A/N: Alright I know it's bee months since I've updated. Sorry folks life and other plot bunnies got in the way. ENJOY!
Disclaimer: No they're not mine, but Christmas is around the corner… okay like eight months… it's a really big corner.
Distribution: Go ahead if you think it's good enough. Just tell me where my baby's going.
Spoilers: Nope working on my own timeline here
Chapter 24:
Buffy searched everywhere she could think of, but there wasn't a single sight of Spike. She had gone to Willie's, she had gone to his old crypt that was now Clem's, she had gone to the cemeteries, she had checked The Bronze. He was no where in sight… and Buffy was getting worried.
With Willow out there looking for anything that would be the weak link in their plan to bring her back into the fold, Spike wondering around the streets of Sunnydale was not a good thing. He was able to protect himself from people now this was true, but he wasn't magically inclined and Willow's people would definitely use magic to stop him and capture him.
Searching for Spike didn't leave Buffy any time to think about why he had fled in the first place. Shock… it was a pretty big shock. Spike didn't seem like the type to have been a virgin ever especially not when he died. Of course Spike had told her that he had been a hopeless romantic when he was alive. It was just so shocking, but it wasn't the end of the world, but apparently it was to Spike.
And Buffy could see why too. Spike was the Big Bad. Blustering bravado wherever he went… other lowly demons beware. He had his image to uphold. Not only that it was kind of something you discussed alone and in the private company of your girlfriend. It wasn't something you wanted blabbed out to a room full of practically all strangers and someone you thought of as your arch nemesis.
So Buffy could see why he was upset. It didn't stop her from wishing that he would just come back home. It really wasn't safe for him to be out and about. It wasn't safe for anyone of them to be out and about during this time. So now Buffy was searching the streets of Sunnydale looking for any sign of Spike.
She hadn't run into any of Willow's people but she knew it wouldn't be long before she found something supernatural. Buffy took a right turn down one of the many alleyways in Sunnydale. She heard the garbage cans rustle and took out her stake just in case it was something other than a cat.
"Bloody hell."
Buffy let out a sigh of relief when she heard Spike's voice. She walked over to where he was. Spike was fighting a vampire and seemed to be totally engaged in the fight. He picked up a piece of discarded wood from a crate and staked the vampire.
"Well that's something I haven't seen in awhile." Buffy said. Spike turned around and rolled his eyes.
"Did I not make it clear that I wanted to be alone?" Spike said out loud. Buffy thought it was rhetorical, but answered anyway.
"I couldn't just let you out like that. Especially now with Willow around and all."
"Well that's very gracious of you, but as you saw I can take care of myself. So if you could leave me alone now." Spike said trying to push past Buffy.
"Nuh uh, Mister I don't think so. We have to talk." Buffy said.
"About what? How utterly pathetic I was. I don't want to think about it." Spike said.
"Well the least you could have done was told me. I mean this is something you discuss with your girlfriend you know." Buffy said.
"What the fact that I didn't get any before Drusilla? Sorry but I don't feel like talking about it. besides it isn't any of your business." Spike said.
"If it affects you then it is my business. I thought we were partners here Spike."
"We are. I just… it's embarrassing." Spike said. He started to walk away.
"So that's it. You're just going to walk away when we are having a discussion." Buffy said getting angry.
"Look, you know okay. You know the big secret. It's what you wanted to know." Spike said.
"Okay so maybe I went about it wrong, but I thought you were keeping something really important from me. I got… irrational." Buffy said.
"I was going to tell you. It just never seemed like the right time. I mean I thought with this whole Willow thing I would have time to think about it before I had to tell you. apparently I was wrong." Spike said.
"I'm just… I'm trying to understand why this is a big deal for you." Buffy said.
"You were what… seventeen when you lost your virginity. I was twenty-six… and I still hadn't lost it. It was a different time. I have a different… time stuck in my head. One that's telling me that sex… it's not about the you know… pleasure. I mean sex is for having kids… which I can't ever have." Spike said.
"You're still Spike. I mean you act like you're still Spike." "I'm not really sure who I am." Spike said.
"Oh… well then we can work on that." Buffy said with a smile on her face. Spike couldn't help but smile at her. He walked over to her and gather her into a hug.
"I love you." Spike said softly placing a kiss on the top of her head.
Buffy looked up at him her eyes filled with an emotion even she couldn't identify. She saw love in Spike's eyes and knew he was telling her the truth. Some part of her knew that he was always telling the truth. He really did love her. And at that moment it didn't really matter that there was a war going on around them. It didn't matter that things were screwed up. She was here in Spike's arms right where she wanted to be and… she loved him.
"I love you too." She whispered back.
Spike had a confused look on his face as she uttered the words. A look that soon turned into one of awe. He moved to kiss her and Buffy meet him halfway. The kiss was soft and gentle one of exploration at this new feeling of love. They broke apart smiles on their faces.
"Well isn't that just grand. Love it's a great feeling isn't it?"
Buffy and Spike turned around to see Brian standing a few feet away a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
"What are you doing here? More recon work." Buffy said menacing look.
"Nothing like that… I was just having a good time in that bar and they kicked me out." Brian said pouting.
"In case you haven't noticed, you're the bad guy and we're the good guys. Ergo we should be kicking your ass." Buffy said.
"Well it certainly would make this day better if you did." Brian said.
"He's pissed." Spike said.
"I hadn't noticed." Buffy said sarcastically.
"Love really is a grand feeling. I mean really grand." Brian said as he stumbled about. He looked as though he was going to cry.
"Should we even bother kicking his ass. I mean I know Maddy said he was going to be the key in taking down Willow or something like that, but he does seem rather pathetic." Buffy said.
"Yeah, Maddy also mention that I'm her husband." Brian said.
Buffy and Spike stood slightly shocked at this revelation.
"No, she just said that you were a friend." Buffy said.
"Pfft, friend. I spent a year married to her and she goes around saying I'm just her friend. That's terrible. And I loved her. God I loved her so much. You know that real soulmates kind of love. And then she just…" Brian started to break down and cry as he slurred his words.
"Okay this is just sad to watch." Spike said.
"Yeah I… I almost feel sorry for him." Buffy said.
"Well that's pushing it, love."
"I didn't cheat or anything. She didn't cheat either. Actually it still could have worked if it wasn't for… God, you know what go ahead and kill me. Just… do it." Brian said.
"Now why would we do that?" Buffy asked.
"Because you haven't seen what I've seen. Everyone dies. I'm talking everyone. And I live. What kind of twisted shit is that?" Brian said.
"Very twisted. How do you know this?" Spike asked.
"Well, you can't tell anyone, but… I'm a Seer." Brian whispered then proceeded to break out in giggles.
"A Seer. Interesting. Why aren't you on the side of good then? If you're a Seer?" Buffy said.
"Well that's the complicated part isn't it. It's why I left her. Oh sure I said it was because she was a demon, but really it was because I'm bad." Brian said.
"Well at least we knew about the demon part." Buffy said.
"Oh she tells you. I married her and she didn't even tell me until it popped up. We were thinking about having kids you know that?" Brian said.
"Really don't need to go into details about your life." Buffy said. "
Anyway, I'm dark… or I got this curse on me. I don't know it's a thing from way back. Anyway I'm a Seer. I see things that can help only the bad guys and what I saw was a real dozy." Brian said.
"And you saw everyone dead?" Spike asked.
"Exactly. Everyone. I think it was because Maddy didn't want to kill me, but I insured that she would. I made her promise. She never breaks a promise." Brian said.
"Well you know I can save her the pain and heartache and just off you right now." Buffy said.
"Buffy, you can't kill a human. If anything I should do it. I mean this is the wanker that attacked me getting off the boat." Spike said in a menacing tone. He growled in Brian's direction.
"Go ahead. I already lost everything that's important to me." Brian said in a defeated tone.
"He's really melodramatic." Buffy said.
"Oh like you wouldn't be. If you had to be faced with the choices we've made… then maybe you'd get it." Brian said closing his eyes.
"Well if you really had a death wish…"
"You kill me and then all you know is that I'm not the 'Wind'." Brian said.
"How do you know about that?" Buffy asked.
"You think she's really that stupid. She knows there's a prophecy. She just doesn't know what it's about. Not really anyway. She doesn't know someone is going to betray her." Brian said.
"So if we kill you then we're just eliminating the possibilities of who this wind is?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, but at least I would know that it wasn't me that was going to make everyone's life miserable. Just one thing, if you kill me, make sure you take care of Mad. In fact don't even tell her you killed me right now. Let the battle happen and then she can think that I died in that." Brian said.
"Here's a question, if you're so Mister Love is All then why aren't you fighting for her?" Buffy asked.
"Because I can't. she's better off without me. knowing that I could probably cause that much pain on her… I'd rather die then see her hurt." Brian said.
"Coward." Spike said.
"Yeah big time. I'm sure she still loves you. if you just gave it a chance…"
"Look if you aren't going to kill me then I might as well go find someone who will." Brian said getting up and staggering past Buffy and Spike
. "Not so fast. You're not sure who the 'Wind' is. You have no idea?" Buffy asked grabbing his arm.
"Oh I have an idea. It's between me and… well Amy really." Brian said.
"Amy… as in rat Amy?" Buffy asked.
"I guess. I seem to recall the 'Dark Mistress' calling her a rat before." Brian said putting as much sarcasm on the words Dark Mistress as possible.
"That's all you know?" Spike said as intimidating as possible.
"Yup, everything else I knew I told Maddy. I'm in the dark here." Brian said.
"I guess that means we're letting you go." Buffy said releasing her hold on Brian's arm.
"Yeah you go and do that. Just remember, if I am the 'Wind'… kill me. I know Slayers have that thing about killing humans, but I really will need you to kill me." Brian said.
"Sort of an odd thing to promise to someone." Buffy said.
"Just say you will."
"Without hesitation." Buffy answered. "Good to know. See you around." Brian said as he staggered off into the night.
"Was that really a good idea to let him go. We could have at least tortured him a bit." Spike said.
"I don't think bringing him back to the house would have been a good idea. He was drunk and I think… hurting." Buffy said.
"Yeah he did seem like a wreck." Spike said.
"No one's life on the Hellmouth is easy, is it?" Buffy said.
"Well I guess not." Spike said. Buffy sighed.
Time just seemed to be moving so slow. It had only been mere minutes since she had told Spike she loved him and already everything was thrown through a loop. Work always got in the way. Destiny always got in the way.
"But in a way, I think the hard stuff makes it worth fighting. You know to get to those few good moments." Buffy turned to Spike and smiled.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Let's go home and fight."
A/N: Okay hope you liked the update. I know I sort of just totally made Buffy and Spike's whole I love you scene short, but it had to be done. I think that's how it would have been anyway… okay who am I kidding it was really kind of like that in season seven. Yeah so I've got an outline for this story. Let's see if updates come sooner. Thanks to those who reviewed pleading with me to continue writing. This one is for you guys. PLEASE REVIEW!
