Spiked

Chapter 7 - Mission Accomplished


Angel was so angry he was half way down the hall before he realized he was naked. Cordy let him go. Wes grabbed Drusilla and pulled her to the side, a maniacal smile was on her lips, as if a well-laid plan had worked out perfectly. The two Spikes first looked at each other, then turned together to look at Baby. Identical blue eyes filled with confusion transforming into smoldering anger in only a few moments.

Before either of them could say a word, Baby stepped toward them, vindictiveness reflecting in her eyes. "Now, the question is, gentlemen" she spat out the last word condescendingly, "which of you wants her?" Her eyes were a challenge to her Spike, a last test that he wouldn't falter seeing his precious Slayer bound, gagged, and branded like a slave for the master.

Baby's Spike went toward her, flashing anger, the younger Spike headed back toward the bed to free Buffy. Cordelia stepped in to stop both.

"Back off, you two," she said authoritatively. She shot Baby a look which said she'd spoken out of turn, then proceeded. "She's not here as a sacrifice, though the thought did cross my mind, nor is she some prize to be won. She's here because we want to know what YOU want." She looked directly at the younger Spike. "And if you want her, why do you want her? For what purpose?" "If you just want her for sex, like it's always been with you two, then fine, have her here and now and keep her as you wish. We can fix it so that she is your obedient little Buffy slave. When you're through with her, we'll give her to the childer to eat." Spike visibly cringed.

She steadied herself a bit more, her resolve beginning to weaken a little. "If you want more from her, then it is your call what we do with her now. She has no idea what has gone on here, she was drugged before she even saw us. The bindings and the gag are for show, she's not going anywhere for a few hours at least."

Spike sat down next to Buffy, listening, gently touching the fresh tattoo on her rump with one hand, a handful of her blonde hair in the other. He was suddenly filled with sorrow. After an afternoon of acceptance and love from his brothers, he was now slapped in the face with the creature who had made him into a simpering fool for well over a year. She was his weakness, his Achilles' heel. And she was the one thing he wanted most for his own to love for all time. And yet, over and over again, she had demonstrated to him that she would never allow it. He looked up at Cordelia, tears stinging his eyes.

As he gazed at her, Angel returned, still seething with anger, but at least wearing pants. He bolstered himself up to growl at Cordelia, but she cut him off. "Don't, Angel!" Her expression said she meant it. "Don't even start. This has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them." She tossed her head toward both Spikes, though from the kissing and groping Baby was getting that was obviously already a settled matter.

She approached her husband lovingly, a soft tone in her voice, and she gently placed her palm on his chest just over his unbeating heart. "This is for Spike to decide, my love. He cannot go forward in his life, nor can we help him any further, until he makes this decision. Does he WANT her or does he LOVE her? How much of his life does he want to waste waiting for her to give herself to him instead of only giving him the empty flesh of her body with no heart beneath it?"

Angel looked at Cordelia as if he were looking at her for the first time. "I know the choice I'd make if someone were asking me about you." He took her in his arms and kissed her hard and deep, almost stealing the life from her. He whispered, only to her, "I'd want all of you, for all time, and no amount of time waiting or begging or proving myself to you would be too much."

Cordy looked up at him, filled with love, her voice as soft as his, "And that is what Spike must decide for himself. Is there a long enough? Is there a too much? Will he ever be satisfied without all of her? Can he continue as her sex toy and whipping boy? Is he willing to 'settle' for less than he wants and deserves?"

"No, it's not enough, Cordelia." Spike stood next to the unconscious form, his hand still in her hair. "I've professed my true love to her until I'm hoarse from it. She won't have me. I'd give anything in the world to have her. Anything. But not like this. Not in deception and drugs and holding her against her will. If she doesn't want me in return, it's empty. I don't want it. Unless she comes to me wanting me, all of me, demon and all, then I want no part of her. She's worth waiting for, but I won't be kicked around anymore. I won't be," he cringed a little, "the convenient fuck anymore. I'm worth more than that, if not to her, then to myself." He stood there, confidently, a man once more. The carefully woven tapestry of love and acceptance the Scourge had brought with them had worked the needed magic. He'd found his own worth. Thank God. It had worked.

The room was silent for a long while, everyone's focus on the younger Spike. He raised his chin a notch, acknowleding everything, then his expression changed. He turned suddenly toward Buffy, then snapped his head back at Cordelia. "Cordy, she's not breathing and there's no heartbeat. What did you do to her?"

Baby stepped in, a touch of laughter in her voice. "All we did was brand her with the tattoo, actually, which was damned hard to do, her skin is so fucking tough. I don't know what the hell kind of skin he used, but it was a mother-fucker to brand."

He looked at Cordelia again, puzzled, and she smiled at him.

Clarity. "How did you find the bot?"

"Willow. We told her what was going on. She helped. It's mostly hollow and completely non-functional, but she had it stored in the basement in case there was ever a use for it." She smiled to her sisters. "We found one." She gave a smile to Spike, filled with love and sincerity.

Spike himself was stunned. Look what they had done, what efforts they had gone to for him, to make him see what he was, what he is, and what he can be. He felt stronger than he had in over a hundred years, all because of a cosmic accident of dimensions. He could never repay this. He knew he'd never have to.

He looked at the three couples tangled in each other, the boys looking at the girls as if they were the most clever and precious beings in the universe ... because to them, they were. Each was so full of love and worship for the other, belonging to each other, and he knew that's what he wanted, and that's what he deserved. And he would have it. Somehow.

The family of vampires, demons, and humans approached him as one, now, embracing him and kissing him, acknowledging that whatever path he chose now, they would always love and accept him. Drusilla caressed his sweet face and tucked herself under his right arm, whispering to him softly. Baby stood in front of him, nuzzled his neck and rested her hand on his cool, bare chest, Angel stood to the left behind him, one hand on Cordelia's arse, the other on Spike's, Cordy rested her head on Spike's shoulder, her warm breath tickling his neck and raising goose flesh. Wesley stood just behind him on the right, one arm around Drusilla's corseted waist and his free hand gently rubbing Spike's lower back, occasionally slipping a finger down to tease his opening. Finally, his twin, his other self stood before him.

Two pair of the bluest eyes you've ever seen stared into each other with love and appreciation. They had both learned so much from the other about cou could have been, what should be, and what could be. The older Spike knew he'd never let Baby go, never give her any reason to think he didn't love her with every ounce of his being. The younger Spike learned what could be possible for him if he but asked for it. He learned he was not a monster, that he belonged, and that he was worthy to have so much love in his unlife. Baby's Spike moved closer and placed a firm, lingering kiss on the younger man's lips, slipping his hand down Spike's abdomen, and letting it rest there affectionately. It was a profound moment for them all ... a moment which quickly dissolved into another three to four hours of uninterrupted intimacy.

Spike found his home, his grounding, and from this moment on, no matter where he was, what dimension, what city, what world, he would always know the feeling of belonging he felt right this moment. It would be a part of him, inseparable from him, a solidified portion of his heart for all time. Accepted. Loved. Always.

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Fin

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