Summary:       Anne talks to Spike about the fight he had with Buffy.  She convinces him to apologize, but will Buffy listen?

Disclaimer:    Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own everything.  But I wouldn't mind leasing Spike from them for a couple of weeks :)

Feedback:     As always, appreciated.

Foot in Mouth Disease

Spike awoke to a candle hitting him dead center in the chest.  His hand went instinctively to the spot where the offensive object had painfully hit a bruise, but he didn't open his eyes.  He knew exactly who was standing at the foot of the couch.

"She did that to me once, you know.  Threw a bleeding candle at me.  Too damn scared to actually touch me to wake me up.  What's your excuse?"  Spike rolled over, leaving the woman to stare at his back.

"You made her cry."  It wasn't an accusation.  There were no angry emotions attached to it.  No, it was a statement of fact.  Spike just ignored her.  She walked around to the back of the couch, bending over to look at his face.  "You made her cry."

Spike rolled the other way.  If I say nothing she'll leave, he thought.  Suddenly, he felt another object land connect with his shin.  "Bloody hell, Anne.  Would you stop chucking things at me!  Vampire in pain here."  With a resigned sigh, Spike sat up on the couch, making sure to cover his lower body with his blanket.  Anne's lack of modesty always seem to inspire on overabundance of the trait in him. 

Anne walked over to his other side, sitting down next to Spike.  Her eyebrows were knit in confusion.  "You made her cry."

"Would you stop saying that!  I heard you the first time."  Spike reached for the cigarettes on his table.  "Did you come to tell me anything else, pet?"

Anne reached out her hand, stopping him before he could grab the lighter.  She waited until his eyes met her own.  Her tone was quiet and meaningful.  "William, you made her cry."

Spike lowered his head to his chest.  It was no use trying to avoid her.  After hundreds of years he knew that Anne was just as stubborn as he was.  They'd play this game all night if he didn't give in.  "Yeah, I made her cry."

Anne let go of his hand letting it fall to the cushion.  "Why?"  When Buffy had arrived back at the house, she had rushed past the Scoobies taking the stairs two at a time.  They heard the door to her bedroom slam shut.  No one had said a word, they had just stared at the ceiling.  A few minutes later they heard her sobs.  Elizabeth and Anne had automatically gone up to find out what was tearing at the heart of their soul-sister.

Spike wasn't sure what to say to the woman seated next to him.  His intimate relationship with Buffy was never something he had discussed with her.  Now, her not knowing, it was harder to explain why he had ended things with Buffy the way he had.  "I had to, pet.  Things couldn't stay the same between the two of us.  I had to let her go."

Anne knew much more than the vampire thought she did.  Once Buffy started talking, she wouldn't shut up.  "You love her.  You sleep with her.  You risk your life to find me for her.  And then you turn her away.  Spike, that doesn't make any sense."

It was Spike's turn to look at her in confusion.  "Who told you…"  Anne just wavered a hand in his face, acting like that didn't matter.  "No, I guess it doesn't matter.  I told her the truth.  Feelings change over three hundred years.  Whatever I felt for the Slayer is gone." 

Anne tilted her head.  "You're lying."  She watched as Spike shifted uncomfortable under her gaze.  "Her judgment when it comes to you is clouded.  All she sees is Angel and Riley and the hurt that went along with them.  But I don't.  I know you better than she does.  So if you think I'm going to fall for that load of crap, you can think again."  Anne took a deep breath before continuing, giving time for her words to sink in.  "Now, tell me why you did it."

Spike once again reached for his cigarettes, and was once again stopped by her firm grip.  Anne wasn't in the mood for stalling or distractions.  Spike let out a string of curses, none of which fazed her.  How could he tell her?  "Anne, I can't talk to you about this."

Anne stared at him for another moment, looking into the depths of his eyes.  She was searching for the answer there.  Spike was an open book if you just learned how to read his eyes.  "Me.  You pushed her away because of what happened to me?"  Anne jumped up from the couch.  "Are you a complete idiot?!"  Spike answered her with silence.  "What happened to me has nothing to do with her."

Spike's eyes locked with hers.  That statement he was prepared to argue.  "It has EVERYTHING to do with her."

Anne just shook her head.  "No, it doesn't.  Those things happened to me, Spike.  Me!  She's never felt what I felt.  She's never been through that kind of torture."

Spike's voice was a low growl, threatening, but at the same time it was heartbreaking.  "But she will.  When they join you together.  She'll feel it.  And she'll know exactly the monster I really am.  The same as the ones who did those things to you."  Spike looked away from Anne.

Now she understood.  Anne sat back down on the edge of the couch.  Her voice was calm, almost like a mother trying to explain away a hurtful situation to a child.  "But Spike, we aren't joined.  And those things didn't happen to her, they happened to me.  And in case you didn't notice, I don't think of you like that.  You are the only person besides Dawn and parts of myself that I can even stand to touch.  You're the person I spent hundreds of years telling my secrets to.  You're the person, who in those hundreds of years, never took advantage of me or my situation.  You're the person who saved me.  Which memories do you think will carry the most weight in her mind?"

"She paid me, you know."  Spike wasn't prepared to let go of the truth as he saw it.  No matter what Anne said, Buffy would always see him as the monster.  "She had the Watcher bring me her blood to feed on as payment for bringing you back." 

A sigh escaped from Anne's lips.  "She told me about the blood.  Spike it wasn't payment.  It was a gift.  She was so frustrated while you were gone.  She couldn't help.  She's the Slayer, and she had to sit on her ass while you did the dirty work.  You risked everything for her.  The blood was everything she had to give you in return."  Anne took Spike's hands in her own.  "Before the fight with Glory, remember what you said at the Magic Box?  Giles was explaining about the ritual.  Xander made some stupid comment.  Something like, why couldn't it be a lymph ritual.  And you said, cause it's always got to be blood.  It's always got to be blood."

Anne could see the confusion battling with the pain in his eyes.  He wanted to believe her, but something was stopping him.  "But, she had the Watcher bring it."

This time Anne's sigh was one of frustration.  "That was my fault.  I asked Giles where you were.  He said that you had gone back to the crypt.  I asked him if he had patched you up before you left.  He told me that you wouldn't even let him take a look.  Buffy asked how bad you were hurt.  I told her about the demon dog that attacked you.  Told her it had bitten you pretty bad.  Buffy was about to go after you herself, but Giles stopped her.  He told her that I needed her more than you did, but that he would take care of it.  Before he could leave, she told him to take the blood in the refrigerator.  She said if the bite was bad, it would help you recover."  Anne watched as understanding dawned.  "And if you had let her explain instead of making her CRY, you'd have known all of this by now."

Spike laid his head in his hand.  Nothing with the Slayer was easy.  Didn't he know that by now?  "I bloody well screwed it up this time, didn't I?"  Spike let out another round of curses.  He peeked through his fingers at Anne.  "She was really crying?  In front of the Scoobies?"

Anne knew that despite the lack of soul, Spike had a soft heart.  "Wailing like a banshee.  She wouldn't let Elizabeth or I out of her sight.  I'm only her because she finally fell asleep, and I had this crazy Slayer's instinct to come over here and kick your undead ass."

Spike smiled.  He really did like the chit.  She wasn't his Buffy, but she was special.  She had spunk.  "Let me get some clothes on and I'll let you do it."

Anne snorted her disapproval.  "Please.  Like I need your permission.  Hello? Chosen One.  I'll kick your ass whenever I want."  When Spike hadn't moved, Anne started pulling on the cover.  "But you are going to get up and get dressed.  You have an apology to make."

Spike grabbed the cover back from her.  "Hey now.  Let's not be eyeing the naughty bits.  Slayer will get right angry with you."  He wrapped the sheet around his waist as he stood.

Anne rolled her eyes to the ceiling.  It was a decidedly Summers' action.  "Fine.  I'll wait outside, but hurry up.  I'm not getting any younger."

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

By the time Anne and Spike made it back to the house, the Scoobies were gone.  Dawn had gone to bed hours before after Elizabeth assured her that Buffy was going to be fine.  Elizabeth too had gone to bed after Anne informed her she was going to talk to Spike. 

The Slayer and the vampire made their way up the stairs, trying not to disturb Giles who had passed out on the couch.  Once they were on the landing, Spike whispered, "It's a full house around here."

Anne nodded, continuing to walk to Buffy's door.  "From what I'm told, they are preparing to house all four of us here.  Giles is crashing on the couch.  Dawn still has her room, but she'll move in with Buffy when we find the last missing part.  Willow is staying with Xander, so Elizabeth and I are bunking in Mom's old room."  The pair was standing in front of Buffy's door.  "And this is where I leave you.  Be nice."  Anne reached up, placing a kiss on Spike's cheek before going to her own room. 

Spike watched until she disappeared into Joyce's old bedroom.  He was alone now.  Just him and Buffy's door.  Well, he had never been a coward.  Slowly he opened the door, peeking around the corner.  "Buffy?"

Buffy was asleep in her bed, Mr Gordo clutched tightly in her hand.  With the moonlight streaming through the window, he could see the tear stains still present on her face.  His chest tightened.  He had done that to her.  Spike made his way into the room trying not to wake her.  He stood over the bed, just content for the moment to watch her sleep. 

But Buffy's sleep wasn't content.  As he watched, she started to toss her head back and forth on the pillow.  Her face was contorting as if she were in pain.  Whatever dream she was having, it wasn't pleasant.  Then he heard a single word pass her lips.  "Spike."  He bent down so he could hear more of her one-sided conversation.  "Spike, don't leave me."  Her free hand balled into a fist at her side.

With vampiric speed, Spike crossed the room to sit in the chair in front of Buffy's desk.  He shucked off his boots, then stood and dropped his duster to the floor.  Finally he slid into bed next to Buffy.  As he pulled her into his arms, he whispered in her ear.  "I'm not going anywhere, luv.  I'm right here."  Buffy instinctively curled into Spike's body, nuzzling his neck in an attempt to get closer, while Spike lovingly stroked her back.  God, he had missed her.  Missed her scent and the feel of her in his arms.  He still needed to apologize, but for right now, life was perfect.

He could tell that the patterns of Buffy's dream changed when she breathed a comfortable sigh.  He felt the small smile appear on her lips.  Spike kissed the top of her head, while he continued to whisper reassuring words. 

But somewhere deep in Buffy's subconscious, warning bells were going off.  Something was wrong.  Not bad wrong, but wrong all the same.  Reality was intruding on her new dreams.  Those hands she felt stroking her back weren't the hands of a dream lover.  No, those were real hands.  Buffy's eyes slid open.  The sight of a black t-shirt confusing her even more.  She took a deep breath, her lungs filled with an unforgettable scent.  Spike.  Scent of Spike.  Hands of Spike.  Someone was talking to her.  Voice of Spike.  Buffy's eyes opened wide. 

She pushed the vampire away from her as she scrambled towards the opposite side of the bed.  "What are you doing here?"  Her voice was low, in deference to her sister sleeping across the hall, but it was full of anger.

Spike rolled onto his back.  Knew that was too good to last, he thought.  "I came to apologize for earlier.  I was a bloody ass and I'm sorry."  He could have walked his way around it, maybe kept a bit of his pride in tact, but what was the use?  He would end up apologizing anyway.  "Now that I've done that, come back to bed, Buffy.  I've missed you." 

For a moment, Buffy just stared at him.  She couldn't believe it!  He climbs into her bed in the middle of the night, gives her a half-ass apology and thinks that everything is okay.  Buffy got off the bed, walking to her closet.

Spike raised an eyebrow, while he pushed himself up on his elbows to watch her.  "Buffy, luv.  What are you doing?"

Buffy was crouched down in her closest.  She had opened the lid of her weapons chest.  "Oh, nothing.  Just looking for something."  She rifled through the contents.  Triumphantly, she raised her hand, a stake tightly in her grip.  "Found it!" 

Spike was more than a little concerned as she approached the bed, threateningly waving the stake.  "Buffy.  You don't want to do this."  He scooted farther up on the bed.  "Luv, I am sorry about what happened earlier, I really am.  It was a mistake.  A misunderstanding."  Spike crawled over to the other side, trying to put distance between the two of them.  "Slayer, I love you.  You know I do.  I was just being male.  Come on now, put the stake down and we'll talk about this."

Buffy lunged over the bed in an attempt to reach the blond vampire.  There was death in her eyes.  "Stop moving!"  She made another attempt, but he skidded away.  "This would be so much easier if you would stand still."

Spike and Buffy continued the game of cat and mouse several more times around the bed.  She would attempt to stake him, while he run away from her.  "Luv.  I know you don't want to dust me.  A minute ago you were curled in my arms like a happy little kitten.  Admit it."

Buffy stopped her attack.  She placed a hand on her hip.  "A kitten?  Comparing me to poker winners, are we?" 

Spike's eyes darted around the room.  There had to be something he could use to calm her down.  "No!  Ah, that's not what I meant at all.  What I meant to say was –"

He never got the chance.  Buffy's next attack had him flat on his back on the floor.  She was straddling his hips, her stake dangerously close to his chest.  "Now, this is better, isn't it?  Much more natural.  Like, you know, a nature film.  Watch as the quick and resourceful Slayer dusts the stupid, lame, bleached blond vampire who was dumb enough to enter her room only hours after telling her to get out of his life.  Yep, loved those nature films in high school."  Buffy pushed the point of the stake into his chest.  "Sad part is, the animal always ended up dead." 

Spike's eyes widened in shock.  She was actually going to do it this time.  "Buffy, please.  I'm sorry, luv.  I was stupid and hurtful.  And you are completely right.  I have no business being in your room.  And definitely not in your bed.  But you were having a nightmare, and I was just trying to comfort you."  Spike's gaze kept switching between the stake and her eyes. 

Buffy raised the stake from his chest.  She sat back on her heels, as Spike took an unneeded breath.  "Yes, you were.  Stupid and hurtful.  You're gone for over a month and the first time I see you, you won't let me touch you.  Then I go to your crypt, and you throw me out.  What the HELL were you thinking?"

Relief washed over his body.  Spike should have known.  It was just another fight.  Getting a bit of her own back in true Slayer fashion.  Spike cautiously moved his hand to rest on her knee.  "As usual, I guess I wasn't.  But the blood.  The whole thing with the blood.  It was the last thing I expected."

Buffy casually played with the stake in her hand.  She had no intentions of putting it down just yet.  It gave her the advantage.  "I didn't do it to pay you off.  It was a gift.  And besides, that has nothing to do with what happened in the kitchen."  All day long Buffy had been looking at Anne thinking that she was the reason Spike had pulled away from her.  He said feelings change over three hundred years.  What if he loved Anne and not her?  Was the even possible?

Spike wanted to bang his head on the floor.  He couldn't tell her about Anne.  Wouldn't tell her about the torture.  That was Anne's choice, not his.  They were friends and he wouldn't betray her.  But he had to tell Buffy something.  "Slayer.  Things happened in Hell.  Things having to do with Anne."  Spike felt Buffy stiffen over him.  "Not what you're thinking.  I never touched her.  But things happened to Anne that affected me.  Affected how I saw us.  Not that there is an us.  I would never presume that you were anywhere near making up your mind about that.  But I was having trouble making some pieces fit."

Buffy looked deep into his eyes.  Yeah, he was telling the truth.  "What happened in Hell?"

Spike let out a long sigh.  "It's not my business to tell you.  Not my story to tell."

Buffy dropped the stake to the floor, letting her attitude drop with it.  She picked up the hand Spike had placed on her knee, playing with his fingers.  "She was in Hell, Spike.  I have a pretty good idea what happened to her."

Spike laced his fingers with hers, enjoying the contact of cool flesh to warm.  "Then you know why I freaked out in the kitchen.  But I'm not going to tell you anymore."  Spike brought her hand to his lips, kissing each of her fingers.  "Luv, I am sorry.  Do you forgive me?"          

Buffy leaned forward, bringing her forehead to rest on Spike's.  At the same time she stretched her legs out behind her, leaving her lying on top of the vampire.  "One time only deal.  Don't screw up again."  Spike wrapped her in his arms, happy to just hold her again.  Buffy moved her head so that it rested in the crook of his neck.

They stayed that way for some time, neither the vampire nor the Slayer wanting the moment to end.  It had been months – years since Spike had walked Buffy home from the Magic Box.  Buffy's mind drifted back to that night; the kiss and the conversation pushing forward in her brain.  Tentatively, Buffy raised her head and began nibbling along the column of Spike's neck.  She felt him take a quick breath, his arms wrapping tighter around her.  She squirmed on top of him, her hands slowly, but greedily grabbing at his skin.  No longer shy or gentle, Buffy took Spike's ear between her teeth, giving it a hard tug. 

Spike roughly grabbed Buffy's arms, pushing her several inches above his chest, holding her dangling there.  "Slayer, this isn't the time." 

Buffy locked her gaze with his.  It was the perfect time, she thought.  The lust swimming in his cerulean eyes matched her own.  With a practiced move of seduction, she ran her tongue across her lower lip, at the same time moving her legs suggestively between his.  When he groaned out loud at the invasion, Buffy raised an eyebrow in his direction.  "You sure about that?"

Spike's only response was to push her farther away, this time letting go of her arms and rolling to his side.  He needed to get away from her body.  With three feet of space between them, he answered her.  "I'm positive.  As much as I'd like to see how far you'd go with that little biting fetish you've developed, you haven't made a decision yet.  I promised you I'd stay away until you had.  You want me now, but you'd hate both of us later.  I'm not willing to take that risk."  Spike quickly stood, moving to the other side of the room. 

Buffy pushed herself up, kneeling next to her bed.  She laid her head on the mattress as she watched him pace.  She smiled as he reached for his cigarettes, thought better of it and let his hand drop back to his side.  He was right.  She hadn't made a decision.  Her recent fight with Elizabeth proved that.  Buffy's heart and mind were still waging a war inside over the Master Vampire.  Feelings versus common sense.  There were no easy answers.  "God, I hate it when you're right."

Spike stopped pacing.  He watched as she pulled the covers back and climbed into bed.  When she was settled and completely covered by the blanket, he sat down next to her.  "I'm sorry, luv, but one of us has to think beyond tomorrow.  And you do have a tendency to change your mind about things.  Especially about me."  Spike waited for Buffy to say something, but she didn't.  "I did what I came to do.  I guess I better be off." 

Buffy lightly touched Spike's arm before he had a chance to stand.  "Stay with me."  The look he gave her told her that he thought they had settled that.  "No, not like that.  See?  Me under the covers; you on top.  I just… I don't want to me alone.  And I missed you too." 

Spike was surprised by the omission.  It wasn't like Buffy to admit anything to him, nothing that personal.  Maybe spending time with Elizabeth had helped her get closer to the answers she was searching for.  Or maybe his absence had shown her how much she did care about him.  Whatever the reason, Spike was prepared to take full advantage of the situation.  

Spike would walk through daylight for her, and she knew it, so Buffy wasn't surprised when he stretched out on the bed.  Once again, she cuddled next to him, her head resting on his chest, his hand stroking her back.  "I'll stay, but I'll be gone by sunrise."  Buffy nodded.  "Tell me what's been going on while I was away.  Have you and Elizabeth been getting along?"

The last thing Buffy was going to do was tell him about the fight she had with her twin.  "Things have been different, but good.  Giles came back a few weeks ago.  He's been research man, as usual, but he can't find anything about joining us all together.  I don't think this has ever happened before."

Spike chuckled.  "Finally found something to stump the Watcher.  I'd be happy about it if we didn't need to find the answer so bleedin' bad." 

"Stop interrupting."  Buffy looked up, giving Spike a threatening look.  He just pushed her head back down onto his chest.  "Everyone else has been a little on edge.  You know, the whole Elizabeth thing.  I've caught Xander staring at the two of us a few times.  He gets that 'I'm not sure this is of the good' look.  For some reason, it doesn't seem to bother Dawn, but everyone else is wigged out."

Buffy stopped for a minute.  It was a cue that she was waiting for Spike to offer his opinion.  "Well, technically, Nibblet is as much a part of you as Elizabeth or Anne.  The monks made her out of you.  Maybe she feels the same way about them as you do, so it is easier for her to accept."

Buffy hadn't thought about that.  Dawn was like the missing parts.  "I missed the way you think about stuff."  Spike kissed the top of her head.  "Oh, I almost forgot!  I have a new job.  I'm the self-defense instructor at the Sunnydale Women's Shelter.  No more fast food for Buffy.  The pay's way better, I work less hours and I get to take some classes in the Fall."

Spike was relieved that she had found a new job.  It wasn't dignified for the Slayer to be working in a grease factory.  "And I'm sure the nazi-social worker finds your new occupation more to her liking."

Buffy groaned.  "Uh!  Don't talk to me about Social Services.  Do you know how hard it is to keep them from finding out about Elizabeth?  I told her it would make things so much easier if she would cut her hair.  That way we looked identical.  But, she refuses.  It's been a nightmare.  I don't know what we're going to do now that Anne's here.  It'll be like double-jeopardy."

Spike hugged her to him, moving her closer.  "You'll do fine.  You always do.  Moving on to happier subjects – how's patrol?  Any new Big Bads I should be worried about?"

Buffy wanted to laugh.  It was sad, but for the two of them, patrol was a much happier subject.  "No new Big Bads.  Your title's safe.  Actually, Elizabeth and I have been thinking about going after Rack.  His influence over Willow still bothers me.  She says she's okay, but I'd feel better if he was gone."

Spike nodded his agreement.  "Talk to Anne.  I'm sure the three of you can take care of him.  If nothing else, you'll have the element of surprise on your side.  He won't expect three Slayers.  And the nerds?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders.  "I've been looking for them, but no sign.  Maybe they gave up?  I know they didn't, but a girl can dream."  Buffy tilted her head to look up at him again.  "Can't you help us take out Rack?" 

Spike knew Buffy wasn't asking for his help.  It wasn't her style.  No, she wanted to know how long he was going to be around.  "Don't want to promise you I'll be here when you decide to go after him, luv.  I have something else to take care of first." 

Spike tried to push her head back down, but this time Buffy wouldn't let him.  "I want to go with you, next time.  I want to help.  This is my fight."

Spike just looked into her eyes.  She really hated not being in control.  "Slayer, you have a new job, two new 'sisters' to look after and a powerful warlock to defeat.  You can't be jumping around dimensions with me.  I'll take care of this one.  You take care of the rest of the world."  Buffy wanted to protest, but Spike stopped her with a kiss.  When she was breathless and her brain a little fuzzy, he laid her head back down.  "Now, get some sleep.  You have things to do tomorrow."

Reluctantly, Buffy closed her eyes.  In her mind the conversation was far from over.  She would go with him to help.  Anne and Elizabeth could take care of things in Sunnydale.  After all, they were every bit the Slayer she was.  No, next time she was going with him.  But she could fight with Spike later.

---TBC