*****Spell Checked (not beta'd as of yet)

****Ok. Reviews..not so many. Hopefully this one is a little better. Thanks so much for everyone who is reading. I', going to get more into the BB in the 12th chapter, this ones just a little filler. Hope you enjoy. On a side note, I have been working on some new desktops/wallpapers and icons for AIM. If you'd like to check them out, please visit: http://www.geocities.com/kaylorin90/

Title: Deserving

Author: Kaylorin

Beta read by: LdyEmma425

Synopsis: Begins directly after Grave. My season 7. Loosely based on spoilers and speculation. Buffy has begun her life after the events of Tara's death. Spike has changed for her. There is a new BB that brings Buffy back to her roots as The Slayer.

Rating: R (for now)

Distribution: Fine with me, make sure it's the final edited copy (indicated by 5 * after spell checked), and let me know where it's going. My e-mail is kaylorin90@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I own this story, but not Buffy, Angel, or anything Joss does.

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Getting to Know You

Spike lead Buffy down the sidewalk towards the school. Buffy took

little notice of the people on the street. She past stores, and diners with

barely a glance, she was too busy studying the change in Spike.

It wasn't that he looked totally different. No, it was the subtle

changes that caught her attention. His hair and skin had both been exposed

to the sun for some time now. His walk was less arrogant, but still held

confidence.

Spike was doing the same. Her hair had grown a little since he'd left,

but other than that, she was the same. Beautiful.

They both entered the school. It was nearly empty by now, but a few

teachers had remained to make the next day's lesson plan. Spike nodded

slightly to the few he recognized, one being Kathy, who simply nodded back

and ducked into a nearby classroom.

When they arrived at his classroom, Spike gathered the few items he

would need to take home. Buffy found herself wondering around the room

looking over the objects he had brought for it. She turned the globe and

stopped it when Africa looked back at her. "What were the tests?"

Spike was just closing the clasps on his briefcase, and looked up.

"Rather not."

She nodded, not wanting to push.

"Okay, I'm set. Ready to get the book?"

Buffy walked up the isle towards the door and, once again, Spike led

her out.

She was a little more than stunned to say the least when he opened the

car door to a very clean, quite black DeSoto. "Is this the same car?"

She asked as she lowered herself into the seat.

"The very same. Left it with a garage. The kid who works there likes to

fiddle with cars and offered to clean 'er up. Didn't do too bad a job

either." He walked around the car and got into the passenger's seat.

The couple could do little more than small talk. For Buffy, it was all

just too weird. No matter how she tried to rationalize it, there really

was too much information.

Spike couldn't take it anymore. He wasn't dead yet. So that was a good

sign, but he needed her to say something. Anything about what he was,

or how he'd left, even the bloody bathroom incident.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, pet?" He just looked at the road.

"How did you feel? When you found out you were a Slayer?"

That he wasn't expecting. He shrugged. "Dunno. Haven't really thought

about it."

She looked at him squarely. "You haven't thought about it?"

"Well, no. I was a little more concerned with being alive. Killing

demons, that's old news," Spike offered honestly.

Buffy didn't have a response to his answer, but instead had another

question in mind. "Why did you come back?" She turned in her seat so that

she was facing him. "I mean, not that you weren't allowed to come

back..."

"Don't need your bleedin' permission to come back! Never listened to

you when you told me to leave." He turned a corner sharply.

She gripped the handle on the door so she wouldn't fall over. "I didn't

tell you to leave! You just...left!"

"Well, I didn't need a bloody stake to the heart for something I

couldn't control!" He sped up, down the street.

"Would you slow down? You're going to get us killed!" She kept her grip

on the door handle.

Spike let off the gas, turned into the lot for Bryan Estates, and

parked. Buffy looked through the windshield to the towering apartment

building. She was about to question him about his new residence, but Spike

cut her off before she could.

"Is parked slow enough for ya, Slayer?" He opened his door and got out.

Buffy followed suit.

"Talking to yourself?" Buffy joked.

He gave her a sideways glance and headed into the building. The two

made their way to his apartment on the twelfth floor, and he gave her the

not so grand tour.

It was pretty good sized for a single. A living/dining room, which was

just off of the kitchen. One bed room, one bath. The skylights let the

sun in all day, and the large picture window had a fabulous view of the

little town they called home.

Spike walked to the hall closet, and began to pull out some boxes.

"This is nice, Spike." She sat on the maroon couch opposite the window.

The whole room was done in maroon and forest green, and the effect was

calming. She shifted in her seat, pulling her legs under her. "Cushy."

"Mind the heels, love."

She looked around the room. "Where's your chair?"

Spike was riffling through a box. He looked up long enough to point at

the loveseat he had found to be the most comfortable.

"No. I mean the one from the crypt?"

"Oh that." He pulled pout a few items. "It's still there. Clem wanted

it."

Buffy sat up. "Clem? You mean, he knew you were here too?"

Finally coming across the book he had been looking for, he put the box

back in the closet. He held it up so Buffy could see it. "Got the

book."

"You didn't answer me." She stood up, but instead of walking to the

door, she crossed her arms, and waited for an answer.

Spike shook his head at the floor, then looked back at her. Some things

would never change. "Yes, he knew! Now can we get this back to Red, see

if she can make anything out of it?"

"I am going to kill him," she said resolutely as she headed out the

door past Spike.

"Wait now. You can't kill 'im. He was just doin' what I asked him

to." He jogged after her.

The ride back to the shop was a little less uncomfortable. Her quips

came as quickly as they used to, and Spike threw out his own just as

easily. By the time they walked into the magic shop, they were arguing like

old times.

"Okay, now, I know you're making it up," Buffy said behind her as

Spike followed her into the Magic Box.

He carried in the book. "You asked, again."

"You said I couldn't handle it. But com'mon, Spike. Beetles?" Buffy

walked to the research table, and sat next to her sister.

Willow, Anya and Dawn were all smiling when the blondes walked in. They

sounded like they were at least getting along. Or for what the two of

then was "getting along". And Anya was impressed with the fact that they

were both still alive.

Willow couldn't read either of them. Whatever was going through their

heads was private.

"Got the book." Spike deposited it on the table. "I checked, but I

don't have the key to decipher it anymore."

"Not a problem," Willow said from behind her laptop. "I found it."

"I swear, if you tell me you found it on E-Bay.." Buffy shook her

finger at the red head. It seemed more and more lately everyone was selling

things over the internet, including ancient artifacts with unknown

powers of destruction.

"Okay. Won't tell you," Willow said as she finished filling out the

form to complete the transaction. "But it will be here in a few days."

Dawn shut her history book. "Done."

Spike sat at the table on the other side of the youngest Summers.

"Good, now tell me why the French invaded England?"

"Oh come on, Spike. Just wait until tomorrow," Dawn whined, and looked

at her sister. "You know, it's bad enough when your sister is known

as the girl who blew up the school. But now," she motioned to Spike "I

have to have the teacher around. Oh god. It's going to be Marcy Holden

all over again."

"Who?" Willow asked.

"Marcy. Her dad was the Algebra teacher, and she had to in his class

for freshman year to take the course. Maybe you could request another

teacher," she pleaded with her sister.

Spike interrupted, "Sorry, bit. I'm the only one covering World

History."

Dawn looked back at him, then banged her head on the table. "Why me?"

Spike patted her head. "I'll try not to let on I know you, but you

have to remember not to call me Spike. Deal?"

"Fine. But no quizzing me after school, unless I ask." She put out her

hand.

He took it. "Deal."



Jon kneeled in front of The Master. "I have news."

"Speak." The Master looked upon his childe.

"The Slayers, they are working together. She is to begin work as a

law-keeper, and he is an educator at the Key's school."

"And the others?"

"The demon, she works with them. There is another, the one witch wished

to destroy us all."

"What of the man?"

"We are still watching him."

"Keep your vigil. I must know everyone involved."

**************************************************************************** *

Xander walked with heavy feet to the Magic Box. He'd put in a full

day, and if he had been in his right mind, would be fast asleep in bed.

It wasn't late yet, not even dusk, but his body told him the time for

rest had come.

But, being Xander, and not in his right mind for some time now, instead

he headed to see his ex-fiancée, turned demon, his best friend, the

recovering witch. His other best friend, The Vampire Slayer, and her

little sister, also known as The Key. He just loved this town. Even a

normal guy like him could claim to be anything but normal.

The bell rang as he opened the door, ready and primed for research. At

least until he passed out.

"Hey guys." He walked in and saw Buffy at the table with Willow and

Dawn. The bookcase hid part of the table from his view.

"So, did we find anything today?" he asked continuing to walk in the

store, then came to a dead stop when he saw the now revealed half of the

research table.

There he was, or at least it looked like him. The fat that he was

sitting at the table with the very woman he had attempted raping made him

think his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Xander blinked several times, hoping that his vision would clear,

because there was no way that was Spike. And there was no way Buffy would

let him just sit there next to Dawn. And there was certainly no way on

God's green earth Xander was going to let him walk out of here alive,

or undead. However you want to put it.

The brunette's eyes were ice as he stared into the former vampire.

All of the ladies saw murder cross his mind when his lip curled. "What is

he doing here?"

"Hold on, Harris." Not that Spike had any reason to be afraid. He could

fight back if need be, but he didn't want to have to. "Things are a

little different."

Xander shed his jacket to reveal muscle gained from hard labor. "Yeah,

they are."

Willow stood up in and came around the table to Xander. "Wait, Xander.

He's not..he's William."

"No reason to insult me. It's not like I'm a complete ponce," Spike

defended himself.

Xander pointed at him, the look of murder not fading. "He sure sounds

like Spike. And he looks like Spike."

"Really?" Dawn cut in. "Evil vampy Spike had a tan?"

Xander took another look at the former vampire. "Well...no."

***************************************** ********************

Man am I tired today. My oldest started summer school today, and my

other two kids and I get to take a very long walk to her school, to walk

her home until she is finished with summer classes. So I wrote this

morning instead of afternoon. Hope I was awake enough to. LOL. Please R&R.