Disclaimer: I don’t own anything. I merely borrow it to entertain myself and hopefully everyone else. Please don’t sue me.

 

            Author’s note: This is the sequel to ‘Never Say Never’. A couple people asked me if I would continue it and maybe show what everyone’s reactions were to the news of Buffy and Spike together. So, here it is. Hope you like what I’ve done with the place. Oh, and on a side note, I had a couple inquiries about why I didn’t mention Angel and his gang’s reaction to Buffy’s return, and the answer is simply cause I didn’t wanna go there. I love Angel but I’m a B/S shipper to the core, so I didn’t want to delve into that. So let’s just pretend that they all know she’s back and were suitably shocked and happy.

 

           

 

                                                                   Confronting Destiny

 

 

 

 

            Buffy had been back in the land of the living now for five months. It had been nearly three months since she and Spike had finally gotten together, and still she couldn’t bring herself to tell everyone.

 

            Giles knew her feelings ever since the day they talked at the magic shop about the prophecy, but yet she had not spoken to him about it since. She figured he knew, but neither of them wanted to talk about it. And she knew that he had made no mention of their conversation or the prophecy to any of her friends.

 

            The only thing he had asked her was if she was happy. She had smiled at him and told him that she was. He seemed satisfied with that, and didn’t ask for any details. He had figured she was a grown woman now, and certainly didn’t need him meddling in her personal life. If she needed something from him, she would ask.

 

            Xander had tried to get her to spill on several occasions. She always avoided his indirect questions, until he finally gave up and figured that it was all in his head. Everything seemed normal, so he just figured that Anya and he had jumped to some crazy conclusions. At least he hoped so. Somewhere deep down he didn’t even want to know.

 

            Dawn of course knew everything. She was happy for them. She knew that Spike was at their house all the time and she wasn’t so naive that she didn’t know what went on after she was supposed to be asleep. But she was cool with it. She liked having him around. To her, they were like a little family. But she knew that Buffy hadn’t told anyone so she kept quiet.

 

            Tonight, Buffy and Dawn sat on their couch trying to figure out what to do with their evening.

 

            “Maybe we could go play mini golf or something?” Dawn proposed.

 

            “Hmm…Maybe. Or we could go to a movie or something?” Buffy said indecisively.

 

            “I guess.” Dawn said, unenthused.

 

            They heard a knock at the door and Dawn got up.

 

            “I’ll get it.” She told Buffy.

 

            She opened it up and saw Spike standing there. She smiled wide at him.

 

            “Hey. Come in. We were just getting ready to go out.” She told him.

 

            He walked into the room and saw Buffy sitting in a chair with the newspaper looking at movie show times. She glanced up and smiled, then went back to reading. He walked over to where she was sitting and put his arms around her from behind.

 

            “What so interesting, Luv?” He said into her ear.

 

            “I’m just trying to figure out what movie to see.” She said absently.

 

            He kissed her neck and worked his way around to her lips and she laughed and pushed him away.

 

            “Give it a rest, loverboy. I’m trying to concentrate. Besides, my sister’s virgin eyes are watching.” She teased him.

 

            Dawn rolled her eyes and plopped down on the couch. Spike shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. He went and sat down next to Dawn.

 

            “So is this just a sister thing, or is there room for one more?” He asked.

 

            “I don’t know. Do you wanna go?” Buffy asked, looking up at him.

 

            “Wouldn’t mind.” He said pretending to be uninterested. The truth was, he could barely stand to be away from her at all, so any excuse to spend time with her was fine with him.

 

            “Yeah, Spike. Come with us. It’s always way more fun when you’re there.” Dawn said happily.

 

            “Hey! I’m fun.” Buffy said pouting at Dawn.

 

            “Sure you are, Luv.” Spike said sarcastically.

 

            Buffy rolled her eyes.

 

            They finally agreed on a movie and Buffy went to get her coat. She grabbed her keys.

 

            “Let’s go. I wanna eat something before we go. I’m starved.” She told them.

 

            Spike got up and took the car keys from her.

 

            “I’ll drive.” He told her.

 

            “I can drive, Spike. I’ve been practicing.” She told him irritated. She had finally broken down and gotten a drivers license. Now that she was the head of the house, she figured she better learn to drive. But she was still not that good at it yet.

 

            “I’ve seen you drive, pet. We’d all like to get to the movie in one piece.” He teased her.

 

            Dawn started laughing and Buffy gave her an icy stare. Finally she sighed.

 

            “Fine. Drive.” She said as they walked out the door.

 

            Spike put his arm around Buffy and opened the door for her. She hopped into the car and Dawn got in the back. They started off on their mock family outing.

 

            Buffy couldn’t believe how bizarre her life was now. She and Spike were together of all things. And she was actually happy. He treated her better than any normal guy probably ever would. He adored her sister and Dawn was crazy about him. For the first time ever, she actually felt at peace with her life. She then wondered why she found the need to keep her happiness a secret.

 

            She knew that she needed to tell everyone, but somehow she just couldn’t bring herself to let the world in on her secret. She figured that her friends would figure things out eventually, if they hadn’t already. But until then, she just wasn’t ready to share.

 

            “Do you want to go to McDonald’s or something?” Dawn asked, as they drove towards the movie theater.

 

            “Sure. Greasy burgers actually sound good.” Buffy said.

 

            Spike pulled the car into the fast food joint and they all got out. They walked inside and stood in line.

 

            “What do you girls want? I’ll buy.” Spike said to them pulling some money out of his pocket.

 

            “You’re buying? Where’d you get money?” Buffy asked him with a smile. “On second thought, I probably don’t want to know, do I?”

 

            “Relax, I didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re thinkin’. I earned it.” He told her with a smirk.

 

            “Earned it? Did you get a job at the Gas & Sip or something?” Buffy teased him.

 

            “Very funny. No. I hustled a little pool.” He said proudly.

 

            Buffy groaned.

 

            “See, told you I didn’t want to know.” She smiled. “Just get me a cheeseburger. I’m gonna get a table.” She told him as she went to sit down.

 

            Dawn gave him her order and sat down with Buffy. Spike brought their food and they sat around talking and eating. Dawn began to tell a story.

 

            “So, I opened the door, and he was like naked and stuff and I screamed.” Dawn laughed, telling her story.

 

            “It wasn’t funny. I didn’t even know you were home.” Spike said, looking down at the table. He couldn’t believe Dawn was telling Buffy this humiliating bit of information.

 

            “Wait, you saw him naked? When was this?” Buffy said completely floored at her sister’s candor.

 

            “The other day…” She said trying to contain her laughter.

 

            “What were you doing standing around naked in my house?” Buffy asked him.

 

            “I wasn’t standing around. I had just taken a shower. If you remember, I got stuck at your house all day on a count of you keeping me up all night.” He told her with a smirk.

 

            Buffy punched his arm and gave him a dirty look.

 

            “Hey! It wasn’t my fault! Besides, she didn’t even bother to knock.” Spike said, trying to defend himself, but he couldn’t help but laugh.

 

            Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes at him.

 

            “Come on guys, let me finish the story. This is the funniest part.” Dawn said with a huge grin. “So I saw him right? And I screamed and he like freaked out and grabbed that plant that’s in the bathroom and put it in front of himself and yelled at me. ‘Close the bloody door!’ It was hilarious, and then I started laughing and he was just standing there all mad and embarrassed. Oh and he was still naked.” Dawn said with tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.

 

            Buffy tried to keep a straight face, but soon dissolved into laughter of her own, thinking about the vampire standing there wearing nothing but a potted plant. Spike sat there watching the two sisters laughing at his expense. He was irritated but also amused. He couldn’t help but love seeing Buffy laugh. There had been far too many times he had seen her crying, and to see her laughing, even if it was at him, made him smile.

 

            Just then, Xander walked into the restaurant. He heard the laughter right away and looked over to see Dawn, Buffy, and Spike sitting there obviously amused at something. He instantly became annoyed that Spike was sitting there all cozy with the two of them. He walked over to their table.

 

            “Hey guys. What’s so funny?” He asked.

 

            Buffy immediately stopped laughing and looked up at Xander.

 

            “Oh, hey Xander.” She said trying to act calmly.

 

            “You guys grabbing a bite to eat?” He asked, staring directly at Spike, who only smiled at him.

 

            “Yeah.” Spike said with a smirk.

 

            “Hmm…I didn’t know they served McBlood here.” Xander said sarcastically.

 

            “Shut up, Xander.” Buffy told him abruptly. She knew that there was no way Xander would ever accept Spike in her life.

 

            “Yeah, Xander it’s cool. Spike paid and everything.” Dawn chimed in with a smile.

 

            “Whoa! Big spender.” He said dripping sarcasm as he looked at Spike.

 

            “Stop it. Xander, just lay off. It’s no big deal. We were done anyway.” Buffy said getting up. She just wished that for once Xander would lay off the insults. She knew that it was just because he was trying to protect her, but she didn’t like it.

 

            They all got up to leave and Xander pulled Buffy aside.

 

            “What’s going on, Buff?” He asked her pointedly.

 

            “Nothing. He just stopped by the house when me and Dawn were getting ready to leave. She invited him to come along. That’s it. You know how she is.” Buffy tried to make excuses.

 

            “You could have said no.” He told her.

 

            “It’s not that big of a deal, really.” She said trying to calm him down.

 

            “Fine. If you say so.” He said, not knowing what to believe.

 

            “I do say so.” She said looking at him seriously.

 

            He watched her walk outside and get into her car. He noticed that Spike was behind the wheel and he shook his head. Something is going on…He said to himself.

 

 

 

 

            After the movie was over they went back to the house. Buffy had been preoccupied all evening and Spike knew she wasn’t even paying attention to the movie at all. Dawn went upstairs and left them alone in the living room.

 

            He moved over to her and pulled her into his arms. She leaned up and kissed him softly. She snuggled into his embrace.

 

            “What’s wrong?” He asked her.

 

            “Nothing…It’s just…I don’t know. Xander made me mad.” She told him.

 

            “Forget about him. I know I did.” He told her as he stroked her hair.

 

            “I can’t.” She pouted. “We should go out and do a patrol or something. I think killing something evil might give me a happy.” She said with a small smile.

 

            He leaned down and kissed her then he whispered in her ear.

 

            “I can give you a happy.” He said suggestively.

 

            She shoved him away playfully.

 

            “You can do that later.” She smiled. “But for now, I need to kill something.”

 

            “Whatever you say. Let’s go.” He smiled at her.

 

            Buffy went upstairs to say goodnight to Dawn and tell her they were going out. She came back downstairs with some stakes in her hand and tossed two of them to Spike. He shoved them in his pockets and they headed out.

 

            They walked slowly together through one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries. They weren’t talking but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, they had become so comfortable with each other that words were no longer necessary.

 

            “Come on. There has to be something evil out here tonight.” Buffy said, noticing the absence of vampires lurking about.

 

            “Something’ll turn up. It always does.” He told her looking around. Just then, he spotted a group of three vampires lurking behind a large grave marker. “Speak of the devil…” He said pointing in their direction.

 

            They walked over to where they were standing and Buffy cleared her throat loudly.

 

            “Hey! Is this a private party or can anyone join?” She asked them.

 

            The vampires growled at her and lunged forward. The game was on. Spike took two of them and Buffy was busy with the other one. Punches flew and Spike had one of his two dusted almost immediately.

 

            The one Buffy was fighting was huge. She silently thought he must have been some kind of football player or something. He was giving her a run for her money, but she was okay with that. Sometimes it wasn’t as much fun if they were too easy to kill.

 

            Buffy kicked at him and he went down to the ground she bent down with her stake poised and he lunged up at her and knocked her backwards. She elbowed him in the face and shoved him away from her as she bounced back to her feet. He grabbed her and picked her up over his head and tossed her into a tree.

 

            She hit the tree hard and was momentarily stunned. She shook it off and got back to her feet. He went to punch her again but she blocked it. The vampire backhanded her across the face and she whirled around. He moved quickly and grabbed her from behind pinning her against the tree. She struggled to break free and she could feel his face too close to her neck.

 

            Spike saw what was happening and quickly dusted the other vampire and ran over to Buffy.

 

            “Hey!” He shouted at the vampire, who was licking his lips in anticipation of biting into Buffy. The vampire turned his head to look.

 

            “Yeah, you. What do you think you’re doing, mate?” Spike asked him with an irritated smirk.

 

            The vampire looked at him dumbfounded.

 

            “Get out of here.” He growled at Spike.

 

Buffy struggled to get out of the vampires grasp, but the way he had her arms pinned, she couldn’t move.

 

            “No. I don’t think so. See, that’s my Slayer you’re about to eat, and you know, nobody gets to eat her except me.” Spike said with a wicked grin, knowing his statement could be taken one of two ways.

 

            Buffy groaned at his little play on words.

 

            “Spike, I could do without the sharing of intimate details. Why do you have to do that?” She sighed loudly, still pinned to the tree.

 

            “Sorry, Luv. Didn’t mean to make you blush.” He said to her.

 

            The vampire stood there listening to their conversation, momentarily forgetting about why he was there in the first place.

 

            “Can we kill him already? He looks like he’s starting to get bored.” Buffy said glancing over her shoulder at the confused vampire.

 

            Spike moved forward quickly and the vampire released Buffy in order to defend himself from Spike’s attack. Buffy whirled around and plunged her stake into his back exploding him into dust. She brushed herself off and stared at Spike who stood there watching with a satisfied grin.

 

            “Feel better now?” He asked her.

 

            She sighed and rolled her eyes at him.

 

            “Let’s go home.” She told him.

 

            As they walked, she looked over at him sternly.

 

            “Why did you do that?” She asked.

 

            “Why’d I do what?”

 

            “Stand there and brag while he was gonna bite me. Why didn’t you just kill him?” She asked irritated.

 

            “It was more fun this way. I distracted him didn’t I?” He laughed.

 

            “Sometimes I hate you.” She said crossing her arms angrily.

 

            “No you don’t.” He told her with a smirk as he stopped and pulled her in for a kiss.

 

They stood under the moonlight, kissing each other greedily. Whenever he was with her, he couldn’t contain himself. Especially after watching her fight. For him, there was no bigger turn on than that. She was so strong and perfect. Every move she made was like poetry. He couldn’t help but brag that he knew her intimately. He was proud of it and her.

 

            “Let’s go.” She said pulling away from him. She didn’t want to start anything they couldn’t finish out here in the graveyard. No other guy made her as mad and as excited as he did. It was that fine line between love and hate that fueled their desire for each other.

 

 

            They walked into her house and he immediately grabbed her again. His lips were on her throat and she moaned softly. He  pulled her jacket off roughly and tossed it aside. She peeled off his duster and threw it along with hers into the corner.

 

            She kissed him hard and frantically. He let a low growl escape from his throat.

 

            “Shh…” She whispered to him. “Dawn might not be asleep yet.”

 

            “It’s after one, I’m sure she’s fast asleep.” He said continuing to kiss her.

 

            Buffy melted into his arms and he moved and pushed her hard against the door. She jumped up and wrapped her legs around his waist and he grabbed her and carried her to the stairs. They stumbled and fell onto the stairway.

 

            She started to laugh but he soon silenced her with his mouth. She felt his tongue searching her mouth and all she wanted was for him to take her right there on the stairs. She had to control herself. She pushed him off her roughly, but with desire in her eyes. He returned her fiery gaze. She grabbed his hand and yanked him up the stairs with her. He followed her readily into her room.

 

            He shut the door behind them quickly and locked it. He ripped his shirt off and grabbed her again forcefully. They fell onto the bed. She felt herself actually aching for him. All he had to do was look at her with those eyes and she was ready. She felt his tongue running across her neck and she moaned.

 

            He pulled her shirt off and began kissing his way down her bare stomach. He looked up at her seductively. She closed her eyes tightly as he removed the rest of her clothes. He grabbed her thighs and looked up at her hungrily.

 

            “Nobody except me.” He purred to her as he continued his downward decent of her body until his mouth found what it was seeking.

 

            “Oh…Spike.” She moaned his name and shuddered at the feel of his cool mouth meeting her warmth. Nobody but you, Spike… She thought to herself.

 

 

            Afterwards, they lay completely spent amidst the rumpled bedcovers. Buffy was out of breath and Spike lay back completely contented.

 

            “Is it just me, or does that just keep getting better?” She said with a tired smile.

 

            “Oh, it gets better.” He said rolling over to kiss her again.

 

            She pushed him away playfully.

 

            “Stop! Aren’t you tired yet?” She teased him.

 

            “No. Are you?” He whispered as he nibbled her ear.

 

            “Never…” She said softly curling up into his arms and sighing happily.

 

            He glanced at the clock and noticed that it was nearly three-thirty. He’d have to leave her soon or else he’d be stuck at her place again all day. And after the last time with Dawn walking in on him, he wasn’t too keen on the idea of a repeat performance.

 

            “As much as I’d like to give it another go, I should leave soon. If I fall asleep now, I’ll never get up before sunrise.” He said softly, not wanting to leave her.

 

            “Well, sleep wasn’t what I had in mind.” She said kissing her way across his bare chest.

 

            He sighed happily at the feel of her lips on his skin.

 

            “But still…I should go.” He told her regrettably.

 

            “No. Stay. I want you to be here when I wake up.” She pouted.

 

            “But you heard what happened last time, pet. I don’t want to corrupt your baby sis with my manly nakedness again.” He said with a laugh.

 

            “So lock the door.” She protested.

 

            “What if someone else comes by, huh? I know you don’t want any of your friends to know our torrid little secret.” He told her.

 

            “That’s easy. Just don’t answer the door.” She told him.

 

            He sighed and kissed the top of her head.

 

            “You know, Luv. As fun as it is sneaking around …Are you ever gonna go public with this?” He asked, a little hurt that she felt so ashamed by him that she wouldn’t even tell her best friends.

 

            She sighed and shook her head.

 

            “I don’t know. I mean, I know it’s stupid. I think Xander already knows something, but I just can’t bring myself to make an announcement or anything. I made such a big deal out of hating you, it feels kinda weird to tell them the truth now.” She tried to explain. “Besides, I kinda like living in this nice little plastic bubble where no one will tell me that I’m crazy.”

 

            “You’re not crazy.”

 

            “Yes I am. We both are. But I don’t care.” She said, kissing him softly. “I don’t care… but they will.”

 

            Spike thought about what she was saying. Part of him was a little wounded by the secrecy, but he also was a little afraid for everyone to know too.

 

            “Maybe you’re right. We shouldn’t tell them.” He said to her.

 

            She sat up and looked at him.

 

            “You want me to lie to them forever?” She asked him surprised.

 

            “I don’t know. You’re the one who said you didn’t want to tell. I was just agreeing with you.” He said, wondering why she suddenly seemed agitated.

 

            “I know, but I thought you wanted to tell them. You were supposed to convince me that it’s the right thing to do.” She explained to him.

 

            He sighed and rolled his eyes at her.

 

            “Buffy…You’re relying on me to tell you the right thing to do? Look who you’re talking to.” He said to her with a smirk.

 

            She laid back down next to him.

 

            “Good point. Still…I just don’t know what to do.” She said desperately.

 

            “Look. It’s not so bad sneaking around. Maybe I’m not as eager as I thought to get this whole thing out there. What if they’re angry? What if they lock you in a room and lecture you until you finally relent and change your mind about me?” He told her, suddenly hating the idea. “You’re mine and I don’t want anyone to take you from me.” He said possessively.

 

            She looked up at him.

 

            “Don’t get all caveman on me, Spike. I’m not going anywhere. No matter what anyone says. I know who you really are. They don’t. And if they don’t like it, then…Well, they’ll just have to deal with it.” She said trying to comfort his fears.

 

            “So then we’ll tell them?” He asked, feeling slightly more confident.

 

            Buffy thought for a moment and shrugged.

 

            “Eventually…” She said softly, still not wanting to face the music just yet.

 

 

 

           

            Two weeks went by and still she hadn’t managed to confront her friends. She didn’t know why she was being this way. Maybe if she just told them about the prophecy they’d understand better? She highly doubted it. Maybe she should talk to Giles again? She knew that he knew there was something going on, but talking to him about personal stuff was still uncomfortable.

 

            She sat at a table at the Magic Box alone lost in thought. Willow walked in and sat down next to her.

 

            “Hey.” Willow said to her with a smile.

 

            “Hey, Will. What’s up?” Buffy asked, forcing herself out of her inner turmoil.

 

            “Not too much. Did Giles tell you that there’s supposed to be some new demons on the loose?”

 

            Buffy had heard about it when she arrived at the store earlier. Giles was in the back searching for some book that had information they needed.

 

            “Yeah. Something big and nasty, into world domination. You know, the usual.” Buffy said with a sigh. She wasn’t really in the mood for a big battle right now.

 

            “Is something wrong, Buffy? You seem kinda blah today.” Willow asked, with concern.

 

            “I’m fine…It’s just…” Buffy started, wanting badly to tell her best friend what was going on. “Never mind. It’s not important.”

 

            “Come on. You can tell me. It’s me, Willow. You know, best friends and stuff?” Willow urged her.

 

            Buffy looked at her smiling friend and instantly felt horrible for lying to her for so long.

 

            “Okay. There’s something I really have to tell you.” Buffy said looking at her seriously.

 

            “Okay. This sounds important. I-I’m all ears.” Willow said expectantly.

 

            Just then, Giles came out from the back room carrying an armload full of books. He walked over and dumped them onto the table in front of the two girls.

 

            “I think I may have found something of importance here.” He said, completely oblivious that he had interrupted Buffy’s true confessions time.

 

            “Oh, joy.” Buffy said with feigned enthusiasm.

 

            Willow noticed Buffy’s fallen expression and knew that there was something she wanted to tell her. She looked up at Giles.

 

            “Um, can this wait a sec? Buffy and I were sorta girl talkin’.” She said kind of nervously.

 

            “No, Will. It’s okay. It can wait.” Buffy said, suddenly glad for the reprieve.

 

            Giles looked at the both of them, then continued on with his information.

 

            “It seems that this sort of demon is called a Klambach demon. They have the power of telekinesis.” He explained.

 

            “Clambake demons? With telekinesis? Are they gonna hurl clams at us or something?”  Buffy asked sarcastically.

 

“Not clambake, Klambach.” He reiterated, rolling his eyes at her.

 

“Oh. So what else does it say?”

 

            “They tend to travel in groups of five. It seems that they were spotted near a clearing in the woods only last night. They can be quite dangerous, as they have no need to be in actual physical contact with a person to do harm.” He explained.

 

            “So should we assemble the troops?” Willow asked.

 

            “I think it would be a good idea to quell their plans before they can do any damage.” Giles said, looking at them seriously.

 

            “I’ll call Tara. Maybe we can use some of the spells we’ve been working on.” Willow said getting up.

 

            “Should you get Spike?” Giles asked Buffy still curious about the nature of their relationship.

 

            “Yeah. I’ll go get him. It’s almost sundown, so we’ll be back here after dark.” She said getting up to go.

 

            “What about Dawn? Is she at home?” He asked.

 

            “She’s at a friends house, so she should be fine.” Buffy told him, as she walked out the door.

 

            Buffy went to Spike’s place and walked in. He was sitting in his chair reading a book. He put it down when he heard her come in. He turned his head to watch her walk over. Her gloomy mood improved the instant she saw him smile at her.

 

            “Hello Cutie.” He said to her with a smile.

 

            “Hello yourself.” She said as she sat down in his lap giving him a long lingering kiss.

 

            She pulled back and smiled at him.

 

            “Is that a stake in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?” She teased him as she felt her thigh pressing against something hard.

 

            He laughed at her and purred into her ear.

 

            “Actually that is a stake.” He said, reaching down and pulling the piece of wood out of the chair and tossing it aside. “You’ll have to reach a little lower, if you wanna see how glad I am to see you.” He kissed her again.

 

            She silently wished that she could just stay there forever with him, but she suddenly remembered she had a reason for coming over, and it wasn’t this unfortunately.

 

            “Spike, stop. I’m here on business.” She finally told him.

 

            He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

 

            “What’s up?” He asked her, trying not to go crazy at her sitting on his lap.

 

            She got up and stood in front of him.

 

            “Klambach demons. Have you heard of them?” She asked.

 

            “Yeah. Interesting bunch. They can move things with their minds.” He said to her.

 

            She was always surprised that he knew so much about everything. Giles needed to sift through piles of books and Spike already knew.

 

            “Well, they’re visiting our fine town, so I guess we have to send the welcome wagon to greet them.” She told him.

 

            “I’m ready.” He said getting up and pulling his jacket on.

 

            “Everyone is back at the shop waiting.” She told him as they walked out of his crypt. He put his arm around her and she leaned into him. They walked back slowly.

 

 

 

 

            They were the last ones to arrive back at the shop. They walked in and everyone was sitting around discussing a plan of action. They looked up when they heard them enter.

 

            “Good. You’re back.” Giles said, looking up from his books.

 

            “Do we know how to kill them yet?” Buffy asked hopefully.

 

            “Well it seems that good old fashioned beheading works nicely.” Xander chimed in.

 

            “Yes, that and stabbing them through the heart.” Giles said wiping his glasses.

 

            “Sounds a lot like you, doesn’t it, vampire boy?” Xander said looking at Spike.

 

            Spike looked at him with a smirk.

 

            “Well, I’d venture a guess that you’d die right quick like that as well. Shall we test that theory?” Spike said to him evilly. He was just tired of the boy’s incessant remarks.

 

            “Stop it you two. You’re like a couple of preschoolers.” Willow said standing between them.

 

            “What’ll we use? Swords? Chinese stars?” Buffy asked sarcastically, trying to plan her attack while ignoring Xander and Spike’s death threats to each other.

 

            “Swords would be first choice.” Giles said to her.

 

            They all went and retrieved a barrage of weapons from the back of the store. Everyone had their own little arsenal packed into a bag.

           

            They headed out to the area by the woods that the demons were supposedly spotted the night before. They got to spot and saw nothing at first.

 

            “Maybe we should split up?” Spike said to them.

 

            “Good idea.” Buffy said to him.

 

            “Are you sure we should split up? We aren’t entirely sure what we’re up against here, Buff.” Xander said to her uneasily.

 

            “Well, we won’t know anything unless we find them. I’d say if you find them, hold onto your weapons tightly because they might use their Jedi mind tricks to snatch it out of your hands.” Buffy told him.

 

            “Okay.” He said apprehensively.

 

            “If you find something, yell.” She said to him. “Spike and I will head this way, Will and Tara, try the north side, and you three go west.” She said handing out her orders.

 

            Everyone took off in opposite directions. Spike looked at Buffy with a smile. She looked over at him.

 

            “What?” She said, noticing the amused look on his face.

           

            “Nothing. It’s just, have I ever told you how incredibly sexy you are when you’re ordering people around?” He said with a seductive grin.

 

            She rolled her eyes.

 

            “Spike, now’s not the time for pillow talk. We have some nasties to hunt down, remember?” She scolded him, but inside she was smiling.

 

            He sighed and kept walking.

 

            They soon stumbled onto the right path. They looked down and saw odd shaped footprints in the dirt. Spike pointed them out to Buffy. She nodded her head and they followed the prints.

 

            They came to a clearing where a fire was burning brightly. Around it sat five pasty white demons, with small blue spikes running down their backs. They had short tails that stuck out behind them. They spoke in an unfamiliar demon tongue and appeared to be laughing. They seemed to be having an awfully good time.

 

            “Look’s like we found the mutated Campfire Girl’s.” Buffy muttered to Spike under her breath.

 

            “Jolly bunch, aren’t they? I’m waiting for them to break out into a glaring rendition of Kumbaya.”  Spike said sarcastically.

 

            Buffy tried to stifle her laughter. She couldn’t help but think that these demons didn’t seem very threatening. Just then, one of the demons turned and noticed that they were being watched.

 

            “Uh-oh.” Buffy muttered.

 

            “Come on.” Spike said, grabbing her arm and pulling her out into the open with him. “Let’s get em’.”

 

            The demon who had been sensing them made a high pitched sound that got the other’s attention. They all began to charge in their direction wildly.

 

            The closer the demons got, the larger they appeared. Spike suddenly realized they would most likely lose this battle before it even begun.

 

            “On second thought, now might be a good time to run and get the others.” He said to Buffy grabbing her hand and pulling her along with him.

 

            They ran quickly through the thickening forest. The demons were cackling loudly as they pursued their would be victims. In the opposite directions the others heard the commotion and everyone turned and headed towards the sound.

 

            All at once, everyone managed to converge in the same spot.

 

            “They’re right behind us!” Buffy shouted to the others.

 

            “Get ready!” Spike told everyone.

 

            Everyone pulled their weapons out just as the demons burst through the shrubbery with a loud squeal. The face off began. The demons began attacking from all sides and everyone was trying desperately to hold them off. One of the nasties got a hold of Tara and Willow raised her hand and shouted something in Latin at him. He flew backwards into a tree and Tara scrambled away.

 

            The demon got to his feet and raised his own hands. The sword that Willow was holding flew from her hands and into the deep underbrush at the edge of the forest. He charged at her. Tara saw what was happening and started to panic. She wasn’t really used to being out on the front lines with everyone else. The only reason she came was because Willow had thought their magic would be helpful.

 

            Tara chanted a spell that stopped the demon in its tracks. She ran to him with her sword and stabbed it into his chest awkwardly. He fell down dead. Tara stood back in shock and amazement.

 

            “I-I’ve never killed anything before.” She stammered to Willow who had run up beside her.

 

            “You did great sweetie.” Willow said sweetly before grabbing Tara’s hand and heading over to where the others were still fighting.

 

            Giles and Xander were holding off one of the demons while Anya tried to stay hidden behind a tree. Giles took a swing and almost made a connection when the sword was suddenly yanked from his grasp by an unseen force. Before he could react, Xander and he both were picked up into the air and flung aside by the mind power of the demon.

 

            Buffy and Spike were desperately trying to hold their own. Spike had managed to wound one of them, but not fatally. He was slowing down though. The demon attempted to remove Spike’s weapon, but Spike held onto it tightly. He took a wide swing across the demons neck and he went down.

 

            Spike looked and saw that the Watcher and Xander had been knocked out of the game. Anya had come out from behind the tree and was attempting to take a swing at the demon, but her weapon dropped. The demon lunged forward with claws outstretched and Xander saw his love in danger. He cried out to her.

 

            “Anya! No!” He shouted from the bushes where he was desperately trying to get up. His legs wouldn’t move fast enough.

 

            Spike leapt through the air and stabbed the demon through the back just as he was getting ready to grab Anya. Xander rushed over and grabbed Anya who was badly shaken but okay. He looked at Spike briefly his eyes filled with gratitude. For the briefest moment, a silent respect was conveyed between the two.

 

            “Nice work man.” Xander said softly.

 

            Spike acknowledged him with a nod of his head. They saw another demon coming towards them with Willow and Tara chasing behind him. Willow had started chanting something and the demon turned and flung the two witches away from him with a stroke of his hand. They each crashed into the trees behind them.

 

            Buffy was not having much luck with her demon and Spike saw this. He looked at Xander and Giles, who had finally managed to get up.

 

            “Can you handle this one?” He asked, indicating the demon that was approaching. “I need to help Buffy.”

 

            They nodded their heads and he ran to where Buffy was kicking and punching at her demon. She had no weapon at this point as the demon had ripped it from her grasp just as he had done to all the others. She hadn’t had an opportunity to retrieve it.

 

            The other demon charged at Xander, Giles and Anya. Xander grabbed his sword and held on tightly. The demon tried to yank it from his grasp, but Xander held on. Giles picked up a rock and hurled it at the demon, who quickly knocked it away with his power. The rock hurtled towards Giles who jumped out of the way.

 

            Anya leapt onto the demons back and tried slow him down. He threw her off and she rolled across the ground resting at the foot of a tree. Xander whirled around with his sword and took the demons head off.

 

            The demon that Buffy had been fighting suddenly stopped his assault when he noticed that his brothers were all slain. He turned and ran into the forest.

 

            Buffy stood there surprised for a minute and then she took off running after it. She picked her sword up off the ground as she ran past. Spike ran after her.

 

            Everyone else was trying to regroup and make sure no one was hurt that badly. They all had some cuts and scrapes, not to mention bruises, but nothing serious.

 

            “Where’s Buffy and Spike?” Willow asked, as Xander helped her off the ground.

 

            “I don’t know. I think they’re chasing the last one.” He told her.

 

            Buffy ran as fast as she could but this demon was quick. Finally she caught up to him and he whirled around. With a flick of his wrist, she was sent flying through the air into rock. She hit hard and the wind was knocked out of her. The demon descended on her with his claws outstretched. She swung her sword at him and slashed him across the stomach. He cried out and stumbled back.

 

            She jumped to her feet again, just as Spike had made his way to where she was. She glanced over at the sound of footsteps and the demon took the opportunity to uproot her once more. Her sword dropped to the ground and she flew headfirst into a tree and tumbled down into a shallow ravine.

 

            Spike had seen Buffy hurtle through the air and hit the tree full force. He felt his anger boil over. Spike lunged towards the demon and tackled him to ground. The demon was already weakened from the wound Buffy had inflicted. Spike punched at the demons face and shouted at him.

 

            “You pasty bastard! That was my girl you slammed into that tree.” He yelled at him.

 

He reached over and grabbed Buffy’s discarded sword and with one fell swoop he lopped off the demons head. He dropped his sword and hurried down to the ravine where he saw Buffy disappear to.

 

He looked down and saw her body lying at the bottom of the ravine. She was partially covered by fallen leaves and branches, presumably from her tumble down the incline. She was unconscious and bleeding from a gash in her head.

 

            He instantly felt dizzy at the sight of her body laying there so still. Fear gripped him. Memories and thoughts of the day he had discovered her lifeless body at the construction site filled his head. The scenes looked all too similar and he felt a sob catch in his throat.

 

            He stumbled down the ravine frantically.

 

            “Buffy!” He shouted at her and got no response. “Oh god, no.” He muttered helplessly,  trying to stifle the tears that he felt coming. He couldn’t bear to see her lying there like that. So pale and lifeless.

 

            He ran to her and picked her shoulders up. He cradled her gently in his arms.

 

            “Come on sweetheart, wake up.” He urged her desperately. “I’m not gonna lose you again.” He cried.

 

            He pulled her into his arms and held her. He could feel her heart beating at a steady pace and he smiled. She was alive. He smiled through his tears and he smoothed her hair away from her face. She had blood running down her forehead, and he wiped it away from her eyes.

 

            “Buffy, wake up.” He whispered to her as he kissed her forehead gently. He could taste her blood mixed in with his own tears. She started to stir and then she opened her eyes slowly. She looked up at him.

 

            “Oh…god…What happened?” She asked him, still disoriented.

 

            “That nasty bugger threw you into a tree. Don’t worry Luv, I chopped his head off.” He told her with a smile. He was so relieved that she was alright. When he had first seen her, he feared the worst. To lose her again, especially now, would be the end of him.

 

            “Are you crying, Spike?” She asked curiously, touching his face.

           

            He suddenly became self conscious of the tears that had fallen involuntarily. He wiped them away and looked into her eyes.

 

            “I…I thought you were dead again. When I saw you… You were just laying there, not moving…” He said to her softly.

 

            “Oh Spike…” She said her heart aching for him. She touched his face and wiped the remaining tears away. She kissed him gently. “I’m not that easy to kill, remember?” She said trying to lighten the mood a bit.

 

            “I love you Buffy. I can’t ever lose you. Not again.” He told her seriously.

 

            “You won’t. We still have a coming darkness to fight together, and that’s not for a couple of years.” She told him, indicating the prophecy. She still hadn’t mentioned to him the role he would play, but maybe later she would.

 

            He smiled at her and kissed her gently, trying not to hurt her. She wrapped her arms around him tightly and deepened the kiss.

 

           

 

            The others had gone into the woods trying to find out where Buffy and Spike had disappeared to. They had come across the headless demon and the bloody sword that lay on the ground. They stood at the edge of the ravine now and looked on as Buffy and Spike continued kissing each other.

 

            Xander’s mouth opened in shock and he shook his head. He looked at everyone else.

 

            “Do you see that? I see that. Oh, how I wish I hadn’t seen that.” He said, his worst fears being confirmed. “I knew something was going on.” He told everyone.

 

            Willow nodded her head.

 

            “I-I see that.” She said softly. “B-Buffy said she had something to tell me before, but we never had the chance. I-I think I know what it was now.” She said quietly.

 

            “Giles, aren’t you gonna say anything? Your Slayer is down there making kissy face with another vampire. Go stop it or something.” Xander told him.

 

            “I already knew.” Giles said quietly.

 

            “What? And you didn’t say anything?” Xander could hardly believe his ears.

 

            Giles merely looked at him and said nothing. Xander shook his head and called out to them at the bottom of the ravine.

 

            “Hey! You can stop that any time now!” He shouted down to them.

 

            Buffy and Spike jerked away from each other abruptly and looked up at everyone standing above gaping at them. They had been so lost in the moment they hadn’t noticed anyone approach and were too far down to hear the hushed tones of their conversation.

 

            Buffy’s mouth hung open in shock. She was busted and she knew it. She looked at Spike and sighed.

 

            “Guess the cat’s out of the bag, huh?” She said sheepishly.

 

            He smiled at her and kissed her again, not caring if everyone was watching. He pulled away and grabbed her hand. He pulled her to her feet and put his arm around her to steady her. They climbed back up to the top together.

 

            Everyone stood there staring at them waiting for some sort of explanation, except for Giles who already knew.

 

            Buffy looked at them sheepishly.

 

            “Uh…surprise?” She said meekly.

 

            “Buffy…” Xander started to say but she held up her hand.

 

            “Let’s just get out of here. I need some aspirin.” She said, not wanting to get into this out in the middle of the woods. “I have a feeling this headache is going to get worse.” She mumbled under breath.

 

            They all walked out of the woods and back to the magic shop.

 

 

 

           

            The long walk was spent in silence and the silence remained once they all entered the shop. Buffy knew there was bound to be a million prying questions and she wasn’t really feeling up to it now. Her head was splitting from the impact of the tree. She held a small cloth to her forehead where she had a small cut.

 

            “So, we did okay, right? Five dead demons. Not too bad for a nights work” Buffy said to everyone, desperately trying to prolong any unpleasant confrontation.

 

            “Yeah. A few bruises all around, no big.” Willow said trying to be cheerful. “How’s your head, Buffy?”

 

            “I’ll live. You don’t happen to have any aspirin do you?” She asked her friend.

 

            “In my purse. I’ll go get it.” She said with a smile getting up to retrieve her bag and a glass of water.

 

            Xander paced around, occasionally glaring at Spike who lounged casually in a chair next to Buffy. Xander was livid and confused. He didn’t understand why it bothered him so much. Buffy was a big girl, she could make her own decisions. He just didn’t understand why she always made such bad ones when it came to love.

 

            She was a Slayer. A vampire Slayer to be exact. He couldn’t for the life of him figure out how or why she could fall for not one but two vampires. It was insane. At least Angel had a soul, but even that didn’t endear the tortured vamp to Xander. He still hated him. A bloodsucker was a bloodsucker, no matter how tortured or chipped they might be.

 

            You’re just jealous because she never wanted you. He scolded himself. She’d rather be with something dead, than with you…

 

            Time and again, she preferred a vampire over him. That was what really got to him. He had been crazy for her and she never saw him that way. He treated her with kindness and love. He had wanted to be the one for her so badly, but she never even saw him. Instead she chose Angel, now she was with Spike. It was maddening.

 

            Stop it! Listen to yourself, man. You love Anya. Anya loves you. You’re gonna marry Anya. You’ve been over Buffy for a long time. He cursed himself. But you still love her…

 

            Finally he could stand the inner dialog no longer and he finally spoke.

 

            “So are we just gonna pretend that nothing happened tonight?” He asked exasperated. Everyone else was mindlessly chit chatting about the demons and anything else except what they all wanted to say.

 

            Buffy looked up at Xander and sighed.

 

            “What do you want me to say, Xander?” She said looking at him with tired eyes.

 

            “How about telling us what the hell you’re thinking? I mean, how long has…whatever this is, been going on?” He asked gesturing to her and Spike with a disgusted look.

 

            “Not long.” She said softly.

 

            “Three months.” Spike said at the same time.

 

            Buffy glared at him and he shrugged.

 

            “Three months?” Xander asked incredulously.

 

            “I told you Xander. Remember, the bed hair?” Anya said to him, remembering their odd encounter with Buffy months ago.

 

            Xander gave her an annoyed look and everyone else stared at her not knowing what she was talking about. She noticed their looks.

 

            “An, just be quiet.” Xander said sharply to her.

 

            “Fine.” She said getting huffy.

 

            “Look, it’s my life and I really want you guys to be okay with this, but if you’re not, then there isn’t anything I can do.” Buffy said defeated. She couldn’t even begin to explain this to them knowing they wouldn’t understand.

 

            Willow stood up and went over to Buffy. She put her hand on her shoulder and smiled at her.

 

            “Buffy…Are you happy?” She asked her friend sincerely.

 

            “Yes. I really am.” She told her.

 

            “Then we’re happy.” She said looking at everyone else with her resolve face.

 

 She didn’t want Buffy to feel like everyone was judging her. Willow knew that it must have been tearing Buffy up that she had felt the need to lie to them about this. She knew that Spike was different now and she knew how much he loved Buffy. Willow was still a bit concerned, but she had to have faith that Buffy knew what she was doing.

 

            Everyone except Xander nodded their heads in reluctant agreement. When Willow got her resolve face, no one was going to argue with her. Xander looked at everyone nodding and being supportive and he felt sick. He threw his hands in the air.

 

            “Fine. You know what? I need some air.” He said agitated as he walked out the back door.

 

            Buffy looked at everyone and sighed. She felt like she was at the Inquisition and she hated it. She saw everyone trying to be happy, but she knew they were only pretending for her sake. And Xander? There was no way he was ever going to come around on this one.

 

Spike touched her arm and looked at her trying to convey comfort to her with his eyes. He wanted to reach out and hold her but he didn’t. He figured it would make her even more uncomfortable. He was ready to just grab Buffy and walk out of there, never to look back. Who needed these people if this was how they were gonna act? At least the witch had been kind to her. Willow was always trying to smooth things over. But Xander? That bloke was hard headed and narrow minded. Spike couldn’t stand him.

 

“Maybe we should go?” He said to her softly.

 

“No” She shook her head. “I need to talk to Xander.”

 

“Forget him. He’s a jackass.” He told her, his irritation apparent.

 

“I can’t.” She said softly as she got up to go outside to where Xander was.

 

Once she was outside, Spike sat at the table feeling all eyes on him. He shifted uncomfortably and looked at the prying eyes of her friends staring him down. He rolled his eyes and sighed.

 

“You all know I love her. I’m not gonna hurt her, if that’s what you’re thinking.” He said defensively.

 

Giles watched in silence as the vampire tried to defend himself from the cold stares of everyone else. He felt the apprehension that everyone else felt, but he also knew the depth of the connection between Buffy and Spike. He knew about the prophecy. He wanted to tell the others, but figured it best not to. If Buffy wanted to share, she would.

 

“We know you love her, Spike.” Giles said uncomfortably.

 

“Well, then what’s the bloody problem? Is it so strange that she might love me too?” He asked seriously.

 

“Well sorta. I mean, she always said she hated you, so yeah, it is a little strange.” Willow said softly trying to understand.

 

“That was a long time ago. Things change. I’ve changed. Or haven’t I done enough to prove that bloody point yet?” He said exasperated by these people.

 

“I think you’ve changed.” Anya said cheerfully.

 

Everyone turned to look at her strangely.

 

“Well, he has. I mean, he’s not so bad. He helps us out, he doesn’t kill people anymore. I for one think it’s nice that he and Buffy are in love. I mean, how can love ever be a bad thing?” She asked with a big smile.

 

“Thank you.” Spike smiled at her. Finally someone with a decent attitude.

 

“You think it’s ‘nice’?” Willow asked her with a startled expression.

 

“Yes. I mean, doesn’t he deserve a chance? Who cares what he did in the past? Shouldn’t we judge him by what he does now? I was a vengeance demon for over a thousand years and Xander still loves me.” She said pointedly.

 

“Well, that’s a whole other matter.” Willow sighed. “Still, you’re human now, Spike isn’t.”

 

“So what?” She asked defensively.

 

“Yeah, so what? Would that automatically make me worthy? Is that it? I love her and I treat her better than any stupid human would. Don’t you remember soldier boy? Maybe you don’t, seeing as how he ran out of town in the dark of night, like a fool breaking her heart. Cheating on her with vampire whores then running away. Yeah, he was a real prize. Wish I could be more like him.” Spike said snidely.

 

Nobody knew what to say to that one. He had a point.

 

“I’d never do that to her. Never. Hell, even Angel ran off on her. I seem to be the only one who hasn’t abandoned her. And yet you bloody people still hate me.” He said shaking his head. He stood up, and tried to calm himself down. “I’m gonna go have a smoke.” He said to no one in particular as he stormed out the front door.

 

 

Meanwhile, Xander and Buffy stood in the back alley staring at each other and not saying anything. Buffy finally broke the tension.

 

“Look, I know you don’t understand, but you’re just gonna have to trust me.” She finally said.

 

“Buffy, I do trust you. It’s him I don’t trust.” He complained to her.

 

“Well, I trust him. Hasn’t he proved himself to you yet? I mean if you can’t admit that he’s changed then you’re lying to yourself. And I should know. I was queen of  denial for a long time myself.” She said pointedly.

 

“But how can he change, Buffy? He’s a demon. They don’t change. Just because he helps us and he has a chip in his head, doesn’t mean he’s okay.” Xander told her with confusion on his face. “He doesn’t deserve you.” He added softly.

 

“Well, maybe not. Who knows? But I love him…”

 

“No. Don’t say that. How could you love him?” He said with contempt.

 

“I do love him. I-I don’t know how or why, but I do. Believe me, this wasn’t just some thing I rushed into. I fought with myself for months over it. Maybe even longer than that. It didn’t happen overnight. Every bit of trust I have in him, he earned it. You know it and I know it.” She tried to defend her choices.

 

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Buffy. That’s all. Remember what happened with Angel? You thought he was okay too, and then ‘Bam!’ suddenly he turns on you and starts terrorizing you and trying to kill your friends. What if that happens again, huh? What if Spike’s chip stops working? Do you honestly think that he won’t come after you again?” Xander said trying to hammer his point home.

 

Buffy looked at him seriously and shook her head.

 

“He wouldn’t and  you know that. Dawn told me what it was like for him when I died. You were there. You must have seen it too. That kind of pain…You think he’d actually kill me after that?” She asked him sincerely.

 

Xander looked at her and his hard face softened slightly. He did remember the way Spike had broken down. How completely hopeless he had been.  He hated even thinking about that. Everyone’s grief was so raw including his own. She had a point, and Xander knew he couldn’t deny it.

 

“Buff…” He sighed unsure what else to say. “Okay. So maybe he wouldn’t do that. But I still don’t like this.”

 

“I know. Why do you think I didn’t want to tell you guys? I knew you would freak. But I just want you to be happy for me, because I am happy. I know you think it’s weird, and I did too at first. But it’s real and it’s happening.” She told him hoping he would at least agree to be supportive to her. He didn’t have to like it or like Spike, but she wanted his support.

 

“Be careful, Buffy.” He told her, moving to her and placing his hands on her shoulders. “Guard your heart.” He said softly, finally relenting to her. He cared for her too much to alienate her from his life. He knew had to accept it or he would lose her.

 

She smiled at him and shook her head.

 

“No. No more guarding my heart. I did that with Riley, remember? He ran away. I’m through being cautious and withdrawn. I’m through shutting my feelings off, just because I’m afraid.” She said to him with a peaceful smile. “Someone once told me that I was full of love and the only way I’d lose it is if I rejected it. They told me to love, give, forgive. Risk the pain.” She told him remembering the words of the First Slayer. “That’s what I’m doing. Risking the pain. And you know what? So far so good.”

 

He looked at her and noticed her peaceful look. He couldn’t deny that she seemed to be happy. He wanted to deny it, but her face told a different story. He sighed and pulled her into his arms and hugged her.

 

“I love you, Buff. You know that. I only want what’s best for you.” He told her earnestly. “If this is what you want, then I’m not gonna stop you.”

 

“Thank you, Xander.” Buffy said squeezing him tightly, then letting him go. “Can we go back inside?”

 

“Okay.” He said with a smile. He put his hand on her back and followed her.

 

He stopped for a moment.

 

“Uh, Buffy? This doesn’t mean I have to be nice to him, does it?” He asked her jokingly.

 

“Just try not to kill each other.” She said with a small laugh. “I’m rather fond of both of you.”

 

They walked back inside.

           

 

           

 

            Spike stood out front of the store and smoked nervously. Part of him was relieved that the secrecy was over. But the other part, remained irritated by the reactions of her friends. It wasn’t as if he was expecting everyone to throw confetti and cheer for them, but it still made him livid to think that after all he had done to prove himself, it wasn’t enough.

 

            He’d never be good enough in their eyes. And maybe they were right. He knew he wasn’t exactly Prince Charming. They loved Buffy and wanted her to have the best. He knew he wasn’t it. But he was too selfish to let her go. He may not be a good man, or a man at all, but everything he had, every ounce of love and devotion he possessed, was hers.

 

            He stomped out his cigarette and contemplated just taking off and going home. But then he realized that he wasn’t leaving this place unless Buffy was with him. He wasn’t going to leave her there alone to be interrogated. This was his business too.

 

            Just then, the door to the shop opened and Giles stepped outside. Spike looked over at him and sighed. He braced himself for the Watcher’s fatherly threats to come spilling out.

 

            “We need to talk, Spike.” Giles said, uncomfortably.

 

            “Look, what else do you want me to say? I know she’s like a daughter to you. All I can tell you is that I love her and I promise to take good care of her.” He said, tiring of discussing the matter.

 

            “I know you will.” Giles said softly.

 

            Spike looked at him in disbelief. He was ready for an argument and wasn’t prepared for the Watcher to agree with him.

 

            “What?” Spike asked.

 

            “I said, I know you will take care of her.” He told him taking his glasses off and nervously wiping them. “She’s your responsibility now. It’s your duty…Your destiny, actually.” He said to him calmly.

 

            “My what?” Spike asked, completely baffled by this turn of events.

 

            “Didn’t Buffy mention the prophecy to you?” He asked seriously.

 

            “Prophecy? You mean the one that explained Buffy’s return from the netherworld?” He asked curiously.

 

            “Well, yes. But did she tell you the rest of it?”

 

            “Guess not, cause I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. My destiny?” Spike asked bewildered.

 

            “I thought she would have told you.” Giles said, shaking his head. He looked up at Spike. “Spike, this prophecy spoke of a need for balance between good and evil. A dark warrior forging an alliance with the light. It said that love would cement that bond.” He tried to explain.

 

            “Okay…” Spike said utterly confused. “What’s that got to do with me?”

 

            “Well, it’s about you. And Buffy. You were meant to join with her, to fight alongside her during the coming darkness. You two are the balance between darkness and light. You are meant to be her partner; her protector if you will.” He told him sincerely.

 

            Spike looked at him incredulously. He started laughing nervously.

 

            “What? Her protector? Are you sure they were talking about me?” He said through his laughter. He knew this business wasn’t funny, but it struck him as hilarious. He couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it.

 

            “Spike, do stop laughing. I’m very serious. The two of you are extremely important to the future of this world. The prophecy was very specific. Love would bring you two together and out of that love, would be borne the strength to defeat this darkness that they speak of.” Giles said, wishing suddenly that he hadn’t said anything. It was clear he wasn’t going to take this notion seriously. Giles cursed himself, realizing that this was most likely why Buffy had not told him.

 

            Spike contemplated what he was saying to him. He was important to the future of the world? That in itself was laughable. He was a vampire, for god’s sake. But the Watcher had been so serious. Spike began to wonder if there was any truth to what he was saying.

 

            “So you’re trying to tell me that Buffy and I are some sort of super team out to save the world?” He asked seriously.

 

            “Something like that.” Giles said, scratching his head. “You see Spike, Buffy is not just any ordinary Slayer. And you? Well, you certainly aren’t a text book case vampire. I mean your ability to have real human emotions and to show a loyalty to human beings…Well, it’s unusual to say the least. Do you remember what I asked you after you had gotten that chip of yours?”

 

            Spike looked at him and sighed.

 

            “You asked if I thought there was a higher purpose for me being all neutered like that.” Spike said, remembering the conversation that he had abruptly put an end to.

 

            Giles was taken aback that Spike actually remembered.

 

            “Well, yes. You remembered that?”

 

            “Yeah. I was listening. Thought you’d completely flipped your lid, but I was listening.” Spike told him, trying to absorb the information that he was receiving.

 

            “Well then, it seems that maybe I wasn’t that far off in that assumption. It seems that perhaps you do have a reason for being here. Other than to annoy us.” Giles added with a smile.

 

            Spike looked at him and a smile crept to his face.

 

            “But see, I’m good at that. Saving the world? That’s Buffy’s thing. I’m just along for the ride, you know? Gotta keep her happy.” Spike told him.

 

            “I know. But the point is, you still have that desire. A desire to save the world, even if your motives are purely for her benefit. Your love for her is your guide. That’s what the prophecy stated. So even though I wouldn’t go so far as to say that you are ‘good’, you are not an entirely evil being. She balances you out, and you do the same for her.” Giles explained to him.

 

            Spike took what he was saying to heart. He knew that he was different from other vampires. He just tried to talk big and act like he was the baddest in the land. Deep down he knew that that time in his life was over. He was no longer the vampire he once was. He’d known that for a long time. The instant he saw Buffy for the first time, he realized that nothing for him would ever be the same.

 

            He had felt it, even then. Of course, at the time, he figured his fixation on her only had to do with his desire to kill her. He knew he couldn’t get her out of his head, but he didn’t know why. Drusilla had known why, even before he did.

 

Everything was starting to make sense now. It was almost comforting to think that he had some purpose in this life. After he had been chipped, he simply wandered around. Unable to kill and live the way he had done for over a hundred years. He had nothing to fight for. He didn’t fit into anyone’s world. He was lost. He had clung to Buffy and her friends out of desperation. Now, he knew why he had been compelled to turn to them.

 

Spike thought for a long while then he looked at Giles.

 

“So, I’ve got this destiny, huh? Who woulda thought?” He smiled, trying to get used to the sound of it.

 

“It would seem so.” Giles told him, feeling some relief that Spike was becoming more accepting of the news.

 

“Well, as long as my so called ‘destiny’ includes Buffy, I’m all for it.” Spike smiled.

 

            “Yes, well…That’s good to know.” Giles said unsure of what else he could say.

 

“So does this mean that you approve of me and Buffy?” He asked with a smile.

 

Giles sighed and rubbed his eyes.

 

“Well, it’s not as if I would have chosen this for her. I’d much rather see her settle down with a nice bloke, preferably of the human variety. Maybe get married and have a family one day. That’s what she deserves, Spike. But, realistically, I know that that sort of life is not for Buffy.” He said with resignation in his voice.

 

“I make her happy.” Spike said softly.

 

“I see that. But don’t think that I won’t still be watching you. You may have a purpose, but that doesn’t mean I like any of this, or you. You have a path to follow, and I intend to ensure that you follow it. I love Buffy, and if you ever hurt her in any way, I will stake you. Destiny or not.” Giles said gravely.

 

“Don’t worry, Rupert. If I hurt her, I’ll stake myself.” He said to him dead serious.

 

Giles took his statement to heart and nodded his head. Spike opened the door and went back inside.

 

 

 

 

            When Spike and Giles re-entered the store, they found Buffy and Xander already inside. Spike looked over at them standing with the others. He saw that the boy had a smile on his face and Buffy was laughing at something. He smiled at the sight. He had expected to see Buffy in tears, or at least yelling. He hoped it was a good sign that all seemed to have calmed down.

 

            Buffy looked over at them as they came in. She wondered what Spike and Giles had been talking about. She motioned Spike to come over to where they were standing and he cautiously made his approach.

 

            “So, is everything okay?” He addressed Buffy as he stood next to her amidst her friends.

 

            “It’s okay.” She said softly.

 

            Spike looked at Xander who was staring at him.

 

            “So, you finally come around, mate?” Spike asked him curiously.

 

            “No, Spike. I didn’t. But if Buffy wants this, then I’m not standing in the way. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Xander told him with a cold stare.

 

            “Suit yourself.” Spike said indifferently, as he put his arm around Buffy and leaned into her.

 

            “Can we go now?” He whispered into her ear.

 

            He noted the uncomfortable glances all around at his small display of affection. He hoped that they’d get over that soon, cause now that they knew, he wasn’t about to stop touching her just because they were around.

 

            Buffy looked up at him and nodded her head.

 

            “Yeah. I’m tired anyway. My head still hurts.” She pouted.

 

            “Want me to kiss it and make it better?” Spike asked with a smirk, as he looked at her friends wanting to see their reactions. Some mild disgust, rolling of the eyes, just what he expected, he laughed to himself.

 

            “Okay.” She said with a little smile.

 

            He kissed the top of her forehead gently.

 

            “Will you guys just go already? I could do without the visuals.” Xander told them with a grimace.

 

            Buffy smiled at them and sighed.

 

            “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” She told them as Spike led her out the shop.

 

            Everyone stared after them and stood silently for a moment trying to absorb everything that had just happened. Everyone was still reeling from the news and trying to make sense of it all.

 

            “They make a really attractive couple, don’t you think?” Anya asked cheerfully.

 

            Everyone turned and looked at her with odd expressions. She merely shrugged and continued smiling.

 

 

 

            Buffy and Spike walked slowly to her house. They weren’t speaking, but he had his arm around her. Each of them consumed by their own thoughts. Spike was still numbed by the information that Giles had given him and the fact that Buffy knew about it and didn’t tell him. He wasn’t sure why she had kept it from him, unless she thought he couldn’t handle it.

 

            Buffy was still thinking about her friends and how they had reacted to her unexpected news. Willow had been supportive, but skeptical. Buffy knew that she could count on her to understand at least. Anya had come up to her later and hugged her saying that she was very happy for her. Buffy had been surprised, but had welcomed the support. Xander and she had reached an understanding.

 

            She knew all along that he would be the hardest to convince. She also knew that he was the most protective of her aside from Giles. And Giles had already given his silent approval months ago. She knew that it was a strange situation, but given time, they’d all get used to it. It wasn’t as if Spike hadn’t already been hanging around for years. Now he would still be there, he’d just be Buffy’s boyfriend now.

 

            She smiled at that thought and how weird it sounded. Spike was her boyfriend? Somehow it just sounded lame. He was hardly a boy at hundred and twenty something years old. Soul mate? Well, technically he didn’t have a soul, so that wouldn’t work. Maybe he could be her partner? No, too business like. Lover? No, definitely not. The gang would barf if she referred to him as that. She guessed she just have to go with boyfriend, she smiled to herself.

 

            They reached her front door and he looked at her.

 

            “You want me to come in?” He asked.

 

            “Yeah.” She said softly.

 

            She opened the door and they stepped inside. She shrugged off her jacket and threw it on the couch. She kicked off her shoes and turned to face him.

 

            “I need to take a shower. I feel all icky.” She said making a face. She still had dried blood on her forehead and she thought she may even still have some stray leaves in her hair from her tumble into the ravine.

 

            “Want me to wait here?” He asked, unsure if her statement was an invitation or not.

 

            “You can wait in my room.” She smiled.

 

            He followed her upstairs and kissed her cheek as they parted ways. He went to her room and flipped the light on. He took off his own shoes and jacket and made himself comfortable on her bed.

 

            After a long, hot shower, Buffy ambled back into her room wearing a fluffy bathrobe and drying her hair. She saw Spike waiting patiently on her bed and she smiled at him. She went to her mirror and started to comb out her hair.

 

            He watched her intently. He couldn’t believe that such a beautiful creature belonged to him. The way she moved, the way she laughed…Everything was perfect. And she loved him. Tonight she had stood up to her friends, the people she loved more than anything, and defended him. He didn’t deserve her, but he didn’t care. She was his and he’d never let her go.

 

            He stood up and walked behind her. She examined her face in the mirror, trying to see how deep the cut was and he bent down to kiss her cheek. She was startled as his reflection had not presented itself in her mirror. She turned around and faced him.

 

            “You scared me.” She laughed.

 

            “Nice to know I haven’t completely lost my touch.” He teased her. Then he pulled her into his arms and began kissing her.

 

            He gently pushed her back and leaned her against her dresser. He loved the way her wet hair gently brushed against his face. He inhaled the clean fresh scent of her shampoo and he freshly scrubbed skin.

 

            He ran his hands down her back as his mouth continued searching hers. He cupped his hands under her bottom and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he turned around and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently.

 

            He looked into her eyes and he smiled. He saw love in those eyes. Love for him. He was nothing but a monster and she loved him anyway. It was all so wrong, yet somehow it was perfectly right. He was supposed to love her. At least, that was what the Watcher had told him.

 

            “I love you.” He told her softly.

 

            “I love you too.” She told him and meant it.

 

            He pressed his lips to hers again and gently undid the belt on her robe. He pulled it open and stared down at her smooth, perfect body. He sighed a contented sigh as he ran his hands over her form and she closed her eyes with pleasure at his touch.

 

            She reached up to him and pulled his shirt off. She ran her fingers over his muscled chest and pulled him back down to greet her hungry lips. His mouth broke free of hers and soon he was trailing kisses down her neck. He was aching badly for her and he fumbled with the zipper on his jeans. He soon broke free from them and tossed them aside.

 

            She looked into his eyes and saw the hunger he had for her and she felt her heart race. She needed him. She knew that now. It was as if he was the other half of herself. The perfect balance… He made her feel the way no one else ever had. She clutched at him and pulled him back down to her. He made the intimate connection that they both were so desperate for and she cried out softly. The way their bodies fit together it was as if they were made for each other. And maybe they were… She thought to herself.

 

            Afterwards, Spike lay back with Buffy’s head on his chest. Her damp hair fanned across his chest as she held onto him tightly. He stroked the top of her head.

 

            “Spike?” Buffy asked him sleepily.

 

            “What is it, pet?” He asked her.

 

            “Do you believe in destiny?” She asked him curiously. She wanted to tell him about their connection, their shared destiny, but she wasn’t sure how to approach it.

 

            He smiled to himself wondering if she was finally going to tell him what he already knew.

 

            “Why sort of question is that?”  He asked, stringing her along

 

            “ I don’t know. I mean, I only ask because…Well, it’s just that, you and me…You ever think there’s a reason why we’re together? I mean, it’s not exactly a likely combination considering the fact that we’re natural enemies and all that.” She tried to explain herself, but ended up rambling on.

 

            “I don’t know. What do you think?” He asked her, curious of her response.

 

            “I think there’s a reason. I mean, isn’t there a reason for everything?”

 

            “I suppose so.” He told her softly.

 

            “We make a good team, I guess, don’t we?” She asked hopefully.

 

            He smiled down at her and lifted her chin to look at him.

 

            “I think that you and I…Together we create a perfect balance.” He said with a smirk.

 

            She was surprised at the terms he used to describe them and she looked at him quizzically.

 

            “Perfect balance?” She asked him curiously.

 

            He noted her reaction and smiled at her.

 

            “Yes, Luv. Don’t you think?” He asked her as she stared at him.

 

            She suddenly realized that this was what Giles had been talking to him about outside the shop tonight.

 

            “You know, don’t you?” She asked him.

 

            He sighed and kissed her forehead.

 

            “The prophecy? Yes, I know. I heard all about it from Giles. Why didn’t you tell me I had some great purpose in this world, huh? Didn’t think I could take it?” He asked curiously.

 

            She sat up and pulled the sheets around her.

 

            “No. I just didn’t know what you’d think. I mean, I didn’t know what to think when I heard it either. I’m used to this destiny junk, you know, Chosen One and all that? But you?” She said in defense of her choice to keep this secret.

 

            “Well, Luv, guess it’s more like Chosen Two now, isn’t it?” He smirked at her. “You should have told me, you know?”

 

            “I didn’t want to. I didn’t think you’d understand.” She told him, getting defensive.

 

            “Didn’t think I’d understand what? That this was meant to be? I’d been trying to tell you that all along and you were too stubborn to listen to me.” He said, remembering all the times he had desperately tried to convince her that there was something between them and she had vehemently denied it.

 

            “I’m not stubborn. I just didn’t like you.” She said crossing her arms irritated.

 

            “You’re not stubborn? You are the most inflexible person I’ve ever met, and I’ve met quite a lot of people.” He told her getting huffy.

 

            “Well, if I’m so insufferable then what are you doing here anyway?” She asked him grumpily.

 

            He frowned at her and then his lips formed a smile. He started to laugh at her.

 

            “What’s so funny?” She asked him irritated.

 

            “You.” He said with a laugh.

 

            “Oh great. Not only am I annoyingly inflexible apparently I’m also something to be laughed it.” She said throwing her head back in exasperation and jumping off the bed angrily.

 

            He grabbed her arm and pulled her back down to him. She glared at him.

 

            “Buffy…I love you. That’s why I’m here. You know that.” He said to her sincerely.

 

            She softened her glare and sighed.

           

            “You’re no picnic to be around either, you know?” She told him with a half smile.

 

            He started to laugh again and she rolled her eyes at him.

 

            “Now what?” She asked.

 

            “Luv, if you and I are the greatest hopes for this world, then I fear for them.” He said with a chuckle.

 

            She looked at him and started laughing herself. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. After their laughter subsided, Buffy sighed and snuggled in closer to him.

 

            “You never answered my question before.” She said softly to him.

 

            “Which question? I kinda got distracted by your tantrum.” He teased her.

 

            She looked up at him and gave him a hard look. He leaned forward and softened it with a kiss. He pulled back and sighed.

 

            “ You mean ‘do I believe in destiny’?” He asked.

 

            “Yes.”

 

            “I do now.” He said softly as he pulled her close to him.

 

            They held each other tight. No matter how wrong they were for each other, nothing could stop this. Not meddling concerned friends, not their consciences, not even the fact that it was impossible for them to have a conversation without arguing. It was bigger than them both. They were just going sit back and let it unfold before them.

 

           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Redefining Normal...

 

 

           

Feedback is Appreciated!