The feelings that weren't his own continued to roll through Spike.
Terror, pain, and hopelessness. Buffy was in trouble, there was no doubt
about that. He tried to ask what was happening, using the claim bond, but
she had blocked his thoughts and emotions. 'No bloody wonder,' he
thought. 'Last time she saw you, you were bleedin' psychotic!' He tugged
at the chains, he had to help her.
The chains were tight, with handcuffs on his wrists and ankles, holding them to each other, and lengths of chain holding his legs and arms to the chair. He snarled with the effort of trying to break the chains, vamping to allow his full demon strength to emerge. The chains that held his legs to the chair were straining, but still holding. He gave a mighty tug, and the chair tipped over, allowing him to slip the chains off the legs of the chair.
Once the chains were off the legs of the chair, they easily slipped off the handcuffs on his ankles, and he rolled away from the chair, unhooking his arms from the back of the chair. He struggled for a moment with the handcuffs, and finally gave a powerful yank, breaking the small chains that held the cuffs together, freeing his hands. He reached down and quickly broke the chain that was holding his ankles together. With a snarl, he scrambled to his feet and shot out the door at top speed, using the bond to guide him, praying to Whoever would listen that he wasn't too late to save them....
----=======================================================
Dawn didn't even scream this time as the huge demon hit her, Just snapped her head back, kicking and punching as hard as she could. Buffy had been tossed in the air, glancing her shoulder off a headstone, and Xander had at LEAST chopped the arm off his demon. They were large, angry, ugly, and their odds were not good. Five to three.
Buffy climbed to her feet, the pain screaming in her head, glanced at Dawn, made sure she was all right. Never again was her baby sister patrolling. She began to fight with the demon again, with a renewed vengeance.
Having lost his sword, Xander operated totally on instinct, grabbing the only weapon at his disposal, which happened to be the demon's severed arm, and beating at the one that had thrown Buffy.
Dawn was scared. This thing was huge. Like, three times bigger than her. She picked up Xander's discarded sword, and sliced the head off the demon.
Buffy was now on the back of hers, trying to wrap her arms around it, and she finally, effectively, snapped it's neck. Two down, yes... but three to go.
Xander was flying... Or rather, he was thrown. He hit a small gravestone, and watched the world spin with a startling sense of deja vu. He didn't even see the demon raising it's clawed hand, preparing to deliver the death blow.
Buffy followed the sound of the thud, watched Xander fall, the demon about to pounce. She had to try. Oh, God... Xander... She had to try. She started to run, fast as she could towards the demon.
Dawn saw, too, but unlike Buffy, couldn't get away from her demon. She was in a battle to the death of her own. She muttered a quick prayer for everyone, and swung her sword.
Suddenly, a snarling black leather blur slammed into the demon, effectively knocking it away from Xander. The two creatures rolled over twice from the new attacker's momentum, and stopped when the new person snapped the demon's neck and stood up. His yellow/gold eyes locked on Buffy's for a moment before vaulting across a tombstone to help Dawn.
"DAWN!" Buffy scrambled after her sister. Oh, God... He was loose...
Spike grabbed the demon's arm that was aiming to gut Dawn, and broke it at the elbow. This effectively turned it's attention to the pissed off vampire.
Buffy grabbed her distracted sister, tossing Dawn behind her.
The demon saw the Slayer, and attempted to attack the sisters.
"Oh no you don't," Spike snarled at the demon, taking one of the chains that had been holding him to the chair and using it to trip the demon, then straddling it and breaking it's neck.
Dawn gave a disgruntled noise as she landed in a pile on the grass.
"Don't move," Buffy ground out at her, switching her attention to the vampire. Dawn nodded, even though Buffy's back was to her. She was terrified.
Spike stood slowly, breathing hard, and looked at Buffy, his demon eyes taking on a hurt look when he saw Dawn's fear, and Buffy's defensiveness. He didn't even bother trying to explain, and turned to Xander, who was still leaning against the tombstone, walking toward him slowly.
Buffy darted forward, staying between them, her chin raised to a battling level. Her hand gripped his arm, shoving him back a few paces.
He ducked his head. "He needs help. He could have a concussion. Aren't you the one who warned me about those? Say it with me: Con-cuss-ion." The quote was deliberate.
Her mouth moved, lower lip trembling. She was still wary. He had... broken chains... killed two Tralfgor demons in a row... "I'll tend him."
He looked up, his human face to the fore. "Whatever you want, luv. I'm a little worried, though. Harris and I have been getting along a lot better since Dawn's birthday party." He sat on a tombstone, waiting for them to get it.
Dawn was the first to embrace it, she rushed forward to kneel at the tombstone, her arms around his waist. "You remember!"
He hugged her tightly. "Everything, Lil' Bit."
Buffy reached out a hand. "Dawn, don't-"
Dawn fixed her with a glare. "He remembers, Buffy. He loves us again." She looked into his eyes. "Don't you?" she questioned softly.
He looked at Dawn, giving her one last squeeze, then looked Buffy in the eyes. He knew she could see it, could FEEL it, but he said it anyway. "*I love you, Buffy Anne Summers.*" The voice, the inflection, the emotion was the same as when he'd said it after the claim.
The tension in her drained away, and her eyes shone with hope. She crossed slowly to where the two were. She pressed her lips to his. Waiting to see if his kiss was as she remembered it.
God, had it been a week? His arms wrapped around her instantly, returning the kiss as if that week had been a century.
She pulled back. It was his kiss. Not Spike's. God, that sounded ridiculous. But she knew what she meant. "I love you." She said it softly.
Dawn, who had moved to the side, heard, and smiled. It was the first time she had heard her sister say that. But she tried to remember to ask Spike about the funny chirping.
He leaned his forehead against hers. "*Always..*"
"*Forever*."
Dawn was puzzled. Her sister made funny chirpy noises, too?? She hated to interrupt, but... "Guys?"
Spike glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, not wanting to pull back from the love of his existence. "Yeah, Bit?"
She pointed. "Xander? Head wound? Con-cush-unnn...?"
Buffy pulled back, to sprint to Xander's side.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Lovebirds..", Xander muttered, pulling himself to his feet. "I'm fine, really. When did trees start growing out of the sky?" He sat down again. "This is probably a better idea."
Dawn laughed, then stopped. "Oh. You were being serious."
"Uh huh..", Xander muttered, answering Buffy. "I'm better. At lest I will be when the world stops spinning backwards and your twin who I can see through goes away."
She cuddled him against her. "Why don't you close your eyes, tough guy?"
Spike snorted. "What do you people do without me? It's a wonder you all survived last summer."
Buffy grinned at Spike, then the smile faded. "Gimme your cell phone."
He rooted around in his pocket, pulling out the phone, momentarily forgetting that Dawn would see it, and handing it to Buffy. "Want me to go for Rupert?"
Dawn squealed, "Spike has a CELL PHONE!? How cool!!!"
Spike promptly smacked himself on the forehead. "Damnit."
Buffy rolled her eyes at her sister. Started to dial. "It's almost one, Giles is gonna panic..." She let their home phone ring. While she let it ring, Buffy fixed Dawn with a firm stare. "This phone is off-limits to you at all times, under no circumstances are you to ever, EVER-"
Spike stuck his tongue out at Dawn.
"Giles! Giles, it's Buffy. I know... I know Spike isn't there... he's... here. With us. He remem- What? No, he didn't hurt us. I'm using his phone. Bu- Giles! We're fine! Well, except Xander but- No. Spike didn't hurt Xander. Dawn is fine. Giles.... Spike remembers everything. He's... as normal as he can be. Yes... yeah we're coming home. We... or, well, Spike, finished off a nest of Tralfgor demons. Have- hey, Buffy is talking. Giles is listening. Have ice packs ready. We'll be home in ten." She hung up the phone, handed it back to Spike.
He tucked it back in his pocket, then looked worriedly at Xander and Buffy. "Want me to carry him?"
Buffy nodded. "I can help. Dawn, I need you to gather weapons."
"Gotcha," the Key said, going about her task.
"I'm not a sack of potatoes, people," Xander said, weaving on his feet. "I can stand just..." He tipped over, and Spike caught him.
"As of right now, Harris, you are a sack of potatoes, and if you struggle, I'll have Buffy knock you unconscious, so hold still." He shifted his human burden, the chains of his handcuffs clinking together, and started toward the gate of the cemetery.
Buffy helped Dawn gather the weapons quickly, efficiently, and followed the two men. "Need help?"
Spike shook his head, stepping carefully to avoid jarring his passenger. "No. We're fine." He smiled at Buffy. "I guess you believe me, huh?"
"Your ki-" She stopped, remembered who their company was. "Yeah. I believe you."
'Speak mentally, and finish what you started,' he thought to her with a knowing grin.
'Your kiss... it's the same. Before... it... it wasn't your kiss.'
He nodded almost imperceptibly. 'I know. I was there, you know.'
She felt slightly shamefaced. "I know."
Dawn gave her a funny look.
Buffy said quickly, "I know you'll want to use his cell phone, but I want you to promise me, right now, that you won't ever go beg it off him."
Dawn pouted petulantly, and said resignedly, "Fine. I promise."
Spike bit back a chuckle, and tried to follow the new topic. "Yeah, Bit. I might let you use it. MIGHT, being the operative word. And, no fair tickling me into it, either."
Her pout got deeper. "This sucks."
"Too bad," Buffy told her. "I'd advise getting over it."
"Then forget you know I have it," the vampire said playfully.
Dawn walked a few steps ahead of them, pretending to pout, but trying to give them a little privacy.
Spike smiled at her back. 'It's good that she's not scared of me. Especially after the way I snapped at her the other morning.'
She gave him a look. 'She cried over that.'
He flinched. 'God... I'm so sorry. I'll talk to her when we get home. Assuming Rupert doesn't want to kill me for breaking his handcuffs.'
She nodded. 'It's ok. I mean, talk to her, but she's not... mad. It was just... hard for her.'
'It was hard for everyone. And it's my fault. I should have known that stupid step ladder wouldn't hold me AND that bloody box. I'd still have amnesia if it weren't for...' He paused, noticing their location, outside the Summers home. "We're here. Could someone open the door? I've got an armload of semi-unconscious human."
Dawn swung the door open, spilling in to talk a million words a second at a very befuddled looking Giles.
Giles gently reached a hand out, and placed it over the hyperactive sixteen year old's mouth. "Slowly, Dawn. I can't listen that fast." He saw Spike carrying Xander, and hid a smile, then motioned for the vampire to lay his human cargo on the couch, which he did.
Dawn pouted. Grown ups were so... slow.
Buffy started fussing over Xander. She placed a towel-wrapped icepack on his lump. "Any better?"
He winced, but grinned at her. "Of course. Come on, Buff. You know it'll take more than a gravestone to the head to get rid of me." He turned serious, glanced at Spike. "Hey, man. Thanks."
"You're welcome," Spike said quietly, sinking into the recliner. He was exhausted. The adrenaline that he had been running on had run out.
"And Spike?", Xander continued.
"Yeah?"
"Good to have you back."
The vampire opened one eye and grinned at Xander. "Good to be back, Harris."
Buffy quelled the grin that threatened to split her face. Dawn had no such qualms. She yanked on Giles' hand, as if saying, "DID YOU HEAR THAT!?" Her grin was wide, and she jumped up and down once, quietly.
Giles smiled at everyone in turn, even the vampire who now had his eyes closed again and was breathing as if he'd just won the Boston marathon. "It is good to have you back, Spike. I was beginning to think that I would have to put out an ad for a new companion guitarist."
Spike just smiled, keeping his eyes closed.
Buffy settled a blanket over Xander. "Dawn," she said softly, "Bedtime."
"Yeah...", Xander said sleepily. "I think I'll just crash here, if that's okay."
"It'd better be," Spike said quietly. "Cause I'm not carrying you across town twice tonight." He opened an eye. "Bit?"
"Hm?" She was suddenly actually tired and considering not contesting Buffy's bedtime ruling on principle.
"Want me to tuck you in?"
She bit her lip, just like the Bitty Buffy she was. "Do you want to?"
He opened the other eye. "More than anything. If you want me to."
She nodded. "I really do."
He got up, trying to stretch a stubborn, chained to a chair induced, kink out of his back unsuccessfully. He took her hand. "Lead the way, Niblet."
She stopped, still holding his hand to give Buffy and Giles kisses. "Sleep tight," she told them both.
"Love you," the two said at Dawn.
"Night, Dawnie," Xander said with a half wave. Then he turned to Buffy as the vampire and Key went upstairs. "So, are you going to sing now?
Buffy said confusedly, "Sing what?"
"Hey la, hey la, my boyfriend's back," Xander said with a chuckle.
She laughed, and instead of hitting him softly, she kissed his forehead. "I'm glad you're ok."
He grinned. "So am I. I'm glad Spike's okay, too. I'll be damned if I know why."
Giles chuckled. "You know why, Xander. You like him. He's your friend too. Admit it."
"Nuh uh. I don't wanna."
Buffy grinned. "C'mon, Giles... They don't like this. It just.. happened. Give them a little while to fake it."
Giles smiled. "Ah, yes." He headed for the door. "I believe this house is quiet full enough for one night. I'm going to head home."
Buffy stood, followed him to the door, and hugged him. "Sorry you came out for nothing." She tilted her head, considered. "Well, not really, but..."
Giles smiled. "Believe me, it was worth the trip to see Spike carrying Xander." He chuckled. "Now I know I've seen everything. And Buffy? I'm glad you have the man you love back again."
She gave a shaky smile. "Me, too."
========================================================================== ==========
Dawn snuggled beneath her covers, long sleeved pink jamma's on. The lullaby had already been sung, and Spike was just sitting on the side of Dawn's bed, having promised not to leave until she was asleep.
One of Dawn's hands was out of the covers, holding Spike's hand. "Spike?"
"Yeah, Bit?"
She gave a small yawn, then, "Why did you... um.... chirp at Buffy?"
He cocked his head. "Chirp..? OH! I was talking to her, Niblet. Speaking vampiric."
"Oh... how come she can understand you and I can't?"
"Because we claimed each other." He pulled down the neck of his shirt slightly, revealing the half moon claim mark. "See?"
She let go of his hand to touch it gently. "Yeah."
He smiled at her. "We have a connection, now. That's how I knew you were in trouble tonight."
She smiled back. "And you saved us."
He grinned. "Well, I had to. After all, I'm Super Spike!" He flexed his muscles playfully.
She laughed sleepily. "You're normal Spike. And that's what counts."
He smiled, and kissed her on the forehead. "Go to sleep, Bit."
She tugged on his hand. "I'm really, really glad you're back, Spike. I was-" She stopped, gave a half smile. "Nevermind. I'm just glad you're back."
He cleared his throat. "Bit.. Dawn.. I want to apologize for the last few days. I know I've been very short with you, and I was totally out of line. I feel horrible about it. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
She smiled at him, a ghost of Joyce across her lips. "You were scared. I understand."
He smiled back at her, tears shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Bit. I love you, you know. You're my Niblet. My little sister. Family. I just wanted you to know."
She halfway sat up, and halfway tugged him down to her level so she could hug him tightly. "I love you, too, big brother."
He wrapped one arm around her, using the other one to keep himself from falling on her, squeezed as tight as he could without it being dangerous. And a single tear fell on her jammas. Spike sniffed as he pulled back. "Sorry."
She gave a sweet smile. "It's ok." She snuggled down in her covers once again. She pointed to her forehead and closed her eyes.
He kissed her forehead again, and tucked the blankets in around her. "Night, Bit."
"Night, Spike."
He headed for the stairs, intending to go out the front door and back to his crypt before sunrise. Xander was on the couch, so he couldn't stay there.
'Spike?'
He paused outside Buffy's closed door. 'Yeah, luv?'
'You aren't leaving are you?'
'I was going to. There's no place for me to stay, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna sleep in a chair again.'
'Come in.'
Slowly, very slowly, he opened the door and stuck his head in. "Hey, luv. What's a nice Slayer like you doing on a bed like that?", he whispered playfully.
She smiled at him, wearing the same pale pink silk pants and lace top she had been when he had come around from the flu. "Just about sleepin', that's what," she said quietly. "Come on in."
He entered, closed the door, and moved to sit in a chair.
She sat on top of the covers, cross-legged. "How do you feel?"
"Mostly ok. Like shit over what I've done the last few days, but other than that..." He shrugged.
She shook her head. "You were scared. Didn't get what was going on. No one's mad at you."
"I know," he said with an amazed tone. "Why aren't they?"
She smiled. "We're too happy to have you back."
"I noticed." He sighed and smiled. "So... This is what it's like to have friends, huh?"
Small nod. "Yeah."
He closed his eyes. "It feels good. Warm. Safe." He yawned. "Add sleepy to that, and you've got my mood right now."
Buffy grinned. "Mine, too." She licked her lips, ducked her head. "Why don't you come lay down?"
He gave her his 'should I really?' grin.
Slow, sweet smile. Soft tug on the blankets.
He smiled back, stood up, stretched, and winced at the kink in his back. Walked over and laid down on his stomach beside the Slayer.
"Why don't you take off your shirt?"
He gave her a slightly shy smile. "If you don't mind."
She shook her head. "No. Go ahead."
He slipped off his black tee shirt, frowned at it, and tossed it onto the chair that he had vacated a moment earlier. "Ug. I'll get my blue shirt tomorrow."
"Ok."
He made a pillow out of his arms and looked at Buffy, still on his stomach. "I love you."
"I love you, too." She scooted closer to him, still sitting. Reached her hands to his back. "May- can I?"
"Can you what?" His eyes were closed.
She placed her hands on his back, started to knead it softly. "This?"
He purred. "Oh. Of course. Any time you want. Take your time..."
She did, running her hands over him, reacquainting herself with him.
He pressed into her hands, purring loudly.
She pressed one finger to his lips. "Shhh... Dawn's asleep." She started to knead his back, rubbing at the tension, pulled and stressed muscles she found there.
He smiled and quieted his purring, but didn't stop. As if he even could if he wanted to. "*Dawn asked me about chirping at you earlier.*"
She ran the heels of her hands down his spine. "What'd you say?"
"*I told her that I was speaking vampiric, and that you understood me because of the claim.*" He pressed against her hands, arching up off the bed slightly.
She kneaded the muscles over his ribs. "Ok."
He let out a low moan of pleasure. "*God... Buffy.. that feels so good. I missed you.*"
She ran one finger from the base of his neck to the waistline of his jeans. "I missed you, too." She kept kneading, rubbing, manipulating until she couldn't feel any tension in him.
Spike felt like a limp noodle. He couldn't remember ever being this relaxed.
Buffy placed a kiss at the base of his neck, then laid down next to him. She pillowed her head on her arms and tilted her head at him. "I'm sorry."
He turned his head sideways, mimicking her movements. "For what?"
She reached out a hand, ran a finger softly down the bridge of his nose. "I broke your nose."
He grinned, and nuzzled her hand. "Not the first time. And it's fine now."
She rested on her arms again. "Ok."
He just smiled at her, then snuggled closer, slipping an arm around her.
She turned her body into his. "I let him kiss me."
"I know. It's ok. It was me, just an earlier version." He held her close, nuzzling and sniffing around in her hair.
Her hands were wandering over him. "I wanted him to be you... now."
"I know. You want to know something, though?"
"Hmm?"
"You did it again."
She pulled back slightly, looked at him confusedly. "Did what?"
He smiled. "Made me fall in love with you all over again."
She smiled back. Kissed him softly.
He returned the kiss, holding her close. "I was so scared. I felt.. your fear... I thought I was going to lose you again."
She nuzzled into his neck. She was confused. "When?"
"When the demons attacked you tonight. I felt it. I knew you were scared. I tried to call out to you, but you were blocking me. I don't blame you."
She looked into his eyes, without a word, and removed her block, totally.
He sighed. "Thank you." Nuzzled her head gently.
She rolled slightly, making him lay partway over her. She smiled at him. "I thought I'd never do this again."
"Do what?" He smiled back, enjoying their closeness.
"Snuggle with you. Last year Spike was not up on cuddles."
He grinned. "Yeah. I remember. However, Version 2.0 thrives on it."
She said coyly, "I don't believe it."
He chuckled. "Well, believe it, luv."
She sighed, looked at the ceiling. "I guess you're just gonna have to prove it."
He pulled her close, nuzzling her hair. "Does this tell you anything?"
Her eyes drooped, but she said, "Mm... kinda."
"Are you going to sleep?"
Low laugh. "No way."
He chuckled. "Then whatever will we do with our time?"
"We'll have to be creative..."
He actually rolled away from her, looking at the wall, his back turned. "Well... I might be tired..."
She was ACTUALLY flabbergasted. She didn't know that people could ACTUALLY be FLABBERGASTED. "You could be.... tired?"
He tried to hide a chuckle at her tone. "Maybe. You might have to figure out some way to wake me up."
She plastered herself against his back, one hand reaching over his side to run up and down his chest, one leg hooking up over his. "Now... how would I.. wake you up?"
He grinned. "I have no idea." God, this was fun.
She ran one finger down the center of his chest, stretching as far as she could to kiss and nip at his back and neck.
He shivered. "Ohh. That might work." Paused. "But I'm just soooo tired. I dunno..."
She drew her tongue down the side of his neck, where it met the curve of his shoulder, bit softly.
He couldn't keep it up for much longer, but he managed a very fake snoring noise.
She smiled, moved her leg off his, still roaming her hands over his chest, and slowly started pressing kisses down his spine. Licked softly all the way back up to blow on it.
Oh god. She knew how sensitive his spine was. He shuddered and moaned, then tried to cover it with another snore.
She smiled. "Nice try." Nipped at his neck.
He rolled onto his stomach, and grinned into the pillow. Snored again.
She started in on his spine again, kissing, biting, licking gently, blowing on the moist trail.
His eyes crossed. "*God, Buffy. Are you trying to kill me?*"
"Just trying to wake you up," she said innocently.
"*Wellllll... I'm still tired...*" Another faked snore.
She ran her hands firmly down his ribs. Nipped at his ears. "I'm about to be bored."
His ribs pushed him over the edge. He rolled quickly, his body winding up half on top of Buffy's, and he began kissing, nibbling and licking her neck and collarbone.
The onslaught of *very* nice attention stole her breath, leaving her quite happily helpless to do anything but arch her back and sigh.
He continued his path. When he came upon the healed bite from two days earlier, he paused, and began to kiss and lick at the site lovingly.
She whimpered, her hips rising, and eyes closing.
He kissed and nuzzled his way back up, pausing to tease the spot under her ear.
"Mmmm..."
He nibbled at the same spot, just the way he knew she liked it. His hand that wasn't occupied holding him up kneaded at her ribs, quickly finding that spot as well. He knew her as well as she knew him.
A sigh shuddered past her lips. "I love you..."
"I love you too, Buffy..." He melted. He loved it when she said it first. Nibbled on her earlobe.
Her hands ran over his back, her head tossed back so he could do what he wanted.
He kissed/licked back down to the claim mark, then paused, wordlessly asking permission.
Slight moan of acquiesce.
He vamped, and fitted his mouth into the claim mark. "*Me in you...*"
A warmth stole over her, and she said, in less than a whisper. "You in me..."
"*Always...*"
Her hands tangled in his hair. "Forever..."
"*Of love.*" Said together, in vampiric. Then Spike retracted his fangs and kissed the quickly closing wound. He relaxed next to her, his arm wrapped around her, purring quietly, happily.
She was pulling in shallow breaths, her mouth still slightly open.
'Tired now, luv?'
She looked at him, eyes blazing hungrily.
"Am I to take that as a no?"
She pressed her lips to his, effectively sealing any protests he would have made. Now he was on his back, and she was half on top of him. A clean role reversal, not that either of them minded. She fit her mouth to his, moving over it hungrily. She had missed him. Her claim had missed him. Her heart had missed him. Her body had missed him. He returned the kiss, purring happily. She kissed down to her claim, licking it, nuzzling, nipping, kissing.
He moaned, arching his back and pressing against her. He felt the same as she did. Everything in him was aching for her. His body. His heart. His soul. All hers.
She fitted her mouth to the claim, and instead of biting down, kissed it tenderly. She looked into his eyes. "Of love."
He broke, pulling her close and crying onto her shoulder. "God... Buffy.. I missed you so much..."
Her eyes flooded, two tears escaping her. "I thought I'd never get you back."
"Me too. And I wanted to be back. I wanted what you described so badly. I tried to force it. I'm sorry..." This was said around sobs as the crying vampire nuzzled her shoulder and neck.
She hugged him fiercely, a small sob escaped her. "It's not your fault."
He held her close, pulling her fully on top of him. "I know. I just feel like it is." He sniffled, trying to stop the tears.
She nuzzled her head into his shoulder. Rolled, pulling him on top of her. Buffy joined their hands. "Don't leave me tonight?"
He smiled at her and moved off her, keeping their hands entwined. He situated himself against her back and held her close. "Buffy, I thought you'd never ask."
The chains were tight, with handcuffs on his wrists and ankles, holding them to each other, and lengths of chain holding his legs and arms to the chair. He snarled with the effort of trying to break the chains, vamping to allow his full demon strength to emerge. The chains that held his legs to the chair were straining, but still holding. He gave a mighty tug, and the chair tipped over, allowing him to slip the chains off the legs of the chair.
Once the chains were off the legs of the chair, they easily slipped off the handcuffs on his ankles, and he rolled away from the chair, unhooking his arms from the back of the chair. He struggled for a moment with the handcuffs, and finally gave a powerful yank, breaking the small chains that held the cuffs together, freeing his hands. He reached down and quickly broke the chain that was holding his ankles together. With a snarl, he scrambled to his feet and shot out the door at top speed, using the bond to guide him, praying to Whoever would listen that he wasn't too late to save them....
----=======================================================
Dawn didn't even scream this time as the huge demon hit her, Just snapped her head back, kicking and punching as hard as she could. Buffy had been tossed in the air, glancing her shoulder off a headstone, and Xander had at LEAST chopped the arm off his demon. They were large, angry, ugly, and their odds were not good. Five to three.
Buffy climbed to her feet, the pain screaming in her head, glanced at Dawn, made sure she was all right. Never again was her baby sister patrolling. She began to fight with the demon again, with a renewed vengeance.
Having lost his sword, Xander operated totally on instinct, grabbing the only weapon at his disposal, which happened to be the demon's severed arm, and beating at the one that had thrown Buffy.
Dawn was scared. This thing was huge. Like, three times bigger than her. She picked up Xander's discarded sword, and sliced the head off the demon.
Buffy was now on the back of hers, trying to wrap her arms around it, and she finally, effectively, snapped it's neck. Two down, yes... but three to go.
Xander was flying... Or rather, he was thrown. He hit a small gravestone, and watched the world spin with a startling sense of deja vu. He didn't even see the demon raising it's clawed hand, preparing to deliver the death blow.
Buffy followed the sound of the thud, watched Xander fall, the demon about to pounce. She had to try. Oh, God... Xander... She had to try. She started to run, fast as she could towards the demon.
Dawn saw, too, but unlike Buffy, couldn't get away from her demon. She was in a battle to the death of her own. She muttered a quick prayer for everyone, and swung her sword.
Suddenly, a snarling black leather blur slammed into the demon, effectively knocking it away from Xander. The two creatures rolled over twice from the new attacker's momentum, and stopped when the new person snapped the demon's neck and stood up. His yellow/gold eyes locked on Buffy's for a moment before vaulting across a tombstone to help Dawn.
"DAWN!" Buffy scrambled after her sister. Oh, God... He was loose...
Spike grabbed the demon's arm that was aiming to gut Dawn, and broke it at the elbow. This effectively turned it's attention to the pissed off vampire.
Buffy grabbed her distracted sister, tossing Dawn behind her.
The demon saw the Slayer, and attempted to attack the sisters.
"Oh no you don't," Spike snarled at the demon, taking one of the chains that had been holding him to the chair and using it to trip the demon, then straddling it and breaking it's neck.
Dawn gave a disgruntled noise as she landed in a pile on the grass.
"Don't move," Buffy ground out at her, switching her attention to the vampire. Dawn nodded, even though Buffy's back was to her. She was terrified.
Spike stood slowly, breathing hard, and looked at Buffy, his demon eyes taking on a hurt look when he saw Dawn's fear, and Buffy's defensiveness. He didn't even bother trying to explain, and turned to Xander, who was still leaning against the tombstone, walking toward him slowly.
Buffy darted forward, staying between them, her chin raised to a battling level. Her hand gripped his arm, shoving him back a few paces.
He ducked his head. "He needs help. He could have a concussion. Aren't you the one who warned me about those? Say it with me: Con-cuss-ion." The quote was deliberate.
Her mouth moved, lower lip trembling. She was still wary. He had... broken chains... killed two Tralfgor demons in a row... "I'll tend him."
He looked up, his human face to the fore. "Whatever you want, luv. I'm a little worried, though. Harris and I have been getting along a lot better since Dawn's birthday party." He sat on a tombstone, waiting for them to get it.
Dawn was the first to embrace it, she rushed forward to kneel at the tombstone, her arms around his waist. "You remember!"
He hugged her tightly. "Everything, Lil' Bit."
Buffy reached out a hand. "Dawn, don't-"
Dawn fixed her with a glare. "He remembers, Buffy. He loves us again." She looked into his eyes. "Don't you?" she questioned softly.
He looked at Dawn, giving her one last squeeze, then looked Buffy in the eyes. He knew she could see it, could FEEL it, but he said it anyway. "*I love you, Buffy Anne Summers.*" The voice, the inflection, the emotion was the same as when he'd said it after the claim.
The tension in her drained away, and her eyes shone with hope. She crossed slowly to where the two were. She pressed her lips to his. Waiting to see if his kiss was as she remembered it.
God, had it been a week? His arms wrapped around her instantly, returning the kiss as if that week had been a century.
She pulled back. It was his kiss. Not Spike's. God, that sounded ridiculous. But she knew what she meant. "I love you." She said it softly.
Dawn, who had moved to the side, heard, and smiled. It was the first time she had heard her sister say that. But she tried to remember to ask Spike about the funny chirping.
He leaned his forehead against hers. "*Always..*"
"*Forever*."
Dawn was puzzled. Her sister made funny chirpy noises, too?? She hated to interrupt, but... "Guys?"
Spike glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes, not wanting to pull back from the love of his existence. "Yeah, Bit?"
She pointed. "Xander? Head wound? Con-cush-unnn...?"
Buffy pulled back, to sprint to Xander's side.
"Oh, don't worry about me, Lovebirds..", Xander muttered, pulling himself to his feet. "I'm fine, really. When did trees start growing out of the sky?" He sat down again. "This is probably a better idea."
Dawn laughed, then stopped. "Oh. You were being serious."
"Uh huh..", Xander muttered, answering Buffy. "I'm better. At lest I will be when the world stops spinning backwards and your twin who I can see through goes away."
She cuddled him against her. "Why don't you close your eyes, tough guy?"
Spike snorted. "What do you people do without me? It's a wonder you all survived last summer."
Buffy grinned at Spike, then the smile faded. "Gimme your cell phone."
He rooted around in his pocket, pulling out the phone, momentarily forgetting that Dawn would see it, and handing it to Buffy. "Want me to go for Rupert?"
Dawn squealed, "Spike has a CELL PHONE!? How cool!!!"
Spike promptly smacked himself on the forehead. "Damnit."
Buffy rolled her eyes at her sister. Started to dial. "It's almost one, Giles is gonna panic..." She let their home phone ring. While she let it ring, Buffy fixed Dawn with a firm stare. "This phone is off-limits to you at all times, under no circumstances are you to ever, EVER-"
Spike stuck his tongue out at Dawn.
"Giles! Giles, it's Buffy. I know... I know Spike isn't there... he's... here. With us. He remem- What? No, he didn't hurt us. I'm using his phone. Bu- Giles! We're fine! Well, except Xander but- No. Spike didn't hurt Xander. Dawn is fine. Giles.... Spike remembers everything. He's... as normal as he can be. Yes... yeah we're coming home. We... or, well, Spike, finished off a nest of Tralfgor demons. Have- hey, Buffy is talking. Giles is listening. Have ice packs ready. We'll be home in ten." She hung up the phone, handed it back to Spike.
He tucked it back in his pocket, then looked worriedly at Xander and Buffy. "Want me to carry him?"
Buffy nodded. "I can help. Dawn, I need you to gather weapons."
"Gotcha," the Key said, going about her task.
"I'm not a sack of potatoes, people," Xander said, weaving on his feet. "I can stand just..." He tipped over, and Spike caught him.
"As of right now, Harris, you are a sack of potatoes, and if you struggle, I'll have Buffy knock you unconscious, so hold still." He shifted his human burden, the chains of his handcuffs clinking together, and started toward the gate of the cemetery.
Buffy helped Dawn gather the weapons quickly, efficiently, and followed the two men. "Need help?"
Spike shook his head, stepping carefully to avoid jarring his passenger. "No. We're fine." He smiled at Buffy. "I guess you believe me, huh?"
"Your ki-" She stopped, remembered who their company was. "Yeah. I believe you."
'Speak mentally, and finish what you started,' he thought to her with a knowing grin.
'Your kiss... it's the same. Before... it... it wasn't your kiss.'
He nodded almost imperceptibly. 'I know. I was there, you know.'
She felt slightly shamefaced. "I know."
Dawn gave her a funny look.
Buffy said quickly, "I know you'll want to use his cell phone, but I want you to promise me, right now, that you won't ever go beg it off him."
Dawn pouted petulantly, and said resignedly, "Fine. I promise."
Spike bit back a chuckle, and tried to follow the new topic. "Yeah, Bit. I might let you use it. MIGHT, being the operative word. And, no fair tickling me into it, either."
Her pout got deeper. "This sucks."
"Too bad," Buffy told her. "I'd advise getting over it."
"Then forget you know I have it," the vampire said playfully.
Dawn walked a few steps ahead of them, pretending to pout, but trying to give them a little privacy.
Spike smiled at her back. 'It's good that she's not scared of me. Especially after the way I snapped at her the other morning.'
She gave him a look. 'She cried over that.'
He flinched. 'God... I'm so sorry. I'll talk to her when we get home. Assuming Rupert doesn't want to kill me for breaking his handcuffs.'
She nodded. 'It's ok. I mean, talk to her, but she's not... mad. It was just... hard for her.'
'It was hard for everyone. And it's my fault. I should have known that stupid step ladder wouldn't hold me AND that bloody box. I'd still have amnesia if it weren't for...' He paused, noticing their location, outside the Summers home. "We're here. Could someone open the door? I've got an armload of semi-unconscious human."
Dawn swung the door open, spilling in to talk a million words a second at a very befuddled looking Giles.
Giles gently reached a hand out, and placed it over the hyperactive sixteen year old's mouth. "Slowly, Dawn. I can't listen that fast." He saw Spike carrying Xander, and hid a smile, then motioned for the vampire to lay his human cargo on the couch, which he did.
Dawn pouted. Grown ups were so... slow.
Buffy started fussing over Xander. She placed a towel-wrapped icepack on his lump. "Any better?"
He winced, but grinned at her. "Of course. Come on, Buff. You know it'll take more than a gravestone to the head to get rid of me." He turned serious, glanced at Spike. "Hey, man. Thanks."
"You're welcome," Spike said quietly, sinking into the recliner. He was exhausted. The adrenaline that he had been running on had run out.
"And Spike?", Xander continued.
"Yeah?"
"Good to have you back."
The vampire opened one eye and grinned at Xander. "Good to be back, Harris."
Buffy quelled the grin that threatened to split her face. Dawn had no such qualms. She yanked on Giles' hand, as if saying, "DID YOU HEAR THAT!?" Her grin was wide, and she jumped up and down once, quietly.
Giles smiled at everyone in turn, even the vampire who now had his eyes closed again and was breathing as if he'd just won the Boston marathon. "It is good to have you back, Spike. I was beginning to think that I would have to put out an ad for a new companion guitarist."
Spike just smiled, keeping his eyes closed.
Buffy settled a blanket over Xander. "Dawn," she said softly, "Bedtime."
"Yeah...", Xander said sleepily. "I think I'll just crash here, if that's okay."
"It'd better be," Spike said quietly. "Cause I'm not carrying you across town twice tonight." He opened an eye. "Bit?"
"Hm?" She was suddenly actually tired and considering not contesting Buffy's bedtime ruling on principle.
"Want me to tuck you in?"
She bit her lip, just like the Bitty Buffy she was. "Do you want to?"
He opened the other eye. "More than anything. If you want me to."
She nodded. "I really do."
He got up, trying to stretch a stubborn, chained to a chair induced, kink out of his back unsuccessfully. He took her hand. "Lead the way, Niblet."
She stopped, still holding his hand to give Buffy and Giles kisses. "Sleep tight," she told them both.
"Love you," the two said at Dawn.
"Night, Dawnie," Xander said with a half wave. Then he turned to Buffy as the vampire and Key went upstairs. "So, are you going to sing now?
Buffy said confusedly, "Sing what?"
"Hey la, hey la, my boyfriend's back," Xander said with a chuckle.
She laughed, and instead of hitting him softly, she kissed his forehead. "I'm glad you're ok."
He grinned. "So am I. I'm glad Spike's okay, too. I'll be damned if I know why."
Giles chuckled. "You know why, Xander. You like him. He's your friend too. Admit it."
"Nuh uh. I don't wanna."
Buffy grinned. "C'mon, Giles... They don't like this. It just.. happened. Give them a little while to fake it."
Giles smiled. "Ah, yes." He headed for the door. "I believe this house is quiet full enough for one night. I'm going to head home."
Buffy stood, followed him to the door, and hugged him. "Sorry you came out for nothing." She tilted her head, considered. "Well, not really, but..."
Giles smiled. "Believe me, it was worth the trip to see Spike carrying Xander." He chuckled. "Now I know I've seen everything. And Buffy? I'm glad you have the man you love back again."
She gave a shaky smile. "Me, too."
========================================================================== ==========
Dawn snuggled beneath her covers, long sleeved pink jamma's on. The lullaby had already been sung, and Spike was just sitting on the side of Dawn's bed, having promised not to leave until she was asleep.
One of Dawn's hands was out of the covers, holding Spike's hand. "Spike?"
"Yeah, Bit?"
She gave a small yawn, then, "Why did you... um.... chirp at Buffy?"
He cocked his head. "Chirp..? OH! I was talking to her, Niblet. Speaking vampiric."
"Oh... how come she can understand you and I can't?"
"Because we claimed each other." He pulled down the neck of his shirt slightly, revealing the half moon claim mark. "See?"
She let go of his hand to touch it gently. "Yeah."
He smiled at her. "We have a connection, now. That's how I knew you were in trouble tonight."
She smiled back. "And you saved us."
He grinned. "Well, I had to. After all, I'm Super Spike!" He flexed his muscles playfully.
She laughed sleepily. "You're normal Spike. And that's what counts."
He smiled, and kissed her on the forehead. "Go to sleep, Bit."
She tugged on his hand. "I'm really, really glad you're back, Spike. I was-" She stopped, gave a half smile. "Nevermind. I'm just glad you're back."
He cleared his throat. "Bit.. Dawn.. I want to apologize for the last few days. I know I've been very short with you, and I was totally out of line. I feel horrible about it. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
She smiled at him, a ghost of Joyce across her lips. "You were scared. I understand."
He smiled back at her, tears shining in his eyes. "Thank you, Bit. I love you, you know. You're my Niblet. My little sister. Family. I just wanted you to know."
She halfway sat up, and halfway tugged him down to her level so she could hug him tightly. "I love you, too, big brother."
He wrapped one arm around her, using the other one to keep himself from falling on her, squeezed as tight as he could without it being dangerous. And a single tear fell on her jammas. Spike sniffed as he pulled back. "Sorry."
She gave a sweet smile. "It's ok." She snuggled down in her covers once again. She pointed to her forehead and closed her eyes.
He kissed her forehead again, and tucked the blankets in around her. "Night, Bit."
"Night, Spike."
He headed for the stairs, intending to go out the front door and back to his crypt before sunrise. Xander was on the couch, so he couldn't stay there.
'Spike?'
He paused outside Buffy's closed door. 'Yeah, luv?'
'You aren't leaving are you?'
'I was going to. There's no place for me to stay, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna sleep in a chair again.'
'Come in.'
Slowly, very slowly, he opened the door and stuck his head in. "Hey, luv. What's a nice Slayer like you doing on a bed like that?", he whispered playfully.
She smiled at him, wearing the same pale pink silk pants and lace top she had been when he had come around from the flu. "Just about sleepin', that's what," she said quietly. "Come on in."
He entered, closed the door, and moved to sit in a chair.
She sat on top of the covers, cross-legged. "How do you feel?"
"Mostly ok. Like shit over what I've done the last few days, but other than that..." He shrugged.
She shook her head. "You were scared. Didn't get what was going on. No one's mad at you."
"I know," he said with an amazed tone. "Why aren't they?"
She smiled. "We're too happy to have you back."
"I noticed." He sighed and smiled. "So... This is what it's like to have friends, huh?"
Small nod. "Yeah."
He closed his eyes. "It feels good. Warm. Safe." He yawned. "Add sleepy to that, and you've got my mood right now."
Buffy grinned. "Mine, too." She licked her lips, ducked her head. "Why don't you come lay down?"
He gave her his 'should I really?' grin.
Slow, sweet smile. Soft tug on the blankets.
He smiled back, stood up, stretched, and winced at the kink in his back. Walked over and laid down on his stomach beside the Slayer.
"Why don't you take off your shirt?"
He gave her a slightly shy smile. "If you don't mind."
She shook her head. "No. Go ahead."
He slipped off his black tee shirt, frowned at it, and tossed it onto the chair that he had vacated a moment earlier. "Ug. I'll get my blue shirt tomorrow."
"Ok."
He made a pillow out of his arms and looked at Buffy, still on his stomach. "I love you."
"I love you, too." She scooted closer to him, still sitting. Reached her hands to his back. "May- can I?"
"Can you what?" His eyes were closed.
She placed her hands on his back, started to knead it softly. "This?"
He purred. "Oh. Of course. Any time you want. Take your time..."
She did, running her hands over him, reacquainting herself with him.
He pressed into her hands, purring loudly.
She pressed one finger to his lips. "Shhh... Dawn's asleep." She started to knead his back, rubbing at the tension, pulled and stressed muscles she found there.
He smiled and quieted his purring, but didn't stop. As if he even could if he wanted to. "*Dawn asked me about chirping at you earlier.*"
She ran the heels of her hands down his spine. "What'd you say?"
"*I told her that I was speaking vampiric, and that you understood me because of the claim.*" He pressed against her hands, arching up off the bed slightly.
She kneaded the muscles over his ribs. "Ok."
He let out a low moan of pleasure. "*God... Buffy.. that feels so good. I missed you.*"
She ran one finger from the base of his neck to the waistline of his jeans. "I missed you, too." She kept kneading, rubbing, manipulating until she couldn't feel any tension in him.
Spike felt like a limp noodle. He couldn't remember ever being this relaxed.
Buffy placed a kiss at the base of his neck, then laid down next to him. She pillowed her head on her arms and tilted her head at him. "I'm sorry."
He turned his head sideways, mimicking her movements. "For what?"
She reached out a hand, ran a finger softly down the bridge of his nose. "I broke your nose."
He grinned, and nuzzled her hand. "Not the first time. And it's fine now."
She rested on her arms again. "Ok."
He just smiled at her, then snuggled closer, slipping an arm around her.
She turned her body into his. "I let him kiss me."
"I know. It's ok. It was me, just an earlier version." He held her close, nuzzling and sniffing around in her hair.
Her hands were wandering over him. "I wanted him to be you... now."
"I know. You want to know something, though?"
"Hmm?"
"You did it again."
She pulled back slightly, looked at him confusedly. "Did what?"
He smiled. "Made me fall in love with you all over again."
She smiled back. Kissed him softly.
He returned the kiss, holding her close. "I was so scared. I felt.. your fear... I thought I was going to lose you again."
She nuzzled into his neck. She was confused. "When?"
"When the demons attacked you tonight. I felt it. I knew you were scared. I tried to call out to you, but you were blocking me. I don't blame you."
She looked into his eyes, without a word, and removed her block, totally.
He sighed. "Thank you." Nuzzled her head gently.
She rolled slightly, making him lay partway over her. She smiled at him. "I thought I'd never do this again."
"Do what?" He smiled back, enjoying their closeness.
"Snuggle with you. Last year Spike was not up on cuddles."
He grinned. "Yeah. I remember. However, Version 2.0 thrives on it."
She said coyly, "I don't believe it."
He chuckled. "Well, believe it, luv."
She sighed, looked at the ceiling. "I guess you're just gonna have to prove it."
He pulled her close, nuzzling her hair. "Does this tell you anything?"
Her eyes drooped, but she said, "Mm... kinda."
"Are you going to sleep?"
Low laugh. "No way."
He chuckled. "Then whatever will we do with our time?"
"We'll have to be creative..."
He actually rolled away from her, looking at the wall, his back turned. "Well... I might be tired..."
She was ACTUALLY flabbergasted. She didn't know that people could ACTUALLY be FLABBERGASTED. "You could be.... tired?"
He tried to hide a chuckle at her tone. "Maybe. You might have to figure out some way to wake me up."
She plastered herself against his back, one hand reaching over his side to run up and down his chest, one leg hooking up over his. "Now... how would I.. wake you up?"
He grinned. "I have no idea." God, this was fun.
She ran one finger down the center of his chest, stretching as far as she could to kiss and nip at his back and neck.
He shivered. "Ohh. That might work." Paused. "But I'm just soooo tired. I dunno..."
She drew her tongue down the side of his neck, where it met the curve of his shoulder, bit softly.
He couldn't keep it up for much longer, but he managed a very fake snoring noise.
She smiled, moved her leg off his, still roaming her hands over his chest, and slowly started pressing kisses down his spine. Licked softly all the way back up to blow on it.
Oh god. She knew how sensitive his spine was. He shuddered and moaned, then tried to cover it with another snore.
She smiled. "Nice try." Nipped at his neck.
He rolled onto his stomach, and grinned into the pillow. Snored again.
She started in on his spine again, kissing, biting, licking gently, blowing on the moist trail.
His eyes crossed. "*God, Buffy. Are you trying to kill me?*"
"Just trying to wake you up," she said innocently.
"*Wellllll... I'm still tired...*" Another faked snore.
She ran her hands firmly down his ribs. Nipped at his ears. "I'm about to be bored."
His ribs pushed him over the edge. He rolled quickly, his body winding up half on top of Buffy's, and he began kissing, nibbling and licking her neck and collarbone.
The onslaught of *very* nice attention stole her breath, leaving her quite happily helpless to do anything but arch her back and sigh.
He continued his path. When he came upon the healed bite from two days earlier, he paused, and began to kiss and lick at the site lovingly.
She whimpered, her hips rising, and eyes closing.
He kissed and nuzzled his way back up, pausing to tease the spot under her ear.
"Mmmm..."
He nibbled at the same spot, just the way he knew she liked it. His hand that wasn't occupied holding him up kneaded at her ribs, quickly finding that spot as well. He knew her as well as she knew him.
A sigh shuddered past her lips. "I love you..."
"I love you too, Buffy..." He melted. He loved it when she said it first. Nibbled on her earlobe.
Her hands ran over his back, her head tossed back so he could do what he wanted.
He kissed/licked back down to the claim mark, then paused, wordlessly asking permission.
Slight moan of acquiesce.
He vamped, and fitted his mouth into the claim mark. "*Me in you...*"
A warmth stole over her, and she said, in less than a whisper. "You in me..."
"*Always...*"
Her hands tangled in his hair. "Forever..."
"*Of love.*" Said together, in vampiric. Then Spike retracted his fangs and kissed the quickly closing wound. He relaxed next to her, his arm wrapped around her, purring quietly, happily.
She was pulling in shallow breaths, her mouth still slightly open.
'Tired now, luv?'
She looked at him, eyes blazing hungrily.
"Am I to take that as a no?"
She pressed her lips to his, effectively sealing any protests he would have made. Now he was on his back, and she was half on top of him. A clean role reversal, not that either of them minded. She fit her mouth to his, moving over it hungrily. She had missed him. Her claim had missed him. Her heart had missed him. Her body had missed him. He returned the kiss, purring happily. She kissed down to her claim, licking it, nuzzling, nipping, kissing.
He moaned, arching his back and pressing against her. He felt the same as she did. Everything in him was aching for her. His body. His heart. His soul. All hers.
She fitted her mouth to the claim, and instead of biting down, kissed it tenderly. She looked into his eyes. "Of love."
He broke, pulling her close and crying onto her shoulder. "God... Buffy.. I missed you so much..."
Her eyes flooded, two tears escaping her. "I thought I'd never get you back."
"Me too. And I wanted to be back. I wanted what you described so badly. I tried to force it. I'm sorry..." This was said around sobs as the crying vampire nuzzled her shoulder and neck.
She hugged him fiercely, a small sob escaped her. "It's not your fault."
He held her close, pulling her fully on top of him. "I know. I just feel like it is." He sniffled, trying to stop the tears.
She nuzzled her head into his shoulder. Rolled, pulling him on top of her. Buffy joined their hands. "Don't leave me tonight?"
He smiled at her and moved off her, keeping their hands entwined. He situated himself against her back and held her close. "Buffy, I thought you'd never ask."