Loose ends.

Chapter 8


“Not dust so not dead… Not dust so not dead… Not dust so not dead…” The murmured chant gradually penetrated Spike’s thoughts as he became aware of the fact he was sucking something. Something that tasted very powerful. Intoxicating. Comforting. He rasped his rough tongue over the flesh being held against his mouth and sucked harder. The chant broke off and he heard a muffled sob. Frowning in puzzlement he opened his eyes and sank into twin pools of misty green. It took him a few seconds to come to his senses and then his eyes widened in realisation. His demon willingly subsided and he stopped sucking. Spike gently brushed his tongue over the cut on Buffy’s wrist to seal it, then kissed it tenderly as he released it.

“Buffy.” He breathed. “You came.”

“Idiot vampire. Of course I came.” Buffy sobbed. “I’ll always come for you.”

Spike lifted one shaking hand to cup her cheek, his chains clanking at his movement. “Don’t cry darlin’. Can’t stand it when you cry.”

Buffy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Right.” She said in a quavering voice, “’Cos there’s no need to cry when I think I’m gonna lose the man I love… no need at all.”

Spike smiled up at her and whispered, “Told you Buffy, never gonna leave you. Can’t get rid of me that easily.”

Buffy snorted, sniffed, then after wiping her damp cheeks with her fingers she bent down to brush his lips with hers. Turning away she said, “Giles, he needs blood, lots of blood before he has Tara’s potion. How much longer…?”

Spike looked past Buffy and saw a crossbow wielding Giles standing by the door, with a fierce looking Anya and a glowering Xander beside him both armed with stakes. Giles asked, “Xander? The coolbox from the car please. See if you can find some way to warm up some blood for Spike. You’d better keep it coming until Buffy says it’s enough.” As Xander muttered sulkily and ducked out of the room the Watcher turned back towards the bed. “Tara and Dawn took Willow to the hospital, they should be back shortly.”

Spike struggled to sit up. “Red’s hurt?”

Buffy gently restrained him. “Relax, It’s nothing serious. She’s a bit bruised and I think her shoulder’s dislocated. Don’t worry, Willow’s tough, she’ll be fine.”

Realising that even if he hadn’t been chained to the bed there would be nothing he could do, Spike reluctantly lay back, wincing as a bite on his side reopened.

Giles asked, “Spike? Do you happen to know where the keys to your manacles are?”

Spike looked over to the corner where he had last seen Drusilla. She was gone. Frowning he muttered, “Dru… where’s Dru?” When he saw Buffy’s hurt expression and felt a quick flash of her jealousy he quickly added, “Nathan said she had the only key.”

Giles turned to Anya. “Anya… please could you? I believe that you’ll find that young Nathan is tending her in her room.” Anya nodded and slipped out of the room.

Buffy smiled down at Spike. “Nathan is very sweet isn’t he? He’s really come through for us. He brought Xander back to us, and then he joined in to help dust the minions when we attacked. I think he’s earned his chance, don’t you?”

Spike nodded “Yeah, the boy’s a good’un.” Surprised, he asked, “You didn’t dust Dru then?”

“No Spike, I didn’t dust her.” Buffy assured him gently. “I couldn’t. She’s so broken the poor thing. She’s safe for now, but we’re going to have to do something with her soon. I’ve had an idea for her, but I need to think about it for a while. I can’t just let her go. You do realise that don’t you?”

Spike sighed. “Yeah… s’pose so.” He smiled sadly, “The last thing she said… she said I was never her dark knight, that I was always waiting to become your pale knight. Then she made me promise to care for you like I’d cared for her. Then she… she… well... Then she wasn’t really in there any more.”

“Oh Spike…” Buffy stroked is cheek tenderly. “I’m so sorry…”

He abruptly realised he had important information that needed to be passed on quickly before he lost his nerve. “Slayer…”

Buffy interrupted, “Oh… this doesn’t sound good. Why have I suddenly gone from being Buffy and darlin’ to being Slayer?”

“S’important Slayer darlin’. Watcher? Gotta listen.”

Buffy sat up straight on the edge of the bed. “Okay… I’m all SlayerBuffy. Listening now.” Giles just nodded.

Spike took a deep breath, tensed up and closed his eyes. “The chip. I think… No I’m sure. They took the chip out.” He waited for the horrified exclamations to begin.

There was a soft, slightly surprised, “Oh!” from Buffy.

Giles stunned Spike by very calmly asking, “Are you absolutely certain Spike?”

He opened his eyes again and looked from one understanding face to the other. Not having received the shocked reaction he expected Spike gave a mental shrug and asked, “Did you come across a dumpy little woman in the mansion? Short black hair, grey business suit?” When Buffy and Giles exchanged looks and shook their heads Spike added, “Consuelo’s her name. Need to find her if you can, she’s got lots of questions to answer… she’s soddin’ Initiative. She said they’d been ‘observing’ me. They’ve just been in town for a couple of weeks and I haven’t been here most of the time, but they must have seen me with you since we got back from LA, Slayer.”

Buffy breathed, “Oh… Oh God!”

“She said there were three of them. Dru killed the other two and turned Consuelo to do the chip. Seems she thought that with it gone you’d decide to dust me and I’d kill you to stop you.”

Buffy sighed, “You know the sad thing? A few weeks ago I’d probably have thought I should.” She bent and kissed him again. “Never happen now though…”

Giles frowned, “I’ll go and ask the others if they remember seeing her.”

Before he could leave the room Buffy held out a hand to stop him. “Giles! Don’t say anything to the others about the chip until we’re sure… please?”

Spike suggested, “Cm’ere Watcher, let’s see if I can hurt you without getting a bloody headache. That’d be the easiest way to test it.”

Giles chuckled, “You couldn’t hurt a kitten at the moment Spike.”

Spike smirked. “Dunno about that Rupert.” He vamped out. “I’m a tad peckish just now.”

“Oh dear Lord.” Giles murmured.

“You know he won’t really hurt you Giles.” Buffy protested. “Hello... Slayer sitting right here!”

Giles hesitantly approached the bed, pushed his sleeve up and nervously held his wrist by Spike’s mouth. Grinning, Spike raised his hand to hold it… and proceeded to give the loose flesh of Giles’ wrist a hard pinch. The Watcher yelped and jumped back as Buffy giggled and Spike gave a wicked chuckle and taunted him, “Gotcha!” Resuming his human appearance he nodded. “Right, no headache. Not a twinge. Chip’s really gone then.”

Buffy began chewing her bottom lip. She regarded her Watcher anxiously. “Giles, we can’t tell them… they’ll freak!”

Spike shook his head. “No Slayer, can’t agree with you there. There’ve been far too many secrets around here lately. They always get out and it’s always bad. We’ve gotta tell Niblet and Red at least. They’ve got a right to know the vampire that has an all access pass to their home isn’t fangless any more.”

Gilles removed his glasses for a polish. “I can’t believe I’m saying this… but I’m afraid I have to agree with Spike, Buffy. It’s only fair they should be allowed to decide if they trust him sufficiently to share a house with him now he’s free to hurt them again.”

“Never would though.” Spike declared with a worried frown as he sank back into the pillows, all the strength given him by his Slayer’s blood used up. “You get that… right?”

“Of course we do.” Buffy assured him, glaring at Giles fiercely as if daring him to disagree. Hearing Anya and Xander approaching while having an argument about something he had said, she hurriedly whispered, “We’ll talk more about this later…”

Spike was soon released from his manacles and was busy emptying the first two mugs of warm blood Xander had brought. The young man stood by the bed glaring down at him. “You bit me.” He accused angrily, holding out his bandaged wrist while fingering the stake in his jacket pocket with his other hand.

“Yeah.” Spike grinned and waggled his eyebrows mischievously. “Nummy treat.”

“You bit me!” Xander repeated.

“And you’re still alive aren’t you?” Spike reminded him.

“I can’t believe you really bit me!” Xander didn’t seem to be able to get past that simple fact.

“And I’m beginning to regret it, believe me!” Spike retorted impatiently. He asked, “Would you have preferred the alternative?”

“Alternative?” Anya asked sharply. “There was an alternative? Xander! You didn’t say anything about…”

Xander’s face suddenly took on a rather sheepish expression. “Ah… well… there may have been some mention of throwing me to the minions…”

“Yeah.” Spike smirked and cocked his head to one side, peering up at Xander quizzically, “I’m sure you would have preferred being the guest of honour at a blood orgy for twenty odd minions to giving the Big Bad a little nibble.” He shrugged dismissively, “Of course then you wouldn’t have lived to tell the tale...” Finishing the second mug of blood he shuddered slightly and made a face at the unpleasant taste. “Ugh… gonna have to start carrying some chocolate or mints or something around with me.”

Xander and Anya left the room with the empty mugs with Anya loudly berating Xander for misleading her about Spike’s actions. She seemed very angry that all he had been able to concentrate on was the fact that Spike had bitten him, leaving out the fact that the vampire’s only intention had been to save his life.

Spike looked up at Giles, expecting him to begin his own tirade against his behaviour, but found nothing but acceptance on the Watcher’s face. “Don’t worry Spike.” He assured the vampire. “Nathan explained what happened. While Xander might not be showing the appropriate amount of gratitude we all appreciate what you did for him.” He then realised he’d been distracted from his earlier purpose and muttered, “Oh yes, I must just go and see about that Initiative woman…” He raised the crossbow again and looked around anxiously as he left the room.

Left alone for a few minutes Spike and Buffy were able to take a little time for themselves. Spike turned to her as she sat on the bed beside him and commented, “You look tired darlin’, why not lie down here for a bit.”

Buffy curled up beside him, keeping tight hold of his right hand with both of hers. “I was worried about you, you stupid vampire. Besides, I’ve got used to you being there when I go to sleep and when I wake up. The bed was too big without you so I couldn’t sleep, except when Giles slipped me a couple of sleeping tablets after telling me they were aspirin.”

Spike chuckled. “Sneaky Watcher.” After a few seconds of just drinking in the weary face beside him he asked, “So... what’s been going on back at the ranch then?”

Buffy smiled as she toyed with his hand. “Let’s see… Giles has rented number 1601, he’s moving in on Saturday. Willow and Tara are all made up and back together. They’re happy and giddy and Tara will be moving back into the house over the weekend. Dawn got a B+ for her Shakespeare essay… oh and my portal necklace has arrived. Dawn’s been polishing it up for me, it’s beautiful!” She sighed sadly. “Spike, I think Xander and Anya are in real trouble. They’re either not talking at all or they’re yelling at each other… it’s so not pretty.” She paused, interrupted by a wide yawn. “Oh dear… sorry about that.” She snuggled down into the pillows, resting her cheek against an uninjured part of Spike’s right arm. “Oh and I saw Willy. He says that Riley went in and asked him about that Doctor guy but Willy didn’t know anything, although he did see Riley talking to a weaselly little Chinese guy for a while. Willy hadn’t seen him before.”

Spike asked, “Hasn’t the Utariel demon I had the deal with been around at all? I would’a thought he’d be pissed off about losing his merchandise”

“No, no sign of him.” Buffy nuzzled against him and continued sleepily, “Nobody knew anything about the Suvolte demon either. Willy told me everyone says it just seemed to appear out of thin air in the middle of town. I asked him to keep his ears open about the eggs, ‘cos if they’re really here they’ll be hatching soon.” Buffy’s eyes drifted closed and Spike gently brushed a wisp of hair off her forehead before settling down to watch her sleep. He would have been content to watch her for the rest of his unlife.

When Xander appeared with two more mugs of warmed blood, Spike gestured for quiet with his finger to his lips and pointed to the sleeping Slayer. The young man nodded and smiled, then whispered, “She’s exhausted. When she’s worried she doesn’t sleep and she doesn’t eat… except that apparently shortly before Deadboy mark three delivered me she raided the freezer and ate all the ice-cream in there and topped it off with half a chocolate gateau. When she hasn’t been planning your rescue and threatening to stake you if you were dusted before she could get to you, she’s been sorting out her bedroom…” Rolling his eyes impatiently he corrected himself, “…or I suppose I should say your bedroom.” Looking very anxious suddenly, he quickly added, “I didn’t tell you that… right? She wants to surprise you.”

Spike nodded. “I’ll make a note to be suitably surprised.” As he drank he gestured to Xander’s bruised face. “That looks painful. How’s the head?”

Xander shrugged. “It’s a bit sore, but compared to you I’m just fine.” He made a disgusted face. “I’ve never seen anything like it… your burns… what did that?”

Spike closed his eyes and winced briefly as he remembered. “Dru was playing with Holy Water… not my favourite game.”

Shuddering, Xander murmured, “I can imagine.” Then he held up the empty mugs and asked “More?”

Spike nodded. “Just a couple more I think, I can feel the healing beginning now.”

Xander went to leave. “I’ll be back in a minute. Tara’s on her way so you’ll have the potion soon.” Spike was surprised to hear that he sounded genuinely sympathetic. Just as he got to the door Xander turned back. He stood and looked at Spike for a long moment then nodded as if to himself. “You saved my life. I’m not happy about the way you did it, and if you ever tell anyone I said this I’ll deny it, but thank you.”

Taken completely aback, Spike automatically reverted to the correct form of manners his mother had taught him so long ago and murmured, “You’re welcome.”

As Xander retreated down the passage back to the kitchen Spike could hear him muttering to himself, “I just can’t believe it. There I was, going against everything I believe in and risking my precious hide to save an evil vampire. Then said evil vampire decided to bite me, but then what did he do? Did he kill me? No of course he didn’t. He teamed up with yet another evil vampire and together they saved my life. Life just can’t get any freakier…”

A few minutes later as Spike was finishing another two mugs of blood and beginning to feel slightly bloated, he heard the sound of many feet approaching, accompanied by an animated discussion. The loudest voice belonged to Dawn. She was protesting sulkily, “Well I didn’t know did I? It’s not as if she had a sign hung around her neck – ‘Don’t dust me ‘cos I know stuff.’ – is it? It’s so not my fault!”

Giles’ weary voice responded. “Of course it’s not your fault Dawn, you did very well. In fact I’m impressed by your skill with the crossbow. It’s merely unfortunate that we won’t be able to question her further.”

Spike began reciting in his head every swearword he had ever heard at this revelation, while listening to the quieter tones of Willow and Tara discussing the Vampire Healing Potion. They were agreeing that in the future they should have an ample supply of the herb mixture prepared ready to be mixed with blood and charmed just in case of emergencies. Spike was astonished that they were discussing taking long-range measures… simply to help him! He realised that those two young women were almost as special to him as Buffy and Dawn.

He looked up at Xander who was holding the empty mugs and quietly said, “Dawn’s coming… I’d rather she didn’t see me like this.” He gestured at his bitten burned and bloody condition and the stained bedclothes.

Xander nodded in agreement. “Yeah, you’re right... I’ll head her off at the pass.” He left the room and Spike could hear him intercepting the arriving group. “Dawnie, come and help me look for Spike’s clothes? I dread to think what he’ll do if we can’t find that precious coat of his…” Their voices faded back into the distance as Giles and the two witches appeared in the doorway. Giles still clutched his crossbow, Willow was looking rather pale and was cradling her left arm which was in a sling, and Tara was holding yet another mug.

Spike gently nudged Buffy to wake her, but the only reaction he got was a soft snort and a little wriggle before she smacked her lips and nuzzled closer against him, flinging an arm over his waist before she subsided even deeper into slumber. He looked up to meet the amused glances directed at them and shrugged with a quiet chuckle.

Willow smiled, “She’s well away… We’ve seen this before Spike. When Buffy’s worried she can’t sleep… and she was very worried about you. Now the fight is over and we’ve got you back I don’t think she would wake for anything less than an apocalypse.”

Giles asked, “Have you had enough blood to take the potion now Spike? I’d really like to get out of the mansion as soon as possible.” He shuddered slightly and Spike realised that the watcher would also have unpleasant memories of the building, from when he was captured and tortured by Angelus.

“Yeah, I’m ready Rupert. Couldn’t agree with you more, hate the place.” Tara hesitantly came forward to pass him the mug, wincing when she took in the injuries evident upon Spike’s exposed neck and chest. Before taking it from her Spike quickly grasped Tara’s free hand, holding it firmly but gently. He looked up at her and declared quietly. “Thanks petal. Anything I can do for you… anything at all… just ask… okay?” He kissed the hand before releasing it to take the mug, and was charmed by the blush that flooded the shy Wicca’s face.

Tara nodded and murmured something incomprehensible even to Spike’s sensitive vampire hearing, ducking her head forward so her hair drifted across her face. She quickly retreated to the doorway and wrapped her arm protectively around Willow, darting embarrassed glances back at him. This prompted him to smirk and waggle his eyebrows at her suggestively which caused her to giggle and dare to wink back at him.

“Right then.” Spike said, looking down into the dark red liquid flecked with little green specks. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, then drained the mug in one draught, wrinkling his nose at the medicinal taste. He lay back into the pillows and waited for the potion to take effect.

The first time he had unsuspectingly taken the potion Spike had been so surprised by the instant healing effect he hadn’t paid attention to anything other than the visible evidence of the physical process taking place. This time he concentrated on the sensations he was experiencing and noticed a slight tingling all over his body. His entire back itched briefly as the skin healed over. He experienced a fiery twinge in the top of his head as the area where the chip had been disturbed was fixed. The burns down the front of his body from neck to toes made him shiver as if chilled as the flesh filled out and shrugged off its charred surface and the bites on his neck chest and abdomen stung as they closed.

After just a couple of minutes he gave a massive sigh and stretched luxuriously, relaxing and revelling in a free floating feeling as all the pain melted away. He took care not to disturb Buffy as he moved, but she still gave a quiet moan and sighed as the little frown that had creased her brow since she had arrived disappeared. His hand went straight to his neck to check whether Drusilla had succeeded in burning away Buffy’s mark. He sagged in relief when he felt a pleasant thrill from the little raised scar. It had withstood both the acidic action of the Holy Water and the healing properties of the potion.

Spike looked up to see the fascinated expression on the Watcher’s face as he witnessed the potion at work for the second time, then he turned his attention to the two witches beside him. Willow was staring at him wide-eyed, while an astonished Tara was holding her breath with a hand over her gaping mouth. Willow was the first to speak. “Girl, you’re good!” She breathed to her lover. “Now that’s what I call magic!”

Tara gasped in delight and chuckled “Oh yeah… I’m good!” She stepped back up to the bed and tentatively reached out a shaking hand. “Would you mind?” She asked, looking into Spike’s amused eyes. Receiving a nod of permission she gently brushed her fingers over the spot on his chest where there had been a particularly deep bite. A thin crust of dried blood gave way at her touch, exposing perfectly clear white skin beneath. “Wow!” She whispered, “It really does work!”

“Excellent Tara.” Giles said, smiling warmly. “You should be very proud of yourself. Now if we can just find Spike some clothes..."

Willow gabbled, “Clothes… oh yes… um… so we’ll just leave you to... um…” Giggling excitedly, the two girls turned and left the room, cheerfully discussing whether it would be possible to adjust the formula of the charm to make a similarly potent potion to heal human injuries.

While they waited for Xander to reappear with something for Spike to wear Giles sat heavily in a chair beside the bed and tossed Spike a packet of breath mints. As the vampire gratefully slipped a couple into his mouth he asked warily, “So you’re not going to stake me now the chip’s out then?”

Giles regarded him seriously, saying, “I have to admit it was my initial impulse, but after seeing how distressed Buffy was when you were taken captive I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for her sake. I’m quite prepared to do it should you ever prove to be a danger to her or anyone else, you do realise that don’t you?”

Spike nodded. “Yeah, I know. Wouldn’t expect anything different.”

After a slightly awkward silence Giles looked around and muttered wearily, “I wish I had the balls to burn this place to the ground. I can’t think of a single good thing that has ever happened here.” He turned to Spike with a mischievous twitching at the corner of his mouth. “Do you think Angel would mind?”

Spike shrugged. “Don’t see what it’s got to do with him Rupert. As far as I know he just wandered in here one day when he was all Angelus and decided to take the place over. I think we were only ever squatting. No idea who the real owner is!”

The two Brits were exchanging conspiratorial smirks when Xander arrived bearing Spike’s leather duster. “Well we found this in one of the minions’ bedrooms Spike,” He said. “But there was no sign of your other stuff, not even your boots. He produced a pair of grubby grey sweatpants. “I found these, I suppose they’ll do to keep you decent until you get home.”

Grunting his thanks Spike slid out of the bed leaving a rusty brown crust in the shape of his bloody back on the sheet. He drew on the overlarge sweatpants that hung low on his hips, then pulled on his duster to cover them. He turned back to the bed and tenderly gathered up the sleeping form of his Slayer into his arms.

As they passed through the main body of the mansion they came across a very nervous Nathan. Leaving the humans to go on ahead, Spike paused to speak to him. “You’ve done really well Nathan lad. Keep an eye on Drusilla for us would you? Make sure she eats something… something non-human that is. We’ll let you know in a day or two what’s going to become of her, then we can begin making some sort of arrangements for you.”

Almost collapsing with relief, the young Aurelian nodded and disappeared back into the master bedroom from where Spike could hear his Sire singing quietly to herself. Resisting the urge to go and see her once more he followed the others out into the parking area where Dawn rushed up to him squealing happily until she was shushed from all sides so as not to wake her sister. Rolling her eyes impatiently she stage-whispered, “I don’t know what you’re all fussing about. She wouldn’t wake up if a nuclear bomb went off in the next street!” Under cover of giving Spike a brief hug she took something from the pocket of her jeans and showed him the little ring box, then slipped it into the pocket of his duster. Spike winked at her in thanks.

When they arrived back at Revello Drive Xander and Anya switched to Xander’s car and drove off into the night, squabbling loudly yet again, while everyone else piled into the Summers house. Catching the two witches as they were on the point of disappearing upstairs Spike quietly asked them to join him in the living room for a few minutes. Giles gave him a meaningful look. “Are you sure about this Spike? Buffy said…”

“Needs to be done Watcher, it’s only fair. Buffy will see that when she’s had time to think about it.”

Nodding in agreement, Giles ushered Dawn Willow and Tara in front of him. Apart from Giles who collapsed onto the couch looking really exhausted as he took his glasses off to polish them, they stood around looking at Spike expectantly as he stood in the doorway, still cradling Buffy against his chest.

Taking a deep breath Spike looked around at the three young women and took a leap of faith. “There’s something you all need to know. I don’t know… that is… if you want me to…” He sighed and rolled his eyes impatiently. “Oh bloody hell. Gotta tell you. The chip’s out. Need you to decide if you trust me or if you wanna stake me.” He dropped his eyes and mumbled awkwardly. “Promise I’ll never hurt you… it’s for you to decide if you believe me…”

Dawn was the first to react. She rushed over to hug him, careful not to jog Buffy. “And about time too!” She cried. “Oh that’s wonderful Spike, now you can really be my Protector all the time without having to carry the scary sword around in case of human baddies attacking!” She grinned happily and turned to Giles asking, “It is good isn’t it?” Suddenly not quite as confident she added, “Oh… Xander had better not decide to stake him…” She turned back to Spike. “I know he’ll be a pain, but now you can thump him without getting a headache… you won’t eat him will you?”

Spike chuckled, “No Niblet, I won’t eat him. I won’t promise not to thump him when he asks for it though.” He turned to where Willow and Tara stood. “Ladies? Should I leave so you can do a disinvite or are you okay with this?”

As if she were speaking her thoughts aloud Willow answered, “Well Spike, I still haven’t forgotten the bottle in face incident... and the threatening to turn me incident... and the thing with Adam. But then I can’t help remembering the helping us save the world from Glory, and the working with us all last summer and taking care of Dawn. Lately there’s been the thing with the magic withdrawal, and the saving of my life in LA, and then of course there was the not biting me when you could have incident. They all sort of cancel the bad things out… and of course Buffy trusts you and I trust Buffy. So I guess what I’m saying is that I’m not gonna start wigging out unless you do something really wiggy…”

There were smiles all round as Willow’s babbling finally ran down, then Tara quietly added, “It was very brave of you to tell us Spike. I didn’t know you when you were being all evil but I know you’ve changed just in the time I’ve known you, and I can see how much you love Buffy. I know you won’t hurt any of us as it would hurt Buffy too. Don’t worry, I trust you.”

Spike closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. He couldn’t believe how accepting they were being. He opened his eyes and spoke hoarsely, “Thank you… I… You dunno how much this means to me…”

Seeing how emotional Spike was becoming Dawn jumped in and took charge of the proceedings. “Giles, you look really tired. I’ll make up the couch for you so you can sleep here. Spike? You go and take Buffy to bed and have a shower. You’re all covered with yukky blood!”

Smiling gratefully at Dawn Spike took Buffy upstairs to their room, coming to a sudden stunned halt at the open door. He had registered a strange smell since arriving at the house, and now he knew what it was. The room had been transformed. The pastel striped wallpaper and the boy band posters had vanished. The walls were now painted a rich buttery cream. Deep indigo blue blackout blinds and curtains covered the windows, and there was silky cream and indigo bedding on the huge four-poster that now dominated the centre of the room.

Sensing someone at his shoulder Spike turned to see three hovering young women all grinning as they waited for his reaction. He grinned back at them. “Very nice,” He commented. “Very elegant.”

“We all helped.” Dawn told him excitedly. “Buffy did most of it ‘cos she couldn’t sleep. Xander and Clem brought the bed and Giles helped them put it together. Tara and Willow did the curtains and blinds and I helped with the painting. You really like it?”

Spike nodded. “I really do Niblet.” He moved over to the bed and Dawn dodged in front of him to turn back the covers so he could lay Buffy down. Dawn hovered for a moment then shepherded Willow and Tara out of the door and closed it leaving quiet ‘goodnights’ hanging in the air behind them.

Spike carefully undressed Buffy and slipped the warm ‘yummy sushi’ pyjamas he found under her pillow onto her unresisting figure. He drew the covers up over her and stroking her hair out of her eyes kissed her on the forehead before silently leaving the room and crossing the landing to the bathroom.

He was standing leaning with his arms braced against the tiled wall as the warm spray beat down on his head and shoulders watching bloody water swirl around and vanish down the plughole, when there was a cool draught and a moment later he felt warm hands stroking his back. Without turning he smiled. “You should be asleep darlin’”

“I told you,” Buffy gently explained, “I can’t sleep when you’re not there. Besides, I had to check you were really all healed.” She ran her hands down his back and flanks, then pressing herself against him she wrapped her arms around him to stroke his chest and belly. She reached past him for his shampoo that he belatedly saw was on the shelf, and began to lather his hair. Spike closed his eyes and revelled in the wonderful sensation of her strong fingers massaging his scalp.

When the shampoo suds were all rinsed away Spike made to turn around to hold her, but Buffy held him in place. “No… let me.” She quietly insisted as she took a sponge and squeezed his own brand of shower gel onto it. She gently washed his shoulders and back, then bent to tend to his buttocks and the backs of his legs.

When she had completed her inspection of his back she instructed him to turn around. He immediately reached out for her but she batted his hands away with a cheeky smile. “Ah ah aah… Not yet… I have to check everything’s working right first.” Ignoring Spike’s disappointed whimpers and the very obvious evidence that at least one part of him was working very well indeed, Buffy began lathering his chest and then scrubbed down his arms to his hands.

Satisfied that all ten of his fingers were immaculately clean she transferred her attentions back to his abdomen, then bent to wash the front of his legs, deliberately ignoring the one part of his anatomy that Spike was desperate for her to touch. Urging him to lift each foot in turn she paid the similar amount of attention to his feet as she had to his hands before standing up again.

“Buffy please…” Spike found himself begging as he reached for her again.

“Just one more thing to examine…” Buffy giggled wickedly as she abandoned the sponge and squirted some shower gel into her hand. Spike groaned and wrapped his arms around her leaning his head on her shoulder and closing his eyes as she began to work the shower gel over his erection and then reached underneath to massage his scrotum. When he couldn’t resist rocking his hips forward into her grasp she breathlessly admitted, “Well... everything seems to be in working order… but I just wanna check…” She lifted one foot onto the edge of the bath and tilted her hips, guiding him into her waiting heat.

Spike abandoned any pretence at restraint as he grabbed her waist and lifted her against him, encouraging her to wrap her arms and legs around him. He turned them to lean Buffy against the tiled wall and tucked one hand under her bottom to support her while fisting the other in her hair at the nape of her neck as he found her mouth with his. He began making long slow thrusts deep into her as he captured her tongue and playfully sucked at it as he moaned in rhythm with the movement of his hips.

When Buffy was forced to turn her mouth from his to gasp for breath Spike began nibbling at her chin then continued nipping along her jaw and down her throat until he found his mark. He suckled at it, never altering the slow pace of his long gentle thrusts. Buffy began babbling, something that stunned and delighted Spike as in the past she had never been a vocal lover, except when issuing curt orders she had expected him to obey without question. “Oh baby…” She whimpered, “Missed you so much… Only just found you… Thought I was going to lose you… Love you so much… Can’t lose you now… God the things you do to me… Oh yeah… Just keep doing that… Feels so good… Filling me right up… Need you baby…” It wasn’t until he heard a muffled sob that he realised she was crying.

Lifting his mouth from Buffy’s neck he looked up into her face. Her eyes were squeezed shut and tears were slowly escaping to mix with the spray from the shower. Not breaking his rhythm Spike gasped, “Buffy love… what’s wrong?”

Buffy opened her eyes and gave him a watery smile. “Nothing wrong now… Nothing at all… Got you back… Was so scared… Just love me…” She dipped her face to his and brushed his lips with hers. “Need all of you… Please…” She tipped her head to one side to give him full access to his mark. “Wanna feel all of you… Spike please… Makes me feel so safe…”

Spike felt his demon rejoice at the invitation even as he wondered in amazement at a Slayer needing to feel a vampire’s fangs in order to feel safe. He began to nuzzle at his mark and felt his face change as his demon rose cautiously to the surface. Instead of biting down he just gripped her neck tenderly with his fangs, barely using enough pressure to pierce the skin and hold on. His hips continued moving slowly as a soft contented growl escaped his lips.

“Spike please…” Buffy ran her fingers through his hair and tried to press his mouth more firmly against her flesh. Her rocking took on a new urgency as she rubbed herself insistently against him.

At last Spike gently sank his fangs deeper into his mark and sipped at her unique blood. Immediately Buffy gasped, “Oh! Oh yes! Love you Spike…” and then she could form no words while her inner muscles contracted and squeezed him. She gasped and moaned as she grasped at him, trying to pull him even closer. Spike savoured the taste of her and the feel of her writhing in his arms as she clenched around him and he followed her into ecstasy. He continued taking tiny sips of blood in time with the pulsing of her inner muscles and his own throbbing as their pleasure flowed back and forth along the Bond extending their mutual orgasm endlessly.

Suddenly Spike’s knees gave way and they found themselves collapsed in a heap in the tub. Buffy’s legs were still wrapped tightly around him as she sat astride him while he remained firmly embedded within her. As soon as he could think straight Spike carefully withdrew his fangs and shook off his demon, gently licking the tiny holes he had reopened and checking that he hadn’t torn the skin as they fell. He relaxed and rested his head on Buffy’s shoulder as she slowly got her breath back and her pounding heart quietened down.

When he felt her begin to rouse herself Spike asked, “You okay Buffy love?”

She giggled weakly. “I’ll see your okay and raise you a floating on air…” She lifted her head from his shoulder and kissed him long and deep. “You always know exactly what I need.” She yawned and melted into his arms. “Sleepy now…”

Chuckling Spike struggled to his feet, turned the water off and stepped out of the tub. They both gave a little whimper at the loss of connection when he allowed himself to slip out of her and set her down on her wobbly legs, grabbing a towel to wrap around her. She sat bonelessly on the toilet lid, leaning against the wall while he briskly dried himself, then he helped her dry herself and put her pyjamas back on. Wrapping a dry towel around his waist he guided her back to their room and into bed.

As he dropped his towel on the floor and climbed in beside her she asked, “Do you like the room? I knew you wouldn’t like it if I did it all frilly and girly, but I knew you’d want red and black and I didn’t want that either. This seemed grown-up without going to extremes either way.”

Spike lay back against the pillows and looked around. He nodded. “Yeah, I like it.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “Who’s a clever girl then.”

Buffy smiled in relief. “Oh good.” Spike turned the bedside lamp off and snuggled down under the covers drawing her close, upon which she clamped herself to his side, resting her head on his shoulder. She mumbled sleepily, “You idiot vampire you… getting yourself vampnapped. Got you back... never gonna let you go again.” As if trying to physically prevent him from escaping she wrapped an arm around his waist and twined one leg around his as she snuffled into his chest and instantly fell deeply asleep.

A/N: Just a little epilogue to come...