Lost in the Smoke

Chapter 9

(Disclaimer in part one)

The last signs of the sun's rays tingeing the sky had faded only minutes before the trio walked out of the house heading toward the Magic Box. Buffy had called the gang to have them all meet there, but she conveniently left out why; some things had to be kept from Xander until the last minute for his own good.

Buffy, clad in black leather pants and a white turtleneck sweater, led the small group, while dragging Spike along with her by the hand. She intended on entering the shop that way and let the others think whatever they wanted to. Dawn, white pants and black top to visually backup her big sister, was ambling behind them grinning as if someone had just found out her favorite teen group was coming to her house.

The bell over the entrance of the Magic Box chimed as Dawn walked through the door. All the Scoobies looked up at the noise and gave her sympathetic looks. They were a tad confused when she smiled in returned and seemed as happy as they had ever seen her. She stood in the middle of the room and turned around when Buffy came in. Everyone was once again surprised by the look of glee she had until she came in far enough for them to see that Spike was with her. The pair came to a stop flanking Dawn and waited for the questions to be hurled at them.

Willow and Tara looked at each other and then back to the group in front of them several times. They had been trying to give Buffy and Dawn some space by staying at Xander's the night before; who sat opening and closing his mouth at the sight of the bleached vamp being sort of alive and well.

Anya was the only one smiling, happy for all involved. "Hello everyone. It's good that you're not dead Spike."

"Why thank you Anya. I thought so too," he said with a grin.

"But, I thought you were in the explosion. How are you not all floating on the breeze right now?" Willow asked exceptionally confused.

"It was easy. I wasn't there. Had already left town on a little errand."

"So what was so important that you would leave town, without a word to anyone, especially Buffy? Do you know how much pain that caused her? Do you even care, being the evil creature that you are?" Xander hurled accusations at Spike.

"Well, this is all gonna come out sooner or later and I do so what to throw it in his face right now. Alright with you if I tell him now?" Buffy asked, leaning up against her lover. She had no doubt that he could resist her onsets and she also knew that he wanted to see 'the whelp's' reaction.

"Anything you want pet."

"Everyone. I have two announcements. You may not like them, but like they say; you can please some people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. Spike went and got his soul back. It's not a curse so it's permanent. Also, I love him." The Slayer snaked her arm around his waist, making sure all in the room noticed. She felt relieved that she had gotten that out in the open and the blond at her side was practically glowing with happiness and pride that she had actually told them.

"That's so great Buffy. I mean, wow, that's like amazing. You guys, you, Spike, and Dawn, you're like a little family. That's so cute." Willow gushed.

"I know. Isn't cool?" Dawn remarked from beside the blond, supernatural couple.

"How can you people think this is cool, even remotely a good idea? He's a) dead, b) evil, and c) has tried to kill us numerous times. How do you know this isn't just a ploy to get you to lower your defenses so he can kill you in your own bed?" Xander retorted.

"Xander, as much as you don't want to admit it Spike loves me and would never do anything to hurt me, with or without the soul," Buffy replied harshly.

"But Buff, he's a demon. It's in their nature to kill," responded Xander.

"It's not in his nature. And just when was the last time that you examined your past love life, Xander? May I remind you of the mummy or the giant bug lady," Buffy retorted.

"What about me Xander? Aren't I a demon, and yet you still say you love me? How hypocritical can you be?" Anya demanded.

"All that's different. None of them, or you Ahn, ever tried to kill us. You're the Slayer Buffy so you don't have to worry as much, but how can you leave him in the same house as Dawnie?" That they thought that he could ever consciously hurt Dawn repulsed Spike.

Tara was shocked that Xander had even suggested what he had and she could no longer hold in her emotions. "Xander leave them alone. They're happy. Don't rain on everyone else's parade just because you're not. Until you face your own issues, maybe it's not such a good idea for you to around us."

Hearing those cutting remarks coming from the quietest member of the group finally got to him. Quickly, Xander put on his coat and exited the shop.

Buffy looked around at the ones still there, her arm still wrapped around Spike. She looked at up him and said, "Well, that went better than I thought it would," looking back at her friends, "Tonight is all about celebrating, but tomorrow, we start working. I want to give who ever planted that bomb a piece of my mind."

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A pair of eyes looked into the window of the shop. He had seen the young man leave in a hurry earlier and had then moved in to get a better view. He saw the group inside and felt hatred fill him. Some how the vampire had escaped the explosion, so that would have to be just his first attempt.

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What do you guys think of this chapter? Did I do the confrontation good enough, I'm not sure. I started writing this part and then I realized that I had committed a writing faux pas. I had forgotten to account for Willow and Tara since they live the same house, so I had to come up with something plausible. That's what happens when no one reads your stuff before you post it.