The Holidays in Sunnydale

Thanks again, to my wonderful beta reader, Cory!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Dingoes Ate My Baby” were playing at the Bronze tonight for the New Years Eve
Bash. Willow hadn’t got to spend a lot of time with Oz but she made up for it by
mooning over him while he played. Buffy was dateless but happy about it for a
change. There had been plenty of guys to dance with but after each dance she went
back to her own table with Xander, Willow, and Cordy. She wasn’t about to try
dating again for awhile. No number exchanging for her tonight. Once a guy leaves
you for Harmony it kind of puts a crimp in your dating stride.
Everything had been quiet on the Dru and Angelus front. They hadn’t attempted
anything, which worried her even more. It was giving them lots of plotting time.
They hadn’t been by Spike’s crypt either, which made her wonder just what WAS
going to end up happening. Angelus NOT provoking Spike was just wrong.
She had seen Spike a couple of times tonight but hadn’t talked with him. He
seemed to be taking it easy tonight too. Just drinking and shooting a few games of
pool with other Bronzers. She had found herself searching for him a few times
through the crowd and wondered why. She put it down to keeping an eye on him
but there was something niggling at the back of her mind that she was determined
to beat down and not even begin to listen to.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spike stood over by the pool table and waited for the boy to take his shot. He had
won a pretty penny tonight at pool and this game would be no different. He scanned
the room until his eyes settled on their target. Buffy. The vampire slayer. She had
sure slayed him that night in her kitchen, he mused with a small smile. He didn’t
know she had it in her to be so bold. Especially in front of Angelus.
He leaned in and took his shot..... and then promptly ran the table. The boy was
clearly disappointed but handed him his money and Spike turned down an offer for
another game. He felt like turning in soon. He looked to the big screen television and
saw that they still had 7 minutes until they dropped that bloody ball in Sunnydale
Square. He chuckled to himself remembering Times Square at New Years
compared to Sunnydale. It was a way different scene but Sunnydale had it’s own
treats to offer. One being a lovely vampire slayer. His eyes roamed over her. She
looked so sexy tonight but she was obviously not out to meet up with anyone. He had
seen her go to the dance floor numerous times. She had put a good deal of distance
in between her and the would be suitors while they danced, then returned to her
friends. The Scoobies of Sunnydale.
I may as well stay around till midnight anyway. Never know. This could be Angelus’
big night to try to pull something off and she may need me, he thought, and sauntered
over to order a beer.
He had no sooner taken a drink when he heard that laugh. He cringed inside as he
did every time he heard it and then put his beer down on the bar and sighed.
Harmony. Good Lord....bloody happy soddin’ New Year, he thought in irritation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy heard that maniacal cackle and turned to see Harmony and Riley come in.
They were standing there scanning the crowd. Harmony saw Spike at the bar and
put her fingers in the shape of an L to her forehead. Spike in turn flipped her off.
Buffy giggled and Xander perked up, “Huh? What’s funny?”
He was having a miserable time. Cordy wasn’t in a good mood and when Cordy
wasn’t in a good mood ...well...he just may as well give up.
Buffy told him what had happened and he smiled.
“Ya know.rmonrmony was always just one of those special kinda people...”Xander
began.
“Short bus wonder...” Buffy smiled recalling what Spike had called Dru and
Angelus.
Xander laughed, “That’s it! Couldn’t have phrased it better myself....hey...what’s
Riley doin’? I’m no fan of Spike but Spike can’t fight a human.”
Buffy’s head whipped around in time to see Riley up in Spike’s smirking face.
Evidently he didn’t like his new girlfriend being given the bird. Buffy set her coke
and ice down and stood up, straightening her shiny gold silk hem line.
She walked methodically over to the three standing by the bar; making sure Spike
saw her coming but they didn’t. His smirk turned to a genuine smile when he saw
her coming and his eyes brightened at the way she wore her hair. He loved her hair
up with the little curls hanging down like that emp emphasized her long neck....
“Hi, honey! I’m back...did ya miss me?” she asked as she pushed through the two
standing there and wrapped her arms around Spike’s waist. Spike’s smile grew as
wide as the Lonestar State and he pulled her firmly to him, “I always miss you, luv.”
She smiled, “Dance with me?”
“’f course, pet.”
They left the two standing there with their mouths hanging open and went to the
dance floor. As they moved slowly to the music Spike grinned, “YOU are a very bad
girl.”
Buffy chuckled, “Yeah, well...they deserve to get their New Years ruined, don’t
they? Look at them. They’re still standing there looking like fish out of water.”
Spike laughed and pulled her a little closer, “So THAT’S what I was tryin’ to think
of...I knew they reminded me of somethin’, the wankers.”
Buffy was growing increasingly aware of the closeness between her and Spike and
the way his hands were settled casually on her hips. She was sure he could feel her
skin tingling. Couldn’t he? What was wrong with her anyway?

“TEN! NINE! EIGHT! SEVEN! SIX! FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO! ONE!”
The ball dropped all the way down. Everyone cheered , sang “Auld Lang Sine”,
and kissed. They kissed a lot, actually, Buffy noticed. She also noticed that Riley and
Harmony were still watching them like they had grown three heads each. She smiled
up at Spike, “Happy New Year, Spike.” smilsmiled back, “Happy New Year, luv.”
Then shacheached up on tip toe and kissed him lightly. At first. As soon as their lips
came into contact it was like fusion. She melted into him and he pulled her tighter
against his frame. His tongue caressed her bottom lip coaxing her mouth open. She
opened to him and he delved inside. Their tongues went to war. But it was a slow
sensual war. Tasting, caressing, and exploring. She nibbled on his bottom lip and he
growled his approval while firmly claiming her bottom with strong hands.
It must have just been in her DNA to wrap her legs around his waist because there
they went. Like the time before in the kitchen, she mused. He growled again and she
moaned, “Oh...Spike....” his mouth trailed down her neck and across her chest. She
bit her lower lip to keep from crying out.
“Geez! Get a room!” a brunette that she vaguely recognized as Cordy rudely
advised. She realized Xander and Cordy were standing next to them and a red faced
Willow was looking everywhere but at them. Riley and Harmony looked like they
were about to explode.
Buffy slowly sank back down to standing and Spike sighed. He dropped a light kiss
on her lips and continued to hold her hand even though Buffy had modestly climbed
off of him.
Buffy took a deep steadying breath and smiled at Spike, “Buy you a beer?”
“No, pet, I’ll buy you a drink, though. And your mates. It’s on me. Well...it’s
actually on all the poor blokes that lost to the Big Bad tonight but what will you
have?”
Buffy chuckled, “I should kiss you more often.”
“Hmmm...we could work that out, Slayer.”
While Spike went to get the drinks everyone stared at Buffy like she had went
insane.
“WHAT?”
Xander shrugged, “We’re just all kinda wonderin’, ya know....what the HELL is ng wng with you? In the last month we’ve caught you kissing dead boy twice. And I
mean these are no little pecks! These are ‘Gone With The Wind” type kisses! Dead
boy! Kisses! Dead boy kissage!”
“Well, there’s been a reason each time. The first time was because of Dru and
Angelus and this time we needed to put Riley and Harmony in their place. We’re
justified. Justified kissage. That’s all it is.”
Cordy snorted unladylike, “Yeah...ok.”
Spike came back and gave everyone their orders and Buffy moved over on the large
over-stuffed chair she sat on. There wasn’t much room so they had to sit extremely
close. The option of finding another chair was out because the Bronze was packed
tonight. He wasn’t particularly looking very hard for another chair either,
considering the closeness with Buffy he would be passing up if he found one.
After being unsuccessful at getting comfortable, Spike finally gave her a playful
glare.
“Gaining weight, Slayer? Or just getting hippy?”
“Um hum...YOU’D better not get LIPPY or I’m gonna get STAKEY,” Buffy
grumped.
“Here...wait...ouch! There,” Spike sighed as he finally got her settled onto his lap.

Spike smiled to himself as he heard Harmony state from not too far away, “Oh,
that’s just TOO much! Let’s go, Daddy!”
Buffy had heard it too and broke out into laughter. Spike nearly groaned his
approval. The way she was moving was making it hell on his determination NOT to
get excited and embarrass himself when it was time to get up and leave.
“What’s up with that?” Buffy asked as she looked him in the eye trying to act like
she couldn’t feel the effects of her movement on him.
“Up with what, pet?”
“All of your ex’s call their new boy toys ‘Daddy’.”
“Hmmm...dunno...maybe it’s a sub-conscious ‘Daddy never loved me’ thing?”
“Hmmm...yeah, or maybe they’re just sickos?”
“That could be true too.”
They all sat and talked while they finished their drinks and Buffy was surprised at
how well it was going. Xander and Spike were actually getting along!
“So, what I’m sayin’, is why not come one over to the lighter side, Spike?”
“I dunno....” Spike shook his head warily as he tried to field the question.
Buffy nodded, “Xander doesn’t have a bad idea, Spikey...errr...Spike. I mean, I’ve
heard the stories. You’ve made a lot of enemies since getting chipped. They think
you’re part of this group anyway, so why not? We could use thlp. lp. You need to
kill things to be happy. TRUST ME! I know ALL about that! I’d go nuts if I didn’t
slay...errr....yeah, well, I think it would be a good idea.”
Spike smiled. They were trying to recruit him. Buffy was helping whether she
realized it or not, just by being on his lap and talking about her love of slaying. He
always knew the girl had a darker side than she let on! She enjoyed the hunt and the
kill just like a predator would. She’d make a formidable vampire.
“Problem is, children, I need to make a living. The few friends I DO still have would
run away screaming and I’d not be accepted at all.”
“Living arrangements could be made....” Buffy began.
Xander narrowed his eyes in seriousness, “Do you think the council would...”
Buffy nodded,
“Yeah! I mean, you know, Giles could fix it, I think.”
“Even with his history?” Willow asked.
Oz shrugged, “I don’t see why not. He’s chipped now. He helps. Why not? I mean
they pay me and I’m a werewolf with NO chip. He’s on a leash.”
Spike frowned, “Hey, Dog Boy! Sitting right here?”
Buffy shrugged, “Well, it’s up to you but the way it would work is that the council
would pay off any debts you owe now, pay you a monthly allowance, and pay for
your education if you chose to go to college...not that I’d see THAT happening, of
course.”
“And if something happened I decided I didn’t want to anymor “Th “Then I’d come after you because you’d know all our little secrets then, wouldn’t
you?” Buffy said it lightly but he knew she meant it. She wouldn’t be able to risk it.
She’d have to put him down if he switched out on her.
“And how much does this lucrative deal pay a month, then?”
They continued discussing the pros and cons of being a part of the council and then
Buffy did the unthinkable. No one could figure out just why she did it or why she
said it. But she did. It even took Spike a moment to register what she asked him.
“Well, if you’re serious about coming on over to our side Giles can contact the
council tomorrow and talk to them. Travers approves the new requests then and
there while talking to Giles. Then once it’s ok’d you can move in with Dawn and me.
It’ll be safer for you there with us.”
Spike felt like his tongue was made of lead. He didn’t know what to say. He half
expected to get staked by the rest of the Scoobies.
“Well...luv...what do you mean it would be safer? From whom?”
“From the other demons, from Angelus and Dru, the initiative, and the ‘other”
council. You’ve got a whole lot of choices.”
“’Other’ council?”
“Ohhhh...” Willow said in realization, “Yeah...I’d forgot about them. Man...we do
have a lot of baddies to be up against, don’t we? And it started so simple. Demons
and vampires....hmmm.”
“The other council is the same basic thing as our council but it’s like the demon
council. It works to protect them. Dispatches a new big baery ery now and again to
try to take us out.”
“Oh! Yeah, the Ethan Rayne bunch. Well....I don’t know what to say, Buff,” Spike
replied with a wary note in his voice.
“Well, how hard is it?” she asked impatiently, “Yes or no.”
Spike spoke before he thought. It just all came out in a rush, leaving everyone
feeling a little uncomfortable.
“Well, damn it woman! You’re asking me to move in with you! I mean...where am I
sleeping?”
Buffy looked him straight in the eye for a long time before she answered.
He wanted her. She could see it in his eyes. He wanted her to say that he’d be
sleeping in her bed. But she couldn’t very well say that, now could she? It was
different to kiss just to make someone jealous or to snap him out of a rage. She was
just sitting on his lap now because of the lack of chairs. It wasn’t like she was
TRYING to make advances towards him...was it?
She mentally smacked herself. She KNEW she wanted him. She would have never
come up with this whole insane idea if she didn’t have a motive. BAD Buffy! But
nevertheless she pressed on in typical Buffy mouth-over-ride style.
“The basement.”
Xander grinned and nodded, “Ooooh...I like the basement!”
“The washroom? With all that junk?” Spike sputtered, obviously upset that she
didn’t say what they both wanted to hear. Her bed.
“No! I totally redid the basement.”
Willow nodded, “Oh, yeah. It’s super nice.”
Buffy smiled, “I kinda copied from you.”
“How’s that?” Spike asked leaning back a little to get a clearer view of her...and her
cleavage.
“Well, I did the whole basement in oriental rugs, tall candle stands, tall cement
statues, dark rich colors....kinda like how you’ve been doing your crypt.”
Spike grinned with pride.
“You must have really liked it, then, Slayer cuz you’ve only been in there a few
times. But then, I guess my style IS quite good.... ”
She rolled her eyes but agreed,
“Yeah, I liked it. And while we were down there working on it Xander made a big
mistake...”
“Not a BIG mistake...a tiny boo boo, maybe, “Xander huffed defensively.
Buffy went on as though he hadn’t said anything, “...and we found out that the
tunnels run right up along my basement. So we made a heavy iron door with a huge
slide bolt lock from the inside. There’s access to the tunnels so you can still get
around during the day. I put the door there originally so I had an emergency exit
for Dawn. You know, just in case anything ever happened and she needed to get out
without being seen. It’ll be like your own little apartment. Rent and utility free.
Cable tv. Cable internet. Phone...when you can get Dawn off of it. Come to think of
it...you may want a new line. RUNNING water? HOT water? I’ll even do your
laundry with ours. The only thing is that you’ll have to eat upstairs with us cuz
there’s no stove and knowing you, you’d catch it on fire and there’d be flames....”
“Oh, yeah! I remember the last time ...” Willow began as it reminded her of trying
to teach Buffy to cook, “....but we won’t go into all of that....Buffy’s a great cook,
Spike! Now....”
Spike cocked his head and studied Buffy and then began to slowly nod, “Yeah, ok,
Slayer. I guess it’s time for a change. I’ll bite. You don’t have to beg. Talk to your
watcher.”
Buffy narrowed her eyes, “I’m NOT begging. It’s safer for you. It’s safer for me and
Dawn to have another super power in the house. It just makes sense all the way
around. Just making you see reason is all.”
“I personally like the way you did it once before....”
“So! Ok, I’ll talk to Giles in the morning, then.”

They all stayed for another 20 minutes or so and then Buffy stood up and stretched
raising the hem of her dress dangerously high while Spike’s eyes gleamed in
appreciation at the expanse of golden thigh she was showing him. Then he realized
she was showit oft off to everyone in the Bronze and pulled down the hem before he
thought about what he was doing. She looked down at his hand and mouthed a
clueless, “Oh...” and lowered her arms.
“I guess I need to go. I’m sure Giles will have Dawn home EARLY in the morning.
There’s only so much of a teenage bundle of energy a middle aged Englishman can
take.”
“I’ll take you home, Slayer. Where’s your coat?”
“I didn’t wear one. It was pretty warm when I left tonight.”
Spike took his duster off and draped it over her shoulders, “Come on then. See you
Scoobies tomorrow.”
“Bye, guys. See ya tomorrow,” Buffy smiled as he took her hand in his. As they
weaved through the crowd, Buffy smiled slightly at his warm gesture and inhaled
the scent of leather, smoke, and alcohol. The scent that was just Spike; masculine,
heady, and dangerous enveloped her as they finally made their way out of the
crowded room.
Spike and Buffy hadn’t yet made it out of the door and Cordy said, “Those two
sooooo want each other.”
Everyone mumbled agreement and then started a buzzing discussion on what
THEY thought would happen.

“So...here we are, Slayer.”
“Yeah. Home sweet home.”
She took his duster off and handed it to him, “Thanks.”
They stood in awkward silence for awhile and finally Spike sighed, “Are ya gonna
kiss me good night or not?”
“Well, there’s romance for ya,” she snipped.
“Well, you’ve got me all bloody confused. The first kiss was for a reason. The
second kiss was for a reason. But then the sitting on my lap and those
looks...Buffy...come on...what’s going on with us?”
“I...don’t know, yet. I...”
Spike pulled her to him and began kissing her senseless. He was gentle and sweet
but there was an underlying passion waiting to explode. Every stroke of his tongue
against hers told her he could lose control any second, and all she had to do was let
him. She broke away needing to breathe and he rested his forehead against hers.
“I love kissing you,” she breathed, “God, I love kissing you.”
“Yeh...I’m good.”
She swatted him and smiled.
“Let’s just take it slow, ok? We may be rebounding or something stupid, ya know?”
Spike frowned,
“Yeh...maybe... DOUBT it seriously, but maybe. How are we going to take it slow
with me living with you? Knowing you’re so close? That I could slip right under the
covers with you in your bed?”
A shiver went through her. His voice was like raw silk sliding across her bare skin.
“I...don’t know...we’ll just have to work at it.”
He straightened up and nodded, “All right then. Goodnight, Buff. I’ll see you
tomorrow.”
She knew he was making a special effort to remain as they were. He had a resigned
but formal tone to his voice, and she felt a huge sense of loss as he moved away
from her. Like having the covers yanked off of you while you’re asleep, she thought
sadly.
“Ok...goodnight.”
He got down the steps and she called after him, “Spike?”
“Yeh?”
“One more goodnight kiss?”

Spike made it back up the steps in record time and they spent the next 10 minutes
acting like teenagers not wanting to let the night end.
Buffy let her cheek rest against his chest and he inhaled the scent of flowers and
fresh spring rain from her hair.
“You want to come in and see the basement?”
Spike nodded and followed her in. She turned on the lights and they went into the
kitchen and then down the stairs to the basement. He remembered these stairs from
once before. They used to be plain wooden stairs. Now they were covered in plush
plum colored carpeting. The carpet went about 4 feet up each side of the walls
surrounding the stairs. The walls themselves were painted a mocha color. The
ceiling was done in a lighter taupe. He never thought browns and purples went
together but he guessed she proved him wrong. It made for a great ambiance. Rich,
inviting, warm, but regal.
“Here is your new place!” she presented and clasped her hands in front of her
hoping he would like it. When she had done this room she had thought she was
doing it because she had liked the look of his crypt. Now she realized she wanted
something that reminded her of HIM.
Just how long have I felt this way and not known it? she wondered.
Spike looked around and had an awed tone to his voice, “Wow, Slayer....you did a
really nice job, here.”
“Well, Xander, Oz, and Willow helped. Cordy was appalled at the thought of doing
manual labor so she stayed upstairs reading magazines. She kept telling me to ‘hire
someone’. But, yeah, I think it turned out well. I was actually going to move down
here but Dawn freaked and said she wanted me right down the hall from her or she
couldn’t sleep. So I ended up re-doing my room too. Then it kind of spread all
through the house. But, hey! The council paid so I didn’t worry too much. Just
enjoying it now.”
He realized he hadn’t even noticed the rest of the house as they had walked through.
She had been in front of him and the sway of her hips in that slinky material was all
he could concentrate on at the time.
He looked all around him. The entire room was done in a base design of plum plush
carpeting, ntalntal rugs, and mocha painted walls. The lighting was muted and soft.
Taupes, golds, and various shades of plum and mocha were a all all around for
accent. There were fake plants everywhere. Big huge tree-like plants as well as lush
vining plants hanging from on top of high furniture such as the huge big screen tv
and the huge, heavy looking, dark pine armoire. The bed was king size, he wagered,
and canopied with dark plum, taupe, and mocha panels of sheer and crushed velvet
material that had little clear lights woven within. The bed spread was satin mocha
with a wealth of pillows covered in satin. All in mocha, plum, taupe, cream, and
gold. He imagined what she’d look like lying on that bed waiting for him to come to
her. Just as quickly he shook off that image before he did something to screw this all
up.
At the end of the bed was a huge trunk with a velvet taupe colored cushioned top.
The trunk was stained the same color as the rest of the furniture and he opened it,
curious as to what would be stored in such a big trunk.
“I had figured it would make a good weapons trunk,” she explained.
“Oh, yeah, I see you even sectioned it. Good idea,” he grinned, “Don’t wanna get the
holey water mixed up with the stakes and what-not, now do we?”
He walked on over to the living area. There was a big over stuffed, comfortable
looking, plum colored couch with cushions all the same colors as the ones on the bed
thrown across the back. In the floor in front of the couch was an oriental style rug
that had many of the rooms colors weaved in it. There was no coffee table as if the
plan was to spend time lying on the rug in front of the couch watching television or
reading or....
Watch it, man! Better get a grip on those kinda thoughts before you mess it all up!
Spike commanded himself with a grimace.
The big screen tv stood beside a dark pine stained cabinet with glass doors. The
cabinet had shelves that held a dvd/vhs player, an awesomely advanced cd stereo
system, and spaces for cd’s and dvd’s. There was even some kind of game there. He
had never gotten into those television games but one of his minions once was
addicted to something called Atari back in the eighties. He noticed another
electronic box and then realized the whole room was done in surround sound. There
were speakers arranged all over the room in various places, strategically hidden
among the greenery.
He turned around and grinned, “Nice. Real nice.”
She smiled, “Thanks, I thought you may be impressed with the entertainment center
part.”
He scanned the other wal the the side where the stairs came down and it was
nothing but one big bookcase. Thousands of books upon books. The area where the
washer and dryer had once been was enclosed now by walls, and a door mirrored on
this side. There was a computer center on one side of the walls with what looked like
a full set up. He took another look around. He sure wouldn’t run out of things to
do, he mused.
“Lovely, Slayer. I’d be crazy not to want to live here with you to begin with, but this
place is fantastic.”
“Here’s the door we made...” she said proudly as she pulled back what looked to be
a huge, almost floor to ceiling painting of the Scoobies, she, Dawn, and Giles. It
swung open and exposed a heavy iron door with a peep hole. He noticed the slide
bolt lock wasn’t a light weight. NOTHING was getting through there unless it was
unlocked. She unbolted it after looking out and it swung open to exposrt ort of the
tunnels. He stepped out with her and said, “Hey!...I know this place....wait a
min....yeah....huh!”
“What?”
“Have you ever got a good look at a tunnel map?”
“No....”
“And you’re the Slayer?” The way he looked at her was in total disbelief.
“Why do you ask?” she sighed knowing that he was right. She SHOULD know
every inch of these tunnels better than she did. Especially the one running along side
of her basement.
“Well, they run in levels. If I remember right there are 5 different levels. This one
would be on the first level of course, but if you go down that way about 500 feet,” he
explained pointing down the left end of the tunnel, “....and turn right then there is a
stairway down to the second level. Then just about 500 feet to the left from the
bottom of that stairway, is another stairway that goes down to the third level. Slayer,
seriously! We need to study those maps. You have no idea what kinds of nasties are
in the tunnels and sewers. I mean....you know, I even stick to the first and second
level, and I’m not afraid ‘f nothin’! It just gets worse as you go down.”
“Ok, well, I agree. We’ll make that a priority once you’re all settled in then.”
They stepped back inside and Spike bolted the door back and fastened the portrait
back against the wall.
“That’s a nice painting there.”
“It’s all right, I guess,” she nodded, “I should have worn something more
Slayer-like though.”
“Like what? You can’t get much better than black leather, baby.”
She smiled and tried to ignore the heat in his eyes and the flash of amber demon in
them, “Well, you might want to come up and get familiar with the rest of the
house.”
“Buff...what if the council doesn’t agree?”
She walked on as though she hadn’t heard him, “I think the kitchen was a major
improvement. I mean, Mom did the best she could, but she just didn’t really have
time to decorate or update anything....”
He caught up with her at the top of the stairs.
“Buffy! What if the council doesn’t agree? What then?”
Buffy nibbled on her lower lip and then raised her chin a determined notch. “They
WILL agree. They work for ME in the end. And they know it.”
He stared at her for a moment. She was right and he knew it. She WAS the lead and
everyone would sit up and take notice whether they liked it or not. She was no
bloody council instrument.
“All right then,” he smiled.
She showed him the rest of the house and then her room was the only room left.
They walked in and Spike whistled, “Phew! Slayer! You walk on the wild side some,
huh?”
She laughed and kicked her shoes off by the closet door.
Her room was done in leopard print. The furniture was heavy dark pine like what
was downstairs. There was an entertainment center but it was on a smaller scale to
fit the room better.
He watched the screensaver on her desktop monitor and smiled. It was a slide show
of all the Scoobies, Giles, Dawn, and...HIMSELF? He turned to her with a
questioning glance but she was behind a palm leaf style folding screen, changing. He
took a deep un-needed breath when the little gold dress flipped up to hang over the
top. It wasn’t a scene out of the movies, where the light shone just right and you
could see an outline of the person behind the screen but he sure could imagine....
He turned back to the monitor and watched the show. There was the whelp and his
bird.....the witch and her dog....Rupert....the bit...and there he was in his long black
leather duster looking at the camera as though he were talking to it. How did she get
these pictures?
She came out from changing. She wore a pair of draw string waist black shorts and
a black tank top with ‘The Bronze’ emblazoned across the front in white.
“Wondering about the pictures?”
“Yeah! How’d...”
“Spy cam! Remember when I was talking to you about the Thagusser demon? My
spycam was snapping pics of you the whole time. It’s my little Scoobie Doo lapel pin
I wear. Giles said we needed to start documenting so.... I documented you.”
“Huh...never would have guessed, luv. Never would have thought you’d put me on
your computer with your mates either...”
“Hmm...” was all she would say.
He looked at her bed. It wasn’t nearly the size as the one downstairs. It was full sized
and wrought iron canopied. Black sheer material hung in volumes all around it and,
like on his bed, there were tiny little clear lights all throughout the netting. There
were photographs all around the room. Some of those were of him as well. He
started to notice that there were none of Riley and there were none of Angel. His
chest swelled up with more than just a little pride. He and Buffy had always had a
rocky relationship after he had stopped trying to kill her, but she had considered
him a friend anyway. He never knew.
There was a vanity table over by the window. He remembered it as being white but
now it was black, and the bench was black with leopard print cushioning. The same
girly products were there though. He used to love standing below, next to the tree,
watching her brush her hair at night. He hadn’t been doing it of late though because
he had been caught twice by Dawn and had to make pitifulusesuses. She had
believed him...at least he thought she did anyway....but one more time may set off
her ‘stalker alarm’. There was a trunk at the end of her bed like the one at the end
of his but smaller.
Just as well, he thought, she only uses her pointy sticks and crossbow most of the time
anyway.
“You’ve grown up, Slayer. I remember when this room was all pinks and yellows
and dreams of little girls.”
Buffy smiled, “Yeah, well, I think I finally realized when I lost mom that I had been
grown up for a very, very long time and just hadn’t wanted to face it. I k I k I grew
up when I was first called to be the Slayer but fought it tooth and nail. I always
wanted the white picket fence, little houses all in a row, all the same, the perfect
sunny days, blah, blah, blah....” she said, a little coldly.
She brushed her hair out and turned to smile with a twinkle in her eye. The
expression told him that she had indeed grown up and accepted it all with a sense of
humor as she continued,
“I used all my pickets for stakes. I work better in the dark. I’d be bored to tears
with everything normal. My world is different from other girls my age. I’m caught
between this world and the demon world and I can’t change that. So I had to
change my way of thinking about it. Simple really, once I gave in. I finally grew up
and admitted it was time for a change. I learned to stop shopping for the high school
fashion trends and shop for the things that I like, but yet doesn’t get stained by
demon glop. I plan my dates and outings by Giles predictions. The world is safer
and I’m happier.”
She had grown up, realized normality wasn’t what she would ever have. She was
standing there in her bedroom talking to a master vampire who had come to town
to kill her years ago, but had gotten chipped by The Initiative, and in the process
had come around to be her kissing buddy. THIS was HER kind of normal.
She smiled broadly at him and he smiled back.
“Want some ice cream?” she asked as she toyed with the drawstring to her shorts.

Spike took the last spoonful of the triple chocolate rum ice cream as they sat on her
back porch listening to the night sounds. She finished hers at the same time and set
the bowl aside, leaned back with her elbows steadying her from behind, and crossed
her ankles.
“So, when are you gonna move in?”
Spike almost choked on the ice cream.
He had kind of figured they were going to take that slow but she acted like anytime
now he should be carrying his stuff downstairs.
“When do you want me to?”
“We could go get your stuff tonight...”
He remembered the mannequin and photos downstairs in his crypt and cringed
inwardly. How would he explain something like that? He didn’t think ‘Oh, yeah,
been practicin’ talkin’ to the mannequin cuz you totally un-nerve me....’ would
suffice.
“Well, I really need to throw out a bunch of stuff. Kind of sort through and put
some order to it all. How ‘bouto tho that tonight and I’ll come round tomorrow
evenin’ about dark and...”
“I can help you sort, if you want....HEY! I KNOW....We could have a yard sale!”
“Huh? Luv....I don’t think....”
“Well, it could be a night time one...in the cemetary? I bet you could make some
good money.”
Spike actually considered it for a moment and then rolled his eyes realizing she was
teasing him.
“Ha...bloody....Ha. Funny, slayer.”
She grinned, “You were thinkin’ about it, though, weren’t you?”
“No.”
“Was too.”
“Was NOT! AS IF!”
Buffy couldn’t help it and burst into laughter. He finally couldn’t keep up the Big
Bad ego and started laughing with her. They settled into comfortable silence,
looking up at the stars, and smiling in contentment. Spike sighed, realizing it was
getting really late and the sun would be up in a couple hours.
“Luv, I need to go and get this all done.Sun will be up soon.”
“OK...I can come help if you want, really....” she offered again.
“NO! No, no....that’s ok, luv. You need your rest. A slayers duty is never done and
all that. I can do it. I’ll probably throw most of it out anyway. Everything I need is
pretty much already down there ‘cept for my cd’s, clothes, and stuff.”
“All right, don’t say I didn’t offer. How about you come by at 6 tomorrow evening
and I’ll let you in the tunnel door. That way the sun doesn’t fry your weetle tle brain
and you can have dinner with us.”
“Wee little brain, is it? And YOU who doesn’t have a clue about the tunnel levels?”
“Ah, but you’re gonna teach goofy little ol’ me cuz you’re so smart and stuff,” she
gushed in fake bubbliness.
Spike grinned and then gave a playful growl and swooped around to grab her and
put her on his lap. She turned so that str straddled his waist and he tickled her ribs
mercilessly.
“Stop! Stop! Spiiiikeee!” She was gasping for air trying to get straightened around
when she turned on his lap making him groan from the pressure of her bottom
against his groin. He stopped tickling and their play took on a serious tone as he
buried his face in the cleft between her breasts. He brushed his lips over the
straining nipples under the fabric of her tank top and she hissed in pleasure.
“Spike....ohhhh....ummm.....”
She was near panting as his lips trailed a line of fire up her chest and along her
collar bone.
God, he feels so good it hurts....HEY!
All of the sudden he stopped and sat her off of him, “That’s all you get. Bad girl.”
With that he stood up and grinned that cocky grin.
“You ass....”
“Um hum....SMART ass.....I’ll be back around 6 tomorrow, pet. Whatcha cookin’,
anyway?”
“Wood stake.”
“Ummm...never tried it....I’ve heard it’s dry.”
Buffy couldn’t help but laugh. He had a come back for everything. Never failed.
“I’ll see you at 6 then.”
“Ok. Nite Slayer.”
“Nite, Spike.”
She watched him saunter off with that jungle cat look and sighed. She definitely
wanted him and he wanted her. What was their deal? It was going to be hard to go
about this slowly. But for both their sakes they needed to go slow and be sure of
what they wanted. Neither had a very good track record with relationships and
there was now a good friendship at stake. She’d hate to see sex ruin it all...... if that’s
all it was going to be. She THOUGHT there was more than that between them but
she couldn’t swear to it, and knew he couldn’t either. And they HAD to know before
they messed the whole works up.
She went back in and tried unsuccessfully to go to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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