Chapter 3 Twisted Sister
They were quiet as they headed back to the castle. The sight of Sheena's parents and their kind words stung at them both.
"I hate this. This isn't the first time I've had to deal with a vampire who was once someone I knew or at least acquainted with. I mean, it's not like I actually know Ruby but I do know Sheena. This whole thing just sucks."
Spike made a noncommittal grunting sound.
"What's going through your head over there?" Buffy asked, breaking the silence.
"Pfft— Think you'd be able to just pick it up out of the bloody air."
"Spike?"
He tapped the steering wheel with an open palm, "The truth is… I'm thinking about my mum."
That was definitely not what she was expecting to hear. She raised an eyebrow, "Ok I'll bite."
"It's— I almost feel like I did her a favor— not— bugger it, that didn't come out right. I— my mum was a widow, she didn't have anyone else after I died. Part of the reason I eh- did what I did…"
"You thought you were saving her—"
"I was a sodding fool. I was— not the point. I was just thinking about what I must have put her through when I didn't come home after the party. She must have looked something like Mrs Anderson there."
"You never talk about your parents. What was your mom like?"
"Bit like yours I suppose. She was a very nice, very lovely lady. Losing my father would've done her in but she had to be strong for my sake. Grace under pressure. That was her. I took care of her the best I could…"
"What was her name?"
"Anne, her name was Anne."
Buffy stared at him a moment, "Anne?"
"Common enough name, Pet. Don't go thinking I've put a ton of thought into that one."
"Ahh huhh, I'm sure… Anne, what?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't even know what your last name is."
"I— is that really important right now?"
"It's just weird... How do I not know your last name?"
"Don't flatter yourself, fairly certain not even Angel knows what it is."
"No way. You're kidding me."
"Used yours at the hospital for a reason."
"Well yeah, because I had already put my foot in my mouth."
"Yeah and if we ever do tie the knot, I'll take it then too," he grumbled.
"Oh my God, you have a totally horrible last name don't you?" she gaped at him a moment, "You're English, how bad could it actually be?"
"Never you mind, Pet. I'm pretty sure we have bigger fish to fry than my family name and history. Like how we're going to track down Ruby and find out why so many folks are being turned lately."
"Don't think I'm done here mister. It can't be so bad you can't tell me, the woman you love, what it is. You're being stupid," she turned back towards the passenger side window gazing listlessly out of it as they drove on.
"Yeah, I know it. It just doesn't make much difference. I don't use it. And I'd be damned all over again if I'm going to let you use it."
"Don't I get a say?"
"How about this, you agree to marry me and I'll tell you what it is."
"Ohh I am soooo not accepting a marriage proposal like that! That was so—"
"If I were proposing, you'd know it."
"Okay… so—"
"So, I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"Dumb."
"Don't I know it— hang on-" he said slowly. Spike leaned over the steering wheel and squinted/. They had just pulled onto the country road leading to the castle and were nearly to the long driveway. Orange light illuminated the castle from behind, casting it in a sharp silhouette. He hit the gas.
Buffy squealed, "Holy shit, Spike!"
Spike growled, "Looks like we got trouble, Slayer, look ahead."
"Oh God, the girls—" she pulled her phone out looking at it, "No calls, this must have just happened."
Just then the phone in Buffy's hand rang, it was the castle's number, "Giles?"
"Buffy, oh thank God. We're under attack, vampires have set fire to several trees in the orchard. Ursula and Addison have already gone out."
"How many?"
"I don't know. The girls are holding them off— I can see them from my room. Oh, that's better, Zari and Wendy just joined them."
"Jimmy Stewart, much? Zara isn't making like Grace Kelly, is she?"
"Of course she isn't. Although I do see your point, yes."
Spike shot Buffy a droll half-smile, "You are so bleedin' hot right now. I love Hitchcock. Brilliant."
Buffy waved a hand irritatedly as she tried to listen to Giles, "—The vampires keep coming. They've amassed a small army."
"We are a small army! In an actual freaking castle, Giles! Oh for crying out loud! We're pulling up now, send out the threes. Put the Ones and Twos on the roof with crossbows too if they keep coming."
"Humm no! Not crazy about that one, Pet! A few of them don't have the greatest aim. I'm not about to get caught in the crossfire… again… remember our first Thanksgiving? That was plenty close enough for me, thanks."
"Did you hear Spike? Do we still have that—" Buffy started to ask but Giles over took the conversation on the phone.
"The suit of armor that was in the living room when we first came to the castle? Yes, I believe Xander shoved it into the back of that large closet in the utility room. Heaven knows why."
"Got it, we're coming in now."
Spike hastily killed the engine and the two of them rushed towards the castle, "You smell that?"
"Be specific."
"Petrol and motor oil. They used accelerants to light up the trees."
Buffy darted inside the castle beckoning Spike to follow her. Through the living room and into the utility room. Buffy started rummaging through the contents of the large closet.
"Action is out there. What exactly are we doing in here?"
"Take your coat off for a minute,"
"Bloody hell," he swore as he shrugged out of it.
Buffy shoved a chainmail shirt and breast plate roughly into his arms, "Put those on. I'm not losing you because of some stray bolt shot in the dark."
"Oh come on, Buff— this is stupid." he whined.
"No arguments, I'm serious."
"Don't see you putting on sodding armor and I'm not about to ask you to either."
"Yeah well I'm not prone to going all 'Dust in the Wind'. I lost you once, not all that long ago and I'm not going through that again. Even if you are being stupid about the whole last name thing. Put the damn thing on."
Spike slipped into the chainmail shirt letting its weight settle over him comfortably. Then reached for his jacket, "Appreciate the concern, Love. Can at least move in the chainmail. Wouldn't be able to do a bloody thing in that sodding chest piece. Talking about totally different fighting styles than what we're used to. I'd be useless and you know it. Chainmail should catch a stray bolt just fine, Pet."
Buffy gave him a hard look, nodding once, "What's a relationship without a few compromises, I guess. Okay, let's go."
They headed through the large living room towards the kitchen. Spike let out a little huff, "You know, I admire Faith's timing, going over to Superman's flat. All the sexy fun, none of the fangy action."
"No kidding."
"Bitch is going to owe us big time."
Buffy laughed bitterly as they strode into the kitchen. Sheena was standing anxiously in the kitchen with Deloris watching the action. She looked up as Spike and Buffy entered the room heading towards the back door
"Buffy? Spike?" Sheena's eyes were hard and pleading as she looked directly at the pair, "Is it true? Do you really think my sister is one of them?" she asked, her strong Scottish brogue laced with more steel than anyone who knew her would have believed was possible.
Spike tried to put a hand on her shoulder but she stepped away. Spike's face fell, "Sheena, Luv. We don't know yet, it would make sense if she is though. She is likely the one that told them about the castle."
"I can't just sit here and do nothing! This is my sister we're talking about here! It isn't fair! I should be out there with the rest of 'Em!" Sheena argued.
Buffy shook her head, "Exactly. You're too close to it. If your sister is out there I— I don't want to put you through that if I can help it. Killing an evil version of someone you love is worse than you could ever imagine. So unless we absolutely need all hands on deck, I am not letting you out there! We have faced worse than this with a lot less."
"She's right, Shee. If she's out there, it'll be down to either me or Buffy to take her out."
"But… she's still my sister… isn't she? I mean you're a vampire. What if she could—"
Spike shook his head, "It don't really work like that, Luv, I'm—"
"Different? Why, because you have a soul? You didn't always have one and you still worked with Buffy! I've heard the stories! What if my sister could do the same? What if—"
Buffy cut in, "Let's just see if she's even out there. We're a little late to the party as it is. There's no telling if she hasn't already gone up against one of the other Slayers. Most vampires don't hold onto any of their humanity. The ones that do are really rare."
"I only know of about a half dozen and I was one of them! Sheena, I'm sorry but Buffy and I just can't make a guarantee like that."
Sheena hung her head looking miserable, "Then what are you still doing here?"
Deloris wrapped an arm around her friend, "She's right. You two go before the fire spreads and the vampires get any closer. I'll keep an eye on her."
Buffy gave a curt nod and led the way out the door to the small battle waging on the lawn.
The first thing Buffy noticed was that several of the girls were engaging in longer fights that were necessary. They needed to get their stakes up faster and end the thing more decisively.
"Haven't we been teaching you anything!" Buffy yelled at Ava who just happened to be closest, "Quit playing around and kill them already!"
Ava gasped a sigh of relief when she saw Buffy, "They came out of nowhere! We saw the fire and Mr Giles sent Ursula and Addison out, the other two followed and then more vampires came out of the trees behind the orchard."
"Spike!" Buffy yelled as one of the vampires made to tackle one of the girls closest to them.
"On it!" Spike growled as he ripped the vampire from the girl. He let go and kicked the vampire with a hard boot to the chest. The vampire stumbled back towards Buffy and she staked it in the back before it ever realized she was there.
"Thanks, Honey!" She said as she spun a kick towards another vampire.
"No problem, Love!" He grunted picking up a comically small vampire by the scruff of his neck and a pant leg. The little vampire kicked his legs to no avail. "And Angel has the nerve to call me 'Runt'!" he exclaimed under his breath as he picked the small vampire up over his head and threw him boldly into a flaming tree. Spike stood back tilting his head, as he watched the flaming vampire turn to dust, "Now, that was actually somewhat satisfying."
"Spike! Quit messing around with The Seven Dwarfs-reject and get over here!"
"Coming Dear!" He turned with a grin, "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go…" he sang roughly as he quickly staked another two vampires that attempted to attack him. He made it back over to Buffy's side and the two of them made short work of the vampires surrounding them.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" she called over her shoulder at him.
"Maybe a little," he smiled widely.
A few more vampires turned to dust as bolts from the battlements met their marks. Including the vamp Spike had been squaring off with. He snapped his head up towards the battlements and caught a little wave from Cora.
The stream of vampires had stopped coming from the tree line. The few vamps that hadn't been dusted had started to run back towards the treeline.
"These guys finally figured out the whole self-preservation thing, huhh?" Buffy said, ducking a kick.
"Noticed that!" he answered, staking a vampire and grabbing another one by her ponytail. Spike held her firmly by the hair and forced her to face Buffy, "Talk! What's this all about and who do you work for?"
The vampire spat onto the ground, "It's about you lot, Slayers. Time to thin out the herd," she sneered.
"Who's behind this?"
"Who says anyone is behind it? Maybe we're just tired of being picked off like daisies. Or maybe it's all just been to turn the tides."
Spike shook her violently, "You'd better give us more than that, you bitch!"
"Or what? You'll stake me? Ohh I'm so scared—"
Buffy didn't blink, she just plugged a stake into the vampire's chest and turned back to the battle ground. The girls were still engaged in combat with the last of the vampires.
There was a high pitched scream from behind them and they both turned. The scream had come from the now open kitchen door. The last dozen vampires ran as though it had been some sort of a prearranged signal to flee.
"Spike, the castle!"
"Gods, no, Sheena—" he groaned.
They dashed back into the kitchen where there on the work table sat Ruby looking content.
She wore a dark gray top that was artfully ripped and very tight, black pants. Her dark wavy hair hung around her face in casual insolence. Buffy would have almost thought it was Faith sitting there if Faith was just a little bit more curvy. Blood stained the corners of Ruby's mouth and chin.
"You must be Buffy. The original Slayer. Thought you'd be taller. And Mr Spike, of course, I've heard so much about you…" she drawled as she looked him over, "Got to say Shee-shee didn't exaggerate. Might've left out a few things, but she sure didn't exaggerate. Well fit and no pulse."
"What can I say, I eat right and been fighting demons for the past five years, helps keep my boyish good looks."
"Ehhh… five years… now that might be an exaggeration…" Buffy shot at him.
"Known you for what seven, now? Ish— Been off and on for roughly three— or there abouts… Nah, I'd say it's about right."
"Seriously? Your counting— you can't count last year! You were dead."
"Not a new thing, Love."
She rolled her eyes, "You can't count the last year as an off. We would have been on in a big way if you weren't being a noble idiot."
"You bet I'm counting it as an off, otherwise we'd both have stupid shit to be pissed about."
Ruby scrunched her face in annoyance, "Humm hello! Vampire just got invited into your big o' castle here. Sort of thought you might, I don't know, care?", she made a move to slide off of the table.
Buffy slammed her down onto the table, holding her by the throat, "Oh we're getting to you. Where are Sheena and Deloris?"
Ruby nodded towards the corner of the kitchen next to the big dining table behind them, "Deloris was a yummy treat. Baby-sis is taking a little nap. Well at least I think she is. Not so sure about Delo-oris," she pulled the girls name out.
The sound made Buffy's stomach clench.
Spike turned craning his neck to see the girls, "You bitch," he growled at Ruby before going over to check the girls. Deloris was sprawled on the floor, blood dripping from her throat. Sheena was huddled in a heap in the corner.
She swung her scythe, stopping millimeters from Ruby's neck, "You better hope they're alive."
Ruby's gray eyes never left Buffy, "Or what? You'll kill me?" she chuckled.
"It is in my job title."
"Maybe we could skip the unpleasantness and you and your sex-toy there can show me what it's like to be the brunette in a hot-blond sandwich."
"Not bloody likely 'Twisted Sister'," Spike shot over his shoulder.
Buffy pressed the scythe closer to her throat drawing a thin line of blood, "I don't share my man, but I do kill soulless vampires," Buffy glanced over to Spike and the girls, "How are they?"
"Sheena is alive, nasty gash on the back of her head here. Doesn't look good."
"And Deloris?"
"Pulse is weak and thready. She's lost a lot of blood. Explains the sex-kitten act," he leaned closer towards Deloris, "Buffy— we don't have time for this, they need medical attention. Now. I don't think Deloris is long for this world. Kill the bitch and be done with it."
"Spike, she could be our best lead to what's going on here."
"She could also be a plant and I am not too keen on finding out. Bint knows too much about our operation for my comfort I say killer and be done; get these girls some medical attention!" Anger rolled off of him in waves.
Still holding Ruby down, Buffy turned towards the back door and yelled for help. Ursula and Ava came running almost immediately.
"Ursula! Call an ambulance, and help Spike. Sheena and Deloris are down."
"Addy!" Ursula screamed out the door behind her, "Addy, come quick! We need you, STAT, Babe!"
"Good thinking Ursula! Ava, what's it look like out there?" Ava looked back and forth between Buffy and the vamp on the table and her fallen comrades on the floor with Spike. "Ava! I need to know what we're dealing with!", she emphasized her words by slamming Ruby roughly down on the table again.
"I– yeah, humm, vamps are gone. A few of the girls are trying to put out the trees. I think I saw– Cho had a pretty bad cut across her leg—"
"Help Addison, start a triage. Anything we can handle in house, send up to Giles. I want them out of sight when the ambulance comes. If it doesn't include internal bleeding or vital organs there's a good chance Slayer healing will take care of it in no time. Addison has nursing experience, she is the closest we have to a medical professional here so she's in charge of the wounded. Anything we can't handle, send here in the kitchen," Buffy turned towards Spike again, "How are our girls doing, Honey?"
"Not good. Sheena's breathing is off."
And Deloris? She asked through their link.
Pulse is getting weaker, I can barely make it out. I don't think she's going to make it.
She suppressed the urge to throw up and adjusted her facial expression into a steely gaze. She wasn't the first girl they had lost and she certainly wouldn't be the last. It didn't make it any easier though, and it still made her stomach rile. She adjusted her grip on Ruby trying to decide what to do with her.
Just then Addison and Jetta rushed in from outside. Addison hurried over to Ursula assessing the situation. Jetta turned sharply towards Buffy, her long dreads whipped around her waist and hips, "What can I do?"
"Help me with this. Grab a chair and some rope. We'll take her to the utility room," Buffy punched Ruby in the face and her head smacked off of the table top. She pulled her up roughly and foisted the now bruised and bleeding vampire into Jetta's arms.
"On it!"
"After that I need to check on the rest of the girls and Giles; he'll need to know about this. Ursula?" Buffy asked, turning towards her, "How long until the ambulance gets here?"
"A few minutes," her face was ashen as she looked between the two girls on the floor. This should have never happened. They were Slayers and Ruby was only one vampire. One very new vampire who clearly took them by surprise. One who had lied or tricked her little sister into giving her an invitation.
Buffy nodded, "I need to call Faith, maybe have her meet us at the hospital."
Spike stood up striding over to Buffy, "You know I don't like this right?"
"Neither do I… I just… Can we talk later?" Her eyes softened for just a moment as she fingered the hair at the nape of his neck. The look melted his resolve, just a little. He still didn't like the idea of keeping Ruby around but he trusted Buffy.
"Do what you think is best, Pet. It's worked out for us so far."
It was nearly day break before Buffy and Spike returned to the castle after going to the hospital with the girls. Faith had come to pick them up. Buffy felt raw and drained. She had called Sheena's parents minutes after they had taken her into the ER and they arrived soon after.
Much to Buffy's surprise, it was Spike who greeted them at the door. Mostly to explain that the staff were under the impression he and Buffy were Mr. & Mrs. Summers and that he had claimed Sheena as his niece in order to stay with her at the hospital. Buffy couldn't help the little swell in her chest when he gave Sheena's crying mother a hug and helped her to a seat in the waiting room. They had spent several minutes explaining what had happened, Buffy had been on the verge of telling them that Ruby was living-dead in their utility room wrapped in ropes and now chains too, but Spike had stopped her.
It was enough for now, simply knowing that Ruby had sent her little sister to the hospital with head trauma; and her friend Deloris to the morgue.
Spike had insisted on staying at the hospital until Sheena was stable. It was only after she had been transferred into a room and her parents were settled in with cups of tea that he had consented to leave.
Buffy peeled off the t-shirt she'd been wearing and threw it towards the hamper to join the jeans she had already cast off. She needed a shower, maybe a drink… definitely a good cry. It had been an incredibly long day, and night.
Spike looked up at her from his seat on one of the chairs in their room as she pulled on her bathrobe, "You alright?"
"Not by a long shot."
He bobbed his head once, "Dito"
"Come on, let's get cleaned up."
"Honestly, Pet, I'm not exactly in the mood."
"I didn't mean sex. I just meant— never mind, I won't be long. You can call next."
He watched her go and looked around the room. He was pissed. How could Sheena be so stupid? He thought. No, not stupid, hopeful. Hoping that her sister could be like him— a "tame" vampire—- safe. The thought clawed at the inside of his skull.
He gave Buffy a few minutes before heading into the bathroom barefoot to wait his turn for the shower. He was still lost in thought as he shed out of his clothes and splashed water on his face. He looked up into the mirror, trying to picture what he looked like. He had a general idea of course but it had been so long since he'd actually seen himself. Spike shook his head and turned towards the shower.
He could tell something wasn't right, "Buffy?"
A choked sob came from the shower. "You alright in there, Sweetheart?" he asked as he peeked inside.
She was huddled in a little ball at the bottom of the shower, letting the water run over her, "Oh god, I'm such a cad, course you're not alright."
He quickly stepped into the shower and gently pulled her back into a standing position, holding her against him. She let him wrap his arms around her, holding her as the water hit them both. She laid her hands across his back, pressing him tightly against her in return.
They stayed like that for several minutes before Buffy turned red eyes up to him. Spike bent slightly to kiss her. Slowly, gently. It was a barely there kind of kiss. Not demanding. It was just enough to let her know he was there for her, no matter what. She leaned into the kiss, pressing herself against him, reminding herself that they were both here, alive— well mostly.
Spike backed off, breaking the kiss. He was feeling pretty raw himself and had needed this intimate moment just as much as she did. He wasn't willing to let it go further just now. Maybe later if she really wanted to, but not now. He hadn't been lying when he said he wasn't in the mood.
"William?"
"Humm?"
She shook her head and buried her face into the crook of his neck, "Nothing, I'm just glad you're here."
He wove his fingers into her wet hair, "I need you too."
She nodded a little against his chest, he always could read her like a book. She patted his shoulder lightly, "I'm going to get out. Let you have the last of the hot water. I— I think I'm going to make one more round, check on the girls again… I'll see you in our room?"
He ran a thumb along her jawline, "Count on it."
She nodded and exited the shower, leaving him on his own. He could hear her puttering around in the bathroom for a few minutes before the door closed behind her. He scrubbed himself down trying to shake off the day knowing full well that he couldn't.
The thought of Ruby tied up in the utility room irked the hell out of him and he had a sudden insight into how the Scooby's must've felt when he had been the one chained up. Which led him to a different train of thoughts.
Ruby was a fledgling, only a few days old, he didn't know how many others besides Deloris she had killed but he knew the number couldn't be very high. She simply didn't have the time and she hadn't gone for her parents; that was something.
He knew better than anyone that, that alone certainly didn't mean she was 'good' not by a long shot. His mind shifted briefly to Harmony… idiot that she was. The fact remained that she was soulless, living in LA, friendly enough with humans. Sure she'd killed before, but overall she had made an effort to turn things around. The same with Leon as far as he knew. He shook his head. He wasn't really sure where his mind was going with these thoughts.
Rehabilitation? For evil— that seemed laughable. But if there was enough humanity left then maybe— just maybe. He turned off the water a little more roughly than necessary and stepped out of the shower, toweling off.
He combed his hair back, he could feel his curls trying to break free but didn't care right now. He didn't even bother adding gel. He was due for a haircut and knew he'd look like a poofy little cherub by the time he woke up anyway. Buffy seemed to appreciate his hair a little longer and he'd been dragging his feet about cutting it, but it was definitely about time. It always annoyed him when it got too long.
He slipped back into their bedroom and pulled on a pair of black sweatpants he'd picked up on a shopping trip with Buffy. Then he poured himself a drink and sat down with his feet up. He thought about playing some music but decided silence was golden. He was lost in thought when Buffy came back into the room.
"Everything check out?"
"All secure… or whatever it is they say…" she looked tired, "I could sleep for a week."
He stood up going over to her, "Come here, Love," he said as he pulled her to him. He hugged her briefly before they made their way over to the bed.
Buffy shrugged out of her bathrobe revealing her sleepy-kitty nighty. The same one she had been wearing the night Spike had found her in Paris. She had worn it several times of course, it was one of the only nightgowns she had with her. The sight of her in it always reminded him of that night.
Spike settled down in bed and she followed, snuggling in close to him and under the covers. They were both tired but after the events of the night neither one of them were finding it easy to fall asleep. Buffy turned over facing him and pressed herself in close, as close as she possibly could.
"God, Spike, how do we even face them tomorrow?"
"You already know, Love."
"I know, but let's pretend," she murmured, a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
He laughed mirthlessly, "Same as always, Pet."
"Yeah, I know. It just seems so different… This isn't like The First. When we lost girls then we sort of… knew it could happen. We were more…"
"Prepared?"
"Sort of— yeah I guess. This just seems so different."
He knew exactly what she meant, "You're right, it is. Things have been fairly quiet despite the fact we've seen an uptick in vamps. But nothing has hit this close to home. Now they know where we are."
"That's just it. Why is it they think they could even attack us? I mean it's a castle full of Slayers, why would they even try?" she asked, cringing at the whining tone in her own voice.
Spike shrugged his shoulders and pulled her in closer, "I don't know, Love. Maybe it's just like that bint said, they just got tired of being picked off one by one. Wanted to see if they could hit us where we live."
She shuttered, "We sort of knew this was bound to happen sometime. Maybe not exactly this, but something like it anyway. You're right. It doesn't make it any easier but you're right."
He didn't answer right away, when he did speak he asked, "Did you happen to call Willow?"
Buffy nodded against his chest, "When we were at the hospital, during my little pee break. I took a few minutes to give her a call."
"Thought you were a bit long."
Buffy managed a small smile and looked up at him. Spike leaned in for a tender kiss. Buffy's breath hitched and Spike made a move to pull back.
Buffy lightly gripped the back of his neck holding his lips to hers making him moan into the kiss. Her fingers wrapped into his still damp curls. He ran a hand over her thigh stopping at her hip. Emotions had been running high all night. She slowly wrapped her upper leg around his and pressed into him. His other hand gripped at her back. Buffy pulled back to catch her breath and rested her forehead against his, breathing hard.
With gentle fingers he caressed her hip and back over the fabric of the little nightgown, "Maybe we should take it easy tonight," his voice was rough.
She ran her fingers through his white blonde curls, gazing into his blue eyes. They seemed particularly bright tonight. She wanted to get lost in those eyes, "Yeah, I think that's exactly what I need tonight. Can we just— feel? Make love to me, William."
In response he layed another gentle kiss on her lips. Taking in her sweetness and relishing in her. His hand on her hip slowly and gently pulled up the little cotton nightgown, she hadn't bothered to wear anything underneath. His long thin fingers danced over her smooth skin. Buffy let out a tiny gasp as he moved one slow hand down between her legs.
She ran her free hand down his back to the waistband of his black sweatpants pulling them down to grab his ass. Spike rolled his hips pushing his erection against her as she slowly rubbed one leg up and around one of his and pulled his pants down more.
"I love you Buffy, God I love you so much," he whispered in her ear like a confession.
Buffy felt tears start to sting her eyes, and pressed her lips to his as tenderly as she could. She pulled back on his lower lip gently with her teeth, pulling a low growl from his chest. The sound sent tingles down her spine. Spike positioned himself at her opening but held himself still. Not daring to move until he felt Buffy start grinding herself down on to him to merge their bodies together in slow, sweet, deliciously deliberate movements. He let himself match her slow thrusts. Pulling himself nearly all the way out before gliding every inch of his member back into her. It was enough to drive him crazy; he could feel Buffy growing tighter around him with every gloriously slow thrust.
Buffy gasped, "William— oh God… William, ahhh… William…" she whispered as he continued pumping into her. Buffy reached one hand up into his hair, pulling his mouth down to her breast. As he let his tongue roam freely over one nipple she continued working her fingers into his hair, gripping his curls. Buffy gasped as she pushed herself down, firmly grinding on him and using her internal muscles to pull him in deeper as she felt the pressure growing for her first release. The sensation drew another rumbling growl from deep within Spike's chest as he continued to move with reverence.
They moved slowly, sweetly. Taking in every minute detail, every caress. They hadn't really made love like this since that night in Sunnydale. The night before he had sacrificed himself for the greater good. That first night in Paris hadn't even been this tender, this slow. They were both being painfully gentle with the other as they moved together at a synchronized pace. Sometimes almost maddingly so.
The night had proven to be a difficult one and the only thing either of them knew they could rely on for sure was each other.
Sometime later, they lay next to each other breathing heavily but unwilling to let go of each other. Buffy pressed into him with her head resting on his arm, "God, I think I needed that."
Spike chuckled, "Makes you feel alive?"
She laughed, "That just seems kinda weird coming from you."
"What, just because I died a virgin; I can't know what it's like?"
Buffy raised an eyebrow, "Definitely some kind of a crime there."
"Not for a proper gentleman, Pet. Will say, I always dreamed making love to my future bride would be something like that," he said almost sarcastically, "Not that I thought about that much when I was alive. Too much of a goody-goody for all that."
Buffy rolled onto her back so she could see him a little bit better and he rested his hand on her rib cage, "William, I know this is like the least of our worries right now but… why don't you tell me?"
He sighed, "Are we on this again?"
"I mean it sort of sounds like you want to get married. Is that right? I'm not like reading into that completely wrong, am I? You want this right?"
Spike shrugged, "I don't not want it; I certainly wouldn't mind it, but Buffy that's a mortal kind of thing. Marriage for me is just being with the person you love day-in, day-out. Like we are now. It's not some bleeding piece of paper or some stuffed-up-gent standing up there saying 'I now pronounce you man and wife', that's not what it is to me. If we're being completely honest here you and I already are married in any way that really matters. Lilias called us bond-mates didn't she? That's about as close as you can get without vows or claims and in honesty even that could be argued rather easily given the amount of little love nips and sweet dirty things we've said to each other. As far as I'm concerned Dru and I were married all those years. Course if we had any sort of vows she would've broken hers a hundred times over, but that's not really the point here is it?"
"But in all that time you and Drusilla never like; I don't know, went your separate ways, found somebody else, anything?"
"Sure we parted ways plenty of times, though usually not by choice. Like this one time I got taken in by some government types, met up with Angel on a submarine. That was a laugh and a half right up until he made me swim to land. Even when she'd bring someone in to share our bed, it was always 'our bed'. It was all in the name of a good time and it was always me and Dru."
"Wait, you had other people in your bed?"
"Evil, Babe. Course we did. Her idea. Got that from Angelus no doubt. He always liked joining in— sharing her— or more often than not, just screwing her in front of me. Bloody bastard."
"Angel?"
"Don't know why you seem surprised, Pet. Unless you're telling me he pretended like he was some sort of prude when he was with you. Wouldn't put it past the git."
Buffy gaped at him a moment, "I ah— wow, I just— you two—"
Spike rolled his eyes, "Of course. Figures. Yeah, Pet, his way of teaching me a lesson— lessons. I've always been a hopeless romantic. Demon brought out a slight ehh possessive trait you might say— to a point. He tried teaching me things like love and possession had no place in a vampire's unlife. Not a lesson I really ever took too. Never have fancied sharing. Would, because that's what she wanted, but I never liked it; especially not with him. I like having just one woman, I didn't need anyone else, but then I was never one to deny Dru anything either. After Angelus left… she'd get restless every decade or so, so I did whatever it took to keep her happy."
Buffy cleared her throat, suddenly feeling slightly uncomfortable. The more she learned about Spike; the more she felt she never really knew Angel at all. She shifted her gaze a little, "And when Ruby brought it up tonight?"
"What, that nonsense she was spouting down there? Hell no, this mind thing we have going on now is way better than– well, anything– in the history of ever. You are everything I'll ever need and I don't fancy sharing, remember? Besides, she's so high on Slayer blood, she'd probably shag a tree right now if she could. It'll wear off soon enough and we'll see what we're really dealing with. She might not even like blonds."
Buffy laughed, relaxing into him a little, "I hope you're right. She was really starting to annoy me when we were tying her up. I don't think I'm into that whole sharing thing either. I can't even imagine wanting to be with anyone but you at this point. You're right about the mind thing, that can really make things seriously interesting."
"Glad we agree. So eh… Our original conversation got seriously derailed didn't it? Can we get back on topic here?" He moved to look at her a little better, "What if we did make it all official? You and me. The dress, the flowers, the whole bit. What then? What's that look like in your beautiful mind?"
"Wow, topic shift, much?"
Buffy felt a chuckle rumble through his chest, "Think we've covered it nicely don't you?"
"I— oh sure, finding out you had multiple people share your bed with your ex— including my ex— who was just here by the way— oh my god that's why—- you know what, nope wow— just wow— and now we're going back into whether or not we want to get married? Humm yeah… totally covered that topic about as much as I want to cover it—- you know I better get a real proposal, or I will stake you."
Spike laughed, "You do have a way of putting things; It's just a question."
"Oh I know! And honestly, I can't imagine our lives being much different than they have ever been. Certainly not anymore predictable that's for sure. I don't really think much would change at all really… hell it's not like it would be a legal wedding anyway, we would have to use forged documents to be even a little legal. I think it would just be for us, our friends and family. You probably think that's just stupid, huh?"
"No, I don't. I think you're probably right about it not changing much; but if you want a wedding then it's worth talking about."
"First, I want a ring but not one of those conflict-y diamonds… maybe not even diamond, I don't know, but it has to be pretty and sparkly and not skull shaped."
Spike laughed, "Noted."
"Second, I want to know your last name."
"Nice try. Why are you so hung up over it, to my recollection I'm definitely not the first guy you've dated with no surname. The bloody Imortal don't even have a name… stupid git. Besides, you're not taking my name anyway; nothing against my dear old dad but I don't want it, I certainly don't want to pin it on you."
"You're English, how bad could it be? Or is it just really common, or slightly naughty maybe…or both like Johnson, or—"
He sighed, he hated it when she did this… "Pratt"
"No need for name calling."
"Nooo… My name; It's Pratt."
"Pratt? But that's not…"
"Unless you're English, Pet. School boys love their homophones, they never cared if it was prat or Pratt. William James Pratt, if you really must know. There you have it, you are now officially the only living person in almost a century and a half to know my full name."
"Now I just need a ring. Was that really so hard?"
"It didn't kill me. Still, can we keep this just between us?"
"Pratt—-"
"Yup."
"William Pratt."
"That's me— or it was."
"Willy Pratt—"
"Oi! Wohh now! Watch it! I've killed for less!"
"I'm just teasing."
"Got enough teasing. Could do without that. Especially from you."
She looked at him squarely now, she could feel anxiety and anger coming off of him, "That really strikes a nerve doesn't it?"
"Old wounds often do."
"I'm sorry. I mean I totally get why you don't like 'Willy'. But Pratt must be a pretty common name, I really don't see the big deal, Babe. That was a seriously long time ago, you're not—"
"Buffy, please."
"Fine, I think you're being stupid, but fine. Seriously though, Mrs. Buffy Pratt, isn't so…" she screwed up her nose a little.
"Oh now you see, don't you?" He said half offended and half triumphant.
"Yeah ok, I guess I kinda see your point" she settled back down still thinking, "Ok so what do we put on the invitations? 'Spike' or 'William the Bloody'?"
"You do know you've asked me this before right?"
"Yeah and, your answer is?"
He sighed again for dramatic effect, "How's about William James Spike, doesn't sound too horrible. Simplifies things, looks a bit more proper and explains away the nickname for dear old great-aunties and the like, right?"
"Mrs. Buffy Spike? Sounds way worse than Pratt."
"It's why we both go with 'Summers', remember?"
"I can live with that I guess, Mr. Pratt."
"Been ages since anyones called me that— bugger—" he sighed, "You know by demon standards we are already married and by some human standards some folks would call this conversation alone an engagement."
"Nope, not getting out of it that easy, mister. I want sparklies you must deliver on the sparklies."
He laughed again, "Is this the LA Valley girl shining through?"
Buffy pouted a little, "No, well maybe, maybe a little. I don't know. I just really want the pretties. Like I said I don't even care if it's a diamond I just want pretties."
"I'll have to put some thought into that one."
"I know you will."
Comments = Love = Food for the soul
