part2

Tamed Wild Dogs- Part 2 of "All that Heaven Allows Series"

by: Isabelle

-Disclaimer: All of the main characters are owned by Joss Weddon and the WB. Poems are excerpts from Was he Married? and Pretty by Stevie Smith . Lyrics "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse.

-Rated: Pg-13 (Language, Adult Situations)

-Summary: Second part of a Spike and Buffy series. S/B related. Spike and Buffy are taken by a rich underground demon-group with the purpose of being sold in an auction for millions. The plot thickens as they grow closer to each other and try to find a way back home. This story is set right after Season 4, so Season 5 hasen't happened, and won't happen.

-Author's Note: Please send feedback! Tell me what you think, I am far from done, many surprises ahead! My email is bih80@yahoo.com

(P.S.) I want to thank my roomate, Karla for doing Grammar check on this piece!

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

But there is no sufferinf like having made a mistake

Beacause of being of an inferior make.

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

(July 5 - 10:30 pm@ Sunnydale, CA)

Sitting like they had done so many countless days and nights. Researching and pondering over the latest evil that was threatening to open the Hellmouth.

That was their job, that's what they did.

What person could actually say that by the time they were twenty they had been kidnaped (various times), had their life threatened, seen high school friends die before them, seen creatures science would deny, had to dust a person they previously knew, or prevented to apocalypse?

Not very many, but with all their trials and tribulations, all HIS trials and tribulations, his fingers were shaking violently in nervousness. Xander's thoughts rambled on about all the possible explanations for the situation.

The scooby gang was gathered at the Magic Shop.

Their new Slayer head quarters. The problem? No Slayer.

That morning Willow had gone to pick up Buffy, they were supposed to study for European Lit when she found Buffy's house in a chaotic, bloody mess.

She remembered looking for Buffy's body while her own body shivered in shock, she even looked for Spike's dusty ashes, she knew that he had to pick up a box at Buffy's place that Joyce had left for him. But body nor ashes came up.

There was blood all over the kitchen floor, and Xander had collected some just in case they had a way of knowing who or what it belonged to.

But as of the moment, all they had was a shaken crowd, a petrified boyfrined, a pissed of Ripper, and a unrully mother.

They were getting no where.

The only thing that gave sometype of a sign was the pile of wet clothes by Buffy's bed, as if she had come in from the rain and changed.

Riley was growing uneasier by the moment, he had been the last one to talk to her and she had not mentioned Spike being in the house with her, so that means that she must have been attacked alone.

The problem was that there was a tossed pack of cigaretts on the living room floor and the vampire was no where to be found.

At this moment all the men in the room thought that Spike's chip had somehow malfunctioned and he had attacked Buffy.

The women thought that both he and Buffy were in danger.

The tension was growing in the small shop, and it all centered on abduction, murder, kidnaping,.........you know the usuals for 'Sunnyhell'.

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

Desperate for changing

Starving for truth

Closer to where I started

Chasing after you

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

(July 6 @ the prison)

Buffy's eyes were closed as she leaned her head against the wall she had proped herself on. Her annoyance at the clickling sound was growing to its intensity.

"Cut it out." she said looking at Spike who was keeping himself amused by taping the tip of his keys to the metal pole at the end of the cot.

He cocked his head slightly and looked at her with out stoping his movements.

"Make me." he said with out an expression.

She sighted and rolled her eyes. "I really don...."

Her words were interrupted when a movement was heard outside thier cell door.

Spike nearly jumped out of the bed and placed his ear on the door to see if he could make out what the commotion was about.

Buffy followed him but jumped back when the metal door began to open. After being cooped in there for hours she needed to go out, especially to the ladies. Though her bodily pain had left her she felt sticky and dirty, not a good feeling.

Spike was in fighting mode, as was Buffy. Whomever came through the door would be sorry they even thought or considered their kidnap. But who ever came to the door was prepared.

The man stood there looking at them in their semi-squating possition. He smiled.

"Fighters to the ends, eh?" He said.

Spike did not like him, his Arabic accent giving away his dark-skinned nationality. He was not a tall man nor skinny or fat. He was average in both ways.

The man reminded Spike of a weasel. Slick, sticky, fingers were written on this man's face and he was reading him like a book. He took orders from a superior and played dirty and low-life. Reminded Spike alot of a minion, he snorted.

The two demons who stood behing him was the reason Buffy and Spike decided that it was a better idea to only attack when attacked.

Buffy shivered at the apearance of the two gigantic figures that were hoovering over 'Ali Ababa'. They were Feoral demons. Too strong for her taste.

"Who the hell are you? And what the hell are we doinf here?" she asked looking at the man and demons with anger that pierced the room.

"The name's Pili, I am the warren here." Spike definitely did not like him, he was a 'pisser.

"You are in the outskirts of Luxor." he continued and streched out his arms to 'show off ' the place.

"Question remains unanswered." she stated, clearly annoyed.

"Egypt." Spike said, his thoat was making a distinctive growling noise that even took Buffy by surprise.

Buffy's eyes widened in surprise and anger. "EGYPT!!!?????" she screamed. "What the FUCK are we doing in Egypt?"

Spike sensed Buffy was in the brink of loosing her cool so he reached up and gently grabbed her shoulder in reassurance never taking his eyes off Pili and the demons before them.

She welcomed his coolness. It calmed her ready-to-kill nerves. Whatever happened she knew Spike and her had to stick together if they even had a chance of going back home.

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I've held on to

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

"Little Spitfire aren't you, Slayer?" Pili asked his smile had faded.

Spike growled.

Buffy was about to give him a piece of her mind but he din't let her.

"Ready for the tour?" Pili asked.

"Of our Prison?" Buffy asked him venomously.

"Of course." Pili simply replied smirking.

Spike took his hand of her shoulder and motioned for her to follow the weasel. Reluctantly she followed Pili while Spike stood behind her, two demon at his feet.

They steped out of the dark room into a darker hallway. Spike took in his sorroundings and frowned. The place was demon and vampire proof.

"Escape is a word of fantasy, so don't dream about it, the last creature to escape the tunels of Medinet was almost two hundred years ago." Pili said conversationaly.

"You shouldn't have told me that, I have a way of defying the odds." Buffy told him.

Pili stopped walking and turned around to face her, his black eyes bore into her. "So do we." he replied.

She lifted up her chin in defiance and met his hard gaze. "Kidnapping me was your first mistake, kidnapping Spike was your second, telling us were we are at was the third, and giving me hope was the fourth." defiantly she continued. "I'll say your chances of defying the odds are dwindled by a fourth."

Pili's mouth sligthly raised in a weasel smile, never leaving her gaze. He regarded her features. "A lot of power in such a small pretty thing." he said looking over her figure. He leaned in further, "What would hapen if the Power were to leave?"

Buffy almost gasped as her eyes grew wide with fear. She still had vivid pictures of last year and how defenceless she was when the council had taken her strenght. She looked up at the cold black eyes that screamed he was as serious as serious could be.

Spike sensed her reaching her breaking point and steped in between her and Pili, breaking the eye contact. His blue eyes looked at the shorter man before him. He din't smell human.

Pili looked at the vampire in front of him. "Don't worry Spike, you are not going to be left behind." he said not amused by the blue stare. "We have doggie treats for you too."

Spike said nothing for a while and continued his menacing stare. "Who yer' workin' for, Weasel?"

Pili smiled. "Funny you should ask, and you'll know, but not now." With that he spun around and continued down the hall.

Buffy placed her hand on the back of Spike's black T-shirt. He turned to look at her, she looked frightned. Whatever Pili had told her hit a nerve and she looked like a small fifteen year old who was scared of her parent's wrath.

Forgetting all I'm lacking

Completely incomplete

I'll take your invitation

You take all of me

Spike took her arm that was wrapped in his coat and pushed her to follow next to him after Pili.

"I can't have you breaking down on me, like that, Slayer." he said quietly as they walked down the dark hall that seemed infinite.

Buffy's muscles tensed up and she looked at him. "Spike, if they take my strenght I am helpless." her eyes were still wide with fear, the memories bitting at her thoughts.

"Hey! What's that talk?" he said noticing the fear that was sweltering throughout her pores. "We'll have none of that." He squeezed his arm in reassurance. "K'?"

Buffy didn't answer but welcomed his support with a small nod.

After all, they were two wild dogs that have been captured.

All their life, taught to fence off each other and then all of the sudden thrown in a jumble that had to force them to work together.

She sighted. Away from the hellmouth, yet its presence was darkening and overwelming.

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

(July 6 @ Lost Angeles, CA)

"Angel Investigation, Good Afternoon, how may I help you?" Cordilia said too enthusiastically sarcastic into the receiver.

Angel gave her a piercing glanze. Maybe this 'politeness' conversation had its repercussions. He frowned at her sarcasm. That's Cordy for you. he thought.

He turned to leave.

"Oh, its just you, Giles." Cordilia said sinking into her chair, there was no trace of the previously enthusiastic girl Angel had just seen.

At the name 'Giles', Angel froze and turned to face a worried Cordilia.

Buffy. Was the only thing that came to Angel's mind. He knew by way Cordy was adverting his eyes that something was wrong.

"OK, Giles, clam down, let me put Angel on the phone." She said.

Angel almost snatched the phone from her hand in lightening speed but she didn't let him and held the receiver behind her back.

"Cordilia..." Angel said in desperation.

She looked at him and met his hard gaze.

"Calm yourself down, Angel." she reminded him.

At times, Angel forgot what a strong person she really was underneath all the Gucci talk. It was moments like this that she reminded him of who he was.

"You are a detective now, remember?!" she said, slowly bringing the phone to his waiting hand.

He took it from her in a more calm manner , but his eyes never left hers as Giles explained all that Angel was dreading to hear.

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

They had made too many turns and Buffy no longer knew were they were at. The more they walked the cleaner and nicer the place seemed. Almost as if they had been brought out of the darkness and into the light.

Next to her Spike was concentrating on memorizing the place and she could tell by the way his forehead was slightly wrinkled and the way his eyes darted around thier surroundings.

She amazed herself, at times, at how she could read his facial expressions and know exactly what he was thinking. Although no longer holding on to her arm, his pressence next to her gave her the strength she needed to remind herself that; she was the Slayer and she did not take no crap from nobody, especially someone as, (what was it that Spike had called him....weasel?) weasely as Pili.

She frowned at her thoughts and Spike noticed, he gave her a look that she knew all too well.

That look was the "Don't worry, pet." look. She had to enjoy this one she had only seen it a few times.

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I've held on to

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

But the tension in his jaw was evident; he was as worried as she was.

Ahead Pili stopped infront of a wood door and faced them.

"Beyond this, it's your play ground." he said singnalling the door with his head. "You can interact with the others, but at the first gesture of violence you will be terminated." he smiled.

Spike looked at him even more confused.

Who the hell were these people? What did they want? Why the sudden freedom? he thought quickly. He glanced down at Buffy who was as confused as him and his eyes went back to Pili.

"What the hell do ya, mean', mate?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.

"All questions will be answered in due time." he simply stated. He opened the door and walked through, the others followed.

Pili stoped in front of one of the many doors in the coridor and pulled out a key, unlocking it.

"Like you American's say, Home Sweet Home." he said, gesturing with his hand for them to enter.

"Hey!" Spike said defensevely.

Pili chuckled at his reaction, "Calm down, old man." he said "No harm done. Please, go in."

Buffy moved before Spike. It was obvious that they were there for the long run, and she just wanted to take a bath and lay down.

Reluctantly, Spike followed the blonde Slayer.

"I immagine you are itching to shower." he said not letting them answer. "But don't fret, all you need is inside, the Master insist on keeping our 'Specials' at thier best comfort. In about an hour dinner will be served, and you will dine with the others."

"What others?" Spike asked quickly looking at Pili and searching the dark man's face.

"Well you two are not the only ones, even though you are the only ones sharing a room, but He insists on a no separation rule."

"Can't you please just tell us what is going on?" Buffy asked .

"Get refreshed first, all will unveil itself in due time." Pili said motioning again for them to enter.

Once inside both Spike and Buffy were extremely surprised and taken back. There were two twin beds with white warm beddings in the center of the room, a night table with a lamp on top in the middle separating the beds. The room had no windows, but had a two lounge chairs in a corner. There were ash trays throughout the room. There were also two doors inside the room. One was an obvious closet door, the other was obviously the bathroom.

Buffy turned around instinctively to look at Pili and ask an explanation for trying to make them more 'comfortable', but by the time she spun around the door had already closed, locking her and Spike inside their prison.

Spike walked to the door and tried to pound it down, Buffy let him, he needed to get his energies out.

He hit the door with all his might, his game face came out and he screamed as he saw that the wood was magically enforced. He was annoyed, pissed off, mader than hell.

Here he was. A master vampire, who at a point in time had been a terrifying menace throughout the world, and now was shrunken to a nothing. A prisoner! A conventionalist. A poofer'. A wanker. He felt as if his manhood, his vampirism had been stripped right through his fangs and was dangling in front of him, laughing at his patheticness.

He saw it, his demon, making fun of him, right in front of him. He hit it with all his might, kicking it, strangling it, punching it, smaking it against the door.

Then he paused. There was nothing there but a wooden door that prevented him from escaping. He hit both his closed fist on the wood and laid them to rest bringing his forehead to kiss the hatch. He sighted in defeat.

He forgot that Buffy was in the room and slumped his shoulders. Great! Have a bloody hysteria attack in front of her! Not like she's doing better he'self.

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running and not quite sure where to go

And I don't know what I'm diving into

Just hanging by a moment here with you

"Better?" Buffy asked quietly after his shoulders had slumped down because of vain effort.

He shrugged and didn't answer her.

Buffy hugged the coat around her shivering figure. She was beyond scared. Her eyes were sunken and dark shadows traced their angry path underneath her lashes. Her cheekbones were accentuated by her thinning figure, in one word she looked haggard.

They were not receiving any answers. Someone had sought them out, they were not the only ones, they were the 'specials', it was all too heavy, too obscure.

She had not received a prophesy warning her against this, no Slayer dream, no Willow with her computer, no Giles with his expirience, no Xander with his weird views, it was all upto her. She was so used to being pointed towards the direction of the danger that she had never considered that all of them made her successful.

They were a web, the slayer was all of them. She was the muscle, Giles the wisdom, Willow the magic, and Xander the support.

So here she was all alone without them and only her mortal enemy as a companion. A mortal enemy that could easily drive her to hysteria with one look, and a mortal enemy that could make her think straight with the brush of his hand against her skin.

She had not realized she was crying until she felt his arm come around her shoulder. She responded by unconciously resting her head on his lean strong shoulder. She felt his hand run carelessly on her shoulder blade and she heard him whispering words of comfort in her ear.

There's nothing else to loose

There's nothing else to find

There's nothing in the world

That could change my mind

She let go of herself. She burried her head on his chest and sobbed out of loneliness.

How ironic life could be. She thought to herself.

They stayed in the comforting embrace until she had no tears left next. He waited until her breathing went down to normal.

"Better?" he asked repeating the words she had asked him earlier.

She gave him a weak smile. "Spill, and I'll stake you." she said jokingly.

"Deal." he said warmly. "I'll just add it to the list."

"What list?" she said confussed staring at him.

"You know, pet, the '300 hundred reason to stake Spike, but have yet to do." he smirked smugly.

She glared at him and stood up. She hiccuped from her crying and looked over at him, noticing blood on his face.

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

He din't feel pain. Looking down at his shirt he noticed dried blood.

"I don't feel it" he said confused, he lifted up his t-shirt to reveal many tiny bleeding scrapes in his stomach.

"You have it all over it." she said looking close to his exposed skin. "How did this happen?"

He frowned at the healing scrapes. "Dunno, probably when the windows exploded in your kitchen."

Buffy remembered and gasped. She clearly remembered the large gash she had seen in his back when he collapsed on her stairs. She walked around him to lift the back of his shirt.

"Buffy?" he asked confused.

On his back by his shoulder blade was an embeded piece of glass that was sticking from the still bleeding wound.

"You don't feel this?" she asked concerned, touching the swollen skin.

He looked over his shoulder. "Slight burning, but that's all."

"Spike, you have a three inch piece of glass burried in your skin and you feel a slight burning sensation?" she asked looking at his turned face.

He shrugged "Yeah."

"Take your shirt off." she said walking to the door that was supposed to be the bathroom.

She came back out with a shoe-sized box of first aid kit. "How convinient." she said sarcastically.

He agreed. This was all too suspicious.

He sat down at the edge of the bed, with his shirt removed to expose many tiny slashes covering his smooth white planes.

Sitting behing him, she took off his duster. "I'm gonna pull it out and sew you back up." she stated bringing out the alcohol bottle and pouring it over the wound.

"Do you even know how to sew?" he asked concerned at how he might look afterwards.

"No better time to learn." she said carelessly.

He groaned frustrated.

"I can't believe you don't feel this." she said lightly tuggin at the glass.

"I guess its the vampire aspect of the enti...Ahhh." he cried and twisted his back. "OK, see that hurt." he said through clenched teeth.

"Sorry." she said sheepishly. He hissed everytime she pulled and she almost felt his pain.

When she finally removed the object from his fresh she let out a sigh of relief.

"There!" she held the 3 X 2 inch piece of glass and held it up to him, her fingers full of his blood. "I still can't believe you din't feel this inside of you."

Spike took the object and frowned, then flinched when Buffy, without warning, started to sew his wound.

"Thank you." he murmmured.

She gave the back of his bleached head a small smile. "You're welcome." she said silently.

There's nothing else

This is awkward. She thought.

They were silent while she cleaned his back.

"You're being awfully quiet. Beginning to give me the wiggins." She said placing the last tape on top of the gauze that covered his wounded shoulder blade. "There all better."

There is nothing else

There is nothing else

"Just thinking." He said. He stood and walked to the slidding door that was the closet.

"About what?" she asked conversationally, placing all the instruments of care back into the white plastic box.

He ignored her question and opened the door to reveal a closet full of clothes. To the left were women clothes that were very much her size and to the left were men's clothing that were obviously going to fit Spike. All included were undergarments and shoes.

He turned his head to look at her and she was disturbed by his discovery as much as he was.

He cocked his eyebrow at her and she knew what that face meant. She said it outloud "Weird Much?"

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"Master?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"It is done."

"Good."

"Do you need the remote?"

"Yes"

"Here"

"Be gone."

"Yes, master."

Silence.

///Click///

"Well, hello you two, looks like you found the goodies that I left you."

Silence.

"Patience, young ones, the time will come. All things will reveal themselves in good time."

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Cry pretty, pretty, pretty and you'll be able

Very soon not to even cry pretty

And so be delivered entirely from humanity

This is prettiest of all, it is very pretty.

from Pretty by Stevie Smith

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

The door opened.

"Dinner." the guard simply stated.

Buffy nearly jumped, she was starving. Spike followed at her foot glaring over the 7 foot guard.

"What do they feed, 'yer buggers?" he murmmured under his breathe. Upset because the larger the guards got the less chance they would have to escape.

They entered the "social/dinning" area of their prison and were heavily dismissed by most of the other prisoners that were there. They seemed to be the last to have been captured.

"Seems we are late." Spike commented to Buffy who was standing next to him studying the room as well.

"Well you know what they say, better late than never." she said dismissively.

"You Americans and your sayin's" he looked at her and snikered at her gaze of annoyance.

"Are you going to stand there and actually pretend that every other word that exits your mouth is not in some way a mutilation of YOUR English language?" she asked with a dally smile on her face.

"Sod off!" he said smirking.

They both reinvested themselves onto their surroundings.

"Master Spike?"

Both Buffy and Spike jumped at the sound of the squeaky voice that came from behind them.

"Master? Is that you?" a thin little vampire came out of the dark conners of the room and headed strait for Spike with open arms.

Spike stared at the minion with dread and annoyance. He hated minions, even his own. And the last thing that he wanted was for one of his offspring to see him with the Slayer. If word got out he was deader than undead.

Wait! What was he thinking? They were not going to get out of this hellhole.

The minion knealed in front of Spike in reverance for his Sire.

"For bleedin' sakes, stand up Malcolm!" he hissed completely embarrassed for his minion's stupidity.

"Pardon me, master, we thought you dead!" the vampire cried out with his head still bowed.

"I am dead, you moron, now get yer' arse off the floor!" He was more upset that the minion had not responded to his Sire's words the first time. This was seen as disrespectful, but then again Spike really cound't blame the fleeting, he had abandoned him in a couple of months period.

Buffy was completely amused by the scene unfolding infront of her. She had never really seen the interaction the creatures of the night had with each other. What amazed her the most what this grown man's willingness to unterly comply to everything Spike said.

Desperate for changing

Starving for truth

Malcoml stood with a happy glee in his face at seeing his Sire once again. "Master Spike,......." he kepted smiling like an idiot.

"Wipe that silly grin off yer' face!" Spike comanded clearly annoyed with the stupidity of the youngster.

"Mmm, shall I come back later, after the reunion is over?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

Spike glared at her.

"Master Spike!"

"What is it?!!" he nearly screamed.

"That's.....that's the sl-slayer, Sire!" Malcolm pointed to Buffy in horror.

"Oh hell!" Spike said exasperated. "Don't worry about it! Go,...Go get me a feed!"

The vampire was still looking at Buffy with a petrified face.

"Don't worry Master Spike, I'll protect you from the Slayer!" Malcolm said out of nowhere.

"You're going to protect Spike from my harmful wrath?" she asked the vampire glanzing over at Spike with a divert smile on her face.

Spike's temper was heightening. "Malcolm!"

The little man swirled to face his Sire.

"Get me a feed and get lost." Spike said severely keeping eye-contact with him. Dominance was the game.

The minion practically leaped to obbey his wishes.

"How is it that you say it?...Ahh, yes; Cute lil' bugger." Buffy said watching the minion run.

"Yeah, I was indiscerptibly drunk when I turned him." Spike said sarcastically.

"So you're a Slayer?"

"Aren't we the ever popular couple?" she said unammused, and turned to the man who had spoken.

Spike paused and froze when he recognized the immortal.

"Don't you think the question is, Jabari, what is William the Bloody doing with the likes of the Slayer?" the other man said to his partner.

Jabari was dark and intimidating while his partner was rough and hansome. Both around thirty and very well built. They looked like warriors from a past time. A time of knights and their fair ladies. Ancient yet new.

Buffy sighted. Great! "Oh look, honey, and we tought we weren't going to make any friends!" she said sarcastically and silently figuring how long it will take her and Spike to get rid of the goons.

"Slayer..." Spike tried to warn her, she probably din't even know what immortals were and was trying to figure out a way to kick their ass as he was speaking.

Closer to where I started

Chasing after you

The two men approached them defiantly. Spike backed up. He knew the danger.

Buffy gave him an incredulous look as he backed up, she had never known Spike to back up out of a fight.

"Spike?"

"Let them be."

All four head turned to the now revealed old man wrapped in tunics of linen sitting on a thin chair. His eyes were tired but wise, and he had a certain peace around him that it almost called Buffy.

Almost as if he had found all the secrets of life and was holding them hostage. He looked beat up, there were bruises around his face. Yet he still cried out peace.

"Qaletaqa!" Spike almost cried. He strode rapidly towards the sitting man.

Buffy's mouth dropped open as she saw the reverence Spike was giving this old man, and he was a human, Buffy could sense it.

Spike croached in front old the old man and reached out for his hand bringing it up to his forehead.

Buffy felt delirious.

"William." the man said nodding in appreciation at Spike's respect.

Spike looked at the man with concern at his beaten face. "Taqa, how did they get you?" Spike asked frantically.

"It is not important, William, it is the way it was meant to be."

Buffy nearned the couple. She had never seen Spike act like this towards another human, come to think about it she had seen a lot of him today that she had never seen before.

I'm falling even more in love with

Letting go of all I've held onto

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

"You knew?" Spike asked a bit edgy.

Taqa smiled at Spike's concern and patted his shoulder in comfort. "My time is coming, William." the man said with unconsummed acceptance.

"No, Taqa, don't say that!" Spike swallowed hard. He knew that whatever came out of the man's mouth was supernatural law. He looked at Buffy with a stark expression that screamed HELP! "We're gonna get you out of this bloody place, don't you fret."

Taqa looked up at Buffy and smiled at her with knowledge.

Buffy felt weightless, and foamy, his gaze was penetrating. Complete seductive peace took over her limbs and she unconsciously returned his smile.

"William, I see you have brought me the Slayer?"

Spike looked back at the man that held Buffy gaze. "You knew we were coming didn't you?"

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked confused. She had almost led herself to believe that this man was wisdom incarnation.

Taqa didn't let any of them talk and held up both his arms wearily to Buffy, an invitation to an embrace. "Come here, child."

Spike watched in amecement how Buffy voluntarily walked to Taqa and squat herself next to Spike in front of the wrapped figure. But then again, he remembered he was not far from it himself when he first met the wiseman.

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running and not quite sure where to go

And I don't know what I'm diving into

Just hanging by a moment here with you

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

Taqa gazed down to the Slayer's large green eyes and held her by her shoulders.

Buffy felt exposed to this man's gaze. She didn't know who or what he was but whatever it was it was not evil. Her eyelids fluttered and they unconsciously closed. He was peace, tranquility, everything she had ever wanted in her short life but had been denied to her. His gaze felt like warm water was washing her soul and then she heard music, such sweet music that floated above her head in a companionship and a comforting lingering presence.

She felt her knees buckle but she did not fall, she felt suspended, held by an unforseen power. This power was her support as her body became gelatin, dripping to the floor, decomposing before her eyes, but there was no panic, no fear, no regret, just welcoming aid.

Hanging by a moment

The force turned into something beautiful. It covered her. White cloud-like links that rounded her body and lifted her. She slumped against the enveloping white cloud that carried her and all her troubles.

How wonderful she felt! It was purely magical. She knew she no longer had her body, it was just her essence, her soul. Gone were the pressures, the responsabilities, the consious thoughts, and ideas of rights and wrongs. There was no wrong here. She was complete.

She continued to float in orgasmic serenity, her head dancing in the white cloud like rods that had so lovenly embraced her. She was in amacement but then felt her body being set down and the white clouds were disentangling from her being. She reached out and held on to them pulling the cloud to cover her body once more. She never wanted to loose this feeling of utter contemptment.

Hanging by a moment

The rods tried to pry themselves from her body again and she wimpered. "No" she whispered. With that the cloud of ultimate peace swallowed her vulnerability and held her till her mind contended, giving in to sweet blissful sleep.

Hanging by a moment here with you

To be continued........................ (Please feedback!)

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