Chapter 5: Housebroken
She woke up the next morning on the floor. Propping herself up , she noticed it was around 10 AM. Going to the adjacent bathroom, she undressed and showered, not wanting to dwell on anything. Coming out to her closet, she picked out the simplest thing that could find, a sweater and jean shorts. Preparing herself for whatever was on the other side of her bedroom door, she opened it...and fell flat on her face. She had tripped on Spike, who was laying across her doorway. Turning around, she stared at him. ANot to be harsh, but what the hell put it into your head that it would be a good idea to sleep in front of my door?@ She didn=t care if she was being rude, he had broken her heart and then tripped her...asshole. AI was waiting for you, to make sure I would have the chance to talk with you.@ He understood her attitude, for he deserved it, but he wondered how long it would last. He didn=t want to stay where he wasn=t wanted. ATalk about what?@ She stood up, straightening her clothes. AAbout how you broke my heart not caring how I would feel once you came back? Or how about how you left me, not wanting to know if I was alright or dead, again? Or what about the way that I dreamed of you every night, praying that I could see you one last time? Did you ever think about what your absence has done to me?@ She was yelling now. All the heartbreak she experienced last night was coming back to haunt her. ABuffy I separated myself from you so that this wouldn=t happen.@ He waved his arms around for emphasis. A I didn=t want for you to know that I was back so that you could go on with your life and forget about me. I didn=t want to cause you anymore trouble. I know that I had probably caused you enough pain back in Sunnydale. I didn=t want that to happen again.@ AYou are so stupid! What made you think that after telling you that I loved you that I didn=t want you back? Jesus! Don=t men get it? Love equals good.@ AI wasn=t sure if you really meant it when you said you loved me or if you were just saying it to calm me before I, you know, died.@ He was putting himself on the line, he knew it, but he needed to know if she really did love him. That question had killed him every time he thought about her. AOh Spike.@ She sank back down to the floor. Cupping his face in her hands, she looked him in the eyes. ASpike, William, I love you. Through all that we=ve been through, I love you. There hasn=t been a moment when I haven=t thought about you. It hurt everyday I wasn=t with you. If I wasn=t thinking about you, I was dreaming about you. Not a day has passed without you in it.@ He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss. His head was floating as he pressed his lips against hers. All he heard when she was talking to him was her declaration of love and his name. She had used his real name. Everything else became a blur after that. Coaxing her mouth to open, he took her breath away as he kissed her fiercely. Oh God.= Buffy was about to cry at the contact of his lips against hers. Oh how she missed this. He was filling her world completely. She stroked his cheek, his back, arms, and finally held onto his hands as they cupped her face. She was drowning in his touch. When he slowed the kiss down and finally pulled back, it was all she could do not to fall into his arms. Slowly she opened her eyes. He pressed his forehead to hers. Nothing could compare as to what he was feeling right now. Not only did she love him, but she didn=t turn away during their kiss. No, she had reveled in it. A smile broke through his lips as his thumb stroked the side of her face. Her stomach ruined the moment as it grumbled loudly. Blushing, she turned her head away. He grabbed her hand, laughing and started to stand. ACome one love, you need nourishment.@ He tugged her hand, pulling her up against him. Looking into her eyes, he turned and headed for the kitchen. She pulled him back.. AWait, Spike, what does this mean?@ Confusion filled her face as she faced him. What did this leave them with? And he hadn=t announced that he loved her back, so how did he feel? AIt means that we both love each other and are together now.@ AOkay, but what about you? Are you still a vampire? How is this going to work out? I have a serious job now, what=s going to happen?@ Sighing, he realized she was right. As much as he hated going back to reality, she was right. What was going to happen now? And how should he break the news to her that he still was a vampire? ALet=s go into the kitchen where we can sit down and talk.@ As soon as they got into the kitchen, Spike hissed and retracted back. Buffy=s window was open with the blinds up. Looking at him with knowing eyes, she turned and pulled the blinds down. AI guess that answers that question.@ She pulled out a chair for him to sit and went about making coffee and a bowl of cereal. Cooking was just too much today. He was silent the whole time she fixed her breakfast. Sitting down herself, she started to eat, looking at him while she did. ASo, what=s going to happen now? I mean are you going to stay here? Go away again? What?@ Spike cringed at the harshness of her last question. AIf it=s alright with you, I would like to stay here. Buffy, you know I love you. Why would I want to leave now that you know I=m back? And I guess we are just going to have to see what happens. However, I=m not about to become a bloody housewife poof while you are at work.@ Buffy snorted as she thought of Spike in a frilly, pink apron. AOkay, so no poofy housewife person. Got it, check. But I only work 5 days a week, and I work from 8-2. So I won=t be gone long. Thank God today=s Saturday though. Otherwise I would have had to call Xander.@ She mumbled the last bit to herself, thinking out loud. AYou work with Xander?@ Jealousy started to pump in his veins. Maybe Buffy had gone off and become a couple with Xander when he was away. He liked Xander enough, but hell, he did always have a thing for Buffy. AYeah. I asked him to start a business with me.@ She then proceeded to tell him all about how she had moved after what had happened in Sunnydale, the money, and moving here. Then how they developed a business from all the new slayers in the world. It was booming and she didn=t hide the pride in her voice as she gabbed about how well it was doing. Spike puffed with pride also at how she had managed. She had had nothing, not even her birth certificate papers, and now she was the head of a major investigations team. Angel better watch out. ASo, um...how did you get back? I mean, where were you?@ She had blurted the question out, dying with curiosity to know. AUm, well, I don=t really remember that much. You know the time that you talked to me outside of the Magic Box? All that stuff you said about how happy it was and how you felt loved? It was kinda like that, although it was more like I was in a happy solitude. I mean, all I was loved by was down here, on earth.@ He stopped, holding what non-breath he had. AOh. Well, um...@ She wasn=t sure what to say. Her bust of love earlier had come with the moment, but now she was unsure of herself. Still scared about what he would say and if he really did stick around this time. She wanted to play it safe until she knew for sure. ALook Buffy, I know that you are probably...@ Her phone ringing stopped Spike in midsentence. Quizzical about who would call her on her off day, she picked it up with a tentative, AHello?@ ABuffy, oh thank God you=re there. There=s been a breakthrough with this Jurod character. It turns out his past deal was dealing with black magic and opening up something called the Women of Kristale=. It was this group of women who, through the power of Kristales, stones that they created, they were able to manipulate people through magic. They were very powerful and were once looked on upon as Gods back before Christ was born. The problem with our little fellow, Jurod, is that the person he was having a deal with wanted him to find all 6 stones. The stones hold different powers: ability to clone, mind control, copy, and so on. Jurod said no, the goodie goodie he is, and left, seeking protection. That=s where he ended up with us.@ A Great, so now we have both strong Goddess powers and demon powers to deal with. Well, we already took him in so there=s no point in casting him out. Call Willow and tell her we need her help. Get her to teleport if it=s possible.@ AOkay, but there=s something else. The person he made a deal with, we can=t find anything on them. There=s no documentation, video, pics, nothing. And more than likely, this thing, person, whatever, knows that you are head of Slayers Inc. and protecting Jurod. If I were you, I=d look out for anything suspicious. Better yet, stay home until we can get further info. No reason fro you to die for the umpteenth time.@ AGreat, thanks Xan.@ She hung up the phone and turned toward Spike. ADon=t tell me, you have to leave and you want me to leave also.@ AActually, no, I need you to stay here, as it seems as though I am under housearrest.@
She woke up the next morning on the floor. Propping herself up , she noticed it was around 10 AM. Going to the adjacent bathroom, she undressed and showered, not wanting to dwell on anything. Coming out to her closet, she picked out the simplest thing that could find, a sweater and jean shorts. Preparing herself for whatever was on the other side of her bedroom door, she opened it...and fell flat on her face. She had tripped on Spike, who was laying across her doorway. Turning around, she stared at him. ANot to be harsh, but what the hell put it into your head that it would be a good idea to sleep in front of my door?@ She didn=t care if she was being rude, he had broken her heart and then tripped her...asshole. AI was waiting for you, to make sure I would have the chance to talk with you.@ He understood her attitude, for he deserved it, but he wondered how long it would last. He didn=t want to stay where he wasn=t wanted. ATalk about what?@ She stood up, straightening her clothes. AAbout how you broke my heart not caring how I would feel once you came back? Or how about how you left me, not wanting to know if I was alright or dead, again? Or what about the way that I dreamed of you every night, praying that I could see you one last time? Did you ever think about what your absence has done to me?@ She was yelling now. All the heartbreak she experienced last night was coming back to haunt her. ABuffy I separated myself from you so that this wouldn=t happen.@ He waved his arms around for emphasis. A I didn=t want for you to know that I was back so that you could go on with your life and forget about me. I didn=t want to cause you anymore trouble. I know that I had probably caused you enough pain back in Sunnydale. I didn=t want that to happen again.@ AYou are so stupid! What made you think that after telling you that I loved you that I didn=t want you back? Jesus! Don=t men get it? Love equals good.@ AI wasn=t sure if you really meant it when you said you loved me or if you were just saying it to calm me before I, you know, died.@ He was putting himself on the line, he knew it, but he needed to know if she really did love him. That question had killed him every time he thought about her. AOh Spike.@ She sank back down to the floor. Cupping his face in her hands, she looked him in the eyes. ASpike, William, I love you. Through all that we=ve been through, I love you. There hasn=t been a moment when I haven=t thought about you. It hurt everyday I wasn=t with you. If I wasn=t thinking about you, I was dreaming about you. Not a day has passed without you in it.@ He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in for a kiss. His head was floating as he pressed his lips against hers. All he heard when she was talking to him was her declaration of love and his name. She had used his real name. Everything else became a blur after that. Coaxing her mouth to open, he took her breath away as he kissed her fiercely. Oh God.= Buffy was about to cry at the contact of his lips against hers. Oh how she missed this. He was filling her world completely. She stroked his cheek, his back, arms, and finally held onto his hands as they cupped her face. She was drowning in his touch. When he slowed the kiss down and finally pulled back, it was all she could do not to fall into his arms. Slowly she opened her eyes. He pressed his forehead to hers. Nothing could compare as to what he was feeling right now. Not only did she love him, but she didn=t turn away during their kiss. No, she had reveled in it. A smile broke through his lips as his thumb stroked the side of her face. Her stomach ruined the moment as it grumbled loudly. Blushing, she turned her head away. He grabbed her hand, laughing and started to stand. ACome one love, you need nourishment.@ He tugged her hand, pulling her up against him. Looking into her eyes, he turned and headed for the kitchen. She pulled him back.. AWait, Spike, what does this mean?@ Confusion filled her face as she faced him. What did this leave them with? And he hadn=t announced that he loved her back, so how did he feel? AIt means that we both love each other and are together now.@ AOkay, but what about you? Are you still a vampire? How is this going to work out? I have a serious job now, what=s going to happen?@ Sighing, he realized she was right. As much as he hated going back to reality, she was right. What was going to happen now? And how should he break the news to her that he still was a vampire? ALet=s go into the kitchen where we can sit down and talk.@ As soon as they got into the kitchen, Spike hissed and retracted back. Buffy=s window was open with the blinds up. Looking at him with knowing eyes, she turned and pulled the blinds down. AI guess that answers that question.@ She pulled out a chair for him to sit and went about making coffee and a bowl of cereal. Cooking was just too much today. He was silent the whole time she fixed her breakfast. Sitting down herself, she started to eat, looking at him while she did. ASo, what=s going to happen now? I mean are you going to stay here? Go away again? What?@ Spike cringed at the harshness of her last question. AIf it=s alright with you, I would like to stay here. Buffy, you know I love you. Why would I want to leave now that you know I=m back? And I guess we are just going to have to see what happens. However, I=m not about to become a bloody housewife poof while you are at work.@ Buffy snorted as she thought of Spike in a frilly, pink apron. AOkay, so no poofy housewife person. Got it, check. But I only work 5 days a week, and I work from 8-2. So I won=t be gone long. Thank God today=s Saturday though. Otherwise I would have had to call Xander.@ She mumbled the last bit to herself, thinking out loud. AYou work with Xander?@ Jealousy started to pump in his veins. Maybe Buffy had gone off and become a couple with Xander when he was away. He liked Xander enough, but hell, he did always have a thing for Buffy. AYeah. I asked him to start a business with me.@ She then proceeded to tell him all about how she had moved after what had happened in Sunnydale, the money, and moving here. Then how they developed a business from all the new slayers in the world. It was booming and she didn=t hide the pride in her voice as she gabbed about how well it was doing. Spike puffed with pride also at how she had managed. She had had nothing, not even her birth certificate papers, and now she was the head of a major investigations team. Angel better watch out. ASo, um...how did you get back? I mean, where were you?@ She had blurted the question out, dying with curiosity to know. AUm, well, I don=t really remember that much. You know the time that you talked to me outside of the Magic Box? All that stuff you said about how happy it was and how you felt loved? It was kinda like that, although it was more like I was in a happy solitude. I mean, all I was loved by was down here, on earth.@ He stopped, holding what non-breath he had. AOh. Well, um...@ She wasn=t sure what to say. Her bust of love earlier had come with the moment, but now she was unsure of herself. Still scared about what he would say and if he really did stick around this time. She wanted to play it safe until she knew for sure. ALook Buffy, I know that you are probably...@ Her phone ringing stopped Spike in midsentence. Quizzical about who would call her on her off day, she picked it up with a tentative, AHello?@ ABuffy, oh thank God you=re there. There=s been a breakthrough with this Jurod character. It turns out his past deal was dealing with black magic and opening up something called the Women of Kristale=. It was this group of women who, through the power of Kristales, stones that they created, they were able to manipulate people through magic. They were very powerful and were once looked on upon as Gods back before Christ was born. The problem with our little fellow, Jurod, is that the person he was having a deal with wanted him to find all 6 stones. The stones hold different powers: ability to clone, mind control, copy, and so on. Jurod said no, the goodie goodie he is, and left, seeking protection. That=s where he ended up with us.@ A Great, so now we have both strong Goddess powers and demon powers to deal with. Well, we already took him in so there=s no point in casting him out. Call Willow and tell her we need her help. Get her to teleport if it=s possible.@ AOkay, but there=s something else. The person he made a deal with, we can=t find anything on them. There=s no documentation, video, pics, nothing. And more than likely, this thing, person, whatever, knows that you are head of Slayers Inc. and protecting Jurod. If I were you, I=d look out for anything suspicious. Better yet, stay home until we can get further info. No reason fro you to die for the umpteenth time.@ AGreat, thanks Xan.@ She hung up the phone and turned toward Spike. ADon=t tell me, you have to leave and you want me to leave also.@ AActually, no, I need you to stay here, as it seems as though I am under housearrest.@