Chapter 4

“What are you thinking about?”

Buffy glanced up at him. “My sister, I’ve been wondering about her a lot lately. My mother was such a control freak, always trying to force her values on us. I feel bad that I left Dawn alone to deal with her. Ever since our dad took off with his secretary, she’s been trying even harder to mold us into the perfect daughters, just so we won’t become sinners like he was. We were forced to go to church every Sunday, Dawny is only sixteen. I’m worried that without me around, she’ll do anything to please our mother, even though it would go against her nature. She’ll be my mom’s perfect little puppet, it makes me sick to think about. All you saw of her was the few times she would visit me in the hospital, but I’ve lived with her for nineteen years. We got into a fight the night before you came to get me. I told her that the one good thing about dying was that I’ll finally be free of her, and she told me that my illness was a punishment from God for not obeying her more. No matter how much good I did, nothing was ever enough for her. I was caught kissing a boy in my room once when I was fifteen, it was completely innocent, but she accused me of being a filthy whore. She marked my back repeatedly after that.”

He didn’t like where this story was going. “She hit you?”

Buffy nodded. “Whenever we did something wrong, she would give us the belt. According to her, God would have wanted her to do it because we were tainted. She said we would never learn otherwise. I just can’t believe I abandoned my sister with that psycho. I know I didn’t have much of a choice, but it’s been eating me up ever since we left.”

Spike ran his fingers through her hair. He knew her mother was a tyrant, but had no idea things were that bad. Now more glad than ever that he got her away. “Well, I doubt it would come to that. I remember the little spitfire who visited you. I don’t see that girl ever becoming someone’s puppet, not even your mum’s.”

“I hope you’re right. My mom wouldn’t even let her come and see me; she had to sneak out of the house a few times. I’ve taught her well.”

He chuckled. “See, you have nothing to worry about. Dawn takes after you more than your mum, she’ll be fine.”

Buffy decided that a change of subject was in order; thinking about the life she left behind brought her nothing but sorrow. “At least Charles should be happy that we’ve found another place, he can finally get his bachelor pad back.”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Bloody wanker, he should just appreciate the fact I’ve kept him around this long.”

“How did you guys become such good friends, anyway?” Buffy asked, realizing that she actually didn’t know the story behind that.

He took in a deep, unneeded breath. “It was in the early 1900’s, just me, Charles, and our wanker of a sire, Liam Angelus. The three of us were pretty unstoppable, painted everything in our path red. We were always different from Liam, though. He was pure demon, not much of his humanity was left after he was turned. It probably had to do with the fact he was a brute even when he was alive. Every woman we brought back with us, he just had to have. He would rape and torture them as we watched. If there’s one thing I’ve never done, it would be participating in a rape. When there are so many willing women in this world, I just don’t see the point in taking one by force, but Liam had no such problem with it. Then, everything changed, and Charles fell in love with a human girl. He kept it a secret at first, knowing how Liam would react if he was to find out. Especially seeing as how this was no normal girl, she was a Slayer.”

Buffy nodded. “Right, I remember when you told me about Slayers, but wasn’t it her job to kill vampires? Why would she get close to one?”

Spike shrugged. “I guess she saw something in him, but my mate was a completely different person after meeting her. He confided in me because unlike Liam, I wouldn’t have done anything to reprimand him. I always felt for the Slayers, it wasn’t bloody right to put so much responsibility on one girl like that. Charles told me how he wanted to change for her, to be the kind of man she deserved. I knew he was serious, but we underestimated Liam. The bastard found out about Emily, and he made it his mission to destroy her. He killed the girl’s family, burned her house to the ground, and then took her as a hostage. Charles returned to the lair to find Emily chained up, naked and bloody. Liam had been feeding on her, but he waited until Charles arrived for the main course. Charles pleaded with him to spare her life, but Liam wouldn’t hear of it. He told Charles that he was a disgrace to the demon world, and that he needed to pay for his betrayal. Charles could do nothing but watch helplessly as Liam tore the girl’s throat open, dropping her lifeless body to the ground. Liam left him with her corpse, leaving him alone to grieve, but warned him about what would happen the next time he disobeyed. I walked in then, saw how distraught my mate was and knew that I could no longer follow after Liam. He would have continued to try and break us down if we remained with him, so we both took off as soon as we could, got far enough away that he would no longer be able to feel us. We’ve been on our own ever since.”

Buffy wiped the tears from her eyes. “God, I had no idea. I feel so horrible for him, but if I ever come across Liam, I’ll rip his throat out myself.”

Spike was startled by the malice in her voice, but his girl thought of Charles as a friend. It made him glad that the two most important people in his life got along so well. “No, love, if he was to ever come here, I don’t want you near him. Liam is one of the most vicious vampires to ever exist, there’s no stopping him once he sets his mind on something, but I like how you feel protective over Charles.”

“He’s a good guy, and he didn’t deserve to have his girlfriend slaughtered right in front of him like that. I guess it kind of explains why he’s always with so many different women. He probably doesn’t want to fall in love again.”

Spike agreed. “Charles is like me in that way, we don’t give our heart to just anyone. Whether it beats or not, we still love just as much as anyone living, possibly even more so. He was there for me with Alona, when I had to kill her to save her from herself. I honestly never thought I would love again after that, but you completely took me by surprise. I believe the same will happen for him, it just might take a while.”

Buffy snuggled up at his side, pleased when she felt him press a kiss to her forehead. It wasn’t long before she drifted off to sleep.


* * * * *


She smiled when Charles came home, a busty brunette on his arm; it made much more sense to her now. Their place wouldn’t be ready for another week, so she was just packing up a few last minute things. It was only a simple apartment with a training room, unlike Charles; Spike didn’t care much for extravagant mansions, which was more than fine with her.

“Who the hell is she? I’m not into threesomes anymore; I thought it would just be the two of us tonight.”

Charles rolled his eyes, turning back to the woman at his side. “She’s only a friend. Would you be a love and wait for me in the bedroom? I’ll be right in.” He knew she wouldn’t go without an argument, which was why Charles made sure she was looking into his eyes and just like clockwork, she hurried over to his room. He focused back on Buffy, shaking his head. “I really know how to pick ‘em.”

Buffy laughed, moving over to her friend and giving him a hug.

Charles returned her embrace, pulling away after a moment. “Will told you, didn’t he?”

She nodded. “It doesn’t make me think any less of you.”

He felt choked up. “That’s good to hear. You be sure to let him know what a bloody lucky bastard he is to have you, all right? Don’t take anything for granted,” Charles explained, pecking both of her cheeks.

“Dually noted, hey, how come you never call him Spike?”

Charles shrugged. “He’ll always just be William to me.” And with a wink, he headed over to his room, shutting the door quietly behind him.