Bound

Chapter 11 Double Cross
Thank you to all of you that have left reviews and that have voted for this story. It means a lot to me.
This is quite a long chapter

Buffy had had enough of laying around. Her legs felt like lead weights and she ached all over. It was time for her to test out her limbs and go for a walk. Spike had just come back into the room, with Cordelia. Her room was overcrowded which only served to make her want to get some space from them all. The constant chatter that they kept up, was driving her crazy. The little bits of conversation she caught, were making her feel uncomfortable. It was definitely time to go for a walk.
She looked at Dawn and smiled, then with eyes wide in expectation she nodded her head towards the door. Dawn knew what she was trying to hint at, and rose up to take her sisters arm. Everyone was deep into their conversations and didn't notice Buffy had gotten up until she was almost at the door. Everyone except Spike that was.He watched as the two girls exited the room and then followed them at a distance. He knew demons hung out at the hospital looking for easy meals, and he wasn't going to stand by and watch his two girls become midnight snacks.
Buffy was a bit wobbly on her feet but managed to keep up with Dawn. They chatted about mundane things. It was as if they were purposefully avoiding anything that would jolt a memory . They reached the hospital gardens and sat on a bench under some trees. The area was very picturesque and Buffy held her breath before letting it out slowly. She seemed to relax which made Dawn feel better. They sat in silence for a while , finally Buffy broke through the peace.
"What's it like, our home I mean?"
"It's nice, comfortable, oh but also hectic , Willow and Tara live there and Spike sometimes stays in the basement. We hold Scoobie meetings at our house sometimes , but most of the time we meet up at the Magic Box"
Buffy seemed nervous at the thought of living with so many people and didn't get the 'Scoobie Gang' reference. She didn't want to ask as so far she felt like she had enough information to keep her thoughtful. So Spike sometimes lived with them? She still got a bad feeling whenever Spike was around, it felt like she'd had taken a punch to her stomach and a tingle at the base of her neck, that radiated down through her body. What was the Magic Box? She began to think she belonged to a cult or something. Spike dressed like he was in one, so was she?
"Do we live as a cult commune or something?"
Dawn nearly fell off the bench laughing "No, nothing like that Buffy, trust me on that "
"Mkay, check.... no cult having here"
"So why do I feel weird around Spike and Cordelia?"
Dawn was stumped. What was she supposed to say to that? 'Oh it's cos their vampires and your the Slayer, but you can't dust them cos their your friends'. Hardly! She decided to just ignore Buffy's last question. "When do you think the doctors will let you come home ?"
"I don't know, if it was just my girl interrupted episode, I might have been home in a few days but with the amnesia, who knows. I can't exactly go home with people I think are strangers."
"True I guess" Dawn was hurt by Buffy's comment but tried to cover it up " Maybe I should bring in some photo's they might help you"
"Can't hurt can it,can we go back up to my room now, I feel tired"
"Sure , time everyone left you to it anyway's"


Angel watched as Dawn helped Buffy back into the elevator and pushed the floor button and the door shut. So, Buffy had amnesia, this could work out great for him. Smirking to himself , he stood in the shadows still, planning his next move.

Cordy and Spike sat on the bench outside Buffy's room talking about Darla and Dru. Spike seemed to find the fact that Darla had somehow shown signs of having a conscience fascinating. Had being human had some profound effect on her or had she still kept her soul? That would be poetic, she had given the great poof hell for having his after all. He could sit here and analyse it til he was blue in the face, but he wouldn't believe it until he saw it. His main concern was Buffy and getting her memory back.By now she should be in her room and ready to settle for the night. It would just be the two of them. Cordy left him having one last cigarette outside before he made his to Buffys room.

Angel watched Cordy leave and followed her. Cordy, never being someone who was aware of her surroundings , didn't notice him behind her.
"Nice night, how's our favourite Slayer doing now then?"
"You scared me Angel" Cordy still not registering the fact that her boss had turned a lighter shade of evil lately, even though he had turned her " Have you been to see her?"
"No, somehow I don't think the white hats would appreciate a visit from yours truly"
"Oh right kay then, so what are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd come and see my new favourite childe. Tell me is Spike planning on going home tonight?"
"Nope, trying to pry him from her bedside is like well ummm "
"I get it, so he won't leave her at all?"
"Dawnie took Buffy for a walk earlier but other than that , no he won't"
"Is he still starving himself and is he still weak as a kitten?"
"No he's fed, and seems back to normal, just a bit preoccupied with Buffy as per usual"
Angel pulled her hair away from his bite mark and stroked the scar gently "Your doing well, just keep it up and don't let them know anything"
"I won't Sire" she leant into his touch . Angelus kissed the spot before sinking his teeth into her neck.

Darla had kept away, knowing that Buffy would sooner stake her ass than listen to her. Dru hovered behind her dancing to something only she could hear. Darla would have been perfectly happy for Dru to go back to her beloved Daddy , but then that would draw attention to the fact that she wasn't exactly evil these days. Angel had no interest in her , preferring his new childe, which suited her as she could come and go as she pleased , and Angelus wasn't hunting with her. Not that she was hunting , she was brown bagging it just like Spike and Angelus' alter ego would. Darla had to get into the hospital and see Spike , or wait until he left . From what she had overheard, Buffy was suffering from amnesia. Darla hadn't been around for near on five hundred years without learning a few things, so, closing her eyes and drawing on as much inner strength as she could muster, she made her way up to Buffy's room.


The nurses station was abandoned , which made Darla and Dru's visit a little easier. She could see through the glass on the door, Buffy was sat up talking and Spike sat in one of the chairs nodding. Darla really hated to interrupt, but this was an emergency. She pushed the door open wide and the two women walked in.
"Before you go throwing stakes our way, sit and listen Spike. We don't want to harm you or the slayer, we're here to help"
"Spike who is she? I really don't like them, I can feel it"
"The feeling used to be mutual honey, but lets say I had an epiphany and today happens to be your lucky day"
"What do you want Darla?"
"Angelus"
"Should have known" Spike watched the blonde vampire closely and then looked at Buffy. Noting the confused look on her face, he took her hand in his as he sat on the edge of the bed .
Feeling way out of her depth and very weird again, Buffy watched Spikes face to gage the situation. Her hand held in his , she settled a little, although the strange tingle was back and the butterflies in her stomach were fluttering like crazy.
"Who is she?"
"Well she would be the bride of Angelus luv, metaphorically speaking" he smiled to try and calm any anxiety she had building up.
"See she makes me get those funny feelings too, what the hell is up with me?"
"You mean she doesn't know yet? Oh this is priceless, William the Bloody , Slayer of Slayers, in love with one that happens to have amnesia and has no clue what she is! Good job I'm not here to kill her then isn't it"
Dru interrupted her "Oh but I could Mummy, I would like the slayers blood to warm my cold heart, Willy would like it too, if he hadn't liked the warmth that his sunshine give him" She hissed at him to show her distaste at his choice.
"Quiet Dru, sorry she's kind of bitter and well you already know she's twisted. Angelus returning hasn't helped. He's been tormenting the girl since his return."
"Thanks for the update but as you can see we have a few things that are more important than the brooding git to deal with right now"
"What did she mean.. slayer of slayers and that your in love with one? Thought you loved me ? I'm confused " Buffy seemed panicked by everything, which wasn't helping Spikes state of mind.
"Yes pet, I am, I think once these ladies have gone I'll fill you in, ok?"
"I guess" she squeezed his hand tighter and kept her eyes on the two women.
"Righ' Darla get to the point, I assume you 'ave one"
"Cordy is under his guidance, you can't trust her. I saw them tonight. I tried to bring her up as my own, but it seems Angelus has realised that she can be an asset to him and his plan to destroy you William, and I assume he means to harm Buffy whilst he does it. She isn't safe here and there's not much you can do to protect her or anyone else whilst Buffy is just a girl, you need to get her back to normal or at least get her to accept her calling again"
"Don't you think I soddin' well know that? Buffy can't be rushed into anything and how can I explain she's a bloody vampire slayer?"
"She is sat here and hello? Not deaf"
Suddenly realising he had just ranted the whole thing out with her sat just a few inches from him "Bollocks!"
Raised eye brows surrounded him.
"Now I think would be a good time to explain it all to me since it's more or less out now"
Spike closed his eyes and looked up at the ceiling before he huffed and looked at Buffy. Even though he knew she didn't have a stake close by, he still checked the bed , in case Dawn had seen fit to supply her with one anyway. Satisfied that she wasn't packing one he started on his tale.
Dru and Darla stood beside the bed waiting.
Spike told Buffy the briefest of history, from how they were called to what they did and his tries at besting her, to how they finally fell in love, then about her history with the rest of the Aurelius clan. Once he had finished Buffy looked shocked.
"So, I kill your kind, and all three of you are vampires?"
"Yes" he answered . To make his story credible, Spike morphed.
Buffy snatched her hand out of his and shuffled up the bed, trying to put as much distance between her and Spike, as she could."This can't be true, vampires aren't real, your not real, this is a bad dream, I'm still in a coma and this is my brain screwing with me"
Darla walked towards the slayer and vamped "Look I know this is hard but you have to try and remember everything,if you don't Angelus will kill you and everyone you love.You have to tap into that inner slayer power and help us"
Buffy started to cry, the pressure was just too much for her. Spike wished he could hold her and get her through this, but she was scared, something he hadn't seen in Buffy for a while.
"We need a way to connect the slayer inside her with the girl she is at the moment, do you think you can get to the Watcher and get him to help?" He asked Darla
"I'll go now and try. Just don't leave her alone with anyone Spike, Cordy will be back soon and now we know that she is working for Angelus, we could use her to our advantage. Just don't trust her alone with the girl." Darla turned to leave. "Buffy? Whatever happens I want you to know that the Aurelius clan will help you to take down Angelus, I am the master of the clan now , I won't allow anything to happen to you"
Spike sat dumbfounded. Technically Darla was nothing more than a fledgling, yet she still carried herself like the master she had been. Of course Spike could challenge her, but he held no interest in being the head of the Aurelius clan, Angelus would challenge him, but not his Sire.
Would Penn and all the other vamps they had sired between them, come and obey her? Would they help protect the Slayer?

Buffy sobbed into her pillow, how could she be this Slayer? Spike sat rubbing her thigh, she felt it was too intimate but she was also in no fit state to ask the vampire to stop. Plus it was actually comforting her and felt nice and dare she say it but it felt familiar.
"When will they be letting me home, I don't know where home is or anything but I really need to get out of here. It's not like they can help bring my memories back if I stay here"
"I'll go check with the Doc and see about getting you back to the house , dry your eyes and stop your sobbin' now" Spike wiped the last of her tears away with the pad of his thumb and rose off the bed. Buffy scrabbled off the bed and got dressed . Holding the stake in her right hand , she pushed the door open slightly to see the Blonde vampire at the nurses desk, asking if he could take her home. The nurse was flirting but refusing to let her go on account of it being less than twenty four hours since she had woken from her coma.
Spike came back in the room and saw her dressed and waiting to go "If they wont let me go I intend to run from here and discharge myself, If I run, are you going to follow me and protect me like that vampire said earlier?"
"Wouldn't let you go from here alone and I will always be there for you pet "
"Good, then I suggest you get out there and distract that nurse again and keep an eye out for anyone that could catch me "
Spike nodded and made his way back to the flirty nurse, blocking her view of Buffys room. Buffy slipped past unnoticed and crept to the elevators. She waited there for Spike, who had flitted his eyes over to the corner of the wall to see Buffys hand signal him to where she was waiting. He politely made his excuses and left the nurse. He checked behind him , before turning the corner and found himself yanked into the waiting elevator
"Watch it Slayer!"
Buffy laughed at him, which had him smiling .
"So, back to your place, how do we let the others know where you are though"
"Well I don't know, I guess that they'll know once they arrive at the hospital and find me gone" she tucked her top into her jeans and hid the stake in the back of her jeans. A place Spike knew she hid them all the time. It made him wonder if some of her memories were coming back, even if it was just the instinctual ones.
"Do you have a car outside or some way of getting home?"
"Yeah m' cars outside"
An image ran through Buffy's mind, a black car with painted windows. Old and big, in good condition except for the piles of crap on the back seat. How did she know that was his?
"Okay, you go bring it round the front and I'll make a run for it once your there"
He nodded and run out of the hospital towards his car. Buffy waited in the foyer for the car to turn up. A guerney with an emergency admittance rolled past her, the paramedics calling out the stats as they past. Buffy saw the neck wound and immediately recognised them as being inflicted by a vampire. The slayer in her angered by the sight, asked them to stop. She asked the young boy who had done this and where it had happened. The only thing she made out was the location, Restfield Cemetery. Guess she had a stop to make before she headed home.
Spike pulled up outside and Buffy ran to get in, after getting comfortable she told him to head for the cemetery. Confused and not liking the idea, Spike refused, until the stake came out and was clutched in such a way that he was suddenly nervous.
"Bloody hell woman, your going to get yourself killed"
"No, I'm not, your with me"


Darla walked through town, looking for Penn and his two companions. She watched as they fed on a young boy and left him for dead. Using the cell phone that had been given to her by Angelus, she called nine one one. Now that she knew the boy would have a chance, she followed them into the bar.
"Darla, long time, why did you call us here for?"
"Angelus is back and we know how much you hate him. I thought that we could work together in bringing him down once and for all"
"Last time I was around , Angelus was all soul having and righteous, you were dust and he had some slayer bitch keeping him on a tight leash"
"Things change. I was bought back and I'm here to protect the slayer and help to defeat him before he gets out of control. You have a choice, well actually you don't, either you help me or your dust."
"You don't change do you, your still a class bitch when you need to be, which is most of the time. So, we protect the slayer and then take down Angelus, what's in it for us?"
"You can feed , so long as you don't make up too much of a body count. We don't need to draw attention to ourselves, and I don't tell the slayer where you sleep at night"
Penn pondered the idea for a while and drank his beer down in one. "What guarantee do I have that you won't tell the slayer anyway?"
"Penn, you shouldn't have to ask, you know that I am a woman of my word, and the slayer is in fact involved with one of our own, she won't harm us if we work with her, Spike will see to it"
"Spike, William the Bloody? Slayer of Slayers , is in love with a Slayer?That's just poetic " he laughed
"Well this Slayer is very different to any that came before. She is fair, we don't cause her problems and she leaves us alone. And to think, I hated her at first. "
Darla walked over to join Penn at the bar. The bar tender set a drink down in front of Darla and walked away.
"Alright I'll help , but the first sign of that slayer staking me and I will take the lot of you out, and inform Angelus of the plot against him"
They raised their glasses and drank the shots down in one. They left the bar and made their way back to the apartment Darla had been renting.


Spike and Buffy arrived at the cemetery and were slowly making their way through to the rear, which overlooked the old Mansion. Spike had a bad feeling about it, Buffy watched through some trees. A large vampire went in through the main doors . Angelus watched as two other vampires bought in two young girls. Spike looked at Buffy and signalled toward the road , where another car pulled up and waited for the large vampire to grab the cars passengers. They were collecting girls, either to turn or for food. Spike sat back on his feet and nudged Buffy. She moved away from the trees.
"What" she whispered
"He's forming a vamp army"
"Your sure? I mean he could just be incredibly hungry" Buffy shifted uncomfortably, realising she was having this conversation with a vampire
"No, he's definitely after an all girl army, he's probably hoping these girls will go out and turn men. It's the type of thing that sick bastard would do.We have to stop him tonight"
"I can't, how can I when I don't even know how to be this slayer you say I am"
"I'll have to get Darla in on this and get her to help us, she can take the wanker while we take on the rest "
Spike took out his cell phone and rang Darla, telling her to meet them in the cemetery.
Buffy blinked and started to have another flashback. The mansion, Angelus, a stone statue, Angelus crying on his knees in front of her, kissing him and telling him she loved him, her sword impaling his chest, a portal sucking him into the statue.Buffy fell to her knees, crying.
"What is it pet? What's wrong?"
She looked up at Spike. "You lied, I was in love with him, Angelus, I killed him, how is it he's here? When did I kill him, my head hurts. Tell me when was he last here and what was that stone statue? Is it real or is something wrong with me?"
"It's true, what you saw happened five years ago, Angelus woke up a demon called Acathla and you had to close the portal by killing Angelus."
"I cant do this" she got back on her feet and went to walk away. "It's too much"
Spike caught her and held her close to his chest "I know it's hard but you have to do this pet,m'here, I wont let them hurt you. I'll dust before that happens"
Buffy clung to him. Gathering strength from this vampire that was more or less a stranger to her.
Her slayer sense went off and she watched as three figures made their way across the cemetery. Spike turned his head and then focused on the three vampires.
"Penn, Darla, and bloody hell! Lawson?How the bleedin' hell did you get him here?"
Darla smirked "Never underestimate me William, glad you have been acquainted, now, shall we go and get ourselves a little fun before bedtime? Buffy, are you up to this? Oh how rude, Lawson, Penn this is the slayer, Buffy"
Buffy stood casting evil glares at them, they in turn, shifted into game face and looked over to the mansion.There was no point in any pleasantries, the way they saw it, kill Angelus and get the hell away from her, even if she was romantically involved with the legendary William the Bloody. They weren't going to trust the bitch .They just wanted this over with. Darla could sense their nerves and nodded to Spike.
"Right pet, their all ready for action. You set?"
"I guess, so, who's taking who?"
Spike took control "I'll take Angelus, Darla, Penn , you two take the large vamp, Lawson you take on any others with Buffy, after we clear them all, we get the kids out, and boys? No snacking on 'em or I'll dust you m'self, got it?"
They nodded and made their way to the Mansion entrance. Buffy held onto Spike tightly. The straight face that he wore did nothing to hide the emotion that filled him. His girl was clinging to him and bits of her memory were coming back. He just hoped this wasn't going to get her killed.


Cordy stroked down Angelus' arm. "Hungry, can't I eat one?"
"No, if I let you then the others will want one and then the sacrifice can't take place, now be a good girl and shut the hell up"
Cordy pouted and sat on the couch and flicked angrily through her Cosmo.
Angelus shook his head and went into the kitchen area to talk to the minions . He was just about to start when the front door crashed open and a series of growls echoed through the main room.
"Shit!" followed by "It's the fucking Slayer " rang out from the large vampire.
Angelus ran though and picked up his sword, swinging it wildly , above his head.
"William, should have known you would cause me no end of trouble"
"Not jus' me " he nodded towards Darla and the rest of the Aurelian vamps "Family decided to drop by for a visit"
Angelus was momentarily stunned to see his clan fighting against him.
Cordy still sat on her butt, now watching the situation unfold in front of her. Darla glared at the girl and growled her dissatisfaction at Cordy's deflection.
"So, you thought you would drag the Slayer from her sick bed and send her into a nest of vamps headed by yours truly, in a hope of what? Getting her killed seen as you can't do it yourself?" Angelus giggled "Not one of your better ideas now is it Willy"
Buffy stood tall "Actually my memory seems to be coming back and I remember our last meeting here , if I have it about right I kicked your ass all the way to hell, literally"
"That's my girl" Spike said proudly, which earnt him a smile from the Slayer.
"Hmm and I wonder how long she'll be your girl for? "Angelus closed the distance between himself and Buffy, reaching out to stroke his fingers over his claim mark on her neck.
Buffy shivered and backed off " Doesn't matter if you do that to me, there's no way I'm going to let you use that against me and control me"
"Looks to me like your getting more of your memory back , shame, really" Angelus backed away, raising his sword again "Cos it means I have to kick your ass rather than screw it"
"Crude much!" Buffy raised her stake before Spike held her back
"This fights mine pet, go see what Darla's up to " he kissed the top of her head and slapped her ass as she walked away "Been lookin' forward to this since you started this , now, you gonna play fair an' drop the steel or what?"
Angelus looked at his sword and shrugged "Lets just go for fists and fangs, that's what you prefer isn't it, I'll wager you still can't best me boy, never could before"
Spike landed the first punch and spun, his duster flowing round him and whipping Angelus, Angelus managed to kick Spike as he came to face him again. Spike blocked the punch that was aimed at his head and caught Angelus with a body shot, sending the elder vamp to the floor. Angelus recovered and ran at Spike , who moved at the last minute and punched Angelus in the face, breaking his nose.Spike licked his lips and swiped his hand across his brow.
"Looks like you have grown slow there, too many years of sitting around feeling guilty and eating rats in alleys " he laughed at Angelus "Well, c'mon don't make this too easy for me " He beckoned Angelus with his hand and went back into a fighting stance ready for the next attack.
" Better than being the Slayers bitch"
"And you would know all bout that eh , seems you have more years experience than me at that, course I'm still my own man, just happen to love the girl and she, loves me" Spike hit out at Angelus , knocking the vamp into a corner.
Finally angered enough Angelus went into game face, as did Spike "Now this gets interesting" Angelus spat
Using his demon, Angelus threw Spike across the room ,Spike landed against the wall and growled , taking a second to recover and to leap at Angelus, taking them both skidding across the marble floor, punching Angelus in the face without a break. The blows still reigned down as they hit the doors. Angelus took each blow and laughed
"She'll never trust you, it's not in her nature, why do you think I left?"
"You left cos your too much of a selfish git , fact that you left proved how much you loved her, not that I gave a shit cos you did me a bloody favour"
"You'd like to think that, she'll always love me,she'll never be yours"
At the sound of someone clearing their throat the two vampires stopped their fight to turn and look up. Buffy stood there , arms folded , tapping her foot.
"Now when you two get over the testosterone poisoning.... she, being me, has something to add" Darla stood behind her in game face . Buffy reached down and dragged Angelus up by his shirt collar , forcing Spike to either get up or land in a heap on the floor. "I am never going to be yours again, so get that thought out of your oversized head, and for the record I believe Spike when he says we were,are in love."
Angelus went to say something, but the stake that Buffy produced put a stop to it.
"I'm glad you decided against saying anything more, I would hate to have used this, doesn't mean I won't though. Call off your goons, or what's left of them"
Angelus gave the nod and his minions backed off, a few growled their disapproval.
"Good, now then... " Buffy threw him onto the couch and stood behind him while Darla and Spike stood in front of him, Buffy still held the stake to his chest " There's no Acathla so what was the big world ending plan this time?"
Spike grew restless and snarled at Angelus
"I can't hear you and that makes me more than a little cranky, what with the not remembering loving you, it makes it pretty dangerous for you to piss me off so , I'll say it one more time before I play square peg round hole with Mr Pointy and your chest"
Spike sniggered and Darla checked her nails, both proving to Angelus that they didn't give a shit about the Slayers threat
"Okay , In the bedroom, the book, tells you how to turn back time and I was going to go back to when I was here before at the time of the Acathla incident. Only this time I would know how it ended and change it so that I won and this insipid world came to an end."
"My God , you were really going to do that again you bleedin' idiot, didn't you learn from the first time?"
"Obviously not" Darla interrupted " I wouldn't have been around to help either " she added
Angelus smirked "Seems dusting your ass was the right thing to do after all " he answered her , earning him a punch from Darla and Spike
"Spike, go get the book, and burn it" Buffy snapped "Now what do we do with him?" She looked at Darla for some idea's.
Darla walked round the back of Angelus and trailed her arm down his shoulder and along his arm " Seems my boy here needs a lesson he won't forget. I suggest chaining him up against the wall and allowing everyone who has a grievance against him to take turns in getting their own back. And that will do for a warm up. Now then, who wants to go first?" Darla looked around with her head slightly bent forwards "Nobody? Let me then" Darla morphed and sank her fangs into his neck and drained him to the point where Angelus was light headed. She withdrew her fangs and joined Buffy and Spike. "I believe the pleasure is yours next"
Buffy looked at her, reached into the waistband of her pants and spun her stake in her hand. Buffy walked up to Angelus, looking him in the eyes , she thrust the stake just to the left of his heart, close enough to cause agonising pains to shoot through his chest.
Darla's eyes grew wide "Remind me to not piss her off"
Spike reached out and pulled Buffy close to his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist as they watched Angelus suffer the humiliation and pain .
His minions and Cordy stood by and watched as Angelus' clan inflicted injury on him as a punishment for bringing shame to them. Dru, just sat and watched tutting every now and again to show her displeasure.
Finally Angelus found the strength to speak "This is a crime against your nature, to side with the Slayer against your Master, you will all pay greatly"
Spike stepped forward this time" An' how'd you expect to exact revenge you prissy son of a bitch? If you take a gander over that way" He pointed towards the patio doors with his hand, cigarette burning away between two fingers " The sun will be rising that way an' guess who is in it's direct path? Now, you can either play nice or , well sure you get the bloody picture"
Angelus kept his focus on the doors "You wouldn't"
"Wanna bet?"
Penn offered to stay and watch over the bound vampire while everyone else retired. Not wanting any one member of the clan to remain alone with Angelus, Spike stayed up as well. Buffy , Darla, Dru and Lawson retired to the bedrooms in the mansion. The minions were locked up in the basement. Cordy was cuffed to a bed on the lower floor, much to her disgust . After ten minutes of rants and protests, Spike casually got up from the couch, went into the kitchen, retrieved something from under the sink and walked back into the main room.Penn watched avidly raising his brows and smirking. Spike pulled a length of duct tape and walked towards the room that held the former cheerleader "Now I get to do something to you that I dare say Buffy has wanted to do for years" he wrapped the duct tape around Cordys mouth and pressed it down firmly "There , sorted , not like the airhead needs to breathe, should shut her the hell up though"

He sat down on the couch and lit a cigarette " Ah peace at last" he said as he blew out a stream of smoke and put his feet up on the coffee table.


Buffy woke up and looked at the window, the suns rays bleaching their way through the thick curtains. She worried that Angelus would still be chained up and at risk from exposure. She threw on her clothes from the night before and made her way down to the main room.
Spike was asleep on he couch, his duster pulled around him and a bottle of JD laid on it's side , on the table and void of it's contents. Penn was slumped in a chair , in a state of alcohol induced sleep as well. Angelus was no longer chained to the wall. Buffy figured they must have moved him and shrugged. She made her way into the kitchen and started the coffee maker. Looking in the fridge, she noticed a lack of food and an excess of blood bags from the hospital. As much as it pained her to admit, it was better that they raided the hospital for bags of blood ,rather than feed off the locals.
Buffy emptied her pockets and found a grand total of five dollars and some loose change. Hardly enough to get a decent feed from a diner . Spike stirred and shifted positions on the couch, a grimace crossed his face and he started talking in his sleep. Pulling Buffy's attention from the fact that she was starved, she sat and listened. His ramblings were whimpers and then angered rants. It was like he was talking to a group of different people in his sleep and they were slowly breaking him down. His eyes fluttered and tears streamed down his cheeks. Buffy sat on the edge of the couch and stroked his arm. Spike flinched back and his eyes shot open.

His first response was to back away from Buffy. He frowned, not expecting this level of sympathy from her. Buff had never seen him dream and even if the Buffy from before the amnesia had seen it, she would have just said it was what was due for one hundred years of being a killer. This Buffy however, seemed genuinely concerned.
"Tell me what's wrong. You seemed to be in pain or something"
"S'nothin' just a bad dream."
"Didn't seem like nothing to me."

Spike reached into his duster pocket and got out his cigarettes and lit one up . Sitting forward on the couch, his elbows on his knee's, he wiped away the few remaining tears and sniffed

"Told you how it is Slayer. I get dreams, so what, not like you would give a crap if you had all those little memories of yours, so lets just leave it yeah"
"I know I can't remember , but this is me now, and I care. You've been there for me through all this, I want to be there for you now"

Buffy moved closer to him and cupped his face with her hand. He placed his own hand over hers and closed his eyes, relishing the feeling for a brief moment. He looked up into her eyes and for once , could see the depth of feeling in them. He removed her hand from his cheek and held it.

"You get those pesky thoughts back and you won't feel like this Buffy, I can't let myself believe, I couldn't take it if you rejected me again"
"I won't"
Spike laughed "That's all you've ever done, don't make promises you can't keep"
Penn stirred and interrupted their private moment.Buffy snatched her hand back and left Spikes in mid air.
"See, there you go hiding again. Must be second nature to you pet"
Spike stood up and swaggered into the kitchen. He opened the fridge and got out a pouch of blood. She followed him and stood by the sink, watching him put the blood into the microwave and setting the timer before getting out his mug.

"I'm not running Spike, it's just confusing. I remember bits, and I know that these feelings were there before. Maybe I just didn't want to act on them. After being told of my history with Angel, can you blame me. I must be defunct or something for having all these warm and fuzzy feelings for vampires. God, I must be the worst Slayer in history"
Buffy turned to walk away "Hell, I even live with a clan of them now, what does that say about me?"
Spike softened "You... Are the best damn Slayer to ever live.I should know , I killed two. Your strong , stronger than any other Slayer. You have lived longer than most and you have stopped more apocalypse's than any other. You.. are one hell of a woman besides"
Spike was stood in front of her now and was stroking her arms

Penn walked into the kitchen, ruffling his hair and yawning. He watched the two of them and smiled
"Well now William, seems like you got yourself one hell of a woman, tell me , how do you go from killing Slayers , to bedding them"
Spike gave the younger vampire an evil glare, Buffy baulked and walked out of the kitchen. As she left she turned to Spike.
"Where's the fanged one? "
Both vampires frowned and shrugged
Buffy went in search of Darla, hoping that she would be able to help her out , in more ways than one.


Darla was dressed and about to come out of her room when she came face to face with Buffy.

"Hi... um... can we talk?"
Darla opened the door wider to accommodate Buffy while she stayed in her spot at the doors edge.As Buffy walked through the door, Darla smelt her discretely.
"You know, Spike is all over you. That boy is in love with you. Is that what you want to discuss?"
"One of the topics, yes.Angelus isn't here with you? He's not chained up anymore, I was wondering if you knew anything about that?"
"I chained him in the cellar with the minions, I was sick of looking at him. Now what else did you want?"
Darla closed the door and took a seat by the window, careful to avoid the suns rays.Buffy perched herself on the edge of the bed.

"Spike, you know him better than most, tell me about him. I trust him and I have feelings for him, but well, I don't know if I can trust them. I don't have my memories and it makes this so hard. I don't want to hurt him, but I don't know that I won't once I go back to being me"

"You have a bad habit of picking my boys that's for sure. Dru knew that, that is why she left him. Maybe I shouldn't tell you his past, ask him, I doubt William would want you to learn about it from me, I am rather bias . You see, he has always been different and I treated him badly because of it, even Angelus knew it and hated him for it. William has aLways had the capacity to love and has always been passionate . That is something vampires aren't meant to be, not normally anyway, yet he wears his heart on his sleeve and because he does, he sets himself up to get hurt."
"I don't want to hurt him, that is why I'm here" Buffy fumbled with her rings and didn't look at Darla.
"Honey, you cant say what you want right now, you cant remember anything from before, from what I see, you must have hurt him before and he still wants you. It's going to take time, time for you to remember and time for him to learn to trust you so that he can open up to you again. Anything you do now will help, so just hang in there. Don't rush him, William is himself, impatient, but he doesn't like to be pushed into anything "
Buffy nodded her agreement " I best go now, check on Angelus and then I guess , spend some time with Spike. Will you be coming down , it's just some of the vampires give me funny looks"
Darla laughed " You telling me the great Buffy Summers is intimidated by a few Aurelians?"
"Don't say anything but ya huh" she laughed too.
"Like Spike would let any of them touch you, yet alone sink their fangs into you. Don't worry they are under strict instruction from me not to harm you. Lets face it honey, your almost family now"
"Family huh? Surely I'd have to be sired for that to happen?"
"Not really, we can accept you, and that's a first, but it will help if you was to allow Spike to claim you"
"Claim me?"
"All in good time dear. Now I can hear your stomach growling from here, lets go and get you fed, and I need to eat too"
Darla and Buffy walked arm in arm . Once they were in the main room, Darla led Buffy to the couch and sat her next to Spike and Lawson.

Whilst Buffy and Darla had been talking, Spike had rang and ordered a take away and was tucking into a pizza, much to the confusion of the other vamps that sat around in the room.
"What? Dont tell me you gits don't bloody eat food?"
A group shaking of heads
"Well you lot don't know what your missing" Spike gave a shrug and carried on eating.He offered the pizza box to Buffy with a smile
"Thought you would fancy a bite when you came down luv, hope you dont mind olives and spicy beef"
"That's fine .. I think" Buffy took a slice of the offered pizza and started to eat it. She looked up and saw all the vamps watching her and Spike."What? Do I have sauce on my chin or something?"
The offending vamps diverted their eyes and tried to look anywhere but at her
Spike smirked "Seems like they cant take their eyes off you Slayer, but then it's not everyday we have one that's in league with us. So, what's on the agenda for today then?"
Buffy shrugged as she threw the pizza crust back into the box and reached for another slice "Same as we do everyday I guess, not that I know what that is now I'm home. I was kinda hoping you would tell me what I normally do.Do I work, go to college or anything?"
"Nope and nope, mostly you would hang out at my crypt, drive me crazy and then patrol at night. We would spar together and go to the Watchers house to boff up on demons or research the latest apocalypse"
"Sounds like a full day"
Spike just looked at her, raised his brows and took another bite out of his pizza. "Yeah well, not like being a Slayer gives you time to have any kind of life. The only reason you got friends is cos they help you out with the research and patrols"
"I have friends?"
"Don't be at all surprised , they have known about the Slayer thing since school an' you all form what you affectionately call the 'Scoobies', though you put me in that group headin' an' I'll personally drain you, got it?"
Darla rolled her eyes and walked off to see to Angelus. Buffy noticed her retreat to the basement door and followed her,as she felt uncomfortable with Spikes last claim, even if it was in jest, she didn't get it.

The basement was damp and had a musty smell to it. It wasn't a very pleasant place and Buffy started to regret following Darla down there. The minions backed away from both women and clung to the walls. Angelus , true to form , had the bravado to smile and snigger as the women stood in front of him.
"Must be my lucky day, two blondes to keep me company.What did I do to deserve that then?"
"Quit the crap Angelus, we're just here to tell you, fall in line or else.So, we warned you last night, you have had plenty of time to think it through. Will you help and stop this, or ....."Buffy took out the stake she kept on her " Do we make you kitty litter?"
Darla had stood back to allow Buffy to instil her authority on Angelus. Something she knew he wouldn't readily accept and would fight against. Darla knew that Buffy could handle herself even if the Slayer herself didn't.
Angelus flashed his game face at Buffy as if to dare her to try. Darla saw it and walked over to stand beside her.
"I wouldn't antagonize the Slayer, she means what she said and she doesn't have the feelings for you she once did. Don't be a moron and end up dust because you couldn't swallow your pride boy"
Angelus growled . Buffy turned to Darla and flipped her head towards the hoard of minions. "I feel a little tense, mind if I work it out?"
"Not at all, not like we need them and I doubt you would trust them"
Spike came to the foot of the stairs and had listened to the whole thing from there. He pulled Buffy aside and whispered to her.
"Look Angelus is pig headed tis true enough , but he won't sacrifice himself , he's to much of a git for that. Even if he accepts the way things are , I still wouldn't trust him.Why don' we get that witch of yours to come over and see if he has his soul, if not we get her to curse him again."
"What witch? And if he still has his soul what then?"
"Maybe the witch can stop all the nasty in him and make him heel like that bad puppy he is"
"That sounds like a plan. Can you take me back to my house and then call her"
"You don't remember where you live or who Willow is do you?" Spike frowned
"No" she looked at her feet and could have cried "No I don't"
"Right then pet, first we'll take you home an' get you reacquainted with the place and then we'll get Red, that's what I call the witch by the way. She'll be glad to hear your all back n mended, well part from the lack of memory but maybe she can help with that"
Buffy looked at Darla and she nodded, obviously the vamp hearing thing meant that their conversation wasn't particularly private.Angelus stared at Buffy and licked his lips
"When she gets back those precious memories, she'll remember that she's mine, what do you think she'll do to the lot of you then?"
"Your really pushing your luck , and in my frame of mind, not a good idea . " Spike punched Angelus in the gut and then in the face
"Why don't you come with me now, there's no need for you to be here and that tension can be worked off later" Spike took Buffy's hand and lead her up the stairs. He paused briefly to shrug on his duster and to tell the other Aurelian vamps where they were going , before he pulled her into him and draped his arm over her shoulders and led her out into the night.
"Can I ask you something?" Buffy looked up at him and smiled.
Spike carried on looking at where they were going "Course luv, what is it?"
"Darla said something about you claiming me and then Angelus doing the same, he was talking about me being his, and I noticed the bites on my neck. Am I some sort of vampire slurpie?"
"Those bites, one is from the Master, the once head of the Aurelius clan, you killed him years ago, I wasn't around at that time, one is from Angelus, you cured him of some mystical poison but he used that as a way to claim you without you knowing, so it was one sided , the selfish git. Then this one" He stroked her neck where the old scar was "Was from ol' Drac.He drank from you and tried to keep you under his thrall, didn't work though. And this one here, was mine, but you let Angelus challenge it and he made a new claim on you"
" I thought you said we were in love,so why would I let him claim me after you?"
"You had no choice"
"How does the claim work?If Angelus has claimed me, I don't want to sprout fangs and go psycho on any of you"
Spike sniggered, she was too cute for words sometimes, this being one of them.
"First of all, you won't sprout fangs, well, not that I would know, Slayers tend to end up dead , not claimed . A claim is where a vampire takes you to be their kinda possession,you share a bond that allows you to feel what the other is feeling and in some instances, share thoughts like telepathy or somethin'.You can tell where they are as well. The longer you have the claim ,the more it affects you."
"I have to get rid of the claim Angelus has made on me"
"Not until your back to one hundred per cent your not , an I'll be the one doing it, but again , not til you have your memory back. I won't claim you again until your you"
Buffy smiled at him. Didn't he realise how much she had come to need him and how she felt about him already?
"Right, we're home pet, go an' take a look around and see if this jogs that memory of yours, I'll go pack a bag up for you"
He slapped her ass as she walked through the lounge.Buffy picked up a picture of her with her Mom , they were sat on a bed and laughing. She put it down and looked at the other pictures. In one of them was a man and he was hugging her, must be Dad she thought. A brief flash of something came back to her and she staggered from the mantel piece and sat down.
When she had recovered she went through into the kitchen and opened the fridge,food and blood lay on the shelves, so, Spike must live with me, lots of blood in there and a few masculine niknaks around. Unless their my Dads ? She walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Pictures hung on the wall and Buffy saw a girl flash in and out of focus. Buffy frowned and ran upstairs.
"Spike, something weird is going on. One of the photo's downstairs just went all wacky and now there's a young girl in it, she wasn't there when I first saw the picture though"
"That would be Dawn"
"Who?"
"Your lil sis luv, she's ...." He paused and took her hands "You best sit for this bit pet"
Buffy sat on what was normally her bed
"Dawn, your sis, she's special, as in she's a mystical key that some monks gave to you to keep safe.They made her human, so no worries , she not a demon. A god called Glory needed her so she could get her bitch of an ass back to her own dimension by using Lil Bit, you stopped her at the last minute and then Doc came and bloody cut Bit and opened the portal. Dawn was gonna jump an' close it, but you stopped 'er an' jumped yourself. You died but Red bought you back."
"Wow, so I died ? And Willow bought me back? Okay, but I'm still human right?"
"Yes , nothing demony bout you pet"
"So where is Dawn n my Mom and Dad?"
" Bits staying with Anya n' the Whelp til your sorted . Your Mum n Dad divorced before you moved here."
"Can I see them all? Maybe seeing them will help. Where's my Dad live and where's my Mum? "
Spike bent down and knelt before her, taking her hand , he kissed her knuckles and took a deep unneeded breath" Dads still in L.A an your Mum passed away last year pet, brain haemorrage , she didn't know anything about it "
Buffy sat on the bed blankly staring at the mirror. "So my friends, can I see them"
"Tell you what we'll do, we'll get them to all come to the mansion tomorrow night an' have one of your 'Scoobie meetin's'. The Whelp will have a fit cos its in a nest o' vamps but he'll get over it. He'll probably get the witch to put some kinda protection spell on 'em all "
Spike showed her into her Mums room and sat down in the chair while she had a look around. Buffy picked up different bits and pieces and then picked up her Mums favourite perfume.
"This brings back a few memories" She sank to the floor, her grief taking her over, tears streamed down her face. Spike scooped her up onto his lap and cradled her. They stayed there for hours.

Angelus leant back against the wall. Darla came back down the stairs and held out an open pouch of O neg. Angelus sneered at her and refused the blood.
"Fine be like that then. This is the only blood your going to get so I suggest you accept it . Your only other choice of course is to starve. Just in case your wondering, your Slayer is out with William . I bet their all cosy and I'm wondering how long it will be until he claims her again"
Angelus growled loudly
"Awww still so much in love with her and getting the brush off for our boy. It must eat you up inside. How do you think it's going to feel when you hear them at night. Our William was always a wicked boy in bed. Mmm bet he'll get her to do things you wouldn't. But then she was pure when you had her."
"He wouldn't be stupid enough to touch whats mine a second time"
"You really think so? Even Dru knows the two of them are meant to be. She see's their aura's and says that they meld. You didn't think that you and Buffy are soul mates did you?"
"We are, even the Powers That Be know it"
"The powers that you are suppose to work for, your their champion aren't you?"
"Yes. Stop toying with me Darla and let me out of these chains"
"No! Some champion you are. Someone moves in on the girl you left years ago and you act like this. Lose the soul that makes you that champion and revert to this" she pointed at him tomake her point. "Do you really think they want you now? Would Buffy want you now? I very much doubt it"
Angelus looked at her and squinted up his eyes. Darla knew then he had heard her and taken on board what she had said. Question now was, would he change his ways?
He snatched the blood and drank it hungrily. His golden eyes reverted back to their usual deep brown and he hung his head.
"Shamed are we?"
"Yes"
"Do you realise that you lost that girl when you abandoned her after the fiasco with Acathla, she's moved on and she's happy. I suggest you do the same Angelus or you will be eaten up by guilt and jealousy and that would be such a waste. You have the power to be the bigger man here and the chance to do redeem yourself. If I was you, I'd take it"
Darla left without looking back at him. She just hoped that Angelus would take her advice and change .

Buffy rang Willow and although she was nervous at first, they soon held a pretty normal conversation. Willow agreed to come up to the mansion, she just needed to be assured that the other vampires were not going to be looking at her as though she was a happy meal on legs as Spike had once put it. Buffy dialed Xanders number and had a conversation with Anya, who also agreed to come to the mansion . Xander was adament that he wouldn't go, his standing on vampires still held strong. They were nothing but evil and should be staked on sight, no questions asked. Anya tried reasoning with him and despite this, said that he wouldn't come. Buffy felt the tension between Anya and Xander and in the end said not to worry, the invitation stood and she would love to see them but not to come if it was going to cause problems .
Spike held her hand and felt her heart sink even further at the rebuttal she got from the guy who was supposed to be one of her closest friends. On top of finding out about her mothers death and the fact that her parents had split , it was her last straw. Again Spike cradled the weeping Slayer and took her up to her room and laid on the bed while she cried herself to sleep.Spike spooned up against her back and let his own tears fall. Tears for Joyce, and tears for his mate, even if he hadn't claimed her again, his heart , mind, body and his blood still felt she was his .She always would be.


Angelus watched as Lawson and Penn came into view. They took the chain down from the wall and pushed him towards the stairs. Angelus walked up the stairs and stopped at the top. Darla, Dru and Willow stood in the space in front of the fireplace.
"We thought it best to not take a chance on you being without your soul, so, Willow here, kindly offered to help us. Seems that this slip of a girl has grown into some serious power. No more playing nice" Darla said walking round Willow. "We'll find out if you have your soul and if not, pop it back in and all before lunch"
Willow was nervous and the vampire mentioning lunch, well, she thought that maybe she was lunch. Willow smiled and gave a timid wave at Angelus who just scoffed at her. So, he doubted her power? Willow raised her right hand just enough to be within eyesight and whispered a short Latin phrase. An Orb of Thessulah appeared in her raised hand and she smiled back at him. Turning to Darla and the assembled vampires she nodded " If he still has his soul the light should disappear with a few seconds. If he hasn't well the light stays and then I perform the spell and give it back. You might want to restrain him a little better, from what Buffy told me, it kinda stings "

Darla nodded towards Lawson ans Penn and they chained Angelus to the wall in the place they had originally chained him. Willow sat on the couch and placed the Orb on the table in front of her. She crossed her legs and focused . The chanting was quiet and it wasn't long before the Orb glowed.Darla watched as it stayed lit.
"So you did loose that soul of yours. How?"
"Well if I told you it would ruin the surprise wouldn't it"
"Last time he lost his soul he had slept with Buffy, I doubt she would do that again, what with her and Spike being an item" Willow said
Darla scowled at Angelus "Tell me how " she walked behind Willow "We could just put the soul back and then wait for you to admit it then so why bother holding out "
"Just do the hocus pocus and get this over with" Angelus yawned "Kinda getting bored with you lot now"
Darla patted Willow on the back, giving her the go ahead. Willow said the rest of the chant in latin .

Angelus felt the warmth sweep through him and waited for it to intensify. The burning grew to a new level of pain. His eyes lit up with the brightest and purest of lights. He screamed out and fell to his knee's. He was grateful that the chains had been loose enough for him to fall, or else he would have suffered from dislocated shoulders.
Darla watched and then looked at Willow who nodded that it had been succesful.
Angelus hung from the chains still and was sobbing like a baby. He looked up and Willow saw the softness in them that had been void before.Before Darla ordered his release she again asked him how he had lost his soul.He answered her this time.
"Cordelia"
So, he was in love with the trampy cheerleader turned vampire. There was only one way to stop a repeat of this fiasco, stake the bitch while she slept in the bedroom. As if he was reading her mind, Angelus or rather Angel, struggled against the chains. Penn and Darla ignored him and walked towards the bedroom.
"Leave her be.. please, she didn't know, she's innocent in all this"
Darla and Penn ignored him and continued with their current mission. The door shut and there was no sound that could let the other occupants of the mansion know what was happening the other side of the door.
Spike and Buffy came through the main door at that point to see all eyes focaused on the bedroom door.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked
Willow walked to Buffy and hugged her "Darla has an appointment with Cordy and I have just cursed Angelus again"
"I always miss the bloody good stuff, it's not bleedin' fair, Darla should have let me know. I missed the great git gettin' cursed the first time an' when Red cursed him for the first time. Bloody sucks it does"
A few smirks at his outbursts soon reduced his rant to a snigger. "So i take it Darla's in their taking out the one thing that makes him happy then? Like to say it's a shame, but I can't. Never liked the bint personally. Should've known she'd make you blow a gasket then eh " Spike said to Angel.Spike pulled Buffy to him "Jus' so you know, Buffy is off limits to you so don't go gettin' idea's again"
Spike walked towards the bedroom and opened the door to see Darla sat on the bed, Penn at the end of the bed holding a bottle of holy water and a stake.
"Spike, glad you could make it, Buffy, you sure you want to be here, she was after all a friend of yours was she not?"
"Not really, not that I remember that well. Even if she was, she deserves it after setting me up like that"
"Well dear, why don't you do the honours, you are a Slayer and like you say, she deserves it"
Darla stood back and made a space in front of her so that Buffy would have a clear shot at her chest.
Spike watched as Buffy spun the stake in her hand , the same way she did everytime she was about to stake a vmap that had really pissed her off.
Cordy had been silent up until now. She stared at Buffy and pleaded for her to not do this. Buffy held firm and raised the stake up above her shoulder and plunged it down into the vampires chest.
As Cordy exploded into ash, Angel howled.