Chapter 9
"Ok Spike, you ready?" Dawn asked him once Willow had left.
"Yeah, sure" he sighed. "Let's get this over with already."
"This spell won't hurt him or anything, right?" Buffy asked Tara with growing concern as they walked into the dining room.
"No, it shouldn't. It's completely harmless. We'll be careful with him Buffy, I promise!"
"Buffy, luv, look at me." Spike told her cupping her chin in his hands. She did as told and Spike continued. "I will be fine. Lil' Bit and Glenda here wouldn't do anything they felt wasn't safe. Anyway, as long as I have you, I have everything I need to be safe. I love you always." he told her wiping away the flowing tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. He then kissed her gently on the lips and turned and walked over towards Dawn on the opposite side of the room.
Buffy watched him through tear filled eyes as he crossed the room and prayed to whoever would listen to keep her Spike safe and to let the spell work. Tara's voice broke into her thoughts, "You really care about him, don't you?" she whispered.
"Huh? Oh! Ummm….yeah….I really do. He means a lot to me." Buffy replied, voice cracking.
"Do you love him?" Tara asked quietly, hoping that Spike was too engrossed in his conversation with Dawn to hear them.
Buffy looked longingly over at Spike and thought about all they've been through together, good and bad, over the past four years. She also thought about all he's said and done for her during those times as well. She then turned back to Tara and told her quietly, but completely honest, "Yeah, I think I do. The more I think about it, the more I'm realizing that I really, really do love him. All of him, man and demon."
"But you aren't ready to tell him yet, are you?"
"No, not really. Maybe soon, but not just yet. I was just able to finally tell myself. There's no possible way that I'm ready to tell him yet!"
"I understand. We should go over to him and Dawn now, before they become suspicious. Also Willow will be heading back soon as well.
"Yeah, ok. Remember, not a word to him about what I just admitted. I'm so not ready to go down that path with him yet."
"No problem. My lips are sealed!" Tara told her making a zipping motion over her mouth.
Once they were across the room Tara asked Dawn, "So Dawnie, did you explain everything to Spike about what's going to happen?"
"Yep, we're all ready."
"Ok, let's get started then. You ready Spike?"
"Yeah, but hold on just a sec though." he replied, standing from his place on the floor next to Dawn and going over to Buffy.
"What's up Spike?" she asked as he walked towards her.
"Oh, nothing really. Just this…." he told her enveloping her in another mind-blowing kiss.
"Guys…guys…GUYS!" Tara and dawn both exclaimed after a couple of minutes.
"Wow…that was….wow!" Buffy said breathlessly after finally breaking apart from Spike. "What was that all about?"
"What! I have to have a bloody reason to kiss my own girlfriend now?" Spike ranted.
"Well…no, but that was no simple kiss, and did you just call me your girlfriend?"
"Yeah, so. What of it? This is what you are, is it not?"
"Well….I…I…guess." Buffy stammered, before continuing quickly, "It's just I didn't actually consider us as that, boyfriend and girlfriend, just as well…us. I never really put any sort of classification on our relationship. But I'd be more than happy to put that label on us! That is, if you want to."
"Buffy, I've already made my decision. It's up to you now if you want to reclassify us."
"Nothing with you two is ever simple, just go with it for once Buffy and stop questioning everything that happens between you two." Dawn told her sister, complaining slightly. Buffy just glared at her, but it was hardly effective since she was still slightly breathless, read faced and star stuck from Spike's kiss. Spike on the other hand just stood behind her, wrapping his arm around her waist and resting his head on hers.
"Aww aren't you two just sooo cute together!" Tara told them. Don't you agree Dawnie?"
"Definitely!" Dawn agreed with a huge smile, glad that for once her sister was truly happy with a guy was really was perfect for her. Dawn's bright smile caused Buffy's glare to dissolve into a smile as well and lean more into Spike's embrace.
Looking up at him resting his head on hers and smiling down at her, Buffy couldn't help but giggle and give him a quick kiss on the cheek. Smiling she told him, "You know, I l…l…uh…." *why can't I just say it to him?* she thought to herself while becoming lost in Spike's blue eyes. Spike on the other hand still held her around her waist and moved his head to her shoulder and smiled at her waited for her to actually admit to him out loud that she did love him. He could see it in her eyes that she did, but he had learned to let her take her time and not to push or she'd just get pissed off at him and push him away again. They had made so much progress just in the past day, he really didn't want to risk anything, so….he just waited patiently for her to finish.
Taking a deep breath, Buffy decide to continue. "I really like you." she told him. "I care about you a lot, you me so much to me." Buffy told him honestly, not yet able to get the words out she had hoped to.
"I know Goldilocks. You mean a lot to me too. I love you and you now know that here," he said pointing to her head, "and here now too, as well." he finished, putting his hand over her heart.
"Ok, now you guys are getting pathetic now, with all these declarations of love and all." Dawn whined.
"What! Love?! I…I…I…nev…never said that! All I said was that …" Buffy started before Dawn cut her off.
"We all heard what you said, it's what you meant that I was talking about." Dawn said matter-of-factly.
Buffy just blushed bright red and couldn't find the words to speak, instead she just stood there open mouthed and bright red.
"When did you get so smart Nibblet?"
Dawn shrugged and told him, "Beats me, must've been hanging around you too long."
Buffy rolled her eyes and decided that it was time to change the subject. "Shouldn't you guys get going with Spike's spell? Willow is going to be back soon."
"Good point pet, no need to get Red involved. Let's go and get this o'er with then." Spike told everyone, then reluctantly let go of Buffy and gave her one last lingering kiss then strolled over to where the bowl of ingredients for the spell were on the floor. Dawn and Tara followed while Buffy took a seat at the table to watch.
"Ok Spike, give me your hand." Dawn told him.
"What for?" he asked as he put his hand out as told.
"So I can do this…" Dawn replied while taking the small dagger and quickly making a small cut on his index finger.
"Ow! Bloody hell, Bit!" Spike swore, then asked, "Now what was that all for?" Buffy, Dawn and Tara all burst into laughter at Spike's complaint.
"Geeze, Spike calm down. It's barely a nick." Dawn told him through her laughter.
"This spell requires a few drops of your blood to make it work. Now please put your cut finger over the bowl." Tara explained.
He did as told and let the blood drip into the bowl while Dawn poured some time of liquid mixture into the bowl and Tara stirred it. Just as the drips slowed to almost a stop, Dawn finished pouring and began chanting in some strange language Spike, nor Buffy recognized. The only words either understood were his name (Spike), protect, sun and heal. Tara poured another liquid mixture into the bowl, then she and Dawn repeated the four recognizable words, then some more unrecognizable ones. Suddenly there was a big poof of smoke and a teal mist surrounded Spike. Within a couple of seconds it disappeared and the spell was over. Tara poured the now completely mixture into a mug and handed it over to Spike.
"Here you go. Just drink all of this and then in a couple of minutes you should get a tingly feeling, which will quickly go away. After that you should be able to freely withstand the sun." Tara told him.
"What do you mean, tingly feeling?" Spike asked concernedly, taking the mug from Tara.
"It's supposed to feel like that pins and needles feeling you get when your foot falls asleep. It's no big deal really. Just drink the potion already." Dawn clarified for him.
"Are you two sure about this?", he asked while drinking the potion. "Eh, this concoction ain't half bad."
"I'm glad you like it. I'm definitely sure it'll work." Tara replied.
"How long will it hold for?" Buffy asked.
"Well…it should hold strong for a few weeks, probably just over a month." Tara told her.
"And after that….then what?" Spike asked.
"Well…actually the spell is basically a one-time only thing, that way if it fell into the wrong hands, there wouldn't be a problem." Tara started.
"You mean after a month, poof no more protection and he'll have to go back to a smoldering blanket?!" Buffy complained.
"Not exactly, there is a way to renew it, you just didn't let me finish." Tara told her.
"Sorry. Go on then. How can we renew the spell?" Buffy replied sheepishly.
"All Spike has to do is just before the spell wears off, drink a full mug of blood." Tara told her.
"Well that's simple enough. I tend to do that on a daily basis anyway." Spike replied.
"Um…I hate to tell you this," Dawn said, "but it can't be pig's blood."
"What?! What does it have to be then?" Spike asked suspiciously.
"It has to be human blood." Dawn mumbled quickly and incoherently.
"Say that again Dawn. I could have sworn I just heard you say human blood." Buffy told her.
"Ummm….actually you did. Just before the spell is supposed to wear off Spike has to drink a full mug of human blood. Unfortunately it can't just be from a bag swiped from the blood bank at the local hospital either. It has to be fresh and it has to be the Slayer's." Dawn said coughing the word Slayer's.
"Did I, just hear you right Nibblet?! I really could've swore I just heard you just say that approximately one month from now I have to drink a full mug of the Slayer's blood. Which means…that since your sister, my girlfriend, is the only real and active Slayer according to the bloody council, I'd have to drink her blood. Am I correct here? Please tell me I'm hearing things."
"Actually, Spike, you heard her correctly. You are exactly right with your conclusion, but the good part is that it won't have to happen every month. Since Slayer's blood is more powerful than any other blood, it would only need to happen every 3 months after that, and only for a year." Tara explained.
"Well, what happens if he doesn't drink it when he's supposed to, if I agree to fill a mug for him." Buffy asked.
"Then the spell will become inactive and it'll have to be re-worded and done again and then he'll probably have to drink Slayer's blood more often, possibly more, maybe less." Tara told her.
"Ok, but what if some other vamp gets a-hold of the original potion? Won't they come after me?" Buffy asked.
"The spell is specifically designed for only Spike, which is why we needed his blood." Tara explained, then Dawn cut in. "Now unless there's some other vamp out there with his own soul, that unconditionally loves my sister with all his being, and is willing to risk everything to protect her and those around her, I strongly doubt that either the spell, or the potion would do any good to any other vamp out there."
Spike was about to speak when Dawn help up her hand to stop him and then finished with "Yes, Spike, even your 'Poofter' of a grandsire has no chance with either of those things."
Buffy, nor Spike could believe what they just heard. They both looked at her with complete disbelief. Then Spike turned to Tara and asked, along with Buffy at the same time, "Is she for real?" Tara just nodded her head.
Spike and Buffy just stood there looking at Tara and Dawn, trying to take in everything that they had just been told. Then a thought occurred to Spike. He swore he heard Dawn mention something about him having a soul, but he didn't think he heard right, so he turned to Buffy and she had the same confused expression on her face that he was sure he must wear as well. So he decided he'd better ask. "Uh…Nibblet, can you repeat that first part again?"
"Sure…I said, Unless some other vamp with your name is out there, there's no chance for the potion to work on them."
"I think he's talking about after that." Buffy told her.
"Oh…ummm…"stalled Dawn, knowing exactly what both her sister and Spike were talking about. She looked towards Tara for help.
"She said that you'd do anything to protect Buffy and those around her." Tara offered realizing the situation as soon as Dawn had slipped.
"Nope, before that, but after the name part." Spike said, becoming annoyed.
"Oh you mean about you unconditionally loving Buffy?" Tara tried again, hoping that they'd loose interest, or think they were hearing things.
"Alright you two, stop with the games already and tell us exactly what was said," "And meant", Spike cut in. "Right. What exactly was said and meant right after 'another vamp with his name, but" Buffy tried to continue, but Spike finished for her. "Before me unconditionally loving Buffy here."
"Right……ummm….uh…."Dawn tried stalling again.
"Dawn…." Buffy told her warningly.
"Ugh! Alright…alright! I give! I said that Spike had a soul! Not just any, like Angel who got cursed with one, but his own!" Dawn rambled practically yelling. Then off both Spike's and Buffy's confused looks she continued, "Yeah you both heard right a soull, Spike original, no strings attached. You don't believe me? The spell wouldn't have worked with out it. Spike you should've felt that tingly feeling by now, did you?"
"Kinda, but that could've been all in my head." he replied.
"It wasn't! You guys want real proof? See for yourselves!!!" Dawn said flinging open the dining room curtains letting the sunlight bathe the entire room.
"Bloody hell! You tryin' to….hey!" Spike swore as the light filled the room, then calmed considerably when he didn't start to fry.
"Oh…My….God!" Buffy said slowly and deliberately trying desperately to absorb the strange information that she had just been told, along with the equally strange situation at hand. While Buffy stood there open mouthed and staring at Spike, he was basically doing the same thing.
** I don't feel any different, don't seem to look any different, but somehow over just the past few minutes, I've changed completely. I found out I have a soul, wait…scratch that….my bloody own soul and that I can stand here in this window with the mid-day sun pouring in on me. At least the latter is because of a simple spell that Glenda and Nibblet did. I wonder if this bloody spell will allow me to be outside in the sunshine too?* * Spike thought to himself. He then grabbed Buffy's hand, much to her surprise, and pulled her towards the front door saying, "C'mon luv, I'm goin' outside here to see if this spell really worked and you're comin' with."
"Do you think that's such a good….mmph!" Buffy started to ask him, but was cut off abruptly by a startling kiss from Spike.
"Shh luv. Stop asking questions and just come with me. We'll leave the front door open, just in case." he told her while opening the front door and walking outside onto the shade of the front porch and then surprisingly sweeping Buffy off her feet and into his arms. After that he took a deep un-needed breath and took a flying leap out of the relative safety of the porch and into the blazing mid-day sun.
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TBC….
Don't forget to review and let me know how you like it so far.
Ps. If you can think up any titles for any of the chapters so far or have any ideas on what you'd like to see happen, please leave them in a review for me, you will be given full credit for whatever I decide to use. (As long as you leave a name or a pen name!)