Spike's Return

Disclaimer: Thought I'd say again that I don't own any of the characters in this story, although given half the chance I'd love to own Spike - in more ways than one!

In this chapter: Angel comes to Sunnydale and Spike and Buffy finally prepare to join as one. Wish I could post full details, and I will soon. Please let me know what you think soon.


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e woe woke up the next night around sundown, which isn't unusual for a vampire, except that it wasn't the night that called him, it was Angel.

"Spike? Where are you going?" Buffy murmured unhappily as Spike slid her off him and slipped out of bed.

"Angel's here, he's waiting for me in the crypt. I'll be back soon luv!"

"No! Tell him to come here, if he wants to do this properly then no sneaking about. Promise me?" Buffy asserted herself both in wordsand through the claim. "Besides, I'm cold and need warming up!" She smiled at him cheekily.

"Luv......... I.......... stop that! I hear you loud and clear. But...... OK, you win. He can reach me through the bond, by I need to use the phone. Sire's getting presumptious in his old age." After a brief conversation with Angel Spike was starting to get impatient. He wanted to start the joining, especially as Buffy was thinking about all the things they could do together in twelve hours and was purposefully sending the images to Spike, giving him an innocent look that she know made him want to rip her clothes off.

"Buffy....... stop it! It'll be time soon enough, Angel's nearby. Lets go get some food, gonna need some fuel!" Spike gave her that grin that made her go weak, and took her hand to lead her downstairs.

Buffy took his hand, but before she stood up she gently pushed his index finger into her mouth and ran her tongue over the length of it. He visibly shuddered and before he had time to react she was up and standing in the doorway. "Spike? You coming?" Buffy said, smiling innocently despite the obvious inuendo, loving the effect she had on him.

"In a minute luvl, put some blood in for me? Need to calm down first!" Spike smirked, noticing skip as she laughed, going down the stairs two at a time.

Spike took a few deep breaths and then turned to the window.

"Sire!"

"Spike! Have you told her? Does she know what it means to be part of our family?" Angel knew what tonight would mean, but thought Spike would want to hold off telling Buffy everything. He was partly right.

"She knows what's involved in the joining, and accepts she will be a part of me forever, she's glad about it, but........ I haven't told her about the side effects the next day, I mean it might not even happen! I have a soul now to carry the screams of the people I've killed, there's no reason they should haunt her, even for that one hour!" Spike looked at Angel hopefully, not really expecting him to agree, but hoping he might offer some comfort or advice.

"Come to me childe!" Angel commanded, and invited Spike into his open arms for the comfort he sensed Spike craved. Spike went willingly and with a quick growl of permission, sunk his fangs into Angel's neck, sighing as his Sire's blood brought the calm he needed. As he released Spike Angel smiled at him indulgently, Spike smirked back "Knew you couldn't resist me peaches!" he crowed, ducking as Angel tried to grab him laughingly.

"Boys? Your blood's ready! Come down!" Buffy called up, making them grin.

They rushed down the stairs, almost leaping into the kitchen and drinking their blood down in one go before Angel turned to face her.

"How did you know I was here?"

Buffy just looked at him with a typical look of hers, a 'you have to be kidding' look. "Oh please! First, Slayer senses went all tingly, then I felt Spike go all humble... I just put two and two together and came up with..."

".... Deadboy! What you doing here?" Xander said, as he made a surprise entrance, neither Vampires' had even realised he was there, and neither had Buffy. Angel just rolled his eyes at Spike, making him smirk.

Xander turned his attention on his friend, not able to resist teasing her again. "Hey Buff! Nice to see you dressed at this time of night, well almost nice." Xander joked, pulling Buffy into a hug, exacting a warning growl from both Angel and Spike.

"What? Ok, ok..... No more comments about towels, and hands and...." Xander was enjoying winding Spike up but what he hadn't expected was the reaction it was having on the Vampires, they looked ready to tear his throat out.

"Ummmmm....... maybe you should just get Dawnie and go Xander? I'll see you tomorrow. Night." Buffy called after Xander's quickly retreating back as he rushed to get her sister.

To Spike and Angel she said "Ok, what was with the over-protective bit all of a sudden? It was only Xander, he's hugged me in front of both of you, loads of times! So? What gives?"

"Sorry Luv, it's the demon in us. Until the joining my demon won't like any male touching you in any way and, as head of the family, Angel's demon won't allow it either. It's ummmmm...... kind of like getting married...... speaking of w..........." Spike said, watching Buffy's face go from surprised to happy in seconds, then back to surprise as Spike sank to one knee. Angel couldn't help beam with pride at his Childe, he always was a romantic.

"Buffy, you have made me the happiest man that has ever walked the Earth. I have to pinch myself some mornings just to check I'm not dreaming and that a Goddess like you really loves me. Will you please make the impossible possible and make me even happier and consent to be my wife?" For the first time in his unlife, Spike was truly scared.

Buffy felt it, and couldn't believe it. He still thought she could say no to him, say no to spending the rest of her life with him? "Yes Spike, nothing would make me happier, I would love to be your wife!"

Spike slid a gorgeous diamond heart shaped ring on to her finger, before jumping up and whooping to the world. Then, remembering himself, he bent down to kiss her before turning to Angel, his head bowed until Angel smiled and murmered something in Vampiric to him. Spike looked up at his Sire and solemnly nodded before beaming proudly.

Buffy looked at the ring on her finger in awe, it was so beautiful! And so many diamonds! Buffy looked up at Spike, he was so sexy and wonderful and sexy.... wow did she love him. How could it of taken her so long to see the man he really was.

"You said sexy twice Slayer!" Spike said, raising an eyebrow at her as he caught her thoughts, laughing with Angel as she blushed, although Spik,e abrubtly stopped when he read how more than ready she was to begin the joining.

Luckily Dawn chose that moment to rush into the kitchen to say goodbye for the night.

"Buffy, I'm off, see you.... Wow, look at..... You're engaged? Yes! Tell me everything tomorrow. Bye Spike, bye Angel. Have a good night." Dawn hugged each one in succession, not even fazed by Angel's presence. She stopped at each one to add something privately.

She paused at Spike to whisper, so quietly that only Vamp hearing could pick it up, "About time! As much as I love you Spike, you hurt her and I'll stake you myself." Leaving a very solemn and surprised Spike she moved on to Angel.

Angel, who had heard everything the young woman had said, had picked up the tone behind the words and nodded his approval to her as she stood in front of him "We both would Dawn."

Then she finally reached Buffy, smiling as she saw her sister grinning from ear to ear. "Buffy, I am so happy for you! You're going to have a great life together. I love you both." Dawn said, hugging her sister again, before picking up her bag and walking out to a puzzled Xander, leading him out the front door.

The second the front door clicked shut Spike's and Buffy's eyes widened as they read the other loud and clear. Angel didn't need to be licked to them to know what they both wanted.

Desire was radiating off of Buffy in waves, so strong Angel and Spike had to take a deep, un-needed, breath. Spike was feeling exactly the same, and Angel realised if he didn't start the ritual soon they might start right there on the kitchen floor.


TBC....
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Author's note:

Hope you are enjoying so far, please feedback. I actually have the next 10 chapters all written out, just takes time to type them all up in spare time.

The next Chapter 'The Joining' is very explicit, just a warning to enjoy! hehehehe

Thanx