Night and Day

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Title: Night and Day

Author: Keren and Meredith

E-mail: avssp@hotmail.com

Rating: R

Pairings: B/S (gettin’ there...)

Distribution: Sure, just let us know

Spoilers: Seventh episode in the series Strange Bedfellows: Being the Unlikely Adventures of a Vampire and a Slayer, an alternate Buffyverse which diverges after “Crush”. Previous stories: All of You, Once Upon A Time, Head to Head, Across the Pond, Walk a Mile and The Lady and the Unicorn.

Disclaimer: These characters aren’t ours. We just like to play with them. They belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, WB, and any other copyright holders. Ancient Egyptian info is taken from “Who’s Who in Egyptian Mythology” by Anthony S. Mercatante © 1978. Inspiration for the coin toss is from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, 1990, written and directed by Tom Stoppard. The Flintstones, a Hanna-Barbera cartoon, originally aired on ABC in 1960. Buster Keaton made far too many movies to mention here. Yoda, Jedi, and Sith references are from Star Wars, written and directed by George Lucas.

Feedback: Yes, please!

Special thanks to Jason for the fire hose inspiration.

Night and Day

Nighttime in the Summers’ household. Dawn wakes up and gets out of bed. She walks over to her door and opens it, walking out into a long hallway filled with closed mahogany colored doors. Her door shuts behind her and when she attempts to turn the knob, finds that it is locked. Faced with no other choice, she walks down the hallway in her blue snowflake pajamas. A door on her left opens as she passes, revealing Xander crouching and flipping a coin.

Xander: (Flips coin) Heads. (Flips coin) Heads. (Flips coin) Heads. (Flips coin) Heads.

The door shuts and Dawn continues down the hall. A door on her left opens to reveal two large silhouetted heads, one a man, one a woman, on either side of a giant white lit candle. As she stares the faces begin to chant.

Faces: What do you see? What do you see? What do you see?

The door shuts. She continues walking, the next door opening onto a large movie screen playing a silent black and white Buster Keaton movie. As she watches, everything around her fades to black and white as well. The door shuts. After walking further down the hall, a door opens to Buffy lying on a bed made of bones, wearing a long white silk nightgown, suited to the thirties. Buffy gets up and walks to what appears to be a mirror framed by bones, and begins to brush her hair. As Dawn looks into the mirror, she sees that it is actually a window looking out onto a grassy field with two doors standing unsupported in the middle of it.

Buffy (with her back to Dawn): How can I do my hair if I can’t see myself?

Dawn: Buffy?

Buffy: Look behind you.

The door shuts. Dawn spins around to see that the door behind her has opened onto an endless nighttime snow-scape, with Spike crouching on a pile of snow, smoking, and dressed in his usual all black attire.

Spike (conversationally to Dawn): I could see myself staying here awhile. (Takes a drag of his cigarette) Vampire’s paradise. It’s always night.

Dawn: Won’t you be lonely?

Spike: But it’s so cold.

A gaggle of penguins run by behind him as he molds a snowball and throws it at Dawn. The door closes just as it is about to reach her. Dawn continues down the hallway once more. The next door opens to an entirely black room, empty save for Anya standing behind a free-floating cash register.

Anya: It’s seven o’clock and eighty-nine cents. I’m late!

The door shuts. Dawn wanders for a long period of time until she reaches a door at the end of the hallway. It opens to a black sand beach under a bright sky. Ben is sitting at a table quite similar to the hospital table he and Dawn sat at. Dawn sits in the empty seat across from him.

Dawn: Did you bring enough sunscreen?

Ben: Of course I did. (He hands her a cup of hot chocolate, as penguins run by them, leaving footprints in the sand.)

Dawn: Have you seen my sister?

Ben: Have you seen mine? (He morphs into Glory)

Dawn (bolts upright in bed and yells): Buffy!!!

Meanwhile, Buffy is on her way through the graveyard to Spike’s crypt. When she arrives, she slams open the door, as per usual. Spike is sitting on the loveseat smoking; his arms still bandaged from his encounter with the unicorns.

Spike: Evenin’ Slayer. My days as your punching bag are over. (In an imitation of Giles) No practice until further notice.

Buffy (Scowls at him): Sounds familiar. (She plops down in the armchair) What ya doin’?

Spike: Negotiating for world peace.

Buffy: How’s that goin’ for ya?

Spike: Having a spot of trouble with France, but well, that’s the way it always is. (Pauses to take a drag of his cigarette) I know I’ve got “miraculous” healing powers luv, but as they say, a watched vampire...

Buffy: Who says that?

Spike: Well, Watchers mostly, I suppose. So what brings you to el casa del muerte?

Buffy: Never underestimate the power of boredom?

Spike quirks an eyebrow at her.

Buffy: I figured since we couldn’t practice we could at least take the academic approach.

Spike (groans, but brightens as she pulls out a video of Tai Chi Master): The bookworm as always, I see.

Buffy (glares at him): I’m a visual learner. (Puts the tape in the VCR and turns around, a confused look on her face) How do you get electricity in a crypt? Most dead people don’t need the convenience of modern appliances. Present company excluded, of course.

Spike: Magic.

Buffy looks at him, disbelieving.

Spike: Really long extension cords?

Buffy still stares.

Spike (sighs): I have a generator, pet.

Buffy (gestures to the candles): Then what’s with all the mood lighting?

Spike: I’ve got a reputation to uphold. A thousand years of proud vampire tradition.

Buffy: Uh huh.

She hits play on the VCR and sits down next to Spike on the loveseat. Spike is trying his very best to contain the grin that is attempting to spread across his face. As they watch the movie, making comments here and there on technique and outright disbelief at the wire work, Buffy changes position a number of times, finally settling with her legs hooked over the side of the loveseat and her back resting against Spike’s side. Spike is obviously in a lot of pain, as she is leaning on one of his injured arms, but is doing his best to enjoy the nearness and ignore the discomfort.

*************************************************************

Buffy returns home late that night to find both Joyce and Dawn awake, and watching the late late show under a blanket on the couch.

Joyce: Oh Buffy, thank god you’re home! Dawn had a bad dream.

Buffy: Warm milk? That’s what you used to give me.

Dawn (glowers): Gross. Besides, it was about Glory.

Buffy (suddenly serious): Tell me everything. (She gets under the covers next to Dawn)

Dawn: Eew! When did you take up smoking?

Joyce: Buffy! You know how bad smoking is for you! I thought you had more sense than that!

Buffy: Relax Mom, I don’t smoke. I’m 100% certified tobacco free Buffy.

Dawn (a smile forming on her face as realization blooms): Who do we know who smokes...could it be...Spike?

Buffy (shoots a nasty look at Dawn): Tell-me-everything.

Dawn (smiling): Uh huh. Ok, so first there was this hallway with a bunch of doors, and some of them opened when I walked by. Xander was in one constantly losing a coin toss, and then there was some optical illusion, and then... (Thinks for a minute) this weird old black and white movie was playing with some guy who fell down a lot. And then you were there...

Buffy: Me?

Dawn: Yeah. You were doing the Flintstones thing, all your furniture was made out of bones and you were brushing your hair.

Buffy: Prophecy free so far.

Dawn: Oh, I dunno, bone furniture’s gonna be big I think. Anyway, then Spike was in Antarctica with penguins and then he threw a snowball at me. Then something about Anya and money.

Buffy: Dawn, the Glory part?

Dawn: You told me to tell you everything. As I was saying...then I was on a beach drinking hot chocolate with Ben and I asked where my sister was. He said, “have you seen mine?” and turned into Glory. Then I woke up.

Buffy: Far-fetched much?

Dawn (very serious and scared): I think that’s what happened at the hospital that night. How could I forget something like that?

Buffy: Oh boy. This could be bad. This is bad. This was already bad, now it’s confusing too. All right. Go back to bed, I’ll call Giles in the morning.

*************************************************************

The next morning, UC Sunnydale. Tara is in her Ancient Egypt 101 class, diligently taking notes.

Professor: ...saw the battle between them as the ultimate victory of good over evil. According to some scholars, in the “sphere of the eternal” where there is no duality, they are as one, both death and life, dark and light and so on and so forth. In Egyptian religion this has been called “the secret of the two partners.” If you would like a better understanding of this idea, there is a new exhibit at the Natural History museum, containing some recently excavated papyrus scrolls that depict this idea in more detail. I urge all of you to check it out, as it...

*************************************************************

At the magic shop that afternoon, all the scoobies are gathered at the research table when Buffy enters the store.

Buffy: Sorry I’m late, I overslept.

Xander: Hot date last night?

Buffy (blushing slightly and pointedly ignoring him): Strange things are afoot.

Xander: Strange is kind of the norm for the Hellmouth Buff. What is it this time? Evil fairies?

Buffy: No, Dawn had a dream last night. It seemed to involve a lot of penguins, but I think the important part is that she remembers seeing Ben turn into Glory when she was in the hospital.

Willow: Ben the intern?

Buffy: One and the same. Or two and the same, I guess. I was hoping this would make some sense to you Giles.

Willow: But he seemed so nice.

Buffy: I know, I can’t believe I considered dating him.

Giles: This is very...interesting to say the least.

Xander: How many do you think are in there? This guy could be a regular Sybil.

Giles: Well, we do know there are three Hellgods, perhaps they all inhabit the same corporeal form.

Xander: Talk about cramped housing.

Willow: But Ben seemed so...helpful. And he’s a male nurse!

Giles: In theory, just because they inhabit the same body doesn’t mean they share the same agenda. In fact, classically, the most likely candidate for such an arrangement were those who represented polar opposites. Good and evil, black and white...a duality if you will. Sort of a-a balancing effect.

Tara: Like Horus and Set.

Giles: Exactly.

Everyone else, with the exception of Anya looks blank.

Tara: Yeah, I just learned this in class. In a nutshell, Set was the epitome of evil, and Horus the epitome of good. They waged an eternal battle against one another, and the ancient Egyptians worshipped both. Actually, there’s this new exhibit over at the museum that deals with this stuff. They just dug up some scrolls that retell an earlier form of the myth. Maybe we should go check them out.

Buffy: Great idea. Who’s driving?

*************************************************************

A little while later at the Sunnydale Museum, the gang has arrived and is weaving their way towards the new Egyptian exhibit.

Xander: Gee, I haven’t been here since the 3rd grade.

Willow: I remember. You put gum in my hair.

Xander: Did not.

Willow: Did too.

Xander: Did not!

Giles: Children stay with your buddies and please be quiet.

Buffy: So what are we looking for exactly?

Tara: Over here I think. (She leads everyone over to some glass cases containing unrolled papyrus scrolls, as Giles wanders off, apparently in search of something.)

Xander: So what does this stuff say? No sprechen sie ancient Egyptian.

Tara: Me either, really, but these little cards give a handy explanation.

Xander (peering at one of the cards): What? This thing that says “and the Pharaoh shall bring with him thirty heads of cattle and forty bushels of...”

Tara: No, over here. (She reads aloud) “This is an early indication of the god Set, dated shortly after the conquest of Upper Egypt by Lower Egypt. It describes Set as embodying the cosmic opposition of darkness and light in a single form.” That’s all the card says, but from the amount of hieroglyphs, there’s obviously a lot more. I think we need to study this.

Buffy: Well, there’s always breaking and entering.

Xander: Guys, are we sure that reading this won’t bring back some five thousand-year old supremely powerful dead guy?

Buffy: With our luck, you can count on it.

Giles walks up behind the group with a middle-aged bespectacled man in a tweed suit, similar to Giles’ own.

Giles: Ah, Buffy. May I introduce Dr. Alfonso Delano, the museum’s curator?

Buffy (shakes his hand): Um pleased to meet you?

Giles: Dr. Delano has been so kind as to let me borrow copies of these exciting new scrolls so I can compare them with previous studies I’ve done for the museum.

Buffy: Fab! More crumbly old papers.

Dr. Delano: It’s the least I can do to thank you for all your hard work Rupert. (He shakes Giles’ hand) I must be getting back to work now. (Nods to Buffy) So nice to have met you. (He departs)

Buffy (As they are taking their leave as well): When do you find time for all these extracurricular activities?

Giles: Well I didn’t watch Passions with Spike all summer you know. By the way, Dr. Delano told me a bit of interesting news. A 12th Century bastard sword was stolen from the arms and armor exhibit last night.

Buffy: And...

Giles: There was a very familiar symbol on the hilt. Very similar in fact to those inconspicuous head tattoos sported by our anachronistic friends.

Buffy (groans): As if I didn’t have enough to deal with. Fine, you guys get with the research; Spike and I will get with the recon. As always.

*************************************************************

Later that evening at the magic shop, the scoobies are seated around the research table, heads bent studiously over multiple open texts. Dawn is in the Danger Room studying while Buffy is on patrol.

Willow (whispering to Xander): What do you thinks going to happen to Dawnie?

Xander: Hopefully nothing. Maybe Glory and the Knights can kill each other off and then we can all go happily out for pizza.

Willow: Somehow I don’t think it’ll be that simple. I’m really worried Xander.

Xander: Me too Will. Maybe we should get her away from here. Do the whole witness protection program thing until this nastiness blows over.

Willow: And then what? Let’s say it does blow over or get killed or whatever. Will she still be Dawn?

Xander: Again, I’m probably not the guy you should be asking.

Willow: Giles, will she still be Dawn?

Dawn peeks out of the Danger Room upon hearing her name.

Giles: What? What are you talking about?

Willow: Dawn. What’s going to happen to her?

Giles: We’re working on it.

Willow: But what if she goes away? What if we don’t remember her?

Giles (Puts a comforting arm around Willow): We’ll do everything we can to safeguard her. But we have to go one step at a time.

Tara: This is it!

Giles: What did you find?

Tara: The spell. The spell that can split Glory and Ben into their two halves.

*************************************************************

Meanwhile, Buffy and Spike are on a knight hunt.

Spike: You would think a battalion of tin soldiers would be a lot easier to find in these modern times.

Buffy: You would think that, wouldn’t you. Gahhh! I’m so tired of this! One chosen girl in all the world, chosen to fight vampires, and now I’m up against a god and a bunch of idiots who didn’t make the Templars’ cut. Where is this in my job description?

Spike: What, you’re not Buffy the god-knight-demon-vampire-except for a certain cunning and devilishly handsome bloke-Slayer?

Buffy (smiles): I’d consider it, but I don’t think it would fit on the business cards. (Smile fades to frown) I hate this! I feel like we’re going in circles and getting absolutely nowhere!

Spike: That’s what we always do on patrol.

Buffy: But usually we at least get to kill things.

Spike: Do I detect a bit of bloodlust in my little Slayer?

Buffy: What do you mean by that?

Spike: Let’s see – you just said you wanted to kill things, something I might add you lecture me about constantly, and then I said...

Buffy: I know what you said.

Spike: No need to get defensive. It is what you do SLAYER.

Buffy: I didn’t mean it.

Spike: Oh I think you bloody well did. Don’t fight it so hard, you’ll only make it worse.

Buffy: How would you know?

Spike (chuckles): Is that a serious question? It’s what I am, and as much as you fight it, it’s what you are. Difference is your victims tend to tidy themselves up after a nice breeze. And you don’t eat them, of course.

Buffy: It’s just...I’m tired, I’m frustrated...and right about now, a vampire exploding into dust seems very calming.

Spike takes a step back from her.

Buffy: Not you. Did I say that or did I think that? (Pauses) I don’t want to turn into Faith, Spike; killing innocent people, not being able to care, etc. Etc.

Spike: Not caring’s not your problem luv. If you didn’t care you wouldn’t be in this mess. (Stops and turns to face her) Buffy, look at this logically. Have you ever been tempted to kill an innocent person?

Buffy: No. Well, there was Principal Snyder, but innocent was iffy there. As was person for that matter.

Spike: Fine then. Buck up and let’s move on.

Buffy: The only way we’d find these guys tonight is with a metal detector. I give up. I’ve gotta go meet the guys at the Bronze anyway. I’ll call you tomorrow. (Spike watches her as she walks off.)

*************************************************************

A little later at the Bronze, Buffy walks in to see the scoobies seated at a back table with a very bored looking Dawn.

Buffy: Hey guys, any luck?

Willow (excited): We found the spell to split the Hellgods in two!

Buffy: What about the third?

Tara: We’re still working on that.

Willow: Still, progress. Progress is good.

Buffy (huffs down into a chair): Progress is obviously not my watchword of the evening. Spike and I came up with a big fat zilch.

Xander: Speak of the devil.

Buffy (frantically looking around): Knights? Here at the Bronze?

Xander: No. The devil.

Spike: (walks up to the table) Evenin’ folks.

He gets a diverse reaction from the scoobies. Dawn and Anya grin at him, Tara hangs her head, and Willow and Xander look at him with various degrees of disapproval.

Buffy: Hi Spike! Sit down?

Spike (makes a triumphant face at Xander): Don’t mind if I do. (Sits next to Dawn) Hey there jellybean, isn’t it past your bedtime?

Dawn: It’s Friday night braniac. And yeah, this is just what I want to be doing. Hanging out with my sister and her dorky friends.

Xander: Dorky! I...

Dawn: But in a good way.

Spike: I’d say she was giving you a compliment there, whelp.

Xander: Now wait just a...

Spike: (looks at watch) Amazing. 30 seconds, and I’m bored with you already. (Grabs Buffy’s hand and pulls her up) Care to dance? (He pulls her towards the dance floor, and Dawn gives him a thumbs up sign behind Buffy’s back.)

Buffy (as they get to the dance floor): I...um...um...sure.

Buffy and Spike start out a bit awkward, but are soon bumping and grinding to the raucous music.

Xander: Is it just me, or has this crossed the I’m ok with this line?

Willow: Xander, you started across that line.

Xander: You know what I mean.

Tara: It may not be the best choice of partner, but this is the first time she’s danced since Riley left.

Xander: This is bad.

Dawn (happily watching the couple dance): No it’s not. His plan’s finally working.

Xander & Willow: What plan?

Dawn: I promised I wouldn’t tell.

Xander: I knew it! I knew it! I told you all and you didn’t listen! You never listen!

Dawn: Earth to Xander, if Spike’s plan was to do some evil horrible thing to Buffy, do you really think I’d go along with it? (Mumbles) Even if she did eat the last Twinkie.

Xander (looks over at Spike and Buffy, and sees Spike bending his head over Buffy’s neck): See! See! He’s gonna bite her! (He starts to get up)

Dawn (pointing to a now laughing Buffy): Oh I see, very evil. I think he just told her a joke. Ooh-scary!

Xander (sits down in a huff): He’s just softening her up, lulling her suspicions.

Dawn: Whatever. (She gives Spike another thumbs up sign.)

Willow (hurt): I thought she came here to see us.

Anya: She sees us all the time. But she has come to this place of social gathering to meet appropriate sexual partners.

Xander (spluttering): Appropriate!?

Anya: Yes. I think Spike is what you’d call quite a catch. (Dawn emphatically nods her agreement.)

Xander: In a don’t ever bring him home to your mother kind of way.

Dawn: Oh no – Mom loves him.

Xander: Do you think it’s a genetic defect?

*************************************************************

Some time later, Buffy and company exit the Bronze, talking amongst themselves. As they turn the corner of the building, they are suddenly faced with a dozen or so knights in full armor brandishing swords, shields, maces and crossbows.

Knight: Kill the Slayer!

Buffy (shoving Dawn in Willow’s direction): Watch her! (She jumps into battle)

The knights rush her, one slashing at her with his sword. Buffy easily ducks and punches him in the stomach, causing him to double over. She puts both fists together and clocks him on the back of the neck, sending him to the ground, only to have two more rush at her. Meanwhile, several rush over to Willow and Dawn and try to attack them. Willow utters some magic words and a barrier springs up, effectively protecting her and Dawn from any attackers, and even causing one of the knights to drop his mace in surprise. She then utters a few more words, and the knights surrounding them are suddenly immobilized. Xander is ineffectively attempting to wrench a knight off his neck when Anya picks up the dropped weapon and clunks Xander’s aggressor on the head, rendering him unconscious. She looks extremely pleased with herself. Over near the side of the building, Spike is attempting to ward off an attack, but is having a difficult time because of his still tender arms, and the inevitable blinding pain that rushes through his head every time he sends a blow towards the knight. Finally managing to get a hit in, he stumbles off, clutching his head, and vanishing from sight. Buffy, meanwhile is caught between two knights, and is barely holding them off. Unfortunately for them, one of the knights over-extends on a swing. Buffy catches his sword arm in her hand, and spins him around, so his back is facing her, his arm in her control. She effectively parries her other attacker, using his friend’s arm as her sword arm, and his body as a shield. She then throws her human buckler into his ally, sending them both skidding down the street. As the next wave attacks her, Buffy jumps up, grabs the dangling fire escape ladder, and swings her legs out in a deadly kick towards the front man, toppling a gaggle of knights like bowling pins. As she comes down from her kick, the ladder screeches, loosens and comes down with her. She loses the advantage for a moment, as she is dropped on her butt. Buffy quickly recovers, hops up and swings the ladder around, catching several more knights in their midsections. She spins, swinging in the other direction, and narrowly misses clocking Xander and Anya in the head, as she takes down another wave. Spike finally re-emerges from behind the Bronze, dragging a fire hose.

Spike: Duck, Slayer!

Buffy ducks, automatically heeding his words, and Spike sends a stream of pressurized water at the remaining knights, effectively knocking them down with the jet stream. The knights struggle futilely against the onslaught, unable to maneuver well in their heavy chain mail. As Spike washes them down the street, Buffy bends over a downed and groaning knight.

Buffy (picking up the knight by the front of his armor and snarling): Tell the rest of the round table we know how to destroy Glory. Tell them either start helping or get out of my town because you’re seriously cramping my style.

*************************************************************

The next afternoon at the Magic Box, the scoobies are at the research table, studiously poring over books, while Giles is rummaging in the back room.

Xander (suddenly perks up): Ok. Did anyone else notice last night?

Everyone stops what they are doing to look at him.

Anya: Yes Xander, we all noticed last night. We were all together last night. Which portion were you referring to?

Xander: The dancing portion? The Wonder Twins portion?

Willow: The joke portion?

Xander: Exactly! Does anyone else have a problem with this?

Anya (rolling her eyes): Still a no from me.

Willow: Well I do!

Xander: Weren’t you the one who gave him back his soul in the first place?

Willow: Yeah, well, it didn’t work, did it? Besides, how was I supposed to know she’d actually like him? I thought, hey, more help with the research.

Xander: Right, ‘cause Buffy never goes for pale scary guys in long black coats.

Tara: W-well, he is trying.

Willow: I know, but he’s changing Buffy. It’s like we never see her anymore, and when we do...

Tara: Go on, Honey

Willow: She’s just...all gung-ho fighter Buffy. Where’s my fun Buffy?

Anya: She looked like she was enjoying herself last night.

Willow (pouting): But not with us, with Spike.

Giles (entering the room): How’s the research going?

Willow: Kinda not. We took a Buffy worry break.

Giles: Is something wrong? Something I don’t know about already, that is?

Anya: No.

Xander: Yes, there is.

Giles: My, how clear.

Xander: It’s the Spike thing.

Giles (takes off his glasses and starts to clean them): Yes, I see.

Xander: But you didn’t see. He was all over her at the Bronze last night.

Anya: And she was all over him.

Giles: Y-yes, well. I can see where you’re upset. Listening to it last year was quite bad enough.

Willow (blushing): Only this time I can’t get rid of the spell and bake cookies. Oh, I’d bake cookies. Lots and lots of cookies.

Giles: Th-that’s all right Willow, I think I still have some at home. Not that they weren’t delicious.

Xander: Can’t you step in with your Watcherly expertise and... (Makes a vague waving motion with his hand.)

Giles: I’ve tried that and as you can see Buffy is currently training elsewhere of her own volition. Besides, I think we have to put this on the back burner until we have finished dealing with Glory. So, what have you found out?

Willow: A lot of questions.

Giles: Do go on.

Willow: So we know how to separate them. Great, then what? We’ve got clash of the Titans on Main Street. Not so great. We also still have no idea who this mysterious third Hellgod is, and what side is he or she gonna be on?

Xander: And what is this Sphere of the Eternal thing?

Tara: I think it’s a metaphor, Xander.

Giles: Well, unfortunately I don’t know the answers to these questions either, but maybe we can start looking for a spell to contain the Hellgods while they battle.

*************************************************************

That evening, Willow goes to Buffy’s house before heading back to her dorm room. Joyce answers the door.

Joyce: Oh, hello Willow, come on in. Buffy’s not home yet.

Willow: Will she be back soon?

Joyce: I’m not sure, I can call Spike and ask, though.

Willow: I don’t think he has a phone in his crypt.

Joyce: Oh, no. Buffy gave him a cell phone. Hang on, I’ll call him, it’s on speed dial. (She disappears into the kitchen for a few minutes leaving Willow looking both stunned and worried.)

Joyce (coming back into the living room): She’s actually on her way home. Would you like something to eat?

A few minutes later, Buffy walks in.

Buffy: Hi Mom! Oh, hi Will! Got some new info or is this a social call?

Willow: Social call.

Buffy: C’mon upstairs. (They both go up to her room and sit on the bed.)

Buffy: What’s going on Wills? I feel like I haven’t seen you in so long.

Willow: That’s actually why I came over. (Notices an old photo on Buffy’s mirror) Who’s that?

Buffy (blushes a deep red, and says in a very tiny voice): Um...Spike?

Willow: Really? (Goes and picks up the photo) In a sailor suit? Where did you get this?

Buffy: From Mrs. The Bloody.

Willow: Um...look at him, all small and visible and...alive. Huh.

Buffy: I know, he’s cute, isn’t he?

Willow (snaps back to reality and replaces the picture): No-no, not cute, no. Buffy, I think we need to talk about...things.

Buffy: We are talking about things.

Willow: Other things. Buffy, we’re really worried about you.

Buffy: Join the club.

Willow: This you-Spike thing...what’s going on? I know you didn’t want to talk about it before, but I think now’s the time.

Buffy (sighing): What do you wanna know?

Willow: Did you...and him...again...it...do?

Buffy: No Yoda, we didn’t. Can’t say I haven’t been tempted though.

Willow (whimpering): Oh.

Buffy: Don’t worry Willow, the days of spontaneous Buffy are over.

Willow: But I liked spontaneous Buffy! It’s Sith Buffy I’m worried about.

Buffy: No worries Will, still a Jedi here.

Willow: But you’re spending so much time with Spike, and you’re starting to act like him. Not in the evil British vampire way, but tending more towards the smashy smashy.

Buffy: That’s my job.

Willow: You didn’t used to be this entrepreneurial.

Buffy: I guess I’m finally starting to realize what it means to be the Slayer.

Willow: And that is...?

Buffy: I slay things. I kill things. Kill. I can say it. Kill.

Willow: But you kill demons – that’s good, right?

Buffy: I don’t think it’s that black and white. I mean, Oz, Anya, Angel...Spike. Where do they fall on the chessboard? Dawn even?

Willow: Does that mean you’re giving it up?

Buffy (mirthless laugh): No. Though at times I would love to. But no. While evil lurks, Buffy is there. It’s just, I’m starting to see I’m not so different from my enemies as I thought. There’s a little bit of me in them and a little bit of them in me (wrinkles nose). Just not so much like a bad song.

Willow: So now that you’re taking a walk on the wild side, what happens to those of us who live where the wild things aren’t? Are we still friends?

Buffy (gives her a hug): Of course! Always. And then some. Why wouldn’t we be?

Willow: I dunno. Maybe ‘cause, you know...last night...the Bronze...you and Spike...

Buffy: We all left together didn’t we? We were dancing. I dance with you. I dance with Xander. I don’t dance with Giles, but that’s because I don’t know how to dance to Pink Floyd.

Willow: You don’t dance like that with me. But that’s a good, non-icky thing.

Buffy: You didn’t get like this with Riley.

Willow (her eyes widen a fraction, but decides she’s heard enough for now and just hugs her): I’m glad everything’s fine. I feel better now. Oh! I also came here to tell you that we’re still working on the Glory problem, but we currently have even more questions than answers. Our main concern right now is how to contain two Hellgods while they’re trying to destroy each other.

Buffy: Well, keep at it I guess. I’ll be in tomorrow to help.

*************************************************************

A few minutes after Willow leaves, Dawn leans against Buffy’s doorjamb.

Dawn: What were you talking about?

Buffy: Spike, mostly.

Dawn (smiles): You two were getting pretty close last night.

Buffy: I’m glad somebody’s happy about it.

Dawn: Spike is.

Buffy: How would you know?

Dawn: Telepathy.

Buffy: By moving things with your mind?

Dawn (rolling eyes): That’s telekinesis, college girl.

Buffy: Whatever, I take psych, not psychic friends. Did you want something, other than to annoy me?

Dawn: I want to talk to you about Glory.

Buffy: Don’t worry Dawn, I’ll keep you safe.

Dawn: That’s what I’m worried about. I wanna help.

Buffy: Dawn, no. You need to stay out of all this.

Dawn: Buffy, this is my fight. I stay away from the vampires, except Spike of course, but I can’t stay out of this-I’m in it. I am it!

Buffy: Dawn, it’s not safe.

Dawn: Don’t you think I know that? But why should everybody risk their lives for me if I’m doing nothing?

Buffy: There’s nothing you can do that we’re not doing already.

Dawn (under her breath as she turns to leave): We’ll see about that.

*************************************************************

The next night, Buffy and Spike are walking through the graveyard making their rounds.

Buffy: So yeah, Willow thought we weren’t friends anymore.

Spike: Why would she think that?

Buffy: Because I’m spending so much time with you.

Spike: It’s not like she ever really patrolled with you, luv. I don’t think I’m cutting in on much quality time here.

Buffy: I know, but I think she was freaked by us dancing together the other night.

Spike: Odd that, since she walked in on us naked that time.

Buffy: Well that was a very specific situation. And she was pretty wigged then too, if you remember. So anyway, I told her she wasn’t like this with Riley, so what’s the deal?

Spike abruptly stops walking.

Spike: You said what?

Buffy (stops and looks at him): I said...(realizes what she said) Oh.

They stare at each other for a few minutes, Buffy fidgeting and obviously unsure of herself. Suddenly, Spike grabs her by the upper arms and pulls her to him. She looks up into his eyes and he leans down and kisses her. After a moment, Buffy’s own hands come up to grip Spike’s elbows, as she leans in to kiss him back.

Black and White and Shades of Grey