Good evening, All,
Well, here is the latest installment of The One. Thank goodness for speedy betas and a Muse who can be kick started with chocolate cookies (I'm really hungry after the whole stomach flu incident). I was hoping to have a ficlet out this weekend too, but it's still in the works. Be out soon, Crystal!
I do hope you like the story. Please, as always, let me know. We're getting to the climax now, so hang in there. It'll be okay in the end. Better than okay, really. That is if you like chocolate and yummy Vampires!
Next chapter should be out by Wednesday!
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Worthy (Chapter Twenty-Nine of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com . Also, please visit the wonderful fan listing that Rachel put together. Sign up today and link to your website (or just sign up to say hi!). The fan listing can be found at .
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Giles deduces the identity of the pawn with Willow's help, and formulates a plan. Draconius and Luke try to circumvent the problem of the relocation of the Peacemaker. Buffy and Spike patrol and his cure seems to be holding up. Or is it?
Worthy
Something itched at the back of his mind as he paced the living room, wiping his glasses on his shirttail. It wasn't just sending the children away, but something that was said. Something. Something. Giles gritted his teeth, trying to bring the latent thought to the surface.
Suddenly, it hit him like a bolt of lightning. What William said. 'But she'll have to kill gramma.' Gramma?
Spike's mum?
Oh God. Joyce.
The Watcher ran through the living room, buzzing through the kitchen where Oz and Xander took turns making snacks and watching out the window, tearing down the stairs and nearly diving into the pile of books littering the coffee table.
"What is it?" Willow asked, rubbing her eyes and sitting up from her perch on the couch. The spell still bubbled in the cauldron below her.
"The Horasci texts? Where did we put them?" Giles asked, flipping through tomes and tossing them to the floor.
"R...red book. Second from the left," Willow gestured, suddenly becoming aware. "Why?"
"Something Will said before he left," Giles muttered, grabbing the book and flipping through. "Do you remember anything about the pawn?"
Again, the Witch rubbed her eyes. "Um.only that it can be destroyed by destroying the token that carries the spell. Which would make this whole getting Buffy back gig much easier."
"Oh God," Giles muttered again. "The pawn, does it have to be dead?"
Willow thought a moment. "I.I don't remember. But that would make sense."
The Watcher stopped, finding the section of text he had been searching for. "The spell requires a vector in the dimension of its target," Giles read aloud. "One that carries out the spell towards the purposes of the sorcerer. The vector, or pawn, can be of any origin; however, the maximum control is rendered when the vector is taken from a non mortal dimension."
"Dead," Willow confirmed.
Giles nodded, his finger skimming the page as he muttered words to himself. "Oh God," he said once again.
"What?" Willow asked, fear settling over her like a vice.
"If this is correct, then the pawn is someone who has passed into a non mortal dimension. The spell itself is simple to counteract. All one has to do is break the talisman, thereby ending the spell and neutralizing the pawn. According to the texts, the pawn then returns to the spell's master," Giles sputtered, his eyes flitting between the pages of the text and Willow's frightened face.
"Okay," she answered. "Not sure I'm following."
"How would someone as evil as Draconius, as purely torturous, make sure his pawn survived?" Giles asked, his eyes growing large and sad.
Willow thought for a moment, letting her eyes slide closed. "Um, I guess. Make the pawn something you don't want to destroy?"
Giles nodded. "Worse yet. Steal her from someplace else. Another non mortal dimension and pit her against those she once cared about. That way, killing her and returning her to the spell's master would be just as cruel a fate."
Again, Willow thought, her eyes growing larger. "Are you thinking.?"
He took a deep breath. "Yes."
"Buffy's mom?" Willow asked, her heart now picking up a frantic pace. "And.and if Buffy or Spike or any of us break the amulet, then she gets sent back to Draconius?"
"Who will doubtlessly torture her for failing," Giles responded, fear gripping him.
"Oh God," Willow muttered. "What. why wouldn't Heaven help her?"
"They must not know she was taken," Giles answered standing and beginning to pace around the room.
"We need to let them know then!" The Witch exclaimed, popping up from the couch. "We.we need to find a way for them to reclaim her before this. Oh God, how?"
Giles paced again, chewing on his pencil. He stopped suddenly, causing Willow's head to jerk from watching his movements. "Cyrus."
"Cyrus?" Willow asked.
"He's an emissary to the Queen, remember?" Giles gushed, searching for the phone. "An Immortal. An Officer to the Queen of the Sky. He can talk to her. "
"Now?" Willow said. "I mean, now is good, but we need it a week ago now."
"I'll find him. You be sure to tell them all to do everything in their power not to kill the pawn. Only.only if Emma is in imminent danger is she harmed. If we kill her in this state."
"Draconius has her forever," Willow whispered. "I'll tell them."
Giles nodded, jogging for the stairs. "Try to tell Spike, if you can. If they come back and."
Willow nodded. "Go." ~~~~~
The old hag sat in a darkened room, candles blazing in a circle around her. A cauldron bubbled in front of her, steam rising in slow whispers in front of her old, wizened face.
The hag twitched, seeing something in the fog, and then waved a hand to clear it. A handful of herbs were thrown into the fire, causing more tendrils of smoke to creep up from the cauldron, winding in pretty patterns in front of the witches face.
Draconius and Luke stood just outside the circle watching. Waiting.
"The Children were taken," the hag whispered, her voice arid and distant.
"We *knew* that," Luke whined. Draconius slapped the back of Luke's head.
"They are now with a demon protector."
"A demon?" Draconius asked. "Not the Vampire?"
"A demon of Vengeance. A powerful demon," Lenora answered. "She was charged with their protection."
Draconius sighed. "Well, that changes things a bit. Is there. can we infiltrate this demon? Force her to our side?"
The hag shook her head slowly. "Like the Vampire of Heart, she is integrated. She has a soul. She loves and is loved. Her essence is one with theirs."
"What *is* it with these demons?" Luke whined, putting his hands on his hips. "I mean, what are the chances of two tame ones turning their backs on all the good bits about being a demon."
"There are more than just the two," Lenora interrupted, still staring at the wisps of smoke. "There is a healer and a wolf among them now as well. They all serve to assist and protect The One and thus their Prophesy."
Draconius sighed. "Can the pawn get there? Will she have any effect at all on the demon who has taken the children?"
The hag was silent. "The demon knows the pawn. The demon would hesitate, yes. But she is more likely to kill than The One."
"Then we'd better hurry. Keep them off guard. Can you lead the pawn to the children's location and then wait until my command?" Draconius asked.
The Witch nodded her reply through the haze. "I can."
"Do it," Draconius ordered. "I will return."
~~~~~
Willow walked slowly back down the steps. She had gathered the rest in the living room and told them what Giles had discovered. Even stranger, how he had discovered it. Maybe Will wasn't quite as powerless as he seemed. But that investigation was for another day.
It had occurred to them, as Willow filled them in, that they needed to get word to Anya. Giles had told them that even he was not sure where Anya was taking the kids. That is was best that way. Anya would check in each day until she could confirm it was safe. Still, she had to be told about the pawn.
She had to know about Joyce.
Willow sat on the floor, relaxing into a deep meditation. If she couldn't use the phone, she'd speed dial the demon's mind. Anya didn't seem to mind telepathy as much as the rest and could almost initiate it on her own now. But still, they were all jumpy and she didn't want to just barge in. Especially not while the kids were involved.
"Anya?" Willow finally thought as she reached full relaxation. "Anya? It's important. Please."
"What?" An annoyed voice finally answered. "Driving here, Willow. Don't really need distractions."
"The pawn," Willow said briefly. "It's. It's Buffy's mom."
"What?" Anya nearly screamed. Willow could see the car swerve and her body jolted. Calm returned as the demon corrected and pulled over to the side of the road.
"The pawn," Willow repeated.
"Joyce?" Anya answered. "What? Why?"
"Just. unless she is actively hurting Emma or Will. or, I guess, you, don't break the amulet. Don't hurt her."
Anya thought a moment in silence. "Okay, but why?"
"Because then she'll be returned to Draconius and never be able to go back to Heaven," Willow answered.
"Oh." There was a moment of silence. "That's pretty low. using her mom."
"Yeah," Willow commented. "Just. try."
"Right," Anya answered. "No killing the pawn unless absolutely necessary." There was another pause. "Did my Rupie figure all this out?"
Willow smiled despite herself. "He did," she answered.
"Give him a kiss for me. Oh, but not on the lips because then I'd have to despise you and we'd cat fight but."
"A nice, innocent kiss on the cheek," Willow replied. "Take care of them."
"I will," Anya said softly. "They belong to us all."
"They do," Willow confirmed. "Bye."
"Bye."
~~~~~
Oz opened the back door, sandwich in hand. It was unusually dark, the moon hidden by a heavy layer of clouds. He took a bite of his supper looking around.
Something seemed off.
Slowly, he descended the stair case, following his senses into the garden, towards the tool shed. Oz slid open the door, turning on the bare, overhead light.
Nothing.
"Hunh," he whispered to himself, turning around. "Odd."
Suddenly, he saw it. Like a silvery wave, undulating in the night air in front of him. Dancing like Tinkerbelle's magical wake. "I thought it would be brighter," he muttered to himself as he ran towards the house.
"Willow!" Oz screamed from the back door.
The thundering of footsteps from all corners of the house confirmed that everyone now answered to the name and before the wolf knew it, several bodies stood before him, wide eyed and panting.
"What...what is it?" The real Willow asked. He motioned her outside, walking to the place where he saw the twinkling trail.
"Do you see it?" Oz asked, pointing out the glitter.
"That's it?" Dawn whined, passing her hand through the trail. "I thought it'd be. sparklier."
"It should be," Willow gasped. "Dammit. She's moving and we haven't got any real way to follow her."
Oz smiled. It wasn't often Willow got upset enough to curse. "I think I can follow this," he commented, still calmly eating his sandwich. "You know. canine."
Willow smiled. "I'll. I'll go see if I can make it brighter. You try and follow. Oh, and take someone. Xander. Take Xander. Oh, and a phone. Take Xander's cell phone."
"If I'm taking Xander, the phone will come with," Oz comforted, putting a hand on Willow's back. "We can follow it."
"Good." She smiled nervously. "Remember. No killing unless."
"No killing," Oz confirmed, nodding. "Go make the twinklies. twinklier." He turned to Xander. "You drive; I hang my head out the window and sniff?"
"Just don't slobber and you've got a deal," Xander agreed, running back into the house for his keys.
Oz took a long look at Willow. "Don't worry, Will. It'll work."
Willow nodded. "Better work on sparklies. Thank. Thank you."
He smiled, leaning in and planting a kiss on her cheek. "It'll work."
"I hope so."
~~~~~
"Buffy?" Spike asked again, his body frozen, knowing that it was too late. She was gone.
The gold eyes stared back at him, nearly devoid of any trace of his girl. His golden goddess. Her face was the same, but the emptiness of her eyes changed even her looks.
Suddenly, she propelled herself from the wall with lightening speed, an angry roar coming from her pretty lips. Spike braced himself for impact, but she bounded past him and slammed into the demon behind them.
Spike stood back, too surprised, confused, upset to do anything else. Buffy had the demon on the ground again in an instant. Pounding it into a headstone. Beating it with fists, nipping with fangs. She was brutality at its finest. Not her fluid graceful dance. This was the kill of an animal.
The demon twitched for a moment and fell still, but Buffy continued to beat on it until it finally disappeared into a ball of thick gray ooze, sinking down into the grass. Spike took a step towards her as she knelt over where the demon used to lay and her head swiveled to face him.
"Love," he whispered, staring down into those blank, golden eyes.
"Spike," she answered, a grin breaking on face. It made him shiver.
"S'me, Pet," Spike answered, dropping to his knees a few feet from her. She turned, crawling on all fours towards him like a jungle cat, that devious grin spreading wide across her face. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Finally," Buffy hissed, reaching him and rocking up onto her knees. His eyes slid closed as her hands found his face, palms pressed to his cheeks. He could feel her breath against his mouth, coming in short pants. "Finally," she repeated.
Spike's hands moved to her hips, grasping her gently. "I'm here, Love. Never leaving."
Her mouth pressed softly to his, lips brushing like butterfly wings. "Spike," she sighed.
"S'alright, Pet. I've got you," Spike encouraged.
Her eyes flickered open at the same time he dared to open his. Her gold flashed against his blue, nearly burning a hole into his heart, crushing him. "Finally."
"Finally what, Love?" He asked, brushing her wild hair from her face.
A smile spread across her features. "A worthy adversary," she hissed, slamming her head forward and head butting him into the ground.
To be contd.
Well, here is the latest installment of The One. Thank goodness for speedy betas and a Muse who can be kick started with chocolate cookies (I'm really hungry after the whole stomach flu incident). I was hoping to have a ficlet out this weekend too, but it's still in the works. Be out soon, Crystal!
I do hope you like the story. Please, as always, let me know. We're getting to the climax now, so hang in there. It'll be okay in the end. Better than okay, really. That is if you like chocolate and yummy Vampires!
Next chapter should be out by Wednesday!
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Worthy (Chapter Twenty-Nine of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com . Also, please visit the wonderful fan listing that Rachel put together. Sign up today and link to your website (or just sign up to say hi!). The fan listing can be found at .
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Giles deduces the identity of the pawn with Willow's help, and formulates a plan. Draconius and Luke try to circumvent the problem of the relocation of the Peacemaker. Buffy and Spike patrol and his cure seems to be holding up. Or is it?
Worthy
Something itched at the back of his mind as he paced the living room, wiping his glasses on his shirttail. It wasn't just sending the children away, but something that was said. Something. Something. Giles gritted his teeth, trying to bring the latent thought to the surface.
Suddenly, it hit him like a bolt of lightning. What William said. 'But she'll have to kill gramma.' Gramma?
Spike's mum?
Oh God. Joyce.
The Watcher ran through the living room, buzzing through the kitchen where Oz and Xander took turns making snacks and watching out the window, tearing down the stairs and nearly diving into the pile of books littering the coffee table.
"What is it?" Willow asked, rubbing her eyes and sitting up from her perch on the couch. The spell still bubbled in the cauldron below her.
"The Horasci texts? Where did we put them?" Giles asked, flipping through tomes and tossing them to the floor.
"R...red book. Second from the left," Willow gestured, suddenly becoming aware. "Why?"
"Something Will said before he left," Giles muttered, grabbing the book and flipping through. "Do you remember anything about the pawn?"
Again, the Witch rubbed her eyes. "Um.only that it can be destroyed by destroying the token that carries the spell. Which would make this whole getting Buffy back gig much easier."
"Oh God," Giles muttered again. "The pawn, does it have to be dead?"
Willow thought a moment. "I.I don't remember. But that would make sense."
The Watcher stopped, finding the section of text he had been searching for. "The spell requires a vector in the dimension of its target," Giles read aloud. "One that carries out the spell towards the purposes of the sorcerer. The vector, or pawn, can be of any origin; however, the maximum control is rendered when the vector is taken from a non mortal dimension."
"Dead," Willow confirmed.
Giles nodded, his finger skimming the page as he muttered words to himself. "Oh God," he said once again.
"What?" Willow asked, fear settling over her like a vice.
"If this is correct, then the pawn is someone who has passed into a non mortal dimension. The spell itself is simple to counteract. All one has to do is break the talisman, thereby ending the spell and neutralizing the pawn. According to the texts, the pawn then returns to the spell's master," Giles sputtered, his eyes flitting between the pages of the text and Willow's frightened face.
"Okay," she answered. "Not sure I'm following."
"How would someone as evil as Draconius, as purely torturous, make sure his pawn survived?" Giles asked, his eyes growing large and sad.
Willow thought for a moment, letting her eyes slide closed. "Um, I guess. Make the pawn something you don't want to destroy?"
Giles nodded. "Worse yet. Steal her from someplace else. Another non mortal dimension and pit her against those she once cared about. That way, killing her and returning her to the spell's master would be just as cruel a fate."
Again, Willow thought, her eyes growing larger. "Are you thinking.?"
He took a deep breath. "Yes."
"Buffy's mom?" Willow asked, her heart now picking up a frantic pace. "And.and if Buffy or Spike or any of us break the amulet, then she gets sent back to Draconius?"
"Who will doubtlessly torture her for failing," Giles responded, fear gripping him.
"Oh God," Willow muttered. "What. why wouldn't Heaven help her?"
"They must not know she was taken," Giles answered standing and beginning to pace around the room.
"We need to let them know then!" The Witch exclaimed, popping up from the couch. "We.we need to find a way for them to reclaim her before this. Oh God, how?"
Giles paced again, chewing on his pencil. He stopped suddenly, causing Willow's head to jerk from watching his movements. "Cyrus."
"Cyrus?" Willow asked.
"He's an emissary to the Queen, remember?" Giles gushed, searching for the phone. "An Immortal. An Officer to the Queen of the Sky. He can talk to her. "
"Now?" Willow said. "I mean, now is good, but we need it a week ago now."
"I'll find him. You be sure to tell them all to do everything in their power not to kill the pawn. Only.only if Emma is in imminent danger is she harmed. If we kill her in this state."
"Draconius has her forever," Willow whispered. "I'll tell them."
Giles nodded, jogging for the stairs. "Try to tell Spike, if you can. If they come back and."
Willow nodded. "Go." ~~~~~
The old hag sat in a darkened room, candles blazing in a circle around her. A cauldron bubbled in front of her, steam rising in slow whispers in front of her old, wizened face.
The hag twitched, seeing something in the fog, and then waved a hand to clear it. A handful of herbs were thrown into the fire, causing more tendrils of smoke to creep up from the cauldron, winding in pretty patterns in front of the witches face.
Draconius and Luke stood just outside the circle watching. Waiting.
"The Children were taken," the hag whispered, her voice arid and distant.
"We *knew* that," Luke whined. Draconius slapped the back of Luke's head.
"They are now with a demon protector."
"A demon?" Draconius asked. "Not the Vampire?"
"A demon of Vengeance. A powerful demon," Lenora answered. "She was charged with their protection."
Draconius sighed. "Well, that changes things a bit. Is there. can we infiltrate this demon? Force her to our side?"
The hag shook her head slowly. "Like the Vampire of Heart, she is integrated. She has a soul. She loves and is loved. Her essence is one with theirs."
"What *is* it with these demons?" Luke whined, putting his hands on his hips. "I mean, what are the chances of two tame ones turning their backs on all the good bits about being a demon."
"There are more than just the two," Lenora interrupted, still staring at the wisps of smoke. "There is a healer and a wolf among them now as well. They all serve to assist and protect The One and thus their Prophesy."
Draconius sighed. "Can the pawn get there? Will she have any effect at all on the demon who has taken the children?"
The hag was silent. "The demon knows the pawn. The demon would hesitate, yes. But she is more likely to kill than The One."
"Then we'd better hurry. Keep them off guard. Can you lead the pawn to the children's location and then wait until my command?" Draconius asked.
The Witch nodded her reply through the haze. "I can."
"Do it," Draconius ordered. "I will return."
~~~~~
Willow walked slowly back down the steps. She had gathered the rest in the living room and told them what Giles had discovered. Even stranger, how he had discovered it. Maybe Will wasn't quite as powerless as he seemed. But that investigation was for another day.
It had occurred to them, as Willow filled them in, that they needed to get word to Anya. Giles had told them that even he was not sure where Anya was taking the kids. That is was best that way. Anya would check in each day until she could confirm it was safe. Still, she had to be told about the pawn.
She had to know about Joyce.
Willow sat on the floor, relaxing into a deep meditation. If she couldn't use the phone, she'd speed dial the demon's mind. Anya didn't seem to mind telepathy as much as the rest and could almost initiate it on her own now. But still, they were all jumpy and she didn't want to just barge in. Especially not while the kids were involved.
"Anya?" Willow finally thought as she reached full relaxation. "Anya? It's important. Please."
"What?" An annoyed voice finally answered. "Driving here, Willow. Don't really need distractions."
"The pawn," Willow said briefly. "It's. It's Buffy's mom."
"What?" Anya nearly screamed. Willow could see the car swerve and her body jolted. Calm returned as the demon corrected and pulled over to the side of the road.
"The pawn," Willow repeated.
"Joyce?" Anya answered. "What? Why?"
"Just. unless she is actively hurting Emma or Will. or, I guess, you, don't break the amulet. Don't hurt her."
Anya thought a moment in silence. "Okay, but why?"
"Because then she'll be returned to Draconius and never be able to go back to Heaven," Willow answered.
"Oh." There was a moment of silence. "That's pretty low. using her mom."
"Yeah," Willow commented. "Just. try."
"Right," Anya answered. "No killing the pawn unless absolutely necessary." There was another pause. "Did my Rupie figure all this out?"
Willow smiled despite herself. "He did," she answered.
"Give him a kiss for me. Oh, but not on the lips because then I'd have to despise you and we'd cat fight but."
"A nice, innocent kiss on the cheek," Willow replied. "Take care of them."
"I will," Anya said softly. "They belong to us all."
"They do," Willow confirmed. "Bye."
"Bye."
~~~~~
Oz opened the back door, sandwich in hand. It was unusually dark, the moon hidden by a heavy layer of clouds. He took a bite of his supper looking around.
Something seemed off.
Slowly, he descended the stair case, following his senses into the garden, towards the tool shed. Oz slid open the door, turning on the bare, overhead light.
Nothing.
"Hunh," he whispered to himself, turning around. "Odd."
Suddenly, he saw it. Like a silvery wave, undulating in the night air in front of him. Dancing like Tinkerbelle's magical wake. "I thought it would be brighter," he muttered to himself as he ran towards the house.
"Willow!" Oz screamed from the back door.
The thundering of footsteps from all corners of the house confirmed that everyone now answered to the name and before the wolf knew it, several bodies stood before him, wide eyed and panting.
"What...what is it?" The real Willow asked. He motioned her outside, walking to the place where he saw the twinkling trail.
"Do you see it?" Oz asked, pointing out the glitter.
"That's it?" Dawn whined, passing her hand through the trail. "I thought it'd be. sparklier."
"It should be," Willow gasped. "Dammit. She's moving and we haven't got any real way to follow her."
Oz smiled. It wasn't often Willow got upset enough to curse. "I think I can follow this," he commented, still calmly eating his sandwich. "You know. canine."
Willow smiled. "I'll. I'll go see if I can make it brighter. You try and follow. Oh, and take someone. Xander. Take Xander. Oh, and a phone. Take Xander's cell phone."
"If I'm taking Xander, the phone will come with," Oz comforted, putting a hand on Willow's back. "We can follow it."
"Good." She smiled nervously. "Remember. No killing unless."
"No killing," Oz confirmed, nodding. "Go make the twinklies. twinklier." He turned to Xander. "You drive; I hang my head out the window and sniff?"
"Just don't slobber and you've got a deal," Xander agreed, running back into the house for his keys.
Oz took a long look at Willow. "Don't worry, Will. It'll work."
Willow nodded. "Better work on sparklies. Thank. Thank you."
He smiled, leaning in and planting a kiss on her cheek. "It'll work."
"I hope so."
~~~~~
"Buffy?" Spike asked again, his body frozen, knowing that it was too late. She was gone.
The gold eyes stared back at him, nearly devoid of any trace of his girl. His golden goddess. Her face was the same, but the emptiness of her eyes changed even her looks.
Suddenly, she propelled herself from the wall with lightening speed, an angry roar coming from her pretty lips. Spike braced himself for impact, but she bounded past him and slammed into the demon behind them.
Spike stood back, too surprised, confused, upset to do anything else. Buffy had the demon on the ground again in an instant. Pounding it into a headstone. Beating it with fists, nipping with fangs. She was brutality at its finest. Not her fluid graceful dance. This was the kill of an animal.
The demon twitched for a moment and fell still, but Buffy continued to beat on it until it finally disappeared into a ball of thick gray ooze, sinking down into the grass. Spike took a step towards her as she knelt over where the demon used to lay and her head swiveled to face him.
"Love," he whispered, staring down into those blank, golden eyes.
"Spike," she answered, a grin breaking on face. It made him shiver.
"S'me, Pet," Spike answered, dropping to his knees a few feet from her. She turned, crawling on all fours towards him like a jungle cat, that devious grin spreading wide across her face. It made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Finally," Buffy hissed, reaching him and rocking up onto her knees. His eyes slid closed as her hands found his face, palms pressed to his cheeks. He could feel her breath against his mouth, coming in short pants. "Finally," she repeated.
Spike's hands moved to her hips, grasping her gently. "I'm here, Love. Never leaving."
Her mouth pressed softly to his, lips brushing like butterfly wings. "Spike," she sighed.
"S'alright, Pet. I've got you," Spike encouraged.
Her eyes flickered open at the same time he dared to open his. Her gold flashed against his blue, nearly burning a hole into his heart, crushing him. "Finally."
"Finally what, Love?" He asked, brushing her wild hair from her face.
A smile spread across her features. "A worthy adversary," she hissed, slamming her head forward and head butting him into the ground.
To be contd.