Chapter 4

AN* I know you hate me now, but please stick with it. I will make it better – after all, we are all about the Spuffy.

I am leaving for the joys of the Scottish Coast so there will be no updates for a week, but when I return there will be plenty to catch up on


##



“You’re WHAT!” screeched Dawn, as she propelled herself from his side. “You can’t be married Spike, you’re a vampire, or did you forget that little fact while you were gone.”

Joyce was still sitting beside him, her face turned to his in astonishment. “I have to agree with Dawn Spike, how can a vampire get married?”

“It’s not a marriage the way humans do it,” Spike calmly told them. “All vamps have to do is find someone they want to be with for eternity, and they claim each other.”

Anger radiated from Dawn like a cloud; the atmosphere around her thick with tension. “I’ve kept in touch with you for three years, and you tell me this now? God, I could slap you in to next week, Spike.”

Laughing at her comment, Spike smiled as he continued. “Well it would make a change from your sister punching me, bit. I doubt you could break my nose as good as she can.”

“Don’t bet on it, Spike. Have you any idea how much this will hurt Buffy?” Dawn’s voice rose in distress as she continued. “Buffy couldn’t wait to see you tonight, you moron, and we made her leave ‘cos you wanted it. We asked her to go ‘cos YOU said you didn’t want to see her. I put you first, you asshole, and I wanna really, really stake you right now.”

Joyce moved from the couch, and placed herself between Spike and Dawn. With her back to Spike, she gently chided her daughter. “You can’t blame Spike, Dawnie. You know how Buffy used to treat him when he lived in Sunnydale. How was he to know that she wouldn’t treat him the same way she always did?”

In her anger, Dawn forgot Spike was in the room. “Mom, this is ridiculous. I asked him to come home to help me, and he sits there and blurts out he has a WIFE, for God’s sake.”

“Dawn,” Joyce spoke, in a calming voice. “Try to understand. None of us can tell Spike how to live his life, or who to love. Buffy hasn’t sat still and waited on him coming back, she’s had relationships too.”

With her back to Spike, and Dawn’s attention fully on her mother, neither saw his wince of pain at Joyce’s words.

“Yeah, maybe,” Dawn answered, her voice still high with emotion. “But she never got further than the fourth date before there was always a reason why she couldn’t see them any more. Christ Mom, you know she’s not had a date for nearly a year.”

Brows knitting together at Dawn’s language, Joyce continued to try and calm her daughter down. “You think this is easy for Spike?” she asked. “Do you think it was easy for him to leave his wife and come here to help us? Stop being so selfish, Dawn. Spike came back to help a friend, nothing more.”

Tears filled Dawn’s eyes. She had asked him to come back to help her, but a part of her had wanted Spike to still care for Buffy. Loving her sister as she did, all she wanted for her was to have someone to love her with all their heart. Spike had loved her to distraction before he walked away, she could not understand how he could transfer those feelings to someone else.

As the tears started to run down her cheeks, Joyce pulled her into her arms for a hug. Knowing that her daughter had been hiding a hidden agenda in asking for Spike’s help, she too was feeling Dawn’s pain. Still holding tightly to a sobbing Dawn, Joyce turned her head to look at Spike.

“I think you better leave now Spike, and come back tomorrow.”

Spike felt like shit. He had hurt his nibblet terribly, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. Taking a deep breath, he looked at two of the most important women in his life holding each other in comfort because of him.

“I can’t leave yet, Joyce.” He said softly. “We still need to talk about the prophecy and what it means.”

“I don’t want your help now.” Dawn screeched, petulantly. “You can go back to your wife with a clear conscience. Buffy will fix it, she always does.”

“Too bad, Nibblet.” Spike told her in a firm voice. “I’m here now and we will beat this together.”

Joyce smiled at him, her eyes softening with gratitude. “Thank you, Spike.”

Pulling away from her mother, Dawn walked quickly towards the kitchen. When her mother asked where she was going, she simply turned around and smiled at her. “I going to call Buffy and ask her to come home.” Looking directly at Spike, her eyes still narrowed in anger, she spoke directly to him. “If you’re so happy with your new life you won’t mind talking to Buffy now, will you Spike?”

Backed into a corner by his own actions, Spike could only nod his head in acceptance. He knew he would have to talk to Buffy at some point in his visit, he had just hoped it would not be for some time. He put on his best don’t-give-a-damn face, and agreed with Dawn.

“Maybe it’s time for us to talk, Dawn. She can tell me about the prophecy and we can start to make some plans.”

Turning on her heel, she continued on her way to the phone. If he wanted to play ‘Stupid Vampire’ then she would let him.

The sparks would fly when Buffy got home.


##

An opened can of Diet Coke sat fizzing softly on the coffee table in Willow and Tara’s apartment. The Wiccans were sitting silently either side of the friend, watching intently as she stared at the condensation running down the sides of the can. The three women had talked for a long time about the return of Spike, and now there was silence in the room.

Willow and Tara had asked endless questions, but Buffy could answer few of them. She had managed to explain why Dawn had asked him to come back, but she had said nothing of how she felt about the situation. As her best friend, Willow knew that Buffy was upset, but could not understand why she seemed to be so down. Buffy’s anger at his return, she expected. A maudlin, quiet Buffy baffled her.

Buffy continued to stare at the dew-covered can as she thought of something to say. Her friends had been wonderful, listening quietly as she explained things. Thoughts of Spike enjoying himself with Dawn and her mother clouded her thoughts, and she was desperate to go home. She was sure he had been in the garden when she left the house, and was disappointed that he had not shown himself. Her instinct had told her to walk up to his tree and pull him out to face her.

It had taken every ounce of will-power she possessed to walk away from him.

Willow gently laid her hand on her friend’s knee as she spoke to her. “Buffy, what’s worrying you about Spike coming back? Do you think he’s maybe got the chip out and turned all grrr again?”

Buffy let out a small laugh that sounded strangled to her own ears. “No, Will” she said as she turned her head to look at her friend. “I can handle Spike with or without the chip. That’s not the problem.”

Still perplexed by her answer, Willow spoke again. “Then why are you acting all moody and depressed? Surely some extra muscle will help us fight whatever is trying harm Dawn?”

Buffy rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. The next few sentences would be easy to say if she didn’t see the pity in her friend’s eyes. Calmly she told the Wiccans of her last encounter with Spike, and how wonderful he had made her feel. Tears ran in rivulets down her face as she spoke of their passionate coupling, and the way he had ran from her.

Before Willow could admonish her for having sex with Spike, Tara’s gentle voice filled the room. “None of us chose who we fall in love with, Buffy. If you love him you should tell him.”

Shaking her head, her eyes returned to the can on the table. “He won’t believe me. Not after all this time.”

“Maybe not,” Tara replied. “It’s up to you how you show him you’re serious. I don’t know Spike well, but he’s seems to be a man who’s ruled by his emotions. He truly loved you Buffy, and all you did was hurt and humiliate him. It’s time to set the record straight.”

Turning her head, Buffy smiled a watery smile. “I know, Tara. I just don’t know how to begin. He doesn’t want to see me, or talk to me, and mom made me leave before he would go and see them.” Hiccupping through her sobs, she turned towards Willow. “Why would he do that, Will?”

Willow’s original idea to rail at her friend for her foolishness at falling for yet another vampire, died a death at Buffy’s obvious sadness. Although she could not understand how Buffy seemed to fall in love with vampires, she knew better than to comment. What her friend needed now was support, not criticism.

“I agree with Tara, Buff. I think you need to talk to him and explain how you feel. I’m sure Spike will still love you as he always did.” As she spoke, she moved her arm around her friend’s shoulder and drew her close to her side.

“Go home, Buffy” Willow whispered against her hair. “Talk to him before he goes back to Clem’s.”

Buffy lifted her head and smiled widely at the acceptance she saw in Willow’s eyes. Before she could say a word, her cell phone started to ring. Shifting in her seat, Buffy managed to remove the phone from her purse; when she saw her home number displayed her heart started to race. Quickly flipping it open, she breathed a ‘hello’.

Willow and Tara looked at one another, silent messages passing between the couple. Tara knew that her lover was not happy over Buffy’s choice, but she was determined that they would support her as a couple. She would have a long talk with Willow once Buffy was gone.

Flipping the phone closed, Buffy’s smile lit up her face. Grabbing her purse from the floor, she ran to the door. Both Willow and Tara stared at her in astonishment as they watched their friend hurry towards the door.

“That was Dawn.” Buffy informed them as ran to the door. “He wants to see me.”

##

Using full slayer stamina, Buffy ran all the way to Revello Drive. Slowing down to a jog as her house came into view, she suddenly stopped. Standing still, staring at the light reflected on the lawn from her living room window, she felt the butterflies in her stomach do the Bosa Nova.

Telling herself she had nothing to worry about, she walked slowly towards the porch. Climbing the steps, she hesitated outside the door, unsure of her reaction when she saw him. Gathering the courage to turn the handle, she took a deep breath and walked in the door.

Tingles. Strong vampire tingles ran slowly up her spine. Only Spike had ever produced tingles like these.

As her head turned towards him, the breath stopped in her throat. He had not changed at all. Even his clothes looked the same ones he had worn the last time they met. His unique scent carried across the room assailing her nostrils with his presence.

He had come home.

Cool, she told herself. You need to play it cool. Don’t let him know you missed him just yet. Find out how he feels before you hang your heart out to dry.

Their eyes met, and she could not tear her eyes from his. Ocean blue clashing with green. Standing transfixed at the sight of him, she stood still as he slowly rose from the sofa. As he turned towards her, she could no longer keep still. Dropping her purse on the floor, she ran towards him.

His arms were suddenly full of affectionate slayer. Strong tanned legs were wrapped around his waist, and she was peppering kisses all over his face. She was babbling in his ear, but he heard nothing.

All he could do was feel.

Her warm strong body held him tightly in its grip. The scent of her, so strong now she was so close, brought tears to his eyes. She had missed him almost as much as he had missed her. He knew that now, even though Dawn had tried to tell him earlier that evening. Her mouth was on his neck as she made her way to his jaw. Closer and closer to his lips her mouth moved. Turning his head slightly to accept her kiss, he felt bereft when she was pulled from his arms.

“Leave him alone, Buffy” Dawn spoke with authority. “You can’t kiss Spike.”

Struggling in her sister’s grip, Buffy looked at Dawn in wonder. “Why not?”

“’Cos he’s got something to tell you.” Turning a sarcastic smile on Spike, she continued. “Don’t you, Spike?”