Buffy came downstairs almost more tired than when she went to bed last night. She wasn't getting much sleep these days not since her mother had disappeared. She was 100% certain it was Spike, if it had been Glory, she would have made her move by now. No, it was Spike that sick son of a bitch she felt it in her bones. She saw Xander looking at a map on the dining room table. Taking so much time off as he was constantly over at the house these days. Bless him he was doing everything she could to help. He looked up when he saw her enter. "Hey," he gestured at the map. "Just marking off the few places we went to yesterday."

She nodded and stared at the map. Sunnydale seemed so small and in the middle of nowhere on the map. Spike could be anywhere… anywhere with her mother. As if he was reading her mind Xander spoke up. "He would want to be long gone but the sheer fact he is using some kind of cloaking spell against Willow and Tara tells me he is close by. He doesn't want to risk being found so that means he is still in the area. We will find her."

Sometimes the man in front of her would say possibly the silliest things she had ever heard, other times she wanted to beat him senseless for what he said to her but sometimes, on occasion he could just say the right things at the right time. Like the time when she just started college and told her she was his hero. She blinked away tears that were threatening to form and hugged him close. "Thank you," Buffy said. He put her arm around her shoulder, and she let herself be comforted by him.

"I'm scared, Xander." She whispered to him.

"I know you are it's okay." He replied calmly.

"I don't- I don't know what I would do if he killed…" She trailed off and Xander pulled her closer to him. She choked back a sob as Xander hugged her tighter. After a long time, she managed to speak again. "Xander, I don't know what I would do without you, all your help."

"It's nothing," Xander said. "You'd do the same for me."

"Would I?" he asked. "I don't think I was so helpful when Jesse was killed."

"Don't say that. That had nothing to do with you." Xander said firmly. Would this girl ever stop putting too much on herself? No probably never will. Which is why Xander tried to help her in anyway he could. She nodded and leaned back to look him in the eye as he stared back at smiling sadly.

Giving him a quick kiss, she turned her attention back to reality. "Where is Dawn?" She asked taking another glance at the map.

"In the kitchen having some toast," He smiled a little proudly turning away from her to the window and she looked at impressed.

"You finally managed to get her to eat breakfast?" She asked him bemused before noting his fearful, shocked reaction. "What?" She turned to see what he was staring at and she too froze at what she saw standing outside.

Glory also known as Glorificus and also referred to as The Beast or even The Abomination was standing outside across the street with a smile on her face. A knowing smile on her face. Buffy knew that smile. Had seen it on the Master when he rose, seen it on Angelus when he taunted her and the Mayor on Graduation Day… this was never good.

"Buff?" Xander whispered as he watched Glory begin moving almost stalking towards the house similar to 'The Terminator' in the famous 80s film Xander couldn't help but compare.

"Get Dawn!" She said before moving to incept Glory. The hell god simply came crash though the front door stopping Buffy in her tracks.

"I believe you have something of mine," She sneered eyes blazing in confidence. Not really surprising as she was completely secure in herself, focused on what she wanted and dedicated to her cause… what a complete bitch Buffy thought to herself as she launched herself at Glory.

Xander ducked out of the room just as Dawn came in to see what was happening. Grabbing her he ran into the kitchen and out of the back door. The sounds of broken furniture coming from behind them. He raced around the house dragging Dawn along with him. Opening his car which was parked in the Summer's driveway he pushed Dawn in. "What about Buffy?" She yelled at him fearful.

As if in cue Buffy came sailing out the front window landing painfully on the front lawn near the car. Battered, bruised and coughing some blood she looked at Xander. "Go!" She told him.

Making a split-second decision he got in his car and floored it just as Glory appeared into view with an angry face. As Xander got onto the road Glory started to give chase punching Buffy back down who was just struggling to get to her feet. Now he really was in a Terminator film! Xander couldn't help but think as he watched in his rear mirror the sight of Glory chasing him as he drove quickly. She was making up ground as well catching up with his car. Dawn cried as she turned to see Glory get closer and closer as Xander put his foot down harder in the car desperate to pick up speed. Glory reached out with her hand as she was running, she was so close to the car now and… slam! How Xander had missed the dump truck he will never know but Glory didn't! Running straight into it as it came out from the right. The force of it knocked her down. Xander didn't stop to look at how she was merely choosing to keep speeding as Dawn closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

XXXXXXX

He pulled up to the garage where he had been hiding. Grabbing a thick blanket that was next to him, covering himself and bracing himself he opened the car door and ran as fast as he could to the entrance. Quickly opening the door, he jumped into the building. He barely had time to look up before Joyce reached him, and jumping up, clinging with her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist. She gave him a powerful kiss on his lips, using lots of tongue. "Boy," Spike commented with a grin. "Looks like you really missed me, didn't you love?"

"So much Spike! I could barely sit still since you left!" Joyce said and Spike grunted but wasn't too shocked. This love spell clearly made her clingy and territorial ah well he would have to just learn to get use to it. Shouldn't be too difficult as he had prior experience being with the similarly unstable Drusilla.

Out of the corner of his eye Spike noticed Tim come into view and turn to Joyce. "Sorry pet do you think you can give us boys a minute just got to talk to this wanker for a second."

'But I have hardly seen you!" Joyce whined like a child holding Spike tighter.

"Pretty please love!" Spike asked. "Just got some business to attend to I promise I will make it up to you." He gave her his most charming smile and she seemed to perk up.

"Fine, I think I will take a shower in the bathroom." And with that she gave him a peck and let him go wandering out of the room.

"She is not kidding when she said she had missed you!" Tim said after Joyce left. "She has been a nightmare! Always asking where you where! When you would be coming back! If there was another woman! One minute blabbing about how much she loves you! The next crying that she is not worthy!" Tim finished shaking his head before looking at Spike suspiciously. "You seem to be in a good mood what's brought this on? I am guessing your little plan has worked?"

Spike gave him a cocky grin. "Was there ever any doubt? Let's just say the slayer will have her hands full to even think about me and her mother!"

"So, you won't be needing my services for much longer?" Tim asked keen to get away from this dirty, crappy gas station.

"Let's give it one more day then you can head on out!" Spike said confidently. No doubt that hell god bitch was making pate with Buffy right now. Teach her for bothering into his affairs when she should have been doing her bloody job! Spike then pointed to the car. "There are few beers in the boot. Help yourself I am in a good mood." Spike beamed before heading in the direction that Joyce went. He went inside the small apartment that the former living now very much dead attendant stayed in. It was dirty before Spike had even arrived there. Humans! And they call us monsters! Spike thought to himself. He noticed the bathroom door was wide open. Joyce maybe out of view but her intentions were very much clear. Getting a wolfish grin on his face he quickly threw off his clothes dumping them on the floor before stepping into the bathroom and seeing her in the shower.

Naked and dripping wet Joyce leaned her back against the shower wall and spread her legs apart for her lover. "Please!" As if she needed to ask. She was wearing her illusion bracelet showing her true form and as much as he loved Faith's form and he did there was something about seeing Joyce as she was meant to be that always made Spike harder. Spike moved in close to her, catching one of her nipples with his lips as he sucked on the hardened nipple before moving to be face to face with her. For a long moment, they're still, his hair dripping water into her face as their eyes meet, dark and light. Then he takes hold of her hips and with a peremptory thrust sinks his erection into the warm slickness of her, claiming her. She smiles and reaches up to pull his mouth down to meet hers.

He watches with a smile on his face as Joyce closes her eyes loving the feeling of him. He picked her up as Joyce wrapped her legs around his waist, moaning as Spike continued thrusting his hard cock into her hot, tight pussy. The smack of skin and splash of water is the only sound as he drives into her, as she arches and opens herself wider for him, as greedy for his flesh as he is for hers.

Joyce wrapped her arms around his neck as Spike suckled on her neck, her breasts mashed against his chest as he continued to slam upwards into her. Spike grunted with pleasure as he nibbled on Joyce's neck, exciting her further. She sinks her nails into his broad back, pulling him closer, as he latches on to her in earnest, his thrusts growing faster, harder, grinding her painfully into the shower wall. He could feel her pussy wrap around his cock, squeezing him with her inner muscles as her orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, clinging to Spike for dear life as she rode it out.

The vampire felt her shudder on him as her muscles clenched around his hardon, sending him to the brink as well as he came, spurting inside her as they rode out their orgasms. "I love so much!" She whispered and he kissed her neck in response. She let her feet drop to the ground giving him a deep kiss. "I'll warm up the bed," she smiled sultry giving him a wink.

As Spike watched her leave the bathroom admiring her ass, he was overcome by a strange feeling of triumph as he watched her leave. He had won, he had gotten his girl back. Of course, he hadn't played by the rules but when did playing fair ever get Spike? The Universe had dealt him some bad cards, so it was only fair that he use a few jokers in the pack to win the game! He considered that once the slayer was gone, he might remove the love spell on Joyce. He just needed a little more time to persuade her Spike felt, remembering just how persuasive he could be with a railroad Spike. He could change Joyce's mind, make her stay, make her love him, and in the process twist her heart and soul out of all recognition. That was certainly something he might think about however finding a surgeon who could remove his bloody chip from his head was another idea. Spike still held out small hope it could be done. Then he would be finally free and whole again.

He walked into the bedroom he now shared with her and found her lying on the bed. Still, she wearing nothing but that illusion bracelet, a seductive smirk and dark eyes full of promise. Joyce smiled sensually and leant back displaying her body proudly for his pleasure. Spike's mouth went dry as he unashamedly looked at her figure that she was enticingly displaying for him. Maybe he would change her. Yes, that would be better than seeing her grow weak and wrinkly she would be reborn, immortal, hungry, soulless... He had saved her from making a stupid mistake in switching back with Faith just before a potentially life threating operation. Only fair he save her from the aging process. Hazy eyed with arousal and staring lustily at him she beckoned Spike with one finger. Growling he came to her brushing her hair out of her face as she leaned into the caress of his hand. Their lips met and Spike couldn't tell who initiated it, but he knew it was Joyce who pushed him on his back. Stroking him to full hardness she impaled herself on his cock and all his thoughts creased to exist. Raising his hands and placing them atop her breasts she became his sole focus… just as he was hers.

XXXXXXXXX

Xander had never been so relieved to see Buffy in his life as she wandered into his apartment. Battered and bruised but alive. She quickly explained that she hadn't seen where Glory had gone, just that they were all in danger as Glory it seemed now knew that Dawn was the key.

"How could she have known?" Willow asked worriedly. Xander had called her and everyone round all at once. Willow, Tara, Giles and even Anya had come round now huddled in Xander's apartment with Buffy and Dawn. "I mean we have been so careful."

"I have a theory," Buffy remarked seething with anger. "I give you five guesses and the first four don't count."

"Spike," Giles answered shaking his head.

Buffy nodded turning to him. "I bet my life that it was him. You were right I can't protect Dawn and go after him at the same time. He knew this so probably told Glory to throw me off the scent." Giles took off his glasses and for the thousand time cursed at the fact none of them had ever staked the vampire. While the others now dealt with the impact of the news.

"Well maybe you wouldn't have to deal with any of this if you weren't busy 'doing' other things," Anya remarked looking at both Buffy and Xander pointy and with bitter eyes crossing her arms and scowling at the pair. A blind person would noticed how Xander seemed to hover nearby Buffy currently. Her misery and fear at losing Dawn as well as her mother, Xander's almost desperate attempts to fill that void, and Buffy's almost total obliviousness to those attempts. It was almost sickening.

"Anya," Xander started looking at her. "This isn't the time!"

"It never is," Anya fired back. "Always never a good time to point out the great Buffy's mistakes."

"That is enough Anya we need to focus on the issues now that are here," Giles said in a warning tone, the two of them stare at each other for a few moments in a battle of wills, before finally Anya lowered her eyes almost apologetically and gave in. Giles turned to the rest of the group. "Perhaps we should reassemble at the magic shop, see if there's anything- "

Buffy cut him off. "We can't fight her."

Giles turned to her surprised. "W-well not yet, no, but- "

Buffy didn't even let him finish. "No, not ever. She's too strong, Giles. We're not gonna win this with, with stakes, or spells, or pulling out some uranium power core. She's a god and she's coming for us. So, let's just not be here when she starts knocking."

"Run away?" Anya suggested, Buffy turned to look at her forced herself to keep a neutral look on her face and reluctantly nodded. "Finally, a sensible plan."

"That's not what she meant." Xander told Anya before turning to Buffy in confusion. "Is it?" He asked her.

"Well, we can't stay here! She'll just kill us off one by one until there's no one left standing between her and Dawn." Buffy explained to the group.

Giles shook his head at mere suggest of such a drastic idea. "Buffy, we all understand the severity of the situation, but there must be another way."

"No. We stay, we die. Show of hands for that option." Buffy responded harshly. Looking around the room everyone is silent. Buffy spoke up again. "All right. Nobody goes home, nobody tells anybody we're leaving. Just pack up whatever supplies we need and that's it, we're gone."

"Cool. Don't have to study for that geometry test." Dawn said quietly to herself and Tara wrapped her arm around her shoulder.

"What about wheels?" Xander asked. "I don't think everybody's gonna fit in the Xander mobile."

"Just get your stuff together." Buffy replied to him. "I'll handle the rest." She turns to look out the window again.

XXXXXXXXX

A saucy smile played along Joyce's gloss-smudged lips still swollen and flushed from Spike's hungry parting kiss. Hungry for her mouth, he took it with his own. Opening up, their tongues duelled in a sudden struggle to taste, tease, possess. He palmed her ass, filling both hands with taut curves. They had been at it for so long she had reverted back to Faith's image. Not that he was complaining. The dark slayer's body awoke much desire within him. Holding her tight against his awakening arousal, he moaned deeply at the pleasurable ache. An echoing moan sounded from Joyce's throat as she clutched him tighter, arms looping around his neck. They parted for an instant staring deeply into each other's eyes. She whispered his name, a soft caress of air across his lips. A plea for more. Right now, he needed to taste her again, perfectly willing to submit to it. His mouth prowled hers hungrily as she let out a throaty moan. Their bodies pressed tight, hard angles meeting soft curves, taut flesh tingling at every contact. Her nails curled against the back of his neck prompting him to continue.

"You're beautiful," he told her. With two fingers he traced the curve of one breast, finally opening his palm to close around it. Joyce arched into his touch instinctively searching for more, her eyes shuttered closed, head thrown back. "Beautiful and mine," he muttered possessively causing a thrill. His touch was electric revving her up and shocking in the way it made her want so much so fast. His mouth closed over one nipple, sucking soft and deep, eliciting a low cry from Joyce's throat. A wet pop sounded at its release. He flicked it with his tongue and followed with caresses as he moved across to her other breast.

Writhing in pleasure, she hooked one leg over his hip, needing the closeness of their bodies. Panting for air, Joyce didn't want to be separated from those deep, wet kisses. All thought evaded her. Sensation took over. Head spinning, heart thumping, a delicious throb between her thighs. More kisses. Teasing fingers. His growl of approval at her eager touch. Broad shoulders, muscle beneath silk, controlled strength, a hard bulge to grind against, all for her.

Spike moved until he was directly on top of Joyce, kissing her passionately as she wrapped her legs around his waist. She grunted aloud as he thrust into her once more as they resumed their lovemaking, her toes curling with pleasure as her muscled lover moved inside her. Joyce moaned for more, her palms smoothing out the muscles of his back as they flexed under her touch. He arched as his hips curled to a new angle. Sizzling pleasure trailed across her skin with every touch, with each kiss. Joyce unlocked her legs from around him, angling them higher, her hips now meeting his every thrust. Careless of the hard contact. Each banging beat bringing her closer to him. She scored his back with her nails, reaching down to palm his ass. The tight muscles flexing under her palms as he fucked her in that untiring rhythm. Her body milked him from within. Muscles gripping and clenching in ways out of her control, that left her reeling with the sensation of his rigid shaft filling her up. His howl of satisfaction roared in her ears as he came. His vocal climax toppled Joyce over the brink of her own orgasm, her body singing its pleasure in a thousand measures. A cry on her own lips as she held him close, and he rode her steadily until he pumped out every last drop of cum his body could give.

He had her back and now he was going to keep her.