The Garden of Good and Evil by Persephone

Chapter #1 - Surrounded By Blondes

Chapter 1 – Surrounded By Blondes London, 1880 “Have you chosen what you will wear to the Underwood’s birthday celebration this evening?” Anne asked as William descended the stairs, smiling warmly as she noticed crimson cover his cheeks. “Cecily will undoubtedly look magnificent. She has always been a striking beauty.” “Y-yes,” William stammered as he began to walk towards the back of their home. “I will change into more suitable attire after we dine.” “Please send my regards to Cecily,” Anne replied, sitting down on a chaise lounge in the parlor. “If I was in better health, I would attend, but-” “I will be sure to inform the Underwoods of your condition,” he said, nodding briefly. “I believe I left my journal in the garden.” “Be careful of where you leave that lying about,” Anne warned, beginning to cough for a moment into the handkerchief she was clutching. “Someone might come upon it and sell all of your lovely poems.” “My poetry is horrid,” William muttered, looking at his feet. “Everyone thinks so.” “I adore listening to your writings.” Anne cleared her throat again, quickly reaching for a small glass of water and taking several sips before continuing. “You are the most talented son a mother could hope for.” “Thank you, Mother,” he said, giving her a small smile before exiting through the back door and walking through the garden, spotting his black leather journal on a marble bench. As he made his way towards it, his eyes widened when he saw his young neighbor get there first, grabbing the book and sitting down as she paged through it. “Tessa, put that down,” he said sternly, holding out his hand expectantly. “Please return it to me.” “Do you write about love?” she asked curiously, peering up at him through her eyelashes. “It is not prudent to write about topics one has not yet experienced,” he answered, opting to sit beside her. “Who do you write about?” she asked, handing him the journal. “A blonde girl with bouncing curls that lives in the home next to yours?” “As much as I am fond of you, I do not-” “It was simply wishful thinking,” Tessa replied, interrupting him before he could hurt her feelings more. “Father returned several minutes ago from one of his journeys out to the countryside. I should return inside and inquire as to how it went.” She stood up and took several steps in the direction of her house, pausing a few feet away and keeping her back to him as she said, “Cecily is a lucky woman to have a man like you adore her so.” “One day you will have admirers, Tessa,” William said, standing. “And you will marry, have children, and lead a wonderful life.” “I wish it could be with you,” she said as she continued walking. He watched her for a long moment before sitting down once again and opening his journal, turning to a blank page and beginning to write. Perhaps he could make amends with her by leaving a poem on her doorstep before he left for the Underwoods’ home. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 “Bloody bitch,” Spike swore, furious. “Why must she ruin every plan I come up with?” “We’ll find another way to get your chip out,” Harmony replied, trying to keep up with his pace as he stormed through the cemetery and towards his crypt. “Then you’ll be back to normal, Spikeykins.” “I don’t like your nicknames,” he growled, turning on his heel and narrowing his eyes at her. “Why don’t you bugger off, Harm? I’m sure there are tasty teenagers in town – go feed… for a month or two.” “But Spikey,” she replied, pouting as she moved closer to him. “Don’t you feel like working off some of your tension on me?” “Not tonight,” he said, pushing her away. “Find someone else to scratch your itch.” Before she could protest, he went into his crypt and slammed the door. She sighed sadly and ignored the tears that were forming in her eyes. “I wish he’d respect me. Why do all men treat me like I’m nothing?” The figure in the shadows a few feet away watched the depressed vampire turn and walk towards the entrance of the cemetery, quietly talking to herself the entire way. “Well, it seems you haven’t changed much, William,” the young blonde girl said, amused. “Still breaking hearts left and right, just like what you did to me all those years ago. I think it’s time you get what you deserve.” She quickly followed the other blonde woman, catching up to her outside of a run-down bar. She grabbed her arm, squeezing it tightly and delighting in the pain-filled gasp she heard. “Who are you?” Harmony asked, trying to wrench her arm free but failing. “Someone who can be of service,” the young girl answered. “I have a proposition for you.” “Gross,” Harmony said, making a face. “I don’t swing that way. Why do female vampires always hit on me?” “I didn’t mean a sexual proposition,” the other blonde said, annoyed. “Good,” Harmony replied, relieved. “You’re a little too young for me, anyways.” “I’m a lot older than you think I am.” “I’m sure you are,” Harmony said good-naturedly, not believing her at all. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?” “It seems you and I have a friend in common, a friend who has treated us both very poorly.” “Yeah, and who is that?” Harmony asked. The girl smirked and crossed her arms under her chest. “I believe you know him as Spike.” “What about him?” the other vampire asked. “And how do you know my Spike?” “He was in my life long before he entered yours. I knew him before he became the vampire he is today, when he was meek and sweet and didn’t have it in his heart to hurt the women around him.” “Who are you?” Harmony asked again, noticing a glint in the girl’s eyes. “My name is Tessa,” she answered simply. A chill raced through Harmony’s already cold body as she felt the power lacing the other vampire’s words, causing her to rethink doubting the girl’s capabilities based off of her young appearance. Suddenly, the idea of hurting Spike didn’t seem like such a bad one – hurting him like he had hurt her off and on over the course of the prior year would serve him right. “What did you have in mind?” Harmony asked quietly. ~~~~~~~~~~ A/N This story will be a Spuffy story – I just needed to lay the foundation for the fic first before I start delving into the meat of it. More will be revealed about William/Spike’s past with Tessa in the next few chapters, and Buffy will be involved in the next chapter. Any comments are welcome! This is my first fic, so please be gentle on me!

Chapter #2 - Budding Alliances

Sunnydale, 2000 “So, you’re like, super old?” Harmony giggled as she drank the rum and Coke the bartender had given her. “I’m one hundred and thirty-two years old,” Tessa answered, managing to remain calm despite how annoying the other vampire was. “I’ve only been a vampire for one hundred and twenty of those years.” “You were…” Harmony looked up at the cracked ceiling as she tried to do the math in her head. “Twelve when I was turned, yes,” Tessa replied, ordering another drink for herself, knowing it would alleviate the irritation she felt as she spent more time with Spike’s latest conquest. “How old were you?” “Barely eighteen,” Harmony answered. “I’ve only been a vamp for a year and a half.” “Well, you seem to have adjusted well,” Tessa said sadly, sipping from the cup in her hand. “I know I didn’t revel in my change for several years.” “Why not?” Harmony asked curiously, looking at her. “I was in denial,” Tessa said, focusing intently on the shards of ice floating at the surface of her drink. “I thought that perhaps if I was good, I would be rewarded by returning to my human self.” She quickly finished her drink, becoming angry as memories flooded her head. “Then one night, I realized that being a vampire apparently was my destiny, and I guess I decided it was time to embrace it.” “It’s not a bad lifestyle,” Harmony replied. “It can be. I’ve had… difficulties when it comes to being taken seriously. Minions in the past have turned on me, claiming I wasn’t ‘master material’. I’m older than most vampires around, but yet, I’m still seen as a child. Spending eternity trapped in this body has been a nightmare at times.” Tessa took out money from one of the pockets of her black pants and put it on the bar as she stood up. “You never told me why you dislike Spike so much,” Harmony said, looking at the smaller vampire. “He’s the reason I’m still in this world, even though I should’ve been dead and buried decades ago,” Tessa answered, upset. “I was supposed to get married and have children, just like he told me a couple of days before…” “Before what?” “Before I became a vampire,” Tessa said. “Before he turned me into a creature of the night.” ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 “Pretty William, look at what you have done,” Drusilla said as she watched him lower his dead mother onto a chair. “Her soul lies with the angels now.” “Like yours and mine,” William replied, looking at his mother, now paler than before from blood loss. “She will turn into one of us now, yes? I completed the procedure correctly?” Drusilla hummed a song to herself as she began to twirl around in place. He smiled at her whimsical demeanor and took her hand in his, pulling her closer to his body. She giggled and began to dance with him, pleased when he allowed her to lead their steps. “Shall I bury her?” he asked. “Like you buried me?” Drusilla didn’t answer, focusing more on dancing to a beat only inside her head. “Perhaps I should send for the local mortician.” He broke away from her and walked to the front door of his childhood home. “I wish to go look at the stars,” she replied, twirling again in the opposite direction of William. “I will come for you once I finish finding a way to contact the doctor,” he said, watching her walk through the back door before he went upstairs to the servants’ quarters. After asking the family’s maid to quickly go to speak with the city’s mortician about his mother, William returned to the main level of the house and looked in on his mother before walking through the house and going outside. Drusilla was standing in the center of the garden, her back to him. He slowly approached her, grinning devilishly as he thought about how they would spend the rest of the night. “Drusilla,” he said, getting her attention. She looked over her shoulder at him, her vampire visage covering her face, blood on her mouth and fangs. Her amber eyes flashed at him as he quickly walked closer, noticing the small body that she was clutching. When he realized who she had bitten, his eyes widened in disbelief and shock. “Tessa?” He took the young girl away from Drusilla, hearing her heartbeat slow down even more as death began to course through her. “She tasted like apples,” Drusilla said, delighted. “Still warm from the sunlight.” “You kill children?” William asked, disgusted at the thought. “They feed my appetite,” Drusilla answered, lifting up the bottom of her skirt a little as she began spinning around in circles. He ignored her maniacal laughter as he studied Tessa, tightening his hold on her as he realized what he should do, what he owed her. “I have always promised you I would protect you,” he whispered, carrying her over to the bench they had sat in days earlier and stroking her hair. “I shall never break my promise to you.” He brought his wrist to his lips and closed his eyes as he felt his face change and his fangs elongate inside his mouth. He opened his eyes and focused on an intrigued Drusilla as he cut open his wrist with one of his fangs before holding it to the dying girl’s mouth, hoping she would drink from it. As he felt her tentatively lick at the cut, he smiled with relief, surprised when Drusilla walked to them and crouched down in front of the girl. “Will she be my dolly?” Drusilla gently pulled on one of Tessa’s blonde curls. “She will be ours to look after,” he replied, happy that Drusilla didn’t seem upset with him. “And Mother will look after all of us.” “Like one happy family,” Drusilla said, clapping excitedly. “Like a family,” William agreed, smiling. “I cannot wait to introduce you to Angelus and Darla,” Drusilla replied. “We shall all live together, hunt together… play together.” “Who are Angelus and Darla?” he asked, not familiar with their names. “You will soon find out.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 The following night, Spike watched as the Slayer walked through the cemetery, in the direction of his crypt. He followed her slowly, stopping a few feet behind her when she knocked on his crypt’s door. “What’s the occasion?” he asked, raising an eyebrow when she turned around quickly and looked at him. “You never knock – you always let yourself in. What prompted the change?” “I was asked to tell you that you’re invited to a party at the Bronze on Friday night for Tara’s birthday,” Buffy said. “She seems to like having you around, although I have no idea why.” “You were doing so well with being nice, but then you had to muck it up,” he replied, shaking his head. “Why didn’t she ask me herself? Why would she send you, of all people?” “I had to patrol, so I guess she figured why not have me kill two birds with one stone?” she replied, shrugging. “I’d rather it be birds than a shaggable vampire like me,” he said, smirking. “And to that, an extreme see you later,” she said, beginning to walk away. “Buffy,” he called out after her, surprised when she stopped walking but kept her back to him. “Tell the good witches I’ll be there.” “And you won’t do anything to ruin the night?” she asked, looking over her shoulder and leveling him with a cold gaze. “I like the bird – I’m not going to do anything to make the night less than enjoyable for her,” he answered, digging his cigarettes out of his duster and finding his lighter before lighting a cigarette and taking a drag from it. “I’m holding you to that,” she said, frowning when he grinned. “What?” “You’re holding me?” he asked, amused. “Didn’t know you wanted to touch me, Slayer.” “Yuck,” she replied, making a disgusted face as she began to walk once again. “Should I be wary of you on Friday, luv? If you’re going to do something inappropriate to me, I think I should know in advance,” he said, chuckling when she flipped him off. “Should I take that as a yes, then?” “Go to hell,” she replied, loud enough for him to hear. “Won’t go to hell unless someone stakes me,” he said, opening the door of his crypt. “That an invitation?” She turned to see his annoyed expression before smiling and turning once again. “Night, Spike.” He watched her go and finished his cigarette before flicking the butt away and sighing. “Too bad she won’t shag me – I’d like to live out that dream I had yesterday after I went at it with Harm.” Harmony was crouching carefully in a nearby tree, scowling as she heard what he had said and ignoring the tears that started to form in her eyes. “You’ll get what you deserve,” she whispered, focusing on his crypt. “She’ll make sure of that.” A/N Thank you to everyone who reviewed chapter 1! I'm happy everyone seems to like the story so far! I forgot to mention it before, but I will be changing around and omitting some of the things that happened in season 5 for purposes of moving the plot along.

Chapter #3 - When Youth Attacks

Chapter 3 – When Youth Attacks Sunnydale, 2000 “So, what did you find out for me?” Tessa asked as Harmony walked into the mansion she was staying in, coincidentally the same one Drusilla and Spike had shared with Angelus years before. She had felt strangely drawn to it when she arrived in town. “Did you see him?” “I think he has a thing for Buffy,” Harmony muttered, wiping off her cheeks as more tears threatened to spill over. “He said something about having a dream about her after we… you know. And you should’ve seen them talking! I could feel the tension between them, and I was a few feet away – I think there’s something there.” “Ah yes, Buffy Summers, one of the Slayers,” Tessa replied, smiling. “He has always fallen for women that he can’t have… and settles for whatever he can get, it seems.” “What?” Harmony asked, not understanding what she meant. “Nothing,” Tessa said dismissively, waving it off. “You believe he’s pining for the Slayer?” “How gross is that?” Harmony’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “She’s not even that pretty!” “How much do you know about her?” Tessa asked curiously, tilting her head in a way that was reminiscent of what Spike often did. “Well, she was a loser in high school,” Harmony said, sitting on a worn-down chair across from where Tessa was seated. “You should’ve seen what she used to wear – she was one of the biggest fashion victims, second only to her friend Willow. Actually, Xander was pretty bad, too – maybe they’re good friends because they all dress awfully.” “These friends of hers,” Tessa began, standing up. “Do any of them pose a threat?” “Are you kidding?” Harmony asked, giggling. “Xander fights like a girl – I could break him without any trouble.” “Why haven’t you, then?” “I… don’t know,” Harmony answered, frowning. “Willow’s a witch – she could be a problem.” “I’ve come up against witches before,” Tessa said. “I’m not concerned.” “Then there’s Buffy’s Watcher, but he’s old,” Harmony replied. “I doubt he’d be too hard to kill. Xander’s girlfriend Anya used to be a vengeance demon, but she doesn’t have any power now, and Willow has a girlfriend who is a witch, too. The only other person in Buffy’s life that could be potentially helpful on her team is her boyfriend Riley. He used to be a soldier until Buffy and her friends somehow managed to shut down the Initiative.” “The Initiative?” Tessa asked, thinking for a moment. “I think I’ve heard about it but only in passing.” “Yeah, it was a pretty scary place, I’ve been told,” Harmony said. “They captured demons and vampires and did experiments on them. That’s where Spike got his chip.” “Wait, excuse me?” Tessa asked. “What chip?” “He told me it’s a behavior-modification chip,” Harmony said, carefully pronouncing the bigger words. “It won’t let him harm humans in any way. He can’t hit them, bite them-” “He can’t bite humans?” Tessa asked, her eyes widening when Harmony shook her head. “Can he fight other vampires?” “Yeah,” Harmony said, shrugging. “He can fight anything that’s not fully human.” “Interesting.” Tessa began slowly pacing, her mind racing as she thought about the new information. “Very interesting.” “We tried to get his chip taken out, but Buffy messed up our plans,” Harmony said. “The doctor who looked at the chip didn’t seem to think it could be taken out, something about it being too complicated.” “That doesn’t mean it can’t ever be removed, does it?” “I don’t really know.” Harmony got up and headed to the door. “Is there anything else I should know about Buffy or her friends?” Tessa asked, watching the other vampire “Well, I guess if anything major happened, Angel would probably come running back to Sunnydale to help,” Harmony answered. “Angel?” Tessa tensed, looking down as memories of her time with Angelus flooded her head. “Yeah, Angel,” Harmony said. “He was dating Buffy a couple of years ago, and Spike told me that he lost his soul when he had sex with her. Something about a curse and true happiness – I’m not too sure about the details. But he left after the high school blew up and moved to Los Angeles.” “Sit down,” Tessa said sharply, pointing to a chair. “It seems we have a lot more to discuss.” ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 “William, I feel hungry,” Tessa whined, rubbing her stomach. “We will find someone to feed off of soon,” he replied, taking her little hand in his and squeezing it as they walked into the hotel Drusilla had led them to. “Why is Anne not with us?” Tessa asked quietly, noticing a pained look cross his face. “Bad William put a piece of wood through her heart and watched her ashes fall to the ground,” Drusilla said, smiling pleasantly. “She is gone from this world now.” “I am sorry,” Tessa replied, looking up at William. “She was a nice lady.” “Yes, she was,” he agreed, motioning for her to follow Drusilla ahead of him so that he could ensure her safety as they moved through the hotel lobby. They arrived in front of a door a few moments later, and Drusilla let them inside of the hotel room, letting all three vampires walk in. Tessa looked around in awe, surprised by the room’s décor. “I have never been in a room this grand,” she whispered, tugging on William’s hand. “It is lovely,” he agreed, nodding slightly. “Well, what have we here?” a man’s voice asked from nearby. William and Tessa turned around to see a brunette man standing in the doorway of a room, watching them with an amused expression. “I have two new dollies for us,” Drusilla said, grinning proudly. “Angelus, this is William, my childe.” “You sired a man?” Angelus asked, pleased. “It will be nice to have another man with us.” He paused. “Although, I do love having two women at my side – it opens up so many possibilities for us during our leisure time.” He gave Drusilla a wicked look and turned his attention to the girl slightly hiding behind William. “And who is this precious girl?” “Tessa is my… childe,” William answered, sneaking a glance at Drusilla to make sure he had used the word correctly. “I have never heard of a vampire turning a human so quickly after being sired,” Angelus said, surprised. “I did not think it was possible, for that matter.” “Everything is possible,” William replied, feeling a sense of worry wash over him as Angelus began to walk towards him. “I love fair-haired young girls,” Angelus said, reaching out to stroke Tessa’s hair, but William pulled her back before his hand could make contact. Angelus smirked and studied William. “You have no reason to protect her – I was not going to harm her.” “She is mine to protect,” William said. “I am her guardian now.” “Where is Darla?” Drusilla asked, looking around. “I want her to meet them.” “We had a fight,” Angelus answered, shrugging. “She will be back soon, I am sure. She never stays away for too long.” He looked at Tessa and delighted in the innocence that was radiating from her. “In the meanwhile, how about we become more acquainted with our new friends?” Tessa swallowed hard and looked up at William, feeling dread course through her as she saw the nervous look on his face, knowing inwardly that perhaps he wouldn’t be able to save her all of the time… or from a vampire like Angelus. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 “Spike, you came!” Dawn said excitedly as the vampire snuck up behind her and tugged on her hair gently to get her attention. “Did you really think I’d miss Tara’s party?” he asked, smiling. “Where is she?” “Dancing with Willow,” Dawn answered, motioning to the dance floor. “Feel like dancing with me?” “Maybe later, Nibblet,” he said, looking around. “Where are the rest of the Scoobies?” “They’re around somewhere,” she said. “Buffy’s playing pool with Xander, and Anya was talking to Tara before she started dancing.” “No Riley?” he asked, surprised. “I guess not,” Dawn answered. “I think Buffy and Riley had a fight or something – they haven’t been seeing each other as much as before.” “Is that right?” he asked, biting back a grin. “I didn’t know there was trouble in paradise.” “Well, now that he’s not as strong as he used to be, Buffy’s trying to keep him away from doing dangerous stuff,” she replied. “She doesn’t want him to get hurt.” “That’s too bad,” he murmured. “I wouldn’t mind hurting him.” “What was that?” Dawn asked, looking at him. “Nothing,” he replied. “I should go say hello to the witches.” “Then can we dance?” she asked with a hopeful look on her face. “We’ll see, pidge,” he said, smiling. “I’m not much of a dancer.” “Okay,” she replied, looking down. “You’re still my girl, though,” he said, patting her hand before walking away. Above them, Tessa leaned against the balcony’s railing, hiding in the shadows and listening to Spike’s conversation with the young girl. “I guess some things really don’t change, do they?” she asked herself. “Young girls still fall at his feet.” She saw the girl stand up and walk towards the bathrooms, all alone. Tessa cautiously walked down the stairs, making sure Spike was nowhere in sight and would not see her. She followed after the girl and let herself into the bathroom, watching the brunette stand in front of a mirror and run her hands through her long hair. “Hello,” Tessa said, smiling at her. “Hi,” Dawn said quietly, jumping slightly when she heard the girl’s voice, not expecting to see someone else around her age at the Bronze. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you from around here?” “No, I’m actually from overseas,” Tessa answered. “You have an accent,” Dawn replied. “You sound a lot like one of my friends.” “Really?” Tessa asked, pretending to be surprised. “Must be a coincidence.” “Must be,” Dawn said, trying to leave the bathroom, but Tessa blocked the door and grinned at her. “What are you doing?” “Can’t we talk for a bit?” Tessa asked. “You know, like girls.” “I should get back out there,” Dawn said, trying once more to move past Tessa but failing. “Let me go.” “Sorry, can’t,” Tessa said, grabbing Dawn’s shoulders and pushing her up against a wall, happy when she heard the small gasp from the other girl. “I have plans for you, little girl.” “W-what?” Dawn asked, stammering over the word as pain raced through her body. “We’re about to become good friends,” Tessa said. “Don’t you want that?” “No,” Dawn managed to get out, angry when Tessa slapped her across the face. “That’s not the answer I was looking for,” she replied. “Bad girls always get punished.” Tessa’s face vamped out, and as she lowered her head to Dawn’s neck, Dawn tried to scream, but Tessa covered her mouth with her hand quickly and sank her fangs into the girl’s throat, feeling power course through her as she fed off of her, noticing that her pulse slowed down drastically. When Dawn fell out of consciousness, Tessa carefully carried the girl out of the bathroom and snuck out through a back door, walking out into the night air with the Slayer’s sister in her arms. A/N Thank you to everyone who has been reviewing – I appreciate feedback! The story is going to get a lot darker in the next chapter and will remain that way for a while, but be patient – there will be Spuffyness once Riley is out of the picture.

Chapter #4 - While the Cat’s Away

WARNING: The flashback in this chapter is very dark, so if you don’t wish to read it, please avoid it. It’s your own choice to read it or not, so please don’t flame me for it. Chapter 4 – While the Cat’s Away Sunnydale, 2000 “Giles, my sister is missing!” Buffy shouted after searching the Bronze for an hour, trying to find Dawn or any hint of where she went. “We need to find her now!” “Where would she go?” Willow asked calmly, looking at Buffy. “Do you think she would go home?” “Dawn’s not stupid enough to go home by herself,” Spike replied. Buffy looked at him, angry. “If I find out that Harmony took her again, you won’t have time to stop me from staking both of you.” “Why me?” he asked, becoming equally as angry as Buffy. “I like your kid sister – she doesn’t treat me like I’m nothing.” “But your girlfriend might have my sister!” she yelled. “Harmony’s not my girlfriend,” he replied, clenching his fists. “I haven’t seen the bint in a couple of days – I don’t even know if she’s still in town.” “Buffy, one of us would’ve seen Harmony, don’t you think?” Xander asked. “She’s kind of hard to miss, and she’d want us to know she was around. Plus, I don’t think she’d be dumb enough to do what she did a couple of weeks ago.” “This is Harmony we’re talking about,” Buffy said sharply. “Yes, she is that dumb.” “Where would Harmony hide out if she’s not staying with you?” Tara asked Spike. “I don’t know,” he answered. “A hotel, another crypt, an apartment…” “Can’t you be more specific?” Buffy asked. “How the hell am I supposed to know where she’d go?” Spike shot back. “I don’t know Harmony that well – I only keep her around for shagging.” “Tell me something I don’t know,” Buffy replied before looking at her friends. “Alright, we need to do a full sweep of the town. I’m going to go home and see if she’s there and just isn’t answering the phone. You guys should split up and see what you can find out. Call me if you find her or a trace of her.” “I’ll check the cemeteries,” Spike said, turning around and beginning to walk away. “I wasn’t joking about staking you and Harmony if she’s behind this,” Buffy said, causing him to stop in his tracks and look over his shoulder. “I wouldn’t give you the pleasure of dusting me,” he growled before storming out. “Have you called Riley?” Willow asked, looking at Buffy. “I tried, but… he’s not answering his phone,” Buffy mumbled before walking out, too. “Why do I have a feeling something very bad is about to happen soon?” Xander asked. “I’d say it’s already pretty bad, wouldn’t you?” Giles asked, glaring at him. “No, I can feel it, too,” Tara said, a chill running down her spine at the thought. “It’s going to get worse.” ~~~~~~~~~~ An hour before sunrise, Buffy heard a knock on her door and quickly got up to open the door, hoping it was either Dawn or someone who knew where she was. She hadn’t expected it to be Spike. “What are you doing here?” she asked, looking down in an attempt to conceal her red, puffy eyes from his view, but it was pointless – he could tell she had been crying. “I tracked down where Harmony has been staying,” he answered. “I beat up one of her ex-minions, and he told me she was living in the old mansion.” “The one you lived in with Drusilla and Angelus?” Buffy asked, surprised. “The one Angel lived in before he left?” “The very one,” he answered. “But when I went to check it out, it was empty. There wasn’t any sign of someone being there, but I could pick up her scent… and another one that seemed familiar, but I can’t place it.” “Dawn’s?” “No,” he said, shaking his head. “It wasn’t hers.” “Where else would Harmony go?” she asked. “Maybe another big mansion?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “I’d do more investigating, but I’d like to be in my crypt before the sun comes up. I don’t fancy having a dusty ending.” She looked down. “Has anyone called or found anything?” “No,” she answered. “No one has called with any information.” “Have you told Joyce?” he asked. “She’s out looking,” Buffy said. “I told her when I got home, and she hasn’t been back since.” She hesitated, raising her eyes to his. “I’m scared, Spike.” “We’ll find her,” he said, sighing. “She’s a tough kid – she’ll be alright.” “What if she isn’t?” she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. “She will be,” he replied sincerely. “I’m not letting something bad happen to another girl I care about.” “Another?” she asked, confused. “What are you talking about?” “Nothing,” he said sadly. “I should head home. Let me know if you find her.” “I will,” she replied. “Thanks for looking, Spike – I know you and Dawn are friends.” “You’re welcome,” he said, surprised at her kindness. “I’ll see you at sunset.” “Be careful,” Buffy said. “We don’t know who or what is out there.” “I’m a Big Bad, Slayer,” he replied, managing a weak smile. “I can hold my own.” “I know,” she said, nodding. “Bye, Spike.” She watched him walk away before closing the door and locking it, leaning back against it and praying that everything would turn out okay. ~~~~~~~~~~ Dawn’s eyes slowly fluttered open, focusing on the gray wall in front of her before quickly scouring the room, noticing how dark and dreary it was. It was as she tried to move her arms that she realized both her wrists and ankles were bound to the wall behind her. She tried breaking out of the bonds, but it was to no avail – she wasn’t strong enough to get free. “You’re awake,” Tessa said as she walked into the room, smiling. “I was wondering how long it’d take for you to regain consciousness.” “Where am I?” Dawn asked, her voice hoarse. “An old home about a mile from Sunnydale,” she answered. “Welcome to your new abode.” “Who are you?” Dawn asked, anger lacing her tone. “That’s right,” Tessa said, walking closer to Dawn. “We haven’t been properly introduced, have we? I’m Tessa. What’s your name?” “Dawn,” she answered. “Hello, Dawn,” Tessa said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “Why are you doing this to me?” “Well, here’s the thing,” Tessa said, crouching down and unlocking the shackles around Dawn’s ankles. “We have a mutual friend that has been a very bad vampire and needs to be punished for what he’s done.” “Who?” Dawn asked, moving her ankles around in circular movements to ease the ache in them. “You know him as Spike,” Tessa answered. “But he will always be William to me.” “Why would you kidnap me if you’re trying to get to Spike?” “Because you, my dear, have something in common with me,” Tessa said. “I was very close to him when I was around your age, and I thought he’d protect me because of our friendship, but he didn’t.” “Let me go,” Dawn said, starting to struggle against the cuffs around her wrists. “My sister is going to kill you when she finds out about this. She’s the Slayer, you know.” “So I’ve been told,” Tessa replied. “I’m not concerned about your sister – I’m sure I can take her down.” “Spike never could,” Dawn said, frustrated when she tired quickly. “That’s because he has feelings for her.” “Excuse me?” Dawn asked, stopping her ministrations as she gaped at the other girl. “Apparently, he likes your sister,” Tessa said, frowning. “He’s always been addicted to the misery of falling for the unattainable ones.” “He hasn’t always liked Buffy,” Dawn replied. “He used to love Drusilla when she was around.” “Never say her name in front of me again,” Tessa warned, her eyes flashing. “Do you understand?” “Yes,” Dawn said, raising an eyebrow when Tessa walked away without saying another word. “Let me leave! Please, let me go!” “No,” she heard the vampire say. Dawn sank back against the wall, finally letting tears roll down her cheeks. ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 “Is anyone else hungry?” William asked as he stood up from the couch he had been sitting on with Tessa. “Why don’t you go out and feed?” Angelus suggested. “Drusilla and I can watch over Tessa.” Tessa’s eyes widened, and she looked at William, shaking her head. “She will be safe with us,” Drusilla replied. “Okay,” William said, leaning down to kiss Tessa’s forehead. “Please don’t go,” she whispered in a pleading tone. “You will be fine here,” he replied, patting her shoulder. “I will return soon.” “William,” she said, not bothering to hide how scared she felt as her voice quivered. He gave her a small smile before leaving, closing the door behind him. “So, Tessa, what would you like to do?” Angelus asked, leering at her. “I don’t know,” she answered, becoming even more worried. “Want to play a game?” Drusilla asked, smiling. “O-okay,” Tessa said quietly. Angelus stood up and held his hand out to her, and she hesitantly put her hand on top of his. “I have an idea for what game we can play.” “Me, too,” Drusilla said, grinning. “I love playing games with my dollies.” “What game are you thinking of?” Tessa asked nervously. “Come on, princess,” Angelus said, leading her a few feet away to the bed. A sick feeling washed over her before Angelus turned around and punched her, watching her fall to the ground and hit her head against the floor, knocked unconscious. “I love it even more when the dollies don’t play back,” Drusilla said, seeing Angelus pick Tessa up and lay her on the bed, pulling a pocketknife out of his pants and beginning to cut away Tessa’s dress and the layers of fabric beneath it. “Do I get to play first?” “Don’t you want me to break her in for you?” Angelus asked as he fully exposed her naked body, nearly salivating as he studied her soft skin. “Don’t play too roughly,” Drusilla warned. “I do not wish to have a bruised toy.” Angelus freed his straining erection from his trousers and settled between the young vampire’s thighs, aligning himself with her core and moving inside her, delighting in how tight her muscles were around his shaft. As he felt a thin membrane, he grinned maniacally and thrust inside her deeper, taking her virginity and sheathing himself inside of her completely as Drusilla stripped out of her dress and joined them on the bed, beginning to stroke Tessa’s body. “Remind me to thank William for bringing us such a wonderful gift,” Angelus growled as he began pumping inside her. “We will need to dress her before he returns,” Drusilla said. “He cannot know of this.” “It will be our little secret,” he replied, leaning over to kiss her as he kept moving inside Tessa. ~~~~~~~~~~ When William returned to the hotel room, he was surprised to see Tessa in bed, wearing a nightgown and under the covers. “She fell asleep?” he asked Drusilla, who was laying on a chaise lounge and looking out a window at the night sky. “She was tired,” Drusilla answered, turning her focus to him. “Poor girl,” he replied, smiling. “I think she tires herself out rather quickly sometimes.” He walked over to Drusilla and sat down next to her. “Where is Angelus?” “He took a bath and then decided to go out,” Drusilla said. “I do not know where he went.” “Well, I’m sure he will be back,” William replied, sighing. “What did you do while I was gone?” “I watched cherubs burn in the heavens,” she said, smiling. “Perhaps you need some sleep as well,” he said, stroking her hair. “You can share the bed with Tessa – I will stay awake for a while longer.” “Good night, sweet William,” Drusilla said as she stood up, walking to the bed and getting under the sheets with Tessa, faintly smelling the scent of Angelus on the girl and smiling as she fell asleep, remembering the night’s events and hoping they would soon be repeated.

Chapter #5 - Even Good Girls Get Punished

Chapter 5 – Even Good Girls Get Punished Sunnydale, 2000 Spike returned to the Summers’ home the next night and was surprised when Buffy opened the door and not Joyce. “I thought you’d be out patrolling already,” he said, noticing the small bags under her eyes. “Where’s your mum?” “She’s at the police station, filling out a missing persons form,” she answered quietly. “Usually they want people to wait a couple of days, but there’s no way Dawn would run away. Not on her own volition, at least.” “So there hasn’t been any word on her?” he asked, putting his hands in the pockets of his duster. “Nothing,” Buffy affirmed, looking away. “We know nothing.” “What are the Scoobies doing?” he asked. “Are they out looking for her?” “Yeah,” she answered. “Giles organized everyone and said he’d call if they discovered anything. I think they’ve been out all day, for that matter.” “What about you?” he asked quietly, taking a step back when she narrowed her eyes at him. “Why aren’t you going around town, too?” “Mom asked me to stay back in case Dawn returns, even though we both know that probably won’t happen,” Buffy replied. “What, you think I haven’t been worried? That I haven’t wanted to go out there and hunt down the sick creature who took her away from us?” “I know,” he said, looking down. “What about Captain Cardboard? What’s he doing to help?” “I don’t know,” she answered, sighing. “I’ve been trying to talk to him all day, but the best I’ve been able to do is leave messages on his voicemail.” “Maybe he doesn’t have his cell phone around him,” Spike said. “Yeah, maybe,” she murmured, shaking her head. “I just wish he was around, you know? I need all the help and support I can get. Mom and I both do.” “We will find her, Buffy,” he replied. “She’ll be okay.” “I want to think that, but I have a sick feeling in my stomach that I’d be lying to myself if I continued to believe that,” she said, looking at him. “Dawn’s just a young girl – she doesn’t know all of the things we do. I’ve always tried to keep her away from the slaying part of my life, thinking she’d be better off not knowing, but maybe that was a bad idea. Maybe I should’ve taught her things, taken her out once or twice on patrol-” “You can do those things when she’s back,” he said. “Maybe I can even help you with talking to her about vampires and demons and how to respond to situations if she ever finds herself in them.” “That would be nice.” She gave him a small smile and sighed. “It feels like a week has gone by since she disappeared. Every minute is an eternity to me.” “I know how that feels,” he replied. “Well, I think I’ll go to the demon bars in town and see if I can dig up anything.” “You’ll let me know if there’s any word about her?” “You know I will,” he said, nodding. “I’ll check back in soon.” “Be careful,” she said in the same tone she had the day before, meaning it even more than she had the previous night. “I will,” he replied. “You, too.” She closed the door as he turned and walked away, trying to ignore the tears in her eyes and the helpless feeling that had been a part of her for nearly twenty-four hours. ~~~~~~~~~~ Dawn was half-asleep when Tessa returned to the room she was being held in. Tessa walked over to her and grabbed her chin, studying her face intently and noticing the drying tear tracks on her cheeks. “Crying won’t help you get out of here,” Tessa said, smiling. “Nothing will, Dawnie.” “Don’t you dare call me that,” she replied in an angry tone, her voice hoarse from not drinking anything since she had been taken away. “I don’t think you’re in any position to tell me what I can and cannot do.” Tessa let go of her chin and took a step back. “Let me leave,” Dawn said, trying to move her arms around in an attempt to ease the ache in them. “I’m worthless to you. Why keep me here when I can’t do anything for you?” “Because it’s so much fun to have a young girl around,” Tessa replied. “You never know when you’ll need one… or have a craving for one.” Dawn paled at the thought of being bitten, never considering what other types of cravings Tessa could be alluding to. “Are you going to kill me?” “Maybe,” Tessa answered. “Maybe not. I guess it depends on if you’ll cooperate or not.” “Why would you keep me alive?” Dawn asked, knowing she was risking her life as she spoke but figuring she’d rather be dead than stay chained to a wall and in the possession of an obviously psychotic vampire. “I’m not of any use to you.” “Maybe not to me, but there are some male vampires a couple of rooms away who have been dying for a taste,” Tessa said, smirking. “I’m afraid I’ve been keeping them away from girls lately, only giving them my cast-offs. They’ve been thirsty for some youthful, feminine blood for days. And what do you know? You’re filled with exactly what they’re looking for.” She walked to the door of the room. “In fact, I’m sure they’ll find other uses for your body… and I’ll let them.” “What?” Dawn asked, her eyes widening as two tall, muscular male vampires walked in, heading straight for her as their faces changed, studying her hungrily through golden eyes. “Please don’t let them do this! Please let me leave!” “Even good girls get punished sometimes,” Tessa said to herself as she closed the door, grinning when she heard Dawn’s screams and the sound of cloth ripping in the other room. ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 Angelus returned to the hotel room with a blonde woman at his side, his arm wrapped around her waist as she came through the door. William stood up from his seat, putting down the book he had been reading. “Well, you must be William,” the woman said, smiling. “Angelus has been telling me about you and your childe. I am Darla.” “It is nice to meet you,” William said, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips as he kissed the top of her hand. “And where is the young girl?” Darla asked, trying to mask the excitement in her voice as best she could. “I am afraid she is asleep,” William answered. “She was in bed when I returned from feeding. Drusilla is with her.” “That sounds like her,” Darla said, walking towards the bedroom and looking at the two vampires in bed. “She is a beauty, just like you said, Angelus.” “She is a wonderful girl,” William replied. “It will be nice to have a young girl with us,” Darla said. “You never know when you might need one.” Tessa stirred in bed and instantly felt the soreness between her legs as she began to wake up, wondering where it had come from and frowning as she slowly opened her eyes, noticing Angelus and William in the doorway of the room with a blonde woman in between them. “William?” Tessa asked quietly, getting his attention. He walked to her and sat on the edge of the bed, kissing her forehead. “Did you sleep well?” “Yes,” she answered, sitting up and trying to ignore both the ache in her head and in her lower body. “I do not feel well, though.” “Maybe you need to rest more,” Angelus suggested. “You were very tired after we played that game before.” “We played a game?” Tessa asked, confused. “I do not remember it.” “That is probably because you were exhausted,” he replied. “Go back to sleep.” “Who are you, miss?” Tessa asked, turning her attention to the blonde. “My name is Darla,” she answered, smiling warmly. “And you are Tessa?” The young vampire nodded her head. “We can talk more when you wake up later. It is best to rest when you are tired.” “They are right,” William said. “Goodnight, poppet.” She lay back down on her pillow and closed her eyes as William stood up and walked with Angelus and Darla into the parlor of their room. “She is a sweet child,” Darla said, sharing a look with Angelus. “I look forward to getting to know her.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 As Spike walked to Buffy’s house after leaving Willy’s Bar, he tried to wrap his head around the new information he had discovered, and even though it didn’t involve Dawn, he knew Buffy would want to hear it. She needed to know. He knocked on her door and tried to collect his thoughts as Buffy opened the door with a hopeful expression on her face. “Did you find something?” “Yes, but it’s not what you think,” he said. “Buffy, there’s something I need to tell you.” “What?” she asked, her eyes widening in fear. “Is Dawn dead?” “No,” he answered quickly, shaking his head to emphasize the word. “It’s not about the Nibblet.” “Then what is it?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I saw Riley at Willy’s a few minutes ago,” he said, his mind racing as he figured out how he wanted to tell her the news. “He was by himself at the counter, drinking, when I came in, and I saw a vampire come over to sit next to him.” “Did he stake her?” she asked, frowning when Spike scowled. “Have you ever implemented an ask first, stake later policy?” he asked. “What happened, then?” she asked. “What haven’t you told me?” “She started talking to him, and after a few minutes, I saw them get up and leave together,” he said, sighing. “I overheard her saying something about how great the effects of having vampires bites can be, and Riley said that he had been bitten a few times before and always enjoyed it.” The color drained out of Buffy’s face as his words began to sink in, gripping the doorframe as she felt nauseous at the thought of Riley letting himself be bitten for pleasure. “I’m sorry, luv,” Spike said. “I know things are really bad right now and that I could’ve probably waited to tell you all this after we find Dawn, but you should know about what I heard.” “Did you follow them?” she asked. “Did you see where they went?” “No,” he answered. “I was too busy listening to a group of vampires who were talking about a new vampire that arrived in town recently.” “And?” Buffy asked expectantly. “Could the new vamp be who took Dawn?” “They didn’t say anything about a girl being kidnapped,” Spike said. “All they said was that this new vampire seemed to be on a mission and was trying to gain allies in town.” “A mission?” she asked. “To do what?” “I didn’t catch that part,” he replied. “I came to tell you about Riley, instead.” “That’s where he’s been, then,” she murmured, looking down at her bare feet. “He’s been with vampires the last couple of nights, hasn’t he?” “Some people get their rocks off by being bitten,” Spike said, shrugging. “Not normal people,” she replied, angry. “Did you know about this?” “It’s been happening since the dawn of time,” he answered. “You’ve never heard of people seeking vampires in hopes to be bit? Not to be turned or to die, but to feel the surge of power run through them when they know that a vampire needs blood to survive? When they realize what power they have over vampires?” Buffy stared at him for a long moment before quickly putting on shoes and moving past him, running down the porch’s stairs and the front walk, ignoring Spike as he called out her name, telling her to stop. He watched her until she disappeared from sight, clenching his jaw and cracking his neck before he followed her, hoping that she’d realize it was time to lose Riley and that maybe he’d be dead by the time she found him. ~~~~~~~~~~ Tessa stared at the young girl’s body as it hung limply from the chains fastened around her wrists, holding her to the wall. “I thought I told you not to drain her,” she said angrily, looking at the two vampires beside her. “She wasn’t supposed to die. Not yet, at least.” “We were hungry, and she was so sweet,” one of the vampires said, shrugging. “We couldn’t help it.” “You two are so lucky that I don’t stake you right now,” she replied. “Now I’ll need to figure out a new plan to bring both the Slayer and William to me.” She motioned to the body. “Get her down and tell Harmony I need to speak to her.” “Alright, boss.” “Don’t call me that,” Tessa replied, smacking the vampire that said it before turning to look at the girl once more. “I’m sorry, Dawnie- I guess it was your time to go.”

Chapter #6 - Getting Rid of Excess

Sunnydale, 2000 Tessa stood one hundred feet away from Spike’s crypt, watching as he walked out and headed towards the main entrance of the cemetery. She smiled to herself as she began to follow him, staying about fifty feet behind him to ensure he wouldn’t catch on to the fact someone was watching him closely. It was as he reached Revello Drive that she began to realize where his intended destination was. She stopped in the shadows of a tree across the street from the Slayer’s house, recognizing it from the description Harmony had given her before. “Well, why am I not surprised?” she asked. “Still love’s fool, aren’t you, William?” She retrieved her cell phone out of her pocket and quickly dialed a number, watching as a middle-aged woman opened the door of the house and invited Spike inside. “He’s got an all-access pass,” she mumbled, scowling as she waited for someone to answer the phone. “That’s just wonderful.” “Hello?” a cheerful voice asked on the other line. “He’s at Buffy’s house,” Tessa said. “You should have enough time to get rid of the body now.” “Are you sure about this?” the other person asked. “I mean, don’t you think it’s risky?” “We’re vampires – every night out is a risk,” Tessa answered. “Besides, there is no point in us keeping her – no one sired her. I expect the Slayer’s sister to be out of our home by the time I return.” “Fine,” the vampire said. “I’ll get it done.” Tessa hung up the phone and put it back in her pocket. “Enjoy your surprise, William.” ~~~~~~~~~~ “Buffy, I’m so sorry,” Joyce said, embracing her daughter. “It’s not your fault,” Buffy replied despondently. “It’s mine. If I had done something differently-” “Don’t blame yourself for Riley going to vampires.” Joyce ran her hand over her daughter’s hair, trying to comfort her. “I know I should be focused on finding Dawn, but this is…” Buffy trailed off, shaking her head. “You know what? It’s not worth it. I knew Riley and I weren’t on the path to greatness – this is a good thing.” “Buffy,” Joyce said, frowning. “No,” Buffy said, taking a deep breath. “It really is okay – I don’t have to worry about him anymore. I’ve got more important things to pay attention to, things that really matter to me.” They heard a knock on their door, and Joyce went to find out who it was while Buffy went into the living room and sat on the couch, covering her face with her hands and sighing. She heard her mother greet whoever it was before recognizing Spike’s voice as he replied to a question Joyce asked. “Spike?” Buffy asked, watching as he walked into the room, giving her a small smile. “What are you doing here? It’s getting close to sunrise.” “I wanted to see how you were,” he answered, putting his hands in his pockets. “Your mum told me that you broke up with Riley.” “I didn’t really give him a choice,” Buffy said. “I told him to leave town, that I couldn’t stomach seeing him again after he had done something so stupid.” “He’s gone for good?” he asked, surprised. “Can’t say I expected to hear that.” “Well, it was necessary,” she muttered, looking down. “I don’t want him near the Hellmouth – he could end up going to a vampire who isn’t only out for blood and wants him dead.” “Well, that’s typically what we like,” Spike replied. “Death appeals to us.” “You came here just to find out what happened after I left before?” she asked. “You don’t have any new news on Dawn?” “Afraid not,” he answered quietly. “Nothing from the Batcave?” “Alfred doesn’t seem to have any leads,” she said in a light tone despite the sadness she was feeling. “No one does.” “Don’t give up,” he replied. “Having hope is one of the best things you can do.” Joyce leaned against the doorframe of the room, watching them for a moment before asking, “Anyone else want some hot chocolate? It might make things a bit better… for the moment, at least.” “I should probably head out,” Spike answered. “The Slayer was right – I don’t have much time before the sun starts coming up.” “Be careful, then,” Joyce said. “That’s becoming a common phrase in this house,” he replied. “Well, it’s good advice,” Buffy said. “I’ll see you after dark, Spike.” “Goodnight, ladies,” he said, letting himself out of the house and beginning to walk back to the cemetery, taking as many shortcuts as possible to get back to his crypt as he began to feel the sunrise approaching quickly. He opened the door and instantly tensed in place as the scent of death overwhelmed him. He looked around the interior and froze when he saw the body lying on top of one of the tombs. “Dawn?” ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 “Would you like to walk around the city with me and feed?” William asked Tessa one evening, about a week after they had met Darla. “You do not wish to have me accompany you?” Drusilla asked, pouting. “You said a moment ago that you are not hungry, pet,” he replied. “Darla and Angelus offered to bring you back a toddler – I’m sure they will return soon.” “Fine,” Drusilla said, annoyed. “Take the little girl out into the night. I shall wait here.” Tessa sensed the tension between Drusilla and William and tugged on his shirtsleeve to get his attention. “Let’s leave – I can feel hunger pains.” William looked at Drusilla for a long moment before nodding and opening the door of the suite, motioning for Tessa to leave first. “We will be back within the hour,” he said. “You love her more than you love me,” Drusilla said, looking outside. “Drusilla,” he replied, frowning. “William, let’s go,” Tessa said, grabbing his hand. He nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him, ignoring the sound of something hitting the door behind him. “She is angry with us,” Tessa whispered as they walked down the hallway. “She is angry with me, not you,” he replied, taking her hand in his and squeezing it. “But everything will be fine once we come back.” Darla and Angelus walked into the building a minute after William and Tessa left, noticing them walk down the street in the opposite direction as they had went. They walked to the room, and Darla opened the door to find shards of glass covering the floor, crunching under her shoes as she walked in. “I liked that decanter,” Angelus said. “The liquor in it was nice as well.” “What is wrong?” Darla asked, taking off the gloves she was wearing. “We need to lose the girl,” Drusilla answered. “She is a bad dolly.” “But she has so much potential,” Darla replied. “I wish for her to leave,” Drusilla said, shaking with anger as she spoke. “What do you have in mind?” Angelus asked curiously. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 Spike stared at Dawn’s lifeless body, his eyes riveted to every set of puncture marks on her pale skin and the bruises and cuts that covered her. Dried blood was on the remaining pieces of clothing on her body, and as he walked around the tomb, surveying the damage with both his jaw and fists clenched, he noticed that her eyes were wide open, the fear and agony still apparent in them even in death. It was as he picked her up that he caught a familiar scent and quickly put Dawn’s body back down, fury blinding him as he realized who had killed her and that he wouldn’t be able to hunt her down until after dark. “Harmony.”

Chapter #7 - Disharmony

Chapter 7 – Disharmony Sunnydale, 2000 Spike spent the duration of the daylight hours in the lower level of his crypt, trying to ignore the scent of Dawn that was in the air and figuring out a way to both tell the Slayer and confront Harmony, knowing that if Buffy found out it had been Harmony who was responsible for Dawn’s death, she’d make good on her threats and would stake them both. As he sat on his bed, images filled his mind of how Dawn looked and the damage that had been done to her, feeling ill at the thought, which was uncommon for him, a master vampire who had done equally as much to the bodies of his victims, if not much worse. He willed himself to rest for a couple of hours, wondering deep down if it would perhaps be the last time he would ever sleep. By the time the sun went down, Spike returned to the upper part of the crypt and looked at Dawn for a long time, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what he would do and say once he left. It was after about half an hour that he realized he couldn’t go to the Slayer - he didn’t have it in him to inform her of Dawn’s death and didn’t know if he would survive the night if he went to her with the news. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, looking one last time at Dawn before walking to the door of the crypt. “I’m so sorry.” He felt tears forming in his eyes and quickly blinked, trying to get them to go away as he walked out, angry with himself for feeling guilt despite not having a soul over a situation he couldn’t fully control. He passed through the gates of the cemetery and found a payphone, quickly dialing a number he had come to know and waiting impatiently for someone to answer. “Hello?” a tired-sounding British man asked. “Giles, it’s me,” Spike said. “Before I say anything else, I need you to believe one thing.” “Pardon me?” Giles asked, confused. “This is Spike, yes?” “Yes,” Spike answered, clenching his jaw. “Giles, I know where Dawn is.” “What?” Giles asked, his tone instantly changing. “While I was at the Slayer’s house early this morning to find out if anyone had gotten any news on Dawn’s whereabouts, someone… left her in my crypt,” Spike explained as calmly as he could. “I didn’t do it, Giles – I need you to know that.” “I didn’t think you had,” the older man replied. “But do we know who did?” “I might have a lead,” Spike muttered. “But I don’t have concrete evidence, no.” He paused for a long moment. “I need you to tell the Slayer, Rupert – I can’t do it.” “I think it’s best if I do it, anyways,” he said. “Is Dawn… still at your crypt?” “Yes,” Spike answered. “I thought I’d let you figure out what to do now.” He hesitated as he heard the sound of sniffling on the other line. “I need to go.” “You know she’ll come for you tonight, don’t you?” Giles asked. “She’ll need to hear every detail that you know, Spike. And I suppose I should warn you that she might not take what you have to say very well – you might not live to see the sunrise.” “I’m making my peace with that as we speak,” Spike replied before hanging up, shoving his hands in his pockets as he began to head towards Willy’s Bar, in desperate need of any leads as to where Harmony could be. As Spike entered the bar, Giles left his home on the other side of town, trying to collect both his thoughts and emotions as he prepared to leave to speak with Buffy and Joyce. He had called the coroner, giving him directions to Spike’s crypt and being as vague as possible when it came to questions of why she was in a crypt and what had possibly happened to her. He had no idea how he would get through the night, knowing that the next few hours would be some of the hardest ones he’d ever have to live through. ~~~~~~~~~~ Spike stormed out of Willy’s an hour later, blood still fresh on his hands from the vampire he had beaten for information. He followed the directions he was given and came to stand in front of an old house minutes later, running the mile outside of town as quickly as he could. He kicked down the front door and let himself in, keeping a close eye on his surroundings and making sure he wasn’t being watched. He could hear pop music playing down one hallway and followed it, reaching the room that had the music and studying the door for a moment before bending down to smell the doorknob, catching Harmony’s scent instantly. He growled and kicked the door down, not caring that it was unnecessary. Harmony was lying on her bed, reading a magazine, and shrieked when she looked up to see Spike charging at her. He grabbed her upper arms and hauled her off the bed, his face changing when hers did, too. “What’re you doing?” she asked, beginning to feebly hit him as he increased the pressure on her arms. “You know why I’m here,” he ground out, his eyes flashing. “Did you think you’d get away with it?” “Away with what?” she asked, feigning innocence. “What are you talking about?” “You killed Dawn,” he replied sharply, shoving her backwards and watching as she fell back onto the bed. “And you brought her to my crypt. To torture me? To keep me trapped with her while the sun was up?” “Because it sounded like the best idea,” she answered, narrowing her eyes at him. “What does it matter?” He grabbed the stake in his duster and gripped it, bringing it out and letting her see it. Her eyes widened as she realized what he had come to do. “You wouldn’t dare!” she yelled, getting off the bed and backing away from it as he rounded the bed and began to corner her. “It wasn’t me!” “Like hell it wasn’t!” he shouted. “I smelled you on her!” “But I didn’t kill her,” she replied quickly as she felt her back hit a wall. “I swear I didn’t, blondie bear.” “Do you think I’m that dumb?” he asked, furious. “Did you think I wouldn’t figure it out?” She began shaking as she saw his knuckles turn white from the force of how tightly he was holding the stake. “No, I know you’re not dumb.” “But you are,” he replied. “You know that, right?” She nodded quickly as he aimed the stake at her heart. “Tell me, why did you go after Dawn? The Slayer was your target, not the girl. Didn’t you learn after the first time?” “I didn’t do it!” she yelled. “I didn’t kill her!” “I wonder why I don’t believe you,” he said as he shoved the stake through her heart, watching as she disintegrated into dust, which formed a pile at his feet. Tessa, who had been standing a few feet away from the room ever since she had seen Spike walk into the building, listened to his conversation with Harmony with avid interest and grinned when she heard the sound of a stake piercing Harmony’s body. She quickly left the house before he did, not wanting him to know she was around yet, and ran down the road for about a mile, finding a new home to break into and call her own. As she stopped at the porch of the abandoned house, she smiled to herself. “The plan is going exactly the way it should be. He thought the stupid cow killed Dawn and took her off my hands for me – I couldn’t have asked for anything more.” She paused and added as an afterthought, “Too bad my minions are out feeding – he could’ve dusted a few of the dumb ones for me.” ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 “William, I wish to feed,” Drusilla said the next night, latching onto his arm and smiling coquettishly at him. “And perhaps when we return, we can…” “I would like that,” he replied, grinning. “You can what?” Tessa asked curiously, appearing out of nowhere behind them. “Nothing for a child’s ears,” William answered quickly. “Would you like us to take the girl out?” Darla asked, Angelus standing beside her. “That will leave you two alone for a few hours.” “Thank you, grandmummy,” Drusilla said excitedly, pulling William to the door. “I told you not to call me that,” Darla replied pointedly. “I am ever so sorry,” Drusilla said, laughing as she opened the door before turning to look at Tessa. “Goodbye, pretty girl.” “Have a good night, poppet,” William said, smiling at her before following Drusilla out of the room. “What are we going to do while they are away?” Tessa asked, looking at Darla and avoiding the wicked look in Angelus’ eyes. “Well, I thought perhaps we could-” Darla said, cutting herself off as Angelus punched Tessa, watching her fall to the ground and hit her head against the hardwood floor, remembering what had happened before when the same events took place. “Is it time to play now?” Angelus asked, pulling Darla to him. “That is not in the plan,” she answered. “Not for tonight, at least. We need to leave while she is unconscious.” “Where is the amusement in leaving so soon?” he asked. “You know what we need to do,” she replied, motioning to Tessa. “Pick her up. I will get the last of our things and take them down to the carriage.” “Does the coachman have the rest of our belongings?” Angelus asked as he lifted Tessa’s limp body. “He is prepared to leave,” Darla answered, grabbing a bag filled with Tessa’s clothes and one of her own before following Angelus out of the room. “Ready to make a new life for ourselves?” “A life with two beautiful blonde women?” Angelus asked, smirking. “I cannot think of anything better.”

Chapter #8 - Anything to Help

Chapter 8 – Anything to Help Sunnydale, 2000 Spike walked towards Sunnydale after he had left the old house, trying to push the memories of the prior twenty-four hours out of his head as he formulated answers to questions that Buffy and everyone else would undoubtedly ask him. A part of him knew that he would have to keep the information about Harmony being the reason for Dawn’s death a secret, but on a different note, he knew he should be honest with both the Slayer and Joyce because knowing his luck, he would be caught at some point or another for lying and would be staked. Either way he looked at it, there was a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach that told him to prepare for meeting an end akin to Harmony’s. As he neared the Summers’ home, he saw several familiar cars parked outside, recognizing them as belonging to Giles and Xander. He collected himself as best he could and knocked on the door, frowning when Giles instantly opened it and walked outside, closing the door behind him. Giles motioned for Spike to follow him down the steps of the front porch before he turned to face him. “What do you know?” Giles asked quietly. “Are there any specific details you can give me about the situation?” “I know about as much as you do, Watcher,” Spike partially lied. “I found Dawn in my crypt, drained and in bad shape. That’s really all I know for certain.” “I thought you mentioned before that you might’ve had a lead on who was responsible for this,” Giles replied, crossing his arms. “It turned out to be a false alarm,” Spike said, continuing to lie, looking down at his feet. “I don’t know who did it.” “We need to know more,” Giles said, taking off his glasses and beginning to wipe the lenses off on a handkerchief he had pulled out of his pocket. “Anything would help at this point.” “How are they doing?” Spike asked, looking at the house. “How do you think they’re doing?” Giles asked in a low tone. “Is there anything I can do?” “It’s probably best if you leave,” Giles answered, beginning to head towards the front door. “What did you tell them?” Spike asked, watching the older man’s angry expression falter for a moment before he sighed. “That Dawn’s body was found in the cemetery,” Giles said. “They don’t know that she was in your crypt, that you called me, or anything else involving you.” “Why not?” Spike curiously studied the Watcher’s face, surprised. “Because I know you didn’t do it,” Giles answered. “You cared about Dawn, just like the rest of us. Consider it a thank-you for calling me and letting me take care of everything.” He put his hand on the doorknob and kept his back to Spike. “But that’s not to say they’ll never find out – we both know Buffy will figure it out sooner or later.” “I know,” Spike replied. “She’s not a dumb girl.” “No, she isn’t,” Giles agreed before he walked into the house, leaving Spike alone. Spike turned and walked away, never noticing Buffy watching him from between the curtains of the living room’s main window. ~~~~~~~~~~ Spike kept to himself over the next couple of days, trying to give Buffy space while drowning his sorrows with a few bottles of alcohol, doing everything in his power to block out images of Dawn and dusting Harmony. When the day came for Dawn’s funeral, he waited for the sun to set before leaving his crypt and following the scent of freshly-dug soil to locate Dawn’s grave. When he found it, he kneeled down beside it and put a small bouquet of flowers he had picked on top of it. “I’m sorry, Dawn,” he whispered, running his hand slowly over the dirt. “I should’ve been watching you, protecting you. If I had done something differently, you’d still be here.” He paused for a long moment. “I should be the one who is gone, not you.” “You didn’t do anything wrong,” a voice said from behind him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Buffy, who was slowly walking towards him. He noticed the blank expression on her face and frowned, not used to seeing her look so lost. “Buffy-” “I should’ve stayed with her at the Bronze,” she said as she sat next to him, focusing on the tombstone. “She shouldn’t have been there in the first place, even. Tara feels guilty for having her birthday party there, you know. I’ve told her it wasn’t her fault, but she won’t stop apologizing. No one will.” “We all cared about her,” Spike murmured, watching tears form in Buffy’s eyes. “We all feel guilty.” “It’s no one’s fault but my own,” she replied. “She shouldn’t have been there. She shouldn’t have been alone. She shouldn’t have been taken away from me. If I had made a different choice-” “Hindsight is twenty-twenty,” he said. “Don’t blame yourself for this.” “I always will,” she said, a soft smile playing on her lips as she looked at the flowers. “Those from you?” “She once told me that she really liked flowers,” he answered. “I owed it to her to bring some.” “Thank you,” she replied. “It means a lot that you would do something like that.” “Well, I was fond of her,” he said. “She was a nice girl, a good friend.” “And she absolutely adored you,” she said, looking at him. “What can I say? Women flock to me,” he replied in a light tone, smiling when she giggled quietly. “Is there anything I can do?” “You can tell me why you were talking to Giles the other night in front of my house,” she said. “What were you two talking about?” “I came by to see if you had found anything out, saw Giles’ and Xander’s cars, and knew something was up,” he lied, looking away. “The Watcher told me about everything and thought it was best for me not to be around – you could’ve staked me just for the fun of it.” “I wouldn’t have done something like that,” she replied. “It’s not like this was your fault.” “I know. It’s just that-” “It’s alright,” she interrupted before looking at the grave again. “Thank you for being here.” “You’re welcome, Buffy,” he said, and before he realized what he was doing, he put his hand on top of Buffy’s and squeezed it. He didn’t expect her to squeeze his in return. ~~~~~~~~~~ The following night, Spike went to see the Summers women and was surprised to find Giles’ car there again. He knocked on the door, and for the second time in two days, Giles answered. “May I come in?” Spike asked, sounding as polite as possible when he saw Joyce walking down the stairs, giving him a warm smile despite the obvious sadness on her face. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Giles said. “Actually, I think it might help,” Joyce replied, motioning for Spike to come in. “I’m afraid Buffy has been keeping herself locked in her room all day. She hasn’t answered any phone calls and wouldn’t speak to either Willow or Xander when they came by to visit this afternoon. She won’t talk to me, either.” “What makes you think she’ll speak to me?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. “She won’t talk to anyone she likes, so maybe she’ll talk to someone she loathes,” Giles muttered. “Watch it, mate,” Spike said, glaring at the other man. “It wouldn’t hurt to give it a try,” Joyce said, nudging Spike towards the stairs. “Please?” He heard the pleading tone in her voice and nodded, going up the stairs and ignoring Giles’ requests for him to leave before he could do or say something wrong. “Maybe some trouble will get her to talk to someone,” Joyce said, watching as the vampire reached the top landing before heading to Buffy’s room. “I hope you realize this could end badly,” Giles whispered to Joyce. “It can’t get much worse than it already is,” she replied before walking in the direction of the kitchen. Meanwhile, Spike came to stand in front of Buffy’s door and focused on it for a long while, mentally preparing himself for a conversation with her before he knocked.

Chapter #9 - Secrets and Lies

Chapter 9 – Secrets and Lies Sunnydale, 2000 “Who is it?” Buffy asked from the other side of the door. Spike could hear her sniffling despite the wooden barrier between them. “It’s me, luv,” he replied. “May I come in?” “You don’t need an invitation once you’re in a house,” she mumbled. He bit back a smile as he opened the door, taking a step into her bedroom and frowning when he saw her kneeling beside a window, looking outside at the dark street. She never looked at him, even as he crouched beside her. “Why are you here?” she asked quietly. “Thought I’d see how you and your mum were, but Giles and Joyce told me you’ve been keeping yourself up here and ignoring visitors,” he answered. “Except for me, apparently.” “Everyone else has been so apologetic,” she replied. “And every time I see one of my friends and how sad they are, it reminds me of what happened, of how badly I screwed up.” “This wasn’t your fault,” he said. “You didn’t kill your sister.” “But I didn’t exactly keep her safe, did I?” she shot back angrily. “It’s my fault… It will always be my fault.” “Buffy-” “Don’t,” she cut in. “I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” “Then why did you let me in?” he asked, not bothering to hide the irritation in his voice. “Because out of all of my friends, you’re the only one I can tolerate having around,” she muttered, finally turning her head to look at him and seeing his surprised expression. “I think you’re the only person who really understands what’s going on, Spike.” “Are you implying that I’m a friend?” he asked quietly. “Would I let you come into my house if you weren’t?” she asked. “Why don’t we go out for a walk or something?” he suggested, standing up and offering his hand to her, pulling her up when she put her hand on his. “It’s not good to shut yourself off from everyone and everything around you.” “But it makes things a little easier,” she said as she walked out of her room, Spike following her. “It’s not healthy,” he replied. “Besides, maybe you can take out some aggression through patrolling. You enjoy the staking and fighting of your job, yeah?” “Only when I’m angry,” she answered. “And aren’t you at least a tiny bit upset right now?” he asked. She looked over her shoulder at him. “What do you think?” They walked downstairs, and Giles and Joyce watched them from the living room as the two blondes left the house together, not telling them where they were going. “Looks like she talked to him,” Joyce said, pleased. Giles frowned and peeked out the window behind him to watch Buffy and Spike talk as they walked down the street. “It seems as though you’re right.” “When am I wrong?” she asked, sipping from the mug of hot chocolate she was holding. ~~~~~~~~~~ “How is it that the one night I feel strongly motivated to slay, there isn’t anything out to fight?” Buffy asked sullenly, looking around the cemetery. “Maybe the other baddies know to stay out of your way tonight,” Spike replied. “I’m sure news in the underground travels fast when it involves the Slayer and anything bad in her life,” she said, sitting down on top of a gravestone. “You’re not wrong,” he said, sitting on a marble bench a few feet away from her. “It’s good to know when your enemies are on a warpath. Although with you, you’re always on a mission.” “Some nights more than others.” She looked down at her hands, resting on her lap, and sighed. “Why aren’t there any kamikaze demons or vampires when you need them?” Spike smirked and lit a cigarette. “It’s not often that you’ll find a Big Bad with a death wish.” “Really?” she asked. “I used to think you had one.” “What gave you that idea?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow. “You always hung around and annoyed me to the point where staking you seemed like fun,” she answered, shrugging. “When you first came to Sunnydale, I was afraid of you – I didn’t know if I could take you in a fight if it really came down to the wire.” “Yeah?” he asked proudly, sitting up straighter. “Yep,” she answered. “But then you got chipped last year and became too easy of a target.” “Thanks for reminding me,” he replied, taking a drag from his cigarette. “And as many times as I considered staking you over this last year, I couldn’t do it,” she said, raising her eyes to his. “I won’t fight you to the death when you can’t fight me back – it wouldn’t be right.” “Are you actually being nice to me, Slayer?” he asked, intrigued. “Have I been mean to you yet tonight?” she asked, and he shook his head. “Then why would I start now?” “You never know with you.” “I like to keep you on your toes,” she replied before hesitating. “Giles told me you had a lead on who killed Dawn but that you ended up being wrong. Who did you think it was?” “Maybe we should get you home, pet,” he said in an attempt to change the subject, standing up. “Why won’t you answer?” she asked, tilting her head as she studied him. “Because I lied to your Watcher – I wasn’t wrong,” he answered, averting his eyes from hers. She instantly got off of the tombstone and walked closer to him. “Who was it?” “The same person you thought it was the night Dawn disappeared,” he said. “Harmony?” she asked after a moment, confused. “Is that who did it?” “Yes.” He looked at her and noticed the tears in her eyes. “Buffy, Rupert didn’t tell you everything he knows about the situation, either.” “What’re you talking about?” she asked. “I was the one who found Dawn,” he said, looking way when tears rolled down her cheeks. “She was in my crypt when I returned from your house a few nights ago, and I called your Watcher to take care of everything while I went off to find Harmony.” “How did you know it was her?” she managed to ask, her voice sounding choked. “I caught her scent on Dawn’s body,” he answered. “I got a tip on where she was hiding out and staked her.” “You dusted her?” Her eyes widened in disbelief. “I know I should’ve let you do it, but I-” he trailed off. “I’m sorry.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, the anger evident in her tone. “Why didn’t Giles tell me?” “Because I was afraid you’d stake me, thinking I was involved,” he answered. “You told me the night Dawn vanished that if you found out that Harmony was behind everything, you’d dust us both. Giles didn’t know about Harmony, but he figured that you wouldn’t react well if you knew I had found Dawn because you’d undoubtedly associate me with her death.” “I never thought you played a part in her disappearance,” she said, wiping off her cheeks, upset. “You should’ve told me! I should’ve known about everything! Why would you keep me out of the loop when it involves me, my family?” “I didn’t want to be the one to tell you,” he murmured. “I knew you wouldn’t take it well if I was the one to give you all of the details… and I guess I was right.” “Out of everyone, I would’ve expected you to understand the most, to know that I need to be aware of what’s going on,” she said. “You shouldn’t have kept this all a secret from me because you were trying to save your own ass!” “Can you blame me?” he shouted. “All you need is one reason to shove something pointy and wooden through my chest!” “I told you that I wouldn’t stake you unless it was a fair fight,” she replied sharply. “If you were angry enough, you’d do it anyways, wouldn’t you?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Yes, but-” “Go home, Slayer,” he said, interrupting her. “Go tell your Watcher, mum, and Scoobies about Harmony – they should probably know that the threat is gone and that you’re all out of the woods.” He turned and stormed off, heading towards his crypt and ignoring Buffy as she called out his name. She sighed sadly and began to walk home, never noticing the small girl seated on top of a crypt about fifty feet away, listening to the conversation between Spike and Buffy before watching them split up. “When will you ever learn, Spike?” Tessa asked, shaking her head. “There’s no such thing as being perfectly safe. Threats will always exist for us, for humans.” ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1880 William and Drusilla returned to the hotel suite about an hour after they left, both satisfied after feeding from two young prostitutes. When they got inside, he was surprised to see that some things were missing. “Drusilla,” he said, beginning to walk into the bedroom that Tessa had been sleeping in and noticing that the clothes she had brought with her were gone, along with both Angelus’ and Darla’s belongings. “What is going on?” “Perhaps they are taking a trip,” Drusilla lied, wrapping her arms around William’s waist. “I would not worry.” “How can I not worry?” he asked, upset, pushing her arms away. “The girl I have sworn to look after is gone!” “I am sure they will be back,” she said, taking his hand in hers and leading him towards the bed. “How about we enjoy our time alone before they return?” “Did they mention leaving before?” he asked, oblivious to her beginning to undo the fastenings of her dress. “They said they would leave us be alone and go out for the night, but did they mean they would be gone for longer than that?” “I do not know,” she replied dismissively, lying on the bed. “Let us focus on more interesting things, William. I would not worry so much about your precious Tessa – she is in good hands.”

Chapter #10 - Trust Has To Be Earned

Chapter 10 – Trust Has To Be Earned Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy walked into Giles’ home and wasn’t surprised to see that her friends were already assembled there, waiting for her. She had called Giles about half an hour earlier, asking him to call everyone and request that they be there for a meeting. Giles greeted her as she came in, which she ignored, still upset by what Spike had told her the night before about Giles opting to keep some details about Dawn and her death a secret from both she and her mother. “Is everything okay?” he asked as he followed her to where her friends were seated. “I’ll deal with you later,” she answered sternly, sitting down on a chair across from the couch, where Willow, Xander, and Anya were. Tara exited the kitchen area and sat down on the arm of the sofa while Giles stood beside her. “Giles said you had some new info to tell us,” Anya said. “What did you find out?” “I think we should be asking her how she is first,” Xander replied, nudging his girlfriend’s arm before turning his attention to Buffy. “How are you?” “I’m here,” she said, waving it off. “How I am doesn’t matter right now – we need to talk about more important things.” “Buffy, we’re all worried about you,” Willow said. “You haven’t been talking to anyone.” “With the exception of Spike,” Giles mumbled, walking away to pour himself a glass of Scotch. “Yeah, and what’s that all about?” Xander asked. “You won’t talk to your friends, but you’ll spend time with the evil undead?” “Xander,” Willow said in a warning tone, shaking her head as she looked at him. “What?” he asked. “I think finding out why Buffy is shutting herself off from us and turning to Spike is interesting to talk about, don’t you?” “Spike understands what’s going on,” Buffy answered, frowning when Xander scoffed. “And we don’t?” he asked. “You don’t think we know what’s going on, what you’re feeling?” “We’re not discussing this right now,” Buffy replied. “There are more important matters at stake. I know who killed Dawn.” “What?” Willow asked, stunned. “Who? Or what?” “Harmony,” Buffy answered, standing up as everyone stared at her in shocked silence. “Spike found Dawn in his crypt, a detail which Giles knew and didn’t tell either me or anyone else-” Giles, who had been leaning against a wall, gave her an apologetic look and opened his mouth to speak, but Buffy continued. “Spike caught Harmony’s scent on Dawn’s body and tracked her down after he told Giles about Dawn.” Buffy looked down as her eyes began watering. “And you believe him?” Xander asked. “What makes you think he wasn’t involved? What’s saying he didn’t lie to you, to Giles?” “Because I heard how shaken up he was when he called,” Giles answered. “And Spike cared about Dawn – that’s not a secret to anyone here.” “But he’s evil,” Xander replied angrily. “He gets off on killing people.” “He wouldn’t kill Dawn,” Buffy said, crossing her arms. “And I believe what he told me.” Xander began to say something, but Willow cut him off. “Shouldn’t we go after Harmony, then? If Spike knows where she is, shouldn’t we go and confront her?” “Spike already did,” Buffy answered. “He staked her the same night he called Giles.” “How can we be sure?” Xander asked. “Don’t you think he’d lie and keep her around for some shagging shenanigans? He wouldn’t care if she killed Dawn or not.” “Have you not been listening?” Buffy asked, upset. “I believe Spike, and if he says that he didn’t play a part in Dawn’s death and that he dusted Harmony, then I’m not going to question him.” “Since when have you started trusting him?” Xander asked. “Since when is it your business?” she shot back, heading towards the front door. “We’re your friends, Buffy,” Willow said, getting up. “We care about you, and we’re worried that something is going on that we don’t know about.” “They talked about maybe needing to have an intervention before,” Anya said quietly. “I’d be careful – their tactics sounded clever and well-planned.” “No one mentioned an intervention,” Tara replied, looking at Buffy. “We just want to make sure that everything is okay and to be here for you.” “You have nothing to worry about,” Buffy said as she opened the door. “I can hold my own.” She left, closing the door behind her, and everyone looked at each other. “We need to do something,” Xander said. “I’m not okay with Buffy being so confident in what Spike is telling her – it’s not safe, and we can’t be sure that he isn’t trying to lead her to her own death.” “Maybe Harmony and Spike banded together to kill Dawn,” Anya said, beginning to chip off the cracking nail polish on her fingers. “Spike was friends with her, but maybe they thought they could somehow trap Buffy and lure her into an early grave.” “What do you think, Giles?” Willow asked, looking at him. “We can’t trust what we know,” he answered. “But I don’t believe Spike helped kill Dawn.” “Do you think he staked Harmony?” Tara asked. “I hope for his sake he did,” he answered. “Because if he didn’t and he’s been lying to Buffy, he’ll have more than just the Slayer after him.” “Should we be cautious of how much time they’re spending together?” Willow asked. “In case maybe there is a trap in place?” “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” Giles answered, taking off his glasses and beginning to clean them with the hem of his shirt. “I guess we can’t be too careful. If the threat of Harmony is gone, we might be in the clear, but as long as Spike is around, we can’t be sure of anything.” “I don’t like this budding friendship of theirs,” Xander said, cracking his knuckles. “Not at all.” “Maybe an intervention wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all,” Anya murmured, looking at everyone as they fell silent for a long moment. ~~~~~~~~~~ That night, Buffy headed to Spike’s crypt, and they began to do a sweep of the cemetery. He noticed how quiet she seemed and stopped walking at one point, waiting until she turned to face him before asking, “What’s wrong?” “What isn’t wrong?” she asked, sighing. “Today sucked.” “Want to tell me about it?” he asked, lighting a cigarette. “I went to Giles’ to tell everyone what you told me last night,” she said. “About you finding Dawn, figuring out that Harmony did it, and staking her.” She looked down. “They didn’t react too well… but they seemed upset that I’m talking to you and seemingly ignoring them. They don’t think it’s a good idea for me to trust what you’ve been telling me.” “Are you surprised?” he asked. “Your friends aren’t fans of me. I’m a vampire, remember?” “How can I forget?” she asked, frowning. “I know I probably shouldn’t believe you, but I don’t see a reason why you’d lie, why I shouldn’t listen to you.” “I haven’t lied to you about anything, Buffy,” he replied. “You know Dawn was my friend – I wouldn’t have ever hurt her.” “I know,” she said, nodding. “I just don’t know what to think anymore. Everything seems so messed up. I feel… confused… and lost… and I wish things could be different.” “We all do,” he said, taking a step closer to her. “I’m here for you, luv, and that won’t change until the day you decide you’ve had enough and dust me.” “Unless you lose that chip, I’m not fighting you,” she said. “How many times do I have to tell you that I won’t try until I know you can properly fight me back?” “I like hearing you say it,” he replied, smirking a little. “I’ve been honest with you, Slayer – I wouldn’t have anything to gain by lying, would I?” “No, I guess not,” she answered. “Thank you for understanding and being here, Spike – I can’t say it enough.” Before she could stop herself, she pressed her lips to his for a brief kiss before taking a small step back and studying the surprised look in his eyes. “Buffy-” “We should probably keep patrolling,” she said, quickly changing the subject before he could ask why she had kissed him. He simply nodded, following her as she began to walk away. They exited the cemetery together in silence, neither knowing what to say as thoughts filled their heads, trying to figure out why it felt like things were changing between them. Tessa, who had been hiding behind Spike’s crypt, witnessed the kiss and wished that it had been her and not Buffy, her admiration for him never fading throughout the years, even as her anger towards him continuously grew. “I hope you’re not expecting everything to be easy from now on,” she said as she watched them walk through the cemetery’s entrance gates. “I still have more tricks up my sleeve, and I think it’s time to make things interesting again.” ~~~~~~~~~ Outside London, 1880 Tessa slowly opened her eyes, instantly feeling the dull ache in her head from where it had hit the ground an hour before. She realized she was in transit as the carriage she was in jolted from hitting a bump in the road, and she looked across from her, seeing Angelus and Darla quietly talking to each other. “Where are we?” Tessa asked, looking out the small window beside her at the darkness surrounding them “We are going to take a small trip,” Darla answered, patting her hand. “William requested that we show you around England more while he and Drusilla get to know one another more.” “In the biblical sense,” Angelus murmured, laughing with Darla. “William wanted me to leave?” Tessa asked, feeling tears begin to form in the corners of her eyes. “He thought traveling would be good for you,” Darla replied before whispering to Angelus. Tessa looked outside again and let tears roll down her cheeks, in disbelief that William wanted her to leave and wondering if perhaps the trip they were taking was one-way only and if she would ever see him again. For the first time in her life, Tessa truly felt scared and did not know what the future held for her.

Chapter #11 - Reasons To Be Concerned

Chapter 11 – Reasons To Be Concerned Sunnydale, 2000 A couple days passed, and Buffy and Spike avoided talking about the night she kissed him. He didn’t want to get his hopes up, and she didn’t think she was ready to admit that maybe she had underlying feelings for him. Buffy left her house to go patrolling and was surprised that her mother wasn’t home from the gallery yet but shrugged it off, remembering that Joyce had mentioned putting in a couple of hours extra at work that week to make up for taking time off while Dawn was missing. Buffy headed into the downtown area of Sunnydale and began walking around aimlessly, not really focusing on her surroundings but paying attention to the teenaged couples she saw and halfheartedly wishing she had someone in her life again to fill the void that Riley had left. She sat down on a bench outside of the Espresso Pump and sighed, watching people walk past her and cars drive by. “What’s got you so down, pet?” a familiar voice asked from beside her. She looked up to see Spike standing there, looking concerned. “I’m fine,” she answered, waving it off dismissively. “Doesn’t look like you’re fine,” he replied, sitting beside her. “Shouldn’t you be off staking some of my pals?” “I don’t feel like it,” she answered. “My heart hasn’t been in the slaying game lately.” “I’ve noticed,” he said. “You’ve stopped saying your weird quips whenever you’re about to kill something.” She smiled slightly and looked down. “I guess I haven’t come up with any good ones since Dawn…” She took a deep breath as she trailed off. “So, what’re you doing here?” “Felt like getting some coffee,” he lied, smirking when she raised an eyebrow. “Saw you come here and wanted to see how you’re doing.” “I see,” she replied, amused. “You followed me here and have been watching me, haven’t you?” “Exactly,” he said. “And you’ve looked a bit down. Not that I blame you – I can understand why you’re not overjoyed with life - but the longing look on your face whenever you see couples walking around makes me wonder what’s on your mind.” “I feel alone,” she murmured, focusing on a storefront across the street. “I know I’ve got my mom around, my friends, Giles… and even you, but I feel completely alone.” “You’re never alone, luv,” he said. “Even when you’re by yourself, you’re not alone. There’s always at least one person who’s there for you – that won’t ever change.” “I know,” she replied. “I just don’t feel like it’s true right now.” “Come on, let’s do something productive,” he said, standing up. “It’s not good for you to sit around and be so glum.” “What do you have in mind?” she asked, getting up. “Feel like some ice cream?” he asked. “I know how much you like it.” “You eat ice cream?” she asked, smiling. “No, but you do, so I’ll go with you to get some,” he offered. “Thanks, Spike,” she replied, walking beside him down the street as they headed to the local ice cream parlor. ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1881 “William, we have received a letter from Darla,” Drusilla announced as she walked into their small apartment in the heart of the city. “We have?” he asked, his expression instantly brightening. Drusilla frowned, noticing the immediate change in him. He had been depressed since Tessa left and had been worried about her, writing to Angelus and Darla at the address they had given him months before but never hearing any word in reply. Drusilla handed it to him, letting him open it as she sat down next to him. “Read it to me.” He quickly tore off the top of the envelope, taking out the letter and beginning to read it. “Dearest Drusilla and William,” he began, clearing his throat. “I am sorry to inform you of such awful news through a letter such as this, but it is with great regret that I must tell you that Tessa is no longer with us.” He paused, grasping the paper tighter. “She went off to feed on her own and never returned. When Angelus and I went off in search of her, we were directed to a building where she had last been seen. After searching the place without any luck, we came upon a pile of ashes. We have come to believe that Tessa was staked, but we cannot be sure.” “Oh, William,” Drusilla said, pretending to be sad to hear the news. He handed her the letter, standing up as tears rolled down his cheeks. “Don’t.” “It will be okay, my love,” she replied, watching him walk into their bedroom. “I failed her,” he murmured as he closed the door behind him, crying more as he lay down on the bed. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 On the other side of town from where Buffy and Spike were, Joyce exited the gallery and locked the entrance doors, oblivious to the young girl who was approaching her, tears rolling down her cheeks. As soon as Joyce heard sniffling behind her, she turned around and saw the girl, frowning at her obviously distraught expression. “What’s wrong?” Joyce asked, going into concerned-mom mode. “I can’t find my parents,” the girl replied, crying harder. “I think I’m lost.” Joyce crouched down and said in a comforting tone, “We’ll find your parents, sweetheart. What do they look like?” “My mom looks a lot like you,” she said, focusing on the pulse point on Joyce’s neck before pretending to hug Joyce for comfort while sinking her fangs into the older women’s soft skin, putting her hand over her mouth as Joyce tried to scream. Tessa continued to drink from Joyce until she fell out of consciousness before she motioned to one of her minions, who was hiding a few feet away in the shadows. “Carry her to the house,” Tessa said sternly, wiping off the corners of her mouth. “Where are you going to go?” the minion asked. “I have some things I need to look into,” she replied, beginning to walk away. ~~~~~~~~~~ Outside of Amsterdam, 1883 “Tessa, shall we write William and Drusilla a letter?” Darla asked as she walked into Tessa’s bedroom in the abandoned home they were sharing with Angelus. “We have not written to them in a couple of weeks.” “You can,” Tessa answered, frowning. “You will not write anything I want you to.” “That is because they do not wish to hear about many of the things you want to tell them,” Darla replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Or shall we go out feeding?” “I will stay here,” Tessa said, looking out a window at the night sky. “Are you feeling alright?” Darla asked, faking concern. “I am fine,” Tessa answered. “Enjoy the hunt.” “Always do,” Darla said, getting up and walking out of the room. Tessa waited until she heard the front door close before leaving her room and going into Darla and Angelus’ bedroom, instantly going to a part of the floor where she had noticed a loose floorboard days before. She kneeled down and moved the board, poking around in the hole she had unearthed and feeling something wooden under her fingertips. She managed to extract a wooden box and brought it out, recognizing it as belonging to Darla. She ran her hand over the smooth surface before opening it and tensing in place, seeing the stack of envelopes in there that were all addressed to William and Drusilla. “What?” Tessa asked, stunned. “She kept all of the letters?” She stared at them as she felt tears in her eyes, clouding her vision. “She lied to me.” She stood up and walked to the fireplace in the parlor of the house, throwing the letters into the flames and watching them burn up, clenching her fists as thoughts raced through her mind. “William doesn’t know where I am, does he?” she asked. “They’ve both been lying to me.” She stormed off to her room and began gathering her belongings, shoving them into a bag before leaving the house, hoping she wouldn’t come across either Angelus or Darla as she headed for the nearby town. After she arrived in the city, she met with a man who would help her leave Amsterdam. “Where are you planning on going?” the man asked curiously as Tessa handed him a small amount of money for his help. “London,” she answered. “I have some family members I need to see.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 Spike walked Buffy home, and both felt the awkward tension between them as she opened the front door of her house. “So, I guess I should go in,” she said, looking at him. “Yeah, you probably should,” he replied. “Goodnight, Buffy.” “Goodnight, Spike,” she said, hesitating for a moment before kissing his cheek. “Thank you for taking me to get ice cream.” “It was my pleasure,” he said, smirking as she went into the house. He began to walk away, frowning when he caught a familiar scent, one that he had come across recently a couple of times but couldn’t figure out who it belonged to. When he had a thought of who it could be from, he shook his head, nearly laughing at himself for thinking it. “It’s not her,” he said. “She’s been gone for over a century, mate. It couldn’t be her.” He kept walking, remembering how Buffy’s lips had felt on his skin, pushing thoughts aside of the girl from his past that had flooded his mind for a moment. Meanwhile, Buffy walked around her house, becoming worried when she didn’t see any signs that her mother was home. “Mom?” she called out, looking outside at the driveway and not seeing Joyce’s Jeep before wondering if perhaps she had parked in their garage. “Mom?” After not getting a response, she went upstairs to check her mother’s bedroom, and when she realized that Joyce hadn’t come home that night, she quickly left the house and ran to the gallery.

Chapter #12 - In Her Hands

Chapter 12 – In Her Hands Sunnydale, 2000 Giles knocked on the door of Spike’s crypt impatiently, not letting up until the vampire opened the door, raising an eyebrow when he saw who was waiting for him. Before he could ask Giles why he was there, Giles pulled a stake out of his coat and aimed it at Spike’s heart. “Whoa,” Spike said, quickly taking a step back as his eyes widened. “What’re you doing?” “What did you do to Joyce?” Rupert asked, his eyes flashing with anger, his Ripper side coming to the surface. “What are you talking about?” Spike asked, confused. “What happened to Joyce?” “She’s missing,” Rupert said. “And you have something to do with that, don’t you?” “Get your facts straight before you accuse someone,” Spike growled, walking past Giles and heading in the direction of the cemetery’s gates. “Where is Buffy?” “At the police station,” Giles answered, following him. “She called me and told me that Joyce didn’t come home from the gallery and that although the gallery was dark, Joyce’s Jeep was still parked outside.” “And no one has heard from Joyce?” Spike asked, worried. “What do you think?” Giles snapped. “Where are you going?” “To see Buffy,” Spike answered, upset. “Where do you think I’m going?” “If I find out you had anything to do with Joyce’s disappearance, I’ll stake you before Buffy has a chance to,” Giles said sharply. “Why do you think it was me?” Spike asked. “Why would I hurt Joyce?” “Perhaps because you’re evil?” Giles suggested heatedly. “I like the lady, alright?” Spike asked. “I don’t know what happened to her, but I’m going to find out.” “I find it strange that you said you staked Harmony, who apparently was the main threat, but yet there’s another Summers woman missing,” Giles replied. “Who’s next, Spike? Buffy?” “Nothing is going to happen to her,” Spike said, his eyes flickering golden as he stopped in his tracks and looked at Giles. “And what about Joyce?” Giles asked, ignoring the surge of fear that coursed through him when he noticed the obvious change in Spike’s tone. “She will be alright,” he answered before storming off and murmuring, “She has to be.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Tessa watched as Joyce regained consciousness, sitting in a chair beside the bed that she had laid Joyce on. Joyce’s eyes slowly opened, and she jolted slightly when she realized that her wrists were bound to the bed frame and that she didn’t recognize her surroundings. She noticed Tessa and remembered seeing her earlier but not recalling anything that happened after that point. “Who are you?” Joyce asked quietly, trying not to sound as afraid as she felt. “My name is Tessa,” the vampire answered. “And you’re Joyce, yes?” “Yes,” Joyce answered, moving her wrists around a little to alleviate the ache that was forming in them. “What am I doing here? Why are you doing this to me?” “You’re a part of a plan of mine.” Tessa stood up and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Just like your youngest daughter was.” “You…” Joyce trailed off as tears formed in her eyes. “You’re the one who killed Dawn?” “My minions did,” Tessa answered. “I didn’t intend for her to die… or so fast, at least.” “Are you going to kill me, too?” Joyce asked. “If you are, I’d rather have you do it now than later.” “You’re going to be fine here,” Tessa said. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” “Why?” Joyce asked. “Not that I don’t appreciate you saying that, but why would you protect me? Don’t vampires like killing humans?” “Of course we do,” Tessa answered, smiling as she got up and walked to the door of the room. “Then why are you looking out for me?” Joyce asked, watching as the girl turned and looked at her. “I wasn’t lying before when I said that you look a lot like my mother.” She opened the door and let herself out before locking it behind her to ensure that none of her minions would get in and hurt Joyce. ~~~~~~~~~~ London, 1884 By the time Tessa returned to London, it had been nearly four years since she had seen William last and she was incredibly anxious to be with him again. She went to the address she had seen Darla write on the fake letters over the prior few years, deciding it wouldn’t hurt to see if they were really there or not. When she got to the small apartment building, she stopped in front of the doorman and looked at the exterior, noticing how nice it seemed. “May I help you?” the man asked. “Do you happen to know if William Pratt lives here?” Tessa asked. “If the man you are looking for lived with a dotty, raven-haired woman, then yes, he used to live here,” he answered. “They moved a couple of years ago. I had just started working here when they were thrown out. It seems they were involved in some shady business.” “Do you know where they went?” she asked, trying to ignore how sad she was that he had moved on and not knowing how she would ever find him again. “I do not know,” he answered. “But you are probably better off without him.” “Why is that?” she asked curiously. “They were accused of murdering some tenants here,” he said, frowning. “I am not surprised,” she replied, smirking. “Thank you for your help.” She giggled as she saw his surprised expression before walking away, wondering where William had gone and how she could track him down. It was then that she began to realize how alone she was and that she didn’t really have a place in life. She walked to a local inn and checked in for the night, thoughts filling her mind as she tried to figure out what she would do from that point on. “Perhaps it is time to be your own person,” she murmured as she opened the door to her room, closing it behind her and trying to stay optimistic about her future. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy walked into Giles’ home about an hour before sunrise, her eyes red from crying and a crestfallen expression on her face. She saw all of her friends gathered there, along with Spike standing in a corner, watching her solemnly. “Have they found her?” Giles asked, walking closer to her. “No,” she answered. “They don’t have any news or any leads to follow.” “We do,” Xander muttered, wincing when both Willow and Anya elbowed him. “What?” Buffy asked, looking at him. “Who?” “They think it’s me,” Spike replied. “Your Watcher has threatened to stake me good and proper if I’m somehow affiliated with Joyce disappearing.” “Unless you had someone else take her away, it couldn’t be you,” she said. “Why not?” Xander asked, watching her look at him before focusing on Spike with a confused expression. “Didn’t you tell them?” she asked. “Tell us what?” Willow asked, looking between Buffy and Spike. “I figured you could do the honors,” Spike said. “I didn’t feel like someone getting stake-happy without you around.” “Spike and I were hanging out together tonight,” Buffy said, not surprised when everyone looked stunned. “When you say hanging out-” Anya began. “We walked around town,” Buffy answered. “And got ice cream. What’s the big deal?” “I think you being friends with the enemy is a problem, don’t you?” Xander asked. “Watch it, whelp,” Spike replied sharply. “Spike is harmless,” Buffy said, frowning when he growled in response. “Sorry, let me rephrase that. Spike can’t hurt any of us because of the chip in his head – you all know that.” “Before we address why you two are suddenly such good pals, let’s get back to your mom,” Xander said. “What makes you think he isn’t involved? Maybe he kept you out tonight so that one of his vamp buddies could kidnap your mom.” “Do you really think he’d do that?” Buffy asked, crossing her arms. “Spike and my mom are friends.” “What Summers woman isn’t friends with him?” Giles muttered, going into his kitchen. “Guys, there are more important issues to discuss,” Willow said. “Joyce is missing, remember?” “And if Buffy isn’t careful, she might be next,” Xander replied. “Isn’t that right, Spike?” Spike charged forward and punched Xander, wincing in pain as the chip in his brain went off. “Oww!” Xander said, cradling his nose with his hands, blood dripping between them and hitting the floor. “Look what you did to my boyfriend!” Anya said, angry. “He had a handsome nose! Now it’s going to look weird.” “Sod his nose,” Spike replied, giving Buffy an apologetic look before leaving. Buffy began to follow after him but stopped when she heard Giles’ voice. “We don’t know for sure if he’s on our side or not.” He emerged from the kitchen, cleaning his glasses with a dishtowel. “No, you don’t,” she replied. “But I do.” She left, slamming the door behind her, which caused her friends to jump slightly. “Should we go after her?” Willow asked, watching Anya go into the kitchen to find ice for Xander’s nose. “She’ll come back if she needs us,” Giles answered, frowning. “Until then, we need to hope that Joyce will turn up and that Spike isn’t involved with her kidnapping.” “And what if he is?” Willow asked. “She’ll take care of it,” the older man said, sighing. “It’s in her hands, not ours.”

Chapter #13 - Itty Bitty Puzzle Pieces

Chapter 13 – Itty Bitty Puzzle Pieces Sunnydale, 2000 “Spike, wait,” Buffy said as she neared him, hearing him mumble as she got closer. “Go away, luv,” he replied, beginning to walk faster. “You have more important things to worry about than me.” “I don’t disagree, but will you stop for a second?” she asked, pleased when he turned and faced her. “Thank you.” “You should go back to your friends,” he said. “The sun’s coming up soon, and I’d like to be back in my crypt before that happens.” “I’m sorry that Giles and Xander-” “You have nothing to apologize for,” he said, interrupting her. “I expect it from them, although I didn’t know Giles was suddenly against me. I thought we were on good terms before, but apparently that’s changed.” “Probably because he’s being influenced by Xander,” she muttered, looking down. “Still, I’m sorry.” “It’s alright,” he replied, shrugging. “I’ll get over it, and so will they. Once my name is cleared for good, maybe they’ll start to accept me as part of the group.” “You are a part of the group,” she said. “Maybe to you and the other birds, but that’s it,” he said. “I’m not involved with your mum’s disappearance.” “I know,” she replied. “You should probably run – time’s ticking before the sun’s rays start being deadly.” He nodded and turned, beginning to walk away. “Spike?” she called after him, smiling when he looked over his shoulder at her. “Night.” “Shouldn’t you be saying good morning?” he asked, smirking. “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” she said. “Good morning.” “I look forward to hearing you say that after we’ve slept through the night sometime,” he replied, grinning as he saw the stunned look on her face before he continued walking in the direction of his crypt. She stared at him until he disappeared from sight before going home, her mind racing as she began to think about everything that had happened over the course of the past few hours. ~~~~~~~~~~ Joyce woke up after resting for a while to see Tessa sitting beside her bed again, watching her with a content expression. “Hello,” Tessa said, standing up and loosening the bindings around Joyce’s wrists before taking them off completely. “I’ve been waiting for you to wake up. I had one of my minions go out to get you some food.” She put a tray down on the bed that contained a glass of water, cereal, an orange, and toast. “Thank you,” Joyce said, studying it cautiously. “I told you before that I wouldn’t hurt you,” Tessa said, amused at the older woman’s nervous expression. “There’s nothing wrong with any of that food – it’s all brand new.” “It looks nice,” Joyce said, managing a small smile before beginning to eat, feeling hungrier than before as she started peeling the orange. “Can I ask you a question?” “Sure,” Tessa answered, sitting down on the edge of the bed and watching Joyce eat. “Why did you kill my daughter?” Joyce asked, tears beginning to sting her eyes as she spoke. “She was sweet, innocent… What could she have possibly done to make you take her life?” “I didn’t kill her,” Tessa said. “I told you before that my minions got a little carried away, remember?” “You could’ve stopped them,” Joyce said sharply, looking at the vampire with a furious expression. “I didn’t know until it was too late,” Tessa replied, looking down as she began to feel like she was being chided by her own mother. “But why did you take her?” Joyce asked, noticing the vampire’s eyes flash amber for a second. “I can’t tell you everything if I plan on letting you go,” Tessa answered. “You understand that, don’t you? I don’t want you to go home and tell your eldest all of my plans.” “Then give me a general reason why you’re doing this,” Joyce replied sternly. “Because my sire deserves to be punished,” Tessa said, raising her eyes to Joyce’s. “And I figure that the best way to hurt him before I actually do any real damage to him is to take away the women he cares about, one by one.” “Why me?” Joyce asked, confused. “Because Spike likes you,” Tessa answered. “Just like he cared about Dawn.” “Spike is your sire?” Joyce asked, her eyes widening. “Yes, he is,” Tessa answered, standing up. “What did he do to you that would make you want to attack women he cares about?” “He loved me, you know,” Tessa said as she walked to the door. “He turned me into a vampire because Drusilla, his sire, drained me and he didn’t want me to die at such a young age, to not experience more things in life. But he didn’t take care of me or protect me like he promised.” She stopped as she reached the door, staring at the knob when she heard Joyce’s voice. “I don’t understand why you’d go after Dawn or myself, though.” “He said he’d protect you and your daughters,” Tessa answered, opening the door. “But he won’t – he never protects those that he cares about, no matter how hard he tries. Your other daughter will be no exception.” ~~~~~~~~~~ South America, 1998 Tessa walked out of the small hotel she was staying in and tensed when she noticed a familiar scent. As she began to realize who it belonged to, she tracked it down to the first person who had ever tried to kill her. “Drusilla,” Tessa said as she came face-to-face with the older vampire, who saw her and grinned. “Well, if it isn’t my missing dolly,” Drusilla replied, giggling. “If it isn’t my psychotic grandmother,” Tessa said, crossing her arms when Drusilla narrowed her eyes at her. “Is William with you?” “I’m afraid my Spike has gone away,” Drusilla answered, looking down. “Back to the Slayer.” “Wait,” Tessa replied, frowning. “Why did you call him Spike?” “That is what name the stars gave him,” Drusilla said. “And he went to find the Slayer?” “He likes Slayers,” Drusilla replied. “He has killed two in the past, and the sun in California will stop shining like the others. They always do when he becomes the moon.” “You really haven’t changed, have you?” Tessa asked. “You’re still as insane as before.” “And you’re still so little,” Drusilla said in a patronizing tone. “I remember how small you looked when Angelus was on top of you, taking away the last bit of innocence you had.” “What are you talking about?” Tessa asked, confused. “Didn’t Daddy and Grandmummy ever play with you, dolly?” Drusilla asked, surprised. “Angelus always had such a desire for young blonde girls – I thought he would have enjoyed his time with you after they took you away.” “What are you talking about?” Tessa repeated, becoming angrier. As Drusilla began to explain what had happened the first time she and Angelus had raped her while she was unconscious, Tessa began to shake with fury, not believing that the vile details Drusilla was saying were true, but knowing how horrible Angelus was, she knew that Drusilla wasn’t making anything up. “You let him do that to me?” Tessa asked, tears in her eyes. “And you joined in?” “I couldn’t help myself, precious,” Drusilla said, reaching out to stroke Tessa’s cheek. Tessa took a step back and looked to the side, noticing a wooden crate on the ground. She began to walk towards it, happy when Drusilla followed her. “Feel like playing with your grandmum?” Drusilla asked with a wicked look in her eyes. “I would love to,” Tessa said, spinning on her heel and grabbing Drusilla’s upper arms before turning and pushing Drusilla backwards, sinking to the ground with the older vampire as she pushed Drusilla’s back onto the wooden crate, hearing it break beneath her. Drusilla scratched Tessa’s arm with her nails as she pushed Drusilla off of the destroyed crate and grabbed a piece of wood that had broken off before instantly shoving it through Drusilla’s chest, watching as she disintegrated into dust before her eyes and feeling satisfaction course through her. “One down,” Tessa murmured, standing up and wiping her hands off on the pants she was wearing. As she began walking back to her hotel, deciding that she didn’t feel like feeding after all, she realized something and stopped in her tracks. “William didn’t protect me from Angelus, from Drusilla. He broke his promise to me and allowed me to be attacked, to be used as a toy and tossed aside.” She felt tears roll down her cheeks before she quickly wiped them away, her hands shaking as a new wave of fury coursed through her. “Three to go.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 The next night, Spike walked to Buffy’s house to talk to her and make sure she was okay after the events of the night before. As he walked through town and made his way to the Summers house, he caught the scent that had been haunting him since Dawn had been kidnapped and decided to follow it, hoping to figure out who it belonged to. He walked for a couple of blocks before he saw a blonde girl walking down an alleyway, a taller man beside her who was talking animatedly about something. Although the girl’s back was to him, he felt a greater sense of familiarity run through him. It was when she looked over her shoulder at him for a second that Spike knew exactly who it was. “Tessa.” Before he could fully register what was going on, Tessa and the man beside her vanished. He tried as hard as possible to track her down to find where they had gone, but when he came up short, he turned in the opposite direction and ran to see Buffy, pieces of the puzzle beginning to connect in his head as he sprinted.

Chapter #14 - Family Reunions

Chapter 14 – Family Reunions Sunnydale, 2000 Spike impatiently knocked on Buffy’s door, waiting for her to open it. When she finally did, he pushed past her and walked into her house, barely greeting her on his way in. “Call Angel,” he said in a low tone. “We have a problem.” “Besides the fact that my mom is missing?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she followed him into the kitchen. “What’s going on?” “Call the wanker and tell him to take a trip down here,” Spike said, picking up the phone and handing it to her. “Why?” she asked, confused. “What aren’t you telling me?” “I think I know who killed Dawn and who’s got your mum,” he answered. “Who?” she asked, her eyes widening and her grip on the phone tightening. “A vampire I sired soon after Drusilla turned me,” he said. “A vampire that I was told died a very long time ago, but it would seem that I was lied to… by Angel and Darla… and maybe even Drusilla.” “Who is it?” she asked sternly. “Her name is Tessa.” He averted his eyes as he saw hers tearing up. “Do you know where she is?” she asked. He shook his head and frowned. “I don’t know, but I want to go out again and see what I can find.” He raised his eyes to hers. “Call Angel and tell him that he needs to be here, along with everything I just told you.” Before she could respond, he walked out the back door of her house, leaving her alone in her kitchen. “You could’ve told me more,” she mumbled as she quickly dialed Angel’s phone number, hoping maybe he could tell her more about the situation before she left to either find Spike or track down Tessa. ~~~~~~~~~~ Tessa stormed into the house she had claimed and walked into the living room area, where all of her minions were sitting and waiting for her. “We need to suit up,” she announced, running a hand over her face in frustration. “I think the battle is going to be coming a lot sooner than I had expected.” “Why do you think that?” one of the male vampires asked. “Because our boss fucked up and was spotted by the enemy,” the vampire who had accompanied her in town answered, shooting her a look. “Spike saw me,” she said, frowning. “It was only for a brief moment, but he’s not dumb – I wouldn’t doubt that he’s going to the Slayer right now and telling her.” “So what are we going to do?” a female vampire asked. “Leave town?” “Cowards can leave,” Tessa said. “But I’m staying, and I’d advise the rest of you to remain here, too, unless you want me to stake you. I don’t fancy keeping around deserters, but if you try to leave without me approving it, I’ll personally dust you myself.” “So we’re going to fight against the Slayer?” another male vampire asked. “Yes,” she answered. “And her little friends, too.” “What about Spike?” “He’s mine,” she said, beginning to walk towards Joyce’s room. “Everyone else is fair game.” She let herself into the bedroom Joyce was occupying and was pleased to see that she was awake. “I was hoping you’d come back soon,” Joyce said. “I’m very hungry.” “Well, you can make yourself something at home,” Tessa replied, taking off the shackles around Joyce’s wrists. “I’m letting you go.” Joyce stared at her, wondering if it was a trap. “What did you say?” “I’m letting you go,” Tessa repeated. “I’ll escort you out of here and follow you until you’re close to your home to make sure that none of my minions harm you in the meantime.” “But why would you let me go?” Joyce asked, weakly sitting up and getting off of the bed. “Not that I’m against the idea, but-” “Because I don’t need you anymore,” she answered. “I think Spike saw me, and even if he didn’t, I want him to know I’m here. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time, and I don’t want to wait much longer.” “Much longer for what?” Joyce asked. “To pay him back for letting me be assaulted by Drusilla, Angelus, and Darla,” Tessa said. “Let’s go before it gets any later – I still have some plans to figure out before I see Spike again.” ~~~~~~~~~~ A few hours after Buffy phoned Angel, he arrived at her home, and Buffy was stunned when she saw the blonde woman at his side. “Darla?” she asked quietly, staring at her. “Hello, Buffy,” Darla replied, managing a meek smile. Before Buffy could ask what was going on, Angel said, “It’s a long story.” “It always is,” she said, crossing her arms. “Are you a vampire?” “I’m as much of a human as you are,” Darla answered, walking into the house. Buffy looked at Angel with a confused expression. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “I figured the Tessa situation was more important,” he answered. “The gist of the story is that Wolfram and Hart, a law firm in L.A., brought her back to life in human form, mainly in an attempt to screw with me.” “How’s that working out?” she asked, motioning for him to come inside and closing the door behind him. “They know how to do their jobs well,” he muttered, going into the living room and watching as Darla walked around, looking at photographs. “Is Spike here?” “I am now,” Spike answered as he walked into the room after coming into the house. “Hello, Peaches.” He saw Darla and raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Darla?” “I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t know she’s back,” Buffy said. “She’s a human now.” “Is that right?” Spike asked, tilting his head. “How does that work?” “It’s a long story,” Angel said, repeating his words from before. “A law firm brought her back as a human,” Buffy said, sitting down on the couch. “It’s a lot more complicated than that,” Angel replied. “I’m sure it is,” Spike said before looking at Darla again. “Hello, luv. Been a long time.” “Hello, William,” she said, smiling at him. “You know, pet, I’m glad you’re here,” Spike said, walking towards her. “You can tell me why you lied to me about Tessa being killed.” “We thought she had been,” Angel lied, ignoring the guilt he felt as he remembered the night many decades ago when Darla informed him that Tessa had run away and that she was going to tell William that she had been staked. “How could you not be exactly sure?” Spike asked, narrowing his eyes at him. “We didn’t know better,” Darla murmured. “It was a chaotic time.” Buffy sensed the tension in the room and coughed as she tried to get everyone’s attention. “Did you find out anything new about Tessa?” “No one seems to know anything,” Spike answered. “Nobody has any information on where she’s hiding out or why she took Dawn and your mum.” “How do we know she’s involved with the kidnappings in the first place?” Angel asked. “Because I caught her scent a couple of times recently, especially in places that seemed suspicious,” Spike answered. “I’m not completely sure, but I’d bet my unlife that it’s her. I can’t imagine who else would be behind it, especially since I’ve had nagging thoughts in my head that Harmony had a partner in crime. It seems like I wasn’t wrong.” “You think Harmony and Tessa banded together?” Buffy asked. “Harmony was as dumb as a doornail,” Spike said. “I couldn’t believe she was stupid enough to take Dawn before, but knowing how intelligent Tessa is, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was the mastermind behind all of this.” “But why would she do this?” Buffy asked. “Maybe because she wants to set up a trap for you,” Spike said. Angel and Darla shared a look, both thinking the same thing and wondering if Tessa’s intent was based on something completely different. Spike noticed their expressions and frowned. “What?” “It’s nothing,” Angel said, waving it off. “So, what do we do now?” “Pair off and see if we can find her,” Buffy said. “I’ll call my friends and have them do the same thing. I’m going to need a description of her to give them, too.” “I’ll take care of that,” Spike said. “Are you two staying in town for a bit, Angel?” “Yeah,” he answered. “Is it alright if we stay here?” “Go right ahead,” Buffy said. “Having some company might help a little.” “Why haven’t you ever mentioned that before?” Spike mumbled as he walked into the kitchen, but Angel heard it anyways and it caught his attention. “Buffy, are you and Spike…” “Friends?” she asked. “Yes.” “Since when?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Since he started helping,” she answered. “Bring in your stuff and unpack if you want to. Spike and I are going to patrol and see if we can scrounge up any information.” Angel watched her go into the kitchen and listen to Spike’s phone conversation before they left the house through the back door. “He didn’t need an invitation,” Darla said as she came to stand beside Angel. “They must be good friends.” “You’re not helping my mood,” Angel replied as he glared at her. “Didn’t intend to,” she said, smiling as she walked upstairs to claim a room for herself. ~~~~~~~~~~ As Tessa and Joyce neared the Summers home, Tessa froze in her tracks when she saw Angel and Darla walking into the house, holding bags of luggage. Joyce saw them, too, and raised an eyebrow. “It looks like I have guests,” she said, surprised. “I haven’t seen Angel in a long time, and that girl with him… She looks familiar.” “Darla,” Tessa whispered. “Yes, that’s her name,” Joyce replied. “I couldn’t remember it.” “Go on inside,” Tessa said, staring at the home. “It was nice to meet you, Joyce.” She instantly turned and ran, disappearing from sight as she headed in the direction of her house. Joyce crossed the street and walked up the front porch’s stairs before letting herself in the house. She saw Buffy walking down the stairs, holding a stack of pillows and blankets. “Hello, Buffy,” Joyce said, her eyes becoming watery as her emotions overwhelmed her. Buffy’s eyes widened as she saw her mother, instantly dropping what she was holding and descending the stairs, wrapping her arms around Joyce in a hug as she began to cry, both women sobbing in relief as they stayed embraced for a long while.

Chapter #15 - A Few Hours Alone

Chapter 15 – A Few Hours Alone Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy walked out of her mother’s bedroom half an hour later after ensuring that she was safe and that she had fallen asleep. She walked downstairs and saw Spike hang up the phone after he had called Giles, informing him of Joyce’s return and all of the details she had given them about where Tessa was and what the young-looking vampire had told her. “Did you tell Giles that we’ll meet up in the afternoon?” Buffy asked as she walked towards Spike. “Yeah,” he answered. “And he’s going to call all of your friends to get them updated on everything.” “Where are Angel and Darla?” she asked, looking around. “They’re settled in the basement,” he said. “Darla wasn’t feeling well, and Angel said he’d stay with her down there to make sure she’s okay. I told him I’d let him know if anything came up before the sunrise.” “Thanks,” Buffy replied, sighing. “It’s been one hell of a night, hasn’t it? Mom returned home, safe and sound, Angel and Darla came to town, and we know almost all there is to know about Tessa.” “Except why she’s gunning for me,” he said, crossing his arms. “Joyce didn’t seem to have any specific explanations about that. She mentioned something about Tessa saying that she was assaulted by Dru, Angel, and Darla, but Angel and Darla didn’t know what Joyce was talking about, so I’ve got to wonder what Tessa’s vendetta is and why she’s suddenly making herself known after all of these years.” “Well, you can ask the vampire herself tomorrow night when we storm the castle,” Buffy said, locking the front door and beginning to turn off lights in the living room. “On a scale of one to ten, how tough do you think she’ll be to take down?” “She’s as old as I am, pet – she’s not going to be easy to dust,” he answered. “Should I be worried about fighting her?” she asked, noticing the surprised look on his face. “Are you ever worried about fighting a master vampire?” he asked. “Every once in a while,” she replied, smirking a little. “Used to be when I fought you.” “Is that right?” he asked, intrigued. “Well, until I realized how much of a wimp you are,” she joked, gasping when he charged at her and wrapped his arms around her, crushing his lips to hers. She returned his kiss with equal fervor, a small part of her hoping that Angel wouldn’t come upstairs and catch them but another part wondering how he’d react if he did. She knew that sooner or later, he would find out that there was more to Buffy and Spike’s friendship than everyone else thought, and she was partially wishing that it would be later… much later. When she needed to breathe, she broke away from Spike’s lips and looked into his sparkling blue eyes, seeing the adoration he felt for her reflected in them. “I’m not a wimp,” he murmured. “A wimp wouldn’t have done that – he’d be too afraid of the big bad Slayer.” “What’s saying you shouldn’t be afraid of me?” she asked, smiling. “I could’ve staked you for being so forward.” “You wanted it just as much as I did,” he replied. “Besides, you’re in a good mood because of your mum being back – I couldn’t have done that if you were as upset as you have been lately.” “Didn’t keep you from kissing me before,” she said. “What can I say?” he asked. “Couldn’t help myself.” She giggled quietly and looked away. “So, we should probably call it a night. My friends will be here in a few hours, and I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty tired. It’s been an eventful day.” “That it has,” he said. “I should go downstairs before Angel falls asleep – don’t want him to yell at me if I wake him up. He can be grouchy when he doesn’t get enough beauty sleep.” “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea for you and Angel to share a room together,” she replied. “I wouldn’t want to wake up tomorrow and find out that he got stake-happy while you were sleeping.” “True,” he agreed. “And he’d be useless to you because he’d spend the rest of the day brooding, feeling guilty about killing me, a harmless vampire.” “You’re not harmless,” she said. “Who told you that?” “You’ve said it to me before,” he answered. “I thought that’s what you think I am.” “Your bite isn’t as strong as your bark,” she replied. “Well, towards me and the rest of the human population, at least. You definitely still can bite when it’s aimed at anything evil.” “Thank you for comparing me to a dog,” he replied, annoyed. “Couldn’t you have chosen something better?” “I thought it was pretty clever,” she said, pouting. He smiled and grazed her cheek before kissing her softly. “Well, if I can’t sleep in the basement with Darla and the poofter, where should I go, then?” “Well, I guess you have a couple of options,” she said. “You could sleep on the couch, although we’d have to make sure no sunlight will come in the room because that would be bad.” “Definitely bad,” he affirmed, nodding. “Next option?” “Dawn’s room is open,” she answered. “But I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” “Probably not,” he replied. “I don’t know if I could sleep in there – I’d spend the next few hours remembering all of the times I spent with her and wouldn’t get any rest.” “So that’s out, too,” Buffy said, looking down. “I guess that leaves only one other place.” “And where’s that?” he asked, having an idea of what she was hinting at and moving closer to her, wanting to hear her say it. “My room,” she said, raising her eyes to his. “Would you make me sleep on the floor?” he asked curiously, biting his lip to keep from grinning when she frowned. “Would you want to?” she asked. “Not particularly,” he answered. “But if you’re going to hog the covers, then maybe I’d be better off on the ground.” “I’ll have you know that I always share the covers,” she replied petulantly. “Should I go ask Angel about that?” he asked, laughing when she smacked his arm. “You’re evil,” she muttered as she began to walk away. “Don’t ever forget that, Goldilocks,” he said, following her to the stairs. “So, are we sharing your bed, then?” She turned to look at him and noticed the insecurity playing on his features, not used to seeing him be unsure of himself. “Is that what you want?” “Yes,” he answered. “If it’s okay with you, that is. I don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night to feel a stake going through my chest.” “I wouldn’t do that,” she said before shrugging. “Well, only if you do something out of line.” “Do you really think I would?” he asked, smirking. “I can pretty much count on it,” she answered, smiling. “Come on, it’s getting closer to sunrise – we should go to sleep.” They walked upstairs and to her room, and while Buffy went into the bathroom to change into pajamas, Spike closed all of her shades and made sure they were secure, not wanting them to open while they were asleep. He took off his boots and duster before lying down on her bed, pulling the covers over him and resting his head on her pillow, catching her scent on her sheets as he got comfortable. Buffy walked into the room a couple of minutes later and watched him for a moment, studying how peaceful he looked when his eyes were closed. “Going to stand there all night?” he asked, never opening his eyes. “Or will you join me and keep me warm?” “And how do your propose I do that?” she asked, walking towards the bed and smiling when he lifted up the edge of her sheets, letting her lay down before he covered her with them. He draped one of his arms across her and pulled her closer to his body, happy when she relaxed against him and closed her eyes. “This is nice.” “Yes, it is,” she agreed, yawning. “Goodnight, Spike.” “Goodnight, Buffy,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. Spike stayed awake until he heard her heartbeat slow down to its resting rate before he shut his eyes, willing himself to fall asleep as images of his past with Tessa filled his head.

Chapter #16 - Prepare For the Worst

Chapter 16 – Prepare For the Worst Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy’s eyes slowly opened as she woke up, instantly feeling Spike holding her close to him while he continued to sleep. She smiled and put her hand on his, surprised when he pressed a kiss to her temple. “Good morning,” he murmured. “Good morning to you, too,” she replied, watching as he grinned. “What?” “Told you before that I looked forward to hearing you say that,” he said. “Was it worth the wait?” she asked, giggling. “Absolutely,” he answered. “What time is it?” She looked at the clock on her bedside table and frowned. “The gang should be here soon – we should probably get out of bed.” “Probably should,” he agreed before kissing her softly. “Probably won’t.” “Keep it in your pants, pal,” she replied, narrowing her eyes at him before smirking. “We have more important things to do.” “Maybe more important to you, but to me-” “Come on, Big Bad,” she said, getting out of bed and stretching her arms. “What if today is our last day on earth?” he asked, pouting. “You could regret making such a hasty decision.” “Spike, we have a fight to prepare for,” she said, looking at him. “A fight that we’ll both survive, like we always do.” “I know,” he said, sitting up before getting off of the bed. “Just wanted to see if I could guilt you into lying around for a while longer.” “Nice try,” she replied, smiling. “Let me go through the house first so I can close all of the curtains and shades. The last thing I need is to lose two of my soldiers.” “I have a feeling Angel won’t be happy when he finds out I was up here,” Spike said. “Then we won’t tell him,” she said before walking out of the room. “Trust me, he’ll find out,” he muttered as he waited for her to tell him when it was okay for him to move around in the house. A couple of minutes later, Spike joined Darla and Angel in the living room, talking to them as they waited for the others to arrive, and Joyce and Buffy were in the kitchen, making breakfast. “So, I couldn’t help but notice that Spike was in your room last night,” Joyce said, looking at Buffy as she poured a bowl of cereal for herself. “He needed a place to sleep,” Buffy replied nonchalantly. “And how did that go?” Joyce asked, smiling. “He was on his best behavior,” Buffy said as she poured cereal into another bowl for Darla. “Were you?” Joyce asked. “Mom!” Buffy replied, shocked. “Nothing happened – we both slept. You should get your head out of the gutter and focus on more important matters, like you regaining your strength and relaxing after the chaos of the last few days.” “I’m fine, Buffy,” Joyce said. “And I was only teasing – I’ve missed doing that.” They exited the kitchen and walked into the living room, and as Buffy moved past Angel, he noticed Spike’s scent on her and froze. Spike, who was on the other side of the room, figured out that Angel was putting two and two together when he grabbed Buffy’s arm and pulled her closer to him, smelling her skin. “What are you doing?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Want to tell me why I can smell Spike on you?” Angel asked sternly. “I told you that they’re more than friends,” Darla replied, grinning as she started to eat her cereal. “Besides, he wasn’t in the basement with us, Angel – where did you think he was?” “I… didn’t want to think about it,” Angel said, angry. “Did you two-” “I didn’t think it was safe for you two to sleep in the same area, so I offered him half of my bed,” Buffy cut in. “Is that all you offered him?” Angel asked, crossing his arms. “Is that your business?” Buffy shot back, irritated. “She’s fine, Angel,” Spike said. “I was a perfect gentleman – I didn’t do anything wrong.” “How come I doubt that?” Angel asked, turning his attention to Spike. The doorbell rang, so Buffy went to open the door, letting her friends walk in. Giles, Willow, and Xander took notice of Darla and were surprised to see her, even though they had known she was there. “Hello, everyone,” Joyce said, smiling when she was instantly hugged by Willow and Xander before Anya joined them. “It’s nice to see that you’re alright,” Giles said, giving her a small smile before he went into the living room. “Have we missed anything?” “Just a discussion about why Spike was allowed to share Buffy’s bed last night,” Angel answered, looking between Buffy and Spike as they exchanged glances. “What?” Xander asked, staring at them. “It’s really not as bad as it sounds,” Buffy said sheepishly. “She’s alive – that’s a good sign,” Anya said, looking around at everyone. “You two… slept together?” Willow asked, surprised. “We didn’t shag,” Spike answered. “She slept on one side of the bed, and I occupied the other side – what’s the big deal?” “You shouldn’t be near her,” Xander said. “Ever.” As Spike took a step towards Xander, Xander reflexively put his hand over his nose and moved away. “Can we talk about something else?” Buffy asked. “Or has everyone forgotten about the Tessa situation?” “She’s right,” Tara said quietly, smiling when Buffy gave her an appreciative look. “You can change the subject now, but that doesn’t mean we won’t return to it later on,” Xander mumbled as he sat down on the couch with Darla, raising an eyebrow when she looked at him for a long moment. “What?” “You have a nice neck,” she answered. He quickly stood up again and returned to his girlfriend’s side. “She’s not a vampire anymore, remember?” Willow asked. “She’s still creepy,” he whispered. “Before we got horribly off topic, I had asked if we missed anything,” Giles asked. “I was referring to anything about Tessa and what her plans might be.” “We have nothing new,” Buffy said. “Unless there’s anything you forgot to mention last night, Mom.” “I don’t think there’s anything I missed,” Joyce replied. “I’m sorry.” “It’s okay,” Buffy said. “Now, let’s try to figure out a game plan.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Tessa sat in her bedroom and flipped through an old journal she had kept from around the time she had been sired, smiling as she remembered the good times she had experienced with William. One of her minions knocked before walking in, raising an eyebrow when he saw how relaxed she was, which was odd compared to how she had been acting since he had met her a year ago in Mexico. “Shouldn’t you be forming strategies?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe. “I mean, if you’re expecting Spike and the Slayer later, shouldn’t you be thinking about tactics as to how we’re going to take them down?” “Do you remember the day you were sired?” she asked curiously as she closed the journal and looked at him. “It’s funny how after one hundred and twenty years, I can remember almost every exact detail of that night.” “I think most vampires typically remember it,” he answered. “Why are you asking?” “Did you know your sire?” she asked. “No,” he said. “I went out to a nightclub, got drunk, and ended up leaving by myself before I came across this really beautiful woman.” “She was a vampire?” she asked, smiling when he nodded. “Did she teach you how to feed, how to live as one of us?” “No,” he answered, looking away. “She turned me and left me in a building before walking away. I never knew her name or saw her again – who knows if she’s still around today.” He shrugged. “It’s probably for the best that I didn’t know her – things could have ended up really weird if I had.” “I know what you mean,” Tessa replied before opening her journal again. “Go rally up everyone else and make sure that they’re ready for tonight – I have a feeling it’s going to be an interesting experience.” “Do you think we’ll get through it without a scratch?” he asked. “I don’t really know,” she answered. “Prepare for the worst but hope for the best.” He nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. She looked at the journal in her hands and frowned. “Hope for the best, indeed.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Darla, Angel, Spike, and the rest of the Scoobies followed Joyce’s directions to Tessa’s lair and remained quiet as they walked, everyone’s minds focused on different things. Both Angel and Darla had a feeling that the truth they had been hiding for so long would finally be revealed, whereas Spike was wondering exactly why Tessa had targeted him and if everyone would make it through the fight. Buffy, meanwhile, was intent on staking Tessa as soon as she saw her. As they arrived at the front door of the house, Buffy looked at everyone around her before letting her eyes lock with Spike’s for a long moment. “Are we ready?” she asked quietly. When everyone nodded, she took a deep breath and kicked the door down.

Chapter #17 - Justice Has Been Served

Chapter 17 – Justice Has Been Served Sunnydale, 2000 The group slowly walked into the house, everyone paying close attention to any sounds they heard. Angel and Spike stepped ahead of everyone else, tapping into their senses to see if they could feel anyone in their general vicinity. It was as Spike turned around, sensing a presence, that he saw Tessa standing directly behind Darla, who was at the back of the gang, oblivious to the vampire behind her. “No!” Spike yelled, causing everyone to follow his gaze and panic when they saw Tessa seize Darla by the neck and hold her a couple of inches off of the ground, choking her. Spike, Angel, and Buffy charged forward, but Tessa’s minions appeared from the shadows of the room, each holding either a pistol or a crossbow. “Don’t come near me,” Tessa said sternly, her face changing as she looked up at Darla’s scared expression, her hands clawing at Tessa’s as she struggled for breath. “Hello, Darla. Remember me?” “Let her go,” Spike said, taking a step forward and holding his hands up as a minion put an arrow in his crossbow, keeping it aimed directly at Spike. “She’s not who you want – I am.” “It’s not all about you, William,” Tessa said, never tearing her eyes off of Darla as she smiled. “Never thought I’d see you again, Darla, let alone as a human. I’m sure there’s an interesting story behind your transformation, right?” She twisted her wrist quickly, breaking Darla’s neck instantly. “Not that I care to hear it.” Spike, Angel, and the Scoobies all watched in horror as Tessa let Darla’s lifeless body fall to the ground before she looked at Buffy’s friends. “If any of you value your life, you’ll leave now. I don’t wish to deal with you.” She motioned to Angel, Spike, and Buffy. “They’re who I want here, not you. Leave us.” Buffy looked at Giles and hesitated before nodding at him, watching as he reluctantly turned and walked out of the building, everyone else following him. Spike and Angel heard them talking as they exited, everyone concerned that leaving Buffy in a room full of vampires would lead to her death. Spike and Angel, however, knew that out of anyone left inside, Buffy was probably the safest. “So, we meet at last,” Tessa said as she slowly approached Buffy, studying her. “It’s always pretty blondes with you, isn’t it, Angel?” “They’re not together anymore,” Spike replied, tilting his head. “That’s right,” Tessa said, looking at him. “She’s with you, isn’t she?” “How is that your business?” Buffy asked, tightly clutching the stake she was holding as Tessa’s eyes met hers. “I suppose it isn’t,” Tessa replied. “Although there’s no use in trying to have a relationship with him – he fails every woman in his life.” She turned her attention to Spike. “Isn’t that right?” “I’ve done my best to protect everyone I’ve ever cared about,” Spike said, narrowing his eyes at her. “So you kept Dawn from being kidnapped?” she asked, smirking. “Or Drusilla from being staked?” Angel and Spike exchanged a look, both stunned. “Didn’t you know?” “I… didn’t know for sure,” Angel said. “I thought I felt someone in our line die, but between Darla coming back to life and a few other… things, I couldn’t be positive if it was Drusilla or not.” “And you, William?” Tessa asked. “Did you know?” “I thought something seemed off, but I didn’t know,” he said, confused. “She usually writes, but I haven’t gotten anything from her in-” “Two years?” Tessa asked, grinning. “You.” Spike stared at her, shocked. “You staked her?” “She had it coming,” Tessa answered, crossing her arms. “Just like Angel does.” She looked at him. “You may have a soul now, but Angelus is still inside you, and I’m afraid that he and I have a bit of a past that needs to be avenged, don’t we?” “What are you talking about?” Spike asked when he saw Angel take a small step back as Tessa moved towards him. “Your turn will be next, I promise,” Tessa said, smirking at Spike. “You’ve been a bad daddy, William – you need to be punished.” “What did I do to you?” he asked, angry. “I sired you so that you could maybe have a good life as a vampire instead of dying at such a young age – what’s wrong about that?” “You let them take me away!” Tessa shouted, taking a few steps toward him. Buffy moved forward, but as she heard the sound of pistols cocking, she froze, knowing she wouldn’t be able to dodge dozens of bullets that were coming at her if anyone fired their guns. “I didn’t do anything of the sort,” Spike replied. “Drusilla told me that Angelus and Darla took you for a trip, and since I didn’t know where you were, I told Drusilla that I wanted to wait in London until you returned. It’s not like I didn’t want to see you again – you’re my Childe, and I cared about you.” “Then why weren’t you in London when I finally did come for you?” she asked. “When I ran away from Angelus and Darla?” “Dru and I got a letter from Darla that said you had been dusted,” he answered. “So we moved on – there was nothing I could do to change that.” “Well, I’m standing right here, so obviously that wasn’t true!” she shot back. “Just like every other line they fed you was a lie.” “What are you talking about?” Spike shouted, upset. “You’re telling me you don’t know?” she asked, tilting her head. “You don’t know what your friends did to me?” Both Spike and Buffy looked at Angel, who once again moved backwards, his expression indicating that he had an idea of what she was talking about. “What did you do, Angel?” Buffy asked quietly, watching him carefully. “Better answer the girl fast, mate, before I make you answer,” Spike said in a warning tone. “I didn’t have a soul back then,” Angel said, looking at Tessa. “What did you do?” Buffy repeated. “Angelus liked young children,” Angel answered, keeping his eyes trained only on Tessa. “He saw her as a gift when William brought her to the hotel. He…” “Tell them,” Tessa said, her eyes watering. “Tell them what you did to me.” “Drusilla and Angelus took certain liberties with her when she was unconscious,” Angel said, shutting his eyes as memories assaulted him. “And when Darla came, she also partook in-” “In what?” Spike growled, his jaw clenched. “We abused her,” Angel answered. “We hit her, raped her, bit her… We kept it a secret from you, Spike, because we knew you’d either try to stake us or you’d take her away, and we all saw her as a toy back then.” “You did that to a little girl?” Buffy asked, feeling nauseous as she thought about what he had said. “Angelus had a penchant for hurting young girls,” Angel muttered. “And you didn’t know?” Tessa asked, looking through watery eyes at Spike, who looked both sick and ashamed. “I didn’t know,” he affirmed, averting his eyes from hers. “I had no idea.” “Is that why you went after him?” Buffy asked. “Because he didn’t protect you?” “I thought he sent me away to endure more pain from Darla and Angelus,” Tessa murmured. “I thought he didn’t care about me anymore and wanted to see me be hurt.” “I never wanted that for you,” Spike said, his hands clenched into fists. “Had I known that was going on, I would’ve taken you away from them. Why didn’t you ever tell me before you left?” “Go ahead and answer him,” Tessa said, looking at Angel. “We only hurt her when she was unconscious,” he answered feebly. “Unconscious because you would hit me!” she screamed. “You made it so that I had no idea as to what was going on. You three claimed that I had fainted or something along those lines to make sure that I wouldn’t catch on to anything. You’d say I scratched myself in my sleep or that I must’ve hurt myself, always finding clever ways of explaining bruises and healing bite marks, and I didn’t know any better.” Buffy put her stake into the back pocket of her pants and approached Tessa, her hands up to signal that she wouldn’t do anything wrong. She came face-to-face with her and saw tears roll down her cheeks. “Nobody should have to live through things like that,” Buffy said quietly. “Not even vampires.” She paused. “But you targeted someone who didn’t know the truth, who would’ve helped you if he had known something was wrong, and my sister died because of it.” “I didn’t kill her,” Tessa said. “A couple of my minions did.” “While she was in your care,” Buffy replied. “So I’m blaming you for her death.” “What do you want me to say?” Tessa asked, her face going back to normal. “I’m sorry? I think I deserve an apology from Angel before I say anything to you of the sort.” Buffy looked over her shoulder at Angel and saw Spike inching towards him, slowly but surely. “Might want to demand it quickly because I don’t know how much longer he’ll be able to speak,” Buffy murmured before Spike wrapped his hands around Angel’s throat and threw him against a wall, watching a bunch of minions in the area scatter, afraid of being caught in the crossfire. As Angel sank to the ground, Spike began pummeling him, kneeling over his grandsire and ignoring the tears in his eyes as he kept swinging. “How could you do that to her?” Spike asked, oblivious to the fact that Angel wasn’t bothering to fight back. Angel had known for years that this moment was coming and that when it did, he deserved everything he got as payback and wouldn’t attempt to stop whoever fought him. Buffy walked towards them, flinching every time she heard one of Angel’s bones break or the sound of Spike’s fist hitting an already bloody area. Tessa, meanwhile, watched the fighting vampires and realized that her vendetta had been for naught – Spike wasn’t to blame for what happened to her. She moved towards them and saw how much damage Spike was doing to Angel, knowing that in some small way, he was getting back at Angelus and trying to make up for not taking care of her many decades ago. Tessa carefully took the stake out of Buffy’s pants and was pleased that the Slayer was too engrossed with the fight to notice it being taken away. Tessa put her hand on Spike’s shoulder and gave him a small smile when he looked up at her, his face changing as he began to calm down a little. “Let him go,” she said quietly. “This isn’t your fight anymore.” Buffy helped him stand up before turning her attention to Angel, assisting him to stand and letting him put his weight on her as he cringed, the pain from his injuries enough to cause him to nearly bowl over. Tessa grazed his bloody cheek and looked into his eyes. “I know you’re not him anymore… but as long as you exist, so does he.” Before anyone could stop her, she shoved the stake she was holding into Angel’s chest and watched him turn into dust before repeating her actions on herself. The only sounds in the room were Buffy’s startled gasp and the stake hitting the ground.

Chapter #18 - Time to Think

Chapter 18 – Time to Think Sunnydale, 2000 Both Buffy and Spike stared at the dust piles, neither knowing what to say. It was as Buffy saw Spike wipe off the corners of his eyes that she looked at him, frowning. “Are you alright?” she asked, putting her hand on his arm, surprised when he shrugged it off. “I’m fine,” he answered, clearing his throat. “We should probably go.” “Spike-” “Go out and tell your pals that we’re okay,” he said, averting his eyes from hers. “And that Tessa is gone.” “Spike, I’m-” she began, irritated when he interrupted her again. “Tell them about Angel, too,” he added. “Although I’m sure they’ll notice when he doesn’t come out.” When she opened her mouth to speak, he turned to her, his eyes flashing amber for a moment. She put her hands up in surrender and began to walk away. As she got to the front doorway of the home, she looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m sorry.” “So am I,” he murmured, looking at her briefly before turning his attention to the minions that remained in the surrounding area. “If I ever see any of you again, you won’t have time to run – I’ll stake you before you can blink.” He watched as they dispersed, going down a hallway and into various rooms. He looked at the door of the house and opted to follow after Buffy, knowing that the loss of Angel probably hit her as hard as him finding out about what everyone had done to Tessa in the past and losing her, too. When he got outside, he was surprised to see only Giles and Xander out there. “We have to speak with you,” Xander said, putting his hands in his pockets. “Where are the birds?” Spike asked, pulling his box of cigarettes out of his duster before finding his lighter and lighting a cigarette. “They’re on their way back to Buffy’s house,” Giles answered. “Joyce should know what happened here tonight.” “What do you want to say to me, then?” Spike asked. “It must be something Buffy shouldn’t hear that you had to wait for her to be absent to approach me.” “We’re sorry we accused you of being behind Dawn’s death and Joyce being kidnapped,” Xander said, seeing the surprise on Spike’s face before quickly looking down. “Apology accepted,” Spike said, blowing a cloud of smoke at him and smirking when he coughed. “But that doesn’t mean we support you attempting to have a relationship with Buffy,” Xander said sternly. “I don’t think it’s up to you,” Spike replied. “Or even your business, whelp.” “Her wellbeing is our business,” Giles said. “And if you do anything to jeopardize her safety, you know we will step in.” “Not going to hurt her,” Spike said, beginning to walk away from them. “Thought you trusted me, Rupert.” “Not enough for you to date Buffy,” he replied. “She’s safe now,” Spike said, loud enough for the men to hear him. “And I’m not going to let anything happen to her.” ~~~~~~~~~~ After taking a long walk through the streets of Sunnydale, trying to collect his thoughts, Spike made his way to the Summers house and saw Buffy sitting on her front porch by herself, looking up at the sky. “Where is everyone?” he asked as he walked up the front walkway. “I sent them home,” she answered, sighing. “I’ve had enough excitement for one day.” “I know what you mean,” he said as he sat beside her. “How are you fairing?” “I’m fine,” she replied. “I’m glad the threat is gone… but I guess I’m still reeling from hearing about what happened to Tessa. The fact that Angelus took part in harming her makes me feel sick.” “Well, Angelus was a merciless sod,” he said. “He didn’t care about anyone besides himself, not even Darla.” “What are we going to do with her?” Buffy asked, looking at him. “Do we bury her, or-” “She deserves a proper burial,” he said. “Even though she used to be a monster, she was a human being at the time of her death, so I guess that means she should be buried.” “How are you doing?” Buffy asked after a long pause. “I can’t imagine how you feel after hearing all of the things Tessa and Angel told you – you must be devastated.” “I’ve heard and seen a lot of things in my time,” he said. “Tonight wasn’t the worst night I’ve ever lived through… but it’s in the top five.” “I’m sorry,” she replied, putting her hand on one of his. “Why would she have done it?” he asked, looking down. “Why would she have staked herself?” “She got what she wanted,” Buffy said. “She found out the truth about you not knowing what happened to her, you heard what everyone had been hiding from you, and she killed the people who hurt her. She accomplished her mission.” “She was a bright girl,” he said. “And on some level, I think she always had a death wish of some sort, even when she was human.” He smiled at a memory he had. “She fell out of a tree once in my mum’s garden. She got up to one of the higher branches and lost her balance. Broke an arm and scratched herself up pretty badly.” “She sounds like she was adventurous,” she replied. “And curious,” he agreed. “She was a good kid.” Silence engulfed them for a long moment before Spike looked away. “She was always pretty astute, too,” he said. “She was right – I’ve failed every woman I’ve ever cared about.” “I’m still here, Spike, so that’s not entirely true,” she said. “And you know it.” “That doesn’t change the fact that your sister died because of me,” he replied. “Or that your mum was nabbed.” “I’m not putting any blame on you for either of those things,” she said. “Tessa took them, not you, and if anyone is at fault, it’s Angelus, Drusilla, and Darla… and they got what they deserved.” “If things had been different, Dawn would still be here,” he said quietly. “If things were different, you wouldn’t be a vampire,” she replied. “And I wouldn’t be the Slayer.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked. “That our situation isn’t ideal, but we’re given the cards we’re dealt and have to live with them,” she said, getting up. “I should probably go back inside – Mom’s biding her time by watching TV until I feel like spilling more of the details from tonight.” “Yeah, you should go in,” he agreed, standing. “I’ll see you around, pet.” “Goodnight, Spike,” she replied before walking into her house. Spike looked at the door for a moment before turning and walking away, going across town to where his Desoto was parked and getting in, starting the car and driving out of Sunnydale, heading for Los Angeles. A/N Sorry for such a short chapter, but I’m going out of town this weekend and wanted to post at least one more chapter before I leave. Hopefully the cliffhanger at the end will leave you wanting more until the next installment on Monday.

Chapter #19 - Let It Burn

Chapter 19 – Let It Burn Los Angeles, 2000 Spike looked around his hotel room and made sure that he had everything that he needed before leaving the rundown building and getting into his car. He opted not to bother with checking out – he had more important things to do and didn’t want to spend any extra time there when he would rather be back in Sunnydale. He pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket and looked at the address on it, studying it for a long moment before starting the Desoto and following the directions he had been given earlier to the building where he might find more answers. To Angel’s apartment. ~~~~~~~~~~ Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy sat on her front porch and looked up at the night sky, thinking about the phone call she had received a few hours earlier and trying to figure out what was going on. It was as she saw Spike’s car pull up in front of her house that she sighed with relief, watching him exit the Desoto before he headed towards her. “Hello, luv,” he said, sounding surprised. “What are you doing out here?” “Needed some fresh air,” she answered. “So, how was L.A.?” He frowned, putting his hands in the pockets of his duster. “How did you know where I was? Or that I was gone in the first place?” “I got a tip from Cordelia today,” she said. “She and Wesley saw you break into the building Angel runs his business out of and figured I should know. She thought maybe you were feeling like messing with Angel again like you did last year… but then I had the privilege of telling her that Angel can’t be screwed over anymore because he’s a pile of dust in an abandoned home here in town.” “So it was a bad call, then?” he asked, trying to keep the tone light. “Oh, it was a pleasure,” she said sarcastically. “I’ve been putting off telling Cordy and the others about Angel, but I guess it had to come at some point, right?” She looked down. “And then there was the fact that I didn’t know you were gone - that made me upset.” “I wasn’t gone that long,” he replied, sitting beside her. “Not even twenty-four hours.” “Why did you go?” she asked, frowning. “What did you need to do there that you weren’t willing to tell me about?” “Angelus always had a journal with him,” he said. “He used to write about his travels and some of the things he did. I wanted to find out if he had ever written about Tessa and what he, Darla, and Dru did to her.” “Did you find anything?” she asked quietly. “He practically had a whole bloody novel written about her,” he said in a low tone. “And I’m guessing you read through a lot of it, didn’t you?” she asked, looking at him. “Nothing else to do during the day,” he muttered, getting his cigarettes out of his pocket and lighting one. “I passed the time by reading through the journals I grabbed.” “Why would you put yourself through that?” she asked. “I mean, wouldn’t it be better to know the general stuff rather than all of the specifics?” “I wanted to know it all,” he said. “Call it morbid curiosity, but I felt the need to know everything. I wanted to know what Dru died for, what Dawn died for.” “Dru deserved it,” Buffy replied. “I’m sure you’d agree with that.” “She… wasn’t as bad as Darla and Angelus,” he said. “But in a way, yes, I agree that she had it coming.” “I’m sorry for your losses,” she said. “I know I shouldn’t be, but I am.” “What are you talking about?” he asked, confused. “Well, your family, so to speak, is gone,” she answered. “You lost Darla, Angel, Dru, and Tessa.” “Tessa is the only one I wish was still around,” he replied. “There are more questions that aren’t answered.” “And they might never be,” she said, standing up. “I should go inside – Mom and I’ve decided to implement set times during the day when we spend time together. Now that it’s just us, we’re trying to stick together and look out for one another whenever we can. Losing someone makes people become closer, doesn’t it?” “Typically it does,” he answered. “You become more thankful for what you have and realize that you could lose another person before it’s rightfully their time.” “Yeah, I think you’re right,” she said, nodding. “Goodnight, Spike.” “Goodnight, Buffy,” he replied, watching her walk to the door. As she opened it, she looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m glad you came back.” “Did you really think I’d be gone for good?” he asked, smirking. “You never know with you,” she said. “Then again, when haven’t you come back to Sunnydale?” “It’s what I do,” he replied, managing a grin when she laughed before going into her house. He got up and walked to his car, getting in and looking at the stack of Angelus’ journals that were sitting on his passenger seat. “I’ve got a lot more work ahead of me,” he said to himself, scowling at the aged books before pulling away from the curb. ~~~~~~~~~~ A couple of days later, Buffy headed to Spike’s crypt and saw him walking out the door, holding a tall stack of books. She raised an eyebrow as she watched him stop a few feet away before dropping the books and getting his lighter out of his pocket. “Starting a fire?” she asked, smiling when he turned around and looked at her. “Is it that obvious?” he asked, frowning. “I was kidding,” she said, turning her attention to the journals that lay at his feet. “Are these Angelus’?” “How’d you guess?” He scanned the area, looking for any branches and twigs that he could use. “Why else would you burn books?” she asked. “You’ve told me that you like to read.” “Only when it’s about topics that don’t include me in any way,” he said sternly. “I was so stupid – I should’ve known what they were doing to her. How could I have been so naïve, so ignorant?” “You didn’t know what they were capable of,” she replied. “You were new to the game when a lot of it happened.” “How could I not know, though?” he asked, angry. “I’ve done things just as horrible in my time.” “Probably not to the magnitude that they did,” she said. “Don’t underestimate me,” he said warningly. “Angelus might’ve been the worst vampire in history, but don’t forget who’s second.” “I’ve never forgotten,” she murmured before motioning to the ground. “Want some help?” He nodded, and they split up, each collecting whatever they could find before meeting up near the journals. Spike set up the tree branches they had gathered and lit them before standing back and watching as the wood began to burn. “In normal circumstances, this could be considered romantic,” Buffy said, looking at him. “I’m sorry it isn’t,” he replied, picking up a book off of the grass and throwing it onto the fire, watching as it was engulfed by the flames. Both Buffy and Spike began to toss Angelus’ journals onto the fire, and as they finished, Buffy took Spike’s hand in hers, neither saying a word as they remained focused on the sight in front of them.

Chapter #20 - Staging an Intervention

Chapter 20 – Staging an Intervention Sunnydale, 2000 About a week later, Buffy went to Giles’ apartment after receiving a phone call from him earlier that day. The concerned tone in his voice was not lost on her, and she was anxious to hear what he wanted to talk to her about. She didn’t expect that Willow, Tara, Joyce, Xander, and Anya would be there, too. As Buffy walked through the front door and spotted everyone, she raised an eyebrow when her eyes settled on her mother. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?” “Have a seat, honey,” Joyce said, motioning for her to sit down on Giles’ couch. “Why aren’t you at the gallery?” Buffy asked. “I thought you said you were going to work when you left this morning.” “I’m taking a break for a little while,” Joyce answered before looking at Giles. “Are you going to start, or am I?” “What’s going on?” Buffy repeated, her eyes gaze traveling to Giles’ before she scanned the room, looking at the worried expressions on her friends’ faces. “Did someone die?” “That’s why we’re here,” Xander said as Buffy sat down. “Your sister died, remember?” “Xander,” Willow hissed, shaking her head at him. “How could I forget that Dawn is dead?” Buffy asked, frowning at him. “You don’t think I’m reminded every day that she’s gone?” “Really?” Xander asked. “Because none of us have seen you grieve. You haven’t-” “We’re afraid that you’re busying yourself with your slaying duties and that you’re not grasping the weight of the situation,” Giles said calmly. “I’ve got a good hold on it, thanks,” Buffy replied sharply. “I know Dawn is dead – that fact hasn’t escaped my mind. Just because I’m not walking around like a zombie or a sobbing mess doesn’t mean that I’m not grieving. I love Dawn and I miss her, but she’d want me to go out and keep living my life instead of sitting around and moping. I’ve still got a mission to do, one that won’t stop being a part of my life until I’m buried beside her.” “But you could take a night or two off a week and give yourself some time to relax and think about things,” Joyce said. “You’ve been going out nightly and don’t come back until sunrise. I feel like you’re shutting yourself off from me, from your friends and focusing on slaying only.” “Of course not,” Buffy said, angry. “I haven’t been closing myself off from anyone. I came here today, didn’t I?” “That doesn’t change the fact that whenever any of us try to talk to you about everything, you change the subject or leave altogether,” Giles replied. “You’re trying to ignore your emotions and turn your attention elsewhere so that you won’t have to face the fact that-” “That what?” Buffy asked, standing up. “That Dawn’s dead? I know she is! What do you want me to do? Sit here and cry, listen to you all comfort me?” She clenched her fists, trying to keep the tears that were ready to spill over at bay. “Do you want to know why I won’t want to sit down and talk with you guys? Because you all keep making things harder for me! I can handle my emotions and feelings on my own – I don’t need you all around to coddle me and make sure that I’m grieving properly.” “On your own?” Xander asked. “Then tell us why Spike’s become a permanent fixture in your life.” Anya looked at her boyfriend and frowned. “Now isn’t the time.” “No, I think it’s a great time,” Xander replied, getting up from his seat and walking towards Buffy. “You won’t talk to your friends, but you’ll spend time with a vampire? Are we really that bad that you’ll let an evil creature in but not us?” “He understands me,” Buffy said. “More than most of you do right now, at least.” “If you’d talk to us, maybe we could understand, too,” Willow said quietly. “We all feel like you’re shunning us.” “I’ve been busy.” Buffy crossed her arms and looked down. “You’ve been making yourself busy and not giving the rest of us the time of day,” Xander corrected. “You can’t take an hour out of your day to see us?” “It’s not about us,” Tara said. “We should be worried more about if Buffy is alright and if she needs anything.” “I’m fine,” Buffy replied. “And the last thing I need is for you all to be attacking me over nothing.” “We’re not attacking,” Anya said. “We’re making sure you’re not going to have a breakdown any time soon.” “I’m fine!” Buffy repeated, upset. “You don’t seem fine to us,” Giles said. “You need to sit down and talk to someone about what you’re going through.” “Fine, I will,” Buffy said as she walked to the door. “I’ll go see Spike.” After the door closed behind her, everyone looked at each other, feeling as if they had been defeated. “Well, that got us nowhere,” Anya said, sighing. “What a waste of time. Xander and I were supposed to spend the afternoon having many orgasms, not talking to Buffy.” Xander shot her a look before turning his attention to Giles. “We should talk to Spike about this.” “We’ve already told him how we feel about him,” Giles replied. “And our opinions as to a possible relationship between he and Buffy – he knows what faces him if he steps out of line.” “Maybe we should remind him,” Xander said sternly. “Whatever goes on between them isn’t our business,” Willow said, and Joyce and Tara nodded. “We care about Buffy, just like he does – he doesn’t want to see her hurt, either. Let them be unless Buffy asks us to step in.” She hesitated and looked at her hands, folded on her lap. “All we can do now is hope that Buffy will start healing in her own way and will maybe let us be more helpful in her life again.” “Do you think we should give her more time?” Giles asked, looking at Joyce. “I know my daughter,” Joyce said. “And what she needs is to figure things out on her own for a while before she turns to others.” She sighed. “She has Spike – I guess we should all be thankful that he’s willing to help her.” “I’ll never be grateful for him,” Xander replied, scowling. “Well, he’s the only one she’ll talk to,” Joyce said. “So we might as well support him and hope that he’ll get through to her somehow.” ~~~~~~~~~~ A couple of hours later, Willow knocked on the door of Spike’s crypt and sheepishly smiled when he opened it, surprised to see her. “What can I do for you, Red?” he asked, opening the door wider and letting her come in. “I wanted to talk to you about Buffy,” she said, looking around the interior of the crypt. “She came here before,” he replied, lighting a cigarette. “Said you and the rest of her pals had an intervention today.” “We didn’t… intervene,” Willow said, sitting down on top of a tomb. “We wanted to make sure she’s doing okay. She hasn’t been talking to us much lately, and we’ve been worried.” “She’s getting over Dawn’s death slowly but surely,” he said. “She’s hurting, but she’s getting better.” “I hope you’re right.” She looked down. “I know most of us haven’t really embraced you as part of the group, mainly because Xander isn’t exactly a fan of you, but I think you’re a valuable asset to us… and I want to say thank you for looking out for her while she’s pushing the rest of us away.” “Willow-” “I know you’re doing everything you can to help her, and I appreciate that,” she said, getting off of the tomb. “So do Joyce and Tara. Anya probably feels the same way, but with Xander being so angry all the time, she might be influenced by him.” “And Giles?” he asked. “He might feel the same way I do, too, but he won’t say it,” she replied. “I know you’ve tried to kill us all in the past, but you’re not the same vampire anymore and I trust you with her. You care about her, right?” “More than you know,” he murmured. “Good,” she said, smiling softly. “Keep it up, then – she needs all of the love and support she can get.” “Love?” he asked, quirking an eyebrow. She walked to the door and opened it before looking over her shoulder at him and smirking. “I’m not blind, Spike.” He watched the door close behind her, tilting his head as her words sank in, his mind racing as he thought about what she had said. He walked down to the lower level of his crypt and lay on his bed, mumbling, “You’re not wrong, Red.”

Chapter #21 - The Feeling Is Mutual

Chapter 21 – The Feeling Is Mutual Sunnydale, 2000 That night, Buffy and Spike went patrolling together in the cemetery, and Buffy noticed that Spike seemed unusually quiet. When he didn’t answer a question she had asked, she stopped walking and looked at him. “Alright, what’s on your mind? I know I used to like it when you were silent, but now I think it’s eerie.” “What are you talking about, pet?” he asked, putting his hands in the pockets of his duster. “I asked if you sensed anything around, and you didn’t say anything,” she said. “So either you’re picking up a trace of something and are too focused to speak or you’re ignoring me.” “Just thinking,” he replied, shrugging. “Got a lot on my mind.” “Want to share?” she asked, leaning back against a tombstone. “I think I owe you for a few late-night sessions of me ranting.” “You needed to talk to someone,” he said. “And it’s not like I minded.” “Okay, then what’s going on in that brain of yours? Is it something I can help you with?” “Don’t worry about it,” he answered, looking away and scanning the area. “Everything’s fine.” “Usually when someone says things are fine, they’re lying,” she said, tilting her head. “You’re not that much of a mystery to me, Spike – I can read you like a book most of the time.” “Then you should know what I’m thinking about,” he said, their eyes locking. “If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking,” she replied before sighing. “I’m not going to force you to talk – I just thought I’d be nice and offer to chat since you seem preoccupied.” “Did you talk to any of the Scoobies since the quasi-intervention this afternoon?” he asked. “You’re changing the subject,” she muttered before beginning to walk again, him beside her. “And no, I haven’t.” “Willow came by shortly after you left,” he said, feeling her eyes on him as he continued to speak. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to tell you that or not, but I figure there’s no harm in saying it – she didn’t ask that I keep it a secret.” “Why did she stop by?” she asked curiously. “To talk about some things,” he answered. “And to thank me for looking out for you.” “Which I appreciate, too, you know,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he replied. “I don’t know if it’s escaped your notice or not, but I care about you, Slayer. Know I shouldn’t, but I do.” “You’re not so bad yourself, vampire,” she said in a light tone, giggling when he growled quietly. “So, more patrolling?” “Luv, we haven’t fought anything in days,” he said. “Why don’t you go home and spend some time with your mum?” “Trying to get rid of me?” she asked, pouting. “Never,” he said sincerely, looking down quickly when she looked at him. “I just think that you might need some bonding time with her. You’ve been with me a lot lately and haven’t been hanging out with the others.” “Did Willow tell you to say that?” she asked, instantly becoming defensive. “No,” he answered. “It’s coming from me, no one else.” “I see my mom every single day,” she said. “And what about your friends?” he asked. “I’m not partial to Harris, but I know he’s important to you – you should go out with them or something and be a normal girl.” “I’ll never be a normal girl, or have you forgotten?” she asked sharply. “And you know why I don’t want to spend time with them.” “I know they make you sad because they try to get you to talk about Dawn, but maybe you need that,” he said, and she stopped walking again, turning to face him. “You don’t know what I need,” she replied, angry. “Because if you did, you wouldn’t be saying half of the things that are coming out of your mouth.” “I know you’re shutting off your emotions and trying to be strong so no one worries, but the truth is that you’re scaring us all even more,” he said. “I didn’t realize that me trying to maintain my sanity was such a concern,” she said sarcastically. “Buffy-” “I’m fine,” she cut in. “I know Dawn is gone, and that’s something I’m growing to accept. I’m going to continue to blame myself for her death, and that’ll haunt me for the rest of my life. Why think about it right now when it’s never going to go away?” “How can you be so flippant?” he asked, becoming upset. “Because when I think about it too much, it hurts,” she admitted, turning away from him when tears began to roll down her cheeks. “I’m the reason she’s dead.” He put his hand on her shoulder before running his hand over her back soothingly, surprised when she turned once again and embraced him, beginning to sob against his chest. He pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head, holding her as she continued to weep. “It’s going to be okay,” he whispered. “I’m here for you, pet – that won’t change.” “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice muffled as she nuzzled against his shirt. The two stood in silence for a long moment before Buffy looked up at him, stroking his cheek and as he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. She eagerly returned the kiss, having missed the feel of his lips ever since the last time they had touched hers. Several minutes passed by before Buffy’s lips parted from his as she tried to catch her breath. He pressed his forehead against hers and closed his eyes, reveling in the moment. “I love you,” he admitted, tensing when Buffy froze in his arms. He opened his eyes and saw the shock in hers before she broke away from him and shakily asked, “What?” “Buffy,” he said, frowning when she took a step away from him as he tried to move closer to her. “What did you say?” she asked, trembling as she tried to comprehend his words. “I love you,” he repeated. “I know I’m a vampire and therefore not worthy of you, but I guess I thought you should know. Red does, so why not you, too?” She studied his expression for a long while, not knowing what to say. “You… love me?” “I would’ve thought it’s been obvious lately,” he muttered, looking away. “You already know that I care about you – this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.” “It shouldn’t?” she hissed. “Just forget it,” he said, beginning to walk back to his crypt. She watched him in outrage before following him and catching up, smacking his arm when he didn’t acknowledge her behind him. “How dare you say something like that and walk away?” “Because your reaction wasn’t what I was hoping for,” he said, looking at her. “I know you’ll never love me, but I didn’t expect you to seem like it was such a shock.” “Of course it was,” she said. “It’s not like I hear someone tell me they love me everyday… especially you.” “A vampire,” he said, and she shook her head. “That’s not what I meant,” she replied. “Then what did you mean?” he asked, tilting his head. “I don’t know,” she said. “I just… It’s something I need to think about.” “I’m not asking you to love me back,” he replied. “I wanted to say it, is all.” “I know,” she said, looking down and pausing. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” he said. “Come on, I’ll walk you home.” “Okay.” She nodded and began to follow him, her mind still reeling after what he had said. They began to exit the cemetery, and a few minutes later, they arrived at the front door of her house. “Goodnight,” he said, happy when she leaned up to kiss him softly. “Goodnight, Spike,” she replied. She opened the door and hesitated before looking at him again. He saw the anxious expression on her face and asked, “What’s wrong?” “What would you say if I told you that I think I’m starting to fall for you, too?” He stared at her with wide eyes, taken aback. “What?” “I’ll take that as a good sign,” she said, grinning as she went into her house and closed the door, leaving Spike alone outside as he gawked at the door for a few minutes, speechless.

Chapter #22 - Driven By Desire

Chapter 22 – Driven By Desire Sunnydale, 2000 A couple nights later, Buffy walked alongside Willow and Tara as they headed to the entrance of the dance club they had driven to that was located a couple miles outside of Sunnydale. She ignored the cool wind as it brushed against her bare arms and looked around the area, making sure there wasn’t anyone or anything watching them. “We’re so happy you said you’d come out with us tonight,” Willow said cheerfully, getting Buffy’s attention. “I figured I might as well go out and see how a new club is,” she replied quietly. “Now that the Bronze isn’t really an option for me.” Willow and Tara exchanged a look, both inwardly hoping that Buffy’s memories of the last time they had been at the Bronze wouldn’t deter her from enjoying the night. “You said Xander and Anya are going to meet us here?” Buffy asked, oblivious to her friends’ worried expressions. “They said they would be inside when we arrived,” Tara said, motioning to the door. “Ready to find out how this place is?” “Sure,” Buffy said indifferently, opening the door and going in. Willow and Tara stayed back for a moment, watching her. “We need to make sure she has fun tonight,” Willow murmured. “This is the first time she’s gone out since-” “She’ll be okay,” Tara said. “She’s a strong woman. If she’s not up to being here, we’ll notice.” “I hope you’re right,” Willow said. “Hopefully this idea of ours works out.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Not even half an hour had passed before Buffy was alone, watching her friends dancing on the dance floor. She had repeatedly told them that she was fine and that she didn’t mind them dancing without her, but in truth, the last thing she wanted was to be alone. And she knew exactly who she wanted to spend the night with. A waitress walked past her, and Buffy motioned to her, waving her over. “Can I get you a drink?” the woman asked. “No,” Buffy answered. “Can you do me a favor and tell my friends that I went home? They’re dancing close to the DJ, and I don’t want to traverse the mass of moving bodies to get to them.” “Sure,” the woman said, nodding before she continued to walk towards the bar. Buffy picked up her purse and stood up, quickly exiting the building and beginning to head towards Sunnydale. She was grateful to be away from the club, the smell of sweat and bright, flashing lights more annoying than appealing. Even though she knew her friends would be concerned about her, she didn’t really care – she knew that as long as she stayed there, she wouldn’t be happy. When she finally returned to town, she made her way to the cemetery and stopped in front of Spike’s crypt, looking at the door for a long while before knocking. He opened it soon after and raised an eyebrow when he saw her. “Can’t say I was expecting you to come calling tonight. Aren’t you supposed to be out with your friends?” “Got bored,” she answered, moving past him as she walked inside. “You didn’t have a good time?” he asked, closing the door and watching her slowly walk around the room, looking at things. “Not really,” she said, shrugging. “Maybe I’ve outgrown going to places like that.” “Or maybe you’ve lost your sense of having fun,” he replied. She looked at him, narrowing her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “You’ve been all work and no play for a long time, Buffy,” he said. “Perhaps that’s taking its toll on you.” “Or maybe I did the social butterfly thing long enough and don’t like it all that much anymore,” she replied, crossing her arms. “Maybe you should’ve stayed and given it more of a chance,” he said, not backing down when she walked to him, looking angry. “Maybe I left because I wanted to spend my time with you,” she said, irritated when he grinned at her. “You left because you wanted to see me?” he asked. “I’m flattered, luv.” “You should be,” she mumbled. “I had to pay money for the club’s cover fee. What a waste.” “I could make it up to you,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows, getting her to giggle. “You can be such a perv,” she said. “But you like it when I’m perverted,” he replied. “Your cheeks get rosy.” “And it takes a lot to get me to blush,” she said. “I’m sure you’re proud of yourself.” “Always am,” he joked, moving closer to her before pressing his lips to hers. “Thank you for coming here tonight.” “You’re welcome,” she said quietly. “Thanks for letting me in.” “I wouldn’t think of keeping you out.” He wrapped his arms around her as she leaned up to kiss him, groaning low in his throat when her tongue slowly swept across his lower lip. “Minx.” “You love it,” she whispered, her lips moving lower as she began to kiss his neck. “You know I do,” he replied, his eyes slamming shut when she gently bit the crook of his neck. “Buffy-” “Want to make it up to me now?” she asked, suddenly feeling bold before shock settled in, in disbelief that she had said something like that. Spike’s eyes flew open, locking with hers. The insecure expression on her face and the worried look in her eyes stunned him even more than her words. “Are you serious?” he asked, and she nodded. “You want to-” “Unless you don’t want to,” she said. “I mean, if you have performance anxiety-” Her light tone surprised them both, especially Buffy, who began to feel even more nervous. “Performance anxiety?” Spike asked in a low tone, opting to sound more confident in an attempt to soothe her worries. “Baby, you have no idea what I’m capable of.” “Going to show me?” she asked, laughing when he picked her up and carefully carried her downstairs to the lower level of his crypt. “I’d love to.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy and Spike lay on his bed, their mouths perpetually fused together as their hands explored one another. They eagerly took off articles of clothing, both more interested in acting on their desires than taking time to study every inch of the other’s body. There was always time for that later. As Spike removed his jeans and saw Buffy taking off her panties out of the corner of his eye, he became worried, for the first time ever wondering if he’d be good enough and if she really wanted him. Buffy saw the look in his eyes and motioned for him to come to her, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him as their warm, naked bodies pressed against each other. Her heart was racing as he nudged one of his knees between her thighs, slowly spreading her legs before he settled between them. Their eyes locked as Buffy felt his erection against her mound and arched her hips up, increasing the contact between them. “I love you,” he murmured, lowering his head and capturing her lips with his. “I love you, too,” she said as she wrapped her slim legs around his hips. He reached between them and guided his shaft to her center, slowly moving inside her as she tilted her head back, hissing as she felt his cool skin enter her heated core. “Look at me, luv,” he whispered, giving her a small smile when she looked up at him as he fully sheathed himself inside of her. “Are you okay?” “Yes,” she managed to get out, feeling as if she would explode if he didn’t move again. “Please…” “Won’t stop,” he replied, beginning to gingerly thrust into her welcoming body, barely restraining himself from pumping into her roughly. “Love you, pet… Always will…” “Love you, too,” she breathed out, beginning to move with him, feeling pleasure course through her when he started thrusting faster and harder. She grasped his upper arms and sank her nails into him as she felt the telltale signs of her impending orgasm. “Spike-” “I’ve got you, Buffy,” he said, feeling his demon come to the surface when her inner walls began clamping down on his cock, milking it for the life-giving seed that his body no longer possessed. Buffy felt his face change as he pressed it against her shoulder and ran her hand over his back, whispering, “Bite me, Spike. I want you to.” Spike hardly registered her words before he focused on the pulse point in her neck and pressed his lips to it, kissing it before sinking his fangs into her soft skin. Buffy moaned at how good it felt and closed her eyes as Spike took long pulls of her blood, delighting in every drop of it. Before he took too much from her, he pulled back and let his face change back again, looking down at the sated expression on her face, her skin glowing and a thin sheen of perspiration covering her body. He kissed her softly and smiled when she opened her eyes, focusing on him. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, biting back a grin when she shook her head quickly. “Was it… good?” “You definitely paid me back for wasting my money before,” she said, running her hands over his shoulders. “That was perfect.” “I couldn’t agree more,” he replied, resting his forehead against hers. “Feel up to it again?” she asked coyly, shifting underneath him. “Again?” he asked, amused. “Give a fellow a minute to recuperate, pet. I’m not used to Slayer muscles, you know.” “Well, you’d better get used to them fast, then,” she said, flipping them over so that she was on top, smirking when he clutched her hips as she began to move against him. “Because I haven’t had my fill yet.”

Chapter #23 - Blessings from the Peanut Gallery

Chapter 23 – Blessings from the Peanut Gallery Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy gradually woke up the next morning, stretching slightly before feeling the room-temperature body beside her. She opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Spike’s arm draped across her stomach, holding her close to him. She put her hand on top of his and smirked when he groaned, a pout forming on his lips as he kept his eyes closed. “Go back to sleep,” he said groggily. “I’m still exhausted from last night.” “I should go home before Mom wigs out,” Buffy replied, frowning when his eyes opened and an upset expression settled on his features. “What’s wrong?” “Is this where you say that you had a good time, leave, and then act like nothing happened?” he asked sternly, his gaze fixed on hers. “No,” she answered, sitting up and pulling his sheet up with her to cover her chest. “Why would you think that?” “I wouldn’t put it past you to have a change of heart,” he replied, turning on his side, his back to her. “If you’re going to go, it’s best to scamper off now while I’m half-awake.” “Spike, I have to go home,” she said, resting her hand on his shoulder, surprised when he moved away from her, settling on the edge of the bed. “Mom doesn’t know where I am – I don’t want her to think that I’m in a ditch somewhere.” “I’ve never seen a ditch in Sunnydale,” he muttered, which caused Buffy to smirk. “Maybe a sexy demon seduced me and took me away from here,” she said. “Where there are ditches.” “I’d break his bloody neck,” he said quietly. “It’s fine, luv – go home and tell Joyce you’re okay.” “Why won’t you look at me?” she asked sadly. “Because I’m afraid you’ll have second thoughts about me when you take in the bed head I undoubtedly have,” he said in a light tone, turning over to face her once again. “I don’t want you to change your mind about me… or us.” “Your bed head won’t affect my feelings,” she joked, laughing when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. “I’m sore from last night.” “So am I,” he replied, grinning. “I don’t remember the last time that happened.” “I must’ve done a good job, then,” she said, looking down as his hands rested on her hips before moving north, ghosting across her ribs before gently cupping her breasts. “Is this your way of getting me to stay longer?” “That depends,” he answered, his thumbs beginning to move in circular patterns over her hardening nipples. “Is it working?” “I don’t know if I’m a satisfied customer yet,” she replied, giggling when he quickly switched their positions, his body now covering hers. “Well, let’s see if I can’t make my lady happy, then.” ~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy cautiously walked into her house, her eyes scanning the surrounding rooms to make sure that her mother wasn’t around. She sighed with relief when she didn’t see anyone and began to walk upstairs, instantly freezing when she heard her mom’s voice behind her. “Well, you’re coming home awfully late,” Joyce said, smiling warmly. “I had… a thing,” she replied, looking away when Joyce raised an eyebrow. “Is that what you kids are calling it these days?” she asked, trying not to laugh. “Willow called here last night to make sure that you got home safely, so I knew that you weren’t with your friends like you said you’d be.” “Mom, I-” “And since you don’t look injured in any way, I’m going to guess you didn’t get in a fight or anything after you left the club you went to,” Joyce continued, ignoring Buffy’s slight interruption. “Would it be safe to assume that you were with Spike?” Buffy looked at her, not knowing whether to answer or not but opting to be honest. “Yes.” “And?” Joyce asked encouragingly. “Is there anything you want to tell me?” “I think he and I… are dating,” Buffy admitted, surprised when her mother beamed at her. “You’re okay with it?” “Honey, you know that he and I are friends,” she answered. “If there’s any vampire in this world I’m okay with you dating, it’s Spike.” “Good,” Buffy said, feeling awkward. “Well, I’m going to go to my room and sleep.” “Did you have a long, tiring night?” Joyce asked, not bothering to hide the mischievous tone in her voice, smiling broadly when Buffy’s eyes widened and her cheeks began to redden. “Mom!” She quickly turned and went up the rest of the stairs, ignoring Joyce’s laughter as she went into her bedroom and closed the door. ~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy woke up several hours later to the sound of someone knocking on her door. She got up and opened it, yawning and frowning when she saw Willow standing on the other side, looking concerned. “Hi,” Buffy said quietly, opening the door wider to allow her friend to come in. “Did Mom let you in?” “Yes,” Willow answered, watching as Buffy walked to her bed and sat on it. “Is everything alright? We didn’t know where you went last night, and we looked around for you, but we didn’t find you and-” She cut herself off and looked down. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I think most of us knew where you went but couldn’t bring ourselves to say it.” Buffy looked down and sighed. “I was at Spike’s.” “So we weren’t wrong, then,” Willow said, smiling. “How’d it go?” Buffy’s eyes raised to the redhead’s, a surprised look on her face. “Why does everyone seem so thrilled about it?” “Come on, Buffy,” Willow replied. “I knew it was bound to happen at some point – there have been signs pointing to it a lot lately.” “And you’re fine with it?” Buffy asked. “Spike and I… hooking up?” “If he makes you happy, then yes, I’m more than okay with it,” Willow said cheerfully. “It’s not like it’s a secret that he loves you.” “It’s not?” Buffy asked, tilting her head. “I didn’t think it was that obvious.” “Well, when you get used to his mannerisms and notice changes in him, you catch on to the differences,” Willow said. “That and the fact that he’s looked like a lovesick puppy for a few weeks.” “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Buffy said, smiling slightly. “I want details!” Willow replied excitedly. “What was it like?” “Please tell me you’re not expecting me to answer that,” Buffy said, frowning and laying back on her pillows, pulling her blankets over her. Willow walked to the bed and sat on the edge of it. “It must’ve been pretty good, considering I can see healed-over bite marks on your neck.” Buffy’s hand instantly went to her neck, feeling the area where Spike had bitten her the night before. “Please don’t tell anyone – I don’t want people to freak out.” “Was he what Anya would call a Viking in the sack?” Willow asked, looking at Buffy expectantly. “On the grounds that a lady never kisses and tells, I don’t think I need to answer,” Buffy said before pausing for a long while and grinning. “It was amazing.” “And you allowed the bite, right?” Willow asked, becoming worried. “He didn’t go all grr and fangy without your consent, did he?” “I let it happen, yes,” Buffy said before yawning again. “Can we talk about this later? I’m tired.” “Pulled an all-nighter, did you?” Willow joked, laughing when Buffy grabbed her pillow and smacked her with it. “Fine, I’ll go now.” She got up and walked to the door, turning when she got there and looking at Buffy, who was focused on something on the wall. “Things can be good for Spike and I, right? You don’t think it’ll end up like it was with Riley and Angel?” “You never know,” Willow said honestly. “But I have high hopes for you two.” Buffy nodded and closed her eyes, curling up on her bed. “I’m glad that you’re happy with him,” Willow said quietly. “And don’t let anyone, especially Xander and Giles, keep you from enjoying your relationship.” “I’ll try not to,” Buffy murmured, smiling as she began to doze off again. ~~~~~~~~~~ Willow let herself into Spike’s crypt about twenty minutes later, smirking when she saw him watching TV and looking upset. “Did someone die on Passions?” He turned his attention to her and frowned. “Rebecca claimed she’s pregnant with Julian’s baby, which isn’t bloody likely, and then they cut to Tabitha making a new doll to talk to.” Willow bit her lip to keep from giggling, amused that a vampire like Spike could watch a soap opera and get so annoyed with it. “Is it alright if I interrupt your show?” “Go ahead,” he answered, getting up to turn off the television. “Not like I’ll miss anything – the episodes are all the same.” “Then why do you watch?” Willow asked curiously, holding her hands up when he narrowed his eyes at her. “So, I heard about you and Buffy.” He sat down again and looked away. “Yeah, what of it?” “I’m happy you took the bull by the horns and made your move,” Willow replied. “I almost didn’t think you would. Well, for a while, at least.” “She was the one who made the first move,” he said, smirking when Willow made a face. “It seems the Slayer isn’t as prudish as a lot of people think she is. She’s actually quite-” “I don’t think I want to hear more,” Willow cut in. “I just came over to say that I’m glad you two are together and I hope things will work out for you both. I know you’ll treat her as well as possible.” “Or I’ll have to deal with all of the Scoobies,” he replied, nodding. “I’d get to you before they could,” Willow said in a warning tone before grinning. “Okay?” “You know, Red, you have the potential to be very scary,” he said, smiling. “And don’t you forget it.” She gave him a brief wave before walking out, beginning to wonder how everyone else would react when they heard the news and inwardly hoping that everything would in fact turn out okay for Buffy and Spike.

Chapter #24 - Seeking Male Approval

Chapter 24 – Seeking Male Approval Sunnydale, 2000 That night, Buffy found herself standing beside Spike in front of Giles’ front door, anxiously wringing her hands as she tried to formulate what she would say to him. “Maybe we shouldn’t tell him,” she said after a moment, looking at Spike. “He doesn’t need to know, does he?” “He’s bound to figure it out eventually,” he replied. “Your mum and Willow already know, and I don’t plan on keeping our relationship hidden from anyone.” “Even your fanged friends?” she asked, smiling when he glared at her. “You know they’d come after the both of us if it became common knowledge that Spike’s whipped by the Slayer,” he said. “I thought you didn’t mind being at my mercy?” she asked, giggling when he growled. “I’m just joking in an attempt to forget how nervous I am.” “You have nothing to worry about,” he said. “What’s the worst that can happen? Rupert doesn’t approve? Not like it’d be that surprising.” “No, the worst that can happen is Giles saying something rude to you and you responding by killing him, your chip be damned,” she replied, crossing her arms. “Do you really think I’d kill your Watcher?” he asked, amused. “If you were provoked, yes,” she said, sighing. “We don’t need to do this tonight.” “We might as well get it out of the way,” he said as he knocked on the door, ignoring her when she narrowed her eyes at him. Rupert opened the door a minute later, looking between them and frowning. “What’s wrong? Has something happened?” “You have no idea, mate,” Spike answered, grinning mischievously. “Can we come in?” “Buffy?” Giles asked, noticing the worried look on her face. “Is everything alright?” “It will be,” she said, walking past him and going inside. Spike followed her, and Giles closed the door behind him, beginning to feel a sense of dread course through him as he started contemplating what Spike and Buffy came to tell him. “So, do you want to tell him or should I?” Spike asked, looking at Buffy. “I will,” Buffy said, taking a deep breath to try to regain some confidence. “Giles, Spike and I are-” “Please don’t tell me you’re Mated,” Giles cut in, his gaze darkening as he looked at Spike, who raised his hands in surrender. “No, we’re not,” Buffy said. “We’re dating.” “Good Lord,” Giles murmured, in a state of shock. “You two are-” “Shagging like rabbits?” Spike offered, smirking when Buffy picked up a book off of Giles’ coffee table and threw it at him. Giles swallowed hard and visibly paled as he thought about what they had said. “I… I think I need a drink.” “I wouldn’t say no to one,” Spike said cheerfully, his expression falling when Giles’ eyes traveled to his. “If you did a spell or somehow convinced her to-” “He didn’t do anything,” Buffy cut in. “I made my own decision to start a relationship with him.” “But why would you date him?” Giles asked, not surprised when he heard Spike growl quietly. “Because I care about him,” Buffy answered, not willing to admit to him yet that she loved him. “And he cares about me, too.” “He’ll hurt you,” Giles said. Before Spike could respond, Buffy said, “It’s more than likely that I’ll hurt him worse if he ever does something wrong.” “Isn’t that the bloody truth,” Spike mumbled, giving Buffy a sheepish look when she turned towards him. “You’re telling me that you want to be with him?” Giles asked Buffy, and she nodded. “And you realize what possible ramifications there are of dating a vampire?” “Um, Giles, are you forgetting that I’ve already dated one?” she asked. “I’m pretty sure I know all of the consequences of being with a vamp.” “And I’m not like the poof,” Spike added. “Don’t have a soul to lose when we-” “I think it’s better if you don’t talk,” Buffy interrupted, shooting him a warning glance. “Giles, I know what I’m doing… and I hope you’ll support me.” He looked at her for a long moment before taking off his glasses and beginning to clean them off with a handkerchief. “I didn’t approve of you dating a vampire before, and I’m not going to now,” he said. “But I know you can handle yourself, and you’re not a child anymore. If you want to date Spike, I can’t stop you.” “Is that your way of giving us your blessing?” Buffy asked. “I suppose it is,” he answered, smiling softly when she hugged him. “And you know that Spike will be dust if he gets out of line, yes?” “I’d dust myself before any of you Slayerettes could come calling,” Spike replied. “Especially the whelp.” “Does Xander know of this yet?” Giles asked. “No, but we’re meeting up with everyone soon at Xander and Anya’s apartment,” Buffy answered, frowning. “That’ll be a picnic,” Spike replied. “But Willow knows, so I’m assuming she’s told Tara,” Buffy said. “Anya probably won’t care, but Xander definitely will have something to say about it.” “He should know by now that whatever he says won’t keep you from doing what you want,” Giles replied. “Yeah, you’d think so,” Buffy said, managing a small smile. ~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone sat in silence in Xander and Anya’s living room after Buffy told them about her new relationship with Spike. Spike and Buffy shared a look as more time passed, no one responding. When Buffy looked at Xander, she noticed that his hands were clenched into fists on his lap, which caused her to worry even more. “Here it comes,” she whispered, grateful when Spike put his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Xander?” “You’re dating Spike?” he asked, maintaining control over his emotions as he tried to comprehend what she had said before. “I knew it was probably going to happen, but I guess I never really thought about what I’d say when this moment came up.” “I personally think it’s great,” Anya said, shrugging. “If Spike can provide Buffy with mind-blowing orgasms, then they have my support.” “If you could leave that word out of the conversation, I’d be very thankful,” Xander replied, scowling at her. “What? Support?” Anya asked innocently. “And you already know that we’re behind you two one-hundred percent,” Willow said, and Tara nodded beside her. “I don’t really have a say in it, do I?” Xander asked dejectedly. “Afraid not,” Spike answered, grinning. “So even if I say that I hate the thought of you two dating and that I’d rather see Spike in a pile of dust than hanging out with us, it won’t make a difference?” Xander asked, ignoring the look Spike gave him. “Not at all,” Buffy said. “Then I’m not going to waste my breath and try to convince you otherwise,” he said, sighing. “I’m not pleased about it… but if he makes you happy, then I suppose I can overlook how I feel about the situation and let you do your thing, just as long as I don’t have to see you two do anything that’s PG or worse.” “I’ll make it a point to abstain from any public displays of affection in front of you,” Buffy replied. “You’re okay with it, then?” “I know you, Buffy – when you want something bad enough, you ignore everyone else’s opinions and go for it,” he said. “I’ll always support you, even if I don’t exactly agree with you.” “Thank you,” she said, getting up and walking over to him, feeling relieved when he hugged her. “It means a lot to me.” “And I’m sure Spike knows by now that he won’t have a chance to run if he-” “I’ve gotten warnings from everyone,” Spike cut in. “I know what will await me if I mess up.” “Good,” Xander said, going over to him and extending his hand. Spike looked at it and tilted his head. “What’re you doing?” “It’s my feeble attempt at offering an olive branch of some sort,” Xander said. Spike smirked and nodded before shaking Xander’s hand. “Thank you, whelp. It doesn’t matter much to me what you think, but Buffy cares, so if she’s happy, then I am, too.” “Well, now that we’ve got that out of the way,” Willow began. “Who wants to go out and work off some tension?” “We could do that here,” Anya offered. “We have ample room for an orgy of some sort.” “Anya!” Xander replied, glaring at her. “I think she meant that we should go out and get a drink or something.” “Where’s the fun in that?” Anya asked, pouting. “I think it’s a great idea,” Buffy said, smiling. “And then afterwards we can come back for an orgy?” Anya asked with a hopeful expression. “No!” everyone replied in unison before walking out of the apartment.

Chapter #25 - The Long Road to Happiness

Chapter 25 – The Long Road to Happiness Sunnydale, 2000 Buffy and Spike followed the rest of the Scoobies into a local bar, holding hands as they walked and feeling relieved that telling everyone had worked out well. Xander spotted a table for them, and the four women sat down. “Spike and I will get drinks,” Xander said, looking at Spike for a moment before walking away. “If we’re not back in five minutes, I might’ve bitten him,” Spike whispered to Buffy before heading in the direction Xander had went in. “So, you two seem happy,” Tara said conversationally. “It’s nice to see, especially since-” “Since you were pretty down for a while,” Willow interrupted, and Tara nodded. “We’re all happy you came out with us, too – maybe tonight will be like old times.” “We’ve missed you,” Tara said. “I’m sorry I left early the other night,” Buffy replied, looking down. “And I’m sorry that I pushed you all away after…” She trailed off, sighing. “It was a hard time, and it was even harder having everyone around me be sympathetic and constantly trying to get me to talk about everything. Things are still rocky, but they’re getting better.” “We never meant to make you sadder,” Tara said. “We wanted to make sure you were okay and to help you with anything you needed us for.” “I know that,” Buffy said, giving her a small smile. “I do now, at least. I think I needed to be in my own bubble for a while to sort things out.” “Spike was in your bubble, though, wasn’t he?” Anya asked curiously. “Well, yes, but-” Buffy cut herself off. “Things were different. He knew where I was coming from, and he was dealing with losses, too.” “Well, it’s good that he was around, then,” Willow replied. “And hopefully we can be back in the Buffy bubble soon.” “As long as you forgive me for distancing myself from you,” Buffy said, and the three women nodded before they each hugged her. “I’m sorry I acted the way I did.” “We could understand,” Tara said. “And we’re still here for you whenever you need us.” “Thank you,” Buffy replied as Xander and Spike returned, holding drinks for everyone. Xander handed Spike a beer bottle, and Spike smirked at him. “Giving me a drink, whelp? I’m afraid you’re not my type.” “You’re not funny,” Xander said, glaring at him as he sat beside his girlfriend. “But I am, aren’t I?” Buffy asked, batting her eyelashes at Spike when he looked at her. “Do you even need to ask?” He leaned down and kissed her softly, not surprised when he felt something hit his duster. Buffy looked down at the ground and saw a slice of lime at Spike’s feet. “Xander, did you just throw the chunk of lime from your drink at Spike?” “I told you both that I didn’t want to see any hanky panky,” he replied sternly, making a face. “It’s gross.” “Like the stuff you do with Anya is any better,” Buffy muttered, taking her drink from Spike. “So, what are the plans tonight?” “Drink until we can’t walk straight,” Spike said, grinning when she smacked his arm. “Alright, how about shagging until we can’t walk straight, then?” “Excellent suggestion,” Anya replied, instantly nodding. “I like that idea.” “How about dancing?” Buffy asked with a hopeful expression, frowning when Spike growled. “I don’t dance,” he said sharply. “Is it against the rules in the underworld?” she joked. “We could head to the Bronze.” “Buffy,” Willow said solemnly. “Are you sure you want to go there?” “I can’t stay away forever,” she replied. “There isn’t anywhere else in town for dancing.” She looked away. “And maybe it’ll help me heal faster. Being back there won’t be fun right away, but I might be able to start dealing with everything better. You have to face your fears to get over them, right? Going to the Bronze might help me overcome what happened there that night.” “We don’t have to go tonight,” Spike said quietly. “We can wait, luv. There’s always time to go there.” “I want to,” she said with conviction. “There’s no harm in trying.” “Let’s finish up our drinks and go there, then,” Xander replied, exchanging a look with Willow before drinking some of his beer. ~~~~~~~~~~ Buffy and Spike walked into his crypt a few hours later, both very tired from their night out. “Who knew you could dance so well?” she murmured as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “Don’t go spreading that around,” he replied. “It’ll ruin my image.” She giggled and rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for going out with us tonight. It wouldn’t have been the same if you hadn’t gone.” “And miss a night out with my lady?” he asked, smirking. “Besides, it was fun to see Xander look ill every time you and I danced a little too close.” “Is that how you would classify it?” she asked, amused. “Because from my perspective, you were practically fucking me with your clothes on.” “Such a dirty mouth on you, kitten,” he replied, grinning. “And I don’t remember you telling me to stop at any point, so you can’t deny you enjoyed it.” “Every last minute.” She yawned and looked at him apologetically. “I don’t mean to cut the night short, but I’m tired.” “Want to stay the night with me?” he asked, and she smiled. “That depends,” she said. “Do you actually plan on us sleeping if I stay?” “I guess you’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?” He picked her up, laughing when she giggled and curled up against his chest as he carried her down to the lower level of the crypt. “My hero,” she said, stroking the soft cotton of the t-shirt he was wearing. “Not a hero, pet,” he replied. “I’m a bad, evil thing.” “In bed,” she said, beaming when he groaned low in his throat. “You’re good to me, Spike. Thank you.” “That’s because I love you, Goldilocks.” He laid her down on his bed before taking off his boots and duster. “Thank you for that, too,” she replied, kicking off her shoes and resting her head on one of his pillows as she watched him sit on the edge of the bed. “Do you ever think about what would’ve happened if she hadn’t come to town?” “Tessa?” he asked, looking down when she nodded. “All of the time.” “Do you think things would’ve worked out this way for us if circumstances had been different?” she asked curiously. “If Dawn wouldn’t have been killed, if Mom wouldn’t have been kidnapped?” “I liked you before all of that happened,” he answered. “I’m sure that wouldn’t have changed if things would’ve gone differently.” “Yeah, you’re probably right,” she said, yawning again. “So, sleep now?” “Sure,” he replied, smiling softly when she rested her head on his chest, pulling his sheets over them and closing her eyes. “I love you, Buffy.” As he stroked her hair and kissed her forehead, she whispered, “I love you, too, Spike.” THE END A/N: Thank you to everyone who read the story and was so supportive of its continuation! I appreciate everyone’s kind words, and I hope this fic was as much of a pleasure to read as it was to write.