Family of Eternity

Chapter 8

Spike matched every blow Buffy threw at him, an amused smirk curling his lips. Just from her clipped voice and desperate moves he knew she was fighting something. While he was curious about what he also knew she had to work through it first. She'd wanted to fight so he fought. It seemed that she had to break down her barriers before she could deal with her thoughts and feelings and physical aggression seemed to do that for her.

She left herself wide open and he concentrated on that. Hitting her good on the jaw, she landed on the floor with a grunt. He flinched when his chip chirped at him in warning but it didn't zap him. For some strange reason it knew the difference between sparring and his intentions to actually harm a human. After a moment of panting she looked up at him and grinned, “Nice shot."

Shrugging his shoulders, he extended his arm and had her knock his legs out from under him. It was his turn to grin at her while she giggled and stretched, "Well...that was a fun warm up. Shall we go patrol...I need to talk to you."

"Isn't the big dinner tonight?"

She frowned to herself before rolling her eyes and sighing, “Right. Well...”

She trailed off, nibbling on her lower lip. Stretching himself out lengthwise and propping his head up on one hand, “Buffy?” She slowly looked at him and he raised an eyebrow.

Sighing, realizing if he was using her name, she was freaking him out, “I'm a little worried about Dawn."

It was his turn to frown. Somehow he’d thought it had been something else bugging her, “You mean that whole key business?" She nodded and he sighed, “I don't know what to tell you, luv. You know my vote’s to tell her but it's your call. Either way you know I'll protect her."

"I know. I'm really thankful for that." Smiling a little, “It's nice to have you at my back."

He grinned but it didn't quite reach his eyes, “There's something else, though."

She got all jittery and nervous all of a sudden, “It's nothing. Really. I'm just going to go shower and change." She leaned forward with a teasing smile on her face and sniffed at him, “You might want to think about doing the same."

He growled playfully when she held her nose at him and leaned forward. Buffy kissed him softly on the lips before slowly ascending the stairs. It had been seven months since the slayer and her lot had rescued him from certain death. That was a day Spike looked back on almost fondly. Since then they'd kissed. They fought and went on patrols. They'd even shared a few dates which led to heavy petting but it never went beyond that.
He was fine with that, enjoying Buffy's company. And while the prospect of merging bodies was something he would instantly agree to, he knew she wasn't ready for that. From her perspective, every relationship she'd ever had led to sex and that was the reason it fell apart. So he would wait, patiently, and hope that she would be ready at some point.

There had been one other little detail that had been bugging him and Giles was at the center of it. Her watcher had managed to interfere at every turn, and his latest find would be no exception. In fact, Spike was more than slightly worried it would tear them apart before they were ever really together.

***

Anya glared at Xander from the other side of the dinner table. He was so stubborn sometimes it was really becoming annoying. The brunette had found employment at a construction company and with the extra income, they now had an apartment together. What was aggravating her was that Buffy, one of his supposed closest friends, had asked them over for dinner. Because the brunette knew Spike would be there he'd turned the invitation down. Again.

Sighing, she stood with his still full plate. Taking it over to the sink, she dumped the contents into the disposal and put the plate in the dirty dishes pile. Wiping off her hands, she grabbed her coat, “An, what...where are you going?"

She stopped, not looking at him, “Buffy also invited me and while you are welcome to continue ignoring your friends, I won't. Dinner starts in twenty minutes. I'm going."

"No, you can't go near..."

"Alexander Lavelle Harris, you do not tell me what to do!" Gulping and backing away, he lowered his eyes to her. While she was fully human, she had the mentality of a demon since she had been one. The number one rule while in a relationship with an ex-evil creature, you do not defy them if they are in charge. And she was completely in charge, laying down the law about certain things. She stalked toward him and he internally shrank from her. Externally he kept his shoulders squared and his eyes down, “And just to prove that you are coming with me. You will sit at that table and make polite conversation. There will be no glares at Spike or inappropriate comments. If I hear even one there will be dire consequences upon our return home. Understand?@
The thought of being nice to Spike was just making a bad situation worse. On the other hand, she could be quite brutal in an erotic sort of way if left mad. It boiled down to this: was bugging Spike worth Anya=s tortures later? A slow grin broke across his face. Either way it was a win-win situation.

***

Willow sat on the bed, watching as Tara dressed. Idly she pet Miss Kitty's head. She smiled as the small cat yawned and stretched, “She is so cute when she does that."

"Does what?"

"You know, that little yawny thing with the stretch and the squint."

Tara murmured an affirmative as she came out of the closet, dressed in a simple tan dress. It was accented by a line of green beads, emphasizing her hazel eyes, “Have you finished that spell for Amy?"

The redhead shook her head, “Nope. Still trying to get the Latin right. I did get into the Book of Shadows so it shouldn't be too much longer. Then we'll have another witch." Willow smiled up at her, pleased, and put the cat down, “Do you think Xander will be there?"

"I think Anya will make him."

A giggle escaped the redhead, “She isn't that bad."

Tara smiled and took the mouse food out of the cupboard. She opened up Amy's cage and fed her, making sure there was plenty of water, "Honey, if she were any worse she'd have him on a leash." The bewitched rat squeaked at her, munching on the lettuce leaves that she provided. Smiling, she ran a finger over the top of the witch's head before shutting the cage.

Taking out a small saucer, she filled it up with milk and put it on the counter, the kitten immediately running over and jumping to lick up her treat. Rolling her eyes, the little witch grabbed her coat and handed the other to her girlfriend, “Nah, Anya wouldn't make him wear that."

As they walked out the door together, “Now Buffy forcing Spike...that I could see happening."

***

Joyce sat at the island counter, pealing potatoes while Spike basted the chicken and Buffy tossed the salad. Dawn was in the other room, checking all the presents under the tree for how big they were and which ones were her's. Another groan filtered from the living room. Apparently she either found clothes or something that was big and it wasn't hers.

Buffy filled four glasses of orange juice and passed them on to Spike. A secret look passed between them. She kept one eye on her mother, watching as Spike let one of his fangs cut into his thumb. Discreetly, he let two drops of blood fall into three of the glasses before licking the small wound on his finger. With a smile he handed the glasses back, keeping one for himself.

This had become a ritual in their household. Once a week the other members secretly ingested just a small amount of the vampire=s rejuvenating blood. Spike and Buffy had talked about this at length, deciding it might be the best way for Joyce to recover. Like super healing vitamins.

What Spike didn’t know was that his glass which she always separated from the others, was carefully treated with some of her own blood to keep him healthy. His version of vitamins. The only other person who knew about it was her mom. With a small, secretive smile Buffy drank her juice before handing a cup to her mother and waiting for her to drink before taking the other to Dawn. As soon as Buffy was out of earshot, Joyce made a tutting noise at him and Spike sighed, “I know, mum, but she enjoys the so called 'secret'." Joyce laughed and started pealing the onions. He rolled his eyes and finished off his juice, “Like I can’t taste the difference between juice and slayer ambrosia.” Putting the bird back into the oven, he sat down and helped. Glancing at her quickly with concern in his eyes, “How are you?"

She smiled at him reassuringly, “I'm just fine, dear. In fact, I haven't felt this good in a very long time."
He smiled back as he sliced the onions she pealed, “I'm glad...which is more than I'd ever thought I'd say to a human about their health." They worked in silence for a few moments, “Christmas is coming up, and I know how you humans love to celebrate with presents..."

ASpike...if you don't have the money you know I'll help." His head ducked down, “It's not that. I do have the money...it's just repossessed at the moment."

She frowned slightly, “How can your money be repossessed?"

Shrugging, picking at an invisible thread on his jeans, "When Angelus lost his soul he took back what he thought of as his."

AMeaning your money?" Spike nodded slightly and mumbled something softly, concentrating on dicing and not on his own bitterness, “What was that, dear?"

Sighing, “I said and Dru...but I'm not brooding."

Joyce smiled gently at him, giving his hand a squeeze, “Our secret."

She watched him as he worked. He'd made such progress striving for independence. And she would make sure nothing would stunt his emotional growth. She decided she would have to talk to Willow to see if the witch had any ideas about his finances. If it came down to it she'd take a little trip to Los Angeles and speak to Angel herself. Then he seemed to shake it off and dump the veggies into the pot, giving her a nuzzle before turning on the top burner.