DISCLAIMER -- I own none of these characters (but don't I wish), nor do I profit from them... All hail Joss Whedon, God of the Buffyverse and thank him for allowing us to use his creations.
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive ;
Feedback: I'd love some… catalysts@home.com
Original fiction and poetry: Try my URL http://jane.crimescene.org/~wench/
This is my second foray into the realm of "songfic" (be kind)
The song is "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler
And then there was Spike (Part 4)
By C.D. Hackett
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
and you're never coming 'round
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit tired
of hearing the sounds of my tears
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Willow was in the shower, belting out a song at the top of her lungs with no embarrassment. Spike had gone out to run some important errand so he wouldn't be able to hear her. She couldn't imagine what could be so important to get him out and about after what they had just shared with each other.
"The old Willow might have worried that she did something wrong, but everything was perfect. I am a new woman now," she thought to herself as she liberally applied raspberry showergel to herself and continued to sing unabashedly.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit nervous
that the best of all the years have gone by
(Turn around)
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
and then I see the look in your eyes
(Turn around, bright eyes)
every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
every now and then I fall apart
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Then she shrieked as two cold hands grabbed her arms.
"Pet, don't scream like that unless you're looking for another go," Spike stepped into the shower with her. Inhaling the cleanness of her, letting the hot water pelt down on the two of them, giving his flesh the semblance of life.
She blushed in spite of herself, so much for a new Willow, she was feeling so incredibly shy at that moment, but she fought it. She turned to face him, the water blinding her.
"I think if we want water sports, I'll need some underwater goggles," she embraced him and Spike could feel the smile on her face against his chest.
He handed her some goggles, "When I was alive, I used to have a wee piddling of the Sight."
*****
"Where's Willow?" Giles frowned over his spectacles, "I would have thought she'd be here by now. Has anyone seen her recently?"
Buffy looked down at her feet, seemingly fascinated by the creases in the leather of her boots.
Xander looked at Anya and then started thinking about what had kept them occupied earlier and began to get a glazed over look, which ended up with Anya elbowing him.
"What are you doing fantasizing when I am right here?"
"It's about earlier," his voice was a near whisper, "when you had the stethoscope and had to examine me for--"
"Ugh! Xander. Bad mental pictureland. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. I don't wanna hear that stuff," Buffy interrupted him, thankfully, before any worse mental images could occur.
"Ahem," Giles cleared his throat, "I was asking about Willow."
"She's probably in some little love nest with Spike. Doing the interlocking bodies, multiple orgasm thing, if she's lucky," Anya spoke up bluntly, as Xander always said 'blunt enough to bludgeon'.
Giles was, effectively, flabbergasted. He moved as if to plop down into a chair, and Buffy got one under the sinking ex-librarian just in time.
"Would anyone care to explain-- No Anya, I understand about, well, about the activities you alluded to, I want an explanation to what is happening with Willow and Spike," Giles managed to force the words out of his mouth.
"Well, she's been not herself since the whole Oz thing and, I guess, Spike was the only one who really listened to how she felt," Xander offered by way of explanation.
"How could we be expected to listen to her whine and cry? She should have just cast a nasty spell on him and been done. I could have helped her, I still know some ones that would have been handy."
Xander backed away from his girlfriend, "Not making me feel secure right now, Anya."
"But Xander, that's only to punish the bad ones. You keep me satisfied and if I cast a spell to remove your parts, you wouldn't be able to fulfill my needs. Don't worry. I love you."
He still appeared pale, but wrapped his arm around her again.
"You didn't say it back. I just said I loved you and you said it back earlier. Say it now," she stomped her foot.
"Anya, you don't have to automatically say it back every single time. I still feel it, even if I don't say--" he looked at her pouting lower lip, "Of course I love you too, kitten."
She beamed and launched herself onto him, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissing him with enthusiasm.
"Ugh," Buffy and Giles said in unison.
"Would you cease and desist that behaviour while in my home?" Giles cleaned his glasses with a handkerchief, "I find it more disturbing than anything I've seen while living near the Hellmouth."
Reluctantly, Anya stood on her own two feet again, "Well, that's all we know, so we're going to go. Come, Xander."
Meekly, he followed her to the door, offering a slight shrug to Buffy and Giles.
Anya whispered to Xander, "Was that subtle enough? I didn't tell them we were leaving to make love. And I am still in charge when we get back. You are still my sex slave, and lover."
"Slayer hearing," Buffy called out as the door was closing. Then she turned back to Giles.
"I hope that's not what she does when they're --" Buffy slapped her hand to her forehead, "Giles, I think I'm blind. I need to stop my mouth when I don't want my brain to follow."
"Buffy, the issue here is what is going on with Willow and Spike? I have never known her to behave irresponsibly or recklessly, except for the odd spell here and there. Anyway, forget I said that, but I feel I need to know what is going on."
"Can I have hot chocolate with the little marshmallows and a cookie while I tell you what I know?"
"Of course," he walked into the kitchen muttering, "I never realized Mum's baking lessons would come in so handy outside of the odd spell."
******
Willow had never been so happy in her life. Not even with Oz. He had made her feel young, safe and protected and loved. Like the way her Dad had made her feel when she was a child, before her Mom had her career and her Dad started going away on business trips all the time, back when they were a real family. Spike, however, he made her feel strong and beautiful and appreciated.
Spike didn't care that she was considered a "geek" her entire life or that she was developing into quite the powerful magic practitioner. He just loved her. The whole Willow that no one else had taken the time to discover before.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(turn around)
every now and then I get a little bit restless
and I dream of something wild
(turn around)
every now and then I get a little bit helpless
and I'm lying like a child in your arms
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
She snuggled closer to her undead boyfriend, enjoying the feel of being in his arms. Breathing deeply, as if she had never lived before now. Willow wondered if Spike would feel like that as well, even though he didn't need to breathe and had been alive before and was now enjoying his "unlife".
"Willow," his eyes opened and he looked at her dreamily, "Stop wriggling around like that, you hot little wench. You need sleep. And I want to hold you and look at you while you do."
"What if I drool on you or snore or talk in my sleep?"
"I don't care what you do as long as you don't start sleepwalking and stake me. Go to sleep for a bit. You have class tomorrow."
"Mmmmmmnnnn," she yawned adorably, "yeah, class."
Silence.
"Class? Tomorrow? I've been here for the whole weekend and I didn't realize it!" Willow bolted up, "Stress. Lots of stress. I had homework and a meeting with the gang and --"
"Love, it's not the end of the world. Breathe. If you're worried about getting to class, I'll take you back to your room now and if you're worried about your homework, play hooky for once in your life. The earth won't stand still, if you hand in an assignment late."
"Late assignment? Oh boy," Willow began to hyperventilate, "That's... never... happened... I'm too... responsible."
Alarmed at her sudden paleness, Spike began to touch her, soothingly as opposed to sexually. His hands skimming over her flesh, calming her like a newborn colt, "C'mon love, let's get you back."
******
Riley was in the Initiative base, being reamed out by Walsh. He wasn't even paying attention to what she was saying, but appeared like he was. After that, he and Forrest went on patrol, looking for hostiles.
"Man, Walsh is gonna have your balls in a knot if you don't shape up. You are acting peculiar, maybe hanging around with Buffy Summers is affecting you."
Angrily, he turned, "Don't say anything about Buffy. She's my girlfriend and I won't stand around and have you spout off about her."
Forrest held up his hands, "Fine. Whatever. But I am worried about you, man. Keep your head clear or you're gonna get hurt around here."
A creature leapt out before them, knocking Forrest to the ground. Riley nailed it with his stungun and it jerked backwards.
"It's a Schumark demon," Buffy appeared out of no where and launched herself into battle, "Giles briefed me about them earlier over hot chocolate and cookies." She paused and then drop-kicked it.
"It's only vulnerability," she huffed, "is the soles of its feet. Help me knock it over before your friend wakes up."
Riley gave it his best college try and rammed against it with his shoulder, puffing from the effort. Finally, the demon went down and Buffy staked it in the foot. It was silent. And obviously dead.
"So you huffed and I puffed and we did the demon in, " Riley smiled at her.
"Leave the witty comments to me, you haven't been around long enough to do it right," she noticed the look on his face and patted his arm consolingly, "You'll get better at them, with practice."
Neither noticed how the demon's body was expanding until it was too late. It burst like a balloon, slime spilling forth from it like candy from a piñata.
Covered in smelly green slime, Buffy looked at Riley, "Why didn't Giles tell me that they explode after being killed. Look at my hair, and my favourite Slaying jacket."
"C'mon, let's get you out of those wet things."
"What about your friend?"
Riley grumbled and told Buffy that he'd meet her in her room later. He hauled Forrest over his shoulder and headed back to the base.
"And you said I needed to be careful of being hurt..."
******
Spike and Willow were walking across the campus when they were assaulted. A group of vamps, with torture and food being the only things on their primitive minds. They grabbed Willow and she shrieked. Spike was furious. He didn't care how much it would hurt but he was going to have them in pieces.
He vamped out and laughed as he killed the first vampire. He was a killing machine. Brutal and beautiful. Causing pain and death as he moved among them like a dancer. Spike was mesmerizing. For a moment Willow just stood and watched him in awe and then muttered a protection spell.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(turn around)
every now and then I get a little bit angry
and I know I've got to get out and cry
(turn around)
every now and then I get a little bit terrified
but then I see the look in your eyes
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"For her," Harmony pouted as she watched her toys being killed, "He dumped me for her. Who does he think I am? Cordelia or something?"
With surprising ferocity, Harmony shoved Willow to the ground, "Hello, deadgirl. you're just in time for my bedtime snack."
"Harmony, you were never a nice person, so I won't feel badly about this."
The vampire's startled expression turned to dust and Willow retrieved her pencil, "And when you made me do your homework in grade school, I only did half of the answers right."
She defiantly kicked the dustpile and walked towards Spike, who had the last surviving vamp by the throat and was holding him in the air while its feet kicked feebly.
"You, will stay alive and let everyone know that no harm must come to this girl, or Hellmouth be damned, you will all answer to me. Understood?"
The vamp nodded and then fled into the night. Spike shook off his duster and approached Willow.
"Are you hurt, Pet?"
"No, I'm fine. But how did you do that? You killed them all without pain. What about your implant?"
He shrugged, "I don't know. But I would rather die the final death than see you be hurt, maybe that surpassed the sissy implant. Or maybe it's wearing off and I won't have to be such a nancy-boy for much longer."
Willow frowned at that comment, but Spike didn't notice. He was extremely happy.
"I really dusted those wankers," he thought, "If I'd had a spike on me, they would have really suffered for thinking of hurting my girl. Bloody gits. Hardly put up a fight."
His arm snaked around Willow and drew her closer, "I love you, Pet. Don't forget that." He kissed her lightly on the forehead, "C'mon, we'll see if we can get you back without anymore trouble. And good for you for dusting Harm, she was a twit."
"Does that mean I get to dust all your ex's? And if so, how many of them would there be for me to dust?"
He stopped walking, "Willow, I'm not tracking down the puppy to make a wolfskin rug for me to shag you on, so you do not need to go on a Slayeresque killing spree for me. And I am 126, there have been a few, but none of them were as beautiful as you. You have such fire, such spirit and a gentleness that I've never known before. That I will hold on to forever."
They kissed.
******
The nameless vampire was fleeing back to his safehouse when he was apprehended. As he lost consciousness he murmured, "Spike'll kill us if we hurt the redhead. Must warn--"
"Good bring down, Thomas. Welcome to the team."
The Initiative strikeforce group restrained the vamp and took him to be tagged and implanted.
"Thanks," Thomas smiled, "So let's get this one away and then I would like to track down my baby brother. Teach him a thing or two about this operation."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
(Turn around, bright eyes)
every now and then I fall apart
(turn around, bright eyes)
every now and then I fall apart
and I need you now tonight and
I need you more than ever
and if you'll only hold me tight
we'll be holding on forever
and we'll only be making it right
'cause we'll never be wrong
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Willow and Spike were standing outside her door.
"So here we are," Willow began feeling shy again, "I wish that you could stay with me tonight. Holding me. I feel afraid that if you leave, I'll wake up and this will all be some crazy dream."
"As do I, Red. As do I. But no dream could compare to all that you are." He held her, afraid that he'd never see her again and he shivered.
"What's wrong? Vampires don't get cold. They don't shiver. Something just gave you the willies right then. What was it?"
Just then, Riley walked up. Covered in slime.
"Must have been because I knew he was coming. That's a good look for you, chap. Sure to get the Slayer fainting right into your arms," Spike sneered.
Willow placed a gentle hand on his chest, "Be good. I love you. Goodnight."
Riley slipped past them into the room, not wanting to see anymore.
"No, it's not been a good night. It's been a damn good beginning and just you wait until I have you alone again, then we'll define good, and great and amazing and 'Oh my God' all over again," his eyes devoured her hungrily. Glinting in the way that turned her to Jell-O.
They kissed and kissed and kissed. After what seemed too short a time, Spike left and Willow entered her room.
Buffy and Riley looked at her, shining with love and happiness. They opened and closed their mouths a few times, looking to each other for support and then said nothing.
"Here you go," Buffy shoved a pink fluffy towel at Riley, wrinkling her pert nose, "You smell. Go clean up."
"Yes ma'am." He leaned down and kissed her lightly, "I'll be right back."
As soon as he left the room, Buffy plopped down onto Willow's bed, still toweling her hair. "Ok, details. Lots of 'em. Now or I'll give you my resolve face."
Willow smiled, "OK. But no snarky comments about Spike."
"Cross my heart and hope to, you know."
The girls leaned their heads together conspiratorially and the re-bonding began.
******
Whistling as he walked jauntily home, Spike found himself singing that blasted song Willow had been singing in the shower.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
together we can take it to the end of the line
your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do
and I'm always in the dark
we're living in a powder keg
and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
forever's gonna start tonight
forever's gonna start tonight
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Forever," he sighed, knowing that unlike the Slayer and that pantywaist, Angel, he and Willow could be together forever. They hadn't had the talk yet, but Spike was sure that, eventually, Willow would let him turn her. "Unless she finds a way to make me human again," he chuckled, knowing that Willow was capable of anything once she put her mind to it.
There was a rustling in the bushes that seemed unnatural and he could smell humans. Predatory humans. His game face came out to play and he welcomed the battle, now that he could fight again.
"C'mon you little pantywaists. Come and try to get Spike."
One approached and missed Spike with a bolt of electricity. Spike laughingly attacked and then screamed as his brain burned and twisted him painfully.
"Fuck!"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once upon a time I was falling in love
and now I'm only falling apart
there's nothing I can do
a total eclipse of the heart
once upon a time there was light in my life
and now there's only love in the dark
nothing I can say
a total eclipse of the heart
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TO BE CONTINUED