S Body, Mind and Soul

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer, characters or creatures in the show. I do not claim to own any of this. I am just writing a piece of fiction purely for fun. Suing me is pointless, I have no money anyhow.

This fiction takes place between season 3 and 4. Before Angel leaves for LA and after Spike arrives in Sunnydale.

"Oof!" Buffy Summers slammed into a tombstone, catching the corner on the side of her head, causing her to see stars. Recovering quickly, she spun around and faced the vampire who was currently laughing at her.

"So, this little cheerleader is the great and scary slayer?" He crossed his arms and smirked. "What's the matter princess? Did I make you break a nail?" Sliding his tongue across his fangs, the vampire sauntered slowly over to the slayer and flexed his hands. "Dinner time, baby."

Buffy rolled her eyes as the vampire proceeded to belittle her. Why do they do this? Most vampires have the common sense to do a little research, know who she is, shut up and just fight. Then there are these idiots. Sighing Buffy pretended to yawn. "Are you done? Really….I am getting bored just thinking about you."

With a howl of anger, the vampire launched himself at Buffy, aiming for her throat. Turning at the last moment, Buffy plunged her stake into the heart of the offensive bloodsucker, and completed her turn without even batting an eye.

His eyes widened a moment and he looked down at the stake with an almost questioning look. "Oh Fu-" But, before he could finish the statement of disbelief, his vocal chords crumbled to dust along with the rest of his body.

Brushing off her coat, mainly because of the remains of vampire dust was a rather unsightly accessory; Buffy straightened her hair and turned to smile at the pretty redhead perched on a nearby crypt.

"Them varmints, They never larn..." Willow Rosenberg drawled as she smiled at her best friend. Willow was not just Buffy's best friend, but also her confident and ally in the fight against the forces of darkness. She was Wiccan and a very powerful one at that, her powers were getting stronger daily. Not to say she couldn't handle it, Willow was a master at controlling herself with quiet dignity.

"That was amazing!" Willow jumped to her feet and began to gesture and talk at hyper speeds. "I mean, He was all 'I'm sucha macho stupid dork...' and then you came over and POW! Vamp dusted!" A voice chuckled to Willows right.

"You'll have to excuse Will, Buff. I think someone has been overdosing on chocolate covered espresso beans again."

Willow turned to the figure and punched him in the arm. Xander Harris laughed and raised his hands.

"Hey hey! I only speak the truth, Rosenberg. I saw you chowing on them earlier, those things will kill you." Xander was the third in the group of Buffy and Willow. He was not only the clown of the group but also the support for both girls. Both Willow and Buffy knew that neither of them would have made it this far if it wasn't for Xander.

Buffy smiled at her two friends, "Ok you two. Don't make me have to give you both time outs…"

Xander chuckled at the thought. "But Moooooom….She started it." He poked Willow in the ribs who squeaked in alarm.

Shaking her head, Buffy just sighed. "Hardy har har. You are a riot Harris." She turned and gave the graveyard a quick scan. "What do you guys think? Call it a night? Bronze it? Or we cou-" The words stopped in her throat as she caught site of another vampire in the cemetery, however, this one was allowed.

Angel strode between the graves, his black trench coat silently billowing behind him. He was a tall, muscular vampire with dark, spiked hair and deep, sad eyes. He was an old vampire. Not the oldest, by a long shot, but still very old. His eyes were now planted on the slayer, and a small smile curved his lips slightly. Stopping short of the group, he finally broke his gaze with the slayer and acknowledged the other two in the graveyard. "Xander. Willow. Hey. "He looked back at Buffy. "Buffy…I was hoping to catch you before you left for the night…"

Xander rolled his eyes and gagged a little. "Ok. And I am done here." He nodded to Willow. "Let's go Will. The two of us can have all the fun that three could have had. To the Bronze!"

Willow chuckled. "Ok. But I gotta warn you. Oz is playing there tonight. So I can't promise any attention. I shall be in full Oz-appreciation mode." She grinned at the thought. Willow's current boyfriend was Oz, a musician with the group 'The Dingoes ate my Baby'; the band was known to frequent the Bronze on a regular basis. Oz fit in with the rest of the gang perfectly well, especially since he had his own supernatural secret, he was a werewolf. Bitten by his younger cousin, Oz has come to terms with his problem and is getting help with the changes. It was still hard on him, and on Willow, but they were making it work.

Giving Buffy a quick hug, Willow joined Xander who waved at the vampire and slayer. "Night Kids…be good." He teased as they left the graveyard.

Angel nodded his farewells briefly to the pair, and then looked back at Buffy. "Sorry if I interrupted you…I was just…" He paused and smiled softly, running his hand through his hair. "Missing you I suppose."

Buffy blushed slightly and gave Angel a sideways glance. "You were the one who told me that we should stay away from on another. Remember?" She shrugged slightly, looking down. "I thought you were leaving to go to LA." She looked up at Angel, eyes pleading with him to stay, to never leave her side; but heart knowing full well that was impossible. "Hence the vanishing act after the Mayor incident. I figured you would have been there by now. Why did you stay?"

Angel sighed and looked longingly at Buffy, eyes searching hers. "Like I even need to answer that one, Buffy." He absently ran his hand over the top of a nearby tombstone. "I barely got out of town when I knew I needed to see you again. I just…" He paused. "I don't want to leave here, not yet. I need to say goodbye. Properly."

Buffy took a step back and frowned. "Angel." Her memory returned to two years prior when a single moment of happiness for the two has caused Angel to lose his soul and nearly destroy Sunnydale. "You can't honestly mean…Cause that would be-"

Angel cut in. "No. Never. I'd never hurt you like that again, love." He shrugged slightly. "I just want to spend the rest of the summer with you. Before I leave. Just to ease the pain." He tried to search in vain for a real reason behind his procrastinating.

Buffy sighed and shook her head. "Cause it will be so much easier if you stay longer?" She blinked back tears and held back from screaming at him. "Everything will be absolutely perfect if you just stay the summer then go? What? Like I can wave a wand and act like I won't be torn to shreds inside every time I am near you?"

Angel took a step back, frowning. "I am sorry I even came back. I just wanted…" He paused and looked at Buffy, narrowing his eyes at her. "You can't honestly expect me to believe you think this is easy for me?" He growled slightly. "I am weak, Buffy. I really am trying here. It's killing me."

"Well." A nasty voice cut in. "As long as something is, I suppose all is well then." Turning to see who the speaker was, Angel growled. A lithe, handsome blond vampire approached the two lovers smirking. His mouth was twisted into a nasty grin. "Oh don't let me stop you children. This is just getting good. I do love a good fight."

"Spike" Angel growled. "As usual, your timing is terrible." Turning to the younger vampire, Angel's features morphed. "I am going to give you to the count of 2 before I tear your throat out."

Spike chuckled at the display. "You always did have a flair for the over dramatic, Angelus." He leaned on a mausoleum and lit a cigarette.

Angel flinched as the name hit him. "Don't. Call. Me. That!" He took a step towards the younger vampire. "I am not like that anymore."

Spike laughed again. "Just cause you say so, ponce, doesn't make it true." He took a drag from the cigarette in his hand, blowing a stream of smoke towards Angel. "You can't hide from your past behind this pathetic mask of human loving bullshit. Or your natty little slayette over there." He jerked his chin in Buffy's direction.

"Fuck you and your opinion Spike." Buffy interjected. "Actually, I don't recall asking your opinion…and for that matter, what the fuck you are doing in such close proximity to my stake." She tightened his hand around it for emphasis. "Now, crawl back into your crypt before I nail you to a wall."

"And wouldn't you love a piece of Spike too, princess?' Spike sneered at the slayer, sliding one hand down the front of his pants for emphasis. "I'll bet you have worked up enough of a hard on from Mr. Impotence here that you'd give anyone a toss."

"Ok. He's dead." Buffy took a step towards Spike with her stake raised and he jumped back, tripping over the side of the mausoleum, landing flat on his back.

Buffy and Angel both laughed. "Spike. Just go home or back to hell or wherever you crawled out of." Buffy shook her head. "You are just a yapping puppy to me annoying but harmless."

Spike growled at her. "Harmless, am I, luv?" He rose to his feet and started towards her. "How about I show you just how harmless Ole Spike can b-"

Angel moved beside Buffy, still with morphed features. "Care to test that luck, William?" Angel snarled. "Give me a reason Spike. Just one reason."

Spike looked from Angel to Buffy. Oh fuck no. Slayer and Grand Sire? He'd be dust in the wind by morning. Stepping back, Spike sneered at the two. "Not now. Can't play tonight kids, I have a dinner date." He smiled nastily. "Can't wait to meet the bird either." With that, he turned and left the graveyard.

Looking after Spike, Angel frowned. "When did he get back into town?" He turned to look at Buffy. "He told me last that he was off to get Drusilla back from a Chaos Demon."

Buffy crossed her arms and looked after the retreating vampire. "I have no clue. All I know is, if Spike is back in town. I need to get ready, cause something bad is going to happen."