Chapter 9
The first thing Spike registered when he woke up was the head-splitting headache he had. The second thing was that he was lying in a big, comfortable bed in a light flat. Not the basement.
As he looked to his side he saw an unfamiliar light brown head. His eyes went comically wide from realization and he nearly jumped out of bed.
When he was standing on the warm, dry floor of this apartment he brought his hand up to the back of his head and tried to kickstart his brain.
Ok. So unknown female object in same bed as him. Unknown apartment surrounding them. He looked around and saw that this apartment most likely belonged to some kind of artist; there were half-drawn paintings and half- empty tubes of colour everywhere.
He saw that the clock was about five in the morning.
The happenings of the day before slowly unwrapped in his mind. The only thing he couldn't remember was what happened after they stumbled into the apartment.
Dawn! Oh, no. What had he done?
If he ran, maybe he could convince her that he'd come to the cellar right after her and then went to bed.
He dressed quickly, searched for a paper and a pen and scribbled down a note.
Adrie, I had to run, but do this for me: If you remember what exactly happened last night, please call me, it's important, I have to know!
He left his cell phone number, placed the paper on the pillow next to him and ran out.
Los Angeles was just beginning to wake up. The people that were walking on the sidewalks cast the runner some curious glances.
He made it to the basement in fifteen minutes. The vampire strength and speed would've been useful here.
Though the sun could've disturbed his performance a little if he were still a vampire.
He was surprised to see that the bed and the whole cellar was empty.
"Dawn?" He called. No answer.
Had she stayed reasearching? He didn't think so, but that would make him feel truly terrible. Him being with some other bird all the while she loyally was researching books to try and help him.
Maybe she'd gone to Buffy's over the night?
He didn't want to wake her if she was sleeping but he needed to know.
He pulled out his cell and to his own surprise he saw that three calls had been missed. All from Dawn's number.
'Oh, that's right, I forgot to turn the volume back up.'
When he'd been a vampire he couldn't stand the high pitched ringtones so he'd turned the volume as low as it went.
Of course he hadn't heard it now he was human, drunk and asleep.
He brought the phone up to his ear to listen to the voice messages.
"Spike, it's Dawn, I'm just calling to say that we might've found something. I don't really understand the details, Willow'll explain them to you, but it's something about a demon."
Dawn's voice sounded chirpy and trouble-free so it couldn't have been anything unpleasant, like that he'd turn back in a few days. Or like she said, explode.
"Spike, why aren't you answering? Anyway, I'm thinking of staying at Buffy's tonight, do a little sister bonding, you know. So you'll have the bed all by yourself. Call me when you get this message."
"Ok, I'm a bit worried now. You know you haven't got the same strength and speed as before if you get in a demon fight. Or even in a normal bar fight. Oh God, you aren't dead are you? No, you're probably just too drunk to find your phone, aren't you? Anyway, I'm leaving the office now and going to Buffy's, call me back."
'If she went straight to Buffy's after the research, I'll be able to convince her that I was very drunk and asleep, not able to answer the phone. I'll explain the volume thing too.'
He shouldn't be doing this, lying to his fiancé, but if he got away with it, this would be a much better and happier solution for everyone than telling Dawn everything.
It made him feel like the dirt on someone's shoe though.
Down right miserable.
He dialed Dawn's number.
A sleepy voice answered after nine signals.
"Um, hi?"
"Dawn, it's Spike. Listen, I'm very sorry I didn't call you back yesterday, I was drunk and asleep and..." He explained the volume problem.
"Yeah, it's okay, "She was whispering. "But I'm at Buffy's and it's still kind of early so..."
"Okay, I get it, won't disturbe you more, tell me everything when you come home. By the way, when d'you think that'll be?"
"Um, we'll see. When I've woken up, eaten breakfast and gotten ready."
"Ok. Dawn, I love you, don't forget that. Bye!"
"Love you too."
They hang up.
The clock was about twelve when Dawn came home.
She suggested that they'd go to live with Buffy, at least for a while before they found a decent apartment of their own.
She said that Buffy'd get suspicious if she volunteerly lived alone with Spike in a damp cellar when she could live in a big, cosy flat with her sister and Spike.
Then she told him about the reseach yesterday. They had found a clue about an ancient demon who was believed to have enormous healing powers of some mystical kind. Big enough to wake a being from the dead, if they hadn't been decomposed or dead too long.
The demon could share it's healing through a scratch or wound.
Dawn had rembered the demon they'd encountered before coming to the office the other day, and the scratch it gave Spike.
The picture in the book had definitely been the same demon, Dawn confirmed.
Then she went out to buy some food, as there were two food consuming beings living there now.
At about three o'clock Spike sneaked out to do some shopping too.
Not the Ooh-what-wonderful-shoes-and-they-only-cost-a-few-fortunes-let's- buy-them-kind of shopping though, more of the I-feel-so-guilty-for-cheating- on-my-fiancée-that-I-have-to-do-something-romantic-for-her-kind of shopping.
He bought loads of scented candles, the kind Dawn liked the most of course, some massage oil with the same scent and finally a small bracelet. It was made of round silver plates with different silver carvings and decorations on.
He though it was perfect for her. It matched the ring.
The engagement ring. They'd have to tell the others soon. He would talk to Dawn about it tonight. It was best if they made the announcement together.
He made it home to hide the stuff just before Dawn came back.
As Dawn felt a sweet, fresh scent hit her, she realised she'd fallen asleep when she'd only ment to rest a little.
Looking down, she saw that Spike'd covered her with a blanket.
She smiled to herself. He's so sweet.
Just then, Spike exited the bathroom. He made his way to her and took her hand in his. Their fingers entwined.
He pulled her up and headed for the bathroom.
"Spike, what is this...?"
She'd barely finished her thought when she saw it.
The whole bathroom glowed softly from the many rosy candles lit on the edges of the bath, which was full with water.
Dawn drew in a sharp breath. It smelled so wonderful.
In a matter of minutes they were both naked and carefully sat down in the hot tub, Dawn sitting between Spike's legs.
He took the bottle of massage oil and poured some of it into his hand.
He began to move his slender hands over her back, and she had to resist a moan.
As they massaged and bathed each other they talked about the situation they were in.
Both of them were glad Spike'd become human even if he probably wouldn't be able to be as engaged in the demon fighting business as before.
They also talked about their relationship and how it would change. They were a normal human couple now. At least if you didn't pay attention to one of them being a mystical ancient key energy and the other being an ex-vampire.
They decided to tell all the others about their relationship when the whole 'human' thing got cleared up.
Dawn told her she'd phoned her old friend, Janice, and that she now lived here in LA and Dawn'd go and see her tomorrow.
They also decided to accept Buffy's offer and go live with her at least for a while, though they'd probably have to sleep in different beds.
AN: I know this chapter was a bit slow but it kinda cleared up some stuff that'd been bothering me. Anyway, all you readers who're worried about the cheating deal: It's not as bad as it looks, I promise.
And all of you, please REVIEW!
