DAY 6.
Once again, Spike was hiding a few yards away from Buffy's house on Revello Drive, and waited until Xander drove away. He waited some more time, and then walked to the door. He confidently turned the knob; as always, it wasn't locked. He pushed the door and walked inside, looking around: the house was silent. They were probably already gone to bed.
Spike stepped further in, but suddenly froze when he heard light footsteps coming from the staircase. Before he could realize what was going on, he saw Dawn, skipping the last stair, moving slowly as if she was sneaking out of the house, and then noticing his presence and looking up at him in disbelief.
Dawn (whispering): Spike?
Spike: Hey Nibblet.
Dawn: W- What… How?
Spike decided to play his old cocky self in front of her.
Spike: How what? Can't answer you if you don't ask your question properly, Bit.
Dawn's face displayed a succession of contradictory feelings. First surprise. Then anger. Then confusion. Then sadness. And now hesitation.
Dawn: I… I was going to the crypt…
Spike frowned. How could she have known? Had she seen him hiding in the street? Dawn guessed his thoughts.
Dawn: Oh, no, I didn't know you were back, I just… Just went there sometimes, to check and… You know, in case you… Well, I know Clem keeps an eye on the place but…
Her voice trailed off. During months, she had planned what she would tell him would he ever dare come back. Word for word, she had listed everything she wanted him to know. How much she had trusted him for so long. How disappointed and angry she had felt when she had learnt that he had tried to rape her sister. How she didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive him and trust him again.
And now, now that he was in front of her, that Buffy was not around to prevent her from saying or doing anything, she couldn't remember a single word. And instead of the great speech that she had prepared, she was telling him foolish things about Clem and the crypt.
Spike: Does Buffy know?
Dawn: Huh?
Spike: That you sneak out of the house regularly to go to the cemetery.
Dawn: Of course not! She would freak out!
They both instinctively looked up to the ceiling when they heard footsteps on the floor above, and then in the staircase.
Buffy: Dawn, who are you talking to? Is Xander ba-…
Buffy froze when she stepped down the last stair and saw both Dawn and Spike standing in the hall. Her lips parted several times as if she was trying to say something but couldn't. Finally, she managed to articulate a full sentence:
Buffy (to Spike): What are you doing here?
Spike: I…
Buffy: How did you get in? Did Dawn let you in?
Spike: Hey, quiet love. Which question should I answer first?
Dawn: I didn't let him in, he was already in when I went downstairs…
Buffy (to Spike again): Oh, so you're lurking again? When did you come back? And *why* the hell did you come back?
Spike: Wow, calm down pet, give me at least enough time to answer one of those questions…
Buffy: No, I don't want to know. Go away.
Spike looked at the Slayer intently, wondering if she really meant it, but remained silent.
Dawn: Buffy, you can't -
Buffy pushed the vampire roughly back towards the door.
Buffy: You've got nothing to do here. You heard me, go away. It's either that or I stake you. You know I will. Go away.
He stared at her for a while. She seemed dead serious. He sighed.
Spike: Look, I wasn't trying to be intrusive, but I know you wouldn't have let me in and I really need to have a talk with you. Now just let me talk. When I'm done, do whatever you wish. Stake me, throw me out, whatever. Just listen to what I have to say. I won't be long.
Buffy looked at him hesitantly. He looked so pale, and so thin…
Buffy: Dawn, go back to your room.
Dawn: What? No way!!
Buffy: Dawn…
Dawn pouted, but eventually went upstairs, stomping loudly on each stair to show her annoyance, while Buffy and Spike headed towards the living room.
Spike knew Dawn wasn't back in her room, but instead had sat on the last stair. He wasn't sure whether he knew it thanks to his keen vampire ears or thanks to his kind of babysitting experience of the previous summer. Buffy probably knew her little sister was listening to them as well, didn't she?
Looking up to Buffy, he realized she was looking at him with suspicion.
Spike: I've changed Buffy… (he sighed) Don't you notice anything?
Buffy: New haircut? New clothes? Did you come to talk about shopping?
Spike: No! I…
Buffy: I won't listen to your gossip all the day! I don't even know why I'm listening to you! Go away!!
Spike: But, I want to…
Buffy: Already forgot what your last visit was for? And where it brought us?
A sudden wave of guilt fell upon Spike at the memory.
Spike: I know it -…
Buffy (interrupting): I said. Go. Away.
Spike: The sun is -
Buffy: I don't care!
She threw a blanket that was lying on the couch at the vampire, went to the door and opened it.
Spike: Ok… See you tomorrow, pet.
Buffy: Oh no! I won't open!
Spike (confidently): You will.
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 7.
Buffy and Spike were standing in the living room exactly as the previous day, while Dawn was sitting on the last stair.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for all the pain I put you in, you, and Dawn, and … all the others -
Buffy: Is that a way to make an apology? Maybe you want a wholesale price?
Spike received the blanket in his face and heard the sound of the door being opened.
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 8.
The same old day…
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for all the pain I put you in. I wanted to deserve you and…
Buffy: Forget about that! We'll never sleep together again. We already talked about it. Never.
Spike: I know, I'm not here for that. (he paused, and an involuntary smile appeared on his lips) But you liked what I did to you, huh?
This time he was granted a bonus punch in the face before Buffy threw the blanket at him and opened the door.
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 9.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for all the pain I put you in. When I left Sunnydale last summer, I wanted to change. And I did. I have a soul.
Buffy (not taking him seriously): Oh? You're Angel's little boy, huh?
Spike: Oh come on! I'm not like this poofter! I didn't get cursed with a soul, I actually asked for one! I don't have the nasty little clause that would take the soul away, so it's ok to have a good shag if you feel like -…
Punch. Blanket. Door.
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 10.
Spike was now hesitating in front of Buffy. He should really try to learn from his errors, he thought… He tried a new approach.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for having hurt you. I know I'll never be like Angel, but -
Buffy: *Angel* has a soul.
Spike: As have I.
Buffy (incredulous): No, you don't.
Spike: C'mon! Don't be so narrow-minded! Even the Nibblet noticed I've changed!
Buffy: Don't involve Dawn in that! She…
They suddenly heard Dawn running downstairs, looking extremely angry.
Buffy: Dawn? What are you doing here, you –
Dawn (to Spike): Yeah! Don't involve me in this! Don't try to use me to get into my sister's pants again!
As Spike turned back to see her, Dawn grabbed the blanket and threw it at him. The vampire instinctively began to make his way towards the door.
Spike (muttering angrily): Bugger this!
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 11.
Spike hesitated again in front of Buffy, and repeated the mental list he had so far. Don't upset her, don't talk about sex, don't mention Dawn… But do apologize. The day before, the beginning had actually sounded rather good… He decided to give it a try once more, even if he didn't like the idea of being compared to Angel.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for having hurt you. I know I'll never be like Angel, but -
Buffy: *Angel* has a soul.
Spike: As have I.
Buffy (incredulous): No, you don't.
Spike: I know you never fully trusted me before because I didn't have a soul… But now I have one.
Buffy stared at him intently as she made a few steps towards him. He then heard the sound of the door being opened.
Spike (moaning): Hey! It was working!
Xander (peeking his head around the corner of the open door): Hey Buff, you -… What the hell is Spike doing here!?
Buffy (to Spike): What was working?
Spike: No… Errr…
Xander came in and closed the door, while Buffy and Spike began to shout at each other. Xander grabbed a stake that was hidden near the entrance and rushed towards the vampire, but froze when he saw Dawn coming downstairs.
Xander: You're not sleeping?
Dawn: You neither.
Xander: Yeah… I'm still thinking about Anya…
Spike: When will it be clear? I. Have. A. Soul. Get it? And I want to apologize!
Buffy: You're not acting like someone who has a soul!
Spike: Of course not! This damned day is endless!
Xander walked in the living room, picked up a blanket and threw it in Spike's face while Buffy was opening the door.
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 12.
Same room. Same day. Same players…
Spike: Ok, briefly.
Buffy: Please yes.
Spike: I asked a demon to give me a soul. I suffered like hell but I passed all the trials. And now I'm still in torment to explain you I've changed.
Buffy: A soul?
As she said that, she began to laugh out loud. Spike also heard Dawn laughing upstairs.
Spike: Ok. I know where the door is…
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY 13.
Clem: SPIKE! IT'S YOU!!
Spike slightly lifted his head, only to see, to his greatest horror, the same old pizza box again. He silently got up, ignoring Clem swirling happily around him, probably telling him that he had kept an eye on the crypt while he was gone, and oh! Guess what? Tara got killed, Willow became addicted to dark magic and tried to end the world! No kidding!
Slowly, he walked towards the opposite wall, and then methodically began to repetitively bang his head against the wall. Literally. Bang. Bang. Bang. Clem looked at him with concern.
Clem: Hmm… Spike? Are you okay?
Spike (gritting his teeth): I. *bang* Hate. *bang* Today. *bang*
Clem: Is it because of the pizza? Well if it is, I'm sorry. And about the mess too.
Spike abruptly stopped hitting his head, and instead tilted it somewhat to the left.
Spike: You know, maybe I should just do nothing today. Maybe that's what this all means. Maybe the best thing I could do today is do absolutely *nothing*.
Clem: What? Spike, are you really ok?
Spike: Yeah, maybe that's it.
The vampire made his way to the bed, and fell on it loudly, settling himself comfortably. He put his hands behind his neck, and closed his eyes.
Spike: A quiet, comfy day doing nothing but sleep…
**************
Here we are again! Spike is doing pretty bad, isn't he?
Well, wait until you read the next chapter, he's doing even *worse*...
And Old Big Bad Spike is featured in next chapter, so stay tuned!
Be prepared for big drama time!
Once again, Spike was hiding a few yards away from Buffy's house on Revello Drive, and waited until Xander drove away. He waited some more time, and then walked to the door. He confidently turned the knob; as always, it wasn't locked. He pushed the door and walked inside, looking around: the house was silent. They were probably already gone to bed.
Spike stepped further in, but suddenly froze when he heard light footsteps coming from the staircase. Before he could realize what was going on, he saw Dawn, skipping the last stair, moving slowly as if she was sneaking out of the house, and then noticing his presence and looking up at him in disbelief.
Dawn (whispering): Spike?
Spike: Hey Nibblet.
Dawn: W- What… How?
Spike decided to play his old cocky self in front of her.
Spike: How what? Can't answer you if you don't ask your question properly, Bit.
Dawn's face displayed a succession of contradictory feelings. First surprise. Then anger. Then confusion. Then sadness. And now hesitation.
Dawn: I… I was going to the crypt…
Spike frowned. How could she have known? Had she seen him hiding in the street? Dawn guessed his thoughts.
Dawn: Oh, no, I didn't know you were back, I just… Just went there sometimes, to check and… You know, in case you… Well, I know Clem keeps an eye on the place but…
Her voice trailed off. During months, she had planned what she would tell him would he ever dare come back. Word for word, she had listed everything she wanted him to know. How much she had trusted him for so long. How disappointed and angry she had felt when she had learnt that he had tried to rape her sister. How she didn't know if she would ever be able to forgive him and trust him again.
And now, now that he was in front of her, that Buffy was not around to prevent her from saying or doing anything, she couldn't remember a single word. And instead of the great speech that she had prepared, she was telling him foolish things about Clem and the crypt.
Spike: Does Buffy know?
Dawn: Huh?
Spike: That you sneak out of the house regularly to go to the cemetery.
Dawn: Of course not! She would freak out!
They both instinctively looked up to the ceiling when they heard footsteps on the floor above, and then in the staircase.
Buffy: Dawn, who are you talking to? Is Xander ba-…
Buffy froze when she stepped down the last stair and saw both Dawn and Spike standing in the hall. Her lips parted several times as if she was trying to say something but couldn't. Finally, she managed to articulate a full sentence:
Buffy (to Spike): What are you doing here?
Spike: I…
Buffy: How did you get in? Did Dawn let you in?
Spike: Hey, quiet love. Which question should I answer first?
Dawn: I didn't let him in, he was already in when I went downstairs…
Buffy (to Spike again): Oh, so you're lurking again? When did you come back? And *why* the hell did you come back?
Spike: Wow, calm down pet, give me at least enough time to answer one of those questions…
Buffy: No, I don't want to know. Go away.
Spike looked at the Slayer intently, wondering if she really meant it, but remained silent.
Dawn: Buffy, you can't -
Buffy pushed the vampire roughly back towards the door.
Buffy: You've got nothing to do here. You heard me, go away. It's either that or I stake you. You know I will. Go away.
He stared at her for a while. She seemed dead serious. He sighed.
Spike: Look, I wasn't trying to be intrusive, but I know you wouldn't have let me in and I really need to have a talk with you. Now just let me talk. When I'm done, do whatever you wish. Stake me, throw me out, whatever. Just listen to what I have to say. I won't be long.
Buffy looked at him hesitantly. He looked so pale, and so thin…
Buffy: Dawn, go back to your room.
Dawn: What? No way!!
Buffy: Dawn…
Dawn pouted, but eventually went upstairs, stomping loudly on each stair to show her annoyance, while Buffy and Spike headed towards the living room.
Spike knew Dawn wasn't back in her room, but instead had sat on the last stair. He wasn't sure whether he knew it thanks to his keen vampire ears or thanks to his kind of babysitting experience of the previous summer. Buffy probably knew her little sister was listening to them as well, didn't she?
Looking up to Buffy, he realized she was looking at him with suspicion.
Spike: I've changed Buffy… (he sighed) Don't you notice anything?
Buffy: New haircut? New clothes? Did you come to talk about shopping?
Spike: No! I…
Buffy: I won't listen to your gossip all the day! I don't even know why I'm listening to you! Go away!!
Spike: But, I want to…
Buffy: Already forgot what your last visit was for? And where it brought us?
A sudden wave of guilt fell upon Spike at the memory.
Spike: I know it -…
Buffy (interrupting): I said. Go. Away.
Spike: The sun is -
Buffy: I don't care!
She threw a blanket that was lying on the couch at the vampire, went to the door and opened it.
Spike: Ok… See you tomorrow, pet.
Buffy: Oh no! I won't open!
Spike (confidently): You will.
DAY 7.
Buffy and Spike were standing in the living room exactly as the previous day, while Dawn was sitting on the last stair.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for all the pain I put you in, you, and Dawn, and … all the others -
Buffy: Is that a way to make an apology? Maybe you want a wholesale price?
Spike received the blanket in his face and heard the sound of the door being opened.
DAY 8.
The same old day…
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for all the pain I put you in. I wanted to deserve you and…
Buffy: Forget about that! We'll never sleep together again. We already talked about it. Never.
Spike: I know, I'm not here for that. (he paused, and an involuntary smile appeared on his lips) But you liked what I did to you, huh?
This time he was granted a bonus punch in the face before Buffy threw the blanket at him and opened the door.
DAY 9.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for all the pain I put you in. When I left Sunnydale last summer, I wanted to change. And I did. I have a soul.
Buffy (not taking him seriously): Oh? You're Angel's little boy, huh?
Spike: Oh come on! I'm not like this poofter! I didn't get cursed with a soul, I actually asked for one! I don't have the nasty little clause that would take the soul away, so it's ok to have a good shag if you feel like -…
Punch. Blanket. Door.
DAY 10.
Spike was now hesitating in front of Buffy. He should really try to learn from his errors, he thought… He tried a new approach.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for having hurt you. I know I'll never be like Angel, but -
Buffy: *Angel* has a soul.
Spike: As have I.
Buffy (incredulous): No, you don't.
Spike: C'mon! Don't be so narrow-minded! Even the Nibblet noticed I've changed!
Buffy: Don't involve Dawn in that! She…
They suddenly heard Dawn running downstairs, looking extremely angry.
Buffy: Dawn? What are you doing here, you –
Dawn (to Spike): Yeah! Don't involve me in this! Don't try to use me to get into my sister's pants again!
As Spike turned back to see her, Dawn grabbed the blanket and threw it at him. The vampire instinctively began to make his way towards the door.
Spike (muttering angrily): Bugger this!
DAY 11.
Spike hesitated again in front of Buffy, and repeated the mental list he had so far. Don't upset her, don't talk about sex, don't mention Dawn… But do apologize. The day before, the beginning had actually sounded rather good… He decided to give it a try once more, even if he didn't like the idea of being compared to Angel.
Spike: I've changed Buffy. I wanted to apologize for having hurt you. I know I'll never be like Angel, but -
Buffy: *Angel* has a soul.
Spike: As have I.
Buffy (incredulous): No, you don't.
Spike: I know you never fully trusted me before because I didn't have a soul… But now I have one.
Buffy stared at him intently as she made a few steps towards him. He then heard the sound of the door being opened.
Spike (moaning): Hey! It was working!
Xander (peeking his head around the corner of the open door): Hey Buff, you -… What the hell is Spike doing here!?
Buffy (to Spike): What was working?
Spike: No… Errr…
Xander came in and closed the door, while Buffy and Spike began to shout at each other. Xander grabbed a stake that was hidden near the entrance and rushed towards the vampire, but froze when he saw Dawn coming downstairs.
Xander: You're not sleeping?
Dawn: You neither.
Xander: Yeah… I'm still thinking about Anya…
Spike: When will it be clear? I. Have. A. Soul. Get it? And I want to apologize!
Buffy: You're not acting like someone who has a soul!
Spike: Of course not! This damned day is endless!
Xander walked in the living room, picked up a blanket and threw it in Spike's face while Buffy was opening the door.
DAY 12.
Same room. Same day. Same players…
Spike: Ok, briefly.
Buffy: Please yes.
Spike: I asked a demon to give me a soul. I suffered like hell but I passed all the trials. And now I'm still in torment to explain you I've changed.
Buffy: A soul?
As she said that, she began to laugh out loud. Spike also heard Dawn laughing upstairs.
Spike: Ok. I know where the door is…
Clem: SPIKE! IT'S YOU!!
Spike slightly lifted his head, only to see, to his greatest horror, the same old pizza box again. He silently got up, ignoring Clem swirling happily around him, probably telling him that he had kept an eye on the crypt while he was gone, and oh! Guess what? Tara got killed, Willow became addicted to dark magic and tried to end the world! No kidding!
Slowly, he walked towards the opposite wall, and then methodically began to repetitively bang his head against the wall. Literally. Bang. Bang. Bang. Clem looked at him with concern.
Clem: Hmm… Spike? Are you okay?
Spike (gritting his teeth): I. *bang* Hate. *bang* Today. *bang*
Clem: Is it because of the pizza? Well if it is, I'm sorry. And about the mess too.
Spike abruptly stopped hitting his head, and instead tilted it somewhat to the left.
Spike: You know, maybe I should just do nothing today. Maybe that's what this all means. Maybe the best thing I could do today is do absolutely *nothing*.
Clem: What? Spike, are you really ok?
Spike: Yeah, maybe that's it.
The vampire made his way to the bed, and fell on it loudly, settling himself comfortably. He put his hands behind his neck, and closed his eyes.
Spike: A quiet, comfy day doing nothing but sleep…
**************
Here we are again! Spike is doing pretty bad, isn't he?
Well, wait until you read the next chapter, he's doing even *worse*...
And Old Big Bad Spike is featured in next chapter, so stay tuned!
Be prepared for big drama time!