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Chapter 24


The wooden floor creaked beneath his boots as he paced the length of the small basement apartment. The sun had just fallen below the horizon, and his whole being itched with the need to go out.


His stomach growled.


Spike clenched his jaw and snatched his duster, the leather creaking as he slipped into it. He locked the door behind him, the keys jingling as he dropped them into the inner pocket of his coat. Hunger twisted his insides now, and he quickened his stride as he walked down the street.


Ever since he’d found out Buffy was alive, he refused to drive them even further apart by acting upon his demonic urges. He hadn’t killed anyone. But he still had to feed, and there was no way around it. Darla and Dru didn’t deem it necessary to teach him how to drain someone without… well, draining them, but he managed just fine on his own.


He’d knock his victim unconscious and drink from their wrist instead of the main artery since the blood flowed far too quickly for them to make it out alive. Spike so badly wanted to prove that he could be William, but he had no idea how to act human anymore. And he had a feeling Buffy wouldn’t be forthcoming with helping him out.


Someone threw trash cans against a wall in a nearby alley, the sharp tinny sound followed by a malicious hyena-like laugh. His curiosity piqued, Spike pursued the sounds and the closer he got, the more unsettled he became. Someone was weeping.


A child.


He froze in his tracks, the face of the little girl Drusilla killed flashing before his eyes. What did he care? His stomach tightened and he rushed towards the alley entrance.


Two men stood there, their laughter mocking the fear-stricken girl cowering against the brick building wall. She could have been seven years old, and her dark hair was sticking to her tear stained cheeks. Spike growled as the men’s arousal permeated the air, their heartbeats thudding in the silence.


'Sick fuckers.'


He approached them with his thumbs hooked in the belt loops of his jeans, purposely making his steps heavy to alert them of his presence. They both turned to face him, their grins never faltering. Spike coldly smirked. They’d regret not recognizing him as a threat.


“Picking on someone your own size, lads?”


The taller one nudged the other with his elbow and they stepped closer with a hunger for violence gleaming in their eyes.


“What do you care, wanker? Are you looking for trouble? Because we can give you that,” the taller one said, dubbing himself as the leader of their pathetic little duo.


Spike noticed they were on either side of him, but he’d kept his pose relaxed. He could break them both in half before they had the time to blink.


“Cowards like you? Don’t think so. What were you planning on doing to the little tyke anyway?”


The shorter one grabbed his crotch crudely and leered in the direction of the girl. “Show her a good time if you know what I mean.”


Spike shook his head and muttered, “And she thinks only demons are monsters.” Louder he said, “Yeah, you go do that.” He shifted into game face. “Over my undead body.”


They looked at each other, all the bravado gone.


Spike gazed at the little girl with his yellow eyes and ordered her to close hers.


She did as he bid her and before the two men could run away, Spike grabbed the first one by the back of his t-shirt and slammed him head first into the wall. He fell, dazed, blood running down his forehead. The shorter one swung back his arm to punch Spike in the face, but the vampire could see the move coming from miles. He snatched the man’s wrist before the blow connected with his face and twisted it as far as it would go. The man screamed and crashed to his knees, whimpering as he cradled his broken arm.


Spike grinned and bent to lift him up, tearing his fangs into the man’s throat viciously. His blood rushed down Spike’s throat, chasing the hunger away as he sucked the last drop from the now limp body before tossing the carcass aside. The other man stared at the scene in horror, his back pressing into the wall behind in hopes of blending into it. Spike’s smile widened, the tips of his fangs grazing his bottom lip.


The fear radiating off the man filled the air around as Spike knelt down and leaned in.


“Not so brave now, are you, mate?”


“P-please…. D-don’t kill me.”


Spike laughed. “Sorry, seems you’re out of luck on this one.”


He smashed the man’s head repeatedly against the wall, his demon roaring in triumph at the sound of bone breaking and blood flowing. The rush of violence coursed through his veins, making his skin tight and causing him to shiver in anticipation of fresh blood. It was exhilarating. When the man’s face stopped resembling a human being, Spike sank his teeth into the criminal’s neck and drank, reveling at the groan of pain coming from the broken man.


The corpse began to cool down, transferring its warmth into Spike and he pulled out his fangs, wiping his mouth before his face melted into its human features.


The girl had her eyes squeezed shut, her small hands covering her ears. Spike approached her and knelt down to touch her shoulder, purposely positioning himself so he shielded her from the gruesome scene behind.


She snapped her eyes open and stared up at him, her chin quivering. Spike sighed and wiped the tears from her face.


“You alright?”


The breath hitched in her throat and suddenly, Spike had his arms full of the sobbing mess of a child. He patted her back awkwardly and she tightened her arms around him.


“Y-you saved me,” she mumbled into his chest.


“Guess I did.” He leaned away to look at her. “What’s you name, poppet?”


She averted her chocolate eyes, her cheeks reddening as she sniffed. “Lily.”


Spike smiled. “Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. Nice to meet you, Lily. I’m Spike.” He offered her his hand and she took it, shaking it firmly.


“Strong grip you’ve got there, luv.”


She bit her lip.


“Come on, I’ll take you home.”


She told him the address. Spike stood up and was about to take her hand when she stretched out her arms with a hopeful look on her face. He shrugged and lifted her up and into his arms, smiling at the feel of her soft warm cheek pressing against his neck.


“Care to tell me what you’re doing out at night without your parents?”


“I ran away.”


Spike only then noticed the Hello Kitty duffle bag on the ground beside her and bent to retrieve it before walking out of the alley. “Your folks not minding you?”


“They always fight and Daddy said he was going to leave.” Her eyes teared up when he glanced down at her. “It’s my fault. If I’m not there, maybe they’ll stop fighting.”


Spike shook his head. “Not your fault. Grown ups argue… they’re stupid like that. They’re probably sick with worry over you by now, Lily.”


“I’m sorry,” she said with a guilty voice.


“Just promise me you won’t ever do that again. ‘S not safe out here for a little girl like you.”


“I promise.” She rested her chin on his shoulder. “What are you?”


Spike almost stopped in his tracks. “What do you mean?”


“Your eyes got all yellow before you told me to close mine. And your nose was all scrunchy. Just like my cat, Cupcake’s.”


Spike arched his brow. “You named your cat after food?”


“So what are you?”


'Bloody kids and their questions.'


“Eh… I’m a vampire.”


Silence.


“Okay,” Lily said.


“Okay? That’s all you have to say?”


“Yes.” Her small fingers reached out to trace his face. “Show me?”


“I don’t think-”


“Please?” Her eyes were all big and pleading and Spike couldn’t say no. He shifted into his game face and growled playfully as she traced his fangs. She just stared at him fascinated, tickling his face with her questing fingertips.


“You’re very pretty,” she said, and Spike could feel the heat rise in her cheeks.


He smirked and let the game face recede. “Am I now?”


“Yes.” She tugged at the hem of her t-shirt absentmindedly. “You can marry me when I’m all grown up.”


Spike chuckled. “Maybe I’ll take you up on your offer. ‘S not like the girl I love wants me.”


“What’s her name?”


“Buffy.”


“It’s a silly name.”


“That it is, pet. And she hates me.”


“Why?”


“Because I’m a bad man. Not worthy of her.”


“You can’t be bad when you saved me.”


Spike patted her hair with a sigh. “If only it was so easy, moppet.”


She’d fallen asleep maybe fifteen minutes after, slightly drooling on his shoulder but he didn’t mind. He’d had far worse goo covering him when the mood struck him to challenge a Knecht’d demon.


'Ugly buggers.'


He was just rounding a corner when he came face to face with the Slayer.


*******


Patrol had been uneventful so far, which didn’t bode well for chasing the boredom and restlessness away.


“Come on, a little action would be nice,” she muttered and rounded a corner.


‘Be careful what you wish for’ flitted through her brain as she almost ran smack into Spike.


Her eyes widened when she registered the child in his arms, a smear of blood on his left cheek. Cold dread settled in her stomach. How could she ever have doubted what he was?


They stood there in shock, staring at each other. She snapped out if first.


“What did you do to her?”


His brows furrowed in confusion as he glanced at the tiny body in his arms. As if he wasn’t a cold blooded killer. “What? What do you mean what I did to her? She’s-”


The small girl stirred and Buffy breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t drained her yet.


Why hadn’t he?


The girl yawned and her heavy eyelids lifted slightly to reveal a pair of hazy, dark brown eyes. “Spike? Are we home yet?”


Buffy carefully moved closer, ready to interfere at the slightest hint of Spike’s evil intent. She absolutely refused to acknowledge the gentle way he held the girl in his arms, or the fact that she didn’t appear to be harmed. “Is that what you told her? That you were taking her home?”


The girl frowned and whispered into Spike’s ear, “She’s rude.”


Buffy blushed, but held her ground. She was only trying to help after all.


“She is, isn’t she, Lily? This is Buffy.”


The girl’s eyes widened and she turned her attention back to Buffy, making her squirm. “Do you love her because she’s pretty?”


Spike chuckled and Buffy resisted the urge to flee. What the hell was going on here? More importantly, why was she being talked about behind her back?


“I don’t understand… what… how-”


“Spike saved me,” Lily said, succeeding in throwing Buffy completely off her balance. “He is taking me home. He’s even carrying my back pack for me.”


Buffy’s gaze darted to the pink bag slung over Spike’s shoulder, her jaw open. Could it be true? That he really saved the little girl? Why? What could he possibly gain? Could it mean that some spark of humanity inside him remained? That there was still a bit of William left inside?


'No! God, what am I thinking? This is a ploy of some kind. It must be! But it wasn’t like he knew he’d bump into me.'


“Think you stunned her speechless, moppet,” Spike said with a smile before he stared at Buffy, willing her to see the sincerity in his eyes. “I wasn’t going to hurt her, Buffy. I swear. I know that you hate me and don’t believe there’s anything good inside me, but… I can be good. I can try. I know I can, if you just… if you just give a chance. Not asking for anything else.”


Buffy dropped her gaze and bit her lip, hating how much he sounded like William. Exactly like that time when he pleaded with Cecily to see him for what he was. Her gut clenched. Why was he doing this to her? Making her feel?


“I… let me take her home. I just… I can’t… not right now,” Buffy said and Spike nodded.


“Come on then, Lily. You’ll go with Buffy, yeah? She’ll take you to your folks.”


Lily pouted as he put her on her feet and knelt down, grasping her shoulders. “No running away, promise?” he whispered.


Lily nodded. He kissed her cheek and stood up. Slipping the bag from his shoulder, Spike hesitated before he stretched out his arm to give it to Buffy. She stared at his hand for a moment, wondering why she wasn’t fighting him. There was a child. It wouldn’t be very considerate to scar Lily for life. They could finish this some other time. Right?


She stepped closer and reached out to take the bag from him. Their fingers brushed. She shivered, the sparks of electricity shooting through her system at the fleeting contact. His gaze burned through her even as she turned her head to avoid it.


Lily waved goodbye to Spike and took Buffy’s hand. All the way to the girl’s home, Buffy regretted the decision as Lily proceeded to talk her ear off about how pretty and brave Spike was.


He was making it so difficult for her to hide behind the self-made barrier of her own convictions and she hated him for it.


TBC