A/N: Happy Anniversary Buffy! 20 Years and you're still my favorite show! Long live the Slayer! This chapter is a little longer than others because I cut out the Triangle episode, I wasn't really interested in writing about the troll.

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"Mom, seriously. I'm fine. It was a couple of days ago now." Takashi spoke into the phone. She looked up at Xander and Willow as they walked into her office, she smile at them as her mother ranted in her ear.

"There's no need to come here mom. I'm alright. I swear. Look I have to go. - Yes mom. - I promise.- Love you too."

Takashi sighed as she hung up the phone before turning to her friends and smiling.

"What up?"

"There's no real nice way to say this." Willow told her, shifting on her feet as she looked up at Xander.

"Riley left." He said bluntly. Takashi looked at them in mild confusion.

"And judging off your faces, not coming back?"

"No, he was letting vampires feed off him and Spike saw him and took Buffy. It was a whole big thing. So he ended up leaving on some big secret mission thing to never return." Xander said while she looked at him with large eyes.

"Well, that's the cliff notes but yeah." Willow added.

"We were thinking that maybe we could do something for her. Like a hang out day. Just us friends, no work."

"I'm sure that would be a great idea. You have anywhere you want to go?" Takashi asked, Xander opened his mouth but quickly closed it when he had nothing to say.

"Okay…. so ….. Where does she like to go that Riley never went with her?"

The two looked at each other as they thought.

"Okaaayyy….. So…. wanna hang out at my house and watch movies and eat crappy food?"

"That's a great idea! Tara and I can bring snacks." Willow said excitedly.

"I'll bring the movies." Xander offered. Takashi nodded as she stood up from her desk, popping her back.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll grab some pizza on the way home too. Meet at my house... Say? 8 ish?"

"Perfect! I want to see The Fly again!" Xander said excitedly. They talked a little more about what movies and snacks to get before they said their goodbyes and left Takashi to her work. She knew she needed to get a secretary soon or she was going to lose her mind trying to keep up with all the work. Things were going much faster than she expected with her being new to the area, but it seemed so many people died in Sunnydale that they didn't really care who they went to as long as their family member was able to make it to rest.

For the second part of the day she worked on embalming the bodies that she had in the back, closing up the rest of the business for the day. She happily sang along to her music that she blasted through the refrigerated space, not able to hear the door opening, not able to hear the boots walking across the floor. So when she turned around to grab the glass eyes she needed she screamed as she looked at the man behind her, not registering that it was Spike until she had dropped her scalpel on the floor with a clatter. Spike smirked as he bent and picked up the blade, twirling it in his fingers. Takashi stomped over to her radio, turning down the volume.

"German Opera?" Spike asked finally, putting the blade in his pocket before Takashi turned around to look at him.

"You can NOT just sneak up on people like that!" Takashi snapped at him while she snatched up the glass eyes. Spike held up his hands in surrender before moving over to the body on the table, taking in the naked man that laid before him.

"Great waste of blood this is." He said, avoiding the subject at hand. Takashi looked at him deadpan for a moment before moving forward, waving him away from the body before she began to put the eyes in.

"No you cannot have their blood. It's disrespectful to the dead."

"I wasn't askin'. Sides. I got your don't I?"

Spike moved so he was behind her, watching as she placed the glass eyes into the sockets to hold the proper shape.

"Yeah… about that…" Takashi said turning to face him, pulling her gloves off.

"We need to work out what this-" She indicated to each of them "-is."

Spike looked at her with a furrowed brow.

"What? You want to be my girlfriend or something luv?" He asked, confused as to what she was saying. Takashi felt her ears burn but she still rolled her eyes at his question.

"That's not what I'm saying. More like… am I a fall back for Buffy?"

Spike pulled back as his eyes widened.

"Really?"

Takashi huffed before she walked away from him, moving to the other side of the corpse.

"Look, I don't mind a fuck buddy. That's fine. But drinking my blood? That's more intimate. I have to trust you more than just giving me a good lay."

Spike studied her for a few moments.

"Okay. We'll hang out more luv. Get to know all of each other's deep dirty secrets." He said, voice low as he looked at her.

"I wouldn't go that far." She mumbled, blushing.

"How's tonight then?"

"Can't, everyone's coming over to my place for a 'men suck' party."

"For Buffy? Nope, never mind, forget I asked."

Takashi rolled her eyes as she grabbed a new pair of gloves.

"Right. How's next weekend?"

"My place?"

"Sure. I'll come over after work. For now, let me get back to it. I need this body finished tonight."

Spike nodded and headed out, cranking up the stereo on his way out, shaking his head to the music in disbelief.

"It's good music!" She yelled after him.

The rest of the night was uneventful as she grabbed pizza and headed home, picking up a little in preparation of everyone coming over. In what felt like no time her house was full of people, well, full to her. Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara, and Buffy sat or laid about her living room, food all over the floor and coffee table as well as soda cans and water bottles. They had to turn off The Fly because the relationship between the scientist and wife upset her. Now they were watching some black and white sci fi about invading toads the size of busses, everyone making snide remarks or dubbing over what the characters were really saying.

"Anyone need another coke?" Takashi asked as she stood up from the food, cracking her back as she stretched.

"Yes!"

"Sprite for me!"

"Yes please."

"Water for me."

Everyone rang out at once.

"I'll help you." Buffy said, standing up and walking to the kitchen with her. Takashi started to hand drinks to Buffy as she took them from the fridge.

"Thank you."

Takashi looked up at her with a raised eyebrow as she grabbed a water.

"For hosting this for me. I know what you're all doing and just.. Thank you." Buffy told her with a sad smile.

"Don't worry about it. You don't need his stupid face any ways. Always so serious." Takashi told her, scrunching up her face in disgust. Buffy chuckled as she bumped her shoulder with her hip, almost knocking her into the fridge.

"Jesus woman."

Takashi started laughing instantly, shoving her back. The pair goofed around a little as they laughed, causing Xander to call out and ask what was going on.

Takashi was happy. She had fun with her friends, meeting up with them when she could for lunch throughout the week, and she now had a secretary to help her out during the day to set up appointments and answer the phones. Which of course made work way less stressful.

Now she found herself standing in front of Spike's crypt, hands worrying the edge of her shirt as she looked at the iron door. This was really honestly stupid. It was bad enough she had already slept with him and let him bite her, but now she stood in front of a crypt. Thinking about the fact that she was going to hang out with a soulless vampire that was in love with her friend was really not helping matters either.

"You plan on just standing out there all night or are you coming in?" Spike's voice called out from inside the crypt causing her to jump before she moved forward.

"How did you-"Takashi stopped talking as she looked at the group of people standing in Spike's crypt.

"I didn't know you had people over…"

"Ah, this must be Miss. O'Neil." One of the men said, looking her over.

"Uh… I'll just come back another time."

The men moved to block her way, lifting the cross bows up slightly.

"Woah. No need to get all hostile now." Spike said, standing up from his chair as he looked at the arrows pointed at Takashi. She looked over at Spike for a second before backing up to where he was.

"What's going on Spike?" She asked him, eyes still locked on the crossbows.

"These lovely people are from the Council."

She looked at him, brow furrowed in confusion as he sat back down.

"Council? Of what?"

"We are Watchers." The woman that was seated in front of Spike said, her shoulders going back with pride.

"And that means to me?"

Spike let out a laugh at this as he shifted in his chair, spreading his legs out further.

"Seriously? You are friends with The Slayer!"

"Buffy? Yeah. So?" Takashi asked, looking around at everyone.

"Watchers are the ones that train and take care of the Slayer. Mr. Giles was Buffy's Watcher." The woman explained. Takashi shrugged before she sat down on the arm of Spike's chair, swatting his arm out of the way first. The woman in front of them looked at the pair with wide eyes.

"Are you a vampire as well Miss. O'Neil? We didn't get any report of such."

The woman started to shift through her papers at this, pulling out the file on Takashi.

"No. I'm human… well… kinda."

The woman looked up at her at this, pushing her glasses up her nose.

"What do you mean by that?"

At this Spike grabbed Takashi's wrist and tugged her down into his lap.

"I thought you were here to talk to me luv. Get bored already?" Spike asked, giving Takashi a pointed look when she glanced back at him. He didn't want her talking to them about what she was. The woman quickly gathered herself and put away Takashi's folder, turning to Spike as she did so.

"So, recently you have been killing local demons and vampires."

"That's right." He answered, running his fingers lightly up Takashi's arm.

"But you are a vampire."

"If I'm not, I'm gonna be pissed about drinking all that blood." Spike teased, getting a small laugh from Takashi even though the woman just looked at them blankly.

"So it's this chip in your head that keeps you from hurting people." She stated, looking down at her notes.

"My goodness, you put that together all on your own? That's right Lydia. Leastways that's what I've got 'em all believing."

As Spike said these words everyone but Takashi tensed up, raising their weapons a little higher.

"Could just be a hoax, though."

Spike ran his fingers up the side of Takashi's neck, her head tilting slightly to the side out of reflex as she pressed her back slightly closer to him.

I fake some headaches, everyone gets used to poor helpless Spike. Then one day,"

Spike sits up a little better, his hand slipping around Takashi's throat as he keeps eye contact with Lydia.

"-no warning, I snap a spine, bend a head back, drain 'em dry. Brilliant." Spike finished, looking up at Takashi through half lidded eyes as she looked back down at him, not moving to stop him from what he was doing.

"The chip. Assuming it exists. It takes away the... ability. But it leaves… leaves the…" Lydia tried to say, her face flushing slightly as she looked at the pair, a smirk pulling at his full lips.

"Desire? Yeah, I've got tons of that." Spike said, removing his hand from around Takashi's neck to trail it back over her arm once again as though nothing had just happened.

"Um... but we understand that you help the Slayer."

"I pitch in when she pays me."

"She pays you? She gives you money?" Lydia asked in shock, quickly grabbing at her papers at this.

"Money, little nip of blood out of some stray victim, whatever."

Takashi instantly slapped his leg at this, getting a smirk in response as well as a shrug from him.

"Blood?"

Takashi could see that the girl was horrified but believed every word Spike told her.

"Sure, if they're gonna die anyway. Come to think of it though, that is a bit scandalous, innit? Personally, I'm shocked. The girl's slipping." Spike said, grabbing a hold of Takashi by the hips as she tried to get up.

"You've noticed a decline in her work?" Lydia asked, suddenly serious once again.

"Ah, there it is. You're trying to dig up dirt on Buffy." Takashi said, shooting a glare at the woman.

"You're not here to just talk to Spike."

"Aw, come on pet. It was just getting fun." Spike said with a slight pout.

"Miss. O'Neil. It would seem as though you were wanting to defend Miss. Summers even though you sit on the lap of a vampire that has killed two Slayers in the past." Lydia said, pushing her glasses up her nose slightly.

"Heard of me, have you?" Spike asked, sitting up a little taller in the chair.

"I wrote my thesis on you."

"Well, well. Isn't that neat."

Takashi studied the woman in front of her, taking in the blush on her face at Spike's teasing.

"You like him!" Takashi blurted out in surprise causing the woman to sputter out a load of mixed words as her face burned bright red. Spike grinned even more, placing an arm around Takashi's waist as he looked at the watcher in front of them.

"What a naughty little Watcher. I wonder what the Council will make of that?" He asked, looking up at the men behind her.

"Mr-Mr. Travers will be meeting up with you tomorrow to speak to you Miss. O'Neil." Lydia said, quickly standing up, collecting her notes before scrambling from the crypt, her protection quickly rushing out after her.

"Who the hell is Mr. Travers?" Takashi asked, looking after them.

"One of the head Watchers would be my guess." Spike said, sliding her off his lap and into the chair as he got up to turn on the TV.

"So they are suppose to be showing Nightmare on Elm Street tonight. Figured we could watch that and maybe have some snacks."

"Do I want to know how you got those?"

Takashi watched as Spike grabbed from chips from behind the TV set as well as what she assumed was a plastic container of blood.

"Nope." He answered, waving at her to move as he stood in front of the chair. Takashi did as he asked before he pulled her back into his lap. The two got comfortable, Spike placing his plastic cup between Takashi's thighs, stating that it would taste better at body temperature as the movie started to place on the small screen. As the night went on Spike kept finding reasons to brush against different parts of her body. Picking up his cup from between her legs, reaching across her for chips, one time he even said she had a spider on her shirt, which was of course across her chest. He must have grown bored of teasing because he was now kissing along her neck, no longer even watching the movie.

"Spike, I thought you wanted to see this." Takashi tried to chastise, but her voice gave away that she wasn't serious as he hummed against her skin.

"There's too much blood. It makes me…" Spike trailed off, pushing her shirt aside so he could kiss more of her skin.

"Hungry?"

"Mmm, among other things."

Spike put his hand up the front of her shirt, his fingers moving under her bra to cup her breast. Takashi let out a moan at this as she leaned her head back on his shoulder, her body wiggling against his as he nipped at her shoulder. He quickly made way with her shirt and bra, the pair making out the best they could from how they were sitting. She let out a gasp as his hand slid down and into her jeans, his deft fingers making quick work of her body, drawing her to climax just as Johnny Depp's character was pulled into his bed, a fountain of blood pouring to the ceiling.

Spike growled at this, biting a littler harder than he had been causing her to wince, before she could say anything he was unbuttoning her jeans, shoving them down her legs with one hand while he unzipped his own pants, not bothering to even take them off as he helped her sit down on top of him, the pair groaned in pleasure as she slowly lowered herself onto him, her fingers digging into his knees as his dug into her hips. It was completely different to their first time, her speed much slower than his had been. But it was still erotic without being able to see him, his jeans chafing her legs as she moved.

"Fuck Spike." She moaned as she felt him get larger inside her. Spike grunted in response as he held her hips still, thrusting up into her instead so he could control the speed and force of his movements.

"Oh God." Spike called out, letting his head fall back to the chair before he pumped into her a few more times, his orgasm causing his body to shake as his trust came at random before slowing to a stop completely.

"If I wasn't dead already, you'd be my death."

Takashi let out a breathy laugh.

"Nice pun." She told him, patting his leg before standing up to pull her pants back on properly. Spike put himself back in his jeans as he watched Takashi walk around, looking for her bra and t-shirt.

"You should stay like that all the time. It's such a shame to cover up those tattoos." Spike told her, checking out the large piece on her back.

"Oh, I'm sure it's the tattoos you want to see."

Takashi pulled on her bra, turning around to see that he had gotten up and was right behind her.

"Maybe." He told her as he swaggered up to her, placing his hands on her hips, swaying slightly against her.

"You're not going to leave so soon are you pet? There's many more surfaces in this crypt you've yet to see."

Takashi bit her lip as she looked up at him, putting her hands on his chest.

"I did see that lovely alcove surrounded by candles." Takashi said, nodding over to the space she mentioned, her smile growing along with his as he backed her up to the alcove.

Takashi quickly grabbed her socks and shoes, looking back at Spike as he laid on top of the crypt before she quietly left, making sure the door was closed behind her.

"Ah, Miss. O'Neil. Nice to see you awake so early."

Takashi jumped as she turned around, quickly taking in the elderly man in front of her.

"Why does everyone like to sneak up behind me?" Takashi asked, letting out a sigh as her shoulders dropped The man just hummed slightly as he took in her wrinkled clothes and bare feet.

"So, are you the Watcher guy that's supposed to talk to me today?"

"My name is Mr. Travers." He said, holding his head a little higher. Takashi nodded to this, putting on her boots without bothering with her socks.

"Okay, Mr. Travers, feel free to walk with me. I need to go home and get ready for work."

Takashi started to walk and he quickly fell into step alongside her.

"So you just recently moved here to Sunnydale. Is that correct?"

"Yes sir. Where I quickly met Xander, Buffy, and Spike. Buffy and Spike saved me from a group of vampires, though I had no idea at the time that's that what they were."

"So they told you that evening then? About vampires?"

"Oh no! I didn't find out about this whole world until a couple of weeks later when I ran into Spike again. He saved me from another vampire that night and explained some things to me. Buffy hadn't wanted me to know but Spike doesn't really practice tack very often." Takashi explained.

"Mmm, and him saving you, does that explain why you are in a current relationship with him?"

Takashi stumbled slightly at this before she turned beat red.

"I wouldn't say what we have is a relationship. We just kinda hang out and stuff."

"Yes, so I saw." He said, eyes quickly darting over her neck to see the pink scars.

"Look, uh, I thought you were here because of Buffy. What does me sleeping with Spike have to do with anything?"

"You are aware of what he is correct? That he has no soul?"

Takashi ran a hand over her face at this, feeling her gut twist at the question.

"Mr. Travers, no one knows about us except you and your people and I would quite like to keep it that way for now. I know what he is and I read about the things he's done, but I also know he's saved me more times than I can count. I trust him not to harm me, soul or no soul."

Travers studied her face as they walked along.

"He could be using you to stay close to the Slayer. To try to find the Key."

Takashi felt anger rise at this.

"I'm not an idiot sir. I know he wants to be close to her, but maybe not for the reason you think. As for the key. I don't think he really cares about that at all."

"So you are just hoping that the chip is real and that he doesn't ever feel the need to drain you once he's done using you?"

"Chip or not he could kill me at any time he wanted. Downside to being only half human. And before you ask, my father is Death. Now. Buffy is doing everything she can to fight the forces of evil, protect her family, and go to school. I advise you to help out with whatever it is she needs then leave." Takashi snapped at him before turning on her heel and heading off alone to her home.

Takashi stood in the doorway to Spike's crypt the next day, food food and drinks in hand.

"You're watching a soap opera…" She finally said, causing Dawn, Joyce, and Spike to finally look up at her.

"Takashi! You have food!" Dawn said excitedly, rushing over to her.

"Yeah, Buffy called and asked me to bring you and your mom something to eat."

"Oh! Thank you!" Joyce said as she stood up, walking over to them. Dawn reached for a cup but Takashi pulled the tray away at the last second.

"You don't want that one. It's Spike's." She explained she Dawn gave her a hurt look.

"Got me something too did ya?" Spike asked with a grin as Dawn took another cup, handing it to her mom before grabbing her own. Takashi rolled her eyes at him even though she was smiling slightly. Spike grabbed the cup and sniffed it, lifting his head up quickly to look at her.

"You need your strength to defend them in case Glory comes here." Takashi said quickly before he could say anything about the cup, giving him a pointed look.

"I got burgers and chicken sandwiches because I didn't know what you'd like."

Takashi handed the bag of food over to Joyce as Spike took a long draw from his drink, his eyes fluttering closed.

"It's like a strawberry milkshake." Spike commented before he walked over to his chair, sitting back down.

"What is it?" Dawn asked, taking the burger from her mom before sitting down on the crypt.

"Blood shake." He told her, shaking the cup as she gagged. Joyce rose an eyebrow at him before she looked back to Takashi, giving her arm where she had a bandage a pointed look.

"Um. Right. Uh….. I'm going to head back to work. I could only stop by during lunch. If you need me I'll be at the parlor till 7."

"Think I could have some fries niblet? Want to dunk them in my shake." Spike said, snatching them up as Dawn gagged again. Takashi shook her head as she left, making sure the door was firmly shut before leaving. She leaned against the door for a moment before she began to walk away.

"Wait! Takashi!" Joyce called out as she came out of the crypt, glancing behind her before she walked over to her.

"Yes ma'am?" Takashi asked, head tilted slightly.

"You seem like a good girl. Buffy and Dawn both talk about you. It's just… I'm not sure what's going on with You and Spike, but please, be careful. I really would hate to see something happen to you."

Takashi smiled reassuringly at the kind woman in front of her.

"Of course. I'm not sure what's happening to be honest, but I'll try my best."

Joyce smiled back at her before she started to head back to her daughter.

"Wait!" Takashi called out, suddenly feeling a pressure I around Joyce.

"Yes honey?" She asked, looking back at her with slight confusion. But just as quickly as the feeling came to her it was gone.

"No-nothing. Enjoy your food."

Joyce nodded as she gave her an awkward smile before leaving. Takashi stood there, staring after her as she tried to figure out what that presence was.