Chapter 14- Leave it to a Former Vengeance Demon

A/N: Thank you so much to those who reviewed! Your reviews really really really make me want to write more, faster... so I can get more reviews! Man, I'm such a review-pig. Uh... anyway, read, enjoy, and review!

Mistified- glad you like the Xander/Spike dialogue. Though I'm mystified' (hehe, sorry, couldn't resist)- what do you mean you're confused about what's going on between Dawn and Connor? They haven't talked yet, unless I'm forgetting something.

********************** Summary: ***************************

Chapter 1: Sunrise: Buffy rescues Spike. It's sunrise, so he'll have to remain there for the day. As she leaves the cave and heads home, Buffy ponders life without Spike.

Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home: Buffy returns to her home only to be attacked by the Potentials. Somehow, the First, in Buffy's form, has convinced them that the real Buffy is the First in corporeal form. Buffy is, naturally, upset that the Potentials and her friends could believe that. The First leaves after a bit of taunting.

Chapter 3: Wheatabix, Blood and a Blanket: Buffy searches for these things (plus a first aid-kit) so she can go help Spike. She talks with Xander, who tells her that Willow was called to LA. As she leaves, she tells him that Spike is a good man, and that he should try and realize this.

Chapter 4: Nightmares and Memories: Buffy returns to the cave, bag o' supplies in hand, to find Spike having a nightmare, and nearly hurting himself in his thrashing about. She wakes him. Despite his protests, she bandages him and gives him blood.
Inadvertently, her thoughts lead her to Willow's Let my will be done spell' (Something Blue). She (finally!) realizes that Willow's spell was only that she and Spike should marry, not that they should be in love. Unfortunately, she says some of this out loud and Spike hears her.

Chapter 5: Rain Check : Buffy tells Spike she doesn't know what her feelings are for him exactly, and asks for a rain check on the heavy, serious stuff till after they defeat the First. He agrees. Buffy fills him in on what's been going on while he's been gone. They then fall asleep, side by side (Awww! ;o)

Chapter 6: A Long Talk in a Damp Cave: Basically, a big long talk between Buffy and Spike about forgiveness. She says that she needs his forgiveness for what she did to him last year, which of course surprises him. Buffy admits that he did some good things even when soulless, like taking care of Dawn. By now it's sundown, so they set out for home.

Chapter 7: Coming Home: Buffy and Spike head home. Halfway there, Spike asks Buffy if she really thinks he can be a better man. She replies that he already is a better man. They arrive home, unexpectedly finding Riley sitting in Buffy's living room.

Chapter 8: Leading to a Talk: Spike accuses Buffy of not telling him about Riley, then realizes she really didn't know. Xander offers to help Spike (gasp!). Dawn, Anya, and Andrew leave Riley and Buffy to talk.

Chapter 9: Catching up with the Ex: Riley informs Buffy that Spike's chip may not be working, so he needs to be staked. She refuses, informing Riley that Spike has a soul. Riley goes to stake Spike. Spike figures out that Sam was turned and Riley had to kill her. Then the three hear Xander scream.

Chapter 10: Old Friends: Angel appears, with Xander explaining that last he heard, he was Angelus. Faith and a mystery boy (Connor) show up. Lots of confusion as to whether or not people are to be trusted. An insane Riley fights Spike till Buffy rescues him. Spike looks at Angel, says he has a soul. Angel realizes Spike has a soul. Angel vouches for Faith's trustworthiness. Buffy calls a Scooby meeting.

Chapter 11: Scooby Snacks: Willow returns. At the Scooby meeting, General Buffy concludes that, thanks to the extra muscle, they can branch out, send some people over to Xander's. Angel says he's not staying. Buffy decides that Xander will take Riley, Faith, Anya, and Andrew, plus some SIT's. Angel takes Spike upstairs, while Buffy and Faith go outside to talk.

Chapter 12: Popping Like Warm Champagne: Faith apologizes, saying she knows she can never be forgiven for what she did. Buffy tells her the same thing she told Spike, also listing all of the Scoobies who have killed in the past, but have changed now.
Faith and Buffy fight some vamps. Faith asks Buffy about Spike, and Buffy asks Faith about Angel. Buffy ends up explaining the whole ripped out of heaven' thing.

Chapter 13: Sleeping Together: Buffy thinks about Spike, and the dangers of getting too close emotionally, to him or others. She sleeps by his side, in her bed. Xander comes in the morning, and goes off on her for sleeping with Spike. Anya informs him that they slept together, but didn't have sex together. Xander sheepishly asks Spike if they can talk later.
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Xander arrived home from a long day of construction, exhausted, and not looking forward to his talk with Spike. He'd just stopped home to check on things before heading over to Buffy's house. As much as he hated the thought of actually talking in a civilized manner to Spike, he wanted to get it over with.

Walking in, he found his apartment surprisingly quiet. Figuring everyone was out, he muttered sarcastically, Honey, I'm home.

Not expecting any reply, he was startled when a voice said, Don't call me honey.

Anya stepped around the corner.

Ahn! What are you doing here?

Buffy sent me over a few days ago. Did you forget about me that quickly? Anya snapped.

What! No, I just figured everyone was out... where are they, anyway?

Out. They were going to go hang out at a park, then after sundown to a cemetery. Are you going patrolling with them?

Don't think I can. I have to.. ugh.. go talk to Evil Undead Boy. Xander grimaced.

Xander, what is your problem with Spike?

Well, the fact that he's an evil demon might have something to do with it!

Anya rolled her eyes. He has a soul, remember? Not evil, now. Actually, not really evil for a while now.

Xander remained stubborn. Yeah, but he was an evil demon... he trailed off, remembering that his ex-fiancée was also formerly an evil demon. He cleared his throat. And he slept with you-

That was consensual. It was a mistake, yeah, but we were both hurting, so we had sex. Get over it.

Xander winced. Fine, well, I don't like what he did to Buffy. I don't think you know about it-

The attempted rape? I heard something about it.

(A/N: I don't know if Anya was told, but let's pretend she knew)

Well, doesn't that give me some reason to hate the bastard? He tried to rape Buffy!

Anya was starting to lose her temper. Yeah, he did. But know something? I got the feeling she didn't treat him too well, either. And, most importantly, if there's one thing I learned in over a millennium of avenging the wrongs done to women, it's that the main thing isn't just what the guy does, but how it affects the woman involved. I think Buffy recovered just fine from the attempted rape. After all, she knew he was a soulless demon. Plus, Spike felt so bad that he went and got a soul, which let me tell you, is not an easy decision for a demon to make!
However, when a human being- one who supposedly has a soul, and is good- stands a woman up on her wedding day, the most important day of her life, one she'd been planning for a long time, well... considering what that did to her, I'd say that's worse than what Spike did to Buffy.

Anya whirled around and went into a bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Xander stared after her, slack-jawed.

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A/N: I realize this was ridiculously short! I really posted this more so I could tell you that I'm really busy right now, and I'm about to leave till next Wednesday, so it'll be a while before I update again. Sorry! Don't hate me! Review!!