Title: Rough and Tumble (Part 4 of the 'Coming Home' Series)
Author: DivaDelilah (divadelilah@aol.com)
Description: Set after Buffy's return, now becoming a series. Spoilers Season
6
Disclaimer: In short, not mine. Joss/Fox/SandDollar/Mutant Enemy/UPN own all.
Distribution: FFN, Death Marked Love, Willow's Ripper, anything else I okay,
including award sites and various lists. Hell, just tell me where it's going.
Feedback: Mmmmmmmm…feedback. @dr00l@
***********************************************************************
Willow knocked on the front door of Buffy's house tentatively. She and Tara
had spent the night in sleeping bag at the Magic Box, under strict orders from
Anya not to steal anything or touch the money. They had both seen the flash
of light streak of the Bronze last night, and rightly assumed their presence
would not be welcomed in the Summers' home that night. Now she was cranky, sore,
and in need of some clean clothes, but even Willow wasn't dumb enough to assume
Spike and Buffy had made it to the bedroom. Plus, she'd left her keys on the
counter when Buffy said she had hers.
When no one answered, Willow sighed and walked over to the side of the house,
gazing up at Buffy's window, her hand shading her eyes from the blazing sun.
Sure enough, heavy blanket shielded the frame from the midday light. Willow
walked back to the porch and knocked again, more insistently. Damnit, Buffy
drag your well ridden rear end to the door and let me in. I smell like gym mats!
she thought. Tapping her foot, Willow finally decided she'd just open the door
herself. Careful not to tear the door from it hinges, she willed it to open
with her mind. Nothing happened. Oh, I forgot 'the no magick shall breach
this house' spell! Now what do I do?
She sat on the steps, trying to figure out what to do. She could conjure a
lock pick set, but she had no idea how to use it. All the doors and windows
were locked, so no help there. She couldn't remove the spell unless she was
physically in the house, and it would block her from trying to port herself
in. She was screwed. That was all there was to it. Suddenly, a large car cast
a shadow on the curb in front of Willow. She wondered who would be coming to
visit Buffy this early until she saw the blacked out windows. Her eyes widened
comically, and she put her hand over her mouth. Oh, Goddess. It's going to
hit the fan now. She walked over to the car, and opened the door a crack.
Angel peeped out at her from the other side, scooting himself far away from
the rays of light seeping in. "Hi, Willow. I thought Buffy said you and
Tara lived here now. Why are sitting around like you're locked out? And why
do you smell like sweat socks?" he asked, a smile creeping over his dark
face.
Willow had never seen Angel smile like that. Something…or someone…in
LA is good for him, she thought. Pushing that thought away, she tried to
come up with a reasonable excuse for why she had been sitting there locked out.
"Well, uh, I forgot my key," she stammered.
"Isn't anyone else in there like Dawn, or Buffy, or Tara? It's Saturday;
I'd think everyone would be home," he commented, starting to rummage through
his pockets.
"Dawnie's at a friend's house. Tara's, um, at the shop, uh, cleaning with
Anya. And Buffy…she's… she patrolled late and is sleeping with the
dead…like…like the dead!" Inwardly, the witch cringed.
She never could lie very well, and if Angel found out about Spike… She
knew Buffy and Angel had discussed things when they met a week ago, but somehow,
she suspected Buffy sleeping with Spike never came up. And there's no way
that's gonna be okay, even if she and Angel are better off apart. She sneaked
a glance at the vampire, who had just fished something out of his pocket.
"Ah-ha! I knew I still had it on my key ring: a key to Buffy's house.
Now we can go inside before I fry. Hand me that blanket, and I'll wait until
you get the door open and run for it. Okay?"
Numbly, Willow nodded, hoping to anyone that might be listening that Buffy
and Spike weren't laying nude on the carpet of the living room, or anything
equally disastrous. She opened the door slowly, peeking in around the corner
and breathed a sigh of relief when no naked flesh greeted her. "Come on,
Angel," she called loudly, hoping to awaken the sleeping pair. In a flash,
Angel was up the stairs and inside, smoking blanket and all. He dumped the ratty
blanket on the floor, and hugged Willow, who stood in shock. What the hell
is he on? she thought.
"I usually don't like to use the daylight entrance, but I didn't get started
until late, and well, I'm here. You forgot your key, huh? Couldn't you just
zap the door open?" he said, eyes scanning the Summers' household for changes
since his last visit.
"No, I put an anti-magick spell on the house to protect it from other
magick users who might try to hurt Buffy and Dawn. No magick can open it from
the outside, not even me," she replied.
A low growl filled the air, and she looked at Angel in puzzlement. "Willow…"
he began.
Her eyes followed his gaze to the floor by the couch, where most of Buffy's
clothes and some of Spike's were strewn haphazardly. Oh, crap! Why couldn't
Buffy ever pick up her dirty clothes? she moaned to herself. "Oh, yeah,
Buffy's always leaving her stuff laying everywhere. I feel like her mom sometimes,
what with picking up her bras and shirts, and coats…" she trailed
off, noting Spike's duster for the first time.
"Willow, don't lie to me. This isn't all Buffy's. I know her smell. I
can smell who else was here. Where are they?" he said, his game face flashing
at her. "I'm not kidding, Willow! Where?!"
Willow held fast. Angel was just a vampire. She had beaten a Hellgod with her
magick and she'd wrap Angel up if she had to. Never again would something happen
like when Miss Calendar died. And if Buffy loved Spike, well, he counted as
a member of the gang, too. She had to protect him. "I don't know, Angel.
I told you I wasn't here last night. He might have gotten trapped after they
patrolled. He has a cot in the basement," she offered, hoping to placate
the very pissed off vampire.
"I smell…," he ran his hands over his face in agitation. "I
smell sex, Willow. What I want to know is how long?"
"It's none of your business anymore, Angel. You guys are over. You just
had this talk last week; she told me. What does it matter if she's happy with
someone else? Ahhhh!" she squeaked, flailing as he lifted her up by her
shirt.
"It matters who she's with, Willow. With him it matters.
He'd do anything to get me back over Dru. Even hurt Buffy. He tortured me over
the Gem of Amarra, you know," he said, still growling.
"Extricus!" Willow shouted. Suddenly, Angel was propelled across
the room, and she slumped to the ground. When he got up and moved towards her
again, she held her hand up, and her eyes turned black obsidian. "Protector
sphereus!"
A large bubble grew around her, and she smiled wickedly at the befuddled vampire.
Her voice rang out dark and full from the protective circle. "It has been
a long time since you have seen my power, Angel. I kicked Hellgod butt when
she messed with my friends. I advise you not to piss me off." She swirled
her fingers and the bubble disappeared. "I don't know where they are. I'm
not telling you anything. And don't ever attack me again."
His head slumped in defeat. "I'm worried Willow. I overreacted. But I-"
he stopped and sniffed the air, head turned like an animal on the hunt. "Nevermind,"
he said grimly. "I don't need your help anyways." He raced up the
stairs, headed for Buffy's room, where her scent was wafting out into the hall.
"Bind!" Willow said calmly. Angel crashed back down the stairs and
scooted through the hallway to rest in on the couch, unable to move.
He snarled at Willow, who smiled. "I know you don't mean that Angel. But
this really is none of your-"
"What the bloody hell is going on, witch? I'm trying to get a sodding
nap before we have to meet at the shop, and you're down crashing things about
with your mind!" Spike complained loudly, stumbling out of Buffy's room
to the stairway rubbing his eyes. A loud growl filled the hallway, and he blinked,
then squinted down at the couch. "Is that Peaches?"
"Yes," Willow said. "And he can't move. I bound him."
"Well, isn't this interesting," Spike said, grinning. "Suddenly,
I don't feel a bit tired." He clambered down the stairs two at a time and
stood in front of Angel, a grin spreading across his face.
Angel snickered. Then he snorted. Then tears of mirth spilled out of his eyes.
"What are laughing at, you git?" he demanded.
"You. You're standing there threatening me in with untold evil and you're
wearing Scooby Doo boxers!!" Angel shook with each hearty laugh, and Spike
tapped his foot angrily.
"They're the bloody Slayer's and I'll have you know I'm only wearing them
because I didn't want to scare the piss out of the witch by coming down with
my dick flapping about!" he shouted.
That only made Angel laugh harder, and soon Willow joined in. Spike just stood
there fuming, until he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Buffy walked
in wearing a tee shirt that looked suspiciously like one of Spike's, peeked
into the living room.
"What's so funny down here? Spike, why do you look…so..pissed.. oh
my god," Buffy finished, seeing Angel. She ran her fingers over her tousled
'just been fucked' hair, and tugged on the hem of the tee shirt, trying to make
it stretch over her thighs. She looked at Spike, who was wearing her boxers
and a smug grin, and then at Angel. "This is not.. we didn't… See,
Spike and I were patrolling and…"
"Your clothes fell off?" Angel interjected wryly.
"No! We took them off… because this demon…and this slime, ew…
and we had to shower. But not together! So we came here to get cleaned up and…
Spike took too long, so he had to sleep over. In Dawn's room. Cause she wasn't
here," Buffy finished lamely, knowing that had to be the worst lie she'd
ever told.
Angel looked at them one by one, his eyebrows raised in amusement. Willow was
studying the floor intensely. Spike was rolling his eyes, shooting Buffy dirty
looks. Buffy was smiling way too brightly to cover for the horrible lie she'd
just concocted. The whole situation was hilarious. It was like they were on
a bad sitcom and he was the father coming home after a big party. He sighed,
knowing he was going to have to back off and let Buffy learn her own lessons.
"Buffy, I love you, but you are the worst liar I know. Except for Willow.
I don't care whether you and Spike were… cleaning up together or not. I
just want you to be happy."
Buffy looked up, her eyes widening and she ran forward, slamming into him to
give him a big bear hug. When he didn't reciprocate, she looked at him strangely.
"Willow?" he said, giving the redhead a look.
"If you're going to behave, I guess I can let you move," she said
smiling impishly.
He rolled his eyes and hugged Buffy to him. He glared at Spike over her shoulder,
who rolled his eyes back at the older vampire. Buffy smiled, curling up on the
couch next to Angel, and motioned for Spike to come sit on the other side of
her.
Angel smirked when he saw the once great William the Bloody come running like
an excited puppy dog. And he says I'm a poof? "Do you have a leash
yet, Spikey?"
"Bugger off, ponce. I know where my bread is buttered," he replied,
pulling a squealing Buffy onto his lap. "You, on the other hand, are a
poof for no reason whatsoever."
"At least I'm not wearing underwear with a cartoon dog all over it,"
Angel muttered.
"Oh you wear them now?" Spike shot back. "Bout time. If I had
nickel for all the times Darla nearly ripped your dick off getting you out of
leather pants with no knickers on…"
"Shut up, Spike!"
"Both of you shut up!" Willow commanded, a grin teasing the corners
of her mouth. "Why are you here, Angel?"
"Well, it's funny that you should mention Darla…because she showed
up at my door the other night," he began hesitantly.
Spike rolled his eyes. "I know the stories about her and the resurrection.
She still with Dru?" he asked, trying to not to look curious.
Buffy ran her fingers through his hair and chuckled. "It's okay if you
want to know Dru is safe. Even if Angel is an over protective pain in my rear,
I don't want him dead."
"You're the only one then, luv," he said, smirking at Angel's discomfort.
"No. Dru was nowhere to found. However, well, Darla was…"
Spike snorted. "Don't tell me you're sniveling at her heels again, you
sod. That bitch would string you up for a spare set of garters, Angelus. I've
seen her do it,"
"She's pregnant. And it's mine." Three sets of horrified eyes looked
at him accusingly. His shoulders slumped and he ran his hands through his hair
in agitation. "I don't know how it happened, but-"
"Well, I know, you prat. You snogged her. You had to have. The rest of
it is a complete mystery, but at some point, you shagged her into the mattress,
you nonce!" Spike said, his gaze on Buffy's shattered face.
"Spike…" he ground out.
"No! I won't leave it be. Why did you come here? To rub it in to the Slayer?
I thought you two had agreed to quit running to each other every time you had
a problem like bloody characters in Shakespeare! Look at her, mate. Last night,
before we came home, she was so happy even I could feel it, deep in my dead
cold heart. And you've effectively squashed that. Bloody brilliant, you prick!"
"Before you came home? Was she unhappy afterwards because you took too
long?" he grinned, bringing up part of Buffy's awful lie.
"Bugger off. You know what I meant. And she didn't look to unhappy when
she came down, did she?" he replied, sticking his tongue out at the older
vampire, while running a hand over Buffy's tangled locks.
"Um, guys? She's sitting right there," Willow pointed out.
Buffy had been silent throughout the whole exchange. Her mind was replaying
a memory form long ago, where Angel had told her vampires couldn't get people
pregnant. Had he lied to her because she was young and naïve? Or was
it just that the Powers wanted to torture her for not wanting to come back?
"Luv, are you okay? Not going to toss on me, are you? Let me know if you
are; I bloody hate vomit."
"Angel, you told me," she broke off, choking back a sob. "You
told me vampires don't make babies. You lied!" she cried, her voice strangled
with tension.
"Buffy, to my knowledge, I didn't lie. This… this…has never
happened before as far as Wesley and I can tell. We think it's part of a prophecy
because- the baby has a heartbeat…and a soul," he finished quietly.
"Why?! Why does Darla get this? Why does that trendy, twice dead, blonde
bitch get this gift when… when it could have been me…"
Spike snickered.
Buffy whirled on him. "How is this funny, Bleach Boy?"
"Well, you might want to choose your insults a little more carefully next
time," he said, trying not chuckle harder.
She elbowed him in the ribs as hard as she could. "Let me remind you that
while I may have slept with you, I won't sleep with a big pile of dust."
Willow snickered and everyone looked at her. "Well, it was funny! Geez,
wound up much?" When no one paid attention, she decided to go change her
stinky clothes. They didn't need her there, anyways.
"None of this answers why you're here, Peaches. Did you come to bring
invitations to the baby shower?"
Ignoring Spike's jabs, he looked at Buffy. "I came because I-I need your
help. I need you and the gang to try and find out why this happened and what's
going on. We're hitting nothing but dead ends. And if we don't find out something
soon, either something very evil or something very good will be born. We need
to know which beforehand."
"You know Darla was a right bint when she wasn't preggers. Bet she's a
darling now that she's knocked up, huh, Daddy?"
Angel sighed heavily. He had forgotten how annoying Spike could be. "She's
not exactly a ray of sunshine, no. But she is carrying my child. My only chance
to ever be a father. So we have to figure out what's going on. My instincts
tell me that nothing involving my Sire can be good."
Buffy gasped. "This is really hurting you, isn't it? You want it
to be good. You want her to have your baby, don't you?" Her eyes filled
with tears, knowing it was highly unlikely that she would ever get the chance
to have a baby, much less be a mother.
Spike whipped his head around, and pulled the Slayer into his arms. He put
his lips near her ear and murmured so only she could hear. "Slayer, if
a baby's what you want, I'll go to the ends of the earth, to Hell and back,
to figure out how to make it happen for you. Whether it's me or someone else,
I won't let you miss out on anything you want with all your heart. Got it?"
She looked up at him through freshly shedded tears, and nodded. It's funny
how I never noticed how human Spike was until I fell in love with his demon.
"Thank you for saying that," she whispered. She wiped her eyes, and
faced Angel. "We'll help. I'm not sure how we can, but we will. Maybe Willow
and Tara can figure something out magickally, and maybe Giles can hit the books.
Spike and I will go beat on Willy. Wanna come?" she asked, a hint of a
grin flashing across her features.
"Just for old times' sake, I think I will. Imagine the look on his weasly
face when all three of us show up," Angel said, beginning to crack a smile
as well.
"Right then. The Slayer and I will go take a shower and then we can all
go for a bit of the rough and tumble. Sound good?"
Two pairs of eyes looked at him incredulously. Buffy immediately began to stammer.
"But-but we…Spike…Angel can't…"
"Spike, I don't do that anymore…"
When he figured what they were thinking, Spike almost cried with laughter.
"Bloody hell, you two! I meant…I meant we could go beat up the snitch,
not shag each other blind," he said, wiping his eyes. He started up the
stairs. "Heh, that's a good one. Me and Buffy and the Poof..." He
shook his head and headed into the bathroom.
Buffy blushed profusely and got up, backing towards the stairs. "I have
to- Spike and I are gonna… See you a few minutes, Angel!" she blurted
and ran up the stairs.
Angel sighed, shook his head, and went into the kitchen. Maybe Buffy keeps
some blood in fridge for Spike…
Willow peeped her head out of her room, trying not to snort in laughter. "Ha! Buffy, Spike, and Angel in bed together…like all those fragile egos could even fit in one bed!" Giggling to herself, she headed downstairs to let Tara know she could head home.