It Happened One Night

By: Golden Buffy



Summary: Xander went to Buffy to apologize after Anya chewed him out about his reaction. Buffy and Spike had a falling out in the scrap yard after she slayed the pink blobby demon.

Disclaimer: Well, if you hadn’t known by now, I don’t own any of them. Joss hoards them all in his deep dark dungeon. But happily has no problem lending them out to us to play with, yay!

Author’s Notes: I lavish praise on the wonderful Just_Sue for continuing with her awesome job beting my ficcie. Thanks Sue, you’re the best! The feedback rocked, guys! Thanks ever so much, it truly made my day(s). *giggle*



(Lovely banner by Spuffy_Noel)

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Chapter Eight: If I forgive You like This…And You Forgive Me like That



I have long since come to believe that people never mean half of what they say, and that it is best to disregard their talk and judge only their actions. Dorothy Day, (1897 - 1980)

Actions lie louder than words. Carolyn Wells

All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire. Aristotle, 384 BC - 322 BC)

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Dawn was having a pretty good time with John. He had been the perfect gentleman all night. Not even doing the old yawn-arm-stretch move in the theater to try and cuddle with her, but she wasn’t sure if she should be happy about that or not. Horny teenage boy in a dark theater with a teen girl…Hello! So, that alone should have sent off warning bells that something wasn’t quite right with her date. But did she listen? No! Dawn had to be all with the moon-eyes and the pitter-patter of her heart.

That’s why she found herself waking up with the worst headache of her life. It was as if tiny construction workers had set off a jackhammer inside her cranium. Even though the room was dimly lit, Dawn found herself squinting her eyes in reaction to the light. It seemed overly bright, making her head pound even more. God, what had he given her? It was like her brain was trying to pulsate out of her skull. It had to be the Sprit - it had tasted funny. John must have slipped her a Mickey. ‘Okay, note to self, no more 1940’s crime novels.’ Dawn scolded herself, because really, a Mickey, no one spoke like that anymore. If they ever did.

Dawn tried to push a few strands of hair out of her face but found she couldn’t move. Her heart began to pound in her chest as she took in the sight of her bound wrists. That’s when it became painfully obvious that she was tethered to a metal table, her legs secured as well. She was totally helpless. Oh, no! What had she gotten herself into?


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Slayer and vampire continued in silence, quickly advancing to the Sunnydale Movie Plex. Buffy still hadn’t relinquished Spike’s cell phone, and the constant clicking of the buttons was starting to drive him mad. Oh, he knew what she was up to; he just couldn’t find it within him to yell at her to cut it out. He was already trying to implement damage control. Well, that’s what he told himself anyway. Why did it always seem that men did all the apologizing when it came to women? Even when it was the woman’s fault they were fighting in the first place. Man, he was whipped…and he wasn’t even getting any.

With one final click Buffy flipped the phone closed then relinquished it to Spike once they had stopped in front of the building.

“Can you sense anything?” she asked staring at the now playing sign.

“No. Think I need to go inside where the Bit’s scent is stronger.”

Once inside Spike quickly located the screening room that the two teens had been in only an hour ago. Locking onto Dawn’s lingering scent Spike was once again on the move. Buffy had a hard time keeping up with him. She’d forgotten just how fast vampires could move when on the hunt.


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The fear in the pit of Dawn stomach was growing with the passing of each minute. She could hear muffled footsteps above her, and wondered just where she was being held captive. Just then the sound of feet coming down the stairs caught Dawn’s attention, sending her heart into over drive. She could hear the blood pounding in her ears as she held her breath, tilting her head up to stare at the door. She wanted to see just who was coming for her. Her eyes locked onto a shadow slowly growing with the approach of the person on the stairs.


Realizing that it was John looming in the doorway, her chest began to tighten with apprehension, as she hastily closed her eyes, hoping to convince John that she was still asleep. She had no idea what he had in store for her but, judging by her current state, it couldn’t be good. He stopped in the doorway resting his gaze upon her, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. Walking over to her prone form John discarded the towel he was wiping his hands on. He bent down next to Dawn’s ear, his warm breath causing goose bumps to form in it wake. She wanted to gag, he smelled as if he’d just eaten a cross between rancid tuna and spoiled meat. Gah!

“Wakey, wakey, Dawn. I know you’re not asleep.” The tone of his voice curled around Dawn’s gut, making her feel sick at its overly sweetened pitch.

She cracked her eyes open, once again squinting at the bright light that greeted her. As her captor came into focus she gasped, biting back a scream.

No longer did he look like the fresh faced teen she’d gone to school with over the past few months, his boy band good looks replaced by green reptilian like skin. His eyes were no longer the baby blues Dawn could get lost in for hours, but now black pools - which promised pain and retribution if she didn’t comply with his wishes. She swallowed, hard, holding back a whimper. She refused to let him see her scared. Though those sharp claws which now replaced his hands had Dawn second-guessing herself.

Dawn defiantly lifted her chin in the air and did her best to flick her dark strands over her shoulder. “Oh, gee. And here I thought you were mister normal guy. Hey, if you were into bondage fun you should’ve told me. So not my thing.”

Anger flickered in his eyes before quickly disappearing. This was not the reaction he was expecting from her. Fear, yes. Worry, maybe. But her defiance was something completely unexpected. He had spent months stalking his intended victim, learning her weaknesses, what made her scared. He needed that fear now.

Flicking out his serpentine tongue he tasted the air around her then chuckled. Oh, Dawn was definitely frightened but was putting on a show. She was quite convincing. He had chosen wisely.

Rubbing his hands together John lowered his head to her level, looking Dawn square in the eyes.

“Are you ready to play a little game, Dawn? I hope you are because it’s almost time.”

Dawn paled as she looked up at him, trying to fight the fear that was in her eyes. “A-a game? I’m not much of a game kinda girl,” she stuttered out in a whisper. How was she going to get out of this?

“Well, it’s not too complicated,” the John-demon thing replied with a twisted smile, raking his eyes over his captive once more.


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“I don’t see anything,” Buffy commented from atop Spike’s shoulders. “Hold still, I’m coming down.”

Buffy jumped down, hitting the ground with a muffled thump. Brushing off her hands she turned to her companion. “Are you sure you smelled her in there? ‘Cause you know you are kinda old, nose ain’t what it used to be.”

Spike glared at the Slayer before replying. “I know what I smelt, Slayer. Already detected two heartbeats inside.” He finished pointing his finger at the two-storey clapboard house.

“There aren’t any lights on, and I only see windows for two storeys. So where are they?” Buffy wondered out loud as she stared at the house.

“Has to have a basement, pet. Come on we’re going in.”

Buffy mumbled under her breath, “ ‘Has to have a basement, pet.’ What house has a basement but no windows? Even my basement has windows.” Buffy secretly hoped Spike was wrong because she truly hated it when he was right. Not that she’d ever mention that bit of information to him.

Spike didn’t wait for Buffy’s confirmation to his plan. Every moment that ticked by put Dawn at greater risk. Unless she and John were up to something else. Spike worked his jaw trying to push those thoughts from his mind. Because if his Bit was doing anything remotely similar to what normal teenagers did on dates, Spike was going to lock her away in some tower until she was eighty. And John, well, Spike was going to make sure the boy got a piece of his mind on the issue. That’s when he detected one of the heartbeats speed up. Fueled by renewed anger, Spike stomped up the stairs leading to the front door.

“What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to let them know we’re here?” Buffy hissed running after the leather clad vamp. On second thought, maybe letting them know they were there was a good idea. Dark lights, no movement, never a good sign with teenagers.

Spike didn’t reply, didn’t even pause in his haste. The sound of the front door being kicked open, then hitting and bouncing off the foyer wall, echoed through the house. Spike stormed inside since no invisible barrier prevented his entry. Buffy followed him over the threshold, surprised.

“How did you just do that?” she asked, looking between him and the door.

“How did I do what?” Spike off-handedly countered, more intent on finding Dawn than answering Buffy’s question.

“Oh, I don’t know. Could be the whole kicking in of doors then marching into homes without an invite!” Buffy’s voice took on a suspicious tone that Spike quickly picked up on.

“Its not what you think, Slayer.” How could the chit even think that he had something to do with Dawn’s kidnapping? The woman was truly off her bird. “Demon lives here. Don’t need an invite from them. Now shut your gob, I’m trying to listen.”

Buffy snapped her mouth shut, but glared at Spike anyway. Just where did he get off telling her to shut up? That was her line for him.

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Eyes tightly shut, Dawn refused to make a noise. John had walked off into the back. She wasn’t sure what he was doing and opening her eyes was out of the question. This totally sucked, she was only fourteen almost fifteen, still a virgin. It just couldn’t end like this. She couldn’t die at the hands of some perverted lizard like demon in his musty, mildewy basement, tied to a table. One would think with all those years of watching Power Rangers, and sharing the same DNA with the Vampire Slayer, Dawn would have known something in regards to self-defense. It wasn’t as if she didn’t try. But Buffy was always too busy or proclaimed that her little sister was, well, too young to learn anything at the time.

“Stupid Buffy!” Dawn mumbled under her breath.

“Open you eyes, Dawn. It’s time to play,” John announced, making her jump slightly. He was definitely good with the stealth, because she never heard him coming. Inner Dawn protested, “Maybe because you were to busy cursing your sister’s name.”

Not opening her eyes, Dawn attempted to buy herself some more time. “Since I’m being forced into playing, can you at least tell me what this game is all about?” She cracked one eye to observe his reaction.

John thought about her question for a moment before shrugging. “Well, it’s not really a game, mind you. More like a host. I picked you out of all the others from your school.”

Dawn frowned. “Not that I’m not flattered, but chose me for what? What are you talking about?” Evidently John missed the sarcasm laced in her voice.

“A host.”

‘Host?’ echoed in her head as her face took on a puzzled look making John laugh.

“Yes, you will be the host for my offspring.”

With that admission he whipped a white sheet off a cart placed next to the metal table. Inside a jar were what appeared to be eight large maggots squirming about.

“Oh my God,” Dawn gasped, tugging at her bonds frantically. There was no way she was going to become some incubator for demon maggots.

John smiled. “God can’t help you now little girl.”

“But we can.”

John spun around, eyes locking onto the intruder who dared to interrupt his plans, as Dawn breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, you’re going to get it now! My sister is so going to kick your ass. Might I add, took you long enough!” Dawn quipped, turning her head in her sister’s direction.

“Language, Dawnie, and hey, cut me some slack, huh? We did have to find you first,” Buffy shot back before directing her attention to the lizard that was formally John.

“You know,” Buffy said, stepping further into the basement and placing her hands on her hips. “I take great offense to green demons kidnapping my little sister, chaining her in their basement and trying to impregnate her with their demon spawn.” Buffy vaguely thought how ironic this speech was with the whole demon-impregnating bit. She wanted to giggle but decided now wasn’t the best of times. All joking aside, it was time to rumble.

“Slayer! You know, you could have told me who you sister was, Dawn,” John suggested.

“Nah, it would have ruined all my fun!” she chirped.

“Spike get Dawn and I’ll take John!”

Within a split second the demon had armed himself with a large hunter’s knife that gleamed dully in the dim basement light. Buffy halted her advance, watching as he moved the weapon from side to side, daring her to make the first move. Up for the challenge, the Slayer attacked. She moved faster than he expected and he cried out as she grasped his wrist in a vice-like grip, sending the knife falling to the ground. John let out a gurgling hiss before spinning around, knocking Buffy off her feet with his tail.

“Can you break them?” Dawn frantically asked as Spike tried pulling at the bonds on her wrists with a growl.

“Give me a sec, yeah?”

With a final grunt, Spike freed both of Dawn’s wrists. She shot up, stretching her back, glad for this tiny bit of freedom. It was strange; Dawn never thought she’d be prohibited from sitting up. It’s weird how you take something for granted until someone takes it way from you.

“Spike! Help Buffy!” she shouted.

John loomed over Buffy’s still form. The fall had disorientated her, the room beginning to spin as she felt the flip floppy-ness of her stomach returning with a vengeance.

Not hesitating, Spike dove into action. It looked as if he would get a spot of violence in tonight after all. Grabbing the demon by the tail he started to spin, gaining momentum with every turn. John hissed as he was lifted up off the ground, thrashing and kicking, trying to break free. Gaining control over her body once again, Buffy rolled out of the way, correctly guessing what Spike was going to do next.

Spike let go and John went flying through the air, slamming into one of the cinder block walls of the basement. The blocks cracked under the force, leaving an impression of the lizard demon. Not leaving anything to chance, Spike grabbed John by the head and was about to twist his neck but paused.

“Dawn, turn your head and close your eyes.”

“Spike, seriously, not happening,” Dawn protested, putting on her best “determined” look. She was entitled to seeing the loser who’d Dawn-napped her die.

“Dawnie, close your eyes,” Buffy insisted. “If mom found out I let you watch a demon being killed I’d never hear the end of it.”

With a huff, the teen turned her head and closed her eyes like instructed. Did she mention just how much she hated when they treated her like a child? Just what part of teenager didn’t they understand?

Spike twisted John’s neck until he heard a satisfying crunch, and the body went limp.


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“Did I mention just how much I love you guys! You two rock! You totally saved me back there, even though I didn’t get to see Casanova bite the big one,” Dawn said, hopping down the steps and starting to walk down the street.

Before either blond could reply Spike’s cell phone went off, playing “It’s Raining Men” - he took in the caller ID before shooting a very nasty glare at Buffy. If he weren’t fangless he would have been scary – slightly. But she couldn’t help the giggle that tickled the back of her throat at his expression.

“Yes, we got her. She’s right here. Dawn, your mum wants a word with you.”

Dawn took the phone, flashing Spike a small smile before turning all her attention to her mother.

The three walked in silence for a while, Buffy trailing behind as her sister flanked her ex-nemesis. Dawn glanced down at the pink wallpaper with animated bubbles and laughed.

“I see Buffy’s gotten a hold of your phone.” She tossed it back humming “It’s Raining Men”.

Spike growled at her pulling her hair playfully. Dawn did her best terrified impression but soon broke down and started to laugh.

Buffy just watched, amazed, wondering when Dawn and Spike had developed such a close relationship? It was strange seeing Spike interact with anyone without threats of bodily harm or draining them dry. But it wasn’t as if she hung out with him on a daily basis, or had seen him with friends. Which gave root to another question – did Spike have friends? Besides Dawn, that is.

The trio made it back to 1630 Revello Drive to find Joyce waited impatiently on the porch. She just wanted to have Dawn home and get to the bottom of her disappearance.

“Hey, Mom.” Dawn kept her eyes focused on the ground. It wasn’t as if she’d planned to get kidnapped, but she still felt bad for making her mother worry.

Joyce engulfed her younger daughter in a tight hug before letting her go.

“In the house. I’ll be up to talk in a bit. Thanks for finding her.”

“It’s all part of my job description, mom. Find annoying little sisters who go on dates with demons. Then rescue them.”

Joyce smirked and shook her head before saying good night and disappearing into the house.

Awkward. That was the first thing that popped into Buffy’s mind. She had never felt this way before while standing alone with Spike, even on a deserted street. But for some reason, now she was, and that struck her as odd. They were both silent. He was gazing up at the full moon as if the answer to unlocking the universe was carved in its cratered face. And Buffy kicked. Kicked at a small rock at her feet and watched as it sailed across the street then bounced a few yards before stopping.

The silence was starting to make her fidgety. Fidgety nerves were never a good sign when walking with an attractive man. Wait, correction, a vampire. Spike was a vampire. Part of the evil undead society. But Buffy couldn’t help the tiny butterflies that were starting to take flight in her stomach, and it wasn’t due to her missing a cup of yummy herbal tea. This so wasn’t happening. So much had happened already that night, from their blow up in the scrap yard, to saving her sister. Buffy’s emotions were in over drive. She blamed it on the pregnancy. It had to be the pregnancy, it was the only rational answer.

“Guess I’m gonna head back to the dorms now,” she said, thrusting her thumb over her shoulder in the general direction of campus.

“I was headed that way. Want some company?”

“Restfield is that way, Spike, campus is in the other direction. You’re so not heading my way,” Buffy surmised.

Spike rolled his eyes at her before responding. “Like I said before, mind some company?”

'Just what in the world am I doing?' Spike wondered, as the words seemed to slip from his mouth without hesitation. He was asking the bloody Slayer if she wanted him to walk her back to her dorms. It was one thing to love the woman from a far, but that had changed once she let him taste heaven. Spike had to retreat, he had to return to safe, normal ground. He needed that secure spot to long after her from, because he knew loving the Slayer, Buffy, was wrong. But now he had gone that extra mile and crossed the line once more, maybe not romantically but on a level of friendship. He knew there was no turning back.

She should have still been pissed - hadn’t he confessed to wanting to blow her head off only two hours ago? But the strange thing was…Buffy wasn’t pissed, she wasn’t mad, and that all too present desire of wanting to punch Spike in the nose was gone. Well, almost gone. It must have been some subconscious reaction to seeing him and Dawn together.

“Normally I would say yes, I do mind. Because, well, it’s you, Spike. Most likely you’d have some sneaky plan to try to off me, where I’d have to kick you ass up and down the street, then send you back to your crypt. Somehow I don’t think this is the night for that though. So, nah, I don’t mind.” Turning her head to the side she smiled. “Company would be nice.”

Spike arched his brow, there had to be an ulterior motive to her acceptance. But, taking her smile into consideration, Spike decided she was telling the truth and actually didn’t mind him walking her back to her dorm. This surprised him, and a smile crept over his face as well. Buffy decided she really, really, liked it when Spike smiled. One could get lost in those dimples. That little voice in the back of her brain reminded her that many women most likely had gotten lost in that very smile, and then ended up as supper for Spike and Drusilla.

Buffy wasn’t in the mood to listen to that mini slayer voice and shoved it to the side for now. Tonight she was going to be escorted home by her ex-enemy, who helped save her sister. She owned him that much.


The two started walking in silence. That awkward silence that Buffy hated, the kind that meant something was changing in a certain relationship. But she liked their relationship the way it was; they fought, traded insults, got pissed at each other, and then she’d punch him in the nose threatening a dusty end before storming off home. That wouldn’t look good in front of the baby once it got older. Buffy didn’t want her child to think she was a bully, even if it was directed to evil soulless Spike. ‘Who helped save your sister,’ her inner Buffy scolded.

“Spike.”

“Yeah?”

Buffy hesitated for a moment before pressing forward. “I was just wondering and if you don’t want to answer I totally understand. Because I wouldn’t want someone asking me questions they had no business asking in the first place.”

Spike just regarded her with both eye brows raised in question.

“Its stupid really, but do you have any friends? By friends, I mean like me, Willow and Xander.”

Spike stared at the petite blonde walking next to him for a few seconds before replying. Was she trying to make small talk and actually find out something about him? This amused him no end.

“Well, if I had the whelp as a mate I’d gouge my eyes out and rip off my ears.” He paused giving thought to his question. “Seriously, Slayer, what do you see in that idiot?” Buffy shot him a glare.

“Hey, watch it bub, you’re insulting one of my best friends!”

“Callin’ it as I see it, luv. But to answer your question, vampires don’t have friends. We have family, and half of the time you can’t even stand your own blood.” Spike finished with a grimace.

“Safe to say you imitating Oscar the Grouch is in response to Angel, huh?”

“Angelus, Darla, old bat face. Never did thank you for offing him by the way.”

Buffy laughed, “My pleasure, but you’re welcome.”

The two fell into silence once more, this time it was a companionable kind, not awkward in any way. And both blonds realized that they were enjoying each other’s company. Once again, Buffy found herself thinking how strange this was and awkward.

“Joyce and Dawn, they’re different though,” Spike commented off-handedly.

“Different, how?”

Spike hesitated; he didn’t want to say too much, didn’t want to let Buffy too close. Because he knew the power that a woman could have over a man who revealed too much. He’d lived that for over a century, and didn’t want to travel down that road again.

“They accept me, for who I am. What I am. They have no reservations about it. Joyce accepted me long before the chip, and so did Niblet. And I accept them too. So, yeah, I guess you could say they are my friends.” There was much more he wanted to add along with that explanation, like how Dawn reminded him of his sister. Or how Joyce accepted him even after she knew how he’d plotted to kill her first born countless times. That both Summers women were more like family to him than his own clan. But he knew Buffy would never understand, might even be repulsed by it, so he kept it to himself. And Clem, well the Slayer didn’t need to know about him. She saw life through black and white, there was no gray for her. She’d never understand the concept of friendly, harmless demons.

They came to a halt outside her dorm.

“Well this is where I get off.” Buffy paused for a moment. “Thanks, Spike.”

Perplexed, Spike raised his scared brow. “For what, pet?”

“For helping me find Dawn… in time.”

He understood what she was saying even though she didn’t want to admit it. Buffy did not have the enhanced senses he possessed, and without locating Dawn with his inherent tracking ability they would have been too late to stop John. He nodding in her direction then started to walk away, but paused.

“Slayer.”

Buffy turned from the open door and let it fall closed behind her.

“Yeah?”

Spike scratched the back of his head nervously; he couldn’t believe what he was about to do. This truly must have been some sick cosmic joke, the Powers That Be must be getting a kick out of it.

“Back… earlier, I’m sorry for what I said.”

Buffy pursed her lips together, she had to stop the smile that wanted to blossom across her face. William the Bloody, the Slayer of Slayers, was apologizing to her! This was weird, and yet strangely comforting.

“Apology accepted. You know, I’m sorry too. You’re not disgusting, Spike. Well, not all the time, maybe 99.6% of the time, but that’s just a male for ya.”

Their eyes met and they both smiled. Genuine smiles. They had crossed that threshold between enemies and allies.

“But I was going to blow your head off.” He smirked.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. But you didn’t, so there you go. I really had no idea you could show restraint.”

Buffy had walked over towards Spike while they talked and now they stood only inches apart.

“So, I guess we’re good then?”

“Yeah, as right as rain, luv.”

“Cool. Well, I better get inside, need my beauty sleep.” Spike watched as Buffy walked back to the door then opened it. “Oh, and Spike.” She looked over her shoulder to make sure he was still there, even though she already knew he was. “Same time tomorrow?”

She caught him off guard with her question, but it dawned on Spike what the Slayer was asking.

“Yeah, that is if I don’t have anything better to do.”

Rolling her eyes playfully, Buffy disappeared into the dimly lit building. Spike watched her go, before turning into the night, swagger firmly in place.

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Okay, there ya go. Hope you liked! Don't forget to drop me a review!