memories in ***
I don't own them Joss Whedon does!




Nastassia eyed Spike from across the room for several minutes before asking
Willy if the blond at the bar was indeed William the Bloody. The last time she
had seen him he was with that crazy Druscilla somewhere in Brazil. She had
heard that they suffered a bad breakup ending with Spike wandering for the last decade or
so. Lots of rumors floated around about the blond vampire, some said he never
stayed long in one place because he still mourned the loss of Druscilla, there
were even farfetched rumors that he had become involved with ..of all people
the Slayer. Jarvis would be glad to know that a powerful vamp like Spike was in town.



"Yeah, that's Spike." Willy nodded his head up and down, "Comes here whenever
he's in town." He leaned in towards the redhead, "We're like this." He crossed
his fingers.

"Really? Do you think you could introduce us? I only know him by reputation, I've
seen him around but never officially met." She smiled at the barkeeper running
her finger down his jawline.

Willy gulped visibly, "Well, yeah. I'll give you an intro."

She frowned as she looked at the vamps around her, mostly fledglings because
she had needed quick help preparing Sunnydale for Jarvis visit. None of the
vamps with her had even heard of William the Bloody, she sighed, "Stay here,
I'll motion if I need you." She told them as she followed Willy to the bar.

Spike finally asked for the bottle and was getting a buzz as he tried to fend off
the advances of the lonely hearts in Willy's bar.

"No, luv not interested." He used a napkin to wipe the slime off his arm where
the amorous chaos demon had touched him.


He took another drink as Willy
approached the bar, a tall redhead at his side, she looked vaguely familiar to Spike
but he couldn't place her.

"Spike, uhh." Willy stuttered nervously.

"Yes, Wllly?" Spike answered impatiently.

"This is Nastassia, she wanted to meet you." Willy gave Spike a sly wink.

"Nice to meet you Nastassia. But I already told Willy here, I'm not interested in
finding a date for the evening." He nodded at her as he poured himself another
drink. "In fact I think I'm going to call it a night."

She laughed softly and shook her head, "I do have a proposition for you, but not
that kind." She turned to Willy, "Could you bring us another bottle and leave us
alone, please?"

He nodded and went back behind the bar.

"So what kind of proposition are you talking about?" Spike asked as
Willy sat the fresh bottle down and retreated from the couple.

"Sunnydale has been quiet for a long time now....My partner Jarvis and I think
it's time to come back and use it's energy for our benefit. I realize there is
still a Slayer of sorts here. And when I saw you the first thing I thought was that
you - the slayer of two Slayers could help us out. " She leaned in closer,
"I've heard rumors you know this ones weaknesses ."

Spike buzz was quickly replaced by a tightness in his chest at the realization
that Buffy was in danger, he decided to play it safe and let Nastassia think the
drink was loosening his tongue. "What exactly is in it for me, luv?" He gave her
a seductive grin.

"You could be the third in a triumverate. Jarvis, myself and William the Bloody,
could be so very interesting." She almost purred as she leaned closer to Spike.

"What exactly would I have to do?"

"Kill the Slayer, that's it." She poured herself a drink, "Think you could manage
that?"

Spike smiled broadly at her, "Of course, Pet."


&&&&

Buffy took her time choosing the exact outfit to wear to see Spike. She finally settled
on a long skirt and sweater, she swept her hair up and clipped it just the way he
liked it. She took a deep breath as she pulled up to the hotel. She went to his
room and knocked, no answer she knocked again, and then again. Where in the
world could he be? She finally had her nerve and he wasn't around. She sighed
then smiled to herself this was just her.....no, just thier luck. But their luck was
going to change if she had anything to do with it.

She drove around Sunnydale trying to think where Spike would go. As she drove
by Willy's she grinned and shook her head, Of course. She parked outside the
seedy bar and walked inside looking around the bar she found Willy drying
glasses with a dirty rag. "Slayer.....long time no see." He said nervously.

"Have you seen Spike?" She asked as her eyes wandered to the end of the bar
where a familiar blond and a.....a very attractive redhead sat. Anger and jealousy
fought a battle as she marched to the end of the bar before Willy could even
answer.


She took a deep breath and calmly asked, "Who's your friend, Spike?"

Spike's eyes widened at the sound of her voice, "Bu...Betty.......what are you
doing here?"

Buffy looked at him like he had grown a third head, "Betty?" She asked
with a frown.

"Yeah, isn't that your name?" His eyes pleaded with her to play along.

Nastassia watched the interlude with interest, "Betty or whatever your name is,
I'm Nastassia and since I was here first and Spike doesn't even seem to remember
your name, I think it's time for you to go." She flashed the slightest bit of fang
as she smiled at Buffy.

"Well actually Nastassia, I actually had prior claim to Spike here."
Buffy reached
for her stake in her coat pocket, a move that Spike noticed but Nastassia didn't.
He would love to see the redhead dusted but not now, he needed more info
from her to insure Buffy's safety.

"This is all very flattering, but ladies please stop fighting over me." He turned
to Buffy, "I keep telling you it's over. Leave me alone." Spike replied
convincingly drunk.

"What?" Buffy was hit with the realization that Spike wanted
her out of here for a good reason.

"Go on home..........I might see you later. Got me a new friend here." He put
his arm around Nastassia.

"What about us?" Buffy whined.

" We had some good times, if you know what I mean." He waggled
his eyebrows at her. "You got your taste of the Big Bad."

She seemed to be playing along, he only hoped that she would forgive him when this was all
over. Even if she didn't it was worth it to keep her safe.

Buffy turned her attention back to Nastassia, "Fine, your welcome to him. But
let me tell you he's not as good as they say." She flashed an evil smirk Spike's
way.

Spike rolled his eyes at Buffy, "Still the best you ever had though." His smirk
matched hers now.

Buffy turned to walk away.

Nastassia looked at Buffy and then back to Spike, "An ex?"

"Just a girl I had a bit of fun with. Now exactly where in the tunnels should I meet
you and Jarvis?" Spike asked as he sneaked a look at Buffy. Maybe she would
just leave? He shook his head as he listened to Nastassia. No such luck on Buffy
just leaving this to him, she seemed to be into the spurned lover part - he cringed as he watched her stop at the bar.

"Service, Willy!" She pounded her small fist on the bar.


"Geez, Slayer!" Willy shouted back, "Give a guy a break."

Spike's eyes turned back to Nastassia as she heard Willy's telling words. You've
done it now Buffy!

Nastassia was staring at him with disbelief on her face, "The Slayer! That's the
Slayer! But why.....?" She turned back to ask Spike as he stood up from his
barstool. Her face lit up with the realization, "You and the Slayer? The rumors
were true? How twisted is that?" She snapped her fingers and suddenly eight vampires appeared
around her. Spike ran towards Buffy as Nastassia gathered her vamps around
her, he had time to swoop her into his arms and then he ran into the alley,
the vamps in close pursuit.

"What the hell are you doing?" Buffy asked confused.

"I'm saving you - again." He explained as he looked behind him they were
too close, they were going to have to fight. He stopped and put her down,
"Just trust me Buffy - we're gonna have to fight our way out of this alley and
then I'll explain." He barely got the words out before they were attacked by
four vamps, Buffy easily took out two and turned towards Spike who had one
down on his back in the alley and the other charging him, she tossed him
a stake and watched as he staked the charging vamp then with ease dispatched
the one on the ground.

She turned around to find two more charging her, she kicked one against the
wall as she quickly staked the other. Spike fought off two more to stake the
dazed vamp at the wall.

Nastassia and the remaining vamps watched with interest she called to him
before they ran, "This isn't over, we'll be back. With or without your help,
she's going to die. Jarvis and I will rule Sunnydale."

"Who is she and who is Jarvis?" Buffy asked as she dusted off her skirt and sweater.
Then she frowned, "And why were you with her?"


"Name's Nastassia she and her partner Jarvis fancy coming into Sunnydale
and ruling it." Spike explained as he put pushed Buffy's hair away from a
cut above her eye. "That looks bad, lets get it cleaned up."

She pushed his hand away, "Your changing the subject, I got the ruling part. You
still haven't answered why you were with her."

"I was offered the third in a triumverate." Spike told her as he pulled out a
hankerchief and worriedly began to dab at the cut again.

"Is that why your in Sunnydale?" Buffy gasped with horror, that couldn't be the
reason he was here.

"Hell no! And you know me better then that." He shoved the hankerchief in
her hand, "Hold that on the cut." He stomped off towards the Desoto. Buffy
following him. "Can't believe you would even think that." He opened the car door
for her, "Get in."

"Well I don't know what to think, it's been ten years you come back and tell me
you love me and then we make love and I'm happier then I have been in........
well in forever and then you get mad at me again and the next thing I know
you are at Willy's talking to this tall, pretty red head and she wants you to help
her rule Sunnydale." Buffy's words gushed out as tears threatened to spill.
"And I have my own car." She said stubbornly.

"Buffy, please just get in the car. We need to go somewhere safe and get
your cut cleaned and then we'll talk and it will be okay." He placed his
hand on her cheek, "I promise."

He sighed as she got into the car. It was going to be a long night. He turned
to look at Buffy curled up in the seat next to him, she looked tired. "So why
were you at Willy's?"

She was biting on her lower lip the way she always did when she was trying
to figure out something. It was one of the things he loved about her, how he
could always tell when she was really concentrating.

******
"Buffy take a rest, you need it." Spike watched the petite girl as she sat at the
kitchen island with a stack of bills, a calculator, and a pad of paper,
she was chewing on her bottom lip as she kept adding and readding the numbers.

"What?" She asked absentmindedly as she picked up the checkbook.

"Rest.........you need one. You've been at that for two hours now." He stood behind
her now, rubbing her shoulders to try to alleve her stress.

"I think if I pay part of the electric bill and part of the phone bill. I'll be okay and
they are good about taking partial payments. Course next month the bills will
be even larger, but I'll worry about that next month." She sighed as she
finished writing out the bills and stamping the envelopes.

"It's gonna be okay." He nibbled lightly on her neck.

"You promise?" She had asked as she turned and found his lips with hers.

"I promise." He had murmured against her lips.

"Okay then." She had given him a small smile as she wrapped her arms around him
and whispered, "I need you, Spike."

******
&&&

"I went to look for you." Buffy's voice interrupted his trip down memory lane.
That had been one of the few times, she have ever let down her guard
and admitted she needed him.


"For me?" He smiled at her, "So was that who the stake in your jacket was for?
Me?"

"It's my turn," she glared at him, " you know me better then that. It's habit to carry a stake." She
placed her hand on his arm and scooted closer to him.

"It's a good habit for you, Pet."

Buffy continued "I went to your room first, when you weren't there I figured Willy's."

"How did you know where I was staying?"

"Dawn told me, don't be mad at her." Buffy spoke soflty.

"I'm not mad at Niblet, luv. " Spike replied assuringly.

"She told me lots of stuff, cause obviously someone has a big mouth." She
gave him a small grin.

"Yeah well she gave me Red's 'resolve look' and I couldn't help it." He grinned
back at her, "So what did she say?"

"She told me to find you and let you know I love you no matter what."

"That Dawn's a smart woman." Spike laughed softly, "Right now unfortunately
we have a problem. And keeping you safe is my biggest priority." He pulled
into the hotel parking lot.

"Why are we here? Why not my place?" Buffy asked as Spike fumbled for his
room key.

"Cause, luv, she knows what you look like and someone in Willy's might supply
a name and she might find your place. Come on, I've got my trusty first aid kit,
we'll fix you up and you can sleep here tonight."

She raised her eyebrow at him, "Sleep?"

He shook his head at her, "Where is your mind at,Slayer?" He grinned as he
opened the door to his room.

"Nice room." Buffy remarked as she sat down of the foot of the bed.

"It'll do." Spike replied as he dug through his bag and pulled out a small
box. "Be right back."

Buffy watched him go into the bathroom and lay back on the bed, she was so
tired, fighting with Spike could wear a girl out. She giggled to
herself - Spike could wear a girl out.

****
"Again?" She murmured against his hard chest.

"Where is all of that famous Slayer strength now?" He laughed soflty as his
hands roamed all over her body elicting a delicious tingle wherever they stopped.

"Tired.........birthday party with everyone remember?" She opened
one eye to peek at him.

"Well this is part of the gift, and there's more later." He had kissed her hard
then and she had returned the kiss, tired or not he always brought out the passion
in her. Part of Spike's charm was that she knew if she had told him that she
really was too tired, he would have just held her close to him all night without
expecting anything.

*******
&&&
Buffy sat back up on the bed as she heard Spike return, she grimaced at the
memory realizing she had never found out what the other part of her gift was going to be, because
later that evening, they had argued about her admitting her feelings to him, to every
one. The next day he had left her. She shook away the bad part of the memory
and concentrated on the blond in front of her.

"Here you go, luv." Spike spoke in a calming voice as he cleaned the cut out.
"This may burn a bit." He told her as he applied the antiseptic and then the
butterfly bandage. "All better." He proclaimed as threw away the bandage
wrapper.

"Thank you." She told him as she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on
his cheek. "Now we have to figure out what to do about Nastassia and Company.
What did you find out?"

"Well she gave me some directions on where to find she and Jarvis lair in the
tunnels. He was arriving tonight." Spike explained as the two of them got
comfortable sitting against the headboard.

"Great, lets go then." Buffy started to stand.

"No, I'll go." Spike told her firmly.

"Hey, slayer here, I can handle myself." Buffy stood beside the bed.

"I know you can." He said aloud to her, then added mentally but I don't want you
to have too.

"Well then lets go, now." She reached for his hand.

"Not now, we'll go tomorrow night, make sure Jarvis got here." He humored her.

"You think that's best?" She asked as she sat down next to him again.

"Yeah, I do. Why don't you get some rest and we'll be ready to face them
tomorrow." He kissed her lightly on the lips and pulled her close.

Buffy yawned once, "Okay then, tomorrow - together."

"Together, always love." He smiled at her as her eyes closed and she
cuddled closer together. He was gonna get her out of this mess and hopefully
they could work this out. Right now it seemed like she was okay with it, but he
had his hopes raised more then once and his heart broken for it.

When he was sure she was sleeping, he covered her snugly with the blanket and
put on his boots. He was going to take care of this problem tonight.

Buffy opened her eyes slightly when she heard the sound of Spike sitting in the chair
putting his boots on. She almost said something but decided against it, she
knew what he was going to do and she wasn't going to let him do it. Not this time.
She could still remember the beating he had taken without complaint from
Glory all those years ago. Her mind lingered for a moment on that first innocent
kiss in his crypt - when he had thought she was the Buffybot. That was a turning
point in her feelings for Spike.

Spike gave her a last look of longing and slipped out the door.

"Oh no you don't." She said out loud to the empty room as she too slipped out
into the night stealthily following the man that she loved into the dark labyrinth of
tunnels under Sunnydale.

TBC