Black, White And The Grey In Between By PassionFish



A/N: Each part begins with the part number, a reference to whose thoughts the part revolves around and then its title.



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Chpt1 -- Buffy



Beginnings...





I'm not sure how this started.

I just know when.

A month.

A month yesterday.

I was crying...and he came to me.... Weird, huh?

Actually comforted me.

And I let him.

And maybe that was weirder.

At the time I'm not sure which of us was more shocked.

…

I look up.

I'm almost there.

This used to be my place.

At least that’s how I used to think of it.

The one place I used to come to get away from it all – Slayer, my mom, Angelus…and yeah; Angel.

Now it's 'ours'.

I don't mind. Not really.

…

I sit down, push off and allow my feet to skim the ground as the swing slowly rocks back and forth.

This is how he found me that night.

Except then I wasn't looking forward to (or expecting for that matter) him to be there.

I'm kinda glad that he was though.

Since then we've met here, pretty much every night.

We've got a plan now.

But we have to wait.

Only another week now.

And then it'll all be over.

He accompanies me on patrol.

Not quite sure why.

I didn't ask him to.

But I didn't complain.

I'd never tell him.... but I.... well, I kinda like his company!

It's just nice to know someone's there, ya know?

Comforting.

I hear a twig snap and smile to myself.

This Vampire can walk on eggshells and not crack a single one.

So he did it for my benefit.

"Hey Spike."





Chpt2 -- Spike



Beautiful and pure...





She sits exactly how she did that night.

The moonlight slides over her hair, creating a shimmering effect of different highlighted tones.

Satan only knows why I did it.

But I gotta admit; I'm fucking glad I did.

Tonight she's Miss. Calm herself.

Beautiful and Pure.

That night was a different story.

I can feel the anger boil up in me as a recall what had happened to her…

…the state I had found her in…

Her hair muddy, clothes torn.

The scent of blood in the air.

And fear.

Fear so pungent, that even I was disgusted by it.

So I held her, rocking her back and forth on the very swings she sits on now till she stopped crying.

Took her home and put her to bed.

I stayed with her until first light.

Before seeking shelter in the sewers.

I would have killed him that night if she hadn't made me promise.

So now I have to wait while we follow out our plan.

Still, I can't NOT meet her.

She looks like she’s lost in her thoughts.

Not wanting to frighten her (which is a bloody strange reaction for a Vampire to have)

I purposely step on a twig to let her know that I'm here.

She looks up and I see a wisp of a smile on her pretty features.

"Hey, Spike."

She beckons me gracefully, purity and beauty at its height.

I smile back.

"Hello pet."

I move behind her and begin our ritual.

I reach out my hands and pull back the swing, before letting it go.

Her hair flies out behind her as she glides through the air.

Beautiful and Pure.





Chpt3 -- Spike



Dru...





As I hear her approach I sink down into the wheelchair.

Probably wouldn't do our plan much good if the opposition realised that ol' Spike could now walk.

My beautiful black goddess enters bringing with her a.... dog?

Yep, a dog.

"Here you go, love, you look a bit pasty." She coos at me.

Oh, fuck me backwards; she wants me to eat it.

Bitch!

"Do I look like a vamp who eats puppies?" I glare at her.

Dru doesn't seem perturbed by my outburst.

Pleased with it would be a better description.

"You need to keep your strength up, pet."

She sits on my lap, stroking my head like I'm a fucking dog.

"You're weak."

I growl loudly and fling her off my lap.

She crashes into the wall, crumbling down to the marble stone floor.

The dog, by some miracle, is unharmed and quickly scampers off.

Dru looks up at me, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, making it look like she's just fed, but messily.

Her eyes flash and she growls playfully at me.

"There’s my William. Come to play with mummy, grrruff, gruff! There’s a good dog."

She’s about to crawl over to me, when the wanker starts to call her.

Actually, bellows for her to come.

She scampers to her feet and is about to run off to obey when she stops, reaches into her dress and pulls out a pair of handcuffs.

Before I can work out what she’s about, my hands are trapped together.

"There you go." She pats me on my head and I growl again.

"Dru, take these off. NOW!"

"Don't be a bad boy; we'll have lots of fun later.” She grins wolfishly – it’s the only way to describe it.

“My Angel's going out to play with the nasty Slayer tonight so I want to make sure you can't run away from mummy."

"DRUSILLA!"

My anger's lost on her and she leaves, humming a long forgotten tune to herself as she sways in her own arms.

I rattle the restraints.

They don't budge.

Fuck!

Wait a minute; what was that about the Slayer?

My brains' slow on the uptake, still too pissed off to work out why it bothers me but the answer is simple.

Plan or no plan, he's not coming near her tonight.

I don't care what it takes.





Chpt4 -- Buffy



Blind Trust...





My mouth smiles out at Xander and Willow as they dance away to the fast music.

It doesn't reach my eyes.

I know that.

But they're too far away to tell.

They wave at me to join them but I mutely shake my head and hold up my drink in supplication.

They leave it and continue to dance.

I don't really want to be here.

Normally, by now, I would have met Spike.

I hope he's not worried.

Huh, don't be stupid Summers, of course he's not gonna be bothered.

It’s not as if he cares.

He's just waiting out the plan till he can get Dru back.

Pause...

Bitch.

Deep breath.

In.

Out.

Okay, drink empty now.

Xander and Willow return and I tell them I'll be back in a minute.

Xander tells me to get him a coke.

I give him the mental finger but smile and nod and turn and walk.

I get knocked into someone at the bar.

"Sorry." I mutter, blindly turning away, trying to meet my destination so the night can finally be over with.

"Don't mention it, pet." Someone growls into my ear.

I know that someone!

"Spike!"

I can't stop the happiness in my head escaping out into my voice.

"I'm glad you're happy to see me, now be a dear and come out here."

His voice is tight but his eyes are alight and mischievous.

He turns

And I follow.

Blind trust I'd think they call it.

Blind trust in my mortal enemy.





Chpt5 -- Spike



Handcuffs...



She's laughing.

Actually laughing.

I haven't really heard her laugh before.

I mean I've heard her laugh, but not like this.

This, this uncontrolled, joyous sound.

I grin at her goofily before quickly catching myself.

Big Bad’s don’t grin like a goof.

"Very funny, pet."

"Yeah...it...it really is!"

I growl low in my throat, playfully, and watch her giggles sober slowly.

She tries to look serious but that cheeky smile remains on her face.

"If I must!"

She takes my hands in hers and if I could actually breathe I'm sure it would catch in my throat.

"I kinda like you all at my mercy!"

Oh my God.

Her touch is so soft, so gentle, so warm.

"Okay, this might hurt..." She murmurs.

Good!

Okay, mate, think NOT so happy thoughts!

"Stop wriggling!"

"I hurts!" I hear myself whine.

God – what a pathetic excuse for a vamp; making nice with the Slayer.

She slides her fingers under one of the cuffs and I can hear her count under her breath.

"One...two...There you go."

I hear a click and the cuff drops from around my right wrist, hanging from my left.

"One down..." I mutter hoarsely.

Fuck...she hasn't moved her hand from my wrist; I don't even think she knows she's doing it.

"Oh! You're hurt!"

Her fingers are rubbing in small circles over the red, raw skin.

*Kiss it better?*

"What?!"

Fuck me, I said it out loud.

"Just...uh...noth-oh..."

I watch, my jaw drops, she's actually doing it.

Her lips just brush my wrist, barely even a kiss.

I can hear her heart beat, pounding away, like a bird fluttering its wings as it tries to get away from the jaws of the beast that’s caught it.

I'm still staring at her lips as she pulls away.

"Okay...numero duo!" She mutters, and even in the dim light at the back of the bronze to where I've led her, I can see her face is a flame.

Her fingers are shaking and it takes a little longer but the second cuff soon falls to the ground.

"Play good now." Buffy murmurs to me, and turns to walk away; ready to merge back into the dark, faceless club.

"Wait..."

She turns to me, a slightly apprehensive smile on her lips, "What now, Spike?"

Her voice is teasing and soft, sending shivers through my body.

I look over the top of her head as I hear a soft, slow love ballad come on.

"Want to dance, pet?"

She looks up at me and for a second I'm sure she'll refuse.

Then she smiles.

That slow, sweet smile that always turns me inside out.

"Okay."




TBC...

A/N: What do you think?