Disclaimer: Joss owns all in Buffyverse.
Spoilers: All of Season 7, including rumors and spoilers
Feedback: always appreciated
A/N: Sorry for the delay, RL has been intruding. I've just read spoilers for some upcoming Faith episodes. They seem pretty likely and I feel that I should include them in the story. If you do not want to be spoiled, then consider chapter 7 the end of the story.

Chapter 8

"Oh, baby, that feels sooo good." Buffy moaned as her lover massaged a large knot out of her back. "Right there. I swear you have magic hands."

Spike laughed, "Maybe after this I'll remind you of the other things I can do with my hands."

Buffy nodded vigorously as Spike continued to work wonders on her back.

They both groaned aloud when Buffy's cell phone rang. Spike reached for it.

"Willow", he said, handing the phone to Buffy. He then returned to work on her back.

"Hey, Will, how'd the re-ensouling go?" Buffy asked. "Oh God. I am so glad. We so did not need Angelus running around with everything else we have to deal with."

She listened to Willow talk for a minute.

She stiffened, "Who?"

"But, how did she get out, she was...?"

Buffy sat up, "She did what?...Wesley..?...She did?"

Buffy closed her eyes in frustration as she listened to Willow talk. "Okay, you're right, we do need all the help we can get. I'm just not sure she's actually help...If you're sure. You know her as well as I do"

Buffy sighed deeply, "Alright, we'll see you when you get here."

Buffy noticed that Spike had come to sit next to her as she talked and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"What's the matter, love? It sounded like Willow got the poof all poof-like again, so what's wrong? And who is 'she'?"

" 'She' is Faith..."

"Faith, criminally insane, psycho-slayer Faith?"

"The one and only. And Faith is what's wrong. Apparently Wesley, our ex-Watcher, helped her escape from prison to help with Angelus and now Willow is bringing her back here to help us with our problem."

Spike stood up and walked across the room.

"Wait a minute, where are you going?"

"Going to get more oil, love. I have a feeling this is going to be the longest massage on record. You're so tense Xander could use you the next time he needs to replace a support beam."

Buffy giggled and lay back down. Spike returned with another bottle of body oil and continued his massage. Soon he had Buffy so relaxed she lay on their bed looking like a well-loved rag doll.

Spike went upstairs and got a bowl of warm water and a wash cloth and returned to their room to clean the oil off of Buffy. Afterward he lay down next to her and stroked her hair as he looked into the eyes he loved so much.

"Sweetheart, do you want to talk about it, about her?"

Buffy shook her head. "Not right now. I feel so good; I just don't want to think about her right now. I'll deal with Faith later. Right now, I want to thank you for my massage."

She rolled over on top of Spike and kissed him deeply. Soon they were both undressed and Buffy was expressing her gratitude in the most physical and loving way possible.

*******************************

The next night Willow and Faith made it to Sunnydale. They called Buffy after they took the new SIT to the hospital. After making sure Shannon got the help she needed, they returned home.

Spike had taken the SITs out to patrol. Buffy managed to have as little conversation with Faith as possible, but Willow had filled her in on the goings on in LA. Buffy was numb with shock after learning about Connor, his mother's identity, and his relationship with Cordelia. She could have sworn Cordelia would have ended up with Angel. She was so confused.

Just then Spike and the girls returned. The SITs glanced at Faith, and then headed to the kitchen, assuming she was a new SIT and that they would be introduced as soon as she was brought up to speed.

Spike immediately noticed Buffy's discomfort and went to her. He glanced at the pretty dark haired girl sitting stiffly in the chair.

"Let's see, dark hair, yea tall, criminally insane, you must be Faith. Do you have anything to do with Buffy's apparent catatonia?"

"Spike, it's not Faith. I had to tell her some things about Angel, and she's upset."

"What the great poof do now?"

"He's got a kid" Faith said. "He got horizontal with some vampire bitch named Darla, she got knocked up, they had a kid, some prophecy thing, kid got sent to another dimension, now he's back, seventeen, and shackin' up with Cordelia."

"WHAT?! How the bleedin' hell did Angel knock up Darla. They're vampires. Vampires equal no kids. And how could the cheerleader be shackin' up with him? I figured Angelus made a return engagement 'cause she and the poof made with the moment of true happiness."

"No. Actually, Wesley and Cordelia arranged for a mage to take away Angel's soul so that Angelus could tell them what the Beast was up to. Then the vessel with his soul got stolen and Cordy let Angelus loose." Willow told him.

"And, as for the whole vampires having kids thing, apparently it was all some sort of prophecy."

"Well, that certainly explains Buffy's current state of shock." He pulled Buffy up and looked at the two young women in front of him. "I'm takin' her downstairs, tell the bitty Buffies whatever you think will keep them away from her 'til she's herself again."

Willow went into the kitchen to make small talk and distract the potentials from Spike who was currently half-carrying Buffy into the basement.

***************************

"Buffy, luv, could you say something please? You're startin' to worry me. Should I get Red down here to do the mind-entering trick again?"

Buffy shook her head slowly and looked at her lover. "No. I'll be okay. It's just...that bastard. He killed Darla because of me. Then he told me about the whole back from the dead, vamped again part. But he forgot about the whole let's risk my soul for a roll in the hay with my ex part. He knew about Riley and me and apparently SOMEONE told him about Parker, and me but does he tell me about his little indiscretion, NO! And he could have lost his soul again. He LIED to me. Maybe not outright, but he deliberately did not tell me the truth."

"Well, in all fairness, pet, it's unlikely that he could have lost his soul shaggin' Darla. She was too much a bitch to make anybody happy."

Buffy smiled slightly at that. "But you know what else? All of his talk about how I needed to find a 'normal' guy and have kids, because he couldn't have them, and which of the two of us has a kid?"

Spike looked at Buffy, "Sweetheart, do you want kids? Because I..."

Buffy put her arms around Spike, "No, I really don't. I didn't really think that I would even back then. But now with Mom gone and being Dawn's guardian/stand-in mom, I just don't think slaying and motherhood go together. And I even got Dawn as a teenager, no diapers, no three a.m. feedings, no worries about finding a sitter while I patrol. Can you see me trying to take out vamps with a newborn in a Snugli?"

Spike laughed lightly, "I see your point, luv. So, no rugrats for you, huh?"

Buffy smiled, "No. Maybe if I was a regular girl, I might want one or two, but I just can't deal with Slaying and babies."

Spike took a deep breath and exhaled, relieved. "We should probably get you back upstairs, pet. Willow distracted to girls for a bit, but they're gonna want to know about Faith pretty soon."

Buffy nodded and they headed upstairs.

***************************************

"Okay ladies, this is Faith. Faith is also a Slayer."

"Wait, a Slayer, but I thought there was only one at a time." Kennedy said.

"Normally, that's true, but remember that I have died twice. The first time I died another Slayer was called, Kendra. When Kendra was killed Faith was called."

"What about the second time you died? Was another Slayer called then, too?" Rona asked.

"No. Apparently when I died the first time, the line passed on to my successor. So the next Slayer won't be called until Faith dies."

"So, does that mean Faith is THE Slayer, or you?" asked Molly.

"We're BOTH Slayers. But, since Faith has been out of commission and I still have all of my Slayer powers, I've been THE Slayer. Now, there are two of us again."

The girls looked slightly confused, but they all nodded.

"Okay, I know this is pretty confusing. Why don't you all turn in and we'll talk some more in the morning."

The girls nodded and headed off to bed.

Buffy turned to Faith, "So, how much did Willow tell you?"

"You guys are dealing with the First Evil, that thing you had to deal with a few years back that tried to get Angel to off himself. Blondie here is one of the white hats now. The First is going after potential Slayers, Watchers, and probably me. The Council is toast. This house is Slayer Central...And I'm really sorry about Joyce. Despite everything, I liked her."

Buffy nodded, "Sounds like you're pretty much up to speed. We need all the help we can get, so welcome aboard. Park yourself anywhere you can find an empty spot. I'm going to bed now."

She headed toward the basement door.

"Whoa, B your bedroom's upstairs remember?"

"Not anymore. Spike and I have our own room, in the basement."

"You and Spike? Another vampire? You really got a thing doncha?" Faith looked at Spike. "Guess you found out about those Slayer muscles after all, huh?"

Spike nodded, "So it was you that night. Wondered about that ever since I heard about you prancin' about in Buffy's body."

Buffy looked at them suspiciously, "What are you talking about? What happened between you two when she had my body?"

"Relax, Slayer. Second-string here just decided to tease me a bit while she was in your body. Then she pranced off to play with the Scoobies. Nothing happened."

"SECOND-STRING?!"

"That's right. Buffy's the first-stringer here. You've been outta the game for four years. She's been doing the Slayer gig while you've been riding the bench."

"You...you.." Faith sputtered, then sighed. "You're right. I've been outta the game for alot longer than I was in it. But, I'm back now, and I'm gonna get it right this time."

Buffy and Spike nodded and headed downstairs. Faith looked around and decided to bunk in the dining room. She noticed the bathroom was briefly free and quickly got ready for bed. As she was about to settle in she decided to grab a glass of water. Once in the kitchen she heard some very distinctive sounds coming from the basement.

"Way to go, B. Never knew you had it in you." She whispered with a smirk. "And damn if he ain't another major hottie. You sure can pick 'em." Then she headed off to bed.

********************************
During patrol the next night Buffy couldn't help but notice the looks that Faith kept shooting at Spike. She knew that Faith thought Spike was hot. Then again, who wouldn't think Spike was hot? But she still didn't like it. She still hadn't forgiven Faith for everything that had happened with Angel, or Riley. And now it looked like Faith was trying to figure out how to put the moves on Spike.

Without realizing it Buffy kept getting closer to Spike, and she touched him more than she usually did on patrol. Spike recognized what she was doing even if she didn't. He had noticed Faith's attention also, and he realized that Buffy was marking her territory, letting Faith know that Spike was hers, keep away. He was flattered. He couldn't remember Drusilla ever doing that. And Buffy had never done it before either. He liked to see a little jealousy from her. But he also intended to make it clear to both of the Slayers that Buffy had absolutely no reason to be jealous. He knew what Faith's game was and he wasn't playing. She may have pulled Peaches and Soldier Boy into her game, but he was Buffy's, heart and soul, and no one was going to come between them.

That night, after patrol, Spike headed out to the back porch for a smoke.

"Faith, need to talk to you, join me."

Buffy looked at Spike and started toward him. He shook his head gave her a look that let her know that he was going to take care of things. She nodded and turned to get a drink out of the fridge.

Faith followed Spike out to the porch.

"So, Blondie, what can I do you for?" She smirked.

"For starters, you can stop with the flirting. I'm not interested. I'm Buffy's man and unlike her other men, you can't trick me. I would know it was you even if you did manage to take over Buffy's body again, and I'm not fooled by your 'poor me' act. Buffy's suffered and lost more than you've ever imagined, so don't expect pity from me."

"I'm not trying...I didn't...Okay, I was flirting, but can you blame me. I've been away for three years. And you are hot."

"Thanks, but I'm still not interested. And stop tryin' to push Buffy's buttons. She's your best chance at makin' it through this and pissin' her off is not gonna make her want to help you."

"I know, but she gets bent out of shape so easily. I mean, a little harmless flirting and..."

"It stopped bein' harmless when you stole her life and slept with her man. It stopped being harmless when the love of her life chose you over her..."

"He didn't choose me...it wasn't like that..."

"You stole her life, slept with her man, tried to kill her and her mum, and Angel defended YOU. He told Buffy she was partly to blame for what you did. They fought over YOU. The only time those two ever really fought was when he was Angelus, but they fought over you. After that, nothing you can do that involves her man is harmless. You realize that, don't you?"

Faith nodded. "She's lucky to have you. Not every guy would be so loyal."

Spike shook his head. "I'm the lucky one. She's forgiven me for so many things. And I have loved her for so long. I've finally got her love in return and I'm not willing to anything to jeopardize it."

"At least she forgave you..."

"She might find it in her heart to forgive you, too. But you have to let her know that you want it. If you don't let her know that you feel bad about what you did, and if you don't stop giving her reasons to distrust you then she won't have a reason to forgive you."

Spike snuffed out his cigarette and stood. "We've told the potentials how to fight the Slayer death wish. Now I'll tell you. You gotta have ties to the world, pet. You've got Angel, but you could have more. I know that you've always wanted what Buffy has, friends, family, a home, love. You could have that too, all you gotta do is let them know that you want it. Think about it."

Buffy had been listening from inside. She hoped that Faith would take Spike's advice. She knew that Faith needed a family. She was a typical Slayer in that regard, no real ties to the world. She hoped that Faith would prove trustworthy. She might still have some trust issues with Faith, but she needed all the help she could get. And deep down, she still remembered how much she had hoped that she and Faith could have been as close as she and Willow were, closer, since they were both Slayers. She had hoped for that sister-like bond and still felt bad that they had had so many problems.

For now, she just wanted to get her man to bed and let him know how much she loved him. And how much it meant to her that he was the one man she could trust not to be taken in by Faith.

**************************************

Buffy staggered into the house. She couldn't believe how badly things had gone wrong. First, there was the new potential, Shannon, and her cryptic message from that weirdo Caleb. Then the disastrous fight with Caleb. She got her ass kicked. Faith got her ass kicked. Molly was gone now. Rona was temporarily out of commission. And Xander...poor Xander lost an eye. She stumbled down the basement stairs and collapsed on her bed. She burst into tears. She was crying so hard that she never heard Spike come into the room. The first she knew of his presence was when he put his hand on her back.

"That's it, luv. Let it out. Don't hold it inside, it'll eat you up. Let it out."

He didn't try to tell her it would be okay. It wouldn't be okay. Even if they won, her best friend was still maimed for life. She still felt as if she'd failed the potentials that she couldn't save.

She reached for him. "Spike, I need you."

"I'm here, luv. Hold onto me. I'm not going anywhere." He held her tightly.

He lowered her to the mattress and gently undressed her, then he tugged her nightgown over her head. He then undressed himself and lay down next to her. He switched off the bedside lamp. He settled them both under the covers and held her while she cried herself to sleep.

**********************************

Buffy stumbled blindly down the street. Tears blurred her vision. She couldn't believe what had happened. They had kicked her out of her own home. All she had tried to do was help everyone, protect them. She knew that things had gone wrong, but that wasn't all her fault. She knew there was something at that vineyard, but they wouldn't listen to her. They thought she was trying to get them hurt again. She stumbled and fell to the ground

"Oh God. What am I going to do now? Where in the hell am I going to sleep?"

"Slayer? What the hell...?"

She looked up; Spike and Andrew stood in front of her.

"What happened?"

"They...I..." she sobbed uncontrollably.

Spike looked at her then at Andrew. "Why don't you head on back to the house? I'll take care of Buffy."

Andrew looked at both of them then nodded hesitantly and continued walking toward the house.

"Buffy, pet, what happened?"

"They told me to leave, Spike. They said that they couldn't listen to me anymore, that I was letting my emotions get in the way, that Faith was the Slayer and they were going to do what she said now. Then they told me to leave. Dawn told me to go. They kicked me out of my home..." she couldn't continue.

Spike was furious. His demon emerged as he listened to her tale. He wanted blood, but he knew that wouldn't help. He had to get Buffy somewhere safe before he dealt with the idiots. He picked her up and carried her to the one place he was pretty sure she'd be safe. A few minutes later he set her gently on the somewhat dusty couch in the mansion on Crawford Street.

She had fallen asleep in his arms. He kissed her gently then headed back to Revello Drive.
He threw the door open and glared at the occupants.

Giles stood up. "I know that you're angry Spike, but Buffy was not being rational, she was putting lives at risk unnec..."

Spike grabbed him by the throat "SHUT. UP"

He dropped Giles to the floor. "What in the bleeding hell is wrong with you? Are you people daft? Do you have any idea what you've done? You just played right into the First's hands"

"Now see here, Spike..."

"Shut your gob."

He turned to Faith. "Guess I shoulda kept my mouth shut. When I told you that could have what Buffy has, I didn't mean for you to steal her life again."

"I..I didn't. I didn't ask for this. They decided that they wanted me to lead them, not Buffy. I tried to tell them that I didn't want this, but they wouldn't listen. Then when Buffy wouldn't agree with them they told her to leave and she did. I only stayed because somebody has to watch out for them and with Buffy gone..." she let her sentence trail off.

"Great, so you gits decided to follow Second-String Slayer who helped stop one opening of the Hellmouth, and kicked out the Slayer who has stopped seven apocalypses. Bloody brilliant!"

"Bu- Buffy is not being rational. She's letting her emotions get in the way..."

Spike cut the Watcher off, "She's always let her emotions control her actions, you stupid git. She was right, that night in the park. She said you treat her like she's bloody stupid, but she gets the job done. She's the most successful Slayer..."

"She's not even supposed to be the Slayer," said Anya. "Faith is. Buffy's just the Slayer on a technicality..."

"That's true. And who is responsible for that 'technicality'?

"You people are so selfish. You yank Buffy out of Heaven because YOU can't handle her being gone. Then after she tells you where she was you all basically tell her to get over it, and be glad she's back here, with you lot tellin' her how to live her life and fightin' monsters every night, instead of baskin' in the light, love, and peace of Heaven.

"And now you throw it back in her face that your choice has resulted in her bein' the Slayer on a 'technicality' and then use that as an excuse to ignore her and turn your backs on her.

" What's wrong? You scared? You think she's not? She's twenty-two years old, she's a single working mom, trainer to a bunch of whiny brats, landlady to a group of ingrates who don't even pull their own weight around here, and she carries the weight of the world on her small shoulders. But she's not doin' a good enough job for you all, eh? Did you think you could fight the First Evil and nobody'd get hurt? Doesn't work that way, people. In war there are casualties and in case you've missed Buffy's recent speeches, THIS IS WAR!"

Giles got in Spike's face, "That is enough from you. It's your fault her judgment's so clouded in the first place."

Spike shook his head. "You have no idea how you've been played. Buffy tried to tell you before. The First has tried to play all of us in different ways because it needs us apart. Why do you think Buff didn't stake me when the Firs triggered me? Why'd she try so hard to find me?"

"As I said, her feelings for you have clouded her judgment and ..."

"WRONG! She figured out that the First needs us separated. Why else would it keep playing us against each other? There must be a reason.

"But I guess it doesn't matter to you lot now. You've pushed Buffy out in favor of a chit who's spent the past four years either in prison or in a coma."

He moved toward the living room door.

"Good luck. I'll save you wankers a seat in Hell. I've had my ticket for over a century, but now that you've teamed up with the First, I figure you'll be joinin' me there pretty soon. Least now Buffy gets to go back where she belongs."

He walked out and they heard the basement door slam.

"Well, he may have had alot to say, but he seems to be staying," Giles said. "Apparently he felt that he should defend Buffy's position, but he's not joining her. I'm not sure if that's good or bad."

Everyone looked around a bit uncertainly, but decided to continue with Xander's homecoming party.

About fifteen minutes later they were surprised to see Spike come back upstairs carrying his duffel bag. He walked upstairs without saying a word. They heard him moving around but no one wanted to ask him what her was doing. So they waited.

A few minutes later her returned with his bag full. On his way back to the basement he grabbed a couple of framed photos of Joyce off the table and shelves.

Dawn reached out to grab his arm. "Where do you think you're going with those?"

Spike turned on her, his eyes snapping with anger. "You want to take your hand off me right now, Dawn" he snarled. She gasped and backed up. "I'm takin' these to Buffy. She deserves them.

"Buffy died to save you. Giles told her she'd have to kill you to stop the ritual, but she couldn't." He sent a pointed look at Giles. "She let her emotions dictate her actions. She loved you, so she died to protect you.

"Then you showed your gratitude by lyin' to her, stealin', throwin' tantrums, and actin' like bein' here with your precious self should be a greater gift than Heaven and treatin' her like dirt 'cause she was selfish enough to mourn what she lost. The only peace she's had in her short life.

"Now you've turned her out of her own home. HERS! NOT YOURS. Joyce left the house to Buffy so she could take care of you. She pays for it. You had no right to throw her out because she disagreed with you. So I'm takin' her the things in this house that belong to her and mementoes of Joyce BELONG TO BUFFY!"

"Now get the hell out of my way!"

Dawn recoiled as if she's been slapped and everyone else stood dumbstruck. They'd never seen Spike angry at Dawn and they were having trouble processing the information.

Spike stalked to the basement. He returned a minute later carrying his duffel bag and two suitcases. He walked out the front door without another word or even a backward glance.

Willow ran after him. "Wait. Where are you going to go? What if we need to get in touch with Buffy?"

"You won't." He said simply. "We've got a job to do. Can't do it if we're lookin' over our shoulders wonderin' when one of you geniuses decides that she's a threat that has to be eliminated. She's our best chance, Will, and it's my job to keep her safe so she can do her job. So, I'm not gonna tell you where she is. We'll be around. We won't leave you to get picked off by the First, no matter how much you hurt her, or how angry I am, we'll be watching over you. She loves you all. And I love her. You're her family, which means we'll both be watching over you until the end."

****************************************

He walked to the garage and took out the keys he'd found in Buffy's things in their room. He started the Jeep and backed it out. It belonged to Buffy, too, and he was not carrying all of their belongings across town.

He couldn't believe how stupid her so-called friends were. How could they believe that Buffy would put any of them in danger unnecessarily? Pillocks.

****************************************

Buffy was still asleep when he got back to the mansion so he lay down behind her and spooned against her. He fell asleep making plans for the coming days.