"Spike?" Buffy asked as she opened the back door. He sat on the steps with
his head hung low, his white hair a beacon in the dark of night.
"Yeah?" he replied gruffly without turning to her.
Buffy took a deep breath, willing herself to not go sit with him. "It's late. I'm, in your words, knackered. Gonna go to bed. Guess I'll see you when I see you." She let the door close.
Spike jumped up and opened the door harshly, only to slam it closed again. Buffy jumped a bit, but didn't look back at him.
"The wanker gone?"
Buffy stopped walking and sighed. "If you mean Angel, and I think ya do, yes." She started toward the stairs again.
"Well?" Spike asked.
Buffy finally turned to him. "Well what, Spike?"
"What words of wisdom did he have for yours truly?" Spike spat.
Buffy shrugged. "I figured if you wanted to know you wouldn't have left."
"Well, I'm asking now."
"Look, I'm tired. Can we do this some other time? And aren't you supposed to be shunning me for your Fortress of Solitude downstairs, and wow I really need to stop listening to Xander." Buffy shook her head. "Good night, Spike." Buffy started up the stairs again, leaving a confused Spike in the kitchen.
"Crazy bint," Spike muttered. "She's mad I'm in the basement, invites Peaches out to cure me, then she practically shoves me back into the basement and won't tell me what the great Poofter said. What the hell did I miss while I was smoking?" He shook his head as he headed back downstairs.
**
Buffy woke to the sunlight in her eyes. She smiled momentarily before a panic hit her. 'Spike! I forgot to close the blinds. The sun will.....Oh, yeah, he's not here. Sun won't do a damned thing to him in the basement.' She tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes and steel herself for her plans. As she pulled on a robe, she mumbled, "Ok, time for Phase One."
She tiptoed down the stairs and to the basement door. She opened it as quietly as possible and padded down the steps. The light from upstairs was enough for her to see Spike lying face down on the cot. He hadn't even bothered to take off his clothes. She desperately wanted to go to him, to cuddle up beside him and just pretend everything was like it used to be. But that would be counter-productive to what she had in mind. She went quietly back to the kitchen and warmed a mug of blood. Then she sat at the top of the basement steps and waited for sounds of life. Or unlife, rather. She knew from experience that Spike could sleep well past noon, especially since he rarely fell asleep until the wee hours of the morning. That was her creature of the night. She was just hoping the scent of blood and a little light might do the trick.
She had to reheat the blood 3 times before she heard him stirring. She couldn't see him from her spot on the steps, but her mind's eye could provide the details. Slight shifting on the creaky cot. A moan as he stretched. A yawn that faded into a small growl. Then an immediate, "Good heavens, I sound like a beast." Buffy smiled. This was what she'd been waiting for.
She walked down the stairs and then feigned surprise when she saw him. "Oh! I thought you would be asleep. I didn't wake you, did I? I was just bringing down some breakfast for Spike, er, you."
William smiled shyly and sat up. "Oh, no, you certainly didn't wake me. And the, um, blood is certainly appreciated. You needn't go out of your way, you know." He stood to take the mug, but as he did, he felt the constriction of his jeans around his morning erection. He sat down immediately. "Um, you can just set it there," he said, gesturing to a small table. "I'll get to it straight away." He crossed his legs uncomfortably as Buffy walked to him and handed him the mug. "Oh, um, thank you." He practically winced as she sat next to him.
"It's called morning wood, it's no big. Every guy gets it," Buffy said, trying to put him at ease.
"Yes, I do seem to recall.....but, um, wood?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.
Buffy giggled. "Yeah, it's slang. Nevermind. Um, so, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm feeling quite well, myself. He's......he's still quite cross with you." William looked at her apologetically.
"I know. To be expected. But that's okay. He can have his little broodfest. I was actually hoping you'd be here when he, er, you woke up.....this is still all very confusing." Buffy shook her head.
"Yes, I understand."
"So, um, I was hoping that since Spike's not much in a talky mood, maybe you could tell me about some stuff."
William looked at her quizzically. "What kind of 'stuff'?"
"Well, I'd really love to hear about when you were human. What the world was like. What your family was like. Spike's told me some stuff, but I don't think he likes to talk about it. And well, now he just doesn't like to talk at all."
"Yes, well, I don't suppose a bit of storytelling would hurt anything. But I must warn you, mornings are not generally a time I tend to be in control for very long."
"Well, then, if Spike interrupts us, you have to promise to come upstairs and talk to me when you're in control again, okay?"
"Well," William looked around the basement. "This is not really the place I would choose to be, especially if there were a pretty young lady requesting my presence. But he has his reasons, you know."
Buffy nodded her head. "I know. And even if I don't think what he's thinking will work, I'm not going to bother him about it anymore. He's made his choice, and I know he's hard headed enough to follow through with it. So he can. But just because he doesn't want to spend time with me doesn't mean I can't spend time with you." Buffy smiled at William.
William ducked his head, smiling lightly. "Quite right. My staying in the basement will do precious little for his plans, I think. I find it a rather depressing place, myself."
"Well then, it's settled. When you're out and about, you come upstairs with me. When Spike comes back, he can just scurry back to his hidey hole."
William frowned. "You seem a bit.....dismissive of him."
Buffy shrugged. "I'm not being the dismissive one here. I've only been trying to help him, and he's just been getting madder and madder. I don't want to upset him more, so I'll let him have what he wants. I think it's stupid, but like you said, he has his reasons. He's being the dismissive one here."
"Well, I suppose I'd better drink this before it gets cold," William held up his mug.
Buffy reached for his wrist and pulled it down. "Why don't you let Spike drink that? He doesn't mind cold blood. And I don't want to waste any talky time with you!" Buffy said brightly.
"Oh, yes, very well then," William smiled as he set the mug down on the ground.
** "......so then, my mother had me taking piano lessons, which I detested and.....oh," William winced and put his hand to his head. "Mmm.....I feared our time would be short. It seems he's ready to return."
Buffy stood up, continually amazed at the changes she could observe when one personality took control. William's crossed legs relaxed into Spike's wide open, relaxed pose. Perfect posture melted into a slouch. Bright eyes glazed into slightly colder ones.
"Have a nice chat, did ya?" Spike looked up at Buffy, a surprisingly playful grin on his face.
Buffy fought not to smile back at him. "Yes, we did. There's some blood there if you're hungry. You can reheat it if you feel like it." Buffy turned to go.
"Hey! What's this, then? He's good enough to talk to, but I'm not?" Spike stood.
Buffy turned back to him and shrugged. "You don't want to talk, remember? You want to stay down here and 'think'. Well, fine for you, but I want to spend time with you. And if William's the only way to do it, that's what I'll do. Or are you going to put him off limits too? I mean, I know it's all you, but apparently he's the part of you that still likes being around me."
"Buffy, you know that's not what this is about. God, woman, tell me you're not that daft. How many times do I have to explain it to you, and why should I even be defending myself after what you pulled last night?"
"Never asked you to defend yourself. I'm just telling you the way it is. The way it will be until *you* figure out a way to fix yourself, because it's pretty obvious you don't want anyone else's help on this. I just happen to be using this time to be finding out more about the man I love, since my other efforts aren't appreciated." Buffy stormed up the stairs, trying to hide the smile on her face. 'Phase One, complete,' she thought.
**
TBC R&R Pretty please!
"Yeah?" he replied gruffly without turning to her.
Buffy took a deep breath, willing herself to not go sit with him. "It's late. I'm, in your words, knackered. Gonna go to bed. Guess I'll see you when I see you." She let the door close.
Spike jumped up and opened the door harshly, only to slam it closed again. Buffy jumped a bit, but didn't look back at him.
"The wanker gone?"
Buffy stopped walking and sighed. "If you mean Angel, and I think ya do, yes." She started toward the stairs again.
"Well?" Spike asked.
Buffy finally turned to him. "Well what, Spike?"
"What words of wisdom did he have for yours truly?" Spike spat.
Buffy shrugged. "I figured if you wanted to know you wouldn't have left."
"Well, I'm asking now."
"Look, I'm tired. Can we do this some other time? And aren't you supposed to be shunning me for your Fortress of Solitude downstairs, and wow I really need to stop listening to Xander." Buffy shook her head. "Good night, Spike." Buffy started up the stairs again, leaving a confused Spike in the kitchen.
"Crazy bint," Spike muttered. "She's mad I'm in the basement, invites Peaches out to cure me, then she practically shoves me back into the basement and won't tell me what the great Poofter said. What the hell did I miss while I was smoking?" He shook his head as he headed back downstairs.
**
Buffy woke to the sunlight in her eyes. She smiled momentarily before a panic hit her. 'Spike! I forgot to close the blinds. The sun will.....Oh, yeah, he's not here. Sun won't do a damned thing to him in the basement.' She tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes and steel herself for her plans. As she pulled on a robe, she mumbled, "Ok, time for Phase One."
She tiptoed down the stairs and to the basement door. She opened it as quietly as possible and padded down the steps. The light from upstairs was enough for her to see Spike lying face down on the cot. He hadn't even bothered to take off his clothes. She desperately wanted to go to him, to cuddle up beside him and just pretend everything was like it used to be. But that would be counter-productive to what she had in mind. She went quietly back to the kitchen and warmed a mug of blood. Then she sat at the top of the basement steps and waited for sounds of life. Or unlife, rather. She knew from experience that Spike could sleep well past noon, especially since he rarely fell asleep until the wee hours of the morning. That was her creature of the night. She was just hoping the scent of blood and a little light might do the trick.
She had to reheat the blood 3 times before she heard him stirring. She couldn't see him from her spot on the steps, but her mind's eye could provide the details. Slight shifting on the creaky cot. A moan as he stretched. A yawn that faded into a small growl. Then an immediate, "Good heavens, I sound like a beast." Buffy smiled. This was what she'd been waiting for.
She walked down the stairs and then feigned surprise when she saw him. "Oh! I thought you would be asleep. I didn't wake you, did I? I was just bringing down some breakfast for Spike, er, you."
William smiled shyly and sat up. "Oh, no, you certainly didn't wake me. And the, um, blood is certainly appreciated. You needn't go out of your way, you know." He stood to take the mug, but as he did, he felt the constriction of his jeans around his morning erection. He sat down immediately. "Um, you can just set it there," he said, gesturing to a small table. "I'll get to it straight away." He crossed his legs uncomfortably as Buffy walked to him and handed him the mug. "Oh, um, thank you." He practically winced as she sat next to him.
"It's called morning wood, it's no big. Every guy gets it," Buffy said, trying to put him at ease.
"Yes, I do seem to recall.....but, um, wood?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.
Buffy giggled. "Yeah, it's slang. Nevermind. Um, so, how are you feeling today?"
"I'm feeling quite well, myself. He's......he's still quite cross with you." William looked at her apologetically.
"I know. To be expected. But that's okay. He can have his little broodfest. I was actually hoping you'd be here when he, er, you woke up.....this is still all very confusing." Buffy shook her head.
"Yes, I understand."
"So, um, I was hoping that since Spike's not much in a talky mood, maybe you could tell me about some stuff."
William looked at her quizzically. "What kind of 'stuff'?"
"Well, I'd really love to hear about when you were human. What the world was like. What your family was like. Spike's told me some stuff, but I don't think he likes to talk about it. And well, now he just doesn't like to talk at all."
"Yes, well, I don't suppose a bit of storytelling would hurt anything. But I must warn you, mornings are not generally a time I tend to be in control for very long."
"Well, then, if Spike interrupts us, you have to promise to come upstairs and talk to me when you're in control again, okay?"
"Well," William looked around the basement. "This is not really the place I would choose to be, especially if there were a pretty young lady requesting my presence. But he has his reasons, you know."
Buffy nodded her head. "I know. And even if I don't think what he's thinking will work, I'm not going to bother him about it anymore. He's made his choice, and I know he's hard headed enough to follow through with it. So he can. But just because he doesn't want to spend time with me doesn't mean I can't spend time with you." Buffy smiled at William.
William ducked his head, smiling lightly. "Quite right. My staying in the basement will do precious little for his plans, I think. I find it a rather depressing place, myself."
"Well then, it's settled. When you're out and about, you come upstairs with me. When Spike comes back, he can just scurry back to his hidey hole."
William frowned. "You seem a bit.....dismissive of him."
Buffy shrugged. "I'm not being the dismissive one here. I've only been trying to help him, and he's just been getting madder and madder. I don't want to upset him more, so I'll let him have what he wants. I think it's stupid, but like you said, he has his reasons. He's being the dismissive one here."
"Well, I suppose I'd better drink this before it gets cold," William held up his mug.
Buffy reached for his wrist and pulled it down. "Why don't you let Spike drink that? He doesn't mind cold blood. And I don't want to waste any talky time with you!" Buffy said brightly.
"Oh, yes, very well then," William smiled as he set the mug down on the ground.
** "......so then, my mother had me taking piano lessons, which I detested and.....oh," William winced and put his hand to his head. "Mmm.....I feared our time would be short. It seems he's ready to return."
Buffy stood up, continually amazed at the changes she could observe when one personality took control. William's crossed legs relaxed into Spike's wide open, relaxed pose. Perfect posture melted into a slouch. Bright eyes glazed into slightly colder ones.
"Have a nice chat, did ya?" Spike looked up at Buffy, a surprisingly playful grin on his face.
Buffy fought not to smile back at him. "Yes, we did. There's some blood there if you're hungry. You can reheat it if you feel like it." Buffy turned to go.
"Hey! What's this, then? He's good enough to talk to, but I'm not?" Spike stood.
Buffy turned back to him and shrugged. "You don't want to talk, remember? You want to stay down here and 'think'. Well, fine for you, but I want to spend time with you. And if William's the only way to do it, that's what I'll do. Or are you going to put him off limits too? I mean, I know it's all you, but apparently he's the part of you that still likes being around me."
"Buffy, you know that's not what this is about. God, woman, tell me you're not that daft. How many times do I have to explain it to you, and why should I even be defending myself after what you pulled last night?"
"Never asked you to defend yourself. I'm just telling you the way it is. The way it will be until *you* figure out a way to fix yourself, because it's pretty obvious you don't want anyone else's help on this. I just happen to be using this time to be finding out more about the man I love, since my other efforts aren't appreciated." Buffy stormed up the stairs, trying to hide the smile on her face. 'Phase One, complete,' she thought.
**
TBC R&R Pretty please!