Part 2: Memories

"You're awful quiet tonight, love." Spike said gently, looking over at the sixteen-year-old slayer.

"Hmm? Oh. Sorry. I was just thinking."

"About what?"

Bri looked up at the handsome vampire, silently debating telling him the subject of her thoughts. Seeing his friendly countenance, she sighed and relented. "I was just thinking about the first time we met."

Spike chuckled. "Cor…how long has it been now?"

"I dunno…two months?"

"Sounds about right."

"Yeah." Silence fell over the pair again, allowing Bri to return to her memories.

Two Months Earlier

Bri easily dodged the charging vampire, spinning out of his path just in time to reach out one hand and stake him. She turned to face the second vamp who was slowly rising to his feet from where she had thrown him several moments before. She took this brief pause in fighting to revel in the powerful rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"Not getting any younger here!" she shouted at the sluggish vampire. He growled at her, feral eyes glowing yellow. "Although I suppose you aren't either. But you're not getting any older so the whole time issue really doesn't matter to you does it?"

The creature charged the beautiful teen clumsily, distracted and shaken by the easy dusting of his companion. Bri dodged him with ease and sighed dramatically as she executed the same move on this vampire as she had the previous. As the dust settled on the grass, she sighed in boredom.

"The instant replay was cool but sometimes I wish at least they'd put up a decent fight, if not a real challenge."

"You should be careful what you wish for, love." Came a cocky voice from behind the slayer.

Bri whirled around in time to see a figure emerge from the dark shadows, exhaling cigarette smoke nonchalantly. The slayer studied his face- from the smirking lips, to the sculpted cheekbones, to the scar through the left eyebrow, and finally to the piercing blue eyes that cut into her soul with one appraising look. It was all startlingly familiar to her and she gasped.

"William the Bloody." It wasn't a question. It was a whispered statement of revelation that, if not for his preternatural hearing, would have escaped the vampire's notice.

A wry grin spread over his handsome features. "A slayer with book smarts…well that's a switch, now isn't it?" Spike flicked his cigarette onto the ground, stomping it out with his boot before approaching the young slayer. "Been doing your homework? Reading all the little Watcher's diaries and such?" he laughed. "Well in case they failed to put in the footnote, I go by Spike now."

"I know that."

The scarred eyebrow arched in surprise and Bri found herself under the vampire's intense predatorial gaze. Circling her, Spike studied the young girl. She appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, but with the maturity of one much older and wiser. And she was beautiful. He had to admit that. But what he couldn't- or wouldn't- admit was that she captivated him.

Ever since Spike had first learned of this second slayer a week ago, nothing seemed to occupy his mind but her. He remembered his servant Fyarl demon's description of her fighting technique. Although the Fyarl's adjectives and general vocabulary didn't usually exceed three letters as a rule, the message had gotten through clearly. And Spike had been intrigued. He'd followed the beauty for most of that week on her patrols, studying her graceful, catlike moves.

He had tried to convince himself he was only researching his latest opponent- like he had with Buffy. But deep in his unbeating heart he knew otherwise. He knew that he was drawn to her not as another proverbial notch on the proverbial slayer headboard, but as a man to a woman, as a soul to its mate.

"What's your name?" he asked suddenly and was taken aback a bit at the tenderness in his voice.

"Bri."

"What is it with slayers and strange names?"

"It's short for Gabriela."

"Right."

Silence fell over them once again, Spike still circling predatorily and Bri eyeing his every move warily. He suddenly stepped forward with preternatural speed and had her in his arms before she could blink. Her back was against his chest and he could feel her breathing grow heavier and her heartbeat hasten its rhythm. And he could smell her now. Her soft golden hair smelled of strawberries, her blood wreaked of power and strength but also of innocence and purity, and he bathed lavishly in the sweet scent.

It was a smell that would usually bring forth his demon immediately. Normally, if he had come across any other girl with this scent, she would be dead by now. But somehow he knew that he would die before he let anything harm this beautiful slayer- including his own demon. At this revelation his grip loosened unwittingly, giving Bri plenty of an opportunity to escape. But she didn't. She instead turned in his arms to face him, staring intently and fearlessly into his eyes.

"Quite the bold one aren't you, pet? Why aren't you scared? I could snap your neck before you even felt my hands move."

"Won't happen." She responded simply.

"Oh? I think you underestimate my strength. I could-"

"I know you could. I have no doubt of that. But you won't."

"I won't, eh? What makes you so sure?"

Bri held his gaze, drawing him into the raging tempest within her green eyes, which was mirrored in his own blue orbs. She placed a hand over his unbeating heart and smiled softly. Then she leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Because you feel it, too."

Explanation as to what exactly 'it' was, was unnecessary. It was silently understood that Bri was speaking of the inexplicable bond existing between the two. Spike nodded, his eyes remaining locked with hers. He slowly bent his head and captured her lips with his. The instant they touched, a feeling of wholeness washed over their beings and a rush of lightening surged from their heads to their feet. All at once they were falling and flying, they were burning and freezing, drowning and floating, smothering and breathing.

As the intensity of these sensations increased, so did the intensity of the kiss. Within moments of that first, light brush, they were consumed by a mad, yearning passion. Their hands roamed freely over the other's body as their tongues dueled for dominance.

Somehow in the haze of passion, Bri managed to lead the vampire back to her temporary home. At the door, she reluctantly broke their kiss and pressed a finger to her lips before quietly inviting him in. Bri entwined her fingers with Spike's and led him upstairs. When they were directly outside her bedroom door she stopped.

"We have to be quiet. My watcher's room is right across the hall." The slayer whispered, pointing to Ms. Andrews' door. Spike nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist and nibbling on her earlobe as she opened the door.

Once the door was closed discreetly behind them, Spike wasted no time in sweeping Bri's feet from under her and carrying her to the bed where he deposited her gently. He climbed atop her and kissed her passionately while his hands roamed over her lithe form. As the vampire busied himself removing Bri's clothing piece by piece, the slayer reached over and switched off the light.