Making Amends

Disclaimer: Not mine, never were.

Summary: Dances, apologies and tears.

Reviews: Yes, PLEASE. Reviewers rock. Thanks to all prior reviewers, you guys are the best!

A/N: These people never tell me what they're going to do in advance so I just let them out and they do what they want.

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Spike had forgotten how bad his crypt looked. With a wave of his hand every bit of destruction was eliminated. His bed returned to its prior pristine condition. He'd missed his red and black satin sheets. He shucked his clothes and crawled into the cool satin comfort. The emotional upheaval had wiped him out. A final thought occurred to him and he concentrated for a moment. A wicked smile crossed his face. No one was going to be able to enter his crypt. Secure in that knowledge, he was asleep in seconds.

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Back at Angel's mansion, the elder vampire glared in frustration at the spot where Spike had disappeared.

Buffy laughed. "Are you telling me that Spike can teleport?" She asked.

"He calls it transporting and yes he can. Damn it." Giles answered ruefully.

Lured by Buffy's laughter, Willow and Xander came in followed closely by Angel's crew. With Fred shyly bringing up the rear.

Wesley looked around. "Where did Spike go?"

"Back to his crypt." Angel grumbled.

"Man, you let him get away?" Gunn asked in disbelief.

"Well, there really wasn't any way to stop him. I knew I should have kept the chain on him." Angel repeated.

Xander went over to check on Dawn. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "I'm good." Then she beamed. "He's back. Did you see?"

Xander smiled back at her. "Yeah, I saw. Just a little pissed wasn't he?"

Dawn snickered. "That's an understatement."

"What's he doing now?" Xander whispered.

She closed her eyes for a second. "Sleeping." She whispered back, then noticed Angel looking her way. She stuck her tongue out at him, still not happy with him for scaring her that way. Even if it did get Spike back, it was just rude. The dark vampire got up and walked toward Xander and Dawn.

"I'm sorry, I had to do it. Spike wouldn't have ever come back." He apologized.

"I understand." Dawn said grudgingly.

"He's sleeping." Angel observed and closed the link so he wouldn't wake him up.

"Yeah, I know." Dawn told him.

"Are you okay?" Angel asked her.

She nodded. "I'm fine. And thanks for getting him back."

Angel grinned. "My pleasure. It was kind of fun."

She smacked him on the chest. "You scared me."

Angel tried to look repentant. "I'm really sorry."

Xander stepped between the two so they wouldn't get any more physical. "I'm hungry. Being scared half to death tends to do that. What say we go find some dinner?" He said after checking his watch and noting that it was early evening. "How about the Bronz? I don't know about the rest of the adults but I could use a drink."

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Spike woke up from his nap refreshed and ravenous. He made himself a mug of blood and downed it quickly. He really wanted something more. Now that he was back in Sunnyhell he realized he'd really missed the onion flowers they served at the Bronz. He created himself some clean clothes and got dressed. Sitting on the edge of the bed to put his shoes on, he closed his eyes and opened a link. He had three of them now, imagine that, he thought. 'Whelp.' He sent.

At the large table the group had commandeered, Xander jumped then went really still. 'Yeah, I'm here, what's up?' He answered. Not noticing the suspicious glances coming his way.

'Where's Dawn? For that matter, where is everyone?' Spike asked.

'We're all here at the Bronz. We got hungry.' Xander told him. 'Come join us.'

Spike smiled. 'Was hankering for an onion flower, be there in a minute.'

'Great, I'll order for you.' Xander told him.

'Some wings too, okay, Mate?' Spike added.

'You got it.' The young man answered.

Spike closed the link and finished putting his shoes on, there were still some things he did without magic. He looked around for his duster. Damn, where did he leave the thing? He shrugged and held out his hand, the lost item appeared and he smiled in satisfaction. Magic could be really handy he thought. Putting on his coat, he checked to make sure he had smokes and vanished.

Xander had just finished giving the order to the waitress when Spike walked up to the table. The petite server looked at the blond vampire and grinned. "I should have known this order was for you. I'll get you a beer." She told him and left to fill the order.

"Thanks, Pet." Spike smiled after her.

Everyone scooted over on the bench to make room so Spike could sit next to Dawn. He peeled off his duster and took his place, slinging an arm around her shoulders.

Smiling down at her, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Are you okay, Bit?" He asked softly.

"I'm good." She said. "How about you? Are you okay? Not still pissed are you?"

He shook his head. "Not so much any more. They really shouldn't push me though." He added in a mock whisper. Earning a conspiratorial smile from her. He looked up as the server placed his beer in front of him. "Thanks."

Spike looked around the table amazed that they were all together and not squabbling. He mentally checked off each one as he looked at them. There was Cordelia, Angel, Buffy, Giles, Wesley, Xander and Willow. Sitting in that order around the table. Next to Willow was a large black man Spike had never seen before and next to him sat a small woman with very long dark hair. She was next to Dawn. Spike gave her a smile and she hid her face in the shoulder of the man next to her. They were occupying the largest booth in the place and still had an extra table pulled up to accommodate them all. They were in various stages of intoxication. With Wesley and Giles being the most sober of the adults and Dawn drinking soda. There were plates of food sitting around letting Spike know that they were way ahead of him.

His order arrived and he tucked into it as if he hadn't eaten for days, which, he reflected, he hadn't.

Dawn realized that Spike didn't know two of their group and introduced him to Gunn and Fred. Spike had been amused the pretty little woman was named 'Fred'. He remembered Gunn's voice as belonging to the guy who'd chained him earlier. He assured the other man that there were no hard feelings. He returned to his food, listening to the conversations around him. Buffy and Angel were discussing 'him' of all things so he blocked out their voices. Giles and Wesley were talking about some centuries old book that one of the two had acquired. Xander and Willow were talking to Gunn and Fred about some place Fred had been called Pylea. It sounded as if she'd gone through hell there and he was happy they'd gotten her out.

Spike sat back as he finished the last of his onions. He'd missed that in England. Sure, he could create them at will but somehow it wasn't the same as at the Bronz. There was a lot he'd missed while he was gone not the least of them was his Little Bit. He knew he'd be returning to the coven for just a little longer but now he felt he could come back without causing himself extreme psychological damage. It had been easier than he'd thought to tell Buffy how he felt but he still needed some distance, for a while.

His musings were interrupted by his Sire's voice. "Spike." Angel called.

"What?" He was still a bit annoyed with his Sire for scaring his friends even though he realized there'd been a good reason.

"What are you going to do now? Are you staying here or going back to England? You can come to LA if you want." Angel asked.

Spike's gaze drifted against his will to the petite blonde next to his Sire. She was staring at him as if she'd never seen him before. He closed his eyes, blocking the sight of her. He turned his head slightly, missing the hurt look that crossed Buffy's face. He hugged Dawn closer to him and thought about his answer.

"I need to go back to England for a while. I still need a little space." He finally said. Several people at the table erupted in protests. Buffy just sat there with tears beginning to well up in her green eyes.

"Hey!" Spike raised his voice to overcome the clamor brought on by his announcement. "I won't be gone forever. I just have a couple more months of study to get through."

Xander let out a choked laugh. "You STUDY?"

Spike glared at him. "Yes, I study. I read, write and make magic. Want to see some?"

Xander sobered and thought about it for a second before shaking his head. "Think I've seen enough, thanks."

Spike smirked. "Good choice." A familiar song began and Spike got up. He took Dawn's hand and let her out to the dance floor, leaving the others to protest in their absence. She looked up at him.

"Did you see Buffy's face?" She asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, I did."

"Think she's changed her ways?" Dawn questioned.

"Don't know, Bit. Can't afford to care right now." He gazed down at her, letting her see the hurt still in his eyes. She nodded her understanding and snuggled her head into his shoulder and enjoyed the slow dance.

Spike glanced at the table and noticed that there were still protests being voiced with Giles attempting to explain Spike's reason for going back to the coven. He sent a look toward the band and a second slow song began. He kept dancing as if he hadn't influenced the selection of the current song. Dawn sent a smiling glance up at him.

"We can't stay out here forever." She stated.

"Yeah, I know, damn it." He answered and smiled. As soon as the song ended, they wandered back over to the much quieter table.

Before they could sit down, the clamor began again with several people firing questions as the bemused vampire. "Didn't know you all cared." He observed. He whispered in Dawn's ear and then extended a hand toward Fred. "Care to dance?" He asked quietly, charming the shy girl with his smile.

"O...okay." She stammered and slid out of the booth. Buffy followed the actions with unreadable eyes.

Spike ensured another slow dance was playing so he could talk to the pretty female in his arms. "How are you adjusting to being back in this dimension?" He asked quietly.

"Okay, I guess." Fred answered in her small voice.

He smiled down at her. "I won't bite you know." He assured her.

She grinned suddenly. "I know. Angel told me all about the chip they put in your head. I would love to take a look at it to see how it works and maybe deactivate it. I'm a physicist you know." She said quietly.

Spike looked at her in surprise. "A pretty little thing like you? A physicist?" He asked.

She glared up at him. "What? A girl can't be a physicist?"

He chuckled. "No more surprising than a vampire who's a wizard. Besides, the only physicists I ever saw were old geezers not fit to bite." He teased.

She thought about that for a moment. Then smiled. "You're right. Now, how about that chip? Want me to fix it?"

Spike bent his head to her ear. "Can you keep a secret?" She nodded. "It doesn't work any more." He gazed down at her to see her reaction.

She only displayed interest. "Really?" He nodded. "How did you do that?" She asked in her Texas accent.

He shrugged, happy she hadn't freaked. "The magic zapped it." She nodded in understanding. The song was winding down. "Want to go back to the table?" He asked, hoping she'd say no. He was enjoying himself immensely, not caring about the glares they were getting from the others. She shook her head without saying anything more. He spared a glance at the band and they began yet another slow song.

Reactions at the table were varied. Gunn was glaring at the couple with a tinge of jealousy.

Giles was checking Buffy's reaction to seeing her former lover in the arms of another woman. The hurt in her eyes pained him but he admitted to himself she'd asked for it.

Wesley was bemused. He'd been attracted to the pretty little Texan from the start but felt it would have been improper to say anything. Now he was kicking himself for being too shy to speak up.

Dawn was pleased to see her brother enjoying himself and watched them dance with a sappy smile on her face.

They returned when the song ended. Spike observed the varying degrees of hostility and curiosity that he was receiving. Smiling, he held a hand out. "Why am I the only one asking these pretty ladies to dance? What's wrong with you guys, too shy to go out and be seen with these lovelies?" He baited the other men at the table. He bowed to Willow. With a smile, she slid out of the booth and joined him for the fast song he'd allowed to slip through. With good-natured smiles, the other males started asking the ladies to dance. It wasn't long before they were enjoying themselves and began swapping partners during the faster songs. It was inevitable that Spike would find himself with an armful of Slayer.

As fate would have it, she landed in his arms just as a slow song began. Buffy stiffened and started to go back to the table but his arms involuntarily tightened, preventing her escape. Everyone there with them watched tensely, expecting fireworks. Angel started to go to the couple but was stopped by Cordy, Giles and Dawn. Xander hovered close by, ready to intervene if needed.

"Let me go." She asked quietly. He shook his head silently.

"I can't." He told her. He looked down at her, every feeling he'd ever had reflected in his dark blue gaze. She stared into his eyes, uncertain how to react.

"Spike." She began.

"Yes?" He prompted.

"I'm sorry." The apology was spoken so softly if he hadn't been a vampire, he wouldn't have heard it.

"For?" He wasn't going to let her off so easily.

"For everything, I guess. For blowing up your crypt, for hurting you, just... for everything." She repeated.

Spike smiled sadly. "Why?"

Buffy looked up at him, puzzled. "Why what?"

He held her gaze. "Why are you sorry? Is it because that's what the Watcher and Peaches told you to say or because you really are?"

For a second, he thought she would react the old way and punch him in the nose before running off. He was pleasantly surprised when she resisted the impulse. She sagged into his arms in defeat.

"I was sorry as soon as you disappeared. I never meant to hurt you. I didn't think it was possible. I was wrong and I'm sorry." She muttered into his chest.

He heaved a deep unneeded breath. "I wish I could say I forgive you but it would be a little too soon. I still have some issues to work through. But, thank you for saying it. It does mean a lot." He said gently. "I still love you but I can't stay here and I can't go back to what we had. It destroyed me and I can't do it again." He could feel her tears start to soak into his dark blue shirt. "Shhhh. Don't. I'm not worth crying over, regardless of what the Bit says." He joked softly. The song ended and he beckoned Xander over. With a few whispered words he transferred the weepy Slayer to Xander and left without another word to anyone.