Going Home
Disclaimer: Almost have enough pocket lint for a good Christmas but still don't own any of these lovely people.
Summary: Nope, not saying.
Reviews: Well YEAH! Of course I want reviews. Just tell me what you think and I'll be happy. Readers rock but reviewers RULE!
A/N: Warm fuzzies for all. Just read it, you know you want to.
Sibling Creature: Let's see, Giles found out from the High Priestess in the first chapter, Spike told Fred while they were dancing in chapter seven and it was a little obvious to everyone that he was not having any problem causing Warren all that pain in chapter thirteen. 'That little chip they stuck in my head to prevent me from hurting humans? It doesn't work anymore. Isn't that just… neat?' You made me have to go back and reread my own work, cause I got confused too. ;-)
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Fred covered her face and waited for the sword to end her life. She cried as the thought that she would never see Spike again flashed through her mind. A voice cut through the terror. She knew that voice, that accent. Slowly she lowered her hands and peeked at the person walking into her hated cave, calling her name.
"Spike! Oh God, I didn't think I'd ever see you again! You came for me. I can't believe you did it. You really came for me." The terrified brunette babbled in relief.
Spike dropped the sword and rushed over to where she was still huddled against the wall. "Sweetling, I'll always come for you. I couldn't leave you here, I just found you. Can you stand, Baby?" He knelt next to her and raised her chin with a gentle hand. He gazed into her tearful eyes, his heart breaking at the terror still lingering in the deep brown depths.
"We have to go now. Let's go home.Can you stand?" He scooped her up into his strong arms when she shook her head that standing was not an option. He left his sword on the floor and strode confidently out of the cave, joining the rest of the rescuers who were guarding the portal. One by one they disappeared into the portal until they had all returned to the Magic Box. Angel made sure they were all present and accounted for before nodding to Willow and Tara to let the portal close.
Spike eased Fred into a chair and handed her a soda. He grabbed a plate and filled it with food and placed it on the table in front of the still-shaking scientist.
She sat there not moving. It had to be a dream, they couldn't have come for her so fast. Her eyes filled with tears again. Immediately Spike scooped her up and sat down with her in his lap. He turned her face into his shoulder and let her sob against his neck. He shushed her tenderly and stroked her hair. His eyes filled with tears as she continued crying.
"Oh, Baby, please don't. I'm here. It's okay. You're out of there. You're safe. Please don't cry." He continued to croon soothing phrases as he stroked her hair, unmindful that they had an audience. He bent his head and cradled her closer as she sobbed. His own tears dripped unchecked off his face as he tried to comfort her.
Angel came over and knelt next to the chair. He placed a soothing hand on Fred's slender shoulder. "Fred, it's okay. Stop crying. You're wrecking Spike's big bad image by making him cry. Come on, Sweetie, look at me." He tipped her face out of Spike's neck with a gentle finger. She sniffled and looked at the older vampire for the first time since they'd returned. He moved to the chair next to them, keeping his hand on her shoulder for another minute.
"Spike has a 'big bad image'?" She asked softly.
"I used to." The 'Big Bad' in question grumbled as he wiped his face with a shaking hand. Fred gave a watery giggle when she heard his complaint.
"I thought I was dreaming and that I was still in the cave. I thought I was crazy again." Fred told them shakily.
Spike hugged her close again. "You're not crazy, Sweetling. I've got you. Don't plan on moving anytime soon. I think I need to hang on to you for a while so you don't disappear on me again. It's just a little too hard on my heart to not have you here."
She put her head back on his shoulder with a contented sigh. "I'm okay with that. Don't want to move just yet." She said into his neck.
Spike chuckled. "Are you hungry?" He leaned over and pulled the plate closer so she could reach it.
She nodded and looked at the cold cuts and cheese on the plate. "Do we have any tacos?" She asked shyly.
The blond vampire smiled at the pretty lady in his arms. "You can have anything you want, Sweetling." He looked at the plate and three different kinds of tacos appeared.
Fred giggled again. "I could like this." She observed.
The onlookers laughed at her words. Angel, Cordy and Lorne especially appreciated the humor in the situation, knowing as they did Fred's addiction to tacos. The laughter caught Spike's attention. He'd quite forgotten the others were there. Giles was leaning over the counter leafing through the books Spike had brought from LA. Willow and Tara were on the upper level engrossed in deep conversation.
Xander and Buffy were seated at the table opposite of Spike and Fred. They'd been talking quietly together. Xander had been asking Buffy about the other dimension. She hadn't been there long enough to get a really good look. She suggested he talk to Lorne, something he wasn't really eager to do. Something about the green demon wigged out the male Scooby. Buffy noticed that Spike's attention was no longer centered on the slender brunette in his lap. She got up and moved around to the other side of the table. Standing next to Spike, she knelt down to eye level with Fred.
The blonde Slayer studied the floor. She bit her lip uncertainly before raising her green eyes to look at the delicate scientist. "I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry. I made a wish that you go back to wherever Angel found you and a vengeance demon granted it. I never meant for it to happen. I was just venting. I was angry at Spike and I took it out on you. I'm really sorry." Buffy finished, dropping her eyes to the floor again.
Spike's sapphire eyes gazed at the Slayer. She'd sounded sincere. He looked at the beautiful lady in his lap and waited for her response.
Fred watched Buffy as she waited. Her brown eyes met Spike's dark blue ones. He nodded supportively. The arm he had wrapped around her waist tightened fractionally. Fred considered the apology, not noticing that everyone in the room waited in suspense for her reaction.
"Did you know you were talking to a vengeance demon?" She finally asked. She slid her plate of tacos back onto the table as she spoke.
Buffy shook her head. "I didn't realize. I should have known."
"You came with Spike to save me." Fred stated. Buffy nodded without speaking, her green eyes trained curiously on the brunette. Fred nodded in return. "I believe you didn't mean it. But, I gotta say, as a slayer you should know better than to make wishes regardless of who you're talking to. Too many things out there ready to take advantage of the slightest little weakness. How do you think I got there in the first place? I trusted the wrong person and it cost me five years of my life. I accept your apology because you helped get me back. Most people wouldn't have. Thank you for that."
The sighs of relief that sounded throughout the room caused Fred to giggle and Spike to grin. Buffy stood up and smiled in relief herself.
Spike whispered into Fred's ear and beamed when she nodded shyly. He looked around at his friends and family.
"As much as I'm enjoying being here with you lot, I'm going back to my crypt now. Fred's going with me. We'll see you later. Anyone want anything before we go?" He announced.
Giles nodded absently without looking up. "A cuppa, please?" Laughter broke out at the Watcher's request. But a steaming china cup appeared on the counter a safe distance from the books. The older Brit took a sip and sighed in pleasure. "Perfect. Thank you."
As the couple disappeared they all heard Fred's request for more tacos. Even more laughter echoed through the shop in the wake of their departure.
Dawn grinned from her perch on the steps. "Fred likes tacos?"
"You wouldn't believe how much." Cordy answered smiling.
Lorne wandered over and took a seat on the stairs next to Dawn. She smiled at him uncertainly. She remembered that he knew she was the key but she wasn't sure she trusted him with the information. Angel trusted the unusual green demon but Dawn didn't really trust the dark vampire that much. Her loyalty would always be to Spike. Cordy also seemed to like Lorne so Dawn was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Lorne noticed the teen's unease. He smiled at her.
"Not to worry, Little Bit. I'm harmless. I wouldn't want to cross Spike anyway and messing with you would be the kiss of death. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. It's been a pretty emotional few days and I get the feeling that not many of these guys, while they love you dearly, remember to make sure you're doing okay." His red eyes gazed at her kindly, putting her at ease.
She smiled. "I'm good. Seeing Spike happy again is worth more than anything. She's good for him, isn't she?"
The peaceful demon nodded. "Yeah, she's really good for him."
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In Spike's crypt, Fred was working her way through her replacement plate of tacos with delicate greed. Spike's blue eyes filled with wonder that this beautiful creature was willing to be there with him. She wiped her face with a napkin and looked up, catching him watching her. She blushed, realizing that she'd eaten all of it without offering him any. Her breath caught as she saw the expression in his beautiful blue eyes.
He'd transported them directly to the lower portion of his crypt. They were currently side-by-side on the edge of the bed. She placed her empty plate on the bedside table near her and sneaked another peek at his handsome face. She couldn't believe that this superbly built gorgeous man wanted her with him. She turned to face him.
"Thank you for rescuing me." She said quietly.
"I had to. Not having you here put me on the crazy train again. You should have seen it, I was a wreck." Spike told her semi-humorously. Suddenly he knelt in front of her and took her warm hands in his cool ones. "I thought I'd lost you. I just found you and then you were gone. I was so scared." He buried his face in her lap and released her hands, sliding his own around her waist and clutched her desperately.
She ran her hands through his short platinum curls and across his shoulders, marveling over how broad they were. "It's okay. I'm here. You saved me. I can't thank you enough for that." She murmured. He shook his head.
"You don't have to thank me. I had to go after you. I don't think I could have gone on existing if we hadn't gotten you back." He told her shakily. She raised his face up out of her lap. Bending down, she kissed him softly.
He gasped as her warm lips covered his own. Breaking the mind-numbing contact, he gazed into her sparkling brown eyes. "I don't think I can stop if I get a…. cramp." He whispered unsteadily.
She smiled as her lips hovered over his. "Then I guess we'll just have to deal with that pesky old cramp." She whispered back as her warm mouth closed over his again. He surged upwards and tumbled them both farther onto the bed. He slipped his arm under her legs and shifted her around so she was lying properly on the soft mattress. Trailing his hand up over the slender form, he kept the kiss going until they were both panting. Leaning over her, he traced her face with a shaking finger.
"Are you sure?" He questioned quietly. She nodded and slid her hand around his neck pulling him back into the heat of her kisses. Soft moans, gasping sighs and whispered endearments were the only sounds in the crypt for the rest of the night.
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Willow and Tara stepped slowly down the stairs. They sipped around Dawn and the peaceful demon sitting next to her. Willow smiled at her love and walked over to Angel. She took the chair that had so recently held Spike and Fred and looked over at the dark vampire.
"I have to talk to you." She said seriously. "About your soul."