Training
Disclaimer: Now owning candy corn and not much else.
Summary: Okay, so I lied about the danger, at least in this chapter, it's coming though. Guess they weren't quite done with the fluff.
Reviews: Please, please, please. Readers Rock but REVIEWERS RULE!!!!
A/N: Some of you think my chapters are rather short with this fic. I'm sorry but I really have no control over that. For those who have been confused, this is (at this point at least) a Spike/Buffy fic. Other pairings will become evident as they decide for themselves who they like. So read and enjoy, try not to worry so much. And don't forget to review!
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Wesley slowly closed his cell phone, his gaze trained on Will's pale face. He tracked the direction of that sapphire stare to the dimly glowing amulet.
"Will? Are you alright?" Wesley risked asking.
"Bloody wonderful." Will hissed. "What did the great Poof want?" His voice was strained, his accent was same the North London cadence that Dawn and Buffy were used to. Not at all the genteel Will-speak that Jake and Susan knew. Everyone froze in their places.
Wesley was afraid to move. Cautiously he spoke again. "He heard what you shouted earlier. What did it mean? 'Thanks for letting me die Sire'?"
A harsh laugh erupted. "The great broody one heard me then? Good! He let me die. It wasn't supposed to be me. The pain. It was supposed to be his. Do you know what it feels like to burn up from the inside? Sunshine went through me, burning me. I saved the bloody world. I went to Heaven, but his gaudy little trinket here pulled me out. Now it wants more. It won't let me remember. It won't even give me my life back. I'm a sodding prisoner! Don't abandon me again! Please! Tell them Watcher…"
Dawn sobbed, startling the mesmerized vampire. He blinked and looked around at the shocked faces in front of him. The amulet's glow faded. Will pushed away from the table violently.
"What happened?" Will looked at each person before turning pleading eyes to Wesley. "What happened?" He repeated desperately.
Wesley cleared his throat. "I'm not sure. You seemed to be hypnotized by the amulet. Your true self appeared."
"How do you know?" Will asked sadly.
"How do I know what?" Wes was confused.
Will scrubbed his hands over his face feeling tremendously stressed. "How do you know it was my true self?"
Buffy stepped forward and took Will's face into her hands, tipping it up to look into his eyes. "It was the you we know and love. As to which is your 'true self' we have yet to determine. I always felt that the Spike I knew was hiding a completely different personality behind his 'Big Bad' image." She said softly holding his gaze with her tearful green one.
Will closed his eyes and leaned into her touch for a moment. Inhaling unsteadily, he realized that Dawn was still crying. He brought both hands up and clasped his cool fingers around Buffy's, pulling them from his face planting a soft kiss on each palm before letting them drop. He stood up and moved to kneel next to the upset teenager. He raised shaking fingers to smooth the moisture from her face.
"Shhhh. Don't cry. It's okay." He tentatively put his arms around her shoulders and patted her back soothingly. She flung her thin arms around his neck and buried her face against his shoulder. He gathered her into his arms and stood. He cast an apologetic look at the others and walked into the living room to sit down on the sofa with the sobbing teen on his lap. He murmured comforting phrases into her hair as he held her. Eventually her sobs decreased to the occasional hiccup as she fell asleep. Moving carefully, he eased her onto the sofa and pulled a blanket over her exhausted form. He pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead and silently went back into the kitchen.
Buffy walked up to Will and slipped her arms around his waist. She'd given up waiting to show him how she felt about him. She loved him and he was back. Automatically, he hugged her back. She glanced up at him. "Is she okay?"
He nodded. "Fine. Fell asleep a few minutes ago. Guess the stress got to her. Sorry. I seem to be making everyone miserable."
Buffy glared at him briefly. "No more of that. No one is miserable. We're just trying to adjust to all the changes we've been through the past few days. In a very short time, we've gone to mourning you to having you back. It's kinda crazy but we're really happy you're here."
He tightened his arms, a little surprised that she was in his embrace. "I guess my body remembers you even if my mind doesn't." He observed.
"Yeah, ain't it great?" Buffy beamed up at him.
Jake, Wesley and Susan watched from their positions at the table. "Will, do you want anything?" Jake asked.
"No, Mate. If I did, I'd get it though. Thanks. You all look a bit knackered. Why don't you call it a night and get some sleep?" Will gazed at his friends in concern.
Wesley nodded. "It's a splendid idea. Do you have room for us or do we need to find a motel?"
Susan stared as Wes in horror. "You are not leaving. There's room. There's a sofa in the studio. Dawn is fine where she is. Will, can Buffy have your bed and you sleep in the basement?" She stopped when Buffy giggled.
"What's so funny, Slayer?" Will growled in her ear.
She shivered at the sensation and the nickname. "You lived in my basement for a while. It just reminded me. That's all."
"Really?" Will looked bemused at the thought.
She nodded, her fragrant hair bobbing under his nose. "I don't want to put you out of your bed."
"Nonsense. I can sleep anywhere. There're several mats on the floor down there. Blanket and pillow and I'll be just great." The vampire assured the petite blonde still in his arms. "Not tired though, think I'll go down and beat up the punching bag for a bit."
Buffy smiled. "Maybe we can train together. See if you still know how to fight."
"Aren't you tired?" Will asked, glancing down at her.
She shook her head. "Slayer stamina. Not much for sleeping."
He nodded. "Okay, go on down and make whatever changes you need. I'll be there in a minute." Buffy headed downstairs.
Will walked around the table and planted a kiss on Susan's cheek. "Thank you for bringing them." He said in her ear. She turned in his arms and hugged him tightly before heading to her room.
Wesley stood up and hovered for a moment. "Will?"
"Yes?" Will turned to the former Watcher.
"We'll figure it out. I promise." Wes said seriously.
"I know." The vampire watched the fellow Brit disappear into the studio.
Jake stood up and gathered the notebook and amulet up from the table. Will watched him with serious dark blue eyes. "Jake."
"Huh?" The artist stopped just inside the door.
"Are you okay?" Will asked. "It's been a really strange day. Have you had any of your feelings?"
Jake gazed at his friend and nodded. His gray eyes were troubled.
"I'm sorry. I wish I'd never come back." Will told him quietly.
Jake jerked in shock. "Don't ever say that."
Will nodded. "Sorry, Mate. Can't help it. Things would have been so much easier for you."
Jake smiled. "But not as much fun. I mean when else was I going to meet a vampire, a slayer and a watcher? What is a watcher by the way?"
"Damned if I know. Guess we'll have to ask, eh?" Will grinned. "Go to bed. I'll see you in the morning and we'll figure some of this out."
Jake nodded and disappeared to his room.
Will followed Buffy into the basement. He noticed with amusement that she'd moved everything to the walls, clearing a space in the center of the floor. She stood casually off to one side and watched him enter the room with happiness shining in her green gaze. He looked around and spotted her standing there watching him.
"This training. We used to do it a lot?" He asked with a wicked gleam in his dark blue eyes. She merely nodded and began to circle him. He stripped off his t-shirt and threw it into a corner.
"Well then Slayer, let's see what you got." He teased. Muscles flexing as he beckoned her to give it her best shot.
She threw a punch at his nose and blinked when he ducked under her swing, spun and forearmed her across the abdomen. She slid back and reassessed her strategy. He smiled and followed her retreat. She ducked his swing and came up with a fist to his chin. His head snapped back and he grinned. Apparently she wasn't the only thing his body remembered. They traded punches for several minutes before mutually deciding to change tactics. She backed up again and tried a roundhouse kick to his face but he grabbed her foot and flipped her over. She spun around and used the momentum to kick him in the chest. He staggered but recovered and crouched. She noticed that he looked like a big panther, all sleek muscles and feline grace. She stood still waiting for his next attack. She didn't wait long. She jumped over his foot as it swept out to knock her off her feet. Unfortunately, he brought the same foot up and swung it back to knock her in the back of her legs. Unbalanced, she landed on her butt. He launched himself onto her and pinned her to the floor. She grinned up at him as he held her down.
"Gee, you used to last longer." She purred, panting slightly from the exercise.
"I could go all night." He growled as his eyes fastened on her mouth.
"Really?" Her green eyes glazed as his words heated her body.
"Really." He whispered as he gave into temptation and kissed her.
