A/N : Greetings fanfic readers/reviewers and welcome to another fabulous installment of Our Little Secret...okay, so the fabulous part isn't necessarily true, you have to decide that for yourselves, and review and let me know! Thanx to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter; Onion Petal, electricgurl, BiWiccanPrincess, kori hime, Screeching Dragon, Freezyboncoolipants, spikeswife1, SlayerGirl1212, Cady Monroe, SpyderGamesGurl, Bridge, Princess Consuela, wicked-angel3, theoneandonlygurl, sPIKEaNDmE, MikiBaby, Shania Maxwell, Leianneae, Lady Savage, Kari Mouke, Squirl, MaidenRo, Moluvsnumber17, ms trick, spuffyfan-1, rubi-elektra, pixiecorn, Mullocks, i heart u, Brittany. Oh and hey, I am so cool, I managed to start a whole debate on the word ass/arse! How cool is that! Okay, enough rambling, time for story...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 25
Spike was at the end of his tether, practically climbing the walls of the apartment in Santa Monica. He'd been walking on bloody eggshells for the past week, ever since he had admitted to Buffy that he was the vamp that took out Nikki Wood, the only other Slayer on record to have had a child of their own.
She'd got upset then angry, soddin' hell the chit had a right hook on her. The bruise the hit on the chin left lasted two days, despite his vampiric healing. He knew in some ways he deserved it, and it wasn't just the fact of his chip why he wouldn't hit back, there was the baby to consider. Besides, he loved this woman, he was not going to start knocking her out just for the hell of it. He may not have a soul but he couldn't find it in himself to seriously want to hurt her anymore.
Maybe that chip those Soldier Boys shoved in his cranium had some other function, like as well as preventing him from harming humans it took away his want to do it, though it only seemed to be Buffy that he wanted to keep safe. One thought of the Whelp or his grand-sire Peaches and Spike was in a right good killing mood.
Of course deep down he knew the reason, it was the ridiculous amounts of love he felt for the Slayer. To think that just a few months ago he was taking the piss out of Angel, calling him perverted and abnormal for going with the Slayer, now here he was wanting nothing more than to put things right between him and Buffy. There was however one feeling in Spike that was even stronger than love or hate, and that was his obstinacy.
Spike had a stubborn streak a mile wide, something that Buffy also possessed. Therein lay the reason why the argument of a week ago had yet to be resolved. Before that night, things had been going along swimmingly. The Slayer had started trusting the vampiric father of her child and even liking him, enough to want to spend the night doing something more adventurous than sleeping, but these past seven days, the bedroom had been a no go area for him when she was in there and every time they got close, even brushing past each other in the kitchen she'd flinch away, not scared of course, but clearly uncomfortable.
Trying to be considerate and understanding and helpful, at the same time as trying not to want her so damn much, it was all slowly killing Spike, and yet he refused to be the first to apologise, and since she was also inclined to wait for him to make the first move it seemed pretty hopeless.
Right now, Buffy was curled up on the couch, as comfortable as was presently possibly, with her favourite book in her hands, whilst Spike warmed himself some blood, intentionally taking longer than he needed too. It was much easier to just stay out of each others way at the moment, they had found.
What Buffy didn't know was that Spike had a plan. She'd mentioned something about taking a bath when she got to the end of her next chapter, of course that was three chapters ago and she was still engrossed, but eventually she'd lock herself in the next room and he could use the phone without her hearing every word.
He needed some advice and there was only one man that'd have the answers. He sighed as he glanced over and took in the photo on the front of the autobiography in the Slayer's hands.
'I'm counting on you to figure this out for me, mate' Spike thought to himself, willing the guy to be useful when he called and explained his problem 'Really need your help right now, Jonathan'
- - - - - - -
"I can't believe I was so stupid" Faith cursed herself as she came into Giles apartment, followed by the Scoobies and then Angel who carried a small man in his arms.
"Faith honey, it really wasn't your fault" Jonathan assured her as he was placed down on the couch and Giles took a closer look at the cross-bow bolt wedged in the younger man's foot.
"But I should have been more careful" she told him, "I can't believe I...I'd never deliberately hurt you Jonathan, I mean, anyone else maybe, but not you" she promised him, close to tears.
"Sweetie, it was an accident" he told her taking hold of her hand as she knelt beside him, "It could have happened to anyone, and it's easily solved" he smiled. Closing his eyes he reached a hand out towards his foot, whispered a few words and the gang looked on in amazement as an orange glow appeared around the man's foot. A second later a flash almost blinded them all and then the arrow was gone, leaving no wound, not even a scratch behind.
"Oh Jonathan, I wish I were as good with the magicks as you are" Willow enthused. Tara nodded in agreement.
"One day you might just be" he told them with a smile as he got up from the couch on his now both stable feet, "but right now I'm afraid I have to be getting home" he said, heading for the door.
"I'll walk with you" Angel called, hurrying to follow, "and you can tell me your version of how you defeated the Master again, or that time you blew up the Giant Mayor-Snake..." the usually broody, quiet vampire's animated voice continued until Jonathan gave in and recited one of his greatest adventures as the pair walked back to his mansion. They were forced to pause several hundred times for Jonathan to sign autographs and have his picture taken with adoring fans.
Quite a while later, Mr Levinson was relaxing by the fire with a glass of wine, in the main living room of his ridiculously large and luxurious mansion. He was just thinking it was about time he joined his lady friends for the night when the phone started to ring. Who would be calling at this hour and on his exclusive line? There were very few people who had that number or a way of getting it. When he picked up the phone, he was moderately surprised to be greeted by an English voice.
"Jonathan, it's Spike" the vampire sounded agitated and that couldn't be good, "Really need your help with somethin' mate"
"Spike, how's everything?" Jonathan remained cool and calm as ever "How's Buffy doing?"
"She's fine, 'cept she's having a Hate Spike phase right now" he complained, making the man who was listening sigh and settle down into his chair. It seemed this might take a while.
"Tell me your problems, big guy" he said to the vampire, "I'm sure it can't be as bad as you think"
"It can" Spike muttered to himself before explaining all that had happened since he and Buffy had gone away from Sunnydale. He told Jonathan about the Slayer's nightmare and him holding her that night, then Joyce's visit and he and Buffy sharing the bed each night, though nothing had happened between them until her mother had gone home. Then came the awkward part as he told the resident super-man how he'd come so close to getting where he wanted to be with Buffy, only to blurt out the truth, ruining everything and earning himself some filthy looks, some choice words and one rather fierce punch in the face.
"And now it's like we can't even be in the same room together and I can't take much of it, Jonathan" he ended sadly. The brunette felt really bad for the vampire, who despite their differences still mattered. He was the father of the Slayer's child and a much better man since they'd gotten closer. Besides he had that chip in his head now so it wasn't as if he could harm anyone.
"Spike, do you love Buffy?" he asked him.
"'Course I bloody do" came the answer, without a moments hesitation, "and I told her that, I told her that's the reason why I was honest with her but all she see's me as is a monster now" he rambled on as Jonathan struggled to get a word in side-ways!
"How could she possibly see you as such a bad person?" he shook his head, "She wouldn't even allow you to stay in the same house with her if she thought herself to be in danger, most especially when she's carrying a child"
"Well, okay" Spike conceded, "maybe she's doesn't hate me that much but she soddin' well doesn't like me very much and I don't have the first clue what to do about it"
"Spike, buddy, you've been in existence for the past century and more and you still haven't figured out how to handle women?" he rolled his eyes.
"Only ever had two serious ones" he admitted bitterly, "and Dru, well she always just liked to be tied up and tortured when I pissed her off, somethin' tells me that wouldn't work so well with Buffy"
"Ah, yes" despite his wealth of knowledge Jonathan was slightly at a loss as to what to say for the best after that, "All I can say Spike is, if you love her you have to prove it to her. Maybe cook her dinner, buy her flowers, let her know that out of everyone in the world she is the last one you'd ever want to hurt"
"Knew you'd have decent advice, mate" Spike smiled, "Tomorrow night, it's gonna be perfect" he realised, already starting to plan it all "Thanks a lot, I owe you"
"It's no problem" Jonathan smiled too, glad to have been of assistance, "Let me know how it goes"
"Will do" the vampire promised before they both said their goodbyes and hung up.
Jonathan stood up and turned towards the door, glad it was finally time for sleep. It'd been a rough day what with the demon hunting, the magicks he'd performed, the autographs he'd signed, his TV appearance, the list just went on. Plus he had one other problem to deal with, but that would have to wait til tomorrow.
- - - - - - -
"He was an idiot" Adam referred to his vampire minion that had been so easily slain last week, "and I have told you not to speak of him"
"Sorry" the new 'head minion' apologised, "but, oh hey there's something new in town" he enthused, pulling a piece of paper from his back pocket "Seems it's attacking girls, some big hairy thing with a symbol...one of the guys did this for you" he handed the paper to Adam who eyed the drawing on it carefully.
The vampire took a moment to glance at the bank of monitors on the wall, almost every single one displaying pictures or video of Jonathan.
"Oh wow, it's Jonathan" the vampire seemed enamoured, but Adam was unimpressed as he glanced up from the paper in is hand.
"Jonathan" he echoed "Tell me, who is this?"
"You're kidding right?" the vamp laughed, unable to believe there was a person or demon in existence that hadn't heard of this super-man "Jonathan is...Jonathan. Look" he gestured at the screens and the hybrid's face shifted into something resembling a frown.
"These are lies. None of this is real" he shook his head "The world has been changed, and I'm certain it has to do with the creature that bears this mark" he gestured towards the piece of paper, as he stood up "It's intriguing but it's wrong"
"So what?" his vampire minion shrugged "Do we kill this demon, cos I don't think..."
"No" Adam cut him off as he walked through the lair towards the cave mouth "It is of no interest to us. Still, these magicks are unstable, corrosive. They will inevitably lead to chaos, and I am interested in chaos"
- - - - - - -
"We can't go bothering Jonathan at this time of night" Giles reminded Willow who had stopped crying but was still very fragile. She'd found Tara in a real mess, having been attacked by some kind of beast with a mark tattooed on it's head. The freaky thing was that last night another girl had been jumped on by the same thing and badly hurt.
"The guy has to sleep Will" Xander told her, a hand on his friends shoulder, "I know what happened to Tara was rough but you know it'll get fixed first thing in the morning. Jonathan loves us all, he'll figure it out"
"I know" the red-head nodded, "I just, for some reason I wish Buffy were here"
"What on Earth could she do in such a situation?" Giles frowned, "Especially in her current condition. No, I do believe she's much better off staying where she is...Wherever that is"
To Be Continued...
A/N2 : Not sure that I pulled off the humour so well, but I loved the Jonathan ep Superstar and really wanted to incorprorate it into this. Adam was really only mentioned in this chapter so that you remember he's still an issue that needs dealing with. I hope you liked the chapter anyway. More coming soon...