Blurry 16/?
Author: Amanda
Rating: PG13, for now
Distribution: Previous chapters at
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=230408 and www.the-
sandlot.com. Please ask if you wish to archive.
Summary: Because you've forgotten by now, here's a short one. Takes place after season 6. Spike came back after getting his chip out and he know helps Buffy out and they are both paid by the Council. They are also trying to be friend's first and forge any relationship very slowly. Anya's still a demon and her and Giles have a long distance relationship. Xander is still prejudiced against demons of any kind. Willow is back from London, her magic has been contained for now, and is living with Xander. Dawn's in summer school and her and Buffy have a good relationship, though she is worried about Buffy and Spike's relationship. Some demons have shown up in an otherwise quiet Sunnydale that were thought to be extinct. Spike is trying to find out what is going on. Meanwhile Anya is opening the shop up two nights a month to demons, so they can buy essentials and delicacies.
Feedback: All feedback is read, cherished and given a good home. And though I have good intentions to reply to all feedback, it very rarely gets done. But I do appreciate the feedback.
A/N: I never once planned on it being this long between chapters. And I apologize greatly to anyone who is still reading this. I am completely free of all responsibilities except for writing and sleeping until January 13, when I start grad school. So expect as many updates as the muse allows and a Christmas story. I really do want to get a lot of this fic finished up, because there's another one that wants to be written and I refuse to commit to it until this one is nearly finished.
**************
Buffy stared in horror at the two conversing. Was that what they were doing? It sounded like those swishy sounds the washer machine makes. If she remembered correctly, every time she'd encountered one of these Impy whatever you call them demons before, it had made those sounds at her. She just thought it had been raring to fight. And instead it might have wanted to communicate?
"What are you doing? Are you talking?" She tugged at Spike's sleeve, wanting his attention. Instead of the attention he was giving this demon.
He ignored her, or tried to. It was taking all his concentration to remember the dialect and converse. He shouldn't have been surprised she wanted in on this, wanted to know exactly what was happening. She always wanted to be in the middle, the one fighting, kicking butt. And of course she wasn't now. Not fighting. Or even leading the conversation. It was probably hard for her to try and sit on the sidelines. Which she really wasn't doing, or trying hard to do.
"What does he want? Or is it a she? And why aren't I included?" She watched as gestures were made. As sounds were exchanged. As she was ignored. And all she wanted to do was jump up and down and exclaim, 'Look at me. I'm the slayer. Don't you think I should be involved here.' But she held herself back. Just barely.
It wasn't fair. She was the slayer. The Chosen One. Or two. But hey, she wasn't in jail, so she could say Chosen One since there wasn't anyone around to contradict her. And she should be involved. In everything. Spike had no right to just talk to these people, or things, without stopping and telling her what was going on. How could she make decisions without knowing everything? And it could have been a bad demon. Maybe she should have captured it and dropped it into a vat of mud. Of course, she wasn't quite sure where to find a vat of mind. Possibly at a spa. Weren't mud baths all the rage?
"Are you finished with your whining? We have to finish patrol and then start researching."
She hadn't even been aware he had stopped making his weird sounds. Or that the demon had gone away. Disappeared. Great, now she had a demon that was Spike's friend on the run. She was pretty sure he wasn't as friendly as Clem, especially since he had never offered her bugles or cheese whiz.
"What was that about? Were you talking to him? And in what language? And why didn't you involve me?"
She waited. And waited some more. And then set off at a run after him. Catching up, she yanked on his arm to stop him. "And why won't you answer me?"
"We're outside, at night, where who knows what is around. Do you really want me to answer when anyone could listen in?"
"Oh. Well I guess not. But you could have said that."
"Right. So then whoever is spying on us could know that I have something to tell you. Why don't I just shout it to the world?"
"Someone's spying on us?"
"Just be quiet and look for vampires about to rise."
**************
"When do you think you're ready to have sex with someone?"
Anya was very glad she was a demon at that point, otherwise, she was pretty sure she would have choked on the cracker she was eating. She looked at Dawn. Young, so young, with the whole world ahead of her. She didn't need to be tainted with the crap of life. And she knew Buffy and Spike would find a way to kill her if she talked to Dawn about sex. "Never. You will never be ready."
"I'm not a kid."
"No, but you're not an adult either."
"I'm almost sixteen."
"And I'm over a thousand years old. And sex is bad. Very bad." Anya nodded her head with the words, trying to convey her point, though it didn't look like Dawn was buying it.
"So you never enjoyed it. All that talk was just talk?"
"I didn't say that."
"You said it was bad."
Teenagers were tricky little things. So she had to figure out how to out trick Dawn. How to answer her question without giving her the idea that she could have sex right now. And she was in no way ready to be a parent. Sure babies were cute and cuddly, but they grew up into teenagers. Thank goodness for being a vengeance demon.
"Well it leads to other things. Where your feelings get involved. And then you start thinking they care about you. You start to care back. Then they give you a diamond, but tell you that you can't wear it. And the next thing you know, you're standing at the altar all alone."
"So, sex isn't bad. Just what happens afterwards is bad?"
Maybe that didn't work that well Anya thought. She's not out there wanting to have sex now, but I haven't swung her over to hit on Willow. But then again, Buffy won't like her being an old maid for life. "Not always. Lots of times there's cuddling and kissing. And more sex. You just have to be careful. Know what the other person expects of you."
"So let me get this straight. Sex isn't bad. But it can be bad afterwards."
"That's right."
"How can you tell though? How do you know if it's going to be bad afterwards?"
And she wasn't going there. "Ask Buffy."
"Buffy?"
"She's had lots more experience than I have had with sex going bad. There was Angel who became Angelus. Then there was Parker. Of course there could be more I don't know about. And we can't forget Riley and his vampires, no matter how much Xander thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It looks like Spike's the only one. let's not talk about that."
"Who's Parker?"
Obviously Dawn wasn't aware of Parker. He must not have merited an entry in the diary. "Talk to Buffy."
************** Willow's fingers traced the name on the cool granite. Tara Maclay. It was probably pretty here during the day. The sun peaking through the trees, shining on the flowers that had been planted. She didn't know who had arranged it all. Most likely Buffy and Dawn. But it should have been her.
She should have been the one to pick out a coffin and what she was going to wear, making sure she was beautiful. But instead she was halfway across the world, trying to control the one thing that Tara had hated about her. Her hands should have planted the flowers, making sure the sun would hit them through the branches and leaves, so that they could grow. So that the ground was beautiful for her love.
"I'm so sorry baby. So sorry. About everything."
She had poured her heart out to her before. At night, as she huddled in her bed, knowing Xander was right next door. She'd talked to Tara. Told her how sorry she was, how much she missed her. But she could feel her now. Her presence, her comfort. Tara's soft chest was pressed against her back, arms folded around her. It wasn't the night air that brushed against her neck. It was Tara's breath. Her warm breath that tickled her nape and aroused her body.
"Why didn't you tell me? Buffy must have been scared. You knew so many of her secrets, but you never let on. I'm so glad that she had you during that time. You and Spike.
"I never would have thought it would be you two that she would go to. But she did. Both of you, in your own ways helped her. And Spike's still helping her. I know you liked him. You'd be proud of how he is right now. He's helping me now.
"It's kind of nice having a reformed bad buddy. Someone who understands."
**************
"So in your opinion, if Buffy and Spike hadn't had sex, then it would never have gotten bad between them?" Dawn didn't understand this. And she wanted to. Both Buffy and Spike had tried to make her feel better about their relationship or whatever they had. But she didn't understand what they had. All she knew was that most people who had sex could never be friends again. They seemed to hate each other. That's what she had seen in school. And with Xander and Anya.
She didn't want that. She didn't want it all to implode and destroy her life. And maybe, if she could understand it a little more, she could make sure it wouldn't.
"You're really too young for this."
"Girls my age have sex all the time. At least I'm only talking about it."
"That is true. You wouldn't believe how many girls younger than you I've heard the cry of vengeance from. And they all involved sex."
But Dawn really didn't want to talk about sex and herself or other girls. It had just been a way to try and get information. To try and edge the conversation around to what she really wanted. Could a couple get back together, or even be friends again. And Anya would know. "So what do you think about Buffy and Spike?"
"I think we all need to mind our own business."
"But hypothetically speaking, do you think they could ever work things out? Can they be friends again? Date? Maybe more? Or did sex turn it all bad?"
"I think we need to leave it up to them. They seem to be doing fine on their own."
**************
Buffy didn't want to startle her. She had thought Willow would have gone back to Xander's. But she should have known that she'd be here. If she was in her shoes, it's where she would have gone. Slowly she approached, knowing that Spike was keeping an eye on them from a distance.
He would take care of any vampires that rose, and try to figure out who was watching them. She had tried to question him again as they'd patrolled, but before she'd even gotten a word out, he'd grabbed her hand and given her a look. So instead they'd patrolled in complete silence, holding hands, until in the last cemetery they'd came upon Willow.
"I still miss her. She was a good friend."
"I'm sorry I wasn't a better one. Sorry I couldn't help you."
Buffy settled down beside her. Not too close, but close enough. Close enough to provide any comfort that was needed. "It's okay. I got to know her better because of it. Are you okay?"
"Fine. Just thinking about how I screwed your life up."
"You didn't screw anything up." And Buffy didn't know if that was the truth or not. She was fine now, but not without a lot of heartache along the way. She was past it though. She'd made it through the bad time with someone to lean on. And now she could provide a shoulder or whatever Willow needed, the same way Spike had provided her with what she'd needed. And she'd take whatever was dished her way, be the strong one, just like him.
"But you were so unhappy when you came back. And then, what must have ran through your head when you found out Spike could hit you."
"It's over. It's over and done with. It took a long time, but I'm happy now. Really happy."
"Does Spike have something to do with that?"
Buffy hesitated before answering. She wasn't sure she could give a clear cut answer. He did have a lot to do with it. But his leaving for those few weeks also had a lot to do with it, along with examining her own self. "Maybe so. I know you don't trust him. And Xander doesn't either."
"I can't cast stones Buffy. If you're happy, then I'm happy. And Xander will have to deal. He's done it before, he'll do it again."
"He's probably worried right now."
"Yeah."
Buffy pulled herself off the ground, reaching out for Willow's hands. She grasped them within her own. Powerful hands linked together. Walking backwards, she pulled Willow to a standing position. "Let us walk you home."
"Us?"
"Spike's here with me. Just blending into the background right now."
**************
"So there's a dozen of them? And they were dropped off here?" She'd heard a lot of strange stories in her demon days, but this one was far up there. Anya couldn't believe that a dozen demons, extinct demons, were just unleashed into Sunnydale and told to kill Buffy.
Buffy looked over at Spike, who had seemed to claim the couch as his own. His body was sprawled out, legs apart, and all his attention was on Anya. If Dawn wasn't asleep, she really might yell at him now. She was the slayer, not Anya. Her. Obviously it didn't matter who was a Watcher. It was like the money they received from the Council had power over them, made them think that they were in charge, and she was nothing. But she wasn't going to sit back and let him get away with it. No, she was speaking up, getting answers.
"What do you mean by dropped off? Like from a truck? Are you sure they're not playing with you? And why didn't they kill me?"
Spike didn't know why he hadn't waited until tomorrow morning, so he wouldn't have to repeat himself again for Willow. And Xander too, if he could get off work. "Look, my mastery of the language is a little rusty. If you'd just followed the handbook, Slayer, you'd have learned all these languages and you would understand."
"I never got the handbook. Why didn't I get the handbook? And I'm supposed to speak demon?"
"Look, I told you all I know. They were dropped off and they'll be receiving their final instructions in a week. Then they'll be free to start up colonies of Imparafa demons across the world. And they really are harmless, as long as they don't come into contact with humans.
"It's late. Go to sleep. You can get going too, Anya. I'll start looking into things. He made some noises about a few texts tonight. I'll research those, it might give us a clue with what we're dealing with."
"Do you think it's the Initiative? But why would they drop demons off?" If there was the slightest possibility it was the Initiative, Anya knew she was hightailing it out of town. She wasn't going to wait around and possibly be kidnapped, get a chip, or be separated from Giles.
"Could be. Wouldn't mind that all. But it wouldn't hurt to keep our options open. It could just be some small organization." However, Spike had a bad feeling about this. He didn't think it was the Initiative, or a small organization. Something set off alarm bells in his head that this was much bigger. Demons didn't disappear for a hundred years and then show up without big problems attached. And those problems were probably attached to the human that had followed them all night long. But he wasn't going to worry Buffy until he had more of an idea.
"Nothing small kidnaps demons for decades and then let's them loose." Buffy knew something was up. Spike had been right, it most likely was another apocalypse. Nothing new, not too hard. She'd done it before, she'd do it again. They just needed to find out how to stop the end of the world. And she needed to find out why they were being followed and why he didn't want to mention it in front of Anya.
"I can check with Giles, see if he knows anything." At their looks of surprise, Anya continued. "You know, because I keep in contact with him about the shop. Even though it isn't his, I like to brag about how well I'm doing now that I am no longer practicing archaic merchandising ways. Just a little jab."
Anya's words seemed a little forced to Spike. Contact about the shop. He didn't buy that. Seemed to him that Demon Girl had something going on with the Watcher, but he didn't say anything. She was keeping his secret, he'd keep hers. "That'd be right nice. Take a load off me. Tell him to give me a ring if he has any ideas. Or he can relay them through you."
"I better be off, got a big day ahead of me tomorrow. And don't you two forget to be there, with your happy faces on." She demonstrated the exact faces she wanted, giving them a bright smile. At their blank looks, she tried to figure out why she'd asked them to help out. Right. Muscle work.
"Buffy, could I speak with you a minute?" At Spike's raised eyebrows, she continued, "Alone. With no little vampires listening."
"I'm not little."
"Your ears are. It will only take a moment. Then you can have her back Spike, to do whatever you want with her."
"He's not doing anything with me. He's going to explain to me again about these demons or whatever they are and why we aren't killing them."
As they reached the door, Buffy stopped, but was then dragged outside by Anya. "What's so important that we have to talk out here?"
"It's about Dawn. She was asking about S-E-X."
"Huh?"
"S-E-X." At Buffy's blank look, she gave up. "Sex. She was asking about sex."
"She wants to have sex?"
"Well, not really. At least I don't think so. I think she was mainly interested in sex between you and Spike. And hey, I know you two probably look really good together, but it's not something I really want to think about. Though at times, pictures can be fascinating to look at."
"Me and Spike? Spike and sex?"
"Well not really like that. More I think in the how can two people who had sex and break up still be friends and can there be anything ever between then again, or is everything doomed?"
"Oh. I guess I understand that. But she specifically asked about sex?"
"Lots of teenage girls know about sex, Buffy. It isn't a new phenomenon."
"No. Not like that. I didn't mean that Anya. I know she knows about sex. I'm just surprised she brought it up. but then maybe I shouldn't be. I guess it makes sense."
"Do you want to share? Or is this some type of sister secret stuff that can't be shared?"
"She's just worried about me and Spike. You know, me screwing things up and him leaving forever. That kind of stuff."
**************
"Everything okay with Anya, pet?"
"What? Yeah, just some stuff about Dawn."
"She okay? Seemed fine when we left."
"She's just still worried, even after you talked to her."
"Can't blame her. Not like she has any stable relationship to base her feelings on."
"True. But I can't promise you or her anything. She just needs to learn to grow up and leave other people's business alone. And you need to share with me what was up tonight?"
Buffy settled on the couch next to Spike, pulling her legs up underneath her. She was getting cozy, settling in for the long chat ahead. She wanted to know exactly what they were facing. Who or what the demons were. Why he didn't tell Anya. And especially who was following them the whole night.
Summary: Because you've forgotten by now, here's a short one. Takes place after season 6. Spike came back after getting his chip out and he know helps Buffy out and they are both paid by the Council. They are also trying to be friend's first and forge any relationship very slowly. Anya's still a demon and her and Giles have a long distance relationship. Xander is still prejudiced against demons of any kind. Willow is back from London, her magic has been contained for now, and is living with Xander. Dawn's in summer school and her and Buffy have a good relationship, though she is worried about Buffy and Spike's relationship. Some demons have shown up in an otherwise quiet Sunnydale that were thought to be extinct. Spike is trying to find out what is going on. Meanwhile Anya is opening the shop up two nights a month to demons, so they can buy essentials and delicacies.
Feedback: All feedback is read, cherished and given a good home. And though I have good intentions to reply to all feedback, it very rarely gets done. But I do appreciate the feedback.
A/N: I never once planned on it being this long between chapters. And I apologize greatly to anyone who is still reading this. I am completely free of all responsibilities except for writing and sleeping until January 13, when I start grad school. So expect as many updates as the muse allows and a Christmas story. I really do want to get a lot of this fic finished up, because there's another one that wants to be written and I refuse to commit to it until this one is nearly finished.
**************
Buffy stared in horror at the two conversing. Was that what they were doing? It sounded like those swishy sounds the washer machine makes. If she remembered correctly, every time she'd encountered one of these Impy whatever you call them demons before, it had made those sounds at her. She just thought it had been raring to fight. And instead it might have wanted to communicate?
"What are you doing? Are you talking?" She tugged at Spike's sleeve, wanting his attention. Instead of the attention he was giving this demon.
He ignored her, or tried to. It was taking all his concentration to remember the dialect and converse. He shouldn't have been surprised she wanted in on this, wanted to know exactly what was happening. She always wanted to be in the middle, the one fighting, kicking butt. And of course she wasn't now. Not fighting. Or even leading the conversation. It was probably hard for her to try and sit on the sidelines. Which she really wasn't doing, or trying hard to do.
"What does he want? Or is it a she? And why aren't I included?" She watched as gestures were made. As sounds were exchanged. As she was ignored. And all she wanted to do was jump up and down and exclaim, 'Look at me. I'm the slayer. Don't you think I should be involved here.' But she held herself back. Just barely.
It wasn't fair. She was the slayer. The Chosen One. Or two. But hey, she wasn't in jail, so she could say Chosen One since there wasn't anyone around to contradict her. And she should be involved. In everything. Spike had no right to just talk to these people, or things, without stopping and telling her what was going on. How could she make decisions without knowing everything? And it could have been a bad demon. Maybe she should have captured it and dropped it into a vat of mud. Of course, she wasn't quite sure where to find a vat of mind. Possibly at a spa. Weren't mud baths all the rage?
"Are you finished with your whining? We have to finish patrol and then start researching."
She hadn't even been aware he had stopped making his weird sounds. Or that the demon had gone away. Disappeared. Great, now she had a demon that was Spike's friend on the run. She was pretty sure he wasn't as friendly as Clem, especially since he had never offered her bugles or cheese whiz.
"What was that about? Were you talking to him? And in what language? And why didn't you involve me?"
She waited. And waited some more. And then set off at a run after him. Catching up, she yanked on his arm to stop him. "And why won't you answer me?"
"We're outside, at night, where who knows what is around. Do you really want me to answer when anyone could listen in?"
"Oh. Well I guess not. But you could have said that."
"Right. So then whoever is spying on us could know that I have something to tell you. Why don't I just shout it to the world?"
"Someone's spying on us?"
"Just be quiet and look for vampires about to rise."
**************
"When do you think you're ready to have sex with someone?"
Anya was very glad she was a demon at that point, otherwise, she was pretty sure she would have choked on the cracker she was eating. She looked at Dawn. Young, so young, with the whole world ahead of her. She didn't need to be tainted with the crap of life. And she knew Buffy and Spike would find a way to kill her if she talked to Dawn about sex. "Never. You will never be ready."
"I'm not a kid."
"No, but you're not an adult either."
"I'm almost sixteen."
"And I'm over a thousand years old. And sex is bad. Very bad." Anya nodded her head with the words, trying to convey her point, though it didn't look like Dawn was buying it.
"So you never enjoyed it. All that talk was just talk?"
"I didn't say that."
"You said it was bad."
Teenagers were tricky little things. So she had to figure out how to out trick Dawn. How to answer her question without giving her the idea that she could have sex right now. And she was in no way ready to be a parent. Sure babies were cute and cuddly, but they grew up into teenagers. Thank goodness for being a vengeance demon.
"Well it leads to other things. Where your feelings get involved. And then you start thinking they care about you. You start to care back. Then they give you a diamond, but tell you that you can't wear it. And the next thing you know, you're standing at the altar all alone."
"So, sex isn't bad. Just what happens afterwards is bad?"
Maybe that didn't work that well Anya thought. She's not out there wanting to have sex now, but I haven't swung her over to hit on Willow. But then again, Buffy won't like her being an old maid for life. "Not always. Lots of times there's cuddling and kissing. And more sex. You just have to be careful. Know what the other person expects of you."
"So let me get this straight. Sex isn't bad. But it can be bad afterwards."
"That's right."
"How can you tell though? How do you know if it's going to be bad afterwards?"
And she wasn't going there. "Ask Buffy."
"Buffy?"
"She's had lots more experience than I have had with sex going bad. There was Angel who became Angelus. Then there was Parker. Of course there could be more I don't know about. And we can't forget Riley and his vampires, no matter how much Xander thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. It looks like Spike's the only one. let's not talk about that."
"Who's Parker?"
Obviously Dawn wasn't aware of Parker. He must not have merited an entry in the diary. "Talk to Buffy."
************** Willow's fingers traced the name on the cool granite. Tara Maclay. It was probably pretty here during the day. The sun peaking through the trees, shining on the flowers that had been planted. She didn't know who had arranged it all. Most likely Buffy and Dawn. But it should have been her.
She should have been the one to pick out a coffin and what she was going to wear, making sure she was beautiful. But instead she was halfway across the world, trying to control the one thing that Tara had hated about her. Her hands should have planted the flowers, making sure the sun would hit them through the branches and leaves, so that they could grow. So that the ground was beautiful for her love.
"I'm so sorry baby. So sorry. About everything."
She had poured her heart out to her before. At night, as she huddled in her bed, knowing Xander was right next door. She'd talked to Tara. Told her how sorry she was, how much she missed her. But she could feel her now. Her presence, her comfort. Tara's soft chest was pressed against her back, arms folded around her. It wasn't the night air that brushed against her neck. It was Tara's breath. Her warm breath that tickled her nape and aroused her body.
"Why didn't you tell me? Buffy must have been scared. You knew so many of her secrets, but you never let on. I'm so glad that she had you during that time. You and Spike.
"I never would have thought it would be you two that she would go to. But she did. Both of you, in your own ways helped her. And Spike's still helping her. I know you liked him. You'd be proud of how he is right now. He's helping me now.
"It's kind of nice having a reformed bad buddy. Someone who understands."
**************
"So in your opinion, if Buffy and Spike hadn't had sex, then it would never have gotten bad between them?" Dawn didn't understand this. And she wanted to. Both Buffy and Spike had tried to make her feel better about their relationship or whatever they had. But she didn't understand what they had. All she knew was that most people who had sex could never be friends again. They seemed to hate each other. That's what she had seen in school. And with Xander and Anya.
She didn't want that. She didn't want it all to implode and destroy her life. And maybe, if she could understand it a little more, she could make sure it wouldn't.
"You're really too young for this."
"Girls my age have sex all the time. At least I'm only talking about it."
"That is true. You wouldn't believe how many girls younger than you I've heard the cry of vengeance from. And they all involved sex."
But Dawn really didn't want to talk about sex and herself or other girls. It had just been a way to try and get information. To try and edge the conversation around to what she really wanted. Could a couple get back together, or even be friends again. And Anya would know. "So what do you think about Buffy and Spike?"
"I think we all need to mind our own business."
"But hypothetically speaking, do you think they could ever work things out? Can they be friends again? Date? Maybe more? Or did sex turn it all bad?"
"I think we need to leave it up to them. They seem to be doing fine on their own."
**************
Buffy didn't want to startle her. She had thought Willow would have gone back to Xander's. But she should have known that she'd be here. If she was in her shoes, it's where she would have gone. Slowly she approached, knowing that Spike was keeping an eye on them from a distance.
He would take care of any vampires that rose, and try to figure out who was watching them. She had tried to question him again as they'd patrolled, but before she'd even gotten a word out, he'd grabbed her hand and given her a look. So instead they'd patrolled in complete silence, holding hands, until in the last cemetery they'd came upon Willow.
"I still miss her. She was a good friend."
"I'm sorry I wasn't a better one. Sorry I couldn't help you."
Buffy settled down beside her. Not too close, but close enough. Close enough to provide any comfort that was needed. "It's okay. I got to know her better because of it. Are you okay?"
"Fine. Just thinking about how I screwed your life up."
"You didn't screw anything up." And Buffy didn't know if that was the truth or not. She was fine now, but not without a lot of heartache along the way. She was past it though. She'd made it through the bad time with someone to lean on. And now she could provide a shoulder or whatever Willow needed, the same way Spike had provided her with what she'd needed. And she'd take whatever was dished her way, be the strong one, just like him.
"But you were so unhappy when you came back. And then, what must have ran through your head when you found out Spike could hit you."
"It's over. It's over and done with. It took a long time, but I'm happy now. Really happy."
"Does Spike have something to do with that?"
Buffy hesitated before answering. She wasn't sure she could give a clear cut answer. He did have a lot to do with it. But his leaving for those few weeks also had a lot to do with it, along with examining her own self. "Maybe so. I know you don't trust him. And Xander doesn't either."
"I can't cast stones Buffy. If you're happy, then I'm happy. And Xander will have to deal. He's done it before, he'll do it again."
"He's probably worried right now."
"Yeah."
Buffy pulled herself off the ground, reaching out for Willow's hands. She grasped them within her own. Powerful hands linked together. Walking backwards, she pulled Willow to a standing position. "Let us walk you home."
"Us?"
"Spike's here with me. Just blending into the background right now."
**************
"So there's a dozen of them? And they were dropped off here?" She'd heard a lot of strange stories in her demon days, but this one was far up there. Anya couldn't believe that a dozen demons, extinct demons, were just unleashed into Sunnydale and told to kill Buffy.
Buffy looked over at Spike, who had seemed to claim the couch as his own. His body was sprawled out, legs apart, and all his attention was on Anya. If Dawn wasn't asleep, she really might yell at him now. She was the slayer, not Anya. Her. Obviously it didn't matter who was a Watcher. It was like the money they received from the Council had power over them, made them think that they were in charge, and she was nothing. But she wasn't going to sit back and let him get away with it. No, she was speaking up, getting answers.
"What do you mean by dropped off? Like from a truck? Are you sure they're not playing with you? And why didn't they kill me?"
Spike didn't know why he hadn't waited until tomorrow morning, so he wouldn't have to repeat himself again for Willow. And Xander too, if he could get off work. "Look, my mastery of the language is a little rusty. If you'd just followed the handbook, Slayer, you'd have learned all these languages and you would understand."
"I never got the handbook. Why didn't I get the handbook? And I'm supposed to speak demon?"
"Look, I told you all I know. They were dropped off and they'll be receiving their final instructions in a week. Then they'll be free to start up colonies of Imparafa demons across the world. And they really are harmless, as long as they don't come into contact with humans.
"It's late. Go to sleep. You can get going too, Anya. I'll start looking into things. He made some noises about a few texts tonight. I'll research those, it might give us a clue with what we're dealing with."
"Do you think it's the Initiative? But why would they drop demons off?" If there was the slightest possibility it was the Initiative, Anya knew she was hightailing it out of town. She wasn't going to wait around and possibly be kidnapped, get a chip, or be separated from Giles.
"Could be. Wouldn't mind that all. But it wouldn't hurt to keep our options open. It could just be some small organization." However, Spike had a bad feeling about this. He didn't think it was the Initiative, or a small organization. Something set off alarm bells in his head that this was much bigger. Demons didn't disappear for a hundred years and then show up without big problems attached. And those problems were probably attached to the human that had followed them all night long. But he wasn't going to worry Buffy until he had more of an idea.
"Nothing small kidnaps demons for decades and then let's them loose." Buffy knew something was up. Spike had been right, it most likely was another apocalypse. Nothing new, not too hard. She'd done it before, she'd do it again. They just needed to find out how to stop the end of the world. And she needed to find out why they were being followed and why he didn't want to mention it in front of Anya.
"I can check with Giles, see if he knows anything." At their looks of surprise, Anya continued. "You know, because I keep in contact with him about the shop. Even though it isn't his, I like to brag about how well I'm doing now that I am no longer practicing archaic merchandising ways. Just a little jab."
Anya's words seemed a little forced to Spike. Contact about the shop. He didn't buy that. Seemed to him that Demon Girl had something going on with the Watcher, but he didn't say anything. She was keeping his secret, he'd keep hers. "That'd be right nice. Take a load off me. Tell him to give me a ring if he has any ideas. Or he can relay them through you."
"I better be off, got a big day ahead of me tomorrow. And don't you two forget to be there, with your happy faces on." She demonstrated the exact faces she wanted, giving them a bright smile. At their blank looks, she tried to figure out why she'd asked them to help out. Right. Muscle work.
"Buffy, could I speak with you a minute?" At Spike's raised eyebrows, she continued, "Alone. With no little vampires listening."
"I'm not little."
"Your ears are. It will only take a moment. Then you can have her back Spike, to do whatever you want with her."
"He's not doing anything with me. He's going to explain to me again about these demons or whatever they are and why we aren't killing them."
As they reached the door, Buffy stopped, but was then dragged outside by Anya. "What's so important that we have to talk out here?"
"It's about Dawn. She was asking about S-E-X."
"Huh?"
"S-E-X." At Buffy's blank look, she gave up. "Sex. She was asking about sex."
"She wants to have sex?"
"Well, not really. At least I don't think so. I think she was mainly interested in sex between you and Spike. And hey, I know you two probably look really good together, but it's not something I really want to think about. Though at times, pictures can be fascinating to look at."
"Me and Spike? Spike and sex?"
"Well not really like that. More I think in the how can two people who had sex and break up still be friends and can there be anything ever between then again, or is everything doomed?"
"Oh. I guess I understand that. But she specifically asked about sex?"
"Lots of teenage girls know about sex, Buffy. It isn't a new phenomenon."
"No. Not like that. I didn't mean that Anya. I know she knows about sex. I'm just surprised she brought it up. but then maybe I shouldn't be. I guess it makes sense."
"Do you want to share? Or is this some type of sister secret stuff that can't be shared?"
"She's just worried about me and Spike. You know, me screwing things up and him leaving forever. That kind of stuff."
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"Everything okay with Anya, pet?"
"What? Yeah, just some stuff about Dawn."
"She okay? Seemed fine when we left."
"She's just still worried, even after you talked to her."
"Can't blame her. Not like she has any stable relationship to base her feelings on."
"True. But I can't promise you or her anything. She just needs to learn to grow up and leave other people's business alone. And you need to share with me what was up tonight?"
Buffy settled on the couch next to Spike, pulling her legs up underneath her. She was getting cozy, settling in for the long chat ahead. She wanted to know exactly what they were facing. Who or what the demons were. Why he didn't tell Anya. And especially who was following them the whole night.