All the Way and Then Some

Thanks to Kendall, Shippy and MarzBar for showing this fic some love :)

“Understanding”


Buffy muttered a silent curse as a sullen and confused Willow trudged up the stairs. She turned to Spike, who was still lying on the floor, gazing up at the ceiling. She went to him and knelt beside him.

“What did she do to you?” She asked in a soft whisper, caressing his brow.

“I’m alright, luv. Though, it did feel like she was squeezing my insides with an invisible, magic hand.” Buffy gingerly pulled his un-tucked shirt upward, revealing rapidly disappearing bruises up and down his sides.

“But you’re starting to feel better, right?” She experimentally grazed the left side of his torso with the tips of her fingers.

“Yea. It’s wearing off, whatever it was.”

“Come on, let’s get you on the couch.” She got up, and helped him slowly to his feet. She put his arm around her shoulders and put one of her arms behind his back. He winced, but they made it the several steps over to the couch. Buffy helped Spike lay down before sitting next to his head.

“Sit up.” She gently coaxed him upward, and had him rest his head on her thigh.

“Huh,” he said thoughtfully.

“What ‘huh?’”

“Well it’s just… you. Being, being so nice to me. It’s bloody weird.”

“What? No it’s not.” She denied. He looked up at her from his position on her leg.

“Yea. It is. Let’s be honest, luv. Speaking of honesty, what you gonna tell Red?”

“It’s not like I could deny anything now. And actually, it’s kind of a relief, you know? She’s my best friend after all.”

“And the others?”

“I don’t think they need to know just yet. I mean… we still aren’t even sure what this is— what we feel-,”

“I know exactly what I feel, Slayer,” he gritted out through his teeth as he sat up, turned and faced her. She looked upon him with sympathetic eyes.

“I know, Spike. It’s just… it’s complicated.”

“Yea,” he grunted, swinging his legs onto the carpeted floor.

“Spike, I—,”

“Look, Slayer, I’m only going to play by your rules for so long.” He got up a bit more quickly than he should have and stumbled.

“Sp—,”

“Don’t,” he said while not facing her. “I… I’m gonna go to crypt. Get a lil’ rest in.” Spike grabbed his blanket and headed towards the back door. Buffy called out to him, but he refused to turn back around. He left with a slam of the door. Buffy let out a frustrated sigh as she grabbed a couch pillow and held it close to her. How she wished that things could be simpler. Lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t notice that a fully dressed Willow had come back down the stairs.

“Where’s Spike? I was hoping I could apologize to him.” Willow said sincerely.

“He left. It’s just me and you.” Buffy scooted over, making room for her friend of nearly six years.

“So. You and Spike. With the sex. All consensual like. I think that time with the bot has made me become… more accustomed to the idea,” Willow said in an almost thoughtful tone.

“Please. Let’s let the past stay in the past. As a matter of fact, I don’t want you to compare this… tentative, albeit sexual relationship I have with Spike to the one with Angel cause it’s totally not the same.”

“I know. Spike and Angel are totally different.”

“Totally.”

“But Buffy… Angel has a soul.”

“And Spike doesn’t need one.” Buffy surprised them both with that last statement.

“But Buffy! If he didn’t have that chip— ”

“He’d what? Sneak in the house in the middle of the night and kill me? Come on, Willow. He’s in love with me. That chip didn’t make him stay here all summer and help you guys out, did it? He didn’t have me to impress, and thought I was gone for good. He did it cause he wanted to. He cared, and he still does. Besides which, he can hurt me. His chip doesn’t work on me. I was hoping maybe you can tell me why that is?” Willow’s mouth hung open. She was too shocked to say anything. “Willow?”

“Um, I um… I dunno! Buffy, I swear to you, I did that spell right. There has to be a reasonable explanation for this.”

“I’m sure there is. You will find it for me, won’t you?”

“Yes. Of, of course! I’ll get started right away. I’ll get started right now! I’ll just, go to the Magic Box.” Buffy placed her hand on Willow’s and locked eyes with her.

“But this won’t like, interfere with you and the no magic rule exactly, right?”

“Right! I just have to look over the books, I mean… You know what? I’ll ask Tara to supervise me. Is, is that ok?”

“Yea. But just tell her only the important parts, okay? She doesn’t need to know about…”

“Oh! Of course not. Secret between two best friends, right? We are still best friends?” She asked, very much unsure of Buffy’s answer. Buffy gave her a genuine smile.

“Of course, Wills. You were just going through a rough patch.” Willow gave her the biggest smile ever before leaning over and hugging her best friend tightly.

“Thanks, Buffy. I’m glad that you… if only Dawn could— ”

“She’ll get over it. Eventually.” Willow stood up to leave. Before heading to the door, she turned and looked at Buffy again.

“And just so you know, I do like Spike. I mean, he’s had his share of problems, but we all have. I think he’s doing considerably well considering he’s a soulless vampire. And besides, if Anya can be accepted into the gang, well… I mean, she just lost her power center. Who knows if she has a soul? She could just be a powerless demon.”

“Be sure to tell Xander that when he finds out about me and Spike. Not that he’s gonna know anytime soon,” Buffy quickly backtracked.

“Yea, I will.” Buffy, deciding that she owed someone an apology, headed out.