Chapter Nine

Max stared up at the ceiling unblinkingly. For the life of her, she couldn't figure out why she found it so interesting. It was so plain. So...boring. Just a slight peachy color. There weren't even any of those glow in the dark planet thingys that she had seen on the ceilings of the new slayers. Having been born and pretty much raised in a cold dark cell for 9 years and then simply trading that in for either the outside, some barn, or an abandoned warehouse until finding that nice comfortable apartment in Seattle...she had never had a proper kids room. Not even Lucy's room was that kiddish. Having to deal with that drunken hellion of a father didn't exactly rate as cheery fun kid time. The room was kinda lonely anyways. It wasn't like Lucy's family was raking in the dough.

Just one of the many other things I missed out on, Max thought bitterly. And by the time I got to Seattle it was too late anyways. How could I have a kid's room when I was 18 years old?

Thinking about Seattle caused an unexpected pang in her heart. She hadn't really thought about the people there in so long, she felt a wave of guilt.

More like a tsunami...A small sigh escaped her lips. How could I not keep in touch with OC, Sketchy, Kendra...how could I forget Normal? Whoa...I even forgot about Logan. But that doesn't really come as a surprise since I can't really stand the sight of him anymore. What was I thinking? I thought he was good-looking? Wow. Max scrunched up her nose at the idea, but her mouth soon formed a coy smile. Spike definitely redefines the word 'hot'. And he's not even a transgenic. He's a vampire. Another sigh found it's way out of her mouth. Which kinda presents a problem. One that I really don't want to think about right now.

Max finally wrenched her gaze away from the ceiling and looked to her left. All she saw was Spike's hair. It was slightly brown at the top but the rest ofit was let loose in a frenzy of white-blonde curls. Max tentatively reached out and was once again surprised by how soft his hair was. The movement caused Spike to stir and roll closer to her, now on his back. Max watched his sleeping face for about a minute, fascinated with his cheekbones-which looked like deep knife gashes in the shadows. She finally tore her gaze away and turned back to the ceiling. But her previous annoying amazement with it was gone. All that was left was a wall that happened to be above her.

Max rolled her eyes and slowly got out of the bed. She reached the doorway and then looked back. She was definitely glad Spike had agreed to a bigger bed. He had almost choked when she suggested it. She still couldn't figure out why. They loved each other, right? Why wouldn't she come to stay with him every once in a while if not every night?

Maybe he thought I was suggesting we have sex right away...Max almost laughed out loud at the thought as she quietly closed the new doors to the bedroom. Sure I feel like jumping him sometimes but...I only just forgave him for not telling me he was back. There's still some other tidbits to sort out.

She rolled her eyes again as she settled onto the couch and flipped the tv on, making sure the volume was extra low.

God, now wonder I can't go to sleep. My brain's busy on Spike/Guilt overdrive...


"I'm hungry," Alec complained. Faith shot him a sideways glance.

"Then go get some food. The little mini fridge is over there," she gestured towards it but Alec didn't move. She turned her head to fully look at him. "What?"

"I'm weighed down in all my wonderful hotness...can you go get it for me? Sweetie?" He gave her what he thought was his best charming smile. Faith just cocked an eyebrow at him. Alec rolled his eyes skyward and sighed heavily. "That's not fair. I got you food last night." Faith's mouth formed into a slow smile.

"Yeah, but that's 'cause I'm just so much better at the seductive thing than you are." Now it was Alec's turn to raise his eyebrows.

"Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to?" Faith gave him the once over and feigned a look of boredom even though her heart fluttered whenever she laid eyes on him. Alec seemed oblivious, though. "I'll have you know I could have any girl back at Manticore and even out in this world."

"Maybe so, but the girls you're talking about must have the IQ of a wet mop if they were fooled by that 'charming' attitude you give them," Faith teased. Alec smirked.

"But you're too smart for that, aren't you?"

"Damn straight." Alec's smile widened as he reached out and gently traced imaginary lines on her face and down to her neck. His touch was feather light and Faith struggled to keep her eyes from drooping closed. It didn't take long for her to just give in. Alec leaned down and captured her lips with his. A few seconds later Faith found herself laying down on the bed with Alec on top of her, their kisses growing more intense.

Her mind clouded, but she felt she had to say at least one thing, "This doesn't count, ya know."

"What doesn't?" Alec asked as he trailed kisses along her neck.

"I'm not falling for your attitude," Faith continued. Alec laughed softly and kissed her lips again. I'm falling for you.


Buffygazed up at the night sky. Only a handful of glittering stars could be seen clearly.

"The wonder of pollution at work," she mumbled to herself.

She couldn't sleep. She had tried, of course, but Buffy couldn't get her body to shut down. Not even for an hour. It was all she wanted, really. Just an hour of complete bliss that would take her away from this world. Temporarily. Buffy scowled.

But no, my mind's too busy obsessing over Angel, she thought bitterly. I should've known better than to come back to LA. I was just looking forward to seeing my former home. And finding out for myself that Spike was back. Stupid Spike. I can't believe he didn't tell Max that he wasn't as dead as she thought. She was a complete wreck for so long. I don't know what I would have done if I was in her place. Buffy suddenly froze and her eyes widened. Come to think of it...I had been in the same place. Not at the same time, of course. But when I had to kill Angel. That summer...

She laughed softly but there was a hint of sadness in it. Well, Max sure handled her grief better than I did. She didn't go running off to...Los Angeles.

"Holy crap," Buffy said aloud, rubbing her head as realization hit her. "We're more alike than I thought. At least her relationship with Spike is on the rise while mine with Angel is plummeting further and further down the rabbit hole..." Buffy sighed heavily and stood up from her chair. "I need to take a walk."

She tip toed back into the hotel room and found a piece of paper and a pen. After leaving a note for Dawn, who was still sleeping soundly, she quietly exited.


Max had been so engrossed in watching a late night show, if it weren't for her enhanced senses she wouldn't have noticed Spike come out of the bedroom.

"What're you doin', luv?" he asked, still slightly groggy.

"Couldn't sleep." Spike made a grunting noise and scratched the back of his head. "Why are you up? You looked like a bulldozer wouldn't even wake you when I left."

"Not all gifted with shark DNA like some people," Spike replied, motioning for her to scoot over so he could sit next to her. She complied.

"I didn't wake you up with the tv, did I? 'Cause I tried to put the volume real low but I didn't want to have to strain too much," Max explained. Spike smiled lazily and kissed her shoulder.

"You didn't wake me up, Max. I just rolled all the way across the bed and realized it wasn't warm," he gave her a pointed look. "Like it usually is."

"Sorry I took away your own personal heater but I just needed something to distract me a little. And after a while the ceiling just got boring." Spike gave her a confused look.

"Why'd you need to be distracted?" Max glanced away, avoiding his eyes.

"Just some guilt trips that were a little overdue," she mumbled. Spike wrapped his arms around Max's waist, trying to comfort her.

"What're you feeling guilty about?" he asked.

Max felt her previous thoughts and feelings come back to her in an overwhelming rush. She suddenly felt suffocated and slowly wriggled out of Spike's reach and began pacing around the room. She didn't notice the look of hurt that passed over his face before he quickly hid it.

"I-It's nothing...nothing that you have to worry about. I think I just need to get some fresh air," Max stated, walking out of the room to get her coat. Spike frowned.

"This is Los Angeles, luv. Not really a big chance in getting any kind of air other than the toxic kind," he called after her. Max returned a few seconds later, shrugging on her coat.

"I lived in Terminal City for almost two years. I think I can handle a little pollution without gagging."

"Uh huh," Spike murmured skeptically. Max ignored his tone and gave him a quick kiss. "Wait. I'll get my coat and go with you." He started to get up but Max gently pushed him back down.

"Go back to sleep, William. I'll be back in a few hours." Then she headed out without looking back, leaving Spike with a bewildered expression on his face.

"Did she just call me..." he trailed off as he stared at the spot she had just been.


It was sheer coincidence that Max and Buffy ran into each other out on the streets. Neither one really knew where she was going but they continued walking anyways. Both plagued with thoughts and memories they'd rather just forget.

"What are you doing out here?" they chorused before smiling sheepishly.

"You go first," Buffy commented. Max shrugged.

"I don't really sleep and so I figured I could just take a walk," she explained. Buffy nodded.

"Sorta the same with me. Except for the whole not sleeping thing. That is something I usually do."

They continued walking down the road in comfortable silence. A single black SUV drove past them, the engine destroying the quiet.

"So. What do you usually do to clear your mind?" Buffy asked.

"Ride my motorcycle," Max replied simply. Buffy raised her eyebrows in surprise. "What?"

"Just a little...different. Then what I do, I mean."

"And what do you do?"

"Kill things, mostly." Max laughed.

"Oh, that's in no way more drastic than riding a motorcycle in the dark," she replied. A small smile formed on Buffy's mouth as she kicked a pebble across the street.

"Okay, so it is. But I don't..." she trailed off as that familiar creepy tingle crept up her spine, prickling her neck. She glanced at Max and noticed she was listening intently for something. "I take it you feel that too?" Max nodded imperceptibly, her eyes fixing on an alley across the road. It might have been a trick of the light but Buffy swore she saw Max's eyes dilate. She wasn't sure if that was some transgenic thing or she was just imagining it. Buffy turned to look back at the alley and distinctly saw something moving in the shadows. She reached into her jacket pocket to pull out the stake that she always carried with her. Even ifthe thingwasn't a vampire, the stake could still be used as a weapon.

"Alright. I think we should..." Buffy began as she turned to face Max again, only to find her gone. She quickly whirled around, trying to pinpoint where she was. Loud scuffling suddenly reached her ears and she started toward the alley. She caught a glimpse of Max fighting something before she was pushed to the ground, losing her stake in the process. She sighed more in inconvenience than anger and rolled onto her back, quickly flipping back up. She managed to kick whatever had attacked her in the chin. It let out a growl and Buffy saw fangs glint in the moonlight.

Definitely a vampire, then.

She blocked the punch he threw at her but missed the kick he sent to her shin. She inhaled sharply and backhanded the vampire across the face.

"What's with kicking the shin? This isn't soccer, dumbass," Buffy growled. She tried to punch the vampire again but he grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him so he could land a hit to the back of her neck. She stumbled forward but quickly grabbed his arm to steady herself and then bent her leg backwards to kick him in the face.

It was then that Buffy finally spotted her lost stake. She drop kicked the vampire in the chest and landed a punch to the side of his head. Dazed, the vampire stumbled to the side, falling to the ground, and Buffy quickly retrieved her stake. But a grunting noise made her look to her left.

The vampire that Max was fighting had both of Max's arms pinned behind her back and was leaning in to take a bite out of her jugular. Buffy had only made one step towards her when Max let out a low growl and snapped her head back, catching the vampire in the nose.It let out a howl of pain as an audible crack could be heard. Blood gushed from the broken nose and Max quickly took advantage of her opponent's pain and wrenched her arms free, clocking the vampire on both sides of her head.

Seeing that Max had the upper hand again, Buffy turned back to the vampire she had been fighting. He was just getting up. Buffy didn't even let him get both legs straightened before she plunged the stake into his chest. His mouth was open in a silent scream as he crumbled to dust. The girl vampire seemed to feel like it was her duty to fill in the pain-filled shriek. Buffy grimaced.

"Lemme guess," she said, turning to face the other vampire, who was now in the previous position Max had been in. Only Max wasn't leaning in to bite her neck. "You guys were going steady?" The vampire glared at Buffy, her gold eyes gleaming with murderous hatred.

"Nice of him to be a gentleman and die first. Don't ya think?" Max added with a wry smile.

"You stupid bitch. You'll pay for that," the vampire growled. Buffy's face hardened. She really hated being called that.

"I kinda think I won't," she replied sharply. "See, being a slayer doesn't exactly require a paycheck. And all that remains of your dead lover is a pile of ashes." She got as close as she dared to the vampire's face, which was practically frothing in anger. "So I don't think anyone will give a crap even if they do notice."

"I'll rip your..." the vampire started to threaten but with a bored look on her face, Buffy swiftly plunged the stake into her chest, silencing her forever.

Max winced as some of the ashes drizzled on her hair and clung to her leather jacket.

"Next time tell me to step away before you do that," she muttered as she hastily tried to shake and wipe the vampire remains off of her. Buffy smiled.

"Sorry. I'll try to remember that," she replied.

Satisfied that she had gotten most of it off of her, Max returned her smile.

"Wanna keep walking and search for more things to kill?" she questioned brightly. Buffy's smile widened as she nodded eagerly. Both women laughed and linked arms as they walked out of the alley.


Spike tried to focus on whatever the guy with 50 milliliters of Botox injected into his face was saying, without cringing in disgust of course, but his mind kept drifting. Max had been gone longer than just a few hours. He hated worrying about her. She was more than capable of taking care of herself, but he couldn't help it. He had been the same way with Buffy and Drusilla. He hadn't really given a rat's ass what happened to Harmony. He had even staked her himself that one time. Back when he was still evil without a chip in his head and he had a much shorter temper. Not that Spike was Mr. Calm and Self-contained nowadays. He got angry every once in a while like any normal vampire would. Like right now.

"Why didn't she want me to go with her?" he wondered aloud. "And why did she call me William? Not that that's a bad thing..." He unconsciously found himself pacing around the room. "I'd just like to know is all. Has she even called me that before? Did she even know that's...was my name?" Spike let out a short sarcastic laugh.

"Of course she did you stupid git," he continued to ramble to himself. "You're just getting all hot and bothered 'cause she didn't invite you to go along on her little 'head clearing' mission she was..." Spike suddenly stopped talking when he felt like he wasn't alone. A familiar scent reached his nose and a grim smile formed on his lips. "Well, well...what brings you here?" He turned slowly and faced the intruder. "Ever heard of knocking, Gel Boy?"

Angel was leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. He was fixing Spike with the same hostile glare that Spike was giving him. "I was going to, but I heard you rambling to yourself and decided I didn't want to miss the hilarity. Trouble in your little makeshift paradise, huh sparky?" Spike's jaw tightened.

"What do you want?" he growled as he sat back down on his couch. Angel rolled his eyes.

"Fred, Wesley, and I are going to check out a lair of some demons. They wanted to know if you'd like to tag along," he replied. Spike smirked at his carefulness not to add himself in the 'wanting Spike to come' idea.

"And why would I want to do that?" he asked, leaning back and putting his hands behind his head with his feet propped up.

"In case you haven't got anything better to do," Angel answered sharply, obviously wanting to just leave.

"What makes you think I don't?" Angel's eyes flashed gold for a second. Spike's smirk widened.

"Fine. You don't want to tag along. Got plans with Max then?" Angel gave him a wry smile before turning to go. Spike's smirk disappeared and he was off the couch in a flash.

"What've you got to gloat about anyway? You ruined your chances with the dog girl as well as Buffy. At least I still have a girlfriend," he snapped. Angel's jaw tightened.

"I wasn't trying to begin a relationship with do...Nina," he corrected himself, causing Spike to grin smugly. "And Buffy and I decided long ago that we can't be together."

"So what? Now you're just going out of your way to ruin the relationship further by pushing the slayer away? Not the smartest idea you've had in that enlarged forehead of yours, ya know."

"That's not what I meant to do. I didn't even mean to say those things to her!" Spike raised his eyebrows at him. Angel shifted uncomfortably. "Alright I did. But I didn't mean for it to come out like that. And I would..." he trailed off and gave Spike a disbelieving look. "And why am I even telling you this?" He huffed and turned to go.

"Because I make a great secret keeper," Spike replied with faux enthusiasm. Angel opened his mouth to retort. "And ya know what? I think I'm having second thoughts on investigating that demon nest with you. Let's gather up the calvary then, shall we?" He gave Angel a bright smile before grabbing his coat and pushing his way ahead of him towards the door. Angel was slightly too surprised to move. Spike poked his head back inside the room. "You coming?" Angel just nodded and soon followed after him.


"Well this is just dandy," Spike mumbled as he and Angel walked cautiously around the cavern. "Group decides to pair off and I'm stuck with you."

"Would you have preferred to go off alone?" Angel retorted.

"If I knew my way around this place, I'd be happy to."

"But you don't."

"But if I did..."

"But you don't."

"But if I did..."

"You don't!" Angel snapped angrily. Spike made a clucking noise with his tongue.

"Touchy, touchy," he mocked.

"Besides, Wesley and Fred wanted to be together. Why should we separate them?" Angel pointed out tiredly.

"Uh...because then I wouldn't have to search this smelly lair with an already smelly vampire," Spike replied, making it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Angel's brow furrowed.

"I don't smell," he stated indignantly.

"Right. Sure."

"I don't."

"Yeah, fine. You smell like a bed of bloody roses," Spike relented sarcastically.

"Ya know, I think you were right before. I think you should go off alone," Angel replied. "And hey, if you get eaten by the giant pod insect demons, that's just an added bonus."

"What pod insect demons?" Angel rolled his eyes.

"The ones we're here to clear out," he answered.

"Do they look a little something like that?" Spike gestured to something a few yards away from them with the point of his sword. Angel turned to look and was greeted with a flying squid/spider thing. He quickly stepped to the side and slashed at the bug. He succeeded in cutting it in half. One half wiggled slightly even after it was dismembered. Spike's lip curled back.

"These buggers stay dead after you slice 'em right and proper, don't they?" he asked warily. Angel nodded slowly as they both continued to watch the thing wriggle.

"It should..." he answered. Spike cautiously moved around it as he searched for others. "See any more?" Before Spike could answer, an onslaught of the bug demons rushed towards them.

"Better cut them up into little pieces, just to be safe. Right?" Spike clarified as he proceeded to hack up the bugs.

"Guess so," Angel replied as he fought off some others. He didn't notice one of them land on his back. Spike's eyes widened and he didn't hesitate to strike. Angel howled in shock and pain. He stared down at the sword through his chest before turning to Spike with an expression full of bewilderment. Spike simply looked back at him with such innocence it wasn't that hard to figure out what he was really thinking.

"Spike!" Angel bellowed in anger.

"What?" Spike asked in an even more innocent voice.


Fred sidestepped an opening pod and turned her flamethrower towards it. As soon as the bug came out, it caught on fire. Fred was tempted to cover her ears as the high pitched shrieking and squealing threatened to break her eardrums, but she kept her hands on the flamethrower.

She continued torching the egg-sacs on the walls and it wasn't long before the whole cave area was alight with flames. Another of the pods began to open up beside her head, but Fred didn't notice the bug coming out of it. Suddenly a gun shot sounded out and Fred glanced over at Wesley, who was standing nearby with a shotgun aimed at the insect creature. Its head was blown off as the rest of its kind continued to be singed by the fire Fred caused.

Fred smiled and put down the flamethrower's nozzle.

"We got the nest," she stated happily.

"Spike and Angel are finishing the sweep," Wesley replied before looking down at the demon he had shot. "Nasty little buggers."

"Kind of cool, physiologically. They reproduce by vomiting up crystals that attract and mutate the microbes around them to form eggs." Wesley gave her a sly grin.

"Are you trying to turn me on?" Fred grinned and laced her arms around his neck.

"It's kind of romantic. A roaring fire. A snug little nest." Wesley leaned down and they kissed, backlit by the flames. But the approaching sounds of Angel and Spike bickering caused them to pull apart.

"Fuss, fuss. The thing was on your back and about to strike. What was I supposed to do?" Spike was stating defensively as he joined Wesley and Fred in the cave. Angel followed shortly after him with Spike's sword still lodged into his chest.

"Ask me to turn around," Angel growled. Spike gave him a sarcastic smile.

"Heat of battle. There wasn't time," he replied.

"You just like stabbing me."

"I-I'm shocked-shocked that you would say that," Spike retorted with an expression of very believable hurt. "I much prefer hitting you with blunt instruments." Angel rolled his eyes.

"Ya know, we only asked you along 'cause we felt sorry for you."

"If it wasn't for me you'd be bug food. So stop whining." Fred tentatively walked up to Angel.

"Angel?" she began.

"I'm fine," Angel snapped. Fred grinned.

"No, I just want the bug." She bent over to inspect the creature closer. "It's in pretty good shape, and I'd like to take it back to the lab. I always like a new specimen."


Knox was studying something in a petri dish, deep in thought, when a deliveryman brought in a giant stone sarcophagus. It was sandstone colored with a circular iris at the top, surrounded by five fist-sized crystals.

"Whoa. What is this?" Knox asked, carefully eyeing the sarcophagus.

"Delivery," the man said gruffly.

"Ancient Relics is two floors down," Knox stated. The deliveryman looked onto his clipboard.

"Invoice reads: Science Department. Winifred Burkle." He took a piece of paper off his clipboard and placed it onto of the sarcophagus before heading towards the exit.

"You need me to sign...?"

"Been signed," the deliveryman replied shortly as he exited, shutting the door behind him.

"Okay..." Knox mumbled as he turned back to the sarcophagus. A slow smile formed on his face.

At last...

A/N-I know this chapter had only a small amount of action and probably seemed a little depressing but I promise it will pick up in the next few chapters ;o) Although the whole Illyria event is gonna be putting a damper on things...

meri24-Thanks ;o) Yep, you can look forward to another Angel/Buffy argument in either the next chapter or the one after it. I tried to add a little Faith/Alec action, I hope it was enough.

babsibaby-The reason there hasn't been a lot of Max/Spike lately is 'cause there is going to be a LOT of pairings in this story and the story might get a little wrecked if I try to add in everyone in every chapter. But don't worry, they're definitely going to be getting more attention in the next few chapters, as will Wesley/Fred ;o)

Delauro-Thanks ;o) Updates should be a lot more frequent now that school's finally out for the summer (YAY!)

Doza-Thanks ;o) I really liked Illyria, too. I can't wait to start writing her...hehe.

screaminheathen69-I hope this was soon enough for you ;o)