CHAPTER TWO: LIFE GOES ON
Spike stood back and watched again from the bushes as Xander patrolled for the evening. He was alone, toting only a few stakes and a cross. It was the first time that Xander had patrolled alone, Spike was sure of it.
Somehow, Spike knew that Xander would need backup, and if he didn't, then…more power to him.
He watched, his eyes darting back and forth, watching Xander's back. It was peculiar to be watching, to be protecting the boy…the man who had once been the enemy.
Spike and Xander professed to hate each other, but when it came down to it, there was no real animosity between them. The only thing that stopped them from being close was the fact that Spike was a vampire.
The two had formed a bizarre bond during the time that Spike had stayed with Xander when Giles had told Xander to look after Spike. In some ways, it was Spike who had finally convinced Xander that he was in love with Anya. Anya was 'threatened' by a harmless Spike, and Xander silently confessed his love for her.
Spike stood to attention as he saw a vampire rise from a grave only a few meters away from Buffy's.
For a second, his thoughts went to a place where they had never been before. He was glad that she hadn't been killed by a vampire. It had taken a god to defeat her, and even then, Buffy didn't have to go. She had chosen to.
Sacrificing herself so that Dawn could live.
Spike snapped back into the present and watched as Xander defended himself quite well. For someone with no training, he handled himself bravely with very little fuss.
Somehow, without having being told, Spike knew that Xander's power was something that he was drawing from Buffy. From Buffy's death to be exact.
Xander was pissed off and using it to the best of his ability. Spike had to admit that he himself had pummelled a vampire the other night, beat it to a bloody pulp before slaying it. And in those few seconds that it took to take an unlife, he had felt as though he had control over his life.
The second the other vampire was lying in the grass, no more than dust, everything came crashing back to earth for him. Buffy was dead. He was dead. She wasn't coming back. And he couldn't leave.
Spike turned and walked away, knowing without seeing that Xander was going to be victorious against the newly risen vampire, if only to take some sort of revenge on everything evil for Buffy's death.
He heard the telltale gasp and a 'whump' as Xander dusted the vamp, and Spike continued walking, knowing that under any other circumstance, he would have been smiling now.
~*~
It was getting late in vampire hours, coming close to five in the morning. Vamps were beginning to go back to their crypts and hideouts. Willy the Snitch was beginning to close down shop and head home for the night when the doors to his bar swung open.
He looked up apprehensively.
"C-can I help you?"
The young man smiled sardonically and sat down at the bar without saying a word.
"Beer? Bourban and coke? Water?"
"Nothing," he yelled.
The few remaining vamps turned to look at the vampire at the bar who was commanding their complete attention with only one word.
"I am here for the Slayer."
Willy looked around nervously, not wanting to tell this demon that he was out of luck.
"You're a little late," said one of the vamps beside the pool table.
The brown haired vamp turned and stood up, making his way to the pool table. He grabbed the other vamp by the throat digging his nails in tightly.
"What do you mean 'too late'?"
"She's dead," the vamp choked out.
The brown haired vamp released his grip. For a moment, Willy thought that all hell was about to break loose. Until, that is, the vampire smiled.
"Excellent."
The vamp who was rubbing his throat looked up at the taller vamp, wondering why that came as such good news.
"Why is it," began the taller vamp, "that you're in a town, on the Hellmouth, with a dead Slayer on your hands, and you're in here drowning your sorrows in store bought blood? You could be out there, feasting, yet you stay here."
"The sun is coming up," replied the defiant vampire who know had slight bruises from where the other vamp had grabbed him by the neck.
"Who's actually fed tonight? Fed properly."
"We all have," the vamp replied.
"How many? One person each? You could rule this town, yet you stay here?"
The vampire straightened himself up, reaching his full and impressive height.
"You need a leader, someone to give you guidance, someone to give you a push. I nominate me. Who has objections?" the vamp asked, looking at the other vamp who had experienced sharp fingernails in his neck only moments ago.
"I object. You're here for two minutes and suddenly you think you own the place."
"I do."
With that simple sentence, the taller vampire grabbed hold of the other vamp's neck and twisted it sharply, breaking it. The vamp fell to the floor and dusted immediately.
"Anyone else have any objections?"
There was a murmour of noise, everyone shaking their heads 'no'.
"Good. Then I am you're leader. My name is Court, but you may call me Master."
~*~
Spike rolled over in bed and smiled at the familiar sight. As beautiful as ever, she lay in bed next to him. He wrapped an arm over her protectively and pulled her towards him.
"I dunno what I'd do without you pet," he whispered, his finger tips making a gentle trail up and down her arms.
"You'd dream," she answered softly, her eyes remaining closed.
He gave a small chuckle from the back of his throat and kissed her softly.
"I dream of you when you're here, dreaming of you if you left wouldn't be hard."
She opened her eyes and gently pushed him back down on the pillow. She placed a gentle hand across his eyes.
"Close your eyes."
He did as she said, smiling a little as he felt her move her hand away and give each closed eye lid a tender kiss.
"What do you see?" she asked, her lips moving to his earlobes.
"Black. It's dark, pet," he teased gently.
She smiled as he opened his eyes.
"Whenever you see the darkness, think of me."
He shook his head and kissed her. "I don't need the darkness to think of you pet. I think of you all the time."
She leant forward, kissing him once more, neither of the lovers coming up for air.
She pulled back away from him slowly.
"It'll be dark soon," she commented.
He looked out the unwashed window of the crypt, confused.
"It's already dark out there pet."
She shook her head and settled back into his arms.
"Not where I am. It's bright here. Warm. But I miss you. Everyone. It'll be dark for me soon," she whispered.
"You're not afraid of the dark, are you?" he whispered, his voice teasing.
"Should I be?" she countered.
He kissed the top of her head gently.
"Not with me here."
She smiled and rested on her elbow, gazing down at him, her hand lazily playing with his bleached blonde curls..
"You don't understand. You are the dark."
He looked at her, his eyes asking questions that his mind couldn't process.
"You're afraid of me?"
"I've never been afraid of the dark. I miss it."
He smiled and took the hand that was fiddling with his hair.
"If you don't leave then you won't ever have to miss it."
She shook her head and stood up, pulling the sheets from the bed around her, leaving him lying on his back, looking towards her.
"You said you'd wait."
He sighed softly and closed his eyes.
"I'll wait. But seeing you…you make saying good-bye so much harder."
She nodded her agreement and bent down to kiss him once more before leaving.
"It just means that saying hello is that much better."
~*~
Giles sighed as he turned around the small sign on the glass door of the Magic Shop, advertising that they were once again open. He hadn't wanted to open the shop so soon after Buffy's death, but he had no choice in the matter.
Life had to go on.
Anya stop behind the counter, trying to put on an enthusiastic smile, but wasn't able to muster the usual enthusiasm that she usually had.
Giles sat at the round table and pulled his glasses off. He looked up as he heard the dinging of the bell, telling him someone had entered.
"Willow," he said softly. He stood up and walked to her, hugging her quickly.
"Xander told me you were opening up again today. I thought I'd just stop by and…see how things are."
Giles gave a small smile and sat back down.
"Things could be worse," he said sadly.
From her spot behind the counter, Anya muttered softly "don't know how."
Giles closed his eyes briefly, trying to ignore the ex-demons comment.
"How's Dawn?" Willow asked, trying to get Giles mind off his depression.
"She's coping. Spike's been helping her a lot. She's…she's getting there."
"She just needs time. We all do," Willow said. She put her hand over Giles' for a moment and stood up.
"If you need me, you know where I am."
"Of course."
"Give my love to Dawn."
Giles nodded and watched as the young witch walked out.
He looked towards Anya who was looking at he cash register in confusion.
"Something the matter?"
Anya looked up, surprised by his voice.
"Oh, uh…no. No there's nothing wrong."
"You just seemed a little…out of it."
"Just thinking."
Giles nodded and walked past the counter and out the back.
The training room. Tears came rushing back to his yes as he remembered the last conversation he had had with Buffy. It had been in this room.
The punching bag was still lying dormant on the floor. Giles couldn't bring himself to pick it back up and reattach it. No one would need to use it ever again.
He walked to the other side of the room and sat on the couch, remembering what he and Buffy had been talking about the last time they had spoken.
"If Dawn dies, I'm quitting."
She had quit before, but Giles had known from her tone of voice that her departure would be permanent, no matter how much the Council begged for her back. It wouldn't be the Council she was quitting, it would be the slaying. She would stop, and there would be no Slayer until she died.
Giles stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door and locking it behind him, vowing to himself that no one would ever go in there again. No one but her.