Title: So Much at Stake

Author: spike_me_1

Email: spike-me_1@yahoo.com           

URL:

Disclaimer: I own nothing.  All hail Joss Whedon.

Rating: R

Spoilers: Everything up to "Never Leave Me"

Dedication:  To Sandy, for always encouraging me and believing that I have a tale worth telling.

Summary:  Season Seven… Spike Me style.

Chapter 7

            Eight days passed by quickly as the newly revived team of heroes began training for the battle that lay ahead of them.  Seventeen more potentials appeared at Buffy's door and more were sure to follow.  It seemed Revollo drive had become a beacon in the night for slayers around the world. 

            Night had just fallen, and the trees were singing in the wind.  The shards of moonlight reflected off the golden hair and perplexed face that sat beside Spike on the wooden porch.  He simply stared at the beautiful creature.

            "Stop," she said without moving her gaze from the dancing leaves. 

Spike smiled.    "Can't help it, love.  I'm just enjoying life…unlife while I can.  Thought I'd see the wonders of the world."

            "So when do you leave?" she asked in a hopeful manner as she teased the man to her left.

            "Don't have to.  They are all right here," he smiled sincerely.

            "Really?  I never knew oak trees, plastic pink flamingoes, and a pile of poop from Mrs. McGregor's schnauzer were considered wonders of the world."

            Spike laughed quietly.  "Not exactly what I was talking about and eww is that what that smell is?"  Buffy nodded her head as she smiled at him. "I was thinking more along the lines of the curve of your cheeks, the reflection of your brilliant eyes in the pale moonlight, the way the autumn breeze makes your hair dance and glow about your face like a halo." 

Buffy turned to face him, and her gaze was as intense as his. 

He lightly brushed his fingers along her cheekbone.  "The touch of pink on your skin right about there that makes you look like an angel, and the smile that gives me the strength to live and that makes my undead heart beat." 

Silence followed as he continued to stroke her face.  Slowly her hand crept onto his, and they held onto each other.  The crisp autumn breath surrounded them like a protective sphere and filled their nostrils with the faint smell of grass and blossoms.  It felt as if they were breathing in the very essence of life at that moment.  Their faces drew nearer to each other, and their smiles disappeared. 

            "OH SPIKE!" a voice mocked in a very Scarlet O'Hara fashion as giggles filled the air.  "Ravage me with your hot body!" came a high-pitched cry from the window.

            "Oh Buffy, love.  I can't help it!  I'm just a love sick puppy trapped in the body of a god!  I can't deny my sinister attraction and neither can you!"  Sounds of fake regurgitation filled the night air. 

            "Or my terrible hair" came Xander's overly deep voice.  More giggling ensued. 

            Buffy's face reddened.  "That's it!  All of you are grounded!  No swords or sparring for a good two days!  And Xander Harris you suck!" 

A collective "Awww!" resounded, and soon the dark forms had left the opened window. 

Spike laughed in spite of himself.  Buffy looked at him angrily.  "That wasn't funny!"  Spike laughed harder.  "I mean it!  They were totally out of line!"  Spike's laugh began to carry in the wind even louder.  "And I soooooo do not talk like that!"  With that, Spike doubled over in a fit of laughter that turned into convulsions.  Buffy just stared at the uncontrolled fit before her eyes and soon joined in.  Within seconds two less-than-natural blondes rolled helplessly on the soft grass, tears streaming down their cheeks. 

As the giggles came fewer and farther between, they sat up and wiped the tears from their eyes.  Boldly, Spike leaned over and wiped the grass off of Buffy's blouse.  She jumped up and began to finish the job, brushing the leaves off of her jeans.  Spike followed her example slowly and more deliberately as he watched her. 

"Let's get out of here," he smiled.  "I could go for a quick jaunt before bed.  How bout you?"

"A walk would be nice," she smiled in return.  "Come on Captain Peroxide," she held out her hand, " let's go find some unsuspecting vamp to toss around."

"Ah.  A woman after my own heart."

**********

            Xander pouted as he threw his form dramatically on the couch between a chatty Dawn and Willow.  Both ignored him and continued their heated debate.

            "He so did learn how to shoot those arrows!  I saw it on the dvd extras!  He took archery lessons!" Dawn exclaimed exasperated. 

            "Come on Dawnie, they were totally computer generated.  There is no way he could be that good after a few months of training," Willow argued.

            "Okay, well maybe for some scenes, but you have to admit he did a good job of looking like he knew what he was doing.  That was impressive," she replied.

            "Girl, with a face like that he doesn't have to know how to do anything to be impressive.  He can just stand there and make that sexy smirk.  Of course he's no Liv Tyler, but I can honestly admit had I met him before Oz… I'd have lost it to an elf instead of a wolf."

            "Willow!" Dawn exclaimed and giggled.

            "Well come on!  Again, Liv Tyler… so amazingly yummy!  But I'm not  blind! I find some men still slightly attractive.   And he is quite the looker.  You should find him, tie him up and bring him home Dawnie.  I bet he isn't some psycho jacket wearing jock."

            Xander sighed loudly to grab the girls' attention.  Neither of them faltered in their discussion. 

            "Hell yeah.  He can make me quiver anytime," Dawn giggled.

            "Okay, not to interrupt yet ANOTHER interesting and, might I say vital discussion about Orlando Bloom, because I know it's the key to winning the approaching apocalypse, but something terrible is happening.  I mean MAJOR tragedy here."
            "Oh my gosh Xander!  What?  What is it?  What happened?  Did Buffy find out something about the First?" Willow cried.

            "No.  Worse," he pouted.

            "Is she hurt?  Did something happen to her?" Dawn implored.

            Xander shook his head and replied in a very broody Angel-like tone, "Buffy yelled at me!"

            The two women looked angry at first and then looked at each other before busting into a fit of laughter.  "This is serious you two!  She was way out of line!  Spike has her brainwashed!  We have to do something! She said I suck!"  The two rolled their eyes and stood from the couch, patting the man on the head as they left for the kitchen. 

            "Xander, you know she loves you and didn't mean it.  Maybe if you stopped teasing her she wouldn't retaliate," Willow called from the kitchen.

            Xander was left alone in the dark, pout more pronounced than before.  "I so do not suck."

********

            Buffy and Spike sauntered down the empty sidewalks of Sunnydale.  The majority of the town had deserted it after all of the recent inexplicable occurrences.  The blindfold had really been lifted after the last day Sunnydale High was officially opened.  How can you deny Churago demons flailing their tentacles in the air and taking over the classrooms?  People were tired of ignoring everything and more importantly were past the point of frightened.  It was all for the better, according to Giles.  Now there were less people for Buffy to try and protect.  Buffy had no arguments there.

            The silence of it all was eerie though.  Buffy and Spike's footsteps echoed off of the walls of the abandoned buildings with an unnatural resound.  However, they reveled in the quiet company.  The silence between the two was uncharacteristically comfortable.  Buffy couldn't remember the last time she felt so at ease with someone.  It frightened her. 

            Spike glanced at her momentarily and gave her his famous smile and head tilt.  She beamed back at him. 

            "Beautiful night innit it?" he said, inhaling an unnecessary breath.  "Just can't stop taking in all this fresh air.  Not that I need to."  Buffy smiled back at him.

            "I know," she inhaled.  "Nights like this remind me of the good old days… err nights in high school."

            "Such as?" Spike asked, left eyebrow raised.

            "The usual.  Patrolling after finishing my geometry homework, heading over to Willow's for a slumber party full of gossip and chocolate chip cookie baking, listening to Cordelia complain about her shoes getting grass stains from the cemetery, watching Xander's face light up when he  got the upper hand and dusted a vamp, listening to Giles lecture and complain about our immaturity… ya know just fun stuff."

            "You really are quite unusual," he smiled.

            "I know.  How many people can say their fondest memories took place in a cemetery?" Spike started to open his mouth and she added, "Besides you?"  His stifled laugh bounced off of the structures as the two approached the bus station.  He realized where they were headed and slowed down a bit.

            "We've made it pretty far out, love.  Better start heading back to the fort.  We really shouldn't stray the perimeter unless we have a real purpose in it."

            "Yeah.  You're right.  I didn't realize we had walked this far.  I dunno… just kinda felt drawn here."

"Same here," he looked puzzled.

"Besides, I was enjoying the company," she sighed and then saw the oh-too-pleased look on Spike's face.  "For once," she added just to make the situation feel a bit more normal.  He looked slightly crushed so she wrapped both of her arms around his right bicep.  "Okay, Billy Idol.  What's say you take me home?" 

Spike smiled and turned the two around.  His step was light suddenly, as if he were walking on air as he headed back to the Summers' home.  The wind picked up and the vampire halted quickly.  He began sniffing at the air like a beagle. 

"What is it Lassie?" Buffy teased, "Did Timmy fall down the well?"

"We're not alone," he said quietly. 

Buffy stood still, summoning all of her slayer skill to take in her surroundings.  The hair on the back of her neck began to tingle and a familiar ache in her stomach appeared.

"My hair's on end," Spike whispered.  I know that feeling.  It's a slayer."

"Not just any slayer," the two heard from behind them.  They turned around to face the brunette staring at them, arms crossed as she leaned against an empty Greyhound.

"Faith," Buffy stated dryly.  "I thought I recognized that pain I was starting to get.  Only it's usually in my ass."

"Sup B?" she asked as she approached the two. 

"What are you doing here Faith?"  Buffy asked. 

So this was Faith, Spike wondered.  Somehow Buffy had forgotten to mention in her tales about the rouge slayer that she was quite the knockout.  He could feel the tension in Buffy's body beside him and knew that this wasn't all fun and games like they were making it seem.  He growled softly, stating his claim on the small blonde. 

"Nice outfit," Buffy continued, "only I thought you were trading in the two- bit- ho look for bright orange or something in stripes."

The brunette laughed genuinely.  "Ouch.  Nice burn B.  I see you haven't lost your sense of humor," she said as she walked closer to inspect Spike.  "Or your taste in hotties."  Faith stopped in front of him and extended her hand.  "Name's Faith, in case you didn't hear Goldilocks over there."

Spike grabbed her hand and shook it with the strength that only a slayer could withstand.  "Name's Spike."

"I know," she laughed as she withdrew her hand and shook the pain out of it.  "William the Bloody.  We've actually met before.  I do believe I may have even cause some wet dreams of yours."

"S'cuse me?"  he asked.

"Yeah," she smiled, "Only I was in a Buffy suit and you two weren't quite so friendly."

"Body switch," Buffy informed Spike as she looked at him.  "Seems Faith has some insecurities about her appearance and meaningless life so she decided to steal mine."

"It's all bygones, yo," Faith said as she held her hands up in the air to offer truce.  "I'm different now.  Been all rehabilitated.  Done my time and now it's back to work."

"I'm not going to ask you again, Faith.  What are you doing here?"

"Chill B.  I'm getting to that," she cooed as she fumbled in her blue jean jacket for her cigarettes.  She pulled one out and then began fumbling for a lighter.   A bright spark lit in front of her face, nearly singing her hair as she looked up to see and very unhappy Spike with a zippo.  "Thanks, man.  Really needed the fresh air ya know?"

Spike scowled and stuck his lighter back in his leather coat.  "Those things will kill you.  Why not finish the whole pack now while I go steal a truckload for you?"

"Nah, I'm good.  Besides they don't kill.  They're loaded with vitamin c."

"I'm one second away from kicking your skanky, ho-bag self back onto that charter and back to whatever hole you climbed out of," Buffy insisted.

"Alright!  See this is how it played.  I'm doing my time in the state, cleaning myself up and thinking about where I went wrong and who I really am.  Then one day I get a visitor and I'm like 'Who the hell is coming to visit me?'  Turns out it's old stuffy Watcher-man Wesley only he's not so stuffy and kinda hot.  Like I can totally tell he'd hold up for a few rounds on and off the court if you know what I mean."  Silence settled around so Faith continued. "So Wes comes up to me and says the whole world's gone to hell in a hand basket and that Angelus is lose and I'm the only one that can help.  So, I bust the glass, follow his tight butt down to some hotel and meet his crew.  Long story short, I helped them kill the bad guy, some mousy chick named Fred got Angel's soul back, Wes discovered that something terrible was happening here, and badabing I'm back at the good old Hellmouth."  She took in a deep breath, "Home sweet home."

"So I'm supposed to believe that Angel and his gang called you instead of me and that you're one of the good guys?" Buffy asked, obviously not impressed or moved by her story.

"Hey, stranger things have happened," Faith shrugged.  "I bet Blue Eyes over here can vouch for that."

"Want me to kill her, Buffy?" he asked, attempting to call Faith on her bluff.  "I wouldn't mind making her the third notch on my slayer belt."

"Only way we're fighting is in the sheets, yo cause you're wicked fine.  I wouldn't mind making you a notch on my headboard," she spit back.

"Enough!" Buffy intervened.  "Spike, you watch her while I run to the payphone across the street and call L.A.  I have a few questions for tall, dark, and forgetful."

"My pleasure, love," he called over his shoulder as he watched the woman cross the street.  "Can I bum I smoke?" he asked once he turned his attention back to the scantly dressed brunette before him. 

"Sure thing, Blondie," she smiled as she searched for the pack once more.

"Oh, and you were right," he said with a wicked gleam in his eye.

"Bout what?" she asked.

"I did pop like warm champagne."

** The next chapter is coming up soon.  Now that the show is over, I feel like I can take this story where I want it to go.  Sorry for the long wait in between, but I promise that I will get this done in the next week.  I know I, like many of you, need my Spuffy goodness now more than ever. **