Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters… Of course, it would be pretty easy to say that I did… I mean… I could argue that I just happen to have characters with the same names that just happen to do the same things and act pretty much the same way as Joss Whedon's characters… But I doubt anyone would buy it. People are so unreasonable sometimes.

Disclaimer Part II: I know it would be pretty easy to copy and paste, but I'm not going to put the disclaimer at the top of any of the other chapters, because I really don't feel like it… So this one applies for them all. Oh, and I got the title of this fic from an episode of the show "La Femme Nikita." But they usually steal their titles from other places too, so you'll have to bug them to find out the real source.

Author's Note: As I said in the summary (or plan to, since I wrote this before I ever wrote the summary), this is set after "Hell's Bells." So I'm sure there are general spoilers for episodes before that (and specifics from eps after Wrecked). Also, I'm a reformed spoiler whore, and proud to say I'm spoiler free for the rest of the season! (Really, that's just a shameless way for me to pat myself on the back, but yes… The story will probably quickly become obsolete when the new episodes finally come out, but I guess that's the way a lot of fics are). Haha… No… That really was just a shameless way for me to flaunt my self-control. I think it's time to get on to the fic… But first… Spoiler Pure people rock! *high five*

Author's Note Part II: I rated this PG-13, though it could get closer to R. I wouldn't know. I was kinda desensitized to violence and sex and such, because I started watching R movies and the like when I was around 10 or 11. I'm awful at gauging it. I'll keep it at PG-13, because I'm guessing that most of the people who watch Buffy and read Buffy fic aren't juvenile, and can handle things. But if it does seem like it should be R, tell me in a review or email or something. Thanks. J

Soul Sacrifice

Chapter 1 – Tying Up [and Making] Loose Ends

The sun was setting on what had again been a beautiful day in Sunnydale. It had been a day which was very amiable to fuzzy little woodland creatures and whatnot, but was very disagreeable to a vampire like Spike, who was just then leaving his crypt to pay a visit to his favorite (or more accurately, least favorite) group of Scoobies.

Luckily, though, he knew he wouldn't have to deal with the whelp, who would no doubt be off shagging his demon bride while partaking of strawberries & champagne on a tropical island somewhere. And most of the others would probably be off doing something else as well.

It wasn't that he would mind seeing any of them. He didn't really hate any of them anymore (except maybe Xander). He'd grown to tolerate them. The demon girl amused him. He cared as much as a vampire could for Dawn, and he was even developing a soft spot for the witches. But none of them were the girl he really wanted to see. Though, he wasn't sure if he wanted to see her, either.

Buffy. Seeing her at the wedding had been wonderful. Even in the hideous getup she wore, she was stunning. And she smelled so sweet. And she smiled. But seeing her and being with her were two different things. Things had been so awkward. She was obviously uncomfortable as well.

"Damn her," he thought. "She was jealous. I got the desired reaction, but I couldn't bloody well enjoy it. One look at her and poof! I'm a soddin' poof! Putty in her hands." He thought, mentally kicking himself.

And God! They were there, together, and he couldn't stop the thoughts running through his head. Hell. He could barely keep himself from acting on them. Ideas of grabbing the slayer, ripping that bloody awful radioactive dress from her body and taking her right then and there besieged his brain. Those images mingled with, and even combined with, thoughts of biting and draining her completely, as punishment for ever thinking of leaving him. And then he realized, either she'd let him do it, or she'd stake him. And he wasn't sure which alternative scared him more.

"And even with those very thoughts plaguing my being, if my having to remind her that I'm evil wasn't bad enough, I apologized and complimented her as well. I'm just not right when I'm with that girl…"

It was an interesting idea, but one he'd have to contemplate later. He was at the front door of the magic shop, and with the sun not entirely set, Spike had more than enough reason to not dawdle outside.

Willow and Tara were sitting at the table in the Magic Box in silence, waiting for Buffy to arrive. They were suddenly interrupted by the tinkle of the annoying little shop bell, by a hastily opened door's slam, and by the entrance of an only slightly baking Spike.

He stepped towards them and nodded a greeting. "Red, Glenda," he ventured. Then he noticed their serious looks. "Why so glum? Would of thought you'd be off with the post-wedding antics. All giddy and cheery-like. Not poutin' around like your favorite black cat was just made road kill pizza by some passing jerk in a pickup truck."

"Yes, yes. That's exactly what happened. Thanks for rehashing the painful memories, Spike." Willow replied blandly.

"No, Spike, it's just Xander…" Tara started.

"Oh! What's the matter Red? Having those sultry feelings for the boy again? You a bit green now that he's off snogging the demon chick. Even though, I might add, he has two perfectly delicious witches right here at home?" A sexy smirk played across Spike's face, but Willow wasn't in the mindset to be amused.

"No, Spike. That's not it… Don't you have somewhere else to go? Puppies to scare? Crucifixes to shove up your-"

"Oh feisty!" Spike interrupted in a growl. "What? Taking lessons from the whelp in 'the art of telling Spike to do himself in 101?'" He asked in all seriousness and curiosity.

"No, Spike, she's sorry," Tara said, glancing at Willow, whose face showed her being anything but. Then she continued, "But some things happened at the wedding. Lots of things. Except, well except a wedding. They didn't get married. Xander left…"

"The git left the girl at the altar?!" He shouted, in a tone that bordered on delighted. It's not that he particularly wanted Anya to get her little demon heart broken; but it was such a refreshing change from that "holier than thou, can do no wrong" attitude he'd always get from the boy. Now he'd broken a heart. Next time Harris got on the whole "evil undead" kick, Spike would have a chip to bargain with.

Still, even though the development was new and the prospect of having Xander off his back for a while was enticing, Spike knew it was time to be serious. They were all gloomy. It wasn't nearly as satisfying to terrorize them when their spirits were already broken.

Then another question came to mind. "If they didn't get hitched and aren't out making little baby demons… and little baby Anya's, where is the happy couple?" Spike asked. He could only hope that Anya had picked back up in the vengeance circuit, and in the process, banished Xander's sorry hide to Antarctica. It'd take a good few months before he'd have to deal with him again. "And if that wasn't sweet enough," he thought, "Harris won't keep getting in the way when it comes to Buffy. No more naked pushups in bed for Spike."

"We don't know where either of them are," Willow said, bringing Spike back into focus. Tara took over for her. "Th-they've both been missing for two days. We're hoping they're together working things out somewhere." Then she added, "Working things out in the peaceful way."

"Not 'Anya gets mad and turns Xander into a llama' type of working things out." Willow finished for Tara.

Then the bell jingled and Buffy entered.

"Ah, fresh from the Double Meat, I see. Either that, or I can bet that the demon population at the fish factory is now at an all time low." Said Spike, staring at Buffy, who turned toward him, pretending to have just noticed him in the room for the first time. Normally she'd be hurt by his comment. Her weird burger smell was a pretty big taboo, but she could tell by the glint in his eyes that he was teasing. At that moment she remembered a conversation they had had, and she knew he was remembering it to.

"He was so awful," she commented while putting herself together after their little bout behind the tree. "And he thought the smell was so bad that he'd rather get away from it than kill the slayer. Do I really stink so bad that walking corpses should be turning up their noses at me?" Buffy asked, turning to Spike, who was languidly leaning against a tree.

"Pet," Spike started, stepping away from the tree and taking her hands. "You always smell so bloody perfect that sometimes it's downright sickening. And," he began to step back, still holding her hands, "This walking corpse," he said, pulling her back with him, "Would never turn his nose up at you," Then he had her up against the tree with him, "even if you smelled like you'd just slept with the pigs." He ended with a husky whisper.

"I did just sleep with a pig," Buffy replied, with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Oh naughty, naughty," he growled, moving in for the kiss.

But then Buffy pulled away.

"No, Spike. Someone could see us." Buffy weakly stated.

"What in the Hell, Slayer? We just had sex on the soddin' lawn, and you pick now to start worrying about being seen?" Spike asked, frustrated. What had come over her?

"I have to get dinner to Dawn," Was all Buffy said before disappearing inside her house, leaving Spike alone and confused against the tree.

So it had ended rather badly. Just the same, Spike didn't mean what he said about the smelling thing.

"You'd know," Buffy directed at Spike, "From the smell of it, you were probably there too, watching me or something." And to that, Spike leaned back in a chair and smirked.

Tara watched the exchange with interest. She'd known that Buffy had ended things with Spike, but that was about the extent of it. She was somewhat surprised that things had ended with them so quickly, and she wished she'd had an explanation. But no. At Buffy's birthday party, she'd talked like one day she might have come clean to her friends about Spike. But then, just a short while later, she told Tara it was over, and that was that. And from the way Buffy and Spike were acting now, she could tell something was indeed missing, but whether or not it was over for good, remained to be seen.

The way they were interacting… It wasn't the hateful sparring between enemies, or the heated banter between secret lovers (two conversational tones she'd witnessed from them before), but something else. It lacked any fire at all. It was like they were both attempting, and failing, to pretend things were "normal," but trying to be polite at the same time. This was just another one of the many awkward moments they'd probably had and would continue to have… A lot like the ones Tara had been experiencing with Willow. Those moments and conversations were so hard, and Tara was getting pretty tired of them.

Not surprisingly, though, Spike & Buffy's comments didn't inspire nostalgia or regret or epiphany in Willow, only boredom and general annoyance. "Um, guys, that was kinda weak… And kinda weird. And we have problems right now. Llama Xander? Anyone remember?" Willow squirmed impatiently.

"Right," Buffy said, snapping back in Slayer mode. But then, "Will, what do you propose we do? This isn't my area of expertise. It's not vampires. It's people."

"Yeah! Our people." Willow added sternly. "We're all well aware that you've been distracted these last few months but this is Xander and you'll just have to-"

"Hey!" Tara interjected, scared that Willow might rub Buffy the wrong way. Willow didn't want to hurt Buffy, she was just trying to watch out for her friends. Willow had a big heart. That's something Tara loved about her. Just then, Tara made her decision, and she had an idea. "I think maybe we should wait a week or so before we worry too much. I mean they could, they could be working it out together. Or on their own." Then she added, "Working things out is important." She finished, locking eyes with Willow.

Buffy noticed the look and quietly sighed. She felt like she was reading Tara's mind, so she started, "I agree. We should probably give it a week or so… But this is Xander and Anya. I'd really feel more comfortable knowing something now. There's always a chance they met up after the wedding and decided to work things out… and nothing says I love you like a stay in a luxurious resort. So maybe you guys should go to Palm Springs and check to see if they went on their honeymoon together." She said to Willow and Tara.

Then it was done. Everyone in the room knew the true objective of Buffy's plan; Willow and Tara getting back together. And there was no argument from anyone. No "couldn't we just call their hotel?" or "What about our missing class?" and not even a "First, let's check their apartment to see if their tickets are still there." Questions easily answered went unasked.

The tension in the room was mounting, so Spike decided to take his exit. "Well, it's been fun kiddies, but I must be pushing off." Spike said, rising from his chair, stretching like a cat.

"Bye Spike. Thanks for the help," Willow said, only half paying attention, deep in thought. Spike nodded and turned to leave but didn't get very far.

"Help?!" Buffy asked incredulously. "Help? He just sat there telling me I smell like fish. Probably just showed up to see if we had donuts for him to mooch off of." Buffy finished, satisfied that she'd have the last word.

Spike turned around halfway, not meeting Buffy's gaze. Then with a sad half-smile said, "Yeah. You know me so well, Slayer." And then he was gone.

-----

Author's Note Revisited: I don't know if Xander and Anya ever decided on a Honeymoon spot, but that fact doesn't matter much to me. It's Palm Springs. And maybe the Willow Tara thing was rushed. But I dunno. I just want them outta there. Less characters to write makes it easier for lazy ol' me.