(no subject)
Fic: Makes Us Stronger (2/2)
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Scowling at the canopy, Herbert tugged at the right cuff again.
It was pointless, a futile gesture, he knew. After all, these were his own toys and chains, and if he didn’t know they were in good condition, enough to secure the most energetic lover, then what kind of owner would he have been.
No one had been able to break out of them, not in a hundred years, not even his dear treacherous William when he came prepared with a lock-pick and his remarkably flexible little body.
He had to admit, however, that William had come close with some clever acrobatics and a balancing act that had him somehow dangling from the canopy by his knees, the lock-pick in his mouth.
Alas that his ankles and arms were all bound, ensuring he could barely even wriggle without the cuffs pulling tightly.
Sighing dramatically, he glared at the drapes, plotting bloody and wicked revenge on his dear, devoted and wretched boy.
The squeal of the hinges alerted him to a presence, the scent of which certainly wasn’t William. No doubt, his lover had intended to leave him, as promised, until he had recovered.
Perhaps it was for his own good, but without some gesture of affection or at least a lascivious sexual act to keep him going, he feared he would remain quite furious at William for some time.
“Oh... my... God...”
With a muffled groan, Herbert looked towards the open door. “What do you want, cherie?” he sighed.
Dawn stepped into the room and closed the door behind her, approaching the bed with a slow tread and an extremely broad, wicked grin. “Taste of your own medicine time, huh, Herbert?” she said, her hands on her hips.
“Oh, do shut up,” he muttered, glowering at her.
“Hey, you want me to do unto you?” His expression suggested that he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “You remember when I had flu, you gagged me and tried to gimme soup?”
“Darling, if you try such a thing, I will rip you apart,” he said calmly, but there was an underlying growl in his words.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, the mortal smirked at him. “You know, if this had been a few weeks ago, I might have believed you.” She glanced at the bandages, her expression turning a little more serious. “You really are hurt, huh?”
Staring impotently at the ceiling, Herbert scowled. “That damned idiot thought I would run off again,” he muttered.
“If I told you my sister and your dad were alone in the same room, wouldn’t you?”
Grey eyes darted to her. “They... what?”
“They’re ‘talking’,” the girl replied, making air-quotes with her fingers. She got up and went to the end of the bed. “Buffy wants me to go home. Again. Your dad isn’t exactly happy about it.”
“One would imagine not...”
“You promise not to go charging off to the rescue and get yourself blown up again?”
The vampire nodded. “I can barely sit upright at the moment,” he replied with disarming honesty. “And I trust William to keep his word about what he would do to me if I tried to do such a thing.”
Undoing the cuff at one ankle, then the other, deliberately ignoring the blatant nudity on display in front of her, Dawn leaned against the edge of the bed for a moment. “I don’t know if she meant it,” she said suddenly, looking at the cuff in her hand.
“Meant what, cherie?” Herbert brought his legs back together from their spread-eagled position, rubbing his chafed ankles together.
“She...” Blue eyes looked down at him, confusion and a dozen uncertain emotions visible. “She said she missed having me at home... but I don’t know if she meant it or if she just wanted me out of here...”
Herbert forgot his own discomfort for a moment, staring at her. “Your sister,” he announced with unnecessary savageness. “Is a manipulative bitch.”
“Herbert.” Dawn approached the head of the bed and undid the cuff on his right wrist with remarkable ease for someone not armed with his key. There was a glimmer of metal in her hand. “So are you.”
A faint grin tripped across his lips. “You make a good point, cherie,” he said as she leaned over him to undo his other wrist. “But I would not use emotional blackmail to keep a lover in my bed.”
“Nope,” she agreed. “But you’ve got handcuffs instead.”
The last cuff dropped away with a dull thump against the cloth-covered posts of the bed and Herbert’s arms sagged against the sheets. “Handcuffs,” he murmured faintly, relief clear in his voice, “are for amateurs. I have shackles.”
“And look how well they worked,” Dawn countered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Finally modesty prevailed and she reached behind her and tossed the edge of a blanket over his hips, drawing a weak chuckle from him.
“I thought you would be used to naked boy-parts by now,” he teased lightly, crossing his hands over his chest to massage his wrists.
“Not my kinda-sorta-step-son’s, thanks,” she retorted, grinning at the horrified look that crossed his face. “What? You didn’t think about it that way?”
“Not in the least...” Herbert’s nose wrinkled. “Why does my father keep you? You are without doubt one of the most annoying females I have ever had the misfortune of coming upon.”
“Hey! Don’t you even dare!” She pointed a threatening finger at him and he stared at her in confusion. “You do any of that ‘coming upon’ me and your dad would tear me a new one!”
Grey eyes blinked, then he let forth a great snort of laughter, followed by a groan of pain. “You stupid child!” he exclaimed with a wince, as he braced his hands against his ribs. “No lecherous jokes until I am healed!”
Dawn grinned at him. “I’ll behave,” she said with mock-sweetness. “And since you can’t run away, you wanna tell me why you smacked my sister around?”
The sudden switch in her tone made him stare at her warily. “Ah... you do recall that I am the more severely wounded party, do you not?” She nodded, raising an imperious eyebrow. “Ah...”
“Spill it, Herbie, or the cuffs are back on and I lock the door and hide the key, so even Spike can’t come and help you.”
Despite himself, he was impressed by her quiet, calm anger. “You recall William’s life within you sister’s circle?” he said tentatively. The girl nodded. “I... disapproved of the way he was treated.”
“I guess that’s fair,” she said, pulling her legs up under her. “Especially with him being your boyfriend, you’re gonna be kinda twitchy.”
Grey eyes met gleaming blue. “You’ve just been dying to bring that up, haven’t you, cherie?” he murmured.
Dawn’s smile returned as quickly as it had gone. “Oh, you bet I have,” she replied, the grin spreading across her face. “So... when did he go from plain old sex moppet to object of wild lustiness?”
Rolling his eyes, Herbert laid his hands on the bandages around his chest. “Cherie, he has been mine since the first day he stepped into our halls,” he said. “It just took us some time to become aware of it.”
Dawn snorted. “Took me all of two days with you to figure it out,” she noted. “For smart guys, you are really dumb.” She leaned closer to him. “And I figured that was why you went for Buffy, but seriously, you touch her again, you are toast.”
Herbert gazed at her, one side of his mouth curling up. “She might be the Slayer, cherie, but I think I am more afraid of you than of her,” he said, turning one hand over and offering it to her.
The girl squeezed his fingers. “That’s because she’s the good guy,” she replied, the smirk on her face expressing more than she knew. “I’m the in-betweener. I could destroy the world, y’know.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Herbert murmured, dragging her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. “You will stay, won’t you?”
“Duh!” She uncurled one finger and poked his nose. “You think I’m gonna leave you with no one to bug the crap out of you about you and your boyfriend? What kind of sadist would I be, if I left now?”
Herbert grinned. “If you were not such an evil little hoyden, I fear we might be friends, you know,” he said, then sighed lamentably. “Alas, that you are and I am forced to despise you.”
“Same backatcha,” Dawn retorted. “And you know what’s worse? You’re a blond.”
“Cherie! You sink too low!”
Dawn laughed, lifting his hand and returning the kiss to his knuckles. “And now, I give you girl-cooties,” she said gravely then looked up at the opposite side of the bed, a warm smile crossing her lips. “Don’t look now, baby, but our wicked monkey-spanking sex session is being watched.”
Laughing, then wincing, Herbert pulled his hand free and swatted her. “Yes, I know, cherie, but please, no more mention of monkey-spanking sex...”
“At least not while dad is watching,” she said, smiling as his father materialised out of thin air beside the bed. “You found us, then?”
“I simply followed the tracks of Herbert’s despair,” von Krolock murmured, his dark eyes gleaming fondly at the mortal. “I thought I told you that torturing him was forbidden, my dear.”
“But it’s so much fun!” She pouted at him.
“As fun as it may be,” von Krolock said softly. “I am afraid I must intrude and I expect your sister might like to speak with you.” Dawn expression closed slightly and she nodded, slipping from the bed. “I left her in the lounge.”
“You didn’t make her brain explode, did you?” Approaching her lover, she gazed up at him. “You’re way too good at making people confused.”
Von Krolock lifted his hand and let a long lock of her hair slip between his fingers. “I believe I may have enlightened her somewhat,” he said, dragging the back of his forefinger along the curve of her jaw.
Tilting her head into his touch, Dawn sighed. “I guess miracles sometimes happen then, huh?” she murmured, then forced herself to step back. “Make sure he doesn’t go wandering off, kay? I don’t wanna have to deal with a cranky Spike.”
“Naturally, liebling.”
Watching her depart, the softness in von Krolock’s features made his son smile.
“Charming girl,” he observed, after the door closed. “Vicious little harlot as well.”
“I suspect that if she were pacified and gentle, she would not be half as fascinating as she is,” von Krolock replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “And to have found a woman who can rival your temperament? A miracle indeed.”
Making a face, Herbert winced as his ribs strained against their confines. “You can see that the crasser side of William’s nature has rubbed off on her.”
His father seemed to ignore his words. Instead, he spread his hand an inch above Herbert’s chest, fingers splayed, a frown furrowing his brow. “Are you in a great deal of pain?” he asked.
“It could have been worse,” Herbert replied honestly, sighing as a familiar, cooling ripple seemed to spread beneath his skin. “William is a remarkably adept physician, although his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired.”
“It has kept you in your bed, as it should have,” his father said, and he could see the amusement in his father’s eyes. He felt an idiotic grin trying to creep onto his lips, tried to push it aside, but it refused to obey. “You are happy?”
“And more than a little annoyed with him,” Herbert admitted.
Von Krolock gazed at him fondly. “I have often wondered...” he murmured, then waved a hand before him, as if brushing aside an image in the air. “He cares a great deal for you.”
“Looking beyond the surface again, father?” Herbert closed his eyes lightly.
“Not at all,” the reply was quiet. “I have never seen him look so happy.”
One eye slowly opened and Herbert felt that wretchedly silly smile escaping again. “I know,” he said softly.
His father was smiling at him. “And to think,” he said. “It only took his soul, his death and his resurrection and a century...”
“You are cruel to me,” Herbert pouted, though without conviction. “Anyway, you can hardly talk. Look at you with your little un-real mortal.” He saw his father incline his head slightly. “And I have been wondering...”
“Bitten, yet alive?”
Both eyes open now, Herbert nodded. “I cannot recall one...”
“You said yourself that she is an un-real mortal,” von Krolock said quietly. “Did William explain to you what that means?”
“In... part...” Herbert hesitated. “She was... made from some manner of energy?”
Von Krolock laced his hands together before him, looking down at them. “Think, then, what her blood must be, containing the traces of this energy,” he said softly. “It was more powerful, more potent than anything I have touched in any way.”
The sheer thought of someone’s blood being powerful enough to dissuade his father from feeding made Herbert shiver slightly.
“It’s that strong?”
“I cannot take much.” Von Krolock turned to look down at him. “I fear I would have, when first she offered, had it not startled me so.”
Herbert bit his lower lip. “Does she know?”
Von Krolock shook his head. “I doubt that she would believe me,” he said. “It was she who bade me bite her, she who chose it.” Herbert was startled to see bewildered awe and the traces of wondering fear on his father’s face, this situation nothing like anything he had ever anticipated. A faint smile was directed at the younger vampire and the weak chuckle only emphasised his uncertainty. “What manner of human have I found?”
“One of a kind,” Herbert murmured, reaching out to cover his father’s hands with one of his own. “Of that, I am sure.”
Von Krolock laughed briefly. “We both have been blessed with the rarest of gems,” he said softly. “You, in your William and I, with Dawn.”
“As long as they do not find out how lucky we consider ourselves,” Herbert said, one side of his mouth curling as he squeezed his father’s fingers warmly. “I think they will be tolerable.”
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Taking her time to walk through the halls, Dawn had wrapped her arms around her middle, an unconscious defensive gesture, when she entered the lounge, where her sister and Giles were.
Buffy was sitting at the end of the couch, examining her hands pensively, listening to whatever it was Giles was saying. Neither of them noticed Dawn’s entrance until she pointedly cleared her throat.
Hazel and green eyes looked up. Buffy’s eyes were red-rimmed, but she didn’t look mad. In fact, she looked like she understood something, like she had somehow grown up a little in the half an hour since Dawn had left the room. Wiggy.
“Hey, Dawnie.”
As she walked slowly across the floor, one side of Dawn’s mouth curled up, but her arms tightened around her waist. “Hey,” she replied quietly. “Hope Johannes didn’t wig you out too much.”
A glance at Giles seemed to say more than she understood, and the Watcher hastily walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Patting the couch beside her, Buffy looked like she was trying to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her lips.
“He just wanted to talk,” she said as Dawn carefully sat down. A smaller hand reached out, claimed Dawn’s gently. “You know I didn’t mean to upset you, don’t you, Dawnie?”
Dawn nodded, squeezed her sister’s fingers. “Yeah,” she replied honestly. “Buffy, I-I know you want me to come home... I know you don’t like me hanging out with the vampires and stuff, but I like it here...”
“I know.”
“And Johannes is...” Dawn blinked. “Wait. What? You know?”
Buffy shrugged, looking down at the joined hands. “I couldn’t remember the last time I saw you this happy at home,” she said softly. “You were right. I hardly ever saw you. And here...” Hazel eyes rose to meet Dawn’s. “You’ve got vampires who can make you laugh.”
“Mainly Herbert,” Dawn said, a fond smile crossing her lips, then it gave way to a frown. “You’re not allowed to kill him, k? I mean, I know you were kicking each other’s asses, but he’s a really nice guy.”
“We had our reasons,” Buffy said, looking briefly chagrined, as if remembering something she didn’t like. “And don’t tell him I told you,” She leaned a little closer to her sister. “But I don’t really blame him.”
Dawn stared at her. “O... kay. What did Johannes do to you?”
“What?”
“You’re...” Dawn frowned. “You’re not yelling and telling me to go home. You’re being nice about the vampire who tried to kill you. You...” She hesitated, then seemed to decide that bluntness was the best approach. “You do know that the Graf’s my boyfriend, right?”
For a moment, there was a flicker of emotion in Buffy’s eyes. “You know he’s a soulless monster, right?”
One side of Dawn’s mouth crept up a little. “Well, yeah,” she agreed. “But he hasn’t tried to eat me, he’s a gentleman and totally didn’t try and get into my pants. I had to jump him.”
“Dawnie!”
Dawn grinned. “What?”
Buffy’s cheeks were scarlet and she covered her face with her hands, groaning faintly. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with my little sister,” she mumbled between her fingers.
Dawn laughed aloud. “Buffy, I’m nearly twenty years old!” she exclaimed. “If you thought I wasn’t getting any from the hottiest Graf Von Hot... you, girl who boned a vampire on your seventeenth...”
“Not making it any better!” Buffy wailed.
Dawn couldn’t help laughing all the more. “It’s true!”
“Yeah, but...” Hazel eyes glared at her. “I don’t bring up your first time!”
An amused look crossed Dawn’s face. “That’s because mine didn’t end up with crazy-soulless-demon rampaging through Sunnydale and trying to kill you,” she observed dryly. “And hey! Even when I have the soulless one, he hasn’t gone rampaging yet, so I win!”
Buffy looked torn between laughing and groaning, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe you’ve started dating a vampire,” she mumbled.
“And you know what makes it even worse?” Dawn looked positively gleeful. “I’m totally boning my teacher as well.”
“DAWN!”
The Slayer’s sister burst out laughing. “You should see the look on your face!” she exclaimed, her eyes dancing.
“You’re really happy here, huh?” The soft affection in her sister’s expression made her rein in her amusement and Dawn nodded. “And so is Spike...”
Dawn grinned from ear to ear. “Herbert said he didn’t believe in boyfriends, but they are totally boyfriends now,” she said happily. “Spike’s been all kinds of glowy.” She hesitated, then asked carefully, “What happened to you and Vittorio? Are you still...”
Buffy withdrew her hand with a quiet frown. “I... I don’t know,” she admitted. “I think he might still be in love with the Graf.”
In spite of her best efforts to behave otherwise, Dawn exploded with laughter and almost fell off the edge of the couch. “Your boyfriend has the lusties for my boyfriend? Oh my God!”
“You didn’t know?”
“No! I thought Johannes was just doing his usual prowly, purry thing to make people go all twitchy and crazy!” Clapping her hands over her mouth, Dawn was shaking with laughter. “Oh my God!”
“He does that a lot?” Buffy looked bewildered.
Dawn managed to wipe tears from her eyes. “Oh yeah... a whole lot... you saw him being petty with Spike as well...” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I didn’t realise Vitto had a crush on him...”
“More than that,” Buffy mumbled. “They had a thing...”
“That I can believe,” Dawn murmured. “Oh my God... no wonder they were so friendly when you came the first time... no wonder Johannes knew what to do to make him behave...” She stared at her sister. “Did you know before?”
Buffy shook her head. “He never said anything.”
For a moment Dawn was silent, then she leaned closer to Buffy. “Want me to kick his Immortal hinney?”
“Huh?”
“No one makes my sister sad,” Dawn said with a quiet coldness that made Buffy stare at her in surprise. “Warned Spike once. Warned Herbert as well. Now, Vitto is being a jackass. Want for me to kick his ass?”
Buffy smiled weakly. “It’s okay, Dawnie,” she said softly, looking towards the end of the room as the door opened. Dawn felt her sister’s hand snare hers, restraining, warning, as Vittorio stepped into the room.
“Speak of the devil...” Dawn muttered, glaring at him, but she let Buffy hold her arm in a steely grip.
With a subtle incline of his head towards Dawn, Vittorio approached slowly, warily, as if he was approaching a dangerous predator, his eyes lingering on Buffy’s face. A pace before her, he dropped to one knee and caught her free hand in his, lifting it to his lips.
“Bella,” he whispered, gazing at her so intensely that Dawn carefully tugged her hand free of her sister’s, unable to shake the feeling she was intruding on something that was much more intimate than her presence should allow.
“What do you want, Vittorio?” Buffy mumbled.
“I want to beg your forgiveness for my abysmal behaviour, Bella,” he whispered, kissing her knuckles with the reverence mortals preserved for their Gods. “Too long have I clung to my past, too long have I allowed a feeble excuse for what I believed was love to hold its sway upon me.” He pressed a kiss to her palm. “It is unforgivable, I know, but I prostrate myself before you and pray that your heart is great enough to show me mercy.”
Buffy stared at him, colour blooming on her cheeks. “You’re an ass,” she whispered. “And you kept things from me, but mercy? Vittorio, what are you talking about?”
Dark brown eyes gazed up at her. “I feared you would wish me from your life, mia Bella,” he whispered. “I pray that this is not so, because this wretched heart that is mine rests in your hands.” He lifted his hand to caress her cheek tenderly, reverently, gazing at her with such intensity that it looked like the Slayer was having trouble breathing. “I love you, Buffy. More than any shadow of my past, more than any other, more than any thing.” He drew her hand against his chest. “This heart is yours, mia bella. If you wish this was not so, ask and I shall rend it from my flesh, for I could not live a day without you.”
Hazel eyes stared at him, wide, awed. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Dawn echoed in disbelief. “The guy gives you the most mushily romantic sappy speech ever and all you can say is ‘Oh’?”
“Yeah...” Buffy whispered faintly. “Oh... good oh... way good...”
Vittorio’s lips twitched slightly and he squeezed the Slayer’s fingers. “If you will consent to it, Bella,” he murmured. “I wish to take you from this place, show you the world, the wonders that you have not yet seen...”
“Shut up.”
Vittorio blinked. “Bella?”
“Just... shut up,” Buffy whispered, tugging him forward by the front of his shirt and kissing him.
“So...” Scrambling hastily to her feet, Dawn clapped her hands in front of her. “I see you guys have stuff to... uh... talk about...” She started backing towards the door. “I’ll be... out there... somewhere.”
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Striding into the deserted living room, Faith was halfway through swinging over the back of the couch when she noticed it was already occupied. With a curse and a quick shift of balance, she landed on her feet instead of the reclining vampire, who gave her a faint smile.
“Huh.”
A pale hand was extended. “Faith, I assume?”
Grasping the vampire’s hand, surprised by his politeness, Faith half-grinned. “Yeah,” she replied. “And you’re Spike’s boytoy, huh?” She looked him up and down, saw the amusement in his eyes. “Not bad.”
“Am I to credit your tastes for warmer flesh for such a mediocre response?” he murmured, grey eyes gleaming.
Giving him a shrug, Faith sprawled down in the chair close to the couch, splaying her legs out. “Sorry, baby,” she replied, lacing her fingers together behind her head. “I like to ride ‘em hot and hard and watch the colours they go.”
The vampire’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, and he covered his mouth with one hand. After a moment, he lowered his hand and said, “I can see why William suggested that I meet you.”
“Mind six levels below the gutter and sinking fast?” Faith grinned widely.
Herbert’s eyes glinted with mirth. “Well, his wording was a little different,” he said, his lips twitching. “He claimed you were...” He touched his lips, frowning. “Right piece of work, I believe was the term. There may have been profanities.”
“Sounds about right for Spike,” Faith nodded, shifting her hips against the soft seat of the chair, stretching her arms luxuriously over her head. “I guess he let you out to play again? Or are you looking for more love-bites?”
Herbert looked demurely at the ceiling. “As long as I am not attacking anyone and I am resting quietly, then I am permitted to leave my bed,” he said. his eyes slid towards her. “Otherwise, I hope you know I would have cut you to ribbons.”
“Sure you would, Blondie,” Faith replied cheerfully. “And I woulda left you on the floor as a gift for your vacuum.”
Herbert’s shoulders shook again, but his expression was grave as he turned to look at her. “A great pity, then, that I am forbidden to rise and strike you down,” he said with a mournful sigh.
“And G has told me no killing before bedtime, so we’re screwed,” she matched his sigh, then smirked. “Or not, since you got busted ribs and your boy’ll be making sure nothing knocks ‘em out, right?”
Glaring at her, Herbert scowled. “Thank you for that generous reminder,” he said.
“Hey, blondie, you’re not the only one suffering here,” Faith retorted, though she was trying not to grin. “There are stiffs everywhere, but not the kinda stiffs I’m lookin’ for.”
The vampire actually snorted aloud at that, folding his arms over his ribs with a carefulness that made the Slayer wince sympathetically.
“You hurtin’ bad?”
Herbert sighed. “Not as much as I have been,” he replied. “I’m afraid I am a terrible patient.” He smiled faintly, vaguely. “I always found that term such a contradiction. I have never met someone prescribed bed rest who enjoys it.”
“Depends on who does the prescribin’,” Faith said with a broad, lewd grin.
“Now, now, Faith,” Giles’ voice made her look up, towards the door. “I would rather you didn’t give such an impression of the Watchers Council representatives.” Even so, when he approached, he looked like he was hard-pressed to stifle a smile.
He was followed closely by the Graf. The Uber-vamp’s eyes darted down to his son, then to her. Faith met that stare, could almost feel it digging into her head, picking through her. And still, all she could think of was what Spike had said a few days before, about the Graf and his guests.
Her mouth was twitching unbearably as she tried to crush down a grin and finally, he nodded in polite acknowledgement, circling the couch to stand by Herbert’s head, still gazing at her.
Huh. Was she the right kinda guest, then? There was a thought.
“You been geeking out in the library, then, G?” Making herself look at Giles, she leaned forward, arms resting on her knees. “Lil D and Fang the second said you went all swoony when you saw it.”
With a long-suffering sigh, Giles removed his glasses and rubbed his face. “I admire the quality and quantity of the collection,” he said. “And his Excellency has been very generous with his time.”
“Yeah... specially since we didn’t need to hang here any longer, what with us having B’s second car,” the Slayer noted dryly. Giles gave her a look. “C’mon, G, B and Vitto headed days ago. You just wanted to stay and ogle the paperwork.”
“Oi, don’t mock the Watcher, pet,” Spike called from the doorway, pushing the door wider with one foot, his arms laden down with a tray of cups and what looked like a bowl of strawberries.
He was trailed closely by Dawn, who was carrying a single plate. She stopped dead, looking around the room suspiciously. “Okay, who died?” she inquired. “There’s no way everyone can be in the same room and something bad hasn’t happened...”
“Illyria’s not here, love,” Spike remarked over his shoulder. “So, by your way of thinking, no one’s dead.”
“Yet,” Herbert murmured from his position on the couch. Faith could see his eyes were half-closed, like he was pretending to be in less pain than he was. “Darling, can’t I kill at least one Slayer this week? Please?”
“Baby,” Leaning forward, she waited until grey eyes flicked towards her. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I like a challenge.” She gave him a pleasant smile. “You are just way too easy right now.”
“Way too easy all the bloody time,” Spike’s mutter was just loud enough to be heard and Faith and Herbert both snorted.
Sitting down on the arm of the couch, Dawn arranged the sandwich on her plate and looked from the Slayer to the vampire and back. “So, you figured they should meet, huh, Spike?” she inquired. “And how far into the realm of not-thinking were you?”
Spike made a face at her, weaving his way around the couch to sit down on the edge, close to Herbert’s hip. “I thought I’d try and make the world implode with the force of perviness,” he said, handing a goblet of blood to his lover.
“No good, Fang the Second,” Faith chuckled. “Until he’s back on his feet, no way will he be at full power and without that, nah...” She shook her head. “Unless you got the juice to back you up... fallin’ before the finishin’ line is just no good thing.”
Blue eyes closed as if in pain. “Every sentence, love,” he said with a groan. “How do you manage to do it with every sentence?”
Faith laughed, eyes dancing. “Practise and skill, baby,” she purred.
“Y’know,” Dawn said, tearing a strip from her sandwich and nibbling on it. “Even though I’m gonna miss having you around, I’m kinda glad you’re going, because just thinking about you and Herbert talking...”
“Ah, cherie, it would have been like poetry,” Herbert said with a happy sigh.
Spike, who had been sipping some blood from his mug, inhaled sharply and started spluttering. The Slayer’s eyes dropped to see a pale hand resting not quite innocently on Spike’s thigh and she couldn’t help snickering.
“Herbert,” the ubervamp murmured, laying a hand on his son’s head. “Manners.”
A small, wicked smile played about the wounded vampire’s lips. “Of course, father,” he said with such sincerity that Faith almost started clapping. “Perhaps, we shall have the opportunity to talk upon a more fortuitous occasion, Miss Lehane.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Faith pushed off from the chair, rocking on the balls of her feet. “You bring the fangs and I’ll bring the dust-buster.”
“If that is your... weapon of preference.”
“Oh God...” Spike groaned, covering his face with one hand. “Giles, you’re a good bloke. Decent and all that.” Imploring blue eyes looked up. “Take her away before he gets any better. Please?”
“I think that it may be for the betterment of mankind to do so,” Giles agreed with a rueful smile.
“Taking away my new entertainment?” Herbert looked petulant.
Spike gave him a look. “For your own good, Herbie,” he said firmly. “Anyway, they need to be off before it gets too dark. Can’t trust those roads. Half of them don’t even have fences.”
Herbert looked around innocently, sipping from the glass in his hand.
“It has been very generous of you to allow us to stay this long,” Giles added.
The Graf-guy smiled pleasantly. “It has been exceptionally informative to hear the news from the Watchers council directly,” he said. “And it is rare to find someone who appreciates my little collection. Ah, if you had but seen my collection at the castle...”
She could almost hear Giles’ brain break right then.
“C’mon, G,” she said, strolling over and looping an arm through his, giving him a tug in the direction of the door. “We gotta get you in the car before you decide to move into the book-room for ever.”
Finishing her sandwich, Dawn put her plate on the tray Spike had deposited on the coffee table and scrambled upright. “I packed up food and stuff in the trunk for you and there’s an axe in the trunk and some swords...”
“Love the way you’re thinkin’, D,” Faith beamed. “Fang two?” Spike looked up at her with a long-suffering look in his eyes. “You keep yourself undusty, okay? I find out you’ve got yourself toasted again, I swear I’ll bring you back just so I can kick your ass myself.”
“Such a gentle soul,” Herbert murmured. “So soft and tender.”
“Like raw beef, baby,” Faith said, grinning, then let her eyes slip to the one figure she’d been avoiding since that first moment of eye-contact. The Graf. The uber-vamp. The fuck-happy evil overlord. “Bossman.” She saluted him with a broad and knowing smile. “Gotta say I like the way you run things here. Been great visiting.”
He inclined his head gravely. “It has been an education in itself, Miss Lehane,” he said and she could have sworn she saw the suggestion of a smile. “I hope your journey will be a smooth one.”
“As Spike’s ass, I bet,” she replied and heard Spike choke on his blood again.
“Faith,” Giles sighed.
Turning a demure look on him, she tried to look contrite. “I’m done,” she said.
“I find that hard to believe,” Giles replied, then turned to Dawn. “Are you coming down to the car with us?”
“Sure!” Dawn said, smiling. “Gotta wave you off.”
“And provide them with the new address,” the Graf murmured.
“And provide you... huh?”
“You’re moving?” Giles looked startled.
The Graf smiled slightly. “Returning to our true home,” he replied lightly. “I prefer a house that is intact for the winter months.” He glanced at Dawn, who looked like she was about to start bouncing up and down with delight. “I thought it would be a pleasant surprise.”
“Omigod yes!” she exclaimed, grabbing Giles by the arm. “I get to live in a castle!”
“With the larger collection...?” A dazed look had crept onto Giles face.
Faith rolled her eyes. “G, I’m going now,” she said, yanking his arm. “You wanna stay with the fangy ones and lil D, you go ahead, but I think B’ll be more than a bit cranky when she gets back from her boy-bangin’ vacation and finds that you’ve moved out.”
“Yes... yes, she would...” Giles mumbled, though he looked like he was giving the idea serious thought.
“G!” With a firm tug, she pulled him towards the door. “We’re outta here.”
“Fare well, darlings,” Herbert waved over the back of the couch. “Come again. And again.”
Steering Giles out the door, Faith couldn’t help laughing.
_____________________
Scowling at the canopy, Herbert tugged at the right cuff again.
It was pointless, a futile gesture, he knew. After all, these were his own toys and chains, and if he didn’t know they were in good condition, enough to secure the most energetic lover, then what kind of owner would he have been.
No one had been able to break out of them, not in a hundred years, not even his dear treacherous William when he came prepared with a lock-pick and his remarkably flexible little body.
He had to admit, however, that William had come close with some clever acrobatics and a balancing act that had him somehow dangling from the canopy by his knees, the lock-pick in his mouth.
Alas that his ankles and arms were all bound, ensuring he could barely even wriggle without the cuffs pulling tightly.
Sighing dramatically, he glared at the drapes, plotting bloody and wicked revenge on his dear, devoted and wretched boy.
The squeal of the hinges alerted him to a presence, the scent of which certainly wasn’t William. No doubt, his lover had intended to leave him, as promised, until he had recovered.
Perhaps it was for his own good, but without some gesture of affection or at least a lascivious sexual act to keep him going, he feared he would remain quite furious at William for some time.
“Oh... my... God...”
With a muffled groan, Herbert looked towards the open door. “What do you want, cherie?” he sighed.
Dawn stepped into the room and closed the door behind her, approaching the bed with a slow tread and an extremely broad, wicked grin. “Taste of your own medicine time, huh, Herbert?” she said, her hands on her hips.
“Oh, do shut up,” he muttered, glowering at her.
“Hey, you want me to do unto you?” His expression suggested that he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “You remember when I had flu, you gagged me and tried to gimme soup?”
“Darling, if you try such a thing, I will rip you apart,” he said calmly, but there was an underlying growl in his words.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, the mortal smirked at him. “You know, if this had been a few weeks ago, I might have believed you.” She glanced at the bandages, her expression turning a little more serious. “You really are hurt, huh?”
Staring impotently at the ceiling, Herbert scowled. “That damned idiot thought I would run off again,” he muttered.
“If I told you my sister and your dad were alone in the same room, wouldn’t you?”
Grey eyes darted to her. “They... what?”
“They’re ‘talking’,” the girl replied, making air-quotes with her fingers. She got up and went to the end of the bed. “Buffy wants me to go home. Again. Your dad isn’t exactly happy about it.”
“One would imagine not...”
“You promise not to go charging off to the rescue and get yourself blown up again?”
The vampire nodded. “I can barely sit upright at the moment,” he replied with disarming honesty. “And I trust William to keep his word about what he would do to me if I tried to do such a thing.”
Undoing the cuff at one ankle, then the other, deliberately ignoring the blatant nudity on display in front of her, Dawn leaned against the edge of the bed for a moment. “I don’t know if she meant it,” she said suddenly, looking at the cuff in her hand.
“Meant what, cherie?” Herbert brought his legs back together from their spread-eagled position, rubbing his chafed ankles together.
“She...” Blue eyes looked down at him, confusion and a dozen uncertain emotions visible. “She said she missed having me at home... but I don’t know if she meant it or if she just wanted me out of here...”
Herbert forgot his own discomfort for a moment, staring at her. “Your sister,” he announced with unnecessary savageness. “Is a manipulative bitch.”
“Herbert.” Dawn approached the head of the bed and undid the cuff on his right wrist with remarkable ease for someone not armed with his key. There was a glimmer of metal in her hand. “So are you.”
A faint grin tripped across his lips. “You make a good point, cherie,” he said as she leaned over him to undo his other wrist. “But I would not use emotional blackmail to keep a lover in my bed.”
“Nope,” she agreed. “But you’ve got handcuffs instead.”
The last cuff dropped away with a dull thump against the cloth-covered posts of the bed and Herbert’s arms sagged against the sheets. “Handcuffs,” he murmured faintly, relief clear in his voice, “are for amateurs. I have shackles.”
“And look how well they worked,” Dawn countered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Finally modesty prevailed and she reached behind her and tossed the edge of a blanket over his hips, drawing a weak chuckle from him.
“I thought you would be used to naked boy-parts by now,” he teased lightly, crossing his hands over his chest to massage his wrists.
“Not my kinda-sorta-step-son’s, thanks,” she retorted, grinning at the horrified look that crossed his face. “What? You didn’t think about it that way?”
“Not in the least...” Herbert’s nose wrinkled. “Why does my father keep you? You are without doubt one of the most annoying females I have ever had the misfortune of coming upon.”
“Hey! Don’t you even dare!” She pointed a threatening finger at him and he stared at her in confusion. “You do any of that ‘coming upon’ me and your dad would tear me a new one!”
Grey eyes blinked, then he let forth a great snort of laughter, followed by a groan of pain. “You stupid child!” he exclaimed with a wince, as he braced his hands against his ribs. “No lecherous jokes until I am healed!”
Dawn grinned at him. “I’ll behave,” she said with mock-sweetness. “And since you can’t run away, you wanna tell me why you smacked my sister around?”
The sudden switch in her tone made him stare at her warily. “Ah... you do recall that I am the more severely wounded party, do you not?” She nodded, raising an imperious eyebrow. “Ah...”
“Spill it, Herbie, or the cuffs are back on and I lock the door and hide the key, so even Spike can’t come and help you.”
Despite himself, he was impressed by her quiet, calm anger. “You recall William’s life within you sister’s circle?” he said tentatively. The girl nodded. “I... disapproved of the way he was treated.”
“I guess that’s fair,” she said, pulling her legs up under her. “Especially with him being your boyfriend, you’re gonna be kinda twitchy.”
Grey eyes met gleaming blue. “You’ve just been dying to bring that up, haven’t you, cherie?” he murmured.
Dawn’s smile returned as quickly as it had gone. “Oh, you bet I have,” she replied, the grin spreading across her face. “So... when did he go from plain old sex moppet to object of wild lustiness?”
Rolling his eyes, Herbert laid his hands on the bandages around his chest. “Cherie, he has been mine since the first day he stepped into our halls,” he said. “It just took us some time to become aware of it.”
Dawn snorted. “Took me all of two days with you to figure it out,” she noted. “For smart guys, you are really dumb.” She leaned closer to him. “And I figured that was why you went for Buffy, but seriously, you touch her again, you are toast.”
Herbert gazed at her, one side of his mouth curling up. “She might be the Slayer, cherie, but I think I am more afraid of you than of her,” he said, turning one hand over and offering it to her.
The girl squeezed his fingers. “That’s because she’s the good guy,” she replied, the smirk on her face expressing more than she knew. “I’m the in-betweener. I could destroy the world, y’know.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Herbert murmured, dragging her hand to his lips and kissing her knuckles. “You will stay, won’t you?”
“Duh!” She uncurled one finger and poked his nose. “You think I’m gonna leave you with no one to bug the crap out of you about you and your boyfriend? What kind of sadist would I be, if I left now?”
Herbert grinned. “If you were not such an evil little hoyden, I fear we might be friends, you know,” he said, then sighed lamentably. “Alas, that you are and I am forced to despise you.”
“Same backatcha,” Dawn retorted. “And you know what’s worse? You’re a blond.”
“Cherie! You sink too low!”
Dawn laughed, lifting his hand and returning the kiss to his knuckles. “And now, I give you girl-cooties,” she said gravely then looked up at the opposite side of the bed, a warm smile crossing her lips. “Don’t look now, baby, but our wicked monkey-spanking sex session is being watched.”
Laughing, then wincing, Herbert pulled his hand free and swatted her. “Yes, I know, cherie, but please, no more mention of monkey-spanking sex...”
“At least not while dad is watching,” she said, smiling as his father materialised out of thin air beside the bed. “You found us, then?”
“I simply followed the tracks of Herbert’s despair,” von Krolock murmured, his dark eyes gleaming fondly at the mortal. “I thought I told you that torturing him was forbidden, my dear.”
“But it’s so much fun!” She pouted at him.
“As fun as it may be,” von Krolock said softly. “I am afraid I must intrude and I expect your sister might like to speak with you.” Dawn expression closed slightly and she nodded, slipping from the bed. “I left her in the lounge.”
“You didn’t make her brain explode, did you?” Approaching her lover, she gazed up at him. “You’re way too good at making people confused.”
Von Krolock lifted his hand and let a long lock of her hair slip between his fingers. “I believe I may have enlightened her somewhat,” he said, dragging the back of his forefinger along the curve of her jaw.
Tilting her head into his touch, Dawn sighed. “I guess miracles sometimes happen then, huh?” she murmured, then forced herself to step back. “Make sure he doesn’t go wandering off, kay? I don’t wanna have to deal with a cranky Spike.”
“Naturally, liebling.”
Watching her depart, the softness in von Krolock’s features made his son smile.
“Charming girl,” he observed, after the door closed. “Vicious little harlot as well.”
“I suspect that if she were pacified and gentle, she would not be half as fascinating as she is,” von Krolock replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “And to have found a woman who can rival your temperament? A miracle indeed.”
Making a face, Herbert winced as his ribs strained against their confines. “You can see that the crasser side of William’s nature has rubbed off on her.”
His father seemed to ignore his words. Instead, he spread his hand an inch above Herbert’s chest, fingers splayed, a frown furrowing his brow. “Are you in a great deal of pain?” he asked.
“It could have been worse,” Herbert replied honestly, sighing as a familiar, cooling ripple seemed to spread beneath his skin. “William is a remarkably adept physician, although his bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired.”
“It has kept you in your bed, as it should have,” his father said, and he could see the amusement in his father’s eyes. He felt an idiotic grin trying to creep onto his lips, tried to push it aside, but it refused to obey. “You are happy?”
“And more than a little annoyed with him,” Herbert admitted.
Von Krolock gazed at him fondly. “I have often wondered...” he murmured, then waved a hand before him, as if brushing aside an image in the air. “He cares a great deal for you.”
“Looking beyond the surface again, father?” Herbert closed his eyes lightly.
“Not at all,” the reply was quiet. “I have never seen him look so happy.”
One eye slowly opened and Herbert felt that wretchedly silly smile escaping again. “I know,” he said softly.
His father was smiling at him. “And to think,” he said. “It only took his soul, his death and his resurrection and a century...”
“You are cruel to me,” Herbert pouted, though without conviction. “Anyway, you can hardly talk. Look at you with your little un-real mortal.” He saw his father incline his head slightly. “And I have been wondering...”
“Bitten, yet alive?”
Both eyes open now, Herbert nodded. “I cannot recall one...”
“You said yourself that she is an un-real mortal,” von Krolock said quietly. “Did William explain to you what that means?”
“In... part...” Herbert hesitated. “She was... made from some manner of energy?”
Von Krolock laced his hands together before him, looking down at them. “Think, then, what her blood must be, containing the traces of this energy,” he said softly. “It was more powerful, more potent than anything I have touched in any way.”
The sheer thought of someone’s blood being powerful enough to dissuade his father from feeding made Herbert shiver slightly.
“It’s that strong?”
“I cannot take much.” Von Krolock turned to look down at him. “I fear I would have, when first she offered, had it not startled me so.”
Herbert bit his lower lip. “Does she know?”
Von Krolock shook his head. “I doubt that she would believe me,” he said. “It was she who bade me bite her, she who chose it.” Herbert was startled to see bewildered awe and the traces of wondering fear on his father’s face, this situation nothing like anything he had ever anticipated. A faint smile was directed at the younger vampire and the weak chuckle only emphasised his uncertainty. “What manner of human have I found?”
“One of a kind,” Herbert murmured, reaching out to cover his father’s hands with one of his own. “Of that, I am sure.”
Von Krolock laughed briefly. “We both have been blessed with the rarest of gems,” he said softly. “You, in your William and I, with Dawn.”
“As long as they do not find out how lucky we consider ourselves,” Herbert said, one side of his mouth curling as he squeezed his father’s fingers warmly. “I think they will be tolerable.”
____________________
Taking her time to walk through the halls, Dawn had wrapped her arms around her middle, an unconscious defensive gesture, when she entered the lounge, where her sister and Giles were.
Buffy was sitting at the end of the couch, examining her hands pensively, listening to whatever it was Giles was saying. Neither of them noticed Dawn’s entrance until she pointedly cleared her throat.
Hazel and green eyes looked up. Buffy’s eyes were red-rimmed, but she didn’t look mad. In fact, she looked like she understood something, like she had somehow grown up a little in the half an hour since Dawn had left the room. Wiggy.
“Hey, Dawnie.”
As she walked slowly across the floor, one side of Dawn’s mouth curled up, but her arms tightened around her waist. “Hey,” she replied quietly. “Hope Johannes didn’t wig you out too much.”
A glance at Giles seemed to say more than she understood, and the Watcher hastily walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Patting the couch beside her, Buffy looked like she was trying to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her lips.
“He just wanted to talk,” she said as Dawn carefully sat down. A smaller hand reached out, claimed Dawn’s gently. “You know I didn’t mean to upset you, don’t you, Dawnie?”
Dawn nodded, squeezed her sister’s fingers. “Yeah,” she replied honestly. “Buffy, I-I know you want me to come home... I know you don’t like me hanging out with the vampires and stuff, but I like it here...”
“I know.”
“And Johannes is...” Dawn blinked. “Wait. What? You know?”
Buffy shrugged, looking down at the joined hands. “I couldn’t remember the last time I saw you this happy at home,” she said softly. “You were right. I hardly ever saw you. And here...” Hazel eyes rose to meet Dawn’s. “You’ve got vampires who can make you laugh.”
“Mainly Herbert,” Dawn said, a fond smile crossing her lips, then it gave way to a frown. “You’re not allowed to kill him, k? I mean, I know you were kicking each other’s asses, but he’s a really nice guy.”
“We had our reasons,” Buffy said, looking briefly chagrined, as if remembering something she didn’t like. “And don’t tell him I told you,” She leaned a little closer to her sister. “But I don’t really blame him.”
Dawn stared at her. “O... kay. What did Johannes do to you?”
“What?”
“You’re...” Dawn frowned. “You’re not yelling and telling me to go home. You’re being nice about the vampire who tried to kill you. You...” She hesitated, then seemed to decide that bluntness was the best approach. “You do know that the Graf’s my boyfriend, right?”
For a moment, there was a flicker of emotion in Buffy’s eyes. “You know he’s a soulless monster, right?”
One side of Dawn’s mouth crept up a little. “Well, yeah,” she agreed. “But he hasn’t tried to eat me, he’s a gentleman and totally didn’t try and get into my pants. I had to jump him.”
“Dawnie!”
Dawn grinned. “What?”
Buffy’s cheeks were scarlet and she covered her face with her hands, groaning faintly. “I can’t believe I’m having this conversation with my little sister,” she mumbled between her fingers.
Dawn laughed aloud. “Buffy, I’m nearly twenty years old!” she exclaimed. “If you thought I wasn’t getting any from the hottiest Graf Von Hot... you, girl who boned a vampire on your seventeenth...”
“Not making it any better!” Buffy wailed.
Dawn couldn’t help laughing all the more. “It’s true!”
“Yeah, but...” Hazel eyes glared at her. “I don’t bring up your first time!”
An amused look crossed Dawn’s face. “That’s because mine didn’t end up with crazy-soulless-demon rampaging through Sunnydale and trying to kill you,” she observed dryly. “And hey! Even when I have the soulless one, he hasn’t gone rampaging yet, so I win!”
Buffy looked torn between laughing and groaning, rolling her eyes. “I can’t believe you’ve started dating a vampire,” she mumbled.
“And you know what makes it even worse?” Dawn looked positively gleeful. “I’m totally boning my teacher as well.”
“DAWN!”
The Slayer’s sister burst out laughing. “You should see the look on your face!” she exclaimed, her eyes dancing.
“You’re really happy here, huh?” The soft affection in her sister’s expression made her rein in her amusement and Dawn nodded. “And so is Spike...”
Dawn grinned from ear to ear. “Herbert said he didn’t believe in boyfriends, but they are totally boyfriends now,” she said happily. “Spike’s been all kinds of glowy.” She hesitated, then asked carefully, “What happened to you and Vittorio? Are you still...”
Buffy withdrew her hand with a quiet frown. “I... I don’t know,” she admitted. “I think he might still be in love with the Graf.”
In spite of her best efforts to behave otherwise, Dawn exploded with laughter and almost fell off the edge of the couch. “Your boyfriend has the lusties for my boyfriend? Oh my God!”
“You didn’t know?”
“No! I thought Johannes was just doing his usual prowly, purry thing to make people go all twitchy and crazy!” Clapping her hands over her mouth, Dawn was shaking with laughter. “Oh my God!”
“He does that a lot?” Buffy looked bewildered.
Dawn managed to wipe tears from her eyes. “Oh yeah... a whole lot... you saw him being petty with Spike as well...” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I didn’t realise Vitto had a crush on him...”
“More than that,” Buffy mumbled. “They had a thing...”
“That I can believe,” Dawn murmured. “Oh my God... no wonder they were so friendly when you came the first time... no wonder Johannes knew what to do to make him behave...” She stared at her sister. “Did you know before?”
Buffy shook her head. “He never said anything.”
For a moment Dawn was silent, then she leaned closer to Buffy. “Want me to kick his Immortal hinney?”
“Huh?”
“No one makes my sister sad,” Dawn said with a quiet coldness that made Buffy stare at her in surprise. “Warned Spike once. Warned Herbert as well. Now, Vitto is being a jackass. Want for me to kick his ass?”
Buffy smiled weakly. “It’s okay, Dawnie,” she said softly, looking towards the end of the room as the door opened. Dawn felt her sister’s hand snare hers, restraining, warning, as Vittorio stepped into the room.
“Speak of the devil...” Dawn muttered, glaring at him, but she let Buffy hold her arm in a steely grip.
With a subtle incline of his head towards Dawn, Vittorio approached slowly, warily, as if he was approaching a dangerous predator, his eyes lingering on Buffy’s face. A pace before her, he dropped to one knee and caught her free hand in his, lifting it to his lips.
“Bella,” he whispered, gazing at her so intensely that Dawn carefully tugged her hand free of her sister’s, unable to shake the feeling she was intruding on something that was much more intimate than her presence should allow.
“What do you want, Vittorio?” Buffy mumbled.
“I want to beg your forgiveness for my abysmal behaviour, Bella,” he whispered, kissing her knuckles with the reverence mortals preserved for their Gods. “Too long have I clung to my past, too long have I allowed a feeble excuse for what I believed was love to hold its sway upon me.” He pressed a kiss to her palm. “It is unforgivable, I know, but I prostrate myself before you and pray that your heart is great enough to show me mercy.”
Buffy stared at him, colour blooming on her cheeks. “You’re an ass,” she whispered. “And you kept things from me, but mercy? Vittorio, what are you talking about?”
Dark brown eyes gazed up at her. “I feared you would wish me from your life, mia Bella,” he whispered. “I pray that this is not so, because this wretched heart that is mine rests in your hands.” He lifted his hand to caress her cheek tenderly, reverently, gazing at her with such intensity that it looked like the Slayer was having trouble breathing. “I love you, Buffy. More than any shadow of my past, more than any other, more than any thing.” He drew her hand against his chest. “This heart is yours, mia bella. If you wish this was not so, ask and I shall rend it from my flesh, for I could not live a day without you.”
Hazel eyes stared at him, wide, awed. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Dawn echoed in disbelief. “The guy gives you the most mushily romantic sappy speech ever and all you can say is ‘Oh’?”
“Yeah...” Buffy whispered faintly. “Oh... good oh... way good...”
Vittorio’s lips twitched slightly and he squeezed the Slayer’s fingers. “If you will consent to it, Bella,” he murmured. “I wish to take you from this place, show you the world, the wonders that you have not yet seen...”
“Shut up.”
Vittorio blinked. “Bella?”
“Just... shut up,” Buffy whispered, tugging him forward by the front of his shirt and kissing him.
“So...” Scrambling hastily to her feet, Dawn clapped her hands in front of her. “I see you guys have stuff to... uh... talk about...” She started backing towards the door. “I’ll be... out there... somewhere.”
_____________________________
Striding into the deserted living room, Faith was halfway through swinging over the back of the couch when she noticed it was already occupied. With a curse and a quick shift of balance, she landed on her feet instead of the reclining vampire, who gave her a faint smile.
“Huh.”
A pale hand was extended. “Faith, I assume?”
Grasping the vampire’s hand, surprised by his politeness, Faith half-grinned. “Yeah,” she replied. “And you’re Spike’s boytoy, huh?” She looked him up and down, saw the amusement in his eyes. “Not bad.”
“Am I to credit your tastes for warmer flesh for such a mediocre response?” he murmured, grey eyes gleaming.
Giving him a shrug, Faith sprawled down in the chair close to the couch, splaying her legs out. “Sorry, baby,” she replied, lacing her fingers together behind her head. “I like to ride ‘em hot and hard and watch the colours they go.”
The vampire’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, and he covered his mouth with one hand. After a moment, he lowered his hand and said, “I can see why William suggested that I meet you.”
“Mind six levels below the gutter and sinking fast?” Faith grinned widely.
Herbert’s eyes glinted with mirth. “Well, his wording was a little different,” he said, his lips twitching. “He claimed you were...” He touched his lips, frowning. “Right piece of work, I believe was the term. There may have been profanities.”
“Sounds about right for Spike,” Faith nodded, shifting her hips against the soft seat of the chair, stretching her arms luxuriously over her head. “I guess he let you out to play again? Or are you looking for more love-bites?”
Herbert looked demurely at the ceiling. “As long as I am not attacking anyone and I am resting quietly, then I am permitted to leave my bed,” he said. his eyes slid towards her. “Otherwise, I hope you know I would have cut you to ribbons.”
“Sure you would, Blondie,” Faith replied cheerfully. “And I woulda left you on the floor as a gift for your vacuum.”
Herbert’s shoulders shook again, but his expression was grave as he turned to look at her. “A great pity, then, that I am forbidden to rise and strike you down,” he said with a mournful sigh.
“And G has told me no killing before bedtime, so we’re screwed,” she matched his sigh, then smirked. “Or not, since you got busted ribs and your boy’ll be making sure nothing knocks ‘em out, right?”
Glaring at her, Herbert scowled. “Thank you for that generous reminder,” he said.
“Hey, blondie, you’re not the only one suffering here,” Faith retorted, though she was trying not to grin. “There are stiffs everywhere, but not the kinda stiffs I’m lookin’ for.”
The vampire actually snorted aloud at that, folding his arms over his ribs with a carefulness that made the Slayer wince sympathetically.
“You hurtin’ bad?”
Herbert sighed. “Not as much as I have been,” he replied. “I’m afraid I am a terrible patient.” He smiled faintly, vaguely. “I always found that term such a contradiction. I have never met someone prescribed bed rest who enjoys it.”
“Depends on who does the prescribin’,” Faith said with a broad, lewd grin.
“Now, now, Faith,” Giles’ voice made her look up, towards the door. “I would rather you didn’t give such an impression of the Watchers Council representatives.” Even so, when he approached, he looked like he was hard-pressed to stifle a smile.
He was followed closely by the Graf. The Uber-vamp’s eyes darted down to his son, then to her. Faith met that stare, could almost feel it digging into her head, picking through her. And still, all she could think of was what Spike had said a few days before, about the Graf and his guests.
Her mouth was twitching unbearably as she tried to crush down a grin and finally, he nodded in polite acknowledgement, circling the couch to stand by Herbert’s head, still gazing at her.
Huh. Was she the right kinda guest, then? There was a thought.
“You been geeking out in the library, then, G?” Making herself look at Giles, she leaned forward, arms resting on her knees. “Lil D and Fang the second said you went all swoony when you saw it.”
With a long-suffering sigh, Giles removed his glasses and rubbed his face. “I admire the quality and quantity of the collection,” he said. “And his Excellency has been very generous with his time.”
“Yeah... specially since we didn’t need to hang here any longer, what with us having B’s second car,” the Slayer noted dryly. Giles gave her a look. “C’mon, G, B and Vitto headed days ago. You just wanted to stay and ogle the paperwork.”
“Oi, don’t mock the Watcher, pet,” Spike called from the doorway, pushing the door wider with one foot, his arms laden down with a tray of cups and what looked like a bowl of strawberries.
He was trailed closely by Dawn, who was carrying a single plate. She stopped dead, looking around the room suspiciously. “Okay, who died?” she inquired. “There’s no way everyone can be in the same room and something bad hasn’t happened...”
“Illyria’s not here, love,” Spike remarked over his shoulder. “So, by your way of thinking, no one’s dead.”
“Yet,” Herbert murmured from his position on the couch. Faith could see his eyes were half-closed, like he was pretending to be in less pain than he was. “Darling, can’t I kill at least one Slayer this week? Please?”
“Baby,” Leaning forward, she waited until grey eyes flicked towards her. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I like a challenge.” She gave him a pleasant smile. “You are just way too easy right now.”
“Way too easy all the bloody time,” Spike’s mutter was just loud enough to be heard and Faith and Herbert both snorted.
Sitting down on the arm of the couch, Dawn arranged the sandwich on her plate and looked from the Slayer to the vampire and back. “So, you figured they should meet, huh, Spike?” she inquired. “And how far into the realm of not-thinking were you?”
Spike made a face at her, weaving his way around the couch to sit down on the edge, close to Herbert’s hip. “I thought I’d try and make the world implode with the force of perviness,” he said, handing a goblet of blood to his lover.
“No good, Fang the Second,” Faith chuckled. “Until he’s back on his feet, no way will he be at full power and without that, nah...” She shook her head. “Unless you got the juice to back you up... fallin’ before the finishin’ line is just no good thing.”
Blue eyes closed as if in pain. “Every sentence, love,” he said with a groan. “How do you manage to do it with every sentence?”
Faith laughed, eyes dancing. “Practise and skill, baby,” she purred.
“Y’know,” Dawn said, tearing a strip from her sandwich and nibbling on it. “Even though I’m gonna miss having you around, I’m kinda glad you’re going, because just thinking about you and Herbert talking...”
“Ah, cherie, it would have been like poetry,” Herbert said with a happy sigh.
Spike, who had been sipping some blood from his mug, inhaled sharply and started spluttering. The Slayer’s eyes dropped to see a pale hand resting not quite innocently on Spike’s thigh and she couldn’t help snickering.
“Herbert,” the ubervamp murmured, laying a hand on his son’s head. “Manners.”
A small, wicked smile played about the wounded vampire’s lips. “Of course, father,” he said with such sincerity that Faith almost started clapping. “Perhaps, we shall have the opportunity to talk upon a more fortuitous occasion, Miss Lehane.”
“I’ll look forward to it,” Faith pushed off from the chair, rocking on the balls of her feet. “You bring the fangs and I’ll bring the dust-buster.”
“If that is your... weapon of preference.”
“Oh God...” Spike groaned, covering his face with one hand. “Giles, you’re a good bloke. Decent and all that.” Imploring blue eyes looked up. “Take her away before he gets any better. Please?”
“I think that it may be for the betterment of mankind to do so,” Giles agreed with a rueful smile.
“Taking away my new entertainment?” Herbert looked petulant.
Spike gave him a look. “For your own good, Herbie,” he said firmly. “Anyway, they need to be off before it gets too dark. Can’t trust those roads. Half of them don’t even have fences.”
Herbert looked around innocently, sipping from the glass in his hand.
“It has been very generous of you to allow us to stay this long,” Giles added.
The Graf-guy smiled pleasantly. “It has been exceptionally informative to hear the news from the Watchers council directly,” he said. “And it is rare to find someone who appreciates my little collection. Ah, if you had but seen my collection at the castle...”
She could almost hear Giles’ brain break right then.
“C’mon, G,” she said, strolling over and looping an arm through his, giving him a tug in the direction of the door. “We gotta get you in the car before you decide to move into the book-room for ever.”
Finishing her sandwich, Dawn put her plate on the tray Spike had deposited on the coffee table and scrambled upright. “I packed up food and stuff in the trunk for you and there’s an axe in the trunk and some swords...”
“Love the way you’re thinkin’, D,” Faith beamed. “Fang two?” Spike looked up at her with a long-suffering look in his eyes. “You keep yourself undusty, okay? I find out you’ve got yourself toasted again, I swear I’ll bring you back just so I can kick your ass myself.”
“Such a gentle soul,” Herbert murmured. “So soft and tender.”
“Like raw beef, baby,” Faith said, grinning, then let her eyes slip to the one figure she’d been avoiding since that first moment of eye-contact. The Graf. The uber-vamp. The fuck-happy evil overlord. “Bossman.” She saluted him with a broad and knowing smile. “Gotta say I like the way you run things here. Been great visiting.”
He inclined his head gravely. “It has been an education in itself, Miss Lehane,” he said and she could have sworn she saw the suggestion of a smile. “I hope your journey will be a smooth one.”
“As Spike’s ass, I bet,” she replied and heard Spike choke on his blood again.
“Faith,” Giles sighed.
Turning a demure look on him, she tried to look contrite. “I’m done,” she said.
“I find that hard to believe,” Giles replied, then turned to Dawn. “Are you coming down to the car with us?”
“Sure!” Dawn said, smiling. “Gotta wave you off.”
“And provide them with the new address,” the Graf murmured.
“And provide you... huh?”
“You’re moving?” Giles looked startled.
The Graf smiled slightly. “Returning to our true home,” he replied lightly. “I prefer a house that is intact for the winter months.” He glanced at Dawn, who looked like she was about to start bouncing up and down with delight. “I thought it would be a pleasant surprise.”
“Omigod yes!” she exclaimed, grabbing Giles by the arm. “I get to live in a castle!”
“With the larger collection...?” A dazed look had crept onto Giles face.
Faith rolled her eyes. “G, I’m going now,” she said, yanking his arm. “You wanna stay with the fangy ones and lil D, you go ahead, but I think B’ll be more than a bit cranky when she gets back from her boy-bangin’ vacation and finds that you’ve moved out.”
“Yes... yes, she would...” Giles mumbled, though he looked like he was giving the idea serious thought.
“G!” With a firm tug, she pulled him towards the door. “We’re outta here.”
“Fare well, darlings,” Herbert waved over the back of the couch. “Come again. And again.”
Steering Giles out the door, Faith couldn’t help laughing.