***just a little Spuffiness for those in need.

***Disclaimer: Don't need one really, but you know whose characters are Joss's. If you haven't heard of em before, they're mine.

CHAPTER 12

It was a little after seven before Buffy and Spike decided it was time to leave. Dawn's exit had occurred only ten minutes ago with Faith in tow a few minutes later. Buffy had followed Faith upstairs but respected her wishes to talk to Dawn alone. She still needed to change before going out, though. She threw on a pair of black hip huggers and a tight black tank top. She shrugged into some black boots and tied her hair into a short ponytail. Sneaking a peak at herself in the mirror made her laugh. She looked like a miniature Spike. She grabbed her black jacket from the closet to complete the ensemble and her black gym bag with an extra change of clothes and weapons. With all that in tow, she made her way down the steps.

Spike waited patiently for her; his hands thrust deep within the pockets of his duster, his silver chain the only adornment across his chest. She had suggested that he borrow one of Xander's spare work shirts. It wasn't a surprise that both men adamantly refused such a venture.

"Well, well," Spike said in his most seductive voice. He raised a scarred eyebrow at her deliciously. Most times it would have been enough to get her temperature up at the mere suggestions he intimated but it was different this time. Something was missing. She could see a hint of it in his eyes, though he hid it well. She put it aside for later and returned his flirt with a roll of her eyes he had no doubt come to expect.

"What Spike," she breathed, feigning annoyance. She stood at the bottom step. It granted them the luxury of meeting eye to eye. It had been too long for both of them and her proximity to him had alleviated Spike of the disturbing images Faith's words had established in his mind. Forgotten were her words of a hopeless future or Peaches and Buffy creating life. He wanted nothing more than to take her now and shag her senseless. No, that wasn't quite the truth. He wanted more than that. He wanted to make love to her hard and slow. And he knew he wasn't the only one as the air vibed with her desire for him. Her breaths came in shallow pants and her heartbeat had elevated significantly. Her physical response to him was almost enough to content him with their previously 'physical-only' relationship.

Almost.

"Can't help but to think you got all spiffy just for me," he smirked.

"Well, stop thinking that," she huffed, moving him aside. She gasped when her hand touched his bare chest but she didn't stop. She dropped her bag at the door and addressed the Scoobies.

"Willow, Tara," Buffy said to the Wiccas that were still huddled in the recliner, "can you stay here with Dawn and Faith? Me and Spike are about to kick around for this locket and patrol a bit afterwards." Both women nodded their ascent. "Xander," she said to the man studying his nails on the couch. "I guess it's your job to fill Anya in on everything. Also, could you do some preliminary research? Pull some books from the shelves of the Magic Box. Look for references of a Sigma Order or Gabriel. And anything dealing with time travel and such," he nodded his acquiescence. "And any prophecies dealing with a slayer and vampire having a child," she added hastily.

"Gee, Buff, I'm gonna need a U-Haul for all this."

"Xander, please. And don't worry about bringing them by. You can set them in the training room and I'll swing by early in the morning. I can look over them until everyone else is done for the day."

"Sure thing, Buffy," Xander said, giving her a warm smile before shooting a look of contempt towards the silent vampire.

Buffy turned on her heels and picked up the bag. "Let's go," she said simply to Spike. And the vampire and his slayer walked out into the damp night.

The deep gray of the storm clouds hung overhead, lazily floating through the air. The rain had stopped over an hour ago though a quick glance to the west hinted at an even stronger deluge of rain, wind and lightning. The nine figures that traversed the empty sidewalks of suburban Sunnydale did not care for what weather was ahead. They had only one thing in mind.

Kill the slayer's friends and bring her in unharmed.

Well, that had been actually two objectives but no one was really counting.

Despite the nagging pain in his ribs and shoulder, Primus fearlessly led the diverse group of demons to Revello Drive. The Slayer's humble abode.

It wasn't that some demons actually knew where the slayer lived. But knowing and going there were two different things. Though most demons relished on causing torment to the families of their enemies, the slayer was a whole 'nother animal. Not many had survived to tell the tale. Well, none actually. But it wasn't just her they feared. She wasn't alone in her battle against the forces of darkness. No.

Of all people, rather demons, Spike, the slayer of slayers, fought loyally at her side. And though she would only kill those that bothered her and her family, Spike wasn't as generous.

As they rounded onto the slayer's street, Primus shot a warning hand up toward the demons. They stopped and blended into the cover of darkness and foliage. There she was, dressed in black, followed by the platinum blond vampire. Primus' face sneered with hate at the sight of him. He was a traitor to his kind, consorting with the slayer. Killing vampires and demons alike to appease her. Primus would have called him soft were it not for the things-the horrible things, even by demon standards-he had done to certain demons whose tongues had been loosened by alcohol or virgin blood. Even the demon within Primus shuddered at the images he had seen several months ago. Spike had taken out Guiness and his gang single-handedly. There were comprised of six well-trained vamps. But he hadn't dusted Guiness. No, what he had done to the fifty-year-old vamp was beyond cruel and Primus began having second thoughts. What if he did that to me? He asked himself. But you know that Seth guy could do worse.

Could he?

Primus snapped out of his thoughts as the slayer and her pet vampire disappeared around the other corner. He turned to his charges, a vicious smile crossing his face.

"Well, fellas, looks like the slayer is gone for the night. You three," he said, addressing the trio of Flanzen'da demons. They were about six feet and covered with greenish-gray scales. Razor sharp bones protruded from their head, elbows, shoulders and knees. They were perfect for battle and that was not even considering their dagger-like teeth and razor talons. They were extremely difficult to find, as they maintained a decent existence in desert climates. It just so happened that this trio of androgynous demons had been passing through town at the right time. "Aside from shadow man over here," Primus continued, "you are the only lot that can get into the house without the red carpet being rolled out for you. Whoever's in the house…" he smiled evilly, "kill 'em. The rest of us will take care of the slayer and her little boy toy." The demons all smiled at one another before splitting up. Primus, along with four rather large vamps and the shadow demon crept through the dark behind Buffy and Spike while the three Flanzen'da demons made their way stealthily to 1630 Revello Drive.

The walk to the bluff where Spike had found Faith was on the outskirts of town. It had taken them a little under an hour to get there by foot. What little words were spoken were grunts of complaint by Buffy why they couldn't have driven. Though it wasn't raining, it was cold and wet, two things that didn't sit well with the residential slayer. Every time she uttered her disdain, Spike replied off-handedly that "Long walks build character."

Spike was astonished at his behavior on the walk. He never would have guessed that he could be completely alone with Buffy without spewing some sort of sexual innuendo or decidedly hurtful barb. But it was more along the lines of his mind's preoccupation with certain events than of his own volition. Finding out the woman you were in love with having a daughter by what was, for all intents and purposes, your father sometimes had a disquieting effect on you. So he walked, hands tucked deep into his pockets, eyes downcast. Buffy and Angel, he thought. How would it happen? When? More importantly, why? Hadn't he always been there for her? Despite her tantrums and harsh fists? And harsher words? What had Angel done? He had left her high and dry. That's devotion for you. The selfish git. Can't have all of her so you leave…

But isn't that what has crossed your mind? A voice said.

That was different, the cocky Spike answered.

How?

All I want is her heart. Angel had that.

So if you could have her heart but couldn't become one with her, you could deal? The voice asked sardonically.

Spike wanted to say that he could deal. But if he did, he would be no better than what he accused her off. Denial. If he had done one thing wrong, it would have been to give himself to her-all of him. If only he would have thought…no, that wouldn't have helped. Hadn't he told her and Peaches the very same things.

Blood isn't brains people. It's blood screamin' inside of you to work its will.

And his blood did scream. For her and her alone.

Buffy cast a glance toward her silent partner. Yes, Spike was her partner. Had been for quite some time. She could trust him to be there with her in a fight and the lives of her friends. Hell, she even trusted him with her life. Yet she refused to let him into her heart. She snorted to herself. The same thoughts continued to assault her day in and day out. Why couldn't she get over him? And why wasn't that the scariest thing?

The scariest thing was that she didn't want to get over him.

A chill ran up her back as she felt his cool fingers touch her hand.

"We're here, luv," he said. She surveyed the area. They were on the slant of a semi-paved road that led to the bluff. From there was a good view of the city. It was quite similar to the one Angel would have used to greet the sun once long ago.

Angel. Now that was another thing entirely. But she refused to touch that subject. If what Faith said was true…

She shoved the thoughts to the side. She wanted, needed, to concentrate on the task at hand.

"Found the bit right about here," Spike said, his eyes scanning the foliage along the side of the road. "Shouldn't be too hard to find," he told her.

"Of course not," she said sarcastically, "little silver piece of jewelry, lots of bushes, not much light. Should be a piece of cake." Spike looked and she absently brushed a wisp of hair from her face.

God, she's beautiful he thought. Almost immediately, he felt the desire welling up inside of him. He whipped his head back to the task at hand, ignoring the little voice whispering for him to take her on the wet earth.

Concentrate, ole boy, he encouraged himself, tearing his gaze from her. Maybe it was the way the tank top accentuated her pert breasts or how her slim hips were visible through the black jeans, but all he could see was how she had look not moments before, arms crossed with that look of defiance on her face.

"It'd be right kind of you if you could help a bloke out," he told her sarcastically. She huffed dramatically before she begrudgingly started searching the brush a few feet away from Spike with a small flashlight. They searched for several minutes before he heard Buffy's ecstatic whoop.

"I am just way cool," she said, holding up an object that reflected the weak pulse of her flashlight. Despite his surly mood, Spike couldn't help but grin at the young woman in front of him. She dangled the locket in one hand, a look of contentment etched on her face.

"Well, aren't we all chipper at the bit 'o jewelry," he said with his sarcastic-ness firmly in place. She cocked her head to one side and frowned. Her bottom lip stuck out and Spike couldn't hold the smile down anymore.

"What?" She asked. "What's so funny?" Her hand dropped to her side and she put the item into her pocket.

"Come now, pet. I mean, it's one thing to give a bloke the attitude and all. But that…" he pointed to her, "is not fair."

She rolled her eyes indignantly, hands poised on her hips. That even made him laugh harder.

"I'm glad you are having a fun time laughing it up considering there isn't too much funniness going on over here." She stamped over to her bag and picked it up in a huff. She walked back toward town.

"Buffy wait," Spike said, jogging after her. His calls were ignored. Though he was sure that it was the fact his words were thrown in between chuckles.

"I was just joshin with you, pet." He finally caught up with her and was not prepared for what she did next.

In one fluid motion, Buffy tossed the duffel bag into a cropping of trees and Spike unceremoniously followed. He hit the ground with a thud, jarring his insides.

"Bloody hell, woman," he screamed, but she was upon him. Buffy jumped onto his abdomen and Spike expelled unnecessary air. She grabbed him by the wrists before he could react and pinned his arms to the ground. Spike could only stare up at her shadowed form, perplexed, before her mouth crashed down onto his.

Spike knew that if he could see himself now, his eyes were hanging in the sockets by the barest of threads. He was frozen, much like the time she had kissed him in the abandoned building. He was utterly and completely flabbergasted. But it only took a moment for him to shake off the haze and return her kiss with his own fervor. He parted his lips and snaked his tongue out to meet her increasingly impatient probe. He never understood how through such hard kisses he could still feel the velvety softness of her lips. With each kiss her desire grew and Spike felt her inching her hips down, closer toward his…

"Buffy," he moaned into her mouth as she ground her hips into his stiffening member. She returned his moan with an unintelligible whimper as she navigated her lower extremities in a circular motion against him. The heat between her thighs was like a blast furnace, even through the barriers. The warmth of her breath as she gasped into his mouth, not to mention her very vanilla-y fragrance, only added to Spike's arousal. He couldn't take this. He needed to touch her, to shed off their constraints, to feel her against him.

He moved to get up but she was having none of that. Her grip tightened just enough to be uncomfortable and Spike grunted with satisfaction. She wants to be in control, he thought. Well, luv, I'm all yours. He relaxed his hands that only led her to re-enforcing her grip. Her heart was hammering in her chest and Spike could not help but smirk internally at his effect on the slayer. His slayer.

Her frantic kisses waned, replaced by softer, more passionate kisses. The urgency was still there, however, as if she would explode if he weren't inside of her. It had been so long since the last time. She had spent the last two weeks doing everything she could to distract herself from the hole she felt when she wasn't with him. But everything she had done was only a reminder of him. The more she denied herself the harder it became. Of course, stubborn as she was, she was not about to admit that to him. Too much at stake she thought and was promptly jolted by the upward thrust of Spike's hips. She rode the electric shock as best she could, crying out into Spike's receptive lips. But she lost her grip on his wrists enough for him to wriggle free and flip her over. He leaned over her, very ready between her legs. Her body tingled with the anticipation of their lips touching again. But it never came. She craned her neck up, lips apart, her hands beckoning him closer. Though she couldn't see him well, she could feel the weighed gaze of his eyes on her, transmitting all that he felt for her through his blue orbs.

"Buffy," he said breathlessly. She shivered as her name fell from his lips. At least when he calls me Slayer, I don't have to worry about that, she mused. She placed one hand on his back while the other she ran through his platinum locks. She drew him closer. She needed to feel his cool lips against hers. And he seemed more than willing to oblige.

But before they connected with the familiar electricity, he stopped. Cocking his head to one side, he looked to his left and before Buffy knew what was going on, Spike had hoisted her to her feet.

"What?" she had a chance to say before all hell broke loose.

***Sorry for the lag in updates. I've been busy. But not to worry. This is the first of two chapters I'll post tonite and then two more sometime on Sunday. Well, that does depend on how many reviews I get. I may make you wait….hehe***