A/N: Sorry for the long wait between the updates, I've had a lot to do.
As always, thanks for the reviews and thanks to my fab betas LisFayte and DreamsofSpike!
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Spike lay draped over her, and when she poked him in the rib he shifted, twisting them so that they lay facing each other, his cock still inside her and her feet entangled with his. He kissed her, and then settled his arms around her, holding her close. She soon drifted off to sleep, and he followed shortly

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Buffy stretched languidly and yawned, waking to find her head burrowed into a soft, white pillow. She rolled her shoulders, her whole body aching, yet satisfied. She blinked in surprise, taking in the unfamiliar décor of the room she was in. She frowned, and suddenly became aware of the arm around her waist and the feet entwined with hers. She froze, her mind racing rapidly through the events of the day before, until she had caught up with everything that had happened.

Meeting Spike in the alley…her surprise at how he had acted…the mating and the fight with the Master…talking with her watcher, friends and Angel…going to the prom and then coming back here…and of course, all the fun stuff that had transpired in the hotel suite after that…

And all in the course of a single day.

Buffy yawned again, and twisted in bed so that she was facing Spike. She smiled, her mind still not wholly wrapped around the fact that she was mated to this handsome man, who made her feel both nervous and self-conscious, and like the most beautiful woman in the world, at the same time.

She felt an urge to giggle, but stifled it, not wanting to wake her mate, before sighing and resting her head on her arm, just watching Spike sleep. He looked so strangely young and innocent in his sleep, contrary to his true nature. Buffy shyly reached out one hand to ghost across his face, smiling as he smiled in his sleep at her touch.

“Oh God, Mom!” Buffy cried out almost hysterically all at once as she suddenly sat up, remembering the fact that she hadn't come home last night and that her mom was probably frantic by now.

“She is so going to kill me!” she added, looking around in the room in near panic, searching for her clothes. Spike, awakened by her outburst, groaned and threw a brief glance at the clock hanging on the wall. It was 10:00am, and he groaned again.

It was still very early for a vampire to be waking.

“Tell her it was Slayer-related,” Spike suggested, his words somewhat muffled by the pillow his face was once again buried in. His hair was all curly, and Buffy felt the urge to run her fingers through it, but knew that this was not the right time to be thinking of those sorts of things.

“Eh… Mom doesn't know…” she said in a low voice, ducking her head.

Spike lifted his head to look at her, a slightly shocked expression on his face. “Your mum doesn't know you're the Slayer? Bloody hell,” he said, sounding shocked. He sat up and cocked his head, staring at her with cerulean eyes. “I thought your mum would know, since you're living at home. I've met some other Slayers, but none of them lived with their family,” he added, causing Buffy to suddenly look at him with questioning eyes.

“How come you know so much about slayers?” she asked him.

So she wasn't the first slayer he had met. She wondered when he had met them, and how that had been, what with the whole “mortal enemies” thing and all. She wanted to ask him, because she wanted him to open up to her, and she wanted to learn everything there was to know about him.

“It’s a long tale, and you haven’t really got time right now,” he reminded her.

She pouted. She knew they had to go talk to her mom, but it wasn't a thing she was looking forward to doing. There would be awkward questions and evil glares, both coming from her mom, and she would have a hard time explaining.

Maybe it would be easier running away, she thought hopefully.

“Maybe you should tell her you're the Slayer, but it’s your call,” Spike said, and drew the girl to him, holding her close. He kissed her neck and she sighed. He had, surprisingly, been able to follow her thoughts about the meeting, and knew this was something they had to do.

“Might be good for her to know, seeing how you're not gonna age anymore. Stay beautiful,” he said, the last part added while he was eying her.

She smiled with a sigh as she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

“Yeah, you’re right. I should tell her. But you are coming, too,” Buffy said, looking up at him with warm, hazel eyes. She leaned down to playfully nip his neck, and heard him growl softly, a low, deep sound that reverberated through her and made her shudder in pleasure. She stopped nipping and began tracing kisses up his neck, then finally across his sharp cheekbones.

“Pet, would be best to stop now, or I won't be responsible for my actions,” Spike groaned, his eyes closed and his breath coming in deep pants. Buffy stopped and drew back, but she was pouting slightly when he opened his eyes and he knew that she, like him, would rather have stayed in bed.

Buffy got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom, searching for her clothes. Spike smirked at her, eying her naked form with hunger. She stopped, having felt him through the bond, and looked at him over her shoulder, smiling suggestively at him.

“Shower?” she asked, grinning. Spike felt his cock harden as he eagerly jumped off the bed, chasing his laughing mate into the bathroom.

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“I'm so dead…” Buffy whimpered, her head on Spike’s shoulder and her eyes closed. They stood in the elevator, both silently dreading the next few hours. Spike was nervous about going out into the sunlight, and what Buffy’s mum would say when she found out that her daughter was the Slayer, that he was a vampire and that they were mated.

Buffy’s thoughts reflected his, but with a major focus on what her mom would say when she told her that she was the Slayer. She just knew that it would disappoint and worry her.

The pair stepped out into the lobby, their arms around each other’s waists. When the red-haired receptionist threw Spike a lust-filled glance, Buffy tightened her arm around his waist, but he didn't even notice it. Buffy glared at the other woman until she looked away and then stepped toward the door.

She didn't get far. She stumbled a little, but kept her balance. She turned and looked at Spike, who stood frozen, completely silent, not even breathing. She frowned, tilting her head to look at him. Spike stared transfixed through the swinging doors, nervousness and uncertainty in his gaze.

On the outside of the hotel stood his car, waiting for them. He swallowed. It was outside, where the sun was brightly shining. Buffy felt his nervousness through the claim and slipped her arm from his waist to catch his hand instead, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Suddenly he shook himself, blinking as if waking from a long sleep. Buffy smiled at him and stepped toward the doors, and Spike took a deep breath and followed her. He held his breath as they went through the doors, before stopping in the shade.

‘It’s okay,’ Buffy sent, smiling at him.

He breathed slowly in and out, before cautiously stepping out into the sunlight. When he realized that he wasn't on fire, he turned and smiled wonderingly at Buffy, who giggled and joined him in the sunlight. He gave her a big grin before looking up into the sky, blinking when the brightness brought tears to his eyes.

Buffy stood up on tiptoe and kissed him softly on the lips, delighting in how much he seemed to enjoy the sun. Spike grinned at her and threw his arms around her waist, swinging her around till she squealed and begged for mercy. When he finally put her down she was panting and her face was flushed.

“Wow,” she whispered, smiling at her mate.

She watched as he held out a hand and watched it move in the sunlight. She felt suddenly very thankful to whoever had caused them to meet in that alley. She nearly couldn't believe that it was only yesterday; it seemed as if they had been together forever. She didn't even dare to think about what might have happened if they had met some other night, or if one of them had acted differently at their meeting.

“Haven't seen the sun in a while, luv. Not since I was turned,” Spike told her unnecessarily, putting an arm around her shoulders and escorting her to the passenger side of his car. He opened the door for her before going around to his side and getting in. Starting the engine, he pulled out onto the road and headed for her home.

“Yesterday you said you loved me, but it was like you hadn't meant to say it. You didn't -- want to say it?” Buffy asked him quietly, glancing at him. Spike looked at her and saw the nervousness in her eyes. He laid an arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to him. She sighed and closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Jus’ wasn't how I planned on telling you…would probably have waited a little. Telling you I loved you on the same night as I met you might have scared you. But it happened. Knew I loved you the moment I saw you, and it scared me,” he said calmly, his fingers drawing patterns on her biceps. She frowned at his reply, and opened her eyes.

“It scared you that you loved me,” she repeated in a flat voice, and he felt her tense beside him.

He kissed the top of her head before answering. “Not in a bad way. Was just so sudden, you know? I came to Sunnydale not knowing what awaited me here. I felt a pull, I followed it and ended up here, where I met you. And in that moment I knew I loved you, and it was a little … scary,” he said, fingers combing through her silky hair. She smiled at him and knew that he was telling the truth. She could feel his love, like a great wave, constantly around her, soothing her and making her feel loved and safe.

“I love you too. Like you said, I loved you from the moment I saw you. Love at first sight, you know,” she whispered, looking up at him with loving eyes. He glanced down at her with fire in his eyes, yet she could still glimpse some insecurity there as well.

“It freaked me out when I looked at you. You just… I thought you were there to kill me. And that made me sad. Or more sad, since I was already sad. But then you said you would help me, and that made me want to hug you, because it meant so much to me. And I was even more relieved when you said there was a way for me to survive. You know, I wanted it to be you all along, I just wasn't sure if you wanted…” Her voice trailed off, and she was blushing furiously as she buried her head in his shoulder.

Spike was shocked, and grinned madly, his heart feeling as if it was about to start beating again. He kissed the top of her head again, yet keeping his eyes on the road at the same time, tightening his arm around her shoulders and praying that he would never lose her.

“We’re here,” Buffy said, looking up and swallowing nervously. Spike parked the car in front of the house, the driveway already occupied by her mom's and her Watcher's cars. Buffy felt her spirits lift when she saw Giles’ car, knowing he would be there for her and help her when she told her mom about being the Slayer.

When Spike noticed the Watcher's car, his heart fell, knowing that this could get difficult, but he kept his fears to himself, not wanting to worry Buffy. The pair stepped out of the car and began to walk toward the house. She felt as if she was walking toward her doom, and she swallowed hard, nervously. Spike stepped closer to her and slid an arm around her shoulders again, before kissing her cheek.

“We could always run. Go to Paris, or New York, or… hmm…fancy a visit to Hawaii, kitten?” Spike asked, grinning at her.

Buffy smiled back, envisioning herself in a tiny bikini, tanning and relaxing in the sun on the Hawaiian beaches. Spike smirked and sent his own idea of what they could do in Hawaii to her across the bond. There wasn't as much clothing involved as in her fantasy, and even less tanning. Buffy scowled at her mate and lightly slapped his chest.

“We are going in,” she said firmly, before walking up the stairs and facing the door.

Spike could feel her tension, and he gave her shoulder a light squeeze, letting his love wash over her through the bond. Buffy smiled back at him, silently thanking him, before turning her attention toward the door and giving it a determined glare.

She silently opened the door, and the pair walked inside, stopping in the hallway as Spike took her hand. She smiled at him bravely as they walked into the living room, where Joyce stood facing Giles. He looked very much in shock, and a bit defensive, and Buffy guessed that her mother had been lecturing him.

Both Joyce and Giles turned their attention to the blonde duo in the doorway. Giles continued to look shocked, while Joyce looked relieved -- and mad as hell. She stood gaping at her daughter and the strange man beside her, until she shook herself out of her reverie.

“Buffy!” she whispered, before running toward her daughter and throwing her arms around her, enveloping her in a hug. Buffy heard her mother sob, and returned the hug with one arm, smiling at her mate over her shoulder with tears in her eyes.

“Where have you been, young lady? I've been so worried! And Mr. Giles here, your …librarian…or thatcher, or whatever he called himself, stopped by asking for you, and I couldn’t find you! And then he said that you might not come back,” Joyce said, stepping back from her daughter and giving her a stern glare.

“Mom, look, I’m sorry. If you let me, I will explain everything,” Buffy said, squeezing Spike’s hand.

Finally Joyce noticed him and turned her glare onto him, frowning suspiciously. He smiled slightly, but then lowered his gaze when Joyce did not relent. “Who is he? Who are you?” Joyce asked, the first question directed to her daughter, the next to Spike. Buffy bit her lower lip, before taking a step closer to her mate’s side.

“Ehh...Mom, he’s part of the whole ‘splainy thing I’m about to do,” Buffy said, standing closer to her mate.

Joyce looked at her daughter again expectantly, waiting for her to go on.

“You might wanna sit down, mom,” Buffy added, smiling nervously.

Joyce nodded reluctantly as she sat down on the couch. Spike and Buffy stepped into the living room and came to stand in front of the couch, facing her mom and her watcher. Buffy swallowed, reluctant to begin, and Spike squeezed her hand, showing his support.

“Mom, I am a Vampire Slayer. No, let me finish,” Buffy said, holding up her hand when Joyce looked about to speak.

Joyce clenched her jaw, but kept quiet.

“I am a Vampire Slayer,” Buffy repeated. “I am The Chosen One, or was, but that comes afterward. I slay vampires and demons. Giles here is my Watcher; he helps me fight the vampires. Merrick was my watcher in LA, but he died. And remember Angel, my history tutor? He’s a vampire,” Buffy said, regretting having brought up Angel in front of Spike when she heard him growl possessively.

She knew he hated Angel, and his insecurities always seemed to flare up when her ex-lover was mentioned, so she let her love for him flow through the claim and show him that she really regretted bringing up his grandsire at all.

“This is Spike,” Buffy said, gesturing to Spike with her free hand. He smiled, nodded and spoke a soft “’lo,” to her mother.

“He is a vampire too, and he is my mate,” Buffy said, smiling at her mother.

Joyce just stared at her for a long moment, before sighing deeply. “Buffy, I told you to stop with this nonsense in LA. You admitted to only having made it up,” Joyce said, shaking her head sadly.

Buffy stared at her with shock, tears welling up in her eyes. “Mom, I would have told you and the doctors anything to let me out of that place. I would have dyed my hair pink and sung the national anthem if it got me out of there,” Buffy said, tears slowly making their way down her cheeks as she remembered the weeks she had spent in the institution.

Spike was shocked by what was revealed by her words, but he didn't say a thing. Instead he just stepped closer to Buffy and ran his hand soothingly down her back, which seemed to calm her down.

“The things I told you then were true, and they’re still true now. I am the Slayer; nothing except death can change that. I am also Spike’s, and he is mine. We are eternal mates. He is immortal, and I am too now. Me and him, we are forever,” Buffy said, her voice growing stronger word by word. She looked at her mom the entire time, who now looked ready to faint.

Joyce nearly swayed and reached out to grab the arm of the couch to steady herself. “Buffy, you must be delusional. You are…you are making this up,” Joyce insisted, standing up abruptly.

Giles looked like he wanted to speak, but he neither dared, nor was fast enough.

“Mom, please,” the slayer pleaded, hazel eyes gleaming with tears.

Joyce regarded her emotionally distraught daughter, and the man trying to calm and soothe her, frowning at the pair of them in disapproval.

‘Want me to help, luv?’ Spike sent to his mate, sapphire eyes looking at her with love.

She smiled weakly at him and nodded. He nodded back, and she threw her arms around his waist, burying her face in his shirt. Joyce glared at Spike, but he didn't notice, his attention on his distressed girl.

“Mrs. Summers, My name is William and I'm a vampire. I was born in 1855, and turned, made a vampire, in 1880. I'm a dead body walking, if you want to put it that way,” Spike said, stroking Buffy’s back.

Buffy had turned her head and was looking at her mom, wondering how she was going to react.

Joyce looked astonished at first, but it quickly gave way to anger.

“What is this crap? First Mr. Giles here, then you Buffy, then finally this young man here, which you seem to be so attached to. A man I've never even met before,” Joyce said.

She seemed to have more to say, but Buffy interrupted her, looking apologetically at her mom. “Spike, could you…you know…change,” Buffy pleaded, looking at the vampire with eyes still wet with her tears. “That might be the only thing that’s going to prove this to her.”

Spike gave her a reassuring nod, still stroking her back. He then turned his attention to Joyce, and shifted his face into his vampyric visage, changing back after Joyce’s gasp had confirmed that she really had seen his face. Amber eyes were replaced by blue, and bones shifted, making his face smooth once again. Spike looked at Buffy for approval, who smiled and leaned into him.

“Believe us now, mom?” Buffy asked calmly, looking at her mother, half fearing that even that had not been enough.

Joyce was staring transfixed at Spike, frozen in shock. “So…Some…Something is wrong with him! Something is wrong with you!” Joyce finally said, her voice near a hysterical level. She was pointing toward Spike while talking, and he unconsciously took a small step backward.

“Mom, it’s like I said. Spike is a vampire. I'm sure if you ask you can look for a pulse, but you won't find it,” Buffy told her mom quietly.

“No, that cannot be. Everyone has to have a pulse, you just have to,” Joyce replied, shaken by what her daughter and the young man, William, had told her.

“But I'm not alive,” Spike countered solemnly and he tightened his hold on Buffy. She smiled up at him, and stroked his back gently.

“I…I…” Joyce stuttered, and Buffy glanced at Giles.

He took this as his cue to leave, and quietly got to his feet. He smiled gently at Buffy as he walked by her, but he did not even look at Spike, acting as if he could not see him. He gave Buffy one last look, and exited the house.

“So…I'm guessing we’re going to talk?” Buffy asked hesitantly, looking up at her mother.
Joyce looked shaken, shaking her head in denial without a word as she walked away, into the kitchen. Both Buffy and Spike could hear a cupboard being opened and the clink of glass on glass, as they exchanged a nervous look, wondering if they should go after her.

Two minutes later, Joyce came back into the living room.

“Yes, we are going to talk,” she finally replied to Buffy’s question, motioning for them to sit down.

They sat down and mentally braced themselves for what would certainly be a very long talk.