Chapter 3

“I have to say, pet, your watcher took the news better than I thought. Was a bit flummoxed at first—” Spike took note of the Slayer’s preoccupation and bit back the rest of what he was going to say. Instead, he tried to bolster her spirits – a first for him. He placed his hands on her shoulders then waited until she looked at him. “Chin up, love. Watcher’ll suss this out. He’s probably knee deep in his dusty tomes right now trying to find a way to mojo Angelus’ soul back.” 

She sighed, but neither agreed nor disagreed. 

“Slayer?” 

“Do you think we should, Spike? I mean, he was cursed with a soul. I just… it doesn’t seem right.” 

“It’s either that, or we stake the bastard. Angelus wasn’t kidding about ending the world. Dru, she’s a bit batty, and whatever she did to get rid of the soul, it’s affected his mind. He’s… changed. Loonier than Dru ever hoped of being.” 

It was the reason why Spike had come to Sunnydale in the first place. The things Angelus had done to him, while Drusilla had looked on, dancing around the two of them like it was all just a game, the agony he’d been put through— 

No. 

Spike mentally shook his head. 

There was just no way that the vampire who had done what he had bore any resemblance to his sire. Angelus would have never beaten him within an inch of his life, the sheets so stained with Spike’s blood it was a wonder he had had any of it left inside his body. Then to leave him there, too weak to feed. Too weak to move away from the curtain-free window that would have seen him dust come the sunrise. Thankfully, a faithful minion had braved Angelus’ wrath and secreted Spike away once he had left to make time with Drusilla. 

Even now, the horror of what he’d endured was enough for him to want to put his fist through something, and made him lean towards staking rather than re-souling. 

But, in this, the Slayer’s watcher appeared adamant, though he was clueless as to why. 

Spike would give the man a few days to find a spell, but if Angelus arrived in town before that happened, then all bets were off. 

Letting Angelus roam around unfettered on the Hellmouth for any length of time was just inviting trouble… and not the fun kind either. 

“How do we know this spell will work? What’s to stop Drusilla from doing whatever she did again?” 

Spike just shrugged, then pulled the Slayer into his arms when she sighed again, shoulders slumping dejectedly. They stayed like that for the longest time – Spike’s arms wrapped around the Slayer’s back, her head resting against his chest – until the porch light came on and the front door opened. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

“Buffy?” 

“Mom!” 

Buffy jerked out of Spike’s arms and looked guiltily at her mother. She knew she was in trouble at the look she got in return. The arms crossed over her chest as her mom waited for an explanation also tipped her off. 

“Who’s your friend?” 

There was no mistaking the emphasis on “friend” – by either of them. 

Buffy’s jaw dropped comically when Spike stepped forward and held out his hand, and in a voice far too Giles-like for her liking said, “William. William Pratt, Mrs. Summers. I’m a friend of your daughter.” 

“I see.” Her voice was stiff, but she grudgingly took his hand in hers. 

“Anyway, we’ve just come round from her watcher’s. Wanted to make sure Buffy got home alright. Lots of nasties out late at night and I couldn’t, in good conscience, leave her to fend for herself.” 

“You know Rupert?” 

Buffy just knew that Spike struggling not to laugh, though not a hint of it showed on his face; she wanted to kick him. 

“We’re… acquainted.” 

“Uh huh.” 

Spike was treated to the patented fierce scowl of mothers the world over with dateable daughters, before she turned away and addressed Buffy. “It’s getting late, Buffy, and you have school tomorrow. Don’t stay out here all night.” 

Buffy nodded and smiled until the door shut and her mom moved off towards the back of the house. Then she turned and smacked Spike’s chest with the back of her hand. 

“William Pratt? An acquaintance? And what’s with the Giles-speak?” 

“Wot? I’m just being polite, pet. I can do polite when the situation warrants.” 

This time it was Buffy who said, “Uh huh,” affecting the same tone as her mother. “You? Polite? Not hardly.” 

Spike snorted. “Fat lot you know, Slayer. I’ll have you know that once upon a time, I—” 

‘You what?’ Buffy thought when Spike clammed up. 

“You know, you’re right. I’m a bad, rude man.” 

“Vampire,” Buffy interjected. 

“Ta, love. Vampire. And don’t you forget it.” 

Buffy smiled at his disgruntled expression, pressed close and linked her fingers behind his neck. She felt his hands settle on her hips, felt him rub the lower half of his body against her. A moment later, she was pressed up against her front door, and silently gave thanks for having something supportive at her back when Spike nuzzled her overly sensitive neck. 

“Spike,” she whimpered. 

Spike ignored her, naturally, being the evil demon that he was. Melting her resistance to the point she was ready to forget that her mom was probably standing in the kitchen, eyeing the clock to see how long it would be before the door opened. 

She tried to get his attention again, but he was there to silence her with his mouth. His tongue doing things that left her short of breath. Then there were his hands, roaming over every inch of her body, finding their way beneath her shirt to cup her breasts, his thumbs sliding back and forth along the lacy edge of her bra, teasing her. 

“Spike,” she managed to get out in between kisses. “My mom…” 

“Let me in, Slayer,” he murmured against her ear, and Buffy didn’t know if he meant figuratively, or literally. She couldn’t say yes or no, because he reclaimed her lips in a kiss that curled her toes and sent the rational part of her brain on vacation. 

There was nodding, or she thought there was. 

Yes, come in. 

Yes, don’t stop. 

Yes, bite me again, please. 

Whatever you want, Spike. 

Just… please. 

Please don’t stop making me feel like this. 

Abruptly, she was released and it took her a minute to catch up with the fact that Spike had taken a step back, putting some much-needed distance between them. She looked up at him questioningly and blushed when he said, “Mum’s coming. Best be getting’ inside, pet.” 

Buffy nodded and put her hand on the doorknob. Heard the footsteps coming their way stop when she opened the door. 

The dazzling smile Spike gave her when she whispered for him to meet her at her bedroom window made the inevitable scolding she was going to get from her mother worthwhile.

tbc... 

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