Chapter 12: Angel
He awaited her answer. At first she looked at him seriously with her eyes clear of tears and full of emotion, then a slow smile spread across her face. And to Spike's surprise and complete delight she threw herself into his arms hugging him as tightly as her arms could hold him. She got on her knees and put on leg on either side of Spike sitting comfortably in his lap. All the while never letting him go. Spike was frozen. He had dreamt of this moment for eight long months and now that it was finally here he couldn't get his limbs to work. He should really get that looked at. Once the realization set in that Hanna, his Hanna, was actually in his arms, touching all of his body with hers, then he lifted his own arms and wrapped them securely around her holding her just as tightly as she was clinging to him. Hanna brought her face to be level and directly in front of his. She smiled into his eyes and said the three most beautiful words ever created in any language that has existed. "I love you."
Spike wanted to break down and cry from the happiness he was feeling inside him. "Oh god I love you too Hanna. So bloody much…" Spike rested his hand on her cheek and hesitantly brought Hanna's lips to his own. The second their lips touched it was as though fire had erupted inside them both. Spike began to kiss her more passionately and Hanna just moaned into his mouth showing no sign of dislike. Spike's hands moved to rest on her hips and pull her flush against. Hanna wrapped her arms around his neck and held him as close to her as she could get. Spike was in heaven. She felt so soft and warm. Her lips no longer hesitant and shy, but hungry and desire filled. She must have missed him a great deal to be able to swallow her shyness of a kitten and release the passionate lioness Spike knew was hiding in her. Spike braved sliding his hand down to her body to the hem of her dress and rested it on her bare thigh. Hanna didn't make any moves to stop, in fact she seemed to enjoy the contact of flesh on flesh. She pulled away and looked at Spike, she was panting and her thighs were trembling against him. She surprised Spike even more by grabbing the hem of his shirt and pulling it up motioning him to help her get it off of him. Spike obeyed her request and took his shirt off. That probably wasn't a great idea. Her hot hands were all over him at once. Every place she touched felt like she burned him. Her lips were at his neck, kissing and biting playfully. Spike never knew this side of Hanna existed. She rubbed his chest and made slow circles around his strong ab muscles and traveled down to the start of his belt then back up. He was having a hard time keeping himself in control. He put both of his hands under her dress and they traveled from her thighs until he felt soft cotton under his hands. Signaling he had reached her more sensitive spot. He felt Hanna hesitate for just a few seconds then continued her tortuous kisses on his neck. That small hesitation was enough for Spike to remember where they were. Buffy would be on her way from training with Giles, and he hadn't seen Dawn it what felt like hours. He couldn't really remember but something was supposed to go down tonight and Joyce will be home from work any minute now. He didn't want to stop, but he knew that this was wrong. They had missed each other so much that their passions were controlling their judgment. He didn't want her first time to be on a couch in someone else's house, while it was still light out, even if it was sun set. Spike gently pushed Hanna back at arms length. She cocked her head to one side. "What's wrong? You don't want to?"
"Believe me pet, I want to. I want to very much, but it's not the time or place to be doing this. I missed you, but I want to make your first time special."
Hanna nodded and blushed.
"I don't know what came over me…it was like I could feel how much you wanted me and it made me want you too I guess…does that sound weird?"
Spike shook his head. It was part of being a mate. He could the feel the passion in her as well once it had surfaced. It was the same feeling that took over when they were in Hanna's room.
"I'm glad we stopped. I'm not really ready for that…even thought it didn't really seem like it." She laughed a little.
Spike chuckled back at her.
"I don't care what we do I just feel like walking on cloud nine being able to hold you in my arms again."
Hanna smiled. "I know, I dreamt of you every night and everywhere I went something reminded me of you. Dawn was getting kinda tired of hearing about you after awhile."
Spike sighed. "I missed a lot. Are you close to your graduation?"
"Yeah. I graduate in two months. I have to start applying to colleges next month. Yuk…"
"You don't want to go to college?"
"No I do. It's been my dream to go to college, but I want to go to UC Sunnydale where Buffy and Willow and Tara go, but my father is pushing me to go to an Ivy League school."
"I see. Well an Ivy League would be better for a bright girl like you. Somewhere like Harvard."
"Yeah, but Dawn and the rest of my friends are going to UCS and well….you're not at Harvard."
"Love I will go where ever you are. So if you want to go to Harvard or Yale or where ever then I will be there with there are long as you want me to."
"Really? You would do that for me?"
"Of coarse. I love you."
Hanna gave him a soft smile. And then her eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Where did you to college?"
Spike was surprised by the question. How did she know he went to college?
"How do you know if I even went to university?"
"Well…when you're not acting all cocky and stuff you have a very elevated speech and I saw all those poetry and literature books at your place so I just figured you went when you were you younger…or a human I mean."
Spike sighed. He had hoped she would never ask about his other life, but he needed to be honest with her. "I went to Oxford."
"Really? Wow! You must have been really smart. What was your major?"
"Well we didn't really have those when I was going, but I studied literature, poetry, philosophy, French and Italian."
"May I say wow again. So wait did you graduate?"
"Yes."
"What year did you go to school?"
Spike knew what she was getting at and it was cute she was trying to be polite and try not to be blunt and ask how old he really was.
"I'm about 150 pet."
"Wow…again…again" Her eyes were wide and she looked down at her hands for what seemed like forever. Then she looked at him like he hadn't just told her he was over a century old and said nonchalantly.
"So I bet you saw a lot. Like the invention of the tv and world war two."
"I was trapped on a Nazi submarine once."
"Really? Cool. What happened?"
"It was because of Angel actually. The wanker."
"I thought you hated Angel?"
"I do, but back then my clan was all I had."
"You clan? Like a tribe?"
Spike chuckled. "Something like that. Angel is my grandsire."
Hanna gave him a puzzled look. "Like he's your grandpa?"
"Um not exactly. He sired Drusilla who sired me."
Hanna looked lost in thought as she gazed at her hands.
Spike thought she looked cute all pensive.
"Ok, so, sired means makes a vampire right? So Drusilla is your sire?"
Spike nodded.
"Did you love her?"
Spike sighed. Drusilla related questions was not something he wanted to bring up just after they had gotten back together. She wasn't ready to hear about the woman he loved for a hundred years and the woman that he let live even though she is evil, dangerous, and insane. But he couldn't really make such an innocent and black and white thinker as Hanna that he didn't love Dru like he used to but he still loved her or atleast felt a connection with her to where if she dusted he would feel it."
"If you don't want to tell me you don't have to." Hanna said in a small voice.
"No, love. Its not that I don't want you to know. But I am not really ready to talk about Dru yet. To answer your question. I did love her. Very very much. I would have died for her."
"Oh, were you together a long time?"
"One hundred years."
"So you were with the same girl since the 1800's? Wow talk about loyalty." She gave a small uncomfortable laugh and tried to pass it off as a joke, but just ended up sounded like nerves and a sob.
"Love please let, not talk about this right now."
Hanna nodded and gave him a smile. "So if you went to college then that would make you about twenty-three?"
"Twenty-eight actually. I graduated a few years before I was turned."
"Eww…you're almost thirty!"
Spike really hoped she was joking, but he could see the laughter in her eyes.
"You didn't think it was eww a little while ago."
Spike was so surprised and relieved. He had told her that he was over one hundred years old and she hardly even blinked. He told her that he had been killing for many years and she didn't even hesitate. She was trying to get used to being with a vampire and it seemed she had it down pretty well already. It helped that the people she had been spending time for over half a year didn't really care about those things either.
Hanna smiled at him.
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry, no need to be a grumpy old man."
"Oi, enough with the old man stuff. Or you'll get it missy."
Hanna stood up from his lap and looked down at him.
"Geez I didn't know sensitive was a side effect of getting old too."
Hanna smiled at him playfully.
"Ok that's it; you're going over my knee."
Spike stood quickly and slipped on his shirt. Hanna screamed and took off running to the kitchen. Spike could have easily caught her, but chasing her would be much more fun. He slowed his pace to let her get a little ways ahead of him.
"Come on old man, running out of breath all ready?"
Spike chuckled. "You just wait pet."
Spike ran a little faster and saw that she had run to the back yard then out the gate to the front. Spike ran faster and saw her running for the large tree on the Summer's grassy yard. Spike charged and tackled Hanna to the ground. Hanna playfully struggled.
"No, no please Mr. Vampire don't bite me…"
Spike sat on top of her and held her arms above her head. He bent down and kissed her neck. He whispered gently into the shell of her ear.
"Caught you love."
Hanna smiled at him with happiness shining in her eyes. But just as Spike was about to kiss her again her look changed to one of fear. She let out a surprised scream. Spike turned just as he was pulled roughly from Hanna and thrown against the tree. Spike slid to the ground and shook his head to clear it. He hated being caught off guard. He stood and saw that who ever had attacked him had grabbed Hanna and was pulling her to her feet. Spike's nostrils flared with anger. No one touched his mate.
"Hey let go of her you pillock!"
Spike shouted as he ran to the two of them. Spike knew it was vampire, that much he could smell. The vampire pulled Hanna behind him. He could also smell Hanna's fear which pushed Spike farther over the edge.
"Spike! Help!"
Spike growled and went into game face. He grabbed the vampire shoulder and pulled him roughly around to face him. Them Spike quickly punched him in the face. When the vampire fell to the ground Spike rushed over to Hanna.
"Love are you alright?"
Hanna held up her wrist where the vampire had grabbed her. It would bruise a nice shade of purple but she would be ok.
"Sorry I couldn't protect you again."
Spike lifter her wrist and gently kissed it.
"Its ok Spike. I….look out!"
Spike turned and caught the assailant's punch in his own fist. When Spike dropped his opponent's fist he finally saw who it was.
"Angel? What the bloody hell are you doing?"
"Did you think I was going to stand by and let you drain that girl dry?"
Spike sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Once again Angel you have bollocks up a good moment while simultaneously getting everything wrong and looking like an ass."
"What are you talking about boy?"
Angel always called him boy in front of others to make it clear who the elder vampire was. Most of the time it just made him sound like an idiot and a bit creepy.
"I wasn't attacking her."
"Oh right like I'm supposed to believe…"
"Angel?"
Angel and Spike both turned to see Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Willow and Tara all standing in the drive way looking from Hanna to them.
"Buffy."
Spike rolled his eyes. Angst party of two. He grabbed Hanna's hand made way for the Summer's house. He wasn't going to stand there and watch the tragedy that was Buffy and Angel. It was painful to watch his grandsire be such a moron when it comes to love. He had someone pining for him and yet he still continues to stay away. Spike had done the same thing and look where that got him. Eight months of cold loneliness, self pity, and his girl thinking he hated her. He wasn't going to leave her again thank you very much.
"Hey where do you think you're going?" Angel shouted after him.
Spike turned slowly. "I'm going back inside. I can't stomach so much tragic love."
"Buffy do you know this girl? Is it ok for Spike to be taking her somewhere, or touching her even?"
"Well they had some thing…and then I told Spike to leave her alone, so no he shouldn't be."
"Listen slayer, I thought I was doing the right thing by staying away from her, and I agree that she deserves someone normal, someone human, but for what ever reason I cant even fathom, she wants me and loves me. So I am not going to ignore her feelings or be a righteous bastard and pretend to know what's best for her. I'm gonna love her cause that's what I know how to do."
Spike looked at Hanna who was smiling sweetly at him. He couldn't help his own goofy grin that spread across his face.
"See Angel, Spike gets it. Why don't you?"
Everyone's eyes moved to rest on Dawn who was standing with her arms folded and glaring at Angel.
"Dawn, go back into the house!" Buffy commanded giving her sister her own glare.
Dawn mumbled something that sounded a lot like Angel's a nancy boy and stomped off towards the house.
Giles stepped forwards and spoke up. "Ok now that we have established yet again that Spike and Angel are enemies and Dawn is too observant for a teenager. Can we please talk about this new information? Like why Spike is holding hands with Ms. Jenson and why Angel is here?"
Hanna looked over at Giles and answered.
"Well do you remember when I was so miserable for those months? It was because Spike left, but he came back and we talked things over and we are back together. And I want to know is why this Angel guy attacked us?"
Angel looked sheepish but then quickly covered it up. Buffy swooped in to defend him.
"He logically assumed that Spike was attacking you. It's not uncommon for vampires to do that."
Hanna shook her head. "We were kissing and laughing and if Angel was holding some girl would you think he was killing her?"
Everyone's eyes jumped from Buffy and Angel to Hanna and Spike.
"I haven't killed in years. I have a soul." Angel said angrily.
"Well Spike hasn't killed in months and has a chip."
"That's different." Angel spat.
"How? How is it?"
"Without Spike's chip he would kill again. Turn into a monster."
"Ok, according to the books on you, if you loose your soul you'll turn into a monster again too. So again what's the difference?"
"Spike didn't want the stop killing people. He didn't want the chip."
"You do know what a curse is don't you?"
Spike was having a hard time keeping himself from laughing. Here was this girl who hadn't seen him in months, and here is defending him against someone she has never met. His hated grandsire no less and surprisingly kicking his moral ass. Spike loved this moment more than any other in his un life.
"I am working to help people and atone for my killings." Angel pointed to himself and then pointed to Spike. "He's just biding his time killing demons until he can get that chip out."
Hanna glared at Angel with fire in her eyes. "You don't know Spike at all. He could have easily killed people if he wanted. His chip doesn't stop him from killing, just like your soul doesn't. It's a choice and Spike is choosing to be a good man for me and for Dawn and Joyce. The people who love and care about him. Just because he can't bite people doesn't mean he couldn't set Buffy's house on fire, fire a gun, or hire other demons to kill. He's not helpless just like you. The only way you two are different is that when Spike loves someone he doesn't run away."
If there were ever two words that would fit the picture that was made up of a group of teenagers and adults silently staring at each other with wide eyes it would…Stunned. Silence. Angel's expression grew more and more furious as he stared at Hanna with fire and strong dislike. Hanna was holding her own with a look that matched his fiery one.
"So what did I miss?"
Everyone turned slowly as Xander and Anya made their way up the drive way to where the gang was standing. His smile quickly faded when he noticed the tension between everyone.
"Hey, seriously here guys. Did someone die? Is there an apocalypse? Is that what Angel came to tell us?"
Buffy was the first to snap out of the silence and turned to Angel.
"Let's move on. We can go back to this later. What was the important thing you needed to tell us?"
Angel took a deep breath and turned to Buffy.
"It wasn't really important in the sense of an emergency. It was important for the future of…..well of you and I."
Everyone gave each other looks of confusion. Hanna looked at Spike who shrugged his shoulders. He was curious now too. What would bring him back now?
"What is it Angel?" Buffy asked softly.
"My soul….its…different now….I went to Africa and saw this Shaman….he told me of this test. Asked me what I wanted most…I told him… I told him you….and he…lifted my curse….he made my soul permanent."
Stunned silence number two.
"Yes, well why don't we go inside and I'll make some tea. Come on everyone. I think it would be most appropriate to leave Angel and Buffy alone."
Giles ushered everyone up to the porch and inside the house. Even though nobody wanted to go inside and miss the drama they all reluctantly followed any way.
