It was well past noon when Buffy slipped out from Spike's side. He hadn't been sleeping long. She had been watching him, reveling in his presence, before hunger got the better of her. In a matter of minutes, Buffy snuck out of the hotel to make it over to the café and the butchers for their "breakfast".

It was a bright, beautiful day. She had the man she had been longing for fast asleep in her bed. A box of French pastries in her hands, a large cup of coffee for her and a bag with a container from the butcher for Spike. So what if the big bad caught up with them tonight? They had faced bad before, now they were together they would face bad again.

Buffy smiled brightly as she returned to the hotel lobby. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle!"

"Bonjour! Beautiful day isn't it?"

"Oui, it is. Was everything alright this morning with your- eh, guest?"

"Oh yeah, he found me just fine," she smiled.

"I don't mean to intrude but there had been a few complaints of noise coming from your room after your visitor arrived this morning. There was some concern for your safety."

"Sorry if we disrupted anyone. I assure you, we're both totally fine," She was trying not to grin.

The receptionist looked her over. Buffy looked like the very picture of health and happiness in the yellow sundress she had thrown on with her slip-on tennis shoes, "I am glad to see you look well."

"Yup, I'm great, better than great. Thanks!" She added as she scurried away back to her room.

Spike hadn't moved a mussel since she left. Damn, he looked good laying there. He was lying on his stomach with his head under a pillow. The sheet had slipped exposing his bare back. She took in the sight a little longer than necessary, she could hardly believe he was real.

Buffy grinned as she slid off her shoes. She made herself comfortable on the bed next to him with a pastry in one hand and the TV remote in the other. "That didn't take long," he drawled before she even flicked on the TV.

"Sneaky, I thought you were asleep" she said as she clicked it on and started to flip through the channels.

"You should talk, Love. You'd better have something over there for me" he said as he reached his arm around Buffy's thigh.

"Down boy" she giggled "I figured you'd want some sleep before tonight." She set down the remote, settling on what looked like a French comedy of some sort.

"I am a bit knackered, but hunger's winning out."

Buffy grinned "Me too, I got pig's blood and pastries, what do you want?"

Spike gave her thigh a squeeze before sitting up next to her "Let's have the blood then."

She handed the blood over to him, and grabbed her coffee "There were a few complaints at the front desk. Apparently we were a little loud, they were afraid for my safety after you showed up."

"Oh that's rich" he chuckled and took a drink of blood.

"I thought you'd find that funny."

"The bad boy look strikes again."

"Probably the coat, the scar on the eyebrow is a good one too even when you're not so banged up."

"Yeah, got a couple of new ones to go with it too."

"I noticed. So what else do we know about this thing?"

"I couldn't find a lot on it on my own, Willow found a bit more. From what she says and what I've pieced together from those dreams I had been having it's a breeder and that one I just killed was its mate. I'm thinking that this thing can track a whole lot better than I can. I only found you so fast because I had help. This thing… I'm not sure… I haven't been near you till now so it couldn't have smelled you on me… it would have gone for Harmony first if that was it but it came straight for you."

"Harmony?"

"Remember that thing I said I regretted?"

"Harmony?"

"She was Angel's secretary…"

"You and Harmony? Again?"

"It was more of a 'Hello' really…"

"That was a kiss! Not… Harmony?"

"Yeah well there were extenuating circumstances, sure she's got the IQ of a potted plant but you got to remember that I'd just got back to a solid body. Harmony was standing there and… eh well, coming back like that, it huh… had side effects… " he mumbled the last bit then added, "It was just the once, not even really… didn't go well to be honest… "

Buffy raised her eyebrow, "Uhh Huhh…"

"Oh, yeah? Like you've been a nun since I left."

"Well yeah, pretty much."

"Pretty much?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Well I didn't join a convent but I only had the one boyfriend-"

"What if I tell you that I know it wasn't just some guy you shacked up with but The freakin Immortal… can't stand that guy."

"How'd you-"

"Angle and I were on a business trip in Roam."

"You were? Why didn't you come find me then?"

"Not for lack of trying I'll tell you. Probably stopped by your apartment three times before we had to leave; even caught a glimpse of you for a minute in a nightclub. Stake to the heart would have hurt less I wager. It wasn't a great trip. Got blown up, it was a whole thing…" He pointed towards his jacket "You know that this isn't even the jacket I got in New York? Bloody thing got shredded— I don't want to talk about it…" he added the last part a little lamely. "But you, you sure looked like you were having the time of your life, brief glance I had."

"Sorry about your coat… but you know, The Immortal really is a totally different story, he's—"

"Yeah I know full well what he is… bloody wanker is what."

"Jealous?"

"Of him? Hardly" he scoffed "Angel and I've got history with The Immortal. Neither one of us can stand the ponce. Had both of us in chains while he was taking advantage of our women. Dru wouldn't shut up about him for weeks. Years later he got me arrested for tax evasion. Then this last trip to Rome… Oh trust me, I know him about as well as I want."

"Wow you really have a problem with him. If you got to know him, he's actually a pretty good guy."

"Yeah? How's that now?"

"Ok, so yeah we broke it off; we both knew it wasn't love for either of us. We had fun together, we talked a lot. Sometimes even about you."

"You talked about me with that burk?"

"Not by name exactly, might have found out about your history with him if I had told him your name, but yeah. He knew I had lost someone I'd been really close to. I was pretty cut up after you died. I tried to hide it from the rest of them but I was really having a rough time and he picked up on it. He helped. He was really insightful."

"Next you'll tell me he 'felt like sunshine'… you know, if you tell me I have him to thank for our, ehh— reunion… I might just have to stake myself."

"You'll do no such thing! And I never said anything about 'sunshine' who talks like that? Except… Drusilla…" she grabbed a second croissant from the box, this one was studded with pistachios. "Now, how is this thing tracking me? How can we draw it out?"

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing" he said as he took a large gulp of blood "Far as you knew, I was properly dead" he shrugged, "Can't really get too twisted up about that, Love . Now as for drawing out this beastie… well, if this thing is what Willow and I think it is, then I'd say we've already done it."

"Eww…"

"Not that, well yeah… alright maybe that" he grinned wolffishly, "I'm thinking it's on a deeper level than sex, it's more mystical. This thing could be sensing who we're bound to or…"

"Bound to?"

"You know damn well what I mean."

She gave him a little smile, "Yeah, I think I do. So this thing is what? Some kind of a 'Love' demon?"

"Don't scoff, you of all people should know how love can be twisted and turned into something horrific. Pretty sure I'm responsible for a good chunk of that."

"Spike, that was different, you were different… and that wasn't love…"

"Yeah, well…" he sat up a little straighter "So our 'Love Demon', stupid name by the way…"

"Hey!" She swatted him playfully.

"Just call'em like I see'em, Pet. What I'm saying is that this thing feeds off the energy love produces. The information on the thing is sketchy at best and the dreams are more… nightmares and I'd get flashes of what the demon had intended for you and that was worse. I'm sure he wanted to draw me out and I complied like a sodden fool in love, but what was I supposed to do? I don't know, do you have a better idea?"

"Not really… you really are a romantic aren't you?"

"Oh come on now, you've known that for years. You tell anyone, I'll bite you just for fun."

"Your not so secret, secret is safe with me" she smirked. "Should we be concerned that we just lured this thing into the most romantic city on the planet?"

"Should be a grand time" Spike said dryly as he downed the rest of his blood and grabbed a pastry "I'll say one thing, the French definitely know food. You know it's something special when a vampire can pick up on it."

"I always forget about the food-taste thing."

Spike shrugged "Not like it usually comes up is it? It depends on the food, and the vampire I suppose. Personally I like having a different texture every once in a while. Spice things up a bit. Try something different."

"I don't think I ever saw Angel eat anything solid."

"Yeah well consider the source, git never did get the idea of just having fun for the sake of it. Case in point, last time I was through here I met a bloke that used to be a chef in some fancy restaurant. He liked to experiment with different foods, flavors, textures, usually mixed with blood. That's where I picked up the bit about using different herbs to flavor the blood."

"That's right, you've been here before."

"Oh yeah, me and Dru. Didn't really get to enjoy it much, she hated it here so we didn't stay long. Doesn't really seem to have changed all that much, bit more modern of course. I'd love to take you around, maybe take in some of the sights."

"I'd like that" she paused thoughtfully "Speaking of the sights, do you think it could be in the catacombs?"

"I was thinking that too, there's so much that's blocked off from the public, it would be a prime spot for a baddie like that, If memory serves correctly I think there should be an access point not too far from where we are. Might take me a minute to get my bearings though; it's been a while since I've been here."

"So it's settled, you get some sleep. We'll head out after sunset, see if we can't bag a baddy."

"I'll sleep on one condition, Love ."

"What's that?"

"Stay with me?" He asked softly.

"Well, since you asked."

The sun was just setting as Buffy leaned against the wall watching Spike get dressed "Something a matter, Slayer?"

"Nah, just enjoying the reverse striptease"

"Uhh, humm?"

"Don't worry, you can strip for me later" she grinned.

"You about ready?"

"Sure am," she said, giving her ax a twirl, "Kinda wish I had my big battle-ax, but this little guy gets the job done pretty well." Buffy had changed into a pair of jeans and a pink short sleeved top.

"Got a sword and another ax like that one in my bag."

"Fun, fun, fun!" She said as she pulled them out of the bag, "Did you steal these from Angel?"

"Training room at Wolfram and Hart, some people steal paper clips" he shrugged.

Buffy grinned "Much more useful than a paper clip."

He got his jacket and took the sword back and strapped it into a scabbard at his waist.

"Did you forget to tell me you became a knight?"

"Don't be daft Love , it's just easier to conceal under the coat."

"Nice thing about stakes and the smaller crossbow, they fit in my bag. Not so much with the ax."

"Yeah well with any luck we won't see too many people."

"If it wasn't so warm I'd take a page out of your book and wear my long jacket," she shouldered her ax and handed the other one to Spike.

"Yeah well I've been thinking about this jacket. It's more like armor anymore, put it on when I'm getting ready for a fight."

"I can see that. I also think it suits you, but that's probably because I'm used to it. There's nothing wrong with switching it up."

"Ehh well, maybe. Right this way, my lady…" he said as he opened the door for her.

"If ax throwing is your idea of a date, you got some work to do mister," she said loudly as an older couple passed them in the hall, gaping at the weapons.

"Laugh it up, Pet"

"You know that's a good point, think about it, we've never actually been on a real date.

"After we handle this bad boy, I'll take you out proper if that's really what you want."

"I'd like that" she answered as they stepped out onto the street.

"Now that's something that never gets old" Spike murmured as he sniffed the night air.

"Wait, did you pick up on something already?"

"I'm good but I'm not that good, Love . No, I was talking about the city. Paris at night."

"It's funny, I've been here for almost a week, and I really haven't gone out at night."

"She who stocks the night stockers, hasn't been out at night?"

"Vacation, Spike. This is my vacation."

"Right, are you sure you don't want me to just handle this thing myself so you can get back to your vacation, Dear-heart?"

"I didn't mean it like that," she said, pulling him into a kiss so roughly that he nearly dropped his ax. They released the kiss but stayed standing together. "I was actually just thinking vacation is kind of boring without killing something."

"Now you're singing my tune, ma belle petite fleur," he kissed her again.

"Aren't you just full of surprises?"

"Don't get too excited, my French isn't great but I get by."

The two of them walked through the streets to the nearest entrance of the catacombs. It was a quiet night. They only passed a few people here and there on their way. None of them seemed to really notice them until a group of drunk coeds passed noisily. One of the guys dressed in a slim blue suit, started hitting on Buffy in French. Both Spike and Buffy ignored him until he tried to grab her ass. Spike turned but Buffy was faster. She dropped the ax she had been carrying and twisted the kid's arm behind his back. Then pushed him into the arms of his friends. He made a move to get up just as Spike stepped up behind Buffy looking menacing without really trying.

Buffy waved him down "Not worth it…"

Spike simply scooped down to pick up the ax, "Didn't think it was. Just getting this, Pet" he said as he gave the ax a flick, twirling it in the air and catching it before he handed it back to her. As he did he gave her a kiss on the temple. The kid and his friends gaped at them both.

Buffy waved them away with a shooing motion "Go on, nothing to see here," she said.

Spike gave a mirthless laugh "You heard the lady— Vous avez entendu la dame! Circulez, il n'y a rien à voir" he repeated in French. Buffy gave him a sideways glance before turning to him, ignoring the coeds Buffy gave him a chaste kiss. They turned away from them as she put an arm around Spike, "I seriously don't miss stupid college kids."

"You do realize they are nearly the same age as you right?"

"Age, maybe, but that's about it."

It wasn't long after that when they reached the hidden entrance to the catacombs Spike remembered. It was blocked off but that didn't stop them. Once inside they followed the tunnels, twisting and turning under the city like a labyrinth.

"Always thought, this was pretty cool down here—"

Buffy shot him a look, then shrugged, "You know what, I can't believe I'm saying this. You have a point, actually, it is kind of cool in a super creepy kind of way."

They had only been walking through the catacombs for about an hour and a half when they heard it. A deep rasping voice emanating from the shadows "Foolish vampire, you think We can't sense you coming? And your little bitch too?"

Spike put a hand out to Buffy "Sort of counting on it, Elphaba."

Buffy gaped, "Elphaba?" She whispered.

"What? I get out… shhhh…" he said in an undertone.

"We could taste you. You and the little one there... coupling… it was… delicious. The pleasure, the pain, the passion… love" it sneered and gave a shuttering gasp. As it spoke Buffy had the impression that the two heads were taking turns to speak. They could barely make it out in the dark, but they knew it was moving closer.

The creature continued on, "So raw, so pure… so decadent, not like most of the love We've tasted. This place is ripe with it and yet you, Vampire; the soul you possess sings with it! It is on fire with love. Love, delicious love in all its complexity. The air around the two of you is thick with it" the creature let out an indecent moan.

"Alright, that was way too much information… you get the feeling we just walked in on this thing's 'personal happy time'?" Buffy murmured, disgusted.

"Think so, Pet."

As they drew closer to it, the demon came into view. It's two heads sat squarely on top of extremely broad shoulders that looked as though they were encased in golden scales over its grayish green rock like skin. The beast was broad and muscular. As it drew nearer they could see their suspicions were correct. The demon was indeed holding himself in a clawed hand.

"Spike? Is it? Oh god…" Buffy screwed up her face in revulsion.

"Really wish it wasn't… Damn, looks like big boy's happy to see us."

"Yuck! Oh that's disgusting. Yeah buddy, you're going down just for that!

"Can say that again. Very, very, very happy to see us… pervert."

"The girl, she is nearly as delicious" the demon continued on, as though they were not speaking, the heads still taking turns to speak. "She, oh… she has known love with not one but two vampires! Both possessing souls, how rare, how delicious… the first, her first, we taste it… pure love and devotion… ripped away, forbidden… and now… forgotten… tragic" the demon's eyes flashed "You have both known lesser lovers; they matter not to us" both heads spat.

"Buffy, don't listen to it…"

But Buffy stood transfixed, staring at the eyes of the head speaking directly to her. The other head turned looking at Spike, as it's body moved slowly forward. The eyes flashed and Spike also became transfixed despite his efforts to pull away.

The head holding Buffy's gaze continued speaking, "This one has known death, intense passion and lust"

The head looking at Spike picked up speaking, "With you vampire. Lust, passions, and yearning for flesh like none we've ever tasted, vicious desire. The flesh knows what the soul does not, and yet a twisted love grew in you… how very interesting…" the demon drew in a shuddering breath "The soul, we see… It too has known deep love for this girl… was in fact acquired as a gift for her. How- oh how sweet! Love in its purest form" it sneered vehemently.

The heads spoke together now, in a sickening hiss "A true love grew… forged in the fires of battle. We sense loss, the vampire— was lost" the head looking at Buffy continued "And yet love grew— grew out of mourning… until…" the thing gasped and let out a loud moan. Both heads suddenly broke eye contact with Spike and Buffy. The demon's heads looked up at the ceiling of the Catacomb, calling in unison "Reunited!" the thing yelled, shaking the bones in the walls.

Spike broke out of his stupor, "Bugger that!" He swore as he swung his sword towards the thing breaking its focus. It shot fire towards him. Spike dodged the flames.

"You killed our love, Vampire, now We shall kill yours!"

"Doubt that, but you can try. It'll be fun!" Buffy said, shaking off the demon's hold.

Spike leapt, swinging the sword he carried. Buffy was ready for it. She attacked low in an attempt to knock it off balance. But it shifted as it dodged another blow from Spike. It shot another blast of flame towards Buffy, this time catching her on the upper arm. The demon reached out a large clawed hand, pinning Spike to the wall. Both sets of jaws opened as though to bite. It was the window Buffy needed. She picked up Spike's dropped sword, plunging it through the thing's side piercing clear through the chest cavity. She pulled the sword out sharply and thrust it in again. This time it dropped Spike as it howled in pain. The sound reverberated off of the bone-lined walls.

"Buffy, quick, it's heads!" Spike gasped. She pulled the sword up and out with a jerk and swung for one of its heads. The first head rolled out of sight as the second one screamed. The scream was cut short as Spike rolled out of its way as the thing stumbled. He grabbed the second ax and pulled out the one he brought. Buffy made a lunge for the demon's back stabbing it through the lower back. Spike jumped at the second head and lopped it off with an ax in each hand.

"That…" Buffy gasped, "was beyond disturbing…"

"No kidding, I could have lived a good long time not seeing that… sick wanker." He added kicking one of the heads "Talkin' like we were his own personal pay-per-view. Talk about a bloke that likes to watch, that was just… I've seen a lot of things in my day but that…"

The two of them walked back to the hotel in relative silence. Once back in their room Buffy spoke "Ok so I'm not the only one super creeped out by that thing right?"

"Oh hell no… I'm well disturbed, Love ."

"Some of the things it said… it was…"

"Disgusting?"

"That's a given, especially what that thing was doing with… himself" she shuddered in revulsion, "That was seriously gross!" She paused to take off her boots.

"Why am I sensing a 'but' in there?" Spike asked as he followed suit, shedding his soiled clothing and grabbing a clean shirt from his bag but not putting it on yet.

"Not 'but' exactly, more of an 'also'. As in, it was also sort of nice to hear, even if it did come from a super freak."

"Not sure if I follow. He didn't say anything we hadn't already sorted out for ourselves."

"No, I guess not," she shrugged.

"But?"

"I don't know, it was just weird hearing it talk about our past…"

"Angel you mean," he said, cocking his head.

"Well yeah, but, not just that. He didn't even mention Drusilla, not by name."

"Noticed that too, did you? He seemed awfully interested in the whole vampire with a soul angle if you ask me. Probably didn't even register what Dru and I had. Neither one of us having' one all that time we were together and all. I always thought I loved Dru, we definitely had 'something', not sure anymore what it was really. I didn't really realize that until after I got my soul" he shrugged, "Did it bother you; that bit he said about Angel?"

"Forgetting?" She paused as she peeled off her jeans "Now that's just wrong" she said holding them up, they were covered in demon blood.

"It is, but that's not the question."

She dropped her jeans in a heap on the floor "Not as much as I thought it would. It's weird… Angel and I have an understanding. We know we can't be together because of his curse-"

"Perk of fighting for mine on my own, I get all the happiness I can stand and keep what's mine."

"Seriously? You're going to do this now?"

"No, I'm done"

"Anyway… we agreed to stay out of each other's lives, and I think we both always figured that part of that would include forgetting what we once meant to each other. I guess I'm just surprised that it happened to me without really noticing."

"And how do you feel about that?"

"Honestly?"

"Would be nice"

"I feel… fine. Like it's how it's supposed to be now. Don't get me wrong, I still love him. I probably always will in some way. But it's different than before."

"So you're not going to start snogging him the next time you see him?"

She actually smiled at that "I doubt it… although, it might be worth it just to see your reaction."

"Oh, that's it! You're so going to get it now!" he snarled playfully, pulling her close for a kiss that nearly set them both on fire.

Buffy pulled away after a moment breathlessly, "Oh hey there, we're both caked in that things blood. The only thing I'm getting right now is a shower and the first aid kit in my bag. I've got a jar of salve in there Willow made up, it's great for stuff like this," she said, indicating the burn on her arm.

"Not without me you're not, I'm headed for one myself. That wanker's blood is rank. I'll help you dress that arm after."

"Thanks, it doesn't even hurt right now. You know, I don't even want to know what would have happened if we hadn't finished that demon off… before he… hummm…"

"Finished off?"

"Oh I really just walked right into that one, didn't I? Eww…"

"Well that's the mood gone, nice mental that was"

"Sorry" she answered ruefully.

Spike pulled off his bloodied jeans "Hope there's a laundry around here, these are fowl."

She watched him as he stood there in his underwear holding out his jeans. He dropped them unceremoniously into the pile with Buffy's blood-soaked clothes. He looked at them a second then grabbed an extra bag from the bottom of the tiny waste paper bin provided by the hotel and quickly shoved them in. It was a simple task, nothing extraordinary about it, and yet he was looking good enough to eat.

She sighed, "You good there?"

"Yeah, it's a little better. Still nasty but not as bad."

"Vampires. I mean yeah it's gross but I didn't really notice anything super unusual."

"The joys of a predator's olfactory sense, great when you need it, not so much when you don't."

"I don't envy that particular superpower."

"Sort of seems like you got all the good ones, Pet. You're stronger than me and can walk in the sunshine."

"Yeah, got to admit it's pretty cool. You still heal faster from more severe injuries than I do. I wouldn't mind that one" she pouted a little as she looked at the burn on her arm again. She had been lucky it wasn't worse.

"We're both pretty resilient, both of us can take quite a pounding."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, "Speaking of, I don't suppose there's anything I can do to bring the mood back, is there?" She asked, turning away from him as she stripped off the rest of her clothes, being mindful of her arm.

"No idea what you're talking about, Love," he said distractedly as he followed her every movement as she walked to the bathroom.

"Shower? Never tried it before, did we?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy—" he said, stepping back, suddenly reminded of another time.

She realized what he was thinking immediately, "Not what I was talking about Spike—" she said as she turned around striding towards him, "I'm talking about fun times, with the man you've become. The man I know now could never intentionally hurt me, William," she pulled him down to kiss her, "We've moved past that haven't we?"

"You are an amazing woman Buffy Summers" he kissed her again.

She turned back around to turn on the shower, letting the water heat up before stepping into the spray. Spike watched for a moment as the water mixed with the dried blood stuck to her and trailed down her slender body. A predatory grin on his face as he watched her. "I'm always up for a little fun," he said, stepping in behind her.

Spike took the soap and the washcloth Buffy offered him "I think you might need these first" she grinned.

"Saying I'm dirty, humm?" he crooned in her ear as he began to wash himself, before starting on her. He took his time rubbing her back, massaging her tired muscles and tending her burn carefully as he cleaned her. Then he pulled her back against his chest, holding her in place as the hot water hit them both.

He ran another hand down her front starting with her breast and working slowly down past her navel "Like this?"

Buffy let out a small moan then turned to face him "No, I want to see you, William. Really see you."

"No arguments, Love " he said as he trailed a hand down again. This time he grasped the back of her thigh, pulling it up to allow him access. Buffy moved accordingly to receive him. Kissing every inch of pale skin she could reach as she did so. Spike moved to pin her against the wall of the shower and she let out a little gasp as he thrust deeply into her. He paused to kiss her passionately and let out a moan when she bit his lip.

"God I missed you," Buffy gasped.

"Likewise, Goldilocks."

To be continued... Please Read and Review!