Chapter 1 – Surrounded By Blondes

London, 1880


“Have you chosen what you will wear to the Underwood’s birthday celebration this evening?” Anne asked as William descended the stairs, smiling warmly as she noticed crimson cover his cheeks. “Cecily will undoubtedly look magnificent. She has always been a striking beauty.”

“Y-yes,” William stammered as he began to walk towards the back of their home. “I will change into more suitable attire after we dine.”

“Please send my regards to Cecily,” Anne replied, sitting down on a chaise lounge in the parlor. “If I was in better health, I would attend, but-”

“I will be sure to inform the Underwoods of your condition,” he said, nodding briefly. “I believe I left my journal in the garden.”

“Be careful of where you leave that lying about,” Anne warned, beginning to cough for a moment into the handkerchief she was clutching. “Someone might come upon it and sell all of your lovely poems.”

“My poetry is horrid,” William muttered, looking at his feet. “Everyone thinks so.”

“I adore listening to your writings.” Anne cleared her throat again, quickly reaching for a small glass of water and taking several sips before continuing. “You are the most talented son a mother could hope for.”

“Thank you, Mother,” he said, giving her a small smile before exiting through the back door and walking through the garden, spotting his black leather journal on a marble bench.

As he made his way towards it, his eyes widened when he saw his young neighbor get there first, grabbing the book and sitting down as she paged through it.

“Tessa, put that down,” he said sternly, holding out his hand expectantly. “Please return it to me.”

“Do you write about love?” she asked curiously, peering up at him through her eyelashes.

“It is not prudent to write about topics one has not yet experienced,” he answered, opting to sit beside her.

“Who do you write about?” she asked, handing him the journal. “A blonde girl with bouncing curls that lives in the home next to yours?”

“As much as I am fond of you, I do not-”

“It was simply wishful thinking,” Tessa replied, interrupting him before he could hurt her feelings more. “Father returned several minutes ago from one of his journeys out to the countryside. I should return inside and inquire as to how it went.” She stood up and took several steps in the direction of her house, pausing a few feet away and keeping her back to him as she said, “Cecily is a lucky woman to have a man like you adore her so.”

“One day you will have admirers, Tessa,” William said, standing. “And you will marry, have children, and lead a wonderful life.”

“I wish it could be with you,” she said as she continued walking.

He watched her for a long moment before sitting down once again and opening his journal, turning to a blank page and beginning to write. Perhaps he could make amends with her by leaving a poem on her doorstep before he left for the Underwoods’ home.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sunnydale, 2000


“Bloody bitch,” Spike swore, furious. “Why must she ruin every plan I come up with?”

“We’ll find another way to get your chip out,” Harmony replied, trying to keep up with his pace as he stormed through the cemetery and towards his crypt. “Then you’ll be back to normal, Spikeykins.”

“I don’t like your nicknames,” he growled, turning on his heel and narrowing his eyes at her. “Why don’t you bugger off, Harm? I’m sure there are tasty teenagers in town – go feed… for a month or two.”

“But Spikey,” she replied, pouting as she moved closer to him. “Don’t you feel like working off some of your tension on me?”

“Not tonight,” he said, pushing her away. “Find someone else to scratch your itch.”

Before she could protest, he went into his crypt and slammed the door. She sighed sadly and ignored the tears that were forming in her eyes. “I wish he’d respect me. Why do all men treat me like I’m nothing?”

The figure in the shadows a few feet away watched the depressed vampire turn and walk towards the entrance of the cemetery, quietly talking to herself the entire way.

“Well, it seems you haven’t changed much, William,” the young blonde girl said, amused. “Still breaking hearts left and right, just like what you did to me all those years ago. I think it’s time you get what you deserve.”

She quickly followed the other blonde woman, catching up to her outside of a run-down bar. She grabbed her arm, squeezing it tightly and delighting in the pain-filled gasp she heard.

“Who are you?” Harmony asked, trying to wrench her arm free but failing.

“Someone who can be of service,” the young girl answered. “I have a proposition for you.”

“Gross,” Harmony said, making a face. “I don’t swing that way. Why do female vampires always hit on me?”

“I didn’t mean a sexual proposition,” the other blonde said, annoyed.

“Good,” Harmony replied, relieved. “You’re a little too young for me, anyways.”

“I’m a lot older than you think I am.”

“I’m sure you are,” Harmony said good-naturedly, not believing her at all. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“It seems you and I have a friend in common, a friend who has treated us both very poorly.”

“Yeah, and who is that?” Harmony asked.

The girl smirked and crossed her arms under her chest. “I believe you know him as Spike.”

“What about him?” the other vampire asked. “And how do you know my Spike?”

“He was in my life long before he entered yours. I knew him before he became the vampire he is today, when he was meek and sweet and didn’t have it in his heart to hurt the women around him.”

“Who are you?” Harmony asked again, noticing a glint in the girl’s eyes.

“My name is Tessa,” she answered simply.

A chill raced through Harmony’s already cold body as she felt the power lacing the other vampire’s words, causing her to rethink doubting the girl’s capabilities based off of her young appearance. Suddenly, the idea of hurting Spike didn’t seem like such a bad one – hurting him like he had hurt her off and on over the course of the prior year would serve him right.

“What did you have in mind?” Harmony asked quietly.

~~~~~~~~~~


A/N This story will be a Spuffy story – I just needed to lay the foundation for the fic first before I start delving into the meat of it. More will be revealed about William/Spike’s past with Tessa in the next few chapters, and Buffy will be involved in the next chapter. Any comments are welcome! This is my first fic, so please be gentle on me!