looking up from his warm mug of blood.

“How much do you know about the vision quest ritual?”

Spike raised an eyebrow. “Hell no Watcher. I’m not going to do it.”

“You know the ritual Spike?” Buffy asked wide-eyed.

“No. Don’t know any of that soddin’ shit. And even if I did … ” he said glaring at the watcher. “I’m not going out there into the wilderness.”

“But this is a very important part of Buffy’s training.”

“Yeah, that’s why you need to be administering it.”

“You know as well as I do that the Watcher is mainly a facilitator to ensure the Slayer doesn’t lose her way.”

“Wait a sec. Why would Merrick even suggest that Spike do it in his place?” She said turning to Niko?

“Because Spike used to be a Wat … testa di merda! “ he said turning to Spike who had hit him upside the head.

“A watcher?! Spike used to be a Watcher?!” Buffy said with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.

Spike let out a low growl, “Vaffanculo!”

Niko matched his growl and was about to retort back but saw the stern look in Merrick’s eye.

Spike look at the room smugly. “I’m not doing it. It has to be in a bleedin’ dessert for crying out loud. And in case you’ve forgotten Watcher, I’m a vampire. ‘m not her Watcher.”

“Well the dessert is the most ideal area, yes. Given of course that the First Slayer was born in Africa. However, the essence of the ritual merely calls for a secluded area, away from the distractions of man. I’m sure that we can find a suitable area where the ritual can be performed. As for not being her Watcher, in a sense you are her guide. You help her train and you help her prepare for what lies ahead.”

Spike let out a sigh as he looked from Merrick’s determined gaze and Buffy’s hopeful look. For some strange reason the bird was set on going this weekend and he did promise her mum that he’d look after her.



**

“Good god Slayer. It’s just the weekend. We’re not movin’. What in bloody hell is taking you so fuckin’ long?” Spike called out from the bottom of the stairwell where he was waiting for Buffy.

Buffy stuck her head out of her room and stuck her tongue out at him. “Oh shut your complaining. I’m finishing up over here. Just want to make sure I’ve got the essentials.”

“Essentials? This is a damn vision quest. It’s part of your training, not a bloody vacation.”

She frowned as she stepped out of her room and threw her backpack at him, effectively hitting him square in the chest.

“It’s about time, pet.”

She rolled her eyes at him and ignored his comment. “Did you get everything else loaded in the car?”

“Yes! Now let’s get a move on.”

**

The drive to the national park wasn’t bad. Buffy complained about Spike’s choice in music and they argued about that for a good half hour with veiled threats of biting or staking of the other party. They eventually settled on a compromise of switching radio stations every so often. They arrived just in time to get all the necessary permits before the offices closed and about two hours after sunset they were nicely settled into their camp site with a roaring fire. They were fortunate enough to find a spot near a small cave or alcove that was big enough for Spike to settle into during the day where he would wait for Buffy.

Buffy seemed a little too happy and excited about the trip and despite the small arguments they had on the way over here, she seemed to be in good spirits. She had insisted on packing marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate for the trip saying that she was going to definitely have some S’mores goodness.

Spike watched as Buffy roasted marshmallows and placed them between two graham crackers and chocolate. He took a bite of the sweet concoction she offered. He smiled appreciatively, but his mind was preoccupied by other things.

This wasn’t a good idea. The Watcher must have been on something to have agreed to this. Or did they think that just because he had been good the past couple of months that the temptation had disappeared. Buffy was close enough that if he reached out he could touch her cheek and at the moment, nothing was there to really stop him from doing just that. It was just the two of them, away from home, away from her watcher and the other guards. The demon inside wanted to finish off what it had started months before.

Spike shook his head to clear it. That wasn’t the reason why they were here. He was here to help her on her vision quest. He wasn’t here for his own selfish reasons but for her training, well-being and all the other shit that went with that. Spike let out a sigh. He was in too deep. He knew he wanted her. He craved to be with her, touch her, and dared even imagine taking her body and soul. There was no denying that he cared for her more than just a guard cared for his ward.

“Um, so when are we going to start this?” Buffy said as she licked a finger that was smothered in marshmallow and chocolaty goodness.

He was slightly mesmerized by what she just did and didn’t hear exactly what she just said. “Concentrate you damn git!” he thought to himself. “Wot?”

“I said, when are we going to start this quest thingy.”

“Oh. Well, it’s typically done during the day, pet. I’m assumin’ because the vision quest could leave the Slayer vulnerable so daytime and sunlight should provide some added protection. Since I ain’t performing this in broad daylight, was thinkin’ we’d do it before sunrise.”

“Ok,” she said with a giggle. “I can’t wait to see you dance around the fire and jump in and out of the mystical circle.”

“Dance? Wot the bloody hell are you talkin’ about?”

“I asked Merrick what the ritual was like. He told me the Watcher, or in this case, the acting Watcher was going to dance around with a gourd and then jump in and out of a circle.”

Spike started chuckling. “Well sorry to disappoint luv, but I ain’t goin’ to do that.”

“You’re not? But isn’t it necessary for the ritual?”

“That’s what Watchers have been led to believe. I’m guessin’ some ponce of a spell translator thought it would be fun and put it in there. But if you break down the real essence of the ritual, it doesn’t necessarily call for dancin’ nor any of the skippin’ in and out of the mystical circle. Actually the only real important thing is your state of mind and the incantation.”

“Oh, so no dancing and no gourd.” She said with a little pout.

“Well if makes you feel any better pet, I still have to shake that gourd over the fire.”

“Not the same. … But are you sure? I mean how can you be sure the ritual will work if you don’t dance?”

“Oi. I bet you just want to see me shake my sexy butt, luv.”

“Hah! As if. …” She said rolling her eyes before she started giggling. “I would never want to see your fat ass.”

“Sure, pet. Sure” He said grinning. “Till then, hurry up with those smores, luv.”


Buffy went about making some more smores as Spike leafed through the book, checking to make sure he could pronounce the incantation correctly.

“Spike? Tell me about a Slayer. I like hearing about some of the things you guys did through the years.”

Spike looked up from the book, slamming it shut as he reached out for the smores she offered him. “Well, anyone you want to hear about in particular?”

“Hmmm… I don’t know. Was there anyone that didn’t like you guys?”

The blond vampire laughed. “Why would you want to know about yourself pet?”

“Hey. I like you guys. It’s just that you can be so annoying some times. But … well ... yeah …”

Spike dismissed it as nothing, not daring to read anything else into her reply. “Um… There were quite a few actually, that didn’t like us I mean. I remember one bird. Her name was Macy. She was a blacksmith, pretty good at it too. But she rather fancied me impaled by one of her creations than to be anywhere near her.”

Buffy gave him a questioning look. “What did you guys do? I mean, did she let you guys patrol with her?”

“It took a while. She was a loner to begin with being orphaned as a child. The only one of us she even really interacted with was Caden. ‘Course that bloke always seems to have a calmin’ effect on those around him. He swears he doesn’t have thrall, but I don’t know.”

“Well, so how did she find out she was a Slayer?”

“Well from what I can remember, when both her parents died she ended up with her uncle who taught her the family business. But he wasn’t that much of a parent being drunk half the time. Anyway, being a blacksmith, she just thought that her extra strength came from years of her uncle making her lift hammers and helpin’ out in the forge. It wasn’t till a small pack of vamps came after her that she found out her powers were more than just years of blacksmith training.”

“She didn’t have a Watcher?”

Spike shook his head. “No. We found out that he had been killed in an accident before reaching her. So without a Watcher to explain the situation, the concept of vampires as guards was hard to accept.”

“Why didn’t the Council just send another Watcher?”

“Honestly? I don’t know, pet? Some political reason I gather. We were all she had.”

“Oh. Does that happen often? I mean the Council doing things like that.”

Spike let out a slight snort. “The Council is concerned with only one thing and sorry to say this pet, but in all honesty, it’s not your safety and well being. You, the Chosen One, and every other girl that has come before you and will come after you are nothing more than weapons in their eyes. You are the vessel of good that fights for humanity.”

“If that’s the case, then why even have you guys on the payroll?”

“Because we have access to things that are restricted to humans. We’re all in the same lot, pet. We’re just all just tools for the Council to use.”