Four Hundred Days
By PassionFish
Chapter Fourteen:
A/N: Thanks to Lady Brandywyne for beta-ing this chapter…and for her lovely comments about it!
--- Day One Hundred and Sixty-Seven ---
It was a brisk January evening and the moon sat low in the pitch black night's sky. The cold air tickled Buffy's Californian nose and she scrunched it up in an attempt to avoid the mild discomfort.
Spike, on the other hand, was in his element. It had been too long since he'd been 'home' for winter. He glanced across at Buffy, laughing as he watched her futile attempts to keep warm. He pouted when she scowled and punched him on the shoulder, but then wrapped an arm around her, pulling her body towards him as they turned into yet another cobbled street.
They were out for one of their nightly strolls. It had become an increasing reoccurrence due to the large number of demons roaming the countryside. But Buffy was sure she was at least making some sort of dent in the evil population....at least she hoped she was.
Spike leaned down, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Love you, pet." He murmured into her hair.
Buffy smiled, snuggling further into his half-embrace.
"Ugh...oh.....uggh...."
The blonde couple stopped immediately, their bodies tensing, releasing the other and forming a protective fighting stance in a matter of milliseconds and with such synchronicity it was almost comical.
"What was that?" Buffy whispered, looking around for the source of the noise.
They'd paused at a cross roads of sorts, and five alley-ways or streets connected to this point. A lone oil street lamp flickered in the background and then died out, leaving them practically sightless; their only source of light was the full moon that shone brightly in the sky above.
Spike frowned; something didn't sound right here. He turned in a full circle and sniffed the air, before a lewd smirk formed his features.
"What?" Buffy hissed, frowning at his expression.
Spike's face suddenly turned angelic and an innocent smile flittered over his lips. "I don't know, ducks. But I think it's coming from down there." He said softly, pointing down the alley way to the far right.
Slayer mode completely on, Buffy straightened her shoulders, leading the way to where Spike had indicated.
The noises continued, and Buffy quickened her pace, slowly sliding a stake from within the folds of her umbrella. She glanced around, looking for Spike, only to find him still grinning where she'd left him.
"Spike! Come on!" She hissed into the darkness, flapping her hand at her lover until he rolled his eyes and finally joined her.
"Oh...." The noise, again.
Buffy jumped as the sound of a trash can falling over greeted her ears, then rolled her eyes at herself. She'd been out of this gig for too long! Quickening her step, she turned the corner and stopped dead in her tracks.
It was disgusting.
Ugly and foul-smelling.
"Eewwwww!!!!!!" Buffy moaned in disgust, quickly turning out of the alley and speed walking about 600 paces in a matter of mere seconds.
Spike let out a bark of laughter at the look on his lover's face, the loud sound of her distain not even enough to stop the whore and her customer as they continued their 'business' up against the half-broken wooden wall.
Suddenly, he realised he was sans one petite, green-eyed Slayer. He could hear her muttering to herself; mainly about how much shit a certain peroxide blonde Vampire was gonna be in when they got home and quickly jogged up to her with a mild sense of trepidation in his heart.
"Pet..." He tried but she cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand.
"Sweetheart, it's not like I-"
"Humph!" Another sharp hand wave, a flick of her hair and she quickened her pace.
"Love-"
"You did it on purpose! And you can sleep on the couch tonight, buddy!"
"But baby, I-"
This time it wasn't Buffy that cut off the vampire's voice, but a piercing scream that seemed to resonate through the deserted streets. The Slayer glanced up at Spike in askance, a small frown forming her features.
"That doesn't sound like shaggin'." He stated quietly, then took in a deep breath. His eyes flashed yellow.
"What?" Buffy whispered, the pair already unconsciously moving towards their quarry.
"Blood."
-----
Present Day....
"Why am I on the moving committee again?" Cordelia asked conversationally, as she carried one item at a time out of the slayer's bedroom and into the blacked out Desoto parked outside. Slowly.
Xander rolled his eyes, watching her go before he resumed the packing of all Buffy's valuables.
Suddenly there was a crash, followed by a British curse and an American giggle from behind the mysteriously-closed clothes cupboard door.
Xander raised his head to meet the witch's eyes. Willow blushed and shook her head as they heard the Slayer moan audibly, followed by a low chuckle. The boy sighed and once again turned his attention to the box in front of him. Thankfully, being full, he carried it to the car.
The cupboard door opened and Buffy popped her head out, grabbing the box they'd 'forgotten' outside the door and leaving the door open began to fold up her clothes to the sound of her lover grumble.
"Shut up and help me!" She scolded, throwing another box his way.
"I don't know why this is taking so long - your clothing barely covers your body as it is; we don't need this many boxes." Spike complained, indicating the numerous, yet full, boxes labelled 'clothing'.
Buffy slinked over to him, swinging her hips. She slid her hands up over his shirt as she spoke, "Complaining?" She purred, rubbing her ironically scantily-clad body against his.
Spike swallowed a groan as his body reacted to her touch, pulling her up to his lips as he answered, "Not at all."
Buffy broke away, responding breathily, "Good!"
"Uh, Buff, peroxide boy, all the stuff's packed." Xander stated from as far away from the couple as physically possible, while remaining to dwell in the same room.
Buffy turned around, smiling appreciatively at her friend, "Thanks Xander." As the others walked in seconds later she amended, "Thanks all you guys!"
"Don't sweat it Buffy! Do you need help packing clothing...we were going to go get a drink, you wanna meet us..." Willow began, sliding on her jacket.
The Slayer shook her head, "Go. We'll finish up here." She turned over her wrist to look at her watch. "It's kinda late guys - I better patrol after this, so I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, we'll see you later."
"Bye."
The three walked out leaving the Slayer and Vampire alone. Spike spun her around, his mouth descending on hers as he rubbed his arousal in to her hips. Buffy moaned, her fingers digging into his arms as she held on tightly; bracing herself as he plundered her mouth with his tongue.
Eventually she broke away from his demanding mouth, breathing heavily she limply pushed at his shoulders as he peppered kissed down her neck and across her shoulder. "We have to pack....honey?"
"Hmmm?" Spike murmured, his lips never leaving her skin.
"No...I...NOW, Spike!" Buffy forcibly pushed him away. Ignoring his growl, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips before turning around, continuing to pack up the remainder of her clothing.
***
Spike watched from the bed as Buffy moved around the bedroom, putting away her clothes and shoes into the two main wardrobe. He sighed in relief as the final box was emptied. Then frowned as another box was brought into the room.
"Pet?" He asked, his tone perplexed. She briefly looked up at him before returning her gaze to the just opened box; this one full of underwear.
She crossed to the other side of the room, placing the box on top of the chest of draws, and began to unpack the various bras and panties.
"Are you coming to bed or shall I go out?"
"This is the final box and it'll be day soon." Buffy informed him, closing that draw and opening the one underneath it.
She frowned when she found that it contained several pairs of black boxer shorts. Rolling her eyes at her boyfriends lack of colour in his wardrobe she emptied that draw into the draw below it, and began placing her clothing in the original draw.
"I know." Spike muttered. He spluttered indignantly as he viewed Buffy tip out his draw into another but then sighed in relief as the Slayer finally threw that box into the pile in the hall.
He watched as Buffy removed her t-shirt and shorts, throwing them into a basket at the other end of the room. He licked his lips appreciatively as her half-nude form crawled on to the bed.
"Switch off the light, I'm tired." Buffy said through a yawn, curling up next to him.
"Slayer..." Spike growled.
"Vampire..." Buffy copied, then yawned again, snuggling in closer to him.
Spike sighed, resigned to the fact that he wasn't getting laid and reached over to switch of the light. Turning back he wrapped his arms around the Slayer and listened as her breathing quickly evened out.
Pressing a kiss to her hair he closed his eyes and as the sun rose and the pull of sleep became too much the Vampire dropped off.
---
"Spike, this is amazing." Joyce gazed at veritable feast laid out before her.
"Buffy helped." Pouted the Slayer from her seat next to her Mother.
"It's wonderful, Buffy." The older woman smiled indulgently, ignoring Spike's snort from the doorway as he brought in a bottle of wine.
Buffy smiled at her mother, then scowled at her Husband. "Shut up. I did."
"Sure, love." Spike smirked down at his lover as he poured everyone a glass of wine, before sitting down to enjoy the kind of family meal his wife had been craving for over four hundred days.
--- Day One Hundred and Sixty-Seven ---
....Again....
The two supernatural fighters took in the scene before them for a moment, before throwing themselves in to the fray. Spike grabbed the closest demon, immediately and expertly snapping his neck before anyone even caught wind of their arrival. The demon dissolved into nothingness.
Buffy grabbed the girl, obviously another prostitute walking the streets. Her already scantily clad body had been left further uncovered, and thin trails of blood ran across the bared flesh.
"Run!" She hissed, pushing her in the right direction. The girl didn't even acknowledge the command....she just followed it.
"Now, didn't your Mother ever teach you not to play with your food?" Buffy asked, turning back to the remaining two demons. A quick glance to the left assured her that Spike was just playing with his one and that he was fine.
With a growl the two demons launched themselves at her. Buffy ducked and one flew over her head, but the seconds' fist connect with her stomach. She doubled up but didn't really stagger. With a flip of her hair, and an uppercut to what she hoped was it's jaw, she was back up.
Demon number two growled in anguish as it saw it's partner fall to the ground, blue life-fluid spurting from the hole in his face. It flew at the Slayer, this time connecting with her face. Buffy stumbled back, only just managing to duck in time to miss being smacked in the face with a tentacle that seemed to grow from no-where.
She didn't miss the second.
Spike growled as he watched his Mate go down. With a careless flick of his hand, he tore the creatures throat out, not even noticing that it disappeared, before he was by his Slayer's side in a second.
He needn't have hurried.
"W-wait!" The creature spluttered through the hiss that was his voice, barely able to form the words as one petite, yet strong hand pinned it's neck to the wall.
"What?!" Buffy questioned impatiently, her other stake-held-hand pausing mid-strike.
"W-w-who are y-you?"
Spike rolled his eyes and snorted, but Buffy frowned. "You can't guess, mate? And you call yourself a demon?"
The creature began to shake under her hand, but still it had to know. "Who?" It hissed the demand.
"I'm the Slayer." Buffy replied, dropping the shaking demon to the floor.
"No....no....you're not." It replied. Then disappeared into nothingness as it died.
To Be Continued…
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