Redefined: 12
A/N: Hi all. Chapter 12 here and I want to thank all who have reviewed this story! Enjoy. Skyz.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Btvs, they belong to Joss Whedon and ME and others, not me. This is for entertainment purposes only. Lyrics from the Purple Rain soundtrack. The song The Beautiful Ones belong to Prince or whatever he calls himself these days. Please don't sue me.
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Redefined:
"How's our neighborhood invalid?" Wolfe asked as he quietly slipped into Buffy's hospital room.
Buffy glanced up with a small smile and shrugged.
"Ready to get out of here. I'm fine I don't see why I have to stay here," she complained.
Wolfe took the seat at her bedside and studied her intently.
"Your colors better and I see you've got your spirit back. That's good. But as I'm not a doctor, I can't let you out. I need you looked at by the doctor before I let you out of here."
"You wouldn't stop me if I did just walk out of here though so what's the point? I know my body and it's saying my Slaying powers have taken care of the blood loss. Besides Spike didn't take all that much."
"So..." Wolfe tried to be as casual as he could as he spoke. "Spike came to talk to you huh? How'd that go?"
Buffy frowned as she thought back to their little chat. Well hell not even that. Spike had apologized and then he'd proceeded to demand to know what she felt for him, whether she wanted him. Then he'd kissed her as if there was no tomorrow and she had reciprocated matching him move for move. After that, there hadn't been much talking and she hadn't wanted to talk to him. Still didn't, that kiss-kisses had been a mistake.
"We talked," was all she said.
Wolfe frowned slightly as he watched her revert inside herself. This was not going the way he had thought it would. He knew she and Spike had made with the kissage a few hours ago and yet it seemed to have made no difference to Buffy's feelings.
"I assume he apologized? When I saw him he was pretty torn up about what he'd done."
Buffy looked at him, meeting the eyes that were a perfect replica of her own. She regarded him steadily for a minute or two before she spoke.
"You're a good person Wolfe. A nice young man. Did you have a happy childhood? Did you have everything you wanted besides Spike and I?" she asked side stepping his question neatly.
Wolfe's head cocked in surprise at the question. He hadn't expected this. But it was a pleasant surprise. This meant she was interested in his life. She might change her mind about having him, he thought in sudden excitement.
"Well yeh. It was great...fun. I was like the little orphan you know? No parents but a hell of a lot of aunts and uncles. It takes a village to raise a kid and all that rot. True here though. They all raised me. I spent most of my time with Giles until I was five or so. We lived in London so I didn't get to see everyone here, but I talked to them, they sent me birthday presents and Christmas presents. I got presents on almost every holiday so it seemed like everyday was my birthday. I was one spoiled rotten kid!"
Buffy laughed shaking her head.
"I doubt that," she said.
Wolfe grinned.
"Really. I was impossible, used to having everything I wanted cuz I usually got it. So when we moved back to the States I was five going on ten, figured myself for one badass dude. Here I was a little boy who wore tweed, spoke with the most proper English accent imaginable and had a superiority complex. You can imagine the reaction of the kids at school. Beat the hell outta me. I didn't understand why they didn't bow down to me and pay me homage because I was the son of a Slayer and one of the most feared vampires ever! I was special, I'd been told that my entire life and it went to my head. So in the States we moved back to the Hell mouth where the Council was setting up shop. Giles wanted to keep an eye on them. "About this time Willow came up with the idea for the museums. That kept everyone busy, kept me occupied so I didn't care too much about the bullies at school. No one knew about it, I kept it quiet because I figured I could handle it, I was six by then. But one day I came home with a busted lip and two black eyes. Usually they kept the beatings to my upper body. Giles saw and immediately called a Scooby meeting. Everyone was suitable upset and it was decided Dawn-"
"Dawn? Who's that?" Buffy asked with a small frown.
Wolfe frowned too, wondering if he should tell her about Dawn. Then he would have to explain all about Glory and his mother's subsequent death. He didn't feel like going down that path.
"Dawn's a friend, a future Scooby. You'll like her; she can be a whiner though. But she'll stick by you no matter what. She learned from her sister. Dawn took it upon herself to handle the situation. I have no idea what she did but the next week no more rounds of beat the Wolfe. To this day, she won't tell me what she did. She loves her secrets!"
Buffy gazed at him with affectionate eyes as she pictured him at six. He would have been adorable she was sure. All brash and polish. A little miniature Spike in the guise of Giles. How cute. Something bothered her though.
"Wolfe. That's an unusual name. Were you teased for that too? How on earth did you get that name?"
Wolfe smiled slightly as he settled more comfortably in his chair.
"Well the story goes...after you had me you brought me home. Somewhere around that time while you were gone with dad preparing for the battle I was left alone with Anya another future Scooby, she's a vengeance demon. Now she'd been around for a good thousand years or so, she's real money hungry bless her heart. She was caught up in watching Wheel of Fortune. Some one knocked on the door and she told them to come in. Turned out it was Drusilla-"
"What?!"
"Yeh. That's what you said then too I'm told but with a lot more curses thrown in. She kidnapped me. This is the funny part. She took me to church. Baptized me. Christened me Wolfe Benedict Winthrop. She had one of her minions drop me back to you with a message to dad. Some stuff about the stars and the Wolfe in the guise of a child would destroy the world. This turned out to be accurate. I was almost the cause of the world ending. How weird is that?"
Buffy looked at him in shock, she shook her head slowly.
"Drusilla kidnapped you and named you?! We kept the name? Wolfe Benedict? That's just...my God that's awful!! Why would we do such a thing? No wonder you were teased with a name like that I'm hard pressed to imagine how you survived so long! I am so sorry," Buffy, gasped out sorrowfully.
Wolfe couldn't hold in his laughter as he erupted.
"But it's funny!! Dru's a nut and she named me after a traitor! Perfectly fitting dad thought and he convinced you too. True the name didn't win me any points in grade school, but high school? Well let's just say it added a little something to the mystique that was me back then. I wasn't lacking for dates let me tell you. Not that I dated a lot, cuz really the only one I wanted was Grace. Oh! I have to tell you the story of how I met her," Wolfe exclaimed laughing again as he thought back to that day.
Buffy watched him curiously, as he began to speak.
"I was about almost seven then and had been pestering everyone for a dog. That's all I ever talked about; it got so bad no one would talk to me. But that didn't stop me! So one day after school I'd stopped by the Magic Box-another future thing mom. I was leaving and I heard noises from the alley behind the shop. I wasn't supposed to be out by myself but I'd snuck off from school to buy a bag of Burbaweed. Anyway, I went to investigate. I found a whole litter of puppies! A gift from God I was dead certain. Well I took my time studying which one I wanted and picked the cutest one-cuz I wasn't into the whole manly thing yet, I just wanted the cutest. That happened to be a nice black one and I took it. Hid it under my coat and wandered off. But I didn't get far. No, I heard the growling even before they caught up with me. Turns out, they weren't puppies they were cubs. Wolves. The mama wolf was on me, racing after me howling up a storm. I'll never forget this, I had the feeling my heart was going to fall from my chest and beat its way down the street.
"I was scared as hell! Screaming at the top of my lungs, that's when some of my abilities kicked in. The speed came and I was outta there. Came home to find the whole gang gathered. I managed to endure the lectures about coming home by myself before I snuck upstairs to play with the puppy. I still thought it was a puppy, I didn't figure the mama could find me. Didn't really care. So there I was upstairs in my room playing when all of a sudden, the puppy started to shimmer and whimper and --- it changed. Into a little girl! I'll admit it I screamed, and screamed like a girl, ran down the stairs blubbering about my puppy turnin' into a girl. They thought I was crazy but once they heard the crying upstairs...Well the mama found me and I learned never ever steal a cub from its mama. They balled me out but good. So that's how I met Grace. I kidnapped her. She was just a bit of a thing no more than three and she was adorable. Now I have my puppy and a woman I love-er that didn't come out right!"
"Did you do that often? Get in trouble I mean?" Buffy asked after recovering from her laughter at Wolfe's tale.
"Oh sure! How could I not, I've got your blood don't I? There was this one time at band camp..."
Buffy spent the rest of the night listening to her son tell her of his childhood.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"How'd your talk go?" Spike asked as he saw Wolfe the next morning over a mug of disgusting Pigs blood.
"Good actually. She asked me about my childhood. I think I bored her with all my tales though," Wolfe replied as he poured a cup of coffee.
"Doubt that. She wouldn't have asked unless she weren't curious. You had a good time then?"
"Awesome. I think we really...connected. But I doubt it will make much of a difference. She's not gonna admit she feels anything for you dad. I've heard how stubborn she could be, how she wallowed in denial for as long as she could before being hit over the head with whatever she was trying to deny. At least she'll think about it I think..maybe. I don't know."
Spike sipped his blood and stared off into space.
"She can deny all she wants, but it's only a matter of time Wolfe. It's not love, not yet for us. But it will be. Sooner or later. I can feel it in m'bones. You'll be born yet, don't give up hope," Spike finally announced with a small grin.
Wolfe grinned back and father and son drank in the silence of the kitchen, some how in accord.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The whole group gathered outside that night. Scoobies of past and future. Willow had found the spell Grace had been looking for and everything was ready. Hugs and whispered words of advice were given as they said goodbye.
Wolfe stood with his parents an awkward air about him as he shifted from foot to foot.
"Well..." he began feeling immensely sad that he would never see them again.
"Well.." Spike repeated hands fisted in his duster pockets.
Buffy looked from one to the other and shook her head.
"Men," she mumbled as she gathered her son into her arms and hugged him tight. "You're a wonderful man. I would have loved for you to have been my son Wolfe. I'm proud of you," she whispered as she kissed his cheek her eyes tearing.
Wolfe's own eyes held tears he vowed he would not shed. He hugged her closer and inhaled her scent to memory before he reluctantly let her go.
"I love you," he whispered kissing her softly on her cheeks.
She gave him a watery smile and hugged him again before she spoke.
"I.I love you too," she whispered as she slipped away leaving father and son alone.
They stared at each other for a minute.
"You're a good boy. You're my son and..I'm proud of you too. I'm glad I met you Wolfe Benedict Winthrop," Spike said with a little snicker at the end. He could not believe they'd kept that name for the boy. He stuck out his hand.
"It was nice meeting you too dad," Wolfe choked out as he took his father's hand and gripped it tightly. They shook hands and before either was aware of it, they were embracing. Wolfe closed his eyes and shook with silent sobs. He didn't want them to leave!
"It'll be alright Wolfe," Spike whispered comfortingly. "I'll make sure it is. I promise."
Wolfe lifted his head and looked at him, unashamed at the tears that streamed down his face.
"Really?" he asked hopefully. "Cuz I'd really like to be born you know?"
"I always keep my promises...son. I promise. I..I -I love you," Spike blurted out quickly before he mumbled a goodbye and went to join the others.
Wolfe stood a little apart from it all Grace by his side as Willow recited the spell.
"Do you regret this?" Grace asked.
"Surprisingly no," Wolfe spoke softly.
"Not even a little now you know there's the distinct possibility you won't be born?" she asked in concern as she reached for him encircling him in a tight embrace.
"There's every possibility I will be born Grace," he said smugly.
She looked up at him questioningly.
"What makes you so certain?"
"Dad made me a promise and he-"
"Always keeps his promises," they chorused together as the light of the completion of the spell enveloped them and his parents disappeared as fast as they'd come.
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Epilogue:
Buffy strolled arm in arm with Angel patrolling.
"..took you down and bit you? How'd you escape?" Angel was saying in reference to her bite mark on her neck, which now covered the Master's mark entirely.
"Well..it was nothing special. I managed to kick him where the sun doesn't shine," Buffy, said as happily as she could.
"Well Buffy I'm amazed all this happened in one day. I knew I should have looked for you yesterday but..I was worried about other things mainly Spike and Drusilla. And Spike went after you! I'm gonna kill him the next time I see him," he seethed.
Get in line she thought wanly.
She had been home for little over an hour and had come to a few realizations during that time. Although for the Scoobies they'd been gone nearly a month, here they had been gone for only a day. Nothing bad had gone down, no one had tried to open the hell mouth and end the world. Angel was still in love with her. Her mother was furious with her for skipping class. Some things never changed.
And some things would never be the same, she thought as her Slayer senses went on alert. Her eyes scanned the cemetery as her senses picked up vamp activity up ahead and one certain vamp she needed to talk to.
Detangling her arm from Angel's she paused.
"Angel up ahead there's vamp activity. I sense some back that way," she pointed vaguely and ran off before he could speak.
~*~*~*~*~*~
~Baby, baby, baby. What's it gonna be?~
Spike watched the Slayer run from the poof and doubled back to intercept her. He met her half way and had her inside a near by crypt before she could speak.
"Slayer," he whispered as he pulled her close and nuzzled his mark on her neck.
Buffy inhaled sharply and half-heartedly told him to stop it. He didn't listen.
"Came to see you at your house," he mumbled as he kissed his way up her jaw line.
"What?" she muttered dazedly as his lips brushed hers, before deviling into a deeper kiss.
"Came to see you at your house...went to that tree by your window. Was gonna climb up it and see you. But I got a whiff of it-nearly lost m'dinner I did. The bloody things saturated with the Poof! What does he do? Climb it waitin' to get a peek at m'girl? Bloody bastard. Pervert.always was a peeping tom," grumbled as he slowly eased away from her lips.
The mention of Angel brought Buffy to her senses. She slipped from his loose grasp and turned away from him.
~Baby, baby, baby Is it him or is it me? Don't make me waste my time~
"What do you want Spike?" she asked as coldly as she could, she knew she shouldn't have encouraged him, but he had some kind of power over her. One touch and she was gone. It was scary in the absolute way it consumed her.
"I want a lot of things Slayer," he answered the flare of his lighter briefly casting his angular face in a soft red light. "Question is what you want."
~Don't make me lose my mind baby Baby, baby, baby~
"You can't always have what you want," she muttered. "What I want is world peace. The end of the hell mouth. I want to be normal, I want to be happy. I want...it doesn't matter what I want Spike. It'll never happen. You need to leave."
She walked past him towards the door of the crypt.
~Can't you stay with me tonight? Oh, baby, baby, baby~
He caught her arm and turned her, lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. He smiled slightly as he dropped a kiss on her nose and rested his forehead against hers.
~Don't my kisses please you right? You were so hard to find~
"Does this mean nothing to you Buffy? What do you think I want from you? Do you even realize what you do to me? Do you?"
"I think you're horny, I think you'd ,like to get in my pants and see how it is to do a Slayer a different way Spike. I think this is a game to you. Well I'm not gonna play it!"
~The beautiful ones, they hurt you every time~
Spike let her words slide by him as he clenched his jaw and put a lid on his temper. He had to be calm when he spoke. He had to make her see.
"If all I wanted was to shag I could have had you when I bit you luv. Nothin' like killing and fuckin'," he mused as he glared down at her. She didn't bother to deny his statement, only made a disgusted face.
~Paint a perfect picture Bring to life a vision in One's mind~
"We got a chance Buffy; we got a chance to see what could be! That doesn't happen all the time! We can change our lives for the better. I....I want to. I want to be with you Buffy, do you understand? I want everything I can get from you."
"Spike," she whispered brokenly. "I can't! I won't."
~The beautiful ones always smash The pictures Always every time~
He released her and stalked away from her, anger in every fiber of his being.
"Why not?! Is this about Angelus? What can he give you Buffy?!! What can he give you, that I can't?!!! He's a monster pet, when you shag you'll wake to a monster and then what? You heard what Wolfe said! You had to kill him, do you want that? The misery that comes with loving him?! DO YOU?"
~If I told, you baby That I was in love With you~
"It won't. Come that is. Willow has the spell to make his soul permanent," Buffy's whisper sailed through the air like a well aimed arrow and lodged itself in his heart. He met her tortured gaze with one of his own.
~Oh baby, baby, baby If we got married would That be cool?~
"That's bloody fantastic! Wonderful, I hope you and he have a happy life SLAYER," he spat coldly as he stalked towards the door. This time Buffy did the stopping.
~You make me so confused The beautiful ones you Always seem to lose~
"What do you want from me Spike?! You knew, I never denied being in love with Angel I love him! You can't possible think because of a few kisses I'd want to be with you did you? Have you forgotten about Drusilla?! Do you think she'll just let you go?" she demanded angrily.
"No! I know it would be hard, near impossible Buffy but think..think how good it would be luv. We'd be so happy. Is it a crime to want to be happy Buffy? With you?"
Buffy buried her face in her hands silent tears streaming down her face. She couldn't help the tremors that shook her small frame.
Cursing he gathered her to him and held her close.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled as he rained kisses over her flushed face.
~Baby, baby, baby What's it gonna be? Baby Do you want him or do you want me? Cuz I want you, said I want you Tell me baby do you want me?~
"Ask me to stay," he whispered softly into her ear.
She shuddered at the intense emotions his words evoked inside her.
"No," she said even as her mind and heart screamed STAY!!!
~I gotta know, I gotta know Do you want me?~
He growled low down in his throat as he kissed her, once twice, parted her lips. His tongue seduced hers in a heated dance.
Muddled her thoughts and strengthened her feelings. God help her!
"Ask me to stay," he demanded again.
Weakened but not deterred she answered the same.
"No."
Then there wasn't any talking as his hands, hers wandered, traveled a seductive dance. Kisses became maddening, clothing a hindrance.
~Baby, baby, baby Listen to me~
"Buffy...Buffy I'll come back for you," he whispered raggedly pulling away from her.
~I may not know where I'm goin' baby I said I may not know what I need~
"No..." she pleaded.
"I'll come back for you," he repeated. "I'll make you proud Buffy. I'll make you love me. I swear."
~One thing one thing is for certain I know what I want and if it pleases You baby I'm begging down on my knees~
He walked to the door of the dark crypt, left her standing alone and miserable. Turned back to look at her over his shoulder.
"You're mine Slayer."
"Never."
"Forever," he whispered as he opened the door and slipped out.
~I want you Yeah I want you Baby, baby, baby I want you yes I do~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angel sunk to the ground his legs could no longer support him as his heart broke. His head bowed and tears fell unbidden.
"My God," he whispered in disbelief. Buffy and Spike. Spike and Buffy. Together!!!!
Spike.
Spike.
Spike.
His name was like an open wound, it would never heal, it was always there waiting to be reopened and pocked and prodded.
Spike had a hold over Buffy he thought suddenly. There was no way she'd let him touch her if he hadn't done some sort of spell!
An anger, a rage hadn't felt since he'd been Angelus, and even then it could not match what he was feeling surged through him and he clutched his head, moaning in pain as his body went rigid. Pain laced through him, his chest closed in and he gasped needlessly for air. He clawed at his chest as he fell to the ground.
"Buffy...Buffy," he gasped out as he felt his soul being ripped from him.
Angelus opened his eyes and smiled a smile of the devil himself.
THE END
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A/N: Sequel anyone? Reviews would be appreciated and have no fear I've got the sequel in the works. I want to thank all who have reviewed this fic. You guys have been amazing and you kept me from relaxing and becoming lax on the updates. I want to thank Lml1996 for reviewing faithfully and all the others who have done the same. Thank you!!!!!!! The sequel is called Some Kind of Wonderful look out for it!!!!! I love you guys. Skyz.
A/N: Hi all. Chapter 12 here and I want to thank all who have reviewed this story! Enjoy. Skyz.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Btvs, they belong to Joss Whedon and ME and others, not me. This is for entertainment purposes only. Lyrics from the Purple Rain soundtrack. The song The Beautiful Ones belong to Prince or whatever he calls himself these days. Please don't sue me.
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Redefined:
"How's our neighborhood invalid?" Wolfe asked as he quietly slipped into Buffy's hospital room.
Buffy glanced up with a small smile and shrugged.
"Ready to get out of here. I'm fine I don't see why I have to stay here," she complained.
Wolfe took the seat at her bedside and studied her intently.
"Your colors better and I see you've got your spirit back. That's good. But as I'm not a doctor, I can't let you out. I need you looked at by the doctor before I let you out of here."
"You wouldn't stop me if I did just walk out of here though so what's the point? I know my body and it's saying my Slaying powers have taken care of the blood loss. Besides Spike didn't take all that much."
"So..." Wolfe tried to be as casual as he could as he spoke. "Spike came to talk to you huh? How'd that go?"
Buffy frowned as she thought back to their little chat. Well hell not even that. Spike had apologized and then he'd proceeded to demand to know what she felt for him, whether she wanted him. Then he'd kissed her as if there was no tomorrow and she had reciprocated matching him move for move. After that, there hadn't been much talking and she hadn't wanted to talk to him. Still didn't, that kiss-kisses had been a mistake.
"We talked," was all she said.
Wolfe frowned slightly as he watched her revert inside herself. This was not going the way he had thought it would. He knew she and Spike had made with the kissage a few hours ago and yet it seemed to have made no difference to Buffy's feelings.
"I assume he apologized? When I saw him he was pretty torn up about what he'd done."
Buffy looked at him, meeting the eyes that were a perfect replica of her own. She regarded him steadily for a minute or two before she spoke.
"You're a good person Wolfe. A nice young man. Did you have a happy childhood? Did you have everything you wanted besides Spike and I?" she asked side stepping his question neatly.
Wolfe's head cocked in surprise at the question. He hadn't expected this. But it was a pleasant surprise. This meant she was interested in his life. She might change her mind about having him, he thought in sudden excitement.
"Well yeh. It was great...fun. I was like the little orphan you know? No parents but a hell of a lot of aunts and uncles. It takes a village to raise a kid and all that rot. True here though. They all raised me. I spent most of my time with Giles until I was five or so. We lived in London so I didn't get to see everyone here, but I talked to them, they sent me birthday presents and Christmas presents. I got presents on almost every holiday so it seemed like everyday was my birthday. I was one spoiled rotten kid!"
Buffy laughed shaking her head.
"I doubt that," she said.
Wolfe grinned.
"Really. I was impossible, used to having everything I wanted cuz I usually got it. So when we moved back to the States I was five going on ten, figured myself for one badass dude. Here I was a little boy who wore tweed, spoke with the most proper English accent imaginable and had a superiority complex. You can imagine the reaction of the kids at school. Beat the hell outta me. I didn't understand why they didn't bow down to me and pay me homage because I was the son of a Slayer and one of the most feared vampires ever! I was special, I'd been told that my entire life and it went to my head. So in the States we moved back to the Hell mouth where the Council was setting up shop. Giles wanted to keep an eye on them. "About this time Willow came up with the idea for the museums. That kept everyone busy, kept me occupied so I didn't care too much about the bullies at school. No one knew about it, I kept it quiet because I figured I could handle it, I was six by then. But one day I came home with a busted lip and two black eyes. Usually they kept the beatings to my upper body. Giles saw and immediately called a Scooby meeting. Everyone was suitable upset and it was decided Dawn-"
"Dawn? Who's that?" Buffy asked with a small frown.
Wolfe frowned too, wondering if he should tell her about Dawn. Then he would have to explain all about Glory and his mother's subsequent death. He didn't feel like going down that path.
"Dawn's a friend, a future Scooby. You'll like her; she can be a whiner though. But she'll stick by you no matter what. She learned from her sister. Dawn took it upon herself to handle the situation. I have no idea what she did but the next week no more rounds of beat the Wolfe. To this day, she won't tell me what she did. She loves her secrets!"
Buffy gazed at him with affectionate eyes as she pictured him at six. He would have been adorable she was sure. All brash and polish. A little miniature Spike in the guise of Giles. How cute. Something bothered her though.
"Wolfe. That's an unusual name. Were you teased for that too? How on earth did you get that name?"
Wolfe smiled slightly as he settled more comfortably in his chair.
"Well the story goes...after you had me you brought me home. Somewhere around that time while you were gone with dad preparing for the battle I was left alone with Anya another future Scooby, she's a vengeance demon. Now she'd been around for a good thousand years or so, she's real money hungry bless her heart. She was caught up in watching Wheel of Fortune. Some one knocked on the door and she told them to come in. Turned out it was Drusilla-"
"What?!"
"Yeh. That's what you said then too I'm told but with a lot more curses thrown in. She kidnapped me. This is the funny part. She took me to church. Baptized me. Christened me Wolfe Benedict Winthrop. She had one of her minions drop me back to you with a message to dad. Some stuff about the stars and the Wolfe in the guise of a child would destroy the world. This turned out to be accurate. I was almost the cause of the world ending. How weird is that?"
Buffy looked at him in shock, she shook her head slowly.
"Drusilla kidnapped you and named you?! We kept the name? Wolfe Benedict? That's just...my God that's awful!! Why would we do such a thing? No wonder you were teased with a name like that I'm hard pressed to imagine how you survived so long! I am so sorry," Buffy, gasped out sorrowfully.
Wolfe couldn't hold in his laughter as he erupted.
"But it's funny!! Dru's a nut and she named me after a traitor! Perfectly fitting dad thought and he convinced you too. True the name didn't win me any points in grade school, but high school? Well let's just say it added a little something to the mystique that was me back then. I wasn't lacking for dates let me tell you. Not that I dated a lot, cuz really the only one I wanted was Grace. Oh! I have to tell you the story of how I met her," Wolfe exclaimed laughing again as he thought back to that day.
Buffy watched him curiously, as he began to speak.
"I was about almost seven then and had been pestering everyone for a dog. That's all I ever talked about; it got so bad no one would talk to me. But that didn't stop me! So one day after school I'd stopped by the Magic Box-another future thing mom. I was leaving and I heard noises from the alley behind the shop. I wasn't supposed to be out by myself but I'd snuck off from school to buy a bag of Burbaweed. Anyway, I went to investigate. I found a whole litter of puppies! A gift from God I was dead certain. Well I took my time studying which one I wanted and picked the cutest one-cuz I wasn't into the whole manly thing yet, I just wanted the cutest. That happened to be a nice black one and I took it. Hid it under my coat and wandered off. But I didn't get far. No, I heard the growling even before they caught up with me. Turns out, they weren't puppies they were cubs. Wolves. The mama wolf was on me, racing after me howling up a storm. I'll never forget this, I had the feeling my heart was going to fall from my chest and beat its way down the street.
"I was scared as hell! Screaming at the top of my lungs, that's when some of my abilities kicked in. The speed came and I was outta there. Came home to find the whole gang gathered. I managed to endure the lectures about coming home by myself before I snuck upstairs to play with the puppy. I still thought it was a puppy, I didn't figure the mama could find me. Didn't really care. So there I was upstairs in my room playing when all of a sudden, the puppy started to shimmer and whimper and --- it changed. Into a little girl! I'll admit it I screamed, and screamed like a girl, ran down the stairs blubbering about my puppy turnin' into a girl. They thought I was crazy but once they heard the crying upstairs...Well the mama found me and I learned never ever steal a cub from its mama. They balled me out but good. So that's how I met Grace. I kidnapped her. She was just a bit of a thing no more than three and she was adorable. Now I have my puppy and a woman I love-er that didn't come out right!"
"Did you do that often? Get in trouble I mean?" Buffy asked after recovering from her laughter at Wolfe's tale.
"Oh sure! How could I not, I've got your blood don't I? There was this one time at band camp..."
Buffy spent the rest of the night listening to her son tell her of his childhood.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"How'd your talk go?" Spike asked as he saw Wolfe the next morning over a mug of disgusting Pigs blood.
"Good actually. She asked me about my childhood. I think I bored her with all my tales though," Wolfe replied as he poured a cup of coffee.
"Doubt that. She wouldn't have asked unless she weren't curious. You had a good time then?"
"Awesome. I think we really...connected. But I doubt it will make much of a difference. She's not gonna admit she feels anything for you dad. I've heard how stubborn she could be, how she wallowed in denial for as long as she could before being hit over the head with whatever she was trying to deny. At least she'll think about it I think..maybe. I don't know."
Spike sipped his blood and stared off into space.
"She can deny all she wants, but it's only a matter of time Wolfe. It's not love, not yet for us. But it will be. Sooner or later. I can feel it in m'bones. You'll be born yet, don't give up hope," Spike finally announced with a small grin.
Wolfe grinned back and father and son drank in the silence of the kitchen, some how in accord.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The whole group gathered outside that night. Scoobies of past and future. Willow had found the spell Grace had been looking for and everything was ready. Hugs and whispered words of advice were given as they said goodbye.
Wolfe stood with his parents an awkward air about him as he shifted from foot to foot.
"Well..." he began feeling immensely sad that he would never see them again.
"Well.." Spike repeated hands fisted in his duster pockets.
Buffy looked from one to the other and shook her head.
"Men," she mumbled as she gathered her son into her arms and hugged him tight. "You're a wonderful man. I would have loved for you to have been my son Wolfe. I'm proud of you," she whispered as she kissed his cheek her eyes tearing.
Wolfe's own eyes held tears he vowed he would not shed. He hugged her closer and inhaled her scent to memory before he reluctantly let her go.
"I love you," he whispered kissing her softly on her cheeks.
She gave him a watery smile and hugged him again before she spoke.
"I.I love you too," she whispered as she slipped away leaving father and son alone.
They stared at each other for a minute.
"You're a good boy. You're my son and..I'm proud of you too. I'm glad I met you Wolfe Benedict Winthrop," Spike said with a little snicker at the end. He could not believe they'd kept that name for the boy. He stuck out his hand.
"It was nice meeting you too dad," Wolfe choked out as he took his father's hand and gripped it tightly. They shook hands and before either was aware of it, they were embracing. Wolfe closed his eyes and shook with silent sobs. He didn't want them to leave!
"It'll be alright Wolfe," Spike whispered comfortingly. "I'll make sure it is. I promise."
Wolfe lifted his head and looked at him, unashamed at the tears that streamed down his face.
"Really?" he asked hopefully. "Cuz I'd really like to be born you know?"
"I always keep my promises...son. I promise. I..I -I love you," Spike blurted out quickly before he mumbled a goodbye and went to join the others.
Wolfe stood a little apart from it all Grace by his side as Willow recited the spell.
"Do you regret this?" Grace asked.
"Surprisingly no," Wolfe spoke softly.
"Not even a little now you know there's the distinct possibility you won't be born?" she asked in concern as she reached for him encircling him in a tight embrace.
"There's every possibility I will be born Grace," he said smugly.
She looked up at him questioningly.
"What makes you so certain?"
"Dad made me a promise and he-"
"Always keeps his promises," they chorused together as the light of the completion of the spell enveloped them and his parents disappeared as fast as they'd come.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Epilogue:
Buffy strolled arm in arm with Angel patrolling.
"..took you down and bit you? How'd you escape?" Angel was saying in reference to her bite mark on her neck, which now covered the Master's mark entirely.
"Well..it was nothing special. I managed to kick him where the sun doesn't shine," Buffy, said as happily as she could.
"Well Buffy I'm amazed all this happened in one day. I knew I should have looked for you yesterday but..I was worried about other things mainly Spike and Drusilla. And Spike went after you! I'm gonna kill him the next time I see him," he seethed.
Get in line she thought wanly.
She had been home for little over an hour and had come to a few realizations during that time. Although for the Scoobies they'd been gone nearly a month, here they had been gone for only a day. Nothing bad had gone down, no one had tried to open the hell mouth and end the world. Angel was still in love with her. Her mother was furious with her for skipping class. Some things never changed.
And some things would never be the same, she thought as her Slayer senses went on alert. Her eyes scanned the cemetery as her senses picked up vamp activity up ahead and one certain vamp she needed to talk to.
Detangling her arm from Angel's she paused.
"Angel up ahead there's vamp activity. I sense some back that way," she pointed vaguely and ran off before he could speak.
~*~*~*~*~*~
~Baby, baby, baby. What's it gonna be?~
Spike watched the Slayer run from the poof and doubled back to intercept her. He met her half way and had her inside a near by crypt before she could speak.
"Slayer," he whispered as he pulled her close and nuzzled his mark on her neck.
Buffy inhaled sharply and half-heartedly told him to stop it. He didn't listen.
"Came to see you at your house," he mumbled as he kissed his way up her jaw line.
"What?" she muttered dazedly as his lips brushed hers, before deviling into a deeper kiss.
"Came to see you at your house...went to that tree by your window. Was gonna climb up it and see you. But I got a whiff of it-nearly lost m'dinner I did. The bloody things saturated with the Poof! What does he do? Climb it waitin' to get a peek at m'girl? Bloody bastard. Pervert.always was a peeping tom," grumbled as he slowly eased away from her lips.
The mention of Angel brought Buffy to her senses. She slipped from his loose grasp and turned away from him.
~Baby, baby, baby Is it him or is it me? Don't make me waste my time~
"What do you want Spike?" she asked as coldly as she could, she knew she shouldn't have encouraged him, but he had some kind of power over her. One touch and she was gone. It was scary in the absolute way it consumed her.
"I want a lot of things Slayer," he answered the flare of his lighter briefly casting his angular face in a soft red light. "Question is what you want."
~Don't make me lose my mind baby Baby, baby, baby~
"You can't always have what you want," she muttered. "What I want is world peace. The end of the hell mouth. I want to be normal, I want to be happy. I want...it doesn't matter what I want Spike. It'll never happen. You need to leave."
She walked past him towards the door of the crypt.
~Can't you stay with me tonight? Oh, baby, baby, baby~
He caught her arm and turned her, lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. He smiled slightly as he dropped a kiss on her nose and rested his forehead against hers.
~Don't my kisses please you right? You were so hard to find~
"Does this mean nothing to you Buffy? What do you think I want from you? Do you even realize what you do to me? Do you?"
"I think you're horny, I think you'd ,like to get in my pants and see how it is to do a Slayer a different way Spike. I think this is a game to you. Well I'm not gonna play it!"
~The beautiful ones, they hurt you every time~
Spike let her words slide by him as he clenched his jaw and put a lid on his temper. He had to be calm when he spoke. He had to make her see.
"If all I wanted was to shag I could have had you when I bit you luv. Nothin' like killing and fuckin'," he mused as he glared down at her. She didn't bother to deny his statement, only made a disgusted face.
~Paint a perfect picture Bring to life a vision in One's mind~
"We got a chance Buffy; we got a chance to see what could be! That doesn't happen all the time! We can change our lives for the better. I....I want to. I want to be with you Buffy, do you understand? I want everything I can get from you."
"Spike," she whispered brokenly. "I can't! I won't."
~The beautiful ones always smash The pictures Always every time~
He released her and stalked away from her, anger in every fiber of his being.
"Why not?! Is this about Angelus? What can he give you Buffy?!! What can he give you, that I can't?!!! He's a monster pet, when you shag you'll wake to a monster and then what? You heard what Wolfe said! You had to kill him, do you want that? The misery that comes with loving him?! DO YOU?"
~If I told, you baby That I was in love With you~
"It won't. Come that is. Willow has the spell to make his soul permanent," Buffy's whisper sailed through the air like a well aimed arrow and lodged itself in his heart. He met her tortured gaze with one of his own.
~Oh baby, baby, baby If we got married would That be cool?~
"That's bloody fantastic! Wonderful, I hope you and he have a happy life SLAYER," he spat coldly as he stalked towards the door. This time Buffy did the stopping.
~You make me so confused The beautiful ones you Always seem to lose~
"What do you want from me Spike?! You knew, I never denied being in love with Angel I love him! You can't possible think because of a few kisses I'd want to be with you did you? Have you forgotten about Drusilla?! Do you think she'll just let you go?" she demanded angrily.
"No! I know it would be hard, near impossible Buffy but think..think how good it would be luv. We'd be so happy. Is it a crime to want to be happy Buffy? With you?"
Buffy buried her face in her hands silent tears streaming down her face. She couldn't help the tremors that shook her small frame.
Cursing he gathered her to him and held her close.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled as he rained kisses over her flushed face.
~Baby, baby, baby What's it gonna be? Baby Do you want him or do you want me? Cuz I want you, said I want you Tell me baby do you want me?~
"Ask me to stay," he whispered softly into her ear.
She shuddered at the intense emotions his words evoked inside her.
"No," she said even as her mind and heart screamed STAY!!!
~I gotta know, I gotta know Do you want me?~
He growled low down in his throat as he kissed her, once twice, parted her lips. His tongue seduced hers in a heated dance.
Muddled her thoughts and strengthened her feelings. God help her!
"Ask me to stay," he demanded again.
Weakened but not deterred she answered the same.
"No."
Then there wasn't any talking as his hands, hers wandered, traveled a seductive dance. Kisses became maddening, clothing a hindrance.
~Baby, baby, baby Listen to me~
"Buffy...Buffy I'll come back for you," he whispered raggedly pulling away from her.
~I may not know where I'm goin' baby I said I may not know what I need~
"No..." she pleaded.
"I'll come back for you," he repeated. "I'll make you proud Buffy. I'll make you love me. I swear."
~One thing one thing is for certain I know what I want and if it pleases You baby I'm begging down on my knees~
He walked to the door of the dark crypt, left her standing alone and miserable. Turned back to look at her over his shoulder.
"You're mine Slayer."
"Never."
"Forever," he whispered as he opened the door and slipped out.
~I want you Yeah I want you Baby, baby, baby I want you yes I do~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angel sunk to the ground his legs could no longer support him as his heart broke. His head bowed and tears fell unbidden.
"My God," he whispered in disbelief. Buffy and Spike. Spike and Buffy. Together!!!!
Spike.
Spike.
Spike.
His name was like an open wound, it would never heal, it was always there waiting to be reopened and pocked and prodded.
Spike had a hold over Buffy he thought suddenly. There was no way she'd let him touch her if he hadn't done some sort of spell!
An anger, a rage hadn't felt since he'd been Angelus, and even then it could not match what he was feeling surged through him and he clutched his head, moaning in pain as his body went rigid. Pain laced through him, his chest closed in and he gasped needlessly for air. He clawed at his chest as he fell to the ground.
"Buffy...Buffy," he gasped out as he felt his soul being ripped from him.
Angelus opened his eyes and smiled a smile of the devil himself.
THE END
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Sequel anyone? Reviews would be appreciated and have no fear I've got the sequel in the works. I want to thank all who have reviewed this fic. You guys have been amazing and you kept me from relaxing and becoming lax on the updates. I want to thank Lml1996 for reviewing faithfully and all the others who have done the same. Thank you!!!!!!! The sequel is called Some Kind of Wonderful look out for it!!!!! I love you guys. Skyz.