Chapter 23 – Blessings from the Peanut Gallery


Sunnydale, 2000


Buffy gradually woke up the next morning, stretching slightly before feeling the room-temperature body beside her. She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Spike’s arm draped across her stomach, holding her close to him. She put her hand on top of his and smirked when he groaned, a pout forming on his lips as he kept his eyes closed.

“Go back to sleep,” he said groggily. “I’m still exhausted from last night.”

“I should go home before Mom wigs out,” Buffy replied, frowning when his eyes opened and an upset expression settled on his features. “What’s wrong?”

“Is this where you say that you had a good time, leave, and then act like nothing happened?” he asked sternly, his gaze fixed on hers.

“No,” she answered, sitting up and pulling his sheet up with her to cover her chest. “Why would you think that?”

“I wouldn’t put it past you to have a change of heart,” he replied, turning on his side, his back to her. “If you’re going to go, it’s best to scamper off now while I’m half-awake.”

“Spike, I have to go home,” she said, resting her hand on his shoulder, surprised when he moved away from her, settling on the edge of the bed. “Mom doesn’t know where I am – I don’t want her to think that I’m in a ditch somewhere.”

“I’ve never seen a ditch in Sunnydale,” he muttered, which caused Buffy to smirk.

“Maybe a sexy demon seduced me and took me away from here,” she said. “Where there are ditches.”

“I’d break his bloody neck,” he said quietly. “It’s fine, luv – go home and tell Joyce you’re okay.”

“Why won’t you look at me?” she asked sadly.

“Because I’m afraid you’ll have second thoughts about me when you take in the bed head I undoubtedly have,” he said in a light tone, turning over to face her once again. “I don’t want you to change your mind about me… or us.”

“Your bed head won’t affect my feelings,” she joked, laughing when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. “I’m sore from last night.”

“So am I,” he replied, grinning. “I don’t remember the last time that happened.”

“I must’ve done a good job, then,” she said, looking down as his hands rested on her hips before moving north, ghosting across her ribs before gently cupping her breasts. “Is this your way of getting me to stay longer?”

“That depends,” he answered, his thumbs beginning to move in circular patterns over her hardening nipples. “Is it working?”

“I don’t know if I’m a satisfied customer yet,” she replied, giggling when he quickly switched their positions, his body now covering hers.

“Well, let’s see if I can’t make my lady happy, then.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy cautiously walked into her house, her eyes scanning the surrounding rooms to make sure that her mother wasn’t around. She sighed with relief when she didn’t see anyone and began to walk upstairs, instantly freezing when she heard her mom’s voice behind her.

“Well, you’re coming home awfully late,” Joyce said, smiling warmly.

“I had… a thing,” she replied, looking away when Joyce raised an eyebrow.

“Is that what you kids are calling it these days?” she asked, trying not to laugh. “Willow called here last night to make sure that you got home safely, so I knew that you weren’t with your friends like you said you’d be.”

“Mom, I-”

“And since you don’t look injured in any way, I’m going to guess you didn’t get in a fight or anything after you left the club you went to,” Joyce continued, ignoring Buffy’s slight interruption. “Would it be safe to assume that you were with Spike?”

Buffy looked at her, not knowing whether to answer or not but opting to be honest. “Yes.”

“And?” Joyce asked encouragingly. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

“I think he and I… are dating,” Buffy admitted, surprised when her mother beamed at her. “You’re okay with it?”

“Honey, you know that he and I are friends,” she answered. “If there’s any vampire in this world I’m okay with you dating, it’s Spike.”

“Good,” Buffy said, feeling awkward. “Well, I’m going to go to my room and sleep.”

“Did you have a long, tiring night?” Joyce asked, not bothering to hide the mischievous tone in her voice, smiling broadly when Buffy’s eyes widened and her cheeks began to redden.

“Mom!” She quickly turned and went up the rest of the stairs, ignoring Joyce’s laughter as she went into her bedroom and closed the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy woke up several hours later to the sound of someone knocking on her door. She got up and opened it, yawning and frowning when she saw Willow standing on the other side, looking concerned.

“Hi,” Buffy said quietly, opening the door wider to allow her friend to come in. “Did Mom let you in?”

“Yes,” Willow answered, watching as Buffy walked to her bed and sat on it. “Is everything alright? We didn’t know where you went last night, and we looked around for you, but we didn’t find you and-” She cut herself off and looked down. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I think most of us knew where you went but couldn’t bring ourselves to say it.”

Buffy looked down and sighed. “I was at Spike’s.”

“So we weren’t wrong, then,” Willow said, smiling. “How’d it go?”

Buffy’s eyes raised to the redhead’s, a surprised look on her face. “Why does everyone seem so thrilled about it?”

“Come on, Buffy,” Willow replied. “I knew it was bound to happen at some point – there have been signs pointing to it a lot lately.”

“And you’re fine with it?” Buffy asked. “Spike and I… hooking up?”

“If he makes you happy, then yes, I’m more than okay with it,” Willow said cheerfully. “It’s not like it’s a secret that he loves you.”

“It’s not?” Buffy asked, tilting her head. “I didn’t think it was that obvious.”

“Well, when you get used to his mannerisms and notice changes in him, you catch on to the differences,” Willow said. “That and the fact that he’s looked like a lovesick puppy for a few weeks.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Buffy said, smiling slightly.

“I want details!” Willow replied excitedly. “What was it like?”

“Please tell me you’re not expecting me to answer that,” Buffy said, frowning and laying back on her pillows, pulling her blankets over her.

Willow walked to the bed and sat on the edge of it. “It must’ve been pretty good, considering I can see healed-over bite marks on your neck.”

Buffy’s hand instantly went to her neck, feeling the area where Spike had bitten her the night before. “Please don’t tell anyone – I don’t want people to freak out.”

“Was he what Anya would call a Viking in the sack?” Willow asked, looking at Buffy expectantly.

“On the grounds that a lady never kisses and tells, I don’t think I need to answer,” Buffy said before pausing for a long while and grinning. “It was amazing.”

“And you allowed the bite, right?” Willow asked, becoming worried. “He didn’t go all grr and fangy without your consent, did he?”

“I let it happen, yes,” Buffy said before yawning again. “Can we talk about this later? I’m tired.”

“Pulled an all-nighter, did you?” Willow joked, laughing when Buffy grabbed her pillow and smacked her with it. “Fine, I’ll go now.”

She got up and walked to the door, turning when she got there and looking at Buffy, who was focused on something on the wall. “Things can be good for Spike and I, right? You don’t think it’ll end up like it was with Riley and Angel?”

“You never know,” Willow said honestly. “But I have high hopes for you two.”

Buffy nodded and closed her eyes, curling up on her bed.

“I’m glad that you’re happy with him,” Willow said quietly. “And don’t let anyone, especially Xander and Giles, keep you from enjoying your relationship.”

“I’ll try not to,” Buffy murmured, smiling as she began to doze off again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Willow let herself into Spike’s crypt about twenty minutes later, smirking when she saw him watching TV and looking upset. “Did someone die on Passions?”

He turned his attention to her and frowned. “Rebecca claimed she’s pregnant with Julian’s baby, which isn’t bloody likely, and then they cut to Tabitha making a new doll to talk to.”

Willow bit her lip to keep from giggling, amused that a vampire like Spike could watch a soap opera and get so annoyed with it. “Is it alright if I interrupt your show?”

“Go ahead,” he answered, getting up to turn off the television. “Not like I’ll miss anything – the episodes are all the same.”

“Then why do you watch?” Willow asked curiously, holding her hands up when he narrowed his eyes at her. “So, I heard about you and Buffy.”

He sat down again and looked away. “Yeah, what of it?”

“I’m happy you took the bull by the horns and made your move,” Willow replied. “I almost didn’t think you would. Well, for a while, at least.”

“She was the one who made the first move,” he said, smirking when Willow made a face. “It seems the Slayer isn’t as prudish as a lot of people think she is. She’s actually quite-”

“I don’t think I want to hear more,” Willow cut in. “I just came over to say that I’m glad you two are together and I hope things will work out for you both. I know you’ll treat her as well as possible.”

“Or I’ll have to deal with all of the Scoobies,” he replied, nodding.

“I’d get to you before they could,” Willow said in a warning tone before grinning. “Okay?”

“You know, Red, you have the potential to be very scary,” he said, smiling.

“And don’t you forget it.” She gave him a brief wave before walking out, beginning to wonder how everyone else would react when they heard the news and inwardly hoping that everything would in fact turn out okay for Buffy and Spike.