Disclaimer: Not mine... You know the drill
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“Ha, ha, ha. This time I'm ready for you. No 'F' for Xander today. No, this baby's my ticket to a sweet D-minus.” Xander stood up with is paper, ready to hand in the vile thing to the teacher.

Buffy shook her head at Xander. Sure he wasn’t the best student, but he sold himself short a lot of the time. Willow walked down the aisle of the classroom and stopped next to Amy.

“Hey, Amy.” greeted Willow.

“Hey,” said the former cheerleader, pulling on her back pack “Are you guys going to the Valentine's Day dance at the Bronze? I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.”

Willow turned to look at Buffy with a huge smile on her face.

“Go ahead. You know you wanna say it,” said Buffy.

Willow faced Amy again, grinning broadly. “My boyfriend's in the band!”

“Cool,” replied Amy.

“I think you've now told everybody,” said Buffy.

“Only in this hemisphere,” said Willow pulling on her backpack.

“What about you?” Amy asked Buffy.

“Oh, Valentine's Day is just a cheap gimmick to sell cards and chocolate,” offered Buffy.

“Bad breakup, huh?”

“Believe me when I say, 'uh-huh'.”
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During training time, Giles felt it necessary to have one of those talks. You know the ones, where the adult in question really gets uncomfortable? Come to think of it, most of her talks with Giles are like that nowadays. Buffy was sitting at the table hugging her knee watching the awkwardness unfold.

“Are you okay?” she asked the watcher.

“Me? I-I-I'll be fine.” Giles scratched his nose and then carefully put his hands back into his pockets. “Um, I was more concerned about you, actually. Uh, since Angel, um... uh... turned...” Giles sat on the table and folded his hands “I've, um, been reading up on, on his earlier activities. Y'know, uh, feeding patterns a-and the like.”

“And?”

“Around Valentine's Day, he, he, he's rather prone to, uh... well, um, brutal displays of, uh... He would think of it as affection, I suppose.”

“Like what?”

“No, no, uh,” Giles removed himself from the table “no need to go into details.” He said as he walked away from the table

“That bad?”

“Suffice it to say I, I think it would be best if you stayed off the streets for a few nights. I-I-I'll, um...” Giles sat down again across from her, “I'll patrol and keep an eye on things. Better safe than sorry.”

“It's a little late for both.”
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Spike watched with glee as Drusilla opened her valentine’s day gift. It was tradition, even now that they weren’t lovers anymore, she was his sire, and there was no harm in giving gifts right?

“Fancy it, pet?” he smiled.

“Ahhh. It's beautiful. Mm,” gushed Drusilla about the gold necklace that Spike had gotten for her.

Truth was that he had sent out minions for it. Spike was still confined to the factory, being unable to walk or even roll out of the wheelchair inaccessible factory. Frankly it was humiliating for the master Vampire to be carried about by Dru whenever he needed to move to a room that he couldn’t get to by his wheelchair. Sure the minions had done a good job by putting ramps up all over, but that didn’t help it when Spike wanted out, out of the factory, out of the frigging wheelchair.

“Nothing but the best for my gir...” Spike trailed off as Angelus entered the room and slapped down a human heart on to the table.

“Happy Valentine's Day, Dru.” smiled Angelus.

“Oh...” Dru walked over the table and held her hand out over the organ “Angel! It's still warm.”

“I knew you'd like it. I found it in a quaint little shop girl.” Then Angelus noticed the gift that Spike had given her. Angelus picked up the necklace and held it out to get a better look at it. “Cute.” Angelus reached around Dru’s neck to put the thing on her. “Here.”

Dru pulled her hair back giving him access to put it on her. With a huff, Spike wheeled towards the pair.

“I'll get it.”

“Done. I know Dru gives you pity access, but you have to admit it's so much easier when I do things for her.” smiled Angelus

“You would do well to worry less about Dru and more about your own concerns. That means leaving my Slayer alone.”

“Dear Buffy. I'm still trying to decide the best way to send my regards,” said the elder vampire as he sat on the table

“Don’t care what you do, as long as you realise that she is mine to kill.“

“Ah yes, my boy, she is yours isn’t she? Got your mark on her and everything, don’t you? Well, I’m still your grandsire, boy, and she...well she thinks you are dust.“ Angelus laughed.

“Don't worry, Spike. Angel always knows... what speaks to a girl's heart.” said Dru looking at the heart that still sat on the table, still and bloody. “Baby won’t forget you, sweet William.”
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Valentine’s day for the boyfriend-less was watching old romantic movies with mom. Complete with popcorn, cookies and various other munchies. A knock at the door had the pair slightly startled.

“Here.” said Buffy handing her mother the bowl of popcorn that had been in her lap as she got up to answer the door.

Buffy walked to the door only to find that there was nothing there, no person, no package. Weird. Buffy shrugged and closed the door. She walked back into the living room, only to see her mom not there. Puzzled Buffy walked through the hallway and into the dining room. Still no mom.

“Mom?” Buffy walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. “Mom?” Buffy walked around the island. Buffy’s attention was grabbed by a noise and her eyes went to the window, but saw nothing. Buffy looked back towards the dinning room. Just as she reached the kitchen door it opened, startling her.

“Buffy, it's me.” said her mother, trying to calm her fears.

“Yeah. You just startled me a little.”

“I was just checking the back door,” she said closing the door “Somebody, um, left these for you.”

Joyce set a long black box with a black bow on the island for Buffy to see. Buffy looked up at her mother and raised her eyebrows for an instant before lifting the lid off the box. Buffy stared down at the box and the dozen red roses. Buffy reached for the palm white card that came along with the roses. There was one word on the card. Soon. Soon what?
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Buffy left her Valentine’s day mom and movie marathon to let Giles in on the crazy. Buffy walked into the Library and slapped the card down on the table, making Giles jump.

“'Soon' what, Giles? You never held out on me until the big, bad thing in the dark became my ex-something.”

“Where did this come from?” said the watcher looking at the card.

“He said it with flowers. Look, this isn't the time to start becoming Mr. Protective Guy. I can't just hang around, and I can't prepare when I don't know what's coming.”

“N-no, of-of course, you're right. Uh, s-s-sit, sit down.”
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Library time with Giles the next day was full of gory details and fun Angelus facts. Truth was that Buffy had been feeling a little off all day and so wanted to get out of there. I guess gore and blood don’t have the same appeal as they once had for you eh Buff?

“Look, here's another. Here. Um, 'Valentine's Day.' Yes, uh... 'Angel nails a puppy to the...'“

“Skip it.”

“Uh, but it...”

“I don't wanna know. I don't have a puppy. Skip it.”

“Right you are. I'll get another batch.”

Giles got up off of the table and headed into his office.

Xander walked in the Library and up to the table.

“I have a plan: we use me as bait.”

“You mean make Angel come after you?” asked Buffy

“No, I mean chop me into little pieces and stick me on hooks for fish to nibble at 'cause it would be more fun than my life.”

“Yeah. I heard about you and Cordy. That's her loss.” said Buffy as she got up and leaned on the table. Weird, hey, Xander’s looking awfully hot today.

“Yeah. Not really the popular theory.”

“You know what I'd like? Why don't you and I do something together tonight? Just the two of us.” Buffy offered, flirtatiously.

“Really?”

“Yeah. We can comfort each other.”

“Well, would lap dancing enter into that scenario at all? 'Cause I find that very comforting.”

“Play your cards right...” What the hell am I doing? You love Spike! No more casual sex with friends Buffy!

“Okay, uh... You do know that I'm Xander, right?”

“I don't know, I just... heard that you and Cordy broke up, and I guess I was just surprised how glad I was.” Buffy started playing with his shirt “It's funny... how you can see someone every day but not really see them. You know?” *Stop talking! Oh my God! It’s like I can’t control myself, Xander is just so yummy!*

“Yeah, it's funny. And it's just gettin' funnier.” Xander laughed nervously.

Buffy put her finger to his lips to quiet him and slowly leaned toward him for a kiss. Behind them Amy walked into the library.

“Xander, can I talk to you for a minute?” asked Amy.

“Yeah, okay.”

Buffy let Xander leave the Library with Amy. Buffy knew that Amy wanted Xander too. But honestly? Buffy could totally kick her ass. Xander was hers, he just didn’t know it yet.
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Buffy found Xander alone at last in the Library later that night. She was wearing next to nothing, covered by the tiniest raincoat she had.

“Alone at last.”

Xander stared at her open mouthed. Apparently the outfit was worth it.

“Buff, give me a heart attack!”

“Oh, I'm gonna give you more than that.” Buffy walked seductively towards him, then grabbed the tie that was holding her short raincoat closed.

“Buff, for the love of God, don't open that raincoat.” said Xander backing away from her.

“Come on! It's a party! Aren't you gonna open your present?”

“It's not that I don't want to. Sometimes the remote impossible possibility that you might like me was all that sustained me. But not now.” Xander tripped and fell backward onto the stairs, “Not like this. This isn't real to you.”

Buffy stepped up and put her leg over him.

“You're only here because of a spell. I mean, if I thought you had one clue what it would mean to me... But you don't. So I can't.”

“So you're saying this is all a game?” she cried, hurt.

“A game? I... No!”

“You make me feel this way, and then you reject me? What am I, a toy?” Angel’s toy, Spike’s toy, that’s all I am!

“Buffy, please calm down.”

“I'll calm down when you explain yourself!”

“Get away from him,” came Amy’s voice from behind her. “He's mine.”

“Oh, I don't think so. Xander, tell her,” commanded Buffy

“What? I, uh...”

“He doesn't have to say. I know what his heart wants.”

“Funny, I know what your face wants.” Buffy raised her fist and punched Amy in the face.

“What is this, you're two-timing me?” exploded Buffy at Xander

“Goddess Hecate, work thy will.” shouted Amy.

“Uh-oh.” gulped Xander.

“Before thee let the unclean thing crawl!” Amy thrust her arm out at Buffy. Buffy watched in horror as the energy enveloped her.
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The next thing she knew Buffy was in the basement of the school.

“Buffy?” called Oz.

Buffy raised her head and looked around from behind the crate. Buffy looked down at herself. Oz immediately flashed the flashlight away from her and turned it off. Why am in the basement? With no clothes on? Buffy hugged her arms around herself.

“Hi, Oz!”

“Hi.”

“I seem to be having a slight case of nudity here.”

“But you're not a rat. So call it an upside.”

“You think maybe you could get me some clothing?”

“Yes, I can. Just, uh... don't go anywhere.”

“Really not an issue.”
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Between the blinding urge to kill Xander and the frantic wish to get into some decent, non slutty clothes, Buffy chose the more practical urge and rushed home. Buffy hoisted herself up the tree and to her bedroom window. There taped to her window was a note, written in an elegant script, Come to the Alpert Crypt in Restfield cemetery at midnight. Miss Edith and I have news for you about our beloved William. Drusilla.

Buffy’s heart leapt up into her throat. What could Dru possibly have to tell her about Spike? But, regardless of the fact that there was really no news to tell, Buffy couldn’t dismiss the urge to go. Buffy slipped into her house and changed, grabbing 4 more stakes and storing them about her person.
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The Slayer, she who hangs out in cemeteries, was in fact hanging out in this cemetery, waiting for a vampire, and not a vampire she was intending to stake. Or was she? It was confusing her. Should she stake Dru? Why didn’t she want to?

“My Baby has arrived!” Drusilla gleefully clapped her hands.

“Drusilla”

Dru pouted “Doesn’t Baby want to call her Grand Mummy by her proper name?”

“Excuse me? Not going to be the baby of your sick twisted family anymore Dru. Spike’s gone.” Buffy felt her eyes water again.

“No! Not gone, confined, waiting, waiting for the Sun to find him.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sweet William is not blowing in the wind. He waits for Baby to come to him. So lonely, he is. Doesn't think that Baby loves him anymore.”

“Spike’s not dust?” Buffy whispered.

Dru smiled and nodded.

Buffy shook her head. “No! This is just a trap to get me to follow you to your lair. So you and Angelus can kill me.”

“No! Grand Mummy could never take William’s baby. My Angel couldn’t either. Family is too important. Angel’s angry at Miss Edith now. The stars have been too slow to act, now she has to make her family happy before the sky opens up.”

Buffy stared blankly at the vampire.

“Will sunshine come home with her Grand Mummy, just for a little while?”

“Angel wants to kill me.”

“No, my Angel wants to make you his, wants you to replace me. The stars are angry. The worms are angry. Pitch forks and Tar. Have you ever been tarred and feathered? Will you come? No one will hurt Baby. My Angel is out hunting, angry he is.”

“If Spike is alive, why can’t he come see me?”

Dru stamped her foot in frustration. And shook her head. “Stupid girl! William is hurt, badly hurt, needs his sunshine to heal. Please come.”

Buffy looked up at the vampiress and blinked. Spike was hurt? Throwing caution to the wind, Buffy made her choice.

“Take me to him”
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Clutching Drusilla’s hand, Buffy was led to the Factory. Feeling wary Buffy kept an open eye for minions, and especially for Angelus.

“Mistress! The Slayer!” shouted a minion.

“Shh!” hissed Drusilla, “it’s a surprise”

The minion backed into the corner of the large room. Pulling Buffy by the hand Drusilla led the Slayer up a set of stairs and into a room that at one time would have been a supervisors office. Laid out on a twin sized mattress, propped up on some pillows, and reading a leather bound book, was Spike.

“Spike!” Buffy gasped.

“Did mummy do a good thing my Spike?” asked Drusilla.

“Yeah Dru, did a good thing. Buffy, luv, are you just going to stand there?”

“Are you really alive...uh...undead still? This isn’t a trick?”

“No Luv, no trick”

“My William needs his sunshine like I need my Angel,” whispered Dru as she slunk out of the room, closing the door behind her.

“Oh God!” Buffy launched herself at him, catching him in her arms, and squeezing him tight. “You are real! I missed you so much, I thought you were dead, thought I’d never see you again!”

Buffy raised her head and began to pepper his face with kisses.

“I missed you too, Goldilocks. Never wanted you to think I was dead, love. Just can’t bloody leave this blasted factory.”

“Why?”

“My legs don’t work. Stuck in that blasted wheelchair every bloody day.”

Buffy looked over at the contraption that rested in the corner of the room.

“Oh Spike, I’m so happy you are alive,” she said hugging him tight again. “I need you so much, I missed you so much. Don’t you ever do that to me again!” she said suddenly getting angry.

“What? Not letting you know I wasn’t dust?”

“Yes”

“Alright Goldilocks.”

Buffy sat up and straddled Spike’s two very paralysed legs.

“So just how badly are you hurt then?” Buffy asked seductively tracing a finger down his tee shirt clad chest and lower.

“Can’t feel anything lower than my hips pet. I have a theory though goldilocks.” he said pulling her shirt away from his bite marks. “Slayer’s blood has healing properties.” Spike licked the scars on her neck.

“Dru brought me here so you could drink me?”

“Among other things, luv” he said still licking her marks.

Buffy sighed as she gave in to the wonderful feeling that Spike’s tongue was creating on her neck.

“Do it Spike”

Buffy sighed again as she felt Spike‘s fangs sink into her neck. He took three pulls of blood then licked the wound clean.

“You will be my childe,” he whispered, “and I will be your sire, teach you the ways of our line and add glory to the name Aurelius.”

Buffy rested her body against Spike and closed her eyes. She felt safer and more loved than she had in a long long time.

“I love you Spike”

“I love you Buffy.”
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Buffy returned to her home and her normal slayer life with a song in her heart. Sure she had Angel stalking her, and her lover was now a paraplegic, but hey, he’s getting better, and he isn’t dust. As Oz would say, it’s an upside. She couldn’t wait to see Spike again.
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It was time. Buffy decided she had to tell her mom about Angel now. Her life was in danger, she just didn’t know how to go about doing this, or what exactly her mom’s reaction was going to be. Ok she knew exactly what her mom’s reaction was going to be. Buffy was picking at her food, trying to get up the courage to tell her mom. Dinner at the Summer’s house will never be the same, Buffy thought.

“Okay. What's wrong?” asked her mom.

“It's nothing.” Ooh good answer Buffy, way to avoid. There is something! Tell her!

“Come on. You can tell me anything. I've read all the parenting books. You cannot surprise me.”

Buffy put down her fork, and her hands in her lap. She looked over at her mother. “Do you remember that guy Angel?”

“Angel, the, um... the college boy who was tutoring you in history?”

“Right. Uh, he... I-I... Oh, God. Um... We were sort of dating.

“Don't tell me. He's changed. He's not the same guy you fell for?”

“In a nutshell. A-anyway, um... since he changed, he's been kinda following me around. He's having trouble letting go.”

“Buffy, has he done anything...”

“No! No, it's not like that. He's just been hanging around... a lot. Just sending me notes, that kind of thing. I just don't wanna see him right now. I mean, if he shows up, I'll talk to him. Just... don't invite him in.”

“I can do that, I‘m confused though, When were you dating Angel? Before Spike or after Spike?”

“Before, but after Spike...After I thought Spike was gone, we sorta um started up again? Anyway it doesn‘t matter, cause Spike and I are back together.”

“That’s wonderful Buffy, this time can I meet him?”

“He’s sorta confined to a wheelchair at the moment, he was...in a car accident”

My mom is so cool
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The coolness extended when Willow came over for a spur of the moment sleepover, because Angel had gotten into her house and killed her fish.

“Thanks for having me over, Buffy. Especially on a school night and all.” said Willow, sitting on Buffy’s bed.

“No problem. Hey, sorry about your fish,” Buffy offered

“Oh, it's okay. We hadn't really had time to bond yet. Although for the first time I'm glad my parents didn't let me have a puppy,” said Willow griping her stake.

“It's so weird... Every time something like this happens, my first instinct is still to run to Angel. I can't believe it's the same person. He's completely different from the guy that I knew.”

“Well, sort of, except...”

“Except what?”

“You're still the only thing he thinks about.”

Buffy’s hand absently went to rub her bite marks.

“Buffy!” exclaimed Willow, “You’ve been bit! Did Angel bite you?”

“NO! Not Angel. Spike”

“Huh, I thought Spike was dusty under the organ?”

“Turns out, not so much, he’s paralysed and in a wheelchair at the factory. He’s still alive, undead, whatever, which adds the happiness to the life of Buffy.”

“That’s wonderful news, do you think he’d help us out with the Angel problem, I mean, I love staying at your house with the garlic and the crosses and all that, but really, I might like to have fish again someday.”

“Don’t think he can Will, the whole, stuck in a wheel chair and can’t move his legs bit.”

“Yeah I can see how that’s a problem.”
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tbc...