Beer Good

Thanks for the reviews!! My muse loved all of the chocolate offerings! I hope you like this.

Effects of the claim are beginning to make themselves known. Hold on tight…it’s going to be a bumpy ride. *evil grin.*


Beer Good_4


She could feel him following her. He had been behind her for about an hour now. Trailing just far enough that she could sense him but, not coming out of the shadows. Buffy was getting more and more pissed by the minute.

Spike could feel her anger radiating off of her in waves, calling to him.

‘Are you gonna just follow me around all night?’ She questioned silently.

“Slayer.” Spike chuckled coming out from behind the tree.

“Why are you following me Spike?” She asked curiously.

“I just wanted to make sure you were ok…after what happened last night…wanted to make sure you were at the top of your game.” He grinned cockily at her. No one is going to be tasting you cept for me.

“It’s gonna take a lot more than a few voices in my head to throw me off my game.” She growled. Even if one of the voices was yours telling me you love me.

“So…did you ‘hear’ anything of interest?” He asked hiding his shock.
‘I guess you could hear me while I was drunk and blathering on.’ Their feet started moving, they walked almost touching, both feeling a pull towards the other and wanting to touch but neither willing to be the one to initiate it.

“Yeah…Xander called you captain peroxide…and boy did I get an ego boost…so many guys thinking nasty thoughts about me.” She cast a glance his way gauging his reaction. Jealous Spike? She questioned silently.

“I bloody well am not jealous Slayer!” Spike growled indignantly.

Buffy’s eyes grew wide. ‘How did you know what I…

“Cause you said it…” Spike turned to look into her eyes.

‘OHGODOHGOD. I know I didn’t say that out loud.’ Buffy shouted inside her own head. “Oh…please tell me it’s not happening again.” Buffy cried softly sinking to her knees.

“Buffy…S’not…I don’t think it’s those demon bloke’s…” Spike said softly sinking down to his knees beside her.

“Spike…I can’t…things I heard…I just can’t…” Buffy felt tears well up in her eyes and brushed impatiently at them.

“We need to find you’re watcher Luv…” Spike said grasping her hand and pulling her to her feet.

“He’s at home.” She said softly. Buffy didn’t pull her hand from his.

“‘Kay then let’s go…” He said softly pulling her behind him.

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“When the fire goes out, when the crystal turns black, the spell will be cast. Tabula rasa, tabula rasa, tabula rasa.” He murmured and smiled to himself. He placed the crystal in his pocket. He peered out the hotel window and glanced out into the inky black night. ‘This will teach that sodden pillock that he can’t keep Ripper hidden forever. Without his memories the magic should all come rushing back.’ Ethan waited silently for the fun to begin.

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“Ok…something really strange is going on…” Buffy said to the assembled group. She still clutched Spike’s hand possessively.

Willow and Xander sat on the couch sharing a bowl of popcorn and were staring at her as if she had two heads.

Willow was holding her stuffed bunny on her lap, so Anya decided to sit in the chair across the room.

Giles plunked down on the arm of Anya’s chair. “Buffy? Why on earth are you holding Spike’s hand?” Giles asked glaring at the bleached blonde vampire. ‘Don’t tell me Willow’s done another spell.’ He glanced quickly at Willow.

“I…Oh, well…” She dropped Spike’s hand like it was made of molten lava. “Giles…I can hear his thoughts…there’s some kind of connection.” Buffy said blanching at the hurt look in Spike’s expressive blue eyes as she dropped his hand.

‘Bloody hell…It’s ok for you to grasp some cold comfort when your friends aren’t around. But the instant they appear, it’s back to enemies? Fine then Slayer.’ Spike growled softly but remained by her side.

Spike please try to understand. I need their help with this…I can't just come right out and say we're together. Buffy pleaded silently. She looked into his eyes and saw her rejection reflected back at her.

“What kind of connection? It couldn’t be something else? Did you touch another demon?” Giles asked. ‘Please. Don’t let it be…’

“I…we’ve…I think…this is so hard…you don’t…you wouldn’t understand…” Buffy stammered. How am I supposed to make you understand when I don’t?’ She asked silently as she fell.

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Spike caught Buffy ash she fell into unconsciousness. Buffy? He questioned silently.

Spike closed his eyes his arms tight around her, and drifted into unconsciousness. He didn’t see the same fate befall the rest of the scoobies.

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Ethan smiled evilly to himself as he watched the crystal turn black.
’Let the fun begin.’

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Buffy slowly opened her eyes and blinked rapidly. She stood up, with a frown, waking Spike in the process. “You ok?” he asked, a frown marring his features.

Buffy bent and looked into Spikes eyes. ‘Are you my…are we…’

The others began to stir. Willow sat up. She glanced at the boy sprawled on the couch next to her. She gasped and jumped back.

Xander opened his eyes and looked into her startled green eyes. He let out a small gasp. They stared into each other’s eyes

Xander gave her a cheesy seductive grin. “Hey.” He said smiling.

“Hey?” Willow stammered uncertainly.

Anya awoke with a yawn. She glanced down at the head resting on her shoulder.

Giles lifted his head and to his horror realized he had drooled on her. He wiped ineffectually at her shoulder with his hand.

Anya was startled. She and Giles frowned at each other in confusion.

Buffy was the first to speak. “Who, who are you people?” She asked, mild panic registering in her voice.

Spike placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Don't worry Luv…We’ll figure it out.” He murmured. “I don't know anyone here either.”

“Yeah? Who are you?” She growled already leaning towards his touch. ‘This feels familiar. You feel familiar.’

“I, uh…” Spike was baffled. ‘I feel like I know you. Definitely want you. He shifted on his feet to accommodate his growing hardness. Spike couldn’t remember anything. .

Xander scrambled to his feet. “Okay, who are you freaks?” He questioned suspiciously.

“You don't know me?” Willow squeaked.

“Not a clue.” Xander shrugged.

“But you were just all like,” She posed as Xander “'oh, hey.'” She complained.

“Yeah, 'cause I thought you were a girl and I'd remember, but...”

Willow grabbed her breasts. “Well, I am a girl! I'm ... not sure ... who I am exactly, but...”

“Okay, why was I out cold? And why are you all staring at me? Is this some kind of psych test? Am I getting paid for this?” Hysteria was creeping into his voice.

Giles got wearily to his feet. “It's not just you. Does anyone remember anything?” He asked.

Everyone shook their heads negatively.

“Nope.” Spike murmured. ‘Not a bloody thing ‘cept those haunting hazel eyes.’

“Well, maybe we all got ... terribly drunk and this is some sort of, uh, blackout.” He said with a tentative smile.

“I-I don't see any booze. I don't feel any head bumps.” Anya looked around the room for signs of a party.

“Okay. I'm not panicking. I'm not. I'm not.” Xander looked up to see everyone staring. “Stop looking at me like I'm panicking!”

“Hey, hey, take it easy, guy. Okay, no one's hurt, right? And, and none of us look all hatchety-murdery, so ... we're probably safe. Here. Wherever here is.” Buffy said softly. ‘Maybe my boyfriend?’ She glanced at Spike and nearly missed the corners of his mouth as they twitched into a smile.

“We need to figure out who’s place this is…If maybe one of us lives here…” Willow said walking towards the kitchen. “Look at this stuff on these shelves. Weird jars of weird stuff.” Willow said glancing at the assembled jars on the counter.

Willow picked a slightly worn book up off the counter and read the cover ‘Magic for Beginners’ “Oh! This…Maybe something magic happened”

“Magic! Magic's all balderdash and chicanery. I'm afraid we don't know a bloody thing.” Giles scoffed. “Except I seem to be British, don't I? Uh, and a man. With ... glasses.” He removed his glasses from their perch on his nose. “Well, that narrows it down considerably.”

“I don't like this.” Buffy said tears forming behind her eyes. ‘I hate having these feelings and not knowing if they’re real.’

“It's okay, don't worry. We'll take care of each other.” Spike brushed a fallen lock of hair back behind Buffy’s ear. ‘Feels real to me.’ Buffy smiled a little.

“We'll all get our memory back, and it'll all be right as rain.” Giles stated.

“Oh, listen to Mary Poppins. He's got his crust all stiff and upper with that nancy-boy accent.” Everyone turned to look at him. “You Englishmen are always so...” He paused mid sentence. “Bloody hell!” He ticked off on his fingers. “Sodding, blimey, shagging, knickers, bollocks, oh God! I'm English!”

Giles placed his glasses back on his nose. “Welcome to the nancy tribe.” He said sarcastically.

“You don't suppose you and I ... we're not related, are we?” Spike asked incredulous.

“There is a ruggedly handsome resemblance.” Anya said looking back and forth between them.

Giles smiled at Anya with pleasure.

“And you do inspire a, um ... particular feeling of ... familiarity and ... disappointment.” Giles said glaring at Spike.

Spike walked up to Giles with a scowl. They looked at each other intently

“Older brother?” Giles asked hesitantly.

“Father.” Spike scoffed. “Oh, god, how I must hate you.”

“What did I do?” Giles asked outraged.

“There's always something, and what's with the trollop?” He asked pointing to Anya

“Hey!” She screeched indignantly.

“Her?” Giles questioned looking her up and down.

“I saw you! Sleeping together.”

“Resting together.” Giles clarified blushing.

“Look!” Anya held up her hand with the engagement ring. “It's okay. We're engaged.” She smiled happily looking dawn at the ring.

“Oh.”

“It's a lovely ring.” She said grinning at Giles.

“Oh, great, a tarty stepmom who's half old Daddy's age.”

“Tarty?” Anya asked unbelievingly.

“You little twerp, I'm young enough to still get carded.” Giles huffed.

“Carded! Driver's licenses!”

Everyone reached into their pockets and bags to dig out I.D.

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“I don’t have a wallet.” Buffy sighed.

“So you don't have a name?” Willow asked.

“Of course I do. I just don't happen to know it.” Buffy said softly

“You want me to name you?” Willow asked with a smile.

“Oh, that's sweet, but I think I can name myself.” She closed her eyes and thought about it. “I'll name me ... Joan.”

Spike made a face. “Ugh!”

“What? Did you just 'ugh' my name?” She accused.

“No! I just ... I mean, it's so blah. Joan?” He questioned. ‘Nothing plain about you!’


“I like it. I feel like a Joan.”

“Fine, that's your purgative.” Spike chuckled.

“Prerogative.” Buffy supplied.

“Whatever, Joan.” Spike said rolling his eyes.

“Whatever, yourself.” Buffy smiled.

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“..I'd wager.” Spike started but Buffy cut him off.

“Well, we need to figure out what's going on. We need to get help.”

“Looks like Joan fancies herself the boss.” Spike said coming to stand beside her.

“It’s just… we have no idea what's wrong with us. I think a hospital's our best bet.” She said looking into his eyes and smiling. “We could always…” She found herself being drawn to him. Buffy leaned in and kissed him gently.

Anya is fiddled with Giles clothing.

“Uh, yes, let's, um, let's head out.” Giles said softly, looking into Anya’s eyes.

They all walk towards the door. Xander offered Willow his arm, and after a moment she took it.

“I suggest we split up…we may have more luck that way…” Xander said, his arm flushed from where Willow was touching him.

‘Yeah. Alone is good.’ Buffy thought silently. She glanced at Spike and smiled softly at the reaction her thoughts provoked in the man she assumed was her boyfriend.

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Would you like more? Please let me know…My muse is trying to whisper more *already*. ;) Az