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Universal Vampire by Mabel Marsters
 
Happily Ever After (For Now...)
 
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Betad by Carol and dawnofme


Banner by dawnofme


Disclaimer: the characters do not belong to me - they are used purely for fun and not fiancial gain







Chapter Forty-Four



Happy Ever After (For Now…)


It was two days after they heard of The Initiative’s total withdrawal from Sunnydale, and life was starting to get back to what, for the Scoobies, passed as normal. Amazingly, Spike’s limp was almost gone; mind you, he’d made short work of the blood that Xander had got for him. Xander was delighted to go and get him some more as that meant he’d get to see Kirsten again.


Spike walked into the basement, looking for Matt.


“Hey, Matt,” he said as he saw him tidying the covers of the cot that now served as his bed.


“Spike, hi. Your leg looks a lot better.”


“Yeah it is, thanks,” replied Spike. “Look, I…want to thank you for the other day.”


“What did I do?” asked Matt puzzled.


Spike turned away, looking across to the other side of the basement as he spoke. “You…er…didn’t tell the others what that bastard did to me,” he whispered.



Matt’s heart went out to him. “’S okay, and I never will.”


Spike nodded a couple of times and Matt heard him swallow hard before he turned to face him again.


“Right, well…Dawn,” said Spike in a stronger voice.


“What about Dawn?” asked Matt.


“Sit down.”


Matt sat on the bed and Spike pulled a stool across to sit facing him.


“What are your intentions?” Spike continued.


“My what?” said Matt, somewhat taken aback.


“Your intentions, mate. I know you two are getting close. I need to know what you plan on doing if you’re going to be one of us,” said Spike seriously.


“I…um…well…I really like her.”


“I know that part. And?”


“I’m kind of young to be thinking of intentions,” said Matt. “I think she’s amazing. I feel like I’ve known her for years, not just a few days.”


“She’s younger than you,” Spike pointed out.


“Not by as much as the difference between you and Buffy,” said Matt with a smile.


“I’m not talking about Buffy,” said Spike firmly. “I’m talking about you and the Niblet.”


“I know she’s young but I can wait, Spike. I want to wait. There’ll be no pressure on her if that’s what’s worrying you. I won’t hurt her, Spike. I think I love her. I know I do,” he said sincerely.


Spike’s face split into a grin.


“That’s all right then.” He got up and started to leave.


“Spike,” said Matt. “Have I just had the ‘watch your step with my kid sister’ speech from a vampire?”


Spike burst out laughing.


“Yeah, Matt, you have! And just you remember that my bite is much worse than my bark!” he said, showing his demonic features. He laughed even louder as he saw Matt’s face pale. “Don’t worry mate, you’re family now. I hardly ever eat family.”


Matt was still shaking his head in amusement as Spike left and Dawn arrived.


“What are you two laughing at?”


“Nothing, Dawnie,” he said, embracing her and soundly kissing her. “Just making sure I was settling in okay.”


“And are you?”


“Yeah, I think finally I’ve got me a proper home.”


Ooooooo


As Spike walked into the kitchen, Willow hurried out.


“Red?”


She stopped and reluctantly turned to face Spike. Her eyes were huge.


“You keep avoiding me. We can’t carry on like this, now can we, pet?” he said gently.


“I just…”


“Look, Red, you were angry. I get that. I know you regret it now, so can we just get back to how we were? Buffy knows something’s not right between us. I don’t want her worrying, okay?”


He held his hand out to her; she took it tentatively, as always slightly shocked by how cold it was. Spike pulled her into a hug and she promptly burst into tears.


“Bloody hell, Red, I’m trying to make you feel better, not worse.”


“I am feeling better,” she sniffed. “I’m so sorry.”


“Told you before, Red, it’s not me you need to be aiming that apology at,” he said softly. “Go and see him today. You’ll get no peace until you do. Giles will forgive you.”


He could feel her nod before she moved out of his arms.


“I will. I’ll go now.”


She went to get her coat. Giles had moved back into his own apartment the evening before.


Ooooooo


Spike looked at his watch. The Slayer was sleeping late this morning. He smiled as he recalled their lovemaking last night. He climbed the stairs and made his way to their room – their room – he could still hardly believe it.


“Thought you’d never come back to bed,” said Buffy.


“Were you waiting for me, love?”


“Still am. Less talking - more kissing.” She pulled the bedcovers back revealing her naked body.


Spike, although room temperature, suddenly felt hot.


“That, I can do.”


He stripped his clothes off faster than Buffy thought possible and climbed onto the bed, crawling along until he was over her body. His lips met hers and they lost themselves totally in each other.


Buffy delighted in how Spike seemed so astonished as she worked to make sure he reached the same heady heights that she did. She adored his expression when she told him she loved him. It was as if he couldn’t believe it even though she said it over and over again.


At one point, as they were looking into each other’s eyes, he went still. He was remembering the horrible void that he had seen behind Maggie’s eyes.


“What do you see?”


“What do you mean?”


“When you look into my eyes, what do you see?” he asked seriously.


She knew he wasn’t looking for a jokey answer; he was looking for the truth – so she told him.


“I see love, faithfulness, compassion and trust.”


“Do you? Do you really? But I haven’t got a soul. How can you see those things in me? I’m evil.”


“You’re not evil, Spike. Your demon might be when you unleash it but you control it, not the other way around. To be able to do that means you’re a beautiful, extraordinary man and that’s what I see when I look into your baby blues.”


She kissed away the tear that escaped from his eye. “Now where were we?”


She squealed as he promptly reminded her!


The End


Thank you so much for reading - check out my livejournal http://mabel-marsters@livejournal.com for all of my other stories. Some post Shanshu Spike and some all human fics too :) Many are award winners.

 
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