Keep the Night by SpikesDeb

Chapter #1 - Chance Meeting

CHAPTER ONE Buffy felt a tingling in her neck; it usually meant Angel was near so she craned her head around her friends not listening to them. She couldn’t see him; strange…….. “Buffy! Come on, you love this song.” “What? Oh, yeah. Willow, have you seen Angel tonight?” “Sorry? I can’t hear you…” “Angel – has Angel been here tonight?” “I haven’t seen him. Were you supposed to meet him?” “No. I just….never mind. Ok, let’s dance.” Buffy, Willow and Xander hit the dance floor at the Bronze. Xander spun off to the sidelines hitting unsuspecting dancers as he moved in his own unique and totally uncoordinated way. Buffy began to lose herself in the music and put the tinglies down to anticipation, nothing more. Willow stared at her friend, admiring the way she moved so unselfconsciously and wished that she could have half of her confidence. She leaned forwards to talk to Buffy as they danced. “So, how’s the preparation for Parent-Teacher night coming?” “Oh, so so, you know? Can’t pin Sheila down long enough to make any plans so I guess it’s just me. At least if I don’t mess up, she’ll be the one getting booted. Makes me feel bad, but hey – I have enough to do without worrying about my mom grounding me for the rest of my life.” “Yeah, I guess.” Xander came hobbling back into view having skinned his shin in his efforts to groove. He allowed himself some distinctly non-platonic thoughts as he watched Buffy strutting her stuff then reined in the inner perv demon and joined his friends in some light shimmying. Buffy seemed spooked, kept looking past them and over her shoulder. “Buff; you’re particularly ‘aaaargh’ tonight; what’s the what?” Buffy shivered. She was sure she sensed Angel; she never had the tinglies with any other vampire, Giles was always ragging on her about it. ‘Hone your senses’ and all that. But still she didn’t see him. She did keep catching the ever so blue eyes of a blond hottie who gave her shivers up and down her spine. But it couldn’t be him she sensed. Maybe Angel was just doing that watching thing, wanting to keep to the sidelines until there were less people about. That would work; she liked it when there was just the two of them. The blond in question walked forwards out of the shadows and towards the table they’d just vacated. His eyes were riveted on her. She watched, fascinated as he licked his lips then caught his full lower lip between white teeth. God; he was such a delicious sight. Whoa Buffy; slap down that ho and think of your undead boyfriend! She turned away, deliberately breaking eye contact and renewing her boogie efforts. When she glanced back, peeping from beneath her lashes, the blond was gone. She ignored the inner Buffy who pouted at the loss. I did a stupid thing last night / I called you / A moment of weakness / No, not a moment / More like three months of weakness “I love this song!” Willow mouthed to Buffy. Her friend nodded her agreement. The music was getting louder, the dancing more frenetic. Xander managed to never find the beat and the two girls giggled as they watched him jerk and twitch completely randomly. I'm one step away from crashing to my knees / One step away from spilling my guts to you “So, do you know that guy who was completely macking on you?” “What? Willow, I have no idea what you mean.” “A guy? Macking on Buffy? Where?” “Oh, he’s gone now, but he was totally into her. And oh was he cute!” “Willow, may I remind you that I have a boyfriend; and I think he’s the jealous type.” “So; do you know him?” “No, sheesh! And I don’t even know who you mean.” Buffy blushed at the lie; she knew exactly who she meant, was having a hard time putting the vision of him out of her mind. No, she didn’t know him. But she’d like to. Even though she completely loved Angel, she got a real buzz out of the gorgeous stranger obviously eyeing her up. Hey, she was still only sixteen…… I'm doing all right / No, don't feel sorry for me / Really I'm all right / I'm one step away from crashing to my knees Tinglies again. Where was Angel? This was really freaking her out. A shiver hit her when she heard the velvet voice speaking. She’d give good odds that it was her beautiful stranger. “Where's the phone? I need to call the police. There's some big guy out there trying to bite somebody.” BAM! Hit to the gut with a double whammy. Buffy sprinted from the dance floor and out the back door. Xander and Willow stared at each other, motionless in the midst of the dancing throng until their brains caught up with them and they headed out the back to catch up to Buffy. They skidded to a halt as they rounded the corner into the alley. Buffy was fully occupied dealing with the vampire who, as the stranger had said, was trying to bite somebody - a young girl in fact. She spotted her friends just as the vampire swung at her and managed to sidestep so he grounded his fists in the metal door behind her. He regrouped but Buffy grabbed his arm and twisted it up behind his back. She shouted to Willow and Xander, “Get her out of here!” and heaved a sigh of relief when Willow grabbed the girl and pulled her away. The vampire was seriously pissing her off now, so she vented her fury by hitting him in the face. But she couldn’t keep this up all night. “And a stake would be nice!” Xander zoned for a moment then turned and rocketed back into the Bronze. He didn’t spot the man hidden in the shadows. Seconds later he passed him again on his return journey, stunned to find Buffy lying on the ground with a vampire looming over her. He didn’t catch what the vampire said but Buffy managed to kick him in the face and knock him backwards as she sprung to her feet. The vampire spoke to someone behind Xander and he turned to look. Buffy tried to see too whilst once again fighting on the ground. The shadows were too dark; Xander turned back to his friend as the scuffle continued. “Buffy!” Xander shouted, throwing the stake her way; she caught it effortlessly and sunk it into the chest of the vampire who crumbled to dust above her. Xander rushed forwards, offering his friend a hand up. They both forgot about the unseen person the vampire had called to. A figure faded into the shadows even further. “Well, that was easy enough. Though I was a little worried when the vamp had me down. Bit sooner with the stake might have been nice…” “Hey, Buffster – just helping you get a good work out, you know? Didn’t look like you were having too much trouble.” Buffy raised her eyebrow at him, brushing the vampire dust off her as she walked forwards. Willow rounded the corner at a run, colliding with Xander’s back with a thud. “Sorry! Sorry! Is it all over, did the vamp get pooofed?” “Uh huh, one pile of dust as ordered. She get home ok?” “Yeah, she’s a bit shaken asking me all kinds of questions. Told her it was a student prank that went wrong and I think the old Sunnydale blinkers thing kicked in. She’s safe anyway.” “Good; now…….where were we?” The trio giggled and linked arms as they sauntered back into the club. Blue eyes watched and made notes. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Buffy was painting the banner – as predicted, alone. Sheila was a no-show so she’d rounded up Xander and Willow to give her a hand, Giles and Miss Calendar sauntering in to make up the gang. Of course, all Giles did was talk at her about some nonsense or other so she tuned him out. Not helping at this stage, what with Snyder on her back and having to do double duty as the Slayer due to the increase of vampire activity. And what was with that? Buffy realized it was possible that Giles had turned up to tell her the reason so tried to focus on his voice. “…..and I think it’s possible that it’s because of that.” Oh. He’d finished. “Erm, could you run that by me again? Kinda wasn’t listening.” Giles sighed, removing his glasses and taking out his ever-present handkerchief to polish the already polished lenses. “Really, Buffy. I do wish you’d pay attention. I don’t do this for fun you know.” “Oh, right. And I do. Giles! Look at me…….I’m living three lives here and none of them let me just be Buffy. Four if you count the dutiful daughter thing. Can you just tell me again without the snippy?” “Very well. There is a festival, the Night of St Vigeous; apparently vampires celebrate it to remember a time of mayhem. You have to stop them. Brief enough for you?” “Very funny. Alright, I’ll slay. But not tonight. Tonight I do dual duty as the daughter and the student; I can wave goodbye to one of my other jobs at least as the banner making is all…but….done!” She smiled as she filled in the last letter. “Let’s hope that the vampires know not to bother you then.” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Other than the mandatory ‘Mom-meets-Principal’ debacle that got her grounded for two months, Parent Teacher night went off without a hitch. Sheila never turned up so she got the expelled card and all seemed perfectly normal for a Buffy Summers school night. Buffy had been sent straight to bed with a plate of woefully unappetising sandwiches for company, her mom scowling at her and bemoaning her fate at giving birth to such a delinquent daughter. Said daughter bit her tongue and swallowed the ‘but I save the world’ retort; her life sucked sometimes! Still, she waited a little and slinked off into the night to fulfil her sacred duty. It was a beautiful night, actually. The moon was full, the air was fresh but not cold. Xander and Willow had patrolled with her earlier but sensing her need to be alone left her to it by 11.00 pm. Her mom was always grounding her, but strangely never thought to check that she was still in her room. Must be part of the slayer package, having a trusting mother. Buffy was actually humming the song she’d danced to last night in the Bronze and twirling her stake in her fingers. She felt happy to be alive. The only thing she needed now was a good slaying and she’d be in bed and dreaming of Angel kisses before she knew it. Talking of….. “Angel. Come out now…….I can feel you; vampire slayer, hello?” No response. “Angel. Come on, I’m in a perfectly good mood that I’d like to keep and while I appreciate your stealthy guy vibe, I’ve sussed you.” Nothing. Buffy mumbled under her breath. “Ok, not big with the loving of stalker guy.” She rounded a crypt, her mutterings caught in her throat as she almost walked into the blonde Adonis from last night. “Oh! Hi there! Didn’t see you, sorry!” He dropped his head and looked at her from under dark lashes. Buffy watched, open mouthed as he patted himself down to find a cigarette which he then placed between perfect lips, gripping it between his teeth. She followed his hands with her eyes, unable to speak as he made the simple task of flipping a zippo and lighting his cigarette the most sensual thing she’d ever seen. Spike grinned; the Slayer – all hot and horny for him. Well wasn’t that just a bonus? Drusilla had convinced him to play his cards close and not attack tonight as he’d wanted to. She told him the sodding stars were anxious – daft bint! But he’d played along – mattered not to him when he offed the slayer, just so long as she was dead. Hell, the way things were turning out he might even get a bit of touch before he drained her dry. “Is that so, pet? What you doing out here all on your own at night? All manner of beasties lurking to waylay a juicy morsel like yourself.” “Oh, don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. I’m stronger than I look.” Quite honestly, the way he was sweeping his eyes over her, lingering just beyond the time that would be deemed respectable, ignited her blood and made her mouth go dry. Seems like the moisture was needed elsewhere…………… “Still, I’d feel better if I walked you home. Don’t want it on my conscience if anything happened to you now do I?” Buffy nodded, quite unable to form words and certainly unable to deny him whatever he asked. Was he a hypnotist? “Erm…that’s very kind of you Mr…..?” “Spike; just Spike. It’s a nickname but I go by it all the time. And you are?” “Buffy – Buffy Summers. Nice to meet you…Spike.” “Shall we?” Bemused at her inability to refuse him anything, Buffy linked the proffered arm and started to walk out of the cemetery. Yet, there it was again. The tingle, the specific vampire tingle that told her that her vampire was nearby. She stopped, pulling her companion to a halt. “What’s the matter, pet?” “What? Oh, sorry……I just get the feeling I’m being followed by…….oh never mind.” They ambled on, Buffy oddly comfortable in the companionable silence. This was weird. She’d only just met him but he seemed so familiar. She had no idea what impulse had her linking his arm, a total stranger. And the arm felt snug cradled against her side, right temperature and…………….. A sudden chill stroked icy fingers down her spine. She turned her head slowly as she walked, holding her breath as she swept her eyes up and across their linked arms, his muscular bicep, his chest….She knew what she would find when she saw his face. Pushing him away from her, she reached into her coat for a stake. “You’re a vampire!” He laughed, his ridged brow and fangs glinting in the moonlight. Lazily he clapped his hands, amber eyes glinting with amusement. “Yeah? What gave it away? Man, call yourself the Slayer. What happened to that special ability to spot a demon, love? Not feeling up to it tonight?” Buffy faltered a little. Why hadn’t she been able to spot he was a vampire straight off? Was it the fact that he was drop dead gorgeous and had her forgetting anything but baby blue eyes and sculpted cheekbones? Way to focus, Buffy! With a snarl she launched herself at him intending to stake him on first contact; Spike sidestepped easily, laughing at the thrill of fighting his third Slayer. This was just bloody marvellous! He’d only just come to this deadbeat town and his prey was already putty in his hands. A part of him watched, detached from it all, and conceded that this girl had something special. Yeah, she was hot – no doubt about it. And kind of innocent too, very young and still with the babyface. But the way she moved was far from innocent and it hit him in the groin, his cock stiffening as she circled him for another shot with the stake. It would be a pity to off her really; she was just begging for a good rogering. Maybe he’d drain her a little, keep her conscious then……Odd feeling, that. He shook himself out of his reverie, ignoring the twinge of unease he’d felt at the thought of forcing himself on her. He’d done it before, revelled in it in fact. But somehow he felt as if he wanted her to want it, plead for it – want him. He dropped to avoid her spin kick, shooting a punch to her abdomen from the ground. The Slayer cried out in pain and he smirked; he was still the Big Bad despite his disturbing thoughts. Before she recovered he moved in to grab her from behind, pinning one arm up between them and reaching to expose her neck, fangs ready to strike. A harsh light flooded the cemetery, strong gusts of wind following in its wake. As the light faded, the vampire and the slayer lay entwined on the ground, unconscious. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TBC....

Chapter #2 - Must be Willow.....

CHAPTER TWO Giles leapt up in his bed at the sound of knocking. Scrabbling for his glasses he peered at the clock. 3.00 am? Who would be calling at this time? He swung his legs out of bed and pulled on his dressing gown. Yawning, he made his way downstairs. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” He pulled back the bolts and unlocked the mortice. “Who is it?” he shouted before opening the door, pausing to grab his crossbow on the way. “It’s us Giles, Willow and Xander. Have you seen Buffy?” Giles put the crossbow down and opened the door in a rush. “No, why? What’s wrong?” Willow shifted uneasily on her feet, looking anywhere but at Giles. Xander nudged his reticent friend but she took no notice of him. “Having woken me at this time would one of you have the decency to tell me why?” “Willow.” Xander nudged her again. “Erm….I think there’s a chance that she’s…erm…….what I mean is….” “Willow; for the love of…..will you please just tell me what’s wrong?” Willow took a deep breath. “Well, I..I….you know all the books on magic in the library?” “I’m familiar with them, yes.” “Well, you know there’s one that you told me was very dangerous and to never open it?” “Yes…” “Erm…I opened it; just a little! I didn’t mean to, I was looking for something about St Vigeous, I swear! But then I maybe kinda possibly….did a spell.” Her voice tailed off, eyes downcast to the floor. Giles took a deep breath, the glasses dangling from his fingers as he tried to curb his temper. The stupid little girl; he knew exactly the consequences that could arise from meddling with magical forces. “Willow. Think very carefully; what spell did you possibly…maybe…do?” “I..I think it was a forgetting spell; it looked so easy and I just read it aloud, quietly…but I suddenly got an image of Buffy falling to the floor.” A beat. “Have I done something wrong?” She looked so earnest, bottom lip quivering and eyes wide with fear. Xander looked sheepish, no doubt having urged Willow on in her insanity. Despite himself, Giles felt strangely proud that a mere girl could work such a spell, without training. If indeed she had worked a spell. It was always possible that Buffy was at this moment tucked up in bed and the three of them were merely indulging in flights of fancy. But no. This was the hellmouth. Odds were that Willow had somehow called on magicks that affected Buffy in some way. Nothing to do but research. “Look, you two go home. I’ll go to the library and check out the volume you were studying. The Magicks of Volataro, yes?” Willow nodded. “Right, I’ll see you at school tomorrow. I’ll pass by Buffy’s house once I’ve been to the library, but I don’t think it will serve any use to waken her mother at this point. I suppose if there’s something wrong we’ll know soon enough. If she is affected by the spell, I need to find out how before I can fix it, and if she is simply in bed – well, her mother wouldn’t understand the need for the school librarian calling at this hour. Go home…and Willow – I trust you have learned your lesson?” Willow nodded again, words trapped in her throat. She promised herself that it would be a long, long time before she even thought about magic. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The girl’s nose tickled; she was lying on the ground, grass squashed beneath her and invading her nostrils. She sneezed, the sudden sound and movement jerking her upright. Looking down she surveyed the beauty of the male lying beneath her, her hand splayed on his muscular chest. “Wow! Is he with me?” She gazed at his face, drinking in every inch. His hair was kinda strange, but hot – peroxide blonde was so 80’s but he suited it. His eyebrows were dark giving away the fact that the hair colour wasn’t natural if anybody even thought that. She tilted her head to get a closer look at a scar on his left eyebrow; she wanted to lick it, the urge to do so almost overwhelming. Her heartrate increased as she focused on his lips, so full and soft, moist and just damn kissable. Unconsciously she leaned in towards him, licking her lips as she zeroed in on her target. Deep blue eyes stopped her in her tracks. “Hey,” she muttered nervously. “Ahem…hello? Do I know you?” The girl sat up, her hand still keeping contact with his chest. “…ah..erm……I’m not sure. I can’t remember!” “Well, given our…..intimate…..positioning, I think we must do. And I do have a strange feeling of familiarity and well, I’d say loathing but that can’t be right!” She giggled; he spoke in such a strange manner. And the accent… “You’re not American.” “No kidding! I’m English, and don’t laugh at me.” “Sorry. But you’re so cute.” English guy almost choked. “Am not! Take that back……..I mean look at my outfit! Cute does not equal black leather and black nail varnish. I’m bad to the bone.” “Yeah, sure you are. Come on, Big Bad. As you don’t know who you are, and I don’t know who you are and I don’t know who I am and I’m assuming you don’t know who I am either….” Her voice tailed off as she recapped the sentence in her head. “I think that made sense….basically, as we don’t know who we are but we seem to be linked in some way, we need to get help.” “And where exactly do you think we’ll get that?” “I don’t know, but we can’t stay here. Have you seen where we are?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “It’s a fricking cemetery! What were we doing here?” He dropped his eyelids to hood his eyes; the girl drew in a sharp breath as he curled his tongue behind his teeth and gave her a wicked smirk. “Well, love. Usually when a bloke brings a girl to a dark and dangerous place it isn’t to play cards with her. Guess we were seeking some alone time…” The girl felt herself blush. But he was right; there was no other reason for the two of them to be lying entwined on the floor of a cemetery other than they were up to no good. She smiled to herself, a hot glow flooding her tummy as she thought of the alone time she’d been spending with this rock god. He was older than her, and though she didn’t know for sure, she suspected older than her usual boyfriends and way hotter. If only she could remember his name…. Or her name for that matter. “Ok, so we aren’t here to read the bible; I get that. We must be boyfriend and girlfriend…….do you think?” The boy looked at her earnest face and melted. She was adorable, all worried in case he rejected her. Yeah, he thought they were a couple. They felt right, like they fit together, kismet and such. “I think. But I can’t remember your name; shouldn’t I know your name?” “I..I…shoot, I don’t remember my name so why should you? Lemme see; I think I’m called ………….Cecily..” “Ugh; are you sure? Don’t like the sound of that love; don’t seem hardly right at all. I think you’re more like a…Bunny! Yeah, that seems proper.” ‘Bunny’ shot him a look questioning his sanity. “And who are you? Bugs?” The blond god snorted. “Nah, love. Don’t think so; something more villainous I reckon, bad like. Maybe ……Spite?” “That’s not even a name! Are you sure?” “Feels right; rolls off the tongue, don’t you think?” Bunny watched as said tongue rolled out of his mouth and wet his lips, her eyes fixed on its moist, pink tip as it ran across his teeth to its final resting place all coiled up and ready to strike. ‘Think I’d like to be rolling onto that tongue…..’ “Well, I think it’s weird but it’s up to you.” “Says Bunny!” “Oh come on! That’s what you’ve just named me; so if it’s lame it’s your fault!” The two were now standing toe to toe, faces leaning closer together as they sparred verbally. “Does this seem kind of familiar to you, this back and forth tagging….in a graveyard?” Spite looked around himself, noting the lack of heebies the headstones engendered in him. And Bunny was right; he did feel like this wasn’t the first time he’d stood in a graveyard trading quips. “Dunno love, yeah…..I guess so. Maybe we’re Goths, or maybe we’re doing it for a bet. Maybe our friends put us up to it.” Bunny pondered; it was possible. She figured Spite was maybe in his early twenties; he looked all bad boy and stuff so maybe they were Goths. She couldn’t really think of any other reason to be in a graveyard in the middle of the night. “Oh! Maybe my address is in my purse, I’ll check.” She patted her pockets then rifled through her purse pulling out a battered notebook. It was scrawled all over with doodles of what looked like fangs and hearts pierced with, well, they looked like wooden stakes. Inside the front cover she found an address. “Well, this may be where I live – 1630 Revello Drive. Oh, and there’s a few names too: Willow, Xander, Giles. What strange names…..and somebody called Angel. Wonder who she is?” Spite shrugged. Digging deeper she found an actual wooden stake. She held it up to Spite, her head inclining quizzically. “What the hell are you doing with a piece of wood in your bag, love? Some kind of self-defence thing? It’s creepy; makes my skin crawl.” “Don’t know, but must be a reason. Do you have anything?” Spite patted himself down. He pulled out a battered packet of cigarettes and a zippo lighter. Lighting up and taking a deep drag, he smiled. “Well, seems I smoke. Don’t have anything else though.” “Looks like we go to this Revello Drive address then. Must be some reason I wrote it down.” Spite nodded in agreement. He held out his hand to Bunny and she took it without hesitation. God, she was beautiful! If she was his, he’d definitely done something good in a former life. And her hand fit in his perfectly, their arms swinging between them as they matched strides. Yeah, they must be a couple. Wouldn’t feel so right otherwise. In contented silence, the two blondes ambled out of the cemetery and set out to find Revello Drive. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Giles was muttering under his breath, uselessly removing his spotlessly clean spectacles and polishing them furiously. “Bloody idiot child; expect such foolishness from Xander but Willow? Stupid.” He clutched the offending volume from which Willow had inadvertently cast the spell under his arm having called at the library to pick it up. The book had fallen open at a random page as he reached for it, the corner of the page crumpled as though gripped in anxious fingers. It seemed the spell that Willow may have invoked was one with far-reaching consequences if she’d been successful. He intended going home via Revello Drive and seeing exactly what kind of damage the redhead may have caused. He decided it was worth risking Mrs Summers’ disapproval to make sure Buffy was alright. As he rounded the corner he collided headlong into a couple. The book went flying to the floor. “Sorry! Sorry – didn’t see you.” Giles smiled as he recognized the accent; nearer to his own real one than he was ever willing to admit, it reminded him of home. He was already on his knees clambering for the book so he tipped his head up in joyful anticipation of seeing a fellow Brit. “Buffy!” The two standing over him looked at each other blankly. “I’m sorry, do you know us?” “Buffy, it’s me – Giles!” A shy smile curled her mouth. Giles. The name in the book. But he looked way older than she was; was he a creep? She gripped Spite’s hand fiercely. “I’m sorry; I really don’t remember you. Should I? I think I’ve lost my memory and…….what did you call me?” “Buffy. It’s your name. Buffy Summers.” Spite snorted. He murmured against her ear “It’s even worse than Bunny, love. What was your mother thinking?” “Shut up Spite. Oh! Do you know him? What’s his name?” Giles looked the man up and down. He wore very strange clothing, lots of leather and his hair was extremely peculiar. But no, he wasn’t familiar with him. “No, I don’t believe I do. Spite…was it?” “Yeah, well – don’t rightly know. We just kind of gave ourselves names. Seemed to fit. So I’m not with Bunny…erm, Buffy here?” “Well, suffice it to say she hasn’t mentioned you, but it wouldn’t be the first time she’s kept me in the dark.” “And you would be her……” The question hung on the air, the blond young man’s tone definitely bordering on possessive as he curled his arm further around Buffy’s waist. “I’m her…her…erm…school librarian. She’s a very conscientious student.” Buffy felt a warm glow run through her at the praise; but it didn’t seem right to her somehow. Still, Giles must know; and if he was so pleased to see her they must spend a lot of time together. And what else would they have in common to spend time on but studies? “Can I ask you a question?” Giles nodded. “I found this address in my purse – do I live there?” Giles scanned the notebook and nodded his confirmation. “Yes, with your mother. I suspect she’ll be worried that you’re out so late, Buffy. Maybe you should be heading home. I would like to see you in the morning, in the library. Will you come?” Buffy shot a glance at her glowering companion. He looked fit to burst that she was talking to this man……this older man; sheesh! What would he be like if she spoke to guys her own age? “Yeah, I’ll be there. If you tell me where there is. I have a temporary memory deficit if you recall.” “Oh, yes… of course.” After giving her directions to the school, Giles pointed the couple in the direction of Revello Drive. His attempts to separate the two when he offered to show ‘Spite’ to his own home was met with stony silence and a renewal of their gripped hands. No, these two were not going to be split up easily. Reminding himself that Mrs Summers was at home and therefore there would be no ‘funny business’ he allowed them to go on their way, making a mental note to ask Willow about the British stranger in the morning. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Willow was fast asleep and dreaming of squashed frogs with a smile on her face when the persistent tapping at the window drew her attention. She sat up in bed, her hair a bird’s nest on her head and her bedsocks hanging off the end of her toes. “Huh? Whassup..” She slid off the mattress tugging her moo-cow jacket straight, fighting to keep her eyes open as she went to the door that led to the outside. She was suddenly awake when she recognized the hulking figure of Angel leaning against the wall. “Angel! What do you want? Ok, not polite……erm…what’s wrong?” He turned his soulful brown eyes on her, hands hovering above – but never touching – his hair. “Buffy. Have you seen Buffy?” Willow blushed, guilt and mortification stifling her voice. Did Angel know she’d messed up? “Yeah, earlier. Were you supposed to meet her? I think she’ll be in bed now as you should be…….oh not that…..and you’re way older than……hey Angel! What can I help you with?” “We didn’t make plans…….Only Buffy usually stops by erm, wherever I am actually, but I haven’t seen her.” Willow fought the impulse to ‘fess up. With a bit of luck any problem that Buffy had would be solved first thing in the morning and Angel need be none the wiser. “She…...she probably went home because we’ve got a lot of schoolwork. She’ll be round tomorrow I guess.” Angel nodded. Willow looked back over her shoulder thinking she heard a noise and not wanting her mom to find her talking to a boy in the middle of the night. When she turned back, Angel was gone. “That is so creepy, how he just melts away like that” she muttered to herself. Pinning her hopes on either Buffy being unaffected by her spell or Giles making everything right, she huddled beneath the covers and screwed her eyes tight shut until she dozed off. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TBC

Chapter #3 - Until the morning comes...

CHAPTER THREE Buffy and Spite, or whatever his real name was, checked the number on the outside of the house – 1630. The windows were dark; whoever was inside had gone to bed. Buffy stopped before she reached the door, dropping her voice to a whisper as she turned to her companion. “I think this feels familiar, but I kind of don’t feel right going in the front door.” “Well, love. Not sure how else you want to get in.” He nodded towards the yard. “You fancy a tree climb?” Buffy reluctantly let go of his hand as she wandered towards the large tree abutting the house. She touched the bark and glanced up; there was an open window above an overhanging half-roof. Turning to Spite, she beckoned him towards her. “Look! Up there; we could get in that way. You up for it?” The blond sauntered towards her, eyes glinting with merriment and his expressive tongue curling behind his teeth. “I think you’ll find, pet, that I’m always up.” He finished his assertion with a raised eyebrow. Buffy felt her insides quiver at the implied meaning of his words. They must be a couple, she wouldn’t get that delicious deep down tingly feeling with just anybody, would she? She rolled her eyes at his antics and made to climb the tree. Firm hands were suddenly at her waist hoisting her upwards to grab the lowest branch. She dangled there momentarily as he let go of his grip on her, the imprint of his fingers burning her flesh with their loss. Buffy looked around, seeking him out – a nip at her ass cheeks had her squealing then squirming as heat flooded her groin. “Hey! No fair! I can’t defend myself like this.” “Yeah love, but I just couldn’t help myself – all pert and round and just, well, edible. Firm peaches, all juicy like. Can’t blame a bloke for having a nibble.” “Hmm. Well, not helping though with the getting into the house. Can you give me a leg up?” “I’d like to give you a leg-over.” Buffy blushed. What was it about him that had her insides all turning to goo with a glance or a word? She swung gently on the branch until she felt her feet meeting upward pressure. Spite boosted her upwards until she managed to swing her legs over the branch and hop onto the half roof. From there she scrambled through the window. She found herself in a typical teenage girl’s bedroom complete with pop band posters, stuffed animals and bling bling jewellery. It felt right; felt like hers. She spotted a number of photographs of herself with two other people, a red haired girl and a dark haired boy and that clinched it. Must be her room. Reaching into a drawer she pulled out the handful of crucifixes she found there together with the sharpened stakes and bottles labeled holy water. What the…… A rustle and a thud dragged her attention back from her musings and she let the strange items drop back into the drawer. Where was Spite? She moved over to the window, leaned out hands braced on the frame. The said blond was sprawled on the floor at the foot of the tree, arms splayed out at his sides. “Spite! What are you doing?” she hissed at him. “Oh, you know. Thought I’d take a nap. What do you think you silly bint? I fell, didn’ I?” “Well, hurry up – I’ve found some pictures and weird stuff. Come on!” Muttering about ‘bloody women’ he quickly shimmied up the tree and scrambled onto the roof. Buffy stood back from the window, arms crossed and little booted foot tapping. Spite didn’t move. “Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in!” “Thing is love, I think there’s a barrier or something; I tried to get in before and bounced off. Look!” Spite leaned forwards, hands upright palms to the front – he gurgled in surprise as he found no resistance and tumbled headlong through the open window. Buffy cringed at the sound; surely somebody would come and check out the noise. She fell to her knees besides the prone figure of her maybe boyfriend, hissing at him to be quiet. He clawed at the leather coat covering his face revealing a pissed off scowl. “I swear! I couldn’t get in before! Bounced right back!” “Well, maybe you just don’t remember it right. Cos look – you’re all in now!” “Yeah, seems like. Weird. So, where’s this stuff you’ve found?” “Here, in this drawer. Crosses and bottles of Holy Water. Sharpened sticks like the one I had before. What’s it all for?” “Don’t know love, but I’m not anxious to find out. That stuff gives me the willies.” Spite shuddered. Settling back on the bed and kicking off the cluster of stuffed animals he found there, Spite shrugged off his duster and slapped it down on the floor. Arms bare and extremely well muscled as they forced their way out of the sleeves of the black t-shirt he wore, Buffy couldn’t take her eyes off him as he flexed one bicep and beckoned her to him with a finger. Without conscious thought Buffy’s feet began to eat up the distance to the bed, her eyes unable to break contact with his blue orbs. The bed dipped as she crouched over him, her hair sweeping down to brush the toes of his doc martins. “Ewww! Boots, Spite – this is a silk coverlet! Off, take them off!” “Demanding little chit, aren’t you? You trying to seduce me, kitten?” Buffy rolled her eyes; but still she crawled up the bed, mesmerized by the light in his eyes, the moist kissable lips, the chiseled angles of his cheekbones. The boots hit the floor during her climb and she came to a halt with her arms braced either side of his chest, her lips mere inches from his and her breath coming in short gasps. The connection between them was electric; as she breathed out, Spite breathed in, eager to drag the air she exhaled into his lungs so as not to waste any part of her. He was completely bewitched by this young girl, knowing deep within himself despite the loss of memory that they were linked and that she belonged here in his embrace. In a rush of movement, he grabbed her upper arms and crushed her lips in a bruising kiss. Buffy gasped as his tongue flicked along her mouth, embarrassed when she felt a gush of moisture between her legs. Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was erratic, and she was finding it increasingly difficult to think. She was here. On her bed. Her mother was probably next door. She didn’t have a clue who this man was really and she was about to do………what she always swore she’d save for her wedding night. Had probably already done it in fact because look at him! Oh she was under no illusions; he was older than her and liked to play up the bad boy image. A quick peck and a fumble wouldn’t be enough for him. But strangely, she felt that if she wanted to stop now he wouldn’t fight her, would do whatever she asked of him. But she didn’t want to stop him. She needed to touch him. Shyly, and without breaking the kiss, she sneaked her hand under the tight top he wore, panting with pleasure as she felt the ripple of muscles beneath her fingers. Abs to die for……..she could count them just by running her hand across his flat stomach. She was desperate to look at him now so sat up and straddled his waist with her legs either side. A surge of female pride raced through her as she saw the look on Spite’s face. He swallowed nervously and wriggled a little in an attempt to ease the ache in his groin caused by the jailbait vixen presently gyrating on his family jewels. God, he was about to shoot his load and he was damn sure this wasn’t his first time with a woman. He wasn’t sure whether this was his first time with this woman, however, and he wanted to make sure that if it was, it wouldn’t be his last. She was special, he knew that. Knew bugger all else, but he knew that. So he’d better do this right then. Hazel eyes nervously watched azure blue as they darkened with lust. Did she know this? Had they done this before? She still wasn’t sure. She stayed astride him as he sat up and cupped her jaw, mesmerised as his lips drew ever nearer. The first touch was feather light, just a glance of lips on lips that left her aching for more. A mewl of need left her and as her mouth opened to vocalise the loss the lips were back, firmer this time with a tentative sweep of his tongue along the sensitised flesh before he slid it inside to wrap around hers. More mewling as he sucked her tongue and rasped it with his teeth, the pleasure she was feeling heightened as one hand had now left her jaw and was moving oh so slowly down her back to find the hem of her top. Deliciously cool fingers drew icy paths along her heated flesh; that felt very familiar. The difference in their skin temperature set off alarm bells somewhere at the back of her mind but she was too far gone in the moment to care. Buffy felt the material of her top bunch up at the back as the cool fingers gripped it and pulled it upwards. In a daze she pulled away from his lips and lifted up her arms to help him ease the top from her shaking body. The neck of the shirt got caught on her necklace and it took a bit of wrestling to untangle the two. Buffy dropped her arms and let her golden hair bounce down around her now naked shoulders stopping Spite in mid-reach for the front-clasp of her bra. Outlined as she was from the light of the moon streaming in from the window her hair took on a halo-like effect that had him penning poetry in his head. Was he a writer? Seemed that way, the thoughts he was having, but he doubted his mental scribblings would make the transition to written verse. What the buggering hell was ‘effulgent’ anyway? He continued undressing her, unhitching the bra to allow her small, pert breasts to fall into his waiting hands. His eyes flicked back from her face to the perfection of her breasts noting with delight the puckering of her nipples as he did so. His thumbs hovered above the hardened nubs until Buffy arched her back to force the contact she was desperate for. Her mouth opened in a silent ‘o’ of pleasure, eyes closed, head thrown back as she delighted in the sensations rippling through her. From just his hands. On her breasts. The blush started again but she shook it off. She had other things for her blood to be doing…….. “Baby…….lift up……need to get these off you….. His voice was like liquid satin, his husky tones caressing her just as his hand continued to brush over her sensitised skin. Without conscious thought, Buffy did as he asked, scrambling off him to ease his access, watching his face as he undid the button of her jeans and pulled the material towards him to get tension to lower the zipper. His fingers dipped beneath the waistband as he did so and she shivered when the delicious pressure left her as he started to drag the denim down her legs. The jeans stuck at her boots. Stupid boots. “Oh………sugar!” Spite laughed at her affronted face. “I really will need to teach you some swear words, love. That was pathetic.” “Help much? Are you just gonna lay there or give me a hand?” “Gonna give you more than a hand, pet. Ok, give me your foot.” It wasn’t really what Buffy had envisaged as her first time…….although really, this could be any time at all! But as she didn’t remember anything prior to waking up with her hand splayed possessively across the chest of the hottie presently unzipping her boots, she was wiping the slate clean in her head and erring on the side of caution. The boots were tossed to opposite corners of the room and the jeans soon joined them to leave her clad in only a tiny pair of white panties. The contrast between the white cotton and her sunkissed skin was stark in the moonlight, and the darker patch where her curls showed she wasn’t really a natural blonde drew Spite’s eyes. Gorgeous. “Hey!” She slapped his chest; his totally clothed chest. “Why am I sitting here in the altogether when you’re all with the clothes having? No fair.” She stuck out her bottom lip in a delicious pout. Spite nearly creamed his pants. “Fair do’s love; shift up a bit and I’ll join you.” Buffy scooted backwards, eager to see him reveal the treasure that was his chest. Spite stood at the end of the bed, eyes fixed on her as his clothes disappeared. First came the shirt – ripped off, quite literally, by his eager and shaking hands. Buffy’s hungry eyes zeroed in on his pink nipples, his pale skin, the muscular yet spare physique. He was breathtaking. Pale hands moved to the button fly of his jeans and she lived every single pop of the material as inch by tantalising inch the masculine beauty of his groin was revealed. Flat tummy, defined hips, line of dark hair that drew the eye down to the tangle of curls wrapping his manhood in a sinuous embrace. She licked her lips and swallowed, hard. Grin on his face, Spite pulled the jeans down his thighs to reveal his swollen cock, bobbing as he bent over to drag the garment off his legs. Then he stood up; proud, naked – glorious. She hadn’t realised she’d gasped, but his chuckle broke the moment. “Like what you see, pet?” “Vain much? I’ve seen better…..” “And you know that…..how? What with the mindwipe and all? And anyway…….I doubt it.” He was right. She knew it. He knew she knew it. His smirk was infuriating; and sexy. Very, very sexy. Buffy patted the bed, eyes never leaving him but unable to settle on any one part. He prowled towards her making her breath hitch in her throat, the predatory look in his eyes making her shiver. Her heart felt as if it would break her chest it was pounding so fast and she was aching to get her hands on him. Surely this was something she was used to? And if not………why not? The bed dipped as Spite knelt on the mattress, naked as the day he was born. “Hey love; you’re cheating!” Buffy gasped as the smack of the elastic forming the waistband of her now shredded panties left welts on her hips. God that felt good! He’d just reached out a finger and flicked them away from her body. All caveman-like. And now she was bare to his gaze. And wet, oh boy was she wet! “That’s better; don’t want nothin’ between us Buffy. Gonna make you feel so good.” She didn’t reply, couldn’t – her mouth was too dry and anyway her brain had lost the ability to form words. Her eyes, however, said everything. Cool lips descended on hers in slow motion; she watched him move towards her until he was too close to focus on then closed her eyes to savour the moment. Buffy whimpered as the expected contact didn’t come, eyelids fluttering, mouth opening to bemoan the loss. The whimper was swallowed up when Spite bridged the last gap and softly brushed his lips against hers. Buffy arched against him bringing her bare breasts into contact with his chest, the feel of flesh on flesh sending tingles through them both and galvanising Spite into action. His eager hands gripped her shoulders and dragged her down the bed, his body following to cover hers, knee nudging her legs apart so that he could lay between them. They fitted perfectly, Spite’s hips aligned with hers, his cock resting at her opening and straining to gain entry to her moist depths. His left hand gripped hers, fingers intertwined and resting by the side of her flushed face. His right hand stroked her hair down from her crown, lingering at her cheek then ghosting on past her shoulder to cup her breast and caress her aching nipple. Buffy moaned into the kiss that threatened to take her breath. The cool fingers continued their trail down her side rubbing circles on the silken skin of her thigh before hooking her knee and bringing her leg up to wrap around his waist. Her heart raced as his cock slid along her pussy lips and over her sensitised clit; he shifted slightly to reach between them, his fingers quickly becoming coated with her juices as he ran them along her slit and teased at her swollen nub. “Open up for me, love.” The whisper against her lips had her eager to comply and she threw her other leg around his hips, suddenly desperate to have him close to her. Spite guided his hard length to her entrance, sliding easily over her slickened skin. He fought the urge to thrust into her and fuck her hard, couldn’t quite forget the flowery poetry that had invaded his mind earlier and which now had him thinking of similes for her golden skin and sinuous limbs. No – this time would be gentle and memorable; next time he’d show her how raw it could be. And still he fought the urge to bite her. What kind of kink was that? Slowly, he pressed forwards, his cock disappearing inside her heated depths inch by tantalising inch….until he encountered a barrier. Shocked, he stopped – drawing back from the kiss to look at her. She was a virgin? Buffy’s eyes were wide as she blinked up at him. He’d stopped – why had he stopped? “Love…..I…we haven’t …this is your first time…..” “I don’t care………I need you, Spite……….I’m dying here! I want you…..” “But love…….” All protests died on his lips as Buffy seized his ass and pulled him towards her; he felt the pressure pop as her maidenhead was breached and he was sheathed fully inside her tight pussy. Buffy cried out in pain and he smothered it with a kiss, not anxious to be caught in such a delicate position should her mother decide to come and investigate what was hurting her little girl. Buffy was tense with the pain and he stayed motionless, continuing to kiss her gently to calm her. When the need to move was overwhelming he started rocking gently, feeling Buffy’s body relax as the pain became less and pleasure started to build. “Ok, love?” he murmured and she answered him with a nod and by tightening her legs again behind his back. Instinctively she met his tentative thrusts by bucking her hips to meet him, her hands playing with the curls at the nape of his neck and her tongue battling with his as their kiss deepened. The pain had been white hot when he’d first slid fully inside her, but now she felt a thrumming through her veins and a rising pleasure that centred where they were joined. She wanted more. Spite felt the change in her body that signalled the end of the pain and moved accordingly. He withdrew almost entirely then slid back inside her, her tight muscles gloving his cock and bringing him rapidly to the point where he’d have to pound into her. He was only human after all……….. Buffy surprised him by thrusting up towards him, wordlessly asking him to go deeper, harder. Who was he to disappoint a lady? His actions became more frenzied, the mattress bowing beneath them as he set a steady rhythm. His mouth left hers to trail moist kisses along her heated skin and down her neck; again he found himself fighting the urge to bite her – not gently but really tear into her – but he settled for nipping at her and soothing the marks with his strangely cool tongue. The combination of his cock stretching her almost painfully and the tiny bites at her neck had Buffy going into sensory overload and with a cry that was quickly swallowed by his kiss, she orgasmed, her body arching off the bed as she gave herself over to the pleasure. Spite allowed his self-restraint to dissolve and he buried himself inside her with hard, fast strokes to climax seconds after she had and while her pussy was still rippling around him. Man, that was the best fuck of his life………..that he could remember. But somehow, he thought even if he did remember, it would still be number one. “That was………wow………did you..I mean…was it….okay?” Buffy was terrified that her inexperience – which there was now no doubt she had – would have disappointed him. “Love, it was amazing. Honestly. ‘m feeling all top dog right about now – special, you know? Don’t know why we were waiting but can’t say I’m sorry we did, would hate for me to have forgotten that moment. You alright, not too sore?” “Bit tender……….but I think I know how to fix that……” “That right?” “Uh huh……..wanna help me?” The sun was rising as the two fell into an exhausted slumber, peeping round curtains hastily drawn together in their attempt to keep the night. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ TBC

Chapter #4 - The Morning After the Ride Before

CHAPTER FOUR “So, she’s alright, she’s safe?” “Well, that depends entirely on your definition of ‘safe’ Willow. She’s alive, she appeared unharmed – but she has no idea who she is, or I might add, who I am.” “Oopsy…” “Yes, quite. I take it this little adventure has cured your curiosity?” Willow nodded, abashed. “Right, then we need to find a way to reverse the spell. Willow – as it’s your mess I’ll expect you to work jolly hard at fixing it. Start with the spell itself – and please, just read it silently. How many times have I told the both of you to not read aloud in front of the books?” Willow and Xander both avoided Giles’ eyes. It was true. He was always saying it, in fact it was the phrase they used to mimic him when they were giggling together as opposed to researching. Grabbing a volume each, they settled down at the library table and began to work. Giles was becoming anxious. Where was Buffy? She was already a half hour late. Maybe it had been a mistake allowing her to leave with the blond young man. That triggered his memory. “Willow? Buffy was with someone, a young man.” “Oh! Angel found her then – he came calling on me but did that disappearing act before I could tell him much…” “No, not Angel. Young man Willow. I’ve never seen the chap in question. He was English – rather pale with very strange hair. He seemed to know Buffy intimately, at least they were certainly reluctant to be parted and……OH GOOD GOD!” “What? Man, do you have to yell? Nearly had me a heart attack there.” “Xander, don’t exaggerate. And focus, please? I have the awful feeling that the young man with Buffy was a vampire.” “What?” Willow and Xander wore twin looks of horror on their faces. “You left her with somebody you think might be a vampire?” “Erm….yes. I rather fear I did. Although, to be fair it was dark and Buffy and her companion seemed eager to be off. And I didn’t think he was a vampire last night, just now on reflection. Did I mention the pallor? Dear lord! Maybe she’s a vampire – that would explain her lack of attendance this morning. Xander, Willow – quickly – we have to go to Buffy’s house.” All three scrambled to collect their belongings and rushed out of the library, Giles returning seconds later to grab a bag of stakes and holy water. He hoped he was wrong, but if he wasn’t – well, it didn’t bear thinking about. But he was a Watcher; he knew his duty. With a heavy heart and a prayer to all the deities who were watching that he was wrong, he sprinted to catch up with the youngsters and steeled himself for the worst. It didn’t take them long to reach Revello Drive. Joyce’s car was still in the driveway which presented a slight problem. And another possible worst case scenario. It was well past the time when Joyce should have left for work; her presence in the house may mean that a newly turned Buffy had breakfasted on her mother in time honoured fashion. Giles gripped a stake in his left hand, sweat on his brow, and knocked on the front door, having sent Xander and Willow round the back to sneak in while he provided a distraction. Eventually, he heard footsteps on the stairs and the door was opened a crack. “Yes? Who is it?” He sighed with relief. At least Joyce Summers was alive…….or maybe she was……..he had to get a grip, his mind was racing away with him. “Mrs Summers? It’s Mr Giles, I’m the librarian at Buffy’s school. We met once before….” “Oh……is there a problem? I’m afraid I’m not dressed – I woke this morning feeling unwell so I took some medication and went back to sleep. Hold on a second; I’ll just put some clothes on and………what am I thinking? Come in, please. Take a seat in the living room and I’ll be right with you.” Giles entered warily, the stake gripped inside his pocket. Buffy’s mother was clasping a robe together at the neck and did, in fact, look quite ghastly. “I’m sorry to disturb you……” “No, no – it’s fine; I’ll be right back.” Giles wandered through to the other room, eyes lighting on photographs and little mementoes from Buffy’s childhood as he passed. He perched on the edge of the couch but jumped up as he spied Xander and Willow gesturing frantically from the back window. After assuring himself that Mrs Summers was still upstairs he moved to the back of the room and opened the door. “Giles – are you alright? Shall we come in and stake her?” The watcher sighed; Xander Harris was far too fond of what he perceived to be the exciting part of Buffy’s vocation. Since the first time he’d become involved with vampires and they’d taken and turned his best friend Jesse, he’d become rather obsessed with ridding the world of them. All of which would be fine if he wasn’t in fact a liability, more likely to injure himself than dust a hungry vampire. “No, Xander. Mrs Summers is simply under the weather; a staking won’t be necessary.” “And Buffy? Where is she?” Willow still felt guilty at her inadvertent slip-up; she was relying on Giles to fix it and make the guilt go away. Giles heard footsteps on the stairs. “I’m about to find out…….now go back to school. I’ll meet up with you later. Go!” He hissed the final words and closed the door on the two worried faces. He made as if he was staring out of the window, seemingly admiring the garden, as Joyce Summers walked in. “Mr Giles. I’m sorry for leaving you. Would you like something to drink? I think I do have some tea somewhere….” “No, no. You should sit down. I apologise once again for troubling you; you do look quite ill.” “Thank you.” Joyce said this with a hint of a smile. “Oh dear……….I didn’t mean. …I’m sorry..” “It’s alright. I’ve looked in the mirror. I look dreadful.” Mirror. Check. Definitely not a vampire. “I’ll be fine, I think I must have eaten something that disagreed with me. I really should avoid shellfish. So…..what can I do for you?” Giles took a seat on the couch opposite the chair where Joyce had slumped. “I’m just wondering if Buffy is alright. She was supposed to meet me this morning at the library for….erm…….a project she’s involved in and she didn’t show up. It isn’t like her so I thought I’d better check that nothing was wrong.” “She’s not in school?” Joyce made to get up, but lurched back down. Her skin was pale and clammy and she looked about to throw up. “Oh…..well, not that I’m aware of. But I’m sure there’s a reason. Was she feeling unwell also? Maybe she had a reaction to the shellfish?” “I didn’t see her after we got home. I’m afraid she got a rather bad report from Principal Snyder so I grounded her. She went to her room with a cold meat sandwich and shortly after that I felt unwell so went to bed. If she’s skipping school she is in sooooo much trouble…” “Well, I’m sure there’s an explanation. Don’t worry; I may have mistaken matters in any event. When she didn’t appear I simply assumed she wasn’t at school and came straight round here. I’ll probably find her in class. Maybe I should go and check.” Joyce nodded weakly. “Would you? And would you let me know if she isn’t there? I’d come with you, but I don’t think I could travel.” “Of course. I’ll ring and let you know immediately. Are you sure you’ll be alright? Shall I send for a doctor?” “No, really. I just need to rest. Shrimps will be the death of me! But I just can’t resist them. Serves me right. Well, shrimps or Buffy – I don’t know what to do with her. We moved here to get away from trouble, but still it seems to follow us. I can’t understand why a bright girl like my daughter has to be involved in so many questionable escapades. Maybe it’s her friends? I don’t know, I can’t think right now.” Joyce sighed. Giles felt helpless, knowing full well the reason why Buffy’s behaviour would seem excessive to her parent but instinctively wanting to protect his young charge of whom he was fiercely proud. “Well. Yes. I’ll let myself out. Do take care of yourself Mrs Summers.” “Thank you. And Mr Giles? Call me Joyce – Mrs Summers is my ex-husband’s mother!” The watcher laughed. He liked this lady. “Very well – and you must call me Rupert. I’ll be in touch.” He closed the front door behind him. He was none the wiser as to Buffy’s whereabouts and had no idea how to start looking for her. He doubted very much that she would be in school, but didn’t want to worry her mother further. Giles stood by the tree in the front yard pondering his options. Where was she? Buffy peered from behind her bedroom curtain, Spite at her back. “Is he still there?” “Yes” she hissed. “Move back, if he looks up he’ll see us. God, what was I thinking? I can’t believe we fell asleep. And my mom – funny, calling her that when I have no idea even what she looks like - what are the odds she’d be off sick today? How are we going to get out of here?” “Well, love. I’m thinking the same way we got in. We’ll wait until Mr Tweed goes on his merry way then we’ll shimmy down and your mum need never know that you made a grown man cry like a baby all night with your greedy little mouth.” “Spite! Please! It’s not funny…….did I really?” “C’mere pet.” He grabbed her to him and started kissing down the side of her neck, hands reaching round her back and underneath the pyjama top she’d shucked into when she’d heard her mom and Giles talking downstairs. Buffy was lost in him again, unable to resist as he started to unbutton the top, nipping at her flesh as he revealed every glorious inch. But the sound of footsteps on the stairs jerked her back to reality and she pushed him away to land in a heap on the floor. “Buffy? Are you in your room?” The footsteps sped up and Buffy panicked, looking around for somewhere for Spite to hide. “Quick! The closet……go!” Grumbling under his breath, he got in among the tops and the skirts, marvelling at the lack of length and the garish colours that surrounded him. And her smell. That damn smell got him hard instantly and he was thankful that he hadn’t gotten dressed or he’d be having serious space issues in the groin area. The closet door opened as Buffy threw his clothes in before shutting him back in the dark. And he felt strangely comfortable with that. He supposed he must be a bit of a night owl. He watched through the slats as Buffy’s bedroom door burst open and her mother was framed in the doorway. Tasty, for an older bird. But she looked right pissed off! “Mom…..hey! What are you doing home?” “Don’t you play the innocent with me young lady! Where have you been?” “Erm…….here? You grounded me remember?” She’d picked up that little tidbit by eavesdropping on the old guy’s conversation earlier. That stopped her mom in her tracks. “But….why aren’t you at school? Rupert……Mr Giles, the librarian called round earlier; you were supposed to meet him.” “Mom……..I…I don’t feel well. I just thought I’d stay home.” “Nonsense. You thought you’d sneak the day off and I wouldn’t know a thing about it. Well unlucky for you I’m actually sick as opposed to just pretending so your little game is up.” The two women faced off, Buffy trying desperately to remember that this was her mom. The tense moment was broken by the knock at the front door. “Wait here. I’m not done with you yet.” Buffy glared but stood still as ordered. Her mom was scary! Soon, two sets of footsteps were on the stairs and her mom returned with Mr Giles close behind. “I…heard voices from outside, forgive me for intruding. Buffy, I thought we’d arranged to meet.” “Well, as I was telling my mom, I felt ill so I thought I’d stay home.” “Really. You look remarkably well to me.” Surreptitiously, Giles palmed the crucifix he was carrying in his pocket and managed to brush against Buffy’s arm. Nothing. No flames or smoke or painful screams. He relaxed; not a vampire. “Joyce? Do you want me to escort her to school?” What was this? Her mom and the guy who said he was her school librarian ganging up on her? And he’d called her mom Joyce, which was presumably her name. No……oh no, please no – they weren’t……involved? That was just oookie! Joyce smiled at – what had she called him earlier, Rupert? Sheesh, lame name much? “Yes, that would be wonderful. Thank you for coming back for her. Now, I really do need to lie down. In fact…….” Joyce sat on the edge of Buffy’s bed, Buffy’s eyes widening as she noted the rumpled and soiled sheets. “I think I’ll just nap here for a moment; I really do feel awful.” “Do you want us to stay…..look after you?” “No, no – you go, take Buffy to school. There are rules in this house and she needs to learn how to obey them. I’ll be fine – I just need to sleep this off.” “Well, if you’re sure….Joyce. I’ll call on you later, if that’s alright?” Joyce smiled weakly. Yes, she found that would be more than alright. She could use a friend of her own age, even if she wasn’t really ready for dating. For now. “Yes, Rupert. That would be lovely. Thank you for everything.” “Buffy? Shall we?” She was trapped, Giles’ hand on her arm and her mom between them and the closet. She was roughly pulled away and down the stairs, not able to see anything when she whipped her head round in a vain attempt to see Spite before she left. When they reached the outside, Buffy shrugged Giles’ hand off her. “Don’t do that! Where do you get off dragging me out of the house? Am I in remedial school or something?” “Buffy. I’m sorry – but I was worried about you. There’s something you need to know….” The pair walked away and back towards the school, Buffy reluctantly following the older man. Her footsteps slowed to a halt and she looked at him as though he was insane. “I’m a WHAT?” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chapter #5 - Come Out of the Closet

Chapter 5 Xander and Willow were waiting patiently at the library, Willow keeping her distance from the magic books and concentrating solely on history volumes. Xander, as usual, found himself flicking through to find the naughty woodcuts. Consequently, both of them jumped as the swing doors of the library opened. “Buffy! You’re here!” Willow flung herself at her friend, ignoring her lack of response and failure to return her hug. “Willow. She doesn’t remember who you are. Please……let’s all sit down and discuss things.” Willow nodded, tearfully, but released her grip. She wandered over to where Xander was sitting and snuggled up close, seeking validity as a friend from the one who would still remember her. Buffy looked at them warily and took a seat on the opposite end of the table. Giles merely paced, removing his glasses and sucking on one arm. “I’ve acquainted Buffy with a potted history of her past. She’s not convinced however – and who could blame her? It does all sound rather fanciful.” “Ya think?” Xander, as usual, wasn’t helping matters and Giles glared at him until the stupid smile faded from his face. “Xander, please try to make yourself useful. Can you bring me the Watcher’s Diaries? Just a handful will suffice.” “And I find them……where?” “Do you ever pay attention? In my room. Willow, show him.” Xander sulked all the way there, muttering under his breath, “But we’re not supposed to go in there, wish he’d make his mind up…” “Ok, you guys say I’m a ‘vampire slayer’. One, there’s no such thing as vampires and two…there’s no such thing as vampires.” “Very funny. I’m afraid to say that you are entirely wrong. There are vampires, more than you could imagine here on the Hellmouth. Not to mention demons, black magic practitioners, evil…” “The What-mouth?” “Hellmouth. Sunnydale is a mecca for all manner of beasts. It’s why you were drawn here. Buffy, I know this is difficult for you, but I am telling you nothing but the truth. What will it take to convince you?” “Full frontal lobotomy?” “Here ya go, G-man.” “Thank you. And please…do not address me in such a way. It’s ……..uncouth.” Giles started poring through the volumes, trying to find something that might jog Buffy’s memory. “Whatever you say. So……Buffy. You can’t remember anything? You don’t remember that I’m your boyfriend, for instance?” Willow sighed. Would he ever get over his doomed obsession? “Yeah, right. Not falling for that one. And besides…I have a boyfriend. And no offence, but he’s way hotter than you are.” “Angel’s not all that. I’ll have you know I’m a nummy treat!” Buffy looked blankly at Xander. “Who is this Angel? I had her name on my notebook. Is she another member of the gang?” “Buffy, Angel’s a he………and he’s a vampire….and your boyfriend.” Buffy laughed at Willow. “No……..he can’t be a vampire. And he’ll just die laughing when he knows his name is Angel! We kinda picked our own names last night. He named me Bunny and himself Spite. Course, we were fairly near with my name. Which is kind of a strange one, has to be said. Giles, don’t you know Angel? You didn’t seem to recognise him last night?” “Actually, I do. But, Buffy…you weren’t with Angel. I was about to ask Willow about the young man you were with. I haven’t seen him before.” “But I thought……..he …….I mean we…..we’re a couple, right?” Giles shook his head in the negative. “Not as far as I am aware. Of course, you probably wouldn’t tell me anyway. Willow….as I was saying, the young man Buffy was with last night. Blond…but definitely dyed, British, black leather coat. In fact, he looked like a ruffian, hence my concerns.” “Oh. Him. Yes…Buffy, don’t you remember? He was checking you out at the Bronze the night before last. The blonde hottie, piercing blue eyes?” “That’s my man. My Spite. Look, I don’t know you people and no offence…you’re all kind of weird. But Spite…I know him. We’re together. I can feel it. When he touched me, I…” Xander’s tone was icy. “He touched you? Where? I mean how? When?” “That’s none of your business.” “We were concerned, Buffy, because I had the strangest feeling that he may be a vampire.” Buffy blinked at the librarian. What was it with this lot and vampires? Were they part of some strange cult? “Listen, I don’t know anything about vampires other than what I see on the TV. But if he were a vampire, wouldn’t he have tried to bite me? Well……..properly like, with blood and all? And he didn’t. So……..that shoots your theory right out of the water. And anyway, what’s the fuss? You’ve just told me the boyfriend you thought I did have is a vampire? Isn’t that normal for around here?” “Oh no! Buffy, Angel’s ………different. He’s not your usual vampire. He has a soul.” “This is getting way too complicated for me. Look, show me your books, pictures, whatever and let me get back home. I’ve left Spite hiding in the closet and my mom’s not looking likely to leave any time soon. He’ll be starving by now!” Giles, Willow and Xander were horrified! Giles had put the idea in their heads that this stranger was a vampire, and now Buffy was telling them he was home alone with her mother and he was hungry? “Buffy. I think we’d all better go meet this chap. And quickly.” “Okay, but you’ll have to explain to my mom why you brought me back from school. I get the feeling that she’s a force to be reckoned with when she’s all angry.” “Done. Let’s leave now. Hurry!” +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Spite was becoming uncomfortable confined to the closet as he was. It was more that he was enclosed and his body itched to be moving than anything else. He didn’t have any trouble breathing, despite the cloying air in the tiny space, and every breath he took dragged more of Buffy’s essence into his lungs. He was therefore in a state of high arousal and desperately trying to think of things to quench his lust. He was tempted to see to himself but with Buffy’s mum not three feet from him that was a risky proposition. She was presently laid out on Buffy’s bed, back to the closet and curled up in a ball against her obvious discomfort. She was dozing and Spite wondered whether he would be able to sneak out and past her while she slept. As he was about to open the door though, she moved around to face the closet and he froze with his hand outstretched. Her eyes fluttered open and Spite thought he was rumbled, but thankfully she closed them again and curled back up, arms wrapped round her middle. ‘Looks in a bad way. Poor woman.’ Bugger. Spite leaned back against the closet wall and settled himself for a long wait. He’d need to get out soon, get some grub. His belly was all gurgly and he wanted something to eat. Rare steak or some such. Something juicy, bloody. He stifled a snort – not a vegetarian then. A flash went through his mind – hot, pumping blood, warm flesh…..was he a slaughterer? He didn’t feel disgusted by it, in fact it was making his mouth water. Just another piece of the puzzle for him to ponder. Buffy’s mum started to snore gently. Well, if he was to make a break, now was the time. Slowly, he pushed open the closet door, holding his breath in case a creak woke the sleeping woman. When it was wide enough to slip through he gripped the door and tentatively snaked his left leg out, the bare foot hitting the carpet soundlessly. His right leg followed and he slipped out of the closet, back facing it, and clasping his clothes to his nude groin. His duster and boots were by the side of the bed and he knelt down, eyes on Buffy’s mom who continued to doze, reaching out to grab them. One boot, two………so far so good. Shuffling forward slightly on his knees, he gripped the buttery leather of his coat and grabbed it towards him……cringing as it snagged on the leg of the bed. Cursing silently, Spite laid down the rest of his clothes and lay full length on the floor to unhitch his coat, his head underneath the bed frame as he tried to free the material. The startled scream spooked him and he jumped up only to hit his head on the frame, scooting backwards and sitting upright to face the horrified face of Buffy’s mother. It was then he remembered two things: one, he was completely naked and two, he was still holding his breath. What the fuck? He shot his hands to his groin to cover his unmentionables and eventually the scream stopped as she drew in a breath. Before she could start again Spite lunged forwards and covered her mouth, one hand still preserving his dignity. “Shhh, shhh now, come on…..I won’t hurt you. Please….be quiet and I’ll explain….” Joyce stilled, eyes fixed on the naked man who’d crept up on her while she slept. She nodded and he took the hand away. “What are you doing in my daughter’s bedroom?” Her words were icy and Spite was more than a little afraid of her after the dressing down she’d given Buffy earlier. “Ah…well….I can explain. You see…” But he couldn’t explain. Didn’t have a clue where to start. “I take it you know Buffy?” Spite nodded. “You know her well?” Spite hesitated but nodded again: he supposed after the night they’d shared he did at that. “And……you spent the night here?” Another nod. “Would you like to get dressed? I know I’d be more comfortable if you were covered up. I’ll be downstairs in the kitchen. You’ll join me.” It wasn’t a request. Spite swallowed hard as she left the room. Bloody hell! Wouldn’t like to get on her bad side; but it was a little too late for that. As if in a trance he pulled on his clothes, leaving the coat on the bed and trudged down the stairs. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Giles stopped at the front door to Revello Drive and turned to the others. “Now, Buffy. You say that Spite was in the closet in your room? Well, then we’ll sneak up and hopefully take your mother out of danger first then deal with him.” “Why do you think she’s in danger? You’re making me so mad! Look – here I am, unbitten and non-dead. He’s so not a vampire it’s not even funny.” “It’s better to be safe than sorry, Buffy. Now, you go up the tree again and we’ll seize him in a pincer movement.” Blank faces stared at him. “And in English that would be……?” “Willow, myself and you, Xander, will take the stairs. Buffy will go in the window. I’ll drag Joyce out of the room and you’ll all trap Spite in the closet until I get back upstairs. Then we’ll find out once and for all whether or not he’s a vampire.” Giles held up his weapons of choice – holy water and a crucifix. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with. And I want a huge apology when you find out I’m right.” Buffy boosted herself up into the tree, not even marvelling at her burst of strength in her rush to get back to her man. Giles placed her key in the lock and let them in the front, the three of them racing up the stairs in a clatter of feet. He pushed open Buffy’s bedroom door just as Buffy landed through the window – no Joyce. Buffy strode over to the closet and wrenched the doors open – no Spite. She shifted clothing on hangers in a vain attempt to locate him. Nothing. “Now what, brains trust?” “Buffy? Is that you? Get down here this instant young lady!” “Uh oh,” she rumbled. “Come on, you guys. You’re all in this too.” Buffy led the way down the stairs followed by Giles and the others. She stopped dead when she reached the kitchen: her mom and Spite were sitting round the breakfast counter sipping cups of tea. “Buffy, Rupert. Xander and Willow too. Thanks for calling round. We’re having quite the open house today it seems.” Buffy fixed her eyes on Spite, mouthing to him ‘are you alright?’ He nodded, cup to his lips to hide his smirk. “Ah….Joyce. Are you………well?” “Quite well, thank you. Tea?” Giles nodded and watched, mesmerised as Joyce poured him a cup. The atmosphere was eerie; Joyce was acting as though everything was fine but there was an edge to her voice that had everyone jumpy. “Have you all met Spite?” Giles almost dropped his cup. “Well, apart from you, Buffy. I know you have as he spent the night in your room, I believe.” Buffy blushed. What had Spite been telling her mom? “So, are you going to formally introduce me to your boyfriend, Buffy? Especially as we’ve both seen him naked?” Giles spat the tea right across the room while Joyce calmly sipped hers. Xander exploded. “Naked! You’ve seen him naked! Oh……..right then….” Spite’s snarl had him cowering behind Willow. “Look. You all have a lot to talk about……..maybe I’ll skedaddle, yeah? Catch you later, Buffy.” “You’ll sit right back down, young man. I haven’t finished with you yet.” Spite sat, surprised at himself. Man she was fierce! “Right. I want answers. Spite has been telling me a fanciful tale. He says he has no memory prior to last night and neither do you. Is that right, Buffy?” Buffy nodded. “And he advises me that he spent the night here because he really didn’t know where else to go.” Buffy nodded again. “Well, I suppose I can understand that.” Buffy sighed with relief. “What I can’t understand is why he was nude.” The silence was oppressive. Eyes shifted one to the other as nobody was willing to venture a reply. “Mom, I know this sounds wild but really, I don’t know what to tell you. Only thing I remember is waking up in the cemetery with Spite, bumping into Giles on the way home and then……well, we didn’t know what else to do so we crashed in my room.” She avoided her mom’s eyes, blushing furiously as she glossed over what exactly the ‘crashing’ comprised of. “I don’t even remember you…….sorry.” Joyce gulped against the sudden tears pricking at her eyes. She still didn’t feel well and the shock of waking up and seeing Spite’s – admittedly muscular and appealing – bottom peeking out from beneath Buffy’s bed followed on by the realisation that her innocent little girl was not so innocent any more was taking its toll. Now to be told that Buffy didn’t know who she was – well, it was all too much. “Joyce. I’ll try to explain if I can. But first, there’s something I must know. Spite? Do you mind?” “Depends what it is, mate. What can I do you for?” “Just a simple test. Hold out your hand.” Spite did so, eyes curious but not threatened. Giles pulled out the stopper from the Holy Water bottle he carried and slowly dripped some onto Spite’s upturned palm. The result was instantaneous smoking flesh, ridged brow and fangs and shrieking all round. Willow and Xander huddled behind the watcher, clinging to each other in fright. Spite backed off, like a wild animal captured and wounded, holding onto his smoking hand and facing the room. He snarled, unsure what was going on but feeling instinctively that his life was in danger. Joyce had pushed her chair backwards as the screaming had begun and stood now looking between Spite and the others with her hands covering her mouth in horror. Buffy just gazed on the scene in front of her, paralysed with shock. What was this? Was this a vampire? But….she’d slept with him, kissed him, still wanted to kiss him……… Out of the corner of her eye she saw Giles reach into his pocket and pull out a wooden stake. As if in slow motion she saw him grip it and move towards Spite who was backed up against the fridge and lurched into action, placing herself between Giles and the snarling vampire. Giles managed to stop the descent of the stake before it hit her. “Move out of the way, Buffy. He’s dangerous, we need to get rid of him.” “No. Not gonna happen. I don’t know how we’re together but we are. Either put it down and we talk… or leave. You say I’m this vampire slayer, guess that means I’m stronger than most, huh? Well, unless you want to see how strong…..” “Vampire slayer?” Joyce murmured, strength leaving her as she sagged against the kitchen counter. “I’ll explain, mom. Once I know what it is, I’ll fill you in.” Buffy was leaning against Spite’s chest, her frame tight with repressed energy as she readied herself to fight. Just because she didn’t remember who or what she was, seemed her body hadn’t forgotten. “So? What’s going on?” Giles sighed and lowered the stake, placing it on the counter and backing away. “Very well. Buffy, it’s true. You are the vampire slayer, one girl in all the world chosen to…..I suppose that bit can wait. Willow and Xander truly are your friends and I am your school librarian. I am also your Watcher. You have slain many vampires, not to mention demons and other beasts. Your life is not simply that of a schoolgirl, nor are the lives of your friends. The reason you are quite clearly unaware of anything prior to last night is that Willow inadvertently cast a spell that robbed you of your memories. And seemingly, the memories of Spite also.” The vampire was watching the proceedings and fighting the urge to claw and kill. He had no idea what was happening to him, but he did know that these people meant to harm him…….and that Buffy had stopped them. He snaked his arm round her waist and pulled her tighter against him. “Look! All of you back off. Spite and I are going for now, we need to talk. While we’re gone just……….just fix it!” Buffy and Spite started to back off to the door, eyes never leaving the motley clan assembled in the kitchen. “Erm……Buffy. Sunlight?” Willow pointed to the ball of burning sun making its presence known in the corner of the window. “Sunlight?” “Not good for vampires. Very…….un-mixy.” “Oh. Right. Then……..we’re going to my room.” The two blonds backed out of the kitchen, their footfalls on the stairs echoing in the silence that followed their departure. Giles was the first to move, removing his glasses and wobbling over to take a seat at the breakfast counter. Joyce sat down next to him and reached out a shaky hand to pat his. Rupert? Do you want to tell me what’s going on with my daughter?” Giles started in on the history of slayers and vampires as Willow and Xander helped themselves to ice cream. TBC

Chapter #6 - Things That go Bump in the Dark

Chapter 6 The factory rang with her cries of anguish. The Anointed One signalled to his minions to help her, distract her……..to just shut her up. A multitude of vampires rushed to her side but she keened on. “My sweet Willie……….he’s lost in her, drowning…..come to me my love; she’ll be your death in a burst of sunlight.” The small boy with the large power spoke to his chief minion and instructed him to find the cause of her distress and bring him to them. Anything to stop her whining. It was grating on his nerves and besides…..the cartoons were on. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Buffy followed Spite into her bedroom, leaning against the door to shut it. He paced, hands and arms flailing before he started to pat himself down for his smokes. “I don’t see my mom as being the kind that allows smoking in the house, Spite.” He stopped, looking down and away from her, shoulders slumped. “No. You’re probably right. Allows smoking flesh though.” Buffy cringed at his words. According to Giles, she killed creatures such as Spite every day; it was her sacred duty. But the thought of harming him, the fact that he had been in pain, cut her through. “Let me see.” She moved towards him, taking his damaged hand in hers. It was already healing, nothing more than reddened marks now where the blisters had been. “Big baby! There’s nothing there!” Her words were light, meant to raise the mood and he played along although his feelings were in turmoil. He didn’t know what to think any more. Were the two of them natural enemies? But if that was true, why did he need to keep touching her, assuring himself that she was there? Was he really sizing her up for the kill? “Buffy. Love. We have to talk this through.” “I know. I’m just afraid of what it all means. Can’t we just run away? We don’t know these people after all, and they’d get over us. Would be easier.” He longed to agree with her; but he felt strongly that Buffy would wither and die without the support of the people discussing them downstairs. They seemed pretty protective of her after all. “No, pet. We have to stay, work it out. Hey! How old are you anyway?” “How should I know? Why?” “Well, ‘s just – no offence, love but the things we did last night? Not sure you’re of an age to be thinkin’ of em, never mind puttin’ em into practice. And if they find out…….well, I’d like to keep my gonads intact to be honest.” “But you’re a vampire. With the fangs? Couldn’t you, you know…….eat them?” He grinned. Yeah, he could at that. Suddenly things were looking up. His smirk died as he caught Buffy looking at him, an odd smile playing about her lips and her eyes glassy. She moved closer to him until her breath was warming the skin of his neck. “Show me again” she whispered. He didn’t know what she meant at first, but slowly realised what she was asking. “You sure love? Makes me kind of fierce and bad tempered to be honest?” “Show me.” Her voice purred against his skin, her chest now pressed against her, her hands resting on his shoulders. He could hear the murmur of the discussion going on downstairs, and a part of him realised that it was odd for him to be able to do so. Another vampire trait no doubt for him to get used to. All such thoughts disappeared when he felt the sweep of her tongue up his throat and across his jaw. He surprised himself with the growl that built up in his chest. “Go on………do it now…..” He felt the pressure beneath his skin as his brow thickened to stand ridged, his eyesight sharpened so that everything seemed harsh and bright. He raised a finger to trace the fangs that thrust from his gums, nicking the pad and suckling the crimson fluid into his mouth, caressing the digit with his pointed tongue. He marvelled at the clarity of everything; the colours, the scents, the taste. If this was being a vampire, yes please – he’d sign on for that. Inhaling deeply, he sensed an appetising aroma that took him a moment to place. Arousal. Want. Need. Buffy. Focusing on her, he noted her flushed face, the open mouth and quick tongue that moistened her dry lips. Her eyes were fixed on him. She wasn’t repulsed by this, hell it turned her on if the state of her knickers was anything to go by. What kind of a vampire slayer was she? She moved nearer to him, lips connecting softly, the tongue now sneaking out to taste him. Spite wrapped her in his arms pulling her hard against him, nudging at her knees to allow him to grind against her mound. Her kiss grew harder, hungrier, hands coming up to grip the curls at the base of his neck as she grew bolder. Hot tongue met cooler as they melted into each other, Buffy forgetting for a moment the sharp canines lurking in the recesses of his mouth. She jumped when her tongue sliced on a sharp edge; Spite’s cock hardened as he tasted the delicious tang of warm blood and he gripped her hips. This was what he lived for; instinctively he knew it. He sucked on her tongue, swallowing down the heated liquid, Buffy’s moans tangible evidence of her enjoyment. He reached between them to pop the top button of her pants, snaking his hand inside the denim to tug at her curls. Buffy arched her back making it easier for him to reach her cleft and he delighted in the slick wetness of her as he ran his fingers over her clit. His lips left her mouth, kissing along her cheek, her jawline – down, down and along the throbbing jugular that called to him to pierce it, tear it, rip it open. He shifted his hand so that he could slip two fingers inside her, curling the tips in search of her pleasure centre. Buffy’s eyelids fluttered, helpless to do anything but give herself to her lover. The slamming of a door downstairs jerked them back to reality, Buffy struggling to breathe as she tried to regain control of her body. “Not here…with them all downstairs.” Spite nodded, still in game face. “Agreed, pet. Wanna get out of here?” “God yes! But the sun…….” “Don’t worry; don’t rightly think Mr Sunshine keeps me caged usually. Think I’m more likely to piss on him and be on my way. Must be ways round it; can’t see me cooling my heels when I’ve got things to do. Maybe the sewers, d’you think? Can’t get more dark and dismal than that. You got a thick blanket?” “Ewww! Sewers! With the rats…….” Buffy sighed. They did have things to do……each other mostly. “Well, the coverlet off the bed’s thick; take that. No! Not the silk one, the one underneath. You want to go now?” “No time like the present. And we do have unfinished business…….” Buffy rolled her eyes at the smirk on his now human face. “We taking the traditional route or the monkey way?” She considered all the things that could go wrong with Spite slinking down the tree – sunlight, stray branch….. “Traditional. But we’ll have to be quiet.” “Ok. Lead on, Macduff!” Buffy looked back over her shoulder as she made her way down the stairs. She didn’t have a clue what he’d just said, but she liked the voice he’d said it with. At the bottom of the stairs she stopped, finger on lips in the universal signal to button it. There was a heated discussion going on in the kitchen, voices loud enough to carry to the hallway. Perfect for their disappearing act. “Ok….quickly now…..come on!” Buffy opened the door, tensing at the possibility of squeaks, and gestured to Spite to go through. He hesitated; it was a nice theory but he really wasn’t sure whether the whole cover over head deal would work. He might just end up a big pile of dust under a 15.0-tog duvet. But the incentive was just now leaning out of the door with her pert butt wiggling, golden hair sweeping her shoulders. He shrugged. ‘We all have to go sometime……’ It was worth the risk. In a blur of muffled curses as the quilt wrapped itself against his legs and threatened to have him sprawling full out beneath the fatal sun, Spite sprinted towards the sewer cover, Buffy close behind him. He was beginning to smoulder as Buffy struggled to gain purchase on the metal cover and was contemplating heading back to the house; eventually the cover gave and he dived head first into the hole trusting himself to be agile enough to land in one piece. Buffy clambered down the ladders, pulling the cover back into place above them. She couldn’t see a thing in the darkness and she kicked herself that she hadn’t brought a flashlight. Spite, however, didn’t seem to be having a problem. She saw the flash of yellow demon eyes and hesitated as he reached for her hand; this was all too weird. Yesterday she …………well, she had no idea what had happened yesterday but she felt sure it wasn’t spent walking through the sewers with a vampire you were desperate to climb up. Her body took over and her fingers interlocked with his as he started forwards, the water swishing round their feet. “Spite? Where are we going?” she hissed “Dunno, pet. But I don’t reckon there’s any harm in investigating. Gets us out of the way of the babbling idiots back at your place.” Buffy punched him lightly. She agreed, but felt a need to show a token defence of her friends and her mom. They walked in silence other than the splashing, Buffy feeling strangely happy even though she was gagging on the stench from the water they were wading through. The feel of his cool fingers gripping hers reassured her that no matter what happened she wouldn’t come to any harm. They even started chatting, light nonsense about this and that. It was nice, pleasant. Odd. Gradually her eyes became accustomed to the darkness and she started to see her surroundings, fuzzy but enough to get by. Certainly she could see his eyes when she kept being drawn to look at him. Spite stopped dead, Buffy running into his back, as the vampire heard noises that Buffy didn’t from further into the tunnels. What to do….. Suddenly there was no choice but to fight, instinct overtaking Buffy’s initial uncertainty as they were faced with at least ten vampire henchmen. The fighting was fierce and swift, Buffy dusting one after the other with the stake she’d found in her jacket pocket. She was a vision – somersaulting, twirling, always hitting the mark. Spite stood and watched her for a while, mouth open in amazement. She made the fight look like a dance, glorious and effervescent, breathtaking in its ferocity. One of the four remaining vampires turned to him as he stood off to one side, speaking for a moment before Spite noticed so intent was he on watching Buffy’s moves. “What’s your damage, Spike? We’ve come to fetch you home. Dru’s been real worried.” “What?” The vampire opened his mouth to reply, bursting into a haze of dust as Buffy’s stake hit its target once more. Spite stayed her hand as she was about to stake her last prey. “Wait, love.” Buffy stopped the descent of the stake just short of the vampire. “What did the other say, earlier? You know me?” The vampire cowered against the wall, hands clasped protectively about his chest, eyes never leaving the lethal point of the wooden weapon gripped in the petite blonde’s fist. “Yes. You’re Spike. I’m of your clan, your get; well yours and Dru’s.” “Who’s Dru?” Buffy’s voice sounded petulant even to her ears. The vampire spoke to Spike. “Dru’s your sire, man. Your mate.” Spike’s next question died on his lips as Buffy unerringly sent the stake thudding into the vampire’s heart and burying itself in the wall behind him. “Not too helpful, Buffy. I was gonna ask him about this Dru, me, where to find their den.” “I don’t want to hear anything else about ‘Dru.’ And what kind of a name is that anyway? And Spike? That’s your name?” “Seems like, pet. Weren’t too far off the mark with our impromptu naming were we?” Her pout was adorable. She looked very much the sulking teenager she was, arms folded across her chest, brow creased by a frown. “C’mere. Look…the vamp could be wrong. I know we’re together, can feel it here, yeah?” He spread his hand over his heart as he spoke. She looked at him, looked away immediately head held high. Her bottom lip was trembling with the effort not to cry. She had no memory before waking up next to him in the cemetery, but hearing that he wasn’t really hers……it hurt, it really hurt. Cool arms snaked around her middle, his chin resting on her shoulder from behind as he placed a kiss on her earlobe. “Buffy. I don’t care about Dru, whoever she is. I know you’re mine. You always will be. Don’t matter if I get my memory back or not…you’ll always be my girl.” Buffy turned in his embrace, eyes bright with unshed tears. “You mean it? You won’t leave me?” Spike cupped her jaw in his hands, eyes boring into hers. “I will never leave you. You got me for life, kitten. Longer.” He smiled, a lopsided smile that melted her insides to goo and coaxed an answering grin from her. “Really?” Spike didn’t answer, he simply moved to kiss her, to convince her with his actions that he spoke the truth. Buffy’s arms came round to caress the back of his neck, fingers tangling in the springy curls she found there. It was rapidly becoming her favourite place to touch. She felt his arms wrap tighter crushing her against him. Their surroundings were forgotten as cool tongue met warmer, twisting and delving deeper into each other’s mouths. Buffy nibbled on his bottom lip, delighting in the taste and texture of his flesh and almost swooning as he mirrored her actions on her own kiss-swollen pout. Soon she found herself with her back pressed up against the cold and damp wall of the sewer as Spike’s hands roamed over her body. Her senses were aflame, his kiss both raising goosebumps and warm flushes equally along her skin. Her heart thudded in her chest and she could feel the rush of blood in her veins, the flood of moisture that was building in her crotch. A moan of pleasure escaped her lips and he chuckled against her mouth. This was definitely something he wanted to keep on doing – so Dru or no Dru, he was right where he wanted to be and wasn’t going anywhere. Icy lips hovered over her throbbing veins, teeth nipping down along her collarbone and below. Buffy’s head was thrown back, eyelids fluttering as waves of pleasure washed over her. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realised that she was baring her neck to a vampire, and memory or not she knew this wasn’t really the smart thing to do. It was a pleasurable thing though, the way his tongue snaked out to lick along her flesh and trace the pulsing to the base of her throat where it beat steadily and with increasing urgency. She was scrabbling at his coat with eager fingers, pushing the soft leather off his shoulders in her haste to get to his naked body. It didn’t matter that the mood music was the steady drip of filthy water; it didn’t matter that the wall was moist with fungus and the stench less than pleasant. All that mattered was the feel of his lips, his tongue, his hands. The sensation of his erect cock pressing against her mound where he’d nudged her legs apart and was rocking against her. The acute yearning that flooded her and demanded satisfaction. Her eyes widened as he suckled at the sensitive spot on her neck over her jugular. She could feel him dragging the blood to the surface of her skin, thrilled with the naïve pleasure of a young girl that he would leave a mark on her, identify her as his property. Every drag against her neck built up ripples of sensation deep in her womb and she was helpless to do anything but to thrust back at him. She almost passed out when he growled against her throat. Spike was in trouble. He had no recall of being a vampire but the primal urge to take her blood was overwhelming. His struggle last night to stop himself from ripping into her with his teeth now made more sense. It was what he did. He didn’t want to hurt her though and was fighting the demon for mastery. The taste of her had him rock hard and desperate to bury himself inside her heat and as he focused on her scent he felt his face begin to change, his fangs lengthen. He was losing control; it would take hardly anything to send him over the edge. Buffy bit down on his neck. He was lost. Fully vamped he gave in to his instincts; his rough tongue rasped at her flesh eliciting a whimper from her. He could feel the delicious resistance of her skin as it bent beneath the twin points of his fangs, continued to increase the pressure until the skin popped and the aroma of her blood washed over his senses and his tongue. He allowed his mouth to fill with the precious fluid before he swallowed it down reverently, pulling again at the wound in slow motion. After he’d swallowed a few mouthfuls he managed to rein in the demon somewhat and made to move away from her pulsing throat. Buffy was having none of it. The penetration of his incisors kicked off an orgasm that fluttered along her passage, every drag of her blood into his mouth answered by a cascade of pleasure in her groin. He found his head gripped by her tiny hand where she refused to allow him to distance himself from her throat. The smell, the taste, the sight of her flushed face - Spike had to have her, had to bury his cock in her now. Frantically, by unspoken agreement, they both reached for the other’s fly and made swift work of removing the barriers between them. Buffy shimmied her hips to get her jeans down her legs, thankful that she had on ankle boots that she could toe off and allow Spike to pull one leg down and off the end of her foot. She’d unzipped his jeans and pushed them down his thighs sufficiently to allow his cock to spring free, wasting no time in wrapping her fist around it and stroking him to painful hardness. Her hand was swatted away by him once he’d finished with her jeans and she found herself shoved up roughly against the wall as he dragged her panties aside and gripped one knee to wrap it around his hip. She was soaking wet, ready for him and he thrust his cock all the way inside her before stilling both between her legs and at her throat. “God, Spike!” she mouthed, more a moan than anything else. Spike bucked his hips forwards, one hand beneath her butt, the other wrapped with her golden hair as he kept it out of the way of his hungry mouth suckling at her blood. Her other leg came up to wrap around him so that she was pinned against the wall where his cock entered her and balanced along his body. Spike’s fingers were kneading at her flesh, almost painfully, the rhythm he was building betraying the movement he wanted to make where they were joined. Buffy thrust back at him, using the leverage of her shoulders against the wall to gain more purchase for the movement. The angle brought his pelvic bone right in line with her clit and her senses sizzled as Spike’s momentum grew. He was nearing explosion, ripping his fangs from her neck and licking the wound roughly as he growled against her skin. She felt him shake as his legs started to give way beneath him and climbed up him to grip onto a pipe she’d spotted above her head, hanging there, still joined to him at the groin. Spike looked up at her with his amber eyes, his hands now cupping her hips and his legs splayed a little to get a better angle for their frenzied rutting. Buffy’s head was butting the pipe with each thrust but she didn’t care. The mix of pain and pleasure was in itself intoxicating and when she felt blood from his bite mark trickle down her breastbone and pool stickily in her bra she moaned again, her entire body electrified with the myriad of sensations she was experiencing. She heard Spike inhale deeply, felt one hand leave her hip, then her shirt was ripped open, bra shredded by his steely fingers before his cool, rough tongue cleaned her breast of the precious fluid he craved. She shivered when he swirled around her nipple, sucking it into his mouth and grazing it with his fangs. Buffy felt rather than heard his request as it rumbled against her chest, finally giving in to the orgasm that had been building for what seemed hours at his words. “Come for me.” Her legs clamped tight around him drawing him nearer to her as her pussy rippled around him. He couldn’t help himself; her breast was all luscious and warm and right beneath his lips. When he felt the inevitability of his ejaculation he buried his fangs once more in her flesh and drew more of her aromatic blood down his throat. Buffy screamed from the pain of his bite but that passed quickly to leave her shaking with the force of another orgasm that rocketed through her leaving her limp and exhausted. Her limbs were shaking, her grip on the pipe failing so that she slid down the wall and into the waiting arms of her equally boneless lover. He was still in full demon face, too many emotions racing through him to deal with the battle it would take to lose it. He’d tasted her blood, marked her as his……..bloody hell! Somehow that phrase seemed important, some wispy memory trickling into his brain from times past….. Gently, he lowered Buffy to the ground moving to wrap his arms around her and settle her head on his chest while he composed himself. That was one hell of a knee trembler. Bloke ‘d be mad to give that up, no matter what had happened in the past. “You alright, pet?” he whispered softly against her hair, concerned that she was shaking. Had he hurt her? Was she still bleeding? Suddenly panicked, he pushed her away from him moving her hair so that he could check the puncture wounds on her neck, her breast. The marks were puckered but healing, nothing more than clear plasma oozing from the holes. He looked up to meet her eyes and found them soft and focused on him. Buffy nodded, managed to whisper “I’m fine” as if the beaming smile that now graced her face didn’t already tell him that. Spike found himself smiling in return. He chuckled as he swept his gaze down her bare body. “Looks like we killed your clothes, love. Here, take my shirt, least your jeans are still serviceable.” Buffy suddenly recalled the desperate clawing at her top, her bra and instinctively covered herself up with her hands. “Bit late for that don’t you think?” Spike mock growled, instantly regretting it as her brow furrowed. Time seemed to stop until Buffy’s tense shoulders relaxed and she looked up at him shyly, hands dropping to her sides. “Yeah, pretty much. So, do I get the shirt or what?” Her smile dazzled him once more and he wasted no time in shucking off his tee and helping her put it on. Not too bad a fit, in fact it clung to her bare breasts deliciously. Buffy glanced down to find out what was poking her in the hip. “Hey! I’m not a robot you know, give a girl a breather. Is this……….normal? The recovery time thing? It’s just….I thought….I’ve read….” “Dunno. Could be a vamp thing.” Spike beamed with pride. “Could just be me…..” Buffy rolled her eyes at him. “Ego much? Come on then, stallion, let’s go and do some digging about and maybe later I’ll take you for another ride.” A snort from the vampire. “Do you think it’s dark yet, ‘cause I don’t want you crispy-fried?” Spike closed his eyes, accessing senses he didn’t know he had. “Nearly…….sun should be almost down. Shall we?” Like a gallant gentleman, Spike offered her his arm. “Why, sir! But I hardly know you…” “Yeah, right…..” Giggles and soft laughter trailed them as they made their way through the sewer system, Spike just letting his nose lead him to an exit. Every few yards they found an excuse to stop and kiss, or stop and fondle, or a mix of both. As it was, it took them over an hour to walk not very far at all and Buffy was on the verge of pushing him to the ground and saddling him up when Spike nodded towards a set of ladders. "Seems familiar, pet. Not sure why, but I think I’ve been here before.” TBC

Chapter #7 - Back to Earth

CHAPTER 7 Dishevelled, bruised and marked, Slayer and vampire exited the sewer system to find themselves back in the place they’d seen when they first woke. The cemetery. The sun had been down about half an hour and night sounds filled the air. Spike had lost his demon face as they came out of the sewer and the full moon bathed the tombstones. Buffy was smug with satisfaction, the smile on her face refusing to fade. Her nerve endings were almost numb so sated was she. She glanced down to their joined hands, Spike’s pale fingers, long and elegant with the incongruous black nail polish, wrapped around hers - smaller, stubbier, more golden. Just the sight of their entwined digits tugged a grin from her. She closed her eyes with pleasure as her free fingers ghosted over the twin fang holes at her neck. The flesh was sensitised and linked directly to her sex it seemed. Buffy’s mouth opened in an ‘o’ of pleasure drawing Spike’s attention. “Pet?” “What did you do to me?” “Huh?” “The bitey. It feels…….good…when I touch my neck. What’s going on?” “What’r you asking me for? How the hell would I know if you don’t? No memory here, just instinct.” Spike grinned. “You like it though?” Buffy tried to be stern and keep the answering grin from her face. She failed. “Yeah. Feels wonderful.” They walked on for a few steps, eyes fixed on each other and not on their destination. “Buffy!” Slayer and vampire stopped dead at the surprised shout. Truth be told, they were both nervous, somehow the voice triggering recognition in both of them. Slowly, and in synch, they swivelled their eyes away from each other and forwards. A dark haired man, tall and broad shouldered with deep brown eyes, stood in front of them. He didn’t look happy. Buffy tightened her grip on Spike’s hand. The voice dropped lower, the menace in it easily apparent. “Buffy. Where have you……Spike?” A glance between the lovers then Spike spoke. “You know us?” The only answer was a roar of rage before Spike found himself pinned to the floor and deflecting a meaty fist from connecting with his face. Instinct kicked in and he looked through golden eyes, shocked as he saw the eyes above him the same shade as his, the brow ridged and fangs bared in a snarl. He was being attached by another vampire. “Get away from my boyfriend!” Spike’s assailant went flying through the air as Buffy ripped him away from her downed lover. Guess the Slayer gig meant she was stronger than the average girl…… Buffy knelt on the ground next to Spike who raised himself up on his elbows. Both blonds were glaring at the crumpled heap across from them. “Buffy? What the hell is going on here? What are you doing………and with him?” She scooted nearer to Spike, unwilling to leave his side. “I’m sorry……..do I know you? And where do you get off beating up on us?” “Us? There’s an us?” The angry vampire got to his feet and stalked towards them. Spike and Buffy jumped up, each battling with the other to push their lover behind them for protection. “Look, mate. I don’t know who you are but you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, yeah? Why don’t you just lose the gnashers and toddle off home, leave me and my girl in peace.” “Your girl?” The dark haired vampire threw himself across the gap that separated him from Spike, fists flying and teeth trying to rip chunks out of the smaller man. Buffy was shoved to one side and landed awkwardly against a tombstone, her gasp of pain distracting Spike momentarily and allowing a heavy fist to connect hard with his nose. He went down, stunned by the blow, nose streaming blood, his aggressor snarling and standing over him. “Spike! Are you alright?” “Peachy. Just this pillock to off and I’ll be perfect.” She limped to his side, holding her back where she’d taken a huge bruise. The other vampire was standing and staring at them, fists clenched and mouth an ugly snarl. “Get…away…from him.” “What? Who are you to tell me what to do? Wait…….I think I have something for you….” Buffy reached into the pocket of Spike’s duster and pulled out the stake she’d slipped in there earlier, stalking towards the soon-to-be-dust vampire. “Buffy! It’s me…..Angel. What’s wrong with you?” “Wrong with me? You’re the one attacking couples in a graveyard.” Angel backed off, the tip of the stake far too close to his heart for his liking. What was going on? “Buffy. There’s something wrong here. You must know me……..you…..love me.” A blur of black leather and platinum blond hair shot past Buffy, and suddenly it was Angel on the receiving end of a flurry of fists and fangs. Spike was growling and spitting at him as he punched him to the floor, Buffy able to make out a few of his angry words. “Not your…” Punch. “…sodding...” Punch. “…girl.” Punch, punch. “She bloody well….” Punch, kick. “loves me….” Head butt. “…you poncey bastard..” Buffy was stunned. And secretly a little pleased. She was, after all, still a teenager and two hotties were duking it out for her favours. Kinda neat. But then…….no, not now with Spike bleeding from a cut on his cheek, not neat at all. “Hey! Hey! Stop it……..NOW!” She managed to get between them and shove them away from each other. Definitely stronger than she should be, and that didn’t suck. Both vampires stood panting and glaring at each other, hands curled into fists and bouncing on their toes. “Buffy. You can’t trust him. He’s a killer. Come to me now, I’ll protect you.” “Do I look like I need protecting, and from him? Why would I? He’s my ….boyfriend. I have no idea who you are and to be honest I couldn’t care less. Now, for the last time… leave us alone and I’ll let you go. One time only deal.” Angel didn’t move. Spike growled from behind her. “Ok, we’ll leave. Don’t even think about following us, ‘cause I’m pretty handy with these things, trust me.” Turning on her heel, she grabbed Spike’s hand and started off away from the brooding figure of Angel. Spike was silent for a minute or two, but his grip was tight and his body tense. “Got something you wanna tell me, pet?” “What? Angel? Well I don’t know him, do I? No more than you know Dru. And I did nearly stake him. I felt nothing for him, Spike. I was terrified he was hurting you but him? Would dust him in a heartbeat.” Spike tugged on her hand, stopping and turning her into his embrace. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” “He seemed pretty sure you loved him.” “Well, I don’t. I…..love you, you big dork.” She dipped her eyes, blushing. “It’s the one thing I do know. And you! Pretty sure of yourself weren’t you with the ‘she loves me’ thing.” “Well…….yeah. Told you pet. Can feel you here.” Buffy stood on tiptoes and kissed him softly, his features melting back into his human guise as her warmth flooded him. “Me too,” she whispered, nibbling on his bottom lip before sliding her tongue past his blunt teeth to tangle with his. And that was when the world imploded…………………. +++++++++++++++++++++ Giles was rubbing the bridge of his nose, glasses held loosely between thumb and forefinger. These children would drive him into an early grave. “Willow, it’s perfectly simple. You have to reverse the spell because it’s keyed to your essence. No matter how many times I read the words, it isn’t going to work. Just trust me. I won’t let anything go wrong. I know I said not to go anywhere near magic again but just this once. It’s necessary. Now, please………sit inside the circle.” Willow moved reluctantly to sit cross-legged inside the circle of salt Joyce had poured on the dining room floor, the table pushed to one side. “Xander? The candle please. Careful! Don’t smudge the circle…….now, Willow, just concentrate on the photograph of Buffy and recite the words on the page.” Willow cleared her throat. She was desperately nervous and her voice shook as she started speaking the words of the spell. Joyce anxiously hovered near the door, still shaken by the revelations of the last day – that the world was filled with vampires and slayers…no, slayer, singular – her daughter …….and now witches and magic spells. It didn’t seem real; but here she was waiting for a schoolgirl to chant some hocus pocus and bring her daughter’s memories and therefore her daughter back to her. And Mr Giles…. Rupert. He quite plainly wasn’t just the school librarian and now she looked at him, barking orders and expecting them to be obeyed without question, he seemed a little menacing. There was an underlying steel core to Rupert Giles, a dark past, she was sure of it. And the rebellious girl still tucked away inside her wanted to meet him. She shook her head, clearing it of her musings. Buffy. It was important to concentrate and bring Buffy back. But she still kept Rupert in her line of vision….. ++++++++++++++++++++ What the fuck??? “Slayer!!” “Vampire!!” Two sets of wide eyes – one blue, one hazel – widened even further at the realisation that their lips were not the only things joined. Buffy guiltily dragged her hand from down the front of Spike’s pants, looking at it in absolute horror. Spike, despite the loathing he had for the Slayer, couldn’t hide a smirk. He was the Big Bad after all – very big by the looks of the impressive bulge that Buffy’s eyes just couldn’t seem to leave. “Oh my god……oh my god…….oh my god…..” “Right there with ya, pet. Gonna have to scrub ‘til I bleed to get the feel of your moist paws of me bollocks. And Dru will probably have me bathed in acid ‘fore she’ll come anywhere near me. Now, I’ll give you a head start before I kill you. And you’d better hope you get to the witch before I do.” And still Buffy didn’t move. “You remember? The spell……Willow…us…..and……OH MY GOD! ANGEL!! He knew both of us, Spike. I’ve got all my memories back now and nowhere do you fit into the jigsaw. What’s the sitch?” “Yep, my sorry grandsire was mightily pissed off. Not sure he’ll be locking lips with you anytime soon either. Not that you’ll get better than me, pet. You’ll die with my name on your stupid pouting mouth, aching for my touch. Not sure I want the old man’s leavings, mind. Didn’t think I’d bump into him in Sunnyhell, but with your dimpled knees to prise apart who could blame him.” Now wasn’t that strange? He was doing the snark, taunting her to start the dance to her death…….but he didn’t feel it. In fact, he felt a loss, a pang – that her heat wasn’t his to share. Sod that. “Grandpa? What do you mean? Spike, you tell me now what’s going on with you and Angel.” “Sorry, pet. Can’t stand about all night. Got innocents to deflower, dinner to catch and kill. Tell you what, in grateful thanks for the seeing to you gave me…and gave me good, can’t tell a lie….I’ll give you a free pass this time. Toddle off and see if you can convince grandpa he’s the vamp of your dreams.” Buffy’s bottom lip was trembling with the effort not to cry. She held a stake gripped tight in her hand ready to dust him…..but couldn’t. She remembered it all – waking up entangled, him holding her, his kisses…….his touch. The rush of pleasure when they….. and now this emptiness that filled her knowing it was all false. She’d felt so right in his arms. It had been so wrong. “You’re a pig, Spike. I will kill you.” “But not tonight, pet. Not tonight.” Duster flaring, he ran into the darkness leaving behind his scent of worn leather, cigarettes and raw sensuality. When he’d gone she slumped against a mausoleum wall, sliding down to crumple to the floor. She let the tears come then, not really sure what she was crying for. Was it because they’d been intimate, or because they wouldn’t be again? Was the pain because she couldn’t forget the ecstasy she’d experienced in their time together, or because she didn’t think she’d ever find it anywhere else? And Angel…….Angel. What was she going to do about Angel? As if summoned by her thoughts, a shadow stood over her. He didn’t speak………that made it worse. If he’d at least rant a little, call her out about her little tantrum earlier. But he was in full brood mode, brown eyes soulful and looking all kicked puppy. Those same eyes usually melted her to a ball of soppy happiness but right now it turned her stomach. “Angel. Please, I…..I know we have to talk but right now I need to go tell my mom I’m okay. I’m tired, confused. You understand, don’t you?” He nodded, his soul no doubt shiny with doing another good deed. He’d even offer to walk her home…. “I’ll see you home, Buffy. I don’t know what’s been going on, but I trust you, there’ll be a good reason. We can talk tomorrow, or not. When you’re ready. Whatever you want.” That was the question really; what did she want? In silence, they made their way over to Revello Drive to face the Scoobies and her suddenly empty life. ++++++++++++++++++++ The group hug smothered her, skin too hot to her touch. They were all chattering at once, pecking at her like chicks at grain, all wanting a piece. She had none to give. Angel had thankfully left her at the door and for once the slinking off into the night thing he did pleased her rather than left her screaming with rage. She just wished everybody else would melt away. Joyce Summers watched her daughter’s face as she was swallowed by the forest of arms hugging her. Her eyes were haunted, panicked. The smile and the brittle words she spoke were sufficient to fool the others, but not her. Her baby was hurting. “Hey now, can I get some hug? I think this young lady needs rest. The inquisition can wait until tomorrow. She’ll see you at school.” There was no arguing with that voice, they all recalled the iron streak they’d seen earlier. Maybe tomorrow would do. One by one they sidled out, Willow’s departing gaze full of guilt. Buffy didn’t even look at them, but down at her clasped hands. She relaxed her shoulders as she heard the front door latch click home. Joyce saw the relief wash over her little girl and decided to leave her be for tonight. A cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows would be far better for her than twenty questions right now. Smiling to herself that the parenting books must be paying off at last, she sidestepped the lounge and headed to the kitchen. While the milk was heating Joyce busied herself rearranging the cupboard where she kept the condiments and seriously avoiding thinking about the last 24 hours. She heard the stairs creak as Buffy headed upstairs and really didn’t expect to then hear the soft pitter pat of bare feet as Buffy slipped into the kitchen and onto a stool. When she turned, Buffy was all freshly scrubbed and dressed in fluffy pyjamas that made her seem even younger than she was. “Hot chocolate, honey? Help you sleep?” Buffy nodded, eyes wide and on the verge of tears. Joyce wisely decided against allowing the questions burning her throat to come out, simply filling a mug and pushing it towards Buffy’s hands that were nervously tapping on the surface. The hands wrapped around the mug, hugging it close. Joyce took a seat on the stool opposite and they sipped their drinks in silence. Buffy would tell her what was causing her so much pain in her own time, the books were very clear on that. “Mom…..I….I know you’re probably freaked by what’s been going on. I’m sorry you had to find out this way about the Slayer thing and vampires. Although I did tell you vampires were real before….” “I know, honey. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. Maybe you should have brought a handsome and naked vampire home earlier…” “Mom!” Joyce smiled. The relief she felt at actually having Buffy sitting in their kitchen and chatting outweighed any other emotion. Yes, it had been a shock to realise her little girl had been doing big girl stuff, and with a creature of the night no less, but on the other hand it was eclipsed by the other revelations of the day. The news that vampires were real, and so were witches, and that they lived on a mystical Hellmouth? Hard to take in. But faced with the evidence…… Oh, and the broken branches on the tree outside her window, the blood on Buffy’s clothes that she always told herself was pizza and the array of crucifixes and whittled wood in Buffy’s drawers all completed the puzzle. Her daughter was a vampire slayer. She’d deal with it. Would Buffy? Buffy took a deep breath. “About Spike……I really loved him. Now, sitting here, it all seems stupid, but last night, today….I really loved him. Then all of a sudden…..I should hate him mom. He’s a vampire. I’m the Slayer. I should have staked him. But all I feel is ….lost, empty. What’s the matter with me?” Joyce reached out a hand, patting her daughter’s where they were hugging the mug. “Nothing, darling. You’ve been through a harrowing time. Give it a few days, get back to normal.” Buffy snorted. “Normal! Do I even know normal? And there’s more to tell you. You remember Angel? The older guy?” “The history major?” “Well………kinda. We’re sort of ….seeing each other. And he’s a vampire too.” Joyce couldn’t hide the shock, although she made a good attempt. “Oh. Well……thanks for telling me, Buffy. Eventually.” Pointed look. “Are you….intimate?” “MOM!” “Look, there’s no point being coy. I found a naked man…vampire…in your bedroom. I think we can be grown up about it and admit that you’ve had sex.” Buffy blushed. All right, she’d expected ‘the talk’ when the memories of Spike being discovered by her mom flooded back to her. She just hadn’t expected it to be so forthright. Her little voice could just be heard. “No.” “Well, that’s a relief. Nice to see you’ve got some taste! Spike…did you say that was his real name?” Buffy nodded. “Well, Spike is definitely the vampire I’d be swapping spit with. Angel’s too……..bulky.” “MOM!!” Every time Buffy said the word it grew in both decibels and pitch. Joyce giggled. “Sorry. It’s been a strange day, and I must confess that my hot chocolate has more than a sprinkling of brandy added to it.” Buffy sniffed at her drink suspiciously. “Don’t worry, your chocolate is entirely virgin.” A beat. “Unlike…” “Right. That’s it… I’m off to bed.” Buffy shot out of the kitchen and up to her room, gratefully leaning against her closed bedroom door. It was just too freaky her mom making eyes at her boyfriend. Buffy blinked. Not her boyfriend, because her boyfriend was dark haired and Angel shaped. Her mistaken boyfriend then. The one who’d recently occupied her bed and her whole world. Heart heavy, Buffy spied the rumpled sheets of her bed. Maybe they still held his scent? And the t-shirt she should have shredded but instead had placed on the pillow…..Mentally slapping herself she headed to the bathroom to clean her teeth and hopefully clean the thoughts from her head at the same time. tbc.......

Chapter #8 - There's Always a Way

CHAPTER 8 Spike strolled into the factory, cigarette dangling from his fingers. He hoped Dru would have her crazy phase on her so as to be distracted from the questions she’d shoot at him when she smelled the Slayer on him. Talking of….he inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring to catch every last scrap of her essence. He told himself it was just a predator thing, getting to know his prey. But the poet inside him knew that was a lie. Rounding the corner, he spied his dark princess sitting on the floor, dollies and a tea tray set out before her. She was babbling, ripping heads off her blindfolded babies, and Spike thanked the Powers That Be that she wouldn’t be sane enough to call him on anything. She hadn’t even registered his presence and he took advantage by heading to the bedroom and stripping off his clothes. Maybe if he had a shower and doused himself in cologne she’d never even know. Yeah, like she even needed to use any of her normal senses……. He dropped the clothes in a heap to deal with later and headed for the shower, striding naked through the factory to the makeshift washroom. He was outlined in moonlight and shadow, all sculpted flesh and hard angles. Hungry yellow eyes of the minions scattered throughout the building followed his progress as he nonchalantly ruffled his hair with one hand, the other stroking down his chest to come to rest at his groin. Spike knew they were watching, in fact his ego counted on it. Just before he reached the bathroom he stopped, reaching both arms high above his head then bending over to stretch out his back. Smirk on his face, he acknowledged the whimpers he heard from the shadows and stepped out of sight. Twenty minutes later, he was clothed once again in black, hair slicked back with gel. He really needed to re-polish the nails but they’d have to wait. He was sure he’d finally got the Slayer out of his system, having spent ten minutes in the shower trying to recreate her body and her face in his mind while he frantically wanked off, spattering the wall in front of him with his come. He felt cleansed inside and out now. No more Slayer thoughts, except the ones of her with her throat ripped out. No, that wasn’t a twinge of guilt he felt. He was just hungry, that was all. Time to get someone to eat. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ After a restless night spent dreaming of cool skin and heated kisses, Buffy dragged her tired carcass out of bed to be met by her mom pacing in the hallway. “Buffy! Sorry, you startled me. I just wanted to check on you….but I didn’t want to barge in, just in case…..” “Spike’s not here mom. He’s a vampire, I’m the slayer – the only thing we have in common is our fascination with cemeteries. Trust me, the next time I see him he’ll be minus that smug grin.” The last words hitched in her throat. There was definitely something wrong with her, maybe a side effect of the spell? Time to hit the library, face the questions. Find the answers, hopefully. Joyce saw the conflicting emotions race across Buffy’s face. Her heart ached for her daughter, so young but with such responsibility on her narrow shoulders. And by the looks of it, smitten by the gorgeous vampire. “I’ve got to get ready. Giles and the others, they’ll be worried. I’ll see you later, ‘k?” Buffy kissed her mother’s cheek and headed for the bathroom leaving Joyce to gather her thoughts and her belongings and head out to the gallery. +++ An hour later, Buffy felt like she was on trial. She was sitting on the most uncomfortable chair ever made – a torture device by design, surely – with Xander and Willow behind the table opposite to her and Giles standing behind the two of them. She imagined she could hear a clock ticking, but it was in her head. Anything would be better than the silence. “So, shall I just ‘fess up now and wait for the firing squad or are there questions?” Willow’s face was a shade to rival her hair. “I’m really, really sorry Buffy. I didn’t mean to…….I didn’t know.” “Yeah, Will…I know. But you did. I’m sorry too. Now my head’s all messed up and I don’t know what to think.” Buffy’s big bad act lasted as long as it took for Willow’s bottom lip to start quivering. She sighed. “Guys look…it’s done, I’m here. I remember everything so there’s no real harm done. And at least we know who the ringleader is for this St Vitreous thing.” “Vigeous” Giles corrected unconsciously. “Yeah, whatever. So all I have to do is go find Spike, stake him, see to the bitch whore Dru and we’re good.” Three sets of stunned eyes faced her. “What?” “Ahem…….Buffy. You appear to be a little, shall we say, ‘keyed up’ about the person you refer to. Dru is it?” “Well, yeah. Stupid name. Anyway, I’ve just got to stake her and everything will be fine. And staking vampires is what I do.” The questions came then, what had she done, where had she been, had Spike tried to kill her, did she try to kill him? She told them the G rated version. No kissage, definitely no touchy feely. And the emotions that were whirling round inside her? She hid them well. By the time Giles had made his tiny notes in his leather bound book, Willow and Xander were convinced that all was well with her and Giles was too busy wondering how to relate to the Watcher’s Council the tale of the vampire and the vampire slayer who spent the night together without any dusting whatsoever. Classes passed in a blur, even more so than usual. By the time the last bell rang she was itching to get out and slay. But it was still daylight, not much going on in the slayage department. Shopping then, if she couldn’t slay, she’d shop. Willow and Xander were more than happy to go with, Xander just anxious to be near Buffy wherever she was and Willow desperately trying to assuage her guilt by buying Buffy mucho mocha goodness. It was a strange trip; for some reason Buffy kept dallying by the menswear imagining a lean and spare frame covered with the radiant blue sweater that would enhance blue eyes, those shirts, right there, that would show just a glimpse of sculpted chest; the tight, black trousers cut to hang deliciously off a firm rump. Angel; she should be thinking of Angel. And not blue eyes, brown. Gah! She was driving herself insane. She found that she was absentmindedly stroking the fang marks on her neck; so far nobody had noticed or if they had they hadn’t commented. Guiltily she jerked her hand away to avoid attention, which of course had the opposite effect. Willow spat out the juice she was drinking, all over Xander’s back, who turned quickly to see what the fuss was about. Consequently, he watched in horror as Willow tugged at Buffy’s shirt to reveal the twin puncture holes, now almost healed but obviously from a bite. “Buffy?” The single word was both a question and an accusation. It made her feel defensive, cornered – and a cornered Slayer was not a happy Slayer. “What now?” “You’ve been………bitten.” “And that’s your business – how?” “But…..Buffy……” “But Buffy nothing, Willow. Look, you cast your little spell, Buffy’s brain went ga-ga and now it’s back. You’re judging me….you have no right. What’s done is done. I didn’t know who I was.” Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. “All I knew was that I was with someone who loved me….and I loved him.” She lifted her eyes to find the shocked faces of her best friends. She couldn’t deal with this, not now. “Look, I’ve got to go……..we’ll talk, but I need to………..I’ll catch you later….” She turned tail and fled from the mall leaving Xander and Willow staring after her departing back. The two best friends were lost for words. “Willow………please promise me you’ll never meddle with magic again.” Willow just nodded, the images running through her mind robbing her of her voice. +++++++ “Dru, pet……..come to bed. You’re driving me soddin’ daft with those dolls. Come play with me……..I promise I’ll bite…” Smirk and a tongue roll for good measure. Drusilla shook her head. “Bad Willy; you’re saying what’s in your head but your heart’s full of sunshine. Naughty boy.” “Yeah, love. That I am……come spank me….” Nothing he could say or do would entice Drusilla into his bed; it was driving him insane. All day he’d tried coaxing her, giving her kisses and slaps in equal measure but nothing seemed to work. She was babbling about sunshine and summer, screeching about light and destiny. Usually, he could distract her from the most insane workings of her damaged mind with caresses and punches. But not today. And then she changed. His mercurial princess stood up from her tea party and started swaying to her unique internal music, arms high above her head to start with then twisting together before slinking down her body, caressing her own breasts and coming to rest palms down on her hips. Spike licked his lips – this was more like it. Drusilla was singing softly to herself as she danced, eyes closed in ecstasy as she slowly raised the hem of her skirt by puckering the material in her fingers which remained centred on her sex. Spike leaned up on one elbow to watch her, never tiring of the show she put on, his free hand cupping his balls then stroking his stiffening cock as the skirt raised to reveal her dark curls. His hand stopped. Why the fuck had the flash of lighter curls, golden skin rushed across his mind? No………..please no. Dru sashayed her way towards the bed, humming and unhooking her bodice to let it fall to her feet and reveal pale skin and pink nipples hardened by her desire. She bent forwards, cupping her breasts and licking her scarlet lips. She’d reached the bed now and removed her hands to unzip her skirt and step out of it. Now she was bare to his gaze. Spike was horrified as he felt his erection grow flaccid. What the fuck? “Awww, poor baby……..mummy will fix it, sweet Willy.” Dru’s red lips opened as she took his cock into her mouth and he closed his mouth expecting ecstasy to follow. Bad move. Closed lids revealed long, blonde hair and hazel eyes. The feeling of Dru sucking on his failing erection was nearer to torture. And not in a good way. She nipped him. With a roar he backhanded her away from him, pushing himself away from the bed to his feet. He was completely disturbed; what was going on in his head? There was certainly nothing going on in his crotch. The fucking slayer. She was in his head, his gut, ruining his unlife. First of all Dru had ignored him all day because of her scent; now she was ready to shag him senseless and he couldn’t even get it up because her skin and hair were the wrong colour. Sod that. The only way to fix it was to get rid of the Slayer once and for all. And the witch would pay too. Messing with his head, making him think he loved the Slayer. Him! William the Bloody, vampire who’d killed two slayers before he came to this sorry town. Nobody did that to him and lived. The lot of them would be nothing more than heaps of offal when he’d finished with them. Except Joyce. He liked the lady. She was pleasant, and she’d made him feel like a man, more than he’d felt in over a century. He’d give her a free pass. Right then. Snarling at Drusilla who was huddled in a ball on the floor he grabbed his clothes and made his way over to the weapons chest. Time to rid himself of the girl who’d managed to get under his skin. +++++++++++++++++++++++ Buffy had been a whirlwind of slaughter on patrol, so much so that she’d resorted to standing in the middle of every cemetery she came to and offering bribes to the vampires to come and take her on. At first there’d been a rush of takers, but when the oncomers were striding through a big pile of dust suddenly the vampires had better places to be. Buffy pouted and screamed but to no avail. How was she supposed to distract herself from thoughts of a blond vampire and his kissable lips if the vampires wouldn’t line up and be staked? Throwing her hair over her shoulder she stamped off home, killing a bench on the way to ease her angst. Not that it worked…. She even sidestepped Angel, telling herself that she was doing it for him, that she needed to get her mind straight before they had the talk. That was best for both of them. She’d taken the tree route, trying to avoid thinking of the last time she’d entered the room that way. She almost felt his cool hands on her butt as she boosted herself inside and over the window ledge. Why couldn’t she stop thinking of him? He was her mortal enemy, not her soul mate. She should be disgusted with herself, not aching to feel his flesh against hers. Stupid vampire. Buffy cleaned her teeth and studied herself in the mirror. She didn’t look any different, still Buffy. But the feelings coursing through her were entirely new. And disturbing. She scrubbed at her face until it was glowing then jumped into bed, just a nightshirt covering her in the warm night. She doubted she’d be sleeping any time soon but she’d better try because she was seriously driving herself insane. Tomorrow she’d see an end to it………to him. It was the only way. The day had been a waking nightmare; every time she closed her eyes, emptied her mind – he was there, smirking and flicking that damn tongue out and across his lips. She’d even found herself breathing in the scent of her schoolbag for the remnant of leather handle attached to it. It couldn’t go on. He couldn’t go on. It was her sacred duty to send him to hell. Thoughts of Spike dissolving into dust had her sobbing into her pillow. She didn’t hear the rustle of leaves outside the window, nor the heavy footfall of boots across her carpet. She felt the bed dip when he sat on the end, however, realising immediately from the tingles at her neck who it was. “What do you want, Spike.” “Want to taste your blood, pet, as I drain you dry.” Buffy moved under the covers, looking up at him, their eyes meeting. They both gasped, sizzling electricity taking them by surprise. She turned her neck. “Go ahead…but you know I’ll kill you. You ready for that?” Buffy started crying again at her own words. Question is, was she ready for that? “Hey, hey, pet……….what’s with the tears?” Without thought, Spike was at her side, cradling her, soothing her with kisses and caresses. Buffy wrapped her arms around him, clinging to his chest. She was speaking but really, he couldn’t make out a word even with his vampire hearing. The fangs were gone, the amber eyes replaced with startling blue. “Buffy, love. Shhh. You’re going to have to take it slow, spell it out to me, yeah? I’m listening, go on.” Buffy sniffled against his shirt, inhaling deeply of his scent. It had been 24 hours since she’d been held in his arms. Here was the only place she felt whole. “Thing is, Spike. I don’t know what’s happened to me.” He filled the gaps in her sob-ridden words himself. “I’ve never felt as good as I do when you hold me. Why is that? I should kill you…I’ve got the stake right here…” She reached for the bedside cabinet and Spike watched her little hand groping about for the instrument of his destruction. She gripped the stake and brought it round to rest on the bed in front of her.” “So, here I am………killing you…” She didn’t move, time stretched between them. “Go on then, get it over with. Take me out of this world, because truly Buffy, if I can’t have you…..I don’t know how you’ve gotten inside me, love, but you’re right here.” He splayed his hand, palm down, over his heart. “Been trying to forget about you. Tried all bloody day. Showered until I thought I’d rip all my skin off – but nothing got you from out of my head. Dru’s all insane crazy about us; she always knows what’s really inside your heart. Offering it to me on a plate she was, and all I could think of was warm, golden flesh and your bloody stupid hair!” Buffy sniffled again, eyes wide and fixed on Spike as he prattled on. “Soddin’ hell, Slayer! I’m supposed to be your big bad nemesis, instead I’m your bloody lapdog. How the mighty have fallen….” Buffy couldn’t speak. She was too emotional to form words. Eventually she squeaked out “You mean…….you feel something…….too…..?” Spike fixed her with his icy blue stare. Feel something? No. Everything? Yes and then some. This tiny blonde had invaded his world and now he couldn’t exist in his world without her. Buffy’s eyes were still teary, moisture clinging to her skin. Spike leaned forward and traced the path of her tears with his tongue delighting in the saltiness of her. He remembered clearly the taste of her blood pooling in his mouth and felt his cock harden in his jeans. This woman had more mastery of his body than he did! One glance, one trace of scent and he was begging for her to hurt him, get down and dirty and make him scream. Buffy kicked off the covers to reveal tanned legs peeping out from the satin nightshirt. She looked so innocent, freshly scrubbed face, hair brushed until it shone. The demon wanted to defile her; the man wanted to love her. Tentatively, he reached out a hand and starting at her knee, drew circles with his fingers up her inner thigh to brush lightly against her curls. Buffy arched her back wanting him to delve deeper inside her. Instead, he moved his attentions to the other thigh, repeating the motion there but this time allowing his hand to rest against her mound, one finger sliding gently over her clit. Buffy’s breathing was becoming laboured as she felt herself aroused to almost painful intensity. She reached towards him, cupping his cock through his jeans and squeezing until his eyes rolled back. Innocent, this girl? No way. He stood up from the bed, eyes not leaving her flushed face as he popped the buttons on his fly one by one. The boots were kicked off, duster shrugged from his shoulders to cover the discarded footwear and suddenly he was naked, stepping out of his jeans and stalking towards her, hand resting on his stomach, fingers pointing along the line of dark hair to his groin. As if he needed any attention drawing to the stiff cock that jutted from his dark curls….. Buffy reached for the hem of the nightshirt and gripped it, pulling it up and over her head to leave her as bare to his gaze as he was to hers. Almost in slow motion, Spike crawled up her body, coming to rest with his forehead against hers, his groin against her mound and sliding against her. “Kiss me,” Buffy whispered, voice raw with lust and other unnamed – for now – emotions. Softly, Spike complied, tongue sweeping across her lips before gently prising them apart and gaining entry to her warm mouth. He increased the pressure adding in the mindblowing twist of his hands roaming over her body, tweaking and stroking in turn to have her begging him to fill her. “God, Slayer……….” Once again Spike struggled with the demon, only this time both of them were aware of the consequences of letting him out. His eyes flickered from blue to gold, Buffy feeling his forehead ridge then smooth out where it rested against her. She wanted this. She wanted the man and the demon to be hers. Really, once she’d had them both there wasn’t any other choice….. Spike shifted his hips and entered her slowly, agonisingly so, when she wanted to drag him deep and harder against her sex. He fought the urge to fuck her hard. This was a big deal for him. He’d come to kill her, instead he was babbling about her being under his skin. He may as well make it pretty. “Spike” a breathy moan against his ear had him increasing the pace and losing control of the demon. Fully vamped, his fangs scraped across the marks he’d left at their last coupling, the sensation stimulating Buffy’s erogenous zones to almost white hot intensity. She clamped her legs up around his hips, her nails scraping down his back as she bit down on his shoulder. Once again, Spike’s fangs penetrated her flesh and the orgasm that followed dragged him over the precipice with her. Buffy tasted the salt of his blood on her tongue as she bit down harder to stifle the scream building in her throat. She should be gagging; she was suckling. The taste was like nectar and she shut down that part of her brain that told her to spit it out. “You’re mine, Buffy. You’ll always be mine.” His words purred against her neck setting off another explosion in her pussy that milked him dry. She moved her mouth away from him a little, her lips smeared with his blood. “Mine,” she murmured against his skin. “God help me, you’re mine.” Panting, Buffy slid from underneath him and settled her head on his chest as he lay down. She drew little circles on his chest, gathering her breath. She knew they had a lot to talk about. But really, lying here – that was all she needed for now. “So pet……where do we go from here?” Buffy smiled, raised her head to lean on a hand. Where indeed……She couldn’t believe that just one misplaced spell could have such an effect on two powerful beings without it being fated. Maybe it wasn’t such an accident after all. And yeah, her friends would freak and Angel would have his heart ripped out….but she’d never felt like this in Angel’s arms. Not even close. There was no point fighting the inevitable. “Let’s start with this shall we?” Buffy started to nibble on his lower lip. He growled and flipped her over to lay on her back. The big questions could wait until tomorrow. THE END That's it folks! Thanks for reading - hope you liked it. I've been asked for a sequel, so I'm at the plotting stage now. Hope to have it for you soon. I've been overwhelmed by the reviews and nominations for this story. Thank you so much. My muse is buzzing away now so I'd better go write!