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She Falls Like -- by Echo
Rating: R
Description: Spike is part of the Scooby Gang. He starts to get REALLY close to someone in the midst of a typical Hellmouthy set of events. This is before Adam. And before Angel mopped that alley with Riley's ass. Forrest IS NOT DEAD!
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Mr. Whedon does. I don't own the lyrics to 'That I Would Be Good'. Those belong to Alanis Morissette. I further don't own anything by Korn. I think I covered everything. Oh yeah, don't sue me.
Willow grunted as she hit the ground with a resounding thud. <OUCH> Now she knew what they meant by seeing stars. Boy, could she ever see them."Willow!" Buffy rushed over to crouch beside her.
Spike rolled hard across the ground next to them smacking into a tombstone. "A little help here, Slayer."
"Oh, right." Buffy stood to face the demon in front of them. At six feet he towered above her. She glared. "You don't play nice"
"I'll tear you apart, girl."
"Which part ya gonna tear off first? This one?"
Her roundhouse landed solidly on the side of his head. He seemed barely affected. He grabbed her and threw her violently to the ground. "OUCH!" She's gasped for breath. "Is that all you know how to do? Throw people to the ground?"
He tried to stomp on her head. "Guess not." She rolled out of his reach.Willow was getting to her feet just as Buffy jumped to hers. Buffy and the demon circled each other. When his back was to her, Willow rushed him."Willow, NO!" The demon backhanded Buffy, and she went flying. Willow jumped on his back. He tried desperately to get his claws on the redhead. Spike got to his feet and rushed the thing as the demon managed to pull Willow off his back. He hurled her at the advancing vampire. They hit hard and crumpled to a heap on the ground. Buffy rose to shakily.
"BUFFY!" Xander's voice is followed by he and Anya rushing into the cemetery. He's carrying a large ax.
Buffy and the demon circle each other. "LATE!"
"Sorry." He tossed the ax to her. She swung it in a wide arc taking the demon's head off. The body wavered then fell to the ground. As it hit, it exploded, covering the three in orange goo.
"Cool" Anya had a huge grin on her face. Xander looked at her.
"I would have gone with 'ewe' or uh, 'gross' 'disgusting' even."
The three walked over to the pile of Willow and Spike. Spike moaned. "Get her off me."
Xander lifted Willow up by the arms. She's out. Spike attempted to get up when several droplets of blood hit him in the face. He pulled Willow's head up to look at her face. Her nose was bleeding all over everything.
"BLOODY HELL!" He's up in an instant studying her face as Xander held her up.
Buffy lost some color. "Oh God"
"Ewe" Anya smiled at Xander. He glared at her. "What?" She's confused.
"I don't think it's broken. Tissues?" Spike's getting more blood on him. Anya dug in her bag and came up with a crumpled Kleenex. Spike put it to Willow's nose trying to stop the blood. His stomach growled. Buffy and Xander glared. Anya giggled. Xander turned his glare to her. Spike rolled his eyes. " Oh please, like I'm bloody well going to do anything with the three of you right here, and the slayer holding that ax. I'm not stupid, people. Besides don't tell me if this were chocolate -" Willow stirred. She looked at all of them.
"Did we win?"
Willow hurt. She felt like a big bruise. She was sure even her bruises had bruises.
"Willow!"
She grimaced as she turned around slowly to see Riley running up to her. "Hey, Riley."
"Hey are you ok? Buffy told me about last night."
"I'll be fine." She turned and walked off. She couldn't believe it. Buffy had told Riley. Yeah, ok, he WAS her boyfriend, but still. It just made her look stupid. What had she been thinking? Like she was gonna make a difference when she attacked. She'd been thinking that thing was gonna hurt her friends. Ok, maybe not too stupid. Maybe just too brave. Willow was so deep in her thoughts, she didn't realize Riley had followed her.
"So what do you say?" He looked at her expectantly.
"Huh? Say about what?"
"I teach you a few moves that don't involve you jumping on the backs of things. Still highly effective though." He smiled. Willow wanted to glare. How guy-like. Teaching the little girl to defend herself. <Calm down Rosenberg> He was just trying to be nice, and he honestly seemed worried about her.
"Ok."
He was staring at her again. She could feel it. He was probably imagining how dumb she looked right before she sailed into him at full demon velocity. And then she bled all over him. How embarrassing. He just bought new clothes and she had to go and ruin some of them. She looked at him. He turned away. <Great. Just great. He's so pissed he can't even look at me.> They were all supposed to meet at Giles' a half hour ago. Where was everybody else?
He liked her. Spike had admitted that much to no one but himself. She was fragile on the outside, but like steel on the inside. Tough. And her eyes - the little witch could speak volumes with those eyes. Hell yes he liked her. He must be losing his bloody mind. He was staring and then she looked right at him. <Idiot.> Spike tried for conversation. "So, um, how are you feeling?"
"Like a big bruise. Isn't that what I look like?" That came far bitchier than intended. Spike turned away again. Willow looked at him.
"I'm sorry, Spike. I'm just feelin' a little cranky."
"Understandable, Pet."
The bastard had her by her little white throat. She was gasping for air as her feet dangled a good foot off the ground. Spike saw red. He dusted the vamp he'd been wrestling with and ran to the one holding Willow. He punched the bastard in the face. Willow fell to the ground choking for breath. Spike attacked. Willow looked up to see Spike standing in a cloud of dust. He walked over to her and grabbed her under the arm pulling her to her feet.
"Love, when I say duck, next time please duck."
"I'm sorry" she rasped out, "I thought you said something else."
"Like what?"
She turned the most attractive red Spike had ever seen. "Uh nothing"
"You can tell me, Pet. I won't laugh."
"Oh, but you will"
"Ok, I probably will, but I could use a good laugh."
She LOVED this part. When the patrols they helped Buffy do didn't go so bad, and he joked with her and made her feel like a normal girl. For the first time since Oz left she was totally at ease with a male who wasn't Giles, Riley, or Xander. She just loved this part.
They were all crowded in Giles' apartment. He was sharpening a stake with an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, and she was watching him from her seat on the couch. He could feel her eyes. He looked up, and she didn't look away. "What?"
"You look funny doing that." She giggled.
"You know, Pet, not many people have laughed at me and lived to tell the tale."
"I'm aware. Oh, William the Bloody. Mr. Bad-ass-vampire. Sorry, Spike, you just don't scare me anymore."
Anya snickered and buried her head further into the book she'd been reading.
"And just what are you giggling at, demongirl?"
"She's right, Spike. You, master vampire, really do look ridiculous sharpening a stake. Especially with that cigarette hanging off your lip."
Spike tossed the stake and knife down. he tucked the cigarette behind his ear. Now it was a matter of pride. No one was really paying attention except Anya. He walked over to Willow and put his arms on the back of the couch. He loomed over her. "Scared yet, Red?"
"N-no." He was so close to her.
"Pity. Because now I'm going to tickle you until you piss yourself."
Willow's eyes became huge. She squealed and tried to escape. He grabbed her waist and threw her to the floor. This got everyone's attention. Xander and Riley were on their feet in an instant. Anya held up her hand to stop them.
"It's a well-deserved tickling. She mocked his scariness. Again."
Riley and Xander sat down with a mouthed 'oh'. Willow's screeching could be heard on the other side of the couch.
He was walking her to the dorm again. He was telling a story about when Angelus fell in a manure cart. Generally, Willow didn't like Angelus stories. Angel stories, ok, but Angelus, all evil and soulless, he still gave her nightmares. This, however, was making her howl with laughter. He liked it when she laughed. He liked when he was the one making her laugh. He'd gone completely, bloody psycho.
Willow wiped the tears from her eyes as her laughter died down. She looked at the guy next to her and marveled at the difference between him and the Spike who threatened to shove a bottle in her face 'right through to her brain'. This Spike was funny, but I guess a guy like Spike would be pretty funny when he's not trying to kill you.
He turned and looked like he was going to say something else when a strange look passed over his face.
"Spike?"
His eyes rolled back in his head, and he fell on her. She tried to support his weight. They toppled to the ground. That's when she noticed the dart sticking out of the back of his neck.
"Oh, Goddess." She felt a pinch in the back of her neck. Then everything went black.
Anya walked quickly down the street towards her apartment. She should have stayed at Xander's, but he was being such an ass. It was very dark, and she was walking alone. Not too bright. Suddenly, her path was blocked by a large body. She stopped just short of smacking into it. She jumped back only to come in contact with another body. She looked around noticing she was surrounded by vampires.
The one blocking her path spoke. "You tell the slayer we have them."
"Have them who? Or them what?" Anya could feel fear churning in her stomach. She hoped Xander wasn't one of the 'them'.
"The little redhead and Spike. You tell her to be at the burned out factory tomorrow at sunset if she wants to see them alive."
"Well, technically, Spike isn't really alive, so-" She's cut off by his backhand. She fell to the ground. She looked up at him. There was a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth. Her eyes flashed anger and defiance. "She's going to make you suffer. And I'll be there to watch. Right up until your ashes scatter in the wind."
The vampire looked at his companions. "Beat the shit out of her and drop her on the slayer's
doorstep. No killing! She has to be able to deliver the message."
Two vampires grabbed Anya under the arms and drug her to her feet. She struggled. The leader punched her in the jaw. She went limp. The drug her off as the leader watched, snickering.
Giles was awakened half an hour before dawn to pounding on his door. "Just a bloody minute!" He threw on his robe and headed for the door. He swung it open to see, nothing. He stood there looking out for a minute. Then he looked down. "GOOD GOD!" A woman's body lay crumpled on his doorstep. There was something familiar about her short brown hair. He knelt down and carefully turned her over. He was shocked at what he saw. "Oh my God. Anya." Her face was distorted and swollen. Cuts and blood covered most of it. She opened her eyes and moaned.
"Giles." It was so quiet, he almost didn't hear her.
"It's going to all right now." He lifted her into his arms, and she groaned. "I'm sorry, Anya." He carried her into the apartment and laid her down as gently as he could. "I'm going to call the others. We're going to have to take you to the emergency room. You look like you've lost a lot of blood, and I think your wrist is broken." As he tried to rise from the couch, she grabbed his robe with her good hand. She's really fighting passing out again.
"Have Spike and Willow. Burned factory. Buffy. Sunset. Can't let-" Her hand fell away as unconsciousness took over.
Willow tried to sit up. Her head was pounding. She opened her eyes. It was very dark where she was. She looked around. Concrete walls. A steel door. A small battered table with two chairs and the mattress she was sitting on. It reminded her of pictures she'd seen of bomb shelters. Suddenly the door opened, and a body was pitched in. She recognized the bleached head instantly. She ran to his side.
"Spike?" He groaned. She rolled him over. He had several cuts on his face. "Oh Goddess."
The door swung open again, and a bag was thrown in. It landed next to them. Willow opened it to see several bags of blood, some bottled water, and a couple of sandwiches. Well, at least neither of them would starve. She grabbed one of the blood bags. She tried to open it with her teeth with no luck. She looked around for something to poke a hole in the bag. Her eyes stopped on Spike's belt buckle. She pushed aside her embarrassment and started to undo his belt.
"And just what do you think you're doing, Pet?" Willow turned seven shades of red. Spike swore he could actually hear the blood rushing to her face.
"Well, you didn't seem to be awake and I knew you needed to eat and the bag wouldn't so I was going to poke it with you belt and then, oh!" She was so cute when she got flustered.
"I think I can handle it from here, Love." He took the bag from her hand his thumb brushing over hers. She looked away very quickly. Bloody hell. Flirting with a chit that wasn't even one fourth his age when they'd been kidnapped. <Way to think with your dick, Spike> What the hell was his problem? <Pervert. You WANT her.>
Spike ripped into the bag and began to drink. The cuts on his face started to heal. He tossed the empty bag to the table and sat up. Willow noticed his belt was still undone. Without even thinking she went to fix it.
Spike saw her lean over him and grab his belt. His body tensed at her being so close to him. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" He grabbed her wrist and yanked it away. She lost her balance and toppled into his lap. She looked up to see an icy blue stare. "What are you doing, little girl?"
She yanked away from him and stood up. "Well, I was going to buckle your belt for you, since I've obviously lost my mind. And I am not a little girl!"
Spike got to his feet. "I'm well aware of that, Pet." He walked towards her until he stood just inches from her. "What are we going to do now?"
Buffy paced the hospital waiting room. She hated this. Yeah, ok, at first she hadn't been to fond of Anya, but she was Xander's girlfriend now. And whenever there was evil to fight, she was there fighting. Anya was still pretty new at being a person, but she was gonna be a good one when all was said and done. They didn't have to beat her. Buffy felt the guilt wash over her in waves. People were always getting hurt because of her. It's a wonder she had any friends at all.
Xander came into the waiting room. "She's asking for you." He was looking at Buffy.
Willow was still looking in Spike's eyes when the door flew open and a body was shoved in. The woman fell to her knees from the force of the push. Willow walked towards her. The woman looked up, and Willow was looking into a very familiar pair of eyes. "Ms. Summers?"
"Joyce?"
She had a gag on. Willow removed it. "Willow, Spike, what's going on?"
"I wish we knew." Willow helped her to stand.
"It has to be a trap for the slayer." Spike started to pace.
Willow and Joyce took seats at the table. Joyce's brow wrinkled in worry. "And we're the bait."
"It appears that way. I just don't understand why they took me though. The slayer doesn't even like me."
Willow stood up. "Of course she does. You help us."
"Right. And if it weren't for my little migraines, I'd have helped myself to your necks long ago." He turned his back to them.
"But that isn't how it is" Willow rose and walked to him. She placed a shaking hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked at her like he was trying to figure her out. Joyce watched the little scene with some interest.
The doctor glared at Anya. He'd never had such a difficult patient. Her left wrist was broken in two places, one of her eyes was swollen shut, her lip was busted, three of her ribs were bruised, not to mention most of her face and arms, and yet this girl wanted to go home. He turned and left. Anya smiled at Xander, Giles, and Buffy. " I get to go home." She smiled. Xander cringed. Moving her face had to have hurt.
Xander was loading Anya into Giles' car when he noticed Willie the Snitch running towards them. Xander nudged Buffy and pointed. She turned right as Willie got to her.
"Willie, what are you doing here?"
He was out of breath. "I been lookin' everywhere for you. I heard some 'em talkin' at the bar, kid. They took your mom."
She grabbed a handful of his shirt. "WHAT?"
Giles placed his hand on top of hers. "Buffy." She let go.
"Sorry, Willie."
"Oh, no, hey, it's cool. You slayers get real protective. I get it."
"Who has my mom?"
"I never seen 'em before, but they're holed up at the burned out factory."
"Thanks, Willie."
"Only because it's you, kid. Be careful"
Willow and Joyce sat at the table eating the sandwiches in silence while Spike paced. The door opened, and the three turned. The leader stepped in. Spike growled.
"Let's go. It's almost time for us to meet the slayer. We have to prepare." Spike growled again and took a step towards him. "I wouldn't Spike." The leader was suddenly flanked by two vamps, one with a 9mm the other with a crossbow. "Let's go, shall we?"
Buffy was busy packing her duffle bag full of stakes and crosses when she hear a knock on the door of her dorm room. She walked over and threw it open to be faced with the very serious faces of Forrest and Graham. "Hey, guys, sorry, Riley's not here."
Something flickered across Forrest's face. "We know." Buffy pulled both of them in and shut the door.
"Talk." She placed her hands on her hips. Forrest almost smiled. He had issues with the slayer, but he could see why Riley liked her so much. She really took charge.
Graham spoke up. "We were hoping you knew something."
"I have a few ideas." She turned and continued her packing. "Why do they always have to kidnap my boyfriend? You can drown me, send assassins after me, ambush me, and generally threaten, but nobody messes with my boyfriend. And let's not even mention the fact that they have my mother and best friend, too. And Spike, whatever he is. This kind of thing only pisses me off." She zipped the bag and turned to them. "When are they gonna get that a pissed off slayer is not a good thing?"
Willow, Spike and Joyce were led to a cage in the center of the factory. Willow noticed a body laying on the floor of the cage as the three were shoved inside. It moaned.
"Riley?" Spike crouched down and helped him sit up. Riley rubbed his neck and looked at the three of them.
"Willow? What's going on?"
She sat down next to him. "We don't know yet."
He looked at Joyce as she sat next to Willow. The woman looked really familiar for some odd reason. "Who are you?"
"Uh, Riley, this is Buffy's mom."
Riley smiled. He couldn't help it. She looked like her mom. "I thought you looked familiar for some reason. Your daughter inherited your beauty." Spike rolled his eyes. <What a kiss-ass nancyboy. Worse than the poof> Riley held out his hand to Joyce. "I'm so glad to finally meet you. Buffy talks about you a lot. I just wish we were meeting under better circumstances."
Joyce shook his hand. Warm. Not a vampire. And charming, even in a crisis. <Please let this be the new boyfriend Buffy had mentioned.> She smiled at him. "It's nice to meet you too."
They had half and hour before sunset, and Xander couldn't believe his ears. She HAD to be kidding. "Anya, you are SO not going with us tonight."
"But, Xander, I told him I'd be there to watch when Buffy dusted him. I'll stay out of the way. I promise. I HAVE to see it."
"No. No. And no. You are staying here with the door locked where it's safe."
"Xander." She stuck out her bottom lip.
"No, and don't make the pouty face at me. Willow taught you that, didn't she?"
Giles rolled his eyes. Buffy grinned. Anya had explained the reason for her severe beating. Buffy had a newfound respect for the former demon because of it. It was something she, herself, would have done. "Xander, let her come along. She's part of the gang, too."
Anya smiled. She was really beginning to like Buffy. Especially when Buffy took her side.
Xander sighed in defeat. "Just stay behind me and Giles, ok?" Anya beamed.
Giles rolled his eyes again. "We should be going."
Just then, a black van with dark tinted windows screeched to halt not five feet from them. Buffy squared her shoulders preparing for a fight. The side door slid open causing Xander to jump. Forrest smiled at them from the open door.
Buffy put her hands on her hips. "Forrest, what in the hell are you doing?"
"Do you really think we'd sit at home while you went after the hostages? Riley's one of my best friends."
"One of?"
"The other one's driving." Graham leaned back from the front seat and winked at her. Forrest looked at Buffy. "Well?"
Buffy turned to the others. "Let's go." She climbed into the van.
"Bring me the witch."
Riley was doing his best to restrain Spike and failing. Two vampires dragged Willow out of the cage. Spike pounded on the bars as they closed to door. They threw Willow at the feet of their leader. Willow glared up at him through her hair. And she did something no one expected. She laughed. She pushed herself up to her knees and threw her head back in uncontrollable laughter.
"You're gonna be dust when she gets here." Her voice sounded deadly. No fear. Spike felt nothing but pride. Joyce and Riley walked to each side of him to watch. Willow got to her feet.
She glared at the vampire in front of her. "You don't scare me." He reached out quickly grabbing her by the throat. Spike growled. Joyce and Riley looked at him.
"Do I scare you now, little girl?" Her feet were dangling. Spike threw himself against the door of the cage. He felt it give a little. He turned to look at Riley.
"Don't call me little girl." She rasped out.
"You were expecting me?" The vampire threw Willow to the ground. Buffy was standing alone in the doorway with her hands on her hips. She strolled in like she didn't have a care in the world. Joyce smiled. THAT was her daughter.
"You shouldn't have come alone, slayer." Several vampires surrounded her. She looked to the cage. He saw the unspoken question in her eyes. Spike nodded at her. He'd get her mom out.
"What makes you think I came alone?"
The sounds of arrows leaving their crossbows. Most of the vamps near Buffy exploded in dust. She punched the closest vamp left standing. The leader grabbed Willow off the floor. She struggled with him. Spike and Riley backed to the far edge of the cage and rushed the door. It busted open. Spike held his hand out to Joyce. "Let's go, Joyce."
Riley joined Buffy in her fight. Forrest, Graham, Xander, and Giles rushed in from different points in the shadows.
The leader still held Willow. Her face was turning purple. Spike was heading her way pulling Joyce behind him. Suddenly an arrow hit Willow's attacker in the shoulder, and he dropped her. Spike wanted to howl with laughter when Anya stepped out of the shadows behind the other vampire with a crossbow propped on her cast. It would be ok.
Spike was trying to get Joyce outside when he heard gunshots. He turned to see the vamp with the gun firing. He was rushing towards them.
Buffy looked up to see Spike wrap his arms around her mother as he took several shots to the back. The two of them fell. Buffy screamed. Riley rushed the gunman tackling him to the ground. The gun skidded across the floor. Graham grabbed it and tucked it into his pants. Forrest tossed Riley a stake, and it's over. He stood and swatted the dust off of his chest.
Buffy crouched next to them. She rolled Spike off her mother. "Mom?"
"I'm fine. Is Spike-"
"He's gonna be fine. Bullets don't kill vampires. They just hurt."
Spike moaned. "Willow."
Buffy's eyes widened as she looked her mom. Joyce just smiled. Buffy stood and walked to where the leader was being held by several crossbows pointed at his heart. As she walked towards him she took a stake out of Xander's back pocket. She walked right up to the leader.
"Your plan was poorly executed. Spike always gave me a hell of a lot more trouble in his day. Not to mention the master or Angel when he was soulless. Or Faith. Although, I doubt anyone will surpass Faith. Even the mayor did a better job of giving me hell, and he was a complete dork. Too bad you won't get the chance to do a better job."
"You could let me go."
"Um, let's see, you kidnapped my mom, my boyfriend, and two of my friends. Not to mention the fact that you had Anya beaten within an inch of her life. Not a way to get on my good side. Speaking of Anya, didn't she promise to watch while I staked you?"
He lunged at her, and they rolled across the floor. His face showed surprise right before he turned to dust. Buffy just laid there on the ground.
Spike was laying on his stomach. He teeth were gritted, and he felt himself almost slip into game face again. The little witch was sitting on his lower back pulling the bullets out of his back with a pair of pliers. He growled.
"I'm sorry. One more. Hold still."
Spike's screams and growls could be heard by the occupants of the living room. Buffy looked around the room. She was on the couch between her mother and Riley, who seemed to be getting along great. Anya appeared to be asleep in Xander's lap as he talked with Forrest and Graham.
Giles was walking back and forth from the kitchen with cups of tea. Every once in a while a particularly foul curse would erupt from the bedroom. The occupants of the living would look in that direction then continue their conversations. No one was really worried. Least of all Buffy. She couldn't get the image of Spike protecting her mother out of her head. Now she'd have to be nice to him.
Willow taped the last bandage over the last wound. Not that he needed it. He'd be healed in no time now that the bullets were out. She hopped off the bed. "All better now." He rolled on his side and looked at her. "What?" She looked nervous all of the sudden, and her hands were covered in his blood. As well as a smear on her forehead where she must have wiped the sweat off.
"Go to the loo and wash up, Love."
Willow looked at her hands. They were all bloody. She was probably making him hungry. "Oh." She rushed out of the room. Spike could have kicked himself. He was forever making her nervous. He could hear the water running in the bathroom. Then a startled gasp. <She just saw the blood on her forehead.>
The water stopped and Willow walked back into the bedroom a few seconds later. She looked embarrassed. Spike sat up on the bed and patted the space next to him. Willow sat down. She was incredibly nervous. He had no shirt on, and she was looking. Spike was her friend. He thought of her as a kid. She needed to calm down. It couldn't be what she was thinking.
He could sense she was nervous, and it kind of made him mad. What did she have to be nervous about? She knew better than anyone he couldn't bite her. That night in her dorm room was burned into his brain. Wasn't it burned into hers? She was so down on herself that night. Thinking he didn't bite her because of her. The ones who didn't know their own beauty were always the best ones. <Bloody hell. When exactly did she get so beautiful?>
And then she looked at him. Spike was lost. He brushed a stray hair off her cheek. He leaned in close to her. Willow closed her eyes as his lips met hers. He still had his hand on her cheek. It moved behind her head to hold her there. Willow was unsure what to do, so she moved closer to him and wrapped her arms around his body careful not to hold too hard.
Two warm hands were on the small of Spike's back. It nearly drove him to insanity. She was so warm. And she smelled of gardenia. Some days she smelled like vanilla or sage, but today it was gardenia. Her hands moved from behind his back and up his chest where they rested on his collarbone. He laid back on the bed pulling her on top of him. She broke the kiss and stared at him.
"Doesn't it hurt you to be on your back like this?" She rolled off of him and tried to get off the bed. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back to him.
"I know you're not a little girl, Love." He began to nuzzled her neck. Willow stiffened.
Spike pulled away. "What?" There was fear in her eyes. "DAMMIT!" He rolled away from her and got off the bed. He began to pace. Willow raised herself up on her elbows.
"Spike, I-"
"You what? Have this insane fear I'll suddenly be able to bite again and go for you? Don't you know me better than that by now, Willow?"
Willow was completely flustered now. "No, it's just that-"
"I'm a vampire."
"No."
"You don't find me attractive. I'm too old and too cold."
"No, I-"
"Then what?"
"WELL, IF YOU LET ME FINISH!"
The Xander sticks his head in the door. "Will, are you ok?"
She jumps off the bed. "Yes. Get out." She slams the door in his face. She turns to face Spike. She was actually mad now. He could see it. She started advancing towards him. "YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD OR COLD! I KNOW YOU WOULDN'T BITE ME! I FIND YOU VERY ATTRACTIVE! AND I GIVE A FLYING FUCK YOU'RE A VAMPIRE!" She was right up in his face. "I just haven't done this kind of thing in a while, ok? I'm a little nervous." She leaned up and placed a delicate kiss on his lips. He was stunned into silence.
And that's when Buffy decided to open the door.
Buffy's howl of rage was not only heard in the other room, but probably in the next town.
Seven people jumped up and ran to Giles' bedroom to see what the trouble was. Buffy and Spike were wrestling around on the floor. Actually she was hitting him and he was trying to fend her off. Riley grabbed her by the waist and pulled her off of Spike. All thoughts of being nice to Spike had left the building when she saw him kissing Willow.
"Buffy, what are you doing?" Riley looked at her expectantly.
Willow helped Spike off the floor. Her hands lingered on his bare arm. Buffy glared. "Stop that."
She swatted Willow's hands away. "It's ooky, Will."
Willow had a calm expression on her face. "Actually, it was kinda nice."
Xander was confused. "What was nice?"
"They were kissing!" Buffy waved an accusing finger at Willow and Spike.
"Oh, Willow, that's so gross. He's dead for Christ's sake." Xander folded his arms across his chest and scowled.
Anya snorted. Everyone looked at her. "I can't believe you're just now noticing them. They're ALWAYS flirting. I thought they were going for the sexual tension record of all time. And the tickling? Foreplay."
"Tickling is considered foreplay?" Anya turned at Xander's comment.
"Yes, Xander, lots of people don't just have the sex, they do the foreplay thing too. Foreplay can consist of MANY different activities. Tickling included."
"ANYA!"
Forrest and Graham try to cover their snickering, unsuccessfully. But Anya wasn't done. "I just can't believe you guys were gonna do it on Giles' bed. Now that's the ooky part for me."
Willow turned red. "We were NOT going to do it on Giles' bed."
Anya rolled her eyes. "Ok, his floor then, whatever. It's still ooky."
"WE WERE NOT GOING TO DO IT!"
"We weren't?" Willow glared at Spike. He pursed his lips together trying to be serious. He failed. "We were not going to do it. Not on the bed. Not on the floor. Not in the bathroom. Not up against the door. Or with a goat. Or on a boat. Or in the rain. Or on a bloody train."
Forrest and Graham howled with laughter. Willow just rolled her eyes.
Willow was walking across campus towards her dorm in a daze.
"Willow! Hey, Willow!"
She turned to see Forrest running up to her. "Hey, Forrest, what's up?"
"Riley wants you to meet him outside Lowell House at six, and he said to wear workout clothes."
"Ok"
"Hey, we're having a party at the house this weekend. You should come."
"Oh." She started to walk off. Forrest grabbed her arm.
"Willow, are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
She walked off. Forrest watched her go. Graham walked up and looked where Forrest was looking.
"What's with her?"
"I dunno, man. I think she has a certain bleached blonde on the brain."
Willow sat on the steps of Lowell House waiting for Riley to show. He was late. She sighed. She was thinking about Spike again. She didn't know what to do. She had backed out of helping patrol tonight to avoid seeing him. And Xander was staying home with Anya. So, that left Spike and Buffy. Willow wondered how that was going, since Buffy had barely spoken to her since that night in Giles' bedroom. Buffy should have understood. Or at the very least, not judged.
"Bloody hell. Will you stop glaring at me, Pet?"
Buffy continued to glare in silence. They were walking through yet another one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries. She been like this all night. No talk. All glare. She was so busy glaring at him, she didn't see the open gave until she stepped into it. Spike heard the thud and noticed she wasn't beside him any longer.
"Slayer?"
"Down here."
He peered into the hole. She was laying on her face in a open coffin. "Are you hurt?"
"Only my pride." She rolled over. "Why am I always the one who finds the open grave?"
"Karma?" She glared at him. "Come on, Ducks." He held his hand out to her. She grabbed it, and he pulled her out of the grave. She didn't let go of his hand right away.
"Thank you for saving my mother's life." He almost didn't hear her. She let go of his hand and turned away.
"Don't worry about it. I like your mum. She made me hot chocolate once."
"I will worry. It makes me want to trust you."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"I dunno. Should I?" She turns to him.
"With Willow?"
"You hurt her and I stake you. It's that simple."
"I wouldn't hurt her."
"For your sake, I hope you're right."
Riley and Willow circled each other. They were both barefooted in sweats and tank tops in the weight room of Lowell House. It was nice. The mats were soft. Willow had landed on them many, many times tonight. Willow threw a punch at him. He dodged her.
"You're holding back. I won't break, Riley." He grabbed her suddenly and flipped her onto her back. She landed hard. "UH!"
He crouched down next to her. "Willow, oh my God." She launched herself at him. He was caught off guard. He fell on his back, and she straddled him.
She smiled. "Ha."
He rolled her over and sat on her. "Ha yourself."
Buffy and Spike walked up to Lowell House. Graham and Forrest were out front tossing a football back and forth.
"What are we doing here?"
"Saying hi to Riley."
"And why would I want to do that?"
"I want to do that."
Buffy ran in between Forrest and Graham catching the football. "Hey, Buffy, Riley's in the weight room."
"Thanks, Forrest." She threw the football to Graham. He grunted as it hit his stomach. She walked up to the door. Spike just stood there.
"Go on in, Spike"
"Yeah, man, any friend of Buffy's is welcome here." Graham winked at Buffy.
Spike blinked. "Don't they know I'm-"
"Hostile 17? Yeah. They just don't care." Buffy smiled. "Thanks guys." Spike grinned at her as they entered the house. "Plus, they like you. I think it was the whole Dr. Suess-esque thing. Could you, would you, with a goat?"
He laughed. Spike never laughed at her. Well, at least not at the things she said anyway. They were both laughing as she opened the door to the weight room. Buffy froze. Spike looked over her head to see Riley straddling his Willow.
"Riley?"
He heard Buffy's voice about two seconds before Spike tackled him off of Willow. They wrestled off to the side. "You bloody bastard what were you doing to her?" Spike's growling. Buffy yanks him off of Riley.
"Spike!" He growls at her holding his forehead. She shoves him away. He smacks into the wall. Buffy looks at Willow. "Will?"
"We were sparring."
"You and Riley?"
"What?" Willow was embarrassed. She knew exactly what it had looked like.
"Ok, Will, he only outweighs you by like a hundred pounds of pure muscle."
Riley got up off the floor. "It's true - the sparring, not the hundred pounds. Ask Forrest."
"Why?" Buffy looked hurt.
"So I won't be such the weakling." Willow silently pleaded with her not to be mad.
"Who ever told you that you were weak, Pet?" Spike walked over to Willow.
"My fifty million bruises I get every time there's a fight did."
He puts his hand on her cheek. "That's just because your skin's so soft."
Buffy grabs Riley and pulls him out of the weight room.
Willow didn't even notice the departure. "You think my skin is soft?"
"Mmmmm." He started to nuzzle her neck. This time she didn't move away. She stuck her leg behind his and shoved. Hard. He tumbled backwards onto the mat. "Willow!" She flopped down next to him. "Oh really, Pet?" He started raining kisses on her face and neck.
"Spike?"
"Pet?"
"Stop."
He pulled back to look at her. He looked frustrated.
"No, it's not you, Spike. Just not here, ok. Any one of Riley's friends could just walk on in. This should, you know, be a private thing. Not a 'Hey everybody come look. They're making out in the weight room thing'. It should just be us. Alone. No fear of company."
"Can't argue with that, Pet. Besides, Buffy and I found a grave that'd been dug up tonight. Could be trouble."
"Yay, my favorite. Dug up graves. How fun."
Research again. Three graves had been dug up so far. Xander was pacing with a large book cradled in his arms. Anya and Spike sat side by side on the couch trading books. Willow was stretched out on the floor her laptop in front of her. Grave robbers. Last time it had been Eric and Chris Epps with their freaky Bride of Frankenstein project. Buffy was on patrol with Riley. Willow somehow doubted a lot of patrolling was getting done. She looked up at Spike. He was looking at her. Anya looked at the two of them and rolled her eyes.
"Will you two just do it and get it over with!"
"ANYA!" Xander was glaring. "Don't encourage!"
Willow glared at him. She logged off, packed up, and headed for the front door right as Giles was coming out of the kitchen. "Willow?" He looked at her in concern.
"I have to go." And she was out the door. Giles looked at Spike.
"Well, don't just sit there, Spike. Go see her safely home, you idiot." Spike growled. Then he was off the couch and out the door. Giles turned to Xander and gave him a look usually reserved for Buffy when she really, really messed up, but it was Anya who spoke.
"You know, Xander, Willow never liked the fact that I used to be a vengeance demon, did she?"
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"She treats me like part of this group, even after what I did to her last year. She doesn't make snide comments or frown on our relationship, and she probably wants to. You should show her the same courtesy."
"But this is Spike, Anya!"
"Who is not the same Spike who kidnapped the two of you. He's not even the same Spike from six months ago. The Spike who tried to bite Willow. It's all different now, and you hurt her feelings, you butthole.
"Anya-"
"No, Xander. People can change. I'm proof of that, aren't I?
"Spike isn't a person, Anya."
"He is to me." Anya slammed her book and walked out.
Giles looked at Xander. "Well, now that you've managed to clear the room..."
Willow wasn't sure exactly when she started crying. She didn't know where she was going. And she sure didn't hear the vampire behind her until it was way too late.
Spike heard her scream. He broke into a run. The bastard had her around the waist and was trying to take a bite. She was kicking her legs and clawing at his hands while screaming, so he was having a hard time holding her. Willow brought her head forward, then slammed it back into his face. He dropped her and she rolled onto her back. He tried to pounce on her, but she kicked her leg up. It connected with his gut, and she shoved him away with her foot. He stumbled backwards into the arms of a very angry Spike.
"She's mine. You don't touch her." Spike pulled a stake out of his duster and put it in the vampire's heart. He walked through the cloud of dust and held his hand out to Willow. She took it, and he pulled her to her feet. "Why the tears, Love?"
"I just wish Xander-"
"He's just worried about you. With good reason, I might add. My bashing his skull and kidnapping the two of you does not make for us being best mates, Love." Willow wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes.
"Well, how sweet."
Willow's eyes flew open. They just couldn't catch a break. It was hideous. Antlers coming out of the back of its head and slime dripping off of, well, everything. Spike stiffened. "You."
"Spike, you know that?"
"Dru's chaos demon."
Willow turned to him in shock. "She left you for that?"
"You took her from me. Now you will die."
"That was well over a year ago, mate. And as I recall, you did that taking first. I simply took back what was mine to begin with. Furthermore, as you see, no Dru. She left me again. For a fungus demon."
"I will kill you still. And her too." He pointed at Willow.
"Oh really? Cause it looks to me like you're way outnumbered, snot guy." The demon turned to see Buffy and Riley standing behind it. "Spike, how do you kill a chaos demon?"
"You chop off its head, Pet."
Buffy held out her hand to Riley. He placed a small hatchet in it. She walked towards the demon. It turned and rushed Spike and Willow. Buffy ran and jumped on its back, but she couldn't stay on. He was too slimy. She fell to the ground. The demon grabbed Spike by the throat. Willow started screaming. She jumped on the demon's back and wrapped her arms around its neck putting it in a headlock. She kept screaming. The demon dropped Spike and started spinning around trying to dislodge her, but her arms are locked around its neck. It spun her around quickly. Her legs flew out catching Riley in the face. He went down. Willow squeezed tighter. It clawed at her arms. She hissed as it broke the skin.. It lunged backwards slamming her body into a tree. Willow let go and fell to the ground in a daze.
Spike growled. Buffy tossed him the hatchet. He marched up to the demon and imbedded the hatchet in its throat. It made a gurgling sound. Spike knocked the demon to the ground and proceeded to hack its head off. Buffy helped Riley to his feet. "Ewe.' She wrinkled her nose.
Willow rubbed her head and attempted to stand. Spike was at her side in an instant. He pulled one of her arms around his shoulders. He tossed the hatchet to Buffy and swung Willow into his arms. Buffy smiled at him. She'd never really done that before. Now he understood. It was that smile that had drawn his sire in. It had to be. She looked different when she smiled like that. It was a smile she reserved for her friends and loved ones. Spike had seen it directed at others, but he'd never felt its full weight. And surprisingly, he felt good about the slayer smiling at him.
Willow felt funny. Like she'd slept under a rock. She opened her eyes. The dorm room was really dark for some reason. She looked at the window and noted that it was covered with a thick blanket. She looked at Buffy's bed. It had been slept in, but no Buffy. She got out of bed and realized she was still in her jeans and sweater from last night. She yanked off her sweater and was about to unbutton her jeans when she heard a sharp intake of breath behind her. She whipped around to see Spike leaning up against the wall in the corner by her bed. That's also when she noticed the leather duster draped over the chair at her desk.
He couldn't believe it. She was just standing there in her black satin bra with her hands on the fly of her jeans staring at him. And she was turning red all over. Spike stood up. She rushed for the door. He jumped over the bed and grabbed her around the waist. His cold arms around her bare stomach made her gasp.
" You are not going anywhere without a shirt on, Love."
"W-where's B-buffy."
"She went to class. She said to let you sleep in."
"S-she let you stay here?"
"Sure, Love. You slayer likes me."
Willow turned around in his arms. "This could get out of control."
"I bloody well hope so, Pet."
Willow grabbed both sides of his head and kissed him with a force he didn't know she possessed. He walked backwards with them and let them fall onto her bed. Spike wanted to touch everything. He just couldn't decide what to touch first. He never thought he'd be in a position to touch. She grabbed the bottom of his t shirt and yanked it off violently. She started kissing his neck, his shoulders, and his chest. She was everywhere, and Spike was drowning fast.
Just then the door swung open.
Buffy was almost to her dorm room when a girl she'd seen before with sandy blonde hair stopped her. "Hi, um, you're W-Willow's roommate, right?"
"Actually, I'm her best friend. And you are?"
"My name's Tara. I'm a friend of Willow's. S-she was supposed to meet me for lunch, and she never showed. I was just w-wondering if she was ok."
"Oh yeah, she's fine. She just decided to sleep in. Late night." They had reached the door. Buffy swung it open. "Hey, Will, there's a friend of yours-" Buffy froze. Tara's mouth dropped open. Several passersby stopped to stare. Most of them male. The guys had no idea Willow looked like that with no shirt on. Willow looked over her shoulder. She got off the bad and walked very casually to the door. Buffy was suddenly reminded of her doppleganger. The guys were staring at her black bra.
"Buffy, I'm kinda in the middle of something right now. Can you guys come back in an hour?"
"TWO!" Willow looked over her shoulder at Spike.
Buffy grabbed the doorknob. "Ok." She yanked the door shut. She turned and noticed the small crowd. "Well, go on. Nothing left to see. Shoo!" She waved them away.
Someone's car alarm was going off for the second time tonight. Cordelia sighed. She closed the file she'd been working on and walked to the file cabinet. She stuffed the file in and slammed the drawer. She turned to see Wesley standing in the doorway behind her.
"Working late again, Cordelia?"
"Catching up is more like it. The weather gets a little warmer and all the freaks come out to play. We're so busy lately. You want some coffee? I'm gonna be here a while, and you could keep me company if you wanted. Especially since Angel's decided to be brood-guy-on-my-male-pms again this week."
Wesley laughed. She never held back. Cordelia made her way to the coffee maker when she started to sway. She moaned and fell to the floor. Wesley grabbed her and cradled her in his arms. Her eyes rolled back in her head. Sweat beaded up on her forehead. She screamed and put her hands over her temples.
Angel ran into the room and skidded on his knees next to them. Cordelia was gasping for breath. That had been the most painful one she'd ever had. Probably due to the fact that she'd seen several faces, and she recognized almost all of them. Only one had confused her, but the powers never lied to her. She knew what she had to do. She knew they had to stop it.
Wesley took out his handkerchief and patted her face and forehead. Cordelia grabbed Angel's arm. "We've got trouble. Lots of it. In Sunnydale."
Joyce curled up on her couch with the book she'd been trying to read for a few days now. She just couldn't concentrate on the words. That's when she heard the noise upstairs. She set the book down and went to the hall closet to get her baseball bat. She heard the man step up behind her right before he pressed the chloroform-soaked cloth over her nose and mouth. She struggled for a minute before she went limp.
Xander was scared. He hadn't seen Anya since she'd stomped out of Giles' apartment the night before. He assumed it was because she was still mad at him. But the door to her apartment had been open when he got there, and the inside showed signs of a struggle. A big one. He was so busy looking for clues he didn't hear the baseball bat until it connected with his head.
Riley wanted to get to his room before Buffy called. Forrest and Graham knew this, yet they were taking their sweet time walking across the campus. Riley turned to glare at them, and he suddenly wavered and fell.
"Riley?" Forrest tried to move to him when he felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck. He turned to look at Graham and noticed he was face down on the ground. The world started to spin then everything went black.
Giles was more than irritated. He told them all to meet at his apartment after Buffy's first sweep of Sunnydale. That meant ten o'clock. It was almost eleven. He knew Buffy lived in her own time zone but, he figured at least Riley or Willow should have managed to get there on time. There was a knock at the door. "About bloody time." Giles swung open the door and had a moment of shock as the stun gun was pressed to his gut. He fell to the floor twitching.
Willow and Spike were almost to Giles' apartment when Spike noticed they were being followed. "Willow."
"Yeah?"
"Run."
She looked at him in shock as he slipped into game face. "NOW!"
She didn't think. She just took off. She reached Giles' place in less than a minute. She burst in the door to find - no one. The place was empty. She heard someone step behind her and spun around. The man grabbed her. She managed to get part of her scream out before he shoved the cloth over her mouth. She struggled, but he held firm. She went limp. He handed her to the vampire standing outside the door. Then he took out a Polaroid camera and took her picture. He stuck the picture in an envelope with the word 'slayer' written on it. He tossed the envelope on the coffee table and left.
Buffy was so late. She knew it, but she'd run into group of vamps in the cemetery near the campus. They'd been digging up a grave. That solved the 'who' of the grave robber problem, but no one had wanted to tell her the 'why'. She'd even tortured the last one before staking him, but no dice. She pushed open the door the Giles' apartment and was met with eerie silence. Alarm bells went off in Buffy's brain. Something was VERY wrong here. Then she noticed the envelope. She picked it up slowly and dumped the contents onto the coffee table. Polaroids. Lots of them. Buffy's bottom lip quivered as she began shifting through them. Her mother on the floor of her house. Giles in the doorway of his apartment. Xander slumped over Anya's couch. Anya being carried out of her apartment. Riley, Forrest, and Graham passed out on grass. Willow being held up in Giles' doorway. And a piece of paper with Spike's name written on it in blood. Every picture had an address written on it. The same address. Buffy shut her eyes trying to make the images go away. Her blood was boiling. She had to make herself calm. She needed a plan.
Buffy was running across campus to her dorm room when she barreled into the guy. The force sent them both sprawling. "Oh, I'm so sorry."
"It's ok, Buffy. What's the hurry, though?"
Buffy looked up to see the lead singer of Dingoes smiling at her. She hadn't seen much of Devon since Oz left. "Hey, Devon, look, sorry gotta go." She jumped to her feet and had taken two steps when Tara came running up to her.
"Buffy. I finally found you. Willow's in trouble."
Devon looked at them. "Willow's in trouble?"
"I know. I'll handle it."
Tara didn't move. "I can help."
"I wanna help too."
Buffy looked at the two of them.
"I practice." Tara looked at Buffy knowingly.
"It's Willow. I'm there."
Buffy stood there unsure. She did need help......
Willow knew she wasn't awake. She knew it was a dream, but it still scared her. She was in the hallway of Sunnydale High. It was dark. Angel was calling her over to him. She walked and then she heard Miss Calender's voice saying to stay away. Angel grabbed her by the throat. He sunk his teeth into her neck as she screamed.
Willow was screaming in reality as she tried to lurch up out of the chair she was tied to. Her eyes flew open and for a few seconds she saw the image of Tara floating in front of her. "We're coming, Willow." Then it faded into nothing as Willow gulped in air and tried to shake off her nightmare. She looked around her. Anya, Xander, Giles, Joyce, Forrest, Graham, Riley, and Spike were staring at her. They were all tied to chairs positioned in a circle with all of them facing each other.
"Will, are you ok?" She looked at Xander.
"Nightmare."
"You can say that again. I have to pee." Everyone looked at Anya.
Buffy stood outside the house with Devon and Tara. The duffle bag on her shoulder was a little heavy, but she was sure they'd need all of what was inside. Devon held her crossbow. He had assured her he knew how to shoot straight. The house was on the edge of town, near the highway. It was huge and not well-lit. Buffy knew how crazy this was. She didn't even know who or what she was dealing with, and she'd drug Devon and Tara into it. "Showtime." She pushed open the front door.
Angel, Wesley, and Cordelia burst in the front door of Willie's bar. Several of the patrons looked at them. Particularly at Cordelia, until Angel growled at them. Willie looked at the trio. "Hey, Angel, what are you doin' here? I thought the slayer told me you moved out to LA."
Everyone looked up as Buffy entered the house followed by Devon and Tara.
"Well, now we have everyone." The man who left the envelope steps out of the shadows.
Buffy looks at him. "Who are you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Sometimes I like to know the names of the bad guys before they meet Mr. Pointy."
"Mr. Pointy?"
Buffy waved the stake the slayer Kendra had given her what seemed like lifetimes ago. The man laughed. "I almost don't want to destroy you. You and your band of misfits have overcome every obstacle I've sent your way in the last few weeks."
"You?"
"The vampires. The chaos demon. The last two weeks. All of it."
"So, again, who the hell are you?"
"That is of little importance, but since you must know - my name is Trevor Maddock."
"Good lord." This came from Giles. Buffy looks at him.
"You know that name, Giles?"
"He's part of the Watcher's Council."
Buffy turned back to Maddock slowly. "They sent you here to 'get rid of me'?"
"They did."
"So what's with all the kidnapping?"
"I aim to be rid of them as well. Particularly the witch and her vampire boyfriend. Vampires and humans, can't have that you know. I learned from my vampire partner's mistakes. I took the others because I didn't want you showing up with the cavalry, but it appears I missed a few. Your friends are more abundant than I thought."
Tara stepped up next to Buffy. "We're also more resourceful than you know." She shut her eyes and took a deep breath. Willow felt her ropes loosening.
Maddock rushed forward. "Stop them!"
Willow jumped up and ran to Tara. She grabbed Tara's hands, and they turned to Buffy. Willow threw up one of her hands. The tranquilizer darts stopped three inches from Buffy's body. Tara raised her free hand and waved it. The darts flew back in the directions they came from. Several grunts indicated they met their intended targets. Devon had a knife out and was already cutting everyone loose when the zombies came from the other room.
Buffy grabbed Maddock's throat. "I don't think I'll let you destroy me today, Mr. Maddock." He pulled out a knife and slashed at her with it. She released his neck, and they began to circle each other.
Tara and Willow stepped out in front of the advancing zombies. Tara slowly raised her finger to them. "Goddess Bellona, call them home. Let these dead ones no longer roam." One by one the corpses that had been dug out of their graves dropped to the floor.
Maddock slashed at Buffy again. She grabbed his wrist and squeezed until he dropped the knife. Then she twisted his arm up behind his back painfully. "The Council's gonna have to do better than this if they really want to be rid of us, but are they ready for the fight? You sure weren't."
"You have to understand- AHHHHH!" She twisted his arm higher.
"No, you understand! They refused me when I needed them most! I'd always done my slayer duty, with lots of complaining and some resisting, yeah, but in the end I always did what was expected. I ask for one thing, and I'm denied. They won't help me, and I'm the one putting my ass on the line!"
"You're not like the others. We can't deal with you."
Spike steps up. "So you just kill her? Maybe I've taken too many hits to my head this week, but that has bloody well got to be the most ridiculous reasoning I've ever heard. 'Oh, the little slayer can think for herself. She has feelings for and relationships with vampires. Let's kill her!' Look how long she's bloody lasted, you wanker! Even I couldn't kill her when I was trying, and I've killed TWO slayers!"
Willow walked to Spike and put her arms around him. "It's never black and white in Sunnydale, Mr. Maddock."
"Not all demons want to destroy humanity and suck the world into hell." Xander lifted Anya's cast-less hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. She walked up to Maddock.
"I know vengeance when I see it. It was my business for eleven hundred years. Yours is unwarranted. Your council is being childish when they should feel pride."
Buffy twisted harder. He moaned. "But don't worry, you get to live. I don't kill humans."
"Oh come on, slayer. He barely qualifies." Spike stepped in. Willow stopped him with her hand.
"Spike." He turned and kissed her lightly. He pulled away and growled. The entire group was surrounded by vampires, and they were grossly outnumbered.
"I know I get to live, but I can't say the same for you, Miss Summers."
Riley grabbed Joyce and shoved her to the center of the group. They all began to pull in, unsure how to proceed. Buffy looked at Giles. He nodded. She shoved Maddock at him. Giles gripped the man's throat hard as the Ripper came out to play. Buffy dropped to one knee and dug through her duffle bag. She started handing out stakes and crosses.
"Get them, dammit." Maddock rasped out. He punched Giles, and the two of them started to fist fight as the vampires rushed the group.
Angel took another sharp turn that made Cordelia's elbow hit the door. "You know, Angel, we won't be much help to them if we die in a fiery car crash!" She received his trademark glare.
Buffy dusted another vampire and took a quick look around the room. Riley, Graham, and Forrest were doing their best to protect her mom. Devon was doing some serious damage with her crossbow. <I guess he wasn't boasting about knowing how to shoot straight.> And then she saw him.
Angel unsheathed his sword and kicked open the door. He ran in followed by Cordelia and Wesley who both carried crossbows. Dust started flying as the tables turned.
Cordelia looked for him in the fray. When she finally spotted Spike, a vampire was at his back with a stake raised. She knew this scene. She screamed and rushed towards them. Willow looked up. She plastered herself to Spike's back and felt the sharp wood pierce her shoulder as Cordelia tackled the vamp away.
Spike growled with rage as he saw the stake sticking out of Willow's shoulder. Willow looked at Cordelia struggling on the floor. She grabbed onto the stake and gritted her teeth. Spike placed his hands over hers, and she screamed as they pulled it out.
Cordelia jumped as the vampire on top of her turned to dust. Willow smiled at her as her eyes rolled back into her head. Spike caught her before she hit the ground.
Everyone was looking around in a state of shock as they brushed the dust off of themselves and each other. They stepped over the larger piles and the zombie bodies to stand close. Giles had Maddock in a headlock on the floor. Buffy stared at him. "I wasn't aware the Council had resorted to using vamps as their muscle these days."
"They haven't." Wesley stepped next to her. "But he's not with the Council any longer."
Maddock looked up at him. "Wesley?"
"Hello, Trevor. I can't believe you actually tried it."
Buffy looked at Wesley. "I think I speak for everyone when I say 'Huh?'."
"When you disassociated yourself from the Council, there was a small group that demanded you be killed for your insolence. The council refused, but Trevor, here, persisted. He was relieved of his position right before I was relieved of mine."
"They fired you over me?"
"And Faith. Best thing that could have happened really."
Giles let Maddock up. Everyone watched. He seemed defeated. Suddenly, he lunged grabbing the crossbow from Devon's hands. He aimed at Spike and Willow. Once again Cordelia just reacted. She grabbed Maddock and tried to wrestle the crossbow away. Its bolt fired hitting her in the thigh. She screamed and grabbed her leg.
"YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Wesley grabbed Angel's sword out of his hands and rammed it through Maddock's stomach. Then he put both hands on the hilt and sliced upwards. Maddock's eyes widened before he slumped over. Wesley yanked the blade out. Maddock's dead body fell to the floor. Wesley wiped the blade on his slacks and handed back to Angel. Everyone was just staring.
Giles smiled at him. "Good show, Wesley."
It was just before dawn in Giles' apartment. Angel was pacing and dividing his glares between Cordelia and Spike. Cordelia collapsed on the couch. Spike sat next to her and pulled Willow into his lap. Angel glared harder.
Riley kissed Buffy lightly before he left with Forrest and Graham. They had reminded her about the party that was supposed to be tonight. She walked back into the apartment to survey what was left of the group. Cordelia had her eyes closed. Spike was holding Willow. Angel was glaring and pacing. Her mother was sitting with her head on Giles' table. Tara and Devon occupied two of the other chairs. Xander and Anya were curled up on the floor. Wesley and Giles stood in the kitchen talking quietly. Devon stood and walked to Willow. She untangled herself from Spike and stood. He hugged her.
"So glad you're okay." He let go to see Cordelia looking at him. "Hey, Cordy, nice tackle earlier. You look great by the way."
"Thanks, Devon."
"Hey, Buffy, I'm going find a dark hole to sleep in. I'll see you guys later. Well, maybe not you, Cordy, so bye if I don't. Good to see you."
"Same here, Devon."
He looked to the table. "Does your mom need a ride home, Buffy? I'd be glad to."
Buffy smiled. "Yeah, thanks." She shook her mom. "Mom? Wake up. Devon's gonna take you home." Her mom mumbled something. "I'll just help her to your car."
Devon pointed at Tara. "You need a ride, superwitch?"
Tara giggled. "Sure. B-bye everybody. W-Willow call me." Willow nodded as Tara followed Buffy and her mom out the door. Devon looked Willow again.
"No matter what happens. I'm your friend. Nothing will change that. Just something for you to keep in mind, ok?" She nodded. She knew he was talking about when Oz came back. If he ever came back. Willow smiled. Devon kissed her cheek and left.
When Buffy walked back in to the apartment, Willow had her hands on her hips and was right in Angel's face, or as close as she could get to it.
"I don't think I care to hear your opinion of it. Buffy doesn't care. Why should you?"
"Buffy doesn't care about what?" She'd definitely missed something. Angel stomped over to her.
"They were kissing!" He waved an accusing finger at Spike and Willow. Buffy hoped she hadn't looked this psycho when she saw them kissing the first time, but somehow she knew she had.
"Couples do that, Angel."
Angel turned back to Willow. "You're WITH him!"
"I have been."
Spike grinned. "She has been a couple of times, Peaches." Angel growled.
"I'll bet they had the foreplay, too." Anya yawned.
"That's not what he meant!" Willow hissed. "It's not your business, Angel."
"It is so! I made him! He's my fault!"
Cordelia sighed. "He can't be all bad, Angel. After all, he's the one my vision said to save."
"WHAT!"
Cordelia shook herself. Damn. She HAD said that out loud. "Uh, yeah. The powers wanted us to save Spike. Imagine that."
"You said Buffy was in danger."
"Well, she was, wasn't she? It got you here, didn't it?"
"I can't believe you lied to me."
"Would you have come otherwise?" Angel didn't say anything. "Look, I'm really tired, and I had to have stitches put in my leg earlier."
Wesley stepped out of the kitchen. "We should find a motel room."
Buffy grabbed Giles' phone. She dialed a number. "Hey, Willie..... I'm ok........ They were by there?....... Yeah, they got there in time.......... Thanks.......... Listen they need a dark room for the day........ Cool........ Thanks." She hung up. "Willie's getting a room for you guys." Angel looked at her in shock. "He owes me a couple of favors, ok. It a long story."
Cordelia gave and exaggerated yawn. Angel glared at her. "Cordelia, you and Wesley go on ahead. I'll be there in a while." He grabbed Willow's arm. "Can I talk to you alone?" He drug her towards Giles' bedroom. Spike stood and growled. Angel growled back.
"Spike, it's ok" Willow put a hand on his arm. He sat down. Angel guided her to Giles' room.
"Well, Cordelia? Shall we?" Wesley held out his arm to her.
"Hold on." She walked towards Xander. He stood up. She stepped in and hugged him tighter than she ever had. Anya watched with a mixture of confusion and jealousy. Cordelia pulled away. "I've missed you. Amazingly. Who would've thought. You were a lousy boyfriend, Xander Harris, but you were also one of the best friends I've ever had. If you ever need me, you know where to find me. That goes for all of you." She headed out the door.
Wesley followed. He turned in the doorway to see their gaping faces. "She's had a life-altering couple of months in Los Angeles."
Willow sat on the bed as Angel paced. He hadn't said anything yet. She was tired of it. "Well?"
He stopped. "Well what?"
"You gonna pace and glare, or you plan on saying something?"
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"I can think of SEVERAL reasons."
"Let's hear 'em."
"He's a vampire."
"So are you. Besides, he can't bite me."
"He's violent and moody."
"Not with me."
"What about Oz?"
"Oz left."
"What about Drusilla?"
"Dru left too. Of course, she was never really here to begin with."
"He tried to kill you last year."
"And the year before that. It's past."
"He has no soul."
"No danger of losing it then." Angel cringed. "Look, I know you're concerned, but Buffy trusts him. And if she can, anybody should be able to."
"I'm not just anybody, Willow. I've known Spike for a long time. He never changes."
"But he has, Angel. I know you guys are never gonna best the best-est friends, but at least trust me to know my own heart."
"Oh God, you're in love with him."
Willow looked in the mirror. The dark green waitress dress was usually worn with a black tights, but tonight it was bare legs with doc boots. Her green socks peeked over the top of them. Not exactly dainty, but it showed off quite a lot of thigh and calf. Plus, the boots would assure solid footing for dancing with a very slim chance of her toes being smashed. Spike had snorted at her when she told him about the party. It was not his idea of fun- watching frat boys get drunk. Willow had explained that Riley and the guys weren't exactly 'frat', but he'd still declined. Then she had casually mentioned she'd be drinking. He growled at her and said maybe he'd stop by.
Angel was back in hell. He knew it. Neither Willow nor Spike had shown up yet. The party was very loud. Buffy had been plastered to that Riley guy all night. They just danced and danced. Cordelia was laughing at something that Forrest guy had just said while that guy Graham openly stared at her. Even Devon had showed, and apparently he'd decided to bring that Tara girl with him. Wesley had opted to go over to Giles' apartment, so they could 'catch up'. On what, Angel had no idea. And to top it off, Xander and Anya were right next to him making the most obscene noises he'd ever heard. And then she walked in.
Willow surveyed the room. She didn't see him, but she did see someone else. And, boy, did he look uncomfortable. Willow couldn't believe he came. She walked over to the sofa he was sitting on. "Hey, Angel, wanna dance?"
Xander moaned. "Yes, please!" He was off the couch with his arm around her waist before she could draw her next breath.
He began to whirl her around ballroom style. Willow just followed where he led, and he led her lots of places. His dancing was what Willow could only call a hybrid of swing and the minuet. The other partygoers were fascinated. He spun her out really quickly. Her dress twirled up to reveal her black cotton briefs. Several of the guys howled at her. She didn't care. It was the most fun she'd had in a really long time. She felt free. Angel twirled her back in and dipped her. She laughed. He laughed. Buffy cut in, and Angel spun Willow into Riley. Xander and Anya had joined the group, as well as Cordelia and Forrest. Then Devon busted in with his arms around Tara. They formed a circle and took turns doing silly dances in the center. Someone handed Willow a beer. She felt good.
He didn't want to go to the soddin' party. He wanted to be alone with Willow, but she wanted her party. He'd been content enough to stay home and let her go it alone, but then she said she planned on drinking. He could just see her getting drunk and some frat boy raping her while she was passed out. He'd been around. He knew what went on at those parties. He could hear the party before he actually saw it.
He walked into Lowell house and the first thing he saw was a large circle of people clapping and cheering something in the center. He walked towards the circle and squeezed in. His jaw dropped. Cordelia, Buffy, Anya, Tara, and his Willow were in the center doing the naughtiest dance he'd ever seen, and they all had beers in their hands. Willow had just rubbed her hands up the entire length of her body when her eyes met his. She ran to him and jumped into his arms. He caught her easy. She kissed him passionately.
Spike pulled back from the kiss and moved them away from the circle. She smiled up at him. "You look nice, Spike. I could eat you all up." She started to nibble on his neck. Spike pulled her away and sat them down on the sofa. Willow tried to get into his lap. He held her away. "What?"
"You're drunk."
"Am not."
"You are. I should take you home."
"Ok, party pooper, but we have to dance one dance."
"No."
"Spike, I danced with everyone else."
"Good for them, Love."
"But you're the one I wanted to dance with."
A slow song was playing. Spike sighed unnecessarily. He pulled Willow back into the crowd and wrapped his arms around her. He held her close and listened to the song.
That I would be loved even when I numb myself
That I would be good even when I am overwhelmed
That I would be loved even when I was fuming
That I would be good even if I was clingy
Spike rolled his eyes. He made eye contact with Angel. His sire was grinning at him. Spike moved, so he didn't have to see his face. He HATED Alanis Morissette. He listened again. <Oh, just perfect. Alanis was playing the soddin' flute in this one.> Spike gritted his teeth. Then it was over, and someone put in Korn. This was more like it. Everyone started to jump and thrash around them. Willow tried to pull away, but Spike held her close. They were the only ones swaying slowly to 'Falling Away From Me'.
Buffy thought it made an interesting picture. People were practically moshing on top of them, yet, Spike and Willow were managing to have the sweetest slow dance she'd ever seen to a very unromantic song. <Beating me down into the ground?> Angel stood next to her.
"Why do you trust him?"
Buffy looked up at him. "It's about time."
"What?"
"I know you've been wanting to ask that since you got here."
"Well?"
"I didn't really until a few days ago."
"What changed?"
"He played the not-so-human shield with my mom. He saved her life."
"Really?"
"Even you would've been impressed."
"So how long has the thing with Willow been happening?"
"Not long. Anya says she thought they were going for a sexual tension record for a while there."
He laughed. "I can't say I'm happy about it, but who am I to judge, right?"
Buffy smiled. It was good to just talk to him without being uncomfortable. "Dance with me, Angel."
"What about Riley?"
"We're friends, aren't we? Friends can dance."
"I seem to remember Spike telling us we'd never be friends."
"Just mind your hands, and we'll have no problems."
He laughed again. He really missed her company. They started dancing next to Willow and Spike. He looked at them and smiled. They did look good together.
Willow was laying on her bed reading a chapter in her American Lit book. She had no patience for it. It dealt with the journal entries of Cotton Mather around the time of the Salem witch trials. Such ignorance. She slammed the book shut. She refused to read any more of it. Cordelia, Angel, and Wesley had left two nights ago. Cordelia had hugged her. She'd hugged Spike. She'd even hugged Buffy. Willow would love to know what had gone on with her in LA. She seemed to be beyond all the pain Sunnydale had left her. Willow was glad. People needed to move out of pain. She wondered when she had. Spike had filled a void in her life. They said you never knew what you were missing 'til it arrived. And he had arrived. Had he ever.
Willow rolled hard across the ground. It was bigger than the other one, if possible. Spike landed next to her with a grunt. Willow looked up to see Buffy decapitate the demon. It fell to the ground splattering orange goo all over them. She swung the ax. "I never get tired of that."
Willow looked at Spike. He had orange goo in his hair. "It's in your hair."
He looked at her. "It's on your crotch. Want me to wipe it off, Pet?"
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Hormones on parade, let's go." She stalked off swinging the ax.
Spike helped Willow to her feet. He brushed some hair and goo off her forehead. She lightly kissed him. He loved this part. They'd slayed the demon. Well, the slayer had. And now he got the girl. He just LOVED this part. "You take a fall like no one, Love."
"Right into you half the time. Like a bowling ball and the pins."
"Do you see me complaining, Pet?" He kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and ran her nails lightly up the back of his head. He moaned into her mouth.
"COME ON!" Spike and Willow pulled apart. Willow laughed. Buffy was waving the ax at them. She looked ridiculous, covered in bright orange goo waving that ax. They started following the slayer out of the cemetery. Spike draped his arm over Willow's shoulders.
"It occurs to me, Red. You never did tell me what you thought I said that night."
"What night?"
"When I told you that you might want to duck, and you just stared at me."
She turned red. "Oh. That night."
"Yeah. What was it."
"Well, the word rhymed with duck."
Spike thought about it. She was being too embarrassed and vague. What was it exactly he'd said? <Pet, you might want to duck. Rhymes, huh? Auck? Buck? Cuck? Euck? Fuck? FUCK!>
Spike started to chuckle. "Pet, you might want to fuck?" She grinned and blushed. "How interesting. Wishful thinking, love?"
"I think I already got that wish, don't you?" She put her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. He grabbed the back of her head, and the kiss turned more forceful.
"HEY! 'Got the mojo' twins! Quit groping and let's go!" Buffy had her hands on her hips again.
Willow slipped her hand in Spike's and followed Buffy. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it. She was falling again. She just loved this part.
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