Strength

Spike glanced up at the clock and bit his lip. Three o’clock had already come and gone and he cursed himself for being nervous. It was just something about Buffy and Madison that just got to him and he couldn’t help it when he got that fluttery feeling in his stomach he hadn’t had for awhile. Xander seemed just as nervous. He hadn’t seen his friend two days in a row forever and he had continuously thanked Spike for the idea.
Both their heads snapped up when they heard the electric doors slide open and Xander grinned as Madison came bounding in hugging them both.

“Where’s your mum princess?” Spike asked.
“In the car she’s coming now…uncle Xander can we go play in the back!?” She asked with a hopeful smile. Xander just grinned back and turned to head towards the back doors with the five year old in his arms. Spike waited. He wanted to see Buffy just as much as he wanted to see the little girl but as soon as the blonde walked into the store Spike’s stomach fell and he stared in disbelief as Buffy drew closer.
When she finally stood in front of him she looked so small it was if she wanted to disappear and Spike sighed sadly at the sight of her.
The fresh looking gash above her eyebrow looked really sore and the bruise just below her jaw looked downright painful. Willow had mumbled something about hoping Buffy would be okay last night after she had saw Riley and his whore stumble out but Spike didn’t really think of what it meant. Of course being out and getting as plastered as the farm boy was getting last night he had obviously gone home and started a row. What kind of prick left his wife and daughter at home, went out and got rat assed, probably shagged some stupid disease ridden bimbo before beating the crap out of his wife who had done nothing wrong?

“Hello.”
He almost didn’t hear her small greeting and he nodded at her gulping back what he really wanted to say and smiled at her. He could tell she didn’t want him to know about her private life even though she knew everyone in town knew she clearly was uncomfortable with it and he just said the first thing that came into his head.
“So how was your day?”
Buffy blinked in surprise and looked up at Spike in shock. She had really wanted to stay home today but she had promised Madison she would come here and the little girl had been so happy she couldn’t say no. Whenever she had bruises or cuts that were visible she tried to stay home and avoid people because despite knowing very well what she put up with they all feigned shock when they saw her and kept going on at her to leave him and all the rest. It was tiring trying to get them to leave her alone and here Spike was doing what she wished everyone else would and giving her some space. The smile she graced him with was genuine.
“Same shit different day, yours?” She replied earning a chuckle from Spike.
“I can’t complain really…cept for Harm over there…her I can complain about.” Spike said seriously casting a dark look at the always bubbly blonde.

“I think everyone complains about her. I don’t know why Giles still employs her.” Buffy sighed.
“You know Giles?” Spike asked in surprise.
“Yep he used to be my high school librarian until he opened this place…I was really close to him actually he dated my mom for a little bit and he kind of became a surrogate father to me.” Buffy said with a wistful smile.
“Yeah he’s a pretty decent guy…you wanna join Xander and Madison?” Spike suggested, gesturing to the back doors.
“Yeah sure.” She shrugged and followed behind him.
She got the usual gasp of surprise from Xander and for the first five minutes she spent getting a lecture from him while Spike played hide and seek with Maddie. After Xander had calmed down however they all joined in and Buffy grinned when Spike found her and proceeded to tickle her.
She couldn’t remember ever smiling so much and she even giggled a few times which shocked both Maddie and Xander so much they stood there staring.
They were half way through listening to Spike tell a story when her cell phone rung and everyone watched as Buffy tensed up suddenly. She rushed for the phone as if every second was too long and flipped it open quickly.

“Hello.”
“Buffy…where the fuck are you I just rang the house.” Riley said coldly down the line.
“I…I…Im at thh...the supermarket.” Buffy stammered.
Spike’s eyes turned cold and his fist tightened as he heard the nervous stutter Buffy had gained in the last two seconds. He had never heard her stutter before and he cursed her stupid husband who was no doubt on the other end of the phone.
“Why the fuck are you there I thought you went fucking shopping yesterday or did your stupid self forget to go!? Jesus you have one job run the bastard house and you can’t even do that fucking right!”
Riley was yelling so loud on the phone Xander and Spike could hear every word and they shared an angry look which told just how much both of them would love to rip out the sods spine.
“Im sorry…I…I just….forgot a few things.” She lied.
“Yeah well don’t forget im home at six thirty and I want pork steaks…try to cook em right yeah? God you fucking piss me off.” Riley grunted before slamming down the phone causing Buffy to flinch slightly.
She glanced at Spike and Xander but avoid their gaze and instead focused on Maddie who remained blissfully unaware.
“Looks like its time for us to go home sweetie.” Buffy forced a smile at her daughter. She sighed but didn’t fight her mother as she helped her to her feet and began to walk to their car. Before they got in Buffy felt a hand on her shoulder and braced herself for the punch she usually got.
Spike saw her bury her head in her chest and close her eyes instinctively against a hit and he quickly let go of her shoulder causing her to straighten and look back up at him uncertainly.
“I just wanted to give you this.” He said softly handing her a scrap of paper with his number on it.
“Just in case you ever want to talk….bout anything.” He nodded before turning and walking off. If he stayed any longer he would probably try shaking sense into her and that would just push her further away he knew it so he left the ball in her court.


Buffy was just about to check on the pork steaks when the front door slammed and she jumped upright staring at Riley as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen. His eyes ghosted over her bruised and cut face impassively before he moved forward.
“Your home early…im sorry food isn’t ready.” Buffy said in a panic. He hadn’t come home this early in awhile and she knew she was in for a severe beating now.
“Well I had to come home to check up on you…not answering the fucking phone. God knows what you were doing here.” he growled stepping behind her and shoving her out of the way so he could grab a beer out of the fridge.
“Im sorry.”
“Sorry! You’re always fucking sorry! Try being a good wife for a change and not some useless bitch.” He snapped walking right up to her so she was pinned between him and the kitchen counter. Instead of hitting her or just stalking off like she hoped he would he touched her cheek in mock tenderness making a shudder go through her.
“As a matter of fact you can start being a good wife right now.” He whispered in her ear before licking it disgustingly. She felt his hand go down between them to undo his buttons and she cringed inside.
“Please not here…Madison’s in the next room.” She said softly hoping to god he would change his mind. The stinging slap she felt to her cheek told her he wouldn’t and she tried to keep in her cry of pain as he bent her over the kitchen counter where just a half hour ago she and Maddie had been laughing and eating ice cream talking about how fun Xander and Spike had been.

Buffy couldn’t remember having sex or doing anything sexual willingly ever and she had thought she would get used to being used against her will by now but each and every time it hurt just as much as the first time he had done it. She had been sixteen and idiot enough to run back to her mother who had told her she had made her bed and now had to lie in it. Since that day she had given up hope but damned if she was going to let Maddie see this. She had seen him hit her and yell at her which was bad enough. No way was she gunna witness this too so she bit her lip and kept quiet hoping their daughter wouldn’t hear his grunts.
Unfortunately less than a minute later Buffy heard the soft padding of feet and she closed her eyes briefly before opening them and seeing Maddie standing opposite them at the entrance between the kitchen and living room.
Buffy was grateful at least that the island covered everything and Riley hadn’t taken her clothes off because from where Maddie was standing all she could see was Riley standing behind her while she was slightly bent over the counter.

Riley like the sick bastard he was however didn’t stop moving and carried on which made Buffy sick to her stomach.

“Go back in the living room honey.” Buffy managed to get out trying her best not to cry.
“Yeah do as your whore of a mother says Mad.” Riley grunted not once slowing his thrusts.
Madison was still too young to get what was happening but she could sense the sadness and pain coming from her mom so she knew it was bad and didn’t wait around, just turned and went back to her cartoons.
A few minutes later Buffy finally felt Riley cum and he pulled out quickly redoing his jeans and heading into the living room, taking the control off of Madison and putting sports on, acting as if he hadn’t just raped his wife while their kid had walked in. Buffy on the other hand was openly sobbing into her hands, she knew she couldn’t let her emotions overtake her completely however and soon her sobs stopped and she carried on making dinner. The phone number in her shirt pocket seeming to burn into her while she worked.


Buffy didn’t know how but somehow within the next few weeks she had started visiting the supermarket much more than normal. Whereas before she did one big shop on a Wednesday she now did three little shops on a Tuesday, a Thursday and a Sunday and each one of her shops seemed to last almost an hour longer than needed. She had gotten much closer to Xander, Willow, Tara and Anya than she had in the last few years and she found herself excited for her visits to the store. She had also grown a lot closer to Spike. She had only known him for around two months but he was quickly becoming one of the highlights of her week and she found her stomach fluttering whenever he was around. He always gave her this look that just seemed to make her melt and even though she knew nothing could come of it she loved their little flirtations. For the first time in years she felt somewhat attractive when he talked to her and if it wasn’t for him and her friends she wasn’t sure what would have happened to her. The only thing keeping her from slitting her wrists a long time ago was Madison but now she had five extra reasons and she found herself not as low as she usually was and dealing with Riley became a little easier.

It was a Tuesday today and she had decided to come grocery shopping earlier, while Maddie was still in school so at eleven thirty she found herself strolling the aisle picking up some random food that she knew Madison liked when she spotted Spike approaching.

“Hey beautiful! What you doing here so early?” He asked with a smile he had made it a point to make her smile and laugh as much as possible whenever near him because god knows she needed some happiness in her life. He couldn’t believe how much she had changed his attitude. Sure he still had one night stands all the time but he no longer just treated them like whores, he let them know from the get go that he was only interested in one night and he even managed to part on good terms with them. He wasn’t ready to settle down and give his heart to one woman again like he had with Dru….she had ripped his heart to shreds, so badly he wasn’t sure if it was ever going to be repaired again and a niggling thought in his head kept telling him that maybe Buffy would be the one to repair it but he refused to acknowledge that. The poor girl had to deal with enough as it was.
“Maddie is feeling a little under the weather so I thought I should take her straight home after school and come here while I could.” She shrugged simply.
Spike spent the next half an hour walking around with her chattering on about crap which was when Spike glanced at his watch and smiled.

“Well looks like im on lunch…fancy grabbing a sandwich and sitting out back with me for a bit?” He asked casually. Tuesdays were always dead in here and it seemed today was even deader than usual. Buffy was the only one in the store and only Spike and Harmony was working today.
“Umm…well I don’t know.” She said uncertainly.
“Oh come on live a little.” He grinned pushing her cart to rest next to the back exit before grabbing two sandwiches, some chips and cans of cola from the shelves and taking her hand, leading her outside while they both tried to deal with the electricity that passed between their hands. They settled down comfortably on the crate outside and began to eat, comfortable with each other to just let the conversation flow.
“Ouch…that looks nasty.” Spike said suddenly when he spotted the large bruise on her forearm as she lifted her can of coke. The sudden shy look on her face had him kicking himself and he sighed loudly.
“Sorry pet…I was just stating a fact…don’t have to talk about nothing.” He reassured her, going back to his sandwich and waiting to see if she would talk.
He wasn’t disappointed.

“I burnt the toast this morning.” She said quietly.
“And that’s why he left that nasty bruise on you?” Spike said nodding at the large hand shaped bruise. He couldn’t believe Buffy was actually speaking about this and he kept his tone light not wanting to scare her off.
“Yeah…I should have been paying closer attention.” She mumbled.
“God pet it’s just a piece of toast. Not your fault.” Spike said sadly.
She smiled a little at his reassuring tone and nodded before finishing her sandwich.
“So what are your plans for tonight then luv?” Spike asked sensing she wanted a subject change. He had gotten more from her than he had expected anyway and wasn’t gunna push his luck.
“Actually I have to go to this party at The Bronze.” She sighed.
“Wait…Parker Abrahams party? Your going?!” Spike asked in complete shock. From what he had heard Buffy wasn’t allowed out of the house never mind a birthday party at a club.
“Parker and Riley went to school together…I have to go.” She sighed.
“Well im going to…I don’t know this Parker guy but his sister is Tara’s girlfriend so the whole gang is going. Everyone’s said he’s a piece of work though…surprising considering Kennedy’s quite nice. The gangs only going because they want to keep Kennedy Company.” Spike said.

“Yeah he’s an ass but Riley won’t let me stay home.” Buffy said sadly.
“Well at least you’ll see me there.” Spike smiled.
“Yeah that will be good.” Buffy said smiling back at him. The silence that followed was filled with something that neither could really understand but that’s all they did know was their faces seemed to be getting closer. One minute they were about a foot apart and the next they were so close Buffy could feel his breath on her face. Buffy realised what she was doing however and she stumbled backwards staring at him with wide eyes while he stared back at her equally as surprised at what had almost happened.

God you idiot trying to kiss her what’s wrong with you?! He scolded himself.

“I uhh…have to go.” She said quickly.
“Yeah…I’ll see you tonight.” He nodded giving her a crooked smile before watching her leave.