ImitorVitaProAmor11 Disclaimer: All characters and places, etc... belong to Joss and all those lovely people involved with making our fav tv show.
We only chose to borrow these characters for a bit to do what we enjoy doing. All that we own is our lovely plot! No
copyright infrigment is intended in any way shape or form.

With that out of the way...

Title: Imitor Vita Pro Amor (Imitating Life For Love)

Authors: Peroxide Pest and Nocturne Wytche, AKA Celeste and Debbie

Spoilers: All Seasons

Dedications: Well, I'd like to say thanks to all those wonderful S/B writers out there that have inspired me and my sister to come
outta our shells and see what y'all think of our lil fics. We'd probably like to thank each other for putting up with each other and
the sort, and of course for being so good at writing together, you can barely tell where one of us begins and one ends. Also, to
our sister, Keren, who still loves Angel, we forgive you :P Lea, thanks for all the help and support, blessed be sister.

Summary: A few unsuspected visitors come back to good ol' SunnyD and cause some more havoc in our favorite slayer's life.
She must also decide where her feelings for Spike lay. A run in with a demon changes things for Spike. S/B

Rated: R just to be safe

Note: songs come into a lot of play in the next few chapters, just to let you all know. Sorry if it becomes a nuisance, but hey
its the music of our character's hearts :P Or something to that affect... Plus, it leads to plenty of s/b romantic tension, which we
all love! Also, no copyright infringement intended on these beautiful songs, that are the backgrounds to the soul of this story :)

P.S.: We've also come to notice that Spike purring...is a GREAT thing :P *EG*
P.S.S Due to 2 minor complaints/mentions we've fixed the format so its easier for you all to read and enjoy, and we're such sticklers to please our fans; its fixed :P enjoy!

Without further blabbings:

Imitor Vita Pro Amor

Part 11

That evening Spike had found a demon bar to hang out in, somewhere away from the human population. He didn't want to deal with his humanity tonight. He wanted to drink, smoke, listen to some music, and brood by himself. Oh God, he wanted to brood now. He cursed Angel under his breath and knocked back his drink, emptying the glass easily before alternating it with a sip of blood.


"Well hey there, blondie, haven't seen you around before. You new in town?"

Spike was startled from his brooding about brooding when a smooth voice intercepted him, taking a seat on the bar beside his. He looked up to see a green demon with copper hair and red eyes. Wearing a bright orange suit that looked like it had leapt out of a 70's disco movie. "Can I help you?" he asked, looking annoyed.

"I couldn't help but feel a frustrated aura about you my friend. I can help."

"Oh, so you're going away, then?" Spike shot back.

"Whoa, feisty. Look handsome, I can read your aura for you, help you find your path, if you want me to."

"How about I rip off your head and use it to decorate my car with? You know, like fuzzy dice?"

The demon took a step back. "Hey there, I don't allow violence in my club, bub. I just thought you looked like you could use some guidance."

"I know you don't want violence. Caritas. Good name," Spike commented. "As for guidance? Not interested."

"If you do, drinks and blood are on the house," the owner prompted, smiling largely.

Spike raised an eyebrow. "You want to tell my fortune then? And I get drinks…" he held up his liquor glass. "…and blood…" he held up the bottle of O positive he had ordered. "For free?"

"That's the jist of it darling."

"One more thing."

"And what's that?"

"You bloody lay off the pet names and I'll consider," Spike stated. He didn't have a lot of money with him, and he figured if this lunatic club owner wanted to poke his mind a bit he'd let him, for free drinks. It wasn't like he hadn't let anyone poke his brain before. He grumbled about the commandos somewhere in his subconscious. "All right then. Say I'm interested. What do I have to do?"

"Well, um…your name again?"

"Spike."

"Spike, all you have to do is…" the host motioned to the stage, where a Morha demon was belting out a hideous rendition of RESPECT.

Spike looked at the green demon incredulously. "You," he pointed to the demon. "Want me… to sing?"

They'd ordered pizzas. Lots of pizzas. Cheese, pepperoni, Mushroom, Ham, supreme, thin crust, thick crust, stuffed crust, breadsticks. Willow and Tara had brought ice cream. It was time to console with the consuming of the food. Giles had even opted to pay for it. Xander had gotten movies. They were all at the watcher's house now, trying to cheer themselves up.

Anya realized she missed having her back and forth commentary's with Spike during the movies. Though everyone told them to shut up, she knew they enjoyed listening to him. He was witty, for a vampire.

Dawn had taken in an unbelievable four slices on top of three scoops of ice cream. She was miserable. Buffy had gone on patrol after Dawn had given her the cold shoulder, more or less. They guessed she needed to kill something, to get her mind off of Spike. Everyone was sort of edgy that way, today.

"This movie sucks," Dawn stated after they got five minutes into it.

"They're still running the opening credits Dawnie, give it a chance," Willow urged, trying to be sympathy girl.

"Like Buffy gave Spike a chance?"

"She was his…friend," Xander put up in the Slayer's defense.

"WAS, is a good word," Dawn replied, shoving another spoonful of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in her mouth. Spike preferred Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, she remembered.

They all looked up when there was a knock at Giles' door. The watcher got up and set his tea aside before opening the door. "Buffy?"

"Um… I was sort of hoping you knew where she was," Riley responded from the other side. Giles had kept the door opened to the bear minimum, but everyone had heard the voice. Dawn immediately exited the living room with her bowl of ice cream. Willow went after her to try and talk to her.

"Can I, come in? Or is this a bad time?" the soldier asked, sounding awkward.

"Um, yes, of course. Come in." Giles opened the door.

Riley stepped over the threshold, rubbing his hands together. "So…what's going on everyone? Party?" he asked, smiling big.

Xander smiled back, albeit nervously. "Yeah, just watching a movie. Gaining 20 pounds," he explained, shoving a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth for emphasis. "Want some, Cap…er…Riley?"

Riley frowned a bit, hearing Xander's slip. "Um, no, it's okay. I just needed to talk to Buffy."

"She's patrolling," Dawn said coldly, from behind the kitchen cabinets.

"She's patrolling? Alone?" Riley was incredulous. "What if she needs help?"

"She did have help. Until Spike left," Dawn replied as she washed her bowl.

"I better go find her… incase she needs me," Riley excused himself awkwardly, feeling the ice in the room from Dawn's presence alone.

"Since when did she ever need you?" Dawn responded, loud enough for him to hear, though he ignored it and continued out the door. When had she?


Spike downed another 4 shots of whiskey. He agreed to sing for the free drinks and blood, and if only they threw in one of those onion flower things too. If he was gonna get up there and make a total wanker of himself, he was gonna at least be off his bird to do it.

"Well?" the owner pushed. "Are you gonna sing or do I need to charge you for the 12 shots of whiskey, and 3 glasses of scotch you've killed?"

"Don't push me, 'm thinking about what I wanna sing!" Spike swayed to his feet. After another minute he sauntered over to the small stage. He took a giant step up the stage a little faster than he perhaps, should have in his state, and nearly fell over. After regaining his sense of equilibrium, the inebriated vampire picked up an electric guitar he found laying near the karaoke machine and strummed it, figuring it was enough in tune that he wouldn't be completely offensive. He slipped it around his body and wobbled to the microphone. "Allo you demons and vamps..." He smiled, completely drunk. "I'm not one for a karaoke party..." he paused, swallowing one last shot. "But a bloke's gotta do what a bloke's gotta do..."

He strummed the guitar, and the karaoke machine behind him played along as well. Normally, he couldn't believe he'd do this, but he couldn't even think straight right now.

Shot through the heart, and you're to blame
Darling, you give love a bad name

An angel's smile is what you sell
You promised me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me,
When passion's a prison, you can't break free

You're a loaded gun, yeah

You're a loaded gun, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me, the damage is done

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name

You paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school-boy's dream, you act so shy,
Your very first kiss was your first kiss good-bye

You're a loaded gun, yeah

You're a loaded gun, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me, the damage is done

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name

Shot through the heart and you're to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love a bad name

He finished the last strums of the song, prancing all over the stage like a maniac. He truly looked like a rocker with his leather duster, black fingernails, boots, and peroxide blonde hair. The crowd gaped at the vampire. He was certainly drunk and out of his mind...but it was entertaining.

He took another whisk this time, of blood. He wiped at his mouth. "Tha' wadn't so bad now was it??" Spike slurred, talking more to himself than the audience. "Ah well, one more song than eh?"

The crowd cheered raising their glasses.

"Well then, what next?" Spike pondered, not in his right mind at all. He grinned like a fool, strumming his guitar thoughtfully, once again.


Buffy staked another vampire with ease. "Ugh!" she growled, angry. The best way to release her frustrations was slaying, but she was slightly distracted. Normally when she was out slaying, even upset and fuming, it was with Spike. Then after a few good slays they'd sit and talk until she felt better. A lot of times it was about how frustrating raising Dawn was, and Spike always seemed to know the answers when it came to Dawn. It was frustrating doing everything without him so suddenly. It bothered her further that she'd come to depend on him so much to help her with, well, with everything. At first, it had always been about killing something with Spike, or so she thought. It'd probably become just about helping her with her problems along the way. As it had been with helping her with Glory, and Dawn and...oh God... even with Riley. Another vamp jumped out and she turned it to dust with a flick of her wrist.

She sighed, sitting upon a tombstone. "God, Spike... When did you become so good?" She paused, brushing back her hair. "And why hadn't I noticed the change in you? I noticed you helping me, I noticed you taking care of Dawn, I noticed you thought you were in love with me and I thought it was sick and perverted." she looked up to the stars. "Now, I honestly don't know what to think of it..." she hid her face in the shadows, afraid of her own admissions. "Or of how I feel about you."

Her mind went back to this afternoon with Riley and his question.

"Do you love Spike? Are you in love with Spike?"

Her mind toyed with the question all day long, trying to figure it out. She'd never come to a resolution with the man gone though. The man… not the monster. She was utterly confused, her mind still whirling. She played with Mr. Pointy absently. There were so many cons against Spike. The whole vampire bit. The sunlight thing, and crosses and churches and the chip. The badass attitude... Okay no, that was a good thing. Se smirked to herself a little. So were the accent, and the duster.

The black clothes she was used to. But the eyes... oh the eyes were such a pro... And the purring... oh God!! What was she doing to herself? She'd once said to Willow that the bad boy thing basically turned her on, unhealthy as it was. But Spike was more than a bad ass... He was the walking, talking definition of the term. And on top of it all, a vamp.

He was immortal. And when she thought about it that had been reason for breaking up with Angel so long ago. Because of the whole no kids, no sunlight, no happy normal life...the whole growing old while he stayed young thing... Was that really her reason though? Or was it the fear of Angelus? The whole not choosing his own path thing as Spike had... At least Angel wanted a soul. Spike wanted no part of that. But then, that's what made Spike who he was. He was himself and that's what Buffy lov...no...liked about him best. Was it love though? Was it infatuation, or just friendship?

"Buffy!!!"

"Spike?!" her head shot up.

Riley jogged over to her, his heart breaking. "No."

"Oh. Hi..." she avoided his gaze.

"Buffy, I came to talk." he stated. "And I want you to listen."

She glared at his commanding tone. She raised her brows. He had a serious look on his face.

"It's time, time to stop denying and running from me Buffy. Do we have a future together or not? Is it Spike, or me?" he asked, before he lost the courage. "Tell me the truth."


Spike had done 4 songs now and he was so drunk, he could barely stand. "Ok kiddies..." he chuckled wildly. "How bout one more?" The crowd had thinned, as they grew tired of the lovesick vampire who refused to relinquish the stage. They groaned as
he started belting out another song in his thickly accented, alcohol laden voice.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face
You were content to let me shine, that's your way
You always walked a step behind

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength
A beautiful face without a name for so long
A beautiful smile to hide the pain

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings


The owner ran up pulling the drunken vamp off the stage.

"Wait you wanker!!!" Spike whined. "I wasn't finished you bloke!! Can't you hear me?!!"

"You're killing my customers, no violence remember?" the demon chuckled.

"I am not! Are you bloody blind? I'm heartbroken!" the vampire pouted, still clutching the mic tightly. He whined. "That was gonna be our first dance at our weddin'!!!!" Spike cried into the mic.

The crowd laughed.

Spike frowned miserably, resting his drunken head on the owner. "Bloody hell..."

The host dragged him to the back of the bar, taking him in a back room and dunking his head in cold water.

Spike shot up, game face on. "Hooooly Shiiit!!! That's blooody coollddd you poof!"

"But it'll make you sober. And it's time to have your aura read. Trust me sweet cheeks, you'll want to be awake for this." The owner sat Spike down gently.

"What if I'm not bloody well ready?" Spike wiggled his head, poking the demon in the chest defiantly.

"Spike, if you don't leave LA now, you'll lose her forever." the owner stared him down, all pretense gone.

Spike went silent and still. He stared into the owner's eyes and he was scared.

"Riley, why are you here?" Buffy asked, avoiding the question.

He looked frustrated. "Because I was worried about you all by yourself out here."

She grew annoyed with every sentence that came out of his mouth. "So you came out here so I'd have SOMEONE to worry about as well?" she asked, glaring. She turned around and started walking.

"Buffy! C'mon…" He put his hand on her shoulder. "Why are you avoiding the question?"

"Because I'm on patrol. I need to concentrate," Buffy replied, trying not to sound as lame as the excuse itself was.

He deflated a little. "Oh, sorry. I didn't distract you, did I?"

"Yes! You did. I could have gotten killed," she replied.

"Geez, I'm sorry!" he responded, putting his hands up in front of his chest as a sign of surrender. "I just thought, you could use some help."

"It's all right Riley, I have it covered," she responded, trying to keep civil with him. She just wanted to kill something quickly and violently, was that too much to ask? Did she not deserve some reprieve from the soap opera that was her life?

"If you have it covered, why do you always patrol with Spike?" he growled, getting annoyed as well.

"Because he can take care of himself!" Buffy shot back.

Hurt flashed over the ex-commando's face. "Buffy, I can take care…"

She sighed. "Yeah, I know you can. Most of the time. But I can't deal with anything right now, okay? I'm just, slaying. Slaying is me right now. That's all."

"You don't mean that," Riley responded. "I mean, I saw you and him fighting the other night together…"

She whirled on him. "That was you watching us? You were spying on me?"

"No! No! I was just, looking on, incase you needed help."

"Which I obviously didn't." She turned back around and kept walking, briskly.

"Obviously," he noted. "Now will you stop avoiding the question?" he lengthened his stride to catch up with her.

"I'm not avoiding anything," she stated, speeding up again.

"Then why are you practically running from me?" he asked, speeding again until he was alongside her.

She looked at him. "Riley, I'm slaying right now."

"I don't see any vampires."

"Well maybe because you don't have super powers, like me."

His eyes narrowed. "Or Spike."

She groaned. She'd walked into that one. "That's not what I meant."

"Okay, say it wasn't. You still haven't answered me. And be honest, Buffy, because it's not fair to either of us if you keep going on like this."

She stopped walking abruptly. "You're right," she sighed. Who would she choose? "I, well, I think that it'd be best if…"

Riley grunted and pitched over backwards as a dark form leapt out and attacked him. "Oh see!? I told you we had to concentrate!" Buffy remarked, poising her stake before tossing the ravenous fledgling vampire off of Riley before it ripped his throat out.


"What do you mean lose her?" Spike muttered, shaking his groggy, alcohol clouded head. "I never had her in the first place, mate," he growled bitterly, sipping at his warm cup of blood.

Lorne sighed and shook his green head. "Did you ever ask her that?"

"What, asked if she loved me?" Spike snorted.

The host nodded.

Spike sighed. "Not in so many words, but, I got the point, all right? She and I, we never could have happened."

Lorne looked at the lovesick vampire sadly. "You really believe that?"

William's laugh was bitter. "Yeah, me'n the slayer, that's a real fairy tale, mate. The princess never falls for the villain. We've got the whole bloody damn world against us, she and I. It would never happen."

"Because you're a vampire?"

"Because I'm a monster." Spike looked through his glass of blood, further proof of his belief.

The host patted him on the back. "You're a vampire."

"Exactly."

"But I don't think you're a monster."

Spike looked up at him. "Shows you what you know."

"Hey blue eyes, I've seen some real bad things, and whether you like it or not, I don't think you're one of them. Look pal, you have to get back to her, and I mean tonight. She needs you, whether you think so or not. But I guess I can only tell you so much. From here on out, it's up to you."

Spike looked at him and knocked back the rest of his blood, trying not to let his concern show. He eyed Lorne out of the corner of his eye. "Thanks for the fortune telling mate, but I'm out for the night." He got up and started towards the exit.

The host smiled after him knowingly. That was a good vampire.

Spike climbed the stairs to the street where the club exited, and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it. He heard a noise behind him, but he gave no indication that he knew what it was. It seemed, LA hadn't changed much since the last time he'd been here. He puffed on his smoke languidly, stuffing his hands in his duster pockets, looking loose and defenseless. The vampire began to walk along the sidewalk nonchalantly, noting that the street was empty. That was usually the case in areas with high demon activity. The humans stayed away after dark. He tested the air around him, using all of his heightened senses to filter out what was happening. Four, five things. Not human, definitely. He could only imagine what they wanted. He didn't have enough money on him to be much of a target, and he was certain they knew a well-aged vampire when they knew one. Well, it seemed his reputation preceded him. Word had spread from Sunnydale, then?

He stopped his walk and threw his cigarette butt down after he'd had enough. "If you'd just up'n tell me what you blokes would like, It'd probably piss me off a lot less," he announced into the night air, his voice loud and clear despite the alcohol he'd consumed. Nothing like a good fight to sober one up quickly.

Five creatures stepped out of the shadows, fanning out in a half circle around him. A large Ascaroth demon stepped up in front of him. He studied it. Nothing more loathsome than a demon who's soul purpose was to spy. "Can I help you? Kill you? Tear you apart, maybe?" Spike asked conversationally.

The demon studied him back. "You are William the Bloody?"

"Yeah, that'd be me. Sounds like you're lookin' for a good blood spillin' then?"

"My kind heard you went insane on the hell mouth," the demon hissed. "That you went mad and killed every underworld dweller you came upon. Slaughtered them like cows and reveled in their blood."

Spike flashed back. Mad? He'd gone pretty insane that first week after Buffy's death… killed everything he could get his hands on. But that was only until she'd come back… he growled. "Get your blood facts straight will you? I was just mightily pissed off."

"We've heard that you don't harm humans anymore," a Bucon demon piped up. "That you side with the slayer."

"Yeah, there a problem with that?"

"Traitor," the smaller Andras demon scowled.

"That's me. So, you want to die or not boys? I'm a busy vampire. Places to go, demons to kill." He looked around at the five demons. "Or are you all scared? I did bloody 'go insane' and whatnot…" He grinned, shaking himself into his vampire visage. "What do you think? Think I'll go nuts and rip your parts off and make your mate's eat 'em fore I kill you?"

The Ascaroth demon muttered something in it's own tongue, enraged, and charged.

Spike decided he'd have a little fun in the City of Angels after all.

He growled and ducked, sending the first charging demon over his shoulder. The second and third attacked simultaneously and he flipped behind them and kicked out hard, spinning around and pulling a stake from his boot, impaling another of his attackers in the eye. It screamed and fell backwards, clawing at the bleeding hole that used to be its eyeball. Withdrawing his stake, Spike grabbed the hand of the half blind demon, which held four sharp claws, using it to impale the next of his charging adversaries. The Andras demon gurgled and died, its comrade's claws imbedded into its abdomen. The half blind demon died when Spike whirled around to snap its neck. "Thanks for the hand, mate," he quipped, tossing the limp form to the floor. He looked at the remaining three demons, who were regrouping.

"Traitor!" the Ascaroth hissed.

Spike shrugged. "You do what you can get, I suppose. Who's next, then?"

They all charged at once, hissing and spitting, and growling.


"Okay, vampire is dust," Riley breathed, taking Buffy's proffered hand and letting her help him up off the ground. "Can we talk now?"

"So you can jumped again like that?" she replied.

He realized her wit hadn't changed any since he'd last seen her. Nor had her subtlety. "Look Buffy, this is important. I need to know what you feel for Spike. Exactly what you feel for Spike."

She turned around. "How can I tell you when I don't even know?"

"What do you mean? How can you not know? You either do or you don't."

"I don't think I love him," Buffy responded. "But I don't think I don't love him either. It's complicated."

"Why?"

"Why? What do you mean why?" she looked exasperated. Did he knot know her at all? Spike would have understood… she stopped that thought. Too complicated. "I just…right now? All I know, is right now, I miss him."

Finn's countenance fell. "Oh."

"I miss talking with him, and fighting with him, and working with him. I wish he were here."

"Buffy, you do realize this is Spike you're talking about."

"Who else?!" Buffy replied, growing exasperated. Spike did that to her. Whether she was talking to him or about him. It got her all excited and agitated inside. She loved it and couldn't stand it at the same time. "Why can't I miss him? Is it so wrong?"

"Truthfully? Yes. Buffy, he's a killer. Remember that in-prison thing we were talking about during lunch? Monster. If he ever got that chip out…"

"I don't want to hear it, Riley."

"But you're not denying it as a possibility."

"No, I'm not. But I just can't seem to think of him that way anymore. After I've seen him cheat at cards so Tara would win, and seen him make cocoa for my little sister before bed, and the way he looks at me? The way he looks at me, I feel like the most important thing in the world. I just can't see him like you do anymore."

Riley growled internally. "Buffy, I think you're seeing things that aren't there…"

She shook her head. "I know they're there Riley. Spike's a good man."

"A man? A man? How many men do you know with no soul and a set of fangs?" Riley sputtered.

"Truthfully?" she looked up into his eyes. "Only one."


Spike let the three demons charge him and he shook his head, ducking underneath as the demons all jumped up, crashing into one another and crumbling to the ground. Spike put his foot on the pile of demons and glared at them, his yellow eyes glowing in the dark alley. "Never mess with a master vampire you ugly, disgusting pile of demon garbage."

The demons all glared up at Spike, getting ready for a second attack. The snarling, scaly demon on top threw Spike's foot off, sending the half drunken vamp onto his rear.

They all stood, gathering around the fallen, vampire. The scaly one mumbled something only the other two understood.

A larger, purplish, horned demon grabbed Spike by his throat lifting him off his feet. He growled loudly, threatening Spike with orange eyes.

Spike turned his nose aside, glaring at the stinky demon. "You ever heard of mouthwash mate?"

This angered him further and he tossed the vampire into brick wall. "Three on one William. I think the odds are too overwhelming for a drunken, neutered vamp. You're a disgrace to all demons alike." The scaly demon's tongue hung from his mouth in a rather grotesque manner. Spike wondered how much the thing would like it if he ripped that drooling piece of flesh from its mouth.

Spike glared up at the creature with absolute rage. He growled furiously, his temper boiling. He was no disgrace. Shooting to his feet, he landed in a catlike crouch, despite the swaying in his head.

His eyes shot from one demon to the next. "I may have this bloody damn chip in my head mates, but nothing keeps me from killing you all like your lil pals here." Spike circled. "You've heard of me, William The Bloody, then you know my reputation, eh?"

"Before you went soft and turned into a traitor," the purple-horned demon snorted.

Spike smiled wickedly. "A bloke's gotta kill somehow eh? And this lil chip in my head kept me from harming those innocent humans. So, why not rid the world of some really...bloody ugly wankers, like yourselves?" Spike shrugged. "Big Bad just loves a good thrashing, whether you're human or not. And like my reputation precedes... 'm a cold blooded killer...and just… just a little bit insane." He continued circling the demons. "A little bit insane, and in the mood to rip off your limbs and use 'em to write my name on the wall." He was having fun goading these blokes. He wanted it to be known, no matter what he was killing, he was still killing. And he was damn good at it.

Something inside him felt it was violently wrong to be thinking this way, but he also felt something inside him, he hasn't felt in a long time. No remorse. "One of you will live tonight. Cuz you're going to let everyone know that the Big Bad's still something to fear." He made sure to growl, emanating low in his throat, then letting it accumulate and rumble into the night air. He snarled, licking at his fangs. "Too bad all you blokes are cold blooded..."

"Too bad you can only pick on demons and not humans..." the scaly demon huffed, trying to plan an escape. He could tell the vampire was brassed off from the threatening growls coming from his chest.

Spike smiled maliciously. If only they knew... His growls stopped with thoughts of killing humans. He couldn't. He'd… he wouldn't allow himself too. For Buffy and for Dawn, he... He remembered Lorne's prophecy and he realized standing around with these blokes was getting him nowhere. He sniffed, shrugging his shoulders. He moved in one fluid motion and grabbed the purple demon by the throat, his hand gripping like a vice around the demons large neck. He laughed maniacally. "I don't care who or what I kill mate..." he squeezed harder, snapping the bones in the demons neck.

It coughed up blood before gasping to his death.

Spike dropped the lifeless body to the floor. "Long as they bleed..." he turned to the two watching demons. "Next?"

The demons looked to each other, then bolted, making a run for it.

Spike grabbed the scaly one's wrist, flinging him into the brick wall. It groaned in pain, clutching its long nose. Dark blue blood trickled from his face.

"I told you," he growled. "…only one of you will live tonight." He turned, seeing the last demon was at the end of the alley already. Then he looked back at his cowering captive, smile wide and fangy. "Guess that means you pulled the short straw, ducks." He stalked over to the demon, who was looking less and less scary as the vampire bore down on him. Spike knelt down. "Did I also mention it doesn't matter what color you bleed either?" He asked conversationally, before grabbing the creature by his shoulder's tossing him like a rag doll. He walked over to where he'd thrown him, feeling so much like his old self, he almost forgot where he was and what he was doing. He lifted the demon, kicking at him, and throwing a few punches at him for good measure, but the demon was too small, and weak to fight back. "Oh c'mon mate! Make this SOMEWHAT challenging, will you?"

The demon breathed raggedly, choking on it's own blood, which oozed from numerous abrasions on it's face.. He looked at Spike, speechless.

Spike sighed. "Bloody hell, ruin my fun why don't you?" he pouted. "Aw hell, might as well bugger off like your mate then..." Spike crossed his arms. The demon stood, trying to make a run for it. Spike grabbed his neck from behind and shoved his face into the hard cement.

"Second thought..." Spike took his foot and poised it against the base of the demon's neck. He slammed down, snapping the demon's neck right in half. Blue blood pooled around his shoe. "Go to hell."

He smiled, dusting his hands off. "Well then..." he paused, wiping his shoe against the demon. "Big Bad's had enough fun." He shook off his visage. He stepped over the carnage; a stab of guilt ate at him. He enjoyed that way too much. LA was changing him. Being chipless was changing him. He needed to go home. Home was in Sunny D with the slayer and her adorable lil sis. Yet, how could he go home chipless? Buffy would kill him; she couldn't trust him. Hell, he wasn't sure he could trust himself. What if he couldn't control the demon and something like tonight happened? They were demons though.... Then there was Lorne's prediction. He took an un-needed breath and looked to the stars. Nothing frightened him more than losing Buffy, as a friend, or anything else. He feared for her life again. He'd find someway to control his demons, and he'd find someway to make Buffy see that he was still good, that he still wanted to be good, chip or no chip. He knew deep down going back was the right thing to do. He'd talk to her, tell her he was good, make her see. He had to. Their lives depended on it.
After she finished kicking his ass for leaving in the first place, he was sure. Or more like, he hoped. She could be rejoicing his departure too. But something in the stars told him that wasn't so.


Riley couldn't believe this. Had something changed inside Buffy after she'd been...'reborn'?? He could not grasp the concept of her having any feelings for Spike than utter disgust. "Buffy..."

"No Riley." she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Look, you don't think I don't know how ridiculous this sounds? This is a vampire, who happens to LOVE being a vampire, and is the epitome of evil. But he's changed. He has and no one can convince me now that he hasn't. After you left, Spike took care of us all, even after we drove him away. He wanted to help us, wanted to protect Dawnie. He took a severe punishing from Glory to protect her. He was practically dead, but he wouldn't rat on us. I'll never forget that. He did something good, because he wanted to."

"To score points with you! Buffy, I've found Spike in your room, stealing your clothes and things so many times. He's sick and perverted! He showed you that vamp place that night just to get me out of the picture!" Riley argued.

"Maybe he did. But, he didn't make you go there, Riley. If I can forgive you for the mistakes you've made, I can forgive Spike for the ones he's made. At least Spike's more than made up for it. Spike stuck around when it got tough, not hightailed it the other way." Buffy pointed out. "He cares for us, and whether or not it's love on my end isn't the point. Spike's a part of my life, and if you can't handle that, leave." Buffy was through defending herself and Spike.

"Spike's gone though, Buffy. He left too," Riley snubbed.

"He'll be back," Buffy walked away, her back turning to Riley. "He always comes back. He's good and Spike does whatever he wants. He always has. He chose to be good, for what reason I don't know, but I intend to ask him. I'm tired of running around in circles with men. Vampires, men and the whole male...male...group thing...." she trailed off dumbly. "I'm tired of seeing men run out of my life and for once, 'm not gonna let that happen..." Buffy assured herself with her words. She turned, a soulful pair of eyes in him. "I'd like for us to work on things too, but that can't happen until you leave Spike alone."

"I want to resolve things too, Buffy." He knew she was slipping from his grasp. He could see it in her eyes. And it was all because of a heartless, soulless demon. The very things she was supposed to kill. He stood stock still with disbelief, but she seemed quite adamant about how important Spike was to her. She just didn't classify what kind of important. "Until you decide what Spike means to you, I don't think we can talk about what we mean to each other." Riley was tired, but he wasn't giving up yet. "I'm staying in town till you tell me otherwise, Buffy. I love you and I'll fight for you, even against demons." he started retreating into the shadows. He brushed her cheek softly. "I'll be around."

She watched him go into the cold shadows of the night, and shivered coldly from his touch. It didn't feel so good anymore. That's when she realized loving Riley again just didn't seem feasible. She sighed dramatically. Her life was worse than a daytime soap opera. She grunted, thinking of Spike and his obsession with Passions. She needed to find that damn vampire, kick his ass for leaving and make him come home. Where he belonged. She looked at her watch and decided to head home. Tonight was not the night to search for him. It would be sunrise in a few hours.

TBC...