A/N: Thanks always to my beta BTL. Speedy, super and always helpful!

A huge huge HUGE thanks to everyone reading, and those who continually take the time to review. I know it's been an age, but my exams finish tommorrow! Thank you for all your kind wishes - you've been great.


Spike had slipped away in the early hours of the morning. The Slayer had been restless, often moaning quietly in her sleep. Spike would gather her back in his arms, eager to soothe away her nightmares. It was only after the third dream when he heard her whisper his name that it finally dawned on him.

Her nightmares were filled with him.

Spike had wanted to leave, distance himself from the reality of the situation. A situation which had seemed so clear, so beautifully black and white in the beginning.

Want the Slayer? Well then, by all means have her!

If only.

Spike ran a hand through his hair in agitation. Over the days, things had become horribly complicated. Buffy had refused to concede that she was a prisoner of a Master Vampire. Instead, she had fought like a vicious wild cat at every corner. Pure defiance oozed from her body, hatred blazing in her eyes every time they met.

Spike had finally had enough. Sure, biting her then knocking her out probably wasn’t the best way to go around things - but the demon had insisted. A display of dominance was needed, and Spike had stepped up to the challenge.

Just like a vampire should.

Now Buffy seemed broken. Spike shuddered, haunted by her tearful green eyes. He had never wanted to make her suffer, but bloody hell, that girl just knew how to drive him up the wall.

After she had quietened from her last dream, Spike had kissed her brow and left the room.

With morning fast approaching, Spike clambered into bed contemplating how to deal with the fiery blonde. He would have to keep asserting who was in charge. It may cause more tantrums and plenty more tears, but Spike knew that the relationship couldn’t progress until she realised who was boss. It would just take time.

As the sun began to rise, Spike fell into a deep sleep, troubled by what he would encounter later that night.


* * * * * * * * *


Buffy had woken with a start. Her head had whipped round, eyes darting anxiously around the room to see if Spike had stayed the night. She relaxed as she found the room to be empty, her slayer tingles failing to go off.

Relieved to have avoided a confrontation, Buffy wrapped the duvet around her and shuffled towards the window. She had torn down the protective blinds and the black paint that protected the vampires from a smoky and untimely death.

Since she had caused the ceiling to crumble in her last room, Buffy had been moved to the basement for everybody’s peace of mind. It smelt of damp, and was often cold and unpleasant but Buffy realised it had been blessed with something momumentous. A window.

Although it was small and partially underground, it allowed her glimpses into a world of colour and beauty, a world she had now lost. Eager to see daylight again, Buffy had scratched at the corner of the window until her nails bled.

Just to see the sun.

Now, she perched by the window eagerly, her breath misting up the glass until she wiped the steam away before pressing her nose against it again. She sighed, feeling slightly calmer since waking. She smiled absently as she watched a bird flutter from a nearby tree to fly off into the sky.

‘What I wouldn’t do to be that free.’

A click of the lock broke Buffy’s daydreaming. She stiffened immediately, her body rigid with panic as she hurriedly covered the window with the blind. Her breath came out in pants as she pressed herself up against the wall, eyes locked upon the door.

‘Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Don’t be Spike. Please, please don’t be Spike.’ Buffy chanted, her fists clenched, digging her nails into her skin.

Elise bustled in with a big smile on her face.

Buffy gave a watery smile of relief.

‘Thank God. It’s Elise.’

“Hello! Got some lovely treats for you today, Buffy! We have blueberry tarts, French croissant – how very continental! Oh and this…” She trailed off, suddenly taking in Buffy’s heaving chest and stricken eyes.

“Whatever’s the matter?” Elise placed her tray upon the bed before stepping towards Buffy.

Buffy squeaked and burrowed under the duvet. Tears sprung into her eyes as she mentally chastised herself.

‘Slayers are strong, you idiot! You can get through this. You’re going to kick Spike’s ass and Elise being all nice is not going to make you bawl like a baby!’

Buffy peered from behind the duvet as Elise settled next to her. Buffy struggled with what to say until Elise broke the uneasy silence by placing a gentle hand upon her arm.

“I know,” Elise mumbled before starting again. “I know I’m a vampire, and we are destined to dislike one another. However, I can’t help but feel like you are a friend to me, Buffy.”

Buffy turned to gaze at the uncomfortable vampire squirming on her seat. She sighed, before replying.

“I know, Elise. I feel like you’re a friend to me also, but friends of mine cannot be killers.” Her voice shook. “Friends of mine don’t murder innocents.”

Elise took her hand away sharply.

“I understand. But Buffy… I’ve never killed anyone.”

Her quiet declaration was met with a swift intake of air. Buffy stared at Elise, her eyes incredulous.

“You’ve never killed? Why should I believe you?”

Elise blinked.

“No, I don’t suppose you would. But I assure you, I am telling you the truth. You are locked up in a mansion filled with vampires. I do not benefit from telling you this. You are not in a position to slay me right now.”

Buffy nodded. “True,” she conceded with a smile. “I haven’t fulfilled my sacred duty in a while now. However, this could be one of Spike’s sick mind games to make me trust you.”

Elise looked outraged. “No!” she exclaimed, her hands gesturing wildly in the air. “I would never trick you, Buffy. I never kill, I only take what I need. I do not fit in with humans, yet as I do not share the animalistic tendencies of my vampire counterparts. They shun me also.”

She placed her hands on her lap in a bid to contain her anxiety.

“I think Master Spike asked me to look after you as he knew I would not treat you like the others. You remind me of my little sister, Buffy,” she admitted quietly. “I simply want to be a friend.”

Buffy smiled.

A friend.

God knows she needed one. She gazed at Elise, noticing how sad she looked. Perhaps it was true, she mused. Elise was kind to her for no reason, and it seemed to strengthen the idea that she had retained her humanity.

Placing a hand on her arm, Buffy grinned again.

“I would like that.”

Elise beamed, then strode over to the bed to retrieve the breakfast tray. Thrusting it into Buffy’s face, she gave her a mock glare.

“Well, as your friend I urge you to eat! I spent a lot of time making this so you would put some meat on your little bones!”

Buffy giggled, plucking a blueberry tart from the selection. Munching it, she closed her eyes in delight.

“’Is delicishus” she mumbled, her mouth full.

Elise smiled, simply ramming another tart into Buffy’s mouth, causing her to splutter.

“Good. Now, as you’re eat, you can tell me why you were upset earlier.”

Buffy finished eating, wiping her hand against her mouth delicately.

“It was just Spike. He came in last night to give me some duvets, and we ended up yelling…” Buffy stopped, grabbing another pastry. “You’re great Elise, don’t get me wrong. But I hate it here, trapped and restrained at every corner. If I do the wrong thing, I get chained up.” Buffy’s eyes welled up with tears. “I’m just a girl,” she whispered. “I know I’m the Slayer, but I can’t take these games Spike plays. One minute he is nice, the next he’s trying to take a chunk out of my neck!”

Elise murmured sympathetically, rubbing her hand against Buffy’s in a comforting gesture.

“I’m sorry, Buffy. I didn’t think Spike would be so aggressive before the fight.” She paused, her face thoughtful. “Although Spike may come across as cruel at times, I know he cares about you. He just doesn’t understand it himself.”

Buffy sniffled. “How do you know?”

Elise gave her a conspiratorial wink. “Why, just last night, he staked the vampire guarding you because I wasn’t allowed in! He was upset that you were cold, and were made to suffer.”

Elise stood up, smoothing out her skirt before walking to the door.

“Have an open mind, Buffy. Do not panic when you see Spike, you now know his true feelings. Use it to your advantage.”

With a warm smile and a cheery wave, Elise let herself out, leaving a very confused Slayer huddled by the window.


* * * * * * * * *


Spike merely growled at the vamp acting as sentry at Buffy’s door. He had no time for pleasantries. The guard jumped, hands fumbling for the keys before placing it into the lock. His hand shook as he twisted the doorknob, but the door didn’t budge.

Annoyed at the delay, Spike began snapping his fingers.

“Haven’t got all day, mate,” he growled.

The guard began rattling the handle frantically, anxious to avoid Spike’s anger.

“It’s the d-door Master, it just won’t move!!”

Anger blazed in Spike’s eyes.

“What do you mean ‘it won’t move’?” he hissed through gritted teeth. “It’s a sodding door, open it for Christ’s sake!”

The other vampire yelped in fear as he continued to tug on the doorknob in earnest.

“I’m sorry Master, but it’s stuck. I don’t know why!”

Spike turned narrow eyes back towards the door.

“I know why,” he muttered darkly. “The Slayer.”


* * * * * * * * *


Buffy giggled as she watched the doorknob rattle. Who knew keeping Spike out would be so easy? She had simply slipped a chair under the handle and – hey presto! – suddenly her bleached blond problems disappeared.

Oh, she knew she would have to open the door sometime soon. She just didn’t feel like seeing Spike yet after last night. Buffy was still overwhelmed by the whole “kidnap” situation, and any chance she could delay a confrontation with the Big Bad himself she grabbed with eager arms.

So for now, she was perfectly content to listen to the panicked cries of the minion and giggle when she heard the occasional English swear words.

Spike wouldn’t let her go home?

Fine by her!


* * * * * * * * * *


“Open the bloody door, Slayer!” Spike yelled furiously, beating his hands on the heavy door.

Silence.

“I swear you little bitch, I am going to snap your neck when I see you!”

Spike faintly heard Buffy chuckling on the other side of the room. Infuriated by her gall, Spike let out a howl, slipping into his demonic visage.

He spun around to stare at the minions gathered in the hallway.

“What the hell are you staring at?” he spat viciously. “OPEN THE SODDING DOOR YOU FOOLS!”

The minions surged forwards, battling with each other to reach the door first. Spike groaned, slapping a hand to his forehead as he watched his incompetent followers fall and stumble in their haste.

“I’m surrounded by idiots…” he muttered with a sigh.

Spike turned back round to face Buffy’s room, leaning his head against the wall. Closing his eyes, he concentrated until he could hear the steady thump of Buffy’s heart and her even breaths.

“Slaaaayer…” Spike sing-songed darkly. “Slaaayer! I know you can hear me, my pretty kitty.”

Buffy’s head shot up from the bed when she heard Spike’s deep voice, laced with danger.

“I promise you now Buffy, when I get in there, you’re gonna wish you’d never pulled this stunt. I’m going to teach you a lesson, pet. A lesson you won’t forget.”

Spike smirked when he heard her heartbeat quicken, apprehension and fear coming from underneath the door. He heard her take a deep breath, before she scurried inside the room.

Glancing at the door, he saw one of the minions wielding a chain saw. Spike grinned widely.

“Won’t be long now, luv. Won’t be long now.”