By Night - Chapter Two

by Angel Eternal aka Angeline

email: spikes_angel01@yahoo.com.au

Website: In Dreams and Shadows
http://www.geocities.com/spikes_angel01/index.html

Rating: R

Pairings: Primarily S/B, but also has W/T and X/A

Summary: Secrets revealed have a disastrous aftermath.


Author's Notes: This is set S6, and is loosely based on spoilers concerning the season. I just want to point out
though that I haven't seen S6 and won't for a while, so if things aren't quite right, you'd know why.
Oh and btw, my hand fetish is gonna come out in this chapter, so fair warning!

Distribution: "In Dreams and Shadows", and at FF.net but it you want to archive it go ahead, but just let me know first
- I kinda like to know where it's going, and plus I find out about more S/B shipper sites! g


Disclaimers: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is owned by Joss Whedon, several companies and God knows who else.
One thing is certain - I don't own any of it! Nothing - zip - nada!






"We need to talk."

Willow firmly grasped Tara's arm.

Tara stopped, but refused to turn to look at Willow.

Willow stared at her, dismayed. "Tara, I'm sorry."

Tara remained silent.

Willow got frustrated, she was hurting so much and the thought of losing someone she loved so much, frightened her.
"What else do you want me to say?!"

"The problem with you Willow, is that you think saying the magic words will solve everything." Tara's voice was low
and controlled, but Willow heard the notes of anger in the soft tones.

"I'm sorry..."

Tara spun out of Willow's grasp, "You don't get it do you? What you did..." she stopped, her throat constricted with
the effort not to cry. "Our argument was bad enough as it was, but then you..." again she stopped, staring at Willow,
wondering she if ever knew her. "Then you made is so much worse. Saying bibidi bobidi or I'm sorry isn't going
to magically fix everything."

Tara turned on her heel, and walked away.

Willow watched her; she bit her lip. There has to be a way to fix this. With determined strides, she went back to
the apartment - their apartment. She headed straight for the books, rifling through the pages, desperately looking
for an answer. Eyes quickly scanning the pages, she dismissed one spell after another...

Then Tara's words struck her.

With a sob, she flung the book she was holding across the room.

Magic wouldn't solve this.

It was a lesson Willow had to learn.

She curled into a corner, and sobbed into in an ornate pillow, allowing herself for the first time since the whole fiasco,
to simply cry.

* * *

Spike laid Buffy down gently on her bed, covering her slight body. Gently, he brushed away her hair from her neck,
assuring himself that she wouldn't bleed all over her nice pillow, he turned to leave.

A hand clamped itself around his wrist.

Startled, he looked down to find Buffy's supple fingers wrapped around his wrist.

She tugged on the wrist, effectively sending him sprawling on top of her.

"Buffy..."

"Stay." With one word she silenced him.

He stared into her eyes, shocked and unsure. He slowly removed his duster, persuading her to let of his hand for
the millisecond it took to remove it. Carefully, he manoeuvred himself to settle next to her.

Instinctively, she spooned her body against his, still without letting go of his hand.

Spike's mouth wanted to babble all sorts of nonsensical things, but he firmly clamped down on it, refusing to let it
fuck up this perfect moment.

Buffy's own fingers threaded around his, her thumb stroking his index finger.

Spike was utterly paralysed, as her grasp on him tightened.

Buffy disentangled her hand from his, and held his hand up, seemingly engrossed in studying the vampire's long, supple
fingers. Slowly, she held up each finger, her own fingers running lightly on the digit, learning and memorising every
feature of his hand.

He couldn't take it anymore; her careful perusal had made him more aroused then hours of foreplay would ever do.
"Buffy..."

She looked up into his eyes when she heard him call her name. Shivers always raced through her when he says her
name in that throaty gasp.

He opened his mouth to speak, but she firmly placed a hand over his mouth. "Just...just stay with me."

Wanker that he was, Spike could never refuse a lady.


* * *


Tara let herself into the room, thankful that her new roommate wasn't in. She collapsed against the door, the encounter
with Willow had taken more out of her then she thought.

She could still see Willow's teary face, heard her voice, pleading. Tara shut her eyes tightly, in a vain attempt to
shut away the images.

She had never denied Willow anything; she had given her everything she had without once hesitating. Now, shutting
Willow out of her life, was the hardest thing Tara had ever done.

She honestly didn't know what to do, when Willow had revealed the truth; Tara had been devastated. In anger,
she told her beloved that she could never forgive her. Tara knew that even if she and Willow worked things out,
doubt would always remain. The perfect love that they had was, in all probability, gone. Tara could never give
Willow her all anymore.

Tara shook her head, and frantically wiped away the tears, before collapsing on the bed, desperately missing Willow's
warmth.

* * *


Xander walked.

Whenever he felt despair such as this, he walked.

Anya had taken to sleeping in Giles' apartment, which the Watcher had left to Buffy. Xander had no idea what to
do. He had fucked things up royally this time, and the bad thing about it, was not only did he mess it up for himself,
but for everyone as well. The least affected by his colossal mistake was Buffy and Dawn, if anything; it only served
to strengthen their bond. That was his one saving grace; it was the one thing that prevented everyone jumping down
his throat.

He thought he saw a flash of platinum blonde hair, and he hurried to catch up with the vampire. He turned the corner,
and simply found an empty street, disappointed, but not surprised, Xander continued to walk.

One minute, he was standing, contemplating his wretched existence, the next he was asphalt.

Xander struggled for breath, as the thing pressed its entire weight on him. With a desperate surge of strength, Xander
threw it off, but before he could scramble to safety, the thing pinned him the ground.

Everything was a blur of gold and black, before Xander plunged a stake into the thing's chest and it was gone.

It was simply gone, no familiar flare of undead vamp disintegrating and more alarming - no dust.


* * *


Morning crept into the room, and Spike cast nervous glances at the sliver of light growing as every minute ticked
by. He was reluctant to leave his position as the Slayer's animated pillow, but circumstances being as they were,
he might not be given a choice. He really, really detested getting singed, then again...

He glanced down at the golden head, tucked trustingly beneath his chin.

She was practically sprawled on top of him, one leg securely tucked between his own. One arm snaked just above his
head, the other thrown over his chest, her hand still grasping his left hand. Not once during the night did she let go of his hand. He had tried to extract himself from her, once he was certain that she was asleep, but Buffy merely grumbled
in sleepy protest and her grip on his tightened.

You had to give a bloke points for trying!

Even if the attempts were only half-hearted.

Now he lay beneath her, certain that nothing would ever compare to simply holding the miracle that was Buffy.

His eye wandered to the sliver of light once more, getting distinctly uncomfortable at the sight of it crawling forward...

"Buffy! I..."

The whirlwind named Dawn stumbled to a halt upon seeing whom Buffy shared her bed with.

One sleek eyebrow rose, and Spike was struck by how much Dawn often resembled her sister.

Silently, she walked to the curtain, teasingly fiddling with it.

Spike glared at her, with a lightening grin, she pulled it close.

Dawn circled the bed, until she once more stood on Buffy's side. She smiled down at the pair.

Spike eyed her warily, "Nibblet..."

Dawn bent close to her sister's ear and...

"Buffy!"

With a screech the Slayer woke, glaring at her sister, rubbing her ear in her annoyance. "Don't do that! Couldn't
you just shake like normal people?"

Dawn simply smiled in amusement, as it was obvious that Buffy wasn't fully aware that her legs were tangled
with Spike's, as she continued her tirade.

Waiting for a pause, she quickly inserted. "I'll wait for both of you downstairs."

Buffy halted in mid-tirade, "Both? Of? Us?"

Dawn once more just smiled before turning, whistling down the hallway.

Buffy blinked in confusion, staring after her sister...

"Morning pet."

"Morning Spike." then she stopped, turning wide-eyed, suddenly realising that Spike was there. "Spike?"

Spike wanted to laugh at the look of pure shock on her face.

Buffy's face coloured, as she realised that she wasn't indulging in her usual morning daydream; Spike was really
there. "Uh..."

Spike disentangled himself from beneath her, he picked up his discarded duster, "'Salright, pet. Just hand me a
blanket and I'll be outta your hair."

Memories of last night were slowly returning. "No Spike."

He frowned, unsure of her meaning. "Well Slayer it is daylight and..."

"Just stay here for the day." she stated simply.

She got up, frowning down at her body, which was still clothed in what she was wearing last night. "Ugh - shower
first - make Dawn breakfast - take her to school..." she muttered beneath her breath, listing the morning's tasks.

Spike watched her with great interest, he didn't really know what to think, but watching her as she scrambled for
clothing gave him a warm glow in the pit of his stomach. It was just so...domestic.

Buffy disappeared into the bathroom, and knowing that he wouldn't be able to handle seeing her come out of it,
all glistening, he wisely headed downstairs.

Dawn was already seated, calmly eating a bowl of cereal. She flashed him a brilliant smile as he came in.

"Morning Nibblet."

This was familiar, trudging down for breakfast, seeing the Nibblet off to school, this he could handle. The thing upstairs,
purely terrifying unchartered waters. He loved every minute of it.

Buffy soon came down, Spike surprised at her swiftness, he had always imagined that Buffy was lousy in the
mornings.

She headed straight for the fridge, surprising him once again by grabbing a bag of blood and heating it.

Spike could do nothing but stare at her dumbfounded as she efficiently poured the warmed blood in a mug, and
handed it to him, before turning to get her own breakfast.

The rest of the morning was over before he could think as Buffy rushed Dawn to school, and he was left in the
house, mind numbed, and happier then he had ever been since he was born.


~To be continued~