Part 5

The chirping of crickets filled the moist night air. The lake playfully tossed against the shore, leaving the sand dark under the moonlit sky. Hilary grabbed the boxes from the truck when a pair of strong muscular hands smoothed over hers, their fingers entwining as he gently kissed her neck. It was only then that he noticed the scar.

"I bit you?"

"Yes."

"I hurt you." Spike tried to search the recesses of his mind to remember that moment but couldn't.

"No! We... well... you know during..." She tried to cover up the real reason for the bite mark. His chest still pressed up against her back, his other hand held her securely around the waist.

"Oh," Spike replied unsure then, his voice deep with acknowledgement, said, "Oohhhh."

The vibration of his voice against her neck made her shiver which only made him hold her closer. His tongue slowly traced the bite mark and she whimpered in need. "Why don't we unpack tomorrow night?"

"You're right, it's late," Hilary agreed as he let go of her and pulled away. He grabbed the last item of importance - a cooler filled with blood - and walked up the cabin's steps.

Hilary quickly closed up the van and her car and dashed inside her grandfather's summerhouse.

* * *

Buffy had made her way up the stairs before she heard a knock at the front door. She groaned as she turned and marched back down. She violently ripped open the door to see Spike standing in her doorway with his patented smirk.

"Spike?!?" Buffy looked the vampire up and down. "One, since when do you knock? And two, where the hell have you been?"

"Well it's polite to knock. I was waiting for you to feel better before I came over." A quirky smile appeared on his face, which irritated Buffy even more.

"Were you made to be this annoying?"

His whole posture changed and he stalked up to Buffy. She backed away on instinct and fell backward over the living room couch. Before she could even process it, Spike was on top of her, staring down. "Of course I was, pet."

"Get off of me you jerk." Buffy used all of her strength and pushed him backward. He landed on his feet and gave her his signature smirk and raked his tongue against his teeth.

"Mmmm, foreplay."

"You're disgusting."

"I bet you like it hot and steamy, dontcha Slayer?"

"Get out."

"Why?" he asked bewildered.

"Because you never change no matter how many chances I give you. You always seem to remind me why I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole."

"Speaking of poles"

"Spike!" Buffy's voice warned of dangerous intentions.

"All right, Slayer. I was just having a little fun." Spike-bot replied as he left the Summers' residence. "Don't get so uptight."

* * *

"So we've been together for over a year and how did we meet?" Spike asked as he passed the soapy washrag along her arms.

"We meet at a club. " Hilary sighed as she rested her back against his hard chest and leaned her head on his shoulder. Spike felt a slight urge as her exposed neck glistened in the candlelight.

Spike waited for an explanation but got none.

"So do you like it out here, Spike?"

"Of course I do. I am with you."

Hilary stroked his thighs as she wriggled back against him more. "This is perfect."

Spike smiled, feeling a bit uneasy. He was trying hard to remember but he just couldn't break through the foggy haze that surrounded his memories.

"What's wrong?"

"I--I just want to remember you. I want to know why that demon this to me."

Hilary moved through the water and turned to face him. "I hate that she did this to you and that you can't remember us."

"I want to remember loving you," he whispered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

The redhead felt butterflies in her stomach as he touched her. Everything about Spike was completely different; he was genuinely sweet and caring. The passion and heat that first attracted her to him was nothing comparing to the way he was now. She loved it and she vowed to keep him this way with her forever. She wasn't going to let anyone - especially Buffy - take him away again. Her fingertips traced the hollow of his cheeks as she looked into his eyes.

"We can make new memories together," she suggested before she kissed him.

* * *

Willow sat in the Summers living room looking through the obituaries to see what cemeteries Buffy should patrol after class when she came across a familiar name.

Warren Mears, age 21, died on Friday, October 26, 2001, of an apparent heart attack in his home. The police were called in when there were reports of excessive use of water on the premises only to find the body of the Dutton Tech College student. The funeral service will held today at Collins Memorial Cemetery.

.

Buffy strolled into the living room, "Heya Wil. Whatcha reading?"

"The obits. Warren died last week."

"How? One of his robots finally got him, huh?"

"Nope. He died from a regular old heart attack."

"A regular heart attack? I don't think anything about a guy in his twenties having a heart attack is that regular."

"Well we both know that. I think I should check the autopsy records and find out what really happened," the witch suggested.

"Good idea. And I think that I am gonna have to take a look around his apartment and see what he was up to this time."

* * *

Buffy and Willow cautiously approached Warren's basement apartment door and pulled away the crime scene tape. Buffy broke the lock with a quick tug and they walked in. Willow headed straight for his desk, looking excitedly through the design plans.

"I think he was making another robot." Willow looked at the schematics.

"You think a guy would learn his lesson." Buffy looked around the room and noticed a small black phone book and flipped through it. Instantly a name caught her eye: Hilary Keen. A heart was scrawled around her phone numbers. "Wil, you have got to see this."

"What's up?"

"I think that she might be the same psycho chick that went after Spike last winter." Buffy showed her the address book. "Let's look and see if there is anything else here."

"Well, even if we don't find anything we have her full name now. We can find out if she has a record or anything.

* * *

Part 6

The next night they unpacked and settled into their new home. Hilary made sure to hide the vials of the memory suppressant in a safe in the bedroom. When everything was settled in the cabin, Spike stretched out his limbs on the couch and flicked on the TV.

"Put it on ESPN. I think a Man U game is on tonight. Them verses Leeds, I think."

"A soccer fan." He smiled.

"Always. I think Beckham is cute."

"That ponce! Bloody hell! That Spice chick must be running the show, and how can you think that wanker is cute?" Spike pulled his lover into him.

"He is." She shrugged.

"Take that back or...."

"Or what?" she dared, squirming hips over his.

"Or I'll give you a yellow card?"

Hilary burst out laughing as Spike scowled.

"Okay, then how about a red card?"

Hilary couldn't stop laughing. As the sounds of her amusement continued, the still weak Spike flipped his lover with vampiric speed. Now he was the one on top.

"Are you laughing at me?"

"Yes. You're acting silly. Let's watch the game."

"Take it back," he demanded.

"No."

"You better before I...." Spike slipped on his vampiric face. He watched as Hilary's eyes gleamed with excitement. "What?"

Spike tongued one of his canine teeth and cut his tongue, "Bloody hell." He quickly felt his face, feeling the ridged skin across his forehead. "Is this? Am I?"

"Yes. That's your vampiric face." She smiled before she grabbed his shirt pulling him closer and crushed her lips against his. The demon within growled and he began to attack her with his mouth. She scrapped her tongue along the jagged teeth, cutting her own tongue and letting him taste her warm blood. Suddenly Hilary felt consumed by the vampire as he ripped her shirt open and began to trail rough hard kisses along her body. Hilary gasped, raising her legs around his hips.

Spike paused, drinking in the beauty in his arms, panting heavily, lips parted and eyes closed. A sudden rumbling ripped through him as his gaze paused at the pale skin of her neck. its smoothness marred slightly by two faint scars, testimony of past predation. With a growl, he gave into the demon completely as he sunk his teeth deep into her tender skin. Her gasp of pain only made him sink his teeth in further.

Hilary felt the razor-like teeth break her skin. This bite was different from the first, Spike completely surrendering to the demon. His cold hands slid underneath her, arching her body as he drank from her in deep gulps. It didn't take long before her vision began to blur. She whimpered in protest as he continued, sinking his teeth in further. She couldn't believe how painful this bite was compared to the first time.

His name managed to escape her lips, "Spike."

He could hear her heartbeat slowing as her arm flailed off the side of the sofa. He retracted his teeth quickly to see her pale form lying limp beneath him, gasping for air through dry lips. He could hear her heart recover a slow steady rhythm as her chest slowly rose and fell. The torn flesh at her neck disturbed him somewhat, but the discomfort he felt faded as he recalled the sweet taste of her blood filling his mouth.

Spike instinctually knew that he was only a couple of quick drinks away from killing her. Forcibly pushing his demon down, he scolded himself for hurting her after she had been so caring to him. He cradled her limp body in his arms as he carried her up the stairs.

* * *

Hilary woke up feeling the soreness that inflamed the side of her throat. She slowly opened her eyes to see concerned blue ones staring back at her.

"Hi." Spike visibly gulped.

"Hi."

An awkward silence filled the room.

"I'm sorry," Hilary stated.

"Sorry for what? I bit you. I nearly killed you."

"No, I shouldn't have... I started it and I should have figured that your true nature might be hard to control at first. I should never..."

Spike silenced his lover with a gentle kiss.

"Let me change the bandage and we can talk about this after."

She smiled at him weakly, "Okay."

* * *

"I found it!" Willow shrieked. "Well, actually I found her."

"So what's her deal?"

"Well her name is Hilary Keen-Wolfram. Her dad is a partner in a huge law firm called Wolfram & Hart. She normally goes by her mother's maiden name. Anyway, when she was 18, this chick was arrested for attempted murder of an old boyfriend. The DA dropped all charges and for no apparent reason. There was a detective Kate Lockely; she filed a formal complaint on the dismissal of the charges, but nothing was ever done. When she was 19, she went out with Congressman Blim's son Billy. They had a fight and from what people say it was not pretty. Both of them went to jail for the night, but after that Billy seemed to disappear for a while. Then he was in LA for a week and apparently he was killed in an airport hanger. Shot to death."

"You are getting this from a police report?" Xander asked amused.

"Actually there are a couple of websites on Billy. I think he's a baddie of some sort. According to this particular website, Billy could somehow turn men into psycho, women-killing freaks. One visit with Billy and then Silence of the Lambs. And that description is courtesy of his cousin; Marcus Blim. Ouch! But hey, there is a whole page here dedicated to Hilary on this site."

"And she dated him? Yikes, she can pick 'em." Buffy huffed.

"I guess she likes her men evil," Xander stated, receiving a glare from Buffy. "What?"

"Well, according to this, Hilary stabbed Billy in the chest with a pen during their fight. I think they were meant for each other. The website also says that she went out with some major Hollywood stars, but they don't list them. They say that she's been away from her old scene in LA for about a year and half. She's just disappeared."

"To Sunnydale," the Slayer stated the obvious. "I better warn Spike in case she decides to come back to reclaim her vampire."

"Come on, Buff. She wouldn't dare come back here." Xander looked over Willow's shoulder reading the rest of the page on Hilary.

"She's not exactly the pillar of mental health. She has a fixation on Spike and the last time that led to both Dawn and Spike being in danger and me almost getting killed. And if she was in Sunnydale and responsible for Warren's death in some way, then she was here for a purpose. and I really don't want to know what her twisted mind thought of this time. I'm going to warn Spike." Buffy grabbed her coat and headed out the magic shop door.

* * *

When Buffy couldn't find Spike at his crypt she immediately went to the Bronze. As she stepped inside she could hear the giggling of girls around the pool table and Buffy looked over to see two girls mercilessly flirting with Spike.

Buffy strode over and quickly got Spike's attention. For some reason Spike's flirting seemed to set off a feeling of unease.

"We need to talk." Her voice held a cryptic tone as she led him to a table in the corner.

"Sure, Buffy."

She shook off the weirdness of hearing him say her name. It seems that was all he ever called her now, never 'Slayer'. For her it proved too weird to even comprehend so she ignored the small mystery for now and sat down.

"Hilary is back in town. I think she killed Warren."

"Warren is a creator."

"Yeah, he created April and that bot of me." She made sure to stress the last part.

"Really?"

"Really? What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

"Warren makes robots."

"I think we established that. Anyway, I think Hilary killed him and that mean's she coming after you. At least if she is still obsessed with you like before."

"Hilary?"

"My god, what the hell is wrong with you? You know who Hilary is. You're not drunk are you? Cause you seem to be on the wrong program this whole week."

With the command "program," he lifted his head up and suddenly his voice took charge. "Look here, Slayer. I am tired of hearing your problems. Why don't you sod off so I can go back to the chits over there." With that Spike got up and went back to the pool table.

Buffy growled in frustration as she left the Bronze. Now she knew for sure that something was wrong with Spike.

* * *

It took Spike over a week to get used to his surroundings and reacquainting himself with Hilary. But something gnawed at him, and for some reason today it seemed to consume him. Bits of his memory were coming back. He could remember fighting with the demon that Hilary had told him about. She was punching him and hitting him outside in the daylight. And he remembered having her on the floor and he was about to bite and pain shot through his head and she attacked him again.

His strongest memories came when he slept, bits and pieces jarred together, but nothing solid. Mixed in with the memories of the demon's attack were vaguely unsettling glimpses of his past with Hilary.

Hilary walked into the bedroom, smiling at a sleeping Spike.

"You are completely worth it." She walked away to grab a sweater and that's when she heard it.

"Buffy!" his voice ever so quiet but completely clear.

Her body stiffened as he started to mumble. She looked at the date on the calendar and soon realized that Spike was a day overdue for his next shot of the forgetting serum. Hilary reached for the small safe and unlocked it, looking at the remaining five syringes. She knew that once he got all of them, he would never remember anything about Sunnydale. The redhead expertly voided the air out of the syringe and moved toward the sleeping vampire. She gently held his arm and injected the light green substance. She sat there for a few minutes as he began to sleep again peacefully. Once she was sure that he was fine, Hilary crept down the stairs.

She sat looking at the TV for a few minutes, then began to remember the night that Spike had truly betrayed her with that kiss.

"I know that you have some weird fixation on me, Spike," She spat out his name for emphasis. "I see the cigarette butts outside the tree near my window."

"So, I linger. Big deal." Spike shrugged as he opened the door. He was extremely relieved that Harmony wasn't there.

"Linger?" Snorting, Buffy slammed the door shut. "Yeah right!'

"And so what if I do have 'some fixation' on you? What are you going to do about it, Slayer?" Spike walked toward her and suddenly Buffy felt her back against a cold pillar and Spike's body pressed against her. He dipped down and kissed her quickly.

Buffy's eyes were wide with disbelief as Spike stepped back.

Hilary shook the memory from her head; he was wasting his passion and love on that bitch. She threw a mug across the room . And he still dreams of her. Hilary's mind was clouded with evil things that she could do to Buffy.

* * *

TBC