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17 Stories
 
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Chapter 17 - Stories

Spike lay awake for some time after Buffy drifted off, her soft shape snuggled against him. Afterglow wasn’t something he usually had. It had been a long time since he’d shared his bed with someone he cared about. And that someone had never been human before.

He could hear her heart beating, feel the blood rushing through her. She smelled incredible. But the thought of doing his usual never crossed his mind.

He’d never held a human this long, he realized. It was pleasant enough, but maybe that was just because it was Buffy. She was settled next to him so easily. It was unnatural for him to want her the way he did, and to want her as she was—alive.

He’d wanted her. And now he had her.

But a part of Spike had no idea what he was supposed to do with her now. He’d never thought this far ahead.

Buffy made a small noise, shifting closer to him. Spike let his hand brush over her hair. ‘What to do now’ could come tomorrow.

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Spike woke up sometime in the middle of the night, almost regretting waking when he remembered the dream he’d had. Then he realized that there was a warm body spooned against him, her heartbeat thundering in his ears.

Buffy.

He tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

“Is this just some one night stand?” she asked.

Spike hadn’t realized she was awake. She was so relaxed; her breathing and heartbeat were low and steady. That, and the fact that he was still reeling that she was actually there.

“What?” he said.

“It feels like one. Is it?”

“No.”

“How can you be sure?”

Because I didn’t drain you during sex. “You’re special.”

She shifted. “That’s what—someone else said, once. And this, it was nice, really nice, but it was really fast. It just happened.”

“You having regrets, love?”

“No! No, it’s just, you’re not, are you?” She was still facing away from him, but he could hear the uncertainty in her voice.

“I’m still gonna be here in the morning, y’know,” he said in her ear. “It’s my place.”

Buffy actually giggled. “Is it that obvious?”

“You got burned,” he said. “Was it that bloke you mentioned before?”

“Riley? No. Riley was sweet, nice. Maybe too nice. It was someone I knew at college. Briefly knew. He got what he wanted, and then I wasn’t real to him anymore.”

“You’re real.” Spike pressed his lips to her shoulder. She was so real, so here with him.

“Tell me something real,” she said quietly. “About you.”

“Like what?”

“Something. Anything. I don’t know anything about you, which kind of floats back to my one night stand theory. How about your life story?”

He hesitated. “That’s a long story, pet.”

How long, exactly?”

“I was turned about the end of last century,” he said carefully. Spike could almost see Buffy doing the math in her head.

Unexpectedly, she laughed, her shoulders shaking against him. “So, not thirty-one. Keep going.”

“Met my salvation in an alley. I was struck with her.” He paused, propping his head up with one hand. He could see the side of Buffy’s face, but he stared at the bed as he continued. “She turned me and everything was new. For weeks we painted the town red, just me and her. Then she took me back to this house, sayin’ I had to meet the ‘family,’ the two other vamps she was with—didn’t take long to figure out they called the shots. But I didn’t care, long as I had Dru. Also didn’t take long to figure out that I didn’t. I was her ‘shining knight,’ but she was always hung up on her daddy, and he made it clear whose she was.”

“Her daddy?”

“The vamp that made her,” Spike clarified.

“Oh.”

“Wasn’t long, though, before he left. Cursed or something. The other bitch left, too. I don’t think she ever really cared for me and Dru, at least not me. Those were good years, then. The two of us went all over the world—lived it up, even durin’ the wars.

“Got caught by a mob in Prague in the sixties. Nearly killed her. I took care of her, gave her everything she needed. After a few years, we tracked down her cure, sire’s blood—”

“Sire?”

“The vamp that made her,” he said, glancing down.

“Oh,” Buffy said. “Right.”

“Right. So, we track him down and set up this neat little ritual. I figured it would kill him, but just left him completely drained. Didn’t matter though, she was strong again.” He paused. “She insisted we take the wanker with us—wouldn’t leave her daddy all helpless like that. Couldn’t say no to her. I should have. Dru spent all her time doting on him, tryin’ to get him to eat. He wouldn’t, not even from her.

“Later his sire turned up again, sayin’ she felt his weakness or call or whatnot. She forced him to drink from her and suddenly he was back to his arrogant, swaggering self. Never got back to full strength, even after years, but Dru was thrilled. Her daddy was back, but weak, and needed her help with all sorts of things—

“I started leavin’ for periods, just to get away from the lot. Sometimes I tried to get Dru to come with me. We could be like we were before, I told her. In New York I killed a Slayer for her, but she didn’t even notice. So one day I up and left. Came out here.”

“How long ago was that?” She threaded her fingers through the hand that rested around her.

“Twenty years or so. I tripped around for a while. Heard about the gem and dug it up in a hellhole town full of idiot vamps. Half of ’em don’t even know what’s beneath ’em. I got a few jobs here by accident and started to get a reputation. Liked the cash and the fun, and took up shop, so to speak. I decided I had good setup, so I stuck around, mostly.”

Spike fell silent for a moment. “Uh, sorry. Sure you didn’t wanna hear all about my ex after we—didn’t mean to talk about her so much. I s’pose you wanted to hear about what the old days were like, or France or something.”

“It’s fine.” Buffy shrugged. “I wanted your story, and it sounds like she kinda was your story.” She paused. “Do you miss her?”

“Used to. But not for years. And certainly not now.” He pulled her closer and nibbled at her ear. “Dru was what she was. Did I mention the part about her being insane?”

“Everyone’s ex is insane.”

“Like clinically.”

Buffy twisted around to look at him. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah. Half the time, she didn’t have a buggerin’ clue what was goin’ on. Though sometimes she got visions, real ones, about what was gonna happen. But Dru was completely out of her mind. Played with dolls that talked to her and looked at the stars through the ceiling. I took care of her, would have done anything for her. But I was always number two when it came down to it.”

“Well,” Buffy said after a moment, “that makes my failed high school romance and one night stand seem considerably less baggage-y. You had a whole Rhett and Scarlett thing going on.” She paused. “Well, except that Scarlett really loved Rhett in the end. Er, I should probably stop talking.”

“Keep talkin’—about you.”

She sighed, dropping her head back to the mattress. “Everything’s crashing. Crime lords and vampires are after me.”

“Only vampires now.”

“That’s so much better? And I don’t even know why.”

“We’ll figure it out, pet,” Spike said, leaning to see her face.

“And Mom and Dad are getting a divorce.”

“Knew that, didn’t we?” he asked, slightly thrown by her change of topic.

“Yeah, but they’re really being fast about it. Dad left the same morning you did. I think Mom kicked him out or something. He’s been sleeping at the office. Or a hotel, I’m not really sure which. I haven’t seen her speak to him at all, though they must have worked something out.”

She stared blankly at the wall as she continued. “Mom told me they’re selling the house. And she gets to keep everything. He’s also going to be sending her money each year. Like alimony, but unofficial? I think they made some sort of deal where she’s not turning him in. I haven’t spoken to Dad, either. I know I should feel bad that I’m more upset about the house being sold than my parents getting a divorce, but I’m not.”

“Perfectly understandable, considerin’ the circumstances.”

“I mean, I don’t want anything to do with him, so I’m not surprised that Mom feels the same way. I’m not sure what I’ll do next semester. I might live with Mom, wherever she gets a place, or I could try the dorms, I guess.”

Buffy fell silent, and then turned to glance at him. “How late is it?”

“Two, maybe three.”

“Guess I’ve got to stay until morning.” She immediately frowned. “Ugh. Now I’m sounding one-night-standy.”

Spike smirked. “You’re forgettin’ one thing, pet.”

“What’s that?”

“You don’t have a car here. You’re at my mercy until daylight.”

“Oh, am I?” Buffy giggled. “What will I do until morning?”

Spike grinned, his hand skimming up her body. “I’m sure we can think of something.”

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A/N: I've written an NC-17 one shot that continues Buffy and Spike’s first night together. It takes place between chapters 17 and 18, and is posted separately HERE.
 
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