Foreword:
This story will be a revamp of my first fanfiction story Ties That Bind posted on this site originally in 2004. The original story is beloved by me and will not be taken down. That story is a lovely testament to my journey in becoming a writer and the heavy flaws at the beginning are like a diary of who I was at that time and how far I have come. The Spuffy community not only helped me become a better writer, as demonstrated throughout those chapters, but helped me through a very difficult time for me personally. I want to leave it, and the reviews that accompany it, unmolested. That being said, the story needs a lot of work and has always felt unfinished and immature to me. If it bothers me, it will always bother me. The actual story is my favorite piece that I have ever written and I feel that my inexperience prevented me from doing the story justice. So I want to repost the story and right these perceived wrongs in my mind and I am hoping that I can do a better job of putting the story into words for my readers to enjoy.
Acknowledgements:
Thank you in advance to blood stained lies who has so generously donated time and effort to help me reinvent this rather lengthy 27 chapter story.
Ties That Bind
Enemy Mine
"Buffy, could you please try to pay attention; this prophecy is very disturbing. If the lunar cycles add up, we are talking about a force that could in fact..."
Buffy blinked and refocused her attention on Giles. She tried her very best but it was hard. The only thing she knew about the cycles of the moon were that vamps tended to lay low on nights that werewolves prowled. Eventually he would get to what impossible thing she was expected to pull off in order to save the world again. If she didn't pay attention, she would miss it. This was important. She couldn't help it if she had other things on her mind.
Spike was back. A shiver ran through her just thinking about it. She often made light of him to her friends, but the truth was that he was in a league of his own when it came to fighting. She had the supernatural strength and speed and she trained hard. It usually was enough. Most vamps relied pretty heavily on the perks of the species, and were pretty clumsy fighters. Not so with Spike. He was crazy fast and clever and ruthless. A true killer. She hated to be so narcissistic but if he was in town, then he was probably there for her. Looking to bag himself a slayer. Looking for revenge for the Gem of Amara.
She practically vibrated in readiness. He had come so close to killing her more than once. She'd certainly done her own damage to him. Yet here he was, not even trying to lay low. It was sick and twisted and wrong, but Buffy couldn't wait to see him. She wanted to fight with him. She wanted to look into his crystal blue eyes and face her death. He excited her in ways she couldn't even begin to explain to herself. Fighting Spike was a rush, plain and simple. She had enjoyed the occasional rollercoaster, but had never really figured herself for an adrenaline junky. Still, in the dark corners of her mind – that she would never ever share with anyone – she could secretly admit that she liked the rush of power she got when he squared off with her. She had faced lots of vamps. Vamps stronger and meaner and older than Spike. There was just something about him that thrummed that secret spot inside her. That brought her bloodlust to the surface.
Giles finally shut up and looked up at her expectantly. She turned to see Willow bent over her laptop, eagerly tapping away. So willing to help. So sweet and pure and good. The anti-thesis of everything evil that went on in this town.
"Will, tell me again what Spike said."
Willow jumped in her skin, obviously startled and stared at her like a deer caught in the headlights. Buffy gave a passing thought to trying to see what it was that Willow had been working on that had her so nervous but pushed back her burning curiosity.
"Uhmmm, well I-I told you already."
She leaned closer. "Tell me again. It's no coincidence that you ran into him. He knows who you are. If he talked to you, then he wants me to know it."
"That Parker was bothering me. Asking about you. As if I would tell him anything about you. I had pretty much told him to get lost when I noticed Spike there. He just melted out of nowhere and scared the daylights out of me. It couldn't have been three minutes after sunset, it was still light out."
Buffy nodded. She couldn't believe that slime Parker was harassing Willow. The minute she had started ignoring the pig he had suddenly become very interested again. She was wise to his ways, so he was changing the game, coming at her sideways through her friend. It made her want to hunt him down and punch his stupid, smiling face. Not that she would. Because that would be wrong. Unlike some other non-people who had no problem throwing their super strength around and hitting poor helpless humans.
"So, he was there," she continued, looking sidelong at Giles. Giles had already chided her for not immediately screaming and running. "Spike was there, I mean, and he asked if Parker was bothering me. Which I of course said no, because it's none of Spike's business, but he didn't believe me because, well I don't know why. But the next thing I know, he's all testosterone city like I need my honor needs defending or something. It was mega weird."
"And Spike hit Parker?"
"Laid him out like Thanksgiving dinner," Willow nodded sharply.
Buffy frowned. Why would Spike have such a big problem with Parker? He'd seemed quite delighted with Parkers slimy ways when he'd teased her about it during their most recent throw down. Why would he even get involved in a Willow dispute? It wasn't like they had a rosy past either. She had been vastly relieved that Spike hadn't harmed Willow when he had kidnapped her, but now, along with this episode, it was seriously wigging her out.
"Giles, is Spike on record for being friendly with humans? Letting them walk away?"
"Well it's not like vampires kill every single human they come across like mindless rabid animals," Anya piped up from across the room. Apparently paying attention despite being seemingly 100 percent involved in her television show. She turned to look at them over the back of the couch. "Even someone as ruthless as Spike needs to blend in and survive."
"But this is twice now. He had Willow at a disadvantage and just let her go."
"Not to mention walked her home safely," Xander piped up with a sneer. His usual good nature always went sour when talking about vampires. "Maybe he will call her up Tuesday, ask her to the sock hop."
"I cannot stress again how dangerous it is to associate with vampires on any level," Giles broke in. "Even if he appeared to be friendly, he is evil and cannot be trusted for even a second. He could have snapped your neck and walked away before anyone noticed."
Willow's face hardened in mutiny and Buffy spoke up before they could argue again. "I don't know what else she could have done. She couldn't run, he's faster than her. Being rude would have made him angry, and we all know his temper. She got to safety as quickly as possible, keeping in public as much as possible. What bothers me is him asking her what she thought about vampires. What's his game? Popping out of nowhere, defending her honor, making conversation. It's weird, even for him."
"Maybe he's lonely," Anya said, without bothering to turn around this time.
Buffy scoffed and Xander laughed.
Anya did turn then, head swiveling slowly. Her eyes taking on a pinched angry look and her frown was tight and angry. Buffy didn't think that Xander realized how much his constant dismissal of his girlfriend's thoughts bothered the girl, perhaps she ought to have a discreet word with her friend. Maybe he thought she didn't notice. Anya might be a little out there but she wasn't stupid and really didn't like being treated as if she was. Anya pressed on defiantly, a little snark in her voice now. "Vampires usually run in packs and with him and Drusilla on the outs, maybe he's looking for new friends."
There was a moment of quality silence before even Buffy had to laugh. Friends. No, this was something more sinister. He was definitely up to something and trying to predict what Spike was up to was about as easy as a Professor Walsh pop quiz. She needed to get out there and find him. Get a jump on him this time, before he surprised her. She needed to make sure he stayed far away from Willow.
Giles clicked his book down smartly on the counter to refocus her attention. "Spike will either engage with us or he won't. In the meantime, Willow is to go nowhere after dark alone. If he has some special interest in her, then we need to take extra precautions. Right now, this prophecy is of a much more dire nature. I've got almost no information but my best guess for the timeline is imminent. Maybe tonight. We need to be out in full force."
"Did he say anything else?"
Giles sighed at being ignored but Buffy didn't care. Vampires, old clever vampires, taking an interest in one of her best friends was a priority. Even Giles sometimes thought 'oh it's just Spike', Buffy can handle him. If she could handle him so well, he'd be dust somewhere by now. She hadn't managed to stake him and he'd done her serious damage. They weren't the one's that had to be on the other side of one of Spike's devastating power punches.
"Nothing I haven't already told you," Willow shrugged. "I told him I was a vampire once and didn't care for it. That seemed to really impress him. Then he said he had to go take care of some problem with Dru. I asked if it was serious and he said it was no big. Then I blinked and he was gone."
"Spike, William the Bloody, Slayer of Slayers, bottle in face British menace, said 'no big'?" Buffy questioned. That was just a little too California speak for him.
"'It's nothing I can't handle, don't worry your pretty noggin about it,'" Willow mocked in a pretty credible imitation.
"Buffy, we have more serious problems than Spike!" Giles was finally losing it. "This prophecy may be lived out within the next few days, and the spilling of slayer blood mixed with that of a master vampire on hallowed ground is not an acceptable aversion," The glasses came off and Giles began to polish them with vigor. His British accent becoming more pronounced. "I don't know what the council is thinking, I simply can't allow some vampire to drain you regardless, we must research..."
"Wait, the council wants to kill me?" Giles suddenly had her complete attention. "I am so not going to die again, been there, done that. Thank you very much. They can send their prophecy to that fruitcake Faith. It's her turn to take on unstoppable evil. Nope, no way, no how. Not gonna happen!"
"Buffy, I'm sure no one wants to kill you, I mean other than the vampires and the demons and the…shutting up now," Willow trailed off awkwardly leaving a heavy silence.
"Now that I finally have your attention, the most direct translation I can decipher is this," Giles replaced his glasses and adopted the tone of lecture.
"The Dark Princess Dances
with Her Borrowed Power,
Calling Souls into the Abyss.
Searching for her lost lover,
Her Stolen Life-force is the key.
The Master opens his veins,
Washed with the blood of the chosen.
Mortal enemies bound by purpose,
Spill hope on the mouth of hell,
Holding the end at bay."
He set the book down and leaned on the edge of the counter, reaching for another book and continuing with stuff he had already said. Repeating it was not going to make it any clearer. Washed with the blood of the chosen. Giles seemed to think that meant a vampire bite.
"There are various shades of meaning of course, and there are other references in the A'Decan and the Wic Fableon. Near as I can tell, we are probably dealing with a female vampire, Vampire Blood is referred to as Stolen Life-force in many ancient texts including ..."
"Okay so I have to let a vampire bite me and then slit his wrists on the hell mouth. We'll call Angel and get it over with. No big...Buffy saves the world again. Now if we could get back to Spike..." She interrupted. No offence, but she wasn't about to read the A'Dook or Wic Fabulous or whatever.
"Buffy, this is not "No Big". The Vampire has to be specific. One of the Vampire's Children. Her Stolen Life-force. And a Master Vampire. I desperately hope it will not be necessary. We need to find a way to circumvent the whole prophecy. You would be completely helpless. Not to mention, where would we find such a vampire? And it would have to be done within minutes of the opening the hell mouth or it would be too late. Better to find her and stake her before she gets anywhere near the hell mouth..." Giles head whipped up at the pounding of the door.
Buffy let him go to open the door alone while she chewed that over. That did sound awfully serious. If Giles was this concerned then it wasn't a fly by night prophecy. Female Vampire. Spike had indicated Drusilla was in town also. Maybe there was a connection. Big, powerful baddies tended to align with big, nasty prophesies.
As if she had conjured him with her thoughts, there was Spike, in all his salty goodness. He leaned casually up against the door jamb, head cocked to the side, blue eyes swimming with mirth. His trademark half smirk on his full lips, cigarette held with precision between his thumb and his forefinger. "Hello Watcher," His voice washed over her like waves of darkness, his soft drawl sending tingles up and down her spine. "Might I come in for a chin wag?"
"Spike!" Giles had gone completely stiff, his eyes as cold as ice, face frozen in his Ripper Mask. "Buffy, hand me a stake."
"Well, well, well. So much for Brit hospitality. Get me a bloody stake. Is that any way to treat a guest? No mollycoddling for the vamp that saved your sorry asses not too far back. As if I was just strolling through town, and thought I would pop in on the bleeding Slayer and her band of merry misfits."
Unable to ever stay still, Spike erupted into motion and began to pace around the porch, punctuating his words with his hands, duster flapping. Absolutely no fear. She had just handed her watcher a stake, she had a stake and he couldn't even get in because of the barrier, and he had the nerve to sit there and lecture them on their manners. He walked with that slow, rolling rock that she associated with him, his words drawn out with that particular way he spoke, completely unique to him. "Not a thought in your pretty empty heads. Why a Master Vamp such as myself would come a calling, polite as fuck all."
"All right Spike, enough with the dramatics all ready," Buffy interrupted, exasperated despite herself. She knew she shouldn't argue with him, give him the satisfaction, but she heard her mouth open and press on without her permission. "You did not save anyone's ass. You grabbed your loopy girlfriend and ran out. Followed by kidnapping my best friend, and your Gem of Amara stunt. Do you really think we are on good terms here?"
She shoved her way in front of Giles so Spike would be front and center, within lunging distance. He too stepped closer to her, hovering right at the barrier, looking down at her through long black lashes and giving her that head tilt look of his. Her body was coiled tight as a spring, adrenaline washing her senses in white hot heat. She was ready to spring across the barrier and hit him first for a change. Get in two, three good powerhouse swings before he could react. Knock that cocky smirk of his off those surprisingly full lips. "Don't you want to know why I'm here?"
"You are not supposed to be in Sunnydale. You and Dru are supposed to never show your faces again. You just coming back here, begging me to kick your ass. Like a cockroach. What's the matter Spike, did torture not give your sex life the zing it needed? Little woman run off again, need another love spell?
"Buffy, enough!" She glanced at Giles who was still staring at Spike, the very image of hostility. "We don't care what he wants. He's a vampire. Kill him already."
Spike flung his hands in the air, clearly exasperated. "Are you people retarded! Why do you think I'm here? For fun?!"
He leaned to the side to peer in the room and gave Willow a friendly little wave. "Hey Red, that you?"
Willow responded with a well thought out, eloquent squeak and Buffy shifted to block his view of her, her hand tightening on her stake, lifting it menacingly.
"Listen," Spike raised his hands in surrender. "The lot of you make me want to heave, but you are the only White hats I'm on speaking terms with, and my Dark Princess needs a bit of help."
He tossed his first smoke and immediately lit his second. Fire flared in the darkness, illuminating him in a wash of orange glow, outlining the dip and hollow of those wicked cheekbones before he was cloaked in darkness once more. Seemingly ignoring her raised weapon, he began to pace again, ranting more to himself than to them, while she stood there a little dumbstruck, her stake hand drooping a little as he continued, clearly infuriated.
"She's completely gone 'round the bend, cocked up a crazy plan, managed to wangle a dark wizard to help her. You think I want your help? No, but I couldn't think of anyone else. I just need your watcher to look up a thing or two about soul calling, before the whole thing goes nuclear. Can't get my girl out because of these anti-vamp charms, and I would be the first bit of flesh old Angelus would want. You're the second slutty," he stabbed the cigarette hand at her. "Saving the world, that's your soddin' gig, White Queen takes King, shows over, take a bow, besides...not like I have a soul to lose, but you..."
"Did you say Dark Princess? Soul Calling? Drusilla may be connected to this prophecy we have uncovered. What is it she intends?" Giles finally broke into the monologue. He looked no less menacing, but somehow suddenly he also looked curious as well, and Buffy could see that he was struggling with himself not to turn his back on the evil vampire and rush to his books. She couldn't help a small smile.
"Not gonna stand on the bleedin' porch, Ripper! Invite me in and we can talk shop," at their incredulous wordless gaping stares, he smirked and let out a low chuckle. That laugh should be illegal. Her whole body was strung up tight as a wire and she just wanted to get to the fighting. She felt like if she didn't hit him soon she would just completely snap. "Not gonna eat you, I'll behave like a bloody saint. Feet off the coffee table, good manners, and all that other Nancy-boy English guest muck. No snacking on the A Team, Scouts honor."
Buffy couldn't help the unladylike snort that came out of nowhere. "If you were a Scout, we'll go to England and have tea and scones with the Queen."
His gaze narrowed in on her, smirk in full blown evil mode. He was so annoying. "Might have ate one once. 'Sides, isn't that what a bloke is supposed to say at moments like this?" It wasn't fair. Evil, undead vamps were not supposed to be endearing. Comments about eating innocent scouts were not supposed to be in any way charming. Her lips stayed mercifully in a straight, unyielding line but her eyebrows rose all on their own. His smirk widened into a small smile.
"Giles, let him in," her watcher of course began to stutter in protest. She stopped his spluttering before he could properly start. "Spike knows I can kick his evil ass. If he wanted to eat us, he would have waited until one of us was alone and pounced. If he knows something about this prophecy, we need to know it too."
Spike only let out another low chuckle in response, and bounced on the balls of his feet. He reminded Buffy of a child who couldn't sit still.
"There is no smoking allowed in my flat," Giles ground out through clenched teeth. Spike's eyebrows went up a mile. He took a long drag on his cigarette, tossed it to the side, and held up empty hands. Drama Queen. "Spike," Giles paused and looked like he was going to be sick. Buffy kicked him in his ankle just hard enough to sting. She got a dirty look for her trouble. "Come in."
"Ah, magic," he sighed with unholy glee. Then he swooped through the door with unnatural speed, darting between them, brushing up against her hard enough to make her sidestep to keep her balance. She spun quickly, to keep him in her view and within striking distance only to sigh and lower her stake. He was already sprawled in Giles' chair with a slice of lukewarm pizza halfway to his mouth. He was so weird.
Buffy crossed the room and slapped the lid of the pizza box down. "Vampires don't eat."
Spike took another big bite of his pizza and exaggerated his chewing before swallowing. Buffy was mesmerized. She just couldn't look away. Her adrenaline high was waning and she wanted to toss herself on the couch and have a piece of pizza too. She crossed her arms under her breasts and settled for giving him her best mom glare. He ignored it of course.
"No, the bloody poof doesn't eat. Got to uphold the dignity of vampires and all that rot. But an errant evil childe like me don't give a fuck. I like pizza," he took another large bite and sighed with satisfaction. "'Sides eating might actually give the wanker something to enjoy and can't have any happiness there. Big brooding ponce can't have a God damn taco because there are starving children in Africa or wherever," he finished off his last two bites and eyed the pizza box with a disturbingly lustful look. Buffy grabbed it and flounced it into the kitchen. If she couldn't slay him, she could at least deny him pepperoni goodness. If he thought bringing up Angel was a good way to smooth things over, then he obviously needed to brush up on his people skills. She waltzed back in, and sat gingerly on the edge of the couch.
"OK Spike, spill. What has your crazy girlfriend done now? How does it affect us? Why should we even care?" It wasn't fair that he should be so comfortable, surrounded by enemies. Sprawled in Giles' chair like he owned it, smirking at everyone. He even gave Willow a full-blown smile and she blushed a crimson wave, immediately turning back to her keyboard with a tiny nervous sound. "Leave Willow alone," his head swiveled towards her and she shivered.
"Even vampires know to be friendly to Witches. Isn't that right Red?" Willow hunched in on herself a bit and made a almost inaudible protest sound. Buffy rolled her eyes and let out another snort. God that was embarrassing.
"Yeah, kidnapping her, threatening her with broken bottles. I'm sure she is so impressed," Spike had his head tilted to the side, an almost soft look in his eyes. His voice was softer, more cultured, his accent closer to Giles'.
"Red knows I was 'round the bend. Love's a funny thing, makes you crazy, makes you quiver, do soddin' anything..."
"Enough!" Giles was polishing his glasses furiously. "Were not here to make friends, or hear about your love life, as sordid as it may be. Now tell me what Drusilla has done so that we can determine whether we need to act upon it or not. Then you will leave and not darken my doorway again" he set his glasses firmly back on his nose, included her in his scowl and swept over to his books. British dignity be damned. Everyone was composed except for her.
"Right, no need to get your knickers in a twist," Spike sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. He was wearing that red silk shirt she liked on him so much. No, bad Buffy. No liking anything about the big, bad, evil vampire. He jerked his head to the left and popped his neck. Gross! She made a disgusted face but held her tongue, even when he leered at her. "I did go hunt Dru down after I left town. We might fight, but our love is eternal. Things were going fine, other than Dru has got it in her skull that she wants Angelus back. She wasn't near as bad as the first time he left us. She was feeding just fine, and wasn't cutting herself up, so I figured she would get over it and we could get on with our un-lives. Angelus is gone, and even she would see that eventually," he snorted and sprawled back in the chair, his tight black tee molding to muscles she was intimately familiar with. She'd sparred with him enough to know he was a rock-hard specimen. She jerked her eyes away and made herself concentrate on his words.
"Shoulda known better. Bint came across a spell in jolly old England. Pretty wicked spell, too. Causes all the souls in this realty to be sucked into a hell dimension. Dru and me don't have souls to worry us. Angel would be all soul free, and no one would be left to re-curse him, as all your souls would be in hell," he laughed "Evil little thing she is, I just have to luv her."
His fond smile made her stake hand itch. Only Spike would find that insane creepy woman loveable. "She couldn't pull it off though, it's complex dark magic and Dru's power doesn't run that way. I indulged her and told her I would look for a warlock or a witch and kept her as far from anyone who could help her as I could. Everything was fine till I woke up in our hotel room in Arizona and the bitch had cleared out. Stupid ninny had tucked me a sleeper."
He rubbed his neck with one hand, turning away, clearly embarrassed that she had gotten one over on him. It pulled that shirt tight, and he shifted his hips, bringing her attention down. Buffy jerked her gaze away, horrified, and prayed no one had noticed her straying eyes. It wasn't her fault. Spike was very sensual and she was only human and damn it. His hand came back down and rested there on his thigh, causing her eyes to stray again. He paused in his story and she realized he was staring at her. So she gave him a dirty look and prompted him to continue with a wave of her hand. He tilted his head, crossed his ankles, and carried on.
"I tracked her to good old Sunnyhell, chit leaves a bloody trail a mile wide. Figured I'd tie her up, drag her by her pretty long hair to Ireland. I'm too late though, she's gone and hooked herself up with a power dealer. Don't know how she found out about him, but word in town is that he has the stuff. Dru's power is very rare and I'm thinking this dealer will make the trade she needs. I'd go get her but they were clearly counting on me because the whole place is bollixed up with Anti-Spike Mojo. It's not like she'll need to do any traveling to get to the bleeding hell mouth. Rack's joint moves about. I need you lot to figure out how to circumvent this spell. Or juice me up to get past the barriers they have got. Or decimate this Rack fellow. Time is short, so have your Watcher activate those big squishy frontal lobes of his and I'll be on my way."
"Whatever," she drew her word out long and annoying just to get the pleasure of his scowl. "Dru's so loony tunes, she couldn't figure out how to draw a circle to cast a spell in. We so don't have anything to worry about. Should have known listening to you was a waste of time and pizza," Buffy stood and twirled her trusty stake. "It's time for you to make your fancy exit now because Mr. Pointy has an itch for Spike."
"Oh, I'll scratch your itch, little girl," Spike leered at her and then rolled to his feet to face her in one smooth motion. "Dru isn't stupid, Blondie, she's insane. That just makes her all the more dangerous. After one hundred some odd years, she knows enough about spell casting to pull this off."
"Enough, both of you!" Giles was bent over his books, a very worried expression on his face. "Everything that Spike says is in alignment with our prophecy. If it is indeed Drusilla that the prophecy portends, then we must waste no time in keeping her from the hell mouth," he lifted his head and fixed his gaze on Spike. Eyes like daggers. "What worries me is, why is this a concern of yours, Spike? I can't imagine you are so afraid of Angelus that you would throw in with the lot of us just to avoid him."
Every inch of Spike went rigid as steel. His head swiveled like a raven's to face Giles, his hands were tight fists and his voice cold as ice. His accent changing dramatically to become as precise and cultured as the royal family themselves. "I fear no one, Watcher. Without a soul to animate your tasty bodies, you will all die. Just what will Dru and I eat then? Pigs, like Peaches? I think not," Buffy drew a deep shuddering breath, pulling in Spike's unique scent. She hadn't thought of that. This whole thing was getting more serious by the second.
"The dealer Dru has found is very powerful. He will drain Dru's psychic power and charge her up with Dark Mojo. She won't need to call on any deity to help her; she will already have the power. All she will need to do is say the words. She already knows the spell she needs to cast. If I remember correctly, the hour before dawn is the proper time to do the casting. That gives us just a few hours to stop her. I already have a tranquilizer strong enough to put her down for days. I'll take her to Ireland or Israel or wherever, and I'll burn that fucking book. Are you going to help or not?"
"You are of course correct, Vampire," Giles admitted, albeit reluctantly. "Where do you think we should begin looking?"
