Thank God that spell was over with. She had come round with a start and a sickening feeling as she had quickly distanced herself from the vampire whose lap she had been happily sat in. Eww Spike lips! Spike body! She was too embarrassed to be angry at Willow and was much happier when Spike was chained up in the bath once again. And now she just had to get over the whole disgusting episode.


Despite her fervent wish to drive all thoughts of intimacy with the vampire from her mind, she had refused Willow’s offer of help. Magic had got her into this mess and she sure wasn’t going to trust it to get her out. Instead, she was quite happy to stay in denial and pretend that nothing had happened and that it was all just a bad dream. That she hadn’t kissed Spike. She just pushed it all to the back of her mind, desperately moving on with her life.


They were sitting in Giles’ house, discussing what to do with said vampire.

“I don’t know, Giles. Evil vampire on the loose not sounding great,” Xander spoke up, frowning.

“I understand your concerns, but I really will not have that…thing…in my house any longer.”

“I heard that, Rupert!” Spike shouted from the bathroom but they ignored him even as he continued, “You just want the house to yourself for when your lady friends come visitin’. I sure as hell don’t wanna listen to you-“

“He is chipped,” Buffy spoke up loudly, drowning out Spike’s voice, “I mean, he was on the loose for three days and he didn’t hurt anyone.”

She gave a tiny grimace at the memory of those three days- the three days of magical madness- but persevered.

“We’ll keep an eye on him, but I think we should let him go.”

“I’ve got something you can keep an eye on, Slayer!” Spike called out from the bathroom but Buffy decidedly ignored him.

“I agree,” Giles said, “I think it would be best for everyone if Spike was out of my house.”

Even as Giles spoke, Buffy frowned as she felt hunger flare up inside her. Which was strange because she had had dinner just before she had come out.

“Rupert, are you tryin’ to starve me or somethin’?! Can’t just deprive me like this, you know! I’m bloody hungry!”

She started at Spike’s voice and frowned, shaking off the fleeting something in her head that didn’t feel quite right.


Giles reluctantly untied the vampire and offered him a mug of blood. Buffy meanwhile was idly looking through Giles’ CD collection, amazed to find some music made after the 70s. And then, she could feel the vampire’s eyes on her. But more than that, she could practically hear him leering at her, making some comment about her. Which was so wrong that she whirled round, staring him down as he met her gaze with a look that was not at all contrite. He was leaning against the doorframe, sipping from his mug, his eyes ablaze with amusement. She frowned and looked away, moving to sit on the sofa. She’d be glad when that vampire was out of this house and, hopefully, out of her hair. She sighed and sank back on the sofa, running her fingers through her hair.


/////////////

“You’ve got such lovely hair. Like Goldilocks,” he murmured, his fingers playing with her curls.

“Spike, you’re so soppy!” she answered with a giggle, but she leant into his touch nevertheless. The stroke of his fingers through her hair was sending little tingles down her spine and she soon leant up and kissed him, losing herself in the magic of his lips.

//////////////


She jolted back to reality, her cheeks flushed from that unwelcome flashback. Almost of their own accord, she found her eyes drawn to Spike, only to find him watching her with a small smile.

“Are you still here?” she bit out, jolting him out of his daze.

“Now, now, Slayer. No need to be so cruel to your ex-fiancé.”

“I hate you.”

He just laughed and she clenched her jaw, holding herself back from lashing out at the vampire. He deserved it, but if he got hurt, he’d just linger here even longer and she wanted him gone.


Finally, the vampire was on his way and she strode along next to him, her arms crossed.

“Where are you staying?” she asked, more out of politeness than curiosity.

“Spotted an empty crypt in Restfield a while back.”

“Good.”

They walked along in silence and she frowned as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The smoke billowed in front of her and she coughed pointedly, glaring at him when he smiled and blew the smoke in the opposite direction. He finally came to a halt outside an abandoned crypt and she quickly made to leave.

“Stay out of my way and I might not stake you, Spike.”

She turned to leave but he caught her arm, halting her.

“S’not very nice, Slayer,” he murmured, his mouth close to her ear, “After I was so very nice to you.”

////////////////////

His mouth was on her neck, his tongue flashing across her skin and making her moan and cling to him even tighter.

“Spike,” she whispered and he wrapped his arm tighter around her, pulling her against him.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, his lips trailing over her jaw and then moving to her ear and back to her neck.

///////////////////////

She quickly shook her head, driving the memory away and shaking his restraining hand off.

“Goodbye, Spike.”

He said nothing but she could feel his eyes on her as she walked away. And something like disappointment flashed through her, scaring her and driving her forward even faster. She was glad to be rid of the vampire who was still the bane of her existence, despite the chip in his head. She got back to the dorm and dropped to the bed with a sigh. It had been a long few days and she was relieved it was over. Before she knew it, exhaustion caught up with her and she fell asleep on top of her covers, fully-dressed.