The Little Things -- part 17 of Island of Galleno

by Isabelle

Rating: R (for cursing, mild nudity, adult situations and violence)

Disclaimers: BTVS belong to Joss Whedon, ME, and UPN they are being used for entertainment, I don't own them. The Count of Monte Cristo belongs to Alexandre Dumas--Spike's journey was taken from the idea of the book and is used in the skeleton of the Series. Lyrics belong to Celine Dion, Have You Ever? and to Bif Naked, Lucky Ones.

Summary: The moment that Spike finally has Buffy he is vamp-napped by Riley and a new officer, Jack Marshall and sent to the Island of Galleno off the Moroccan coast where all the leftovers of the Initiative are being placed. Buffy frantically looks for Spike but gets news that he was 'accidentally killed' by Jack, who decides to make Sunnydale his residence. The whole thing is Spike trying to get back to Sunnydale and Buffy thinking he's dead. It's filled with exotic places, tons of Original Characters, mysticism, enchantment, magic and love. It takes him years to find out who he is before he can find the one he loves.

Spoilers: Set after Normal Again, Season 6

Feedback: bih80reviews@yahoo.com

Archiving: Carnal Sins, DeathMarkedLove, and Only Time--all others please ask.

A/N: Ok, for those of you who have been waiting for 60,000 words for this happening--here it is *bg*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fadma was setting down her coat that morning when she heard Spike's phone ringing--she was on her way back home, she was tired of the California atmosphere and couldn't wait to go back home, to Safi. Where everything was less complicated, everything was more friendly and heartache was so warm.

Seeing that the maid was not coming for it she picked it up.

"Perling residency," she said to the receiver.

"Humm... hi, is Lord Perling home?"

Fadma looked into the living room. "He should be, let me check--can I ask who's calling?"

"This is Buffy Sum--Marshall, Jack Marshall's wife."

Fadma sighed. "Oh, of course, Mrs. Marshall--"

"Is this Princess Perling?" Buffy asked, uncertainly.

Fadma groaned inside. "Yes it is, dear, how are you?"

"I'm great! I didn't need to talk to Lord Perling, I mean I did but it's okay if you know too, cause I mean you're invited--"

Fadma was a bit amused at Buffy's stuttering. "What exactly is it, Mrs. Marshall--is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine--peachy, marshmallow white."

Fadma arched her eyebrow.

"Fadma? Is that you, pet?"

Fadma quickly covered the receiver. "Shhh.."

Spike tied his bathrobe around his waist and stood in front of her and gave her a questioning look.

"I was just inviting you and your husband for a private dinner party in our residence, nothing big--just some close friends, you're both welcome to come," Buffy said quickly--hating talking to her.

"We would be delighted to attend, Mrs. Marshall--" Fadma looked pointedly at Spike. Spike's eyes widened and he was instantly fidgeting. "Although I do have a flight to Safi this afternoon so it might only be my husband attending--"

Spike looked at her with a look of plea. "Please," he mouthed.

"Oh, I see--" Buffy said disappointed...but not really.

Fadma sighed. "But I might be able to get a later flight, it's not an emergency--we'll see what happens," she smiled and nodded at Spike who smiled back in thanks and took her hand and kissed it.

"Great! Tomorrow night, then at 7:30, you need not bring anything, my husband insisted on it," Buffy said rather nervously.

"I'll see you then, Mrs. Marshall--thank you for the invitation." Fadma smiled and smoothly hung up the phone.

Spike let out a sigh of relief. "She seemed nervous?"

Fadma shook her head and walked to the living room. "She seemed rather disappointed I was coming, actually--what have you been up to?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy set down the phone with a trembling hand and took a deep breath. She was loosing it, completely loosing it, she hadn't felt like this ever in her life. Like she was doing something wrong--but with her mind and she couldn't stand her own thoughts. She ran her hand through her freshly washed hair and sunk back on her bed.

She missed the simple life when she was just the Slayer and there were vampires and she would stake vampires. Simple.

She was taken from her thoughts when a sleepy and freshly woken William padded into her room, his hair standing up in all sorts of places and piglet safely in his arms.

"Morning," she smiled at him.

He rubbed his eyes and climbed her tall bed with some difficulty and curled himself up in her arms. "'morning." he mumbled.

"You had a long day yesterday," she commented as she ran her hands through his hair in an attempt to calm it.

"Tired," he mumbled.

"Let's get you a bath, you have to help me--we're having a party here," she told him brightly.

He quickly sat up. "A party?"

"Yup!" she smiled and picked him up, walking to the bathroom.

"Is Lord Perling coming?" he asked curiously.

She looked at him weird. "Yeah, why do you ask?"

William smiled and wiggled out of her arms, walking to the sink and stepping on his mini-stool to brush his teeth. "I like him, he's cool."

She watched him brush his teeth, eyeing him skeptically.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The words sunk is slowly to her. "So... she had your son."

Spike's face was one bright glowing light. "You have to see him, Fadma--he's so smart and he has things that I do and that she does, I mean--he has my eyes!"

She smiled kindly. "I'm glad for both of you, once this is all over you can be a family--the family you never thought you'd have with a woman whom you love unconditionally."

Spike smiled at her. "I love 'im--I was with him for less then three hours and I never wanted to let him go."

"Of course you do, he's flesh of your flesh, Zeru--he's a child of prophesy also. The one to carry on after you." she told him then stood up and sat closer to him. "That's why he has dreams, he knows he's special as do you. A child so small would've died in the streets of L.A. at that time of night, do you think it's coincidence that you found him? That he decided to run away that precise night? That Jake decided to take a short cut and go down those back alleys?" he looked at her very pensive, as if digesting everything she was saying. "No... Allah looked out for William, looked out for him and brought him to you."

Spike stood and started pacing. " I don't want him to be in a prophesy... he's just a baby."

"Babies grow up, Zeru. And the Slayer won't live forever."

He sharply looked at her, a sudden sense of desperation rushed through him. He could loose her any minute--not like he had her--but she was still alive.

"We have to work fast," he told her quickly, his hands shaking in anticipation.

"Calm down, we'll start with this dinner party she invited you to," Fadma told him, calmly.

"Right, the party--" Spike rambled. "You need to be there, hot dress and all."

She chuckled. "Don't worry about me, worry about you. I have a feeling that tomorrow night is the night."

Spike looked sadly. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was a Monday, when my lover told me,
Never pay the reaper with love only.
What could I say to you, except, I love you.
And I'd give my life for yours.

"The wine?" she asked one of the caterers.

"All done, Mrs. Marshall," he told her.

"Are you sure everything is ready?" she asked, nervously.

He nodded.

"Good, I'm going to get ready, any questions, ask Dawn." she informed him.

She ran upstairs to make sure William was ready.

He was sitting by his drawing table very pissed off at her.

"I hate this shirt," he informed her.

She smiled and fixed his small tie. "You look handsome."

He did a semi-pout and semi-scowl. "Hate it!"

"Just make sure that you stay clean, the guests are arriving in about twenty minutes." she smiled back at a very upset William and walked to her room.

She had four dresses laid out in her bed.

One was dark blue, halter top style and a semi-full skirt.

The other was ivory, with much embroidery, completely body hugging with a too high slit on the side.

The third was black and plain, with a peasant top type and short flowy skirt.

The fourth one was gold, backless and tight.

She went with the ivory one. She didn't have to worry about her breasts popping out and into Lord Perling's plate... she had to stop her musings he was coming with his wife for Christ's sake!

With shaky fingers she slid on her dress and slipped into golden heels. She pinned her hair up, but then decided on letting it cascade down her back in golden curls. With golden eye shadow and pale lipstick she was ready to face the world.

On her way out she saw a small package on top of her bed.

A small red package lay on her bed with a golden bow.

She eyes it carefully and looked around incase someone was around.

"I thought you might like something to with tonight's outfit."

She jumped as Jack came out behind her. He was dressed already in his suit, a ivory tie that matched her dress adorned him.

"Open it," he leered and eyes her up and down.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't want anything from you." she snapped and started walking out of the room. He roughly grabbed her arms and pressed her against him.

"You're looking extremely delicious tonight, Mrs. Marshall," he grinned and eyed her hair, taking it in his hands and feeling it's texture.

"Let go of me, Jack Marshall I don't have time for this, too busy planning your little party," she hissed.

"Open the gift, my love--"

"I'm not your love...I've never been your love," she eyed him hard and pressed her palms against his chest to wrenched herself away from him.

He chuckled. "I know you're not, I know you still moon over that dead vampire of yours. My wife, the necrophiliac who loves to visit his empty crypt."

She growled almost in anger. "Shut up!"

"Buffy?"

Jack let Buffy go instantly as Dawn knocked on the door. Buffy glared at her husband.

He picked up the little box and shoved it at her. "You put it on yourself or I'll make you wear it."

He told her and walked out the door, leaving a stunned Dawn behind.

Dawn looked at Buffy, her sister was all shaky. "Are you okay?"

Buffy opened the box, with shaky hands and took out the necklace.

"I'm fine--just a little disagreement." she smiled and placed the necklace around her neck.

"He gave you this?" Dawn asked, walking into her room to look at the necklace better.

"Yeah, for the party," Buffy said sniffling a bit.

"It's beautiful, Buffy, really," Dawn told her about the ruby necklace.

"Yeah, let's go downstairs, people should be getting here already," she then noticed what exactly her sister was wearing.

Her navy blue number.

"What's this?"

Dawn shrugged. "I'm seeing Ricardo tonight, I needed to look good."

Buffy rolled her eyes at her younger sister. "C'mon."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The guests began to arrive at the correct time. 7:30 on the dot, right when the sun had set and the earth was freshly accustomed to the night air, and the night glow where nothing is as it seems.

Spike's limo pulled up to the house at 7:45pm--the last of the party to arrive and after greeting people for the last fifteen minutes Buffy let out a sigh as she watched Lord Perling help his wife out of the car.

He looked amazing.

Dressed from head to toe in black, with only a red tie on his black silk dress shirt. She could tell he had suspenders underneath. Blood red, probably--this man obviously liked black and red, reminded her of Spi--

"Is he here?" Jack asked anxiously, coming up behind her.

She sighed and nodded, walking past him to be the proper hostess.

"Make sure they feel completely at home," he insisted, she ignored him and rolled her eyes not stopping to see him appreciating the way her backside was shown-off in her ivory dress.

Buffy looked herself over in the hall mirror and took a deep breath. "He's married, remember." she whispered a reminder to herself. With a smile plastered on her face she went up the two steps into the foyer.

Spike was taking Fadma's overcoat to reveal the princess' choice of a pale blue evening gown that shone against her dark skin, showing off her completely bare back.

Buffy held in all looks of jealousy against the woman and smiled wider, until she thought she might stay permanently stretched for the rest of her life.

"Good evening, Lord Perling--good evening Lady Perling," she said, extending her hand to take his.

He didn't met her eyes, that's one thing she noticed. And for some weird reason his hand felt cold. Was it cold outside? Maybe the limo was cold...

"Evening, Mrs. Marshall--" he did look her up and down and she got a bit of a rush out of it, taking whatever made her choose the beaded dress that would not show off her erect nipples at his scrutinizing gaze. "You look absolutely marvelous."

She smiled for real this time and was sure she was blushing as he kissed her hand.

Cold lips touching warm skin.

And then something happened that she would've never expected.

Never in a million years.

She saw a scar in his eyebrow.

She gasped, instantly and searched his face.

Before she could think on her own Fadma was pushing in and smiling brightly at her, taking her hand and shaking it. "Thank you for inviting us, Mrs. Marshall--we really haven't made any friends since we have arrived here and it seems extremely nice of you to open your home to us."

But Buffy wasn't listening to anything she was saying as she led her into the house, all she could do was continue her head mantra.

'He's not Spike. He's not Spike. He's not Spike. He's not Spike.'

Behind her Spike smirked.

His Slayer was a smart girl.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know we are...we are the lucky ones
I know we are...we are the lucky ones
I know we are...we are the lucky ones, dear

At dinner they sat opposite to each other. His wife to his side as they listened to Jessica Kirling tell them some senseless story about her dog that Buffy idly wondered if it were her child.

How they groomed it, and bathed him and she seethed inside at how proper Lady Perling smiled and laughed at the Senator's wife story telling. Needless to say she was the star of the show. After all when is it that one sits to eat at a table with a princess, a nice and beautiful one at that. She was a picture storybook, even her husband was eying her with appreciation--along with all the other politicians. Lord Perling didn't seem to mind as he smiled fondly at his wife as she told them tales of Safi.

The worst part was when she started telling the guests how her and Lord Perling had met.

No arranged marriages for them, even though her father, Prince Nabil wanted it from the beginning--but no. It was all sappy and perfect and Buffy had to stuff her face with mashed potatoes to keep herself from puking.

Lord Perling, or Zeru as she called him--was a guest at her father's palace and she was appointed to 'entertain' him.

Buffy rolled her eyes--could it get more Indiana Jones than that?

But something happened--something very peculiar when Buffy stood up to help one of the caterers.

Lord Perling looked away from his wife long enough to catch Buffy's eyes.

And Buffy having a bowl of mashed potatoes in her hand dropped them in the tiled floor as she realized that through all her denial the man starring back at her with the little twinkle in his blue eyes was indeed Spike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been so in love

Dawn walked outside, running her hand through her curls making sure they hadn't frizzed. She took in a deep breath and looked around.

The porch was lit with Chinese lamps and there was a radio outside playing soft Jewel songs, hardly hearable with just enough to be heard clearly in the silent, moist night.

"You look beautiful."

She smiled and turned around softly.

Well--he looked pretty good himself, dressed in a black suit and green tie that somehow brought out the green in his eyes--he was freshly shaved and hair was cut.

"Is that the best you can do?" she asked him, cocking her head to the side and smiling a bit, hoping her nervousness wouldn't shine through.

He smiled and brought his hand from behind him, revealing one blue rose.

She stared at it, wondering if it was real or not.

"Is that real?"

He looked down at the rose in his hand and smiled.

"In ancient times it was said that the man who would find a blue rose for his lady will be the bravest of them all--but if the lady smelled it--only once she would remain in eternal sleep until the end of time."

"The end of time?" she asked, almost hypnotized with the night and his incredible scent, the way his look penetrated hers as he walked slowly up to her.

"Only to be broken by love's true kiss," he told her back and held out the flower.

Have you ever walked on air
Ever felt like you were dreamin'
When you never thought it could
But it will, it feels that good
Have you ever been so in love

"What do you want me to do with this?" she asked him, not taking the flower--knowing her history the rose would truly be enchanted.

"I got it for you, worry not, if you fall asleep I'll bring you back," he smirked.

She laughed. "Is this another way of telling me you want to kiss me?"

He held out the rose to her and laughed with her. "I actually dyed it--no harm in that."

She took the rose from him, not being able to contain the smile in her lips. "What was it's original color?"

He stepped closer.

"Blanco," he said in Spanish.

Her eyes brows furrowed. "What?"

"White, it was a white rose--"

"I don' like white roses," she told him.

"I know--that's why I dyed it," he smiled.

"I like blue, but let me guess 'you knew that?'," she grinned and smelled the rose.

It smelled of plastered dye and for some reason that made her laugh.

"What?" he asked, defensively.

"I can see why it would knock the girls out."

"And are you knocked out?" he asked, bringing his head closer to her until their lips were mere inches away.

"Completely off my feet," she smiled and let him kiss her.

Arms wrapped around each other as the night air enveloped the young lovers.

Have you ever been in love
You could touch the moonlight
When your heart is shooting stars
You're holding heaven in your arms
Have you ever been in love, have you

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The first time we made love, I...I wasn't sober.
(and you told me you loved me over and over!)
How could I ever love another, when I miss you every day..
Remember the time we made love in the roses?
(and you took my picture in all sorts of poses!)
How could I ever get over you, when I'd give my life for yours

He blinked and looked away.

The trance was gone and Buffy was left standing in a room, with mashed potatoes all over the place and feeling more lost than ever.

That was Spike--she was sure of it. She knew those eyes, she knew that eyebrow--underneath that beard and those manners and that posture was her vampire.

It was screaming at her and she could not bare to look away, just staring at him as he avoided her gaze.

He was now placing his hand against his wife's and Buffy clearly heard in her head the voice of her child from long ago.

"He's a Prince," he smiled. "And he has a princess... she's very pretty."

"She is?" Buffy frowned.

"Her hair is black and she loves him very much. Her skin is dark... and when she speaks I can't understand," he frowned.

Buffy paused and froze on her place. "Dark skin?"

"Yes... she's his wife," her baby boy said and leaned in to place his small head on her chest.

All words haunt but this hurt most of all. Ghosts she couldn't begin to imagine were hidden within the confines of her mind, and they were threatening to explode any moment now.

"Buffy, dear are you okay?" she was shaken out of her trance by Jack who played the part of the very worried husband. "You're not hurt are you?"

"No..." she looked at Spike who was pretending to be interested in his dinner and her gut twisted. "Actually, I think I am... please excuse me."

With that she ran out of the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know we are...we are the lucky ones
I know we are...we are the lucky ones
I know we are...we are the lucky ones
I know we are...we are the lucky ones, dear My dear.

Spike watched with pained eyes as Buffy practically ran out of the room. Pain and betrayal in her eyes.

He hated doing this to her and for all he knew he could simply stand up and hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay--but something had happened to him while he was away--something so terrible and so cold that had made him numb.

He wanted to end everything and anything.

He wished he had never come back--to leave her dead in the dark tombs of his heart.

To leave her be.

To let him rest in peace. Like the dead corpse he was.

But something--at that moment--kept him there.

Small little eyes that looked up at him last night and asked him if he would ever leave again.

He had promised he would not.

The last thing he wanted to do was lie to his child--just like his father had lied to him many times when he was a young lad.

"I do apologize for my dear wife, she seems to have taken ill--perhaps we shall have a quick nightcap?" Jack offered, hopeful that at least the Lord would stay.

"I have a flight to catch, but darling--why don't you day behind?" Fadma turned to Spike.

Spike's eyes bugged out as he looked at her.

She smiled innocently and nodded to one of her servants to prepared her car.

"Do stay, M'lord--I would love a chat." Jack said, almost wringing his hands.

Spike looked the man over and smiled. "I would enjoy that indeed."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's time to say I thank god for you
I thank god for me give today to swim away and
I know I know I know I know
It's time to let you know time to let you know
Time to let you know time to stay here with me

Buffy ran into the kitchen, slamming the door behind her, breathing in and out--with tears in her eyes.

All this time she had thought him dead--was he really hiding from her?

But this was Spike--Spike wouldn't do that, especially after that first night, especially after everything he kept coming back and then why would Jack tell him he was dusted? Why would Riley confirm it?

Maybe he was kidnapped and this has all been a plan.

Suddenly her life didn't seem quite simple any more. Was it all a lie?

Did Jack have any clue of this? Did Giles?

She doubted everyone at that moment. What if Spike didn't remember her at all--what is he had some type of amnesia and woke up, not knowing who or what he was?

But why would he look at her the way he did? She knew he felt some thing--a tingling sensation that was driving her mad!

She wanted to cry and scream for answers.

Narrowing her eyes--she knew that's exactly what she was going to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The beeper to his side started vibrating and he pulled back, gasping for air.

"I have to go," he told her gently.

She sighed and kissed him once more, hoping that it might lengthen his stay, just the feel of his warm--hard body--against hers.

"No," she pouted and caught herself looking very much like Buffy did when she wanted something.

He laughed but pulled away. "Te quiero, mi amor." he whispered.

She smiled lazily. "What does that mean?"

He kissed her nose and walked away. "I'll tell you later, must go now."

She continued to pout as he walked away, just staring at his retreating back.

"Damn, me got it bad," she told her self as she sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are we are the lucky ones
I know we are the lucky ones

Spike was tired of speaking politics with Jack Marshall so he settled in telling him that they would have their 'formal' meeting the day after tomorrow--Jack was welcome to come over his place. He could've ended it tonight, he knew he could but it was something in Buffy's face that prevented him, or maybe William walking downstairs and finding the man he'd known as 'father' killed by his real father. He just couldn't do it in this house.

That left mad--mad at himself for being weak and letting his actions be guided by Buffy once again. It had been a long time since that.

He wrapped his overcoat closer to himself as he stepped out into the night air and Lugo smiled, opening the limousine door for him.

"Did Fadma make it to her place?" he asked the young man.

He nodded. "Yes sir, we came back for you," he informed him.

Spike nodded in thanks and got into his limo.

Settling back on the cushions all he could think was of the quality bourbon stashed inside--he couldn't wait to get his hands on it.

Until he looked up, the door slammed and the limo started moving and all he could do was stare at the person before him.

Before sat Buffy, in an overcoat herself, staring at him, she had tear tracks down her cheeks and fire was spitting from her eyes.

"I know it's you, Spike," she told him.

Spike could really use that bourbon right at that moment and he swallowed. "I have no clue who you're talking about, Mrs. Marshall."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TBC...

(well, she found out...)

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