Shot in the Dark
folder
BtVS AU/AR › Het - Male/Female › Buffy/Spike(William)
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
46
Views:
2,203
Reviews:
62
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
BtVS AU/AR › Het - Male/Female › Buffy/Spike(William)
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
46
Views:
2,203
Reviews:
62
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 30: Promise
* * * * *
Chapter 30: Promise
* * * * *
Two hours later…
Buffy rolls out of the bed quietly, trying not to disturb the sleeping vamp at her side. After extricating her leg from Spike’s, she tiptoes toward the door. At a sound from the bed, she freezes in mid tip, peeking back over her shoulder. Spike turns on his side, burrowing into his pillow, but stays asleep. Buffy rolls her eyes skyward in relief and continues across the bedroom, grabbing Spike’s black shirt from the floor and gently pulling the door closed behind her. Here it is the middle of the day and she hasn’t showered, eaten or well, left her bedroom. She hopes Willow won’t be so mad she won’t give her the notes for yet another day of missed classes. Maybe she could have Spike write a Buffy-was-too-busy-having-sex-with-me-to-attend-school note. She smiles at the thought of him sitting at the kitchen island, naked of course, scrawling out the things they have been doing during the daylight hours. The thought of the kitchen elicits a rumble from Buffy’s stomach, announcing her most pressing need. Food. Glancing back at her closed door, she sighs wistfully and makes for the stairs, slipping down them quietly as she pulls the shirt around her. She really has to let him sleep sometime and they get everything but sleep done when they are in bed together.
With that thought and a smile plastered across her face, Buffy browses through the refrigerator. A bit of rummaging turns up some leftover spaghetti. Buffy shrugs. That will do. Standing by the microwave as it heats up her makeshift lunch, Buffy gazes out the window, lost in thought. She can hardly fathom how her life has changed in the last few days and she knows the changes are not done. Her stomach twists a bit in anxiety as she thinks about telling Giles and her Mom…and Xander. Oh God. Xander just loathes Spike. How will she ever get him to understand? Make him see what she sees? Her smile long gone, Buffy jumps as the microwave beeps.
* * * * *
“I don’t know, my love. This could be very bad.” Psyche’s flawless skin creases between her eyebrows in consternation.
“What do you mean?” Cupid glances up from his reading, noting his mate’s position over their gazing pool. “Has something gone amiss with our new lovers?”
“Not yet, but look…that friend of hers. He is coming toward the house. Does he not hate our darling vampire? This could get ugly.”
His curiosity piqued, Cupid lays aside his book and comes across the room. Brushing against Psyche, he perches on the edge of the pool. The view takes in Buffy in her kitchen as well as Xander coming down the sidewalk, approaching the house. Spike is upstairs, sound asleep.
“Well, you are certainly right. This could get…interesting. Let’s see.” Cupid’s face is calm, unmarred by the worry evident on Psyche’s. They both lean down, watching closely.
* * * * *
Buffy leans against the counter, poking a fork into her now warm spaghetti. The cool surface touches her bare stomach and she looks down. “Oops. Forgot to button up…” Buffy slides her fingers down the button band, but finds nothing. “Double oops. Ripped all the buttons off in a fit of passion.” Shrugging, she picks up the fork again. Who’s going to see her standing here, half-naked in Spike’s shirt?
As if on cue, she hears a knock at the front door. Eyes widening, she freezes, fork in mid-air. Another knock and now, a voice. “Buffy? You in there?” Shit shit shit. It’s Xander. Buffy hesitates, looking down at her food and then back towards the door. She thinks, I could just ignore him. Yeah, that would work. He knocks louder, calls louder “Buffy!?” A thud from upstairs makes her gasp. Spike. He’s waking up Spike. Oh, double shit. This is not of the good.
Dropping the fork with a clatter, Buffy sprints to the door, wondering how to get rid of Xander without letting him in. Sick, yeah, she’s sick. That’s it. Clutching the shirt closed, she snatches the door open a crack and pokes her head out. “Morning, Xander!” Her voice is chock full of false cheerfulness. Her sudden appearance startles Xander for a moment.
“Oh, there you are, Buffster. I was gettin’ worried. Thinking about knocking the door down for a minute there.”
The short laugh is even faker than her voice. “Oh, ha. Well, glad you didn’t do that. Uh, can I help you?”
Xander frowns slightly. “Are you okay, Buffy? You’re acting a bit wiggy.”
“Absolutely fine. That’s me, fine as fine can be.” Buffy pauses, remembers her previous plan. “Except for the sickness. Oh, yes, very sick. Death’s door.” She coughs, not very convincingly.
Just then, Buffy hears a voice from upstairs, calling her name. Muffled by the bedroom door, it is not to to recognize. Xander’s eyes bug out, matching Buffy’s. Her heart stops beating for a minute, waiting for his reaction.
“A man! You, Buffy Anne, have got a man in there! I knew it! Willow got all red and blush-y when I asked if you were joining us for lunch. Oh that sly Ms. Rosenberg, told me you were sick. Faker. Big faker!” Xander waggles his finger at her, edging closer to the door. Buffy hears the voice again and realizes if she doesn’t answer, this is going to get ugly, quick.
“Be right there, sweetie!” She calls up the stairs, her voice dripping with honey. “Well, there you go, Xander, you clever boy. Caught me with my pants down. Literally.” Snatching Spike’s shirt tighter around her, Buffy slips further around the back of the door, remembering she is wearing the shirt and nothing else.
“Vixen. Who is it?” The slight note of jealousy always present when Buffy has a man in her life slips into Xander’s voice.
Buffy waves her hand dismissively. “Nobody you know. Uh, new guy at school. Yeah, um, helped me with my homework and the rest…well, you know.”
“You paid him with naked goodness? Buffy, that is not how the tutoring system works.”
“Ha ha, Xander. So, clearly, I can’t go to lunch. Gotta go. Nice seein’ ya. Stop by anytime.” With each word, Buffy closes the door a little further, finally clicking it closed as Xander opens his mouth to respond.
Through the door, she hears him. “Well, I should be going now, then. Bye.” Her heart racing, Buffy leans against the back of the closed door, eyes shut. That was close. Xander would have gone nuts. Now, where was she? Oh yeah, Spike was calling. Pushing away from the door, Buffy opens her eyes. Her throat goes dry as she looks up the stairs. Spike is standing there at the top railing, a sheet wrapped around his waist. It is the look on his face that stops her cold. He is hurt. Wounded. The pained look on his face is soon swept aside by a frown as he turns away and heads back to her room without a word. “Spike?” Buffy calls to him as she hits the stairs. Remembering how he stormed out the other night, she expects to have to stop him from tearing by her again. Moving quickly, she reaches the top of the stairs and turns to her room. For the second time in a minute, her heart constricts at the sight of her lover. He is sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the carpet. The rage she expected is replaced by the much more unsettling quiet. Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper. “Spike?” She moves a little closer.
He doesn’t look up as he finally speaks. “So, which is it, luv? Ashamed of me or just in it for the sex?” Buffy feels her temper flare, but calms a bit as she looks at him. He still won’t look at her.
“Oh, Spike. It’s neither. What do you mean?”
“Had the whelp right there in front of you. And you lied ‘bout us, hid me like a dirty little secret. Buffy, I thought…well. I was wrong, I guess.” He starts to stand up.
Buffy’s temper surges back in a rush. “Sit down.” Her tone is firm and serious. Finally, Spike looks up at her. His eyes wound her, the hurt blazing in blue flame. He sits back down. “Now, you listen to me. I’m in this because I love you. NO!” She holds her finger up, causing Spike to slam his mouth back shut. She kneels down in front of him, taking one hand in hers. “You will listen. Yes, you’re right, I lied just now. Xander surprised me. But look…Spike, look at me.” He meets her steady gaze. “I won’t do it again. I am not ashamed of you, I’m not in it for the sex. I’m in it for you. And if my friends don’t like it, well…we’ll face it together next time.” She smiles softly at him, “Promise.” Spike leans towards her, taking her lips in a light kiss. She pushes the worry of what her promise will mean into the back of her mind.
“Got a deal, Slayer.” He glances down. “’Ey, isn’t that my shirt?” The light dances back into his eyes.
Buffy slaps lightly at his hand and whips the shirt off in one smooth movement. “There, that better?”
“Very.” Spike smirks as he grabs the newly naked Slayer around her waist and pulls her back onto the bed with him in a tangle of limbs and bedsheets.
* * * * *
“Awww. Oh, Eros. They are the cutest. Oh my. Well, look at that. And now, the…whoo!” Psyche blushes lightly as Buffy and Spike decide to make up in earnest. She fans herself as she giggles. Cupid comes over and lets his hand slide into her long golden curls.
His voice is serious. “It’s not that simple. She knows it. He must know it, too. Her friends are everything to her. They don’t and won’t accept it.”
Psyche glances up at her mate, worry etched back across her face. “Make it work, love. I mean it.”
The unfamiliar tone from his sweet Psyche gets Cupid’s full attention. He raises one eyebrow. “Like them, do you?” She nods. “I do, too. Their love is so pure and passionate. No wonder the other mortals won’t be able to understand it. As usual, you are right, my dear. I did not need to make them love each other, but that doesn’t mean I can’t smooth their path.”
Psyche squeals, clapping her hands together in childish joy. “Oh, what will it be? What will you do?” She bounces to her feet as Cupid rubs his chin in thought.
Suddenly, his eyes light up. “Perfect. I have just the thing. Wait here, my love.” Tipping up her chin, Cupid plants a kiss on Psyche’s forehead before leaving the hall, robes whipping behind him.
*************
Author's Note: Reviews are ever so nice - leave one, won't you? ;) -T
Chapter 30: Promise
* * * * *
Two hours later…
Buffy rolls out of the bed quietly, trying not to disturb the sleeping vamp at her side. After extricating her leg from Spike’s, she tiptoes toward the door. At a sound from the bed, she freezes in mid tip, peeking back over her shoulder. Spike turns on his side, burrowing into his pillow, but stays asleep. Buffy rolls her eyes skyward in relief and continues across the bedroom, grabbing Spike’s black shirt from the floor and gently pulling the door closed behind her. Here it is the middle of the day and she hasn’t showered, eaten or well, left her bedroom. She hopes Willow won’t be so mad she won’t give her the notes for yet another day of missed classes. Maybe she could have Spike write a Buffy-was-too-busy-having-sex-with-me-to-attend-school note. She smiles at the thought of him sitting at the kitchen island, naked of course, scrawling out the things they have been doing during the daylight hours. The thought of the kitchen elicits a rumble from Buffy’s stomach, announcing her most pressing need. Food. Glancing back at her closed door, she sighs wistfully and makes for the stairs, slipping down them quietly as she pulls the shirt around her. She really has to let him sleep sometime and they get everything but sleep done when they are in bed together.
With that thought and a smile plastered across her face, Buffy browses through the refrigerator. A bit of rummaging turns up some leftover spaghetti. Buffy shrugs. That will do. Standing by the microwave as it heats up her makeshift lunch, Buffy gazes out the window, lost in thought. She can hardly fathom how her life has changed in the last few days and she knows the changes are not done. Her stomach twists a bit in anxiety as she thinks about telling Giles and her Mom…and Xander. Oh God. Xander just loathes Spike. How will she ever get him to understand? Make him see what she sees? Her smile long gone, Buffy jumps as the microwave beeps.
* * * * *
“I don’t know, my love. This could be very bad.” Psyche’s flawless skin creases between her eyebrows in consternation.
“What do you mean?” Cupid glances up from his reading, noting his mate’s position over their gazing pool. “Has something gone amiss with our new lovers?”
“Not yet, but look…that friend of hers. He is coming toward the house. Does he not hate our darling vampire? This could get ugly.”
His curiosity piqued, Cupid lays aside his book and comes across the room. Brushing against Psyche, he perches on the edge of the pool. The view takes in Buffy in her kitchen as well as Xander coming down the sidewalk, approaching the house. Spike is upstairs, sound asleep.
“Well, you are certainly right. This could get…interesting. Let’s see.” Cupid’s face is calm, unmarred by the worry evident on Psyche’s. They both lean down, watching closely.
* * * * *
Buffy leans against the counter, poking a fork into her now warm spaghetti. The cool surface touches her bare stomach and she looks down. “Oops. Forgot to button up…” Buffy slides her fingers down the button band, but finds nothing. “Double oops. Ripped all the buttons off in a fit of passion.” Shrugging, she picks up the fork again. Who’s going to see her standing here, half-naked in Spike’s shirt?
As if on cue, she hears a knock at the front door. Eyes widening, she freezes, fork in mid-air. Another knock and now, a voice. “Buffy? You in there?” Shit shit shit. It’s Xander. Buffy hesitates, looking down at her food and then back towards the door. She thinks, I could just ignore him. Yeah, that would work. He knocks louder, calls louder “Buffy!?” A thud from upstairs makes her gasp. Spike. He’s waking up Spike. Oh, double shit. This is not of the good.
Dropping the fork with a clatter, Buffy sprints to the door, wondering how to get rid of Xander without letting him in. Sick, yeah, she’s sick. That’s it. Clutching the shirt closed, she snatches the door open a crack and pokes her head out. “Morning, Xander!” Her voice is chock full of false cheerfulness. Her sudden appearance startles Xander for a moment.
“Oh, there you are, Buffster. I was gettin’ worried. Thinking about knocking the door down for a minute there.”
The short laugh is even faker than her voice. “Oh, ha. Well, glad you didn’t do that. Uh, can I help you?”
Xander frowns slightly. “Are you okay, Buffy? You’re acting a bit wiggy.”
“Absolutely fine. That’s me, fine as fine can be.” Buffy pauses, remembers her previous plan. “Except for the sickness. Oh, yes, very sick. Death’s door.” She coughs, not very convincingly.
Just then, Buffy hears a voice from upstairs, calling her name. Muffled by the bedroom door, it is not to to recognize. Xander’s eyes bug out, matching Buffy’s. Her heart stops beating for a minute, waiting for his reaction.
“A man! You, Buffy Anne, have got a man in there! I knew it! Willow got all red and blush-y when I asked if you were joining us for lunch. Oh that sly Ms. Rosenberg, told me you were sick. Faker. Big faker!” Xander waggles his finger at her, edging closer to the door. Buffy hears the voice again and realizes if she doesn’t answer, this is going to get ugly, quick.
“Be right there, sweetie!” She calls up the stairs, her voice dripping with honey. “Well, there you go, Xander, you clever boy. Caught me with my pants down. Literally.” Snatching Spike’s shirt tighter around her, Buffy slips further around the back of the door, remembering she is wearing the shirt and nothing else.
“Vixen. Who is it?” The slight note of jealousy always present when Buffy has a man in her life slips into Xander’s voice.
Buffy waves her hand dismissively. “Nobody you know. Uh, new guy at school. Yeah, um, helped me with my homework and the rest…well, you know.”
“You paid him with naked goodness? Buffy, that is not how the tutoring system works.”
“Ha ha, Xander. So, clearly, I can’t go to lunch. Gotta go. Nice seein’ ya. Stop by anytime.” With each word, Buffy closes the door a little further, finally clicking it closed as Xander opens his mouth to respond.
Through the door, she hears him. “Well, I should be going now, then. Bye.” Her heart racing, Buffy leans against the back of the closed door, eyes shut. That was close. Xander would have gone nuts. Now, where was she? Oh yeah, Spike was calling. Pushing away from the door, Buffy opens her eyes. Her throat goes dry as she looks up the stairs. Spike is standing there at the top railing, a sheet wrapped around his waist. It is the look on his face that stops her cold. He is hurt. Wounded. The pained look on his face is soon swept aside by a frown as he turns away and heads back to her room without a word. “Spike?” Buffy calls to him as she hits the stairs. Remembering how he stormed out the other night, she expects to have to stop him from tearing by her again. Moving quickly, she reaches the top of the stairs and turns to her room. For the second time in a minute, her heart constricts at the sight of her lover. He is sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the carpet. The rage she expected is replaced by the much more unsettling quiet. Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper. “Spike?” She moves a little closer.
He doesn’t look up as he finally speaks. “So, which is it, luv? Ashamed of me or just in it for the sex?” Buffy feels her temper flare, but calms a bit as she looks at him. He still won’t look at her.
“Oh, Spike. It’s neither. What do you mean?”
“Had the whelp right there in front of you. And you lied ‘bout us, hid me like a dirty little secret. Buffy, I thought…well. I was wrong, I guess.” He starts to stand up.
Buffy’s temper surges back in a rush. “Sit down.” Her tone is firm and serious. Finally, Spike looks up at her. His eyes wound her, the hurt blazing in blue flame. He sits back down. “Now, you listen to me. I’m in this because I love you. NO!” She holds her finger up, causing Spike to slam his mouth back shut. She kneels down in front of him, taking one hand in hers. “You will listen. Yes, you’re right, I lied just now. Xander surprised me. But look…Spike, look at me.” He meets her steady gaze. “I won’t do it again. I am not ashamed of you, I’m not in it for the sex. I’m in it for you. And if my friends don’t like it, well…we’ll face it together next time.” She smiles softly at him, “Promise.” Spike leans towards her, taking her lips in a light kiss. She pushes the worry of what her promise will mean into the back of her mind.
“Got a deal, Slayer.” He glances down. “’Ey, isn’t that my shirt?” The light dances back into his eyes.
Buffy slaps lightly at his hand and whips the shirt off in one smooth movement. “There, that better?”
“Very.” Spike smirks as he grabs the newly naked Slayer around her waist and pulls her back onto the bed with him in a tangle of limbs and bedsheets.
* * * * *
“Awww. Oh, Eros. They are the cutest. Oh my. Well, look at that. And now, the…whoo!” Psyche blushes lightly as Buffy and Spike decide to make up in earnest. She fans herself as she giggles. Cupid comes over and lets his hand slide into her long golden curls.
His voice is serious. “It’s not that simple. She knows it. He must know it, too. Her friends are everything to her. They don’t and won’t accept it.”
Psyche glances up at her mate, worry etched back across her face. “Make it work, love. I mean it.”
The unfamiliar tone from his sweet Psyche gets Cupid’s full attention. He raises one eyebrow. “Like them, do you?” She nods. “I do, too. Their love is so pure and passionate. No wonder the other mortals won’t be able to understand it. As usual, you are right, my dear. I did not need to make them love each other, but that doesn’t mean I can’t smooth their path.”
Psyche squeals, clapping her hands together in childish joy. “Oh, what will it be? What will you do?” She bounces to her feet as Cupid rubs his chin in thought.
Suddenly, his eyes light up. “Perfect. I have just the thing. Wait here, my love.” Tipping up her chin, Cupid plants a kiss on Psyche’s forehead before leaving the hall, robes whipping behind him.
*************
Author's Note: Reviews are ever so nice - leave one, won't you? ;) -T