Disclaimers: All the characters are belong to Mr. Whedon.
Thank you so much to all my faithful reviewers!
 
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Spike found himself awake nearly the whole night, watching Buffy sleep and thinking. He had never been the broody, thoughtful type, a fact that used to drive Angelus to distraction. Even before the soul his grandsire had been one to study a situation endlessly before acting, whereas Spike usually jumped in with fangs out and figured things out as he went. But as he listened to Buffy’s heartbeat, and caressed her golden hair gently as it splayed out across his chest, he found himself unable to turn off his brain.
 
I’m going to have to lose her again someday,he thought. Could be next week, could be fifty years from now, but I’m going to have to put her in the ground again. His heart broke at the thought. Like a devil on his shoulder, the demon spoke up in his head: You could turn her. The chip doesn’t work on her. We could have her forever. But as rapidly as that thought arrived, it was banished. Couldn’t put her through that. Dust myself first rather than that. She stirred and rolled over in her sleep, and he spooned up behind her. She pressed herself back into his chest and settled back into her dreaming.
 
He buried his face in her hair and reveled in her scent. God as my witness, Slayer, I’m going to keep you alive as long as I can. Don’t care if I dust in the process. You’re going to be the first Slayer in history to die of old age if I have any say in the matter. With that he closed his eyes and dozed as well.
 
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Buffy finally woke up around six in the morning. She found that Spike’s arms had crept around her again. She turned over to face him, trying and failing not to wake him. His eyes blinked open as he whispered, “How’d you sleep, pet?”
 
“Like a rock,” Buffy answered, yawning. Then she looked more closely at him. “Your face! It’s nearly back to normal!” she proclaimed happily.
 
Spike closed his good eye and looked around. “Vision’s back too. Can’t tell you how annoying that’s been.” He kissed her gently and stroked her face. “Thanks for the blood. Slayer’s the best medicine out there for an injured vamp.”
 
As Buffy returned the kiss, a thought suddenly popped into her head. “Spike? Your chip hasn’t been firing, has it?”
 
Spike stopped cold. “It doesn’t seem to be working on you, pet,” he admitted.
 
“Does it work on anyone else?”
 
Spike thought for a moment. “Well, it fired when Harris was trying to stake me in the church, so I guess it works on him at least.”
 
A concerned look rippled across Buffy’s face. “Do you… does that mean there’s something wrong with me?”
 
“Hey, none of that now,” Spike shushed her. “Nothing wrong with you that I can see. Maybe it’s because I don’t actually want to hurt you. Maybe it’s a side effect of the spell. Personally,” he started nibbling gently at her neck, “I am calling it a welcome change and leaving it at that.”
 
Buffy closed her eyes and sighed. Really hard to argue with this man when he’s doing that. “As much as I would like to follow that line of thought,” she said at last, “I need to think about getting up. That parenting class is at eight o’clock.”
 
Spike nibbled a little further, coming to rest on one rosy nipple and teasing it gently with his tongue. Buffy gave a little gasp of pleasure, then reluctantly, but firmly detached herself from Spike. “If I don’t get up now, I am never going to be able to.” Spike stuck his lip out in a deliciously sexy pout, but let her go, leaning back with his hands behind his head, showing off his sculpted body. “I’ll be waiting for you, Slayer,” he purred enticingly. With an incredible effort, Buffy tore herself away and went to get ready. Spike watched her as she fixed her hair and dressed, and then accepted a last deep kiss from her before she went downstairs for her breakfast. Spike rolled over and fell asleep with a smile playing about his lips.
 
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The day passed relatively quickly for Spike. He woke up around three o’clock, had some blood, and sat down to watch Passions. Becoming a lazy house vamp, William. Your reputation will be shot even further to hell if you keep this up, he said ruefully to himself. He mulled it over, and decided that he could probably live with it.
 
As the show came to an end, the doorbell rang. Spike jumped up and turned off the TV. He cautiously looked through the window to see who was on the doorstep – he didn’t want any Social Services types catching him and causing trouble for Buffy. He relaxed when he saw that it was Tara. Opening the door, he said, “Glinda? What can I do for you? Lady of the house isn’t home just now.”
 
“H..hello, Spike,” Tara said nervously. “I was in the area, and I just wanted to ask how Buffy was doing.”
 
“Come in for a moment,” Spike said, stepping back. Tara entered, and Spike could see that she was not a happy person. “What is it, Glinda? What’s wrong?”
 
“I... I’ve broken things off with Willow. For a while at least,” she stuttered.
 
Spike was shocked. “What brought this on?”
 
“After she did that last spell on Buffy we had a huge fight. She used a spell to try to erase my memory of the fight, and I found out. I told her I couldn’t stay unless she quit using magic without people’s consent.”
 
Spike whistled. “Red’s got a problem.” Tara nodded sadly in agreement. “Is Buffy in danger? Is she going to try something else?”
 
“I don’t know,” said Tara. “I don’t think so, but I don’t know. I just wanted to know that Buffy was ok, and to let you know to keep your eyes open.”
 
“Appreciate that,” Spike replied. “Buffy is doing fine. She’s off taking those parenting classes or whatever they’re called today. Last night was a little rough.”
 
“Why?”
 
“Harris called Angel, who called Buffy, who got pissed off and destroyed an innocent telephone.” And then got shagged senseless by yours truly, but you don’t need to know that.
 
Tara sighed, “I told them that was a bad idea. But Xander’s got this bug in his ear about you living here, and he won’t let it go.”
 
“Glinda,” Spike began, “I love her. I’ll do anything I can to protect her and Dawn. Won’t hurt her, won’t leave her, and won’t let anyone else hurt her either. If you see Harris, try to get it through his thick cranium that he is causing her more grief than all the vamps in Sunnydale right now. She just needs to work things out in her own time, and all this butting in isn’t helping in the slightest.”
 
“I believe you, Spike,” said Tara gently. “And I’ll do what I can to run interference with the rest. Just… take care of Buffy and Dawn. They need someone.”
 
“I’ll do my best,” Spike agreed. “And I’d like to thank you for helping us find Dawn. Really helped to be able to explain things to her.”
 
“Glad to help,” Tara said, smiling. Then she said her goodbyes and left, with Spike closing the door behind her.
 
Spike busied himself for the next hour or so tidying up a bit, and sharpening Buffy’s collection of swords and axes. He found the snick of the blades against the sharpening stone soothing as he contemplated the current state of things. Which of these Scoobies is going to fuck with Buffy next? Buffy’s gonna snap if they don’t get off her back. He found himself increasingly irritated at the lot of them. He needed some action in the worst way – his demon was getting frustrated and restless. He was grateful when Buffy came home around sunset.
 
“Um, planning some violence?” Buffy asked as she saw Spike honing the blade of her best battleaxe.
 
“Just figured I’d sharpen some things,” he said, twirling the axe with skilled hands. “Could really use a patrol though – getting antsy around here.”
 
“Me too,” said Buffy. “My god those parenting classes were boring. I was the youngest person there by about 15 years, and the instructor droned on in front of about 10,000 slides until I thought I was going to pass out drooling on the desk. Let me go change out of these ‘sensible guardian’ clothes and we’ll go.”
 
Buffy ran upstairs and quickly returned wearing jeans and a tight pink shirt that made Spike whistle appreciatively. “You do know how to get a guy’s motor revving, Slayer.”
 
“Down boy. Patrol first.”
 
Spike pretended to be abashed. “Yes ma’am.” Then he grinned and they grabbed some stakes and left.
 
It was a bad night to be a demon in Sunnydale. Buffy and Spike were beautifully matched, both at full strength and both itching for a fight. They came across a nest of a dozen vampires in an old warehouse and took them out in what looked like an orchestrated ballet. They found two horned demons in the woods, preparing for some sort of ritual, and dispatched them with such ferocity that scavengers would probably be finding demon parts for a week. “There’s something strangely therapeutic about slaying,” Buffy commented as they brushed off their hands and clothes and continued on their way.
 
“Gotta admit that it helped over the summer,” Spike mused. “Think the killing and the whiskey were about even in the race for drug of choice.”
 
Buffy glanced sidelong at Spike. “Spike, I’ve been wondering about something since that night in the church.”
 
“Yeah?”
 
Buffy stopped, and Spike turned to face her. “Were you… what were you going to do, after I went back?”
 
Spike laughed ruefully. “Sussed me out, did you?” He ran his hand along her hair. “I admit, I was contemplating using your stake as my ticket out of here. Glad it didn’t come to that.”
 
“Don’t you ever think like that again,” Buffy admonished. “Even if some demon gets me tomorrow.”
 
“Don’t even say that!” Spike barked, a little more forcefully than he intended. Buffy jumped a bit, wide eyed. Spike took her hands and continued, in a softer voice, “I know… I know that you’re going to leave me someday. I’m immortal, you’re not. ‘S the way it goes. But I intend to make sure that you become the first slayer to be eligible for social security, alright?”
 
Buffy melted at the sight of the love that radiated from his eyes. He meant every word. She reached up to kiss him, slowly and tenderly. Her kiss and her shining eyes told him everything he needed to know. She was his, plain and simple.
 
A rustling in the bushes broke the lovers apart, as they looked up to see three vampires coming up to them. Buffy and Spike rolled their eyes at the stupidity of the local demon population, pulled out stakes, and grinning went to work once more.
 
After another hour of patrolling, they were out of things to slay, and found themselves walking hand in hand along the streets of Sunnydale. When Spike realized they were approaching the Bronze, he said, “Fancy a bit of refreshment, love?”
 
“Most definitely,” Buffy agreed. They went inside and found a familiar table under the stairs. “Remember when you and I had that conversation about the past slayers here?”
 
“Yeah. Nice that you’re not sporting a great big abdominal wound this time. Wouldn’t match your outfit,” joked Spike.
 
“Very funny,” Buffy retorted. “Now be a good creature of darkness and get me a drink. And some food – I’m starved.”
 
“Bossy little bint, aren’t you?” Spike asked good-naturedly. He made his way to the bar and returned with two beers and an order of buffalo wings. “Cheers, Slayer,” he said, toasting her. They sipped their beers and munched in companionable silence for a while, listening to the music and watching the crowd. Apparently their killing spree had been remarked upon, as there were no vampires trolling for victims tonight. Usually the Bronze was good for at least one a night. It seemed to be 80’s night, based on the music that was playing. After a while, a slower song came on: Billy Idol’s “Eyes Without a Face”.
 
“You know we’ve got to dance to this one, Mister ‘Billy Idol got the idea from me’,” Buffy said, getting up and taking Spike’s hand. He followed her onto the dance floor and wrapped his hands around her slim hips. She was surprised to find that he was a good dancer – none of the men she had dated previously had been into dancing at all. He rested his forehead on hers as they locked eyes and swayed gracefully. They were so focused on each other that they completely failed to realize they were being watched.
 
Xander and Anya had been at the Bronze for a while. Anya fervently wished that Xander would just let the whole Buffy thing go already. He had been brooding and sulking about it for days now. “She won’t even speak to us!” he had said earlier that evening, for the 95th time. “She could at least let us try to explain. We weren’t trying to hurt her, we didn’t know…” Finally, Anya had suggested going to the Bronze as a way to at least get him to sulk somewhere other than their apartment. Hello? Girlfriend here? Really wish you would spend a little less time worrying about another woman! They had been thinking about heading home when Xander saw the blond couple swaying on the dance floor.
 
“She seems to be feeling fine now!” he snorted. “Look at them! How can she be dancing with that… thing!”
 
Rolling her eyes, Anya tried once more to reason with Xander. “I am looking at them, Xander. And to me, Buffy looks happy. She doesn’t look like she’s in pain, and she isn’t throttling someone, so what is the problem?”
 
Xander was about to answer when Spike spun Buffy around playfully so that now her back was to Xander and Anya. Her hair fell away from her neck to reveal the obvious bite marks marring her smooth skin. Xander’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. “No wonder she’s not in pain anymore! The son of a bitch turned her!”
 
“What?” cried Anya. “Xander that’s crazy. He’s got that chip in his head still, and she’s the Slayer, if you haven’t forgotten.”
 
Spike looked up, having heard Anya’s voice, if not the words. “Trouble, pet,” he murmured. “Harris is over there with Demon Girl, and based on the look on his face he has a bit of an issue with us dancing together.”
 
Buffy sighed and leaned her head on Spike’s shoulder. “Can we leave? Really don’t want to spoil the night by arguing with Xander.”
 
“Off we go then,” Spike said. He turned and led Buffy through the crowd and out the door. Xander leaped up and went to follow them, trailed by Anya.
 
“Xander, I’m telling you, she is not a vampire!” Anya insisted.
 
“I can’t think of any other reason why Buffy would be behaving like that with him.”
 
Spike and Buffy had gotten out into the alley at that point. “Thanks,” Buffy said gratefully. “I was really enjoying the dance though.”
 
Spike wrapped his arms around her again. “Nothing preventing us from going home and dancing all night,” he growled seductively. He pulled her into a long, deep kiss. Buffy laughed, kissed him back, and then headed down the alley with her arm around his waist.
 
Xander had gone back to his car, trailed by Anya who was desperately trying to get him to see reason. “Xander! Will you please just stop and think about this? Even if Buffy is a vampire, which I doubt, how are you going to go after the two of them?”
 
Xander kept rummaging in his trunk until he pulled out two crossbows. “With these,” he replied. One of the side effects of being a Scoobie was being in the habit of keeping weapons close to hand. Xander got behind the wheel and put the crossbows next to him. Anya reluctantly climbed into the passenger side as Xander started the car and headed off after Spike and Buffy.
 
Spike and Buffy rounded the corner onto Revello Drive, still with their arms around each other. Spike had been teasing her and whispering to her all the way home, and she found herself nearly moaning in anticipation. She was in the process of attempting to nibble his ear when she heard a voice yell, “That’s far enough!”
 
They looked up to see Xander, with a loaded crossbow in each hand, appearing out from behind his parked car. Buffy was instantly pissed. “Xander? What the fuck are you doing here?”
 
“Trying to keep the two of you from turning Sunnydale into your own personal diner!” Xander responded.
 
“What?” Spike and Buffy yelled together. They were both totally confused as to what he was getting at.
 
“I saw the bite marks, Buffy!” Xander cried. “I saw the way you two were dancing together! He turned you, didn’t he?”
 
“Xander have you completely lost your mind?” Buffy said, moving toward him.
 
“Don’t come any closer!” Xander squeaked. His hands were shaking with the effort of holding the crossbows. When Spike shifted slightly to one side, Xander panicked and raised the weapon toward him. As Buffy cried, “Xander, no!” his finger slipped, and the crossbow fired.
 
TBC