CHAPTER 16-


(Ok, I’ve never actually been to L.A., and I never really caught the exact location of the Hyperion in relation to the ocean. So, for the purpose of my story, it is located only five minutes [driving] from the beach.* Cool? Of course it is, cuz I said so. Teehee. J/K. Also- just so everyone knows, there‘s a scene at the hotel which might be mistaken as cruel. It is, in fact, not meant to be that way, it is simply a way to show Giles’ and Spike‘s relationship. You‘ll see what I mean. Just wanted to throw that out there, don‘t want anyone thinking I‘m being all Xander bashing lady. Cuz I‘m not.)

Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed the last two chapters, you guys have no idea what your reviews mean to me! Mondo sized thanks to Maggie for yet another fantastic beta job! You rock girlie!


More than a few times during the two hours to Los Angeles, Buffy asked herself why she had practically forced everyone to come with her. Oh, that’s right! ‘Cuz you’re a big ole whiny Slayer baby that can‘t face her ex vamp honey. That’s why. Buffy thought to herself. She’d busied herself with preparing for the trip for the better part of the day, and had been able to push what was most likely to be an awkward meeting to the back of her mind.


Once Buffy had called Xander, Anya and Giles concerning the group road trip, she called Janice’s mother to find out exactly where she had taken Janice and Dawn. Once she discovered their location, she headed there with Willow and Tara to pick up the young Summers, and then the four were off to the mall.


Upon their return from their shopping trip, Buffy got Giles to secure a van. Xander called his boss and informed him that he would, in fact, not be able to work on Saturday because something had come up. And Anya tied up any loose ends at the Magic Box so that she would be able to leave it for a day or two with no worries.


So, at nine o’clock in the morning on Friday - an ungodly hour for two members of the Scoobies - the group headed to L.A.


Spike huddled in the middle seat between Willow and Tara, safe from the sun, with his blanket on his lap just in case. Xander and Anya sat in the very back seat with Dawn, while Giles drove and Buffy rode shotgun. The entire way to L.A. Spike and Xander traded half-hearted barbs and insults, and everyone argued over which radio station to listen to - which prompted Giles to just turn it off. Anya found the silence the perfect opportunity to repeatedly ask if anyone wanted to play road trip games. After several attempts at trying to involve someone, if not everyone, in a game of ‘eye spy’ she gave up and sat in the back with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.


By the time they reached the Holiday Inn downtown, Giles was ready to pull his hair out and be admitted into a convalescent home, just so he could avoid contact with any young people ever again.


Breathing sighs of relief and practically climbing over each other, the group exited the van.


All except Spike. He stayed seated until everyone was out, then covered himself with his blanket and darted into the lobby of the hotel. When he was safely inside he received several glares and strange looks from the other guests. “What?” He snapped. “Sun allergy. Sod off!”


The remaining members of the group filed into the lobby with their bags in hand. Giles approached the front desk to check them all in. Buffy and Giles had decided that it would probably be less life threatening for the majority of the parties involved if they didn’t board with Angel and his crew. After the actions and attitudes displayed the day of Buffy’s funeral by both the Scoobies and the Fang Gang, Giles wasn’t too keen on staying at the Hyperion, with Angel, for two days, and Buffy was sure that no one else would mind that they were staying elsewhere.


While waiting for Giles, the young adults milled around the lobby and the gift shop. Buffy and Spike found themselves standing beside each other, watching the fish swim around the small indoor pond.


Spike spoke after a moment. “Why is it exactly that we aren’t shackin’ up with the poof? He’s got that big ole hotel and it’d be free.”


Buffy looked at him with an unbelieving look. “You telling me that you want to stay under the same roof as Angel?”


He made a face. “Oh, bloody hell, no!


“Then why ask?” Buffy asked him. “Gift horse and all that.”


“Good point.” Spike shrugged. “Jus’ curious is all. Didn’t figure my comfort, or discomfort, would have any say on our accommodations.”


“Well, I don’t exactly wanna have to spend all weekend kicking both of your asses ‘cuz you’re being dumb. And I couldn’t exactly make you stay somewhere you didn’t want to could I? ‘Sides, I doubt you’re the only one that doesn’t want to be roomies with Angel.”


“Could if you wanted to pet.” He said softly.


She looked at him confused, “Could what?”


“Pretty much make me do anything you wanted.”


Buffy was saved from having to respond when Giles approached.


“We’re all set.” He proclaimed.


“Cool!” Dawn said, excited. She looked to Buffy. “Can we go to our rooms now? I wanna go swim.”


Buffy smiled at her sister’s enthusiasm, “Yeah.”


The group made their way to the elevator, and after Giles hit the button, they all took the obligatory stance for watching the elevator move between floors.


“They gave us two suites.” Giles commented. “So we should have more than enough room for the eight of us.”


Xander whistled. “All right money man.”


“It was actually cheaper than getting four rooms. Although, not nearly as private.”


Anya looked horrified. “What? Xander and I need our privacy.”


Giles looked at the young woman and replied haughtily, “Yes, well, unless you want to get a room yourself, this will have to do.”


Xander put an arm around his fiancée’s shoulder. “Ahn, we’re getting a vacation, a free one. As in, Giles paid for the transportation and the room, maybe we shouldn’t complain?”


Anya rolled her eyes. “Fine. But don’t say a word when you all have to deal with me being cranky from lack of orgasms.”


“Whatever.” Dawn supplied, completely ignoring the adult’s exchange. “I don’t care where I sleep. I’ll sleep on the patio if I have to. All I care about is the fact that this is the first vacation I’ve been on in forever.” She paused thoughtfully for a second. “Technically speaking I’ve never been on vacation, ya know, since I’ve only been around for a year or so. So I desperately need one.” She shrugged. “No matter what, I’m gonna have fun.”


Buffy looked at Willow, and with exhaustion clearly evident in her voice said, “I wish I still had that girl’s energy.”


Willow nodded and various versions of ‘same here’ were voiced by the others, except Spike.


“Dunno what she’s so excited about.” The vampire commented.


Buffy rolled her eyes, “Well, of course you don’t. Your entire existence as a vamp has been one big vacation, whereas the rest of us haven’t been on one in ages. You’ve always been able to just pick up and go wherever, whenever. We don’t have that luxury. You, though, don’t really have anything keeping you in Sunnydale.”


Anya spoke in agreement. “That’s very true. Back in my demon days, I had nothing keeping me anywhere I didn’t want to be. I just let myself be guided by the vengeance calls. Now,” she cringed. “Now I have all these stupid, human, grown-up responsibilities and obligations I have to see to. It’s very annoying actually. Well, aside from the making money part.” She patted Spike on the shoulder. “Consider yourself lucky. You aren’t making any money but you also don’t have anything annoying keeping you in Sunnydale.”


Buffy looked at Spike with a smug look on her face, as if to say ‘see?’


He glared in response, all the while thinking to himself. Oh, I’ve got something keepin’ me ‘round here, and she can be right annoyin’ when she wants to be.


There was a ding which heralded the arrival of the elevator, and everyone piled in.


“So, Junior.” Xander began conversationally. “If there’s nothing keeping you here - why are you?”


Most everyone sent the brunet male less than friendly glares. But Spike was, instead, sending Buffy a glare, figuring she’d spilled his secret. She looked at him with wide eyes.


“I didn’t say anything. I swear!” And the elevator doors closed.


When the elevator reached their floor, there was another ding and then the doors opened. The group exited the elevator and waited for Giles to tell them which direction to go.


He pointed to the right, “This way. Numbers 402 and 404.”


When they reached the first room, Giles opened the door and everyone entered, taking it all in for a moment. Then the girls went off to investigate all the rooms. Upon investigation, they found two bedrooms, a bathroom with a garden tub, and a rather spacious kitchen/living room area.


“Wow.” Willow said putting a voice to everyone’s thoughts. “This is really nice.”


There was a door to their right. “This must be the connecting door.” Giles said as he went to unlock it. Once unlocked though, he found the second door to be locked from the other side.


Willow held her hand out for the second key. “Here, Tara and I will go unlock it from the other side.”


As they were exiting the room Anya called after them. “You’d better not do anything kinky in there! If Xander and I have to abstain, then so do you!”


Everyone rolled their eyes at her comments.


Buffy, Dawn and Anya waited for the other two girls to open the door while Xander went to the bathroom and Giles walked out onto the balcony.


Spike followed the Watcher and stepped onto the balcony into a spot of shade. “Been a while since I’ve seen the ocean like this.” He commented quietly, almost reverently.


Giles nodded and answered in the same tone, never taking his eyes off of the view. “Yes, I would guess so.” He stood there a moment longer and then went back inside, closing the sliding glass door behind him.


While the three men had been otherwise occupied, the girls had all traversed into the adjoining suite, giving it an even more thorough inspection.


Xander came out of the bathroom and saw Spike standing in the shade on the balcony, enjoying the view. When he looked out onto the ocean, he saw an extremely large sailboat on the water. He ran to the balcony quickly, to ensure it hadn’t sailed out of his view by the time he got there. Only, instead of ending up on the balcony, he ended up on his ass.


*BAM*


The impact of his face hitting the door knocked him flat on his rear. With a dazed look, he put his hand over his swelling nose and looked at the door as if trying to figure out what happened.


Spike had been jarred from his admiration of the Pacific by the noise. He turned and opened the sliding door and saw Xander sitting on the floor, holding his nose and glaring at the piece of evil glass. The vampire bit his tongue and sidestepped the human on the floor, going to stand next to Giles.


Immediately, upon looking at each other, the two Englishmen burst into hearty laughter. Xander, in the midst of his humiliation, laughed along with them in an attempt to cover up his obvious klutzy-ness. It was an uneasy laugh - the laugh of a person only laughing to avoid bursting into tears. A fact which was proven by the tears sitting in his eyes as a result of slamming his nose.


Spike and Giles continued to laugh, in spite of Xander’s embarrassment and pain, and soon their laughter had turned into bellowing guffaws, bordering on the obnoxious. They were laughing so hard that their faces were beet red - which, for a vamp was a huge feat in itself - and bent over at the waist, they leaned on each other for support. The amount of energy they had expelled from their laughter making it difficult for them to stand on their own.


This was how the girls found them. They’d been alerted to something happening in the next room by the sound of Giles’ and Spike’s laughter. Once they made it into the room, they bumped into one another as they stopped short at the scene before them.


Giles and Spike were both halfway in a crouching position; Giles with one hand on Spike’s left shoulder and one holding onto the bar with a vice like grip. Spike’s left hand was on Giles’ right shoulder and his other was holding onto his side, in an attempt to stave off the cramps he was experiencing as a result of laughing so hard.


Buffy looked back and forth between the two Brits barely standing and Xander on the floor, who held his nose. She let out an odd sounding chuckle. “What happened?” She asked, her lips quirked into an almost smile.


Anya walked over to Xander. “What’s going on?”


“Nuddig.” Xander answered, his voice sounding muffled and bit nasal.


“Oh no. Not nothing” Buffy retorted and pointed at all three men. “This is a something situation.”*


Behind her, Willow nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Not only is this a something situation, but you guys all have something face too.” She said as she took note of the tears in their eyes. Xander’s, though, were not the result of laughter. Spike and Giles had tears in their eyes because their guffaws had moved onto another level of laughter so intense, that no sound came from their mouths. They simply stood, staggering a bit, with their mouths hung open in silent laughter, with tears streaming down their faces.


Dawn nodded her head also and hooked her right thumb toward the two forms that had lost the battle in staying upright, and half collapsed onto the floor. “Just look at Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum over there. This is not nothing.”


None of the girls could help the smiles that broke across their faces as they took in the two on the floor. Only Anya was immune as she continued to inspect Xander.


Buffy tried extremely hard to get her smile to go away. She looked at Giles. “Giles, what happened?”


Giles tried to quell his laughter so that he could at least attempt to explain. “He…pant…” He wiped the tears from his eyes. “… Well, you see…giggle…I went…gasp…Then… Then Spike went…chuckle…And then Xander tried to…all out laugh…” And with that he trailed off in too much of a fit to continue.


Buffy looked to Spike, who had been laughing steadily, and quirked her eyebrow at him in question.


Spike did his best to collect himself and at least try to pick up where Giles had left off. “I went…pant…” He gestured to the sliding glass door and all of the girls’ eyes followed the path of his hand. They turned back to him. “Then…chuckle… and BAM!” He clapped his hands together to accompany the exclamation. “Then…then…laugh…pant…he…” Spike waved his hand in the direction of Xander on the floor. “…down…” And with that he joined Giles in another fit of laughter.


“Huh?” Buffy was totally lost.


“What?” was the resounding chorus from the other four girls.


“I hid my node.” Xander finally spoke up.


“Oh my God!” Anya exclaimed, examining his face, and trying her hardest to get a look at his nose from under his hand. “Is it broken? Are you going to be horribly disfigured? You’re not are you?” She asked worriedly.


Xander just glared at her, while there was a collective eye roll from the rest of the group.


“How did you hit your nose?” Buffy asked.


“I hid da door fird”


There was nothing but silence, and wheezing from the two Brits, for a moment. Then a giggle erupted from the Slayer’s mouth. She slapped a hand over her mouth quickly, as if to contain any others that might have tried to escape. Then another giggle rang through the room, this time from Willow. Xander whipped his head around to give the redhead ‘the look’, but it was as futile as her efforts to stop. Another couple of giggles came from Buffy, and then she finally conceded and took her hand from her mouth, brought her hands down to her sides and shrugged as if to say ‘sorry, no stopping it now.’ Buffy and Willow were soon joined by everyone else, and laughter rang out through the room.


All were laughing, except Anya. She was still busy trying to examine Xander’s face so that she would be assured that he would remain handsome. And the man himself was sitting on the floor with his hand still covering his nose, looking for all the world like a petulant child.


The laughter finally began to lessen, and the only member of the Scooby gang to show any hint of embarrassment at her actions was Tara.


“Id wadn dat punny.” Xander pouted.


“Yes it was.” Spike bellowed, falling into another round of raucous laughter.


Giles made an effort to collect himself. “Sorry. Sorry Xander. You’re quite right.” He’d seemingly succeeded after several seconds of keeping a straight face, but ultimately, he failed and began laughing in earnest, causing everyone else to join in.


Finally after several more moments of their laughter, and after everyone received at least one glare (more in Spike’s case) from Xander, it finally quieted down.


“Okay. Okay, okay, okay.” Buffy breathed out, trying to calm herself. “Okay.” She repeated with finality. When Spike continued to laugh, she shot him a look, which he ignored. I don‘t think I‘ve ever seen him laugh like that before. It‘s so… so… cute. She thought to herself, in spite of the situation. No! It‘s not cute. He‘s laughing at your best friend’s expense. Definitely not of the cute variety! She shook her head and shot Spike one final glare. “That’s enough.” She looked over at Xander apologetically, “Sorry Xan.”


“Yes. Very sorry Xander.” Giles echoed while wiping tears from his eyes.


“Sorry Xan.” from Willow.


“Me too.” from Tara.


“Me three.” from Dawn.


“Well, I’m not.” Of course, that was from Spike. Everyone turned to glare at the vampire. “What?” He asked defensively. “Was bloody funny.”


Buffy just shook her head and turned back to Xander. “You okay now Xander?”


“Yed.” He nodded, still going for pitiful.


Tara walked over and knelt beside the young man’s side. “Let’s have a look at you, yeah?”


He hesitantly moved his hand. “Well?”


“It’s not that bad.” She answered reassuring him, as Anya let out a sigh of relief. “I promise you’ll live, and not look like Bozo the Clown at the same time.” She smiled at him and patted his shoulder when he returned it.


As Tara moved away, Willow took her place in front of her best friend, studying his face the same way Tara had. “Looks fine.” She reaffirmed to him, nodding. She tilted her head to the side a bit, a thoughtful look on her face. “It’s actually kinda cute if ya think about it.”


“Cute?” Xander incredulously repeated.


Willow nodded again, with a smile. “Yeah, cute. It’s all pink and cute, kinda like a bunny’s nose.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she’d made a mistake.


At hearing the cursed word, Anya’s eyes widened to an impossibly large size and she turned towards Willow so quickly that the redhead jerked back from her, and the look on the ex demon’s face. “What!?!” Anya asked horrified. “Gods below! What’s wrong with you? How could you say that? Why would you say that?” She turned a panic stricken face to her fiance. “Why would she say that?”


“Ahn honey,” Xander began, trying to calm her. “She didn’t mean-”


“She so did!” Anya cut him off and then turned back to Willow. “You so did.” She accused, pointing at the witch. “Everyone knows how I feel about the little fluffers.” Almost all occupants of the room cringed from the level of hatred/disgust that Anya’s voice held, save Spike, who just leaned against the wall with an amused look on his face.


Willow was very quick to try and redeem herself. “Oh Goddess! Anya, really, I didn’t mean… I wasn’t thinking… I would never…” She stopped speaking when she realized that none of her sentences had endings. She looked Anya in the eyes, all previous levity completely gone. “I’m so sorry. I swear.”


Anya kept the stern look on her face, in spite of Willow’s passionate apology, and just stared at the red faced witch.


When Xander noticed that the situation would probably remain a stalemate between the two, he nudged Anya’s arm. “See? She didn’t mean it.”


Anya rolled her eyes and exhaled in a huff. “Fine!” She finally relented. “I accept your apology Willow.” Willow sighed in obvious relief, only to straighten back up when the hard expression returned to Anya’s face. “Just don’t do it again!”


Willow shook her head rapidly, “No, ‘course not.”


“Ever!“


Willow changed the direction her head had been moving and nodded. “Promise.”


“Good.” Anya nodded once with finality.


Everyone in the room, apart from Spike and Anya, let out breaths they hadn’t realized they’d been holding. But it wasn’t to be. All of the tension that had left the room returned more quickly than when it left.


Anya was settling down on the floor with Xander, seemingly placated for the moment, when she turned to him and let out a screech that would have put a banshee to shame. She jumped up from her spot on the floor and sprinted into the bathroom, but not before belting out, “I can’t even look at you right now!” And with that, she slammed the door shut.


Xander got off of the floor and walked to the bathroom door. He tried to open it, only to find it locked. “Ahn…”


“Go away Xander!” Was the muffled response through the door.


He turned to the rest of the group with a beseeching look. They all turned away quickly with guilty looks, again - save Spike, who just watched the goings on with a smile on his face.


Xander knocked on the door, “Ahn, honey, please lemme in?”


“No.” She answered shortly.


Xander leaned his back against the door, and slid down to the floor. “Crap.” He shut his eyes for a moment, and then suddenly jerked them open, staring at the group before him. In all seriousness and with complete sincerity, he said, “Ya know, they should put a smiley face sticker, or something, on those stupid glass doors.”


“What are you on about Whelp?” Spike asked with his eyebrow arched in amusement and curiosity.


“Well, they should!” Xander stated vehemently. When everyone continued to look at him as if he had just hopped aboard the crazy train, he continued. “What? What’s with the faces? I’m serious.” He gestured to the balcony door. “It’s all clean and with the see through-y-ness. They shouldn’t make ‘em so clean, it’s a safety hazard. And just wrong.”


“Oh yeah, of course Xander.” Willow agreed patronizingly. “I totally agree with you. Clean glass is definitely of the bad.”


“Uh-huh.” Dawn agreed, nodding animatedly. “We should tell the management.”


Buffy decided to offer her two cents. “Ooh! Maybe we should start a petition or something.” She said sharing a conspiratorial smile with the others. “Ya know? Send it to the Governor or someone.”


“Ha ha! You guys are hilarious.” Xander stated, his voice thick with sarcasm.


Giles spoke, ignoring Xander. “Yes, capital plan that. Then we could send it to Congress, so that it is enforced in every state.” When everyone looked at him with varying looks of shock on their faces, he became defensive. “What? I am capable of sarcasm and wit also, you know. Stop looking at me as if I were a Fragwornth demon.”


“No, no. You’re right Giles. We just didn’t think you had it in you is all. You don‘t exactly exhibit those talents that often, ya know?” Buffy said still shocked by her Watcher’s words.


“M-maybe Mr. Giles could even send it to P-Parliament too. So it’s not only a regulation in the States. I’m sure too clean glass is a problem elsewhere in the w-world too.” Tara added in a small voice. When she noticed everyone looking at her, except Xander, with smiles she continued. “You know, something like, ‘By orders of the heads of state, it is hereto mandatory that all establishments providing accommodations to any person, must place ‘smiley faces’ on all glass doors to prevent any persons from haphazardly inflicting bodily harm to themselves by colliding into said glass.’” She looked down, her hair shielding her face, and stuttered. “O-or s-something like t-that.”


Willow decided to help her girlfriend, so coming out of the stupefied state she’d found herself in as a result of Tara’s bravery, she said, “Oh! And don’t forget the ‘not to be cleaned so pristinely clause’.” Tara looked at Willow with a grateful smile.


“Okay guys, you can stop now!” Xander groused from his spot.


“Oh no. I think we’re on a roll here.” Buffy said adamantly. “Don’t you?” She looked to the others, and they all nodded in agreement.


Spike, who had been silent during the whole exchange, much to the shock of everyone else, spoke up finally. “Oh yeah. We’re on a roll all right. First California, then the whole country, next the whole bloody world!” He exclaimed with a laugh, to which everyone else joined in.


Xander continued to pout and lean his head against the bathroom door. “Ahn, please lemme in! I’m under attack.”


“No!”


Xander’s shoulders slumped, knowing it was a lost cause. He grumbled under his breath as the others continued to spout ideas back and forth.


Anya chose that moment to open the bathroom door, with Xander still leaning on it. He fell back onto the floor and looked at Anya with the most pitiful expression he could muster. She simply returned his gaze, but hers held no sympathy.


Xander noticed the scowl on her face, and knew he would get no help from her. He closed his eyes and surrendered to the onslaught of continued humiliation from the gang and the scorn form his fiancée. “Crap.”*



_____________________________________________________________________________________



It had been a few hours since their arrival in L.A., and the group was finally settled into their rooms. It had been decided that Anya, Xander, Willow, Tara, Buffy, Dawn and Giles would take the bedrooms, and Spike would sleep on the pullout couch in one of the living rooms. He’d been less than thrilled at being told he’d have to sleep on an uncomfortable pullout couch in such a nice hotel, but the idea of sharing a room with Giles made him want to hurl his lunch, so he’d just make do. Anya, on the other hand, had been ecstatic that she and Xander would have a private room, and whispered her happiness to Xander while adding, ‘If we can be quiet, we don’t have to go without orgasms, isn’t it great?’


Once they had settled in, the girls decided to go on a shopping trip and to see the sights. Dawn put up a bit of a fuss because she wanted to swim, but was finally convinced to go along quietly when Buffy said she would buy her something. Xander went along as the chaperone cum bag carrier, while Spike and Giles decided to stay back in the hotel room, Giles burying himself in his books and Spike napping on his couch.


The entire group had decided as a whole, to go to the Hyperion the following day, when no one was tired and cranky from travelling, and they could start the day fresh.


Several hours, and many bags later, the girls and Xander returned to the room exhausted to find the two Brits sitting at the table drinking tea and talking in earnest about some book spread out before them.


After walking through the door and taking notice of the two men, Buffy stopped just short of the couch. Spike drinks tea? Buffy wondered to herself. When did that happen? And with Giles no less. Shaking her head, she placed her bags on the floor and took a seat with Dawn, Willow and Tara on the couch, while Anya and Xander took up residence in the two chairs.


Willow let out a puff of air, “Whew! I’m pooped.”


The other members of the sightseeing/shopping group nodded their heads.


“Pooped times infinity for me.” Xander added. “You guys bought too much stuff, my arms are all sore and achy.”


“I’d come rub them for you, but frankly, I’m too tired to be worried about your comfort right now.” Anya told Xander.


“And we did not buy too much. You can never buy too much. It’s a rule.” Dawn supplied from in between her sister and Willow.


Buffy looked over in the direction of Giles and Spike. “What’ve you guys been up to?” She called out from her spot.


Giles cleared his throat, “Spike has just been educating me on all the things the Council doesn’t want their Watchers or Slayers to know about vampires and other demons.”


“Mmm.” The Slayer nodded. “Sounds like loads of fun.”


“Actually, it was quite interesting. It seems as if there is a quite larger area of grey than we were originally taught.” Giles responded. “According to Spike at least.”


“Well, it’s true!” Spike answered the jab with indignation.


At the word ‘grey’ Buffy perked up, and completely ignoring Spike, focused on Giles. “Yeah? Like, how do you mean?”


No one seemed to notice her sudden interest, except Spike, who had picked up on that, and her increasing heart rate. He looked at her curiously, trying to figure out what it was about Giles statement that caused this reaction.


Giles went into Watcher mode, “Along with the insurmountable number of books housed at the Watcher’s Headquarters that support the argument, decades of families handing down tales of demons has always led us all to believe that demons are inherently evil. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.” He took off his glasses and gave them a good wiping. “But it would appear as if all that was merely propaganda spread throughout the ages to keep the Slayer, and Watchers believing that killing all demons was the right way to go about their Slaying duties.”

“If something is insurmountable, doesn’t that mean that it can’t be overcome? Can’t be disputed?” Willow piped up.


“If you go by the dictionary, then yes. But according to Spike, the dictionary and my piles of books are wrong.” Giles answered the red head.


“So, what you’re saying is that, the Watcher’s Council wants us to believe that all demons are baddies so that we’ll kill them all, even though there are some that are just harmless non-baddies?” The Slayer asked her Watcher.


“That might very well be the case. I‘m of course going to have to research this myself.” Giles answered shooting a look at Spike, who was glaring.


“But… Why? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know that killings demons is what I do, gotta keep the world safe and all that, but… What you’re saying is that there’s a chance I’ve been killing nice demons all these years?” Buffy asked, her eyes wide and uncertain.


“I think it’s safe to say that during your tenure as guardian of the Hellmouth, the majority of the demons you’ve slain have been evil. How many times have you actually come upon a demon simply going about his business, and just attacked with no cause? There’s always a reason for you to slay.” Giles answered, trying to calm Buffy.



“That’s not completely true Rupert. Even non-evil demons will fight if they feel threatened. It’s like a goose attacking someone for walking within ten feet of her nest. Even the most harmless of demons, like a Kraznut, will fight to the death if she feels her children are in danger.” Spike added, turning to face Giles.


Buffy audibly gasped. “You mean I’ve killed mommies trying to protect their babies? Oh god, I’m a horrible, horrible person.” She said looking down at her hands clasped in her lap.


Giles rolled his eyes and glared at the vampire, “Thanks ever so for that bit of insight Spike.” Turning to Buffy he tried to calm her. “And like I said, there is quite a bit of research that needs to follow this conversation for me to fully believe Spike’s theory.”


“It’s not a theory Watcher. It’s the truth.“ Spike shot back and then shrugged, “’Sides, I’m just being honest with the girl.”


“Well, you’re not helping.” Giles retorted.


Willow placed an arm around her best friend, and in a soothing voice said, “Buffy, you can’t help it if you’ve done that in the past. You’ve always been taught by the Council that all demons are fair game. You had no idea that some might not be completely evil.”


“Well that’s just stupid!” The Slayer exclaimed. “I should have a built-in sense telling me if one is evil or not.”


“Buffy, if it’s true, the Council doesn’t want you to know that. They feel it would somehow impede your ability to slay. That you would start to let demons go because you weren’t sure if they were evil or not.”


“Well, that’s stupid too.” Buffy grumbled from her spot.


“If it makes you feel any better Slayer, most of the demons you encounter on the Hellmouth are bad, that’s why they go there. Big hole of mystical evil energy that it is.” Spike tried to reassure Buffy.


“But, you even said that I could’ve killed a mother trying to protect her children.” She argued with him.


“Only because it was a kill or be killed situation, luv. If you hadn’t done them in, they most definitely would’ve done you in.” He reasoned with her.


“I guess.” She answered crossing her arms.


The conversation changed then to a lighter subject. The Scoobies were intrigued that not all demons were evil, and wanted examples. Even Xander couldn’t help but find himself interested.


Buffy sat, lost in thought, thinking of the implications of what Giles and Spike had told her. It seemed to her that grey was everywhere and pretty soon, she was sure she’d become color blind with all the greyness that had recently entered her life.


Not too long after, Buffy stood and announced that she was going to patrol.


“What about Angel and his whole, ‘this is my city’ thing?” Willow asked her best friend.


“Pfft. I’m the Slayer Will, this whole planet is my turf. If I wanna patrol, I’m gonna.” Buffy answered with her chest puffed out and her head held high. “Besides, I’m too antsy to stay here and do nothing.” She looked to Spike, “Coming?”


The vampire stood without answering and started to follow the Slayer out. A chorus of ‘be careful’s followed the blond duo out the door.


_____________________________________________________________________________________



The patrol turned into just a walk, as Buffy and Spike never once went in search of a cemetery. They simply strolled along the streets of L.A. in a comfortable silence, small chit chat here and there.


They ended up on the beach, sitting side by side on a log, staring off into the ocean.


“So, there’s a big mural of grey out there huh?” Buffy quietly asked after a few moments of silence.


“Yup.” Spike answered.


“How come you never told me?”


Spike turned to face her, “Would you have believed me?”


“Back then?” She shook her head. “No, prob’ly not.”


“Well, there ya go, ‘s why I never told you.” He answered and turned back to the ocean.


“Are you grey?” Buffy asked, her eyes still trained ahead.


“Dunno what I am anymore t’be honest, luv.” Spike replied. He took a deep, unneeded breath, “Ever since falling in love with you, my whole existence has flipped upside down.”


“It’s a good upside down though. Right?” She asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.


“I think so.” Spike turned to face her, and pulled her face around with his left hand. Looking into her eyes, he asked. “You tell me luv. Is it a good upside down?”


She let out a breathy ‘yes’ and moved her face closer to his, unconsciously shutting her eyes.


Their lips barely ghosted across each other, but it was enough to send a spark of electricity through the both of them. Pulling back after only a second or two, Buffy turned away, her face burning, while Spike stared at her in wonder.


Realizing that it wasn’t going to happen again, or be discussed, Spike turned back to stare at the midnight water. He did, however, take comfort in the fact that Buffy was obviously affected by their short lived kiss, if the heat emanating off of her body was anything to go by.


After another moment or two of silence, Buffy spoke again.


“Ya know that whole, me keeping things from everyone vibe you’ve been getting?” She felt him nod, though how she wasn’t sure, and continued. “Well, I have been keeping some stuff from everyone, but I’ve decided to spill it all. I can’t take the secrets anymore.”


“When’s this gonna happen then?” Spike asked, trying to keep an air of nonchalance about him.


“As soon as we get back to the room.” She answered.


Spike stood, “Right then, let’s be off.”


Buffy looked at him with wide eyes, “What? I didn’t say right now.”


“No time like the present. C’mon, off that pretty arse of yours.”


In spite of the nervousness she felt at the impending conversation, she couldn’t help but be a little elated at Spike’s compliment. She took his proffered hand and stood.


They made their way back to the hotel, each lost in their thoughts. Spike’s were all about the new information Buffy was going to be sharing and what it might be. Buffy’s thoughts were centered on how to say what needed to be said.


Tbc…





Author’s note- I know some people are going to find that the scene with Xander hitting the window and all that followed a bit insensitive. I assure you, I did not mean it that way. I just wanted to show the group dynamic, Spike and Giles leaning on each other, Spike insulting Xander, but without Xander taking a huge offense to it, etc. I wanted to show that Spike has indeed become a part of the Scoobies, and let’s face it. As much as Xander has made fun of him over the years, it’s not really all that unfair is it? If it had been Spike that had hit it, it would’ve been the same reaction, yes? So, please don’t take offense to anything written. I know it’s a long scene, but it involves everyone, so it was bound to be a bit on the long side. And yes, Anya ran off to the bathroom because every time she looked at Xander’s pink nose, she thought of bunnies.

please, please, PLEEEASE review! thx