full 3/4 1/2   skin light dark       
 
Future Childe by Ariel Dawn
 
Secrets and Lies
 
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Disclaimer: Buffy and Spike aren’t mine, I just make them play out ‘what if’ scenarios

Author’s note: Thanks again to all my reviewers. Feedback is very much welcomed! Quotes from the episode Reptile Boy and Halloween. denotes thought
__________________________________________
Buffy didn’t remember how they got onto this topic. Think it started out about weird dreams that each of them had. Luckily Buffy had caught herself before she mentioned exactly who had been featuring prominently in her dreams. And it wasn’t exactly the topic to be discussing in the hallways of Sunnydale high.

“You dreamed about Angel again?” asked Willow.

Sure it was a lie, but really what else could she do? Hate keeping secrets from Willow.

“Third night in a row.”

“What did he do in the dream?”

“Stuff.” Oh god the stuff, made her wet just thinking about the dream. She was sure that if Spike knew what she had been thinking she wouldn’t be walking down the hall with Willow, she’d find herself suddenly naked and under her peroxide blond vampire lover.

“Oh! Stuff!” Willow had a grin on her face. Yep she got it.

Buffy smiled

“Was it one of those vivid dreams where you could feel his lips and smell his hair?”

“It had surround sound. I'm just thinking about him so much lately.”

“You two are so right for each other. Except for the, uh...”

“Vampire thing.” supplied Buffy. But that wouldn’t be a problem eventually.

“That doesn't make him a bad person. Necessarily.”

Buffy completely agreed. Except that the one she really wanted was the Bad Vampire.

“I'm brainsick.” said Buffy thinking about her attraction to Spike. It was the only explanation. But oh, Willow was still thinking that this conversation is about Angel. “I can't have a relationship with him.”

“Not during the day, but you could ask him for coffee some night. It's the non-relationship drink of choice.” offered the red head. “It's not a date, it's a caffeinated beverage. Okay, sure, it's hot and bitter like a relationship that way, but... “

Buffy hadn’t noticed Xander entering hearing range.

“What's like a relationship?” asked Xander

“Nothing I have.” stated Buffy, a little to fast. What if they think something is up? “Coffee?”

Hoping to get out of this conversation, Buffy stopped for a drink at the fountain. The bell rung.

“Oh! I told Giles I'd meet him in the library ten minutes ago! Aw, he won't be upset. There hasn't been much paranormal activity lately.”
__________________________________________
But he was upset. Complete lecture and pace mode Giles was waiting for her in the Library.

“Just because the paranormal is more normal and less... para of late is no excuse for tardiness or letting your guard down.” lectured Giles.

“I haven't let my guard down.” she protested.

“Oh, really? You yawned your way through weapons training last week, you, you, you, you skipped hand-to-hand entirely... Are you gonna be prepared if a demon springs up behind you and does this?”

Giles swung his arm over her shoulder from behind. Catching his arm, she grabbed it and pulled it behind his back, forcing him down, clearly in pain.

Boring, thought Buffy. The only reason she yawned through weapons training last week was because she had been having mind blowing sex with Spike the night before, nearly all night long.

“Yeah, well, I'm, I'm not a demon. Which is why you should let go now.” said Giles.

Buffy let her watcher go. He’s so obvious.

“Thank you.” Giles rubbed his wrist for good measure. “When you live on top of a... a mystical convergence it's only a matter of time before a fresh hell breaks loose. Now is the time that you should train more strictly, you should hunt and patrol more keenly, you should hone your skills day and night.”

“And the little slice of life that still belongs to me from, I don't know, seven to seven-oh-five in the morning, can I do what I want then?” asked Buffy sarcastically.

“Buffy, you think I don't know what it's like to be sixteen?”

“No. I think you don't know what it's like to be sixteen. And a girl. And the Slayer.”

“Fair enough, no, no, I-I don't.”

“Or what it's like to have to stake vampires while you're having fuzzy feelings towards one?”

“Uh...” Giles stammered.

“Digging on the undead doesn't exactly do wonders for your social life.” she ranted.

“Maybe..uh...‘digging on the undead’ isn’t something The Slayer should be doing. You don’t have the luxury of experimentation Buffy. I am concerned that you may be focusing too much on the social, and not enough on your duty. Being overly friendly with vampires, regardless of your personal connection with them is inherently dangerous given your chosen duty.”

“Right! Who needs a social life when you've got your very own Hellmouth?”

“Yes! Y-you, you, you have a duty, a-a-a purpose, y-y-you have a commitment in life. Now how many people your age can say that?”

“We talkin' foreign or domestic? How 'bout none?”

“Well, here's a hard fact of life: we all have to do things we don't like! And you have hand-to-hand this afternoon and patrol tonight. So I, I suggest you come straight here at the end of, of period six a-and you get your homework done. And don't dawdle with your friends.”

Buffy put on her pouty face. Rant-y Giles was no fun. The pouty face always worked with Giles, and Spike for that matter.

“And, and don't think sitting there pouting is gonna get to me, because it won't. It's not getting to me.”
__________________________________________
Buffy was lurking in their usual cemetery waiting for Spike, while ‘patrolling.’ As she walked Buffy spied a bracelet on the ground. Picking it up she felt Vampire tinglies. Not the tinglies she wanted to feel but, still a vampire that she didn’t want to kill.

“There's blood on it.” he said

No hello from tall dark and broody?

“Hi. It's nice to... Blood?” she asked.

“I can smell it.”

Great another Vampire who thinks his nose will solve all mysteries.

“Oh.” she said looking at the bracelet, “It's pretty thin. It probably belonged to a girl.”

“Probably.”

“I-I was... just thinking, wouldn't it be funny some time to see each other when it wasn't a blood thing.” she smiled, “Not funny ha, ha.”

“What are you sayin', you wanna have a date?”

“No.”

“You don't wanna have a date?”

“Who said 'date'? I-I-I never said 'date'.”

“Right. You just wanna have coffee or somethin'.”

“Coffee? Friends have coffee. Co-workers have coffee“

“I knew this was gonna happen.”

“What? What do you think is happening?”

“You're sixteen years old. I'm two hundred and forty-one.”

“I've done the math.”

“You don't know what you're doing, you don't know what you want...”

“Oh. No, I, I think I do. I want out of this conversation.” Buffy started to walk past him. God men! Just friends, I wanted to be just friends

“Listen, if we date you and I both know one thing's gonna lead to another.”

“And again I say ‘date?’ I never said date. I realised a long time ago, Angel, that we couldn‘t have a relationship.”

“I'm just tryin' to protect you. Vampires don‘t do normal relationships Buffy. This could get outta control. ”

“This? There’s a this?”

Angel grabbed her shoulders and pulled her closer.

“This isn't some fairy tale. You’re the Slayer Buffy, you kill Vampires.” Angel leaned in and inhaled close to her ear. “I think you should remember that. It’s your job to protect the world, Buffy, not turn a blind eye when you don’t feel like caring. You might end up dead again, and sooner than you think. There is not happily ever after with my kind Buffy, only pain and death and blood.“

“No. I think you should remember I’m the Slayer, Angelus.“ she spat.

Pulling herself away from him, she turned and ran off. Stupid Angel. Crap, now Spike’s gonna smell him on me! Shit! Shower, now. Buffy thought about his words though. It was like he was on his own personal soap box, which frankly had popped out of nowhere. Of course she knew she was the Slayer. It was something she couldn’t forget even if she tried. Maybe him and Giles had gotten together and decided today was rant at Buffy day? And she was doing her job, right? Killing giant bugs, mummies, and vampires. Thoughts of vampires turned to thoughts of Spike. Buffy’s eye went wide as a thought occurred to her. Angel knew! That was the only explanation! The rant, the sniffing, how stupid could I be?

Buffy didn’t get two blocks away from the cemetery before she ran into Spike. She launched herself into his arms

“Goldilocks, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing”

“Angelus.” said Spike pushing her away from him a bit. “He kissed you!”

“No, he didn’t! I wouldn’t let him.” Buffy could feel her eyes getting all watery.

“Tell me what happened, Buffy.”

“Nothing, I swear. We were talking, I might have suggested getting coffee. Friends have Coffee you know.”

“And he took it for more than that.”

“Yes, reminding me that he’s a Vampire, that I’m only 16 and he’s 241. Making me feel like a little girl, like I’m just a child. I’m not a kid!”

“No, you aren’t a kid, Buffy,” he said pulling her close to him again. “Why would you want to friends with him anyway?”

“He’s already my friend, Spike. Maybe I want him to be happy for me, happy to have me in the family.”

“Angelus will never be happy that you are in the family pet. He’ll see you as a conquest that got away from him.”

“Conquest?”

“He probably wanks off thinking about you every night.”

“Eww gross, Spike.”

“So, were you going to ditch me tonight, leave me wandering the cemetery, because sodding Angelus upset you?”

“Was going home to have a shower, knew you wouldn’t want to smell him on me.”

“Oh! That’s right considerate of you pet.” Spike said with a smile.

“I thought you’d think so. Care to join me? Mom’s not home tonight.”
__________________________________________
Buffy had a problem and she worried. Angel had to figure out that she didn’t want to date him, and she had to get him off the idea that she was with Spike. The only way she could think of to make sure that he got this idea through his hair gelled head was to flaunt a boyfriend in front of him. Therefore, when Cordelia practically forced her to attend a frat party, Buffy counted herself very relieved that an opportunity had presented itself.

“You're going to the fraternity party? What made you change your mind?” asked Willow after Buffy told her the encounter with Cordelia that afternoon.

“Angel.”

“He's going with you?” Willow looks to Xander “She's got a date with Angel! Isn't that exciting?”

“I'm elated.” dead panned Xander.

“I-I'm not going with Angel. I'm going with -- ye gods -- Cordelia.” said Buffy as she slowly left the lounge.

“Cordelia?!” exclaimed Willow. “Did I sound a little jealous just then, 'cause I'm not really...” Willow followed Buffy out of the Lounge. “Cordelia?!”

“Cordelia's much better for you than Angel.” declared Xander as he hurried after the two girls.

“What happened with Angel?” asked Willow as she finally caught up with Buffy.

“Nothing, as usual. A whole lotta nothing with Angel.”

“Bummer.” said Xander in his very articulate manner of speaking.

“I don't understand. I mean, he likes you. More than likes.” said Willow confused.

“Angel barely says two words to me.” noted Buffy.

“Don't you hate that?” interjected Xander.

“And when he does, he treats me like I'm a child. And then he rants about how evil vampires are, completely out of the blue.” ranted Buffy.

“That bastard!”

“You know, at least Tom can carry on a conversation.” said Buffy.

“Yeah! Tom? Who's Tom?”

“The frat guy.” explained Willow.

“Oh, Buffy, I don't think so. Frying pan, fire? You know what I'm sayin'.” cautioned Xander.

“You know, Tom might just be the guy to make Angel see that I’m over his ass.” said Buffy with a smile.
__________________________________________
“You know, I’m gonna stop telling you about my day. If you get all worked up like this.” Buffy said trying to down play exactly how big a deal it was that she was almost eaten by a big snake demon in a frat house.

“You don’t think I have a right to get worked up? Last time I checked, you belong to me Buffy. I think I’m well within my right to get right pissed off if you are almost eaten! Especially by someone who isn’t me.” argued Spike.

“It’s not like I planned it that way. I didn’t go to that party to get eaten by a large snake Spike!”

“And just why did you go to the party pet?”

“I wanted to show Angel that I’m over him. I can’t go displaying you all about town now can I? I thought if he saw me with a regular guy that he’d see it’s over and he’d stop trying!”

“Instead he had to rescue you like a damsel in distress.”

“He did not! I slayed that snake dude good. Spike...there‘s more...I think...”

“Buffy! Get off the phone! I need to make a call!” shouted her mother from down stairs.

Buffy exhaled loudly, “I’ve got to go Spike. See you tomorrow? I’m going to the Bronze tomorrow night and then we can patrol?”

“Sure Goldilocks.”

“I’ll be thinking naughty thoughts of you in my sleep...”

“Care to give me an idea what those thoughts would be?”

“Buffy!” shouted her mother again.

“Gotta go, love you!”

Buffy hung up exasperated. “I’m off the phone already!” she shouted down to her mother.

“Will I ever get to meet this boyfriend of yours that you spend so much time on the phone with?” asked her mother from Buffy’s bedroom doorway.

“Someday, he’s not really, comfortable meeting you yet. He’s got this thing about meeting parents.”

“Buffy, you shouldn’t be nervous about bringing him home to meet me. I’m a very understanding person. I’m sure I will like any boy you bring home for me to meet.”

“Thanks mom.”

Buffy started to get ready for bed. Will you be understanding if you knew that he was a 117 year old vampire who is gonna kill me in 2 years?
__________________________________________
“Says here that they've all been sentenced to consecutive life sentences. Investigators found the bones of missing girls in a huge cavern beneath the frat house. And older bones dating back fifty years.” said Xander as he read the Sunnydale press.

Buffy looked at Willow and mimicked grossed out look #14.

“A surprising number of corporations whose chairmen and founders are former Delta Zeta Kappas are suffering from falling profits, IRS raids... Ooo, and suicides in the boardroom. Hmm. Starve a snake, lose a fortune. Boy, I guess the rich really are different, huh?” continued Xander.

“Have you heard from Angel?” said Willow obviously trying to change the subject. “When he got so mad about you being in danger, and changed into a grr, it was the most amazing thing I ever saw. I mean, how many guys can...” Willow trailed off.

“Angel, Angel, Angel. Does every conversation we have have to come around to that freak?” said Xander unaware that Angel was in fact right behind him. “Hey, man, how you doin'?” Xander recovered pretty well from his shock at having insulted the vampire.

“Buffy.” greeted the vampire in question

“Angel.”

“Xander!” spoke Xander the comedian.

“I hear this place, uh, serves coffee. I thought maybe you and I should get some. Sometime. If you want.” said Angel.

Buffy smiled a bit. “Yeah. Sometime. I'll let you know.”

Buffy got up and left the Vampire and her friends sitting at the table. It was time to go patrolling with Spike.
__________________________________________
So while on the way to the non date with Angel, to tell him that there was no way that they would ever work out, and that she only really wanted to be friends and possibly find out if he actually knew about her and Spike, she was ambushed by vampires, again. All I wanted to do was go and have coffee with my ex love interest, and now I have straw in my hair, Buffy complained to herself. The whole thing got her really mad, because they were Spike’s minions.

As she walked into the dark atmosphere of the Bronze Buffy saw Cordelia and Angel sitting at a table having coffee. Good maybe I don’t need to have this conversation. Buffy turned to leave.

“Buffy?” came Angel’s voice behind her.

Caught she turned around.

“Hi! I'm...”

“Late.”

“Rough day at the office.”

Angel reached up to her hair and pulled out a piece of straw. “So I see.”

“Hey, it's a look. A seasonal look.”

Then, just what she needed, Cordelia was there, behind Angel, just waiting to be a bitch.

“Buffy. Love the hair. It just screams street urchin.” noted Queen C as she left.

“Know what? I need to go...” said Buffy “put a bag over my head.”

“Don't listen to her. Please. You look fine.” offered Angel.

“You're sweet. A terrible liar, but sweet.”

“I thought we had...”

“Coffee. So did I. But who am I kidding? Going out for coffee with friends are things normal girls do. Girls who have time to think about nail polish and facials. You know what I think about? Ambush tactics. Beheading. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of. I‘m sure Cordelia will keep you company.”

And with that Buffy walked out the door.

Yep Big Chicken.
__________________________________________
Buffy backed away from the livid Xander towards Willow. Ok, so making sure friends don’t get beaten by large football players...apparently not something she was supposed to do today.

“I think I just violated the guy code big time.” said Buffy as she sat down in the Lounge. Obviously she wasn’t supposed to save Xander from a pummelling.

“Poor Xander. Boys are so fragile. Speaking of, how was your date last night?” asked Willow.

“Was not a date Will!. Coffee! Remember? Non-relationship beverage of choice? I was late due to unscheduled slayage. Showed up looking trashed.”

“Was he mad?”

“Actually he was pretty unmad. Which probably had something to do with the fact that Cordelia was drooling in his cappuccino.”

“Oh, Buffy. Angel would never fall for her act.”

“You mean that 'actually showing up, wearing a stunning outfit, embracing personal hygiene' act? Why not? It‘s not like I‘ve been available. Not exactly the kind of girl that‘s easily seen, in a social sense.”

“You know what I mean. Uh, she's not his type.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I don't know what his type is. I've known him less than a year, and if you haven't noticed, he's not exactly one to over share.”

“True. It's too bad we can't sneak a look at the Watcher diaries and read up on Angel. I'm sure it's full of fun facts to know and tell.”

“Yeah. It's too bad. That stuff is private.” And Buffy wasn’t thinking about Angel anymore. Who cared what Angel’s type was? Spike on the other hand was in the watcher diaries too.

“Also Giles keeps them in his office. In his personal files.”

“Most importantly, it would be wrong.”
__________________________________________
Buffy had borrowed Giles’ watcher diaries, for homework. Willow had wanted to borrow with out telling. But Buffy figured the truth was better. She had told Giles she wanted to read up on what she could expect from Spike. Giles had handed her a volume dedicated on the scourge of Europe, which had satisfied Willow.

Buffy sat in the middle of her living room with books scattered all around her.

“Wow, I’ve never seen you so into homework before,” said her mother coming in from the kitchen.

“Not homework, costume researching,”

“Ok, I’ll pretend I understand...wait no I won’t. Why do you have to research your Halloween costume?”

“Just do. Not liking what I’m finding though. 1880 was a good year for hoop makers.”

“Huh?”

“Hoop skirts” said Buffy pointing to the picture in front of her.

“Pretty,”

“Very, but heavy,”

“Aren’t you meeting Willow for costume shopping?” her mother asked.
__________________________________________
Deeply entrenched in the commercialism that was Halloween, Buffy had agreed to go costume shopping. It was completely unfair that she had to be out on Halloween. The one night a year that she didn’t have to patrol, and Principal Snyder had roped her in to escorting small children around to get candy. She and Spike had made plans to watch vampire movies and critique them.

“What'd you get?” Buffy asked Willow.

“A time-honoured classic!” said Willow proudly as she held up her ghost costume.

“Okay, Will, can I give you a little friendly advice?”

“It's not spooky enough?”

“It's just... you're never gonna get noticed if you keep hiding. You're missing the whole point of Halloween.”

“Free candy?” said a smiling Willow.

“It's come as you aren't night. The perfect chance for a girl to get sexy and wild with no repercussions.”

“Oh, I don't get wild. Wild on me equals spaz.”

“Don't underestimate yourself. You've got it in you.”

“Hey, Xander!” greeted Willow, clearly avoiding. “What'd you get?”

Xander pulled out a toy military rifle out of his bag and held it up for Willow to see.

“That's not a costume.”

“I got fatigues from an Army surplus at home. Call me the Two-Dollar Costume King, baby!” said Xander proudly.

“Hey, look, Xander... I'm... really sorry about this morning.” said Buffy trying to apologise.

“Do you mind, Buffy? I'm trying to repress.”

“Okay, then I promise, from now on I'll let you get pummelled.” said Buffy as she put her chin on his shoulder and pouted.

“Thank you. Okay, y'know, actually I think I could've t... “ Xander trailed off.

Buffy didn’t mean for her attention to drift, but at the back of the store, Buffy noticed the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. There, on a dummy was a pale pink, hoop skirt, gown. She slowly walked over to it.

“Hello! That was our touching reconciliation moment there.” complained Xander.

“I'm sorry, it's just... Look at this.” said Buffy basking in the gown’s beauty.

“It's amazing.” agreed Willow.

“Too bulky. I prefer my women in spandex.” commented Xander.

“Please, let me.” said the store owner, coming up behind them and taking the dress off the dummy.

“Oh, i-it's...” Buffy couldn’t find the words, she was sure that this dress was there just for her.

“Magnificent. Yes, I know. There.” said the man holding it up to her in the mirror. “My. Meet the hidden princess. I think we found a match. Don't you?”

“Oh, uh, I-I'm sorry. There's no way I could ever afford this.”

“Oh, nonsense. I feel quite moved to make you a deal you can't refuse.” said the shop keeper.
__________________________________________
Staring at herself in her full length mirror, putting on earrings, Buffy couldn’t help but think about what Spike was going to think when he saw her in this dress. Her hair was done up in ringlets, forgoing Willow’s idea of a wig. Spike liked her blonde hair. She was his Goldilocks after all.

“Where're you meeting Angel?” asked Willow from the bathroom.

“Huh? I never said I was meeting Angel.” said Buffy confused.

“You said you had plans after. I guessed they were Angel plans.”

“Oh, I guess you would assume that. Makes sense.” Buffy furrowed her brow.

“So, where're you meeting Angel?” asked Willow from the bathroom.

“Here. After trick-or-treating. Mom's gonna be out.” Buffy winced, she was getting further and further into this lie.

“Does he know about your costume?”

“Nope. Call it a blast from his past. I'll show him I can coif with the best of 'em.” Buffy turned to face the bathroom , “Okay, Willow, come out. You can't hide in there all night.”

“O-okay, but, but promise you won't laugh?”

“I promise.”

Willow opened the door and came out wearing boots, a short, black leather skirt and a burgundy, long-sleeved, V-necked, tummy exposing top.

“Wow! You're a dish!”

Willow tried to hide herself with her ghost costume, but Buffy snatched it away from her and tossed it aside.

“I mean, really.” continued Buffy.

“But this just isn't me.”

“And that's the point.” Buffy walked around her friend to show her, her reflection “Look, Halloween is the night that not you is you, but not you. Y'know? Hey before I saw this dress, I was gonna go as a Goth Vamp, ironic, but not me...the whole point of Halloween”

Down stairs the door bell rang.

“Oh! That's Xander. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. O-o-okay.”

“Cool! I can't wait for the boys to go non-verbal when they see you!”

Carefully Buffy negotiated the stairs, with her hoop skirt. No wonder these things went out of style. Buffy opened the door to reveal Xander decked out in Army regalia.

“Private Harris reporting for... Buffy! Lady of Buffdom, Duchess of Buffonia, I am in awe! I completely renounce spandex!”

Buffy curtseyed “Thank you, kind sir.” Buffy was trying out a Birtish accent, but it didn’t quite sit right.

Xander took a bow.

“But wait till you see...” trailed off Buffy as they looked up the stairs to see a sheet covered Willow.

“Hi.” greeted Willow.

“...Casper.” finished Buffy.

“Hey, Will! That's a fine boo you got there.” joked Xander.
__________________________________________
At first he had been delighted to find that most of the population of this hum drum town had been turned into their Halloween costumes. Made for an interesting night to say the least. Best Halloween ever. They were usually very dull days, staying in to watch The Great Pumpkin with Dru.

With all this chaos, he supposed he should have left the Slayer to do what she did best, but his curiosity got the better of him. Sure he was going to see Buffy later, movie watching and all. Maybe she had dressed up for him. Knowing her she was probably dressed in her punk outfit, she didn’t get to wear it very often, not in public anyway. What would her friends think if they knew that she was at heart into punk?

Ducking behind a tree Spike barely escaped being noticed by Angel and, Buffy’s friend, the whelp, and some chit, in a cat outfit.

“Are you sure she came this way?” asked the boy.

“No.” snapped Angel

“She'll be okay.” said the bint confidently.

“Buffy would be okay. Whoever she is now, she's helpless. C'mon!” urged Angel.

The realisation hit Spike like a ton of bricks. Buffy was helpless out there somewhere. He just had to find her. He followed her scent, which was laced with fear. What the hell was she dressed up as?

Spike found her in a warehouse, huddled in a corner.

“Buffy?” he called out into the space.

“Who are you?” she whispered, British accent and all, as he approached.

“Look at you? Reminds me of what the ladies wore when I was in school. Did you dress like this for me, luv?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Sir. I dress for no one but myself.”

“Well I like it, luv.”

“Are you here to protect me from the demons, like the others?”

“Yeah, that’s right, Goldilocks.”

“Will you make sure that I’m safely delivered home? I’m certain that if I don’t return home soon, my honour will be ruined forever.”

“Oh luv, your honour was ruined a long time ago.”

“I beg your pardon! That is an awful thing to say.”

“Buffy, luv, I don’t know what’s made you lose your memory, but you and I are very well acquainted.”

“Are we courting?”

“Yes, you could say that luv,” Spike laughed.

“Engaged?”

“You belong to me.”

Spike led her away from the corner and twirled her around.

“Got to say Goldilocks, love the outfit.”

“Thank you kind sir.. forgive me, I seem to have forgotten your name.”

“William”

“William.” she said with a shy smile.

“Let’s get you home luv.”

Spike held her hand as he led her towards the exit of the warehouse. Suddenly Angel, in game face no less, the boy, the bint and the red head burst onto the scene.

“Buffy!” shouted Angel, “Get away from him!”

“It’s the demon! The Vampire!” cowered Buffy, clinging to Spike.

Spike smiled.

“That it is luv,” noted Spike.

“Let her go Spike!” yelled Angel.

“No, I think I’ll let the lady decide that. What do you say, Goldilocks, who would you rather go with, this big lout, or yours truly?”

“You William. I don’t even know him. You are my betrothed.” said Buffy carefully.

“Betrothed? What garbage have you been telling her?” said Angel.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Angel lunged at Buffy, to pull her away from Spike. Spike pulled Buffy behind him and set about to defend his lady from the poofter. Angel got in a few blows to Spike’s jaw before Spike managed to knock his grandsire down.

“Oh, William, you saved me from that brute!” declared Buffy wrapping her arms around Spike.

All of a sudden there was a change.

“What the...” asked the boy as his rifle was suddenly of the toy variety once again.

“Hi, honey. I’m home” said Buffy muffled into Spike’s chest.

Buffy looked up at her comforter and smiled.

“Goldilocks.”

“Spike”

“You are so gonna get it now, buster.” said the boy.

Buffy didn’t let go of Spike.

“I’ll see you later?” Buffy asked Spike so quietly that only he could hear her.

He nodded.

“Why isn’t she hitting him?” asked the boy.

“Thrall me Spike...“ Begged Buffy. “It’s the only way...”

Spike dipped his head in acknowledgement. “Don’t move until I’m gone” he said in a steady voice. With that he stepped back and stalked out of the warehouse.

Angel and Xander rushed to Buffy‘s side as soon as Spike was out of the way. Buffy stood motionless for a few seconds. Xander started to shake Buffy into response.

“Xander! Cut it out!“ yelled Buffy as she regained her ability to control her body.

“What did he do?“ asked Xander.

“Thrall”

“Huh?“

“He put Buffy under his control, she was powerless to stop him.“ supplied Angel. “How long has this been going on?“

“A long time” said Buffy trying to sound sad.

“What! You are under some sort of vampire mind control thingy? How could you not tell us?“ ranted Xander.

“Enough, Xander, let’s go,” said Buffy hiking her skirts and walking out of the warehouse.

“Aren’t you going to go after him and stake him?”

“No, Xander I’m not, he didn’t hurt me, let’s go. Angel, you are coming too.”

“Buffy?” questioned Angel.

“God, are you dense much?” said Buffy exasperated.

“I can’t believe you just let him go!” said Xander, “ I mean, where was the staking action, the pounding and the hitting?”

“Xander! Can you honestly see me fighting anyone in this dress? Let’s go find Willow.”
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Spike rang the doorbell of 1630 Revello dr. From the other side of the door he could hear a few muttered expletives, as Buffy tried to manage the stairs. She opened the door with a smile.

“Good evening Sir,” she said as she curtseyed. “Do come in” Buffy had for gone her British accent in favour of making herself sound as refined as she could.

Spike smiled. “I believe, Miss Summers, that we had an appointment?” he said as he crossed the threshold of the house.

“Indeed we do, Sir.” Buffy shut the door and faced her guest. “Perhaps we should retired to the salon,”

Spike took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “Miss Summers, you are a radiant beauty, I feel that I should warn you, I am just a mere man, and am unlikely to be able to resist your delightful charms.”

“Sir! I do protest! I would never... What is it that you want here, Sir?”

“Only you” he answered.

With a smile she led him to her room and shut the door. She inched nearer towards him until she was only millimetres from his skin.

“I want you,” she whispered in his ear, letting her tongue glide over his ear and neck and back up until she reached his mouth.

His hands reached out and pulled out the laces of her corset. He slid the sleeves of her dress down, letting the whole contraption fall heavily to the floor, revealing a white lace bra, and a pair of white bicycle shorts. Slowly he let slip the straps and began to kiss her shoulders, collar bones and down towards her breasts. She inhaled deeply as he ran his tongue over her nipples, one then the other. He returned to her mouth only to find her finding a way lower and lower on his body. She stopped her expectant kisses only to undo his pants and let them slide to the floor. With her tongue she explored every part, letting it slide along his shaft slowly, finally taking him in her mouth for a few moments. She stood back up, eagerly removing his last piece of clothing. Spike reached out and slid her shorts down past her ankles. The two toppled on to the bed and she sat atop him for a milliseconds before he realised that there was no fabric between him and her. They both smiled as he slipped inside her. Starting slow, they moved together but their passions would not allow them to savour the moment. Faster and harder they heaved and pulsated, clinging even more tightly and closely. She could feel him moving within her up and down, rubbing and throbbing. She screamed as climax rippled through her body. She sank back on the pillows, her spent lover still holding her hand, their fingers intertwined.
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Buffy lay on her bed, covered by a sheet, panting.

“Definitely more fun getting out of the dress than getting in it.” she said breathless.

Spike rolled closer to her on the bed. “Won’t get an argument from me there, Goldilocks. You never told me what the super friends thought about you leaving me there to escape.”

Buffy laughed.

“I explained that I wasn’t able to fight you with the dress on. I think Xander bought it, Angel, not so much. I think he thinks I’ve been under your thrall for a while. He seemed to accept it. He’s probably talking with Giles about it right now,” she sighed “Whatever happened to watching movies?”

“This is better than movies,” said Spike as he started to kiss her neck. “You never told me, why’d you dress up for me? Like a Victorian Lady no less.”

“You were a Victorian gentleman William. ‘Sides, I like dressing up for you.” She said as she laced her fingers through his hair. “It’s Retro Punk night at the Bronze on Friday, I think that’s another good excuse for me to dress up for you.” she smiled.
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tbc...

Author’s note: I know that this chapter leaves a lot of things unresolved. I promise they will be dealt with in the next chapter, this one was just getting really long! -Ariel Dawn
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