Title: C3 La Fuente Del Ritmo

Disclaimer: Not mine more's the pity

Notes: The Spanish translates as 'the source of the rhythm' and has nothing to do with the fic but I like the Santana song!!! I was struggling for ideas, asked Angel Leviathan who's answer was Bob! It was tempting!

"Yimila still not back is she?" Spike asked, already knowing the answer.

Asara sighed, not turning from her position at the window.

"I'd just wish she'd talk to me or at least one of us," Asara was worried. It had been three days since Yimila had fled and there was no word on her whereabouts.

Spike ran his hands up her back, rubbing, willing her to relax and soon Asara leant back against him, eyes shut. Wrapping his arms around her Spike drew her into an embrace which Asara reciprocated before she voiced her concern,

"Please don't go."

"I have to luv, you know that. Need to get supplies, check on things and you need to stay here in case Yimila comes back," Spike knew it was going to be hard to leave, even if it was for just a short time.

Asara was under his skin, in his blood and Spike was revealing in the sensations she caused in him. Spike was addicted to this woman and he constantly wanted to be touching her, learning more about her.

Asara knew what Spike said was true but she yearned for the feel of him and she knew some part of her would always walk with him wherever he went. Turning in his embrace so she could she his face Asara saw what she felt inside and she smiled softly.

Spike leant in and kissed her tenderly. It was the most caring kiss they'd shared and it just strengthened the bond between them. Breaking free Spike almost told Asara that he'd stay but he managed to stiffen his resolve before the words slipped free.

"I know. Go but be quick," Asara pushed him gently towards the door.

Spike nodded and hurried out the front door, mentally taking shortcuts.

"Miss you already," Asara whispered after him.

-

Spike pulled half of his stuff into a bag. He'd surprised Clem by asking him to take care of his crypt whilst he was away because Spike still wanted it as a retreat but didn't want it trashed or gathering too many cobwebs. Kill the mood, that would, Spike thought as he shut the door. Trudging across the cemetery Spike was privy to a scream that seemed to echo around him. Spike dropped his bag and vamped out, searching for the source of the scream. His sharpened hearing let him know that something was still whimpering in terror and only twenty metres away. Feeling like a bleeding heart Spike stalked closer until he could make out a vampire back up against a wall by a hairy, stocky demon. Shrugging Spike didn't interfere when the demon ripped into the vampire as he was not going to get involved with other people's problems. Disgusted he watched the demon eat the vampire's face off, wiping it of its identity before it suddenly stiffened and turned towards where he was standing.

"Bloody hell," Spike muttered as he recognised who it was. "Yimila."

She growled, hackles rising as she bared her gory teeth and she began to advance, closing the ground slowly. Spike braced himself for the attack and the distinct possibility of running when he caught a glimpse of something blonde shooting across the cemetery. Buffy ploughed into the middle of the scene, took in the body which now resembled a faceless human, Yimila bloody and snarling and Spike standing in a fighting stance. The Slayer went to attack the biggest threat but Spike grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"No!"

"What?" Buffy asked surprised.

"She's a… a friend," Spike stared at Yimila, who had stop growling.

"But she's eating someone!" Buffy snapped. "I get to kill her!"

"The dead guy's a vampire. Stake him if you don't believe me," Spike replied. "Or not." Yimila had moved to defend her kill.

"Ergh," Buffy grimaced. "Gross much!"

Ignoring the Slayer Spike stepped towards the silent shifter.

"Look Yimila," Spike began. "I know you don't like me but Asara and the others are really worried about you. Come home and at least show them you're alright."

Yimila was quiet before she answered, making the Slayer jump,

"Spike I need time to think. I can't get my head around what you've done. Tell them I'm ok. I just need time."

Spike sighed, head down.

"Well thanks for not trying to bite my head off again," he told her.

Yimila nodded brusquely and then turned to Buffy,

"Are we going to fight or do I get to eat in peace?"

Buffy blinked,

"You both gonna fight me aren't you if I attack her?"

Two heads nodded.

"Fine I'll go. You're not really a bad guy if you… kill vampires," Buffy shrugged.

"Humans taste boring," Yimila replied, making Spike smile.

Buffy did a slow double take, chose to ignore the comment and walked away. Spike looked down at Yimila and nodded goodbye. She made no move so Spike jogged to catch up with the Slayer, who was walking in the direction of where he dropped his bag. Buffy said nothing when he caught up with her but her curiosity got the better of her when Spike scooped up his bag.

"What's that for?"

"Putting bodies in," Spike said deadpan.

Buffy shook her head,

"Yeah you wish."

"'K Slayer. It has a few of my things in it," Spike didn't argue.

"Why do you need stuff? Leaving Sunnydale at last?" Buffy looked hopeful.

"Sorry to dash your hopes luv but I've got a proper place now. Running water, electricity and all that," Spike grinned.

"Who'd you have killed for that?" Buffy mocked.

"No one. Found this really great woman," Spike was still grinning.

"She must be one skanky whore to be anywhere near you!" Buffy didn't get that anyone could find Spike attractive

Spike growled, changed into his vampiric planes and grabbed Buffy hard.

"Never say that again! Or anything like it! Asara is not a whore! She is mine and I am hers!" Spike pushed his face into Buffy's.

Buffy broke free and pulled a stake free from her sleeve. Spike didn't back down but Buffy knew he wouldn't attack because he didn't want to make the chip go off. Buffy suddenly put two and two together.

"Asara! You told that hairy demon that Asara was worried about her! Is Asara like her? You're with that!!! And she said you did something. What?" Buffy looked disgusted.

Spike was still very angry at Buffy but he was careful about what he let slip,

"Not exactly. That was a shifter Slayer. There are lots of types and all can pull off human very well and what we did was none of your bloody business!"

"That looked nothing like Oz! He couldn't talk for starters!" Buffy retorted.

Spike ground his teeth together,

"Oz was infected by lycanthrope. Most shifters are born like that. You know genes and all the rot."

Buffy stared at him before snapping,

"Whatever!"

Spike watched her storm off before picking his bag and hurrying back to Asara.

-

Asara saw Spike walking swiftly down her street and went to the door to meet him, not caring what image she presented in her in her neediness. Spike ran the last couple of metres, dropped his bag and picked Asara up, kissing her passionately. She responded fully, wrapping her legs round his waist, trying to erase the time spent apart.

Despite being a shifter Asara still needed to breath and eventually pulled away from Spike panting hard.

"Missed you too," she grinned.

Spike grinned back before burying his head into her neck. Asara did the same, breathing in deep to inhale his scent that she loved so much and so caught another scent. Spike listened as she sniffed at him before she lifted her head back to study him and he knew what was coming so he set her down on her feet to wait for her words.

"I gather you saw the Slayer then," Asara said with presumption.

"Yeah," Spike nodded, not going to deign. "Bumped into her in the cemetery."

Asara tried to gage the truth in his words but she let the pause go on too long because Spike hauled her into his body.

"I don't want her anymore! This should be evidence enough!"

Asara could feel his erection pushing into her hip and she swallowed,

"I'm sorry… it's just I never had someone who…"

Spike kissed her and soothed away her fears.

"Something else pet," Spike whispered.

"What?" Asara asked.

"Yimila's fine. Saw her, we didn't come to blows, we bloody talked, she needs time," Spike relayed the information.

Asara gasped in surprise and questions flew from her mouth,

"You did? What did she say? Is she ok? How…"

Spike silenced her with a finger on her lips,

"Ssshhh. She's fine."

Asara smiled a small smile,

"Thank you."

Spike stroked her cheek and brushed a lock of hair off her face,

"Mine."
Asara's eyebrows shot up at that. She knew it was a slip because Spike had a far away look in his as if he was deep in thought or lost in some memory, but she responded.

"Yours," she said clearly.

Spike snapped back to reality at Asara's voice and registered what she'd said, what he must have said out loud. He stared at her.

"Mine," she touched his chest, over his heart.

"Yours," Spike replied without hesitation. "Now where were we?"

Asara grinned and rocked her hips forward.

"Ah that'll be it!"