Lovers Walk

Chapter Twelve: Growing Attraction

Ravyn slowly opened her eyes and looked around the ugly green motel room. She had stayed in better...but she had also seen worse. Slowly sitting up, she got up from her bed and made her way over to the window.

`Just as I thought' she said to herself . Spike's car was gone. "Guess he couldn't live without his Slayer after all" she said sadly to no one as she made her way to the bathroom and started the shower.

10 minutes later, showered and wrapped in a towel, Ravyn sat down on the bed and pulled her road maps from her bag trying to decide which way would be the fastest. A small knock on her door startled her from her thoughts. As she stood to answer the door...it opened.

"Room Service" Spike said as he breezed into the room. He froze instantly as he saw Ravyn standing there in a towel that barely covered her. Water was still present and glistening on her body. He was transfixed as a tiny bead of water slowly made it way down into the valley between her half exposed breast. He let his gaze travel down the length of her body, noteing the way the towel stopped directly above her thighs exposing her long and shapely legs. His desire to see what the towel was covering was beginning to affect him as the uncomfortable tightening in his jeans was becoming intense. He was stirred from his lustful thoughts by a light coughing.

"I'd love to have seen your reaction if I would have been naked." Ravyn said, a smile on her face knowing exactly what he was thinking.

"Uh, sorry" Spike said looking a little sheepish. Good thing he couldn't blush he thought.

"Guess that'll teach to actually `wait' for me to answer the door?" she said loving the way he was fidgeting around.

"Yeah...guess so" he said walking over to the bed, trying not to look at her. "Why aren't you dressed already anyway?"

"Well, I actually thought you ditched me" she said with a shrug as she pulled her clothes from her bag. "Car was gone when I got up so..wasn't in no rush to dress."

"Oh, well thought you might be hungry. Went to town and picked up breakfast." Spike replied taking 2 cups from the bag he was holding.

"Thanks. I'll be back in a minute" Ravyn said as she took her clothes into the bathroom and closed the door.

Spike let out the breath he wasn't aware he was holding in. As he watched her close the door he shifted on the bed trying to get his erection to go away. `Boy am I in trouble' he said to himself. Picking up his cup he quickly drained it and busied himself with Ravyn's maps trying to get the images of her half naked body out of his mind.

Ravyn stood with her back against the bathroom door, a silly grin on her face. *Oh, this is going to be soooo much fun* she thought as she moved to get dressed. Spike was `defiantly' in another world when he saw her in that towel. Seeing his lust filled gaze would boost any woman's self esteem. Ravyn couldn't help but smile as she continued dressing. Of course, she herself thought Spike was gorgeous....who wouldn't......big blue eyes..accent, that devilish smirk..*what is that girls problem?* she thought. *that slayer is either totally blind or completely stupid!*

Ravyn exithe bhe bathroom after getting her silly grin under control and flopped down on the bed next to Spike.

"So.....what's for breakfast...Italian...Chinese..." she asked playfully.

"swine" Spike replied handing her the cup, glancing at her slightly.

"uhh...we defiantly need to raid the blood bank. I `so' hate animal blood. I was a vegetarian you know?" Ravyn said in her usual wistmannmanner.

Spike smiled at her and chuckled slightly. "Eating animal by products bother's you but sinking your teeth into a human doesn't?"

"well it does now......headache and all" she answered, glancing up at him smiling.

"Hurry up with that...we need to get on the road soon if we're going to make any head way tonight."

"sure thing gramps" she said winking at him as she drained her cup.

Spike just glared at her trying to look mad. He knew she was only doing that because she knew he hated it. If he could put up with the welp'sbal bal stabs all these years, he could put up with hers. At least he knew she was only playing...Xander always meant his.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The drive that night had been better than the night before. Spike listened to Ravyn as she rambled on for hours. How she could talk so much, he didn't know. She never seemed to shut up. At least she wasn't asking him questions he didn't want to answer. He was actually beginning to enjoy her company. He had learned alot of things about her. How she grew up living with her Grandparents on a beach in the Carolina's. She loved watching the sunrise with her grandpa, curled up in a blanket on the porch. It was a daily ritual for the two of them. She had told him of her move to New York after she graduated High School and how she had wanted to be a dancer. He was intrigued to say the least. He never talked about his life as a human...but she did, like it was still a part of her. There were so many side's to her personality, he wasn't sure if he'd ever really know who she was.

"So...that's where I meet Victor." she said telling him of her sire. "He was at this club my friends and I went to. Didn't know he was a vampire at the time though. He was really nice and made me feel good about myself." Ravyn continued, as she told Spike of her life right before being turned.

"We dated for a while....7 or 8 months....can't really remember, then one night I saw him at the club with this total `ho biscuit', and I went off on his ass. Made a big scene" she said laughing as she remembered the events. "So, I stormed out of there with every intention on never laying eyes on him again. Turns out he had other plans. He caught up with me a few blocks away and tried all that sweet talk you guy's think work on distraught girlfriends. When I tried to walk away, he grabbed me.....hard...and I slapped him. That's when my nightmare started. He vamped out on me and bite me."

"You dated him that long and never knew he was a vampire?" Spike asked not knowing how she couldn't have and not knowing why this guy had actually played the dating game with her in the first place.

"No, not until that night. Well, when I woke up....dead and extremely hungry....he was there. I never had to find my own food. He always brought it to me. He gave me everything I ever wanted. I really thought he loved him." she said softly, her words taking on a sadness he could see on her face now.

"You don't think he really loved you?"

"Yeah, I guess he did. Not as much as he loved himself though." she said softly before a pained look crossed her face. Spike knew better than to press her about her last statement. If she wanted him to know, she would tell him.

"How old were you when you died?" he asked trying to sidetrack her from talking about Victor.

"23" she said. "I look good for a 43 year old woman, don't ya think?" she asked smiling at him.

Spike laughed at her. "Yeah, can't say I've seen to many 40 year olds with that kind of body." he said instantly regretting his words.

"Really?...Spike, you haven't been checking me out....have you?" Ravyn said playfully, knowing that if he could blush he'd be bright red by now.

Spike looked over at her, an almost shy grin on his face. "Well, a bloke would have to be blind not to." he said softly. He had no idea why he was having such a hard time telling her what he thought of her. He was the big bad for cripes sake. Getting embarrassed about anything..especially over a woman was something he just `didn't' do.

Ravyn loved the way his features softened with his last statement. She wondered what kind of human he had been. She was sure it wasn't the bad ass he played out now. `A romantic at heart' she wondered as she continued to look at him.

"So, how old were you?"

"26" he told her. "I died in 1865"

"HOLY CRAP!" Ravyn blurted out. She started laughing. She new he was an older vamp from what she had learned from the demons in Sunnydale, but she never imagined he was that old.

"Oh, I sooo don't want to here you complaining about me calling you old now" she continued through her giggles.

"Hey! that grandpa mess is gonna get your hide tanned if you don't watch yourself" he said trying to sound as menacing as he could.

"Ooo...is that a promise" Ravyn asked seductively trying to see if she could actually get a color change out of him.

"Oh, sod off" Spike spat at her knowing she was trying to goad him into another round of embarrass the Spike.

Ravyn giggled to herself softly as she watched the world pass her by through her window. Deciding to get one more irritating remark in before letting the conversation die for a while she looked over at him and put on her most serious face. "Are we there yet?"

Spike looked at her out of the corner of his eye, shaking his head once he saw the look on her face. `infuriating little chit' he thought to himself as he turned his attention back to the road.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I'll get it!" Dawn yelled as she rushed to the phone. ""Dawn's House of Doom, How may I direct your call?" she said playfully into the receiver.

"Well, not exactly the greeting I was expecting bit, but guess it's better than nothing" Spike replied with a huge grin on his face.

"SPIKE" Dawn yelled tears springing to her eyes. "Where are you? Why did you leave? Are you coming back?" she rambled on not even giving him a chance to talk.

"Calm down nibblet. Didn't think anyone would actually miss me...well, kinda thought you would, glad to see I was right."

"Of course I miss you Spike. I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me." she said as Buffy walked in the back door.

"Spike's on the phone?" Buffy mouthed to her sister, an expectant look in her eyes.

Dawn shook her head `yes' at her sister then went back to her conversation with Spike. "Where are you...you've been gone for almost 2 weeks now."

"New Mexico"

"What in the world are you doing in New Mexico?" Dawn asked.

"Long story bit. Just wanted to call and let you know I miss you, and I've been thinking about you. Is everything okay there?"

"Yeah, everything's just the same."

Dawn looked at Buffy who was motioning for her to give her the phone but ignored her the best she could. She was still upset with her, knowing she `had' to have done something to make Spike leave.

"When are you coming home?" she asked hopeing it was going to be soon.

"Don't know bit. Got some things I need to take care of down here first. Maybe a couple months...just can't say right now." he told her wanting nothing more than to teer her he was coming home tonight.

"Oh" Dawn said sadly. "I was hopeing you wouldn't stay gone for to long."

"Well, don't worry, I'll be home as soon as I can. I'm not sure when I can call again though. Things are going to be getting hectic soon, and I'm not sure if I'll be in the position to call. But don't worry...you know I'll be okay."

"I know Spike. I just miss you."

"I know, I miss you to. Well, I gotta go. I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay..take care."

"Will do...bye nibblet." Spike said before hanging up the phone. He wanted to ask about Buffy so bad it was tearing him up inside, but she had made her decision and he wasn't ready to talk to her yet.

Walking back to his car, he stopped and cocked his head to the side watching Ravyn flirt with the gas station attendant inside. He was almost ready to go in there and drag her out when she turned and bounced out the door...huge smile on her face.

"What was that all about?" Spike asked her, not sure why the sight of her flirting with another man was getting to him.

"That" she said getting into the car, "was about getting a full tank of gas for free."

"And how'd you do that exactly?"

"Well, I just stroked his ego until he forgot I hadn't paid him" she said smirking at him.

"You stroked..... what!" Spike yelled...not catching anything else she had said after the word stroke.

Ravyn looked at him, amused at his outburst, "His ego" she said slowly smiling. "What's up with you anyway?"

"Nothing" he said in a huff as he started the car and drove off.

"Really....if I didn't know any better Spike I'd think you were jealous." she said with a funny tingle starting to grow in her belly. `was he really jealous' she thought as she looked at him.

"What!..are you daft? Why would I be jealous?"

"Don't know..you're the one acting all weird all of a sudden."

Spike didn't answer her. He just kept his eyes on the road, but she could see him slightly clenching his jaw and she had spent the better part of 2 weeks learning his facial expressions. She knew the jaw clenching was done when he was upset or irritated. Deciding on letting it go for now, she sat silently contemplating what his reaction had really meant.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

2 hours before sunrise, they had finally found the only motel they had seen all night. "Wow, this place must be popular" Ravyn said as they pulled up and noticed all the cars there.

"Why wouldn't it be, only bleeding one we've seen in 8 hours." Spike replied as he parked by the office.

"Yeah, well let's hope there's room in the inn" Ravyn said smiling as she got out and made her way to the office.

Spike busied himself lighting a cigarette as Ravyn was getting rooms for the night. He had thought all the way since the gas station about her `jealous' remark and was beginning to wonder why he had reacted that way. Tossing out his cigarette butt, he let out a long sigh and looked in to see what was taking Ravyn so long. She was standing there, obviously arguing with the stumpy little man behind des desk. He almost laughed as she leaned her head down and started banging it on the counter. *What is she doing* he asked himself amused at her antics. *total head case, that one is* he thought as she stomped out of the office and headed back to the car.

"Problems, pet?"

"Yes!....stupid little troll wouldn't give me but one room. Said `they were short on rooms and since this was the only motel for 100 miles he wouldn't give me 2 since there was only 2 of use'." she yelled sarcastically, arms flying with every word she spoke.

"Well, guess we're shaking up then" Spike said wiggling his eyebrows at her suggestively when she turned to glare at him.

"Shut up" she said. "You're sleeping on the floor!"

"Like hell I am" Spike said as he moved the car in front of their room.

"You're not sleeping with me!" Ravyn yelled as she got out and grabbed her bag.

"And where am I suppose to sleep then?

"I don't care...in the floor, a chair, back seat of the car...just not with me!"

Spike threw his bag down in the only chair inside the little motel room as Ravyn was mumbling to herself something about fat little bastards with no hair. He watched her thr through her bag cursing softly to herself before turning to look at him.

"What?!"

"Are you always this psycho...or is this something new?" Spike asked as he flopped down on the bed. Which was very small he noticed.

"You're not sleeping there." she said staring at him.

"Yes I am"

"No...You're Not"

Spike pulled his pillow out and fluffed it as he sat back and made a contented sigh.
"This is quiet nice. Much better than the one we stayed at last night." he said loving the way her eyes were beginning to take on a yellow tint. She was highly pissed. He would have slept in the floor without saying a word, but this was just to good. Teasing her was the only thing he could do to get her back for irritating him so much.

Spike patted the small space beside him. "Come on luv, I don't bite....well, not hard, that is." he said smirking at her.

Ravyn glared at him before grabbing some clothes out of her bag and stomped off to the bathroom. `God, I so hate you' he heard her say as she shut the door.

Spike laughed quietly to himself as he stood up and stripped down. He was glad he had actually packed the boxer shorts Dawn had given him for Christmas. Ravyn would have probably staked him for sure if he would have climbed in bed in his usual sleeping attire....nothing.

Ravyn changed her clothes, cursing to herself about stupid vampires who needed to be reminded who was funding this trip. She really didn't want to sleep in the same bed with him. She had started to like him, but knew he was in Love with the Slayer, so she tried to distance her feelings as to not get confused. One thing she knew....and that was that one sided relationships were hard on ones emotions. What she really wished was that she had something other than her usual bed clothes. `note to self....buy real pajama's...soon!' she thought as she opened the door and quickly made her way to the bed.

"You so much as lean over on my side of the bed and you're dust...got it?" she asked glaring at him as she pulled the sheet back to got in the bed.

All Spike was able to do was nod. He didn't think he had ever seen her look so beautiful. She had on a pink silk, very short, gown with tiny spaghetti straps. It plunged in the neck line revealing more than `the towel' had. He still couldn't get over her skin tone. It was something he didn't think he would ever figure out. She had a bronzed glow to her. She actually really didn't even look like a vampire. She was to `alive' looking. She had her hair down which was something he hadn't seen her do since the beginning of their trip. She had been wearing it in a long braid or in a high ponytail. Now It fell all the way down her back in soft waves.

As she climbed in bed, she turned her back to him and pulled her hair out from under her as she laid down. He was once again surrounded with the familiar smell of Wildflowers that was uniquely her. Every time he caught the slightest whiff of her, he was reminded of his childhood. He spent the summer's at his family's home in the country. He loved playing in the fields. They were covered with every flower you could imagine. His brother and sister would always want to play there. Hiding amongst the wildflowers was something they did daily to escape their chores. He was beginning to love the way she smelled almost as much as he loved the way Buffy smelled of vanilla.

`Buffy' Spike thought as her image flitted across his mind. `what am I going to do without you' he said to himself as he turned over, and tried not to think of Ravyn. He was starting to like Ravyn a little more than he should. He was in love with Buffy. Thinking about another woman was something he shouldn't be doing. But, Buffy had made herself clear that she didn't want him...so, why should he `not' think about someone else? He still felt guilty about it, why.... he didn't know.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy laid in her bed unable to sleep all night. Spike'sne cne call had her worried. He hadn't even asked to speak to her. Was he really shutting her out of his life like she had done him for so long. She felt like she knew how he had felt when she ignored him. `Spike...please come home' she said to herself. Not knowing if he was with Ravyn was eating her up inside. She knew that she had broken up with him and he was free to do whatever he wanted, but it didn't make the uneasy feeling of thinking about him making love to someone else any easier.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Spike was in the midst of a dream he hadn't had in a very long time. He was standing in a field watching his siblings play. He smiled as he heard them call out to him. "Come along William...you've been writing in that book forever now. Let's play a game" Emma had said. "Hurry before Mother calls us." Robert said running and disappearing into the flowers.

He was pulled from his dream as his body began to shift. Slowly opening his eyes, he was startled to find himself entangled with the source of his dream. He was surrounded in the fragrant aroma of Ravyn. Her head was tucked tightly under his chin as her body was pressed up against him. He had his left arm wrapped protectively around her small waist and she was shifting slightly trying to get closer. His face was buried in her hair and he inhaled deeply taking her scent in. He closed his eyes and let the feel of her take over his senses. She was soft, and he loved the way she felt. It had been to long since he had been this close to anyone, even then, this was a part Buffy never allowed him to have. He laid there, holding her a little closer, enjoying the closeness for as long as it would last.

Ravyn felt an arm squeeze her waist slightly. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see the source of the `squeeze' was Spike holding her. She closed her eyes smiling to herself. She knew this was something he would never do on his own, so she was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

~~*~*~*~~

No matter how much she hated the thoughts, Ravyn knew she needed to get up. Slowly she extracted herself from Spike's embrace, trying not to wake him. *All that fusing last night is really gonna look good if he wakes up and finds you draped all over him like yesterdays wash* she thought as she quietly slid from the bed and grabbed her bag. Slipping into the bathroom, she didn't catch the look on Spike's face as he watched her close the door behind her.

Spike sighed and turned over on his back. Looking up at the ceiling he wondered again what he was doing there. Had he made a mistake in leaving Sunnydale? Was being here with Ravyn a way to prove something to Buffy or to himself? Yes, he did want his own little revenge on the Initiative, but at what price? Glancing back over to the bathroom when he heard the shower turn off, he knew the longer he stayed with her, the more complicated his life was going to get.

Ravyn opened the bathroom door and was surprised to see Spike standing at the window. She had almost wished he had still been asleep. At least she wouldn't have had to talk to him until she got her emotions under control. "Hey....shower's free" she said softly as she placed her bag on the dresser.

Spike turned and faced her. She was standing there looking at him, her eyes traveling over his form . He grabbed his bag and started rummaging through it as she quickly averted her eye's.

"I'm gonna go talk to the troll...try and figure out where we are exactly. The Initiative Base should be around here somewhere." she said trying to look at anything but him. *wow...who would have thought he looked that damn good under all those clothes* she thought as she took in the site of his perfectly sculpted abs. *you have got to get outta here girl...now!* she yelled in her head. "Be back shortly" she said quickly as she darted out of the room.

Spike smirked at her retreating form. He had been around enough women to know an appreciative look when he got one.*whose checking out who now* he though as he chuckled to himself and went to shower and get ready for what promised to be an interesting day.


Spike was standing outside leaned up against the wall smoking when Ravyn came back to the room. "Well, I have some good news, and some not so good news." she stated when she walked up to him. "What you want first?"

"Better make it the good news.....I'll need longer recovery time for the bad." he said crushing his cigarette under his boot.

"Okay...good news is...seems the troll has heard of some secret base up past the next town somewhere. Said it was only about 40 miles out. We can even somesome dinner there to." she stated leaning up against the front of his car.

"Okay...so what's the bad news?"

"This is the only motel for 100 miles..or so he say's" she told him, not wanting to spend another night in the same room with him.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"Well, we can drive into town, check it out, see if he's lying about the motel thing before we actually check out of here, and see if we can find that base."

Spike stood there looking at her, not wanting to spend another night in the same room with her. "Well, let's go see what we can find out then, shall we?"

"Okay" Ravyn said as she went to get in the car. *Please..let there be another motel around here.* she said to herself as Spike started the car. This trip was beginning to be to much to handle. She needed to get a grip and get it fast. Falling for Spike wasn't something she had not intended on doing, but she was slowly losing her ability to keep it from happening in his presence. *Focus on the task at hand and stop thinking about him* she scolded herself as they drove off into the night in search for the individuals who ruined there unlives.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Chapter Thirteen: Green Eyed Monster


The shops in town were busy with the hustle and bustle of people. This was the largest town they had actually stopped in. Parking the car, Ravyn and Spike got out and made there way down the street. Finding a small clothing shop, Ravyn decided it was time to buy some more `appropriate' sleeping garments.

"Here" Ravyn saiddingding a wad of cash to Spike. "Go make yourself useful and find us something to eat. I might as well get a few things I need as long as I'm here"

Spike took the money she had shoved at him. He never asked her where she got all her money, but she always seemed to have it...and lots of it. Pocketing the money he was about to ask her where they should meet, but she flew into the store and was gone before he could even get a word out.

*what is up with her* he thought as he turned and started down the street. She had been unusually quiet the whole trip into town and she was acting even more peculiar now. It just wasn't like her to be so quiet. It unnerved him a little wondering what was going on in that crazy head of hers.

Spotting a butcher's shop, he went to get them their meal and was soon on his way back to where he had left Ravyn.

"Did you leave anything for the rest of the local's to wear?" he asked when she exited the store, multiple bags in hand.

"Not much" she replied with a small grin.

"Well, drink up" he said handing her a cup. "We need to see if there's a local pub we can get some information at."

Ravyn finished her meal and deposited her bags in the trunk of the car. They walked quietly through town, neither finding any words to say to the other. After locating a sleazy little club, they entered and made there way up to the bar.

"What can I get you folks" the grungy man behind the bar asked.

"Beer and information if you have any" Spike said as he sat down.

"What kind of information?" the man asked raising an eyebrow at him and setting 2 beers down.

Ravyn took her beer and slowly mingled her way around, knowing Spike was more than capable of finding out what they needed to know without her. She just couldn't be around him right now. She was trying hest tst to not think about him, or the way his body had felt up against hers that morning when she woke up. Carefully examining the contents of a rickety old juke box, she heard a male voice speaking softly behind her.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doing in a dump like this" the voice asked.

Ravyn rolled her eye's and almost gagged on the pitiful attempt at his pick up line. Putting on her best smile, she slowly turned to look at him.

"Nothing much" she said taking in his appearance. He wasn't half bad looking. Big, strong burly guy, *much larger than Spike* she thought as she examined him.

"Well, would you like to do ......something" he asked with a goofy grin.

"What'd you have in mind?"

"Oh, I don't know...a dance...or whatever you want." he said giving her a glance from head to toe.

Ravyn looked over to where Spike was at the bar, engrossed in a conversation with the bar keep and thought maybe taking her mind off him woul a g a good thing at the moment, and the best way to do that was put her energy into another.

"Sure...I'd love to" she said in a husky voice.

The man took her hand and led her to the middle of the room where the other patron's were dancing. He pulled her so close she almost had trouble breathing...not that she needed to...but old habit's die hard. She decided for her own sake, she might as well play this out to the letter. Couldn't let Spike find out she was beginning to like him. That would have been worse than bathing in Holy water at the moment. Wrapping herself around him, she moved seductively to the music, feeling the man's arousal become apparent as she did.

"It's up in the hills" the bartender said. "Not sure what they do up there, but it must be something interesting. Guards are posted a few miles out before you can even see the damn place. Friend of mine caught site of it from his plane. It's mostly buried, but he saw enough to know it was something that shouldn't have been there."

"I see" Spike said after getting almost all the information they needed. *These people will tell you anything* he thought to himself. "Are there any motel's around other than the one down by the highway?"

"Fraid not...there's a couple place's here in town...mostly B&B's, but they are kind of pricey."

"Alright then...thanks" Spike said as he turned to see where Ravyn had went. What he saw instantly made him furious. She was rubbing up against some guy who couldn't seem to keep his hands off of her. He had both hands firmly place on her ass, giving it little squeezes every once in a while. He had his face buried in her neck and Spike couldn't tell if he was actually kissing her or not, but from where he was sitting it sure looked like it. She was smiling as she ground her hips into his crotch, licking his ear as she did so. Her hands were busy running through his hair and the more Spike watched....the madder he became.

Slamming his beer onto the bar, he got up from his stool and stalked over to where they were. Grabbing Ravyn around the waist, he pulled her out of his embrace and hung on to her protectively. "Back off" he spat at the man through clenched teeth, eye's flashing yellow.

"Who the fuck are you!" the man yelled after having his new play thing taken away.

"This one's mine" Spike said in a dangerously threating tone of voice, getting right up in the guy's face.

"Is that right?" the man asked not willing to let his `date' get away that easily.

Spike let his features change briefly flashing his fangs as he growled. The man's eye's widened as he saw the demonic features and instantly backed away.

"Sorry man, didn't know she was taken" he said, scared beyond belief now.

"I'm Not!" Ravyn screamed as she was trying to free herself from Spike's hold. "Let me go you crazy bastard" she yelled after not being able to break the grip he was holding her in.

Spike gave the man once last look before picking Ravyn up by the waist and practically dragging her out of the bar kicking and screaming the whole way.

"What in the hell is your problem!" she yelled after Spike released her waist and grabbed her wrist instead, as he started dragging her back down the street.

He remained silent, but Ravyn could see his jaw clenching tightly as he drug her along beside him.

"I don't know `who' you think you are, but I was rather enjoying myself!" she spat out more confused at his actions then she was mad. "And just for the record....I don't `belong' to anyone. I can dance with whoever I want!"

"You call that dancing!" Spike yelled as he looked over at her. "Looked like more than dancing to me! You were practically shagging the guy right there in front of the whole damn world!

"So! I can `shag' whoever I want. It's not any your business! You're not here as my chaperone or my Daddy....so back the fuck off!" she said trying to get away from him.

Spike shoved her up against the side of a building, holding her wiggling form in place with his own body.

"So, is that how you get all that money you always seem to have in your possession?" he spat out at her, madder than he had been in a long time.

"You son of a bitch!" Ravyn yelled. "How dare you! You don't know anything about me. Who do you think you are...anyway! I don't owe you any explanations for what I do. I've managed to live my life just fine without your sorry ass for a long time now" she said with tears in her eye's as she continued to yell, "so YOU can just go to hell!"

Spike was seeing red. He was so mad at her, he was ready to snap her neck. She was screaming so loudly passerby's were beginning to stnd snd stare. He growled in in his throat, as he watched her tear into him, not showing any signs of stopping any time soon. Grabbing her by the back of the head, he crushed his lips to her's with such force it would have bruised a normal human. He forced his tongue into her mouth and kissed her with every bit of pent up emotion he had. It wasn't long before she was returning the kiss in exactly the same manner. Teeth were nipping at each other as their tongues danced and explored each other's mout Gra Grabbing her with his other arm, he pulled her tightly against him. He ground his whole body into her's as she started to make small growling noises. The kiss was hard and exiting and was becoming more intense as the seconds passed. She had a strong hold on him and was gripping him with everything she had. Spike bit her tongue lightly, just enough to get a real taste of her. As her borrowed blood spilled into his mouth, Spike grabbed her ass and ground his fast growing erection her her, letting out his own moans of pleasure as she wrapped one leg around his waist, pulling him in closer to the now throbbing sensation she was having in her lower regions.

Ravyn was having a hard time thinking as her mind was slowly drifting away into a hazy fog. This wasn't suppose to be happening. She knew he was just kissing her because he was mad. She could see it in his eye's. She had to do something and quick or she was going to get lost in the blissful sensations she was having. Placing her hands on his chest, she shoved him away from her with everything she had. Spike staggered back and looked at her with confused and lust filled eye's. Ravyn walked up to him and punched him square in the face, causing him to fall flat on his back.

"Don't `ever' do that again!" she said, venom dripping from her words as she looked down at him. "I'm not a whore and you're not going to treat me like one. Got it!"

Spikokedoked up at her, unsure of what had just happened. He wiped the blood that was pouring from his nose off with the back of his hand. He could see so many emotions crossing her face he was having trouble keeping up with them.

Ravyn turned and stomped off leaving him sitting there on the sidewalk. As she turned the corner, the tears fell so fast she couldn't stop them. She did the only thing she could....she ran. She ran clear across town before finally stopping in a small playground. Leaning against a tree, she slid down and hugged her knees to her chest and cried harder than she had in a long time. She knew kissing him back was a big mistake, but she couldn't help herself. She was falling in love with him and as much as she wanted him, he would never be her's. He was in love with the Slayer.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~

Spike sat on the sidewalk for a long time after Ravyn had stormed off. He had both arms propped up on his knee's, head hanging down. Why had he said that? He didn't really mean to imply that she `made' her money. The look on her face was going to haunt him for sure. Never had he said anything so harsh to anyone and felt this bad. And why did he kiss her? More importantly.....why did seeing her with another man infuriate him so much. Slowly standing he made his way back to his car hopeing he would find Ravyn there. When she was no where in site, he got in and starting slowly riding through town looking for her.

The sun was beginning to rise before Spike decided to head back to the motel. *Maybe she had caught a ride back* he thought to himself as he made his way onto the main highway.
Rushing to unlock the motel room door before frying, Spike finally made his way inside smoking slightly as he did. Taking a look around, he sighed and sat down wearily on the bed..... Ravyn wasn't there. *where in the hell is she* he asked himself as he laid back.

Spike stood up some time later and started paced around the room trying to figure out what he was going to do. Was she okay? Had she found shelter? A million thoughts were running through his head. Her bag was open on the dresser. He picked it up and started going through it's contents. He found picture's of her and another girl laughing. He assumed it was her friend she had told him about from NY by the location of the shot. There were pictures of her and her grandparents. Lots of pictures of beautiful sunrises she had seen. Even a few of her on the beach. He felt himself grow more anxious to find her with every new picture he saw. There was so much depth to her character he feared he had screwed up his only chance to truly get to know her.

Tossing her memories back into the bag, he laid down and tried to get some rest. There wasn't anything he could do now...but wait until sunset and go looking for her again.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ravyn sat on a park bench slowly finishing her meal. She had rested in an abandoned warehouse earlier that day. She couldn't face Spike again so soon, so going back to the motel before sunrise was not an option. He had hurt her with his words. A good ole' fashion ass whippin would have been less painful. As she drained the last of her pig's blood, she sat quietly wondering what her next move was going to be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Spike had been slowly driving around town as he had the night before trying to find her. He hardly got any sleep that day worrying if she was okay. He had set out right as the sun had set. As time went by, he was beginning to become frantic. It was close to 2am when he spotted her sitting in a park. Parking his car, he slowly made his way to where she was. What was he going to say? How did he even begin to appolige for what he had said.


Ravyn felt him approach before she even saw him. She actually thought she felt her heart jump in her chest. He sat down beside her without saying a word. They both sat quietlr thr the longest time just glad that the other was there.

"My father was a pilot" Ravyn spoke quietly as to not disturb the peaceful night. "He loved taking me and my mom up. We would go up every Sunday. It was a weekly fun day. We would go everywhere. One day, the plane started acting up and he played it off as nothing for a while so I wouldn't get scared. My biggest fear was crashing. I was 11. He put a parachute on me and my mother before putting one on himself. He tried to make out like this was all part of the plan, but I knew better. I was screaming hysterically. The only thing worse than crashing, was actually having to jump from the plane. We had practiced it, but I never thought I'd really have to do it. After I wouldn't let go of my seat, he picked me up and threw us out the door after my mother. My shoot went up shortly after and I saw my mother's go up. His never did. I watched him fall to his death as my mother screamed out his name. I never knew what true pain was until I heard her cries. It still haunts me. I can hear her scream and It all comes back to me.

Two weeks after his funeral, mom sent me to stay with my grandparents. Little did I know she had no intentions on me ever returning. She killed herself the day after I got there. She had liquidated all there assets and placed them in a trust fund for me. That's where the money comes from."

Spike felt like the lowest creature on the planet as her last statement echoed in his brain. How could he have said something so cruel to her knowing that this was the way she had actually got her money. Never in his existence had he felt so bad. How she always seemed to be so happy when she had lived through such a tragedy he didn't know. He felt a strange tug at his heart as compassion and.....something else he wasn't sure of.... made it's presence know. He found her hand and taking it in his, slowly brought it to his lips and placed a small kiss on her palm before intwining his finger's with hers.

She smiled at him through watery eye's at his jester of comfort. It made her feel better thinking he may actually care.

They sat quietly again lost in there own thought's for a while before Spike realized how tired and dishelved she looked.

"How bout we go get you cleaned up and in the bed. You look tired."

"Yeah, guess I am. Didn't sleep very well."

"Assumed as much. If it makes you feel any better, I didn't either."

"Yeah, It does....but you deserved it" she said smiling at him, almost back to her normal sarcastic self.

Spike chuckled at her as he stood and pulled her to her feet. They walked, hands still entwined, back to the car and drove quietly back to their motel.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


The following night found Spike and Ravyn driving a dark desolate road out in the middle of nowhere. They were in search for the army base. Seeing a light off in the distance, Spike turned off the headlights and let the car slowly creep up the road. He parked on the side of the road about 1/2 mile away.


"Looks like we're walking from here, pet. Bar tender said they have guards posted at the entrance. We can cut through and see how close we can get."

"Alright, let go" Ravyn said as she got out of the car.

They walked along side of the road until they got a clear view of the guard house. Cutting out across the hill, they bypassed the guards and were on their way to the Complex they could clearly see off in the distance.

"Damn, that's a long walk. Should have worn my walking shoes" Ravyn said jokingly.

"Do you even own a pair? All I ever see you in are those damn high heel boots"

"Hey, I like my boots. There Italian you know"

"Oh, and that makes them so perfect for every occasion." he said sarcastically. "You need to get something a little more appropriate before we come back. No one here care if your boots are ..'Italian'"

"Shut up!"

Spike laughed at her as they continued walking to their destination.

After a 20 minutes hike through rough rocky terrain they were finally close enough to see the Complex. Pulling a small pair of binoculars from her jacket pocket, Ravyn tried to see how many guards were posted outside.

"You are so not going to believe this." she said with a big smile. "There's not one single guard out there. It's wide open."

"Let me see" Spike said as he took the binoculars from her. "Huh....this might be easier than I thought."

I've got a blueprint back at the room...think it might be this place. I'll know better when I can get back and look at it again. If there aren't any guards here..then it might be pretty easy getting in. Well unless we need a key pass. The road guards probably have those. We can always get them. We need to go figure out what were going to do." Ravyn sai she she turned and started back to the car.

"Well, I think we need to keep a good eye on this place for a few days before we actually try anything. See if there's any routine to it. Don't want to bust in there unprepared." Spike said as he turned and started to follow her.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ravyn was sitting on the bed leaned back against the headboard, going over the blueprints she had. There were stacks of papers everywhere. She must have collected every piece of paper that was in the Sunnydale Complex, Spike thought as he pushed them out of the way and stretched out on the foot of the bed.

"I so need to get another pair of shoe's before we go back out there. My feet are filling me" she wined picking up another blueprint.

Spike chuckled at her when he saw the `pouty face' she was making. "I told you those boots were a big mistake."

"Yeah, well who asked you" Ravyn said glaring at him. She was soon smiling, as she noticed him smirking at her in that irritatingly cute way he did.

She kicked out at him with her foot only to have it caught mid air. Spike smiled at her as he started rubbing the soles of her feet. Ravyn watched him as he gently massaged her foot. He never took his eyes off her. He smiled bigger when her head fell back against the headboard and she moaned slightly.

"That feels good" she said softly with her eye's closed. "Victor use to do this all the time. Probably about the only thing I miss about him."

"What happened to him?" Spike asked her curious.

Ravyn raised her head and looked at him. Her eye's had hardened a little, but also held a sadness of loss.

"We were in Iowa in 97'. That's where the Initiative got me. We had been staying in a house there with about 20 other vamps. The Initiative must have been planning a raid on that place for a while. Victor knew about them, but never let me in on anything. They came one night and busted through the front door. I was in the bedroom when Victor rushed in and grabbed me. We ran through the house and out the back. There were 3 soldier's waiting there when we stepped out on the porch. I didn't know what was going on but I knew it wasn't good. Victor was scared. I could feel it coming off him in waves. Bastard threw me at them and ran. They never caught him."

Spike was shocked to say the least. He would have done everything in his power to protect Dru if that would have been them. He knew now what she meant when she said he loved himself more than her.

"You know where he is now" Spike asked, thinking about looking him up sometime.

"Yeah, I know where he is." Ravyn said, an evil glint in her eye's now. "I searched 2 years for him when I got out, finally caught up with him back in New York. Idiot. He was very pleased to see me. Thought I had came back to his loving arms. I knew from that moment that's why he never let me do anything for myself. He wanted me completely dependent on him."

"So, what happened" Spike asked as she got quiet and a far away look in her eye's.

Ravyn smiled a sick twisted, wicked smile that made Spike cringe. He could tell from the look on her face that Victor meet a painful death.

"I chained him up and slowly cut off all his dangly parts, one each hour, leaving his most `prized' possession for last."

Spike almost swallowed his tongue at the mental image. He defiantly knew he wasn't going to get on her bad side. She was just as cruel with her torture as Angeleus was....if not more.

"I made sure the bleeding wasn't going to do him in and slowly starved him. He was a weak skeleton of a man when I finally put him out of his misery."

"You know...if I've ever said anything to piss you off, I just want to say how `truly' sorry I am..right now..okay" Spike told her as he grabbed her other foot and made sure she was happy with him and didn't hold a grudge.

Ravyn laughed at him. He was so cute. He actually looked scared. "Don't worry Spike...you haven't pissed me off bad enough to want to torture you just yet."

Spike smiled at her. He was having a hard time seeing her as a ruthless killer. She was so delicate looking, almost breakable. Laying her foot down, he stood up and gathered all the papers strung about.

"How bout we get some sleep, shall we?" he asked putting all the Complex layouts aside.

"Sure" she said standing and pulling the sheet back. Ravyn got in bed and turned her back to Spike's side of the bed. She felt him crawl in behind her alot closer than he usually got. "Night Spike" she whispered softly.

"Night, luv" Spike said as he laid down and faced her back. He moved her hair away as to not lay on it and stared at her for a while before closing his eyes. He smiled to himself as she moved a little, bringing her closer to him. He fell asleep with his hands still wrapped up in her hair, once again transported to the wildflower fields of his youth.