"These ropes are a little tight," Spike said from his spot on the Summers' rocking chair. "They're cuttin' off my circulation."

"You're dead," said Xander. "You don't have circulation."

"Well, they pinch," Spike said, shifting. Xander rolled his eyes.

"I could dust you," Buffy said. "Then they wouldn't pinch."

"Buffy," Joyce said. "Please don't threaten him."

Spike glared at Buffy. "Look, I don't see what the big deal is," he said. "You've heard the story, you've got the word of your boy over there, and I've been talkin' to your mum for three days now, and she's okay, right?"

Buffy smiled with false sweetness. "You know, you're right," she said. "My mom isn't dead, I've got the word of a guy I haven't seen in four years, no offense Pike, and some wild tale about a chip in your head. I should just trust all that, and set you free. I should really just ignore the thousands of people you've killed and eaten over the years."

"Yeah, right!" Spike said. "Well, okay, I guess it doesn't sound too convincing when you put it like that."

Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Faith?" she asked as the younger Slayer walked back into the room.

"Riley'll be here in a few minutes," she said. "He'll know if the story pans out."

Buffy nodded. "Pike can I talk to you for a minute? Outside?"

Pike nodded and followed Buffy to the porch, lighting a cigarette once they were outside.

"What the hell were you thinking, bringing him here? And trusting him?" she yelled.

"I brought him here because he's the one who heard the rumor about 314, and all the demons being afraid. I thought that was worth checking out," Pike said, not backing down in the slightest. "And I trust him because he's earned it."

"Earned it how?" Buffy asked. "By turning and killing thousands of people in the last hundred plus years? By being so notorious as to gain the nickname 'Scourge of Europe'? Is that how? "

"No!" Pike said. "By getting my back. Buffy, me and Spike have been fighting together for a couple months now. He's saved my life more than you have, and I trust him because of *that*. He has never once betrayed me, or harmed innocents. And trust me, he's had the opportunity to do both."

"How do you know this chip works?" Buffy asked.

Pike smirked, and took a drag off his cigarette. "He tried to pick a flower once. The chip shocked him and he let off a string of curses like you wouldn't believe."

"A flower?" Buffy asked, incredulous.

Pike nodded. "Can't harm any living thing."

"We'll see when Riley gets here," said Buffy.

* * * * *

"Hey," Riley said. "Sorry, it took so long, I had to find the test unit. Also, I found these two ladies on the way."

Tara and Willow walked in behind him. Tara paused.

"W-why is that man tied up?" she asked.

"The question you'll soon be asking is why isn't he gagged?" Xander said, forcing a smile at the young woman.

"Hello," Joyce said, holding her hand out to Tara. "I'm Joyce Summers. You must be Tara."

"N-nice to meet you," Tara said.

"I've heard so much about you, it's nice to finally put a face with the name," Joyce said, smiling at the young woman."

"Thank you," Tara said, bowing her head slightly. "Nice to meet you to."

Willow walked up to Spike and smacked him.

"Hey!" Spike yelled. "What was that for?"

Willow glared at him.

"Oh," he said. "Right, I guess I deserved that."

Riley walked over to Spike's chair. "Oh yeah," Riley said. "I remember this guy. Tore up a lot of expensive equipment. Cost a lot of money."

"There, see?" Spike asked. "Now would you let me out of this bloody chair?"

"Man, quit whining," said Pike.

"Fine," said Spike. "Run your little test, then let me out of this chair."

"This'll just take a minute," said Riley.

He pulled out a small device, plugged in a wand and started waving it over Spike's head.

"That thing's not gonna make me sterile, is it?"

"You're a vampire, Spike," said Buffy. "You're sterile anyway."

"Yeah," said Spike. "But I'm not gonna need that Viagra, am I?"

"Anybody else eww?" asked Buffy. The entire room raised their hands.

"Well?" Spike asked.

"No," Riley said. "It won't, as much as I regret that right now."

Dawn came down the stairs.

"Mom, I finished my-why is Spike tied up?"

"Hey, bit," Spike said. "Big sis is worried I'll get out and eat somebody."

Buffy's eyes bugged out and she looked disbelievingly at her mom.

"You let Spike around Dawn?" she asked.

"Buffy, I assure you, aside from a little swearing, Spike has been a perfect gentleman."

"I still can't believe you took that risk! When did everyone in this house become insane?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy, that's enough," said Joyce. "If you will recall, you don't live here anymore. I am still the adult, and these are my decisions to make. Do you really think I would have let him near Dawn if I thought he was even a little bit of a threat? He was here last year, and didn't try anything."

"On you, Mom. Didn't try anything on you. Or did you forget that he kidnapped Willow and Xander, gave Xander a concussion and had Angel and me fighting for our lives in the magic shop?"

"Buffy, he was going through a very rough time, you have to understand that."

"I cannot believe you're rationalizing for a vampire!"

"You of all people should know -"

"Joyce," Spike interrupted calmly. "Let her have this one. She's right. I am, after all, evil. It so happens that right now I couldn't harm a fly, and that's literally, so I'm not really a danger to you. But without knowing that for sure, it's her job to distrust me. She's only trying to protect you."

The room was silent.

"When did he become a mediator?" Xander asked.

"When having a level head became important for my survival, you git," Spike said.

"Okay," said Riley, turning off his machine. "The chip is working. He shouldn't be able to harm anybody."

Everyone turned to Buffy.

"Okay," she said. "We're going to untie you. Then we're going to test whether or not this chip actually works."

"And just how do you propose that?" Spike asked.

"You're going to hit me."

"Buffy, no," Xander said. "Let him hit me. Shield and all. Won't hurt me."

"Actually, now that you've said that, it won't hurt him either," said Riley. "The chip is designed to deliver a stunning charge whenever he threatens something that's alive. If he knows an action won't hurt a person, it won't hurt him either."

"Oh," Xander said. "You couldn't have said that before?"

"I didn't think she'd volunteer to be hit."

"Right. Buffy, I don't want him to touch you," Xander said.

"I can hold my own," Buffy said. "Besides, Spike won't try anything. There are a bunch of people in this room who can kill him, and he likes himself way too much for that to happen."

"Well, yeah," said Spike. "But I'm still not interested in hitting you. It'll hurt like the bloody dickens."

"It's either that, or we dust you," said Buffy.

Spike thought for a second. "Yeah, all right," he said. "But it'll only be a tap."

Buffy nodded, and Faith cut Spike's bonds.

Spike stood up, and stretched his arms.

"You ready?" he asked Buffy, who stood in front of him.

She nodded.

Spike took a step back, and let a punch fly. Hard.

His fist impacted the air just in front of Buffy, bouncing off something, causing no damage to her, but making Spike reel in pain, holding his forehead like it was about to explode.

Buffy was confused, and looked around for what could have caused her shield. She looked over and saw Tara stop whispering, and gave her a small smile, which was timidly returned.

"Bloody hell!" Spike yelled. "Oh, that hurt! Christ!"

"Spike! Watch your language," said Joyce.

"Sorry," he said, sitting back down in the chair. "Do you think I could get an aspirin?"

"I'll get it!" Dawn said, running back up the stairs.

"Well, I guess the chip works. Nice work with the barrier, Tara," Xander said, a little strain in his voice.

"Th-thank you," she said. Willow shot an odd look at her long-time friend, who merely shook his head.

"Now what was the point of that?" Pike asked.

"Well, I figured, free hit on the Slayer. How often will that happen?" Spike said, holding his forehead.

Riley shook his head. "I'm going to have to report this, you know," he said.

"Uh. . . wait, but I fight with the good now," Spike said, worry creasing his face.

"Don't worry," Riley said. "I'll just tell them that you guys captured a demon we had released. We have released a few with chips in them. I'll just say I got to test one, and you can keep doing whatever it is you've been doing. Assuming Pike's not lying."

"I'm on the level, man," Pike said. Buffy nodded in affirmation.

"All right, then," Spike said.

"We're not really trusting him, are we?" Faith asked.

"Only as far Dawn can throw him," said Buffy.

As she said that, Dawn came back down and gave Spike a glass of water and an aspirin.

"Thanks, Niblet," he said.

"What does that mean?" Xander asked. "Niblet?"

Spike shrugged. "That's what she is," he said. "Not even a nibble, a Niblet."

"I like it," Dawn said, smiling. "It's cute."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "My entire family is nuts."

"Okay, Spike," Xander said, placing his hand comfortingly on Buffy's shoulder. "We've established you're not here to hurt anybody, because you can't. Why are you here?"

"Well, there was the matter of the fleeing demons," he said. "They caught my interest a little. I figure, anything that makes evil run in fear's got to be up for a good spot of violence, yeah?"

"So. . . you came here to kill things?" Buffy asked.

"Sort of, yeah," said Spike. "Oh, but only evil things. Can't touch humans, now, can I?"

"See?" Joyce said. "He's reforming."

Spike tugged on the lapels of his duster with false pride.

"Also," said Pike. "He thinks there's a chance whatever's scaring off the demons might be in for an apocalypse, which apparently you people attract like moths to a flame. He doesn't want that. Neither do I."

"He's evil," said Faith. "Why wouldn't he want an apocalypse?"

"Happy meals," said Buffy.

"What?" Willow asked, confused.

"When I teamed up with him against Angelus, he said he liked this world because of. . . oh, crap, what was it?"

"Dog racing, Manchester United and people, walking around like happy meals on legs."

"You're serious," Faith said.

"Well, not so much the people anymore, though if any of you feel like donating I'd be more than happy to accept. I still get blood. That means I can live, and I like living."

"Even though you're dead," said Xander.

"Just because my heart doesn't happen to be beating doesn't mean I can't have a full and meaningful life," Spike said.

"At night," said Xander.

"In cemeteries," added Faith.

"Hoping not to get an inopportune splinter," said Buffy.

"Look, if you're just going to make fun, there's no reason for me to -"

"Spike," Pike said. "Shut up, man."

Spike considered this. "Well," he said. "With cable, there's no reason anybody can't have a life."

"We're stealing that shit tomorrow, right?" Pike asked.

"Oliver!" Joyce said, glancing at Dawn.

"Sorry, Joyce," Pike said.

"Where exactly are you staying that you have to steal cable?" Riley asked.

"A crypt in Restfield," Pike said. "It's spartan, but not uncomfortable."

"And you're okay sleeping in the same. . . crypt. . . as a vampire?" Xander asked.

"It's called loyalty, mate," Spike said. "A little thing called honor."

"That why you betrayed Angel?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, Angel's a poofter, he deserved what he got. You're just pissed because your soul mate got sent to hell."

Buffy smiled.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you," Pike said. "Xander here is Buffy's soul mate. In the literal sense. Angel was just a guy. . . vampire, anyway, who she loved."

"What!" Spike yelled.

"Looks like you were wrong about what you said when you were here. Me and Angel? Just friends."

Spike stood there, jaw open. "You mean you. . ." he said, pointing at Buffy. She nodded, grinning. "And you. . ." he said, pointing at Xander. He nodded as well.

"Well, I'll be buggered," Spike said.

"Spike!" yelled Joyce.

"Sorry, Joyce," Spike said.

"Just watch your language."

"I don't mind, Mom," Dawn said.

"Well, I do," Joyce said.

Spike grinned. "Joyce, I don't suppose I could borrow your phone? You do have Angel's phone number right? I really want to make fun of him. I haven't done that in a ages."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "You're over a hundred years old, and still act like a teenager."

"Well, yeah. Eternal youth has its advantages."

Dawn yawned loudly.

"Honey, I think you should go to bed," Joyce said.

"Do I have to?" Dawn asked.

"You do have school tomorrow."

She sighed heavily. "Fine," she said.

She walked over and gave her mom a hug, then waved at Buffy. Xander rustled her hair as she passed him.

"Night, kiddo," Faith said.

Dawn nodded at Faith as she yawned going up the stairs. Everybody stayed quiet until they heard her door shut.

An instant later, Xander was holding Spike against the wall by his throat and holding a stake to his heart.

"I want you to listen to me very carefully," Buffy said with quiet forcefulness as Spike struggled unsuccessfully against Xander's grip. "If you betray us. If you work against us. If you give us anything but your full-fledged support, you will be dust. There will be no banter, and no second chances. You're dealing with two Slayers, a White Knight, a Watcher, two witches and a well-trained soldier who has access to the type of technology that's in your head."

"We do not trust you," Xander said, picking up where Buffy stopped. "We will never trust you. We will never forget what you are. We may get to a point where we can tolerate your presence, but if you step out of line once, you are dust. If you don't like it, leave town. Get it?"

Spike nodded with what little neck motion he had left.

Xander released Spike and backed away towards the coffee table, a glint of mischief in his eye. "Sleep in fear," Faith said, with a little smirk. "You never know when we might wake up cranky."

Spike flexed his neck a little. "Well, that was. . . bracing," he said. "Look, I get the idea. You don't trust me, but like I said, I'm not in favor of apocalypses. As long as our goals are the same, you'll not have any trouble from me. When they're not. . . I'll just leave town. Fair enough?"

"Sure," Faith said. "Unless that chip stops working. Then you're dust."

"Right, we all get it," Spike said. "You all hate me, I hate all you, 'cept Joyce and the bit. And Pike's not so bad. But the rest of you can all sod off. Got it? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a smoke."

"One more thing," Xander said, grabbing Spike by the lapel. "You corrupt Dawn in anyway, and you won't just die, you'll die painfully."

"I get it," Spike said, almost spitting in Xander's face. He then walked outside.

Standing on the porch, Spike lit up a cigarette, then noticed something fall to the ground. He picked up a small piece of paper, ripped from a magazine. The note said 'Angel' and was followed by ten digits. Spike grinned. The paper had fallen from his jacket, and only one person had been close enough to put it there.

Spike took a drag from the cigarette. "Oh, I could get to like him," he said.

* * * * *

"Giles isn't going to be happy about this," Xander said as he lay in bed with Buffy that night.

"I'm not happy about this," Buffy said. "But I can see ways in which Spike could be useful."

"Yeah," Xander said. "If we're fighting someone during the day, we push Spike out, he bursts into fire. . . distraction extraordinaire."

"That sounds like fun," Buffy said. "But he could also have demon contacts we don't. I mean, we hadn't heard about 314."

"True," said Xander. "I don't know. We just have to make sure to keep our eye on him."

"We'll remember," Buffy said. "I'll. . . have it tattooed on his head. 'Do not trust.'"

Xander smiled and leaned in to kiss his girlfriend. "You're so cute when you're being ridiculous."

"You think I was joking?"

Xander grinned. "Come here," he said, tugging her closer.

"What?" she asked.

Xander whispered in her ear.

Buffy grinned, reached over and turned out the light. Then she squealed.

* * * * *

"Giles is gonna fucking hate this," Faith said.

"I just love it when you talk about old British guys in bed," Riley said, sarcastically.

"Sorry," Faith said. "But he's gonna go ballistic."

"Well, you guys did make a truce with a vampire without his knowing about it. He's got a right."

"Yeah," Faith said. "Guess we probably shoulda called him, huh?"

"Probably," Riley said, yawning.

"Aww, is baby tired?" Faith cooed.

"Baby didn't get enough sleep," Riley said. "Baby's boss has been increasing his workload so he has less and less time for other, funner things."

Faith smiled, then leaned up and kissed him. "Go to sleep," she said. "I'll still be here when you wake up."

Riley grinned, wrapped his arms around Faith and went to sleep.

* * * * *

"I think Giles might get mad at us," Willow said as she and Tara sat on her bed.

"Because you made a deal with Spike?" Tara asked.

"No, because we left him out of the loop," Willow said. "We're all growing up, and I think a lot of the time we're going to inadvertently do that."

"Well," Tara said, "a-at least you have the decency to feel bad about it? And if you're aware of it, y-you can change it."

Willow smiled and kissed her girlfriend. Then she yawned.

"I-I should probably go," Tara said, standing up.

"Or," Willow started.

"Or?" asked Tara.

Willow smiled. "Or you could stay."

Tara looked questioningly at Willow, who nodded at her. Tara smiled shyly and climbed back onto the bed.

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End Chapter 7