Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Cinematic Universe, Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize

Thank you to everyone who has favorited, followed or reviewed this fic so far.

Mr. Popo: Thanks for the review. You will see.

Guest: Thanks for the review. Which version? If its Buffyverse Dracula, Master should win, though Dracula won't die. If its Marvel Dracula, he takes it.

Chapter 18- Crush

The Bronze

Buffy sat down, watching Willow and Tara as well as Xander and Anya dancing with each other. Xander was pretty bad at it, but Anya was even worse, though they were funny to look at. Willow and Tara were decent.

"Bleedin' crime, is what it is."

Buffy looked up as Spike sat in the chair beside her. Instead of his usual attire he wore khaki pants, a blue/gray button-down shirt open over a black t-shirt, and a shiny brown leather jacket.

"Jackin' up the bar price to pay for fixin' up this sinkhole. Not my fault insurance doesn't cover act of troll."

"Gee, maybe it's time you found a new place to patronize", Buffy said.

Spike sat back. "I've half a mind to! Especially since the flowering onion got remodeled off the sodding menu." He leaned forward. "'S the only thing this place had going for it."

Buffy frowned. "What are you doing?"

Spike frowned. "Wha, what do you mean what am ... I ..."

"Here? At this table? Talking to me. Like we're some kind of talking buddies."

Spike started. "Well, I saw you ... sitting here alone. Thought, I don't know, you could, maybe do with a bit of, uh, you know, company."

Buffy raised her eyebrows at him. Spike frowned. "Suit yourself!" He got up. Buffy looked back over at the dance floor.

"Although..." Spike sat back down as Buffy rolls her eyes. "It's just, we took on that Glory chippie together with bug boy, I was right there with you, fightin' the fight. You'd think that would be enough to cut me a sliver of slack. Earn a little consideration, respect."

"Hey, uh, Evil Dead, you're in my seat."

Xander and Anya were standing behind Spike. He turned his head to look at them, sighing. "Bugger it."

He reached for his beer bottle, knocking it over accidentally, grabbed it and got up. Buffy watched him go in some confusion as Xander and Anya sat.

"Xander, I think you may have hurt his feelings", Anya told him.

"And you should never hurt the feelings of a brutal killer", Xander pondered. "You know, that's, uh, that's actually some pretty good advice."

Buffy didn't reply. Willow and Tara came over and sat.

"So, who's up for some more liquid refreshments? I'm buying, for I am payday man", Xander said.

Willow opened an aspirin bottle. "I could use a water."

Xander dismissively raised his hand. "Water poses no challenge for payday man, for I have..." he paused, looking dismayed, his tray had just a few coins on it. "Hey, where's my change?" Buffy looked at the tray, scowling, then glanced over at the bar. Xander looked too. Spike was at the bar, buying another beer.

"Spike, you diabolical fiend."

Xander got up and walks toward Spike. Buffy looked at Tara comforting Willow. "Poor Will. Still getting those headaches?"

"Fewer and further between, but...yep, they're still exercising their visitation rights", Willow said.

"Honey, in case you didn't hear me the first six thousand times, no more teleportation spells", Tara advised gently.

"Well, it's just we have squat in the way of Glory-fighting arsenal, and ... another run-in with her and my headaches and nosebleeds are gonna be the least of our problems", Willow sighed.

"You know what? This is the first R-'n'-R I've had in weeks. How about we go one night without saying the name Glory."

Everyone nodded.

"I'm down with that", Tara said. "Let's just call "she who will not be named" another name. Let's just call her-"

"Ben!"

Ben was sitting on a sofa across the room, with another guy.

"For example-"

"I'll be right back."

Buffy got up and the other three girls watched her walk over to Ben.

"Ben! Hey!"

"Buffy, hi", Ben greeted.

"I barely recognized you without your hospital scrubs", Buffy said.

The guy next to Ben got up and left, and Buffy sat in his place.

"Oh, you'd be surprised the extent of my wardrobe."

"Really?"

"I actually have entire outfits that aren't blue pajamas."

Buffy laughed. "Um, my sister ... uh, told me what happened at the hospital before I got there."

"Uh huh."

"And, uh, I just wanted to say ... thanks."

Ben looked confused.

"For looking after her?"

Ben sighed, smiling. "That's okay. I'm glad Dawn's all right."

Spike and Xander were by the bar.

"The point is, I work hard for that money."

"And you're saying I didn't?" Spike asked.

"You stole it", Xander pointed out.

"And you're making it into very hard work!" Spike quipped.

"Listen, bleach boy, I don't have a chip in my head. I can do far more damage to you than you can ever do to me."

Spike wasn't listening, as he had noticed Buffy chatting with Ben and was watching them intently. "Yeah? Like you could ever hurt me."

Train station

A porter leaned against a fence reading a Captain America comic as a train approached, the horn blowing. It came to a stop. The porter straightened up, waiting for the passengers to start coming out. No one appeared.

The porter frowned, walking forward to the door of the train and called inside. "Sunnydale Station! Last stop this line."

Nothing. He looked around. The platform was empty. The porter entered one of the train cars. He walked to the first row of seats, stopped and looked shocked. A male passenger was lying slumped over with blood on his neck and on the pillow behind his head. The porter looked shocked. A female passenger was also lying slumped over dead and bloody.

The porter walked farther into the train and there were more dead passengers in the seats. Another female passenger had her arm stretched out into the aisle, covered with blood from a wound on the wrist. The porter breathed heavily.

He heard footsteps. He turned and saw something. "Oh god! Oh please! Help me! Somebody please! Help me!"

He ran back the way he came. He ran out screaming. "Help me!"

Before he could make his way down the stairs, something grabbed him from behind and dragged him back into the train while he screamed.

Later, Summers House

Peter, Joyce, and Dawn were sitting in the living room. Joyce had books; Peter and Dawn sat on the floor watching television.

Joyce looked to the door. "Buffy?"

Buffy entered. "I'm back by popular demand."

"So, had a fun night?" Peter asked.

Buffy pondered, sitting. "You know, I think I did. Much-needed fun, apart from Willow's headaches and Spike's cameo appearance."

"Why was Spike there?" Peter wondered.

"No idea", Buffy said.

Joyce came forward to sit beside Buffy. "Well, I'm relieved that you're home. But at least Peter was here to make us feel safe."

"It's no problem, Miss Summers", Peter told her.

He then got up. "Good night Dawn."

"Good night", Dawn smiled at him.

He then said to Joyce too. "Good night."

"Good night."

Buffy got up and followed Peter to the hallway. "So how is Dawn?"

"Better than Aunt May when she found out who I was", Peter said.

"That's a good thing, right?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah", Peter said. "So, whatever you're doing, keep it up."

"Okay then", Buffy said as Peter nodded and walked out.

Next day, UC Sunnydale

"I just don't see why he couldn't end up with Esmerelda", Willow said to Tara and Buffy. "They could have the wedding right there. Beneath the very bell-tower where he labored thanklessly for all those years."

"No, see, it can't, it can't end like that, 'cause all of Quasimodo's actions were selfishly motivated", Tara said. "He had no moral compass, no understanding of right. Everything he did, he did out of love for a woman who would never be able to love him back."

They came to a vending machine and stopped walking. Tara dug in her purse. Willow looked in hers as well. "Also, you can tell it's not gonna have a happy ending when the main guy's all bumpy."

Willow took some money out of her purse and handed it to Tara, who smiled and turned to the vending machine.

"What did you think, Buffy?"

"The test isn't till tomorrow, right?" Buffy shrugged. "I don't have an opinion till then."

"But, you read it, right?" Willow asked.

"Kinda not. I rented the movie."

Tara took her snack out of machine.

"Oh, with, um, with Charles Laughton?"

"I don't know. Was he one of the singing gargoyles?"

"Oh boy."

They all began to walk off. "What, I, I'm kidding!" They noticed a guy reading a newspaper. "You're done with this?"

Buffy grabbed the paper from him.

"Yeah, hi, uh, kind of reading that?"

"Just a minute", Buffy said as the three stared at the front page.

"METROTRAIN MURDER. Six Found Murdered on Train at Sunnydale Station."

""Six found murdered on train at Sunnydale Station"", Buffy finished reading.

"Glory?" Tara asked.

Buffy shook her head. ""Unconfirmed reports of severe trauma to the throats of one or more of the victims."" She lowered the paper. "Survey says ... vampire."

Later

Peter and Buffy entered the train, passing the tape as Peter held a flashlight.

"So what are we looking for?" Peter asked.

"Clues", Buffy said.

"Okay", Peter told her as they looked around at the seat marks. "I think the victims actually being here would make it easier."

Buffy gave him a look. "Not that there is anything good about dead bodies. Those poor guys."

"I'm thinking how many were here", Buffy sighed.

"Well, Sunnydale's finest didn't leave much to examine", Peter said.

Buffy suddenly asked. "How did Spike meet Dawn the night she found out?"

"You're asking this now?" Peter asked.

"It's just been in my mind for a while", Buffy said.

"He was lurking, like he does", Peter shrugged.

"Oh!" Buffy said, not sure what to make of it.

"And he had a box with him, no idea what that was for", Peter told her as they continued looking.

Later, Summers House, night

Buffy entered her home, walking down the hall toward the kitchen.

"But what they didn't get was, that it was a copy of the bill of lading...so they thought that it was another order form, so now I've got two shipments of Greek amphorae on my hands!"

Dawn and Spike laughed at the conclusion as Spike said. "That's funny. And really, how many do you need, amphorae?"

They all laughed more. Buffy entered, folding her arms over her chest. Joyce saw her. She giggled. "Oh, Buffy. Spike came by to apologize for last week."

"And he just decided to ... hang out for a while?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, well, I got talking about the gallery. See, there was this-"

"Oh, don't get us all laughing again, Joyce. Anyhow, I really need to talk to your eldest", Spike said.

"What about?" Buffy asked.

Spike got down from the counter and went past Buffy into the hallway. She turned to follow him, looking suspicious.

"I got a bit of info you might be keen on knowin'."

"Sorry, all out of cash. Why don't you hit on Giles - hit up Giles."

"I got a bead on the guy who killed those people. The ones on the train", Spike said.

"Do tell", Buffy asked.

Spike jerked his head to indicate she should come with him. "I'll do better than that, I'll show."

Buffy didn't budge. Spike frowned.

"What's the matter?"

Buffy was nervous. "Nothing ... just..."

Spike sighed, rolling his eyes. "Two vamps holed up in a warehouse downtown. Come on, what are you waiting for? Grab your coat and your pointy sticks."

Buffy moved past him. He let her pass and fell in behind her.

Later

Spike and Buffy were sitting in a car watching a warehouse. Spike looked at Buffy. She gave him a sharp look back. He looked away. Buffy frowned at him, looking very suspicious and nervous. Spike suddenly reached toward her and Buffy flinched back in her seat.

"Hey!"

He opened the glove compartment and took out a flask. Buffy looked relieved. Spike took a swig and then offered her the flask.

"Ew."

"It's not blood, it's bourbon."

"Eeeeew."

Spike grinned ruefully. "Suit yourself."

He shook his head, reaching across Buffy to put the flask back, sat back and sighed. He began to hum, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. Buffy gave him a look, which he didn't notice.

He stopped singing, then looked at Buffy. "Do you like the Ramones?"

"So if you're not doing this for the money, why are y-"

"Shh!"

They both looked out the front window. Two figures walked across the street. They entered the warehouse.

Spike and Buffy got out of the car.

Inside, the two vamps were sitting on a sofa. One was making popcorn over a small lantern. The other was looking through a pile of CDs. Buffy and Spike entered. The vamps got up.

"The Slayer!"

The two vamps turned and ran away. The popcorn continued popping.

"Well, that was sad."

Buffy moved forward, looking around.

"I'm embarrassed for our kind."

The vamps' furniture was arranged in a cozy grouping. Spike came forward, going a few steps in the direction the vampires went. "So. Should we chase after 'em, then? They couldn't have gone far."

Buffy was still staring at the furniture and stuff. "These vamps have been here for a while. They've nested."

"So ... you're saying they're a couple of poofters?"

"No. I'm saying they had nothing to do with last night's murders."

"How do you figure?"

"Whoever did it only arrived in town last night. Looks like you've wasted my time", Buffy turned to leave.

Spike hurried after her, arriving in time to open the door for her. Buffy stopped with her hand up and turned to Spike with a frown. "What are you doing?"

Spike looked at the door. "I, I was ...", he scoffed. "I wasn't thinking."

"What is this?"

"Oh, come-" He shoved the door close. "Don't get your knickers twisted, I was-"

"What ... is this?"

Spike stared at her.

"The late-night stakeout, the bogus suspects, the flask?" Spike raised his eyebrows. "Is this a date?"

"A d- Please!" Spike looked amused. "A date? You are completely off your bird! I mean –" He then quietly asked. "Do you want it to be?"

Buffy made a little groan, with an expression of disgust. She moved past Spike back into the warehouse.

"Oh my god."

Spike bit his lip, turning to watch her.

"Oh ... oh no", she turned back to Spike. "Are you out of your mind?"

"It's not so unusual", he walked toward her. "Two people ... in the workplace ... feelings develop."

"No! No, no, feelings do not develop. No feelings."

"You can't deny it. There's something between us."

"Loathing. Disgust."

"Heat. Desire."

"Please! Spike, you're a vampire."

"Angel was a vampire."

"Angel was good!"

"And I can be too", Spike said. "I've changed, Buffy."

"What, that chip in your head?" She asked then pointed out. "That's not change. Tha-that's just ... holding you back. You're like a serial killer in prison!"

"Women marry 'em all the time!" Spike said.

"Uhh!"

Spike realized that's not what he meant. "But I'm not ... like that. Something's happening to me. I can't stop thinking about you."

"Uhh", Buffy turned away.

"And if that means turning my back on the whole evil thing-"

"You don't know what you mean! You don't know what feelings are!" Buffy snapped.

Spike was offended. "I damn well do! I lie awake every night!"

"You sleep during the day!"

"Yeah, but - You are missing the point. This is real here. I love-"

"Don't!" Buffy put up a hand to stop him. He sighed. "Don't say it."

Spike stared at her.

"I'm going."

She started to walk toward the door again.

"Oh, come on, we need to talk-"

Buffy turned back. "We don't need to do anything! Okay, there is no we! Understand?"

She turned to leave.

"Buffy."

She opened the door and exited. Spike watched her go.

Later

Spike entered his crypt, moving slowly. It was dark. He walked in, making a face and put his hand to his face. Suddenly there was a sniffling noise. Spike looked up, looking around suspiciously.

"Who's there?"

A voice came from the shadows behind him. He turned.

"A happy memory, pretty Spike."

Drusilla walked out from the shadows, holding a red rose. "Look who's come to make everything right again."

Spike stared at her, astonished. She put the rosebud against her cheek and drew it down across her face.

Later

"So, uh, let me get this straight. Darla got mojo'd back from the beyond ... you vamped her….." Drusilla circled Spike. "..and now she and you are working on turning Angel into his own bad self again."

"Mm-hmm."

"Sounds fun."

"It is. Like lollipops at the circus", Drusilla said. "Although ... didn't care for Angelus setting us on fire."

She touched her cheek and chest where she had still-healing burn marks.

"And this has got you, what, all nostalgic now, has it?" Spike asked.

"I want us to be a family again, my William", Drusilla walked up close to him and put her mouth next to his ear. "Come back with me." She pulled back to look at him.

"To Los Angeles?"

She nodded.

"I've done the whole L.A. scene, Dru. Didn't agree with me", Spike walked away. "Besides, I've got a sweet little setup here in Sunny-D." He gestured around. "Decent digs... " he sat in his armchair. "Not to mention all the tasty townies I can eat."

Dru rubbed one finger against the other in a scolding gesture. "Naughty! Shh." She put a finger to her lips. "You needn't make up stories. I already know why you're not coming. Poor boy."

She put her hands to her head. "Tin soldiers put funny little knick-knacks in your brain. Can't hunt! Can't hurt! Can't kill!"

She jerked her head on each "can't" in an imitation of Spike being zapped by the chip. "You've got a chip."

She tried to put her hands on Spike's head but he got up from the chair and moved away.

"Right, so you've heard. Poor Spike's become a cautionary tale for vampires, right? "You better be good, kiddies, or else they might wire you up someday!"" Spike kicked something across the room.

"I don't believe in science. All those bits and molecules no one's ever seen. I trust eyes and heart alone", Drusilla walked over to him. "And do you know what mine is singing out right now?"

She took Spike's hand and put it over her heart. He stared at her.

"You're a killer. Born to slash ... and bash ... and..." she gave a gasp of pleasure. "Oh, bleed like beautiful poetry."

Dru breathed faster, getting excited. They turned in a circle, still with Spike's hand on her chest.

"No little tinker-toy could ever stop you from flowing."

"Yeah", Spike said.

"Ohh."

Spike shook his head, removing his hand from her. "But the pain ... love, you don't understand, it's ... it's searing. It's, um, blinding."

She put her hand on the top of his head and pulled it down toward her. "All in your head. I can see it. Little bit of ... plastic, spiderwebbing out nasty blue shocks." She moved her fingers across his head imitating a spider. "And every one is a lie." Spike kept his head bent. "Electricity lies, Spike. It tells you you're not a bad dog, but you are."

She ran her hand around behind his head and then across his face, taking his chin and lifted it to look at her. Spike growled. They gazed into each other's eyes.

"What the heck is this?"

"Oh, bloody hell."

Spike turned to see Harmony entering. She came over to them. "Who is - oh, wait. I get it. Our little sex game was just the beginning. Now you've gone and picked up some cheap queen of the damned to dress up like your precious Drood-zilla."

"Harm."

"You'd better not be thinking what I think you're thinking. 'Cause my answer is the same as always. No threesomes unless it's", Harmony gestured to Spike", boy", she gestured to the air", "boy", she gestured to herself, "girl. Or Charlize Theron."

"Harm, you moron, this is Drusilla."

Dru just watched with a small smile.

"Oh. Well", Harmony walked to Dru. "You've got some nerve showing up here like this. After all this time. After breaking my sweet boo-boo's heart."

Dru looked over Harmony's shoulder at Spike and mouthed the word "boo-boo." Spike shrugged.

"Do you have any idea how hard it's been to break down the walls he put up after you left? I mean, serious trust issues."

"Harm..."

"So it's no use you crawling back to him, 'cause Spikey don't play that game any more, Morticia."

Dru put up a hand as if to block out the sight of Harmony. Harmony turned back to Spike and he grabbed her by the throat.

Spike looked at Dru. "It's been fun while it lasted, Harm", Dru smiled. "But I think it'd be best now if you hit the road."

He threw Harmony across the room. She hit the wall and slid down to the floor, clutching her throat and panting.

"Why? Because she's back?"

"No", Spike moved closer to Dru. "Because I am."

Dru smiled.

Harmony began to get to her feet. Spike put his arm around Dru's waist and pulled her up against him.

"And there you are, my darling, deadly boy."

She put her hand on the back of his neck and they kissed.

Later, Summers House

Peter, Joyce, Buffy, and Willow sat in the Summers living room.

"Well, he ... he actually told you? He, he said, "I love you"?" Willow asked.

"Well, I-I didn't let him get that far, but ... I could see the words coming", Buffy said.

"Honey, did you ... somehow, unintentionally, lead him on in any way? Uh, send him signals?" Joyce asked.

Buffy pondered. "Well, I ... I do beat him up a lot. For Spike that's like third base."

Joyce looked upset, standing up.

"Yeah, he's weird like that", Peter agreed.

"Buffy, um ... I'm really worried", Willow said.

"So am I. He could become dangerous", Joyce agreed.

"Yeah, crazy killer in love, doesn't end well", Peter said.

"Not really. As long as it's still chips ahoy in Spike's head he can't hurt me, or any of us. You know, besides, this'll probably just blow over. You know? It's just some weird Spike thing. He'll have the hots for some gak demon before we know it", Buffy said.

"I do hope it blows over", Peter sighed.

"I don't know. Uh, these things can, can become pretty twisted", Willow said.

"Yeah, there's a chance for either of those things", Peter agreed.

Joyce came back to sit down again. "Yeah, and Spike, I mean, he's..."

"Pretty twisted."

"Yeah."

"Well, well, you made it clear, right? That it could never happen. That there's no possible way. Ever", Willow inquired.

"Yeah!" She looked at them. "I, I think so. I don't know, I, I was just so thrown."

"Well, Buffy, you have to talk to him again", Willow said.

"What? No. No, no, no, I have to avoid him again", Buffy said.

"Not until you shut him down completely. If he thinks there's even a little chance with you, there's no telling what he'll do", Willow said.

"Yeah, just one more talk to tell him there is nothing", Peter agreed.

Buffy looked concerned.

The Bronze

The group Devics was onstage performing their song "Key."

Spike and Dru entered, arm in arm. Spike was once again wearing his usual attire complete with long black leather coat. He took a glass of wine from a tray carried by a passing waitress. The waitress gave him a dirty look as Dru removed her coat. Dru drank and put the now-empty glass down.

Spike took her hands and they moved onto the dance floor and began to dance, very slow and sensual. The singer resumed singing.

Dru looked up. A couple was kissing on the balcony above. Dru turned around so that her back was to Spike. He put his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him, grinned and looked up again. Dru leaned her head back on Spike's shoulder and drew his attention to the couple. Spike had an evil expression as he and Dru began to move off the dance floor.

Summers house

Joyce was in the hallway taking a coat down from a hook.

"I know this is hard, honey, but I think you made the right decision", she said then walked back into the living room where Peter, Buffy and Willow were standing. Joyce gave the coat to Buffy.

"Better to nip this in the bud before-"

"The bud nips me?"

"Exactly."

"If you want, Buffy, I can go with. Back you up with some scowling", Willow demonstrated her scowl as Buffy put on her coat.

"Maybe I could go", Peter offered.

"No, I better do this on my own", Buffy said. "Besides, you know, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this, this whole thing's just been blown way out of proportion and ... he's already gone back to wanting me dead."

"Here's hoping", Willow grinned and held up both hands with the fingers crossed.

"What if it doesn't blow over?" Peter asked as Buffy looked at him. "He's dangerous. It can get worse."

"I can take care of it", Buffy said.

"Still, better 2 than one", Peter said.

Buffy sighed and said. "Okay, but don't talk unless there is a very good reason."

"Sure", Peter said.

Buffy then said to Willow. "You know what, though? There is one thing you can do for me while I'm gone."

Bronze

The couple was still kissing on the balcony. Spike and Dru climbed the stairs hand in hand. Dru had her vamp face on. They walked in step, slow-motion, as the music continued.

Dru walked up to the couple, grabbed the girl's head and twisted it. Dru pushed the dead girl back toward Spike, who caught her as the boy looked on in horror. Dru walked behind the boy, turned his face aside and leaned in to bite his neck.

Spike stared at the girl's neck, then back at Dru, who raised her head from the boy to look at Spike, smiling.

Spike looked conflicted. He closed his eyes, looked back at the girl, taking a few deep breaths. His vampire face appeared and he bent down with a growl to bite the girl's neck. Dru watched, then turned back to her meal.

Spike drank from the girl's neck.

Spike's crypt

The door opened and Buffy and Peter peeked in, looking around.

"Spike? ... Are you here?"

They walked in, looking around.

"Spike?"

"He's not here."

They sighed, then saw the trap-door. They crouched down and moved it aside, looking down into the hole. They climbed down. There was a torch burning on the wall and a pile of human skulls by the foot of the ladder. Buffy took down the torch and looked around, finding a couple of caskets lying with their lids open. More skulls lying all around.

Peter went over to one wall that was covered by a sheet. He pulled it aside and revealed Spike's mannequin. The sheet dropped away and revealed a whole Buffy Shrine with a collage of pictures of her - some photos, some drawings - on the wall, and more pictures on a small table, along with some stakes.

"This doesn't look good", Peter told her as they shared a grim look.

Buffy climbed back up the ladder. She looked up, startled. Spike was squatting by the trap-door waiting for her. There was blood on his mouth.

"See anything interesting?"

Buffy continued climbing.

"I, uh ... what ..." She began backing up as Spike advanced on her. "What happened?"

"Me."

Buffy turned to see Drusilla behind her. Dru held out a cattle prod/taser and zapped Buffy with it. Buffy fell to the floor with a grunt. Spike grinned.

"You remember my ex, don't you, Slayer?"

He walked around Buffy toward Dru as Buffy sat up, leaning against the casket, groaning and wincing in pain. Spike put an arm around Dru's shoulders. "Come back, she did. Couldn't live without me."

"My boy's been feeding again. But I know what he really wants to eat", Dru said.

Then suddenly webbing hit the prod and pulled it down as Peter leapt flipped out, wearing only his mask, and kicked Dru back before giving Buffy a hand.

Buffy got up, groaning as she glared at Spike. "You are disgusting."

Spike said. "I love you."

"Interesting way of showing it", Peter said.

Buffy closed her eyes and grimaced in disgust. "Oh my god."

"I ... love you", Spike said. "You're all I bloody think about. Dream about. You're in my gut ... my throat ... I'm drowning in you, Summers, I'm drowning in you."

Dru began to laugh as Buffy said. "Whatever you think you're feeling, it's not love. You can't love without a soul."

"Oh, we can, you know. We can love quite well. If not wisely", Dru said.

Spike walked towards them. "I will prove it."

"I think you've proved enough", Peter said.

"Sod off, bug boy!" Spike said as he tried to smack Peter's face but Peter caught his hand and threw him into a corner.

Dru ran to fight Peter but Buffy lunged at her, pushing her back into a wall.

Peter punched Spike who blocked before punching Peter back, then did a spin motion and kicked Peter away to the ground. He skipped towards Peter, only for Peter to kick him away with both feet as he flipped up.

Dru punched Buffy back but Buffy ducked to avoid her other blow before flipping her over her shoulder, as she turned to Spike. "You really think what you're doing is love?"

"You think I like having you in here? Destroying everything that was me, until all that's left is you, in a dead shell", Spike scoffed. "You say you hate it, but you won't leave."

Then Spike gasped and fell over, revealing an arrow in his back as Harmony lowered a crossbow.

"Oh, great."

"You forget about me again? The actual girlfriend?" Harmony asked. "I gave you the best ... bunch of months of my life!"

She hit him over the head with the crossbow.

"That's right, little girl. Teach our naughty boy a lesson", Drusilla said.

"Oh, so now you're all ganging up", Spike said.

"I thought I could change you, Spike. I thought maybe if I gave and I gave and ga-"

She was cut off when Peter webbed her mouth, shutting her up. "Sorry, seen the high school queen bee thing before. Not a fan."

Spike rushed her, grabbed the crossbow and hit her in the face. He threw the crossbow away. He and Harmony fought as Dru rushed Buffy, who flipped her to the ground.

Dru kicked her back but Peter kicked her away into the wall. Buffy rushed her and grabbed her throat, but Drusilla grabbed her throat too.

Spike ran over and grabs Dru, flinging her aside. She fell to the floor. Spike and Buffy stood side-by-side. Dru stood up, holding her face, panting and looking shocked.

"Poor Spike...so lost", she was tearful. "Even I can't help you now."

She turned and left. Peter, Spike and Buffy watch her go.

"Oh Spikey."

The three rolled their eyes and turned to see Harmony standing up.

"And you can say good-bye to this", she pointed at her butt, "because you're not gonna see it any more ever." She thought. "Unless you run into me somewhere and it's me walking away from you." She started to leave, stopped and turns back, putting hands on her hips. "But even then ... I'll probably just ... you know ... back away." She backed away and exited.

Buffy turned to Spike. He took a deep breath and looked at her, anticipating. Buffy punched him in the face. He goes flying backward into the trap-door. Buffy turned and walked off with Peter.

"You gonna be all right?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, he'd be an idiot to try anything after this", Buffy said as Peter nodded and swung away.

Few minutes later

Buffy walked quickly down the street near her home. Spike ran up behind her.

"Buffy! Come on now, stop."

He reached her and began walking by her side.

"You can't just walk away from this."

"What part of punching you in the face do you not understand?"

"So we had a fight. It's not our first, love, and it doesn't change anything."

Buffy stopped walking, turning to Spike angrily. "It changes everything, Spike! I want you out. I want you out of this town, I want you off this planet! You don't come near me, my friends, or my family again ever! Understand?"

She walked off. Spike shook his head and followed.

"No, it's not that easy. We have something, Buffy."

Buffy was walking up the stairs to the front door of her house. Spike followed.

"It's not pretty, but it's real, and there's nothing either one of us can do about it."

Buffy opened the door and entered, turning to face Spike who was right on her heels.

"Like it or not, I'm in your life, you can't just shut me out."

He stopped suddenly at the doorway as an invisible force prevented him from entering. Buffy stood right inside the door, giving him a grim look. Spike stared in surprise, giving a tentative smile, not quite getting it yet. It began to dawn on him that his invitation to the Summers house had been revoked. Buffy stepped back and closed the door in his face.

I'm a Spuffy shipper but pre-Season 7, they were toxic, and Spike's way of showing his love was unhealthy and creepy, especially with the shrine. I cut out the tying up bit due to Peter being around.

So while Spike loves Buffy, before getting his soul, his love was toxic and obsessive, even if he did do some good things for her (not telling Glory Dawn's location, helping the Scooby Gang before Buffy's resurrection, and stopping Buffy from committing suicide), but at the end of the day, he was still more Demon than man. The chip didn't change him, only leashed him.

Now I do think he changed in Seasons 5 and 6 from who he was earlier, but his redemption only came after his soul returned.

Those are my thoughts obviously, you all have your own.

Plus, I think Spike wanted to copy Angel when he said he'd kill Drusilla to prove his love to Buffy, since Angel killed Darla to save her, but obviously soulless Spike got it wrong.

Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!