Hello all!  Before you read on, I need to clarify the direction I'm taking.  Don't worry, I'll be brief.  The last chapter started with it being Wednesday.  With the natural progression of things, Tuesday was the day before and in Buffydom of course something happened.  In this case, the episode Amends did, but this time with my own twist.  Everything occurred as it did in the episode, EXCEPT for the First playing host to This is your Unlife Angel  (Actually, NOTHING regarding the First occurred). Without getting into all the reasons, the main one was it didn't flow with my story.  So I took major poetic license here.  Yes, if you've read my other stories, I tend to stick close to the episodes, unless it's a rewrite, but for S&G I decided against it here.  Okay, that wasn't as short as I initially intented, sorry.  Anywho, I hope this explains everything.  Before I go, I'd like to give a big thanks to my lovely betas Sanityfair and Diebirchen.  Love ya ladies! 

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After a quick sweep of Restfield cemetery, Buffy followed Willow’s advice and headed home.  When she arrived, she was greeted by a scene taken from almost every American household, a mom staring at the television with a heaping bowl of buttery popcorn on her lap.
 
Entering the living room, Buffy admired the newest addition to their home, a decorated Christmas tree, complete with a star tree-topper.
 
It was strange how the unexpected really put your life into perspective.
 
Take for instance last night.  Prior to the past two weeks of major unexplained lustiness and now the additional secret late night naughtiness, the mere thought of Faith joining her and her mother in their long-honored Christmas tradition of dinner followed by trimming of the tree, and Buffy would’ve been at the very least, utterly weirded out.  However, after battling and finally caving into her raging libido, reenacting some picture-perfect Christmas scene with her sister Slayer didn’t even make a tiny blip on her bizarro-meter.
 
After readjusting a few crooked ornaments, Buffy joined her mom on the couch and, with a booming cue of dramatic music, they watched the end of the movie unfolding:
 
There was a dark-haired beauty trying to get out of a room, but the door was locked.  In another room, there was an injured guy lying on the floor watching another attractive lady, this one a blonde, standing over a box.  Dramatically, she opened it.  Instantly, flames jumped out, and she went up like a campfire marshmallow.  While she reenacted Joan of Arc’s final scene, the other two escaped out onto the beach.  The movie ended with them watching safely from the water as the house burned.

Wow!
 
Buffy never figured black and white movies were so, well…intense.  She thought they were all like Casablanca or It’s a Wonderful Life.  Just enough drama to keep you watching, but before the credits rolled, everything worked out in the end.
  
Boy, guess I was wrong!

After the well-known lion roared, her mom finally acknowledged Buffy’s presence.

“Oh hi, Buffy.  Sorry, that movie always has me on the edge of my seat.  Are you feeling okay, sweetie?”  Buffy watched her mom shifting effortlessly into “concerned mom-mode.”

“Yeah, I’m just tired.  I haven’t been sleeping well.”  Buffy grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl and nibbled on a piece.
 
“Let me make you some warm milk.  It might help.”  Joyce stood from the couch and went to the kitchen.
 
With a weary sigh, Buffy leaned back, letting the cushions envelop her.  Within moments, she was asleep.

Buffy was lying on the floor, staring up at Spike who was standing over a box with the word Desire scrawled across the lid.  Off in the distance, she heard someone trying to break free from a room down the hall, but her attention remained on Spike.  With devilish delight, he opened the box and was instantly bathed in bright light.
 
She stayed fixated for several more intense moments before breaking away and scrambling down the hallway.  She opened a door, and Angel rushed out, put his arm around her, and guided her outside.  At first she felt safe with Angel, but all too soon she tried to turn back to Spike, unable to do so as Angel trudged forward, dragging her away.  When they were knee-deep in the ocean, they turned and watched the flames of desire fully engulfing the house.  Buffy again tried to return, yet Angel insistently held her back—

“Buffy, sweetie, wake up.”  Buffy’s eyes snapped opened and focused on her mother standing above her.
 
“Wha—yeah, I’m awake.” 

Buffy rubbed her eyes and unsteadily stood from the couch.  She noticed her mom had now shifted into full-on “concern mom-mode.”  Not wanting or ready to explain all the whys she was so out of it and for the sleepless nights, she headed for the stairs.
  
“Honey, do you still want the milk?  It might help.”
 
One foot on the bottom step, Buffy stopped and watched Joyce’s approach, milk in hand and a reassuring smile on her lips.  To her relief, she recognized this smile.  It said, “I’m not going to push, but know I’m here if you need me.”

“Thanks, Mom, I hope it does.”  Buffy climbed two steps then turned back to face her mom standing next to the newel post.  “Outta curiosity, what was the name of that movie you were watching?”

“Kiss Me Deadly.  Why, was that what you were dreaming about?”
 
“No, no, nothing like that.  Um, thanks again for the milk.”  With that being said, Buffy turned and continued up the stairs.

She headed to the bathroom and, after completing her ablutions, entered her bedroom.  Without turning on the light, she dressed in her regular nightwear, a camisole and pajama bottoms, then slid under the cool sheets.
 
In spite of the warmth from the milk radiating from her belly and attempting to lull her body into sleep, her mind refused to follow, still preoccupied with her recent dream.
 
She didn’t need some old stuffy guy with a bad accent, beard, and cigar to tell her what was what.  It was simple; she needed to end things with Spike.  Even though her dream told her Angel would help, she was totally going solo.  She knew if Angel had any inkling about her and Spike, Angel would dust Spike in a non-heartbeat.  Strangely, the thought of this happening made her ache.  It was a kinda ache she hadn’t felt since sending Angel to hell—deep and painful.
     
No, this was all her.  Tonight she was putting on her big girl panties and leaving them on, thank you very much!

Now all she had to do was wait…

 

It was time.  Based on his throbbing cock and growling stomach, it was time to grab a bite to eat then off to the Slayer’s for dessert.  Snubbing out his spent cigarette on the sole of his boot, Spike stood from the couch and left the mansion, sporting a shit-eating grin.

After taking care of one craving by feeding off some co-ed over by the college, Spike made his way to quench another more potent hunger.
 
Deftly, he climbed the tree by her window.  Now standing on the roof, he peered inside.  She was spread out like a sensuous banquet: lying on her back with the sheets crumpled at her feet, her hair tousled and splayed across her pillow, and a tantalizing band of midriff exposed.
    
Spike lifted the sash and stepped into the room.  In spite of his heavy Docs, his agile steps were silent.  While he stood over her, she whimpered as she awoke.  Her dreamy-eyed gaze searched for him through the darkness.
 
With a steady hand, he ghosted over the contours of her body with tortuous slowness.  She arched into his touch, her pleasure unmistakable.  On his trek downward, as his fingers hovered over the inside of her knee, her legs parted further, silently urging him on.  Or so he thought.

Unexpectedly, as he reached mid-thigh, cobra-quick, she clamped her thighs shut, trapping his hand.  She held him tightly until she reached down and grasped his wrist then roughly pushed his arm away.  Before he could respond, she reached over and turned on the bedside table lamp.

The room filled with a bright light, causing Spike to blink quickly trying to acclimate.  When his vision cleared, he noticed the Slayer scrambling to sit up, hiking her bed sheet up under her chin along the way, and brandishing a stake.  A Slayer’s multitasking at its finest.
 
Without the cover of darkness and seeing her like this, all modest and lethal, he took control and tamped down this driving unseen force.  Finally, it became all so clear, and he saw this for what it truly was—he, a master vampire, settling for stolen kisses and fleeting touches from a little girl.  A Slayer, no less! 

“I want the Slayer dead, Spike.

But you're lying, I can still see her.  Floating all around you.  Laughing.  Why don't you push her away?

You can't blame a girl, Spike.  You're all covered with her.  I look at you.  All I see is the Slayer.”
  
With the scene spread out before him, coupled with Drusilla’s haunting words still ringing in his ears, Spike’s demon emerged with a low, menacing growl, and he fled into the night.
 
Spike stormed through the streets, searching for way to destroy all the torrid feelings and confusion, and most importantly, make his undead existence simple again.  What he needed was a violent kill.  Or better yet, find some slag to fuck and feed from, nothing more.  With this decided, he changed direction for the Bronze.

 

Buffy hadn’t a clue how long she stayed rooted to the spot, but going by the pins and needles blooming on her bottom cheeks and the cramping of her fingers fisted in the sheet and around the stake, it had been awhile.

Hoping the coast was clear, she released her dead grip, swung her legs over the side of the bed, stood, and started pacing.
 
To say the very least, Buffy was completely conflicted.  She felt empowered by finally squashing these totally rampant lusties and actually turning Spike away.  Yet now she felt bereft, hollow.
      
Feelings of loss washed over her and clouded her vision.  With rough swipes of her hands, she batted away the forming tears.  Pushing down the sadness, she made a decision.  Quickly, she redressed and set out for the library.  One way or another, this spell ended, TONIGHT!

 

 

Spike settled into the alcove he discovered not too long ago while spying on the Slayer.  Now, instead of eyeing a petite blonde, he was watching a curvy brunette with pouty cock-swallowing lips, tantalizingly swaying her hips to the music’s heavy beat.  This was exactly what he needed, a chit nothing like her.
 
With all the predatory grace he’d honed over the years, Spike approached her from behind and wrapped his arms possessively around her waist.  Like warm butter, she melted into his embrace, shamelessly rubbing her arse against him.

 

Disappointed she missed everyone at the library, Buffy set out for their other home away from home in hopes to find at least Willow and Xander.  Even though it was getting close to midnight, she thought she’d give it a shot.

She entered the Bronze and midway across the dance floor, she felt off. To her left she felt the distinguishable tingling of a vampire nearby.  Not any vampire, but Spike.  Turning, she searched the crowd and easily found him courtesy of his unmistakable radioactive colored hair.
 
Looking more closely, she realized he wasn’t alone.  His arms were wrapped around some Jessica Rabbit-shaped woman who was rubbing her skanky self all over her vamp!

Buffy shoved her way through the other dancers, stopping short in front of Spike and this woman. 

It only took only a moment before Spike released the brunette as though she were doused in holy water.  Buffy swore he looked almost shamefaced, but this was fleeting.  Just as quickly, he appeared to remember himself as the Big Bad and rewrapped his arms around the other woman.  His cock and swagger back with a vengeance.

“Slayer.” 

His nonchalant, formal greeting and his returning his arms to the ho’s waist, made Buffy teeter precariously on the edge of choosing to stake his pasty ass, not to mention breaking her own rule of not killing humans.

“So is this little girl your groupie or something?”  The brunette eyed Buffy with disdain, her heavily crimson-stained lips lifted in a sneer.

“No, not a groupie.  And by the way, I’ll have you know this little girl will severely kick your skanky ass if you don’t back away, right now.”  Buffy’s saccharine sweet voice belied the anger roiling off her in waves.
 
Clearly not being this bimbo’s first time horning in on another woman’s territory, the brunette took the not too subtle hint, shrugged out of Spike’s embrace, and hightailed it out of the Bronze without looking back.

Buffy glared at Spike, her eyes shooting lethally pointy stakes.  Without a word, she turned on her heel and walked away.  She only made it as far as the alleyway when she felt a bruising grip on her shoulder and was spun around then backed into a brick wall.
 
In an instant, Spike’s lips were brutally devouring hers.  His hands were everywhere, never settling for any extent of time, while hers were anchored on his shoulders, her fingers digging into the leather.  It wasn’t long before her legs were wrapped around his slim hips, grinding against him with wanton abandonment.
     
Please.
 
Even though the word never left her lips, Spike seemed to hear and understand the only coherent thought she formed.  He untangled himself from the vise-like grip of her legs and, with a flurry of motion, she was now viewing the world from upside down as Spike had her thrown over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and, at break-neck speed, was running to an unknown destination.

 

 

   
 
Author’s Notes:

Joan of Arc: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_arc

The “Well-known lion” was referring to the MGM’s lion, Leo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_the_Lion_(MGM)

Casablanca: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casablanca_(film)

It’s a Wonderful Life: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life

Kiss Me Deadly:  black and white movie released in 1955. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_Me_Deadly

“…old stuffy guy with a bad accent, beard, and cigar” was reference to Sigmund Freud http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud

Drusilla’s words are from episode Fool for Love written by Douglas Petrie.

Jessica Rabbit is a character from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?  She was voluptuous and married to Roger Rabbit.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Who_Framed_Roger_Rabbit_characters

This is a picture of Jessica Rabbit:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Who_Framed_Roger_Rabbit_characters