Title: Once Were Warriors
Part: #3
Disclaimer: The Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters are the property of Joss Whedon (creator) FOX and Mutant Enemy. Please direct thanx for character development to them.
Rating: M
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Buffy rolled over and was dismayed to find that her floundering arms didn’t connect with anything. Spike was absent and that affected Buffy a little more than she would have liked. She sprang to full consciousness with a start, siting upright scanning the room for her absent saviour and companion for the day which had long since past. She go up and was amazed to find that most of the injuries that she was suffering from the previous night were nearly or completely healed. Spike’s blood was powerful, there was no denying that, and she could still feel it moving through her body. And she liked that feeling, and that disturbed her as well. The truth was that Spike had been playing on her mind ever since the spell, Willow’s ‘thy will be done’ spell. Even though she never admitted it, she liked the feel of Spike’s hands on her flesh and his lips on hers. But she wasn’t falling, not again, not with another vampire. Buffy moved out from under the covers and began inspecting Spike’s new home. She looked round and established that Spike was definitely not there. Buffy found her way to the table and spotted a scribbled note on a torn piece of paper:
‘Needed to make a withdrawal from the blood bank,
Back soon, STAY PUT!
Spike’
“God overprotective much” Buffy said as she surveyed the wreckage. “Well, if I am going to stay here, it may as well be a tidy here I guess” She said as she began to sort through the mess.
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Spike carried the bag of blood and his carton of smokes down the street but detoured at Giles’s street. He knocked on the door and waited for Giles to open it.
“Oh Spike, I must be unaccustomed to you knocking and showing some curtesy” Giles said snidely.
“Watcher I really don’t have time to go a round with you” Spike said as he peered inside. “Everyone’s here again”.
“Yes Buffy’s still missing, Willow said you had some kind of lead on her whereabouts? Did it fall through?”
“No the opposite in fact, look, like I said I don’t have time to chat, I need you to come to my new place tomorrow after sun up”.
“Why?”
“You’ll see when you bloody get there”
“Is it about Buffy?”
“Yeah, I need you expertise with something”
“You mean your lead is human and you need me to come and beat them until they talk”
“No it’s not like that, just come after sunrise, I gotta go”
“Spike, SPIKE” Giles yelled after him, but it was to late, if Spike did hear him, he’d said his piece and he needed to get back to Buffy.
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“What in blue bloody blazes do you think your doing slayer? Slayer. SLAYER!” Spike yelled dumping his bag down on the table surveying the cleanliness of his apartment.
“Cleaning” Buffy said popping her head round the corner and then returning to work.
“Yes I can see that, I’m not bloody blind. But despite what you think it takes more than a pint of my blood and a nights rest for you be back to normal” Spike said moving to were he saw her small head pop round the corner.
“I feel fin…, Spike put me down or I’ll” Buffy struggled as Spike picked her up.
“Oh slayer you’ll what? Hurt me? Promises, promises!”
“No but I’ll scream. Aahhhhrrrr. Grrr let me down”
“God, don’t you ever shut up”
“Spike I mean it…” Buffy was cut off by Spike pressing his lips to Buffy’s silencing her as he got her back on the bed and broke their kiss. Buffy was stunned she stared up at his kind, blue human eyes but said nothing.
“Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to do that?” he asked. “But every time I did it in my head it ended with you beating me till I bled or staking me and you know something, either way I really didn’t really care. I know this’ll probably make your head bigger than it already is, but it was worth it”
“Spike…, yo-ou-you-you”
“Come on luv spit it out”
“You like me?”
“Unfortunately for me, yes, for a very long time. And all this bloody yapping is making me parched I’m going to go get something for us to drink” Spike said as he pushed off the bed and want to retrieve the blood bags. He was unpacking the bag when Buffy walked up behind.
“I don’t understand” Buffy said staring at Spike.
“Cor don’t you ever stay put”
“You know I was never one for following the rules. I don’t understand what your saying, you say you care for me, that you have for a very long time, so why have you tried to kill me at every opportunity you got, and Drucilla…”
“What I felt for Drucilla was a one sided sham, even you could see that. She never felt, not like I could. And as for killing you, that was more… how can I put it. Keeping you on your toes. Trust me luv when I say that if I had of wanted you dead you’d be six feet under” Spike said slowly as he turned to face her.
“And you were going to tell me this when Spike? Huh just when?” Buffy said.
“Well considering you were more or less disgusted with me and then the poof and commando boy…”
“I never said that I was disgusted with you, I may have disapproved with what you did, and ‘the keeping me on my toes’ didn’t help. But, you never disgusted me, actually I always though, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I thought you were a hottie”
“Really now” Spike said as he placed one of his strong hands on her hips and moved in to her. “The secrets of the slayer huh, what would the poof say. I doubt he’s approve of you lusting for his childe”
“I wouldn’t go that far Spike, no matter what’s happened now, I did love Angel and Riley. And circumstances won’t change that.”
“Tell me slayer, what’s happening and what the circumstances are?”
“I am saying that Angel and Riley are in my past, my human past, and they’ll always be there”
“Still not with you”
“I’m saying that ever since that god damn spell of Willow’s I’ve been having feelings for you, and I liked being with you a little more than what I should of”
“And commando boy?”
“I did love him, but not any more. Drucilla?”
“She was a part of my life for centuries, but it was a joke to her, I was always the joke. Never quite normal. Your poof, my sire made sure that I knew all of my short fallings”
Buffy put her hand up on Spike’s chest and let him draw her in to him “Your not a joke to me”
“That’s sweet luv, but I’m not exactly the big bad any more”
“I don’t care, as long as your still Spike and…”
“And…”
“And you kiss me like you did before again”
“I think I can do that with out screwing it up” Spike said he kissed her again. Before he scooped her up without breaking the kiss and took her back to bed for the umpteenth time and barked at her to stay. Buffy smiled and watched Spike walked quickly out of the room and return with two full glasses of blood. He handed the cup to Buffy and watched her stare at in. “I know how it looks luv, and I know you don’t want to but you have to feed” Spike said.
“I know, I know, somehow your neck looked so much better than this” She said before she skulled the contents of the glass. “Ok that wasn’t so bad, but not as nice as yours”
“Well thank you slayer, I believe that was a complement”
“I try” Buffy said before Spike was kissing her again. For quite some time Spike and Buffy talked, Spike told her about his past, stories about when he was a fledgling. And Buffy told him about her life before she was the slayer. They laughed, they cried and they eventually fell asleep in each other’s arms.
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There came a sharp knocking at the door not long after sunrise Spike groaned and rolled out of Buffy’s arms, her only response to the situation was her muttering ‘five more minutes mum’. Spike laughed and moved to his door. “What” Spike barked as he thrust open to find Giles on the other side.
“I believe we have an appointment,” Giles said.
“Oh its you watcher, come in then”
“Don’t put your self out on my account”
“Don’t worry that’ll never happen watcher, that’ll never happen” Spike said as he lead Giles in to his home.
“Well what’s your lead?”
“Oh yeah, um follow me, quietly!” Spike said as he led Giles further in to his apartment. Giles nearly died when he saw Buffy sleeping peacefully in Spike’s bed in Spike’s clothes.
“B-bu-buffy” Giles stuttered. As he looked at her sleeping form. “Why didn’t you just tell me Spike?”
“Because watcher, things aren’t as they seem, Buffy’s been through a change” Spike said as he reached for one of her wrists.
“What kind of change?” Giles asked taking Buffy’s tiny wrist in his hand. Soon after he droped it gently back on to the bed as Buffy began to roll over.
“No-no-no pulse, a vampire?”
“A vampire, a strong one, a strong one with a soul. I found her beaten and starving the night before last. She was scared of what she was Giles, I think she’s got over the worst of it now, but she was and still is ashamed of her change”
“S-spike” Buffy said gently, beginning to wake up. “Spike and Giles. Giles um hi, how are you?”
“Buffy what happened?”
“Funny story actually…” Buffy was cut off but Giles scooping her up in his arms. Their embrace lasted what seems forever. Buffy broke it and said, “you know?”
“Y-yes I know”
“Well at least you didn’t run screaming down the street”
“I would never, even if you didn’t keep your soul, your like my daughter”
“Thanks, I really needed to hear that, um Spike, I’m hungry can you…”
“Get you something while leaving you two alone to talk? Sure” He replied as he crossed the room and kissed her forehead. Buffy smiled and noticed Giles’s surprised expression.
“A lots happened” Buffy said.
“Start at the beginning and we’ll go form there”
“Right, the beginning.” Buffy said, she told how she when to see Riley upon his return. She told him what he said to her. She told him how she when out hunting to take out her frustrations out on some vampires. How more than ten fledglings cornered her. How they beat her. How they feed off her. And eventually how they turned her, and how she escaped. She followed by telling Giles how Spike found her, and how he had cared for her since. Buffy told Giles what had happened with Spike, and the way she was feeling toward him. She told him everything and waited for his reply.
“Are you sure about Spike?” Giles asked her.
“I know it sounds like I’ve lost my marbles…”
“No that’s not what I asked, are YOU sure?”
“Yes! Yes I am sure. I like him Giles and I want to find out the depth of my feelings and possibly how the hell they got there, and Spike, you may as well come in and sit instead of eavesdropping at the door way” Buffy barked.
“You can feel him?” Giles asked.
“Yep, I can feel a lot of things that I couldn’t before. I have a lot more power as a vampire that’s for sure”
“And this is just the start” Spike said, “her powers will only grow, very few slayers are sired and those that are, are kill soon after their turning. But that’s not going to happen here. I wont let it!”
“Thank you Spike for all that you’ve done, and those are words I never thought I’d say” Giles said.
“The pleasure is mine watcher, I’ll take good care of her”
“Um still sitting here” Buffy said raising her hand.
“Sorry luv, how could anyone ever ignore you” Spike replied handing her another glass of blood.
“And what’s that meant to mean?”
“Um watcher, look at the time, don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Spike?” Buffy repeated.
“Oh, oh yes, can you bring her over tonight?”
“Sure can”
“Um Spike?”
“I better see the watcher out, you know courtesy and all” Spike said still ignoring Buffy and again kissing her on the forehead.
“SPIKE”
“You shouldn’t make her mad, she still IS a slayer despite all that’s happened?” Giles said at the door.
“I know, and I am still Spike, the chronic, vampiric, thorn in her side despite all that’s happened”
“Take good care of her” Giles stated.
“Watcher, I will not let anything happen to her, I swear it”
“Good, thank you, you best get back to her”
“Yeah, see you after sunset then”
“I look forward to it” Giles said as he retreated out the door and back up the stairs in to the sunlight. Spike closed the door and returned to his shirty slayer.
“You know your still a pain,” Buffy said as he re-entered the room.
“And would you have it any other way?” Spike asked, “I didn’t think so” he said when he didn’t get a reply. Spike kissed Buffy before crawling behind her on the bed and dragging her down with him.
“What, are you doing now?” Buffy said exasperated.
“Wha’ does it look like? Going back to sleep. After your bloody watcher this morning”
“And why does that mean I have to sleep too?”
“Because I like the feel of you and I promised the watcher I’d keep you safe and sound. And since you are you, and I can’t keep an eye on you while I am asleep, this is the next best thing!”
“You like the feel of me?”
“Yeah pet, I like the way you feel, the way you smell, the way you laugh, the way you yell at me and the way you smile. I like YOU, and I like sleep so I am going to get some more, with you. Makes sense really” Spike said in a drowsy voice.
“You sure know how to flatter a girl well a vampire anyway,” Buffy said, but it was too late, Spike had already fallen asleep and she followed soon after.
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“I don’t want to” Buffy whined.
“Well too bad” Spike spat.
“I’m not going” Buffy said, sitting on Spike’s bed her arms folded against her chest.
“Oh yes you are, and if you wont walk there, I’ll carry you”
“Not all the way, you couldn’t”
“Want to put a wager on it slayer” Spike said as he moved closer to her ready to pick her up.
“Fine” she said standing up and sliding on her jeans. Buffy moved to the door but froze with her hand on the knob. “You’ll stay with me wont you? If I have to go and face my family and friends, you’ll stay wont you?” She asked as she spun to him her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty again.
“Of course I will kitten” Spike said as he took her in his arms. “I’ll only go if you want me gone. Look, I’ll even hold your hand the whole time and everything” He continued taking her hand.
“Ok, if you swear”
“I do luv, now we should get going they worry about you”
“Yeah worry about me” Buffy said thinking that they’d all be worried about the human her.
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“Mr. Giles thank you for calling me, I was frantic. Where’s Buffy? I though you said she was here” Joyce said as Giles lead her in to his house where all of the other scooby’s were seated quietly.
“Yes-yes well she’s on her way. Spike’s bring her, he’s the one that found her” Giles said.
“Wow I bet that one hit you in the hip pocket” Xander said as Joyce sat down.
“Well actually” Giles began saying, as there was a knock at the door “ah that’s them”. Giles when to the door and opened it to see Spike standing in front of him, holding Buffy so she didn’t do a runner.
“You have to invite us in watcher” Spike said quietly motioning to Buffy with his eyes.
“Oh yes by all means come in, both of you” Giles invited. Spike pushed the reluctant slayer through the door and in to the room. All eyes were on her and there was silence, she ducked her head and stared at the floor.
“Buffy” Willow said getting up to greet her “where have you been, we’ve all be so worried about you” she continued.
“Its kinda a long story”
“Are we busy guys?” Willow asked. A ‘no’ echoed from around the room. “I missed you Willow whispered as she began to hug Buffy. Buffy hissed loudly, shifting in to her game face and backing in to the safety she had found in Spike’s strong arms, hiding her face from everyone.
“What is it luv?” Spike asked and he inspected the witch. He saw a silver cross hanging from her neck and understood what had happened. “oh I see” Spike said.
“What? What did I do?” Willow asked putting a hand on Buffy’s shoulder.
“Your cross” Spike said gently, “take it off”.
“What? My cross why?”
“No, she doesn’t have to” Buffy’s muffled voice came from Spike’s chest. She slowly turned to face everyone, her game face still on. “You’ll probably feel safer if you keep it on”
“Rubbish Buffy, your soul is still intact and you know that” Giles said. Willow quickly undid the clasp on her cross and threw it on the table and took Buffy in her arms. Buffy started to sob again but Spike let Willow handle it this time, but he stayed close to her as per her request. Everyone else in the room, even Anya, got up and followed suit. They all sat down after their group hug, Buffy next to Joyce and Spike standing directly behind her. And again she told everyone what had happened, just as she got to the end there was another knock at the door, Giles, having heard the story earlier got up and answered it. It was Riley. He pushed past Giles and straight over to Buffy.
“Buffy are you alright, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it not any of it. I love you” he said to her.
“Back off mate” Spike said putting his game face on.
“Butt out hostile 17, this is none of your business” Riley replied.
“No, I makin it my business” he said walking up to Riley. Spike hit Riley, but didn’t see Riley wind up through the blinding pain in his head. Spike hit the wall and hit hard, he lay still, his eyes closed.
“Spike” Buffy shrieked and shook free of Riley. “Spike, Spike, you didn’t have to do that stupid. I can handle him myself,” she said at his side as she put one of her cool hands on his head.
“I been wanting to do that for ages” Spike stammered through the pain. All eyes now on the unlikely couple.
“What? Fly head first in to a wall?” Buffy said sarcastically as he took her hand.
“No hit that god awful prick,” Spike swore as his eyes re-opened.
“Buffy what’s going on?” Riley asked putting his hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t touch me” Buffy said lowly
“What?” Riley said. Buffy spun round, her game face again on, grabbing Riley by the throat and slamming him up against the wall Spike had just hit.
“I said don’t touch me, and if you hurt Spike ever again, I’ll kill you myself. Get out!” She said throwing him down, and tending the fallen Spike once more.
“But Buffy What happened” Riley stammered.
“She was turned, after you broke up with her she when on the hunt, and she was caught and turned” Willow said.
“What?”
“You heard her buddy, get out!” Xander said.
“You see, times like these you need my powers” Anya stated as Xander escorted Riley to the door and locked him out.
“So Buffy, you and Spike. Who’d of thought” Willow said helping her help Spike to his feet.
“Well honey, personally I think Spike is a fine vampire” Joyce said.
“Thanks Joyce” Spike stuttered as they helped him to a chair. He pulled Buffy down next to him and whispered as Xander began to gripe about the new couple “did you mean it?”
“What?”
“Would have you killed him?”
“If he touches what’s mine again, yes.” Buffy replied.
“Oh possessive much” Spike continued to whisper.
“I think that’s the vampire in me talking”
“What ever it is… I like it!” Spike said and Buffy giggled.
“Buffy, Spike! Why Spike, I mean, your young and a vampire, but young and you could have anyone so WHY SPIKE” Xander continued to whine.
“Arrgghh” Spike moaned and threw his head back.
“What? Are you alright?” Buffy asked.
“It’s going to be a long night” Spike said pointing to Xander who was still talking.
“I mean is it the bad boy thing cause you know I can be bad” Xander said.
“Xander your mine, don’t even think about it” Anya said sternly.
“Of course hun, I was just trying to get to the bottom of Buffy obsession with vampires and why she always is falling in love with one”
“Just lucky I guess” Buffy said looking at Spike and squeezing his hand.
“LUCKY!”