Family of Eternity

Chapter 1

Buffy fidgeted nervously, smoothing down her dress before gathering her courage and knocking on her best friend’s dorm room door. It’s not like Willow and Tara didn’t know...they just didn’t know. Not in that official way that was so different than just going out. She’d never actually proclaimed Spike’s mine in the same way that she was his. The...boyfriend...thing.

Tara opened the door, smiling sweetly and carefully balancing her plate, “Buffy.”

Nervous butterflies suddenly started dancing in her stomach, “You’re busy. Eating. Sorry, I’ll come back-...”

“Nonsense.” The quiet blond opened the doorway wider, “Come on in. Willow’s on the computer.” She let herself be guided in, smiling nervously at the redhead typing on her computer. Tara sat down at the little table in the corner and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, “So...did you need something in a witchery way or were you just visiting?”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed, wanting really badly to growl. Tara knew exactly what she wanted, which meant Spike had more help than she thought for his little disappearance. Dien and Tara had both been in on it. Willow looked up and smiled at her friend, “Hey, Buffy, what’ya need? Tutoring? Researching?”

“Spelling, actually.”

The redhead frowned, “You need help with your spelling?”

She felt herself smile against her will and sat on the edge of the bed, picking at the sheets, “No...I need a spell.”

“Oh. Okay. Um...do I have to start guessing?”

Buffy looked up and blinked, realizing she hadn’t been really proactive, “No, um...” Deep breath in and out. Here goes, “I need to do a locator on Spike.”

Willow blinked, “He’s missing?” She jumped up, thinking this was some kind of Scooby emergency. He was
part of the slaying team after all, “Is he in trouble? Kidnap or-...”

Standing as well, “No. He-...we had a fight and he’s gone and I want to find him. Say I’m sorry.”

The redhead nodded and started gathering ingredients, “Oh. Okay. No problem.” Tara started following her girlfriend, helping with the circle and all the while glaring at Buffy for copping out. But the slayer just bit her lip and held her peace. They both knew Willow had assumed she was helping a friend save a friendship. Not a girl trying to get her boyfriend back. She sucked and she knew it, but why bring it up if Spike just shot
her down?

Coward, thy name is Buffy.

She watched in silent fascination as the herbs were burnt and the words were said. The two witches sat across from one another, a large map of California between them. She could detect a very soft hum, like a growing of power. There was a spark on the paper and that was it.

Willow jumped around giddily, picking up the map and pointing proudly, “There’s our vampire.”

Frowning, “The middle of the woods?”

The redhead glanced at the map, “No. That’s near the mountains, there’s a preserve there and camping. Log cabins too. I remember going there one summer. Lake Pylea has all sorts of rental cabins there. Horse back riding. The works.”

Grabbing her friend in a hug, “Thanks, Wills.”

Willow smiled easily, “Sure thing Buffy.” Her voice playful, “You be sure to let that vampire have it for running off.”

Smiling strain-fully, “Sure...”

Tara grabbed her arm, “I’m just going to walk Buffy out, honey. I’ll be right back.” The redhead jumped back to her computer and happily began typing while the slayer was hustled out the door. Why did she suspect she was about to get lectured?

***

Spike sat silently in the rocking chair on the front porch to the cabin, listening to the crickets sing. Occasionally there would be an owl but on the whole the night was surprisingly quiet. And very boring. Only he wouldn’t dare say anything. The last thing he would want to do was upset Clem. His strange demon friend had been amazingly generous about letting him stay.

He needed time to think. Reflect on where life had been steering him. He’d thought his luck with life and love had been changing for the better but he wasn’t so sure now. He was still second best. He was just competing with a bunch of humans in this relationship instead of Angelus. Was it even a relationship? Probably not, but then he’d never been any good at all of this.

He glanced over as his demon friend came out and sat next to him. Clem was an odd fellow, with soft red eyes and folds of floppy skin. His dangling ears made him sometimes look like a puppy, which complimented his gentle nature, “So, Spike...how are you today, buddy?”

Sighing softly, taking a deep drag to soothe his restless spirit, “Same as ever.”

A look of concern flitted across Clem’s face, “Still that bad?”

“I just...I don’t know what I’m doing here. Dating, women...it never works for me. I was too soft and
weak for Dru but now I expect too much with Buffy. She wants snogging but she wants shadows and uncomplicated. But life isn’t bloody well like that and I’m tired of being stepped on.”

“If she cares about you, why worry about everyone else?”

Closing his eyes, trying to sort out his thoughts, “Because if she cared about me, it shouldn’t matter about anyone else. This...us...it’s about being with someone without being bloody ashamed of it. If they know then great, but you don’t go and deny it.”

“Why?”

Jaw clenching, “Because if you respect someone, then you’re not ashamed.”

“And you want her respect.”

Glaring before realizing Clem was trying to help him suss out his thoughts, “I want her to show me the same love she shows mum and Nibblet. She doesn’t go around telling everyone she loves her family. She just does it, whether someone’s watching or not. You can see it without words. And yeah...I want her respect. I’m tired of being a bleedin’ robot to her that she can turn on and off at will.”

“So why are you still here? Why not go back and tell her?”

Looking away for a moment, “I need to see if she even cares enough to find me.” And he was starting to have his doubts. Two weeks without sight or sound of the slayer. Maybe he was waiting for nothing. Sighing to himself, “Grandmum...Glenda... Demon Girl, they know where I am.”