Sweetest in the Gale
This is the sequel to my fanfic 'Rediscovered'.
It is in an AU set after season six, so there aren't any spoilers. It's just that I didn't think my ending to Rediscovered was true to the way I think the characters are going.
I got the title from a poem by Emily Dickinson that I was considering as a reading at my wedding. I always loved the simple expressions used in it and the characterization of a love born of hope.
Hope is the Thing With FeathersHope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chilliest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity
It asked a crumb of me.
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine; they belong to Joss Whedon and the gang at Mutant Enemy. I wish I had some involvement in the series, but that dream will never come true.
Feedback: Yes please. But try and be nice.
The Calm
"Well, you borrow my stuff all the time!" Dawn folded her arms.
"Not when I go out on patrol," Buffy waved her shirt in her sister's face, "Look at it; it's ruined!"
Dawn's mouth set in a stubborn line, "It's not as if you can't get another one. You get that discount at work."
"Just because I can get cheap clothes, doesn't mean you can go destroying the few things I do own. You're paying for a new one."
"That's not fair!"
The front door opened, "Honey, I'm home." Spike took in the scene and cringed, "What now?" He closed the door behind him and shrugged off his duster, tossing it over the back of a chair. Buffy and Dawn started talking at once.
"She wore my shirt last night…"
"She borrows my stuff all the time and she never asks…"
"…to go patrolling with you…"
"…but she doesn't like it when I take her clothes…"
"…now it's ruined…"
"…it's just a bit of mud…"
Spike sighed; this sort of thing was happening more often recently. Much as he loved his girls, he was beginning to think he should have taken Xander up on his offer of the couch at his place. The thought of another month breaking up sisterly fights and having to formulate a battle plan just to use the bathroom was not a pleasant one. It wouldn't be too bad if they were living at Buffy's old place, which had some room to move, but it still hadn't been rebuilt after they'd burnt it down. The place they were renting only had two bedrooms, a tiny kitchen and the bathroom was just not big enough for the combined hair products of three women. About a month ago, Willow had refused to continue sharing a room with Dawn and had turned one end of the anything but spacious lounge into her bedroom. It was driving them all crazy. Spike smirked; they had made it through the end of the world so many times they'd lost count, but they couldn't live under the same roof without resorting to almost murder.
"Spike!"
Buffy and Dawn were both staring at him. Suppressing a smile, he pretended he'd heard every word. "Dawn, you go into work with your sister tomorrow and buy her a really nice shirt." He found it ironic that he had become the peacemaker in the household, "Sorry, bit," he shrugged.
Dawn glared at him.
"And you're gonna wash this one. By hand." Buffy held the sorry-looking piece of clothing out to her sister.
"Why? You said it was ruined."
"Because I'm your legal guardian and I say so. And I can still take you."
Dawn snatched the shirt from her, "Fine." She stormed out into the kitchen and started banging about. Spike and Buffy sank down onto the couch together.
"Kids; who'd have 'em?" Spike slipped an arm around Buffy and pulled her closer. "You know why this is happening, don't you?"
"'Cause she's a brat? 'Cause we have to live in this hen coop?"
Spike laughed, "No. Well, yeah; that's part of it. For Dawn. You're just frustrated 'cause you've had nothing to kill for a while."
"It has been a bit quiet lately," Buffy shrugged, "It'll pick up in a few days."
"You've been saying that for the last month."
Buffy sat up. "It's been a month?" Spike nodded. "Wow; I've been so tied up with the new job and getting the house re-built, I didn't even realize."
"This is Sunnydale, love. Have you noticed how it's always quiet just before something big goes down?"
"Damn. We haven't even cleaned up after the last Apocalypse." Buffy pouted.
Spike gazed at her face, suddenly overcome with the beauty of her. There was something about the shape of her lips when she was sulking that just went straight to his heart. And other parts, he thought to himself, smirking.
"What?" Buffy was watching him, the trace of a smile in her eyes; she'd seen what he was thinking.
He leaned forward, slipping his hand under her shirt, "Nothing."
Willow cleared her throat. She had taken cover in Dawn's room when the argument had started and was now standing just inside the room, an apologetic smile on her face. Spike removed his hand and slumped back onto the couch, raising his eyes to heaven.
"Sorry, guys. Um, I was just thinking we could have a quiet night. Y'know; videos, pizza, no big nasties to kill." Willow shuffled her feet, "I could take Dawnie with me to get the movies?"
Buffy grinned, "Good idea, Will. She's just finishing up washing my shirt."
"Just don't let the niblet choose the films, OK?" Spike arranged his features into his best threatening expression, "'Cause if you come back with some bloody awful romantic crap and no action, I'm gonna hurt you both."
Dawn came in from the kitchen. "It's drying over the sink."
"Dawn, wait." Buffy went to her sister and planted a quick kiss on her cheek, "I'm sorry I yelled at you."
Dawn smiled, "I'm sorry I ruined your shirt."
"Oh, great; happy families again," Spike groaned. "Please stop with the Waltons and go get me some blood and violence to watch."
Dawn's face lit up, "Yay; we're having a video night? No patrolling?"
Willow took her hand and led her to the front door, "I have strict instructions not to let you pick the movies. Spike wants action."
"Looks like he's gonna get some," Dawn grinned at Buffy and ducked out of the door, slamming it behind her. Buffy was on her feet and after her sister in a second. Spike caught her around the waist as she was halfway to the door and spun her around to face him, "No hurting your sis, Buffy."
She pouted again, her eyes sparkling at him, "I'm out of practice; I used to be quicker than you. I need to get training again."
"I can give you a good workout if you like."
Buffy smirked at him, stretching her arms around his neck and planting a lingering kiss on his lips. "OK."
"You think they've had enough time alone yet?" Dawn and Willow were strolling back towards the apartment, taking the long way home, so that they could pick up Xander on the way.
Willow smiled and glanced at her watch, "Maybe."
"I used to think it was cute. The way they kinda grabbed each other as soon as I turned my back. I didn't know it would last this long." Dawn pulled a disgusted face.
"You didn't think they'd last?"
Dawn shook her head, "No; I didn't mean them. I mean I didn't think the 'getting each other naked' stage would last this long."
Willow looked sideways at her, her eyes wide.
Dawn started giggling. "What, you think I can't hear what goes on in that bedroom? I might be young, but I'm not deaf. And I know you hear it too." She lowered her voice an octave, "Oh Buffy, oh God, Buffy!" Dawn closed her eyes, imitating her sister, "Spike! Yes Spike, yes!"
"Dawn!" Willow stopped in mid-stride and stared, a blush rising on her cheeks.
The younger girl was laughing hard now, "Come on," she gasped between her giggles, "Let's go and see if we can catch them on the couch." She started on their way again, Willow trailing behind her, shaking her head.
Spike looked down at Buffy, tracing the line of her jaw with his finger. She smiled and turned her head to kiss his shoulder, shifting closer to him and drawing his arms around her again. Spike settled himself next to her, feeling the warmth of her, smelling the scent of her. Buffy shifted against him, started to kiss his chest, occasionally grazing the skin with her teeth.
"What, again?" he smiled.
She moved up and bit his shoulder gently, "You promised me a workout; that was just the first round."
Spike pushed her onto her back and leaned down, pressing his lips hard against hers. For a moment, they just lay together, exploring each other's mouths, feeling their bodies pressed together in the warm evening light.
In the silence, the almost imperceptible rush of noise at the foot of the bed made them both jump, Buffy automatically reaching for the clothes that had been thrown to the side and pushing Spike off her.
"Buffy, you've got to… what the…?"
"Anya!" Spike scrambled to pull the sheets over both of them, "Get out!"
Anya put her head on one side, "OK; no need to shout. I have seen it before, y'know." She turned to Buffy, who had managed to regain some dignity and had a shirt wrapped tightly around her.
"Next time, could you give me a call first? You can't just teleport into my bedroom like this."
"Buffy, can you stop talking now?" Anya pursed her lips.
Spike finally managed to get a sheet over him, "Anya, what do you…"
"Spike, shut up." She stood up, "Buffy; we've got trouble."
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I'm just setting things up – stay with me people; it'll get going soon.