Chapter 10

Buffy took a deep breath before knocking on the door, smiling at the woman who opened it.

“Buffy? My dear girl, is that you?”

She nodded. “It’s been a while, Maggie.”

The woman ushered the young girl into her house, closing the door behind her. “Feels like a lifetime, you’ve grown up so much. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

Buffy sat down and thought about what she wanted to say. Maggie was an old friend of her mother’s, she was a very powerful witch and there was no one Buffy trusted more. She helped her mother a lot of times, and now it was her turn. “I’m looking for someone, a vampire. I was hoping you could help me out with that.”

“And what do you know about this vampire?” Maggie wondered.

“Her name’s Drusilla, she was turned in 1860 by Angelus. She’s very pale, long dark hair. I really don’t know much.”

Maggie’s eyes widened. “Oh, I know her very well. Are you sure you want to cross this vampire, Buffy? She’s very dangerous.”

Buffy was annoyed of all the lectures, but wasn’t about to back down. “I can handle one vampire. She can’t be any worse than others I’ve faced before. Do you know where I would be able to find her?”

Maggie closed her eyes and let her mind wander. “I’m sensing evil not far from here, very powerful. I can see Drusilla; she’s having a tea party with a doll.” Maggie opened her eyes again. “There’s something you need to know about this one, she’s not very right in the head.”

Buffy laughed. “Believe me, I got the memo.”

Maggie got back to her concentration. “That abandoned mansion on Crawford Street, that’s where she’s been hiding.”

“That’s not far from here. I can’t believe she’s been this close.”

Maggie’s eyes grew black for a moment, before returning to their normal color. “You need to be careful, precious. I don’t believe she’s alone.”

Buffy nodded and stood up. “I’ll be fine. Thanks again, Maggie. You always come through.”

Maggie saw her to the door, grabbing her arm before she could walk out. “Keep in touch; it’s been far too long since you visited me.”

Buffy gave her a smile and nodded again, then left the house and headed into the cemetery. She stopped suddenly when she felt familiar tingles up her neck, sighing when Spike stepped in front of her. He was the only vampire that she was able to sense before he revealed himself. “Are you following me now?”

He shrugged. “Was just out for a stroll, saw where you were headed. How is the old broad doing?”

“She’s fine, we were just catching up. It’s been a while.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “I’m not stupid, Buffy. I know why you went to see her. I’m telling you, leave Drusilla to me. You’re only going to end up hurt, or worse.”

Buffy had enough at this point. “It’s nice to know that no one has any faith in me. This is my fight, Spike. It doesn’t concern you.”

He stopped her from walking away. “The hell it doesn’t, you don’t think I want to avenge Elizabeth as much as you do? There are just other ways to go about it. You need to at least think this through more.”

“I’ve thought it through enough, nothing you say can change my mind. You just have to trust that I know what I’m doing, Spike. She’s your sire; you would never be able to kill her, even if you didn’t love her anymore. It has to be me.”

He was about to respond, but didn’t get the chance.

“Look what we have here, boys. Fresh meat,” a fledgling commented, two others at his side.

Buffy glared at the unwanted vampires. “Do you mind? We’re trying to have a conversation here.”

The same vampire chuckled. “Oh, she’s a feisty one. I think I’ll eat her first.”

Spike rolled his eyes. Fledglings were pathetic, especially for not realizing that they were in the presence of a Master vampire. “Let’s take care of them first, love. Then we can get back to our chat.”

Buffy nodded as they both attacked the three vampires, taking them by surprise. She handled the loud mouth one, while Spike took on the other two. It wasn’t long before all three were dust in the wind. She glanced at Spike, that being the first time they’d ever really fought together. Then, as if the fates were out to get them, it started to pour.

Spike grabbed her hand and ran to his crypt, since it was closer than her house. He pulled her inside, shutting the rain out.

Buffy shivered as she wrapped her arms around her body, drenched from head to toe and really wishing that she hadn’t worn a white shirt that day.

Spike led her down to the lower level.

Buffy was surprised by how nice he made it up since the last time she was there; it looked like an actual room.

“You should get out of those wet clothes before you catch your death. I have something that you can change into.”

Buffy nodded and took the black shirt that he offered to her, raising her eyebrows when he kept staring.

He rolled his eyes and turned around, so she could change in somewhat privately.

“Okay, I’m decent, you can look now.”

Spike turned back and noticed that his shirt covered up most of her body, but seeing her like that was enough to make it painfully tight in his pants. “I guess you’ll be staying here until the storm passes, you can get under the covers if you want. I’ll just go upstairs and let you rest.”

Buffy sat down in his bed, speaking up before he could leave. “You don’t have to do that, there’s plenty of room here.”

Spike didn’t think lying next to her would be the best idea. “I don’t know about that, love.”

“Come on, it’s just sleeping. I promise to keep my hands to myself,” she said, throwing her hands up for him to see.

Spike laughed, even though it wasn’t her hands he was worried about. He took his shirt off, figuring that it would be safer to leave his jeans on and slipped into the bed with her.

Buffy moved closer to his side, resting her head against his chest.

Spike wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. It had been a while since he slept with a warm body next to him, and Spike didn’t think he would be getting any sleep that night. Buffy’s scent and the feel of her was enough to completely drive him crazy. He didn’t understand these feelings he had for her, knowing that he never even reacted to Elizabeth in such a way. It was those thoughts that completely confused him as he finally drifted off.