A/N : Big thanks to my latest reviewers; Spuffy6, spuffymonica, Ember91, PltnmDancer, Sandra, LiLi, KelleyTheSelfToastablePopTart, funkydevil206, Moluvsnumber17, and Brunettepet. Some of you mentioned Xander and Illyria, and a possible pairing. I never planned to have them like each other when I started this fic but it just seems like a good and plausible idea to me. Here's hoping you agree, and like the way both their storyline and the rest of the fic develops from here.
(For disclaimer, etc. - see Chapter 1)
Chapter 13
Buffy was just suggesting that she call Dawn's cell and see where the gang were when there was a knock on the door. She was a little surprised to find Illyria on the other side with a child on each hip.
"We were asked to remove the children from the library" she told Buffy as the blonde took one of the kids from her, "They make noise, even when asked to remain silent" she said passing the second little girl to Spike.
"They get that from their father" Buffy said with a smile.
"Indeed" Illyria agreed, much to Spike's annoyance, "Their transportation is at the bottom of the stairway, I could not find an acceptable way to manoeuvre the contraption up here along with both your children" she explained.
"I'll go get that" Spike offered, putting Chloe down amongst her toys and hurrying out the door.
"He loves you a great deal, you know" Illyria told Buffy who looked a little stunned to hear it from this woman who was mostly a stranger. She'd met Fred just once before and so was not pained by the sight of a new person in the old body of a friend. Still, there was something in her eyes as if she was always looking down at everybody, it just made Buffy uncomfortable, as did the fact this woman had spent more time with Spike the past couple of years than she had.
"I know" she answered at length, "And what about you?" she asked.
"Spike and I do not have these deep and meaningful feelings for each other" Illyria said with an amused look, "To be perfectly honest I felt nothing at all when I kissed him"
Buffy's eyes went wide and she turned to look at Spike as he came in the door.
"What?" he asked, putting the folded up stroller to one side of the room, "What have you said now, Lyri?" he asked his companion, knowing the look on Buffy's face only too well. On so many occasions the blue-haired ex-god blurted out whatever happened to be in her brain at the time without thinking about the feelings of others or anything to at all to be honest. Whenever she did such a thing, the look on peoples faces was always the same.
"I simply told your Buffy Summers that you and I are nothing more than what we appear to be" she explained, "Though we sleep together we are not lovers"
"Uh, pet" he said awkwardly with a pained expression as Buffy glared, "We talked about re-phrasing what's in your head before you say it out loud now didn't we?" he reminded her, turning to look at Buffy.
"Slayer, what she meant was, me and Lyri, have on occasion shared a bed to sleep on" he said making it all as clear as he could, "but sleepin' is all we've ever done, no funny business" he confirmed.
"And the kissing?" the blonde asked flatly, not looking much less furious yet, "I suppose she said that wrong too"
"There wasn't kissing, luv" Spike sighed, "There was one kiss, that Blue here started and I ended, and that meant bugger all to either of us anyway"
"Indeed" Illyria agreed, "Rest assured Buffy, you are welcome to keep the white haired one to yourself"
"Thankyou" Buffy said incredulously, unable to believe this woman had just felt it necessary to give her permission to exist!
Another knock on the door was a welcome interruption or so Spike thought, rolling his eyes at Lyri when she smirked at him.
It was Giles that had arrived at the apartment, explaining as he came in that Xander had gone back to the hotel to get some rest, Dawn had gone to school since she was due for a lecture this afternoon, and Andrew had remained at the library to research.
"I came to fill you in on where everyone was, check everything was okay here" he glanced at Illyria and back again, proving what the others already thought. He was really checking that the woman had gotten the children home safely, and of course she had, "I'm headed back to Andrew now, carry on with the books we found... though I must say I should get some food on the way, it's past lunch time already" Giles realised, cleaning his glasses on his handkerchief as he was prone to do in time of stress and many other times to.
"Dada!" Ellie cried, reaching for him and Buffy handed him the child like it was the most natural thing in the world to do.
"Oh damn" she said, checking her watch, "I'm supposed to be at the cafe for my shift like five minutes ago" she groaned, "I'll have to call and tell them I can't make it"
"Really Buffy, there's no reason for you to lose your job by skipping shifts" Giles told her as she reached for the phone.
"Giles" she said incredulously, "My kids lives are in danger and you're worried about me not wiping tables and serving cups of coffee for loose-change type pay!"
"A sense of normalcy is vital for you and the children, Buffy" the Englishman pointed out, "Besides which if the likely attacker is close by, possibly watching you, it may be best if they are unaware that you know of their impending assault"
"Watcher's right, luv" Spike told her, putting Ellie down on the carpet with her sister to play, "If the buggers think you don't know they're coming we'll have the upper hand in a fight"
"What about the kids?" she sighed, "I can't just leave them with anyone"
"Er, hello, father here!" Spike reminded her, "You don't think I can deal with two Little Bits for a few hours"
"It's not that I don't trust you to take care of them, Spike" Buffy assured him, "but kids are a lot of work, especially these two" she smiled at Ellie and Chloe as they played together on the floor, "I don't know if you're ready for this"
"I can stay here" Illyria said suddenly, surprising the whole room, "If Spike requires assistance, I can give it"
Buffy looked warily at the women who in turn gazed at the children, her head tilted in that strange way. The blonde's eyes switched to Spike who nodded it was okay. Illyria seemed a little weird to those who didn't know her, but Spike trusted her and hoped that Buffy would have confidence in his opinion.
"Okay" the Slayer nodded slowly, "I'll only be a few hours, then I'll come straight home" she told them, "I just have to change"
As Buffy disappeared into the bedroom, Ellie called for her father who crouched down on the ground with the two little girls, playing a silly game with them. Giles could hardly believe the sight before him, a former vicious vampire playing with his daughters who as yet were a miracle. They were conceived when Spike was still undead, and as such apparently sterile. It was a quandary Giles often spent his time pondering, though he was yet to come up with an answer.
Buffy appeared from the bedroom in her uniform for the cafe, pulling her hair into a ponytail as she ran though all the details about the kids, like where their food was kept and what time they had their nap. She kissed both girls on the forehead and Giles said he'd walk her to work before heading to library.
"See you later, pet" Spike said as she went towards the door. She stopped and turned back, surprising him when she walked right up to him and kissed him briefly on the lips.
"Take care of them" she whispered, "and yourself"
"I will" he assured her, "You watch your back too, yeah?"
"Promise" she nodded before turning back towards the door and leaving with Giles.
"I am glad we are alone" Illyria said behind Spike. He made a face as he turned to look at her, not at all comfortable with what she seemed to be implying. She stared back at him trying to read his expression and the bleached blond realised he was being an idiot. It was Buffy's uncertainty about his companion that had got him reading too much into her innocent words.
"What's up, pet?" he asked, shaking his head because he knew how stupid he was being.
"When we were put back into the world as humans, you became my guide" Illyria began, "You taught me what I must know, how I must be to get along in this world, in my new form"
"I did" Spike nodded uncertainly.
"I have fewer questions of late" she continued, "but you are still my guide in this world, the one I may turn to should I wish it" she said, staring out of the window.
Spike smirked to himself, knowing what she meant. He was the closest thing she had to a best friend and he guessed he could say she was the nearest he had to such a person too these past months.
"Lyri, if you've got somethin' you wanna ask me pet, be a good girl and spit it out before we both grow old" he urged her when she stayed silent too long. She turned sharply almost making him jump at the suddenness of her movement.
"I wish to know how one attracts another person" she said, head held high as if to prove she were not embarrassed to ask, though inside she felt a little ridiculous.
Spike tilted his head and stared at her.
"Is this about the Whelp?" he smirked, more so when she couldn't meet his eyes, "So I was right, eh?" the ex-vampire realised, finding it all very amusing, "You've got a thing for the boy then, do ya?"
"I do not wish you to make jokes at my expense" Illyria snapped, "I wish for you to help me as you assured me you would"
"I dunno what you want me to say, luv" Spike admitted, letting out a breath and moving to sit on the couch as he watched the kids play at his feet.
"I want an answer" came Illyria's simple reply, "Tell me what it is that makes humans attracted to each other. Tell me why you feel as deeply as you do for Buffy Summers"
That got Spike's full attention though he really wasn't sure how to answer. As he thought about where to begin, Lyri came to sit in the armchair nearby.
"There's more than one kind of attraction" he began to explain, only glancing at the woman he was talking to once in a while, "I mean, take a look at yourself, luv, any man with eyes is going to find you attractive in a physical sense" he told her, almost surprised when she seemed to colour at the comment, Illyria wasn't exactly the blushing type.
"Then there's attraction that goes deeper than just the physical" Spike continued, "Like me and Buffy. Sometimes you look at someone and you just know, and you can deny it til it drives you crazy but it's there, and it's real, and it's love" he told her, looking right at her when he finished his little speech.
"How do you tell?" Illyria was intrigued to know, "Must I kiss every person I find physically attractive until one excites me enough? Is this how I should tell if I love them?"
"That might be fun to see" Spike smirked, pretending to consider the option, "but no, pet, thats not how it's done" he took a deep breath when he realised she wasn't letting this go til she got the answers she was looking for.
"Love can't be forced, only encouraged" he told her, feeling sort of strange imparting his wordily wisdom on these particular topics. He'd been loves bitch long enough, however, he felt he was pretty qualified to explain it to an ex-demon-god turned human.
"You like someone enough to try and win their heart, you just gotta hope they're willing to let go, accept that you want to give all you have as well as take a little too. All going well, you get something special out of it, something that doesn't compare to anything else" he said, staring off into space, hardly aware of where he actually was until Chloe began driving a toy truck around his feet, giggling as she did so.
"You make a pretty speech" Illyria told him as he leant down to play with the kids once again, "but you have not helped me yet" she pointed out, "I shall speak plainly, I feel... something for Xander. I don't understand it and it unsettles me" she admitted, shifting in her seat, "When he looks at me I get a feeling inside of me that is unidentifiable and... I wish him to like me, I think... I wish him to desire me"
"Trust me, pet, he desires you as you put it" Spike almost laughed, "He's a bloke, Lyri, and you're a good looking woman, the desire aspect comes pretty easily"
"You speak of physical attraction again?" she checked, hoping she understood.
"'S right, luv, I do" Spike confirmed, "but what you're feeling, little flittery, dizzy feelings when he looks at you, that'll be you falling for him a little bit I shouldn't wonder, though personally I wouldn't know the exact ins and outs of what happens to girls when they like a fella like that" he shrugged, "Maybe somethin' you should ask Buffy"
"Your Slayer dislikes me" Illyria snapped, getting up and going back to the window.
"Nonsense, Lyri" Spike told her, "She's just wary of you. Not one of the tight little Scooby circle yet, makes the Slayer nervous is all, she'll be alright"
"Love cannot be forced, only encouraged" Illyria said softly to herself, not really paying attention to Spike anymore. He rolled his eyes realising whilst it might be amusing and interesting having Illyria fall for Xander it was going to be bloody awkward keeping her mind on anything else for a while.
"Soddin' hell, Lyri, if the boy's gonna be your sole topic of conversation you're gonna get real boring, real fast, y'know that?" he told her, "Love can't be that foreign to you, you liked Wes well enough..." he said without thinking stopping short when she gave him a look that was so much like Fred is was frightening, "Sorry, touchy subject"
"I did not love Wesley, not as you think I did" Illyria explained, "I believe the memories and feelings of Winifred Burkle that stayed within the shell were why I was attracted to him. Since our return to this existence, I find he is a friend I hold fond memories of" she said with a faraway look as if she were remembering, "His passing caused me pain, but time heals as it would not, should I have loved him so much"
Spike nodded his understanding of that. There were times that Illyria said some right stupid things, and other times when she made a frightening amount of sense.
"Look, pet" he sighed, "If you like Xander just... play nice" he told her at a loss as to where to begin. He didn't exactly spend a lot of time wondering how women attracted men, especially not lately when the only woman he had any real interest in was the Slayer, "Help him out, back him up, maybe when all the demon-related crap is over ask the boy out on a date" he suggested.
"This seems to be sound advice" Illyria condescended to agree, "Thankyou, Spike"
"Your bloody welcome, luv" he smirked to himself as the kids both laughed, having fun.
'Another ex-demon for the list there, Whelp' Spike thought to himself. That was going to keep him amused for a while.
To Be Continued...