Title: Harsh Light of Day (6/?)

Author: Slayer Chica

Disclaimer: I don't own the show, the characters, or the ship cuz of that stupid little grr monster!! I hate you!!

Summary: Read previous parts. It is S/B and it is AU off of Harsh Light of Day. What else is there for me to say?

Distrubution: You place it or put it on your site if you like, (I know I am not that good of a writer.) just let me or my email holder (aka sister Andra) know. Kay?

Feedback: Please. Do send some to either FeyofIreland@yahoo.com or Aileengirl@juno.com

"This is the bookstore, mistress." Dia told Buffy knowingly as they reached the entrance of a dilapidated building with a faded and chipped sign in front of it. Buffy nodded slowly but made no move to enter. "You know you really can't meet up with your honey if you don't go inside. The inside isn't going to come to you, Buffy." Dia said in a friendly joking manner. Buffy looked over at her with a smile on her face and let out a small chuckle. "That's cute! I like it." She said in a warm voice, before she walked into the shop. Buffy instantly spotted Spike talking to the man behind the counter. Quietly as she could she creeped up behind him and then grapped him. Spike jumped so high up into the air, that it seemed almost like he would touch the sky. 'I should have known I was going to have to have a fight.' Spike thought as he got pumped up for one. Only to find when he turned around that it was only Buffy and an another girl, not a bunch of demons, standing behind him. "Slayer! What in the blazes are you doing here? I thought you were shopping."

Spike asked his mate surprised as hell. Buffy looked at him strangely, "Spike, didn't you send this fledgling to come and get me. She said that you said that it wasn't a good idea to be separated." Buffy looked at Spike as he shook his head. She turned towards the stoic girl who was still standing beside her. *Did she lie to me? Was it all a trick?* Buffy thought to herself as she watched the girl. Spike looked over at the girl too. 'I have seen her before, but where? Maybe she is one of my minions. But one can never be to sure." He marched over to the girl vamp. ^Oh Shit, shit shit.^ Dia repeated in her head over and over again.

"Girl, who are you and what do you want." Spike demanded of her, Buffy came up beside him and he slipped his arm around her waist. ^Think Dia think!!^ "My name I-is Dia, master. " ^So far so good.^ Dia thought as she began to speak again. "I-I saw you leaving the shop and noticed that there were some men who looked suspicious. I thought possibly that they were from the council, sent to kill your mistress." Dia managed to get out. Then deciding to lay it on thick. She said, "I just wanted to make sure that no harm would come to her." Spike just started laughing, "Hello Dia, long time no see." Dia stared at him for a moment, then a light seemed to turn on over her features, "Spike?" Her voice seemed pleasantly surprised, "I didn't realize the vamp boyfriend was you!" Buffy looked questioningly at her mate. Spike looked over at the slayer, "Slayer meet an old friend of mine, Dia I would like you to meet Buffy."

Buffy stared at the girl for a moment, "You said you're a fledgling of Spike's." Dia just breathed and looked down at the ground. "I needed to get close to you both to protect you. When I saw you two split up, I realized I would have to do something drastic. So I banked on the idea that I could play a fledgling, hoping like most vamp sires, your love would just think that I was someone he turned and forgot about later. Never thought that Spike was your love though."

Looking up into Buffy's eyes and seeing the question forming, "But before you ask, yes I am a vampire. And before that a slayer." That surprised both Spike and Buffy. There was suddenly a combined "what" coming from the two of them. "Y-you're a slayer?" Buffy was finally managed to stutter out. The girl nodded, "I was the slayer called right before you, actually." Buffy's eyes widened slightly, "You mean you're the one.." Dia nodded slowly, "yeah I was the one that died off, and got you called. Sorry 'bout that."

It was Buffy's turn to laugh, "Well I figure if you hadn't died, then I never would have met Spike and fallen in love." Dia smiled at that, "Well in that case, your welcome hun."

"So just wondering, but what is the book for?" Dia asked pointing to the volume that Spike was holding. Buffy and Spike looked slightly embrassed for some reason, which caused Dia to give them a questioning look.

"It contains what happens to a slayer if vamped." Buffy said softly. Spike nodded still holding on to her.

"Why were you looking for a book about that.." Seeing the look on both of their faces, "Oh, that's why."

After a brief silence, "So when was the claiming?" Dia asked as if it were nothing more then just something simple as a wedding, not as drastic as vampiric marriage.

"Last night." Buffy answered softly. "It was… nice." She finished lamely as Spike nodded.

Dia just laughed, "You guys are acting like you are going to a funeral. Lighten up. Chill out." After pausing for a moment, she continued, "So when is it going to happen?"

"Tomorrow." "tonight." Buffy and Spike answered in that order. They looked at one another and Buffy turned to the ex-slayer and answered, "Tonight after we deal with the council. Then we are leaving London for a while."

"Good. I'm suppose to be your safeguard until you leave the country. So it looks like I'm gonna go to work tonight." She nodded as she spoke mostly to herself. She turned to leave. "Will you two be able to handle yourselves until then?"

"Look who you are talking to Dia." Spike said impatiently.

The girl just nodded and headed out of the door. Then she turned around when she reached the door. "Hey Spike! You won't have to give up the ring. She can walk in the sunlight, keep her soul and other neat-o-keen stuff." Then she headed out the door.

Buffy and Spike stared at the door and then at each other. Spike quickly opened the book and scanned the pages, then he stopped and reread what he had just skimmed. He looked up at Buffy and smiled. "Baby, she is right." His voice was full of relief. "I won't have to lose you to a demon."

They kiss passionately again, (with lots of tongue action and um.. other things that I shouldn't describe since I am not ready for that kind of writing yet. blushes bright red.) and the (now) closed book slipped from Spike's hand. The book falls open on the floor, to the first page were there is writing. "And the best part," Buffy said excited, "Is that the council has no idea that this happens to slayers."

Buffy and Spike leave the bookstore, accidentally leaving the book behind. And we finally get a clear look at the writing on the first page of the book. 'property of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.'

TCB