CHAPTER TEN

 

As Catherine had promised, when Spike peeked outside the door twenty minutes later, there was a small cart waiting for him. With a soft, but grateful, “Ta, Innkeeper,” he pulled it into the room and looked it over. In addition to a large pitcher of ice water and a glass, there was a bottle of orange juice resting in an ice bucket. Peering under a lid, he saw cheese, an apple, and a slice of delicious-smelling bread. He put the lid back on and smiled in satisfaction. He was a bit curious that there was no blood for him, but shook his head at himself. 

 

“Don’t doubt she knows exactly why Buffy needs this stuff, and why I don’t. Get a grip, Spike. You got what you asked for.” “

There was one more rather large container and another glass on a lower level, but close inspection showed that, rather than blood, it contained what proved to be a very smooth rye whiskey.

 

“Worth every penny of what this is costing me,” he said with a smile. He poured himself a tall glass of the liquid meant for him, then settled into the comfortable chair with a book he’d found while prowling around the room.

 

After taking a couple of breaks to do jumping jacks and sit-ups to take the edge off, he finished the mystery novel and noted that it had to be getting close to sunrise. His body was no longer demanding he do something with the blood singing through it, so he dropped his clothes on the floor and slipped into bed behind Buffy. He was happy to see that she’d recovered enough to come partially awake.

 

“Where’d you go?” she murmured, draping herself around him. “I missed you.”

 

“Don’t try to pretend with me, Slayer. You were out like a light. I could have gone out and slaughtered a whole town, and you’d have snoozed through the whole thing.”

 

“Hmmm. Good thing you wouldn’t do that, then, isn’t it?”

 

His chest shook under her head as he chuckled. “I reckon it is.”

 

“Is it time to get up?” she asked querulously. “I’m not ready to wake up yet.” Throughout their short conversation, she had yet to open her eyes, making him laugh again.

 

“No, love. Just time for all good vampires to catch some kip. Go back to sleep.”

 

“No such thing as good vampires….” Belying her words by snuggling even closer to him, she drifted back to sleep, his soft chuckle and “Whatever you say, Buffy,” murmured into her hair.

 

XXX

 

Several hours later, when Buffy had awakened thoroughly and could see that it was bright daylight outside, Spike was still well into his normal early morning semi-coma. She got out of bed, putting the covers up over his head to block out the light. She went into the bathroom to find that her favorite shampoo and body wash were already in the shower stall, and her normal deodorant and lotions were on the sink.

 

“Huh. I guess I didn’t need to pack so much,” she said as she gazed around the well-stocked and pleasantly warm room. She quickly peed, then stepped into the shower and allowed the warm water to wash over her. Feeling much revived when she got out of the shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and dug around in her bag for clean underwear and something more appropriate for morning in the mountains than the beautiful dress hanging in the closet. A quick glance at the cart that she didn’t remember from the night before reminded her that she was both very thirsty and somewhat hungry.

 

She wrinkled her nose at the smell from Spike’s empty glass, but immediately poured water into the clean one and began to gulp it down. While she held the glass in one hand, she was checking the covered plate and happily grabbed the fresh-smelling bread. Without pausing to wonder how it managed to be not only fresh, but warm, she enjoyed chewing on it as she walked around the room, still only wearing her towel. As Catherine had said, the view out the window was amazing. In the distance, Buffy could see what she thought was the ocean, although the rolling hills between it and their inn were enough of a distraction that she couldn’t be sure. She tried to see what was below the large window, finally realizing that their room must have been cantilevered over the side of the mountain.

 

“Whoa!” Buffy backed away from the window, to pick up the cheese and refill her glass.  While she nibbled and drank, she combed out her wet hair and got into her jeans and a hoody sweatshirt. She giggled at the incongruous sight of jeans and her beautiful, but surprisingly sturdy, sandals, but decided they would do for a walk around the inn. Checking that Spike seemed to be sleeping the sleep of the undead in daytime, she brushed her hand over his head and left the room to wander around their home for the day.

 

She hadn’t gone far when Catherine appeared, smiling a greeting.

 

“Good morning!” she chirped. “Did you sleep well?”

 

“Like the dead,” Buffy replied, then coughed. “I mean, yes, I slept really well. That bed is wonderful. And thank you for the tray of goodies. They really hit the spot.”

 

“You can thank your husband for that. He was worried about you and came out to find the kitchen. I stopped him just in time.”

 

“Just in time? From finding the kitchen?” Buffy frowned, remembering what Spike had implied about the Inn.

 

“Finding the kitchen can be…. tricky….” Catherine said. “It’s always better to just let me know what you need, and I will see that it gets to you.” She gave another cheery smile before continuing, “Speaking of which, if you’d like some tea or coffee, you can find it in the dining room. The brunch buffet should be set up by now also, if you’d like something more substantial to eat.”

 

“Thank you. I am hungry,” Buffy said, choosing to ignore Catherine’s giggled, “I’ll just bet you are.”

 

She easily found the nearby dining room, smiling at the few other guests as she got her coffee and carried it to a small table by a window. Unlike their room, this window looked out upon a small patch of grass surrounded by flowerbeds and colorful shrubs. Oddly enough, the greenery only went so far, and then the more normal dry, desert-like landscape could be seen beyond it. Buffy was getting the distinct impression that there was more to the Inn and its Innkeeper than even Spike knew.

 

She was just tucking into her second helping of pancakes and eggs when the room got very quiet. She glanced up to see Spike standing at the entrance, mug of something in hand, and eyes obviously searching for her. She waved at him, then watched as the other patrons relaxed and returned to their own meals.

 

“I think you rattled some cages,” she said as he sat down. “How would they know what you are?”

 

“Maybe they were just admiring how good-looking I am,” he said as he sipped from his mug.

 

 She just rolled her eyes. Since no one had run out screaming, she decided it didn’t matter.

 

“Is that what I think it is?” Buffy frowned suddenly at the pleased expression he wore.

 

“It is, but take that look off your face. It’s plain old cow. I just thought it would be rude to turn it down.” He smirked at her. “Doubt I’ll be hungry any time soon, to be honest.” Still smirking, he turned his gaze to the peaceful view outside.

 

Buffy snorted, causing him to take his attention off the view out the window to raise an eyebrow at her amusement.

 

 “You know that’s not gonna happen very often,” she said. “As good as it felt, and as happy as it appears to have made you, I can’t afford to be out of it like that. You’ll have to make withdrawals from your live-in blood bank the usual way.”

 

He stared at her, his emotion obvious. “I know that was a bloody gift, love, and I’ll be grateful forever, but I don’t expect it to be part of our day-to-day life. You’re not food to me, and you never will be. That was about feeling like you were giving yourself to me in a way you never have before. I’ll treasure it forever, but I won’t be expecting to do it ever again.”

 

“Well, I didn’t say never,” she giggled, remembering how good it had felt when he was pulling on her. “I just meant we can’t make a habit of it.” Giving him time to compose himself, she changed the subject, asking, “Does the Innkeeper know I’m the Slayer?”

 

“Dunno, love. I didn’t tell her I was bringing the Slayer into her establishment, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know who you are. Aside from the wife of William the Bloody.” He laughed quietly and shook his head.

 

“What?”

 

“It’s just funny,” he said, taking her hand. “All the fuss I made about us being mated, and how it’s forever and we didn’t need… and here I am, just as chuffed about being Mr. and Mrs. Pratt as I would have been when I was a worthless human wanker.”

 

“So, Mr. Pratt, how do you plan to amuse Mrs. Pratt today? Are we going hiking?”

 

Spike glanced around the room at the other guests, all of them carefully avoiding his eyes.

 

“As much fun as that sounds, love, I’m not sure we want to blow my vampire image just now. I’m not the only demon that ever went looking for the Gem of Amara. There’s no sense making it obvious to people we don’t know that I may have found it.”

 

“Good thinking. I don’t know what the First knows, but the less his minions know about you, the better off we’ll be.” She frowned in concentration. “Well what are we going to do today? And how long are we going to be here?”

 

“We have the room until midnight tonight. And as for what to do with the rest of the day….” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

 

Buffy laughed. “Well, you can stay in and be all can’t-go-out-in-the-sun guy, but I’m going to go out and enjoy the sun and the views. I’ll come back in by lunch time…. dinner at the latest.”

 

“If you go hiking by yourself, you come inside first to get plenty of water and a map of the trails. Don’t want you getting lost out there, and you probably still need fluids.”

 

“Yes, Mom,” she said, but she smiled, his very real concern for her coming through the claim. “I’ll be careful.”

 

XXX

 

Buffy tried not to notice that some of the other guests worked very hard to not be wherever she was. They all looked human to her, but it was pretty obvious that was not the case. She enjoyed basking in the sun in the little garden for a while, going so far as to close her eyes for a short nap. When she awoke, she went inside and asked the girl at the desk if she could have some bottled water so she could do some hiking.

 

Water and map of the trails in hand, she spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around outside, trying very hard never to get out of sight of the Inn for long. Her wedding sandals, as she’d expected, held up just fine for the walking she did on the smoothly groomed trails. As she made her way back, she paused to enjoy the view and to study the Inn. From her perch on a big rock, she could see that one side of the building did protrude out into space, and she determined that must be their room. She gave up trying to mentally describe the rest of the building to herself as she would have sworn it occasionally grew wings or lost rooms just when she’d figured out where they were.

 

Her musing was interrupted by Spike’s intruding thought.

 

Where are you, Slayer? I miss you.

 

Stand at the window and I’ll wave to you.

 

She strained her eyes to see if he was standing in the window, but couldn’t see anything except the sun reflecting off the glass.

 

Can’t see you. It’s too sunny. She waved anyway, but couldn’t tell if he was waving back or not.

 

Guess you’ll just have to come back to make sure I’m here then. I’ll be waiting. He sent her an image of himself lying naked in the big bed, stroking his cock.

 

No fair starting without me! She sent her own image of herself bouncing on him, her head thrown back in delight.

 

Leaving him to contemplate that image, she made her way back to the Inn, having no trouble with anything except a curious cougar that halted a good distance from the Inn’s manicured grounds. Buffy paused to breathe evenly and extend her senses. When she did that, she could feel it when she crossed the magical barrier into the Inn’s protected space.

 

XXX

 

After a late afternoon love-making session that was more lazy and sweet than vigorous, and a delicious evening meal for Buffy and more warmed blood for Spike, they agreed that they’d probably been away long enough.

 

“Do we need to check out? Or will the Inn know we’re leaving?”  Buffy asked as they left the dining room after dinner.

 

 

 

Her question was only half-serious, as she’d seen enough of area around the Inn, as well as the public areas inside it, to know it was not just a normal building with magical wards to keep it safe. In the lobby, a belligerent drunk guest had been accosting the other guests as they approached the dining room, but a shake of Catherine’s head stopped Spike’s obvious desire to take the man up on his need to fight somebody. The Innkeeper had approached the man, broom in hand, and somehow swept him away from the other guests. When he was staring around in bewilderment at finding himself separated from everyone else, he disappeared behind a wall. A wall that Buffy knew hadn’t been there when they walked into the lobby.

 

Catherine had smiled at Spike and Buffy, saying, “You and your lovely bride are here to enjoy yourselves. The Inn and I will take care of any problems.” She’d bustled away toward the back of the building, leaving them to continue on to dinner.

 

 

 

“You didn’t answer my question,” Buffy said. “Will we need to check out?”

 

“Bill’s already covered. But I’d be surprised if the Innkeeper didn’t see us out herself.”

 

“Does she ever sleep?”

 

“None of our business if or when she sleeps, love.” He smiled at her, but his voice was very serious.

 

“I suppose not,” Buffy agreed. “As long as she’s not evil….”

 

“Not evil, love. And that’s all you need to know.”

 

He picked up their bags, leaving Buffy to bring the scythe, and walked out the door and down the hall to the lobby.  As they left the room, it seemed to Buffy that the hall got shorter, but she shook her head at herself and kept walking. She told herself she wasn’t turning around to see if their room was still there only because she was in a hurry to get home, and not because she was afraid to find out it had disappeared.

 

As Spike had said she would, Catherine greeted them in the lobby and walked with them to the open door, through which Buffy could see Spike’s car had been parked just outside.

 

“I hope you enjoyed your stay,” Catherine said, shaking Buffy’s hand again. “Please come back another time. You don’t have to be honeymooning to be welcome here.”

 

“Thank you,” Buffy said with a smile. “We’ve had a wonderful time. We’ll be back someday, I’m sure.”

 

“And now we’re off to save the world… again,” Spike said, holding the car door for her so she could put the scythe case into the back seat with the duffle bags. While Buffy was putting it away, Spike turned to Catherine. “It’s everything I heard it would be, Innkeeper. Thank you for having us.”

 

“Thank you for saving the world… again,” she said with a wink and a genuine smile.

 

She stood at the entrance waving as they pulled away and Spike started down the mountain and back to Sunnydale.

 

XXX

 

The drive home took a little longer than the trip up, but not so long that it was all that late when they parked the car behind their apartment building and let themselves in. Buffy hung her dress up in the waiting garment bag in the closet, and stretched.

 

“Do you think we should patrol? It isn’t even midnight yet.”

 

“Wouldn’t hurt, I reckon. I could use a little exercise.”

 

“Are you saying I didn’t wear you out?” She gave him a mock pout as she took the scythe out of its case.

 

“I’m sayin’ the blood I got from you last night is still singin’ it’s way through my body, and I feel like fighting something.”

 

She laughed and ducked under the arm he was holding the door open with.

 

“You really wanted to fight the drunk guy, didn’t you? Catherine spoiled all your fun.”

 

“She did. But her Inn, her rules. Anyway, he was mostly human. It wouldn’t have been much of a fight.”

 

“It’s a very... different… kind of place, isn’t it?”

 

“So it seems. I didn’t really know a lot about it when I made the reservation, but I knew we’d be safe there and could relax and enjoy our little vacation. If and when we get a reason to go back, I’ll try to get a little more information about the Inn and its Innkeeper.”

 

“Hard to believe we’ve never heard of it. It’s not like it’s a gazillion miles away or something.”

 

“I suspect all the guests are a bit unique, just like us, and not interested in giving it a lot of publicity. And as special as it is, the Inn probably doesn’t need or want a lot of attention.”

 

“Well, if we didn’t have a First Evil and a girl-killing priest to worry about, I’d be more curious. But it’s obviously not evil, so none of my business.” 

 

“Unlike these wankers,” Spike said, pointing toward a small group of vampires standing at the entrance to Restfield.

 

“Yep. My business. Find your own,” Buffy said as she strolled toward them. She could see them staring at her in surprise.

 

“Hey guys. It’s a little late for loitering, isn’t it?  Shouldn’t you be like… I dunno… dust or something?” As she spoke to the confused vampires, she managed to stake one and remove the head of another before the remaining three caught on.

 

“Slayer!” A tall vampire, staying well away from her, spoke loudly.

 

“What? Where?” Buffy pretended to be looking around. “Oh. You meant me. I’m the Slayer.” She staked the one that jumped at her first, which sent the other two running into the cemetery. “Oh crap! I let them get away. Shame on me.”

 

She began walking down the winding drive, knowing full well that Spike had disappeared in time to be waiting for the runners. Sure enough, there he was, fighting with the tall vamp while the other one lay on the ground moaning.  Buffy walked up to the moaner and whacked his head off, then settled herself onto a tombstone to watch Spike work out his excess energy.

 

His opponent was a good bit bigger than Spike, and not as young as Buffy had first thought. She frowned as she watched Spike having to work harder than usual. She could tell he wasn’t just toying with the other vampire as he so often did when he was up against someone not in his league. Although he was still enjoying himself, he’d actually had to let his demon out in order to keep his edge over this one. But keep it he did, landing a final punch to the vamp’s temple that sent him reeling to his knees. Spike pulled a stake from his pocket and plunged it into his back.  He stood up and smiled at Buffy, who wasn’t trying to hide her relief.

 

“Don’t tell me you were worried about me, Slayer.”

 

Buffy shrugged in embarrassment. “I forgot for a second that you have that ring, and I thought he was really going to hurt you.”

 

Spike rubbed his jaw. “He tried. I’ll give the wanker that. Don’t know the last time I had to work that hard against another vamp.”

 

“Not exactly a fledge, huh?”

 

He shook his head. “No. But not as old as I am. Just old enough to have some smarts and a bit of fighting ability. It was a good workout.”

 

“I’m glad it made you happy. Let’s go home and try to get used to not being on vacation anymore.”

 

“Honeymoon’s over already?”

 

Buffy laughed and began jogging.

 

“I guess that depends on how long it takes us to get home.”