Escape

Spike narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

“What the hell are you doing here, Dru,” He demanded gruffly.

Drusilla whimpered at his harsh tone, sounding something akin to a wounded puppy as she trailed a hand across her forehead in a sweeping gesture. Raising Miss Edith in front of her, she stroked the doll's face idly, talking to it as though to an old friend.

“Daddy doesn’t want to play anymore.”

Spike sighed, trying to let go of his tension.

“Dru-“

“It could be like it was before… all of us, so happy,” She sing-songed, interrupting him.

“You mean like before you left me for that snot demon?” Spike shot back irritably. But his retort seemed to fall on deaf ears.

“All of us were so happy, like pretty lilies in the field… wilting in the sun…”

“You always did speak a lot of gibberish, Dru,” Spike shook his head, some old pent up anger resurfacing. He marveled at the nerve of her, to show up again on his doorstep out of the blue like this, after leaving him and casting aside their love like yesterday's newspaper. For almost a hundred years since she’d sired him, she’d been his world. And when she’d left him, he resented it greatly, harboring a deep wound that he tried to keep buried. “Just didn’t realize how batty you really were ‘til lately, hindsight being what it is ‘n all.”

Suddenly, her eyes snapped to his, seeming much more alert.

“My Spike left us.” Her tone could almost pass for mild indignation, and Spike couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Uh, I might be completely off my bird here, but I seem to recall you being the one doing the walking.” He glared at her. “You left me Dru, not the other way around.”

“No.” She shook her head firmly, letting the arm holding Miss Edith fall to her side limply. “You were going away… from me, from us…” Her blood red lips formed a pout. “I saw it all in my head. The-“

“What, the little birdies told you?” He snorted. “Bloody hell, Dru, just when I think-“ He paused suddenly, something dawning on him. “Wait a minute, all of us? Who’s…” He cut himself off and nodded in sudden understanding. “Angelus is back in town.”

Spike frowned at the mention of his grand-sire. “So what brings the clan back to Sunnyhell anyway?”

“The slayer.” Spike inwardly bristled at Drusilla’s response, nostrils flaring slightly, though he tried to play it cool.

“The slayer, huh? I thought Angelus was the type to run in the other direction. Least, that’s what he told me when I wanted to hunt that last slayer chit… I believe the words he used were ’a shite idea.’” Spike mimicked his grand-sire’s brogue, ending with a dramatic sigh. “So why’s he showing up now? To have himself a good wank at the hellmouth?”

Drusilla blinked once, her eyes glossy and yet hauntingly aware.

“You followed her… made a deal drenched in blood…”

’How does she know all this?’

Spike raised his chin, answering quickly.

“Needed to keep busy. God knows I was spending too much time hung up on you, Dru. Rather chase some wanton slayer than sit around wallowing in my own pathetic misery,” He shrugged, “Was just a thing to keep me occupied…”

’More than a little occupied.’

Spike had found out about the Gem of Amara while still in South America, right after Dru broke up with him, having overheard its mention from a group of fledglings convinced of its existence. Then he’d gone on a hunt, leaving Angelus and Dru in the past, trying to keep himself occupied so he could forget about her. In his down time, all he could do was keep himself busy feeding and boozing, getting drunk and going on killing sprees that never seemed to fill the void quite enough. So when the council approached him with the proposition of finding the slayer, he immediately agreed, more than willing to distract himself.

So he set out on a three year journey that entailed a slayer and gem scavenger hunt and quickly became obssession, until Spike finally came up victorious on both counts through sheer will and determination, along with a bit of dumb luck (and the torturing of some whereabouts from several sources.)

Spike suddenly became aware that Dru was looking at him expectantly, and he immediately snapped back to attention. Realizing he wasn’t going to get any more answers from her at the moment, he knew he had to be very careful to play his cards right. Because any slip up might reveal his true feelings.

“Come play with mummy. It’ll be like old times.” Dru extended her hand to him, and Spike looked at it inquiringly, internally conflicted and knowing that he had to make a fast decision. Hesitating for only a moment, he accepted her hand, clutching the cold, bony fingers tightly in his own.

“What’s your pleasure, pet?” His voice was low and his smile tight.

“Let’s go where the kiddies go,” She hummed softly. “Dancing, dancing, drinking...”

Spike smiled genuinely at that, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward. “Sounds exactly like my kind of fun.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Glad you could make it out tonight, Buff.”

“Yeah we’re really glad you could come, Buffy!” Willow added. The three old friends sat together at the Bronze, chatting and reminiscing while they sipped their drinks.

“It’s just like old times again.”

Buffy grinned at her friends.

“Yeah…”

Suddenly, Willow jumped from her seat and clapped her hands together excitedly. “Oh, I love this song! Let’s go dance!” Xander rose from his seat, standing beside Willow.

“Why not, I’m ready to get my groove thing on.” He paused for a moment. “Ya coming, Buffster?”

Buffy shook her head slightly. “Nah, don’t really feel like dancing. You two go, have fun.”

Xander and Willow exchanged a look, simultaneously shrugging their shoulders.

“K, we’ll be back in a jiff.”

Buffy watched as her friends took to the dance floor, clearly enjoying themselves as they blended with the crowd. Sighing, Buffy peeked at her watch, realizing it was nearly midnight. Since she didn’t have a lesson with Spike that night, she had a bit of free time and took the opportunity to call Willow and Xander right away. She tried to use all her free time to visit with her friends and mother, since she never really knew when she’d be free again. Though it seemed no matter how hard she tried, she could never fully enjoy herself, preoccupied by the fact that her mind was constantly laden with the knowledge of her slayer duties.

Suddenly, Buffy was pulled from her reverie as she felt the uncanny notion that she was being watched. Cautiously, she peered over her shoulder, eyes skimming the room. Coming up empty, she looked forward again, suddenly noticing the guy that was looking at her from a stool near the bar area.

He was tall, well over six feet, with light brown hair and shoulders that were well muscled. He had that wholesome, all-American look about him. When he saw her notice him looking, a shaky smile crossed his lips and he took a step forward, approaching her from across the room.

Once he reached Buffy's table, he introduced himself.

“Hi, I’m Riley Finn.”

Buffy hesitated for only the briefest moment before taking the offered hand and shaking it. His hands were strong and warm.

She smiled politely. “I’m Buffy,” She returned.

“Buffy,” He seemed to like the way that name sounded rolling off his tongue, “That’s an, um, unusual name.” Buffy nodded slowly, eyebrows raised at his remark.

“I guess you could say that… Peculiar name for a peculiar girl.”

“Peculiar, huh? Unique?” He shifted his weight from one foot to another, palm flat on the table as he leaned slightly closer to her, clearly trying to flirt.

“One of a kind.”

’Oh, if you only knew how unique…’

“Mind if I join you?” He gestured to the empty chair in front of her, and Buffy shook her head.

“Not at all.”

From the way he fidgeted, she could tell he was nervous. There was something cute and refreshing about that. It made her feel as though she were a normal girl, flirting with a normal guy, just having a normal night out on the town.

Once Riley was comfortably seated across from her, he folded his hands on the table top, seeming unable to tear his eyes away from her. Clearing his throat, he attempted to make small talk.

“So, you from around here?”

Buffy tensed slightly, though she quickly recovered.

”Born and raised.”

“Ah, Sunnydale girl through and through.”

Buffy could already feel her mouth muscles aching prematurely from the amount of forced smiling she knew she’d have to do that night. Yet she was used to telling lies in order to conceal her secret, it was nothing new, and something that she'd probably always have to deal with. Such was the reality of her life.

With a barely audible sigh, Buffy nibbled her lower lip before reluctantly meeting Riley's eyes, trying to let herself relax and enjoy the moment as much as humanly possible despite the knowledge of the secret she'd be forced to keep guarded yet again.

“Yep, that’s me.”

Meanwhile, someone else watched from the shadows, though he could only see her profile from where he stood. Her golden hair was swept up into a twist at the back of her head. A wispy tendril had fallen loose and framed her face, which she kept twirling around her finger absentmindedly, brushing it behind her ear. She wore a short black lacy skirt that skimmed her thighs, her tanned legs crossed and partially covered by tight black leather boots that hit her mid-calf. She also sported a red tank top that hugged her figure perfectly, her coat draped across the chair behind her. She looked absolutely delicious. Spike frowned, realizing she was enjoying herself as she chatted up Captain America. Spike instantly wanted nothing more than to snap the lumbering oaf’s neck.

He and Dru were hidden beneath The Bronze steps, cloaked in darkness, the loud booming of the music and buzzing of the crowd distracting anyone from noticing what they were doing. Drusilla held a lifeless man in her arms, sucking at his neck greedily as the blood spilled over her crimson lips. He was one half of an unlucky couple that had decided to venture beneath the stairs for a make out session, thus stumbling into their trap. Spike held the man’s girlfriend in his arms, her head lolled to one side so the puncture wounds on her neck were clearly exposed. Though Spike had only taken one sip of her blood when he looked up and saw Buffy conversing with Captain America, the image quickly serving to ruin his appetite. Now, he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her.

However, he tore his gaze away when he realized that Drusilla seeing him staring at the slayer would not be good. With a sigh, Spike immediately returned his attention to drinking his fill of the girl in his arms, though his heart wasn’t fully in it. At least, not like it used to be.

He and Dru had gone straight from his crypt to the Bronze, looking for fresh blood, and suddenly Spike had felt ravenous, as though he hadn’t eaten in days. He remembered that feeling of freedom he’d experienced when he and Dru wreaked havoc together, of how good it felt. It was liberating to clear his mind of the slayer and let loose again, going on the prowl, even if it was with the very person he’d told himself he never wanted to see again after what she did to him. Though Angelus’s sudden return to Sunnydale left Spike with a bad taste in his mouth, and he wanted to try to pry the reasons for his sudden reappearance from Dru, or at least be around her in case she let anything slip.

They both drank their fill, letting the lifeless bodies of their once unsuspecting victims hit the floor with a dull thud that was absorbed by the noise of the club. Spike wiped his mouth clean and watched as Drusilla did the same, before letting his human features slide back into place.

Hand in hand, they emerged from beneath the steps, gliding forth from the shadows. It was only then that Buffy turned her head and noticed Spike for the first time.

She froze, her eyes narrowing.

“Uh, huh…” Buffy said distractedly as Riley momentarily stopped rambling about his days in boot camp. Seeming satisfied by her response, he continued, leaving Buffy to stare over his shoulder with much chagrin.

Buffy saw Spike hand in hand with some goth looking skinny girl, his back to her. When he stopped and ran his hand across the girl’s midsection seductively, Buffy felt a pang of anger, for which she immediately berated herself.

’You’re not jealous…’

"No."

"Huh?"

Buffy nearly jumped as Riley's voice cut into her thoughts, and it was only then that she'd realized she had spoken aloud.

"Uh, I said go. Go on with your story, it's fascinating."

'Nice cover, Buffy'

Though to her surprise, Riley seemed to buy it, launching back into his story at full steam and before long Buffy had to do her best not to yawn. Her thoughts completely wandering from the mind-numbingly dull, one sided conversation as she cast sidelong glances at Spike.

'What if he's up to something...'

Buffy realized Spike could be up to some funny business. Gears suddenly churning in her head, Buffy thought that maybe he was about to kill his date, though she had a sneaking suspicion that his “date” could be a vampire as well, judging by her outdated look and nearly translucent skin. But either way, he could have easily been up to no good, and she was itching for an excuse...

'Oh, go ahead, just try to make a move you stupid, bleached...Vampire idiot.'

She snuck repeated glances at him from the corner of her eye as Riley continued to speak.

And it was at that very moment, when Dru looked over Spike’s shoulder as he tried to usher her out the door, that she saw Buffy for the first time, her eyes widening. She looked back at Spike with terror gleaming in the pools of her dark eyes.

“The slayer is here,” Dru whispered fiercely, “And here,” She gestured at Spike, “All around. Oh!” She cried in horror. “Swirling all around you…” Spike clenched his jaw.

'So much for finding out why Angelus is back in town.'

He grabbed her arm, and she wrenched it free. “Dru, what are you-“

“Oh!” Her hands went to her temples and she dug her fingers in as though she were in physical pain. “Oh, daddy! So bright, it’s blinding!”

“Dru, would you knock it off!” He grabbed her hands again and yanked them from her forehead, not wanting to attract unnecessary attention.

“Burning me, burning!” She cried. Her hands slipped from his and he stormed after her as she made her way toward the door, weaving through the writhing bodies. When she wouldn’t turn back and look at him, Spike growled in frustration.

“Fine, leave!” He shouted. “And you know what, while you’re at it, give Angelus a message for me. Tell him to remove that sodding stick from his ass and beat you over the bloody head with it!” He heard Dru whimper as she disappeared out the door. Spike tightened his hands into fists at his sides, leather duster billowing around him.

Spike didn’t know which was making him angrier at the moment, Dru’s craziness and sudden outburst, or Buffy's flirting with Captain America. He finally decided on the latter.

'But at least there's something I can do about that...'

With a wicked grin, he made his way over to her table, purposely exaggerating his characteristic swagger. Buffy again caught sight of him from the corner of her eye and shifted nervously, her face flushing as she saw him getting closer.

’Please don’t come over here…’

She couldn’t believe that he was actually approaching her in public, a knot tightening in the pit of her stomach as she instinctively knew things could get ugly.

’I swear to God, if he embarrasses me…’

“Hi honey, I’m back.” His tongue was curled behind his teeth, hands buried in his duster pockets.

Buffy closed her eyes and clenched her jaw at the voice, letting out a sigh before sending him a look that told him she'd love to tear him to pieces at that moment.

Riley nearly spit out his drink when he saw Spike approach the table. He gulped, looking at Buffy with question in his eyes.

“Honey?...”

“It’s just an expression,” Buffy answered quickly, turning to Riley with a shaky smile before fixing her gaze on Spike, who returned with an innocent grin. She glared daggers at him.

“What?” Spike shrugged, turning his attention briefly to Riley, who looked at him in silence, seeming both baffled and flustered. “Sorry Captain America, ‘fraid you’re not really her type. She likes her men to have, oh, you know, personality.”

Buffy shifted nervously in her seat, the heat rising in her face.

“Spike!“

Riley coughed again.

“His name’s Spike?!”

"Well, least it's got a bit of flare."

"Flare?"

"What are you, a bloody Repeatin' Pete?"

Buffy was heaving, her face now beet red with growing anger and chagrin.

"Spike, I swear to God-"

"Oh, no need to swear, sweet. I meant nothing by it."

Flashing another mock-innocent grin, Spike helped himself to a chair, spinning it around and straddling it, clasping his hands together over the back of it and giving Riley a condescending glare.

“Can’t help it mate, the bird just likes her men a little… bad.”

“That’s not true," Buffy automatically interjected.

“That’s not what you said last night.” Spike waggled his eyebrows at her and smirked, and Buffy’s jaw dropped open. Her ears felt like they were on fire, and Spike knew she wanted nothing more than to punch him.

'This is too fun...'

Riley looked stunned. Unsure of what to do, Buffy burst into a forced fit of laughter, small, uneven sounding giggles escaping her lips. She felt like an idiot.

“He’s joking,” She said for Riley’s benefit once she stopped laughing, though she never looked away from Spike, her eyes full of malice. And what fueled her rage even more was the fact that he seemed to be enjoying himself. “Tell him you’re joking,” She demanded through clenched teeth, her hand gripping her purse so tightly her knuckles were almost white, and Spike knew there was probably a stake in there.

After a long pause, Spike finally shrugged his shoulders before turning his focus back at Riley and plastering a small, false smile on his face. “What can I say? I’m a funny guy.”

“The funniest.”

“So funny I forgot to laugh,” Riley muttered under his breath. Though Spike, with his heightened vampire senses, was able to hear him clearly.

“See, everyone’s a comedian,” Spike added, and Riley’s head snapped up. “You know, I’ve eaten a fair share of comedians in my day…”

“Eaten?!”

“Ok, that’s enough!” Buffy was out of her seat in a flash as though it had just caught fire. She grabbed Spike roughly by the arm, yanking him to his feet. “I’ll be right back Riley,” She said apologetically. “Spikey here was just leaving, weren't you, Spikey?" Before he had a chance to respond, she added, "I’ll see him to the door.”

She looked at her friends who were thankfully still too busy dancing to notice what was going on at the table. Then she turned and dragged Spike through the winding bodies until they’d disappeared into the crowd, though Buffy realized that Riley could still see them, and he was still watching them.

Buffy, not wanting Riley to see, dragged a strangely (momentarily) compliant Spike out the back door of the Bronze, emerging into the alleyway behind it.

Her grip on his arm was crushing, nails digging into his duster and biting the skin underneath. “Hey, watch the leather!” He protested.

“What the fuck was that all about!?”

Spike quirked a brow in defiance, cocking his head to one side as though prepping himself for whatever verbal insult she threw his way.

“What? I just wanted to say hi.”

“Like hell you did.” Her fists were clenched at her sides, and Spike, trying to maintain a level head, merely crossed his arms.

“So, Captain Cardboard really does it for you, huh?”

“Who said anything about doing of any kind?! We were just talking!” She paused. “And why in the hell am I explaining myself to you? You know, maybe we were about to have hot, sweaty sex! And there’s not a damn thing you could do about it!” Spike couldn’t help the growl that escaped his lips. Buffy laughed bitterly.

“What? You think just because we did the nasty a couple times that I’m not allowed to do it with anybody else? Get a grip, Spike.”

Spike quickly closed the distance between them, squaring off with her.

“We have a thing going slayer, you and I.”

“Bad. A very bad thing. And there is no you and me, get it out of your head.” She stared up at him defiantly, eyes filled with that familiar spark of passion and fury.

'I bloody well wish I could...'

“Talk all you want," Spike retorted, "But you know that boring git will never make you feel the things I do.”

Buffy snorted, placing her hands on her hips. “What, disgusting?”

He ran the tip of his tongue over his teeth, his look one of pure, knowing cockiness.

“You know what I mean…”

Throwing her head back in frustration, Buffy closed her eyes for a brief moment, contemplating the best way to deal with the infuriating vampire.

“Well, you know what?" She said after a long pause, "I don’t care what you think you make me feel, and I don’t really give a shit what you want." Once again, she met his eyes, the blue depths stormy with masked emotion. "Besides, like you’re one to talk when you were getting all touchy feely with the Bride of Frankenstein.”

Spike snapped his mouth shut at that, though his finger was still pointing at her, arm frozen in mid air. Lowering his hand, he let his lips curl into a devious smile.

“What’s the matter, pet. Jealous?“

Buffy snorted. “Don’t turn this around on me.”

“Why the bloody hell not?”

“Because I’m not the jealous one.”

Spike sneered at her. “You’re off your rocker, slayer.”

“Am I?” She licked her lips. “You know what I think? I think you are the jealous one, I think you’re the one craving this the most…”

“Like hell…”

“Maybe it’s what I do to you, the things I make you feel…”

Spike had a retort ready, but he quickly lost his voice as she sashayed toward him seductively, swaying her hips.

“Wha-oh, fuck…”

Grinning wickedly, Buffy decided she was ready to play a little game to prove her point. Boldly, she slipped her hand between his legs, cupping his crotch. A groan caught in Spike's throat and he swallowed hard, Adam's apple bobbing.

'You think you're the one with all the moves? Well, how about a little role reversal, Spikey...'

"Is this what you want?" She whispered, leaning forward until her lips nearly touched his.

She started to stroke him slowly, forcing him backwards until he nearly touched the brick wall that lined the alleyway. Then, she removed her hand altogether.

Spike almost cried out in protest until suddenly, in one fell swoop, she swiftly undid his fly and fell to her knees, taking him into her mouth before Spike even knew what hit. He was instantly in heaven, the hotness of her mouth doing things to him he’d never even dreamed.

“Fuck yes! Oh Buff…slayer… fuck…”

He was smooth, cold and hard, his taste both salty and tangy with just the tiniest hint of sweet. It was different than she’d imagined, but not bad. Really, not bad at all.

She wasn’t very experienced in the art of oral sex, or really with any sexual act for that matter. Mostly, she ran on instinct, her goal being to make him as hot and bothered as possible in the shortest time she could manage, which meant she’d need to use all the right moves at once. Thinking quickly, she wrapped her fingers firmly around the hardened length of him, tightening her hand ever so slightly before pulling back, only letting the head of his cock remain in her mouth as she swirled her tongue over the tip in a teasing manner. Working rapidly, she slid her hand to the base of his shaft and allowed her mouth to follow as far as she could take him without gagging, repeating this motion multiple times using rapid, rhythmic movements. It was driving Spike crazy.

This certainly hadn’t been the expected outcome of the night.

Spike was blindsided by her actions, as this was the first time she’d initiated any sexual act between them. He didn't know where her behavior was coming from, or why, but he sure as hell wasn't going to protest.

Unable to control himself, his hips surged a little too eagerly, pelvis jerking so the tip of his cock hit the back of Buffy's throat and triggered her gag reflex at the unexpected movement. But she quickly recovered, holding him tighter in her hand and letting him slip completely from her mouth, before sliding the underside of her tongue over his length as she stared up at him coyly through hooded eyes.

His hands coiled in her golden hair, tugging at the roots until it was almost painful and Buffy realized that he was probably nearing his edge.

Just as suddenly as she'd started, she released him from her mouth abruptly and stood before him. But before he could say a word, he was once again silenced when her lips crashed onto his and any surprise he felt at her sudden boldness quickly melted into pure, lustful need as she grabbed him by the lapels of his duster and slammed him against the brick wall roughly, her fingers digging into the soft leather. Spike’s hands weaved through her hair, knocking the remaining pins loose and causing the golden waves to flow freely around her shoulders. His hands snaked downward, cupping her ass and squeezing.

Jumping, Buffy wrapped her legs around his waist tightly, ankles crossed at his ass, inside his duster. Spike groaned as she reached between them and positioned his cock right over her opening. He could feel the heat radiating from her even though he'd yet to make intimate contact. Though that lack of contact was short lived. With one hand still locked tightly around his neck, Buffy tugged her panties aside before impaling herself onto him fully.

Spike could barely contain himself as her heat consumed him. He hissed between his teeth, holding her firmly in place while one hand closed his duster around her, trapping them both inside its confines so the brick wall wouldn’t scratch her back as he pressed her against it. Then Spike pulled out slowly before thrusting into her again at full force.

Mindful that they were still right outside a night club, Buffy sought his lips again in an effort to keep quiet, allowing him to swallow her mewls and whimpers as she continued to move wildly, her focus on reaching her peak as quickly as possible. Every time he was inside her she felt him stretch her in new ways, the sensation never anything short of amazing.

After several long moments, Buffy broke off the kiss and looked at Spike, meeting his eyes briefly. He stared back at her with such an intense expression that she had to look away. Somehow, it became too intimate when he looked at her like that, while he was buried inside of her. It stirred something in Buffy that made her feel uncomfortable, so she closed her eyes to shut it out.

Spike rested his mouth against her neck, his tongue darting out periodically to taste her as she held onto him even tighter, her arms curling tightly around his shoulders. One arm remained under her ass to help hold her up and steady her, his other hand resting on the wall beside her head, palm open and digging painfully into the rough brick.

Suddenly, they heard giggling and loud chatter that quickly became louder, and Buffy gasped, realizing people were coming around the corner.

“Spike, there’s people coming!” She managed to choke out, her eyes widening.

“So?” He growled, never ceasing his movements as though he'd set himself on autopilot, though if possible he seemed to piston into her slightly harder and deeper still. “Let ‘em see.”

“No!” She cried, pushing at his shoulders to try to make him let her go, but he wouldn’t budge, wouldn’t let her move let alone drop to the ground. “Spike,” She hissed, her senses overloaded.

"Spike!"

He growled fiercely.

“Fine.”

With a groan, he shuffled awkwardly with her still in position, maneuvering them to the other side of a tall dumpster and pressing her back against the wall and out of view of any passersby exiting the club. Buffy could hear them close by and knew that she was putting herself at serious risk of being caught, but she suddenly didn’t care as Spike resumed his thrusting and she was once again lost to the passion of the moment.

‘Just keep quiet, keep… Oh God…’

Soon, her muscles tightened around him and neither could hold back any longer. Buffy's orgasm washed over her with sudden unexpected force, causing Spike to quickly follow suit. He jerked his hips once, twice, three times, and went off like a rocket, burying his face in Buffy's neck and biting down with blunt human teeth to muffle the roar of pleasure he knew would embarass Buffy if heard aloud.

Buffy gasped for breath as she felt Spike dig his teeth into her flesh, biting her own lip until she nearly drew blood to keep from screaming out loud.

After several long moments, Buffy slid down his body and broke their union, straightening her skirt and refusing to look at Spike as she did so. Making sure the coast was clear, she emerged from beside the dumpster with Spike close behind.

It was Spike who broke the silence.

“See,” He rasped as he zipped himself back up, “No one else can make you feel like that…”

Buffy’s nostrils flared at his attitude. “See,” She shot back, holding her arms out at her sides. “I can do whatever I want, and whoever I want… including Riley, if that's the case.”

Spike tried to keep his cool, but Buffy could tell she'd hit a nerve by the flicker of anger in his eyes, amber briefly flashing forth in those blue depths.

“Please, I don't think dull-as-cardboard ponces like that are your type, luv. 'Specially not ones with nancy boy names like Riley."

“Yeah, and what kind of a name is Spike? It’s a name for truckers. Or dogs.” She shook her head bitterly. "And how in the hell do you even know what my type is? Because you know what, I'd rather be with a boring 'ponce' named Riley, than a killer."

With a huff, she spun on the heel of her boot to walk back inside. Though she didn't make it two steps when Spike reached out and grabbed her by the arm, spinning her around.

“Don’t go back in there.”

She tore her arm away from him. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

He stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

“Says who?”

“Spike, don’t do this,” She sighed, “There’s no point.”

Tilting his head slightly to the left, his eyes wandered over her face as though studying her reaction. “Isn’t there?” He inquired.

“Spike…”

“I can’t just stand by and watch while you shag Captain Cardboard.”

“Ok, first of all, no one said anything about shagging, you creep. God, can you get your mind out of the gutter for two seconds?!" Her tone seemed more exhasperated than furious at this point. "And second of all, if there were any shagging, I hope to God you wouldn’t be watching because that would be incredibly disturbing on too many levels to name. And lastly, my friends are in there too, you know.” She paused. “Besides, you probably scared off Riley with your macho asshole routine in there anyway. So congratulations for screwing up any chance I have of enjoying an actual night of normalcy.”

“Normal is overrated.”

“Says the vampire.” She shook her head. “Go home Spike.”

“I don’t take orders, slayer.”

“Fine, don’t go home, I don’t care.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

"Fine." Realizing how incredibly lame that retort sounded, Spike tried again.

“And don’t forget about our little lesson tomorrow.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” She grumbled sarcastically before turning to walk back toward the door.

“Oh, and Summers.” She paused but didn’t turn around, her arms wrapped around her middle and shoulders tense. “See any big, oafish looking ninnies with dark hair and a caveman brow, be sure to stake ‘em good and proper, tell ‘em it’s for Spike. Or better yet, just turn and run.”

Buffy hesitated, an alarm going off in her head. Vampire, dark hair, dark eyes, looked like a football player…

“Who is this?” She inquired, turning to face Spike.

“Goes by Angelus. Believe me, no one you wanna tussle with.”

“You think I’m scared?”

“Maybe you should be.”

Buffy hesitated at that. “I’m thinking that he might’ve been the vamp that showed up at my mom’s door, and I’m guessing it wasn’t to sell girl scout cookies.” She shook her head. “Lucky me.” But as she again turned to leave, Spike called after her.

“Better watch your back, slayer.” She cast him a look over her shoulder, arching a brow coyly.

“Always do.”

With that, she disappeared inside, the door swinging shut behind her.

Once Buffy left, Spike suddenly had the uncanny feeling that he was being watched. Though as he looked about the alley, he didn’t see a single living soul, and couldn’t figure out where anything would be hiding, since the alley was relatively empty of anything that would provide a good hiding place aside from the dumpster right beside him, which one quick peak inside told him was empty. Shrugging, he finally turned to leave, though he stayed on his guard the whole time.

‘I almost feel sorry for any git that messes with me tonight,’ He thought sardonically, his mood sour after the encounters with Dru and Buffy.

‘Almost.’

---

A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delay in update. My trip to San Diego was fun, but since I got back I realized I still had all my Christmas shopping to do, and things were just rushrushrush. So anyway, hope you all like this update. As always, thanks to; Whisper and Michelle for your reviews. Hope you all had a great Christmas and have a happy new year! And also as always, your reviews are much appreciated, please let me know what you think of this chapter (longest one yet!)