Past Glory (Chapters 6 - 10)

[sandyfic]

Chapter 6

"Here, Spike, take this one too."

Another box was loaded into the vampire's arms. He could barely see around his burden to watch where he was going. Glaring at Xander, he shifted the load and then headed for the house. Spike wasn't sure exactly how he'd been roped into helping move the Wiccas into Buffy's house. One minute he was at home watching the telly, the next Buffy had bounced into his crypt and told him she needed him. He'd come straight away of course, figuring that there was a demon needed killing or some other evil afoot.

Instead he found himself first loading boxes into the back of Xander's car and then unloading them at the Slayer's house. Buffy had found a way to take care of the problem of leaving Dawn home alone. With the end of the semester, Willow and Tara had needed to find an apartment for the summer. Buffy decided to offer them her mom's room. She hadn't been able to handle the thought of moving into it herself so it was still empty. The girls could live there rent free, and help with cooking, cleaning and staying with Dawn while Buffy patrolled. It seemed the perfect solution.

Dawn had been thrilled. Not only would she not be alone at night, but she would have two of her favorite people in the world living at her house.

So now the big moving day had arrived and Buffy had figured that another set of supernaturally strong arms would come in handy so she fetched Spike from his crypt. And if anyone watching thought it odd that they'd waited until after dark to move, well this was Sunnydale and people learned never to question such things too closely. When Spike had carried the first load up to the front door, he paused just outside. Buffy was ahead of him carrying a boxful of books up the stairs to the second floor.

"Slayer, I'll just leave this here. Get the next load." He bent down to deposit the boxes on the porch when he heard, "Come in, Spike."

Glancing up, he saw a small smile on Buffy's face. Swallowing back the lump in his throat, he picked up the boxes again and carefully stepped over the now barrier-free threshold.

They looked at each other for several seconds before Buffy said quietly, "Bring the boxes upstairs, Spike," Turning she headed up the stairs again.

When the last box had been carried into the house and up to the bedroom, everyone collapsed in the living room and waited for the pizza delivery guy.

On the last run from the dormitory Spike had made Xander stop at a store so he could buy some beer, making Xander pay. Now he sat next to Buffy on the couch drinking a beer and enjoying the warmth of her body pressed closely to his. Dawn was animated tonight, happy and laughing. Spike kept the cynical look carefully pasted on his face. The last thing he needed was for anyone to realize just how content he was being here. Everyone would assume it was just about getting close to Buffy and that was partly true. But it was also the fact that he considered these people his family. A family he didn't much like most of the time, a family he certainly didn't want, a family he periodically wanted to slaughter, but his family nonetheless. They wouldn't like it if they found out how he felt so he kept it to himself. Only Buffy and Dawn were comfortable around him. The others accepted his presence, but they were still leery of him. Which was fine with him.

He was The Big Bad. They should damn well be scared to death of him.

After the pizza had arrived and been duly consumed, he and Buffy left for a short patrol. They found a trio of young vampires stalking a pair of teenaged girls near the Sunnydale Cineplex and quickly dispatched them. A pass through Willy's found everyone and everything behaving. Spike wanted to stop for a quick one, AB negative with a shot of JD on the side, but Buffy just gave him The Look and walked out the door. Spike looked longingly at the bar but followed in her wake.

It was quiet in Sunnydale and Buffy enjoyed the calm. She'd been through so much the past year that sometimes she'd thought she would shatter from the pressure.

But now it was over. Glory was gone and Dawn was safe. She knew she owed a large part of Dawn's safety to Spike. How this evil, soulless vampire had become Dawn's Champion, Buffy would never understand. She knew that partly it was because of what he thought he felt for her, but Buffy also believed that in his own crazy way Spike truly did care about Dawn, just as he cared for Joyce.

He was a strange one, no doubt about that. And the fact that he was becoming so important in her life left her teetering between apprehension and acceptance.

And since Buffy didn't want to expend the energy necessary to deal with this conflict, she did what she did best and avoided thinking about it. For right now, things were fine. Spike helped her willingly with no apparent expectation of anything from her. And as long as that held true, she was content to leave well enough alone.

For his part, Spike was enjoying the time he spent with Buffy. He hoped that with continued contact, she would begin to realize exactly what she felt for him. He wasn't fool enough to think that she loved him. Not yet anyway. But she would. He believed she would. And he was eagerly anticipating the time when she would at last recognize her true feelings for him.

The patrol finished, Buffy left to return home and Spike decided to return to Willy's for that drink. And perhaps there'd be a kitten poker game going on in the back room.

***

The summer passed as most summers in Sunnydale did with enough little bads in attendance to keep the Slayer occupied but no Big Bads to make things difficult. Buffy and Dawn both enrolled in summer classes, Buffy petitioned for legal guardianship of her sister and she and Spike continued to patrol together. They were occasionally joined by one or another of the Scoobies, but for the most part they patrolled together alone. Giles worried about the amount of time Buffy was spending with Spike, but whenever he tried to bring the subject up, Buffy would dismiss his worries. He was good backup, she insisted, nothing more.

The four girls fell into a comfortable routine. Buffy and Dawn attended classes while Tara and Willow got part-time jobs for the summer; Tara at a local bookstore and Willow with a small, upcoming software firm that was located in a town just thirty minutes from Sunnydale. Since Buffy still wasn't comfortable driving, she was more than happy to let Willow use Joyce's "geek machine" for the commute.

Buffy healed that summer. The depression she had fallen into the previous spring was at last beginning to lift even though there were still times when she missed her mother so much she couldn't breathe. Sometimes something would happen during class or patrol or Dawn would do or say something and Buffy would think, Wait till Mom hears about this. And then she would remember that Joyce wasn't there for her to tell. And when the pain came, she invariably went to visit Spike. For some reason she could not explain, he was the only one she felt comfortable around during these times. Perhaps it was because he never gave her the "Buck up, Buffy" speech but would talk quietly and fondly about Joyce. And if Buffy was at first surprised by the depth of his affection for Joyce, by summer's end she just accepted it as another one of those odd quirks that made Spike so different from anyone else she had ever met. And when she visited her mom's grave when they were on patrol, he would give her privacy. She never felt awkward or felt the need to hide her grief from Spike.

But for the most part, the summer was good. Buffy learned how to laugh again. She and her friends and her sister spent the occasional day at the beach and many weekend nights at The Bronze. Spike joined them at The Bronze on a fairly regular basis and everyone became used to the squabbling that inevitably happened when Spike and Xander were in close contact. No one took the squabbling seriously, least of all Spike and Xander. Buffy would claim they were friends except both men would have denied that possibility vehemently.

Spike loved hearing Buffy laugh again. More and more he saw traces of the girl he'd met when he first came to Sunnydale; a girl full of piss and vinegar, quips and sarcasm. He had thought he loved her during the time of Glory, but now he knew that that was a pale infatuation when compared to how he now felt.

She became his entire world.

The fall term started at both the temporary Sunnydale High and UC Sunnydale. The three older girls signed up for their classes at the University. Buffy was relieved when Willow and Tara declared that they would remain living at the house on Revello Drive and commute to classes.

Classes had been in session for only a week when the first wave that would build into a tsunami broke in the smooth sea that had been the Spike and Buffy partnership. And it all came about because of a piece of candy.

It was a cool night in early September. Storm clouds had obliterated the sun for the past two days and a drenching rain from the north had plunged temperatures to an unseasonable low. Buffy wore a light jacket that night.

Patrol was routine and when they came upon a pair of vampires in one of the town's many cemeteries, they each took one on. Buffy quickly dispatched her foe, but Spike was taking his time. Noting that Spike was in the mood to play, she hopped up on a tombstone to watch and stuck her hands in her jacket pockets to keep them warm.

Feeling something brush against her right hand she pulled it out and found a sucker she had forgotten was there. A group of students were giving the candy out with donations dropped into their canisters that morning. Buffy wasn't even sure what the donation was for, but she dropped a bill in, took the sucker and shoved it in her pocket as she rushed off to class.

Unwrapping it, she stuck it in her mouth sucking gently, occasionally pulling it out to lick and then placing it in her mouth again. It was during one of the licks that Spike finally noticed what she was doing. Staking his opponent without a second thought, he turned his full attention to Buffy.

Eyes narrowed, a sly grin on his face, he approached her with a loose-hipped swagger.

"What'cha got there, little girl?" he purred.

Buffy pulled the sucker out of her mouth, examined it closely, said, "It's a sucker", and popped it back in again. She wasn't sure what devil made her do it, but she began to pull her cheeks in as she slowly sucked on the small, round hard candy.

"Yeah? Tootsie Pop, is it?"

A wicked gleam in her eyes, she shook her head. "Uh, uh. It's the kind they named after you."

Spike looked confused for a moment. "They named a lolli 'Spike'?"

Buffy shook her head again. The wicked gleam was even more pronounced.

"Nope. Dum Dum."

Spike blinked and then growled, "Oh, is that right, Slayer?" At Buffy's smirk, he reached out and grabbed the hand holding the sucker. Slowly bringing it towards his mouth, his eyes never leaving hers, he asked, "So, what flavor is it?"

Buffy's breath caught in her chest as she watched him open his mouth and take the sucker in. He kept hold of her hand and she could feel his soft lips brushing lightly against her skin as he slid his tongue around the candy.

"Cherry," she said in a breathless whisper.

His eyes held hers as he sucked and swirled his tongue around the rapidly disappearing red ball. Pulling it from his mouth he said in a deep husky voice, "Yeah? I like cherry."

Pushing the candy back towards Buffy, he asked, "You?"

Buffy obediently opened her mouth and received the sucker. Eyes still locked on his, she nodded her head and began to once again slowly suck. A deep aching pain began to blossom between her legs.

She was wet and throbbing and she couldn't tear her eyes away from Spike's.

Spike could smell her arousal and it made him so hard he almost groaned in need. Stepping forward, he stood between Buffy's legs, his lips slightly parted as he watched her tease him with her mouth.

Buffy pulled the sucker out of her mouth. There was nothing left but a tiny red stain on the white paper stick.

"It's all gone," she breathed. "There's nothing left to suck on."

Spike lowered his head until his mouth was only a few millimeters above hers. "We can fix that, Buffy," he murmured, and then he lowered his head the rest of the way.

The kiss was everything he'd known it would be and more. Buffy slipped her hands inside his coat and around his back holding him close to her. Spike put his hands on her hips, tilting her slightly up towards him. Their tongues danced with each other and when Buffy wrapped her tongue around his, drew it into her mouth and began to gently suck, he moaned out loud and thrust his hips roughly against the juncture of her thighs.

It was the sound of his moan and the feel of his erection that brought Buffy back to her senses. One second she was clinging to him, loving his tongue and the next she pushed him back and jumped off the tombstone.

"No, Spike! No. I.. I.. I have to get home. Dawn's waiting." Turning, she ran as if the hounds of hell were on her heels.

Spike watched her run away from him in frustrated amazement. He wanted to run after her, throw her to the ground and fuck her until his eyes bled.
Unfortunately, he couldn't even walk at the moment.

Breathing deeply, he tried to gain some control. When at last he could move, he limped home and gave himself what relief he could.

Chapter 7

Spike waited impatiently for evening to come. He knew that Buffy wouldn't come to collect him for patrol that night. She'd do everything in her power to avoid dealing with what had happened between them the night before. And he wasn't going to pressure her. He just wanted to talk to her about it. Try to get her to admit that she had feelings for him. He could wait a little while for her to come to terms with her emotions. And then they'd be together.

Finally, they'd be together.

***

Buffy hung up the phone and started towards the living room to gather her weapons for patrol. Giles had taken an awfully long time to tell her that he had nothing to tell her. He had gone to England a week ago to report on the Glory situation to Travers and to do his own research on both the hell god and the Knights who were her sworn enemies. So far, he had found out nothing more than what they already knew.

Buffy was a bundle of nerves that evening hoping that she wouldn't see Spike. She just couldn't believe that she'd kissed him last night. And it wasn't just a kiss, it'd been an all-out tongue lashing. Until she'd come to her senses she'd been lost in the kiss, totally overcome. Even now when she thought about it, she burned.

This was so not good.

This was Spike. Evil, soulless Spike. Okay, he'd helped save Dawn from Glory, and he'd been her best ever patrol partner all summer, and sometimes he was the only one she could talk to, and he was fun to be around when he wasn't being a total jerk, but he was still evil. That chip prevented him from hurting humans, but it hadn't changed the basic creature. Spike was still Spike. And in the end, Spike was evil.

These thoughts kept running around and around in Buffy's mind. And the more she thought about them the more upset she became. In a couple days she might have been able to put more prospective on the matter. She might have been able to see that in reality Spike really was not the same creature he'd been when he first came to Sunnydale. And she might have come to terms with her feelings for him.

But it was still too soon. Buffy was still freaked out; her emotions were still all in a jumble. She was unable to comprehend anything but that she'd kissed a soulless vampire. And that she'd enjoyed it. A lot. So it was unfortunate that Spike showed up.

She had just gathered her stakes and secreted them about her body when the door opened and Spike walked into the house. Glancing around, he saw that they were alone. He opened his mouth to speak when Buffy forestalled him.

"Don't, Spike."

"Don't what, love?"

"If you're here to patrol with me, fine. If you're here for anything else, don't."

"Buffy, we need to talk."

Buffy glared at him. "There is nothing to talk about Spike."

"We kissed, Buffy. We didn't just kiss, we kissed."

"And it will never happen again, so just forget about it, Spike."

"I can't forget about it. There was heat there, Buffy, and passion. Don't tell me you didn't feel it too."

"What I felt or didn't feel is not open to discussion, Spike." She tried to push past him, but he grabbed her arm.

"You can't ignore this, love. There's something between us and you know it."

Buffy jerked her arm out of his hand. "There's nothing between us, Spike. Not like you mean. You're a vampire, remember?"

"So is Angel."

Buffy rounded on Spike, furious. "Angel was different and you know it. He has a soul."

"And that I don't have a soul makes that much of a difference?"

Buffy looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Of course it makes a difference."

"Yeah, well that precious soul of his didn't do him much good after you shagged him happy now did it?" Spike snarled, his frustration getting the better of his good intentions. "Brought Angelus right out to play didn't you?

Buffy went pale of this reminder of that terrible time. "Yes, I did. And Angel without his soul did horrible things, killed my friend and teacher, almost brought about the end of the world." Buffy's voice became cold and harsh. "So tell me, Spike, what if we did get all lovey-dovey like you want? What happens if that chip stops functioning? How many people will you kill before I can bring myself to stake you?"

Spike stared at her in astonishment. "For god's sake, Buffy, do you think I have no control over myself at all?"

"You're a vampire, Spike. And without that chip, you're a killer."

"And I can choose to not be a killer. You care for me, love, I know you do. You just need to believe in me, trust me."

"I can't, Spike. I can't take that chance."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both."

"Damnit, Buffy, listen, please," Spike pled lifting his hands to place them on her shoulders.

"I said no!" Buffy shouted pushing him away so hard he fell onto the foyer floor. Spike looked at her with shock. She hadn't been violent with him since he'd endured Glory's torture. Spike's eyes went hard. Rising from the floor he snarled, "You're dead wrong about me, Buffy, but you're too much of a scared little girl to admit it." Turning on his heel he stormed out of the house.

Buffy flinched at the sound of the slamming door and then sat down on the arm of the couch trembling slightly as she got her emotions back under control. She was right; she knew it. Unfortunately, being right didn't make her heart ache any less.

After a few minutes she left the house. She'd half expected to see Spike leaning against the tree at the front of the house, smoking a cigarette and being contrite, asking forgiveness and starting the whole damned argument over again. She was surprised and relieved that he wasn't there. Turning left at the sidewalk, she started her patrol.

Hours passed without seeing him. She'd found and staked several vampires, but there was no sign of Spike. She was going through the last cemetery of the night when she heard a disturbance. Heading towards the sound she stopped short when she saw Spike fighting six other vampires. Buffy automatically grasped her stake prepared to enter the fray, but it was obvious that Spike was having no trouble against his opponents. As she watched, the six became four, then three and then one. Buffy was just turning to go, confident that Spike would dispatch this last one with ease, when she heard him talking to the last vamp standing. Turning back, she saw that Spike had the vamp pressed up against a large stone monument, his forearm pressed across the other's throat holding him in place.

"Swear allegiance to me."

"W-what?"

Spike grabbed the vampire and slammed him hard against the monument. Buffy winced at the sickening thud of the vamp's head bouncing off the marble.

"I said swear allegiance to me. Tell me you'll serve me."

"S-sure, Spike."

"Swear you'll do anything I tell you to do. Bring me fresh young girls, kill them for me and let me feed."

"S-sure, Spike. You want me to fetch you dinner? I can do that."

"Swear you'll turn the humans I tell you to and build me an army of minions."

The vampire started to brighten up at this. "You going to take over the town again, Spike? Sure, sure I can make you an army. I'll do anything you want me to do. You just tell me."

Spike pulled away from his captive. The vampire was straightening his clothing, babbling on about the honor of working for Spike and how he'd do anything Spike wanted, just say the word, yes sir, when he exploded into a pile of dust. "That's what I thought," Spike growled shoving the stake back into his duster pocket.

Buffy was staring at Spike in horror, her stake clutched tightly in her fist. Spike turned to leave and saw her standing there, eyes wide in shock. Before she could even move, he was there in front of her, his hands locked onto her upper arms.

"Did you hear that, Slayer? Did you hear all that?" Buffy could smell the scent of whiskey on his breath. "I don't need to have this soddin' chip out of my head to do evil if I choose," he snarled, giving her a hard shake and winching slightly when the chip fired. Pushing her away from him, he stalked off, duster billowing out behind him dramatically.

Buffy leaned heavily on the headstone he'd shoved her into. She felt sick and she couldn't stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. How could she have been so stupid? How could they all? Spike wasn't harmless. He'd never been harmless.

Her legs giving way, Buffy sat on the dried grass, a feeling of complete desolation overwhelming her.

The tsunami had hit shore.

Chapter 8

For the next several days, Buffy was quiet and distracted. Willow and Tara noticed it when they met up between classes. Dawn noticed it and finally brought it up at dinner on the third day.

"What's the matter with you, Ms. Gloomypants?"

"Nothing. There's nothing the matter."

"Then how come you're all down-in-the-dumps? Have a fight with Spike?"

Buffy tensed slightly and then said, "I'm not down-in-the-dumps and even if I were why would it have anything to do with Spike?"

"Oh you are so down-in-the-dumps. You're all quiet and mopey and keep-to-yourselfish. Which is exactly how you act when you've had a fight with your boyfriend," Dawn joked.

"Spike in not my boyfriend, Dawn!" Buffy voice was a little louder than she had intended. All three girls looked at her in surprise.

Gathering her composure, she said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I've just been busy with classes and going on patrol. If I seem quiet it's because I'm thinking about school and stuff, that's all."

Dawn didn't buy it for a minute, but wisely decided to drop it. She knew that if Buffy didn't want to talk about something, a rack and hot pokers wouldn't drag it out of her. Exchanging a glance with Willow she was assured that Willow would try to find out what was bothering her sister.

While Dawn and Tara began the clearing up, Willow casually followed Buffy into the living room and watched Buffy gathering her weapons for the evening's patrol.

"So any class in particular giving you trouble, Buffy?"

"Willow, please, don't try to pry."

"Asking about school is prying?"

Sighing, Buffy sat back on her heels and stared down at the stake she held in her hands. "I know you're trying to help, Willow, but I really don't want to talk about what's bothering me, okay?"

"Okay. But you know that when you're ready, I'm here to listen, right? And you can talk to me about anything. Best buds, remember?"

Buffy gave Willow a small smile. "I remember. Thanks, Will."

Standing up and slipping on her jacket, Buffy left for patrol. She had refused to change her normal patrol routine just to avoid Spike. And even though she wasn't ready to see Spike yet, every night that passed that she didn't see him left her with a strange mixture of relief and disappointment.

She'd been shocked when she'd realized that Spike could build himself an army of minions and raise havoc in Sunnydale. Her first instinct had been to call Giles and tell him what she'd seen and heard, but she knew that Giles would simply tell her to stake Spike to remove any possibility of danger. The fact that Spike had saved Dawn, probably saved the world, wouldn't matter to her cool-headed Watcher. A year ago she would have had no problem following that order. She would have staked Spike and gone dancing at The Bronze afterwards with no further thought. But this wasn't a year ago. This was now and now was different. She would not stake Spike without due cause. And so she kept her concerns to herself.

She didn't see Spike that night but over the next couple of weeks she did spot him a few times. Once he was coming out of a convenience store close to his cemetery. He'd stopped right outside the door, tore open a pack of cigarettes and lit up. After inhaling deeply, he'd stalked off into the night. Another time, she'd been patrolling through his cemetery when she saw him walking towards his crypt, a brown paper grocery sack in his arms. Both times he had either not noticed her or ignored her presence. Buffy stalwartly ignored the feelings of pain and loneliness seeing him caused. She refused to admit to herself just how much she missed him.

She didn't speak to him again until a full three weeks had passed. Walking down a side street she heard a commotion and saw the flashing of emergency lights coming from the direction of the Sunnydale Museum. When she got there a crowd had gathered and was looking towards the museum doors.

"What's going on?" she asked a man standing next to her.

"Museum was robbed and the guard attacked."

"Oh. You know what was stolen?"

"Heard it was that big diamond they had on display."

"Oh." Buffy was rapidly losing interest and started to leave. She hadn't taken more than two steps when she heard the man say, "What the hell?"

Turning back she tracked his gaze to the doorway of the museum where paramedics were wheeling out what appeared to be a life-sized ice sculpture. Since paramedics wouldn't be concerned about an ice sculpture, Buffy came to the logical conclusion that it was a human. Frozen solid.

Pushing her way through the crowd she got as close as she could to the ambulance. Once she got near enough, Buffy could see that the victim was the museum guard. She'd never seen anything like it. After he had been loaded into an ambulance, she began to push her way back through the crowd. It was then that she spotted a familiar face towards the rear of the group. He glanced at her, turned, and started to walk away.

Pushing even harder, she made her way through the crowd and called out, "Spike!"

He stopped and turned back to her, a look of supreme indifference on his face. It took Buffy back a bit how much that look hurt her. Steeling herself against her feelings she asked, "Did you see that guy?"

"Yeah, I saw."

"You know anything about it?"

Spike gave her a sour look. "No, as a matter of fact, I don't. I know I'm evil and all, but I'm not much into frozen food."

Buffy flushed at his jibe. "I didn't mean I thought you had anything to do with it, Spike. I just wondered if you know what kind of demon could have done this?"

"What? You mean like Iceman? Mr. Freeze? The Wishmaster?"

Buffy turned away from his mocking voice but stopped when he said, "I don't know of any demon that freezes its victims."

Looking back at him she nodded. "Thanks. Guess it's an all night research party. If you hear anything, will you let me know?"

Spike just shrugged, the disinterested look back on his face. "If I hear anything."

Buffy watched as he once again walked away from her. God, this was so hard. She wanted to chase after him, try once again to explain why it was best they not see each other. Try to explain why she just couldn't -wouldn't- allow herself to get involved with another vampire, especially one without a soul. No matter how much she missed him. No matter how much she trusted him. No matter how much she cared for him.

Her heart aching, Buffy watched until he had disappeared into the night and then went to call a Scooby meeting. Maybe research would turn something up. Just because Spike didn't know of a demon that froze its victims didn't mean one didn't exist.

Anya also denied knowledge of a freezing demon. They searched all of Giles' books at The Magic Box without success. When Buffy spoke on the phone to a still absent Giles he too stated that he'd never heard of any such demon, but promised to research it in the Council's vast library. By the time Friday rolled around, everyone was ready for a night out at The Bronze. Dawn had received an invitation to sleep over at her friend Janice's house so the five adults agreed to meet at the club after heading home to clean up and change.

Buffy decided to put in a short patrol before meeting the others and arrived about an hour after everyone else. Spotting her friends on the dance floor, she made her way to the bar and ordered a Diet Coke. A quick search of the tables led her to the one that held familiar jackets. Taking a seat she watched the dancers. Her eyes tracked across the dance floor and then held when she spied one particular couple.

Spike and a dark-haired woman wearing a short black dress and come-fuck-me shoes were dancing at the far end of the dance floor. The woman's arms were wrapped around Spike's neck and her head rested on his shoulder as they moved together to the slow rhythm of the music.

Buffy felt as if she'd just been punched in the gut. When the song ended, the Scoobies headed back to the table with cries of welcome, but Buffy's full attention was centered on Spike and his partner.

Spike's hand was on the small of her back as they left the dance floor and headed to the bar where the woman paid for drinks. "Typical," Buffy huffed to herself.

"Hey, who's the bimbo with the evil undead?" Xander asked following Buffy's stare. "Spike get a new vamp girlfriend? I wondered why he hasn't been hanging around lately."

"I don't know," Buffy answered trying to sound uncaring. "Never seen her before."

"S-she's not a vampire," Tara interjected.

"How do you know, baby?" Willow asked her lover.

"She was in the ladies room when I went a little while ago. She, um, used the facilities."

"Well, that settles it," Xander answered in a satisfied tone of voice. "As we are all well aware, having spent way too much time recently with a certain bleached vamp, vampires don't pee. So fangbreath has somehow suckered a normal girl into a date. You going to warn her off, Buff?"

Buffy hesitated. If she went over there to warn the girl that Spike was a vampire, he'd just assume she was doing it because she was jealous. Which she so was not. But if she did nothing and he hurt the girl...

Sighing, Buffy said, "He won't hurt her. Chip, remember? She's probably a vampire groupie anyway."

As the whole group watched, the girl laid her hand on Spike's chest and leaned in to speak in his ear. Spike's answering smile could only be called predatory. Finishing his drink in one swallow, he grabbed the girl's hand and started pushing his way through the crowd towards the door. Buffy's hand tightened on her drink. The plastic contracted and soda erupted out of the cup and onto the table. By the time the mess was cleaned up, Spike and the girl were gone.

***

The girl opened the door to her apartment and entered. Spike leaned casually against the doorframe and when the girl saw that he hadn't followed her in asked, "Aren't you coming in?"

"That an invitation?"

"Sure. I mean if you want to come inside."

Spike smiled a slow sensuous smile, his hooded eyes roaming over her body. Entering, he shut the door and walked up to the girl tracing a finger down the side of her face. Leaning down he murmured in her ear, "Oh, I want to come inside, luv." The girl's breathing sped up and she whispered, "You want a tour of my apartment?"

"Sure, pet."

Waving a graceful hand she said, "Here's the living room. The kitchen's over there." Walking to a closed door, she opened in and said, "And here's my bedroom." Walking through the door, she stopped to slip first one shoe and then the other from her feet. The look she gave Spike left no doubt that his invitation to enter included the bedroom.

It hadn't been his intention at the beginning of the evening to shag the girl when he'd picked her up at The Bronze, but he'd been aware of Buffy as soon as she'd walked in, had known as soon as she saw him, knew that her eyes never left him. But she'd not moved from her seat. And he was suddenly tired of it. Tired of waiting for her to come to him. Tired of waiting for her to admit her feelings. Tired of the pain and loneliness and futility of loving her. It was time to move on. And the minute that realization hit him, he took the girl up on her suggestion that they go to her place.

Pulling her up against him, he began kissing her with all the expertise his hundred and twenty years of existence afforded him. As the heat built up, he shrugged out of his duster and pulled the zipper down the back of her dress. Pulling the dress open he trailed kisses and nibbles down her neck and across her shoulder. The girl's nails dug into his back through his T-shirt. Picking her up, he laid her on the bed and followed her down onto the mattress.

Tugging the dress the rest of the way off, he threw it on the floor next to
the bed and returned to kissing and caressing her. The bra was removed next and Spike took her full breast into his mouth, suckling at the nipple, bringing forth whimpers and moans from the girl.

Rearing back, he dragged his shirt over his head and pressed his chest against her bare breasts. He kissed her mouth again as his hands ranged up and down her body, cupping her breasts, moving lower to stroke her firm ass and pull her hips closer to his. Her hands found their way to his belt. She unbuckled it, opened his jeans and slid her hand inside. When warm soft flesh grasped his cock, Spike shuddered and moaned, "Oh god, Buffy, I love you so much."

The girl stiffened underneath him. Pulling her hand out of his pants, she said, "What did you say?"

"Don't stop, luv," Spike groaned, pulling at her hand to return it to his shaft. She yanked it from his grasp and shoved him away hard enough to knock him completely off the bed.

"Hey, what the hell was that for?"

"Who's Buffy?"

"What?"

"Who is Buffy?"

"Where'd you hear that name?" Spike asked suspiciously.

"You just said it when I had my hand on your dick, you asshole. If you're going to fuck a girl at least get her name right. Mine's Mary."

Spike blinked at her. "I said Buffy's name?"

"Yes. Now say mine and come back to bed."

Spike stood up, refastened his pants, then picked up his T-shirt and pulled it back on. "Sorry, luv. Doesn't look like I'm ready to move on after all."

Grabbing up his duster, he walked out of the apartment and into the night ignoring the girl's sputtering rage.

Chapter 9

He stood outside the apartment door just long enough to light a cigarette. His plan to get over Buffy didn't seem to be working so well.

He'd first thought that if he stayed away from her, acted as if he was no longer interested, she'd start chasing after him. That plan didn't seem to be bearing much fruit. Then when he'd decided tonight to actively try to get over her, to move on, he'd come face to face with the fact that he really wasn't ready to move on.

Bugger.

Pathetic. There really was no other word for it. The Big Bad mooning over a girl who was never going to admit to wanting him. And not just any girl but a Vampire Slayer, his mortal enemy. Just when the hell had William the Bloody turned back into William the Bloody Awful Poet, all soft and squishy and useless? Deep in his morose thoughts, he started walking towards his crypt.

***

Buffy stuck it out at The Bronze for another hour trying her best to pretend she was having fun. She'd danced a few dances with the gang, had another Diet Coke and talked to some random guy who'd come up to the table with the intention of picking her up. Her obvious lack of interest eventually drove the guy off. When she couldn't stand it any longer, she made an excuse of wanting to make another sweep before heading home to bed and left the club.

She tried not to think about Spike and the woman he'd left with.

Unfortunately her brain wasn't obeying her orders to think about something - anything - else. As she walked down the street not really paying any attention to her surroundings, her mind's eye kept replaying the image of Spike leading the woman out of the club. Well apparently all his disclaimers of love for Buffy had been so much bull. When she hadn't fallen into his bed, he'd found some tramp that would. Well, fine then! If he was that much of a man whore that he had to pick up the first easy piece that looked his way then Buffy had been wise to stay away from him.

And besides, he was an evil, soulless demon. Which he so proved tonight.

Deep in her morose thoughts, she turned a corner and slammed right into someone coming from the opposite direction. Hands reached out to steady her and she looked up into surprised blue eyes.

Knocking his hands away, Buffy stepped back and took a quick glance around.
"Where's your new girlfriend?" she snapped. Shit! She hadn't meant to say that.

Spike looked surprised and then a sly smile played about his lips.

"Jealous, love?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just making sure you didn't hurt her."

"Sure, Slayer. Well if you're concerned you needn't be. She's safe and warm all tucked up in her bed where I left her."

Buffy felt her heart fall into her stomach. She'd been pretty sure that he'd planned to take the girl to bed when they'd left the club, but to hear it from his own lips made it all too painfully real.

"If I find out anything's happened to her, Spike, you're dust," she snarled as she pushed past him. She hadn't gotten very far when he was there in front of her blocking her way.

"Define anything, Slayer. Is shagging someone who isn't you a dustable offense?"

"I don't want you to... to..."

"Shag you?"

"Yes."

"Yes, you do want me to shag you?"

"No! Damn it, Spike, you know exactly what I mean." She moved to go around him but he danced in front of her blocking her way again.

"If you don't want me to shag you, then why are you so upset because you think I shagged someone else?"

"Spike, just get away from me."

"Answer my question, Buffy. Why are you so upset?"

"I'm not upset. Now get away from me!"

"Doing a good imitation of someone who's upset."

Buffy stopped trying to get around him and closed her eyes in an attempt to regain control. "Look, Spike, I don't care what you do or who you do it to as long as it doesn't involve eating them."

The look of amusement on Spike's face and raised eyebrow confused her for a moment until she silently replayed what she'd just said. Getting the unintentional double entendre, she blushed furiously.

"You know what I meant, Spike," she ground out.

"Yeah, I know," he sighed suddenly tired of the game. "Look, Slayer, if it makes you feel any better, the girl's alive and well and uneaten in any sense of the word."

Buffy looked up at him in surprise. "You mean you didn't..."

"No, I didn't. Wanted to. Couldn't."

Buffy's heart started pounding in her chest and she felt just a little giddy. The anger faded from her eyes and was replaced with a more tender emotion.

"Why?" she asked softly, unable to keep the question from coming out.

Spike reached out a hand and gently caressed her face. "Do you really have to ask, Buffy? There's only one girl I want and she's standing right here."

"Spike," Buffy whispered, her gaze locked with his. Responding to the warmth he saw in her eyes, Spike lowered his head and brushed a light kiss across her mouth. Buffy's lips parted automatically and Spike accepted the invitation. Claiming her mouth, he pulled her into his arms. Her arms slid around his neck and she pressed herself as tightly up against him as was humanly possible. Swinging her around, Spike pushed her up against the wall of the building. Buffy gave a little leap and wrapped her legs around his waist. The kisses were frenetic, lips and teeth and tongues meeting and parting, mouths grinding against each other. Spike was rocking his hips, rubbing his throbbing erection between her parted thighs. He was going insane with his need for her.

"God, baby, please, please. I need you so much, Buffy. Please, love."

Buffy tore her mouth free of his and lifted her head gasping for breath. His mouth immediately found her neck where he pressed hot, needy kisses against her skin all the while begging her to let him love her. She was incoherent with need, ready to take him right there on the sidewalk.

It was the blare of a car horn and the raucous cries of "Get a room!" that snapped her out of her passion-fueled trance. Pushing Spike back, she lowered her legs to the sidewalk.

"Spike, stop! Stop!"

It took all her Slayer strength to push him away from her. Uncomprehending, he tried to take her back into his arms and she pushed him away again. "Spike, stop it! For god's sake we're right out in the open!"

Shaking his head in an effort to clear it, he finally regained a semblance of control. Glancing around, he realized what Buffy was saying.

Swallowing hard, he said, "Right then. What do you say we take this to my crypt?"

"No."

He started at her blankly for a moment. "No?"

"No. Spike, I'm sorry. I-I can't..."

"Don't! Don't you tell me you can't when you bloody well nearly did right here on the sodding sidewalk. You want me as much as I want you, Buffy, and it's time you stopped denying it."

Buffy's head went up proudly. "I'm denying nothing, Spike. I already told you, what I want or don't want, feel or don't feel has nothing to do with it. It's about what's right. And being with you is not right."

"And being a cocktease is?" he snarled.

Buffy flushed, embarrassed and ashamed. "I didn't mean to-to tease you, Spike. What just happened was a mistake."

"You seem to be making a habit of making mistakes with me, Buffy. You better be careful. You make too many mistakes and you'll fall off that marble pedestal you're perching on." Turning on his heel, he walked away from her.

Chapter 10

Buffy was in a foul mood the next day, snapping and snarling at everyone. Even sweet self-effacing Tara didn't escape the Wrath of Buffy. After breakfast everyone - including Dawn, who'd returned home that morning - went to The Magic Box. They'd pretty much given up the search for a freezing demon. Now they were researching for spells and magical objects that might have been used against the museum guard.

By the time Buffy left at a little after one for a hair appointment, everyone was glad to see the back of her. As five pairs of eyes watched her pass the window Xander noted, "So, the Buffster seems to be in a not-so-good mood today."

"Ya think?" Dawn asked dryly.

"I think she needs to have sex," Anya stated matter-of-factly from her place at the cash register.

"Ahn!"

"Grow up, Xander," Anya said flatly. "Riley's been gone for almost a year and she hasn't even been around a man except you and Giles since then. Well except for Spike and if she were sleeping with Spike she wouldn't have the energy to be so bitchy. Vampires have terrific stamina."

"Ahn!"

Willow had placed her hands over Dawn's ears at the beginning of this conversation, much to the disgust of the younger girl. "I-I don't think we should be talking about s - e - x around Dawnie," she whispered desperately.

Dawn tugged Willow's hands from her ears just in time to hear Anya say, "Oh for god's sake, Willow. Her bedroom is right next to yours and Tara's. You think she doesn't hear you two having lesbian sex?"

Dawn grabbed Willow's hands and smashed them back against her ears.

***

Buffy was feeling a bit better when she left the beauty shop. The gentle massage as her hair was washed, idle chatter about inconsequential matters and the soothing heat of the dryer as her hair was styled helped her to relax. Knowing that she needed to apologize for her earlier behavior, Buffy turned in the direction of The Magic Box. Thinking about how she was going to explain her bad mood she didn't even notice the black van parked across the street or the three young men wrestling over a gun-like object.

She was crossing in front of an alley when she was struck with a strong tingling sensation as if she had been hit by an electrical charge. A wave of dizziness swept over her and when her head cleared she looked down at herself and noticed...nothing. As in, she wasn't there. Twisting around to look all around her body she realized that she was completely invisible. A wave of panic filled her and it took all her willpower to keep control. Her first thought was to go to Spike for help, but she quickly tamped that down and headed at a run to The Magic Box. She still hadn't noticed the three young men who now stood with jaws agape staring at where the Slayer had been just moments earlier.

Slayer speed brought Buffy to The Magic Box within five minutes. Opening the door she burst in. Anya looked over from where she was straightening a shelf full of totems and frowned when she saw no reason for the door to be opened.

"Anya, it's me," Buffy exclaimed breathlessly.

"Buffy? Where are you?"

"Right here, in front of you. I'm invisible."

"Willow!"

Willow looked over the railing from the balcony. "What?"

"Buffy's invisible. Were you playing around with the cloaking spell?"

"No! And how do you know Buffy's invisible?"

"Because she's here and she just told me she's invisible."

"Will, I'm right here," Buffy added picking up a small statue and waving it to pinpoint her location. "Oh, wow." Willow said in a weak voice. Hurrying down the stairs she added, "How'd it happen, Buffy?"

"I don't know. I came out of the beauty shop..."

"Did you get the highlights like you were talking about?" Anya interjected.

"Yeah, and they really look good," Buffy said enthusiastically.

"Uh, guys, let's try to focus. Go on with your story, Buffy."

"Oh, yeah, sorry. Anyway, I came out of the beauty shop and was crossing the alley between Jenkins and Wilkins when I went all tingly like I'd stepped on a frayed extension cord or something. I got kinda dizzy and then I was invisible."

"Okay, we're going to need to investigate where it happened. I'll call Xander and Tara so they can meet us there."

It was inevitable that Xander was the one to stumble over the first clue - literally. Looking up from the ground where he lay he said, "Guys, I just tripped over something that's not there."

Willow came over and waving her hands around found the object that had tripped up her friend.

"It's a traffic cone, I think."

"Ow!"

"What happened, baby?" Willow asked in concern as Tara reached down and rubbed a toe.

"I think I just found a fire hydrant."

A metallic thumping sound came from a few feet into the alley. "And I just found a dumpster," Buffy said.

The quartet continued searching the area for several more minutes, but was unable to find anything else that was invisible.

"Okay, let's take this traffic cone back to The Magic Box," Willow said. "I want to conduct a few experiments, try to find out if it's a magic spell or possibly science gone wonky."

The others headed for Xander's car, but Buffy held back saying, "Look guys, I'm going to search around town a bit more, see if anything like this happened anywhere else. I'll check in after a bit, see if you've discovered anything, Will."

"Yeah, okay. That's not a bad idea. If you find a series of invisible objects, we may be able to trace it back to the source."

Buffy watched as her three friends drove away and then began the search. A half-hour later she was bored. She found nothing else unusual within a six-block radius of the alley. No missing fire hydrants, telephone poles, dumpsters or buildings and no other invisible people. She thought about sneaking into a movie - what good was it being invisible if you couldn't see a free show - but she'd already seen the only movie currently playing that interested her. Not really in the mood to go back to The Magic Box and watch Willow do experiments on the invisible traffic cone, she started walking randomly through town. It wasn't until she stood in front of his door that she realized where she'd been unconsciously heading. She knew she should walk away, return to her friends, perhaps even search out vampire nests and do a little slaying. Instead she quietly opened the door and peered in.

The upper level was dark and empty. She was surprised since Spike, unlike most vampires, was an early riser. Entering the crypt she walked slowly, casually, over to the ladder that led down to Spike's bedchamber. She should just go. Leave sleeping vampires lie.

Her right foot hit the first rung of the ladder; then her left hit the second. Before she knew it, she was standing at the bottom looking at the bed.

Spike lay motionless on his back. A sheet was draped over his hips and legs. His chest, stomach and arms were uncovered and bare. His right leg was bent slightly and his knee and most of his thigh were exposed to her view. His right hand was resting on his flat belly and his head was turned to the left.

Buffy swallowed at the view he presented to her. She was pretty certain that he was naked under the sheet. Curiosity overcame her better judgment and she approached the bed quietly, not wanting to wake him. Reaching out she carefully lifted the sheet from his hips.

Spike's hand shot out, grabbed her wrist and before she knew it she was sailing across the bed to land with a bounce on the mattress beside him. He rolled over and pinned her body under him. His eyes were furious and then he blinked.

"Buffy?"

"Let me up, Spike," she demanded. Well it would have been a demand if she'd had any breath to speak with.

"What the hell? Buffy, what's going on?"

"I'm invisible."

"Yeah, pet, I noticed. Why are you invisible?"

"We don't know. Willow's at The Magic Box trying to figure it out. I was out looking for other invisible things."

"And you thought you'd find something under my sheets?"

Buffy could feel her face burning. "N-no. I, um, I just..." She really couldn't come up with any kind of excuse.

"Just wanted a peek?"

"No!" Buffy pushed her hands against his chest. Spike noticed that she didn't push very hard. As a Slayer, she could have thrown him out of bed and halfway across his chamber with very little effort.

Reaching down, he located her wrists and pulled her arms over her head. Settling his body comfortably over hers, he said, "I think you owe me a forfeit for trying to peek at my goodies."

"I don't owe you anything, Spike. Let me up."

"A kiss."

"What?"

"I'll take a kiss as my forfeit."

Buffy hesitated. If she gave him one kiss and he let her up, she might be able to escape from this embarrassing situation with at least a part of her dignity intact.

"One kiss?"

"Yeah, one kiss."

"Okay, but then you let me up."

"If you want."

"Oh, I'll want."

Spike lowered his head, but instead of taking his kiss, he began inhaling her scent, running his head up from her shoulder to her hair. "You've colored your hair," he breathed into her ear.

Buffy felt a shiver pass through her body as his voice rumbled in her ear.
"Just highlights," she said in a barely audible voice.

"Didn't cut your hair, did you?"

"Just a trim."

"Good. I love your long hair, Buffy."

"You told me before I had stupid hair."

"I lied."

The whole time they were talking Spike had been running his head lightly over her face, neck, shoulders and chest, never allowing his lips to come in contact with her flesh. Every time he moved his head, his body shifted on hers, rubbing her lightly. Buffy's heart was beating rapidly and she began to undulate against him as her body responded to his touch. Finally when Buffy thought she would have to beg him to kiss her, he drew his lips across her cheek and captured her mouth in a sweet, tender kiss.

Spike lowered his hands to clasp her head as the kiss intensified and Buffy used her freedom to wrap her arms around his back. Without conscious thought, she parted her legs and trapped his hips between her thighs. The kiss went on for an eternity. She could feel Spike's erection pressing into her belly and she burned. Buffy ran her hands over Spike's back reveling in the feel of smooth, cool skin and firm muscles. Their bodies rubbed together with increasing fervor and Buffy slid her hands down his back until she captured his buttocks and dug her nails into his flesh.

Spike threw his head up and back, his eyes closed as he moaned from the sensation of the sharp sting of her nails. Buffy was entranced by the look of bliss on his face. When he lowered his head and took her mouth again, she didn't protest. And when his hand found her breast, she moaned and pushed her breast further into his cupped palm.

Spike leaned back from Buffy and his fingers located the buttons to her shirt. One by one he unbuttoned them until the shirt fell open. He kissed his way across her chest and then took her breast into his mouth. Buffy gasped as she felt her bra dampen in his mouth. He nipped lightly at the hardened pearl of her nipple and she hissed and arched under him.

Spike cursed the fact that she was finally where he'd wanted her for so long, in his bed writhing under his body, and he couldn't see her face. Couldn't see the look of desire in her eyes. But he could magine what she looked like right now - eyelids heavy with need shining from her eyes, mouth open and lips swollen from his kisses, her beautiful hair fanned out wantonly on his pillow. Slipping his hands behind her back, he unhooked her bra and for the first time he tasted the warmth of her flesh as he took her nipple into his mouth.

The sounds coming from Buffy's throat were fueling the fire that burned through Spike. He left off suckling at her breast and returned to her mouth. He could never get enough of her sweet mouth. Sliding his hand down her body, he rubbed between the juncture of her thighs. Buffy thrust her hips up into his hand and moaned out, "Oh god, Spike."

Pulling away from her, he sat back on his heels and found the button at the waistband of her slacks. He worked at unfastening it and then began pulling her slacks down her legs. Buffy couldn't take her eyes from the hardened length that jutted out before him. Her last really coherent thought was that she should stop him, that she shouldn't allow this to go any further. But she didn't want to stop it, and then her slacks were off, her thighs were parted, and Spike's mouth was there between her legs.

Buffy's whole body arched up when his tongue flicked across her clit. Her hands wound into his hair and she held him in place as he lapped and sucked. He was doing things to her with his mouth that she'd never felt before. When he slipped a finger into her, she thought her heart would explode from the overload of pleasure. She was completely overwhelmed.

Spike could feel her body begin to tense. He wanted nothing more than to taste her when she came, but even more he wanted to feel her climax clenching around him while he was buried deep inside of her. Pulling his head away, he ignored her protests and quickly covered her body with his. Positioning her hips with his hands, he found her opening and slid home.

They both froze. Spike looked down to where he knew her eyes should be. It was a little disconcerting to be able to feel her soft, slender body under him, to feel the wet heat of her passion as it surrounded his shaft, but not see her. He soon forgot everything but the feel of her when he buried his head at the juncture of her neck and shoulder and began to move within her.

She was everything he'd known she'd be and more. Buffy wrapped herself around him with a force that would have broken the bones of a lesser man. The nails of one hand dug into his back and she grasped his hair with the other. The only sound in the room consisted of grunts and moans, the squeak of bedsprings and the slap of flesh meeting flesh. When Spike knew that he could no longer hold out, he twisted his hips until a squeal from Buffy let him know he'd found the spot.

Thrusting even harder, he drove into her until she first locked up under him and then jackknifed as her climax tore through her. He followed her seconds later.

continued