Different… By PassionFish



A/N: Set in a softer Buffy world, S7 age-wise, but none of the baggage.






"Would you put the bloody thing in, already? It's bad enough that we're watching this crap without having to wait for it." Spike grumbled.



"It's evil." Buffy agreed, taking the popcorn out of Willow’s grasp, and shoving Spike in the side to make room for her to sat down.



"Hey! This isn't crap!" Dawn objected, from her place lying in front of the couch. Buffy, Spike and Willow sat on the couch, while Xander and Anya shared a chair, and Tara sat on the floor next to Dawn, resting in between her girlfriend’s legs.



Giles and Joyce had opted out of 'movie night', claiming to feel too old to watch cartoons. Most had accepted that comment...except Spike, who couldn't resist poking at why the two needed more time together.



The two of them had blushed, causing both Dawn and Buffy to groan and the slayer to shove Spike on to the couch with a threat of stake-age.



"It's a bloody cartoon." Spike muttered, rolling his eyes as the opening credits to rolled across the screen. Not that he'd ever admit it, but he enjoyed their after patrol movie nights, even with the whelp and the watcher being present....even if they were watching moving drawings.



Spike rolled his eyes at himself and reached in between Buffy's legs for the bowl of popcorn that was situated there.



Buffy jumped a bit as the bowl rubbed against her. She tried to ignore the smirk Spike shot her, settling for rolling her eyes.



"Fancy a different sort of 'after patrol' activity, pet?" Spike murmured huskily, so that only she could hear.



Buffy blushed lightly, picking up a piece of popcorn and throwing it at him. It hit him right between the eyes, bouncing off his head and landing with amazing accuracy in her cleavage.



Spike leaned over before Buffy could stop him, plucking the kernel from between her breasts and popping it into his mouth.



Buffy punched him just as Dawn turned to get some popcorn for herself, "Buffy!" She chided.



"Can't you just watch the film?"



"It's my charm, bit...irresistible." Spike informed her.



"You wish, Spike." Buffy glared at him, as Dawn just rolled her eyes.



"Guys would you just watch the film, this bits really funny!" Willow interrupted.



"You've seen it before?" Spike asked, incredulous.



"Just..." Willow indicated the screen.



Spike chuckled a bit, as they turned their attention back to the movie at hand.



Fifteen minutes later, they were all laughing.



~



'Oh great he's loose.'



'His destructive programming is taking effect. He will be irresistibly drawn to large cities where he will block up sewers, reverse street signs and steal everyone’s left shoe!'



~



As the film progressed and more warm popcorn was brought in, by the 'adults' who always entered with flushed faces and suspiciously glassy eyes, the group relaxed into the spirit of the film; laughing through out.



Buffy smirked at Spike when Stitch suddenly started purring, "What?"



"Big ole kitty!" She whispered at him, laughing.



"You promised!" He narrowed his eyes at her. "You wouldn't dare."



"When Spike gets drunk..." Buffy began in a loud voice.



"When isn't Spike drunk?" Xander asked.



"Shut it, whelp." Spike snarled, then looked to Buffy. "You too, slayer."



"He starts to-" Buffy never got to finish as Spike tackled her, sending popcorn and Willow

squealing onto Tara and Dawn.



He started tickling her mercilessly, as she attempted to finish her sentence.



"He...starts.....to..."



"How’s about I tell what happens when Goldilocks here gets pissed?" Spike suggested, one hand covering her mouth as the other held her down.



Buffy screamed and pushed frantically at him, attempting to tickle him back. "She-"



"No!" Buffy squealed, flipping him onto his back and tickling him back, her finger-tips finding the exact spot that she knew from experience sent Spike into stitches.



"She....she.....she..."



"Shhh...Spike....shut up!"



CRASH!



Everyone paused as their movement sent a nearby lamp smashing to the floor. Buffy and Spike jumped to their feet, looking sheepish. Thankfully it bounced on the soft carpet, unscathed though the light went out. But it was enough to bring in Joyce and Giles.



"What on earth are you doing?" Joyce's 'mother' voice was out in full flow.



"Sorry, mom."



"Sorry, mum." Spike echoed.



"She's not your mom!" Buffy protested, jabbing him in the sides.



"Stop!" Giles commanded, as they seemed to be starting all over again. "For the love of God, you're both ADULTS, you more so!" He pointed a finger at Spike. "Now sit down and watch the rest of the movie like good children."



"Okay, we'll be good." Buffy and Spike said in unison, flopping back on to the sofa.



Dawn rolled her eyes, and everyone settled back down to continue watching the movie.



Buffy wasn't sure what it was, since she was pretty sure she wasn't hormonal, but there were bits of this movie that made tears spring to her eyes. Not because she was relating with the characters, because I mean, how much can a vampire slayer relate to a space monster....okay, don't answer that.



But, it...the whole 'out of this world' and 'out of the loop' thing that the space creature, Stitch had going on.....it reminded her of Spike-and it made her feel sad, and sort of guilty.



He'd been helping them for how long? -Three, nearly four years.



She could still remember the day that they'd met, faced off, he'd gotten the advantage....and hadn't taken it.



Then suddenly he was patrolling with her. Usually she'd see him about once a fortnight…then once a week…then every night.



And every night he'd helped save her, them, the world. Yet the group just barely accepted him.



Well, Xander barely tolerated him, and made no secret of it. Giles was unsure. Willow was wary.



Dawn and her mother adored him.



Tara and Anya seemed to like him.



And she...



She...



She turned her head to look at him. He was focused on the screen, chuckling at something that had been said.



She loved him.



She could see a slightly purple mark forming on his left cheek and she frowned.



Sorry.



"Hmm?" Spike turned to look at her, and frowned at her frown. "What’s up, pet?" He murmured, almost silent so that no one else would hear.



"Uh...I..." In a rush of courage she leant forward so that her lips brushed the slowly forming bruise. "Sorry, I hit you."



Spike stared at her with owl-like eyes. She smiled impishly at him, then turned to continue watching the movie.



"Bloody slayer." He muttered, lifting his arm and placing it behind her. Buffy snuggled up to him, to watch the end of the film.



As the end credits began to roll the gang slowly noticed the vampire and slayer's closeness.



"What the-?" Xander squeaked.



Dawn grinned at Spike then leaned over to kiss Buffy, "I'm gonna sleep. School tomorrow, egh!"



"Tell me about it. Night."



"Night Dawn." Came the automatic chorus from everyone...who wasn't a paralysed Xander.



"Night Bit." Spike echoed.



"Buh..he...you...lugh...He's not human!" Xander finally spluttered in protest.



"Like your girlfriend was? Sorry Anya." Buffy smiled at the ex-demon.



"No, I agree."



"It doesn't matter what she was it’s what she is now that counts." Xander blurted then stopped, as if realizing what he was opening himself up to.



"Exactly." Buffy said quietly. "Spikes good now. That’s all that matters."



Xander shook his head and left, Anya quickly following. She paused in the doorway. "Don't sweat it Buffy. That’s his 'I know when I'm beat' face."



Buffy smiled, seeing her friends to the door and kissing Willow and Tara goodbye.



"See you tomorrow."



"Okay..." Willow pulled Buffy closer, whispering: "Remember we have an early class, but have fun."



Buffy laughed but blushed.



"That’s gotta be record time. We should've done it sooner." Spike commented, searching for his cigarettes in a gesture that Buffy recognized as nervousness.



"Come on, let’s say goodnight to mom, then quick patrol, then bed." Buffy blushed as Spike licked his lips suggestively. "I mean..."



"I know, come on pet...I think they've stopped."



"Eewwww!"



---



Spike purred as his tongue bathed the twin puncture marks on his lovers' neck, swirling his tongue in intricate secret patterns, as if to mark her further.



"Big ole kitty." Buffy murmured, softly stroking his hair.



He growled at her, but couldn't keep it up, too happy even to fake it he continued his vibrations.



He pressed a kiss to her neck, then slowly trailed them up the side of her face, tucking her body into his as he rested his head on top of hers.



"But, MY big ole kitty." Buffy tightened her arms around him, feeling a wave of possessiveness flow over her.



"Not a kitty, love."



"You sure?" Buffy asked, stroking him like one. "'Cause you sound a lot like-"



He cut her off, spinning her under him. "Not a kitty."



"Evil vampire." Buffy grinned, but Spike's eyes lost their merriment.



"I'm not human, pet." Spike murmured.



"No. You're not human....just different." Buffy agreed, and kissed him soundly.



The End

A/N: Sappy, but sweet? Hope you liked :)