Chapter 5

Must stop, Buffy thought as their kissing continued. Must stop Spike, bad, evil Spike. I hate Spike.

Buffy tried to push him away but her arms wouldn’t agree with her commands. She tried to tell him to back off but the words stayed buried deep in her throat.

“Oh, Buffy. Fuck, I want you so much,” Spike said, cupping her bottom and grinding her against him.

“Oh! Now that’s enough!” Buffy resistance sprang to life as she felt him rub into her, only a few layers of clothes separating them.

“But,” he looked confused and disappointed as Buffy forcefully pushed him back, “I thought we were enjoying ourselves.”

“You were; I wasn’t.”

“Come off it, Slayer. Lying doesn’t benefit anyone.”

“Just stay back.” Buffy put her hands up. “You’re nuts if you think I’m going to let you hump me in a freakin’ cemetery.”

“Hump you?” Spike burst into a deep-throated laughter. “You sure you aren’t the nutty one?”

“I’m going home.” Buffy turned and began walking briskly so she could get away before he could see her burning cheeks.

“Buffy, wait.”

“No.”

“Buffy.” Spike ran after her and grabbed her arm. “Slayer, stop.”

“Don’t touch me.”

“What are you doing? You’re running hot and cold and I don’t have a bloody clue what to do that’ll please you--.”

“I don’t want you to please me!”

“Women!” Spike growled in frustration. “Right, have it your way. Run home and wash your mouth out with soap. Wash out all my fucking cooties that are unlucky enough to be still lingering on your holier-than-thou body.”

“Where are you going?”

“To patrol, bitch.”

Buffy frowned, “Now that’s uncalled for, don’t call me names.”

“Hussy,” Spike said with a smirk before walking off into the woods.
***

“I’m so not a hussy,” Buffy said as she fell to her knees and hid into the bush. “Stupid vampire.”

“Ow!” She hissed, grabbing where a branch had stabbed her forehead. “Stupid, stupid vampire.”

Yikes, Buffy thought, freezing once Spike looked in her direction. Shit! Am I bleeding? Can he smell me? Can he see me?

She settled down once another vampire rushed at Spike, capturing his full attention.

Oh, look at him go, Buffy admired Spike from afar. She watched as he gracefully punched and kicked the other vampire. God, he’s really good. He gets so into it…

“Spike,” she gasped once the other vampire started to fight back with more force. “Stop showing off, dust him already.” Buffy gritted her teeth as Spike continued to struggle, never reaching for his stake.

“Spike!” Buffy jumped up from her hiding place once the other vampire drew a knife from his pocket. “Behind you! Look out!”

“Buffy?” Spike looked up, shocked to see her.

“No!” Buffy charged at the other vampire at full force, hoping she could stop him before he could stab Spike.
***

“It’s no big deal.” Spike hissed; grabbing his side and watching as Buffy turned the other vampire into dust. “You got me sidetracked, I was about to off him but you had to jump out of the bloody bushes and distract me.”

“Shut up,” Buffy said, trying to push away her guilt as she kneeled next to him. She grimaced after pulling up his shirt. “You’re bleeding pretty bad.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Can you stand by yourself?”

“Of course I can.” He batted her away and he tried to get on his feet. Buffy caught him before he could fall.

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to patrol on your own. I knew you’d do something stupid,” she said as she wrapped her arm around his back. “You’re so stupid.”

“Now who’s calling who names?” He muttered allowing her to help him walk. “I had everything under control, Slayer.”

“No you didn’t. You were too busy being a show off. You never reached for your stake. Not even once.”

“Why were you watching me? I don’t recall that being in our deal.”

“I told you why, I knew something like this would happen.”

“So you were trying to protect me? Isn’t that heartwarming,” he mumbled under his breath. “Looks like you didn’t do too good of a job.”

Buffy glared, offended. “You jerk! If you hadn’t stomped off into the woods I wouldn’t have had to hide and I would’ve saved the day.”

“I wouldn’t have had to patrol by myself if you hadn’t turned into a fucking prude all of a sudden. You and your fucking self-righteousness, you’re going to drive me mad.”

“Good, then we’ll both be bonkers.”

“Now there’s something to look forward to,” Spike laughed bitterly.

“God, Spike, are you always this cranky when--.”

“When I get stabbed? Yes.”

“I wasn’t going to say that,” Buffy pouted, happy to see that they were almost to her house. “I’m just glad that he only had a knife on him. I know it hurts but I’m thankful that you’ll be able to heal.”

“Thankful, eh?” Spike titled his head and his voice became softer.

“Yeah,” Buffy said, avoiding his gaze and leading him home.
***

“Buffy, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Yeah, Slayer,” Spike eyed her nervously as she came towards him with a needle and thread. “I’m not sure I want to be Buffy’s first sewing project.”

“I’ve done this plenty of times for Angel,” Buffy said, causing her mother and Spike to quiet instantly. “Mom, did you make an onion blossom like I asked?”

“Yes,” Joyce nodded, looking sick to her stomach.

“Why don’t you get that ready for Spike? I’m sure he’ll be hungry after I’m done playing doctor.”

“O-ok, I’ll just be in the kitchen.”

“She doesn’t handle blood or needles very well,” Buffy explained after Joyce ran into the kitchen. “Now I’m going to try to get this done as quickly as possible, ok?”
***

“You’re such a baby.” Buffy patted the bandage on Spike’s abdomen.

“You gonna kiss it and make it better?”

“I see you’re not as cranky now,” she commented, secretly relieved.

“It can brighten your day when all your insides stop seeping from your stomach.”

“Gross, Spike.” Buffy was happy to see him smirk again. “You want me to get you another shirt from upstairs?”

“I don’t have another shirt.”

“Really?” Buffy looked down at the holey and blood-soaked t-shirt. “Well you aren’t wearing this again. Kiss this nasty thing goodbye.”

“I could think of other things to kiss,” Spike wiggled his eyebrow suggestively.

“Now, you’re in way too much of a good mood,” Buffy said with a little laugh.

“Is my jacket alright, pet?”

She walked to the couch and inspected his leather duster, “It’s ok.”

“I can come out of the kitchen, can’t I?” Joyce stepped into the living room with hands full of food. “Are you feeling better, Spike?”

“Better than ever, Joyce, just a tad peckish.”

“I’m happy to hear that. I hope I did this right, I don’t want my daughter to bite my head off,” she said, giving Spike a wink. “You should’ve seen her this morning.”

“Mom, stop.”

“No, Joyce, go on,” Spike said flashing Buffy’s mom a wide smile before he sipped from the mug of blood. “Oh, you got this just right, love. But you shouldn’t have, a lady like you shouldn’t be playing with nasty things like bags of blood.”

Is he flirting with my mother? Buffy thought, wrinkling her nose.

“Oh, I didn’t mind too much,” Joyce batted her hand and sat next to him as he ate. “Sure I got sick to my stomach a few times but it was for a good cause, I have to keep my houseguests happy.”

“You’re too much.”

No, they’re both too much. Buffy put down Spike’s jacket and started going upstairs.

“Buffy, where are you off to, kitten?”

“I’m going to find you a shirt,” Buffy said, not looking at him as she continued to stomp up the stairs.
***

“She cooked everything.”

“No…”

“Yes,” Joyce said, nodding. “She’s usually not good in the kitchen but this morning, she was determined. It was adorable, she must really like you.”

Spike grinned, liking everything that Joyce was revealing to him.

“And since she does like you and a lot, if you hurt her, I’ll come after you.”

Spike’s smile suddenly faded.

“Because since that time I came after you with an axe, I’ve learned a bit more about vampires and I know what will do the most damage.” Joyce continued to talk as if they were discussing something as mundane as the weather. “Buffy went through a lot with Angel and I don’t want that to happen again.”

“I-I understand completely,” Spike croaked. When did Joyce become so fucking scary? He asked himself silently. “Angel, he’s a bad man.”

“And you’re not. I know that Spike, but still, if you hurt my daughter…” Smiling, she patted him on the knee. “So did you like your onion blossom?”
***

This is disgusting. I’m jealous of my own mother. Buffy came back into the living room as Joyce was patting Spike’s knee.

Mine, Buffy wanted to growl. That’s my knee to pat, not yours. My vampire!

God, I am going bonkers. Buffy almost laughed out loud, instead she cleared her throat. “I found this in my closet. It’s huge on me so it should fit you.” Buffy tossed the sweatshirt at the vampire. “You want me or my mom to help you put it on?”

Spike opened his mouth and then closed it, saying nothing.

“Oh, I’d love to help out but I’ve got some work that must be done by tomorrow.” Joyce stood and gathered Spike’s dirty dishes. “I’ll see everyone in the morning. I hope you’ll think long and hard about what I told you Spike.”

“Ah,” he swallowed, “yes, Joyce.”

Joyce grinned, “Well, goodnight everybody.”
***

“Your mum is the most terrifying woman I’ve ever meet in my life.”

“Oh? Arms up.”

Spike strained to follow Buffy’s orders but when he struggled Buffy guided his arms into the sweatshirt.

“I mean it, pet. You wouldn’t believe what I’ve come up against and none of those are comparable to Joyce.” Spike shivered dramatically as Buffy smoothed down the few of his hairs that were standing up.

“What are you talking about,” Buffy asked, helping him to his feet and wrapping her arms around him. “The stairs are going to be a bitch to climb but we’ll take them one at time.”

“She threatened to kill me, kitten.” Spike hissed in pain as they started making their way to his room.

“You’re kidding, right? My mom can’t kill anything and she told me earlier that she likes you.”

“She said if I turn out to be like Angel, she’d stake me.”

“If you turn out to be like Angel, she won’t be able to get to you fast enough,” Buffy replied seriously.

“Sod it all, you Summers women are going to be death of me.”

“Only if you do something to piss us off,” Buffy smirked, “but until then, you’re safe and just think; if you get us to like you more, we’ll protect you.”

“I’ll make a note about that. Do you accept bribery?”

“Of course.”

“I think I’ll go shopping for some stuffed animals soon.”

“Not until you’re healed up,” Buffy opened his door and turned on the light. “We made it.”

“If I could move, I’d do a victory dance.”

“Too bad, I’d like to see that.”

“I’m sure you would,” Spike grinned as she helped into bed. “You gonna tuck me in, Slayer?”

Buffy sighed, “Will you be ok tonight?”

“Tonight’ll probably be the worst and then the healing will begin. It’s just that bagged stuff slows down the healing.”

“What if I got you fresh blood from the hospital tomorrow?”

“No, don’t worry about me, Slayer. I’ll be fine soon enough.”

“I’m really sorry that I distracted you,” Buffy said weakly. “I thought I was helping.” She quickly blinked back the tears in her eyes, horrified that she may cry. “I didn’t want you to get hurt that’s why I followed you in the first place. And for the record, I lived without washing away your cooties.”

“Buffy,” he reached for her and stroked the top of her hand with his thumb.

“Now this is the part where you apologize for calling me a bitch and a hussy, which, I’m totally not. I had to look it up in the dictionary but I’m not a hussy. Bitch? Sometimes, but I was nice today I think. Prude? Well…maybe, but hussy? No way.”

“You were very nice today and I appreciate it,” Spike grinned, happy that she was still allowing him to touch and hold her hand.

“And?”

“I’m sorry I called you names, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart? That’s new, Buffy thought. I kinda like it. She smiled and squeezed his hand without a second thought. “I’m going to check on you later. I’ll leave the doors open.”

“Don’t snore then,” Spike teased, determined to take full advantage of the kinder and softer Buffy.

“I don’t snore,” she said with a giggle.

“Sure you don’t, and don’t be moaning my name while you dream either, that’s worse than your snoring.”

“You’re lying.” Buffy looked away as she blushed.

“Could be,” Spike gave her a wink.

“You’re such a pain.”

“I’m beginning to think that that’s a term of endearment coming from you, kitten.”

“I should go,” Buffy said but she didn’t move away. “Need anything before I go?”

“A few things come to mind but I’ll keep them to myself.”

“Really? Wow.”

“Goodnight, Buffy.” He brought her hand to his mouth and he kissed her thumb sweetly, his lips brushing against the ring he had given her. “Thank you for doctoring me up pet, and for taking care of me this morning.”

‘You—you’re welcome,” Buffy managed, watching as he lovingly ran his fingers over where he had kissed. “I-I…I should go, now.”
***

Oh, I’ve got her all figured out now, Spike thought as he stared up blindly at the ceiling. She doesn’t want me shoving my tongue down her throat every two seconds—even though it brings out those delicious little squeaks and moans—she wants some romance. She wants us to be friends…I can do that. I’ve been pegged as the romantic-type more than once.

Spike rolled his eyes and laughed to himself. I doubt giving Dru a cuddly puppy to eat would be seen as romantic in Buffy’s eyes.

I’ll just take it slow because I know that she fancies me, she’s doing all these little things for me—Joyce is picking up on it too.

Buffy definitely doesn’t hate me. Spike closed his eyes with a grin on his face. She doesn’t even dislike me. Oh, things are looking up.
***