Disclaimer – not mine blah blah blah...but if you're offering I won't say no!
A/N: Thanks for reading – it's much appreciated! Thank you Shero, Tobert and lilmamaday for the reviews – I'm grinning from ear to ear! This part of the story takes place about three months after the end of the last chapter. I know it's kind of a cop out to skip those months but I wanted to progress the story – don't worry; I don't think you missed much!
Chapter 3 – Can't run from destiny
"Slayer will you get your bony ass in here already!" Spike called, strolling happily through the new apartment, peeping around doorways occasionally, wondering which room the slayer would want so he could lay dibs on it first.
"My ass is not bony!" he heard her yell from somewhere behind him and he chuckled softly. She was sooo easy to wind up, and he did it as often as he could of course! "And I'd move a lot faster if SOMEONE hadn't left me to carry all the bags!!" she added after a few moments, followed by a loud 'bump', signalling the dropping of said bags.
Spike poked his head from around the doorframe of the room he was currently perusing to see a red faced slayer glaring at him. "I'm evil pet." He reminded her for probably the millionth time.
"Stupid vampire." She grumbled good naturedly "It's not fair to use logic!"
Spike smiled as he approached her, picking up several of the bags and carrying them into the main living room, which also happened to be the only room with any furniture. Buffy followed him, looking around for the first time. When Spike had told her he'd found them somewhere to live she'd been only too happy to leave the rat infested hell hole that was the motel they'd stayed in since their arrival in LA. It never even occurred to her that it was slightly odd that her one time mortal enemy had actually looked for a place for both of them, and it didn't seem the least bit strange that she was so willing to continue to live with him. It just seemed natural.
Buffy had no idea when she had actually started to consider Spike to be a friend. She'd long since decided that their initial arrangement after leaving Sunnydale and all its unpleasant memories behind had come about through a mutual desire not to be alone in their grief. But over time something had changed. Rather than tolerating his presence, she'd actually begun to enjoy his company. Sure he could still be an obnoxious creep when the mood took him, but it happened less and less these days. Instead of coming back to the hotel from her thankless job at a diner in one of the less reputable parts of the city to find a drunken vampire asleep in the room that he'd have trashed in a fit of rage, she would find a thoughtful friend who had a steaming starbucks cappuccino and warm foot bath (she deliberately chose not to ask where he had gotten it from), ready to listen to her tales of customers from hell! She shook her head, smiling wistfully – life was pretty strange sometimes.
Spike watched her from his position sprawled on the couch, a bemused expression on his face. If someone had told him six months ago that he would flatmates with the slayer he'd have laughed at them then snapped their necks for lying to him! As it was, that was probably how long it had been since he had actually killed anyone! Before...the unfortunate incident, he'd been stuck in the chair, relying on Dru to bring him his food. Now...well now he just didn't feel like it. He blamed it on his apathy towards unlife since he had lost the other half of himself, but he did wonder – only when he was drunk of course – if he didn't do it because he knew it would upset his unexpected new friend. Because there was no denying it – no matter what the circumstances were surrounding this new turn in their relationship, they had somehow become friends. Although she didn't actively slay anymore, he knew she couldn't just let him go out and kill the odd stranger here and there. So bagged blood it was...not that he wouldn't kill if the opportunity arose...just...not unnecessarily.
"You workin' tonight goldilocks?" he called out to Buffy as she explored the two bedrooms.
"Yeah!" he heard her reply before she came back into the room and picked up her bags. Spike got up to follow her, absently noting that she'd picked the room he liked – the one with the large bay windows and a view over the city...well he'd complain about it later. The other room wasn't bad; the view just wasn't as good!
"Want me to meet you afterwards so we can go pick up some furniture for this place? You know you'll only complain if I pick everythin' without you!" he added almost as an after thought "Bossy little chit."
All Buffy did was turn around and grin at him. She knew it was just a token insult; hell she even called him fang breath from time to time. "Sure! I finish at ten."
Spike nodded and turned to leave, but he tapped something with his foot. Bending down, he picked up Mr Gordo, Buffy's stuffed pig. He studded it, taking in the various scents that adorned its plush coat – Buffy, Joyce, ink, xander, orange juice, Willow, fabric softener...Angel? The other scents could be easily explained, but why would the grandpoof have his scent all over it as well?
"You dropped this." He said, handing her the pig, not giving it anymore thought – its up to her who she lets handle her pig!
As Buffy took Mr Gordo from him he saw her eyes begin to mist and could only guess at what she was thinking.
* "Here baby," said a much younger looking Joyce "I got you a new friend!" she told the five year old Buffy before handing over a less worn looking pig*
*"Hey I used to have a pig like that when I was a kid!" said Xander, taking Mr Gordo off the shelf*
*"You came for some quality time with Mr Gordo?" Buffy asked the man in front of her.
"Huh?" Angel replied, not thinking about the plush toy in his hands.
"The pig." She told him, smiling as he hurried to put it back, embarrassed.*
"I'm gonna go have a shower and get ready for work." Buffy mumbled to Spike, hoping to get past him before the first tears fell.
Spike watched her leave. He knew she was going to cry about the things she had lost and left behind. He knew she avoided crying in front of him. She didn't want to remind him of why she was crying, of why he used to cry. She didn't want to send him into one of his violent rages he used to be so fond of when all he could feel was anger and grief.
"Bugger." He said softly, shaking his head. He'd buy her some chocolate later. She liked chocolate, maybe it would help...
"Stupid late vampire!" Buffy muttered as she paced the walk in front of the diner where she worked a few days later. "Never on time!" She glanced at her watch once more. Ten thirty. *To hell with this* she thought, and began to walk towards the bus stop.
"Anne...Anne...Buffy?"
Buffy whipped around at the sound of her name. She found herself facing a girl she had served a few days earlier...Lilly was it?
"You are Buffy right?" the girl asked nervously. "From Sunnydale?"
Buffy shuddered at the memories invoked by such a simple phrase but nodded silently.
"Oh good!" Lilly breathed a sigh of relief "You have to help me!"
"I do?" Buffy asked, confused. She looked around, wishing Spike would hurry up.
"It's Ricky. He's missing, I can't find him anywhere!" Lilly replied franticly
"Ricky?" Buffy asked, completely lost
"That guy I was with. Please you have to help me...you know about stuff!" Lilly pleaded.
Buffy sighed. She knew this wasn't going to go away. She suspected that Ricky might have just gotten bored and gone off on his own. What harm would it do to just check a couple of places with this girl since Spike seemed to be a no show?
"Fine!" She said eventually, exasperated. "Where do you guys normally hang?"
Bugger, bugger, bugger, Spike thought as he ran towards the diner. Buffy was going to kill him for sure this time. He hadn't meant to be late, but what does the girl expect if they show Monty python re-runs on cable. Hopefully the huge bar of Belgian chocolate he carried in his duster pocket would sweeten he up a little – no pun intended. When he reached the diner however, she was nowhere in sight. He glanced at his watch – ten forty- five. He'd been later than this before and Buffy normally waited. She gave him hell afterwards, but she waited. Spike didn't want to consider why he suddenly became very nervous. She was the slayer; she could take care of herself...right?
What if she'd picked up some guy and had gone back to his place? (He was studiously NOT thinking about why such an idea made him nauseous) She'd be pretty pissed if he followed her and barged in on a make-out session. But that didn't seem like Buffy at all. She'd at least call and tell him not to bother meeting her! Right! It was decided then. He'd pick up her scent, follow it, and if she were with some guy he'd just leave her to it and grill her about it when she got home! There settled!
Spike breathed in deeply, carefully singling out that unique scent that was Buffy. Yep she'd been here recently – and she wasn't alone. There was another scent in the air that was faintly familiar. He couldn't place it just yet, but he was sure it would come to him. At least it didn't seem threatening. After about half an hour of walking, Buffy's scent led him to a rather run down looking building, a sign that read 'Family Home' hung over the door. 'Family Home', why did that sound familiar?
Realisation suddenly filled Spikes consciousness. He'd heard about this place when he'd been playing poker with a couple of the local demons. It was a demon run workshop! They'd lure in unsuspecting runaways and work them in a hell dimension until they were past retirement age then spat them back out into this world where barely a day had passed. He remembered thinking it was quite cleaver when he'd heard about it. But surely Buffy wouldn't fall for a scam like that; she wasn't a run away...well not a homeless one anyway! But there was no doubt about it, the nose knows! Sighing, hoping he hadn't lost too much time, Spike went quickly into the building to find it surprisingly empty.
When he saw the pool of what looked like murky water, he knew he had stumbled onto something. He'd seen the 'disguise a portal as a paddling pool' trick before. He almost sighed again before deciding that he sighed way to much as it was and jumped into the pool, not surprised when he went straight through and landed on his feet somewhere he just knew wasn't the basement.
Further ahead he heard various cries and moans, the occasional scream. Thinking it was as good a place to start as any he headed in that direction. He couldn't keep the smile form his lips when he heard a very familiar voice.
"I'm Buffy, the vampire slayer! And you are?"
His smile broke into an outright grin when the voice was quickly followed by the unmistakeable sound of a battle not too far ahead. Soon Spike saw people of various ages running from the fray, presumably towards the exit. That was when he spotted a very tired looking slayer holding up a gate, allowing the captured runaways to escape. He let out a low chuckle.
"Chaos, panic, disorder. Your work pet?" he called.
Buffy looked up, surprised yet pleased to see him. "Just shut up and help me hold this thing will you?" Spike shrugged and did as he was told.
When the last prisoner was free, Buffy and Spike went to leave themselves, followed by Lilly who seemed very nervous, hiding behind Buffy whenever he glanced in her direction.
"Is there something wrong?" Spike asked, more out of curiosity than actual caring. Buffy looked between the two, understanding hit her when she saw Lilly's hand reach up to her neck.
"Ohhh!" Buffy cried. "Remember ford? The one who sold me out to you? Well Lilly here was in his cult – you bit her before I came in and kicked your ass!"
"I did?" Spike asked, at Buffy's nod he turned to Lilly – so that's why that other scent had been familiar. "Sorry 'bout that ducks!"
Lilly mumbled something about it not being a problem before they were distracted by the moans of one of their demon captors.
"You bitch!" The demon formally known as Ken spat. "You ruined everything!"
Spike smiled. "Hey Slayer, why don't you show him your Ghandi impression?"
Buffy grinned at spike and picked up a discarded club that she quickly used to smash Ken's head into mush.
"Ghandi?" Lilly asked, mildly horrified by what she had just seen.
Buffy shrugged as they continued towards the exit. "Well y'know...if he was really pissed off!"
"Got everything Slayer?" Spike asked, appearing in the doorway to Buffy's room a few hours later.
"Yeah, I think that's it." She replied quietly, turning face him.
"You sure you don't want me to drive you to the bus station?" He asked for the twentieth time. Buffy smiled. She knew he was just trying to delay this.
"It's ok. It's best if I go on my own. But thanks."
"No worries." He replied, turning to leave. It was just too painful to watch his friend, his best friend if truth be told, packing up to leave him behind. Sure he'd been the one to tell her it was ok to return to Sunnydale, that it was the right thing to do, to not worry about him being on his own...but that didn't mean he had to watch. He was stilled by Buffy's hand on his arm.
"I mean it Spike." She said softly "Thank you for everything. I wouldn't have made it through these three months without you!"
Spike shrugged and looked at the floor, uncomfortable with the level of emotion in the room. "Same here pet." He mumbled. If she had been anyone other than the slayer, she would have missed his quiet admission.
As Buffy hugged her friend goodbye, she vowed not to let him disappear from her life forever. No matter if he couldn't be part of her life back in Sunnydale, she knew he would always hold a special place in her heart...
Several hours later as Buffy hugged her mother for the first time in months, Spike was trying to sleep. He tried to tell himself that he was sleeping in the room that had been Buffy's because he liked the view better, because he would have taken that room if she hadn't claimed it first. It wasn't because it still smelled like her, it wasn't because he felt comforted by the lingering after effects of her presence...and it definitely wasn't because he missed her!
A/N: I know that chapter was a lot longer than the others but I was in the zone you know? I know I skipped a load of the stuff that happened in the episode Anne...well nearly all of it actually, but I thought the spike/Buffy interaction was more important – come on you've seen the episode – you know what happens! Thanks again fro reading, I love you all! More soon – promise!
A/N: Thanks for reading – it's much appreciated! Thank you Shero, Tobert and lilmamaday for the reviews – I'm grinning from ear to ear! This part of the story takes place about three months after the end of the last chapter. I know it's kind of a cop out to skip those months but I wanted to progress the story – don't worry; I don't think you missed much!
Chapter 3 – Can't run from destiny
"Slayer will you get your bony ass in here already!" Spike called, strolling happily through the new apartment, peeping around doorways occasionally, wondering which room the slayer would want so he could lay dibs on it first.
"My ass is not bony!" he heard her yell from somewhere behind him and he chuckled softly. She was sooo easy to wind up, and he did it as often as he could of course! "And I'd move a lot faster if SOMEONE hadn't left me to carry all the bags!!" she added after a few moments, followed by a loud 'bump', signalling the dropping of said bags.
Spike poked his head from around the doorframe of the room he was currently perusing to see a red faced slayer glaring at him. "I'm evil pet." He reminded her for probably the millionth time.
"Stupid vampire." She grumbled good naturedly "It's not fair to use logic!"
Spike smiled as he approached her, picking up several of the bags and carrying them into the main living room, which also happened to be the only room with any furniture. Buffy followed him, looking around for the first time. When Spike had told her he'd found them somewhere to live she'd been only too happy to leave the rat infested hell hole that was the motel they'd stayed in since their arrival in LA. It never even occurred to her that it was slightly odd that her one time mortal enemy had actually looked for a place for both of them, and it didn't seem the least bit strange that she was so willing to continue to live with him. It just seemed natural.
Buffy had no idea when she had actually started to consider Spike to be a friend. She'd long since decided that their initial arrangement after leaving Sunnydale and all its unpleasant memories behind had come about through a mutual desire not to be alone in their grief. But over time something had changed. Rather than tolerating his presence, she'd actually begun to enjoy his company. Sure he could still be an obnoxious creep when the mood took him, but it happened less and less these days. Instead of coming back to the hotel from her thankless job at a diner in one of the less reputable parts of the city to find a drunken vampire asleep in the room that he'd have trashed in a fit of rage, she would find a thoughtful friend who had a steaming starbucks cappuccino and warm foot bath (she deliberately chose not to ask where he had gotten it from), ready to listen to her tales of customers from hell! She shook her head, smiling wistfully – life was pretty strange sometimes.
Spike watched her from his position sprawled on the couch, a bemused expression on his face. If someone had told him six months ago that he would flatmates with the slayer he'd have laughed at them then snapped their necks for lying to him! As it was, that was probably how long it had been since he had actually killed anyone! Before...the unfortunate incident, he'd been stuck in the chair, relying on Dru to bring him his food. Now...well now he just didn't feel like it. He blamed it on his apathy towards unlife since he had lost the other half of himself, but he did wonder – only when he was drunk of course – if he didn't do it because he knew it would upset his unexpected new friend. Because there was no denying it – no matter what the circumstances were surrounding this new turn in their relationship, they had somehow become friends. Although she didn't actively slay anymore, he knew she couldn't just let him go out and kill the odd stranger here and there. So bagged blood it was...not that he wouldn't kill if the opportunity arose...just...not unnecessarily.
"You workin' tonight goldilocks?" he called out to Buffy as she explored the two bedrooms.
"Yeah!" he heard her reply before she came back into the room and picked up her bags. Spike got up to follow her, absently noting that she'd picked the room he liked – the one with the large bay windows and a view over the city...well he'd complain about it later. The other room wasn't bad; the view just wasn't as good!
"Want me to meet you afterwards so we can go pick up some furniture for this place? You know you'll only complain if I pick everythin' without you!" he added almost as an after thought "Bossy little chit."
All Buffy did was turn around and grin at him. She knew it was just a token insult; hell she even called him fang breath from time to time. "Sure! I finish at ten."
Spike nodded and turned to leave, but he tapped something with his foot. Bending down, he picked up Mr Gordo, Buffy's stuffed pig. He studded it, taking in the various scents that adorned its plush coat – Buffy, Joyce, ink, xander, orange juice, Willow, fabric softener...Angel? The other scents could be easily explained, but why would the grandpoof have his scent all over it as well?
"You dropped this." He said, handing her the pig, not giving it anymore thought – its up to her who she lets handle her pig!
As Buffy took Mr Gordo from him he saw her eyes begin to mist and could only guess at what she was thinking.
* "Here baby," said a much younger looking Joyce "I got you a new friend!" she told the five year old Buffy before handing over a less worn looking pig*
*"Hey I used to have a pig like that when I was a kid!" said Xander, taking Mr Gordo off the shelf*
*"You came for some quality time with Mr Gordo?" Buffy asked the man in front of her.
"Huh?" Angel replied, not thinking about the plush toy in his hands.
"The pig." She told him, smiling as he hurried to put it back, embarrassed.*
"I'm gonna go have a shower and get ready for work." Buffy mumbled to Spike, hoping to get past him before the first tears fell.
Spike watched her leave. He knew she was going to cry about the things she had lost and left behind. He knew she avoided crying in front of him. She didn't want to remind him of why she was crying, of why he used to cry. She didn't want to send him into one of his violent rages he used to be so fond of when all he could feel was anger and grief.
"Bugger." He said softly, shaking his head. He'd buy her some chocolate later. She liked chocolate, maybe it would help...
"Stupid late vampire!" Buffy muttered as she paced the walk in front of the diner where she worked a few days later. "Never on time!" She glanced at her watch once more. Ten thirty. *To hell with this* she thought, and began to walk towards the bus stop.
"Anne...Anne...Buffy?"
Buffy whipped around at the sound of her name. She found herself facing a girl she had served a few days earlier...Lilly was it?
"You are Buffy right?" the girl asked nervously. "From Sunnydale?"
Buffy shuddered at the memories invoked by such a simple phrase but nodded silently.
"Oh good!" Lilly breathed a sigh of relief "You have to help me!"
"I do?" Buffy asked, confused. She looked around, wishing Spike would hurry up.
"It's Ricky. He's missing, I can't find him anywhere!" Lilly replied franticly
"Ricky?" Buffy asked, completely lost
"That guy I was with. Please you have to help me...you know about stuff!" Lilly pleaded.
Buffy sighed. She knew this wasn't going to go away. She suspected that Ricky might have just gotten bored and gone off on his own. What harm would it do to just check a couple of places with this girl since Spike seemed to be a no show?
"Fine!" She said eventually, exasperated. "Where do you guys normally hang?"
Bugger, bugger, bugger, Spike thought as he ran towards the diner. Buffy was going to kill him for sure this time. He hadn't meant to be late, but what does the girl expect if they show Monty python re-runs on cable. Hopefully the huge bar of Belgian chocolate he carried in his duster pocket would sweeten he up a little – no pun intended. When he reached the diner however, she was nowhere in sight. He glanced at his watch – ten forty- five. He'd been later than this before and Buffy normally waited. She gave him hell afterwards, but she waited. Spike didn't want to consider why he suddenly became very nervous. She was the slayer; she could take care of herself...right?
What if she'd picked up some guy and had gone back to his place? (He was studiously NOT thinking about why such an idea made him nauseous) She'd be pretty pissed if he followed her and barged in on a make-out session. But that didn't seem like Buffy at all. She'd at least call and tell him not to bother meeting her! Right! It was decided then. He'd pick up her scent, follow it, and if she were with some guy he'd just leave her to it and grill her about it when she got home! There settled!
Spike breathed in deeply, carefully singling out that unique scent that was Buffy. Yep she'd been here recently – and she wasn't alone. There was another scent in the air that was faintly familiar. He couldn't place it just yet, but he was sure it would come to him. At least it didn't seem threatening. After about half an hour of walking, Buffy's scent led him to a rather run down looking building, a sign that read 'Family Home' hung over the door. 'Family Home', why did that sound familiar?
Realisation suddenly filled Spikes consciousness. He'd heard about this place when he'd been playing poker with a couple of the local demons. It was a demon run workshop! They'd lure in unsuspecting runaways and work them in a hell dimension until they were past retirement age then spat them back out into this world where barely a day had passed. He remembered thinking it was quite cleaver when he'd heard about it. But surely Buffy wouldn't fall for a scam like that; she wasn't a run away...well not a homeless one anyway! But there was no doubt about it, the nose knows! Sighing, hoping he hadn't lost too much time, Spike went quickly into the building to find it surprisingly empty.
When he saw the pool of what looked like murky water, he knew he had stumbled onto something. He'd seen the 'disguise a portal as a paddling pool' trick before. He almost sighed again before deciding that he sighed way to much as it was and jumped into the pool, not surprised when he went straight through and landed on his feet somewhere he just knew wasn't the basement.
Further ahead he heard various cries and moans, the occasional scream. Thinking it was as good a place to start as any he headed in that direction. He couldn't keep the smile form his lips when he heard a very familiar voice.
"I'm Buffy, the vampire slayer! And you are?"
His smile broke into an outright grin when the voice was quickly followed by the unmistakeable sound of a battle not too far ahead. Soon Spike saw people of various ages running from the fray, presumably towards the exit. That was when he spotted a very tired looking slayer holding up a gate, allowing the captured runaways to escape. He let out a low chuckle.
"Chaos, panic, disorder. Your work pet?" he called.
Buffy looked up, surprised yet pleased to see him. "Just shut up and help me hold this thing will you?" Spike shrugged and did as he was told.
When the last prisoner was free, Buffy and Spike went to leave themselves, followed by Lilly who seemed very nervous, hiding behind Buffy whenever he glanced in her direction.
"Is there something wrong?" Spike asked, more out of curiosity than actual caring. Buffy looked between the two, understanding hit her when she saw Lilly's hand reach up to her neck.
"Ohhh!" Buffy cried. "Remember ford? The one who sold me out to you? Well Lilly here was in his cult – you bit her before I came in and kicked your ass!"
"I did?" Spike asked, at Buffy's nod he turned to Lilly – so that's why that other scent had been familiar. "Sorry 'bout that ducks!"
Lilly mumbled something about it not being a problem before they were distracted by the moans of one of their demon captors.
"You bitch!" The demon formally known as Ken spat. "You ruined everything!"
Spike smiled. "Hey Slayer, why don't you show him your Ghandi impression?"
Buffy grinned at spike and picked up a discarded club that she quickly used to smash Ken's head into mush.
"Ghandi?" Lilly asked, mildly horrified by what she had just seen.
Buffy shrugged as they continued towards the exit. "Well y'know...if he was really pissed off!"
"Got everything Slayer?" Spike asked, appearing in the doorway to Buffy's room a few hours later.
"Yeah, I think that's it." She replied quietly, turning face him.
"You sure you don't want me to drive you to the bus station?" He asked for the twentieth time. Buffy smiled. She knew he was just trying to delay this.
"It's ok. It's best if I go on my own. But thanks."
"No worries." He replied, turning to leave. It was just too painful to watch his friend, his best friend if truth be told, packing up to leave him behind. Sure he'd been the one to tell her it was ok to return to Sunnydale, that it was the right thing to do, to not worry about him being on his own...but that didn't mean he had to watch. He was stilled by Buffy's hand on his arm.
"I mean it Spike." She said softly "Thank you for everything. I wouldn't have made it through these three months without you!"
Spike shrugged and looked at the floor, uncomfortable with the level of emotion in the room. "Same here pet." He mumbled. If she had been anyone other than the slayer, she would have missed his quiet admission.
As Buffy hugged her friend goodbye, she vowed not to let him disappear from her life forever. No matter if he couldn't be part of her life back in Sunnydale, she knew he would always hold a special place in her heart...
Several hours later as Buffy hugged her mother for the first time in months, Spike was trying to sleep. He tried to tell himself that he was sleeping in the room that had been Buffy's because he liked the view better, because he would have taken that room if she hadn't claimed it first. It wasn't because it still smelled like her, it wasn't because he felt comforted by the lingering after effects of her presence...and it definitely wasn't because he missed her!
A/N: I know that chapter was a lot longer than the others but I was in the zone you know? I know I skipped a load of the stuff that happened in the episode Anne...well nearly all of it actually, but I thought the spike/Buffy interaction was more important – come on you've seen the episode – you know what happens! Thanks again fro reading, I love you all! More soon – promise!
