You Mean The World To Me

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Chapter Six & Seven

"Life is one fool thing after another whereas love is two fool things after each other." ~ Oscar Wilde

Chapter Six

***FLASHBACK***

"Are you serious?" He was shocked.

She moved away from his embrace. She was angry. "Forget it. I shouldn't have said anything." She was embarrassed.

He felt guilty. He hadn't meant to make her feel embarrassed. He rushed to her and grabbed her arm. "Don't go."

"I can find my way back."

"No, you can't. You can'td yod your way out of a paper bag with both ends open."

Her eyes widened. Dammit Spike, he berated himself, keep your bloody mouth shut.

"You're an ass!" She barked at him and started to leave again. He took her hand and brought her closer to him until she was back in his embrace. She stayed there, woodenly.

"It just surprised me is all. I mean, you're..." cautious Spike. If you let on too much, you'll freak her out. "Bloody gorgeous. How could you not have been kissed before?" And I'm glad, so glad. You're untouched.

He looked at her and cupped her face in his hands. She looked at him in shock this time. "You think I'm gorgeous?"

He nodded, smiling tenderly.

"It's not like I've really gone out all that much, ya know. I don't really get a chance to date. I seem to spend a lot of time with a certain vampire." She grinned at him.

He smiled and resisted the urge to kiss her right then and there. Everyday it was a little bit harder not to tell her he fell in love with her. Everyday it was a little bit harder not to give into his baser instincts and kiss her, hold her, love her wholly.

"So, you want me--to teach you?"

She nodded and then looked away, shyly. "I'll understand if you don't want to. I mean, I'm just a kid. You've been around, you--"

"I want to," he told her honestly, almost breathlessly.

She blinked. "You do?"

He nodded. More than aing.ing.

"Um, okay. S--so, what do I do?"

He was falling apart at the seams. He wanted to taste her so bad, he couldn't think straight. She was looking at him expectantly.

"Lick your lips," he instructed. He nearly groaned when her pink tongue came out and swept across her mouth. "Now, close your eyes."

She closed them and he marveled at how much she trusted him. She knew all his stories, knew all about his presoul days and she still trusted him with her life. He was humbled by her on a daily basis. Everytime she graced him with a smile, every time she wanted his company when it had nothing to do with vampires or demons, every time she made him part of her family. She was his heaven.

He pressed his lips to hers and she jumped a bit. He continued, stroking a hand down her arm to calm her nerves. She relaxed and followed his lead. He moved his lips against hers and she instinctively imitated the action. When he swept his tongue across her lips, she immediately opened her mouth and he swept inside. He pushed at her tongue and she withdrew it. He sought it out and she moved it away again. It was a duel with their mouths and Spike could feel himself grow more and more aroused as they continued. He knew he should stop, but he didn't want to. He couldn'tm tom to make himself. When she did, he would and not a moment before. She pulled back a second later, panting for air.

He watched her flushed cheeks and heaving chest and wondered how long until they could kiss again. He wanted to sink inside her and lose himself. If his heart was alive, it would leap out of his chest.

"Was I good?" She asked sheepishly.

He nodded, unable to find words.

"You mean that? You're not just saying it?"

He shook his head. "N--no. You're a natural."

She smiled wide then. "Thank you Spike."

She walked to his bike with a big smile on her face.

"Anytime," he mumbled.

***End Flashback***

Giles thoughtfully watched Buffy as she sipped her hot cocoa and ate her waffles. He'd been waiting up for her the night before, wondering what happened with her and Spike and found that she was not forthright in her answers.

"I know you're wondering if he bit me last night, Giles. He didn't." She said without looking up from her breakfast.

Giles cleared his throat. "I expect you would have been shouting from the rafters if he had." He attempted lightly.

She looked up at him then. "Are you angry with him Giles?"

Giles nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Why?"

"That's a silly question."

"You still trust him."

"I know he loves you. Despite how he did what he did, I know for him it was because he loves you."

"So, it's the fact that we didn't have an erotic experience before he claimed me that has you bothered."

Her bluntness shouldn't have shocked him, but it still managed to after all these years. He coughed and took off his glasses to clean them. She smiled at his reaction.

"Well, like I told you before, when a vampire claims a mate it's not on a whim, it's not to gain control. It's because they wholly love that person and want to spend their eternity with them. It's rare for a vampire to claim a mortal, but Spike is a rare vampire. Always has been, from what I understand. I presume that's why Whistler chose him to protect you. Whistler doesn't just choose anyone. He knew you and Spike would work well together, he saw something in both of you that would work well together."

"I'm sensing that there is more to this arrangement than Spike and I working well together. Giles...do you think Whistler wanted us to mate?"

Giles cleared his throat. "I wouldn't rule out the possibility."

"You know, you never really seemed all that surprised that he did it."

"I always had a feeling he would do it one day," Giles admitted softly.

She jumped up from her chair. "Why didn't you tell me? Warn me? Did you want him to do it?"

"I didn't have concrete proof that he would...what was I supposed to do? Deny his help to save your life based on my own feelings of mistrust? And no, I didn't want him to do it! Why would I want that?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry Giles, I've just been questioning a lot of things lately. Motives...life."

"You feel guilty about the Slayer?"

She rolled her and and hopped off her chair. She put her dish in the dishwasher and turned to him. "Is part of being British being psychic as well?"

Giles smiled. "I am psychic to an extent Buffy, you know that. Be that as it may, I also happen to know you well."

"Yeah, well, I'm working through the guilt."

"You can't be held responsible for what happened--"
WhatWhat protection spells were you able to put together last night?"

Giles stared at her. "I presume you're done talking about it then?"

"Yes, all done. All talked out about it. Spent the better half of last night talking about it with Spike. I should write an article. 'You know you're not normal when...' and at the top of the list will be 'you seek counsel from a vampire.'"

Giles grinned, "I rather think you should put 'you know a vampire' as number one."

Buffy laughed and Giles smiled widely. It was a sound he hadn't heard much in the past couple days. He'd missed it.

"I've been thinking I should go home today and protect the fam. Just need to know what kind of work we need to do."

"This house has been protected as well as the uh, 'fam'. The only work left to do is on you and Spike."

"And you, Giles."

"The house should suffice."

"You too, Giles." She insisted.

He shot her a quick smile and nodded briefly. "Yes, if you insist."

"I do."

"I suppose you should go home, however. Check in and let them all know you are in fact all in one piece."

"I know, I know, I know. I'm on the way. You don't mind, though, if I--"

"You can stay as long as you need, Buffy. You know that."

She smiled broadly. "Thanks, Giles." And with that she bounded off.

Spike was right in his assumption. He did love her with his whole heart and would do anything to protect her. The point of the matter was, however, Giles knew it was useless to hope and dream. Whether she knew it or not, she had always belonged to Spike and he had always belonged to her. When Spike accused him of loving her, he had at first felt frozen and outraged by his find. But, that had given way to acceptance and understanding. He accepted his place in her life and held onto it; it was the lot that had been carved out for him. It was fruitless to wish and want for more. He'd always be her mentor and friend, her spiritual advisor and a father figure. The only wish and want he had now was for the lost couple to make amends and do right by each other.

Chapter Seven

Buffy endured hours of her mother badgering her about her sudden departure, about Spike, about her safety, about Giles and whatever else she could come up with to complain about. After a while, she found it difficult to listen.

"Mom, I love you, but I have things to do."

"When am I going to see you again?"

"I don't know, mom. I'll be by in a few days." She stopped then. The Slayer must have said something along the same lines as she went out to slay. She turned to her mother then and hugged her, hard.

"I'm not Spike, honey, that hug hurts." Her mother complained.

"Sorry, mom." She looked at her mother. "Mom, I love you. You know that, right?"

"I do, honey. Are you sure you're all right? I've been so worried about you."

"I'm good mom, I really am."

"How's Spike? Has he been taking care of you?"

Buffy nodded, biting her lip.

"I worry about you with all the vampires and demons...I never know when and if you're going to come home in one piece."

"I know, mom. I promise not to worry you anymore. There is some work I have to do though. Just make sure you don't go out at night for a while okay?"

"Honey, what is going on?"

"I can't tell you, you know that. Just promise me okay?"

Her mother looked so sad and worn. "I promise."

She hugged her mother fiercely again and smiled encouragingly at her. "I love you mom. Just...remember that okay?"

"Honey you're scaring me," her mother looked about ready to cry.

"Everything is fine, I just think I don't say that enough." She tried to keep her tone light and smiled at her mother brightly. "I have to go now, mom. Spike must be getting ready to come look for me at Giles'."

"Okay, honey. Call me tomorrow."

"I will, mom."

Buffy let some of her tears flow after leaving her mother's house. She'd never taken the time to tell her mother how much she loved her in the past like that. It was scary what death threats made you think about what youe tae taking from granted.


********

Spike sighed heavily as he put on his duster. It was almost sundown, finally. He'd been climbing the walls all day. Not much on the telly, he'd read all his books and he'd done as much research he could on the new vampire gang. All the information given to him the day before, was all he had. In between all of that, he'd thought of nothing but Buffy. He could will her to come to him if he wanted to use the claim, but he knew she would not react kindly to that.

The night before had been a breakthrough for them and he felt their bond strengthen. She'd allowed him to be there for her, she'd released her fears and her anger and all he wanted to do was hold her until all the evils in the world went away. He'd spent a century with Dru and he'd never felt one ounce of what he felt for his beloved Buffy. He would literally die for her if she asked him to.

auseaused. She was close by. He could smell her coming. The distinct scent of raspberries and something uniquely her.

She knocked on his door. He had to smile. After everything they'd been through, she felt the need to knock.

"Come in, luv," he called out, a smile on his lips.

She opened the door and looked at him curiously. "Smell me again?"

He nodded and chuckled.

"Would you still know it was me if say, I didn't shower for a week and rolled around in the mud?"

He laughed, "I would still know it was you."

She plopped down on his couch. "I'm not going to lie to you, Spike. It's weird."

"You've been to your mothers?"

"Smell her on me did ya?"

He nodded. "How is she? I haven't stopped by since..." Since I made you mine, he thought.

She looked away from him and frowned for a minute. "She's fine. Worried about me, as usual. I hugged her a lot and told her I loved her."

He looked at herrnlyrnly. "You're not going to die, Buffy."

She looked up at him, "I know. Well, sort of. Anyway, Spike, I need you to train with me a bit." She stood and faced him. He studied her rosy cheeks and bright green eyes, her full lips and the small frame underneath her heavy coat. God, he loved her.

"Train? You mean, spar?"
"Yeah, that...plus, I was thinking we could take a walk in the cemetery together. Kill some vamps and whatnot. You could give me some pointers and help me hone my skills in sensing them. I can't use you anymore to train me on that." She let her voice trail off at the last sentence as she subconsciously rubbed her neck.

Right, the bite. "Have you been training at all, luv? Maybe we should warm up a bit before heading out?"

"I suppose. But, I don't really have a whole lot of time to 'warm up'. I trained a little when I was in London. Byron found a tae kwon do place--"

"Who?s Byron?"

"Oh, just some guy I met in London. He lived next door to me. He was very nice, very sweet."

Jealousy bubbled inside of Spike. "Oh really? So, that's why you didn't want old Spike interfering. Afraid I'd deter your precious Byron?" He sneered.

She wrapped her arms around herself and burrowed deeper into her turtleneck and he caught fear in her eyes. Beneath his jealous addled brain he cursed himself. She was afraid he'd bite her again.

"That's my cue to go," she murmured and scurried toward the door. He ran with lightening speed at her and she turned suddenly surprising him and sent her leg out in a roundhouse kick. It sent him flying across the room.


"Don't. Touch. Me." She told him through clenched teeth. He looked up at her in shock.

"Buffy, I wasn't going to bite you." He told her, getting to his fe

\

"Just in case you're thinking about it."

"I just wanted to talk to you."

"So then use your words, Spike. God, I feel like I'm talking to a toddler!" She shouted at him.

"I'm sorry," he said softly.

She folded her arms across her chest. "So, what did you want to say to me?"

That you belong to me. That Byron better be a faint memory. That I love you. Somehow he didn't think she'd go for any of that.

"I don't know anymore," he sighed.

"I'm ready to put this little incident behind us and move on to business." She told him and started for the door. She turned then and looked at him directly. "And not that it's any of your business, despite the claim, but Byron is a seventy-year-old sweet, old man. If you want to even try to get back in my good graces, you're going to have to learn to check your jealousy at the door."

"Luv?" He asked tentatively.

"Yes?"

"I think you've warmed up enough."

She bit back the ghost of a smile and Spike knew better than to let on he saw it. She turned on heel and walked out the door. Spike scrambled after her.

TBC.....