My Immortal

Chapter Two

It was late by the time she got back to the villa and her parents were waiting up for her. This should be good after the night I've had . She opened the door and shut it slowly, grimacing and waiting for the outburst to start. Joyce sat on the couch whilst Hank paced the room. Buffy was yet to turn and face the music.

Still silence. She turned , swallowing hard.

"My god , Buffy! Are you Okay?" Joyce asked
"I'm fine"
Buffy brushed at the dried blood on her shoulder and frowned. Great! One of my favourite tops, ruined.

"Where has this blood come from, oh Buffy please tell me your not fighting again"
"No Mum, a girl was hurt tonight and me and a friend had to take her to the hospital, that's kinda why I'm late"
"It's just not good enough" Hank said

Buffy looked at her Father. He stood up and walked up to her and Joyce .

"You cause us embarrassment, make us move to a town miles from nowhere, you fight and come home late.....
"I wasn't fighting"
".... and put your Mother and I through a lot of stress. It's no wonder your Mother and I are getting a divorce"
"Divorce?


Joyce hugged Buffy and scowled at Hank. Buffys eyes welled up and she couldn't breathe. Her Father was leaving them and he was blaming her. She couldn't focus and her thoughts all ran into each other. Buffy looked up at her Father and saw the hatred in his eyes. It cut to the bone and Buffy ran to her bedroom. She clutched her stuffed pig and cried. Through her own grief she could hear her parents arguing again. The sound of glass breaking and the scream made Buffy run back into the lounge area. Joyce lay on the marble floor, a crystal vase was shattered by the fireplace and her Father stood towering over her Mum, Joyce was clutching her cheek, shocked. Buffy saw enough to be able to tell what had happened. Her temper blew and before she knew what was going on, she had pinned her Dad against the wall. Her hand tightened around his throat.

"DON'T YOU DARE LAY A HAND ON MY MUM AGAIN OR SO HELP ME I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Put him down Buffy"

Joyce's voice sounded weak. Buffy ground her teeth and sneered at her Dad. She released her hold on him and he slid down the wall. His hand massaged the place where her hand had been and stared with disbelief.

"And you asked me why I'm so hard on her? This is why. I'm not sticking around for any more of it. You think there's nothing wrong with her or her behaviour? Well it's down to you to deal with now, I'm leaving tonight"

Hank left the room and slammed their bedroom door. Rummaging and things being thrown echoed from the room . Buffy went to Joyce's side and checked her Mother over. Finding no other injuries but a slight bruise on her cheek, Buffy was satisfied. Joyce sat on the floor cradling Buffy and whispered to her.

"Everything will be Okay baby, it's Okay"

Buffy fell asleep in her Mums arms but woke when Hank slammed his suitcases down in the hall. He watched as the two women unfolded from the embrace. He stood indignant and determined. He threw the airline tickets and a credit card at Joyce before opening the door and walking through it, never to return.


* * * *

Buffy sat on the sand, her head resting on her knees . Her tears fell on the sand and dried instantly. She was in a world of her own, sinking further into it. The more she thought about her night the more depressed she got. Her Father leaving was the last nail in her proverbial coffin. Hadn't she been through enough this year so far? Leaving L.A, losing all of her childhood friends, moving to Sunnydale and feeling an outcast, finding out that she has this destiny that means killing things that crawled straight out of a Stephen King book, and that the safety of the world from said nasties was her job. Every night she has to protect innocent people from vampires and demons, risking her own life to do it.

"Here's an idea for you, Powers that Be, tell everyone that vampires exist and demons do live in closets and under beds so they actually don't go out at night, or.... or go to bed or open up wardrobes and get attacked by closet monsters"
"Don't think that would work pet"

She wiped the evidence of her tears away and stood up, wiping the sand off the back of her skirt.

"What are you doing out so late?"
"Couldn't sleep.... you?"
"Same.. oh and then there's the little thing of Dad leaving Mum and him saying he's divorcing her cos of me"
"Oh .... why cos of you?"

Spike actually felt sorry for her, she had been dealt a rough blow. He tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear. A breeze blew it straight back out again and his hand hesitated , finally deciding to leave it , Spike dropped his hand back down and got out his fags. They started walking up the beach , he waited for her to say something.

"He thought that I'm just some wayward teen. My Watcher said that I couldn't tell anyone about my unno... calling, but it's causing this mess at home. If I could just tell Mum and Dad then he would understand and he wouldn't go"
"Don' think it works like that"
"What would you know about it?"

She knew it was wrong of her to snap at him and vent her anger , his raised brows and his looking the other way made her feel worse .

"Sorry, like I said , tough night. Maybe I should just be left alone"
"S'okay. If you want I'll go, see you "

What the hell was wrong with him? He should be praying on her guilt and grief and then draining her dry. She was the active Slayer now and here she was, crying and snivelling, all snot and tears over her Dad leaving. She was weak now, easy prey and all he could do was worry about her bloody feelings. Fuck sake Spike, sort it out and kill the bitch. He opened his eyes and glanced back at her. More tears. Hesitantly he took her into his arms. She folded into his chest and let go of all her pain and anguish. Do it, the voice inside him said. He raised his hands to her neck and, instead of snapping it or pulling her hair back and sinking his fangs into it, he stroked a thumb across the artery there and smoothed her hair.

"C'mon lets get you home"

She shivered and he took off his treasured coat and wrapped it around her. Now that will smell of Slayer, good one. He pulled her to him by wrapping an arm around her shoulders. They made it back to the villa with hardly any tears being shed. He watched as she entered and then followed her , circling the perimeter of the house. He watched her through the window as she collapsed on her bed and fell asleep. He finally left when the first signs of dawn let themselves be known.

Morning stung her sore eyes. The sun bleached through the netting and she turned to look at the clock beside the bed. It was still early. She turned onto her back and listened for any sign that her Mother was awake or that her Dad had returned. The villa was silent. Buffy got up and wiggled her toes on the cold marble floor. Blurred eyes made for a clumsy walk into the bathroom. She stared in the mirror and looked at herself. Red bloodshot eyes, a red and swollen face and puffy face , she was a mess. She turned the cold tap on and splashed her face with the icy water. The temperature difference was a temporary relief. She turned on the shower and set it to cold. She stripped off and stepped under it.

Her thoughts drifted to last night. Everything that had happened replayed in her mind, stopping when it came to the tall, blonde haired man that had been so kind to her. She still had his coat. She best make sure he got that back later, hopefully she would see him. The familiar sound of her Mum getting breakfast ready reached her ears and so Buffy turned the shower off and went to get dressed.

Neither of them spoke. Awkwardness was an understatement. Buffy didn't know what to say. The fact that her Dad had blamed her for his leaving made it feel like her Mother would too. How could she even begin to talk to her when she had driven him away? Joyce didn't know how to reassure Buffy that everything was Okay with them? It was obvious that Buffy blamed herself . Joyce had known that Hank was having an affair for months and had struggled to hold their marriage together for Buffys sake, how could she admit that now?

"I thought that I would go to the beach again"

Buffy tried to break the ice that was forming , anything to get her Mum to acknowledge the fact that she was there. Joyce looked at her with cold eyes.

"Probably best, I doubt I will be that much fun to be around today. I'll be arranging flights to go back early.I'm not in a holiday frame of mind now, and no doubt work could do with me going back early. They have that Franco exhibit to get ready"

Her heart sank like the Titanic. She was going home early. Just as she was getting to know her mysterious man that had been there and comforted her on the worst night of her life. Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed her toast, that got lodged and almost choked her. She drank the orange juice down and then excused herself.

Sitting on the beach watching everyone was tortuous. Everyone was so happy. Couples strolled holding hands, friends sitting down watching men and giggling, men playing volleyball and laughing. It drove a stake through her heart to watch them all. It was getting dark and most of the beach was now empty, the only people still there were lovers watching the sun set. Buffy snorted, why bother? Give it a few years and they'll be just like her Mum and Dad.

The breeze picked up and whirled around her, blowing her hair around her. She tried to smooth it back down and lost that battle. As she turned her head to stop it from blowing in her face, she spotted the flash of bleach blonde hair. Finally, something to make her smile.

"Evenin' pet"
"Hey!"
"Been here long?"
"All day, beats being alone in the villa"
"Where's your Mum?"
"She was in town, busy arranging flights home for us, plus unno, means she doesn't have to be there with the home wrecking daughter"
"C'mon love, doubt she thinks of you like that, bet your Mums a right good'n"
"Yeah she is, take no notice, I'm just wallow girl"

They sat watching the sky turn from gold to orange and then to reds and purples. Finally the sky turned navy and the first star twinkled. Buffy laid on her back and watched as more stars filled the sky.

"Do you ever wish that you could just disappear or find somewhere that you could just be you"
"Sometimes"

Spike looked up and smiled. Dru would look up at the stars and say that they were talking to her. He missed the crazy vampiress but she was with a bloody Chaos Demon now, kicked him out and told him that the Slayer was swimming around him, laughing at her and bathing her wicked boy in sunshine. What did Dru know eh? That was why he had gone on a rampage of killing them, to prove to his Dark Princess that no bloody Slayer was going to tame him.So, why was he sat here with the current Slayer, star gazing and not fighting it out to the death?

"Used to wish I was younger, that I was someone different"
"How old are you then?"
"Bloody old compared to you poodle"

Buffy sniggered. Poodle? Why does he do that? Maybe that's a British thing or something.

"You want your coat back?"
"Yeah, kinda lost without it to be honest"

He stood and shrugged it back on. His body reacted to the scent of the Slayer on it. He fought the urge to morph to his game face and his jaw tensed. Buffy narrowed her eyes and smiled at him.

"Wanna walk , I need ice cream"

Spike stood up and Buffy automatically linked arms with him. He looked down at her hands and saw how tiny they were. How can hands that small contain so much power? She's so small. This girl won't survive a year in Sunnydale. He almost felt bad, felt saddened by the truth. Sunnydale sat atop of a Hell Mouth, where all manner of demons and vampires settled hoping that they would conquer it and become it's Master. He was drawn from his thoughts by a powerful hand slapping his chest.

"You want one? I'm having the cookie dough mint choc chip"
"I'll have the same mate "

He handed over the cash and they walked along licking at their cones. Bloody hell! What am I doing now? Eating soddin ice cream with the Slayer. Spike, get a grip mate.

"Where do you live then?"
"Nowhere in particular, I just go where I want"
"Cool"
"Sometimes"
"Where would you live if you had to pick a place?"
"London or Sunnydale"

Spike winked at her and watched as her cheeks flushed.

"I'd like to go to London, can't see myself going there though. I kind of have a... well unno, being the Slayer means I have to stay there"
"Don' have to, you could go anywhere, s'long as there's demons and the like"
"S'pose. So what's London like, is it as nice as they say in the brochures, does it really rain all the time?"

He laughed , but at the same time he liked the fact that she was enthused .

"It's been a long time since I was last there and yeah, it does rain alot"
"My Watcher's British, think he comes from London"

Of course the tweed does, that's where the bloody Watchers Council is, he felt like saying. The same Watchers Council he and Dru had attacked and terrorised during the second world war. The good ole days .

"I best get back, Mum's probably back from her trip into town . I don't want to leave her alone too long. Maybe I'll see you later"
"Count on it pet"

Buffy stood and dusted the sand off and stared for a few seconds , then she tip toed before him and gave him a brief peck on the cheek , she ran off before Spike could respond.

Bloody stupid wanker! Spike chastised himself. He had let ample opportunities pass him by and now she was heading back to her bloody homeland. He decided to meet with her later, even if he had to go to the villa and .....

Could he really kill her now that he had gotten to know her. Course , he was William the Bloody, not that ponce William. He didn't care about her, she was just another soddin' Slayer .

If it came to it , he would go to Sunnydale. He had heard that the place had it's very own Hellmouth, which made sense , why else would she live there? He needed safe passage if he was going there. Tonight he'd find out when she was returning to the States and get himself sorted. Spike lit up a cig and narrowed his eyes, focussing on a petite blonde that was walking her dog across the surf line. Good timing he thought, I'm a little peckish.


Buffy walked in and saw the tickets sat in the counter top, but no sign of her Mum. She shrugged and went into the bedroom. She pulled out a change of clothes and busied herself with a shower and then getting dressed again. She bumped into Joyce as she came out of her bedroom. Her eyes were red and tear tracks were obvious . They stood looking at each other and the seconds ticked by. Finally guilt kicked Buffy up the ass and she smiled at her Mum.


"Did you get everything sorted out today?"
"Yes, we fly back the day after tomorrow, that was the earliest we could get a flight for. Of course it has cost me more as it isn't a direct flight, we stop over in London and fly from there"

Buffy's heart skipped a beat, they have a stop over flight, cool! No , wait no cool, I loose four weeks of my holiday. Plus I'll miss Spike.

"Mum , do you mind if I go out tonight, make the most of my holiday?"
"No, go out and have fun, just no more fighting please Buffy, I've had enough stress for one week yet alone a lifetime"

God, she still thinks I fight, maybe she does blame me. If only she knew the truth. I'll have to talk to Giles when we get back, she thought. She put her keys in her bag and kissed Joyce before heading for the door.

"Don't wait up!"

The door slammed shut and she ran as fast as she could to get to the beach again. Hoping that she would catch Spike there. She wasn't prepared for what she did see.

"Spike?"

Her bag dropped from her shoulder and she stood frozen , fear and more anguish rooted her to the spot.

"Get away from her!"
"Awww , and she was such a cute one"
"How could you do this to me"

Tears were falling, she thought that he was turning out to be one of her close friends, she had confided in him and he'd sympathised and comforted her. Now she knew , she couldn't trust anyone it seemed.

"Do what? Get you to trust me, confide in me, tell me all your deep dark secrets? Easy pet, I'm a vampire"
"You bastard"

Spike laughed, the girl slipped to the floor dead. Her vacant face looked up at Buffy, the pain and horror frozen on her face forever. Her eyes still captured tears of pain in them. Buffy closed her eyes and wished the image away, she swallowed hard and looked at Spike again, his game face still present. She could do this, so long as he stayed in his predatory mask. If he was to go back to his human visage, she was sure she wouldn't be able to stake the son of a bitch.

"Been called worse pet. Was hoping it wouldn't come to this yet, but well, you caught me, now what are you going to do bout it?"

His lip curled and his tongue played on his fangs, the look in his eyes told Buffy that he was actually enjoying this. He snapped his head back and forth and rolled his shoulders, getting himself ready for the fight . He bounced on the balls of his feet and growled.

"We gonna do this or what pet?"
"Don't call me that !"

Buffy retrieved her stake from her bag and watched as he swayed ready to attack.

Buffy ran at him and caught him with a punch to the nose, as she rushed past she sent her leg out to catch him in the kidneys, driving him head first into the sand. Spike recovered quickly and spun to where she now stood. He snarled and rushed at her, he punched her in the face with both fists, repeatedly. Buffy bucked and got him off, as he raised himself she grabbed at his lapels and used her feet to send him sailing above her and into the rocks . He hit his head and shook it off, again he ran at her taking her into the surf. Water splashed about them as they traded blows and kicks. They were evenly matched , neither getting the upper hand or tiring any time soon.

"I don't think your putting your heart into this love"

She sent him sprawling backwards into the deeper surf and leapt at him, pining him down. The surf broke around them, spraying her . Buffy was oblivious and reigned punches on his face while he just laughed

"Wha the hell is so funny?"
"I've not even started yet pet, been holding back on you"
"Good job I've not let loose yet then"
"Time to finish this then"

Spike stood without any hindrance from her body on his, she fell back, landing on her ass with a splutter. He caught her ankle and swung her into the deeper waves. Now up to her waist in water, Buffy knew that she was hindered. She wouldn't be able to keep her balance and she wouldn't be able to use any of her kicks. Spike waded to her and sent her under with a vicious blow to the cheek. Buffy thought fast and swam underwater til she was shallow enough to be able to fight to the best of her ability.

"Bollocks"

He reached her as she came up for air and turned to face him. Grabbing a handful of hair , he held her under til she was scratching and pulling at his hands. He allowed her up and then held her back under. This time there was no reprieve. He felt her go limp and then pulled her up to his chest.

"Sorry pet, nice while it lasted"

He pushed her head aside, his fangs scratched the surface skin of her neck and sunk in.Spike gulped her blood down greedily, savouring the rich taste. She was nothing like the other Slayers he had drained, sweet blood mixed with honey and sunshine. He froze , as she opened her eyes and flung her arm behind her and held him in place. She wanted it.

"Please"

He'd always said that Slayers have a death wish, that eventually they all welcomed death, some even asked, begged for it. But she seemed different. Spike retracted his fangs and stepped away from her. Buffy fell to the sand, on her knees, gasping for breath.

"Why... why did you stop"

Spike ran.