Resolutions

Chapter 10

I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a happy, healthy and preposterous New year. Here’s a bit of Spuffiness for you leading into the Scooby meeting and the start of some serious exposition…

All the way back to the Summers’ house, Spike was aware of Buffy’s pout. As he turned onto the drive and switched off the bike he resigned himself to the resumption of the argument.


“I still don’t understand.” Buffy’s voice was beginning to turn into a petulant whine. “Buffyblood’s best for her vamp. You hate animal blood.”


He shook his head impatiently and tried again as he shed his duster and replaced the sword in its home behind the coat stand. “Buffy, Slayer of my heart. I may not have eaten for about a week in my time, but in your time I’ve already fed from you once today. I am not going to start drinking from you when I’m this hungry and you’ve not had a chance to make up what I took before. It’s too bloody dangerous.”


“But you didn’t even take very much, only a few mouthfuls!” Spike wasn’t sure whether she was complaining because she felt he hadn’t fed enough before jumping into the portal, or because this time the process had been over so quickly there hadn’t been the same frantic sexual encounter as they’d experienced before.


“I know you’re the Slayer but you still don’t have as much blood in that tiny body as an average person. You can’t afford to lose as much as… say… Harris.”


“Hmph. No fair. It’s not my fault I got all the short genes in the family…”


He preceded her into the kitchen and opened the freezer. “Let’s compromise, yeah? I’ll drink a couple of pints of this cowjuice,” he dug out a big pot of beef blood and held it up, “and then I’ll top off with a few sips from you. Okay?”


“Mmnnnokay.”


That luscious bottom lip was still sticking out sulkily so as the pot of blood started slowly rotating in the microwave, Spike leaned back against the counter, opened his arms in invitation and murmured, “God, I missed you…”


Buffy didn’t hesitate. She stepped into the circle of his embrace and tucked her face into his neck, wrapping her arms around his waist with a contented little sigh. “It was agony without you for ten minutes; I can’t imagine how you coped for two whole weeks!”


Spike inhaled deeply of her essence. “One second at a time, beloved. One second at a time.” He closed his eyes and luxuriated in the comforting sensation of her warm hands loosening his clothing and stroking and caressing him as if she were refamiliarising herself with his body after a long separation.


All at once her explorations came to an abrupt halt with a shocked gasp. “Oh my God! What did you do to it? Is it broken?”


He opened his eyes and looked down to find his jeans around his knees and Buffy staring aghast at his flaccid penis. He chuckled at her horrified expression. “Got used to having it always standing at attention for you to play with, haven’t you my sweet Slayer? Don’t panic darlin’. Just need blood, is all…”


The microwave pinged as Buffy dropped to her knees in front of him. Earnestly she ordered him, “Drink! I’ll just make sure he’s still working…” She reached out and tenderly cradled him in her hands, musing quietly, “I’ve never seen him sleeping before...”


Spike started drinking slowly, savouring not so much the flavour which he was trying very hard to ignore, but the feeling of warmth gradually infusing his body as the fresh blood filled out starving tissues and re-energised him. He moaned quietly as Buffy began teasing him with her mouth and hands and he spread his legs as wide as the jeans that hobbled his legs allowed, to give her better access.


The sensation called to mind the time after their hunt in the forest dimension when he had fed while Buffy had simultaneously been pleasuring him with her mouth, and that memory coupled with the fresh infusion of blood and Buffy’s eager ministrations prompted the desired physical reaction.


By the time he had finished the blood Buffy was enthusiastically trying to swallow him whole, making the most delicious little slurpy sounds coupled with whimpers and moans of pleasure.


He tossed the empty pot into the sink, looked down and wove his fingers through her hair to hold it out of the way so he could glory in the erotic sight of his glistening member sliding in and out of her rosy strawberry lip-glossed mouth, her flushed cheeks pulling inwards with the force of suction on each outstroke. “God, love. Yeah… got what you want now, haven’t you my greedy little vixen. Swallow me down, there’s a good little Slayer… Oh yeah… just like that…”


Buffy looked up through her eyelashes, her wide laughing eyes meeting his as she intensified the stimulus, rolling his testicles in one hand as she squeezed his ass in rhythm with her sucking.


Spike couldn’t tear his gaze from hers, his murmured endearments becoming less and less intelligible as he got nearer and nearer to climax.


When she withdrew her mouth he moaned in loss, but the heat was only missing for a heartbeat as she gasped, “Change…” then she lunged forward, taking him in to the root, burying her nose in his dark wiry curls with a deep hum of pleasure that vibrated thrillingly through every cell as a hand slid around and a single finger forced its way past the tight ring of muscle of his anus.


Spike threw his head back and closed his eyes in ecstasy as he let his demon to the fore, a roared, “Slaaaayer!” escaping him as the dual stimulation caused him to lose control and shoot his release down her throat.


Panting, he slumped back against the counter as Buffy allowed his penis to slip out of her mouth and proceeded to lap breathlessly around the hard raised ridges produced along his extended length when he was wearing his demonic guise.


When she kissed the tip of his semi-hard penis, stood and tipped her head to one side offering herself to him, he pulled her close and nuzzled her throat. “Yeah, baby…” He whispered huskily, lifting her to rub himself against her centre from which the familiar heady musk was flooding, prompting his flagging erection to harden once more.


In seconds her jeans and panties were shredded and as his fangs slipped easily into his mark and he took the first agonisingly slow pull of her blood she gripped his shoulders, spread her legs to grip his hips and with a quiet satisfied sigh slid down onto him.


She didn’t move. She rested her head on his shoulder and nibbled at her own mark, rippling her inner muscles around him as she gasped and whimpered at the intense sensations coursing through her being.


Spike supported her bottom with one hand, crushing her against him with the other at her back as he savoured the power flooding his body with her blood and the wondrous heat throbbing and undulating so tightly around his erection. His second climax came when she bit sharply down on her mark forcing his hips to jerk forward as with a muffled wail she came to pieces in his arms.


He withdrew his fangs and resumed his human visage, lapping tenderly at the tiny wounds as they closed over, basking in the closeness with his Mate that he’d missed so intensely during his long lonely wait in the other dimension.


With her heartbeat and breathing returning to normal, Buffy lifted her head from his shoulder and cradled his head in her hands. “Oooooooh that’s better….” She breathed as she lowered her lips to his for a kiss.


They stayed in the same position, still intimately joined and kissing unhurriedly, for several minutes until Buffy sighed and reminded him, “Oh… um… much as I’d like to stay like this for… well... kinda forever… Gotta get to the Scooby meeting…” and reluctantly disengaged from his embrace.


“Oh no! I liked those panties… and those were brand new pants!” She couldn’t seem to make up her mind between irritation and amusement at discovering remnants of her ruined clothes scattered around the kitchen.


Spike stretched sensuously and then pulled his jeans up and tucked himself away, comforted by the renewal of the intimate pressure of denim against sensitive flesh he had become accustomed to. “You’ve got a wardrobe full of jeans and as I’ve said before, I don’t know why you bother with knickers at all…”


******


They eventually entered the back door of the Magic Box just over an hour after everyone else had arrived. They evidently made very little noise, as before they made it to the main part of the shop they could hear a conversation they were certain they were not supposed to be party to.


Buffy stopped in the shadows and laid a hand on Spike’s arm, shaking her head to prevent him from barging in all guns blazing when he heard Xander’s sanctimonious rant.


“So we’re really just supposed to accept this now then? The bleached leech is going to be sinking his fangs into Buffy whenever he feels like it? What’s wrong with her? Why can’t she see this is every kind of wrong there is?”


“You don’t understand, Xander. We have to accept it. It’s Buffy’s decision to make.”


“No, I don’t understand and I can’t just accept it! It’s…”


“Oh, for goodness sake be quiet, Xander. You’ve been harping on about the same topic ever since we got here and to be quite honest it’s getting old. None of us likes it, but we have to trust that Buffy knows what she’s doing and we’ve all recognised she’s not going to be coerced into changing her mind. Why can’t you?”


“Yeah, stop it, Xander!”


“Stop what? Stop telling the uncomfortable truths that nobody else wants to put out there? No, I don’t think I will.”


“I thought it was my job to tell the uncomfortable truths?”


“I think Xander’s decided to take over your position, Anya. You should sue…”


Buffy shook her head sadly and took Spike by the hand to lead him through into the main body of the shop. Gesturing he should take his habitual seat on the ladder and then perching between his legs she ignored the strained atmosphere, smiled artificially widely and perkily asked, “Please tell me you left me some pizza?”


Tara jumped up and pressed a button on the office microwave and Buffy was soon tucking in, the awkward silence extending to an uncomfortable degree.


Buffy gave a satisfied sigh and leaned back against Spike. “Ah, that was good.” In a deceptively casual tone as she wiped smears of tomato and cheese from her mouth and fingers with a napkin, she continued, “Xander, You’re skating on very thin ice here. I still haven’t forgotten you called my love life a disgusting mess. This issue of Spike feeding from me is… well quite honestly it’s none of your business and I’m done defending my decision. Deal.”


She tossed the napkin into the empty box and turned to her Watcher, ignoring the hurt and disappointed expression on Xander’s face. “Giles, I’m sorry we delayed the meeting, what’s first on the agenda?”


Giles cleared his throat nervously, glancing anxiously between Buffy and Xander before taking his place by the counter and opening his notebook at a marked page. “Well now…”


Emboldened by Buffy’s attitude, Spike raised a finger to attract Giles’ attention. “Uh… before you start, Watcher, there’s something that I’ve been wondering for… well for years, really. Didn’t particularly concern me before, in fact it was to my advantage so I couldn’t give a toss, but things are different now…”


“Oh get on with it, man! We’re never going to get finished at this rate!”


“Right. Make it brief. Got it.” He took a deep breath. “Scooby Central… started out as the School Library, yeah? Then after you blew it up you had a year all cosy at your flat before you got fed up with the kiddies popping in at all hours of the day and night, and now it’s here in the shop.”


“Stating the obvious, Spike. Get to the point!”


“Point, yeah. Right. My point. Using what deranged logic did you decide that the best place to discuss secret Slayer business was a public venue where any Tom Dick or Harry could… and frequently does… walk in and interrupt proceedings? And what’s even more important, where vamps need no invitation to burst in and attack you or sneak in and steal your stuff… as I’m sure you’ll recall has happened more than once.”


Giles’ glasses were immediately off his nose and being polished with a desperate urgency. His spluttered disjointed excuses contained words such as ‘convenient’, ‘central’ and ‘easily explainable’ but it wasn’t long before he ran out of steam, slowly slid his glasses back in place and leaned back against the counter with a deep sigh, staring thoughtfully at his shoes.


“That’s what I said!” Everyone looked at Dawn and she continued defensively, “Well I did! That time Spike’s minion sneaked into the school and stole that book, I said it was stupid having your meetings and all the weapons and research junk where any vamp could get at it!” She sniffed and muttered resentfully, “Of course you all like totally ignored me. I was just a stupid little kid, what would I know…”


Spike frowned as he tried to remember the incident until Giles nodded and murmured, “Oh yes, the Du Lac spellbook. As it happens it was the Council that set me up as the school librarian so I’d be able to keep in close contact with Buffy…”


“Wasn’t that before the big reveal to your mum, Slayer?”


Buffy shrugged, “Dawn’s been in on my secret identity since we lived in LA.” She mock scowled at a smugly grinning Dawn and continued, “It’s a lot harder to keep secrets from pesky little sisters who regularly go through your stuff and catch you sneaking in in the middle of the night covered with cuts and bruises and with your clothing trashed, than busy parents who are preoccupied with imploding marriages.”


Giles cleared his throat and reluctantly admitted, “Yes, well. I concede you both appear to have a valid point.” He flipped the pages of his notebook distractedly. “Possibly we could all begin considering potential alternatives for discussion sometime in the future?” He looked up and raised a quizzical eyebrow as he looked around the group, “Now if there are no more interruptions, perhaps we can proceed with tonight’s business?”


When nobody spoke, Giles began by asking, “Have you heard from Clem yet about how Pavel’s doing, Buffy?”


When Buffy shook her head in the negative, Willow hesitantly asked, “You really think Riley had something to do with what happened to him?”


The Slayer shrugged, “Well he didn’t mention him by name, Will, but it was pretty clear who Pavel meant.”


“Sooo… do we officially cross Riley off the ‘White Hat’ list and enter him in the ‘Bad Guys’ column, then?” Xander shook his head in disbelief. “I just can’t believe it. He was so into the whole Slaying gig. I wish he’d stayed.”


Anya commented scathingly, “There’s no way I’m going to grant that wish, Xander Harris. Buffy never loved him and you know it. You told me so yourself. If he’d have stayed it would have been even worse for her.”


As Dawn smacked Xander upside the head and berated him for careless use of the W word, Buffy gaped in disbelief. “What do you mean, Anya?”


Anya gestured imperiously at Xander, indicating that he should answer. Rubbing his head, he reluctantly explained, “Uh… You know that day we moved your stuff out of the dorms when you found out your mom was ill? Riley told me then that he knew you didn’t love him.”


“He did? I didn’t? Why did nobody tell me?” Buffy was stunned. She thought for a moment then sadly admitted, “Do you know… I don’t think I did. I tried to…”


Then she was abruptly angry. “Wait a minute, Xander… Let me get this straight. You knew I wasn’t in love with Riley, but all the same you went through that whole rant to talk me into running after him that night he was caught red-handed cheating on me with the skanky vamp hos and suddenly decided that running off into the jungle was the smart thing to do? Why? Why on earth would you do that to me?”


“He loved you so much and gave up so much for you. He was the ‘normal guy’ you said you wanted. I just wanted you to be happy…”


While Buffy was mutely opening and closing her mouth in bewilderment, Anya cheerfully interjected, “A one-sided relationship like that never works. The one who loves more gets bitter when their feelings aren’t returned and the one who loves less starts feeling trapped and smothered, then all that’s left is the vengeance.”


Buffy cocked her head to one side and mused, “No, I don’t think he did love me that much. He couldn’t have. If he’d really loved me he wouldn’t have been able to get over me so quickly. We don’t know how long he was jetting about the world fighting demons before he met Sam, but when he did they must have fallen in love very quickly. I worked it out. Sam said they’d been married for four months, that means they got married less than ten months after he left Sunnydale! That’s not the sort of thing that happens if you’re all broken up over a lost love.”


“Great gormless git had no respect for your position as the Slayer either, Buffy.”


Buffy twisted to look up at him, “What do you mean, Spike?”


“Well… what sort of message does it send to the demon community when the Slayer’s own boyfriend who’s supposed to be helping her in her Calling leaves her bed with her scent still warm all over him to go visit a soddin’ suck house, then instead of staking the vamps there as he should, he goes back night after night and becomes one of their best customers?”


Giles was horrified. “You mean demons were openly talking about…”


“Yeah, that’s right. How do you think I learned about it? I saw him leaving in the middle of the night all the time, but I was never interested enough to follow him to see where he was going until a demon gloated about it at a poker game. Terrible gossips, demons, particularly where the Slayer’s concerned. There was a book running on how long it would take before he was turned and started killing you all. Shortest odds had the Slayer gettin’ it within six weeks.”


He started gently massaging Buffy’s knotted shoulders as he looked down at her stricken expression and gently added, “He’d’a probably started with your mum and little sis, they wouldn’t’a thought twice about inviting him in. Then he’d’a gone for Harris who thought the sun shone out’a his arse.”


While Xander spluttered a feeble rebuttal Spike nodded to himself as he worked out the most likely sequence of events. “He’d’a likely turned Harris and left him to take out demon girl and the witches. He’d’a concentrated on the Watcher. Then when you’d lost everyone you loved and were all alone and broken, he’d’a come for you. Likely he’d’a counted on you not being able to stake him and tried to turn you too, Slayer. He wouldn’t have known you’d keep your soul so he’d have relished the idea of turning the tables on you and having you under his thumb for eternity, what with Sire’s rights and whatnot.”


“Oh God…” Buffy breathed guiltily. “It’s all my fault. If only I’d stuck to my guns and not… I told him right at the start that a relationship between us was doomed but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I told you, didn’t I, Will? I said that there was no fire, no passion there. Not like with Angel…” She squeezed Spike’s hand on her shoulder apologetically as the mention of her first love sent a quiver of resentment through him, “Or you, honey…” Her attention was directed straight back to the redhead. “…but you didn’t seem to understand that I was trying to say I need the fire, Will. You liked him so much, you encouraged him to keep trying and pushed me towards him the same way you’d pushed me towards Angel… and then Scott… I was so lost and lonely after Angel left… you had Oz and Xander had Anya…” She sighed sadly and admitted, “I got so tired, I just stopped fighting it and let it happen.”


Anya nodded knowingly. “He was your rebound guy from Angel. That’s what Xander said, that you were treating him like the rebound guy. You just stayed with him much longer than is customary for a rebound relationship.”


“I… I think that must have been it… I was so comfortable with him I didn’t realise…”


“Your personality isn’t that of a leaver, Buffy. You’re so afraid of being alone, your natural tendency is to persevere long after you should accept a relationship isn’t working.”


Xander whispered to Willow under Anya’s continuing exposition, “Like she did with Angel when he came back from Hell.” The redhead frowned in thought for a moment and then reluctantly nodded in agreement.


“In fact when I think about it, it’s obvious you’re an archetypal leavee.” Anya shrugged, “Of course none of that matters now. You know Spike is never going to leave you and you might fight sometimes and break up for a little while, but you’ll never be able to leave him for long either.”


Buffy smiled softly up at her vampire, “Yeah… I know…” She then sighed, “Poor Riley, I was so happy not to be alone I totally took him for granted. No wonder he felt he had to leave…”


“Now really, Buffy...” Althanea put in reproachfully from her place all but obscured by her fluffy knitting, “You really ought to stop taking responsibility for the actions of third parties that you have no control over whatsoever. I never met the young man, obviously, although Ripper has told me a few edifying stories. It’s clear the poor boy had psychological problems long before he started acting in the irrational fashion you’ve described. He was involved with a very dubious covert government project and by all accounts willingly, even enthusiastically, took part in some extremely unpleasant activities. While keeping all of this secret and habitually lying about his entire life to everyone he met he discovered to his dismay that the pretty girl he liked was involved in a similar occupation. Unfortunately for his self-esteem, not only was she a considerably more experienced warrior that he was, but hers wasn’t a mundane career choice like his. For her it was a divine Calling. Then over a period of mere weeks his entire life fell apart. First the teacher and mentor he idolized tried to kill the girl he had come to love. Then the woman was killed and he learned that she had artificially induced the strength and endurance he was so proud of. Then he discovered that she had deceived him about the nature of his mission and she had been intending to turn him into some kind of inhuman killing machine. Finally he ended up losing both his career and his education. The fact that he subsequently went off the rails is most emphatically not your fault, my dear.”


Anya commented in an offhand tone, “I never trusted him because he was a demon bigot with the Initiative. And then when he wanted to experiment on the two Xanders…” She sounded a bit ashamed, “…after that I was scared of him.”


After a few moments of stunned silence, Giles asked, “Why on earth didn’t you say something, Anya?”


“I did. I was told to stop being silly.” She scowled at Xander.


The young man looked around at the disapproving faces and cried defensively, “What? It was Riley!”


Tara said hesitantly, “It sounds as if Riley shouldn’t be in any relationship until he’s dealt with his issues… I hope he and Sam… Oh Goddess! Sam must be his rebound girl! They got married much too quickly. The poor girl… I mean… Willow, you said she seemed so nice…”


“Yeah, she was. Although… she was part of a secret military demon hunting group too, wasn’t she? I wonder just how much of her behaviour was an act, like Riley’s…”


Giles cleared his throat. “Yes, well… quite. I think perhaps you’re well out of that relationship, Buffy my dear. I feel obliged to suggest that if he should show his face around here again, you should all be extremely cautious around him and don’t trust a word the blighter says.” He took his time cleaning his glasses to give Buffy a chance to collect herself then asked, “Since the incident with the vampire… uh… ladies, you haven’t needed to ask me for help with research, Buffy. Have you been able to identify all the demons you’ve encountered on patrol yourself?”


The Slayer shrugged. “It’s been very quiet, Giles. Since the vamp hookers thing it’s just been the odd stray vamp and demon that have been relatively easy to deal with. Nothing apocalypty at all. In fact I’m beginning to think word’s got around that Spike and I are stronger now and it’s scared the nasties out of town.” She sighed and added mournfully, “The only thing is, usually when it goes as quiet as this…”


Xander nodded warily. “It generally means that serious badness is looming…”


Dawn added, “Well, it is nearly that time of year…”


Willow pouted, “I was wondering why there was such a lackage of research parties. I miss getting down with the demon books…”


Anya rolled her eyes, “’Cos of course we’re so good at that. How long did we waste trying to find the non-existent diamond eating frost monster?”


Buffy chuckled ruefully. “Yeah, we did majorly suck…” She turned to Giles. “Actually, Giles. There’s been so little active Slayage lately I’m worried I might be losing form. I think I’m gonna have to start training with Spike again.”


Giles spluttered and gestured towards the back room. “Buffy, I really don’t think…”


“Oh no! Not here. There’s no way we could have a proper workout in the training room without causing some serious damage, it’s far too small. I think we’re going to have to take your advice and find an empty warehouse or something.” She nodded thoughtfully. “We should get into some serious weapons training too. No offence, Giles, but even with you using your favourite sword I can only get a few seconds practice before you’re disarmed, and I don’t want to risk hurting you.”


Spike grinned happily. Buffy hadn’t mentioned this idea to him before the meeting and he approved wholeheartedly. He missed their little fights, especially now they could be almost guaranteed to devolve into some truly spectacular shagging.


Tara volunteered, “Oh, while you’re talking about training, I’ve found an aikido class at the Community Centre on Saturdays after Dawnie and Xander’s self-defence class. I started this morning and I already think I’m going to love it.” When Willow gaped at her in astonishment she added with a little apologetic shrug, “Not every situation can be dealt with using magic, Willow. You should know that. We don’t know when the Hellmouth thing is going to happen and we have no idea what we’re going to be facing. I thought I should be prepared to defend myself physically too.”


“What an excellent idea, Tara my dear.” Giles said warmly. He then looked between Xander and Dawn. “And how is the self-defence class going? Can we hope that you’re both becoming less likely to share my inevitable fate of getting conked on the head and knocked unconscious in an altercation?” A self-mocking smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.


Buffy answered for her sister. “I’m really proud of Dawn, Giles. She’s doing so well her instructor says she’ll be ready to move up into the intermediate class soon.” She smiled across at the grinning teenager. “I think fighting talent must run in the family.” A small crease furrowed her brow as she focused on a suddenly guilty looking Xander. “However, although he showed great promise at the start, Xander now seems to be missing every other class.”


He sheepishly responded, “It’s Saturday mornings, Buff. Half the time I’m at the site, and when I’m not, getting up early to go get beaten up? Not top of the ‘Xander Harris’ favourite things to do in his increasingly limited spare time’ list. Plus, it kinda cuts into my sleeping time…”


“Well... if you’re not going to take getting fit and learning to stay alive seriously, there’s not a lot of point in going at all, Xan,” Buffy said reproachfully. “Of course, you could always switch to an evening class…”


Xander heaved a much put upon sigh. “Okay, Buff. I’ll look into it…”


“Ah! Now on the topic of fitness…” Giles flipped through his notebook and looked up mischievously. “Who wants to know the results of Buffy and Spike’s timed run?”


The younger members of the group all automatically raised their hands as if they were in class, then realizing what they’d done they all started exchanging embarrassed looks and giggling self-consciously.


Giles smiled indulgently and looking over at Spike and Buffy he began, “You might be interested to learn that you both ran a course of as close to thirteen point one miles as I could devise. In case you didn’t know, that’s the standard distance for a half-marathon.” He consulted his notebook and continued, “Just so you have something with which to compare your performances, the current half marathon world record for men is fifty nine minutes and seventeen seconds. The women’s record is one hour, six minutes and twenty five seconds.” He looked up again, clearly enjoying prolonging the suspense.


Buffy rolled her eyes, “Oh come on Giles, spill! Are you trying to get me to beg?”


Spike chuckled, “Oh yeah Slayer go on, beg. On your knees. Always does me good to see a woman on her knees…” When he was greeted with a mass cry of feminine derision and a slapped leg he smirked unrepentantly and shrugged, “Just tell me I beat the Slayer, Rupert, then I’ll be a happy vamp.”


“Wait a minute… why are you comparing us to the world record? I know I’m fast, but world record fast? Oh come on… vampires and Slayers are both more sprinty than distancy, Giles…”


“That’s a good point, Buffy. I have a record of your hundred metres time from when Wesley was doing all those tests... perhaps…”


Giles frowned slightly and started chewing the inside of his cheek as he went off into his Deep Thought mode until Buffy cried impatiently, “Giles! Focus! You were the one who was all ‘we have an awful lot to get through’.”


The Watcher gave himself a little shake and cleared his throat. “Uh yes, quite so. It’s truly remarkable, actually. It has to be a product of your Claim…”


“Giles!”


“You were within three seconds of each other, Buffy…” and as the Slayer eagerly opened her mouth to ask, he forestalled her, “…and no, I’m not going to tell you which of you was faster. I thought I’d made it clear to you that this wasn’t a race, which is why I had you run separately. It was rather an experiment to test a theory of mine which appears to have been borne out…”


He finally took a deep breath and declared, “You both came in at just over forty seven and a half minutes.”


There was a stunned silence for a few seconds before Xander started clapping and wolf whistling, then everyone else joined in a spontaneous round of applause.


Spike could feel the heat blasting off Buffy’s face as she blushed a deep crimson.


Dawn crowed happily, “Oh wow, Buffy! You should so enter for the Olympics!”


Giles allowed them to let off steam for a few minutes before calling for order to be restored. When all was quiet again he explained directly to Buffy and Spike, “It’s as I thought. From what I’ve been observing over the past few weeks, now that the Claim has settled down your abilities have adjusted and levelled out so that you are perfectly balanced. Your strength, speed, stamina and supernatural senses have adjusted so that you are now consummate equals in all respects. It really is truly remarkable.”


Buffy turned to look up at Spike and they shared a little smile of delighted recognition that this was how it was supposed to be. A true partnership. Spike dipped his head as Buffy stretched up, his fingers wove into her hair and their mouths met.


As Buffy’s lips warmed his own and her tongue played with his, Spike was vaguely aware of Giles explaining to Dawn that Buffy couldn’t risk making any public show of her enhanced abilities, which would rule out her taking part in any organised sporting competitions. The Watcher was receiving support from Xander, who was enthusiastically comparing Buffy to a character on a TV programme. The younger incarnation of Superman had apparently played competitive football for a while before coming to the reluctant conclusion that the risk of inadvertently misusing his superpowers would be both dangerous for his fellow players and unsporting in the extreme.


Buffy and Spike were brought out of their clinch by a forceful clearing of multiple throats. After Buffy had blushed and apologised and Spike had glared defiantly at the people who had interrupted his ‘moment’, Giles picked up his pen and went back to his notebook.


“Right then. I wonder… now you’ve had some time to work out all the benefits of the Claim I would be grateful if you could just clarify them for my records, Buffy. We’ve covered the strength and speed aspect and the enhanced senses. Perhaps you could explain the emotional link a bit more clearly…”


“Now we’re used to it, Giles, most of the time it’s just a general background awareness of each other’s general mood. It’s when one of us experiences a really strong emotion that we feel the Bond the most. If one of us gets particularly angry or excited or happy, the effect bleeds over to the other and then it kinda echoes back and forth and amplifies it... kinda…”


The Watcher smiled, commenting wryly, “Thank you, that’s very helpful, Buffy.”


Anya eagerly suggested, “Don’t forget the way Spike’s lack of inhibitions has caused you to loosen up and embrace your emotions instead of trying to repress them, Buffy. It’s become increasingly clear that you feel real joy in a hard fight and an intense exhilaration at winning.” Buffy gaped at her and another blush started creeping across her face.


Willow smirked teasingly and whispered loudly to Xander, “So Faith was right, Slaying does make her hungry and horny…”


Dawn responded with another loud whisper, “It certainly makes her hungry. The first place she goes when she comes in is the fridge. That’s unless she’s with Spike. When they come in together they generally head straight for bed… noisily… eventually… leaving a trail of clothes behind them...”


Giles tried manfully to suppress a smile as he nodded and explained, “There’s a perfectly logical explanation for that phenomenon. It’s been well documented in Watchers’ diaries over the years. A Slayer has an accelerated metabolism to fuel the extra strength and speed she’s been gifted with, so after using a burst of energy in combat she immediately feels the need to refuel.” He cleared his throat nervously. “As for the other uh… effect…”


“The horniness?” Tara teased with a little lopsided grin.


“Quite… Uh…”


Althanea came to his rescue. “It’s a well known fact that risking your life in a dangerous situation and surviving unscathed produces an adrenaline ‘high’ that can manifest itself in an urgent desire for sex. It’s a reaffirmation of life at its most fundamental level that is commonly experienced by people with hazardous occupations.”


Becoming irritated at the interruption to her analysis, Anya said loudly, “If I may continue… Of course you always had a very high libido, Buffy. I’m amazed that Riley was able to keep up with you… if he even did. On top of that you’ve been linked to Spike’s preoccupation with sex… and let’s face it, as a vampire he’s probably thinking about sex all the time he’s not thinking about blood or fighting… although most of the time he’s probably thinking about all three at once. The Claim means you have no option but to be honest with yourself about your feelings, so you’ve stopped repressing your needs and being ashamed of feeling constantly horny and you’ve allowed yourself to indulge your appetites…”


Buffy groaned, “Anyaaaaa…” and dropped her scarlet face into her hands as Spike smirked and nodded at the grinning demon, absently rubbing Buffy’s back to comfort her.


Thus encouraged, Anya continued relentlessly, “And of course it’s obvious your strong moral sense has curbed Spike’s evilness and what remains of your human modesty is the only thing keeping Spike from jumping you at the slightest encouragement wherever you happen to be when the mood takes him…”


He couldn’t help it. He started laughing.


Perhaps it was the return of her demonic abilities that had allowed Anya to become so sensitive to the changes that had occurred in the pair of them. She certainly hadn’t appeared to be particularly perceptive as a human. Whatever the cause, he was grateful for her frankness. Most of the things she’d listed, Buffy would have been reluctant to explain for herself and if he’d done so it would most likely to have led to a pissed off Buffy, and possibly a bloody nose.


Because everything she had said was right on the mark.


Tara and Dawn exchanged startled glances, spluttered and started giggling. Then Willow joined in and Giles began making choking noises as he polished his spotlessly clean spectacles yet again.


When Althanea emitted a loud, very unladylike snort and clapped a hand over her mouth in embarrassment, everyone in the room gave up the struggle and howled with laughter.


After a few seconds, Buffy lost her air of slightly offended embarrassment, saw the funny side and joined them.


It was several minutes before sanity was restored and Giles could make an effort to get the meeting back on course. Suppressing his continuing giggles as much as possible, he cleared his throat self-consciously and asked, “Uh… yes. Yes… Can you accept that everything Anya has said is accurate, Buffy?”


When the Slayer pulled her top lip into her mouth and sucked on it and sheepishly nodded, the Watcher made a few notes and then chewed the end of his pen musing “I feel we’re missing something…”


Tara hesitantly raised a finger. “Um… Mr Giles, what about their super-healing?”


Giles saluted her with his pen. “Oh, well spotted, Tara.” He turned to Buffy and raised a quizzical eyebrow.


“Faster than ever, Giles. Look.” Buffy slid a slender knife from her boot and casually pressed the edge of the blade into the pad of her left thumb. She held it up so the line of blood that glistened under the lights was clearly visible, counted to five then licked it clean. She held the thumb up for inspection.


Giles approached and peered closely at the digit that showed no sign of the injury it had sustained mere seconds before. “Good Lord! Not even a scar!” He scurried back to his notebook and began scribbling frantically. “And your other injuries, Buffy. How do the healing times compare?”


“Well, we haven’t had any broken bones recently…” She turned to look up at Spike.


“Light bruising fades before we get a chance to see it properly, Watcher. You’ve seen a little cut… seconds. A big cut or stab wound like the one Buffy got in the forest dimension is closed over in a couple of minutes and completely gone in about half an hour.” He frowned down at Buffy. “The longest to heal was that big bruise you had on your side, Slayer…” He gently stroked the area that had been injured.


“Oh yeah.” She turned back to explain, “This incredibly antisocial, muscle-bound demon knocked me hard into the corner of a mausoleum and I bruised down to the bone. Hurt like Hell and the muscles in my back completely seized up for a few hours. That one took several days to disappear altogether…”


“Fascinating. Utterly fascinating…” The words were murmured into the notebook. When Giles finished writing he raised his head and asked, “And you’re both healing at the same rate?”


Spike shrugged. “Near as we can tell, yeah.”


As Giles started writing again, Tara spoke. “Oh, Buffy. We’ve tried everything we can think of, but I’m afraid we can’t make a version of the vampire healing potion to help humans.”


“It should have been so simple,” Added Willow with a frustrated pout, “but nothing we tried did any more good than the gentle soothing effect Tara’s mom’s original formula produced.”


“Oh, and another thing. We were surprised when the vampire potion wouldn’t work on a demon. You’d think it would, but when the Buffykit scratched Clem so badly and it got infected, it didn’t help him at all.”


Althanea suggested, “I suspect there’s something about the accompanying charm Tara composed that resonates with the specific nature of the vampire’s demon. Upon further consideration I suppose if curing humans this way had been possible some sorcerer or hedge-witch would have discovered it centuries ago and done away with the necessity for medical doctors. By the way, Ripper, I’m still not clear on how a demon can be introduced into a human body by a simple exchange of blood.” She shook her head in bewilderment. “It really shouldn’t work…”


“There are so many theories that attempt to explain that conundrum… I don’t think the Council has settled upon a definitive mechanism for the turning of vampires in all the centuries it’s researched the question. I remember when I was at the academy the prevalent notion was that it worked in a similar fashion to a virus…”


Spike took offence at that. “Oy! Not a virus here, Rupert you git!”


Xander smirked and murmured, “Oh, but it would explain so much…”


Giles chuckled, “No. I don’t think you are, Spike. I suspect we’ll never have a complete explanation. I’ve given up theorising and accepted that it’s like so many unusual occurrences we encounter in the supernatural world. It can only be explained by some kind of magic.”


After making a couple more entries in his notebook, Giles gave a satisfied sigh and slid it into his pocket. “I think I’ve got all the information about the Claim I need for now, Buffy. I’ll just take this home to make a neat copy for Angel. I don’t know why he always complains my handwriting is too small, he’s supposed to have enhanced eyesight...”


“Angel? You’re going to send the information about our Claim to Angel? Why?”


“I’ve kept him updated on the developments you’ve experienced from the start, Buffy, as he requested. Surely you remember agreeing to that?”


Buffy rolled her eyes, “That was when I was still under the influence of his Claim, Giles! Remember? The one that let him control me? After finding out about that, do you honestly think I want him knowing all our personal business?”


“None of his bloody business, Watcher. Manipulative git has forfeited any right he ever had to know what’s goin’ on in the Slayer’s life!”


“Does he keep you informed about what’s happening in his private life in return, Giles?”


“No, of course not!” Giles harrumphed, “Well... when you put it like that… I see what you mean.” He smiled and nodded slowly, “Good point. Let the bugger stew…” He rubbed his forehead pensively. “Now all I have to do is try to decide how much of this, if any, I need to pass on to the Council.


“Oh yeah, the Council…” Spike rummaged through his duster pockets and then held out a CD in a transparent plastic case. “Here’s your rewritten Slayer’s Handbook.”


The Watcher took it and examined it doubtfully. “Oh... It’s all on this little disc? Uh… Oh dear. I don’t suppose…?” He looked around helplessly. “Uh… Willow?”


It was the work of a moment for the redhead to boot up the shop’s computer, feed the CD into the relevant drive and open the file for Giles to peruse. In a slightly teasing tone she asked, “Can you manage now, Giles? Look, this is how you scroll down, and if you want to make a note…”


Becoming aware of being gently patronised, Giles responded shortly, “Yes, thank you, Willow. I’m quite capable of working the machine once it’s set up.”


As he became absorbed in reading, Dawn and Tara set off on a drinks and snacks run and the others gathered around the table chatting idly until such time as Giles was ready to take charge of the meeting once more.


After a few minutes the bell jangled loudly as the beverages and junk food arrived and the startled Watcher began absently patting his pockets as if looking for something. “Oh!” He straightened up and attracted Buffy’s attention. “I’m so sorry, Buffy. It completely slipped my mind…” He held out a long slim white envelope. “This came in the post this morning. I meant to bring it right over but then I decided to wait until after the portal test, but then… well…” He cleared his throat self-consciously as she took the letter from him and glanced at it. “I didn’t like to open it myself…”


All the colour drained out of the Slayer’s face and Spike felt an intense surge of anxiety through the Bond. He abandoned his plastic mug of hot chocolate to wrap his arms around her from behind. “What’s the problem, sweetheart?”


“It’s come.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.


“What’s come?”


“The answer.” She held the envelope up so he could see the logo in the corner. She took a quick anxious breath and murmured, “Do I want to know? I ask myself. Am I mother or sister? Does it even matter?”


“It matters to me.” Dawn had approached unnoticed and was now trying to take the letter from her sister’s hand. Her tone was apologetic yet determined. “I really, really need to know who I am, Buffy. Please try to understand.”


Buffy sighed. “I do understand, Dawnie but… You do realise it could change everything? What if…”


“I don’t want more ‘what ifs’, Buffy. That’s the whole point. My whole life is one big ‘what if’. I just need this one thing to be settled once and for all.”


Giles suggested, “Perhaps while I’m occupied with this,” he gestured to the computer, “you’d prefer to open it in private, Buffy… Dawn...” and indicated the door to the training room.


Exchanging a glance and nod, the sisters moved towards the rear of the shop together. A few seconds after the door closed behind them, it opened again and Dawn peeked out and beckoned. “Spike? It may turn out you’re not family by blood but you are all the family we’ve got that counts. We want you with us…”


Immeasurably touched, Spike closed his eyes to savour the moment then directed a gloating smirk at the jealously scowling face of Xander Harris and swaggered into the big bare room.


They sat on the saggy green couch with Dawn in the middle, and began handing the envelope back and forth in a parody of the children’s game ‘pass the parcel’.


“You open it.”


“No, you.”


“It’s you that’s so all-fired anxious to know.”


“Oh no. I can’t…”


“Here, you do it.”


“It’s not up to me to open it, Slayer. You should do it.”


“But I…”


“Oh for heaven’s sake, give it to me…” Dawn’s impatience won out over her nervousness. She ripped the envelope open and unfolded the letter, holding it up so they could all read the contents.


TBC

A/N: I’m in the mood for a cliffhanger. Tee hee