Chapter 17: Spike and Scoobies

********************** 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, as well as her former relationship with Spike.

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.

Chapter 14: Leave it to a Former Vengeance Demon: Xander comes home and complains to Anya about having to talk to Spike. She explains to him that his leaving her at the alter was, in some ways, worse than what Spike did to Buffy.

Chapter 15: Too Close to Home: Buffy arrives home after a hard day of counseling. One case she dealt with caused her to decide that she couldn't be emotionally close to anyone again, for fear of her shutting down if they got killed. She headed down to see Spike.

Chapter 16: Explaining Without Emotion: Spike tells Buffy about training the S.I.T.'s. Buffy explains that Spike's chip may not be working, and they discuss the possibility the First being able to control him again. The whole time, Buffy struggles to contain her emotions.

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A/N: ~ ~ ~ indicates a flashback. Read, enjoy, and review!!

***

Two weeks later....

Dawn lay sprawled on her bed, reading the latest YM magazine, enjoying the silence. The Potentials were out, along with Buffy, Connor, and Willow. Due to a sprained ankle she'd received the day before while fighting, Dawn had remained home.

She knew Spike was around somewhere, since he was recuperating from being stabbed in the stomach while trying to protect one of the Potentials a few nights earlier, but she figured he wouldn't bother her. They hadn't talked since... since he'd tried to do... that.... to her sister.... Dawn halted that train of thought. She was determined to just enjoy her solitude and not think serious thoughts.

Instead, she set down her magazine and began daydreaming about Connor, her latest crush.

Of course, his father was a vampire with a soul, and his mother was a vampire who had been staked, then brought back as human, then staked again. Or something; Dawn only knew what little she did from eavesdropping, as usual. And his father was her sister's ex-boyfriend, whom her sister had had to kill and send to hell to save the world. Plus, Connor had grown up in another dimension with a man who'd taught him to hate his real father... but hey, she had originally been a big ball of energy, put into human form by a coupla monks a few years ago, a hell god had bled her to end the world, and then her sister had died to save it... So they'd be a couple of freaks on the Hellmouth. Nothing new there.

***

Spike paused outside her door. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. He'd made up with Xander and Giles, but had yet to do so with Dawn.

He and Xander had talked, really talked, for the first time ever. The Whelp wasn't too bad, once you got to know him, Spike mused. Xander had explained all about his conversation with Anya, which hadn't been easy for him. He'd also said some other surprising things.

~ ~ ~

Spike sat on his cot in the basement, smoking, while Xander paced. And another thing. See, I realized part of the reason I hated Angel so much back in high school was cause Buffy loved him.

Spike flinched at this, but reluctantly had to admit it was true, though he hoped Xander wasn't going to dwell on that point.

And, see, back then I... I kinda sorta had a really big crush on her. So I think some of my hatred towards Angel was just jealousy, ya know? Then came the whole Angelus' deal, and I felt vindicated in my hatred of Angel, only Angel and Angelus were really different people and... say, why aren't you really different now? I mean, now that you're sane and all, you're still, well, pretty much the same ol' Spike.

Xander paused, waiting for a response. Spike merely shrugged, since he didn't fully understand, either. Xander continued on with his ramblings.

Ok, so anyway, I think that's where a lot of the hate towards Angel came from. And you're a vampire, too, so I guess somehow it just seemed natural to hate you. And then I hated you cause you tried to kill us, but then I realized that Willow n Buffy n Faith have tried to kill us, too, and I've forgiven them all... Though bein' around Faith is still a little weird. Ummm... where was I?

Again, Spike remained silent, since he wasn't really sure himself where the boy had been. Xander eventually figured out what he was trying to say.

I think my point is that my hatred towards Angel -which kinda got transferred to you- was pretty irrational, and that all of my reasons for hating you were kinda quashed by Anya so, well, I don't hate you anymore.

Spike blinked. What the bloody hell does he expect me to say to that? But apparently Xander wasn't finished.

I don't really like the idea of you and Buffy, you know, being together... but I'm all for what'll make her happy. Just ... do you truly love her?

Yeah, I do. I know how wrong I was to try and... force her, but... I knew that and, well, I got this bleedin' soul for her, didn't I?

Would you ever hurt her again?

Spike stated emphatically.

Ok, then. I think we're good.

After a bit of small talk, Xander departed. He and Spike had remained on good terms since. They would never admit to being friends, and in fact they still snapped at each other as they always had. However, now their comebacks were really just for their amusement, and both privately conceded that the other was pretty funny.

~ ~ ~

Spike had even come to a truce of sorts with the Watcher, once he'd returned. Of course, Giles had insisted hearing all about getting his soul, which was not a pleasant story to tell. The Watcher also wanted to hear about torture at the hands of the First, including every bloody thing she'd ever said or had done to him. He'd even had Spike take off his shirt so he could sketch out the scars the vampire still had from the ritual bloodletting.

Spike had spent a long time trying to figure out the Watcher's change in demeanor towards him. Finally though, he figured the Watcher had a similar set of ideas as Buffy: soul=good, no soul=bad. From what Spike had heard, while he hadn't been happy about it, Giles hadn't objected too heavily to Buffy's relationship with Angel, and had even been able to get along with Angel after the time where he'd once again been Angelus and killed Giles' girlfriend.

Obviously, Giles thought the soul made Spike a completely different person, one absolved from everything he'd done while soulless. Spike himself didn't see things that way, but decided not to argue.

***

Dawn was shaken out of her thoughts by a soft knocking at her door. She gave an exaggerated sigh. Having her door closed, and her room to herself, was such a privilege these days.

Still, she reluctantly called out, Come in.

The door opened slowly to reveal a bleached blonde vampire. Dawn sat up quickly. Spike looked hesitant.

What do you want? she snapped.

To talk.

Well, maybe I don't want to talk to you, Dawn said in her best sulky teenager voice.

Look, I know you hate me, and I accept that. But this isn't about you, it's about your sister.

Isn't it always? she said sullenly.

Fine, I'll leave then! Spike said, exasperated with the girl. He knew Dawn well enough to know that she was being purposefully annoying.

To his surprise, her voice stopped him before he closed the door.
No, Spike, wait... I guess you can come in.

He turned, smiling. Then paused as he regarded the strip of light still streaming through her window. Dawn's window faced west, so it caught the last rays of the sun. Buffy had taken the girls out before sunset so she could have them situated before nightfall.

Dawn looked up to see him still standing at the threshold. Impatiently, she repeated, I said you can come in.

Uh, Nibl- I mean, Dawn, think you could close the blinds?

Dawn looked over and saw his predicament. Oh. Right. Sorry. She got up and closed the blinds. She'd been around vampires enough that she should have realized the sun problem without him saying anything.

Thanks, Bit - uh, Dawn. Spike entered the room, sitting backwards on her desk chair as Dawn retreated to her bed. Dawn, Dawn, Dawn, he chanted. I've lost any right I may have had to call her by pet names, Spike reminded himself.

Dawn cleared her throat uncomfortably. So. What's up with Buffy now?

He frowned. Well... look, th' Slayer has pulled away from me, emotionally. Before Dawn could say anything, he cut her off, saying, and that's fine, I get that. But ve noticed she's been backin' away from her friends. And you, too. I was just... worried about her, that's all. Don't want her goin' all catatonic again.

Dawn wrinkled her brow in confusion. Buffy? Go catatonic?

Oh bloody hell, guess no one told Dawn... Umm... right, well, anyway, so I was worried bout her-

No, wait a sec, what was that bit about the catatonic

Spike groaned. He knew Dawn was just as stubborn as her big sister. He gave in. Right after Glory took you, Buffy went catatonic. She... she wouldn't snap out of it... he trailed off, remembering how awful the feeling of helplessness was when he realized he could do nothing for the woman he loved. Willow did some sort of mind to mind spell or something, got her out of it. I probably shouldn't ave said anythin', but I kinda figured someone woulda told ya... guess not though.

Dawn shook her head. Either no one thought to tell her, or they thought she was to young to handle it. Most likely the latter. She wasn't surprised that Spike would tell her though, he never treated her like a baby. That was part of the reason she'd enjoyed his company so much... but that was in the past, she reminded herself. He tried to rape your sister, remember?

But then he'd gone to Africa and endured torture to get a soul, and then had come back all insane... she was very confused. It seemed like everyone else had managed to forgive him. Maybe she should just allow herself to forgive him, too...

Spike realized Dawn had zoned out on him then. Look, I just wanted to warn ya that I think something's up with your big sis. Keep an eye on her, k?

I will.

Spike turned to go, but Dawn's voice stopped him.

Spike... if you want to talk sometime... like we used to... I think I'd like that.

He turned back to her, and smiled. I'd like that too, Nibblet.

She smiled at the use of her nickname once again, letting him know that was ok.

At that moment, his stomach growled at him.

Hey Platelet, you hungry?

Yeah, kinda.

How bout I make you a salami and peanut butter sandwich?

Dawn jumped up.

He laughed as they headed downstairs.

***

A/N: Dawn's sandwich is from Tough Love. I always thought that was kinda funny.

Anyway, please review!!!! I want to know what you guys thought of anything and everything, especially my reasons for Xander and Giles being able to forgive and get along with Spike.