Chapter 34
Planning
Spike laid in the same spot for what felt like an eternity. Angel and Buffy. Angel and Buffy. He couldn't stop thinking about the woman he loved and the man who had sired him. His mind wandered continuously through the possible scenarios that could happen from the mating. As much as his body already felt like it belonged to her, his mind, his demon and his soul were screaming at him to make it permanent. He also drifted to thoughts of Angel and wondered why he was pushing so hard for the joining.
Vampire mating hadn't been practiced in decades, mostly due to the non- monogomous nature of the species. They were not known to keep to one person for very long, that's saying they lived long enough to play the field so to speak. Spike had shared over a century with Drusilla, a rarity among demons. But now he wanted Buffy. Only Buffy, forever. He'd heard the stories passed down over the years. Tales of vampires gone mad, death and countless other horrors he'd not like to think about. All side effects of the ritual. If they were going to do it, it would be by the book and he'd die before letting Buffy get hurt.
He climbed off the bed and grabbed his black tee, sliding it over his head. His boots followed, along with his duster. He made his way up the stairs to the main floor of the house in search of her. Angel's speech had convinced him to at least give her a chance to change his mind. Now that he wasn't completely opposed to the idea, he knew it wouldn't take Buffy very long to talk him into it.
He rounded the corner to the front room, finding Willow and Giles talking to Anya and Xander. The voices quieted when Spike walked entered. The glare he received from the boy let him know immediately that he'd walked in on a conversation about him. One that obviously didn't put him in very good light.
"Where's Buffy?" he asked.
Xander stood from his place on the couch and turned to face Spike. "Away from you, which is a good thing."
Spike's brow raised. "What's your problem, Harris?"
"You mean other than housing a bloodsucking vampire?"
"I think you'd better back off." The blonde moved in, his posture threatening.
"I was gonna say the same thing to you, Spike. Buffy doesn't need you. She doesn't need someone who could turn around and eat half of Sunnydale at the drop of a hat."
"Not Sunnydale. Only you," he answered coldly. "If I could stomach it."
Xander ignored the snarky comment. "Go away. Leave before you do something else to put us all in danger again."
Spike moved closer, his chest puffed in a show of dominance. "Looky, looky here. The boy finally thinks he has the wrinklies to take me."
"I should have finished it last year when you were still chipped and whipped...had the axe and everything, but noooo. Buffy didn't want me to. Bet if she'd known that you were gonna..."
"Whoa, whoa," Willow interrupted, pushing the two apart. "That's enough, Xander. It was a long time ago. And frankly none of your business." She turned toward Spike whose eyes were slanted in anger and noticed his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "Buffy's out back."
The vampire nodded at the witch and turned to leave when he felt a hand on his arm.
"I won't let you hurt her," Xander threatened.
Spike ignored him and pulled his arm away. "Sod off, you wanker."
He left the room and disappeared out the back door, mumbling a string of obsenities as he went. Seeing Buffy's figure sitting on the step of the porch, he calmed himself and moved to join her. She stared into the distance, ignoring his presence. Things were silent until Spike spoke up.
"You know, I have it in my mind to just do Harris and get it over with."
She blinked and gave him a sideways glance of confusion.
"Off him, I mean," he answered to clarify what could have been taken very badly. "He's being bloody annoying and he's just itching to piss me off."
She nodded and looked down toward her feet. "Well, he never really got over the whole you and Anya thing. Took awhile for them to sort things out. I think it just bothers him knowing you've...been there."
"Well if he hadn't left the girl at the alter..."
Buffy interrupted, "Spike, let's not talk about Xander and Anya. You're never gonna win there."
He sighed and allowed the silence to envelope them again. How had things become so uncomfortable after the night they'd shared? They'd exchanged words of love and endearment, giving themselves completely to each other after so long. Now they sat apart, unsure and uneasy.
"I'm sorry, Buffy," he whispered when the silence got to be too much.
She shruggered her shoulders. "You don't want it. At least you were honest."
"It's not that I didn't want to. I'm amazed that you would even consider...." He looked away. "I was afraid."
Buffy turned to face him. "Afraid of what?"
"Of everything. You know some of the risks. My brain just added a few more to the mix. Forever, Buffy. That's a long time."
She frowned and her eyes showed a hint of defeat. "I get it."
His brow raised and he realized she was taking it the wrong way. "No you don't. I mean for you, to be tied to a vamp for the rest of your life. You deserve more. Right now, you can choose, Buffy. If you decide to blow me off, you can. If I take you as a mate, it's not that simple. You don't have that choice anymore. The power of the bond decides for you."
"I know what I want, Spike. And I would never....blow you off." She smiled at the innuendo.
He shook his head. "Make puns all you like, luv. Point is, forever really is a long time."
Buffy's hand reached up to brush against his cheek. "I know. And I want my forever to be with you."
A lump formed in his throat as he felt the power in her words. The determination in her voice. At that moment, he knew he couldn't deny her anything.
He reached for her hand and nodded. "Then forever's what I'll give you."
Her lips curled into a large smile. "So what changed your mind?"
"Oddly enough, Angel. What did you say to him?"
"Nothing...really. Just asked him about the ritual. Actually, it took some convincing for him to agree, too."
"Well now he's all up for the idea. Whatever you said, luv, he took it to heart."
"I think he finally realized I'm gonna be with you no matter what. He's just afraid of us screwing up. He wants to feel like he has some control over what happens to me."
"Well, pet, we do this and he really will."
Buffy remained quiet for a moment and then looked back at Spike. "Is that why we need his blood?"
He nodded. "That and it makes the bond stronger. When you mate with a vampire, you're mating with the whole family, so to speak. If something were to happen to me, it would be Angel's responsibility to protect you."
She stared him down accusingly. "Because he's your sire?"
Spike's eyes shifted as he faked a cough, trying to avoid the question.
"Why'd you lie to me about that?"
His gaze caught hers. "Don't know, pet. Been tellin' it that way for decades now. Angel was out of the picture for so long..."
"But you missed him."
"I bloody well did not!" he growled a little too quickly. "We were just fine, me and Dru."
"Spike. That wasn't what I said. I know you did okay on your own. But that doesn't mean you didn't miss him. He's your sire. You had to feel something."
"I hated him," he answered sadly.
"Why?"
He looked away afraid to meet her eyes. "Because he left. He disappeared without telling us why. And Darla, the bitch wasn't any help. She knew what was what but she took off too. Then it was just me and Dru. Was surprised to see him still around and kickin' in Sunnydale."
She moved closer to comfort him, wrapping her arm around his back, rubbing gentle circles. "I don't think he wanted to leave. I think he had to."
"Yeah, well, didn't make much difference then, did it? You don't understand the relationship. When you sire someone, there's a bond. Kinda like the one you want. Angel broke it when he left. And it's not just something you can get over."
"Maybe he's trying to make it up to you by helping us."
Spike shrugged. "Don't need the poof. Got you." He leaned in and kissed her gently. "Now, about this ritual....Angel offered the mansion. Got more privacy there."
"Good idea. Can we do it now? Tonight?" Her eyes widened, a look of amazement adorning her face.
"Thought you'd wanna wait a bit. Make sure..."
She cut him off. "Don't wanna wait. I have a plan and that's part of it. Come on inside and I'll explain it to everyone. If everything goes right, by tomorrow morning, The First'll be history."
"You sound pretty certain. What are you thinking?" he asked as he stood to follow her.
She smiled and walked back inside, pulling him by the hand. They arrived in the living room with all eyes watching. Giles steadily cleaned his eyeglasses as Xander bit his lip, trying not to speak out. Kennedy had joined Willow on the couch beside Anya.
"Okay guys. Listen up." She quieted until she had their full attention. "It's time to attack."
Multiple gasps sounded around the room. "Huh?" Xander asked expectantly.
"You heard me," Buffy answered. "It's time we show this thing what we've got."
"And what exactly is that?" Anya questioned worriedly.
"We've got us. That's what." She turned toward Willow. "Think you can handle some juice, Will? We need some power."
"Like what? Not real big with the control here."
She smiled at her skeptical friend. "I trust you. And I need you for some major mojo. You're the only one who can do it."
Buffy turned toward Giles who was staring dumbfounded. "I need you as backup. Just in case anything gets past us. Think you can protect yourself? It'll probably be light outside by then so the vamps shouldn't be too much of a problem. I was thinking the bringers, maybe."
"Um," glasses being slipped back in place," yes, of course."
Xander waited patiently then spoke up. "What about me and Ahn?"
"I want you to stay here. Look, if anything happens, I want you two to take care of Dawn. My dad's good for a pinch but the fatherly type he's not. He'll be ready to send her home in a couple of days."
"But we can help," he offered, trying to argue.
"No Xand, I need you here. Safe. With Willow's help, me, Spike and Angel should be able to handle it."
"Where do I fit in?" Kennedy asked, sqeezing her girlfriend's hand.
"The spell will take both of you. Your energy. You'll need to be with Willow."
The dark haired girl nodded in complience.
"You guys get some sleep. We'll go right before dawn."
Xander glanced from Buffy to Spike. "What are you gonna do?" he asked sarcastically.
Buffy smiled back, ignoring his smirk. "We've gotta prepare. We'll be back to round everyone up when it's time."
The gang stared in confusion, but finally one by one, began to stir. Saying their goodnights, they all made their way upstairs, leaving Buffy and Spike by themselves.
She turned to him, pulling him close, sliding her arms around his waist. "Are you ready for this?"
"Lead the way, pet."
****************************************
Planning
Spike laid in the same spot for what felt like an eternity. Angel and Buffy. Angel and Buffy. He couldn't stop thinking about the woman he loved and the man who had sired him. His mind wandered continuously through the possible scenarios that could happen from the mating. As much as his body already felt like it belonged to her, his mind, his demon and his soul were screaming at him to make it permanent. He also drifted to thoughts of Angel and wondered why he was pushing so hard for the joining.
Vampire mating hadn't been practiced in decades, mostly due to the non- monogomous nature of the species. They were not known to keep to one person for very long, that's saying they lived long enough to play the field so to speak. Spike had shared over a century with Drusilla, a rarity among demons. But now he wanted Buffy. Only Buffy, forever. He'd heard the stories passed down over the years. Tales of vampires gone mad, death and countless other horrors he'd not like to think about. All side effects of the ritual. If they were going to do it, it would be by the book and he'd die before letting Buffy get hurt.
He climbed off the bed and grabbed his black tee, sliding it over his head. His boots followed, along with his duster. He made his way up the stairs to the main floor of the house in search of her. Angel's speech had convinced him to at least give her a chance to change his mind. Now that he wasn't completely opposed to the idea, he knew it wouldn't take Buffy very long to talk him into it.
He rounded the corner to the front room, finding Willow and Giles talking to Anya and Xander. The voices quieted when Spike walked entered. The glare he received from the boy let him know immediately that he'd walked in on a conversation about him. One that obviously didn't put him in very good light.
"Where's Buffy?" he asked.
Xander stood from his place on the couch and turned to face Spike. "Away from you, which is a good thing."
Spike's brow raised. "What's your problem, Harris?"
"You mean other than housing a bloodsucking vampire?"
"I think you'd better back off." The blonde moved in, his posture threatening.
"I was gonna say the same thing to you, Spike. Buffy doesn't need you. She doesn't need someone who could turn around and eat half of Sunnydale at the drop of a hat."
"Not Sunnydale. Only you," he answered coldly. "If I could stomach it."
Xander ignored the snarky comment. "Go away. Leave before you do something else to put us all in danger again."
Spike moved closer, his chest puffed in a show of dominance. "Looky, looky here. The boy finally thinks he has the wrinklies to take me."
"I should have finished it last year when you were still chipped and whipped...had the axe and everything, but noooo. Buffy didn't want me to. Bet if she'd known that you were gonna..."
"Whoa, whoa," Willow interrupted, pushing the two apart. "That's enough, Xander. It was a long time ago. And frankly none of your business." She turned toward Spike whose eyes were slanted in anger and noticed his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "Buffy's out back."
The vampire nodded at the witch and turned to leave when he felt a hand on his arm.
"I won't let you hurt her," Xander threatened.
Spike ignored him and pulled his arm away. "Sod off, you wanker."
He left the room and disappeared out the back door, mumbling a string of obsenities as he went. Seeing Buffy's figure sitting on the step of the porch, he calmed himself and moved to join her. She stared into the distance, ignoring his presence. Things were silent until Spike spoke up.
"You know, I have it in my mind to just do Harris and get it over with."
She blinked and gave him a sideways glance of confusion.
"Off him, I mean," he answered to clarify what could have been taken very badly. "He's being bloody annoying and he's just itching to piss me off."
She nodded and looked down toward her feet. "Well, he never really got over the whole you and Anya thing. Took awhile for them to sort things out. I think it just bothers him knowing you've...been there."
"Well if he hadn't left the girl at the alter..."
Buffy interrupted, "Spike, let's not talk about Xander and Anya. You're never gonna win there."
He sighed and allowed the silence to envelope them again. How had things become so uncomfortable after the night they'd shared? They'd exchanged words of love and endearment, giving themselves completely to each other after so long. Now they sat apart, unsure and uneasy.
"I'm sorry, Buffy," he whispered when the silence got to be too much.
She shruggered her shoulders. "You don't want it. At least you were honest."
"It's not that I didn't want to. I'm amazed that you would even consider...." He looked away. "I was afraid."
Buffy turned to face him. "Afraid of what?"
"Of everything. You know some of the risks. My brain just added a few more to the mix. Forever, Buffy. That's a long time."
She frowned and her eyes showed a hint of defeat. "I get it."
His brow raised and he realized she was taking it the wrong way. "No you don't. I mean for you, to be tied to a vamp for the rest of your life. You deserve more. Right now, you can choose, Buffy. If you decide to blow me off, you can. If I take you as a mate, it's not that simple. You don't have that choice anymore. The power of the bond decides for you."
"I know what I want, Spike. And I would never....blow you off." She smiled at the innuendo.
He shook his head. "Make puns all you like, luv. Point is, forever really is a long time."
Buffy's hand reached up to brush against his cheek. "I know. And I want my forever to be with you."
A lump formed in his throat as he felt the power in her words. The determination in her voice. At that moment, he knew he couldn't deny her anything.
He reached for her hand and nodded. "Then forever's what I'll give you."
Her lips curled into a large smile. "So what changed your mind?"
"Oddly enough, Angel. What did you say to him?"
"Nothing...really. Just asked him about the ritual. Actually, it took some convincing for him to agree, too."
"Well now he's all up for the idea. Whatever you said, luv, he took it to heart."
"I think he finally realized I'm gonna be with you no matter what. He's just afraid of us screwing up. He wants to feel like he has some control over what happens to me."
"Well, pet, we do this and he really will."
Buffy remained quiet for a moment and then looked back at Spike. "Is that why we need his blood?"
He nodded. "That and it makes the bond stronger. When you mate with a vampire, you're mating with the whole family, so to speak. If something were to happen to me, it would be Angel's responsibility to protect you."
She stared him down accusingly. "Because he's your sire?"
Spike's eyes shifted as he faked a cough, trying to avoid the question.
"Why'd you lie to me about that?"
His gaze caught hers. "Don't know, pet. Been tellin' it that way for decades now. Angel was out of the picture for so long..."
"But you missed him."
"I bloody well did not!" he growled a little too quickly. "We were just fine, me and Dru."
"Spike. That wasn't what I said. I know you did okay on your own. But that doesn't mean you didn't miss him. He's your sire. You had to feel something."
"I hated him," he answered sadly.
"Why?"
He looked away afraid to meet her eyes. "Because he left. He disappeared without telling us why. And Darla, the bitch wasn't any help. She knew what was what but she took off too. Then it was just me and Dru. Was surprised to see him still around and kickin' in Sunnydale."
She moved closer to comfort him, wrapping her arm around his back, rubbing gentle circles. "I don't think he wanted to leave. I think he had to."
"Yeah, well, didn't make much difference then, did it? You don't understand the relationship. When you sire someone, there's a bond. Kinda like the one you want. Angel broke it when he left. And it's not just something you can get over."
"Maybe he's trying to make it up to you by helping us."
Spike shrugged. "Don't need the poof. Got you." He leaned in and kissed her gently. "Now, about this ritual....Angel offered the mansion. Got more privacy there."
"Good idea. Can we do it now? Tonight?" Her eyes widened, a look of amazement adorning her face.
"Thought you'd wanna wait a bit. Make sure..."
She cut him off. "Don't wanna wait. I have a plan and that's part of it. Come on inside and I'll explain it to everyone. If everything goes right, by tomorrow morning, The First'll be history."
"You sound pretty certain. What are you thinking?" he asked as he stood to follow her.
She smiled and walked back inside, pulling him by the hand. They arrived in the living room with all eyes watching. Giles steadily cleaned his eyeglasses as Xander bit his lip, trying not to speak out. Kennedy had joined Willow on the couch beside Anya.
"Okay guys. Listen up." She quieted until she had their full attention. "It's time to attack."
Multiple gasps sounded around the room. "Huh?" Xander asked expectantly.
"You heard me," Buffy answered. "It's time we show this thing what we've got."
"And what exactly is that?" Anya questioned worriedly.
"We've got us. That's what." She turned toward Willow. "Think you can handle some juice, Will? We need some power."
"Like what? Not real big with the control here."
She smiled at her skeptical friend. "I trust you. And I need you for some major mojo. You're the only one who can do it."
Buffy turned toward Giles who was staring dumbfounded. "I need you as backup. Just in case anything gets past us. Think you can protect yourself? It'll probably be light outside by then so the vamps shouldn't be too much of a problem. I was thinking the bringers, maybe."
"Um," glasses being slipped back in place," yes, of course."
Xander waited patiently then spoke up. "What about me and Ahn?"
"I want you to stay here. Look, if anything happens, I want you two to take care of Dawn. My dad's good for a pinch but the fatherly type he's not. He'll be ready to send her home in a couple of days."
"But we can help," he offered, trying to argue.
"No Xand, I need you here. Safe. With Willow's help, me, Spike and Angel should be able to handle it."
"Where do I fit in?" Kennedy asked, sqeezing her girlfriend's hand.
"The spell will take both of you. Your energy. You'll need to be with Willow."
The dark haired girl nodded in complience.
"You guys get some sleep. We'll go right before dawn."
Xander glanced from Buffy to Spike. "What are you gonna do?" he asked sarcastically.
Buffy smiled back, ignoring his smirk. "We've gotta prepare. We'll be back to round everyone up when it's time."
The gang stared in confusion, but finally one by one, began to stir. Saying their goodnights, they all made their way upstairs, leaving Buffy and Spike by themselves.
She turned to him, pulling him close, sliding her arms around his waist. "Are you ready for this?"
"Lead the way, pet."
****************************************