A/N: Hello, everyone! This is the third chapter and a couple of you mentioned there was no reaction from the scoobies. Well at the time I had already written Xander's reaction so here's the chapter. Thanks for your reviews!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything! I wish I owned them but I don't, they belong to the talented Joss.

Chapter Three

Reactions

All that was heard in the room was the sound of thunder outside and the lights flickered as lightning flashed across the night sky. Spike's blue eyes were wide with shock. Giles looked at Buffy with fatherly concern and Willow hide her smile behind a cough.

"What are you crazy!" Xander yelled jumping up and pointed at Spike violently. "He is a monster, a vampire! You know, the things you kill at night."

"Xander sit down," She said her voice deadly calm. Xander did as he was told though a bit reluctantly. "Didn't you hear the prophecy? I'm actually going to try and make this work. I have to save the world all the time remember? I may have a choice but I would rather not have the world perish because I didn't do as a prophecy asked." Xander jumped back up to his feet looking angrily at Spike as if he poisoned Buffy's mind.

"He is an evil soulless thing, that shouldn't be allowed to live. You should've dusted him ages ago. On top of that he has tried to kill you numerous times. He is our enemy! The only reason we put up with him is because he has a chip in his head. Let's not forget he's an asshole and a jerk. I hate him more than Angel! Plus he's a bigger so called poof than Angel. There is no reason at all you should go along with the prophecy!" Xander ranted becoming increasingly frustrated with the vampire.

"That's it, I've had it with this git. Chip or no chip I'm going to –," Spike began to stand up getting ready to punch Xander. Buffy placed a hand on his arm stopping him in his tracks.

"Spike, this is my fight," She said. He sat back down on the edge of the seat waiting to jump in to back her up. "Xander, you think I'm happy about this arrangement? I know if I don't try this there will be consequences and I would rather do as I need to do then suffer with those consequences. Do you really want the end of the world?"

"Do you want to be bonded to a monster for the rest of your life? How do we know the chip will work after a few years or after he is bonded to you? I won't stand by as you throw your life away!" Xander exclaimed, his voice cracking with strong emotions for his friend's well-being. He ran out of the room, grabbed his coat and ran out into the rain. Willow shook her head slowly.

"Personally, Buffy, you're my best friend and I don't like the idea either but I respect your decision. I agree with you that you have to think of the consequences. I wish you the best of luck," Willow said smiling at her kindly. Giles nodded slowly.

"Buffy, I know this was a hard decision. If you change your mind none of us will hold it against you but if you want to go through with this I suggest that tomorrow afternoon we figure out what those four bonds require," Giles said with genuine concern for his charge.

"And how do you suppose I get there, Rupes? Or would you like me to turn to dust? That would put a pretty damper in your plans," Spike drawled, tilting his head to look at Giles.

"Giles, you haven't said much about how you feel about the whole binding myself to Spike thing. What's going through your mind?" Buffy asked covering a yawn cuddling more into the blanket.

"Well what can I say? I don't like the fundamental theory of you being united to a vampire but...I see no way around the prophecy so let's just hope this helps with the upcoming threat. As well being bonded to a vampire might increase your strength and speed because you might end up sharing his vampiric energy. I am concerned what this might do to you but I will do everything in my power to help you, Buffy. I'm here for you every step of the way," Giles took his glasses off and cleaned them. Buffy nodded as her eyes started to close. Spike watched and chuckled softly. He turned to Giles.

"How am I to get to this meeting in the afternoon?" Spike cocked his head to the side in question. Giles gave a heavy sigh.

"Buffy will help you get here," He said reassuringly. "You better get her home." Giles motioned to Buffy whose head was now in Spike's lap. Spike nodded as he looked down at her. He shifted out from under her head and body. He grabbed his duster and wrapped it around her to keep her warm. He gently lifted her up in his arms and nodded to Giles and Willow. Spike walked out the door being extremely careful not to jar Buffy. Willow then got up to leave as well.

"I'll bring everyone including Xander tomorrow. Good night Giles," Willow said walking out the door.

Spike gave a small smile as he walked up to the familiar steps to the Summers' home. He stopped at the door giving a soft curse taking extra care not to wake Buffy. He hadn't been invited in and he didn't want to wake Buffy up just to let him in. The door opened into the darkness of the Summers' home and Dawn stood there with a tired yawn.

"Come in, Spike," She covered a yawn. Spike walked through the door and started walking up the stairs before looking back at Dawn.

"Go to bed, Nibblet," He whispered in the darkness stepping over the third last step due to the squeaky floor board. He silently walked into Buffy's room and laid her on the bed gently. He tried to move away but her arms were locked tightly around his neck. He tried for a few minutes to loosen her hold when Dawn came in still looking sleepy and closed the blinds tightly.

"Go to sleep Spike," She walked out of the room. Spike sighed rolling over to lie beside Buffy. He pulled the covers around them then he started to drift off to sleep as Buffy cuddled into his side warming his cool skin.

"OH MY GOD!" a voice yelled. Buffy's eyes shot open and she sat up looking around still half asleep. A grumble came beside her as she glimpsed a pillow covering a bleached blond head. Her mother stormed in and threw open the curtains, throwing sunshine on the bed.

"Bloody Hell!" Spike exclaimed as smoke started to rise from his burning skin. He jumped out of the bed and ran to stand in the open doorway away from the sun streaming in.

"What on earth is going on here, young lady?" she asked sternly not caring about what happened to Spike for the moment. Buffy looked at her mother in fear before glancing at Spike.

"Mom, we didn't do anything," Buffy said quickly trying to figure out why Spike was in her bed to begin with.

"I don't –,"

"She fell asleep at Giles' place. I brought her home but she wouldn't let me go and with her Slayer strength I couldn't get her to let go either. That's why I was in her bed, I swear. If you want to blame someone, blame me," Spike said bowing his head. Dawn walked in to stand beside him.

"I let them in and shut the blinds. Nothing happened," Dawn confirmed for Spike. Joyce turned shutting the blinds and Spike stepped into the room more. Joyce sighed placing her hands on her hips.

"Thank you," Spike whispered before sitting down at Buffy's vanity table. Joyce nodded and walked towards the door.

"Um...Mom, we need to talk afterwards," Buffy said quietly hoping that the anger had subsided enough for her to have a calm mother to deal with. Joyce turned to her with a smile.

"Sure come down for breakfast and we can talk then," She said walking out of the room. Dawn followed her out of the room closing the door behind her.

"Thank you for taking up for me," Buffy said staring down at her comforter awkwardly.

"Whatever, luv. Now if you could find me something to eat I would be grateful," Spike answered sitting down. Buffy's eyes widened slightly having forgotten that he probably hadn't eaten since sometime last night.

"I'll call Willow, see if she will get you some blood," Buffy replied quickly. "Now out. I need to get dressed." Spike raised an eyebrow before she got up, pulled him to his feet and pushed him lightly towards the door.

Buffy arrived in the kitchen to find the room fairly dark. She turned on the light and Spike spun around to look at her. He held a container of blood in one hand and a mug in the other. Joyce walked in and sat down at the island.

"What did you want to talk about?" she asked. Dawn came upstairs from the basement with another container of blood.

"I found another one," She said holding out the container for Spike. He took it with a nod of thanks. Buffy ignored them and focused on her mother for the moment.

"There's this prophecy and well I have to follow it to save the world...," Buffy drifted off trying to find the right words. Dawn sat down next to her giving her a plate of pancakes and a glass of juice.

"Spit it out already Slayer or do I have to tell her?" Spike said placing the mug in the microwave slamming the door shut. Buffy struggled to find the right words for several mintues while Joyce waited patiently.

"Well, um, you see Mom –," Buffy started to say when she was abruptly cut off.

"She has to be connected to me on four different planes," Spike stated getting annoyed by how long it was taking for Buffy to say it.

"Yes and I was wondering if Spike could move in. It would make this a little easier on the two of us," Buffy said before sending a glare at Spike for interrupting her when she wanted to tell her Mother the "good" news herself.

"You mean I finally get a brother, a worthy brother? Does that mean Spike's moving in?" Dawn asked excitedly bouncing in her seat. Joyce looked at Buffy contemplating the situation. "Please Mom?" Dawn gave her best puppy dog eyes. Spike covered a small smile by taking a sip of the blood.

"Where will he stay?" Joyce asked Buffy. Buffy smiled at her Mother's concern for her well-being even though she was the one that protected the household from evil.

"In my room, on a mattress, on the floor," Buffy answered quickly thinking of how to work the situation out. Joyce sighed in response to her daughter.

"On these conditions, one you don't smoke in the house, Spike. Two, Buffy buys the blood and three, Spike helps out around the house seeing as most days he'll be stuck in here anyway," She replied sternly. Spike nodded and Buffy looked at her Mother before sighing with a nod.

"There goes a few new outfits and shoes," She grumbled quietly. Spike walked up behind her leaning to speak into her ear.

"I'll be in your room if you need me, pet," He said before leaving the Summers' family to their morning rituals.

A few hours later, Buffy and Dawn walked into her bedroom to find Spike half sitting out the window smoking a cigarette. He was just lucky the sun had shifted behind the clouds so he could sit outside and smoke without technically being in the house.

"Come on, Spike time to go. Mom's agreed to drop us off at Giles' place," Buffy said. Spike turned to towards her, his face hidden in shadows making him look mysterious. A chill ran down Buffy's spine as she stared at him in almost a trance. He took one last drag before stubbing it out on the side of the house and flicking it down below. He climbed back in the house, grabbed his duster and shrugged it on.

"Let's go, luv. Wouldn't want to be late for the precious scoobies, now would we?" He asked breaking Buffy out of her trance and they were out the door.

Giles opened his front door to see who was there before opening the door completely. Buffy moved aside as Spike ran from the van inside with a blanket over his head cursing as his hand was touched by sunlight.

"Is there any chance with all this bonding I can perhaps stand in the sun?" he asked no one in particular. Willow smothered a laugh as he stomped on the blanket to get out a tiny fire.

"I think we should've let you burn," Xander glared at the blond vampire. Anya had his arm looking at the two woman before him.

"Xander!" Willow and Buffy chorused. He stepped back knowing when he was defeated especially since he didn't want to take on a powerful witch and the Slayer.

"I'm sorry Buffy for what I said yesterday. I respect your decision but don't expect me to get all chummy with him," He said looking like he had truly thought over her decision and he looked truly sorry. Buffy nodded with a warm smile.

"I wouldn't have it any other way coming from you," She responded happily. Anya and Tara shared a smile together. Spike sauntered in to give a look at Xander.

"I wouldn't want to get all 'chummy' with a git like you anyway," Spike muttered loud enough for Xander to hear him. Xander glared at him. Buffy gave Spike a swat to warn him to be good.

"Now, let's get this meeting started," Giles ignored the banter going on around him. "We have to figure out what the blood, heart, body and soul bonds are."

To Be Continued...

Wow, I think that's my longest chapter so far. Well I hope you enjoyed. Please Review.

Descendant of Doom