I'm home sick with the flu for a week and decided to do something productive with my time.

On a trip to L.A. to collect a Glory-fighting tool from Angel, Spike decides to take a side road and ...



Buffy woke to the sound of gravel under the car, jarring her from the half-sleep she was drifting in and pulling her back to reality. She jerked up in the seat and looked around. It was dark outside, the barely seen tree line hovering over them as the old DeSoto navigated the winding road.

"Nice of you to rejoin me, Slayer," Spike said with a smirk in her direction.

Buffy ignored his jab and scowled.

"Where are we, Spike? We should be in L.A. by now."

"Decided to take the scenic route," he said to the windshield, then softly. "Thought you might like it."

Buffy ran a hand through her hair and rubbed at her eyes.

"I'd like it better if I could actually see it."

She let out a jaw cracking yawn and stretched as best she could in the cramped space.

"How much longer?"

The vampire shrugged.

"Dunno. Hour or so."

She huffed.

"I swear to God, Spike. If this is another one of your 'dates' you're gonna be walking back to Sunnydale!"

He gave her an unimpressed look.

"Love to see you try, luv. It'd almost be worth it just to see you try to drive."

She glared at him.

"I can drive just fine!"

"Anything you say, Slayer."

"Whatever. Wake me up when we get there."

=======================================================================


It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when Spike was shaking her awake and Buffy realized that the sun was coming up ... and that they were still in the woods.

"I thought you said it would only be an hour or two?" she demanded.

"It would have been," Spike defended. "Except that the bridge was out and I had to turn around and find another way and it took a little longer than I planned."

"So we're lost."

"I'm not lost," he asserted a little too quickly. "I just ... lost track of the time is all. Now, I found a cabin, we can bunk there for the day, yeah?"

Peering around him to the aforementioned cabin Buffy studied the ancient structure in the lightening dawn, then raised an eyebrow at Spike.

"I am not staying in there," she said. "It's like, a hundred years old! And it's probably full of wild animals."

Spike shook his head.

"Suit yourself, Slayer," he said, turning to the building. "Sleep in the car for all I care. Jus' don't expect me to save you from the 'wild animals' you're so worried about."

"I think I can handle myself against a squirrel, Spike."

He tossed some gesture over his shoulder as he stomped his way to the cabin and Buffy scowled again before slamming the car door. She punched at the headrest, trying to soften it up and reached for the radio, looking forward to a few hours of Ramones-less sleep, then growled when she discovered that the peroxide blonde had taken the keys with him! The Slayer flopped back in the seat with a huff and closed her eyes as the sun crested the trees.

The irritating squawking of some bird woke her an hour or so later and Buffy moaned as her body protested the cramped conditions. Plus, she had to pee. Grumbling to herself, the Slayer pushed open the door and rolled out of the car, stretching like a cat before standing and making her way to a clump of bushes. Not wanting to be literally caught with her pants down, the young woman kept an eye out for forest critters and things of a demony persuasion as she quickly finished and had started back to the car when a bit of movement caught her eye. Buffy froze; there, in a patch of sunlight, was a deer. The animal didn't spare her a glance as it nibbled at the grass and leaves that covered the ground. Totally caught up in her Discovery Channel moment the Slayer failed to notice the wolf creeping toward the deer until the predator rushed forward. She stumbled back with a yelp of surprise but the deer stood calmly before the attacking animal before lashing out with hooves and its small antlers, refusing to back down. The wolf yelped as it was crushed beneath the flashing hooves.

Buffy stood in stunned surprise, not quite believing what she'd just seen. Deer didn't do that, they ran away. Her questions were answered when the deer lowered its head and tore a chunk of meat out of the dead wolf's side, then raised its bloody muzzle and stared at her with a slit-pupiled eye. The old cabin was suddenly sounding very cozy as the Slayer backed her way out of the woods.

=======================================================================


The sleeping vampire didn't even stir when Buffy shut the door and shoved an old chair under the knob for good measure. Carnivorous deer, who'd a thunk it? She was so under informed. She was definitely going to have a talk with Giles as soon as they'd defeated Glory ... and she was never going camping. That decided, the Slayer turned to survey the cabin which consisted of two rooms. One was a kitchen with an old wood cook-stove, the other seemed to be a combination living room/ bed room seeing as how one corner was taken up by a large wrought iron bed that Spike was sprawled out on. Correction, that a very naked Spike was sprawled out on. Clapping her hands over her eyes Buffy quickly turned around, half afraid he'd wake up and catch her looking. Though, she had to admit, he wasn't a bad thing to look at.

'What the hell? He is bad!' she told herself. 'Bad, evil, sexy vampire with a great ass ...'

"God, I need a boyfriend," she muttered to herself.

Since there was no way she was sleeping on the floor Buffy grabbed Spike's duster from where it lay on a rickety old table and, keeping her eyes averted, made her way to the bed and threw it over him. He didn't wake up until she grabbed one of the blankets he was laying on and gave it a tug, rolling the surprised vampire into the wall and effectively cocooning him in the sheet. It was a move she'd used on Dawn countless times when they were younger. The fact that it was Spike she'd just done it to only made his shocked look funnier. Forcing her smile into a scowl Buffy wrapped herself in her claimed blanket and lay down as close to the edge as she could get.

"Stay on your own side," she demanded, unable to resist breaking into another grin as he muttered Britishisms at her.

=======================================================================

Buffy's next waking experience was very different than the previous two. She was stretched out in a bed instead of curled in a cramped car seat and the noises of the birds were muffled to a bearable level. It took her a moment to realize that all was not right with the world, Spike's arms around her weren't so bad until she realized that he was still naked ... and so was she. Buffy's eyes flew open and she shoved the vampire's arm off of her bare torso, attempting to leap from the bed she only managed to tangle herself in the blankets and take them both to the floor. Spike landed on top of her, their foreheads colliding with a solid 'thwak' that echoed through the room along with their cries of pain.

Clutching her aching head Buffy yanked the blanked out from under the swearing vampire and covered herself as best as she could manage. When she finally stopped seeing stars she turned a murderous glare on Spike.

"What the hell did you do to me?" she demanded.

"Hey! You're the one who pulled me out of the soddin' bed, Slayer!" Spike retorted, and glared back at her. His expression changed instantly.

"Are you naked?"

Pain blossomed in his nose as the Slayer planted her fist in his face.

"Bloody hell!" he roared. "What'd you do that for?"

"What did I ..?" she began, rising to her feet. "You raped me you son of a bitch!"

"Now hang on just a bloody minute!" he demanded, attempting to rise only to find that he was still tangled in the blankets. "If anyone forced anyone, you molested me, Slayer."

"Are you serious!" she demanded, backing away from him, searching for her clothes.

"I don't remember anything after you decided to introduce me to the wall," he continued, yanking at the sheet trapping his legs.

"Yeah, like I'm gonna believe that!"

Finally finding her clothing piled in a corner Buffy pounced, pulling them on faster than she'd ever managed before.

"You've gotta believe me, luv. I don't remember what happened."

"Go to hell, Spike," Buffy growled, then disappeared out the door.

"Bloody hell," Spike muttered, pulling his hands through his hair.

He hadn't lied to her. He really didn't remember what had occurred, but he could guess. The room reeked of sex, even Buffy should have been able to smell it. He had scratches on his arms and on his back as well by the feel of it and a bite on his shoulder. He pulled on his clothes in record time. Something had to be screwing with them, he didn't just black out, he'd need a great deal of alcohol for that to happen and he hadn't had a drop for two days, plus sex with Buffy was something he was guaranteed to remember under any normal circumstances. Yanking open the door he charged out into the night, determined to find the fool Slayer before she got herself eaten by a bear or bambria demon but slid to a halt when he found her sitting on the hood of his car, crying. He approached her slowly, wary of any stakes that may come his way. When she made no move to lash out he settled against the car close, but not to close, to her.

"Slayer..."

"You swear you don't remember anything," came her muffled demand.

"I promise you, Buffy," he said. "I don't know what happened in there."

He was quiet for a moment and she sniffled into the silence.

" 'Ve done a lot of bad in my day," he continued. "But rape's never been one of 'em."

"Can ... can we just go?" she asked.

"Yeah, Slayer," he said. "We can go."

=======================================================================


Buffy stared out her window, grateful for the silence. Spike had turned off the radio as soon as he'd turned on the car and neither of them had said a word since. Buffy racked her brain for some spark of memory, a dream, a flash, something to tell her what had happened in that room. Something other than the residual soreness she hadn't experienced for awhile or the bruises on her hips and inner thighs ...

Spike growled, pulling Buffy from her thoughts.

"What?"

"We should've reached the interstate by now," he replied, quietly.

"Is there another way?" Buffy asked and Spike shook his head.

"This is the only road I've seen since we left the cabin."

"Are you sure there's no other way?"

He gave her a look and she held up her hands before crossing her arms and looking away.

"Buffy," Spike began but she held up a hand, cutting him off.

"Just, don't."

Spike shut up and drove.

Several hours later Buffy was startled from her doze as Spike slammed his hand against the steering wheel and swore vehemently. Looking out of the windshield, she did a double take.

"Are you serious?"

The cabin stood in the lightening gloom from the rising sun and highlighted by the headlights. The two sat in the idling car, staring at the building, both unwilling to go inside but both knowing that it was their only option.

"We don't have to," Spike began.

"No," Buffy replied. "It's okay. You need to get inside. We'll just ... stay awake until dark."

=======================================================================


Buffy woke to the somewhat familiar feeling of Spike's arm around her and she sighed. Spike stiffened behind her then rolled over with a curse.

"It happened again, didn't it?" she asked softly.

" 'M sorry, pet," he said. "I just closed my eyes for a minute."

Buffy was silent for several moments, fighting back tears.

"Why is this happening, Spike? What's doing this to us?"

"I wish I knew, luv," he replied., and she believed him.

Taking a breath, Buffy sat up and turned to face him.

"Okay," she said. "Something obviously wants to keep us here or we would have gotten out last night and whatever it is wants us to ... um ... do what we did."

She lightly slapped Spike's chest when he grinned at her.

"Shut up," she growled, but could feel a smile pulling at her lips.

"So what do you suggest we do, Slayer?" Spike asked, sitting up.

She sighed.

"I don't know."

She chewed on her bottom lip as she thought, then her hazel eyes landed on Spike.

"What?"

"Are there any sex demons?" Buffy asked, blushing at her blunt question.

"A few," he replied. "What's in your head, Slayer?

She pushed a strand of honey colored hair behind her ear and met his eyes.

"I was just thinking ... Do you remember the haunted frat house? The one that used me and Riley as a kind of battery?"

"Vaguely," Spike replied. Like he needed another reminder of Captain Cardboard.

"Is there a demon that could make people do that?"

A thoughtful frown creased his brow as he tried to recall Angelus' lessons on various demon species.

"At least two," he said at length. "What d'you have in mind?"

"Well," she pushed the strand back again and lowered her head, refusing to meet his gaze. "If this thing is using us as a battery like the ghosts did then maybe a power surge would knock it out long enough for us to get away."

Spike blinked at her. Was she seriously suggesting what he thought she was suggesting?

"Force feed it, you mean."

She nodded, a blush creeping over her face, the tops of her breasts. Spike grinned at her.

"Think I can handle that."

Buffy heard the smile in his voice and her head snapped up as she leveled a glare on him. Spike held up a hand.

"Now, now Slayer. You can't expect me to not be happy about this."

"Yeah, well, you don't have to be quite so happy."

His deep chuckle sent shivers through her of a not unpleasant variety and he grinned at her reaction, reaching out a hand and running one finger down her arm. Buffy closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, her breath coming out in a sigh as his hand moved to her face, cupping her jaw and turning her to look at him. She opened her eyes and raised them to his own blue orbs, stunned by the force of emotion she saw there. She could get lost in those eyes. Her own hand came up, fingers tracing patterns over his skin before she leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

The vampire sat completely still as Buffy gently kissed him, slowly ran her hand over his shoulder and onto his back. Then she pulled back.

"Little more participation, Spike," she said. "Would be greatly appreciated."

He could feel her smile ghost over his lips and returned it before wrapping his arms around her and pulling the surprised Slayer onto his lap. She let out a squeal that was silenced when he gave her a proper kiss. She hummed with pleasure and closed her eyes ...

"Buffy, luv, wake up," the gentle demand forced her eyes open.

Buffy looked up into Spike's worried blue eyes. She was on her back with no recollection of how she got there.

"Shit," she whispered.

"You okay, pet?"

She nodded.

"Yeah," Buffy said, then caught his gaze. “Touch me.”

His hand ghosted up her thigh to rest on her hip as his lips trailed down her throat to flutter against her collarbone. Her breath caught in her throat and she pressed her hips against his, silently begging.
“Where do you want me to touch you, Buffy?”
“Everywhere...”
Her need to feel flesh against flesh, skin on skin, was nearly overwhelming.
His deep chuckle set her insides aquiver.
“I will,” he promised. “You can count on it.”
His lips reclaimed hers and he tugged the sheet open, baring her to his hot gaze. She couldn't help but kept her eyes closed, a slight blush staining her flesh.
“Buffy.”
“Hmm?”
“Open your eyes, pet.”
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, gathering her courage, and Spike waited. Her eyelids fluttered but remained closed. He grinned at the stubborn young woman then pressed his hips against the apex of her thighs, moving gently then pulling away. Buffy arched toward him then whimpered when he remained out of reach, her eyes finally fluttering open and meeting his amused gaze.
“Good girl."
She gave him an irritated scowl but responded when he kissed her lips again before moving to her jaw then down to her throat and flicked his tongue over her pulsing vein. She sucked in a quick breath and leaned her head back, giving him better access, bringing a hand up to hold him there.
“Are your eyes open, Slayer?”
She let out a growl of annoyance, gripping his hair and raising his head to give him her signature look. Spike grinned at her then ran his tongue over her pulse again. She shivered and loosened her grip on his hair, running her fingers through the surprisingly silky locks.
“Do you like that, luv?”
“Oh, yes.”
He grinned and resumed his attentions at her throat sucking hard and bringing her blood to the surface, running his tongue over the patch of skin. One hand ran over her body, traveling up her side to gently cup one breast. Her thighs tightened around him, her hips unconsciously moving against him through the sheet separating them as he slowly rolled the pebbled nipple between thumb and finger, ringing soft sighs from her. He was about to prompt her to touch him when one of her hands hesitantly moved from his neck to smooth over his shoulder, her fingers tracing patterns over his flesh, her touch so light that he barely felt it. His hand slid around to her back and held her against him as he lightly bit her with blunt teeth. She jumped, her fingers pressing into his back before he rolled over and sat her up. He drank in the sight of her as she straddled his hips bracing her hands on his chest, the scent of her desire wafting to him as his eyes traveled from her tanned shoulders and breasts, which surprised him somewhat, over her toned belly to her hips and the barely-there strip of hair between her thighs. Spike ran his thumb over the coarse hair.
“What’s this then?”
She blushed hotly and dropped her eyes, her hips unconsciously arching toward his touch.
“It’s called a ‘Brazilian’,” she said. "Anya ... she talked me into it. Said that she could feel more without all the hair and why am I telling you this?"
“Not a clue,” he said replied and slipped his thumb between her folds to press against her clit. "You'll have to tell me if it's true."
Buffy sucked in a surprised breath and pressed against the probing digit as a flood of moisture rushed outward, soaking into the soft fabric of the sheet. A cool finger slipped inside her and she whimpered, immediately denying that she'd made any such noise, and tilted her hips slightly and closed her eyes. Spike closed his eyes as well, feeling her slick walls surround his finger. His intention had been to let them both explore for a bit but the need rushing through him at the thought of her burning heat surrounding his cock had Spike wrapping his arms around her waist and flipping their positions again. She let out a startled squeal at the sudden movement, her eyes flying open as her back met the floor to look down at the vampire who pressed a kiss to her abdomen before moving lower, his burning blue eyes never leaving hers. He spread her legs wider and draped them over his shoulders and she licked her suddenly dry lips as she realized his intent. Only Riley had done this for her before and to be truthful, he hadn't been very good at it. More often than not she'd had to fake an orgasm so they could get on to the main event and possibly get off then or wait until he fell asleep and take care of herself. Buffy had a feeling the Spike wouldn't disappoint. She gave an almost imperceptible nod and Spike lowered his mouth to her glistening flesh. At the first swipe of his tongue her head fell back, her thighs tensing slightly as she took in several breaths. She was right.
Spike gripped her hips, holding her to his hungry mouth as he licked and sucked her willing flesh, listening to her soft pants and mewls. Her whole body quivered and her hands gripped the blankets, her head tossing from side to side as she felt the sensations gathering in her womb as Spike’s talented lips and tongue brought her closer.
"Oh, God, Spike," Buffy panted. "Don't stop!"
Taking her plea to heart Spike fastened his lips around her engorged clit and sucked hard. She fell back to the tangle of blankets, her back arching and her mouth open in a silent cry, bucking her hips against his tongue as the pleasure rushed through her. The Slayer collapsed in a quivering puddle, her heart thundering and her breaths coming in quick gasps as her internal muscles continued to clench at nothing then Spike was covering her, kissing her and she clung to him like a drowning person to a life preserver. He dipped his hips, pressed the head of his shaft against her dripping entrance and she tilted her hips, arching up to him, silently begging to be filled. He pressed forward slowly, gently, but Buffy was having none of that. Her hands slid down to his ass, murmuring a soft “please’ against his lips as she tightened her thighs around him. Closing his eyes Spike thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt inside her incredibly hot tight passage, a shudder racking his body as she surrounded him.
Buffy winced slightly, he was bigger than what she was used to, then allowed her eyes to flutter open when he shivered above her. He was staring down at her with such a look of awe and (dare she say it) love, that it gave her momentary pause. Deciding to save that thought for a much, much later date, she squeezed her muscles around him and wiggled a bit, eliciting a groan from the vampire. He pulled back then thrust home, listening to her sigh, feeling her nails dig into his back and ground his pubic bone against her clit. She moved her hips against his, matching his steady rhythm as the sensations built again, the pressure gathering, coiling tighter and tighter until the pleasure broke over her again. Buffy buried her teeth in Spike’s shoulder as she came, drawing blood as he gripped her thigh and stiffened, growling as he emptied himself inside her. His gameface came to the fore and he buried his face against her shoulder, keeping his fangs to himself even though he longed to bury them in her soft flesh.

They lay together, panting into the silence, and Spike took the chance to press another kiss to her collar bone. When Buffy didn't protest he lingered there, listening to her sigh, then froze when he realized that it wasn't Buffy who had made the sound. Both Slayer and vampire sprang to their feet and faced the figure laid out on the iron bed. The female was clothed in a dark green material that slithered and moved as though it were alive, her dark hair moved in the same strange, almost alive way, accentuating her soil brown skin and almost skull-like face. She hummed and writhed against the mattress then turned berry-red eyes to the pair.

"Sssso good," she hissed. "Sssso full."

She rolled over with the ease of one underwater.

"Can't remember the lassst time sssuch a meal didn't leave them dead. Flesssh to follow."

She chuckled, grinning wide enough to reveal more than one row of small sharp teeth in a mouth that opened far wider than it should have been able.

"Go. Before they are kept," she, it, said. "It will not ssstop them."

Not wasting time getting dressed Slayer and vampire scooped up clothing and blankets alike and raced out the door to the DeSoto. Gravel flew as Spike hit the gas, the trees beginning to fade even before the car reached the edge of the clearing. Buffy pulled her shirt over her head then claimed Spike's duster, seeing a how her pants somehow got left behind in the woods that no longer exsisted along with her underwear and one sock. The blankets soon faded away as well, revealing that only Spike's pants and one Doc Martin had survived the trip. He glanced over at the small pile on her lap and groaned.

"Blood hell, is that it?"

" 'Fraid so. Here."

She held out the two articles. Spike tossed the lone shoe into the back seat then piled his pants in his lap as the interstate came into view.

"Oh, thank God!" Buffy said.

=======================================================================



The two bare foot blondes padded into the lobby of the Hyperion Hotel, Spike in his jeans, Buffy wrapped in his duster, both stopping dead at the sight that greeted them. Anya, Xander, Giles, Angel, Willow, Tara, and several people neither of them recognized were spread out in the large lobby, pouring through the many stacks of books that dominated the clear spaces.

"Buffy! Spike!" Dawn's happy shriek echoed through the large building as the teen raced up to them. "Oh, my God! Where have you guys been? We've been so worried! Angel said you hadn't shown up and then Glory came after me ... did you know that she shared a body with mom's hot doctor? And did you not have showers where you were? 'Cause you guys look totally trashed."

Buffy looked to Spike.

"Why do I get the feeling that we've been gone longer than two days?"

"Buffy?"

Angel was the first of the group to snap out of his shock and walk forward. He stopped several feet from them, though, a dark look coming over his face. Dawn took that moment to voice her next question.

"Where's the rest of your clothes?"

Part Two

Paradise Found



"Where's the rest of your clothes?" Dawn asked into the silence of the lobby.

Buffy hugged Spike's duster tighter around herself.

"We're, uh ... not sure," she replied brokenly. "Um ..."

"See, there was this demon," Spike said helpfully.

"Right," Buffy agreed. "There was a demon and it had us trapped in this forest."

"Wouldn't let us out," the vampire added.

"No. The only road just took us around in a big circle when we tried to leave."

" 'Cept then it let us go."

Buffy nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, but it said that we had to leave really fast or it would keep us longer so we ..."

"Left half your clothes behind?" Dawn asked sarcastically.

"Yeah?" Buffy answered lamely.

"Well, we were sleepin' at the time," Spike lied.

"Sure you were," Cordelia muttered.

Buffy heard and immediately turned bright red while Angel let out a low, deadly growl. He was in Spike's face in an instant, reaching for lapels that weren't there.

"Angel!" Buffy shouted, reaching for the arm he'd pulled back.

"What did you do to her!" the older vampire demanded. "I can smell you all over each other!"

"Get off me, you great pillock!"

Spike shoved Angel at the same moment Buffy pulled him away, their combined force sending the man across the lobby. Cordelia went to his side but backed away with her hands up when he snarled at her.

"See if I help you again," she grumbled.

Buffy glared in Angel's general direction, hands on her hips and her Slayer to the fore as she addressed the group.

"Will somebody please tell me what's been happening since we've been gone? And maybe how long we've *been* gone?"

"Um, B-Buffy?" Tara said softly and pointed.

The Slayer disappeared as Buffy realized that the duster had slipped open and she hurredly wrapped the leather back around herself, crouching a bit and reddening again.

"And, um ... maybe where I can get some clothes?"

=======================================================================



Dawn had spent Buffy's shower filling her sister in on what had taken place during her absnece. Their disappearance had been discovered fairly early when Buffy failed to check in with the Scooby's and then they'd gotten a worried call from Angel. As soon as the sun had set, Giles and Angel had set out from their respective towns, scouring the interstate and highways alike for any trace of the Slayer or the blond vamire's old DeSoto, but had come up empty-handed. Angel had said that he had sensed Spike a few times but could never pinpoint where he was, and none of Willow and Tara's locator spells had worked.

After the first month, Glory's minions had come incredibly close to discovering that Dawn was the Key and Giles had decided that moving the Sunnydale crew to L.A. would be in the best interests of all concerned, but not before Tara had been injured by the Hellgod. By month two of no Buffy, Wesley had discovered that the goddess only had a designated amount of time in which to use the Key, so Dawn had gone into hiding in a demon bar owned by a friend of Angel's because of an anti-violence spell cast on the place. At the same time, Darla, who had been resurrected by a law firm called Wolfram & Hart, had been tormenting Angel in his sleep in an attempt to drive the souled vampire to the dark side.

At some point, Wolfram & Hart had found out that Dawn was the Key and contacted Glory who showed up in L.A. at the same time as Drusilla, who re-vamped Darla. Dawn didn't know exactly what had happened between Angel and the two vamiresses, only that he had said that they were no longer a problem, and soon after that incident Glory had waltzed into the Hyperion demanding that the Scoobies hand over her key. Then, the goddess had made the mistake of letting her Ben persona come out and Angel, who had been more than a little psycho at the time (Dawn's words) had... taken care of her.

The story continued with a vision and a trip to a demon dimension and Angel rescuing some woman while Cordelia was supposed to sleep with a real hottie (Dawn's words again), but Buffy hadn't really paid much attention to the last part as relief at not having to deal with Glory ever again set in, and now, showered and dressed in some of Cordelia's clothes, Buffy descended the stairs to the lobby, Spike's coat over one arm. Giles was speaking softly to Anya and the Slayer looked around for Spike, finding him leaned up against Cordelia's desk, reading over her shoulder, as the woman tried to ignore him. Buffy tossed him his duster but frowned as she spied his split lip, following his gaze her eyes settled on Angel who was sporting a black eye. She rolled her eyes at the two before taking a seat by her Watcher.

"Have you found it yet?" she asked. "The demon?"

Giles looked at her, distracted.

"Hm? Oh, yes, I believe we have it, uh, narrowed down from what both Spike and yourself was able to tell us."

He held up a book.

"Is this the creature you encountered?"

Buffy studied the picture. The demon's berry-red eyes stared up at her from the skull-like, dirt brown face. It's green dress and dark hair doing the floaty thing around it, as it held a severed human hand. Buffy nodded.

"That's it."

"You're sure?" Anya asked.

"Absolutely," Buffy said. "This is the demon we saw."

"That's her all right."

Buffy jumped as Spike's voice sounded in her ear. He grinned at her reaction.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Anya asked with a frown.

"Yes, Anya," Buffy said, giving the ex-demon an odd look. "We're sure."

Spike looked at the woman, frowning.

"What's wrong?"

Giles and Buffy turned to Anya at her silence.

"I know her," she said at length. "She's a type of succubus, but it doesn't make sense!"

"What doesn't?" Buffy asked.

Anya ran her hands through her hair and sighed before pointing to the picture on the table.

"Ceralune only attacks couples who are in love."

The entire lobby went silent at Anya's declaration.

"What?" Buffy asked, bemused then blinked and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry. I meant 'What!"

She made it a demand. Anya nodded.

"That's why I asked if your were sure it was her," she said. "Ceralune only spells couples who are in love with each other, uses their love against them."

She shrugged.

"She always said that it made the meat taste sweeter."

"Eew," Dawn said.

"I am not in love with Spike," Buffy told Anya vehemently.

The woman blinked at her.

"Well, obviously you are or else Ceralune would have left you two alone. She's very particular that way."

Anya stopped and gave Spike an appreciative once-over.

"And it's okay if you are. He's very attractive and sort of compact but well muscled. And he must be a very skilled lover, both of you actually, if you fed Ceralune enough sex energy for her to let you go without killing you. I don't think she's ever done that."

Buffy shook her head, eyes closed, as she tried to deny what Anya was saying. It couldn't be true, she couldn't love Spike. It was Spike! He only helped them for money... except not so much of late... and he didn't have a soul... yet he claimed to love her, he brought flowers to her mothers' grave, he let Glory torture him and never told her that Dawn was the key... But, what would her friends think? They hadn't really liked Angel and what would Giles say? No, she didn't love Spike, didn't even like him, really... but in the cabin, when he'd made love to her (and it had been making love) he'd been gentle (until she told him to be otherwise) and tender and the look in his eyes, it had spoken volumes... Buffy opened her eyes, scanning the faces of the people around her. Tara smiled sweetly at her but Cordelia didn't even spare her a glance. But the others, their looks spoke volumes ranging from happy (Dawn and Anya) to concerned (Willow) to slightly disappointed (Giles) to downright angry (Angel and Xander).

"I can't do this now," she said softly, then spun on her heel and retreated up the stairs.

Dawn glared at the three men, her arms crossed.

"You guys suck!"


==========================================================================



When a knock sounded on the door to Dawn's room Buffy didn't even look up.

"Go away!"

"Slayer! Buffy," Spike called through the door. "Talk to me, pet."

Buffy just tightened her grip on the pillow she held and remained silent. Soon enough she heard the door ease open and Spike enter the small suite. The vampire's footsteps stopped in the doorway to the bedroom. Buffy didn't look up.

"We need to talk."

"Why?"

Spike sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed beside her.

"Dunno," he said with a chuckle. " 'Cause it's what..."

"No," Buffy said. "Why can't I ever fall for a normal guy? I mean, first Angel and we all know how well that turned out. Then Mister Secret Agent Man Riley. And now you."

After several moments had passed Buffy had to grin. She had finally made Spike speechless! She looked over at him, giggling at the gobsmacked look on his face.

"Wow," she said. "If I'd have known that that was all it took to shut you up, I would have done it a long time ago."

"You," he began. "But what was all that about downstairs?"

Buffy shrugged then gave him a sheepish look.

"You know how dense I can be sometimes, you've pointed it out often enough."

Spike wisely refrained from commenting.

"But what about Peaches? And your precious Scoobies? You know none of them will like this."

"I've been thinking about that, actually."

He arched an eyebrow.

"And?"

"And, I've realized that they've always dictated my life to me. Who I can date, what I can do, where I can go and it's just... It's not fair. I let them live their lives, for the most part, and, hell, I could be dead tomorrow, so I've decided that if I'm happy then they should be happy for me."

Spike couldn't believe his ears. Was she serious? Had that demon given the Slayer some kind of epiphany? But still, he couldn't resist prodding.

"And if they aren't?"

Buffy was quiet for a moment, hugging the deflated pillow to her chest.

"Then maybe we'll just have to take a little vacation from each other. Me and the Scoobies, I mean."

"Do you really mean it?" Dawn demanded happily as she bounced into the room. She landed on the bed beside her sister and wrapped her arms around her. "Are you with Spike now? 'Cause it would be so cool if you were."

"Yeah," Buffy said. "I guess I am."

She looked at Spike from under her lashes.

"If he'll have me, that is."

Spike was silent for a moment, looking thoughtful.

"I guess I can give it a try."

"Oh, you," Dawn growled and jumped at the vampire, fingers immediately stabbing for the sensitive spots she'd discovered on his sides.

Spike gave an unmanly yelp and slid to the floor. Dawn and Buffy peered over the edge of the bed at him, both grinning. He scowled at the two of them.

"You're evil, Bit," he grumbled.

"Well, I did hang around you a lot."

Spike suddenly looked proud.

"That's right," he agreed. "Learned from the best, you did."

The sisters rolled their eyes at him.

There was a quick knock at the door then Xander's voice through the wood.

"Hey, Buffster," he called. "I brought a vacuum. Is the Bleached Wonder dust yet?"

"They're probably having sex," came Anya's hushed speculation.

"Eew," Cordelia whispered. "I can accept the fact of it happening but I don't need the raunchy details. I'll be downstairs when you guys are done spying."

"William," Angel barked. "Open this door." then softer, "No, they're not having sex. Besides, Dawn's in there."

The three in the room shared an amused look as they listened to the not-very-secret conversation going on outside. Willow was the next to speak.

"How do you know they aren't... Oh, 'cause you're a vampire with the enhanced senses and can probably smell..." she trailed off. "I'll stop now."

"Yes, please do," Giles said, then addressed Buffy through the door. "Now Buffy, will you please come out of there? I'm sure there's a reasonable explination for why this demon targeted you and..."

Buffy tuned him out as he slipped into Watcher-mode and took Spike's hand, helping him to his feet.

"Ready to face the firing squad?" she asked.

He pulled her into a hungry kiss but kept it PG seeing as how Dawn was watching them with a huge grin on her face. Buffy was smiling when he released her and Dawn skirted around them to stand by the suite door.

"I'd follow you to hell and back, luv."

"And you'll never leave?"

"Haven't gotten rid of me yet, have you?" Spike asked as he slid one hand into hers and began pulling her toward the door. Buffy beamed at him.

"I'm stuck with you now, aren't I?"

Spike flashed her a grin and Dawn rolled her eyes.

"If you guys are done making googly eyes at each other, I really wanna see Angel's face when he finds out that you two are together. It'll totally be worth not having you guys for three months," the Key said as she pulled open the door.

"Um, hi guys," Buffy said s the expectant faces of her friends came into view. She squeezed Spike's hand tightly.

Dawn laughed.

"Totally worth it."

THE END

Yay! Two stories down... about thirty to go *pout*
Well, now that the muse is back from her vacation I should be finishing, or at least updating, my other stories. Got a new chapter of Slayer of the Carribean in the works and a couple of brand new stories over at Twisting the Hellmouth under the name Dire Banshee. Come check me out, and, as always, tell me what ya think :)

~Ghost Writer