The Fall of William
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
A/N: Hi all. I know I've really made it seem like Buffy was really sick but as this is fiction she'll be all better in this chapter. Kinda like a soap opera. Anyway flashbacks are going to be returning in the next chapter and in chapter17. We will have to see. Once again I want to thank everyone who's reviewed this story faithfully. Also I'd like to thank all the new readers: Mikala, Gwen, Mjaw and Fiona. Thank you all for your reviews and I'm glad most of you seem to be enjoying this. I think we have about five more chapters to go before the end. So bear with me. Skyz.
~*~
Ch:15
Willy stood to the side; pressed against the wall as he spoke in a hushed voice to a person he knew would know whether Buffy was around or not.
He trusted this woman with his life.
"So no word then Tara?" he asked as quietly as he could as he ducked his head, and then frowned to himself. He should feel safe in his own bar but then he realized he hadn't felt too safe since Buffy had called it quits and left him to Travers.
"I'm still looking Willy. But the fact that I haven't found her is a good thing. It could mean she's keeping a low profile so Quentin won't get to her. Now Willy you said you'd explain the rest to me once I stated looking for her. What is going on?"
Willy grimaced.
"I wish I knew," he grumbled. "Quentin called me up and ordered me to look into whether the Slayer was dead or not and he didn't explain. I didn't wanna talk to him y'know? But I got that it was serious. I'm talking killin' serious. We've gotta find her and soon before Quentin does and takes her out for good," he whispered harshly.
Tara murmured in consent.
"Yes. I'll keep my feelers out, but I think I should try...I know a bit about her personal life-"Tara began with the understatement of the year.
"You do?" Willy asked perking up, he was a notorious gossip and any news regarding Buffy was interesting to him. He knew very little about her. Once he had thought she had no personal life.
He could almost see Tara as she grimaced and regretted saying anything.
"By personal I meant-"she broke off as she glanced around her small office as her fax machine rang. Getting up she hurried to it.
"Tara?" Willy demanded.
Tara looked at the fax and then shook her head as a smile bloomed and relief rushed through her.
"Willy?" she asked as she picked her phone back up and continued to look at her fax.
"Yep? Where'd you go?"
"Got a fax. Things are good. Fine really. She's okay. In fact she wants me to meet her. She needs my help," Tara explained.
Willy blew out a relieved breath and leaned his head against the wall as some of his tension seeped out of him.
"That's great," he mumbled.
"But that doesn't solve your problem does it Willy?" Tara asked as she cupped her chin in her hand and pondered the situation Willy was in.
"Nope it doesn't," Willy began morosely.
"I have an idea. I'll run it by Buffy and then get back to you k?" she asked carefully thinking about her plan.
"Thanks Tara I owe you," Willy replied gratefully.
"That you do. Talk to you later."
Tara regarded the fax one last time and wondered at its crypticness. Then she thought better of it and knew Buffy would explain as best she could.
Getting up she decided she'd better hurry if she wanted to get to the place Buffy had written before noon.
~*~
Lindsey, Lilah and a reticent Wes trudged up the walkway to the nondescript house that they had been assured housed their most of the time unfriendly ex-convict William the Bloody.
Lindsey watched Lilah wrinkle her nose in disgust at the mediocre of it.
"Shall we?" Wes demanded as he shifted hot and uncomfortable on the steps as neither made a move to announce themselves.
"Right," Lindsey muttered lifted a hand and knocked forcefully on the door three times.
The door was thrown open with a curse and then a frown as Xander opened the door and then gave a confused smile.
"Hello?" he stated questioningly.
Lilah smiled charmingly.
"We're here to see Spike."
Xander scowled and without a thought slammed the door in their faces and left them standing there in shock.
"Well he's a rude one huh," Lindsey said mockingly as he reached for the knob and shoved open the door.
They trooped in and were assaulted by the smell of burning bacon and eggs.
Lilah stifled a gag and Lindsey shook his head in amusement before Wes shoved past him and wandered off.
"Spike?" Lindsey called as he took in the livingroom, covered in papers and more than one laptop. The big screen t.v. was on and on the screen a large world map was prominent. He wondered just what the hell was going.
"Who are you?" Anya demanded rudely as she came from upstairs and eyes them all suspiciously.
"We're here to see Spike," Lilah put in before Lindsey could.
"Gunn, Oz we've got intruders," she yelled as she took a defensive stance.
Running feet like a herd of elephants announced the arrival of Gunn and Oz as they filed in from the kitchen guns drawn.
"Anya," Gunn grumbled as he recognized the lawyers. "These are friends of Buffy's!"
Anya pouted and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Well they asked for Spike," she muttered as she moved into the kitchen leaving them.
"So yeah," Lindsey began. "Where's Spike more importantly where's Buffy? I heard she'd bit the dust."
Oz lowered his gun and glanced at Gunn before he spoke.
"Why are you looking for Spike and how'd you find us?" he asked curiously.
"What can I say? I'm a genius," Lilah said smugly as she slung an arm around Oz's shoulders and led him towards the kitchen.
"I was the one who found you," Lindsey muttered as he and Gunn followed.
"How is that?" Gunn asked as they'd settled around the large kitchen table.
"Well we paged Spike and though he didn't answer we traced the signal to here and here we are! Cool how technology works huh? Whatcha been cooking guys it smells awful," Lindsey asked sniffing the air and shuddering lightly.
"That'd be me dawg," Gunn admitted sheepishly.
"Oz you let him cook?" Anya asked astounded.
Oz looked at Anya and gave a patent nonchalant shrug.
"I wasn't going to," he said simply.
~*~
Willow watched Buffy as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and then went in search for her shoes.
"Are you sure you're okay Buffy? I mean you sound a lot better than last night but still you've got to have some aches-"
"It's cool Wills. I'm fine. I can't be stuck in bed like while Quentin thinks he's won. It's time we took that old bastard down and make him realize who he's dealin' with!"
Willow frowned slightly and worried her bottom lip.
"The Slayer?" she asked hesitantly.
Buffy sent her a surprised look.
"Well that too but I meant the Scoobies! All of us as wide spread and diverse as we are. In fact I've gotten the ball rolling on that as well."
Willow rose from her perch on the edge of Buffy's bed.
"Really?" she asked not quite hiding her excitement.
Buffy smirked.
"Down girl, you've got a boyfriend," she commented slyly as she watched Willow blush and look away. She walked to the door with a small smile. "I invited Tara to come down and help us out. She'll be here soon."
Willow tried to affect an indifferent attitude with a nonchalant shrug.
"That's cool," she mumbled.
"Good, cuz you know if it weren't I can do without her help Wills," Buffy replied seriously as she opened her door in time to hear another door down the hall close. She looked down and gave a shrug as no one appeared.
Willow wrapped an arm around Buffy's shoulder in a brief shoulder hug before she let go, conscious of Buffy's still sore shoulder.
"I'm fine really. I mean I'm with Oz. And me? So not gay!"
Buffy laughed as she shook her head.
"But if you were?" she asked leadingly.
"If I were then I'd give it a try," Willow murmured quietly. "But I'm not so.....smells like Gunn's been fixing breakfast again. Whose turn is it for a donut run?"
~*~
Wesley wandered into one of the bedrooms and it seemed had just shut the door when it was opened and a towel clad Spike wandered in rubbing furiously at his platinum locks.
Wes regarded Spike for a moment before Spike noticed him.
He jumped, his heart beating like crazy in his chest as he realized who was in his room.
Swallowing back a brief spout of anger at the intrusion Spike let a condescending look appear on his face.
"Well, well, you put stalkin' on the long list of letters behind your name doc?" he drawled out.
Wes frowned and then smiled easily.
"I see you weren't expecting me," he replied calmly.
"Bloody right I wasn't! Listen I don't need your shit right now okay?" Spike muttered as he opened the door waving Wesley out.
"I see you need to get dressed. But I'm glad I came. You've missed your last two sessions Spike. I was concerned," Wes stated as he strode out of the room.
Spike resisted the urge to apologize.
"Well," he began bitingly. "It's not like you don't get paid whether I'm there or not Wesley! Besides I've been a mite busy."
"Doing what?" Wes asked curiously.
Spike shrugged not ready to get into it at the moment, especially not with Buffy only a few doors down.
"My business," was his clipped reply before he slammed the door in Wes's curious face.
Wes shoved his hands into his pockets and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Well, it appeared Spike was keeping secrets, he thought as he made his way downstairs.
He briefly wondered what they were, then gave a mental shrug Spike would tell him in his own time.
As he descended the stairs his gaze was drawn to the lone figure in the room.
His eyes widened comically and he nearly tripped over his own feet.
"Buffy?" he gasped out.
Buffy turned from the window she'd been brooding at and blinked in surprise and shock as she took in Wes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked startled.
Wes smiled slightly as he realized Spike's secrets were all probably in regards to this woman.
"Hello Buffy," he replied warmly and walked to her giving her a warm hug, which she returned.
"Hello Wesley. Now back to my question what brings you here? How'd you find me?"
"Well I trailed along with Lilah, thus leading me to you. Which I have to say is quite the surprise considering who I found upstairs," he replied watching her closely.
Buffy stiffened and her gaze flew to the stairs.
"You didn't talk to Spike did you?" she demanded.
"A bit. What's wrong you don't think I'm going to tell him do you?" he asked curiously.
Buffy sucked in a deep breath and glanced at Wes and tried to give him a small reassuring smile. She barely succeeded.
"No! I trust you Wes, but if he ever found out....." she trailed off; she didn't even want to think about that prospect.
"Well-"
"Buffy, you coming with? Hi Wes." Willow asked as she came into the livingroom car keys dangling from her hand.
"Donut run?" Buffy asked.
"McDonalds run it was unanimous," Willow corrected contritely.
Buffy flashed a quick grin at Wes.
"I'll be back and then we can discuss what Lilah's doing here. It's good to see you Wes," she said happily as she followed Willow out.
Spike slowly shoved off the wall he'd been leaning against to eavesdrop on the conversation in the livingroom and walked down the stairs.
"So," he began with deceptive calm. "You and the wife huh? What doesn't she want me to know hmmmm?" he asked carefully.
Wes didn't even blink before he asked his own question, used to Spike's anger.
"Are you jealous?"
Spike sucked in his cheeks exposing the harsh slant of his cheekbones as he did so. Don't rise to the bait, he told himself even as he did so.
"Should I be?" he spat the question out. "You have a thing with my wife Wes? You touch her?!"
Wes slowly took a seat and looked up at Spike.
"Sit down Spike," he said softly.
Spike shook his head.
"Nope! No, I'm not playing patient with you. I want a straight answer out of you. And I want it now! How do you know Buffy and why was she so happy to see you?"
"Was she? Happy I mean. I got the impression she was startled and then wary, then finally settled on happy. Does it disturb you to see her happy?"
Scowling Spike refused to answer. Wesley was making this into one of their sessions and he wasn't going to play along. He wanted answers!
"Answer me," he yelled.
"I'd be more than happy to," Lilah's voice replied from behind him.
Swinging around Spike's eyes narrowed even more and he regarded his lawyer with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.
"What do you know about this Lilah and why are you here?"
Lilah glanced at Wes who caught her eye and gave a small shrug, the ball was in her court.
"I came looking for you actually. In regards to your wife," she began.
"Why?" he demanded as he felt the walls begin to close in around him as the Scoobies filed into the room curious as to what was going on.
Or so it seemed to Spike, in fact it wasn't curiosity but a need to defend Buffy while she gone. They were all pretty sure she would need it once Lilah finished.
"Well as you know when you got arrested you were set up with the prison shrink right?" Lilah asked.
Spike gave a small nod.
"Guess again. The prison you were in had no in house shrink, in fact the one they did have was an over run, idiot. Buffy-"
"Buffy?" Spike muttered darkly his gaze clouding with anger. It always came back to her didn't it?
Always.
"Buffy," Lilah repeated firmly. "Buffy suggested to Wesley that he take a look at the files of the prisoners and see if any of them interested him. He chose you-"
"I bet," Spike replied with a bitter smile. "Buffy just happened to suggest this? What no hidden agenda's at all? I doubt that! She wanted you to keep tabs on me! Did you go to her after we spoke?! Fill her in on all of my dirty little secrets? Did you?!"
He was yelling by now and didn't care who heard him as he advanced on Wesley.
"I suggest that you calm down Spike," Wes advised.
"You suggest! Well fuck off you bloody-What about after I got out huh? You still on her payroll Wesley? Tell her my every thought? My every emotion! I can't believe this! She's always there, messin' with my life. Screwin around-"
"She didn't hire him," Faith's voice broke through his yelling.
"Oh did you hire 'im for me then luv?" Spike asked savagely as he glared at Faith.
"No. No one hired him. Buffy wanted you to have some one to talk to. I told her to leave it alone but she couldn't let it go-"Faith continued.
"She asked me to refer her to a good shrink," Lilah interjected. "I suggested Wes."
"Listen Spike she's not out to get you. Uh...I mean at least not anymore," Gunn said lamely.
Spike ignored them all his eyes finally resting on Wesley with a cold fury.
"You and me. Outside. Now," he ordered as he brushed past all of them and made his way to the kitchen and into the back yard.
He didn't wait to see if Wesley followed behind.
"Tell me this is some kind of sick joke," he breathed out raggedly.
"That Buffy loved you enough to be concerned for your mental health and made the move to get you help before things got out of control for you?" was Wes's calm question.
"You make it sound so simple! It's not," Spike exploded.
"Isn't it? She loved you; she wanted the best for you. You remember those early years, the anger, the hate Spike. It wasn't healthy and with my help you-"
"I was fine. I didn't need help. Especially not provided by her," he barked out cutting Wes off.
"You aren't angry about that Spike are you?"
Spike paced on the dried out grass and shoved a hand through his damp hair.
"Shut up," he muttered.
"What upsets you is that she cared while you couldn't make yourself feel anything but hate for her."
"You're wrong. I didn't care-I don't care about her feelings Wesley! That's just it. I don't care about her at all! You know that! We've talked about it."
Wes smiled and took a seat on the porch steps and regarded Spike silently for a moment.
"So I see we're back to this then? We've been through this phase a few years ago and we know how that turned out," Wes felt the need to point out.
Spike cast him an irritated look the anger having drained out of him as abruptly as it had come.
"It went just fine you mangy git," he muttered.
"Right of course. Need I remind you regression isn't a wise move, and not when it is an ill disguised attempt to put distance between you and Buffy."
"Wife," Spike corrected. "She's my wife."
Wes's grin was huge as he clapped his hands.
"I see a few things I've said stuck with you Spike. You're comfortable with saying that now, admitting you and her are linked in more than one way. But that was an achievement reached a while ago. We were working on something else before you disappeared. Do you remember?"
Spike paused to glare up at the bright blue sky before he reluctantly nodded his head.
"I remember," he grumbled.
"Good. Now Spike this was what you wanted remember? A chance to show her certain things. Certain emoti-"
"I hate her," Spike whispered as he dropped down next to Wes.
Wes made a sympathetic noise in the back of his throat before he clamped a hand on Spike's back.
"At one time. Now we both know that's a lie."
They were silent for a while each lost in their own thoughts.
"You know," Wes said, "Try not to judge her too harshly Spike. There are things you don't know. Personal things. Granted she's made a few mistakes but then so have you and in my view yours have exceeded hers. Don't judge her and I'm sure she won't judge you."
Spike swiveled to peer at him.
"Personal things? What the hell does that mean Wes? What aren't you telling me here?"
"You know as your psychiatrist Spike anything said between us is privileged information the same applies to Buffy."
Spike's face held all the shock and disbelief he was feeling at that moment.
"You're saying you treated Buffy?" he demanded incredulously.
Wes shook his head.
"I'm not going to talk about this with you. I only say this because she's suffered too and you conveniently like to forget you were indeed a bad man. A criminal and she was doing her job as she saw fit."
Wes rose and left Spike sitting alone on the steps to ponder what had been said. He couldn't believe Buffy had seen Wes.
She seemed so strong, so in control.
Well most of the time, he reflected. Except for that one time but that had been his fault he knew.
He'd known on a subconscious level that he hadn't been the only one to hurt after he'd been locked up. That Buffy hurt too. But his pride and anger had made him immune to her pain. He'd been a fool back then, refused to see her, talk to her, to speak her name for a whole year and by then she hadn't bothered to get in touch in a good while.
Wes had been right when he'd said he'd gotten over the hate years ago but there was a bit of residual anger he needed to deal with.
Shaking his head he glared down at his clenched hands.
Why did it bother him to think about Buffy talking to Wesley? He had the sick feeling it had to have been something for her to unburden herself on a professional psychiatrist. She was gunho on doing things herself.
Rising he thrust his hands into his pockets and raised his face to the bright sun, his eyes falling closed.
His thoughts drifted to his last session with Wes and what they'd discussed. Basically the same theme for a whole year.
Love.
Give.
Forgive.
He was a man who hated change. A man who had thought himself incapable of change, especially to make himself a better man.
A freer man. One who could be everything Buffy needed. She didn't think he had it in him and he had agreed at the time. Why should he change?
Why would he have to?
He'd lived a long life fine just the way he was. Hard, unyielding. If you crossed him you paid. That was the end of it.
But what he'd noticed thanks to Wesley pointing it out he had already changed.
He could from prison still have taken care of Buffy.
Killed her.
He'd lied to himself saying he wanted the pleasure himself, but it had been a lie. An illusion.
It had been a slow process one he had not even been aware of. The minute he resisted the urge to lash out and get rid of Buffy was the moment he changed and now as he stood alone he knew maybe if he tried hard enough and God knew he had been trying he could start again with Buffy.
~*~
Buffy stepped into the house her arms full of fast food and as her eyes took in the people gathered around the livingroom she wondered briefly why the past had a way of sneaking up on her while she wasn't looking.
Lilah and Linds were people she associated with Spike and so rarely went out of her way to actually visit them face to face. Though she did speak to Lilah regularly.
She gave a hesitant smile as she passed the food out and Willow did the drinks.
"What brings you all here?" she asked then as she took a sip of her coffee, as all of the seats were occupied she leaned against the wall.
"That would be me pet," Spike's voice in her ear startled her and she resisted the urge to jump and turned her gaze to his to glare at him only to narrow her eyes in surprise.
He was smiling at her.
A genuine all be it hesitant smile that reached his cerulean eyes.
What the hell was going on? She wondered as she felt flare of heat slither its way through her body.
Damn it, she grumbled to herself as she felt herself responding to his smile with one of her own.
It was brief but it was monumental.
Faith's clearing of her throat broke the moment.
"If you're done with your love fest we'd all like to hear what these new and interesting people have to say," Anya said as she glanced at Lindsey curiously, her gaze lingering on his wooden hand before she fixed her gaze on Spike and Buffy.
Buffy moved away from Spike abruptly, putting as much distance between them as she could.
But it was useless as he followed her like a puppy and she finally gave up, giving a huge sigh and crossing her arms she regarded the room and rested on Lindsey then Lilah.
"Explain away," she requested.
Buffy listened with half an ear as Lindsey explained with bits and pieces from Lilah. Her thoughts were on Spike who was standing a little too close and she could feel his body heat crawl around her, invading her.
Se wondered what game he was playing at as he eased his body closer to her, and then gave herself a small shake of her head.
She shouldn't be freaking out; she'd been closer to him yesterday. Almost plastered to his side.
But, she conceded that had been while she'd been sick. Delirious and feverish, it certainly didn't count.
Right?
"Well there you go," she heard Lilah announce and looked up to find everyone looking at her expectantly.
"Hmmmm?" she asked then blinked and began again. "Okay. So Quentin thinks I'm dead. That's good. This means I can work undetected for the mean time. I have Tara coming in to help Willow with those files, once we get them all sorted out we'll know the whole scale of Omega and what needs to be tweaked to have it crumbling around his ears. Lilah and Linds I need you to put out feelers see if any one knows of anything that's going down, something Omega might be interested in. I want to hit them where it hurts. Xander I need you to get in touch with your department. I want you to..."
People were told their jobs and soon the room was filled with only three people.
Buffy took a seat on the couch and Spike followed.
Willow was busy typing away on one of the laptops and tried to pretend she wasn't listening to them.
"So what was that?" Buffy asked.
Spike arched a brow and glanced at her.
"What was what?" he asked innocently.
"This," Buffy waved a hand between them.
"What is this? Space I'd say," Spike replied cheekily.
Buffy let out a snort of laughter.
"You know this isn't going to work. Whatever you're planning, so I'll tell you right now stop it! I don't have time to deal with you and this situation at the moment and you acting weird isn't helping matters."
"Weird?" he echoed incredulously. "Just tryin' to be friendly is all and you're acting like a bitch about it!"
"A bitch? Excuse me if the thought of you being friendly is almost sickening what with the fact you hate me and would like nothing more than to kill me! And now you wanna act like I've hurt your feelings well I'm sorry Spike but you and nice don't go hand in hand!"
Spike rose to his feet stiffly, anger making his voice low and harsh.
"You know if you didn't always see me as the evil, bastard come to do you in, you might see I was trying," he bit out.
"Trying what?" Buffy demanded.
"Trying," he yelled. "Like you wanted!"
Buffy recoiled and blanched as his words hit her a pain bloomed akin to a physical blow.
"No," she snapped rising too. "No we aren't going down that road. Not now, not ever. So do-don't Spike," she finished quietly.
Spike shook his head and clenched his jaw.
"Too late. I'm tired of this. We've got to talk-"
The doorbell was a welcomed distraction and Buffy gladly bounded over to the door and swung it open.
Tara gave a shy smile as Buffy embraced her and led her in. Tara took in Spike, his angry stance and lingered on Willow.
"Hi Buffy," she said.
"It's good to see you Tara. This is um....this is Spike and you know Willow."
Spike shook off his anger long enough to smile disarmingly and offer a hand.
Tara blushed as he took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"H-Hi," she stuttered out, reverting back to her old self briefly.
"Pleasure," Spike murmured lowly.
Buffy told herself it wasn't jealously as she tugged Tara away from Spike and practically shoved her down next to Willow.
"Hi Tara," Willow said cheerfully. "So this is what we're working with at the moment..."
Buffy tried to slip away discretely but Spike followed.
"I want some answers," Spike said as he followed her upstairs.
"I haven't heard any questions Spike," she muttered coolly.
"Well I'll ask 'em then," he muttered as he grabbed her arm to make her stop. "Buffy why did you go see Wes? Loo-"
"Did he tell you I saw him?" she asked through gritted teeth betrayal flaring fast and sharp. She pulled out of his grasp angrily.
"Buffy listen to me it doesn't matter. I want you to talk t-"
"So now you wanna talk is that it Spike? You're ready and that means I should be too because you want it that way! Well news flash Spieky the world does not revolve around you and I don't give a fuck what you want right now! What's between Wes and I is my business and right now I don't want to talk to you, much less be anywhere near you. Quit playing games and when all is said and done we'll go back to what we are. Not husband and wife, not friends, not ex-lovers. Enemies. It's that simple and that easy. You need to let us go. I already have."
She turned to walk away he caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. Whirled her to face him.
"Liar," he growled. "You want to make me believe this between us is over with? That if I ignore it long enough it will go away? That I'll be able to let this go? Give me another one pet. Tell me how am I to go about that? You think I haven't tried to do that before this? Well let me tell you something Slayer it hasn't worked and it never will because you know what?"
Buffy's face held a look of bored indulgence.
"No what?" she asked impatiently.
"Love doesn't die," he replied simply.
She inhaled sharply and shook her head.
"There is no love," she stated coldly.
Spike allowed a smirk to appear.
"That's what I thought too, maybe you should talk to Wes he'll help you with that luv."
"We're over," she said watched his eyes narrow, anger flicker, fade.
He reached out cupped her cheek.
"We'll never be over," he whispered gently, an understanding he hadn't known was possible dawning.
Making him bold and impervious to her token protest as he pulled her to him, kissed her.
They'd shared two kisses before this one. The first one had been a mere brush of the lips, between two lost souls in the dark. The second had been his choice of punishment; he'd wanted to make her suffer.
This kiss though had all the intention behind the words he's spieled out. It had the heat, the passion.
It had tongue, it had teeth.
There was a second, one split second where Buffy fought with herself, tried to resist the unquenchable urge to devour. To let him take her, to let herself love him. To give him everything.
But it was pointless.
She could admit it as she fisted her hands in his damp hair and broke away to suck in much needed air. Only to dive right back in parting her lips to his demanding tongue once again.
She was needy, and crazy and-
God knew she loved this man.
The only thing they were as good at was hurling insults and pissing one another off.
Sex had never been a problem between them.
And if sex was what he wanted then who was she to deny them both the pleasure?
And though her logic made no sense, when she'd told herself she was going to stay strong. This didn't mean she had to immerse herself in Spike again.
"What are you doing Buffy?" Spike gasped out as he felt her hands slid under his shirt, span over his chest and down his sides.
"Don't you want to have sex Spike?" she asked heavy lidded, mouth swollen.
She looked ready to be had.
Spike scowled.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Don't get virtuous on me," she snapped as she began to remover her hands.
Spike's eyes narrowed his mind racing. She was playing games with him. She wanted sex, he thought darkly.
Just sex.
A small smile began to play around the edges of his mouth. He'd give her sex, and then some.
"M'not," he whispered as he dipped his head nibbled at her neck. "Buckle up luv; you're in for the ride of your life."
He scooped her up and strode to his room.
Her husky laughter trailing in their wake.
He could play games, and he had one in mind now. By the time he was finished with her there would be no doubt in her mind who she belonged to. Who she was meant to be with. Just because she wasn't willing to try didn't mean he wasn't.
Hell he figured for being a bloody daft prick for so long, ignoring all her attempts at closure, or at least forgiveness it was about damn time he gave it his all.
He could be strong enough for the both of them.
He slammed his door shut. ~*~
"So we should leave now," Willow announced as she wandered into the kitchen looking at the remaining Scoobies.
Faith lifted a curious brow.
Oz's gaze didn't leave his laptop.
"Why?" Anya asked.
"Well.....I'm sure Buffy and Spike wanna be alone right now," Willow muttered blushing and looking away from their curious stares.
"Oh why? They makin' with the wild monkey sex?" Faith asked jokingly. When Willow didn't contradict her she groaned closing her eyes. "Oh my God, that girl's gonna be the death of me I tell you! What's she thinking? He's just gonna hurt her!"
"I think he's trying. Well that's what he told her earlier," Willow offered.
"Good thing Xander's not here then huh? He'd be freaking out," Anya commented. "I wonder how Spike is in bed. By looking at him you'd never know he-"
"Let's go. Give them some privacy," Oz interrupted rising picking up his computer.
"Right," Anya muttered rising too. "So where are we going to go?"
"I wish Gunn were here," Faith grumbled. "Then maybe B wouldn't be the only one getting' any right now."
"Well at least you have a boyfriend who loves you and only you. I have Xander the poster child for man-child!" Anya exclaimed angrily.
Faith slung a companionable arm over Anya's shoulders.
"Well did you see Linds? He's a hottie to the tenth degree. Too bad though 'bout the hand but still he's got it all goin' for him Anya. Why not test out those waters?" she asked encouragingly.
Anya got a thoughtful expression on her face as they left the house.
Oz glanced at Willow who was blushing beet red now and looking extremely embarrassed smiled softly.
He took her hand.
Willow glanced up and smiled back at him before her eyes were drawn to Tara's form in front of them walking slightly ahead of Faith and Anya.
Quickly she dropped her gaze, confusion filling her.
Oz's eyes narrowed in on Tara then Willow, not liking the vibes he was getting. Not one single bit.
~*~
A/N: Okay I didn't forget about the love scene I promise. In fact it's in the very next chapter. Which will be a flashback chapter if it's not too long. Anyway any thoughts on this Tara/Willow/Oz thing? People have been complaining about the lack of Spuffy sex and well you'll be getting it in spades in the next couple of chapters so I'll leave you to chew on that k? Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
A/N: Hi all. I know I've really made it seem like Buffy was really sick but as this is fiction she'll be all better in this chapter. Kinda like a soap opera. Anyway flashbacks are going to be returning in the next chapter and in chapter17. We will have to see. Once again I want to thank everyone who's reviewed this story faithfully. Also I'd like to thank all the new readers: Mikala, Gwen, Mjaw and Fiona. Thank you all for your reviews and I'm glad most of you seem to be enjoying this. I think we have about five more chapters to go before the end. So bear with me. Skyz.
~*~
Ch:15
Willy stood to the side; pressed against the wall as he spoke in a hushed voice to a person he knew would know whether Buffy was around or not.
He trusted this woman with his life.
"So no word then Tara?" he asked as quietly as he could as he ducked his head, and then frowned to himself. He should feel safe in his own bar but then he realized he hadn't felt too safe since Buffy had called it quits and left him to Travers.
"I'm still looking Willy. But the fact that I haven't found her is a good thing. It could mean she's keeping a low profile so Quentin won't get to her. Now Willy you said you'd explain the rest to me once I stated looking for her. What is going on?"
Willy grimaced.
"I wish I knew," he grumbled. "Quentin called me up and ordered me to look into whether the Slayer was dead or not and he didn't explain. I didn't wanna talk to him y'know? But I got that it was serious. I'm talking killin' serious. We've gotta find her and soon before Quentin does and takes her out for good," he whispered harshly.
Tara murmured in consent.
"Yes. I'll keep my feelers out, but I think I should try...I know a bit about her personal life-"Tara began with the understatement of the year.
"You do?" Willy asked perking up, he was a notorious gossip and any news regarding Buffy was interesting to him. He knew very little about her. Once he had thought she had no personal life.
He could almost see Tara as she grimaced and regretted saying anything.
"By personal I meant-"she broke off as she glanced around her small office as her fax machine rang. Getting up she hurried to it.
"Tara?" Willy demanded.
Tara looked at the fax and then shook her head as a smile bloomed and relief rushed through her.
"Willy?" she asked as she picked her phone back up and continued to look at her fax.
"Yep? Where'd you go?"
"Got a fax. Things are good. Fine really. She's okay. In fact she wants me to meet her. She needs my help," Tara explained.
Willy blew out a relieved breath and leaned his head against the wall as some of his tension seeped out of him.
"That's great," he mumbled.
"But that doesn't solve your problem does it Willy?" Tara asked as she cupped her chin in her hand and pondered the situation Willy was in.
"Nope it doesn't," Willy began morosely.
"I have an idea. I'll run it by Buffy and then get back to you k?" she asked carefully thinking about her plan.
"Thanks Tara I owe you," Willy replied gratefully.
"That you do. Talk to you later."
Tara regarded the fax one last time and wondered at its crypticness. Then she thought better of it and knew Buffy would explain as best she could.
Getting up she decided she'd better hurry if she wanted to get to the place Buffy had written before noon.
~*~
Lindsey, Lilah and a reticent Wes trudged up the walkway to the nondescript house that they had been assured housed their most of the time unfriendly ex-convict William the Bloody.
Lindsey watched Lilah wrinkle her nose in disgust at the mediocre of it.
"Shall we?" Wes demanded as he shifted hot and uncomfortable on the steps as neither made a move to announce themselves.
"Right," Lindsey muttered lifted a hand and knocked forcefully on the door three times.
The door was thrown open with a curse and then a frown as Xander opened the door and then gave a confused smile.
"Hello?" he stated questioningly.
Lilah smiled charmingly.
"We're here to see Spike."
Xander scowled and without a thought slammed the door in their faces and left them standing there in shock.
"Well he's a rude one huh," Lindsey said mockingly as he reached for the knob and shoved open the door.
They trooped in and were assaulted by the smell of burning bacon and eggs.
Lilah stifled a gag and Lindsey shook his head in amusement before Wes shoved past him and wandered off.
"Spike?" Lindsey called as he took in the livingroom, covered in papers and more than one laptop. The big screen t.v. was on and on the screen a large world map was prominent. He wondered just what the hell was going.
"Who are you?" Anya demanded rudely as she came from upstairs and eyes them all suspiciously.
"We're here to see Spike," Lilah put in before Lindsey could.
"Gunn, Oz we've got intruders," she yelled as she took a defensive stance.
Running feet like a herd of elephants announced the arrival of Gunn and Oz as they filed in from the kitchen guns drawn.
"Anya," Gunn grumbled as he recognized the lawyers. "These are friends of Buffy's!"
Anya pouted and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Well they asked for Spike," she muttered as she moved into the kitchen leaving them.
"So yeah," Lindsey began. "Where's Spike more importantly where's Buffy? I heard she'd bit the dust."
Oz lowered his gun and glanced at Gunn before he spoke.
"Why are you looking for Spike and how'd you find us?" he asked curiously.
"What can I say? I'm a genius," Lilah said smugly as she slung an arm around Oz's shoulders and led him towards the kitchen.
"I was the one who found you," Lindsey muttered as he and Gunn followed.
"How is that?" Gunn asked as they'd settled around the large kitchen table.
"Well we paged Spike and though he didn't answer we traced the signal to here and here we are! Cool how technology works huh? Whatcha been cooking guys it smells awful," Lindsey asked sniffing the air and shuddering lightly.
"That'd be me dawg," Gunn admitted sheepishly.
"Oz you let him cook?" Anya asked astounded.
Oz looked at Anya and gave a patent nonchalant shrug.
"I wasn't going to," he said simply.
~*~
Willow watched Buffy as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail and then went in search for her shoes.
"Are you sure you're okay Buffy? I mean you sound a lot better than last night but still you've got to have some aches-"
"It's cool Wills. I'm fine. I can't be stuck in bed like while Quentin thinks he's won. It's time we took that old bastard down and make him realize who he's dealin' with!"
Willow frowned slightly and worried her bottom lip.
"The Slayer?" she asked hesitantly.
Buffy sent her a surprised look.
"Well that too but I meant the Scoobies! All of us as wide spread and diverse as we are. In fact I've gotten the ball rolling on that as well."
Willow rose from her perch on the edge of Buffy's bed.
"Really?" she asked not quite hiding her excitement.
Buffy smirked.
"Down girl, you've got a boyfriend," she commented slyly as she watched Willow blush and look away. She walked to the door with a small smile. "I invited Tara to come down and help us out. She'll be here soon."
Willow tried to affect an indifferent attitude with a nonchalant shrug.
"That's cool," she mumbled.
"Good, cuz you know if it weren't I can do without her help Wills," Buffy replied seriously as she opened her door in time to hear another door down the hall close. She looked down and gave a shrug as no one appeared.
Willow wrapped an arm around Buffy's shoulder in a brief shoulder hug before she let go, conscious of Buffy's still sore shoulder.
"I'm fine really. I mean I'm with Oz. And me? So not gay!"
Buffy laughed as she shook her head.
"But if you were?" she asked leadingly.
"If I were then I'd give it a try," Willow murmured quietly. "But I'm not so.....smells like Gunn's been fixing breakfast again. Whose turn is it for a donut run?"
~*~
Wesley wandered into one of the bedrooms and it seemed had just shut the door when it was opened and a towel clad Spike wandered in rubbing furiously at his platinum locks.
Wes regarded Spike for a moment before Spike noticed him.
He jumped, his heart beating like crazy in his chest as he realized who was in his room.
Swallowing back a brief spout of anger at the intrusion Spike let a condescending look appear on his face.
"Well, well, you put stalkin' on the long list of letters behind your name doc?" he drawled out.
Wes frowned and then smiled easily.
"I see you weren't expecting me," he replied calmly.
"Bloody right I wasn't! Listen I don't need your shit right now okay?" Spike muttered as he opened the door waving Wesley out.
"I see you need to get dressed. But I'm glad I came. You've missed your last two sessions Spike. I was concerned," Wes stated as he strode out of the room.
Spike resisted the urge to apologize.
"Well," he began bitingly. "It's not like you don't get paid whether I'm there or not Wesley! Besides I've been a mite busy."
"Doing what?" Wes asked curiously.
Spike shrugged not ready to get into it at the moment, especially not with Buffy only a few doors down.
"My business," was his clipped reply before he slammed the door in Wes's curious face.
Wes shoved his hands into his pockets and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Well, it appeared Spike was keeping secrets, he thought as he made his way downstairs.
He briefly wondered what they were, then gave a mental shrug Spike would tell him in his own time.
As he descended the stairs his gaze was drawn to the lone figure in the room.
His eyes widened comically and he nearly tripped over his own feet.
"Buffy?" he gasped out.
Buffy turned from the window she'd been brooding at and blinked in surprise and shock as she took in Wes.
"What are you doing here?" she asked startled.
Wes smiled slightly as he realized Spike's secrets were all probably in regards to this woman.
"Hello Buffy," he replied warmly and walked to her giving her a warm hug, which she returned.
"Hello Wesley. Now back to my question what brings you here? How'd you find me?"
"Well I trailed along with Lilah, thus leading me to you. Which I have to say is quite the surprise considering who I found upstairs," he replied watching her closely.
Buffy stiffened and her gaze flew to the stairs.
"You didn't talk to Spike did you?" she demanded.
"A bit. What's wrong you don't think I'm going to tell him do you?" he asked curiously.
Buffy sucked in a deep breath and glanced at Wes and tried to give him a small reassuring smile. She barely succeeded.
"No! I trust you Wes, but if he ever found out....." she trailed off; she didn't even want to think about that prospect.
"Well-"
"Buffy, you coming with? Hi Wes." Willow asked as she came into the livingroom car keys dangling from her hand.
"Donut run?" Buffy asked.
"McDonalds run it was unanimous," Willow corrected contritely.
Buffy flashed a quick grin at Wes.
"I'll be back and then we can discuss what Lilah's doing here. It's good to see you Wes," she said happily as she followed Willow out.
Spike slowly shoved off the wall he'd been leaning against to eavesdrop on the conversation in the livingroom and walked down the stairs.
"So," he began with deceptive calm. "You and the wife huh? What doesn't she want me to know hmmmm?" he asked carefully.
Wes didn't even blink before he asked his own question, used to Spike's anger.
"Are you jealous?"
Spike sucked in his cheeks exposing the harsh slant of his cheekbones as he did so. Don't rise to the bait, he told himself even as he did so.
"Should I be?" he spat the question out. "You have a thing with my wife Wes? You touch her?!"
Wes slowly took a seat and looked up at Spike.
"Sit down Spike," he said softly.
Spike shook his head.
"Nope! No, I'm not playing patient with you. I want a straight answer out of you. And I want it now! How do you know Buffy and why was she so happy to see you?"
"Was she? Happy I mean. I got the impression she was startled and then wary, then finally settled on happy. Does it disturb you to see her happy?"
Scowling Spike refused to answer. Wesley was making this into one of their sessions and he wasn't going to play along. He wanted answers!
"Answer me," he yelled.
"I'd be more than happy to," Lilah's voice replied from behind him.
Swinging around Spike's eyes narrowed even more and he regarded his lawyer with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.
"What do you know about this Lilah and why are you here?"
Lilah glanced at Wes who caught her eye and gave a small shrug, the ball was in her court.
"I came looking for you actually. In regards to your wife," she began.
"Why?" he demanded as he felt the walls begin to close in around him as the Scoobies filed into the room curious as to what was going on.
Or so it seemed to Spike, in fact it wasn't curiosity but a need to defend Buffy while she gone. They were all pretty sure she would need it once Lilah finished.
"Well as you know when you got arrested you were set up with the prison shrink right?" Lilah asked.
Spike gave a small nod.
"Guess again. The prison you were in had no in house shrink, in fact the one they did have was an over run, idiot. Buffy-"
"Buffy?" Spike muttered darkly his gaze clouding with anger. It always came back to her didn't it?
Always.
"Buffy," Lilah repeated firmly. "Buffy suggested to Wesley that he take a look at the files of the prisoners and see if any of them interested him. He chose you-"
"I bet," Spike replied with a bitter smile. "Buffy just happened to suggest this? What no hidden agenda's at all? I doubt that! She wanted you to keep tabs on me! Did you go to her after we spoke?! Fill her in on all of my dirty little secrets? Did you?!"
He was yelling by now and didn't care who heard him as he advanced on Wesley.
"I suggest that you calm down Spike," Wes advised.
"You suggest! Well fuck off you bloody-What about after I got out huh? You still on her payroll Wesley? Tell her my every thought? My every emotion! I can't believe this! She's always there, messin' with my life. Screwin around-"
"She didn't hire him," Faith's voice broke through his yelling.
"Oh did you hire 'im for me then luv?" Spike asked savagely as he glared at Faith.
"No. No one hired him. Buffy wanted you to have some one to talk to. I told her to leave it alone but she couldn't let it go-"Faith continued.
"She asked me to refer her to a good shrink," Lilah interjected. "I suggested Wes."
"Listen Spike she's not out to get you. Uh...I mean at least not anymore," Gunn said lamely.
Spike ignored them all his eyes finally resting on Wesley with a cold fury.
"You and me. Outside. Now," he ordered as he brushed past all of them and made his way to the kitchen and into the back yard.
He didn't wait to see if Wesley followed behind.
"Tell me this is some kind of sick joke," he breathed out raggedly.
"That Buffy loved you enough to be concerned for your mental health and made the move to get you help before things got out of control for you?" was Wes's calm question.
"You make it sound so simple! It's not," Spike exploded.
"Isn't it? She loved you; she wanted the best for you. You remember those early years, the anger, the hate Spike. It wasn't healthy and with my help you-"
"I was fine. I didn't need help. Especially not provided by her," he barked out cutting Wes off.
"You aren't angry about that Spike are you?"
Spike paced on the dried out grass and shoved a hand through his damp hair.
"Shut up," he muttered.
"What upsets you is that she cared while you couldn't make yourself feel anything but hate for her."
"You're wrong. I didn't care-I don't care about her feelings Wesley! That's just it. I don't care about her at all! You know that! We've talked about it."
Wes smiled and took a seat on the porch steps and regarded Spike silently for a moment.
"So I see we're back to this then? We've been through this phase a few years ago and we know how that turned out," Wes felt the need to point out.
Spike cast him an irritated look the anger having drained out of him as abruptly as it had come.
"It went just fine you mangy git," he muttered.
"Right of course. Need I remind you regression isn't a wise move, and not when it is an ill disguised attempt to put distance between you and Buffy."
"Wife," Spike corrected. "She's my wife."
Wes's grin was huge as he clapped his hands.
"I see a few things I've said stuck with you Spike. You're comfortable with saying that now, admitting you and her are linked in more than one way. But that was an achievement reached a while ago. We were working on something else before you disappeared. Do you remember?"
Spike paused to glare up at the bright blue sky before he reluctantly nodded his head.
"I remember," he grumbled.
"Good. Now Spike this was what you wanted remember? A chance to show her certain things. Certain emoti-"
"I hate her," Spike whispered as he dropped down next to Wes.
Wes made a sympathetic noise in the back of his throat before he clamped a hand on Spike's back.
"At one time. Now we both know that's a lie."
They were silent for a while each lost in their own thoughts.
"You know," Wes said, "Try not to judge her too harshly Spike. There are things you don't know. Personal things. Granted she's made a few mistakes but then so have you and in my view yours have exceeded hers. Don't judge her and I'm sure she won't judge you."
Spike swiveled to peer at him.
"Personal things? What the hell does that mean Wes? What aren't you telling me here?"
"You know as your psychiatrist Spike anything said between us is privileged information the same applies to Buffy."
Spike's face held all the shock and disbelief he was feeling at that moment.
"You're saying you treated Buffy?" he demanded incredulously.
Wes shook his head.
"I'm not going to talk about this with you. I only say this because she's suffered too and you conveniently like to forget you were indeed a bad man. A criminal and she was doing her job as she saw fit."
Wes rose and left Spike sitting alone on the steps to ponder what had been said. He couldn't believe Buffy had seen Wes.
She seemed so strong, so in control.
Well most of the time, he reflected. Except for that one time but that had been his fault he knew.
He'd known on a subconscious level that he hadn't been the only one to hurt after he'd been locked up. That Buffy hurt too. But his pride and anger had made him immune to her pain. He'd been a fool back then, refused to see her, talk to her, to speak her name for a whole year and by then she hadn't bothered to get in touch in a good while.
Wes had been right when he'd said he'd gotten over the hate years ago but there was a bit of residual anger he needed to deal with.
Shaking his head he glared down at his clenched hands.
Why did it bother him to think about Buffy talking to Wesley? He had the sick feeling it had to have been something for her to unburden herself on a professional psychiatrist. She was gunho on doing things herself.
Rising he thrust his hands into his pockets and raised his face to the bright sun, his eyes falling closed.
His thoughts drifted to his last session with Wes and what they'd discussed. Basically the same theme for a whole year.
Love.
Give.
Forgive.
He was a man who hated change. A man who had thought himself incapable of change, especially to make himself a better man.
A freer man. One who could be everything Buffy needed. She didn't think he had it in him and he had agreed at the time. Why should he change?
Why would he have to?
He'd lived a long life fine just the way he was. Hard, unyielding. If you crossed him you paid. That was the end of it.
But what he'd noticed thanks to Wesley pointing it out he had already changed.
He could from prison still have taken care of Buffy.
Killed her.
He'd lied to himself saying he wanted the pleasure himself, but it had been a lie. An illusion.
It had been a slow process one he had not even been aware of. The minute he resisted the urge to lash out and get rid of Buffy was the moment he changed and now as he stood alone he knew maybe if he tried hard enough and God knew he had been trying he could start again with Buffy.
~*~
Buffy stepped into the house her arms full of fast food and as her eyes took in the people gathered around the livingroom she wondered briefly why the past had a way of sneaking up on her while she wasn't looking.
Lilah and Linds were people she associated with Spike and so rarely went out of her way to actually visit them face to face. Though she did speak to Lilah regularly.
She gave a hesitant smile as she passed the food out and Willow did the drinks.
"What brings you all here?" she asked then as she took a sip of her coffee, as all of the seats were occupied she leaned against the wall.
"That would be me pet," Spike's voice in her ear startled her and she resisted the urge to jump and turned her gaze to his to glare at him only to narrow her eyes in surprise.
He was smiling at her.
A genuine all be it hesitant smile that reached his cerulean eyes.
What the hell was going on? She wondered as she felt flare of heat slither its way through her body.
Damn it, she grumbled to herself as she felt herself responding to his smile with one of her own.
It was brief but it was monumental.
Faith's clearing of her throat broke the moment.
"If you're done with your love fest we'd all like to hear what these new and interesting people have to say," Anya said as she glanced at Lindsey curiously, her gaze lingering on his wooden hand before she fixed her gaze on Spike and Buffy.
Buffy moved away from Spike abruptly, putting as much distance between them as she could.
But it was useless as he followed her like a puppy and she finally gave up, giving a huge sigh and crossing her arms she regarded the room and rested on Lindsey then Lilah.
"Explain away," she requested.
Buffy listened with half an ear as Lindsey explained with bits and pieces from Lilah. Her thoughts were on Spike who was standing a little too close and she could feel his body heat crawl around her, invading her.
Se wondered what game he was playing at as he eased his body closer to her, and then gave herself a small shake of her head.
She shouldn't be freaking out; she'd been closer to him yesterday. Almost plastered to his side.
But, she conceded that had been while she'd been sick. Delirious and feverish, it certainly didn't count.
Right?
"Well there you go," she heard Lilah announce and looked up to find everyone looking at her expectantly.
"Hmmmm?" she asked then blinked and began again. "Okay. So Quentin thinks I'm dead. That's good. This means I can work undetected for the mean time. I have Tara coming in to help Willow with those files, once we get them all sorted out we'll know the whole scale of Omega and what needs to be tweaked to have it crumbling around his ears. Lilah and Linds I need you to put out feelers see if any one knows of anything that's going down, something Omega might be interested in. I want to hit them where it hurts. Xander I need you to get in touch with your department. I want you to..."
People were told their jobs and soon the room was filled with only three people.
Buffy took a seat on the couch and Spike followed.
Willow was busy typing away on one of the laptops and tried to pretend she wasn't listening to them.
"So what was that?" Buffy asked.
Spike arched a brow and glanced at her.
"What was what?" he asked innocently.
"This," Buffy waved a hand between them.
"What is this? Space I'd say," Spike replied cheekily.
Buffy let out a snort of laughter.
"You know this isn't going to work. Whatever you're planning, so I'll tell you right now stop it! I don't have time to deal with you and this situation at the moment and you acting weird isn't helping matters."
"Weird?" he echoed incredulously. "Just tryin' to be friendly is all and you're acting like a bitch about it!"
"A bitch? Excuse me if the thought of you being friendly is almost sickening what with the fact you hate me and would like nothing more than to kill me! And now you wanna act like I've hurt your feelings well I'm sorry Spike but you and nice don't go hand in hand!"
Spike rose to his feet stiffly, anger making his voice low and harsh.
"You know if you didn't always see me as the evil, bastard come to do you in, you might see I was trying," he bit out.
"Trying what?" Buffy demanded.
"Trying," he yelled. "Like you wanted!"
Buffy recoiled and blanched as his words hit her a pain bloomed akin to a physical blow.
"No," she snapped rising too. "No we aren't going down that road. Not now, not ever. So do-don't Spike," she finished quietly.
Spike shook his head and clenched his jaw.
"Too late. I'm tired of this. We've got to talk-"
The doorbell was a welcomed distraction and Buffy gladly bounded over to the door and swung it open.
Tara gave a shy smile as Buffy embraced her and led her in. Tara took in Spike, his angry stance and lingered on Willow.
"Hi Buffy," she said.
"It's good to see you Tara. This is um....this is Spike and you know Willow."
Spike shook off his anger long enough to smile disarmingly and offer a hand.
Tara blushed as he took her hand and brought it to his lips.
"H-Hi," she stuttered out, reverting back to her old self briefly.
"Pleasure," Spike murmured lowly.
Buffy told herself it wasn't jealously as she tugged Tara away from Spike and practically shoved her down next to Willow.
"Hi Tara," Willow said cheerfully. "So this is what we're working with at the moment..."
Buffy tried to slip away discretely but Spike followed.
"I want some answers," Spike said as he followed her upstairs.
"I haven't heard any questions Spike," she muttered coolly.
"Well I'll ask 'em then," he muttered as he grabbed her arm to make her stop. "Buffy why did you go see Wes? Loo-"
"Did he tell you I saw him?" she asked through gritted teeth betrayal flaring fast and sharp. She pulled out of his grasp angrily.
"Buffy listen to me it doesn't matter. I want you to talk t-"
"So now you wanna talk is that it Spike? You're ready and that means I should be too because you want it that way! Well news flash Spieky the world does not revolve around you and I don't give a fuck what you want right now! What's between Wes and I is my business and right now I don't want to talk to you, much less be anywhere near you. Quit playing games and when all is said and done we'll go back to what we are. Not husband and wife, not friends, not ex-lovers. Enemies. It's that simple and that easy. You need to let us go. I already have."
She turned to walk away he caught her arm and pulled her to a stop. Whirled her to face him.
"Liar," he growled. "You want to make me believe this between us is over with? That if I ignore it long enough it will go away? That I'll be able to let this go? Give me another one pet. Tell me how am I to go about that? You think I haven't tried to do that before this? Well let me tell you something Slayer it hasn't worked and it never will because you know what?"
Buffy's face held a look of bored indulgence.
"No what?" she asked impatiently.
"Love doesn't die," he replied simply.
She inhaled sharply and shook her head.
"There is no love," she stated coldly.
Spike allowed a smirk to appear.
"That's what I thought too, maybe you should talk to Wes he'll help you with that luv."
"We're over," she said watched his eyes narrow, anger flicker, fade.
He reached out cupped her cheek.
"We'll never be over," he whispered gently, an understanding he hadn't known was possible dawning.
Making him bold and impervious to her token protest as he pulled her to him, kissed her.
They'd shared two kisses before this one. The first one had been a mere brush of the lips, between two lost souls in the dark. The second had been his choice of punishment; he'd wanted to make her suffer.
This kiss though had all the intention behind the words he's spieled out. It had the heat, the passion.
It had tongue, it had teeth.
There was a second, one split second where Buffy fought with herself, tried to resist the unquenchable urge to devour. To let him take her, to let herself love him. To give him everything.
But it was pointless.
She could admit it as she fisted her hands in his damp hair and broke away to suck in much needed air. Only to dive right back in parting her lips to his demanding tongue once again.
She was needy, and crazy and-
God knew she loved this man.
The only thing they were as good at was hurling insults and pissing one another off.
Sex had never been a problem between them.
And if sex was what he wanted then who was she to deny them both the pleasure?
And though her logic made no sense, when she'd told herself she was going to stay strong. This didn't mean she had to immerse herself in Spike again.
"What are you doing Buffy?" Spike gasped out as he felt her hands slid under his shirt, span over his chest and down his sides.
"Don't you want to have sex Spike?" she asked heavy lidded, mouth swollen.
She looked ready to be had.
Spike scowled.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Don't get virtuous on me," she snapped as she began to remover her hands.
Spike's eyes narrowed his mind racing. She was playing games with him. She wanted sex, he thought darkly.
Just sex.
A small smile began to play around the edges of his mouth. He'd give her sex, and then some.
"M'not," he whispered as he dipped his head nibbled at her neck. "Buckle up luv; you're in for the ride of your life."
He scooped her up and strode to his room.
Her husky laughter trailing in their wake.
He could play games, and he had one in mind now. By the time he was finished with her there would be no doubt in her mind who she belonged to. Who she was meant to be with. Just because she wasn't willing to try didn't mean he wasn't.
Hell he figured for being a bloody daft prick for so long, ignoring all her attempts at closure, or at least forgiveness it was about damn time he gave it his all.
He could be strong enough for the both of them.
He slammed his door shut. ~*~
"So we should leave now," Willow announced as she wandered into the kitchen looking at the remaining Scoobies.
Faith lifted a curious brow.
Oz's gaze didn't leave his laptop.
"Why?" Anya asked.
"Well.....I'm sure Buffy and Spike wanna be alone right now," Willow muttered blushing and looking away from their curious stares.
"Oh why? They makin' with the wild monkey sex?" Faith asked jokingly. When Willow didn't contradict her she groaned closing her eyes. "Oh my God, that girl's gonna be the death of me I tell you! What's she thinking? He's just gonna hurt her!"
"I think he's trying. Well that's what he told her earlier," Willow offered.
"Good thing Xander's not here then huh? He'd be freaking out," Anya commented. "I wonder how Spike is in bed. By looking at him you'd never know he-"
"Let's go. Give them some privacy," Oz interrupted rising picking up his computer.
"Right," Anya muttered rising too. "So where are we going to go?"
"I wish Gunn were here," Faith grumbled. "Then maybe B wouldn't be the only one getting' any right now."
"Well at least you have a boyfriend who loves you and only you. I have Xander the poster child for man-child!" Anya exclaimed angrily.
Faith slung a companionable arm over Anya's shoulders.
"Well did you see Linds? He's a hottie to the tenth degree. Too bad though 'bout the hand but still he's got it all goin' for him Anya. Why not test out those waters?" she asked encouragingly.
Anya got a thoughtful expression on her face as they left the house.
Oz glanced at Willow who was blushing beet red now and looking extremely embarrassed smiled softly.
He took her hand.
Willow glanced up and smiled back at him before her eyes were drawn to Tara's form in front of them walking slightly ahead of Faith and Anya.
Quickly she dropped her gaze, confusion filling her.
Oz's eyes narrowed in on Tara then Willow, not liking the vibes he was getting. Not one single bit.
~*~
A/N: Okay I didn't forget about the love scene I promise. In fact it's in the very next chapter. Which will be a flashback chapter if it's not too long. Anyway any thoughts on this Tara/Willow/Oz thing? People have been complaining about the lack of Spuffy sex and well you'll be getting it in spades in the next couple of chapters so I'll leave you to chew on that k? Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this.