The Key
By Ripe Wicked Plum

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Glory took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "We don't have that long...and I still don't see my key...would anyone care to explain why the fuck the Slayer ain't TALKING?!"

Dredge flinched, glancing at Jinx, his brethren demon, "Perhaps...most beautous...creamy skinned one...she needs more persuading?"

"I put a hole in her goddamn boyfriend! How much persuading does this dumb bitch need?!" Glory snapped petuantly, "I want my goddamn key!" She stomped her foot, but just enough to make a thudding sound, not wanting to bring her house down around her head like last time.

"Perhaps, O...delightfully slender one, her friends at the Magic Store...could be...taken care of?" Jinx suggested, and Glory smiled beautifully, "That's a good idea...destruction of public property...that's always fun."

She scowled, "Talk to Ben for me...tell him I want to know Summers' weaknesses, all right? I want to know every nitty-gritty piece of dirt on her. Got it?"

"Yes, most fragrant one..."

Glory glared at him, and Jinx stammered, "Rose-fragranted one?"

"Better," She nodded, bad mood alleviated, "Oh! What do you think of this nail color? They call it vixen-red," She held up her toes, wriggling them and Dredge grinned in his kiss-ass manner, "Most colorful and shiny, O Great Glorificus..."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

"So, how was your test?" Willow asked as Buffy unlocked her front door, and Buffy grimaced, "Don't ask," She replied, shuddering, "I think I'm freaking..."

"You'll do better next time," Willow said surely, "You just have to study more."

"Yeah, right," Buffy opened the door, glancing around the empty living room, "That never works."

Willow gave her a stern look, and Buffy smiled sheepishly, "Want something to drink?"

"Sure, coke, if you got it."

Buffy headed into the kitchen as Willow eyed Spike's computer longingly.

Almost immediately, she heard a low growl, and was trapped between the counter and a certain blond vampire. He kissed her hungrily, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, their tongues battling for dominence. He pulled away when she needed to breath, and kissed along her throat and over her collarbone.

"What say you ditch the witch?" He growled against her skin, "I've got a million other things in mind that we could be doing..."

"Spike," Buffy shook her head, rolling her eyes, "Is that all you ever think about?"

"You have to ask?" He grinned mischeviously, and Buffy stuck her tongue out at him, and his grin widened, leaning forward to catch her mouth again, but Willow called from the living room, and Buffy ducked underneath his arms and went to the fridge while Spike gave her an exasperated look. "You trying to kill me, Slayer?"

Buffy snorted as she grabbed a couple cokes, "Yeah, right. If that's the way to finally do you in, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble over the years," She teased, brushing past him to go back to Willow, and Spike sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Christ...stop being her bleeding lapdog, mate...you're just turning into another Peaches."

He shrugged, grinning slightly, at least things can't get worse.

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

"Grunt work...I can't believe she conned me into doing grunt work," Spike grumbled beneath his breath as he carried a huge box filled with heavy books, trying not to trip and fall on his face. Then again, scoring points with the Watcher's always a plus...it'll make him less likely to remove certain parts of my body when he finds out...

Buffy glanced over at Spike from the table, smiling briefly, but it disappeared just as rapidly as she turned back to Xander, answering a question he posed for her.

Spike dropped the box on the counter, then went to stand behind Tara and Willow, listening to their 'meeting.'

"Glory hasn't made a move yet, but eventually, she's bound too," Buffy was saying, "Especially when she figures out she didn't kill Spike."

"Too bad," Xander muttered beneath his breath, and Anya shot Spike an apologetic look before elbowing her boyfriend.

"Xander, shut up," Buffy replied, "If it wasn't for Spike, Dawn would be dead twice-over."

Xander obeyed, but he still shot Spike an antagostic look, which the vampire chose to ignore, "She's stronger then anyone I've faced," Spike volunteered, "And I faced some mean motherfuckers. She's not going to be easy to take down unless we figure out her weakness, besides vanity, a'course."

"What about Ben?" Willow asked, "He doesn't seem evil..."

"Ben," Buffy sighed, "I don't know, Wills, even if he isn't evil, this may be one of those 'expendable' situations. I don't want to hurt Ben, just like you guys don't...but we may have no choice. We can't allow Glory to continue on like this."

"Yeah, I hit the hospital the other day," Xander shook his head, "The mental units are fuller then ever...Glory might summon up the Queller again..."

Spike and Buffy exchanged a look, both shuddering. They both definitatly didn't want to have to take out another one of those hideous space demons.

Dawn looked up from her perusal of books that Spike had deemed safe to look at, "I'm her weakness..."

"Yeah, but we're not using you to get to her," Spike answered right away, shooting her a stern look, "In no way are you to be put in danger."

"But..."

"Nibblet, this isn't a debate. This is a straightforward, 'No fucking way.'"

"Yeah, Dawnster. Have to agree with Junior on that one. No one's being used as bait, least of all, you," Xander put in.

Dawn rolled her eyes, looking back at the books, "Whatever."

"I talked with Willy," Giles sat down, tea in hand, "He hasn't heard anything of Glory, but he mentioned a few...odd looking demons seen about town. No one knows where they came from, but they don't appear to be doing anything sinister."

"Could be working for Glory, " Buffy sighed, "I saw that one with her at the Zoo. Scabby...brown robes?"

Giles nodded, "Fine, keep your eyes out for them, guys. See one, call me, and I'll pound the information I need out of them."

"Spike, are there any channels you can go through to find anything?" Giles asked, but Spike shook his head, "It's common knowledge that I'm rooming with the Slayer, mate. They'll either kill me or keep tight-lipped. Can't even go to Willy's anymore without causing a scene."

"Ah...I thought the six broken tables was your doing."

Spike shrugged, glancing at Buffy, "Anything you need me to do, ducks?"

"Yeah, don't call me that," She grimaced at him, and he chuckled, "Seriously, just keep on Dawn duty. She's the most important thing right now. I need her safe, and as far away as possible from Glory's French tips."

Dawn scowled at her sister, "I'm in the room. Stop talking like I'm not even here."

"Dawn, shut up," Buffy muttered, and Spike glared at her, "Now, Slayer, that's no way to talk to your sister."

To everyone's surprise, Buffy rolled her eyes and apologized to Dawn, and they all looked at Spike, who frowned, "What? What did I do now?"

Tara raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, glancing at Dawn, "We just don't want you to get hurt, Dawn. We all care about you..."

"I know, I know," Dawn sighed, and Buffy shook her head slightly, "All right, I gotta do patrol...Spike, you got her?"

"Always," Spike resisted the urge to kiss her in front of her friends, but did mutter beneath his breath, "Be careful, luv."

"Always," She answered softly, brushing her hand against his as she walked by and Spike looked back at the table to see everyone else absorbed in conversation, except for Tara, who was looking at him with a knowing smile.

Oh...bloody hell...please don't let her say anything to Red!

"Spike...I have a few more boxes out back..."

Spike scowled at Giles, then stalked into the backroom, grumbling beneath his breath.

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Spike dropped the last box on the counter, glaring at Giles when he didn't even get a thanks, then glanced in Dawn's direction.
He smiled when he saw she had dozed off on her pile of books, and grabbed her backpack off the ground, slinging it over his shoulder. "Come on, nibblet...time to go home..."

She sat up, yawning widely, and Spike chuckled, ruffling her hair, and she glared at him sleepily, "Stop that."

"Spike," Giles came out of the backroom, "There's one more..."

"Forget it, Watcher. It's way past the nibblet's bedtime," Spike scowled at him, "Carry it your damn self."

Dawn followed the vampire towards the door, and both tensed when a shrill alarm went off.

Spike grabbed Dawn and bodily tossed her towards Giles, who quickly shoved her behind the counter.

"Get down!" Spike shouted at the Watcher, then ducked as the window imploded, showering him with glass. Giles grabbed a crossbow and Spike glared at him, "Yeah, great...let's just piss her off!" He snapped.

Glory stepped through the shattered window, her expensive designer shoes crunching the glass. "Slayer! Get you ass out here now! And shut off that fucking alarm! I hate it when my entrances are ruined!"

"Sorry, luv, Slayer ain't here," Spike growled, then grinned haughtily when she looked at him with wide eyes, "What the fuck? I killed you!"

Giles aimed his crossbow directly at Glory's eye while she was distracted with Spike. He let it fly, but her hand shot out and grabbed it from the air, and she whirled on him, "Ew! You shot that at my head!"

"Shit," Giles dropped to the ground when she flung it back at him, and it embedded itself several inches in the wall above his head.

Spike reached into his boot, and removed a butterfly knife, and flipped it into place, his eyes narrowing. This isn't going to work...fuck...

Despite his misgivings, he launched himself at Glory's back as she stalked towards Giles, and slammed the blade into her back, only to have it snap off. "Fuck."

She whirled, backhanding him and sent him flying into one of the shelves, and books and talismans showered down on top of him.

"You people are pissing me off!" She moved sinously towards Spike as he spat out a mouthful of blood, "Why can't you just die?!"

"Where are the witches when you bleeding need them?" He complained, wincing as he straightened. She had broken a few ribs from the feel of it.

Her hand latched on his throat and she lifted him into the air, "Where in the hell is my Key!?"

"Fuck...off..." Spike gasped out, and she fairly snarled as she hurled him into the wood shelves behind the counter.

"I don't know what the fucking difficulty is here!" She yelled as Spike groaned, trying to push himself to his feet. He turned his head to the side and caught Dawn's wide eyes. She was shaking uncontrobally, and his eyes narrowed, gripping the edge of the counter and pulled himself up with a great amount of difficulty. "Get her out," He hissed at Giles, and the Englishman frowned,

"What about you?"

"Fuck me," He looked towards Glory, lifting his bloody face defiantly as he vamped out.

"Gross! You're a vampire?!" She looked completely disgusted, "First a Slayer, now a vampire? Ugh! This fucking plane sucks."

Spike looked down at the weapons in the glass of the counter, then smashed his fist down, grabbing out another knife, "The black one!" Giles called, "It's blessed..."

Spike dropped the one he had, and grabbed a black one with an ornate handle.

"Spike?" Dawn whispered, but Giles grabbed her arm, and forced her to crawl towards the door behind the counter.

"You fucking put a hole in my favorite shirt!" He snarled at her as he leapt back over the counter with a burst of strength, driving the heel of his boot into her chest, and Glory glared at him as she stumbled back a few feet, "Hitting a girl? That's so low, you little punk!"

"Punk?!" Spike growled, ducking one of her punches, only to recieve her knee in his abdomen, and his eyes slammed shut in pain.

"Spike!" Dawn screamed when she saw him crumple to the ground, and Glory's head whipped towards her, "Dawny!"

Giles grabbed Dawn, but she jerked away from him, and sprinted across the store. She grabbed a jar from a unscathed shelf just as Glory gripped her arm, and whirled her towards her, "What's the Slayer's little sis doing hanging out with vampires?"

Dawn struggled, her eyes wide, "Get the fuck away from her, you bitch!" Spike snarled weakly, coughing up some more blood.

Glory ignored him, and Dawn squeaked in pain when she applied pressure to her arm, then dropped the jar on the ground, giving it a small kick.

It banged against Spike's hand, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at the label, picking it up.

"You know where my key is, don't you, Dawny? You wouldn't lie to me about this, would you? Because we're such good friends..."

"Fuck you," Dawn replied calmly, and Glory's eyes narrowed, "You're going to die for that, Dawny."

"Hey!" Spike called, diggging his fingers into the jar, and Glory glanced over her shoulder only to recieve a face-full of of foul smelling gray dust in her face, "What the fuck?!"

"Solvet unlcum!" Dawn shouted, and both Spike and Glory yelled as the ash incinerated on their skin and she let go of Dawn to try and put the fire out on her face while Giles grabbed Dawn and jerked her away.

Glory's hair ignited and she screamed bloody murder as she raced out of the store, trying to bat the flames out, and Spike collapsed to the ground with a low groan.

Giles and Dawn hastily put out the fire on his hand, and the Watcher wrapped up the charred appendage before giving Dawn a glare, "Where did you learn that?"

She didn't answer, her forehead creased in worry as she looked up at Giles, "Is he all right?"

Giles sighed, shaking his head as he looked down at Spike, "Help me flip him over..."

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Buffy's eyes widened as she came into the magic shop, staring around at all the destruction. "Dawn!" She nearly screamed, her heart stopping in her chest, but Dawn came out of the back room, and she sighed in relief, "What happened?"

"Glory," Dawn muttered, "Spike's been hurt real bad, Buffy..."

"Where is he?" She asked and Dawn gestured the way she had come, "I lit Glory on fire," She said somewhat proudly, "But Spike got a little torched too..."

"Oh God..." Buffy froze in the doorway, her eyes wide. Giles had laid Spike out on the ground, boxes shoved aside in a make-shift hospital room.

Spike's entire face was covered with blood, and it looked like his nose was broken, as well as his arm. Giles had already taped his ribs, and Buffy winced, knowing that it was the second time they had been broken since he had faced off with Glory.

"Spike?"

"He's unconcious, Buffy, He'll be out for a while."

Buffy knelt over him, frowning as she touched his face, "He needs blood."

"I don't have any..."

Buffy shot a look at Dawn, and she nodded in understanding, "Giles? I want to go home..."

"Can you wait?"

"Giles...please?"

"I'll finish him off," Buffy said, grabbing the roll of bandages from him, sighing, "Take Dawn home. As soon as Spike wakes up, we'll replace you."

Giles nodded unsurely as Dawn paused over Spike, touching his forehead, "He'll be okay, right?"

"Sure, Dawn, you know Spike...he's a bitch to kill," Buffy smiled reassuringly at her sister, "He'll be as good as new in a few days."

Dawn looked relieved as she followed Giles out, closing the door behind her.

As soon as she heard Giles' car start up, she leaned over Spike, slapping his cheek lightly, "Spike, wake up."

The vampire opened his eyes groggily, Buffy's face wavering in his vision. "Slayer...?"

"Jeez, Spike," She smiled good-naturedly, "I can't take you anywhere, can I?"

"Fuck..." He winced, "Stake me, please..." He suddenly shot straight up, his eyes wide, "Dawn!? Where's the nibblet?!"

"She's fine. Giles took her home," Buffy assured him, putting her hand on his chest and easing him back down, "You lost a lot of blood."

"I can't believe I bloody well got my arse beat by her again," He complained, closing his eyes, and Buffy smiled slightly, "I heard Dawn torched her..." Buffy picked up his burnt hand, "Are you all right?"

Spike chuckled weakly, opening his eyes and watching as she fussed over him worriedly, "I am now."

She met his eyes, then kissed his forehead, avoiding his cut lips, "You need to eat something."

Spike winced again as he nodded, "Yeah...just help me up, and we can go to Willy's..."

"Are you sure?" She asked, and he almost nodded again, then thought better of it. She gripped him around his waist, and pulled him to his feet. Spike ground his teeth together, stumbling. He dragged Buffy down with him, and he cried out in pain as he struck the floor.

"Shit, Spike!" Buffy rolled him onto his back, wincing in sympathy, "Sorry..."

"Then again, the floor's always nice," He mumbled, closing his eyes again, panting despite not needing to breath.

Buffy disappeared for a few minutes, then returned with a broken shard of glass.
One of Spike's eyes popped open just as Buffy made a small cut in her wrist, then the other shot open as he struggled to sit up again, "Slayer! What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing?!"

"What does it look like?"

"Buffy!" Spike glared at her, "I know what you're thinking, and I'm flattered, but no fucking way am I drinking from you!"

"Yes, you are," She insisted watching as his face rippled as he tried to stave off his demon, but the scent of the blood was too much, and he fully vamped out, "Otherwise, I'm going to look like an idiot bleeding all over her clothes."

"You are an idiot, and you're going to keep bleeding on your goddamn clothes cause I'm not feeding off you!" He gave her an exasperated look, "No matter what you think, Slayer, I'm not Peaches...I don't have that kind of control."

"Yes, you do," Buffy said, completely sure of herself as she grabbed the back of Spike's head and forced him to hold still as she pressed the cut over his mouth. He attempted to jerk his head away, but he was still too weak from the beating Glory inflicted on him, and finally, the tempation of hot, Slayer blood was too much and Buffy gasped as his fangs sank into her flesh, the chip surprisingly not activating.

Her eyes widened as he drank from her, her body automatically reacting to the eroticsm of the bite, and she could feel herself growing heated as she closed her eyes with a small moan.

She had been fed from three times before, but it had never been like this. The Master had only wanted to kill her, and she hadn't derived any sort of feeling except for fear from that one. Angel had been sick and dying, and it had only instilled sadness in her that he could take something like that from her and not be able to give anything back.

Dracula's had been the most erotic by far, but even that couldn't compare with what Spike was doing to her. Her breathing deepened and her lips parted slightly as she fought to control her body's reaction, but it wasn't doing any good, and she reminded herself disjointedly to throw her underwear in the wash as soon as she got home.

Spike growled against her arm, feeling the power of her blood surge within him, strengthening him even as it weakened her. He nearly groaned when the taste of her blood changed with the flood of lust in her system, and he grew hard in reaction to the changed richness.

It took every ounce of willpower he had to finally withdraw his fangs from her wrist, and when he looked up at her, he saw she was flushed as she panted for breath, her chest rising and falling with her rapid breaths. He forced his human mask back into place as he stared at the beautiful woman in front of him, deceptively tiny and weak looking.

He growled softly, ignoring the pain as he grabbed her around the waist, and jerked her over his body, and she moaned, her eyes opening as his mouth fastened on her throat, sucking hard at the soft skin along the base.

The smell of her arousal was driving him nearly mad, and Buffy felt a thrill go through her when he lifted his head, his nearly black eyes flashing yellow for a brief second, reminding her that this was a dangerous vampire, who, by all rights, should be trying to kill her. As it was, she was a bit disturbed to find that the danger of it was a turn-on as his hands gripped her shirt, and she gasped as he tore it away, then tried to glare at him, "That was my favorite shirt!"

"Buy you a new one," He mumbled almost too soft too hear as he growled again, his mouth fastening over a pert, rosy nipple, and all anger disappated as Buffy gasped as he sucked at her breast roughly, his teeth scraping over her soft skin.

His hands were against the small of her back, holding her tightly as she shifted on his lap, attempting to get closer as he turned his attention to the other breast, his chest rumbling with continous growls that touched her to the core with it's animalistic sound.

"Can't wait," he growled against her skin, "Need you now."

"Spike..."

His lips covered hers, hungrily devouring her mouth, and she arched against him, the taste of his mouth almost electrifying her. It was tangy-sweet, with a hint of copper and cigarrette smoke, and something else indistinguisable, dark and forbidding.
She barely noticed when he lifted her skirt over her hips, his hands slipping over the rounded curve of her butt, pulling her closer against him so that she could feel the erection straining through the denim of his jeans.

He could feel her wet heat through the fabric and groaned against her mouth, his control slipping as his demon emerged of it's own accord. When he broke the kiss, Buffy met his yellow eyes fearlessly, and to his surprise, she pulled his lips back to hers, not caring that she was kissing a demon.

A surge of lust, heightened by his demon, rolled through him, and he ground himself against Buffy, elicting a moan from the blond girl as her tongue swept through his mouth, tangling with his, then teasingly backing away to explore untouched parts of him.

She jumped when he ripped her panties from her body, but couldn't find the will to protest as one of his long, slender fingers slid into her, and male pride filled him to find her completely wet and ready for him.

He was being honest before. He couldn't wait, but he still pulled away from her to meet her lust-glazed eyes, "You sure?" He asked in a husky voice that made Buffy shiver, and she found she couldn't speak, so she just nodded.

Spike's hands gripped her hips, his fingers digging into her soft flesh, bruising it, but the pain was swept away by ecstasy as he entered her in one swift stroke.

Buffy's eyes widened as she stared down at him, her mouth opening slightly, and he barely resisted the urge to chuckle at her reaction as her body shuddered against his.

He lowered her to the ground, and then withdrew till only the tip of his cock was inside her, then slammed into her.

She gasped, her legs coming up to wrap around his waist, opening herself up wider to him as he kissed her almost brutally, his fangs cutting her lips, and every time he sheathed himself deeply inside her, small mews of pleasure were ripped from her throat.
She had never had someone take her so completely like that before. Usually, she was the one in control. With Angel, everything had been about helping her overcome her nervousness, making sure she was comfortable with everything he did to her.

Parker had been nothing, a little boy compared to the man whose fangs were scraping across the soft, full globes her breast, lapping up the thin line of blood it produced. That had been exactly what it was, a one night stand, ending her having to bring herself off in the shower while Parker slept, sated.

Riley had been better, but he was so naive and innocent, all about pleasing her. She felt a small twinge of regret. He had only been trying to make her care for him as she cared for Angel.

She looked into Spike's face, the harsh lines tense as he slammed into her, his yellow eyes blazing, but she felt no fear from him, because at the same time, she could see something akin to adoration and love just behind his demonic visage, every harsh plunge threatening to make her shatter in ecatasy, but after years of experience, he knew just when to slow his pace a bit, bringing her away from the precipice she so desperately wanted to fall into.

"Spike...please..." She pleaded, her nails digging into his back, and Spike chuckled, a deep rumbling sound that echoed in his hard, marblesque chest, "You don't strike me as the begging kind," he said, echoing his words from the night he attacked the school, a few days after he first watched her dancing in the Bronze.

She had looked like a sweet, seductive goddess as she moved sinously on the dance floor, every movement seemingly made to arouse, but still with the sweet twinge of innocence that begged to only be looked at, but never touched. Something completely unattainable, especially by the likes of him.

He was aware he didn't deserve to be accepted by his golden Goddess, but even so, he loved her with all his being, and finally, he was indulging in a fantasy that had plagued him for months, years if what Drusilla said before was right. Maybe it had really started that night in the Bronze, in the alley when he watched her off his minion with one well-placed throw of a stake, her body tightening as he stepped out of the shadows, clapping.

If Drusilla hadn't been so weak, he would have fucked her into unconciousness, he was so turned-on. That should have been a warning sign.

That and their endless stalemates, his inability to kill her even though he knew all her moves, and was almost always able to predict where she'd strike next. Course, lusting after a Slayer definitily wasn't done, and if that bitch Walsh was there, he'd happily kiss her for de-fanging him, as ludricrous as it sounded. He knew that without it, he would have never been able to touch Buffy, been able to make her beg for him to release her. Release not from life, but something as equally torturous as death.

The Intiative had finally opened his eyes with one well-placed brain addition, and allowed Buffy to fully trust him, to fully give herself over to him. Well, her body at least. He wasn't naive enough to believe that he'd ever win her heart, bruised and battered as it was.

He reached between their udulating bodies, and fingered her clit lightly, making her gasp, her nails sinking into the hard flesh of his back, tearing through his t-shirt as her inner walls squeezed him like a grape.

Her head arched back, and he gave it the bundle of nerves a harsh twist. A scream was ripped from her throat, his name, and Spike roared hers as he slammed into her faster and harder, seeking his own release.

Buffy buried her face in the base of his neck, then bit down hard, breaking the skin, and Spike's eyes rolled back in his head as he came in long, hard spurts, feeling as if she was draining him.

Buffy shuddered as he prolonged the sensastions running through both their bodies, still continuing to slide into her till it became too much for the both of them.

He buried himself as deep as he could go inside her, her womb milking him of the last of his cold, dead seed as he rolled them so that she was laying bonelessly on top of him, head pillowed on his chest, and her breath coming in harsh, ragged pants.

Spike's own breath was haggard, even through there was no real need to breathe, but old habits died hard.

Control finally reasserted itself as Spike's face settled back into their sharp, handsome planes, and he dropped his head back on the floor with a small groan. "Jesus, Mary an' Joseph..." He muttered beneath his breath, thumping his head for good measure.

Buffy's entire body felt languid and heavy, completely sated and a lazy smile touched her lips as she lifted her head, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, luv," Spike assured her, wrapping his arms around her bare waist, "'Cept, I wanted our first time to be special, candles...dinner, music...the whole bit...memorable, you know?"

"Spike...we just fucked like animals on the floor of my Watcher's storage room," She reminded him, dropping her head back on his chest, "Believe me, it's memorable."

Spike chuckled lightly, nuzzling her neck before glancing at his watch, "Oh...shit! It's almost four am! The nibblet and the Watcher are going to be wigging."

She smiled when he used her favorite term, then groaned when he shifted beneath her, "Do we have to move?" She asked, pouting at him, and Spike grinned, "Luv, I could lay here all day with you, believe me, but Rupes might show up anytime soon to make sure we aren't Glorified, and I fancy my bits and pieces. I'm kinda attached to them."

"Hmm..." Buffy smiled down at him, kissing his lips lightly before sliding off him to grab her still intact clothes, "So am I."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Buffy woke up sleepily, feeling a cold body pressing against hers, arms wrapped around her waist to hold her close as the vampire slept, his body spooned against her back. His face was buried against her neck and hair, but she felt no threat from him.

She turned her body so that she was facing him, and Spike murmured her name, his arms tightening around her possessively, as if afraid she would slip away. She had no intention of doing that. She knew how good it felt to wake up with someone beside you, plus, she understood that his heart had been as beaten and broken as hers had been.

He looked peaceful in his sleep, long black lashes laying across his cheeks, the bones of his face seeming less harsh, the lines less hard. The only thing showing that he wasn't normal was the lack of raising and falling of his chest, and soft breaths that signeled sleep.

Buffy's hand came up unconciously to brush against his face, and his eyes opened. She idly noted that they weren't blue at all, like she had thought before. They were gray, with flecks of blue, green and hazel, ever changing as the moods of the oceans, growing dark with passion, light with the love that was shining out at her right now. It made her wonder if vampires indeed did lose their souls when turned.

"Morning," She whispered softly and Spike smiled slowly, kissing her forehead lightly, "Morning, pet...have a good sleep?"

She nodded, stretching her body like a cat to emphasize her point, and Spike's eyes darkened. "I was pretty tired..."

"I bet," He gave her one of his best, sexy smirks, and she smacked his bare chest playfully, then snuggled against him, closing her eyes contently.

Spike's smile widened as he rested his head on the pillows above hers, enjoying the feel of the warmth nestled against him.
Dawn opened the door just then, and Spike yelped, jerking the covers over him and Buffy, and Dawn grimaced, "Great, now I'm traumatized for life!" She complained, "Buffy, Xander's downstairs."

Buffy's head shot up, her eyes widening, and Dawn rolled her eyes, "He thinks you're still in bed...but not in Spike's, all right? I told him you'd be down in ten minutes."

"Thanks," Buffy grinned sheepishly at her sister, "I mean it..."

"Yeah, well, you can repay me by getting soundproofed walls," Dawn replied, closing the door again, and Buffy groaned, dropping her head on Spike's chest, "Great...my little sister heard us..."

"Slayer, LA heard us," Spike said with another smirk and Buffy smacked him not so playfully as she slid out of bed and found her clothes. She opened the door and glanced down the hallway before streaking to her room, and Spike smiled, laying on his back as he crossed his arms beneath his head.

Unlife just got real bloody good...

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Glory glared at her reflection, touching her now shortened hair, the locks not having the same immunity as the rest of her body. "They're going to pay for that," She promised Jinx and Dredge, "No one messes with my hair! I look like fucking Felicity!"
"I think it's a good look for you, o Dazzling, magnificent one," Jinx sniveled, bowing a bit, "Just the right amount of bounce and body," Dredge added, glad he had read the back of a shampoo bottle when he was shopping for Glory, trying to find one that had been tested on animals.

"You're too sweet," Glory beamed at them, then fell onto her divan regally, silk robe cinched around her waist, "And I know just who the Key is..."

Dredge and Jinx exchanged a look, "Who, O stunning and intelligent one?"

Glory grinned widely, "Why else would a vampire be protecting the Slayer's little sister? Duh!"

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Buffy yawned as she went down the stairs to meet Xander, making sure her turtle-neck covered her hickeys, and the long-sleeves the slice and bite mark on her wrist.

"Hey, Xand, what's up?"

Xander turned, grinning at Buffy, glad to see she was all right, "I heard that Glory did a number on the store. You weren't hurt, were you?"

"I wasn't there, but once again, I owe Spike my sister's life."

"Nah, Slayer," Spike followed her down, hair tousled, dressed only in his boxers, and he grinned at Dawn as she came out of the kitchen, "The bite-sized Summers deserves the credit this time. I was just an overrated hell-bitch punching bag."

"You all right?" Xander asked, then added hastily, "Anya wanted to know."

Spike shrugged, "Never been better," He said, heading into the kitchen to make some breakfast for Dawn before she went out to Lisa's, "Want some coffee?"

"Sure," Xander and Buffy followed him, and Xander took a seat at the counter, "So, Buff, how's home life?" He asked, not having been at the house since Spike moved in, and was more then surprised to see the vampire start cooking.

"Good," Buffy half-smiled as Spike sat some orange juice in front of her, "Eggs, Slayer?"

"I'm not hungry."

"You're eating, dammit," He glared at her sternly, "You're a bleeding stick! Even Harris could break you in half."

"Like to see him try," Buffy sent Xander a challenging look, but he held up his hands, "Don't even bring me into one of your fights. I just washed my clothes and blood's a bitch to wash out."

"You eating?" Spike asked him, an amused smile on his face, and Xander eyed him warily, "Yeah, right, you'd probably poison it. I doubt the chip will kick in then."

Spike rolled his eyes at him, and Buffy smiled, "Just eat, Xander...his mushroom omelette's to die for."

"His what?!" Xander stared at her in disbelief as Spike returned to the stove, "What in the hell is going on, Buff? He's like...your house-vamp!"

"Yeah, it's great," She threw a smirk at Spike's back, "He cooks, does the wash, cleans...and he has a personal relationship with the mop," She giggled, remembering his dance routine with said household item.

Spike dropped an omelette in front of her, the plate banging loudly on the counter, and she rolled her eyes, getting the message,

"Sheesh, Spike, it's not like I was telling him the song you were..."

"Spike," Dawn broke in, hoping to avert a fight, "Is it all right if I spend the night at Lisa's?"

"Uh...I don't know, nibblet," He frowned worriedly, "Glory..."

"Is so not going to know where I am...please? Pretty please, with a cherry on top?"

"Ask your sister," Spike waved the spatula, shooing her away from him, "I'm not going to be manipulated by the likes of you."

Dawn pouted, glancing at her sister, "But she always says no!"

"It's okay," Buffy gave her a stern look, "Take your cellphone, and always keep it on, and plug it in!"

"Yes, mom," Dawn shook her head as Spike gave her her food, then handed a plate to Xander, who still eyed it doubtfully.

Buffy rolled her eyes again, switching plates with him, "Jeez, Xander, paranoid much?"

"I don't get it," Xander said, raising an eyebrow when he found the omelette edible and actually good, silently deciding to show up for meals more often, "At your house, he does all that crap for you, but at mine, I couldn't even get him to fix a couple pipes, and he was sitting on my damn bed like Noah during the flood, not caring that all my stuff was getting waterlogged and ruined. Four years worth of Playboy...destroyed!"

"Maybe you didn't have the right motivation," Dawn suggested, and Buffy coughed into her orange juice, shooting a glare at her sister, which Xander thankfully missed as he polished off his omelette, glancing at Spike hopefully.

Spike sighed and turned back to the stove, hoping to God that this didn't become a habit as Dawn gave her sister a completely innocent look, "What?"

Xander eyed Spike suspiciously when he started humming the theme song to 'An Officer and a Gentleman,' then glanced at Buffy, saying in a low voice, "Dude...I think he got laid last night..."

Buffy's eyes widened and Spike chuckled beneath his breath, glancing at Xander, "Don't I bloody wish."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

As soon as Buffy left with Xander to go help Giles clean up the store yet again, Spike immediately headed to the phone and arranged some deliveries.

By late afternoon, he cocked his head, looking over his work critically, then smiled in satisfication.

A line of candles ran up either side of the staircase, with red rose petals strewn along the middle, leading all the way up to Buffy's room, where more covered her bed, as well as two dozen more candles surrounded the entire room.

In the living room, he had pushed the furniture aside to set up a small round table set with Joyce's good China, as well as her crystal and silver. A bottle of wine sat in a bucket, chilling for later, and an arrangement of long stem roses and baby's breath was in the middle. In the kitchen, all the food was cooking, sending it's tantalizing scent wafting all over the house.

He straightened his tie with a grimace, hating the thing with a passion, but he knew he looked good in a suit, and he desperately wanted to impress Buffy, and show her that he really did care for her. He glanced at his watch as he returned to the kitchen, humming happily to himself.

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Anya looked up as Buffy walked in the store, nearly dropping the dustpan filled with broken glass as her eyes widened.

Buffy threw a smile at Willow and Tara as she went up to the ex-demon, "Is Giles in the back?"

"Oh my God!" Anya stared at her face intently, then hissed in a low voice, "You had sex!"

Buffy's eyes widened, and she looked around to make sure no one had heard her, then grabbed her arm, pulling her behind a shelf, "Anya! Shut up, and don't tell Xander, please," Buffy pleaded, and Anya quickly did the math, "It was Spike, wasn't it? You had sex with Spike!"

"Keep it down!" Buffy slapped a hand over Anya's mouth, and Anya glared at her, "Are you going to keep your damn voice down?"

Anya nodded, and Buffy let go of her. Anya glanced at the others, then pulled Buffy farther away, "I can't believe you slept with Spike!" She said in a whisper, shaking her head, and Buffy blushed, "How did you know?"

"You're glowing...that's a sure sign of intercourse...lots of good intercourse."

Buffy's blush deepened, and Anya grinned widely, "Well? How was it? I mean, I never been with a vampire...but I hear they've got great stamina...and can last hours...is that true?"

"Uh..." Buffy hesistated, and Anya looked threateningly over her shoulder, "Oh, Xaannddeerrr!"

"All right!" Buffy shushed her, "That's blackmail, you know..."

"Details, I want details," Anya prodded, and Buffy glanced around, "Vampire stuff...definitatly true."

"And..."

"And...it was definitatly good intercourse," Buffy smiled widely, despite herself, "And all I'm saying, what he's hiding underneath that coat...major salty goodness..."

Anya beamed at her and Giles called from the back, "Buffy? Can I see you for a moment?"

"Sure!" She yelled back, then looked at Anya, "Tell no one, Anya...please? Especially Xander...maxi-wig won't even begin to describe his reaction."

"Promise," She crossed her heart, albeit, it was on the wrong side of her chest, but Buffy accepted it anyhow, "Thanks, Anya."

"Welcome, but we're sooo going to talk about this some more," Anya told her and Buffy rolled her eyes as she went towards the back. Giles was standing in the doorway of the storage room, and she frowned, seeing his stiff stance. "Come in here."

Uh-oh...that's Giles' pissed voice...She winced, wondering what he knew, and he closed the door behind them.

"What's up, Giles?" She asked, her voice even and upbeat, despite the nervousness that had to be showing in her face.

"This..." He held up a pair of shredded underwear, and Buffy's face turned scarlet, "So, they are yours?"

"Giles, I'm soo sorry," She looked about ready to cry, "I know that you don't approve...and...how mad are you?"

"Extremely so, Buffy," Giles, sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I suppose...I could yell and scream at you, which is what Xander is liable to do when he finds out, but I know you well enough to know that it won't make you change your mind..."

Buffy cast her eyes down, "No, probably not..."

"You're an adult, Buffy, and I have to trust you...to make your own decisions...and I understand that...and I trust you...but you should have told me..."

"I know, Giles," She sighed, shaking her head, "Last night...was...you know...the first time..." Her eyes widened slightly, knowing how that could sound, "I mean, it didn't just happen, well, it sort of did...but...uh...we've...been kinda going out in the not going out sense for a week or two..."

She's not making any bloody sense...going out in the not going out sense?

"And I know you're really, really, really mad and will never approve..."

"Buffy," Giles removed his glasses, "Are you looking for my blessing?"

Buffy's face fell a bit as she looked down at her feet miserably. Her Watcher's opinion meant a great deal to her, even if it couldn't make her change her mind, she would have liked to have his support.

Giles nodded slightly, understanding, even though she didn't say a word. "Buffy, last night, I watched a man, half-beaten to death, bones shattered and losing a great deal of blood launch himself at what might very well be the biggest threat we have ever faced before...telling me to forget about him and get Dawn to safety..."

Buffy lifted her head, meeting her Watcher's eyes, and Giles sighed again, removing his glasses to polish them almost nervously,

"I may deny having saying this later...but there's...obviously a great deal of feeling on his part for both you and Dawn...to keep risking his life over and over again like that. He could very well have died last night, but I don't think he would have cared as long as Dawn made it out safely...to avoid Glory for another day."

Buffy winced slightly, rubbing her cut wrist absently, the skin itching from the healing it was going through, "I never seen the likes of it, I have to admit...a soulless demon taking risks like that to save a child."

Buffy nodded slowly, "I know, Giles...he loves Dawn more then life itself...you only have to watch him around her. It isn't even to get to me..."

"I'm aware of the protective way he watches over her, Buffy. She is here a great deal, afterall..." Giles smiled wanly, "He will watch over her, Buffy, and you, of that I am sure, which...surprisingly, lifts a great deal of worry from my shoulders..."

"But you're mad..."

"Not about that," He gave her a stern look, "Please do keep your...uh...relationship confined to your home, Buffy. I have problem enough keeping Anya and Xander out of my store."

She giggled, then clapped a hand over her mouth, "Sorry."

"Fact of the matter is, although, I am loathe to admit," He added a quick shudder for emphasis, "I think he will be...good for you. After...all your other heartbreaks...I am sure he will be the one to stay..."

Buffy smiled, "Yeah...he brought up how long he stayed with Drusilla, even though she's..."

"Crazy as a loon?" Giles suggested with a wry smile, and Buffy grinned at him, but Giles grew serious again, "Can you honestly tell me that you love him, Buffy?"

Her smile disappeared, and she glanced down again, "I don't know, Giles...I don't know how I feel about him, exactly..."

"And he knows this?"

"Yeah...well, I think he does..."

"Tell him, Buffy. You don't want mixed signals in a relationship...things can go wrong..."

"Yeah, he could start paying vamps to suck off him," Buffy muttered beneath her breath, then sighed heavily, looking up at Giles again, "Is there anyway we can avoid telling Xander...for, like...ever?"

"They'll have to know eventually, Buffy...and if Anya's squeals from before are any indication, she already knows."

"And I think Tara does too," Buffy sighed, "I just need a few days to get...everything right, is that okay?"

Giles hesistated, "It's your decision, Buffy, and it is not my place to tell anyone your business..."

"Thanks, Giles..." Buffy smiled gratefully, kissing his cheek, "Let's go get this place cleaned up. At least Glory left some of it intact, unlike Olaf, the psycho troll."

Giles sighed, "My insurance rates are already through the roof," he complained, "And I already paid Xander to fix my shelves three times!"

"Told you this place was a death trap," Buffy teased, and Giles rolled his eyes, giving her a light shove out the door, "Yes, well, it puts food on the table..."

"Giles, I've seen the crap you eat. That's better left off the table," She grinned at him, "You should come over tonight. We have real food."

"No, thanks, I've tasted your cooking," Giles grimaced, "Good God, you must be the only person on the planet who doesn't know that sugar goes in lemonade."

"Ha ha, funny man," She twisted her face up at him, "Besides, it's Spike..."

He stared after her as she joined the others, "Spike cooks?!"

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Spike grinned when he heard the door open, and grabbed two wine glasses off the counter of the kitchen before heading into the living room. "I was afraid you weren't going to sho--"

He froze in the doorway, his eyes widening when he saw a group of twenty scaly, scabby looking demons, all dressed in brown robes.

"Oh...fuck..."

"The Great Glorificus would like to have a word with you," One of them announced regally, and Spike scowled, "Yeah? Well, tell her I have plans."

Twenty crossbows were then raised up, pointed at him squarely, and Spike sighed, "You think that's going to make me come with you? Dream on, boys."

"They're not for you. The Slayer will be returning home, shortly, yes?" Another one said, smirking, "When she does, she will find herself on the recieving end of our weapons."

Spike hesistated, then slowly nodded, "Fine, then I'll come with you," He growled, "If you promise that she won't be harmed!"

"The Great Glorificus has no interest in your Slayer any longer," The demon waved several of his men forward, and the bound Spike's hands behind his back with thick rope, and Spike's eyes narrowed, "And why's that?"

The demon didn't answer him, and the ones around him prodded him towards the door with their crossbows. Fuck me...he thought as he allowed himself to be led out, well, mate...you didn't think that this would last forever, did you? He thought with a great amount of regret as he glanced at the candles flickering along the stairs, but I would have given my life for one more day...

As he was escorted to the van waiting outside, Jinx glanced around before concealing a box behind the couch. "Thank you for watching the Key for us, Slayer but your usefulness has ended."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Buffy yawned widely, tired from a long day of helping Giles to put the shop back in order, which they finally finished, all grateful for Xander's adept carpentary skills, although, he complained, that he did more work for free for Giles then he did at his real job for money.

She opened the door, and her eyes widened at the rosepetals and candles, a smile blooming over her face, "Spike! You're so sweet!" She called as she walked in, then frowned when he didn't answer. "Spike?"

She glanced at the set table, then at the kitchen when she smelled something burning. She rushed in to see smoke pouring out of the oven and several pots boiling over on the stove. Her delight gave way to annoyance as she nearly burned herself dumping the pots in the sink, then grabbed oven mitts to remove a black mess that may have been a pot roast in better days.

"Spike! Dammit! Are you trying to burn the goddamn house down?!" She yelled loudly, nearly growling when he didn't answer. As she stalked towards the stairs, she stepped on something that shattered beneath her boot.

She looked down to see a broken bottle of red wine, the liquid spreading out over the carpet in a scarlet puddle, reminding her off blood, and beside it, lay her mother's favorite wine glasses. It wasn't hard to figure out why he wasn't answering her.

Her eyes widened as she screamed Spike's name again and rushed up the stairs. She searched all the rooms, tears springing to her eyes when she saw the candles and rose petals in her bed.

I wanted our first time to be special, candles...dinner, music...the whole bit...memorable, you know?

She looked through the entire house, but to no avail, and numb, she collapsed on the staircase, surrounded by candles and rose petals.

She stared at the door, as if by force of will alone, she could make him walk through it, but she knew only thing could keep him away from her. He can't be dead...he didn't even get a chance to fight by the looks of it...

She shuddered, burying her face in her hands, I killed him...I dragged him into my problems and I killed him...

Tears poured from her eyes as she began to weep into her hands, and she curled inward on herself, as if to protect herself from any other threats. Oh, Spike...I'm so sorry...

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Spike lifted his head proudly as he was escorted into the large apartment complex that served as Glory's home.

He heard a high pitch squeal, and looked upwards to see Glory peering down at him, "Spikey! You came!"

"Yeah, well, the twenty ugly-ass minions of yours didn't leave me much choice," He pointed out, his voice sounding annoyed rather then scared. Glory only beamed at him, "Bring him up here!" She called cheerfully, disappearing from view.

"I can walk my damn self!" He snapped when a demon prodded him in the back.

He was led into what appeared to be Glory's bedroom, and he glanced at the chains hanging from the ceiling, raising an eyebrow, "You don't do much entertaining here, do you?"

"Oh," She waved her hand, smiling at him brightly, and Spike's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "A few people...mostly those annoying knights with their...'vast armies...numbering the sand on a beach.' Chain him up, Dredge."

"Dredge," Spike repeated wryly as his arms were jerked over his head and fastened to the manacles before the rope was removed, "Nice name...where were you born? Sewer?"

"Yes, why?" Dredge answered, frowning a bit, and Spike rolled his eyes, "Not too swift on the uptake, are they?"

"Minions," Glory shrugged, eyeing Spike, "Nice suit...Armani, tailored fit...you come from money?"

"You could say that," Spike pulled on the chains, feeling for weaknesses, but there was no luck from that quarter for him. "You can torture me all you like, pet, but I won't tell you where the Key is."

Glory giggled, shaking her head, "Spike, you are so funny!" She slapped his chest, and Spike winced, knowing she had probably raised a welt, "I already know who the Key is!"

Spike's eyes widened, oh, shit...Dawn!

"You didn't think you could hide it from me forever, did you? I mean, why else would a Slayer be hanging out with a vampire, which is what I told my minions..." She smiled in triumph, "And I said, Duh! He's the Key, of course!"

Spike nearly burst out laughing in relief, but managed to control himself, "Damn...you found me out," He said dryly, and Glory nodded eagerly, "Now all we have to do is seperate you from your human form..."

"What?!" Spike's eyes widened, "You're going to do what?!"

"Crack you open to get at the juicy inside," She replied, looking towards Jinx and Dredge, "You got everything, right? I don't want to get half-way through this and find out one of you guys screwed up. I'd hate to have to suck out your brains after your loyal service."

"We have everything, merciful one," Jinx said, holding up a scroll, and Dredge nodded, holding up his armful of magic supplies.
Spike swore beneath his breath, "Well...at least, Buffy's safe..." He murmured beneath his breath, and Glory glanced at him, raising an eyebrow, "Oh sure, for about, oh..." She glanced at her watch, "Forty minutes."

"What?"

Glory grinned wickedly as Dredge handed her a syringe, "We have to wait another hour for the right star to arise to remove you from your earth body, till then..." She pressed her lips against his, "Sweet dreams."

Spike growled when he felt the needle slide into his flesh, and the last thing he saw as he blacked out was Glory clapping her hands and jumping up and down eagerly, "I want to watch the Slayer's house go up! Come on, Jinxie! The roof, now!"

Oh...fuck! Buffy!

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Buffy sniffled into her knees, then her head shot up when the door slammed open.

Her eyes widened when she saw Spike staring around wild-eyed, "Spike! Are you okay?" She flew into his arms, and he wrapped them tightly around her, burying his face in her hair, "You all right, luv?"

"Yeah, sure...why wouldn't I be?" She asked, still sniffling and Spike lifted his head in surprise, "You're crying! Why? What happened, pet?"

"You disappeared, dumb ass!" She punched him in the stomach, "I thought you were dead!"

"You...were crying because of me?" He looked genuinely shocked as Buffy buried her face against his chest, her arms tightening around his waist. "Spike, don't leave me like that again..."

He kissed the top of her head, and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes, seeing they had gone green, and she could see red tears lining his eyes, "What's wrong?" She asked, resting her palm against his cheek.

He didn't answer her as he brushed his lips against hers, "Buffy, you know I love you, right?"

"Yeah, I know..."

Spike closed his eyes, looking almost like he was in pain, "Right...just remember that, okay?" He whispered, "Leave now, Buffy...get out of the house and run..."

"Run where?"

"I don't care! Just run!" He kissed her deeply, savoring the taste of her mouth before pulling away again, "I love you, Buffy," He muttered, slipping out the door again. "Spike...? Where're you going?! Spike! Don't leave..."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

"...Me!" Buffy jerked awake, her eyes wide. She looked towards the empty doorway, nearly breaking out into tears again as she slowly stood up.

She glanced around the house, frowning slightly. Somewhere in the back of her mind, alarms started going off, but she couldn't figure out the cause.

Leave now, Buffy...get out of the house and run...

She looked towards the living room, then grabbed a photo of her mother off the wall beside her, then darted out the door. She was halfway down the walk when she felt an almost gentle rush of air that lifted her off feet and sending her flying all the way across the road.

A few seconds later, she heard a loud 'whoompph' just before she slammed into the ground with a groan. She lifted her head in time to see her house being consumed by flames, her eyes widening.

She slowly sat up, watching the flames eat everything that had been her life, except for the clothes on her back, the picture in her hand, and her sister down the street.

She lay back on the ground and stared up at the sky, shuddering, Spike...please...I need you...

Her eyes suddenly narrowed, guessing who planted the bomb in her house, and forced herself to her feet. He has to be alive...he just has too...

She straightened her shoulders, resolve face falling into place. "No one messes with my boyfriend!" She growled, then turned in the direction of Giles' house and sprinted towards it.

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Glory squealed in pleasure, watching the fireball reach towards the sky in the distance, "Ha! My life is perfect! Summers is dead, I got my Key in a sexy, gift-wrapped package...life is great!"

Jinx smiled widely, glad that his mistress was happy, since it usually translated into less pain for him.

"Let's go take care of my sweet, precious, little key..."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Spike slowly opened his eyes, evaluating his surroundings. He could sense Glory coming down the stairs, laughing happily,

"Spikey! You should have seen it! Who knew Slayers were so flammable? She must have made a great roman candle!"

"No..." Spike jerked on the chains with all his strength, his face twisting in anguish, and he roared in fury, "YOU FUCKING BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU! YOU SAID SHE WOULDN'T BE HURT!"

"Oh, baby, she wasn't in pain. A big bang like that, she would have been toast right away."

Glory flinched at the primal scream of agony issuing from the vampire, shaking her head, "Spike, maybe you should look into stress management..."

He vamped out, his eyes eyes narrowing to small slits as he lunged as close to her as the chains would allow, saying in a low, dangerous voice, "Listen, you smug little bitch, no matter what you fucking think, you will be stopped...whatever the hell I'm supposed to do...it won't matter, you won't succeed...and I'll be there to piss on your fucking battered, broken body...I'll be the one driving pikes up your fucking arse...the last thing you see before I rip your eyeballs out will be me fucking masturbating on that nice designer dress of yours..."

Glory's eyes widened slightly, never having been spoken to like that before. She then snarled in rage and gripped his throat, glaring into his blazing eyes.

She suddenly smiled and released his neck, patting his cheek affectionatly, "Nice try, Spikey, baby. You won't get me to kill you. I need you too much. If you die, so does my release."

"Your release from what?" Spike spat out in disgust, and she beamed at him, "You don't know? Oh, of course not...why would the monks let you know you were the Key, huh?" She giggled, "I want to be free of my vessel, Spikey...Gentle Ben's a pain in my ass. Sacrifices usually are," She rolled her eyes, "One priest fucks up a couple thousand years ago, loses my Key, and keeps me from being able to completely take over the vessel's body. Fucking prick. I ripped his head off, by the way. Punted it like a football, you should have seen the distance on that baby..."

Spike closed his eyes, tuning out her droning, Buffy...Jesus...Buffy, my love...I'm so sorry...you didn't derserve to die like that...

He felt like everything inside him was screaming in denial, desperately wanting to believe she was alive. But his head knew otherwise, and he wanted nothing more then for Glory to end him as well. He wouldn't be able to join her in the afterlife, but he didn't want to spend another moment on this plane without her.

Dawn...mate, think of Dawn...you're all she has left now...

"Dawn..." he whispered, his face going hard as he lifted his eyes, his eyes glittering like cold, blue diamonds as he met Glory's gaze, "Hey, you bitch...I'm not the Key..."

"Yes, you are," Glory said, smirking at him, and Spike started to laugh hysterically, shaking his head, "You got it all wrong, girlie. It wasn't the Slayer protecting the key," he stopped his laughter, grinning almost madly at her, "It was a vampire protecting the Key."

Glory grinned at him, "It's not that easy to throw me off track..."

"Why don't you bring one of your crazies in her, darling? I know for a fact that they see right through the key, but they'll see me. In all my demon glory."

Glory only shook her head again, but her smile faltered, "DREDGE!!!" She screamed, and the minion came rushing in, "Come here for a second."

He did and his eyes widened as she grabbed his head between her hands, her fingers sliding into his skull as light filtered from between her closed fingers. Glory threw her head back in almost orgasmic glory as she drained his energy from him.
She pulled her fingers out and he collapsed to the ground, slavering like a moron.

She grabbed him by the neck and faced him towards Spike, "What do you see?"

Dredge stared blankly forward, "Little kitty...nice kitty...want to pet the nice kitty..."

She screamed in anger, twisting his head and snapping his neck. She stepped over his dead body and punched Spike in the gut,

"YOU LIED TO ME!" She shrieked at him, "YOU MADE ME KILL MY KEY!"

Spike was cracking up, laughing hysterically as blood-red tears ran down his face, "Stupid bitch...you stupid fucking bitch!"

"My Key...my last chance...dead...D...E...D...dead!" She shook her head, her eyes looking almost glazed, nearly insane with the loss. "Stuck in his body, I'm Ben, he's me...it never fucking ends...all I wanted was one little scrap...my Key, my precious little Key, cat's in the cradle, raven in the corn, all fucked up and messed...everything's wrong and the world is swirling around."

Spike's laughing stopped as he watched her, thinking she was like a hyped-up version of Drusilla.

"And the devil went down to Georgia, and why can't anything go fucking RIGHT?!"

She whirled on him, and Spike's eyes widened as she stalked towards him, but she tenderly stroked his face, her fingers brushing over his cheekbones as she looked at him almost adoringly, "Why, Spike?" She whispered, her lips brushing against his, "Why couldn't you just COOPERATE like a good, little BOY!?"

Spike tensed as her fingers moved towards his temples, and she glared at him as they slid into his brain. Spike threw his head back, clenching his teeth to keep from screaming. The pain was intense, like a vortex trying to suck you into the deep water, drowning you, your entire body filling with brackish water as you find yourself struggling to breath.

Glory yelled as she wrenched her hands free, then snorted in disgust as Spike's head dropped to his chest.

"Jinx!" She screamed, and the minion came in, flinching at the sight of his brethren babbling as he lay curled in a ball, "Kill Dredge, and throw him out with the trash," She gestured in disgust at Spike as he lifted his blank eyes up to meet hers, "He's not even worth killing!"

"Yes, o great, beautiful, illustrious Glory..." Jinx unchained Spike, shuddering as the vampire stared at him without comprehension. He carried him to the door and prombtly threw him out onto the drive.

Spike slammed into the ground with a groan, then forced himself to his feet as he walked automatically. "Idle hands are the devil's playground," He murmured, "My Buffy...I want my Buffy..."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Giles drove past Buffy's house, and the blond looked out miserably at the wreckage as firefighters hosed the blaze down,

"Everything was in there, Giles...my mom's stuff...Dawn's...Sp-Spike's..." Her voice cracked on the vampire's name, and Giles pulled over as she broke down, covering her face with her hands.

"Buffy, it's all right," Giles assured her quietly, holding her close, "I'm sure he's fine..."

Buffy shook her head, "No, he's not, Giles...he's...Glory's probably killed him by now...because he would never betray Dawn...and she hasn't the patience to deal with his silence...and it's...it's all my fault..."

"Buffy, Spike knew what he was getting into when this all started out," Giles reminded her, "He took on the responsibility willingly...and his death wasn't in vain...you and Dawn are safe for the time being..."

"Yeah, the time being," Buffy muttered bitterly, then slammed her fist against the dashboard in frustration, "And I can't even fucking storm her home to kill her, cause I don't know where she's holing up! I'm useless, Giles! She killed him, and there's nothing I can fucking do about it!" Tears were pouring down her face, and Giles stroked her hair, "We'll find something, Buffy...and holy Christ..."

He stared out the windshield as Spike, in a dirty, torn suit stumbled down the street. Buffy followed his gaze and nearly screamed, leaping out of the convertible and rushing towards him.

"Spike!"

He lifted his head as she flew into his arms, knocking him backwards on the ground. She peppered his face with kisses, her hands clutching his dirty suit jacket, "Spike, you're all right...oh God, I was so scared, I thought I lost you, I love you, oh my God, Spike..."

Tears were once again cascading down her face, but they were ones of relief and happiness to have him back, and she didn't even noticed that she had said she loved him.

Spike grinned goofily, "Buffy...my Buffy," He murmured, kissing the side of her neck, "Pretty Buffy...soft Buffy..."

"What?" Buffy lifted her head, puzzled by his strange litany, then screamed when she saw his empty eyes, "GILES!"

Giles was by her side and she stumbled to her feet, hand over her mouth in shock, "Oh God...Giles...she...she's made him insane..."

Spike looked at her in confusion when she started to sob, sinking to her knees, "Why Buffy cry? Don't cry, Buffy..."

"Oh...dear Lord," Giles stared at Spike as he crawled on all fours towards Buffy, a worried look on his face, "Buffy mad at Spike?"

"Oh, God, no," She held out her arms to him, and he beamed vapidly, climbing onto her lap and rested his head against her shoulder, "No, Spike, I'm not mad at you."

"Good," Spike frowned, "Where'd our house go?"

"It's gone, Spike," Buffy whispered, and he giggled, "Did it fly away? Like a housefly?"

Buffy stroked his short blond hair, closing her eyes as she held him, "No, Spike," She muttered sadly, "It didn't fly away..."

"Buffy," Giles broke in, nearly flinching when Spike looked at him with his dead eyes, "We need to get him indoors...you can stay at my house..."

Buffy nodded slowly, then coaxed Spike to his feet. He held her hand tightly, looking around almost nervously as she led him towards the car. "Voom-voom!" He said delightedly, eyeing Giles' convertible, "Nice voom-voom..."

@>----'----,--------'-------,----<@

Buffy sealed up the window with black cloth in the guest room of Giles' home, making sure no sunlight could touch the vampire sitting on the bed, a grin on his face as he bounced a bit on the mattress, looking around interestedly.

She turned to look towards him, tears threatening to spill again, but she managed to force them back for the moment. "Time for bed, Spike," She told him, bending to remove his dress shoes, then smiled wanly, "Well, there's one good thing about all this," She muttered, "Now I get to buy you new clothes...but I'm going to miss that leather jacket of yours."

Spike stared at the top of her head as she slid off his pants and socks, then removed his suit jacket and shirt, leaving him clad only in his black silk boxers. "Thanks for your surprise, Spike...it was really sweet," She said softly, lifting up the blankets so that he could slide in beneath, "It really meant a lot to me..."

"Not tired..."

"Too bad, it's time for good vamps to sleep, Spike. It's daytime..." She reached for the light, but Spike's eyes widened, "NO!" He shouted, and she froze, never hearing that amount of fear in his voice. "I'm afraid of the dark," He whispered, and she frowned, "Since when?"

"Always," He shuddered, and she touched his cheek, her tears spilling over. "Don't cry Buffy, I love you, Buffy...don't cry..." tears formed in his own eyes, and she smiled wanly, "I'll leave the light on," She whispered, starting to stand, but Spike's hand clapped over hers, "Don't leave me," He pleaded, and she hesistated before nodding. She removed her shoes and socks, leaving herself still clothed as she slid in beside him, and he immediately spooned against her back, his arms wrapping around her waist.

"Go to sleep, Spike," She ordered gently, and he yawned against the back of her neck, "'kay, Buffy...love you..."

She smiled slightly, "Love you too, Spike," She murmured as he drifted off to sleep, purring softly.

Out of Sight