Twining Vines (COMPLETE)

*~*Twining Vines*~* By Echidna

Author's Note - Thanks again for putting up with me Ali. You're the best BETA! ;)

Part VIII – Bachelor Party (Part II)

With wide eyes, Anya took the small box and hastily tore the wrapper off. Her huge grin crumbled a bit when she saw its content…

“A box?” Anya asked confused.

“It’s a music box.” Dawn stepped in with a huge grin, not reading the disappointment in the ex-demon’s eyes.

“Oh… Good. I like it.”

For the first time, Sam saw Anya repressing her real thoughts.

“Thanks.”

Tara shyly elbowed Willow, pointing toward the back of the couch.

“Oh… Yes.” The witch exclaimed standing up, reaching for a beautifully wrapped box and handing it to Anya. “This is from me and… Tara.”

A slight shade of red took over the pale complexion of both girls as Buffy and Dawn gave them a look.

“You bought the present together?” Dawn asked with a huge grin on her face.

Willow nodded and Dawn was about start a thorough interrogation session, when a light pinch from her sister told her it was best not to force the issue.

In the meantime, Anya was so wrapped up in opening her present she hadn’t even rationalized what buying a gift together meant in the Wiccas’ relationship. The ex-demon entertained herself as she furiously attacked the piece of paper that stood between her and her present. Finally, she managed to destroy the package, leaving only its content.

She tilted her head as she was faced with another rectangular box.

“You bought me a music box too?” The disappointment evident in her voice as she opened the wooden casing. She found it was divided into various little square compartments, each holding an assortment of aromatic herbs. On the edge of the wood that separated each compartment there was bronze bar with the name of the herb delicately carved into it. “What’s this?”

“Those are powerful herbs that are said to be very helpful in…” Willow blushed a bit as she tried to explain. “You know…”

“This is natural grass?” Anya blurted out.

“W-Well if you put it that way… I-It’s actually more than that. It’s said that they serve various functions besides… that one.” Willow uttered.

“I like it!” The demon quipped truthfully, before adding: ”Even though Xander doesn’t need it. You know this one time he asked me to strap him-“

Sam cringed at the flash she got and sighed in relief when Buffy intervened as she covered Dawn’s ears:

“I don’t think we need to know about that.”

“Ok, one more to go!” Anya cried over excitedly as she stood up and strode towards the large box at the edge of the room.

It wasn’t wrapped in a fancy bright paper as the previous two presents had been. It was simple card box. After some struggle she managed to open it and found a large trunk inside.

“Yey… a trunk…” Anya quipped truly disappointed.

Not realising it, Buffy smiled as she grasped that hers wasn’t the worst present.

“Open it.” Sam suggested with a smile.

Reluctantly, the ex-demon kneeled in front of the chest and opened it using the key that was stuck in the lock. She gasped as she pulled the heavy wooden lid and saw a black leather corset staring back at her. Next to it were two knee high leather boots.

“Oh, my God! This is exactly what I wanted!!” Anya cried out as she picked up the first item and pressed it against her chest. “How did you know?”

“I guessed.” Sam lied smiling as she shrugged.

“Oh my God! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” The ex-demon threw herself into Sam’s unprepared arms nearly causing her to fall to the floor due to the force of impact.

“You’re… welcome.” Sam managed to say as she was released from the deadly grip. “There are a couple of other things in there…”

Before the redhead could finish her sentence, Anya was kneeling on the floor, going through the trunk.

“Oh, a whip… and handcuffs and…

“…but I think you should go through them later. It’s kinda kinky.” Sam finished her sentence as she saw the deadly look Buffy was giving her.

“And…” Anya continued oblivious to the situation.

“Anya!” Buffy called out as she slammed the chest’s lid down.

“What?”

Buffy tilted her head toward Dawn, who was already feeling very fed up with the usual routine that cut her off from all the fun.

~+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

“I want some more…”

Kirsten Dunst’s frail voice filled the room as the girls sat in front of the TV, three large bowls of popcorn distributed between them. Suddenly, a ringing sound filled the room. Awkwardly, Sam stood up, taking her cell-phone and heading towards the hall.

“Hello?” Sam whispered into the small device.

“It’s me.”

“You who?” Sam decided to annoy the vampire on the other side of the line.

“Spike.” The vampire practically groaned.

“Oh… Spike. What do you want?” the redhead asked in a low voice as she peeked into the living room to see Buffy giving her a look.

“Nothing.” The vampire lied,

“Nothing?” Sam cocked up an eyebrow.

“Well, just wanted to know how you’re doing?”

“How *I’m* doing, or how a certain blond is doing?” Sam went straight to the point.

“Well…”

“Oh, you’re pathetic.” Sam sighed.

“Hey!” Spike protested on the other side of the line.

“It’s true. You’re probably at home trying to figure out exactly what is going on here.”

“I am not!” The vampire tried to sound convincing but failed. After a few second of silence he asked: “Is she… jealous, yet?”

“Right now she’s craning her neck to hear who I’m talking to, plus I’ve been getting some extremely painful images from her! All ‘n’ all I’d say the plan’s going great – she hates my guts!”

“Good.” The satisfaction was obvious in his voice.

“Can I go now?” Sam groaned as she realised she had just missed another yummy Brad Pitt scene.

“Yes. Don’t-“

Before the vampire could finish Sam pressed the off button of the cell phone disconnecting him. Quietly she made her way back.

Ten minutes later…

“Ring, ring, ring….”

Sam was up and in the hall once more.

“What?!” she asked exasperated. “You’re making me miss brooding Brad Pitt.”

“Huh…?”

“What do you want?” she exhaled loudly.

“Just to know what’s going on.”

“Nothing, in the past ten minutes.”

Buffy sat in her spot on the armchair with Dawn sitting at her feet. Her eyes were focussed on the screen but that was about all the attention she was dispensing the TV; all her senses were directed at the redhead whispering in the hall. She strained to hear, but it was impossible, even with her Slayer powers, especially since the torrential rain had started outside.

“I guess we are going to have a storm, huh?” She asked but got no answer as the four women were completely engulfed in the plot, even though they had seen it about a dozen times. She could understand Dawn and Anya’s interest – Brad Pit and Tom Cruise were a very good reason to watch it - but what about Willow and Tara?

As she looked from the corner of her eyes she got her answer. When the movie had started they sat on opposite sides of the couch, with Dawn sitting between them. Eventually, she had decided it was more comfortable to watch the movie on the floor with Sam, closer to the screen and now Willow was sitting on the edge of the sofa and Tara sat next to her - her head leaning on the redhead’s shoulder, their hands carefully intertwined.

Buffy couldn’t help but smile, it was good to see the two girls had solved their problems. Her trail of thought was interrupted as Sam walked into the room and took her place on the floor, leaning on the couch. The Slayer’s stomach suddenly turned as she noticed the smile on the redhead’s face. What was she smiling about? Was Spike responsible for it? Had he said something funny? The questions whirled in her mind and the pain in her gut grew. She was snapped out of her maddening suppositions when Dawn’s arms stretched out in front of her.

“Ah…” She yawned. “I never get sick of watching that movie.”

Buffy looked towards the TV screen to see the titles rolling, behind it a bird’s eye view of the San Francisco Bridge.

“If only vampires actually looked like that…” Willow sighed causing Tara to immediately sit up straight and shoot her a deadly look. However, it didn’t last long as Sam’s next remark gripped her attention:

“Well Spike is sort of like that. I mean, he’s not Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, but he’s got something going for him.” Sam said absentmindedly.

A sudden silence was felt, as the room looked like a living picture. Everyone stood perfectly still, staring at the redhead, including Dawn who held a piece of popcorn half an inch from her mouth. The only exception was Anya, as she remained unaltered looking for something:

“Who has the popcorn?” she asked the frozen audience.

“You-you know Spike’s a-a vampire?” Willow broke the silence.

“Well… Yeah!” Sam admitted, not understanding the group’s reaction.

“A-and you’re living with him?” It was Tara’s turn to speak.

“Yep.” The redhead answered automatically, as she stood up and took a hand full of popcorn out of the bowl Dawn was holding in her lap.

“Oh, there it is!” Anya exclaimed taking the basin from the brunette.

Buffy seemed to finally snap out of her gawking daze:

“You’re living with a vampire and you’re not worried about it?”

“He can’t hurt me.” Sam explained pointing to the back of her head and adding: “Chip and all.”

“But he’s a vampire!” Buffy insisted.

“And the problem would be?” Sam asked.

“Well… He can… He…” The Slayer struggled to come up with an reason. “He…”

“There is nothing he can do.” Sam paused and saw her chance. With a very suggestive tone she added with a wicked grin: “Well… at least nothing bad.”

Buffy’s jaw fell to her chest as a flush brushed over Tara and Willow’s pale complexions. The Slayer was about to say something when Anya, who was still out of the loop, interrupted:

“Well, what’s next?”

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

The sound of violent raindrops hitting the shutters served as background as the girls sat around watching TV. Buffy looked around for the strange redhead. She was probably still in the kitchen with Willow and Dawn. Sighing, she stood from the couch to go check it out. Loud giggling was heard as she approached.

“Spike let you do that?” Dawn asked amazed.

Sam nodded looking at the other redhead in the room who was almost coughing her lungs out.

“God… I nearly…” cough. “Choked…”.

“Are you ok?” Sam asked a bit concerned as she patted the witch’s back.

“I’m fine. Just…. Have to remember laughing and drinking at the same time is not a good combo.”

“It never is.” Sam smiled, looking up and finally noticing the Slayer standing on the threshold. “Hey!”

“Hey…” Buffy greeted walking into the kitchen. “What were you guys talking about?”

“Sam made Spike…” Dawn started but realising the story was just too long to tell she shook her head. “Nothing… you wouldn’t get it.”

The brunette jumped off the counter where she was sitting.

“Why wouldn’t I?” A hint of hurt evident in the blonde’s voice.

“It’s just a long story…” Sam said yawning as she walked after Dawn into the living room, leaving Willow and Buffy alone in the kitchen.

“So… You knew Sam and you didn’t tell us?” Willow asked as the two girls were out of sight.

“I didn’t realise she was the same person you had met. I thought she was just one of Spike’s… things.” Buffy tried to sound nonchalant.

“Well, she is definitely not a… thing.”

“What do you mean?” Buffy eyes widened for a second.

“She’s living with him, so I doubt it’s just a thing.” Willow explained as she popped the last bit of popcorn into her mouth before heading for the sink.

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“He bought her a bed, Buffy!” The witch argued as she washed the dirty bowl.

The blonde’s heart suddenly leaped out of her chest. “He bought her a bed?”

“Yep. King-sized.” Willow widened her eyes to emphasize what she was saying and didn’t even notice the hurt look on her friend’s face as she continued to speak: “I’m happy for him. Finally finding someone, I mean. I guess he’s finally over his obsession with you, huh?”

Buffy felt her heart shrivel up in her chest at the redhead’s words, her eyes became glassy with tear, but as soon as Willow turned around to face her the mask was back on and she spoke with a plastic smile on her face:

“Thank God!”

~+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

Buffy drifted around the living room, picking up scattered glasses and cups.

“Why can’t I dye my hair?” Dawn pouted as she walked after her sister.

“Because you’re too young…” Buffy sighed as she answered the question for the third time that night.

Everyone was already half asleep, Tara and Willow had gone up to bed a few minutes before, leaving a sleeping Sam on the couch and a dazed Anya flipping channels while she cleaned up.

“You were dyeing your hair when you were her age.” Anya noted from her spot on the armchair.

“Yeah, see!” Dawn said triumphantly pointing towards the ex-demon.

“Shh… You’ll wake up Sam.” The Slayer scolded before turning to Anya, widening her eyes and making an angry face.

Dawn’s lower lip jutted out as her sister faced her again.

“Fine… Well talk about it tomorrow. Now it’s time to go to bed.”

A huge smile lit up Dawn’s face as she hopped her way into the kitchen after Buffy.

“Thanks, Buffy!”

“Go up to bed.” The blond ordered softly as she put the cups in the sink.

“What about Sam, is she going to sleep on the couch?” Dawn asked.

“Well, Spike said he’d pick her up.” Buffy looked up at the watch hanging on the wall. It read 6.15. Her eyes drifted toward the tempest outside and added: “I guess with the storm out there he’s not coming.”

“Oh, can she sleep in my room?” Dawn asked giddily.

“I thought you were sleeping with Anya?”

“I’d rather share the bed with Sam. Don’t wanna risk a night of Xander sex stories.” Dawn explained as she swallowed hard at the painful idea.

“I guess you’re right. I’ll sleep with Anya.” Buffy cringed at the thought as she walked into the living room.

Anya was idly flipping through the channels while Sam slept peacefully on the sofa.

“Anya…” Buffy whispered signalling her.

The ex-demon stood up and dropped the remote on the armchair, walking towards Buffy and Dawn.

“What?” Anya whispered back.

“Change of sleeping arrangements. Spike’s not coming so, Sam will probably stay here. You’ll be bunking with me, and she’ll sleep with Dawn.”

“Not fair, I want to bunk with Sam.” Anya pouted as Dawn’s tongue shot out for a second in a mocking way, before climbing up the stairs; the ex-demon following her close behind,

Buffy sighed as she looked at the woman on the couch:

“Why does everyone want to sleep with her? What’s so special about her?”

She was about to walk into the room and wake up Sam, when a sharp, persistent knock was heard on the door. As she opened the door a soaked bleached vampire greeted her.

“Are you gonna let me in or am I supposed to stand here till the sun comes up?” Spike asked with an annoyed tone.

Shaking her head as if she had just woken up she moved away from the door, letting him in.

He stood soaking wet in front of her and she couldn’t help but stare. He looked so yummy when he was wet. “Not yummy, never yummy!” Buffy mentally scolded herself. He ran his hand through his drenched platinum hair as he took off his duster.

“What are you doing here?” Buffy finally managed to ask.

“I came to pick up Sam. Where is she?” He looked around as he spoke. Eventually, his eyes landed on the woman curled up on the couch.

“She fell a sleep.” Buffy stated the obvious as she watched him squat next to the redhead.

“Luv, wake up.” His voice was smooth as his hand came to brush away a rebel strand that fell over her pale face.

Buffy felt as if someone had just punched her in the stomach, an acid taste in the back of her mouth, as something seemed to crawl up her oesophagus. She shook the pain away and spoke quickly as she walked out of the room:

“I-I’ll get you a towel to dry up.”

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

With shaky hands she dug into the drawer taking out the first thing that her fingers touched. She silently came down the stairs into the living room. Her heart seemed to freeze when she saw Spike, sitting on the floor, his head resting on the couch facing Sam’s as his hands traced idle patterns on her back. She could hear him whispering something soft to her.

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

“Can I get up now?” Spike whispered, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Shhh… she’s watching.” Sam shushed him.

“How do you know?” he asked, as a spark flashed in his eyes.

Sam felt a gut-wrenching pain in her stomach as the images in Buffy’s mind filtered into her own and brought with them all the pain the Slayer was feeling.

“Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…” she whispered.

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

Buffy swallowed hard at the seemingly intimate moment she was witnessing, forcing the pain down. She concentrated all of her strength into controlling her emotions as she spoke, but even so her voice came out weak and hoarse:

“I-I’ve got the towel.”

At her words Spike turned around, pretending he hadn’t noticed her presence in the room. He stood up and walked towards her.

“Thanks.”

He took the towel from her hands and brushed it over his hair. On the couch, Sam turned, a sleeping look on her face.

“Are we going home?” She asked with a husky slumber voice as she spread her arms out.

The word ‘home’ seemed to be dipped in poison as it stung in Buffy’s chest.

Before Spike could answer a loud thunder roared into the room.

“I don’t think you guys should go out in the storm. Maybe you should stay here.” Buffy swallowed hard as she forced the offer out of her mouth.

Spike and Sam exchanged a look.

“Sam, Dawn is waiting for you up in her room.” Buffy said as the redhead stood up and walked over to the stairs. “You know the way, right?”

“Yeah, Dawn showed me earlier.” Sam gave her a weak smile as she shuffled her feet up the stairs.

An uncomfortable silence settled between the two blonds as they remained unmoving in the hall. Spike was the one to break it:

“Well, I’ll be off then. I’ll pick her up tonight.” The vampire said as he handed her the wet towel and headed towards the door. He stopped as he heard her weakly voice out:

“Dawn’s almost here…” her fingers fidgeted nervously with the towel.

He turned around to face her, a frown over his eyebrows.

“The sun… it’ll be up soon. You don’t have time to reach the crypt.” She noted.

“Right… I’ll take the sewers then.” He was on the move again and she spoke again:

“They’re probably flooded.” It was almost a whisper.

“Probably.” He agreed, staring at her with a piercing look.

“You could stay…” as she saw his eyes widening she quickly added nervously: “On the couch!” Taking a second she repeated with a calmer tone: “On the couch… you can sleep on the couch.” She awkwardly pointed towards the living room.

A smirk fell over his lips as he detected her racing heartbeat.

“If you think its ok.” He said nonchalantly as he shrugged.

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

She patted the sheets as she spread them over the couch, making an improvised bed.

“You didn’t have to go through all that trouble, Slayer. Normally, I sleep on a sarcophagus, the couch is actually an improvement.” The vampire spoke with his usual witty tone.

“I thought you bought a bed.” She uttered with a hint of venom in her voice.

“How’d you know?” Spike’s eyebrows came together to form a frown.

“Sam told me.” Buffy lied, as she tried to seem unaltered by the topic of conversation.

“Yeah. The woman’s insane. It took us three hours to pick a bloody bed and she had to choose the biggest one in the whole place.” The vampire commented as he remembered that afternoon.

“So it’s true, you bought her a bed.” She almost spat accusingly.

“I guess you can say that.” He answered oblivious to the Slayer’s growing anger as he sat on the couch.

“Well, I’m sorry you can’t sleep with her tonight.” Buffy lamented sarcastically. “But I’m sure you guys can find a comfortable wall to hump against tomorrow.” She spat out as she prepared to walk out of the room triumphantly.

Spike frowned, confused.

“What are you talking about, Slayer?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. You know what I’m talking about.”

“Actually… no, not really.”

Buffy sighed loudly before speaking:

“I saw you two, ok?”

“Saw us?” Spike continued to draw a complete blank.

“Yes!” Buffy was growing exasperated.

Spike’s stared at her as he waited for her to elaborate and she did:

“I saw you at the DoubleMeat, going at it like dogs in heat!” she almost shouted.

The vampire’s eyes widened, his jaw fell to the floor as he was completely flabbergasted.

“Excuse me… going at it?” He swallowed dryly.

Buffy groaned as her face cringed up in disgust.

“You’re really something, you know?” she said before she stormed out of the living room.

He was standing in front of her baring her way up the stairs before she could blink.

“What. Are. You. Talking about?” He asked with all the calm he could muster.

“I saw you when you were out back… doing… *it* with.. her.” She pointed skywards toward Dawn’s room with a disgusted look on her face.

“I never-“

“You’re such a… You’re…” she struggled with the words as the anger short-circuited her trail of thought.

“I’m telling you, Buffy. I haven’t been near that place since we…” His index finger travelled the small space between them alternating between pointing at her and him.

She stared up at him. His words just sounded so… truthful.

“Right… I’m supposed to believe that?” She snapped.

“Buffy…” the sound of her name on his lips sent shivers down her spine.

“What?” She asked annoyed as she tried to walk past him but he successfully blocked her passage.

“I haven’t been with her…” His voice was a mere whisper.

A sense of relief washed over her, but she kept her cold mask on.

“Look, what you do or don’t do is your business, alright?” As she finished her sentence she managed to outsmart him and pass by him. She was halfway up the stairs when she heard his comeback:

“Right… Cause you’re not jealous or anything.”

She stopped dead in her track, whirled around and was standing in front of him, her index finger pointing at him accusingly:

“I. Am. Not. Jealous! I don’t’ care what you do. I really don’t. You can do it in the middle of Town Square for all I care. You can buy her a boat, a house, whatever. I. Don’t. Care.”

“Then why are you going all Radio Rental?” he asked; the smug grin that took over his lips serving to fuel her anger.

“I’m going… Radio Rental!” she bellowed.

“You’re telling me that the thought of me touching her like I *used* to touch you doesn’t make your stomach twist and turn?”

Yes… her mind admitted but her mouth spat out: “No!”

“Right! So that means it wouldn’t bother you if I went up stairs and f-“

He stopped in mid sentence as a very pissed Slayer stood blocking his passage.

“You touch her again and I’ll cut something off-“

It was turn to be interrupted as all of a sudden everything around them literarily disappeared, being replaced by debris, rubble and burnt out wood. The two blonds looked around flabbergasted.

“What the bloody f?”

To Be Continued...