Part 3: Scent of a Vampire

-NN-

Somewhere, in the city of LA, a rogue vampire prowled the streets. The Big Bad. Those who knew him, humans and demons alike, dared not speak his name. If they did, if they had the balls to do just that, it was said in nothing but a mere whisper: "Spike."

It was all a facade. And he knew it.

Humans didn't fear him, they looked up to him. Demons didn't whisper his name out of fear; instead, they hissed his name in spite. However, some demons, the smart demons, feared him. He is Spike after all.

Like every night these days, Spike was found wandering the streets. He was hoping, waiting, and searching for the chance to kill, one that would allow him to forget everything, in other words, Buffy.

But to forget is to remember. Spike would like to think that he was fighting for the helpless because that is what Buffy would have wanted. But his wishful thinking was not completely real, not necessarily, as the truth is: he simply changed.

-NN-

Though a changed vampire, his feelings for Buffy remained constant.

On nights when he's alone the feelings grow stronger. They creep into his heart and he's done for.

Everything, everywhere, and everyone becomes a reminder of Buffy; his world, his love, his life.

Spike turned a corner and was faced with a window. Looking in, he scrutinized over the mannequins dressed in suits, evening gowns, casual wear, and bathing suits. It was too soon that he got lost in thought, The blue blazer or the peach? Would she color coordinate? Mix? Match? Wear the exact same shade all the way through? No, mix n' match it is. Not the green. Definitely not the pink. The soft golden tan and crisp white underneath? Maybe. No on the skirt. Slacks? She'd wear that. After seemingly making an appropriate decision, he moved onto a different category and continued his torment.

Looking at the selection of featured swimsuits, he'd go into a full on debate, as if choosing what Buffy would wear was the most important decision a man could make. He ended up with the conclusion that she wouldn't pick any of the ones the mannequins were sporting. She wouldn't go for the skimpy string bikinis in red, fuchsia, or the floral prints. No, none of that. Buffy would wear a simple black one piece suit and still stop everybody at the whole damned beach dead in their tracks.

A grin had made its way and tugged at the corner of his lips. His thoughts were forever expanding on his visualization of his one and only.

Clothes were just one thing, places were another.

Restaurants, Cineplex's, parks, bars, and clubs— all were considered and critiqued in his mind. And once a place met his standards it was added to a mental list of possible places he could take her to.

But not yet. That's right! I'm a vampire with a plan!

Looking around at the people milling about in the streets, he returned to his thoughts of nothing other than Buffy. Would she be annoyed if he took her to McDonalds? Would she laugh if he took her to a black tie restaurant? Would she smile if he took her to a drive-in?

Men became possible threats. What if one day she happened to meet that beefy guy over there? How about that lanky red haired guy or that businessman taking a bite to eat? Would that blond guy make her laugh? Would she love him for it?

At that thought, he knew he was gone; his grin grew into a full smile and a chuckle rumbled low in his throat, "there you have it. I continue to be love's bitch."

He was about to turn into another alleyway when he heard an ear splitting scream. "Right then," he said, and took off running.

-NN-

Back at Wolfram and Hart, dripping in green demon goop, Spike stormed into Angel's office.

Angel looked up from his spot behind his desk when he sensed Spike, and even more so, smelled the scent that was coming off of him. "Spike! What the hell!? What is that crap and that… that smell?"

"Pefoul demon, nasty little buggers," Spike replied. "Whole nest of 'em. Listen, I--"

Spike turned around forgetting what he was about to say, as he picked up a familiar scent.

"Guts must be screwing with my senses..." he said, and then as if to physically rid himself of the feeling, he shook his head. Couldn't be. Could it? he thought.

"It's Buffy," Angel explained. "She's back… and with company."

Spike's jaw dropped as Angel confirmed his thoughts. "Where?"

"She just left to the rest room and to finish up on the phone. Xander called."

Spike, pacing now, couldn't get a grip. Not yet, not yet, not till I've fully executed The Plan, as planned! As he turned for what must be the fiftieth time he noticed something that shouldn't be there.

"What the bloody hell is this?!!" he gestured to the empty car seat.

"It's a uh… maybe you should sit down," said Angel, then looking at Spike's torn attire, and the disheveled and goopy state he was in, Angel reconsidered, "or better yet uhh… you should just keep standing."

Angel thought how he should phrase the news, for all he knew, Spike would drop dead at the news and he really didn't want to call in for the cleaners, much less revive the vampire, especially with the recent addition of Pefoul stench and guts.

Angel leaned back and rested his head onto his seat's leather cushion, and considered the situation. And found he almost enjoyed the look of anticipation on Spike's face. He took a breath and let out a sigh. After contemplating his words, he ended up just blurted it out, "turns out Buffy had a baby."

No.

Angel didn't know what else to say, but wanting to fill the silence, he started spilling out bits and pieces of information he just found out earlier that day.

"She had him about five or six months ago. She named him... okay actually I didn't catch his whole name, since I was umm...still recuperating, but she called him Alex. Named after Xander, I suppose. When she was on her cell, Xander referred to him as Will, I think. So, after Willow? Anyway..."

What? Xander? Spike couldn't listen. His mind was too busy reeling.

"…actually pretty cute. I didn't see him awake yet, just when he woke up to cry... She said he's recovering from an ear infection and was tired from the trip..."

She did it, she actually did it. She moved on.

"...I mean, I thought she was still cookie dough or at least still baking..."

I screwed up. Shouldn't have waited so bloody long... at that thought, he felt her, the tingling sensation, and the warmth he felt whenever she was near. Moments later he heard the soft even taps of her heels against the marble floor. Not being able to move from his spot, he looked over at Angel.

"The elevator, that's your only way out."

Spike, not comprehending for a moment, remained grounded, till he heard the door knob twisting. Then he was gone, he hopped into the elevator and waited for the doors to close and conceal him.

Buffy walked into the office carrying Alex, who was newly diapered, just fed, and asleep once again.
She didn't miss the scent of the Pefoul demon that had more than lingered in the air, nor did she fail to see the sliver of black between the closing elevator doors.

"Who's that?" she asked.

"Who? What?"

"I thought I saw…"

"Oh it's… umm… Pefoul demon." Angel offered.

"A Pefoul demon wearing black leather?"

"Yeah, turns out he was…lost. He came in looking for someone… when he didn't find who he was looking for… he released a gas. That is what you uh…smell. Then he just darted for the elevator. It was quite weird, actually." Angel couldn't believe it. He was actually trying to cover for Spike.

Buffy knew it was a lie of course. Not only was Angel a horrible liar, but something was just out of place. She could feel it.

It couldn't be him, could it? She ignored the growing sensation; the hairs at the back of her neck standing on end, the tingling nerves, the warmth— all telling her that he's close. She knew she couldn't allow herself to believe that it was him. She knew it wouldn't have been possible. Could it? she thought to herself.

She looked at Angel standing awkwardly in front of her. "Pefoul demon, huh."

"Yeah, Pefoul demon. They're hairy, smelly... things, and umm huge with horns all over..." Angel explained, while waving a hand in the air, not knowing a thing he was saying.

"Riight." Buffy said while putting Alex in his car seat. "Xander is coming to pick us up. Turns out my dad's out of town. I guess he didn't get my message that I was coming. Anyway, we'll just get a hotel room."

"You don't need to do that."

-NN-

Spike, who was listening behind the closed doors of the elevator, remained still. His mind; however, was racing with a million questions. The question ahead in the race was who was the father? And that's when he heard her, "Xander?... WE?... A hotel room?!" and because he was Spike, he went ahead and jumped to his own conclusions. I'm gonna beat the shit…

The ding of the elevator tore him away from his inner rant. The doors were opening. Confused, he looked around and finally noticed his fist. Bloody fucking hell. When the fuck did I do that? Fuck! He had smashed his fist against the elevator wall, destroying buttons in the process, which caused the malfunction. Well, shit.

-NN-

Buffy turned around at the sound of the elevator, but from where she stood she couldn't see inside it. Curious, she started walking towards the elevator.

Angel, not knowing what to do to get her attention, yelped, "Spike!"

Spike pressed himself against the wall. Great, just like the poofter to out me.

Buffy reeled her head around and looked at Angel, "What did you say?"

"Uh…SPIKES…Pefoul demons have spikes too...before the doors closed I think I saw him shoot 'em out... probably all over the ELEVATOR WALL, so you shouldn't go in. It's dangerous stuff," he kept his eyes trained on Buffy, checking to see if by any miracle that she was buying it, "Demon probably thought it would be funny… to damage my elevator."

What the hell are you trying to do Angel? Scare her? Not likely, you nit, she's the bloody Slay--Then finally, he picked up on the hint— "elevator, wall." He located the button. In a split second he tumbled into a room and watched the wall quickly slide back into place, concealing him once again.

Buffy turned to look at the elevator again. With an eerie feeling she went to see what was inside. And found the elevator to be empty.

She glanced over at Angel and then stepped in. Some buttons were busted due to a gaping hole. Everything else looked perfectly normal. She was about to step out, but something glistening caught her eye. What the…drying green goop? And? Yes. Blood.

TBC...