Author's note: Thank you for reading and don't forget to review.

Chapter #7

"Is she okay? How did she take it?" Giles' clipped English accent did not hide his anxiety.

"She was concerned but she didn't freak out" at least not about that, she added silently.

Willow had to admit that Buffy's reaction had troubled her. The Slayer's blind faith in her vampire lover, however noble, could turn on her.

It wasn't that Willow doubted Spike's love for Buffy. The witch had been a witness to it when he'd stayed at her house. The insecure vampire seemed to regard the Slayer as some sort of unattainable goddess. Willow had shown him that Buffy felt the same way too.

But that was over eight months ago and so much had happened. The Hellmouth had reopened and Buffy had to fight to save Sunnydale against the Master and his minions. It had been one violent battle after another that had affected all the members of the Scooby clan more than they thought possible. The result was that the line separating humans and demons have been harshly drawn and Spike and Buffy's relationship flew at its face. Willow could see no future in it but she was willing to support her friend.

"Willow?"

The witch snapped out of her thoughts. She had forgotten that she was supposed to be reassuring Giles. The Watcher wasn't aware of Buffy's feelings towards Spike. In fact, as far as he was concerned they'd never met.

"Sorry Giles, this whole prophecy business has me losing it"

The watcher nodded, he understood Willow's reaction as he too felt as if he was "losing" something.

Or more to the point, someone.

***

Drusilla finished tying the black silk scarf around the doll's green glass eyes. She didn't like this doll for some reason although her Spike had given it to her. Miss Edith didn't like her either and whispered that it was tainted.

Dru understood what that meant. Tainted meant not pure. Spike was tainted.

The vampiress already knew this. Her beloved William had returned 'wrong' and she had told him as much. Spike claimed that it was because of his years as a prisoner of the Initiative but she knew that it went much deeper than that. The change was in his very marrow.

She couldn't quite wrap her damaged mind around it, all she knew was that he sometimes tasted like ashes.

Dru hated the taste but she didn't know what to do. She didn't want to leave Spike. She had been very lonely without her companion of decades. She had sought her daddy but he'd refused her, as he'd been too involved with the former Slayer to care about his childe. And so Drusilla was forced to fend for herself and eke out an existence in the perimeters of civilization, living off wild animals for extended periods. But now that Spike was back her prospects had improved greatly. She was a queen once more and she and Spike would carve their empire from the Hellmouth. Dru was determined that nothing would get in the way of her aspirations, not even Spike himself.

Or the Slayer.

Drusilla had never laid eyes on Buffy Summers but she was very aware of her just like any other vampire on the face of the planet. And she knew that it was she who was standing between the vampiress and her dream. The naughty Slayer had left her mark on Spike, even if he did not admit it. But Dru was not afraid because she knew that the Slayer's days were counted and that soon she would be just a memory. She smiled at the vision of a lifeless Slayer. Miss Edith shared the smile when the blindfolded doll began to bleed. Dru took her in her arms and rocked her like she would an infant while humming a lullaby.

It was an odd sounding melody, peppered with images of decapitated dolls and slayers that reverberated throughout the cavernous factory. Every so often the song would be interrupted as its author savored a particular gruesome vision. Her laughter bordered on hysteria.

But then Drusilla fell completely silent as an image filled her mind's eye. It wasn't a vision of the future, but of the present.

***

For the first time in a long time, Buffy Summers felt utterly complete and happy. The reason for this was wrapped around her arms in the very tousled bed they shared. Spike was fast asleep, no doubt worn out by their very passionate "encounters" during the past few hours. Buffy was grateful that she'd promised Willow that she wouldn't patrol until the prophecy thing was resolved. It meant that she wouldn't have to leave her lover for a quick sweep of the cemeteries.

Her lover. The Slayer grinned at the thought. Oh yeah, he was hers once more.

"I know what you're thinking" The object of her affection said unexpectedly.

"Huh?"

"You're thinking: look at him. He comes here all Big Bad vampire and one smile from me he gets all kitteny and helpless"

"I don't think you're a kitten"

"No? What am I then?"
"A big, bad tiger" she announced.

"Yeah, a very big, bad tiger"

He roared and she giggled as he pounced on her. Soon, it was all a tangle of arms and legs and kisses. This went on for a few minutes until they were finally exhausted. After a moment of quiet rest, Spike sat up and scanned the room for his jeans. Buffy looked at him puzzled.

"Where are you going?"
"It's late pet, the sun will be coming up in a few"
"But aren't you going to stay?"
His smile was apologetic. "I can't pet. It's not safe for you or me but I'll come to see you so we can talk about getting you out of Sunnydale"

"I am not leaving and that's final. Where are you staying?"
"In an abandoned factory in the South side. It's not five star but I've been in worse places"

Buffy sighed. "If you have to…but you'll come tonight. Right?"
"Wild horses couldn't keep me luv"

He kissed her good bye and headed downstairs and out the door. The slayer burrowed under the covers, trying to find his lingering scent.

TBC.