Interruptions


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They were patrolling the next night and she felt like she might float away- for the first time in a long time, she felt light-hearted. She was starting her new job next week and she could finally stop worrying about paying the bills. The salary wasn’t phenomenal, but it was enough to support her and Dawn. With a smile, she looked at the vampire by her side and on an impulse, reached out to take his hand. He tightened his fingers around hers and threw her a soft smile.

“It’s good to see you so happy.”

She smiled widely and squeezed his hand, leaning into him slightly.

“I’m just so relieved. Everything seems to be working out.”

“You deserve it to,” he answered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, “You’ve had too much to worry about for someone so young.”

“That makes you sound old,” she teased, smiling as he released her hand but draped his arm around her shoulders.

“I am old.”

“Still looking pretty good for it though.”

“Glad you think so,” he murmured with a chuckle, drawing her against him.

She smiled and wrapped her arm around his waist, breathing in his scent. They walked along in comfortable silence and she wondered just how everything had turned out so well. A little voice in her head whispered that it was since she had separated herself from her friends, but she shook it away. She didn’t want to think about them. She just wanted to enjoy the evening with her boyfriend. With the thought, she raised her head to look at the vampire and smiled widely.



He caught sight of her smile and raised an eyebrow in question.

“What?”

“I was just thinking… you’re my boyfriend.”

“That so?” he asked, unable to stop his own wide smile.

“Unless you don’t want the job?”

He chuckled and drew her to him, leaning down to kiss her gently.

“Couldn’t ask for anything better in life.”

“You really are soppy,” she commented with a laugh.

“Complaining?”

“Never.”

He pressed another kiss to her lips and then returned to his former position and they continued through the cemetery. She let her head rest against his shoulder, unable to wipe the smile from her face. She had definitely done the right thing giving Spike a chance. He made her almost deliriously happy- and at the same time, he calmed her when she was worked up.

In the few days they had been together, she had grown quickly used to the sweet feeling of being cherished and wondered how she could have ever not wanted it before. She had been so blind, so prejudiced against him for being a vampire and she was angry with herself for the time she had wasted fighting her attraction to him. And all because it had been drilled into her that vampires were evil. She shook her head slightly- she didn’t want to think about those things now- and tightened her arm around Spike’s waist. She knew she could not hide from her friends forever, but for now, she was content to stay away from them and be with the people she cared about most.



They were halfway through one of the cemeteries when they were jumped by a group of vampires. When they got to their feet and fell into a fighting stance, the hapless vampires realised just who they’d jumped and one took off across the cemetery. She shared a look with Spike and shrugged, turning her attention to the remaining vampires.

“This is going to feel real good.”

Spike chuckled and ducked a hit from an attacking vampire as she leapt forward and staked one instantly. That set them in motion and soon they were fighting with all they had to take down the vampires. She glanced at Spike a few times to check on him but he was caught up in the fight, all fists and fangs and passion as he fought. She was almost distracted by the sight of him but ducked a kick in time and spun to stake the vampire who had come at her.

She threw herself at the remaining vampires and took them out in no time, brushing herself down and turning to watch Spike as he fought the last vampire. They were almost evenly matched but she could clearly see Spike had the advantage and watched him with a smile as he dragged out the inevitable, clearly enjoying the fight. She leant against a nearby gravestone and waited, unable to tear her eyes away from him as he fought the other vampire.

Finally, he retrieved a stake from his duster and spun, driving it home and turning the other vampire to dust. He tucked the stake back into his duster and turned to her, slipping back into human guise.



When he saw her watching him, he tilted his head and gave her a soft smile.

“What?”

She rose to her feet and moved towards him.

“I love the way you fight,” she murmured, her eyes meeting his as she stopped in front of him, one hand coming to rest against his chest.

“Likewise, sweetheart,” he answered, one hand combing over her hair, “Always have done.”

“You always said it was like dancing,” she whispered, leaning into his touch.

“And am I right?”

“Maybe,” she replied quietly, closing her eyes and smiling softly.

He took his cue and leant down to kiss her, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her against him. She wound her arms around his neck, smiling against his lips as he peppered her with soft kisses. She leant back and met his bright gaze.

“Staying with me again tonight?”

“If you want.”

“Definitely.”

He smiled and caught her again in a hungry kiss. Before they could get too carried away though, she pulled away reluctantly and gave him a warm smile.

“Come on,” she said, holding out her hand, “Let’s get back.”

He smiled and slipped his hand in hers.



She lay back on the bed and smiled as he stretched out beside her, one hand lazily tracing patterns on her stomach. He lowered his lips to her neck and she leant into him, closing her eyes with the feel of his cool mouth on her skin.

“You’re so beautiful… so warm.”

Meanwhile, her fingers were making quick work of the buttons of his shirt and she soon guided it over his shoulders, leaning forward to kiss his neck. He moaned at the touch of her mouth and she smiled against his skin, their legs tangling as they tried to get closer. She managed to tug his shirt off and helped him with her own before lying back on the bed, drawing him with her and kissing him softly, teasing him.

Her skirt was next to go, she kicking it off impatiently as he tried to guide it down her legs. She giggled helplessly but then he was back, leaning over her, his eyes dark with desire, and she let out a shaky breath.

“I love you,” he whispered, but before she could make any answer, he dipped his head and kissed her. She twined her arms around him and held him close, loving the feel of his cool skin under her hands. She was getting quickly lost in the feel and taste of him- but suddenly, there was a loud bang on the front door and she jumped, pulling away from him.

They both tensed, listening again, and there came another thump, and another.

“I should go,” she whispered.

“Buffy… be careful,” he murmured, seeming to be listening hard.



She quickly sat up and pulled on a pair of shorts and grabbed the nearest top she could find- Spike’s shirt. She hurried out of her room, hastily buttoning the shirt, and found a bleary-eyed Dawn just emerging from her room. The knocking at the door was almost frantic now and Dawn sent her a worried look.

“Dawnie, stay here.”

Dawn nodded seriously and stopped at the banister, watching her as she descended the stairs slowly. She was tensed, ready for a fight, but as she spotted a face through the small windows on the door, she frowned in confusion and rushed to the door, throwing it open.

“Xander!” she cried, “What are you doing here?! You scared us. I thought you were a demon!”

She took him in and frowned at the bloodstains on his shirt and the cut on his cheek.

“Xander?”

He shook his head, seeming to remember himself, and with a quick glance at her attire, spoke up breathlessly.

“We need your help, Buffy. The Magic Box was attacked.”

“What?! When?”

“Just now. A demon. Anya got hurt. It thought she was the Slayer.”

Taking a calming breath, she brushed her hair from her face and nodded.

“Okay, calm down. I’m coming. We’ll sort it, okay?”

He nodded, strangely quiet, and she turned to the stairs as she heard movement.



Spike had just emerged from her room and placed a reassuring hand on Dawn’s shoulder before moving halfway down the stairs, dressed only in his jeans.

“You hear that?”

“Yeah. Sounds like someone’s after the Slayer,” he murmured with a frown.

“You think you can go to Willy’s, see if anyone’s saying anything?”

“Sure.”

She gave him a soft smile as he headed back up the stairs and then turned back to the still quiet Xander.

“I’ll be one minute.”

She jogged up the stairs, calling to her sister.

“Dawnie, get dressed. You’re coming with me.”

Dawn nodded and disappeared into her room and she rushed into her own room. Spike was waiting for her and stopped her as she moved to her wardrobe. He cupped her face in his hands, his bright gaze meeting hers.

“You don’t have to do this, you know.”

“I do,” she whispered, “It doesn’t matter who it is. Someone got hurt and it was my fault.”

“Buffy-“

“I have to fix it.”

He sighed but drew her close, wrapping his arms around her and pressing a kiss to her forehead.

“Just be careful.”

“Always.”