Author's note: Beta'd by awesome Dawn and Mabel! Thank you everyone who is reading and enjoying, I hope this chapter won't disappoint.



Gorgeous banner by Sylvia (nmcil).


Chapter 23


Buffy blearily opened her eyes, stretching her muscles and yawning as she stirred awake. She didn’t remember coming to the bedroom to take a nap, nor did she recall dozing off. It must have happened some time after she and Spike had christened the whole basement. A lazy smile settled on her lips. He must have carried her to the bedroom.


A heap of comforters and pillows were strewn around her, cocooning her in her own warmth, lulling her to go back to sleep as she burrowed her face in the pillow and breathed in, Spike’s scent still lingering on the linens. There was nothing more comforting than the smell of him, the feel of him surrounding her, giving her the assurance that she didn’t have to be alone anymore. That she no longer had to put on a strong front for anyone. He made her feel both free and like she belonged at the same time.


Kicking off the covers, Buffy’s feet hit the plush carpet. She padded towards the window and drew it open, peeking outside. The sun was just disappearing behind the trees of a nearby forest, allowing the darkness to ooze and cover the town in its shadows. The curtains swished back into their rightful place as Buffy made her way down the stairs in the search of him. She couldn’t stay away from Spike a minute longer.


The light of the television flickered across the walls of the living room, casting a blue hue on Spike’s face. His feet were propped up on the coffee table, arms hugging a pillow, his eyes riveted to whatever program he was watching, and Buffy stilled at the bottom of the stairs, content with appraising him.


Spike didn’t detect her, which probably meant he was watching one of his soap operas again. She could never understand what he saw in those things. Being a vampire, one would assume he would be more into some gory, gross flicks with lots of fake blood and mayhem, not soppy romantic ones. But that was Spike, her unique vampire. Who still thought she wasn’t aware of his very not evil movie tastes.


He gasped softly and clutched the pillow closer to him, as he leant forward, his eyes not even blinking as he got lost in the plot. Buffy had to stifle a giggle when he furrowed his brow and muttered something under his breath. Succumbing to the irresistible urge to be closer to him, she snuck silently to the couch and plopped down. Spike’s hand flew to his chest and he drew in a breath.


“Bloody hell, woman! Almost gave me a heart attack, you did. You should know better than to sneak up on a Big Bad like that.”


“I scared you? Aren’t you supposed to be the one instilling terror, what with being all big and bad?” she asked with a teasing smile. “What are you watching?”


Buffy was all innocence as she batted her eyelashes at him.


“Uh… just some stuff. It’s nothing.” He scrambled for the remote, but Buffy was faster and snatched it before he could switch to another channel.


“Are you watching Dawson’s Creek reruns?”


“No! I mean… why would I.” He sighed. “Okay yeah, you got me. But in my defense, there was nothing better on. Besides, I love seeing that wanker Pacey serve himself up for more misery.”


“You old softie.” Buffy grinned and ruffled his hair.


“Am not.” He pouted in misery.


“You covered me with three blankets, you know that right? What kind of evil vampire are you, making sure a slayer is all cozy and warm?”


“A rebellious one. Besides, need my Slayer to be healthy as a horse. Wouldn’t do for you to get all snotty on me if you catch a cold,” Spike said with a grin.


Actually, he would hardly mind her getting sick. At least he could be all doting and taking care of her, cooking her chicken soup and cuddling with her.


'Bloody hell, I really am a pathetic excuse for a vamp.'


“Eww, Spike. I would not get all snotty!”


He watched her wrinkle her nose, all adorable and dainty. 'Who cares as long as I have her?'


“God, you’re so cute. Cute as a button,” Spike said and snuggled against her, nuzzling her neck as he circled her waist with his arms.


Buffy smiled and ran her fingers through his locks. “I don’t get how your hair can be so soft after decades of bleaching it.”


“That’s because I’m perfect. You should have noticed by now. I’m a bloody handsome devil, aren’t I?”


Buffy giggled. “The handsomest.”


“Doubt your mum will see it that way too, though. Are you sure you don’t want me to meet her tonight?”


“Honestly? I want nothing more than to have you by my side when I face her, but… I think I should talk to her by myself at first. So you don’t end up a head shorter if she whips out an axe or something. She’s got a temper when it comes to protecting her only daughter, and right now… you’re the guy that took me away from her and Dad.”


“Lucky me then,” Spike said. “I’ll go with you anyway. Not inside, just-”


“Be all stalker guy?”


“Not exactly what I’d say, but yeah. I just need to know you’re alright. I know you can take care of yourself, but-”


“I know, Spike. I get it. I feel the same way about you.” She smiled and kissed his forehead. “Besides, what is there to worry about?”


******


A tickling sensation on the back of her neck told Buffy that Spike was watching her from the shadows, and even though it was impossible to see him in the dark, she instinctively turned in his direction as she stood on the porch. He could probably feel her nerves, just as she could feel the reassurance he was sending her way. Her hands shook with trepidation as she took in a breath and forced herself to ring the bell.


Her heart pounded against her ribcage so hard, it felt like it would burst out of her chest at any moment. The sound of footsteps approaching grew steadily closer, then the door swung open and Buffy found herself ushered inside right before her mom enveloped her in a hug.


“Hi, honey. I’m so glad you came. Come in, I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”


Joyce took Buffy’s coat and put it on the hanger next to the door. Following her mother to the kitchen, she felt the anxiety seep out of her as she sat on a stool. Maybe they wouldn’t have to talk about what happened. Maybe she wouldn’t have to lie.


“Oh, by the way, this house belongs to a colleague of mine. The one I told you about. She and her husband were very nice, letting me stay here. No worry though, we can talk. Carol is working late and Dave went to meet with some friends, I think,” Joyce said as she busied herself with preparing the hot beverage. She didn’t know how to talk to Buffy anymore. She was so quiet, so different from the bubbly girl she’d been. There was an odd sense of pain and knowledge in her eyes, as if she’d lived longer than her eighteen years.


“It’s very nice. They must be good people.”


“They are… Buffy, I…” Joyce hesitated, putting the cups on the table before them before she sat down on the stool next to Buffy. “Look, I’m not going to scream at you or force you to come home with me. Just… please tell me why you ran away. Was it because of your father and me? Why didn’t you call? We’ve been worried sick-”


“Mom-”


“Did that boy you ran away with force you to… Is he preventing you from coming home? I know you’re not telling me something, and-”


“He’s not. Spike is the only reason I-” 'The only reason I am sane, that I can sleep at night.' Buffy didn’t say that out loud though. She couldn’t. “It’s complicated, Mom.”


“Don’t give me that! I think I have a right to know. You used to tell me everything. What happened to change you so much? You’re so solemn and… I know there’s something wrong with you. I just want to help you, honey.”


'Like you did when I told you vampires were real? When I was so scared and alone, thinking you and Dad would understand and help me?'


“I’ve been through some things… you wouldn’t understand-”


“Oh my God!” Joyce covered her mouth with her hand and stared at her daughter as if she had an epiphany. Irrational panic slammed into Buffy. 'She couldn’t know, could she? There is no way-'


“You were pregnant, weren’t you? That Spike got you pregnant, is that it?”


Buffy was about to reply when the sound of the door being open and slammed closed echoed in the oppressive tension between the two women. Buffy grabbed her cup of chocolate and raised it to her mouth to take a sip, her back to the newcomer as he stepped into the kitchen.


“Sorry ladies, just grabbing something to eat and I’m off.”


An unsettling feeling fell over Buffy, the hair on her arms standing on ends, as she shivered. Her mom replied something and they chatted as Dave made his way over to the fridge, and Buffy got her first glimpse of him.


Colour drained away from her face, leaving her ashen and pale, blood rushing loudly in her ears. The cup slipped from her loose grasp and spilled on the table, the thick liquid dripping lazily on the floor.


At the edge of her conscious thought, through the haze of numb shock and terror, Buffy could feel her mother’s hand touching her shoulder, gently shaking. Her voice came to her as if from a distance, muffled and incoherent. The knuckles of her hand were white as she gripped the edges of her seat, the wood cracking under her grasp. Dave turned to face her fully, his eyes widening in recognition as they met hers. The memory flickered behind her eyelids.

Flashback

“You love getting slapped and beaten, don’t you? Makes you hot, you little whore, doesn’t it? Answer me when I talk to you!” Buffy’s head rocked to the side as he backhanded her. He gripped her hair and smashed her head into the ground until she could feel the coppery taste of her own blood filling her mouth and trickle down her chin.


“Y-yes,” she answered.


“What did you say, you bitch? I didn’t hear you!”


“Yes,” Buffy repeated, feeling humiliated and helpless.


End of flashback


Something snapped in her, and suddenly Buffy was rising from her chair, her hand was gripping the front of Dave’s shirt as she tossed him into the hallway. He started to crawl away from her, cowering. The surge of power and satisfaction filled her as she stared down at him. Her mother was screaming at her, but nothing mattered. There was only that driving need to make him suffer, to inflict as much pain as she could. She wanted to kill him.


Buffy straddled his waist and pinned him down as she punched him in the face.


“How do you like it, huh? Not so tough now, are you? I bet it turns you on, doesn’t it, you sick freak!” She couldn’t stop hitting him, couldn’t stop the tears flowing down her cheeks, the sobs tearing out of her throat. Dave’s face was becoming a bloodied mess, and Buffy could hear at the periphery of her perception that her mother was screaming. Someone was pounding at the door repeatedly, and her fist stopped mid-air when the door flew open and the voice she knew so well penetrated the haze she was in.


“Buffy, stop!”


TBC

Author's note: I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself! :D No worry though, I have the next chapter written. :)