A/N: Thank you to Slinkypsychokit for the beta!




As they approached Sanctuary’s entrance, Buffy immediately grabbed Dana’s hand for reassurance. She knew that Dana’s Slayer sense had to be going completely berserk. Actually hers was too, but she, unlike Dana, had years of growing accustomed to it and also had the benefit of sanity. She smoothed her hand over the back of Dana’s head, shushing her and speaking in a soft, comforting tone.

Surprisingly, Dana reached out and grabbed Bruce’s hand tightly. Buffy smiled at this development. Perhaps, she would be okay for a little while. Bruce seemed to have a positive affect on her Slayer sister.

Happily, Buffy took hold of Spike’s hand, interlacing her fingers with his. Hearing his surprised inhale at her action, she understood his shock. What he didn’t know but soon would have to get used to was that this new and improved Buffy, version 4.0, wanted everyone in the world to recognize Spike as her guy. No longer would she capitulate to what her “friends” — or the rest of the world, for that matter — might think about their relationship. She wanted it open, public and by God if she needed to she’d make love to Spike on top of Giles’ mahogany desk inside the Watcher’s Council headquarters, then she would!

Yep, see world…she and Spike were going to be together. How about them apples?

Spike’s patience was wearing thin. Buffy still hadn’t told him anything, and he had never been good at biding his time. If she didn’t tell him what in the bleeding hell was going on, he’d…well, he didn’t know what he’d do…and really, as long as she kept holding his hand for all the world to see, he might could hold out for a few more minutes.

He still couldn’t get over the reality that she was actually here…in Los Angeles…holding his hand…and giving him looks that were making it very difficult to walk. The saucy little minx! He’d show her. He was more than a little tempted to run into some nearby alley, dragging her along, throwing her against the hard brick and taking her right there. But that would be like their past…something he didn’t want to repeat.

Buffy was giving him crumbs…more than crumbs…whole bites of cookie. His brain whirled with the possibilities. She told him that she loved him. Did she really mean it? Sure, he said he believed her, because he’d dreamed of her saying it. Whatever walls he’d managed to erect over these past months since his resurrection had gotten huge holes knocked out of them. He didn’t want to be Love’s bitch anymore, but she was Buffy…and that was a whole other ball game.

Buffy wondered what Spike was thinking. She loved watching the myriad of emotions flit across his face. Again she internally berated her past, stupid self for all those times she’d told him he was just a demon and couldn’t love or have any real emotions. Note to self – get help making a new Slayer handbook and burn any left by the old Council.

“Where are we, love?” Spike asked, looking at the non-descript warehouse just before Buffy opened the door.

“You’ve never been here before?” Buffy queried, and then teased, “And you call yourself a vampire.”

Maintaining a smile on her face, she opened the door and said, “Spike, Dana…welcome to Sanctuary.”

Spike had not taken both feet inside the door when a blur of skin accosted him and squeezed. He started to vamp when he recognized the scent. Raising his arms, he pushed his assaulter away from him a bit and looked at his face.

“Clem!”

“Spike! Man, am I glad to see you. You are sight for sore eyes,” Clem said, relishing his old friend’s presence.

“Clem, I had no idea you were in LA. What’s this place then?” Spike inquired.

Clem shuffled back a bit and he puffed out his chest. “This is Sanctuary, a haven for peaceful type demons and humans. When Caritas went out of business, my friend decided to fill the niche left in its absence. You’d never guess who owns this place. Oh…oh…where are my manners.”

Clem turned around and whistled. Spike looked at Buffy with a raised eyebrow. Buffy just grinned. “Everyone! Everyone, this is Spike,” Clem announced, doing his best Price Is Right model impersonation. “Spike, this is well…everyone.”

Some demons actually hollered, “Hey, Spike,” before turning back to their drinks and to whatever else they were doing.

Bruce inched Dana inside. Even though he seriously doubted he’d regain full use of his hand ever again from Dana’s vise-like grip, he felt honored that this damaged, deadly one sought him for comfort. He knew all too well the Watcher’s Council’s hard line approach to all demons. See a demon; kill a demon; ask no questions. He’d lost his brother to a slayer when they first accidentally traveled to this dimension.

Buffy reluctantly turned away from Spike’s reunion with Clem to assist Bruce with Dana. She noticed that Bruce’s hand was a stark white from Dana’s grip. Grabbing their hands in her left, she began coaxing Dana’s fingers to relax their hold with her right. Bruce flashed her a grateful smile.

“Dana, listen to me. No one here will harm you in any way. The ones here…they have good hearts. Okay?”

Dana nodded, but still kept shifting her eyes around the room. The demons could sense her disquiet, silently hoping that Buffy could get the new one under control. Some even thanked the Powers or whatever entity they worshipped for giving the owner the foresight of getting a sanctuary spell cast over the place. The spell, thank the Powers, was more powerful than the one that had been cast at the once-Caritas.

Buffy looked around and saw a Lister watching them. “You,” she called out. Everyone ignored her. “The Lister.”

The Lister thumbed his chest and mouthed, “Me?”

“Yes, you. What’s your name?”

“Rieff, ma’am,” he replied, swallowing hard.

Buffy smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Rieff. I won’t bite…well, only him…” She cocked her head toward Spike. “And only when he’s been a very, good boy.”

Spike heard her and stopped talking to Clem. “Slayer!”

“What?” she feigned innocence.

“Pet,” Spike laughed, “stop teasing the boy.”

Pouting out her lower lip, Buffy did her best Dawn. “You’re no fun.”

“Look at that lip,” Spike said, making his way to her. “Gonna get it…gonna get it.”

Rieff, Dana, Bruce, Clem and the other thirty demons were quickly forgotten by both Buffy and Spike. Buffy felt her heart race as she watched her love stalk her. Damn, he’s sex on legs.

“What ‘cha going to do when you get it?” Buffy panted, her eyes now focused on how the muscles in his chest moved and were clearly outlined in his tight t-shirt.

Spike smelled her arousal. For just that moment he remembered the others watching and knew that each and every one of them could smell her also. Slayer musk could be so intoxicating, and none more so than his Buffy. He growled a warning to any other male that might have gotten the wrong idea. This Slayer was his!

He stood before without touching. He bent forward and sniffed her hair. “Gonna get it,” he whispered in her ear, biting the lobe before he moved to her lips.

“So get me,” Buffy challenged.

Spike’s eyes flashed gold as he grabbed her arms and crushed her into his chest. His lips descended on hers, demanding their response. Her hunger matched his own, and when she parted her lips, his tongue invaded the warm cavern of her mouth.

Buffy clutched the globes of Spike’s ass and rocked him to her core. Feeling his hardness against her clad center made her quiver with need. She wanted him now. Breaking her kiss and staring into his eyes, she yelled, “Keys! Now!”

Raising her left hand in the air, Buffy caught a set of keys tossed to her from Clem. She then curled the index finger of her right hand in one of Spike’s belt loops, making his hips come even closer. “Let’s go to my room, Spike,” she said, biting her lower lip.

Resting his forehead on hers and running his hands down her shoulders, Spike answered, “Let’s.”

As Buffy led Spike to her private room, she remembered Dana. “Bruce. Rieff. Take care of Dana for a bit, will ya?” Not waiting for a response. “Thanks. Bye now.”