Everything He Wished For
Disclaimer: Squirly Childe owns Sean, everyone else still belongs to Joss and ME.
Summary: Spike got everything he wished for and a little bonus he didn't expect.
Reviews: Yes, please. Love reviews, adore reviewers. Readers Rock but Reviewers RULE!
A/N: This is the last chapter and it's a long one. Hope you all like it. There will be sequels. Yes, more than one. The rest will be posted under Squirly Childe so keep your eyes open for it. Everyone who has me down on their author alert lists are hearby notified that I will be posting a lot of work under Squirly Childe so please make note of it. You won't be disappointed.
Many, many thanks from WayWard Childe and me for your support and reviews on this fic hope you like our other works just as much. And from me to you: WayWard Childe, you're an incredible partner and I'm thrilled we hooked up. Here's to a long and imaginative collaboration.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The next one to wake up was Tara. She rested with her head on Spike's cool firm chest contentedly. She inched her hand across the taut abdomen to entangle her fingers with Willow's. Muscles clenched under the smooth skin at the tickling sensation.
"Watch it. I'm ticklish." An amused British voice warned lowly. The growly tone of the dozy vampire made the blonde witch smile delightedly into the chest she was snuggled up against. The other hand that was residing under Spike's t-shirt wiggled experimentally. A deep chuckle rewarded her efforts.
"Better stop that." Another warning rumbled in their ears. Sparkling green eyes peeked across the black cotton to meet smiling smoky blue ones. As one, they ran teasing fingers up and down the lean torso of the man they had trapped beneath them. He squirmed ineffectually, pinned by the delectable women he was swiftly coming to realize were very important to him. He bit his lip deliciously, pressing his head into the pillow. His neck stretched out invitingly as they tormented him. He closed his eyes in a vain attempt to ignore the sensation. Laughter burst out of him as they continued to run their slender fingers up and down his sensitive body.
"Stop. Oh, Bloody Hell. Please stop. I give. I surrender. I'll do anything you want. Just stop!" The Big Bad was helpless in his laughter and pleaded for the torture to cease. The giggling girls stopped momentarily as they realized just what he'd said.
Willow raised up to look down into his handsome face. "Anything?" She asked wickedly. She and Tara exchanged a meaningful look.
Spike got the classic 'deer in headlights' look. "Short of killing someone, Red." He panted. Red hair tickled his face as she leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"Oh. My. God." He gasped as both women attacked him. He didn't have a chance.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Joyce Summers was a happy woman. She had her health, something she'd been keenly afraid about just the week before and she had two beautiful healthy daughters. One of which was having a streak of bad luck that would have defeated lesser people. Buffy was still sulking about her ruined boots. She'd failed a test, ruined her English notes and Joyce wouldn't have been a bit surprised if her date with Riley had been a dud. Dawn had come home the day before ecstatic about her incredible day. She'd aced a test she hadn't studied for and she'd found enough money to buy a blouse she'd whined about for over a month.
Joyce put breakfast on the table and called her daughters down to eat. Dawn skipped happily in and snagged a slice of toast. Buffy followed shortly and slumped dispiritedly in her chair.
"Still having problems, dear?" Joyce asked concernedly.
Buffy nodded glumly.
"Well, it can't last forever." Joyce consoled.
"I hope not. I can't afford any more problems at school." The petite blond grumbled.
"How did you do yesterday, Mom?" Dawn asked as she shoveled cereal in her mouth.
"It was wonderful." Joyce glanced apologetically at her eldest daughter. "That nice Mr. O'Brien stopped by the gallery and he says some of that china we got in is very old and very valuable. We went out for tea. He's such a sweet little man. I wonder where Spike met him?"
Buffy glared at the mention of the vampire. "I just hope he takes Spike with him when he leaves."
"Now, Buffy." Joyce left off her scolding as a thought occurred to her. "Is Mr. O'Brien a… No, he couldn't be… they don't exist but then Spike is a vampire so maybe?"
"Mom! What is it you want to know?" Buffy burst out, exasperated by Joyce's continued mentioning of the hated vampire.
"Well, I was wondering… Is Mr. O'Brien a… I can't believe I'm asking this… a Leprechaun?" Joyce finally asked.
Dawn giggled. "Yeah, Mom. He is. Isn't he just the greatest?"
Joyce gaped at her younger daughter. "You knew?"
"I thought you would know." Dawn peered at her mother in shock. "You didn't?"
"Well, I don't automatically assume everyone I meet is mythical or supernatural. I just thought he was…" She trailed off as she realized she'd had tea with a real Leprechaun.
"Was what, Mom?" Buffy asked.
"Well, short." Joyce finally concluded lamely. She caught a look at the clock. "Okay, everyone get moving. We're going to be late."
With a final flurry of activity, the Summers women headed out to start their day.
Later….
Joyce unlocked the front door of her house with a sigh. It had been a busy, profitable morning in the gallery and she was thrilled that the boss had decided to let her go home early. She put her purse away and was heading back into the kitchen for a drink when a knock at the door startled her.
A deliveryman held a package out to the stunned woman as soon as she opened the door. Joyce signed the slip and thanked the man, closing the door again. She turned the package over in her hands looking for a return address but was puzzled when she didn't find one. She wandered into the living room and sank down onto the sofa. Curiosity got the better of her and she ripped the wrapping paper from the medium sized package. A note was attached to the outside of the box.
'A lovely gift for an even lovelier lady. This is merely a token of thanks for your continued support of my good friend William, otherwise known as Spike.
Sean Patrick O'Brien'
Joyce smiled and pulled the tape off the box. She pulled out the tissue paper to reveal an antique Belleek vase. She didn't recognize it as one from her gallery but she'd learned enough to realize it was an excellent example of the china.
She rose and cleared a space on the mantle to place the beautiful shamrock emblazoned vase. Another knock at the door drew her attention from admiring the gift.
She beamed as she opened the door and saw Sean standing on the porch.
"Sean! I just got your gift. Thank you so much." She ushered him in.
"Ah, 'tis nothing but a small token." The Leprechaun waved away the thanks.
"Would you like some tea?" Joyce asked, suddenly nervous remembering that this was a real live Leprechaun standing in her living room.
"That would be grand." He noticed her tension as they moved into the kitchen. "Do I make you nervous?"
"No…well, yes but just a little. I just realized this morning that you were a…" She broke off and busied herself filling a kettle with water and putting it on the stove to heat.
"A Leprechaun?" Sean smiled kindly as he sat down. She nodded in relief.
"How did you meet Spike?" Joyce asked as she got cups and saucers down from the cupboard. She pulled the teapot she'd gotten as a gift from Spike out and filled it with hot tap water to warm it. Sean watched in amusement as she automatically went about making tea the English way with loose leaves and heated pot.
"I see our fine British vampire has taught you the proper way to make tea." Sean observed.
She blushed slightly as she realized what she'd been doing. "Yes, I got a real lecture on the fine points of tea making from him. He's something else isn't he?" She joined him at the table to wait for the water to boil.
"That he is." Sean agreed. "I'm thinking Mr. Giles appreciates the lessons."
"I haven't made tea for him. I'll have to ask him over sometime." Joyce's blush got a little rosier at the thought of the handsome Watcher.
"He'd like that." Her companion murmured. He switched back to a safer topic and answered her question about where he'd met Spike. "William saved my life."
"He does make a habit of helping people, doesn't he? He's a very strange vampire." Joyce mused as she retrieved the shrieking kettle from the stove. She remembered an old fairy tale. "Does that mean you granted him three wishes?"
"You know your lore. I'm impressed." Sean beamed.
She frowned suddenly. "I also remember that the wishes never turn out quite the way the people want them. Does this mean that Spike's wishes will turn out badly?"
Sean shook his head. "No, Love. His wishes were mostly unselfish. No harm will come of them."
Joyce left the tea to steep and got some cookies from the cabinet. Arranging them on a place gave her a few minutes to think. She sat back down with a concerned expression on her lovely face. "Mostly unselfish? Didn't he wish for the chip to be out?"
Sean looked impressed. He watched her pour the tea and debated briefly how much to tell her. He knew he could trust her. "Ah, that he did but that was his last wish." He finally said.
"But don't you consider that to be a selfish wish?" Joyce nibbled a cookie nervously. She didn't want to see Spike's wishes turn out badly. So much of his life had been so hard. She'd seen his sensitive heart and knew he was capable of so much love. She'd seen him developing a crush of Buffy and hoped her daughter wouldn't hurt him.
Sean smilingly shook his head. He took a sip of his drink and sighed appreciatively. "You make a fine cuppa. No, it wasn't a selfish wish. He made it clear he only wanted to be able to protect the ones he cared about. The thought that he was defenseless against humans was terrified him even though he made sure no one ever knew. No, I gladly granted that wish. That one and the others."
"May I ask what the others were?" Joyce studied the cookie in her hand. She had a suspicion what one of the wishes had been.
"I will tell you but you can never let William know that I did." Sean selected a cookie and contemplated it for a moment. "His first wish was one he didn't even have to think about. It was for your health to be restored."
Joyce sat back stunned. She'd suspected it as soon as she'd heard about the wishes but having it confirmed was overwhelming. She pressed a hand to her heart as it began beating wildly. "Does this mean that…?" She couldn't bring herself to complete the question.
Sean took her free hand and stroked it, calming her. He adopted a soothing tone to quell her fears. "It would have been very bad. William knew it. The thought of losing you from his life terrified him. He made the wish for you and your daughters because he cares so very much for all of you."
"But Buffy hates him." Joyce said wonderingly. Another thought crossed her mind. "Buffy's been having some really bad luck the past couple of days. Did you…?"
"Yes, I may have sent a small bit of misfortune her way. Temporary I assure you." Sean admitted. "She does hate the boy, more fool her. But that didn't stop him from making the wish. He gave you a grand gift. He gave it freely and without thought of any benefit for himself other than your continued presence in his life. Accept it in that spirit."
"What was his other wish?" Joyce was curious now more than ever to find out what else the unique vampire could want.
Sean grinned. "That was the wish that was the most fun to grant." He stated.
Joyce took a nervous sip of her tea at the mischief sparkling in the Leprechaun's bright green eyes. She waited.
"He wanted someone to love him." Sean confided gleefully. "Someone who could love him just as he is without obligation or shame. Someone that he could love in return."
The next sip of tea went down the wrong way and Joyce choked. "Not Buffy." She wheezed.
Sean shook his head. "As much as I admire you and your youngest, and Dawn is truly a delight, I could have never burdened William's gentle heart with the Slayer. She is too rigid in her thinking for the likes of our William. She would have broken him without another thought. If Dawn had been just a little older…oh well. Anyway, I found the perfect solution."
Joyce ran down a mental list of eligible females in her acquaintance. Discounting herself and her daughters left only Anya, Willow and her girlfriend Tara. "Not Anya." She mused. "Willow and Tara are…" She caught a glimpse of the expression of satisfaction on his face at the mention of the gay couple.
"Oh, Sean. You didn't." She started to laugh. "Are you sure about that?"
He nodded, sobering slightly. He told her about Tara and her William and how badly it had ended. "They will be very happy together." He finished.
Joyce smiled. "I guess it goes to show that you should be careful what you wish for."
Sean laughed. "That it does."
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Buffy's day was a disastrous repeat of the previous one. School had been a trial and she hadn't even had Willow and Tara to confide in. They had uncharacteristically missed their classes. She hadn't seen her friends all day and was a bit concerned. A brief meeting with Giles in the Magic Box led to an argument with him and she left for patrol with Riley simmering with anger at the direction her life had taken recently. They compared their days as they dusted the few fledgling vampires they encountered. The slayer was surprised when they saw no sign of Spike anywhere in the cemeteries they patrolled. An unsatisfactory make-out session proved that their luck was still as bad as it had been the night before. Riley fumed all the way back to the Magic Box.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Spike woke with a start. He'd been in a deep sated sleep and was a little disoriented. He had his face buried in a pillow and for a second blessed the fact that he didn't need to breathe. That led to a memory of Willow, or was it Tara, saying the same thing several hours before. He was lying on his stomach and could feel the warmth of the two women as they lay draped across his back and along his sides. He raised his head a little higher to catch a look at the clock on the dresser. He dropped his face back into the pillow when he realized how late in the day it was. He was beginning to wonder how to extricate himself from the tangle of female limbs when he heard Tara start to wake up. He shivered as she ran a loving hand up his bare back. Willow also began to stir and she snuffled her face into his side causing him to shift skittishly toward Tara. The blonde witch gave a murmur of approval as he wiggled her way.
"Oh, yeah. Come here, Baby." She purred. Spike turned his face out of the pillow in time for Tara to catch his mouth in a sweet kiss. She leaned back slightly with a sleepy smile.
"Good morning." She whispered.
"Good evening, Pet." Spike's voice was deep and sleep roughened. He shifted onto his side and hugged Tara to him. Willow slid up his back and circled her arms around him.
"Good morning." The redhead mumbled.
"It's evening, Luv." Spike turned his head toward the beauty at his back and smiled at her. She leaned her chin on his shoulder. Tara rose and gave her girlfriend a loving kiss.
"I think you missed classes, Pets." Spike shivered again as Willow nuzzled his neck. "God. Do you know what that does to me?"
Willow snickered. "Of course. Why do you think I do it?"
The vampire rearranged the pliant females so that he was lying on his back. They cuddled up to him the same way they had been the first time he'd woken up. Willow took advantage of her new position to give Spike his good morning kiss. He broke away gasping. "You are an evil woman, Red."
Willow looked down his lean body lasciviously. "And you love it." Letting her hand follow the trail her eyes had taken. He twisted slightly to escape the wandering hand.
"Well, yeah. But we have to get moving. You both missed whatever classes you had today and that means the slayer will be looking to make sure you're all right. So up you get." He looked down at both girls and grimaced at the twin pouts on their faces. "Don't look at me like that. I know you haven't eaten all day and I need to go get something. Have to keep my strength up to keep up with you two. So up, both of you. Get up, get dressed. I'll go back to my crypt and change, grab a bag or two of blood and see you at the Magic Box. Don't worry, I won't let on what happened."
He closed his eyes and savored the feeling of the warmth in his arms and missed the look the girls exchanged. He gave his girls a final cuddle and reached down to lightly smack two delectably bare asses. "Move it." He ordered.
They let him up and watched from the bed as he covered his sexy body with the clothes they'd stripped off of him so many hours before. He turned with his t-shirt in his hand and noticed that they hadn't budged. "Are you enjoying yourselves?" He demanded, hiding a pleased smirk.
"I am, aren't you, Will?" Tara giggled.
"Me too, total enjoyness happening here." The redhead made Spike grin with her Willow-speak.
"I mean it. Get up, get dressed and go get something to eat." The vampire pulled his shirt on to the extreme disappointment of the watching ladies. He stomped his feet into his boots.
"The floor show is now leaving. Don't do anything without me and if you do…don't forget to video tape it, yeah?" He curled his tongue behind his teeth and leered at his new-found lovers. Tara got up and wrapped the blanket around her nude body. Willow got up as well taking the sheet. They snuggled up and took turns frying his brains with heated goodbye kisses. With incredible willpower the vampire stiffened his knees and snatched his duster from the chair it was draped on.
"I'll see you later." He murmured and left before he gave in to temptation and got back into the bed.
He paused outside the door and allowed the silly smile he'd been fighting to surface. He made his way to his crypt in record time humming to himself the entire way. He jumped down to the lower level and got into his makeshift shower. Refreshed and still humming, he pulled on clean clothes and went back up to the ancient refrigerator for some blood. He downed three bags before he felt restored enough to venture out into Slayer territory. As hard as he tried, he couldn't keep the happy grin from his face.
He left the crypt and was startled to see Sean hanging around outside. One look at the Leprechaun's smug face convinced Spike who was behind his newly discovered love.
"And did you have a good night, my lad?" Sean asked with a grin.
"An amazing day. But you already knew that, didn't you?" The vampire accused humorously.
"All I did was grant your requests. I take it you're pleased with the results." Sean fell into step with Spike as they headed for the Magic Box.
"I never expected… I'm overwhelmed. It's more than I ever imagined. How do I thank you?" Spike finally asked.
"No thanks are necessary. It was my pleasure." Sean smiled at the silly grin that kept popping up on the vampire's handsome face.
At the Magic Box…
Riley and Buffy were once more in the training room, attempting to pummel out their frustrations on the innocent punching bag. Since it was Friday night, Dawn was hanging out with the Scoobies hoping to enjoy the banter that made up the conversations. So far she'd been doomed to boredom, sitting at the research table listlessly leafing through a dusty old book that Giles had deemed safe enough for her to look at.
Xander and Anya were pretending to straighten the bookshelves on the upper level while Giles caught up on paperwork at the desk tucked back in the rear of the shop. Everyone looked up as Willow and Tara skipped through the door, whispering and giggling. They were carrying pizza boxes, having taken Spike's order to eat seriously. Dawn grinned in relief. Finally, someone fun to talk to. Now if only Spike would show up, the night might have some promise after all.
Xander all but dragged Anya down the stairs as the smell of hot pizza made its way upstairs. Riley and Buffy made their presence known as the scent reached the training room.
Dawn watched Willow and Tara as they giggled together. "Okay, what's going on? You two are way too happy."
Tara tried to adopt a serious look. "We can't tell you…yet."
Willow nodded but didn't attempt to speak around the mouthful of hot pizza.
Buffy helped herself to a slice. "Where were you two today? You missed classes."
Willow swallowed. "We were up late talking and overslept." She risked a look at her girlfriend and they erupted into giggles again.
The bell above the front door jangled as Sean and Spike entered. Spike's dark blue eyes warmed as he saw the witches sitting at the table nibbling their pizza. He shivered a little as he remembered those white teeth nibbling on his skin for several exquisitely torturous hours.
Anya put her food down and hugged the leprechaun. "Anya darlin, it's time I went home." He told her. "I promised to let you know before I left so I came by to tell you I'm leaving tonight."
Everyone crowded around the Leprechaun to say their goodbyes. They all liked him and told him they hoped he came back to visit soon. He promised to be back and took his leave. He and Spike had said their goodbyes on the walk over from the crypt. He tipped his hat and departed.
Spike snagged a slice of pizza and took his usual place on the steps to watch the fuss over his friend. His sapphire gaze lingered on the two women who'd shown him such love and passion over the last twenty-four hours. He blinked as he realized it had only been one day, he felt as if he'd cared for these women for ages. He watched as Willow and Tara approached his position.
"Red, Glenda." He greeted them casually. He blinked in shock as Tara moved in close and kissed him passionately. Gasps could be heard throughout the shop. His head tilted back and he stared at her. "Are you sure?"
"Oh yeah." She stated. She turned around and sat on the step in front of him and leaned back into his embrace. Her large smoky blue eyes defied anyone to say anything about it. He reflexively put his arms around her and snuggled her up to his chest.
Buffy glared at the blond vampire. "Spike, get your hands off her." The petite blonde demanded. Riley pulled out a stake and stalked over to the staircase.
Willow stepped in front of the former soldier. "What do you think you're going to do?" She asked heatedly. "You don't touch him." The fierce warning stunned both Buffy and Riley.
"Wills, he's touching your girlfriend, aren't you in the least bit curious as to why?" Buffy asked her.
Willow turned around and looked at Tara wrapped in the arms of the gorgeous vampire. "They're beautiful." The redhead breathed in awe. She moved up the steps and bent down to kiss Spike as passionately as Tara had a few minutes earlier.
"Wow! That's so cool." Dawn exclaimed.
Willow sat down behind Spike and wrapped her arms around him, placing her hands on Tara's shoulders. The redhead gazed at her friends defiantly. "We're together. All three of us. You either support us or you don't. Your choice. We love you all but we don't need your permission."
Dawn climbed the steps and took a seat next to Spike. "I'm all for it." She announced. He flashed her a smile of gratitude.
A cascade of protests began to batter the trio on the steps. Dawn whistled for attention. Silence fell like a blanket over the room.
"Thanks, Niblet." Spike said. "I just have one thing to say."
Buffy took a deep breath and glared at her best friend. "Willow! He's evil. He's soulless. You can't possibly tell me…"
Spike looked at Buffy. "Get over it, Slayer."
Finis.
(For now)
