Spike and Buffy boarded the last train leaving from London to Edinburgh. Then deposited their things in the room Buffy had booked for them. She pulled the curtains and Spike removed the hooded motorcycle jacket she had got for him and flopped down on the bed.
"Nice digs, hell of a lot better than the last time I rode on a train."
Buffy layed down on the bed next to him, "It's my first time, I thought it would be nicer than the trip from hell I had coming up from Rome to Paris."
"Couldn't have been worse than my trip from LA, packed in with the luggage" Spike said as he wrapped his arm around her.
"You did that to yourself, mister."
"To save your sweet little ass."
"Yeah well I don't know about you but I'm just about starving. I think I'm going to head to the diner car coming along?"
"Could always rip out a throat or two but I'd just ruin my diet. You go ahead, I'll be along."
She laughed and with that Buffy headed out to the dining car as Spike stayed behind to stowaway their luggage. Spike opened a side pocket on his duffel bag and pulled out a thin, long, rectangular box. Then set the box on the bed. He shrugged on the new jacket before heading out of the compartment to catch up to her. He could see her blonde hair swing behind her down the hall. The hallway seemed deserted until suddenly a man in a red jacket stepped out in front of her.
"Oh, sorry" she said politely, trying to go around him before her senses caught up to her.
The man sneered "Where do you think you're going, Goldilocks?"
Buffy looked at him coldly, "Sorry, you don't get to call me that."
"Show me what you're going to do about it, Slayer!"
"Aw how sweet, you know who I am, I'm touched," she said, delivering several strikes knocking him back down the hall.
Spike sauntered up behind Buffy, a wide grin revealing his fangs. The vamp in the red jacket wiped blood from the corner of his mouth as he stood back up grinning, "Spike? That you mate?"
"One and only."
"How've you been? I thought you were in America, how's Drusilla?"
"Parted ways, got a new lady love."
"Good for you mate, that bird was a nutter."
"I'm sorry, should I just go back to my room and let you two catch up?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
"Oh I don't think so, beautiful," Spike said menacingly as he picked up a lock of her hair, running it through his fingers.
"Oh you're in trouble, Slayer. This here is a legend. Killed two slayers and was gunning for a third last I heard. You get that bitch, Spike?"
"Could say that," Spike growled as he grabbed Buffy from behind. He twisted one arm behind her back, slipping her a stake as he did so, "Could also say I found my soul-mate."
Buffy grinned, "Friend of yours, Honey?"
"Nah, this wanker you can dust, Love."
"Planning on it," she said as he released her. Buffy spun around kicking the vampire in the stomach.
"What the—" the vampire started but Buffy cut him off with a kick to the head.
"That's for standing between me and the dining car," she quipped. Buffy spun around again in the confined hallway, landing the stake squarely into his chest, "And that's for calling me Goldilocks," she finished as he disintegrated into a pile of dust on the floor.
Spike stepped forward, "That was lame. All talk, no action."
"No kidding."
"Come on, let's get you something to eat, Pet."
"Wonder if I can get a milkshake."
When they returned from the dining car to their little room Spike opened the door for her. She noticed the small box laying on the bed almost immediately. Buffy pointed to it and turned to Spike "What is that?" she asked.
"Oh, you know," he shrugged, "Go-ahead and open it."
Buffy went over and picked up the little box wrapped in pale blue paper, she lifted the lid. Inside was a simple charm bracelet with a single charm hanging from it, a little Eiffel Tower.
"I know it's not much, but I thought it might be nice to have a little something from our time in Paris. Also figured maybe I could find some more charms along the way."
"Spike, this is incredibly thoughtful, thank you. You're sweet."
"You are the only person that can get away with calling me 'sweet', might have to kill anybody else," he flopped down on the bed and kicked off his boots.
"Same goes for the 'Goldilocks' thing, you saw what I did to the last vamp who called me that."
Spike patted the bed next to him, "I'll take my chances, Goldilocks" he grinned.
They had just finished dressing when the train pulled into the station in Edinburgh. "At least we made good time," Spike grinned sheepishly.
Moments later they had their luggage on the platform. "Are you sure you're ready for this? Castle full of teenage girls… fun, fun, fun…" Buffy asked.
"I'm only concerned with one girl," he murmured as he leaned down to kiss her.
After a moment they were interrupted by a very familiar throat clearing. "We had our suspicions when you said you were travelling together," Giles intoned as he wiped his already spotless glasses, "I must say, I'd sincerely hoped we were wrong."
"Nice to see you too, Rupert," Spike grinned smugly.
They drove away from the train station in relative silence for quite some time as they headed away from the lights of the city. The little conversation they did engage in revolved around things happening at the training facility and the weather. As they headed down the road further into the country, Giles turned to Buffy in the seat next to him, "Alright, let's hear it, I'm sure you have some explanation."
"Not that I should need one, but I'm surprised Dawn or Willow didn't tell you already."
"Whatever it is I'm sure they, like myself, thought you should be the one to tell me you've re-entered a 'relationship' with— him!"
"Did you forget, I died saving you, and everyone else. You're welcome…" Spike huffed.
Giles composed himself with a deep breath, "My sincerest apologies. Yes, of course you are right. Where are my manners? Thank you, Spike," sarcasm dripped from every word.
"Yeah, well a little sincerity wouldn't go amiss."
"Now if you two are done. Giles. We will tell you the how's and why's of it all…" Before they had even finished telling the whole story of Spike's arrival in Paris and the demon's blood; Giles pulled off to the side of the country road they were on to listen better. "…after that we just sort of… enjoyed Paris for a while," Buffy finished.
"Astonishing! Another dimension! Of course! I thought they had been whipped out. Fascinating. And for the two of you to face one now-"
"Two for Spike, one for me."
Giles pinched the bridge of his nose, "Of course, a mating couple! Makes perfect sense, and when you two were doused in its blood, well… surely that would mean… dear me… well I suppose even I can't argue with that," Giles took a deep breath and turned to Buffy once more, "Are you truly happy? With him, I mean?"
"I'm right here you know," Spike interrupted.
They both ignored him, "He's only been back in my life for a short time, but yeah. Giles, I am happier than I've been in years. I'm not sure if I've ever been this happy to be honest."
At that Spike stretched his arms along the back of the seat and relaxed back with a self-satisfied grin. Neither Giles or Buffy saw.
Giles gave her a fatherly smile, "Then I will do my best to be happy for you both. I won't say I've misjudged him, not entirely. But given events of the last year… yes, perhaps I have been rather harder on Spike than need be."
"Well glory be, hallelujah!" Spike grumbled, "How much longer?"
Giles pulled back onto the road and continued, "Just a bit further, it's a bit out of the way of the city proper but there are a few smaller towns within walking distance of us."
"Can see that… and loads of pasture."
"Someone is cranky," Buffy grumbled.
"Just gettin' hungry. Haven't had anything to eat since Paris, feelin' a wee bit peckish, Love."
"Giles, is there a butcher's shop anywhere around here?"
"Faith made a special run yesterday, we are well supplied. If you need something sooner might I suggest one of these blighters?" Giles snapped waspishly at some sheep blocking the road up ahead. "Would you be so kind as to bugger off you sodding little beasts," he continued heatedly.
"Giles? Is something wrong? I mean, other than the wooly ones."
"What makes you ask?"
"Because you're swearing at sheep in British. I'd expect that from Spike before you. No offense, Honey."
"None taken, wondering the same thing myself. What exactly are we walking into here, Rupert?"
"As I mentioned to Buffy before, we currently have sixteen girls, between fifteen and twenty under one roof. It's just been a bit much for the two of us recently. I'm not complaining, mind. Faith as come very far since we came here and lord knows she's been working very hard, not only with the girls but the castle too—"
"Cut to it, Rup, no one is accusing you of not being British enough."
"Just a bit overworked at the moment."
"What you need is a drink mate."
"And I plan to, alone. Please don't call me 'mate'."
"Just trying to be friendly."
"You might be dating the closest thing I have to a daughter but we are not friends, Spike."
"Look here Rupert, I'm only going to say this once. I'm here to help you, just as much as Buffy is. You don't have to like me but a little civility would be nice."
"I second that motion," Buffy added flatly, raising her hand.
"From here on out I will be the very epitome of civility."
"We'll see about that," Buffy said under her breath as she looked out the window at the sheep still blocking the road.
"These wooly blighters are starting to look more like happy meals. Try the horn again would you? Know what, sod it-" Spike got out of the car waving his arms, "Go on lamb chop! Places to be!" He yelled. When that didn't work, Spike bared his fangs and charged at them growling, "Not so 'Wooly-Bully' now are ya! Ha!"
In the car Giles spoke as he watched Spike usher sheep across the road, "I love you as though you were my own, Buffy. That demon's blood only proves you truly love one and other. Something I will just need to wrap my head around I suppose. I just hope you realize that this doesn't mean you are locked into anything perm— what the bloody hell is—", Giles cut off as Spike picked up one particularly slow sheep and carried it across the road to be with the rest of the flock. Then he went back to grab another.
"I know. I'm already not with one man— vampire, I loved, for obvious reasons. I'm not about to let that happen again especially when there's literally no reason at this point why we shouldn't be together. Believe it or not, I actually have thought about this. A lot. Long before he even came back. This is what I want and I'm done trying to justify my relationship with him."
"You say that almost as if you knew he was coming back."
"But I didn't."
"And he wasn't altered in any way? The man is moving sheep after all. You don't think that is a little strange?"
"Not really. I mean it's Spike. He's a badass, but he's also— corky. I might be tempted to go out and help him if I wasn't enjoying the show. But seriously. Obviously he's been different since he got his soul. Since he came back into my life now it's been- I don't know. It's just different I can't even describe it. It's been seriously intense just getting to know him when we're ya know, not constantly fighting for our lives. We can just be people. People who fight evil… but still… We actually talk. Like real conversations. We have fun. I can totally be myself with him in any situation. Do you have any idea what that means to me? How important that is?"
"Quite a lot I imagine. It's not as normal a relationship as I would have hoped for you, however… I do understand that perhaps what you have found with Spike is perhaps precisely what you need."
"Thank you."
"You've always been your own woman, I can respect that… I suppose he actually is… alright… for him," Giles said as Spike finished clearing the road of sheep and climbed back into the car.
"Go on then, before the little sods get any bright ideas and wander back out in front of us. I thought shepherd-boys were supposed to herd these bloody things in at night."
"I imagine there must be an open gate nearby. Thank you for clearing the road, Spike."
"Ta, Rupert."
"I must admit, it might be rather nice having another Englishman here in the land of Scotts."
"Bloody hell, Rupert, Buffy called it a castle but I thought she was exaggerating," Spike said as they unloaded their bags from the trunk of the car. He looked up at the front of the grand stone building with stained glass windows.
"Yes, it's quite impressive isn't it? I was rather surprised when Willow and I discovered it amongst the council's many holdings. Seems they had a number of such properties. Now the rent from a few of those pays for this place and then some. That's not to mention the other holdings Willow was able to secure for us."
"Sitting right pretty aren't you Rupert?"
"Not just me. This is for the girls, for Buffy and Faith."
Faith walked into the front room carrying a laundry basket filled with a variety of random things including weapons and random bits of clothing, when they came in. "Hey B!" She set the basket down to give Buffy an awkward hug.
"We hug now? Did I miss the memo?"
"Don't get mushy over it. I'm just happy to see reinforcements. It's like Slayer Day Care around here."
"Hug understood."
"Hey Spike. Damn man, aren't you the sexiest looking dead guy in town?" she said, flashing him a smile.
"Bet you say that to all the vamps not trying to kill you," He countered and shot Buffy an involuntary look.
Faith caught it and turned to Giles with her hand out, "Come on 'book-man', pay up!"
Without a word Giles slapped a few notes into Faith's outstretched hand, "Mama likes the cold hard cash" she crowed.
"Y-you bet on us?" Buffy stammered looking at Giles incredulously.
"Faith thought it would be, ah, sporting to make a wager on if you'd be staying in the room we prepared for you alone or not,"
"Knew you'd both be in there," Faith grinned, "We converted the sitting room next to my room into a bedroom, which means the only person you two need to share a bathroom with is little old me. These rooms are crazy big, with thick walls, good for getting your freak on," she winked.
"That will do, Faith. Some of us are still processing," Giles huffed.
"Well process faster because I'm not planning on going anywhere," Spike said as he continued looking around.
"The full tour will have to wait until morning since the girls are asleep, but I'll show you around down here."
"It hasn't been that long since I've been here, Faith."
"Lots changed, Buff, been doing a little remodeling."
"Really making this place your own aren't you?"
"For the first time, I really feel like I have an actual home, B. Who knew it'd ever be in a place like this huh?"
"This is trippy," Spike said, turning around as he walked down the hallway, "I'm sure I've been here before…" he looked around the grand entryway. The walls were a combination of stone and wood panelling. Spike rocked on his heels on the stone floor and went to check out the little antique elevator in the corner, "This sure can't be original."
"Oh no it's not."
"I just can't seem to place this place, It will come to me eventually. How old is the old girl anyway?"
"Older than you to be sure. 15th century, originally. The history of the place is quite interesting. It's changed hands several times and has gone through a number of renovations. Obviously we are in the keep, the outer walls were dismantled to create most of the fences surrounding—"
"You're doing it again," Faith said in a broad singsong tone.
"Ahh, yes, well not that any of that matters since as I mentioned, it has obviously been extensively renovated within the last century alone. Faith isn't the first to add modern touches of course. I doubt much of the interior would be recognizable. Now to answer your question, Spike, yes I suppose it's possible. Though I don't know of any massacres to take place on this land within the last two hundred years. It's no surprise a number of deaths have occurred here over the centuries but nothing terribly suspicious in the last century that I've come across. Mostly natural causes or accidents," Giles explained.
"Ahh well, I'm sure I'll think of it sooner or later. I'll take your tour. Just so long as it starts with a little blood, I'm just about starved here."
"Sure thing, stud, stocked up just for you. Don't need you fallin' off the wagon in a house full of teenage girls. Kitchen is in through here, blood is in the fridge."
"Cheers. I'd go hungry before I'd hurt any of you lot, just don't piss me off."
"He's kidding right?" Faith asked.
"Probably," Buffy shrugged.
The kitchen was large with a big table running down the length of one half of the room. A second work table at the other end closest to the fridge and the oven, provided a large work space. The kitchen had been updated at some point within the last twenty years, Buffy guessed. The appliances definitely weren't new but they had been the top of the line when they were installed. Spike helped himself to the fridge while Buffy started poking around in the cupboards. She let out a little woop of triumph when she came across a pack of chocolate cookies.
"Sure, help yourself," Faith said flatly.
"Sorry," Buffy mumbled around a mouthful of cookie, "Guess I was a little hungry too."
"No kiddin', if I didn't know any better I'd say you two had the munchies," Faith tilted her head to the side, grinning.
"I'm good now" Spike said, holding up a large white mug with Betty Boop printed on the side which he had just filled with blood, "You got a- oh there's the mic, good stuff."
"I think I'm just hungry and tired from our trip. I could really do with some sleep."
"Yeah, of course. Just follow me. Your room is next to mine. We can hold off on the tour, it's no big."
Buffy couldn't help but notice Faith seemed a little crestfallen. She had been so proud of what she and Giles had accomplished in her absence. "No it's cool, you can show us around. I promise I will stay vertical."
"I'll make it quick," she said as she beckoned them to follow her, "Coming Giles?"
Giles waved them off as he refilled the tea kettle, "It's tea and bed for me I think. I'm taking a few of the girls for training early in the morning so I really must be turning in shortly."
Buffy went over to give him a one armed hug, "I'll let you off the hook on one condition."
"Which is?"
"Make me a cup of tea too; Please?"
Giles smiled, "No trouble at all."
With that Faith led them back out into the entrance hall and through into a large room. "We really didn't do much down here on the ground level since you left Buff. Kitchen is the same, obviously. New toaster… now come take a look… we got a new TV in the big room here, and some more comfortable furniture. It's a lot more cozy in here now. We use it like a great big living room." Faith was saying as they walked into a large comfortable room. Whatever it was used as before, it was now a combination rec room and living room.
"Foosball table is a nice touch" Spike noted.
"Holy throw pillows Batman," Buffy said, taking in the multitude of pillows in various shades of blue and green.
"The girls need a place to take a break and hang, this is it."
"Nice. I like the new color in here, the blue is really nice."
"Yeah, Giles just about flipped out about it not being historically accurate or some BS when I first did it. But the girls seem to like it, and I think it's grown on him."
"Coziest Sorority house I've ever been in."
That comment earned Spike glares from both Faith and Buffy, "What?" they asked in unison.
Spike held his hand up in a placating gesture, "I'm shutting up now-"
"Good choice."
"Smart," Faith agreed.
The three of them passed back through the entrance hall to pick up their luggage as they went. Giles met them carrying a cup of tea for Buffy. She took the hot tea from him. "Aww, thanks, Giles."
"My pleasure. Here Spike, I'll take that if you're done," he added gesturing to his empty mug.
"Cheers, Rupert."
"I'll be leaving with some of the older girls around 9:00. Faith will fill you in on our training schedule."
"Have fun, shaking your gord," Buffy said, stifling a yawn.
"Quite. Well, see you all in the morning," Giles said, bidding them good night.
Faith led them up the first flight of stairs to the first floor. She seemed particularly excited about this floor.
"This was the drawing room, now it's kinda a cross between a classroom and a computer lab. It's is pretty much the same except for the paint and computers. During the school year we use this as a classroom. It's so not my thing, Giles and Willow do all that. She does everything over the computer and he does all the in person stuff. Even when they're not in school a lot of the girls actually come in here with their computers."
They paused to look inside a fairly sparse room with a fireplace, a few comfortable places to sit and two old fashioned desks positioned at opposite sides of the room. A large table opposite of the windows held three computers.
"Yeah I definitely don't remember computers being in here."
"No, that was Willow's doing. She had them setup so she could do her teacher thing from wherever she is."
They moved on as Faith continued talking, "Which leads us to my favorite room. No one ever ate in the dining room, I mean it's stupid having it up here so far from the kitchen. Am I right? So anyway, I completely transformed it into- this!" She opened the door dramatically to reveal a good sized training room. Complete with matted floors, equipment and training dummies.
"This is seriously amazing Faith!" Buffy beamed, "I can't wait to get to work in here, Spike has some new moves he wants to show me," she took a sip of tea.
"I bet he does," Faith grinned.
Spike let out a snort of derision, "Sparing. Get your mind out of the gutter. Our relationship is about more than just sex you know."
"Noted. Willing to share these new moves with the rest of the class?"
"That was the general idea after Buffy gets them down. Which I suspect will take her about a minute."
"Cool, looking forward to it."
From the training room they headed up another flight of stairs "Here's the library, I don't think Giles has changed a single book in here since you left, B, and then there's the other training room you helped set up. Wasn't this like a ballroom or something before?"
"I don't think it was originally but one of the old owners turned it into one or something. You got some new dummies in here," Buffy noted, "and that folding divider thingy is new."
"Oh yeah, for some stupid reason, some of the younger girls kept daring each other to go up the other set of stairs to Giles' room, trying to use his bathroom and stuff. It was stupid. Honestly I don't know if it's the divider or my threats that have kept them out but we haven't had any more trouble. Still, we figure we'll leave it up. Out of sight out of mind. I figure they don't try to get up there from the living room because there's a door there so—," she gestured towards the screen again.
"Probably a good idea," Buffy agreed.
Spike looked around the room, "This is really weird… it's like Déjà vu. I know I've been here before. Why can't I remember?"
"Maybe you're going senile," Buffy grinned.
"Funny…"
"Senile vampire, now that's gotta be a trip," Faith shook her head.
"I'm not bloody senile!"
"Sure, anyway, if we go back through the library and up these stairs, we have home sweet home," she lead the way. At the top of the next landing, Faith hitched a thumb to the left, "that's me over there. Bathroom is through there, and your room is straight ahead here."
"This was the smallest sitting room right?"
"Now it's a big-ass bedroom," Faith opened the door revealing a large room with a fireplace, a queen sized bed, two sets of dressers, a wardrobe, and a roll top desk. A little sitting area in front of the large fireplace separated the space. A loveseat and two comfortable looking modern chairs with a little table separating the two were comfortably situated around a coffee table in the center.
"Wow. This is really nice, Faith. I'm surprised you didn't move in here yourself," Buffy said downing the last of her tea.
Faith shrugged, "I thought about it. It's a little too much space for me. Didn't feel right," she shrugged, "I don't know. Guess I just like my room. Sort of thought you or Willow might end up moving up here eventually too. Just a hunch."
"We're just visiting Faith. Dawn is still taking summer classes in Rome."
"Like I said, just a hunch. Never say never, B."
"Well thanks for the tour, I think I'm going to crash."
"The training rooms were the big highlight really. All four of the girls' rooms upstairs got some new paint and furniture. Just enough to sort of give them some personal space, I didn't really do much up there. Had to have someone come in to fix their bathroom though, that was a nightmare. Looks real good now."
"I bet," Spike said as he set his duffel bag and one of Buffy's suitcases down on the rug in front of the fireplace and took her other suitcase from her.
"Thanks," she replied with a yawn as she set her tea cup down.
"Look, I'm going to get out of your hair. I got two of the older girls out on patrol tonight. It's good practice but I like to make sure they make it back okay. I'm probably going to check on a few things and get some shuteye myself."
"Night, Faith."
"B, Spike."
Buffy shut the door, kicked off her shoes and fell onto the bed fully clothed. Spike chuckled, "You're not jokin', you really are tired?"
"Humm humm," she mumbled into a pillow. She rolled over to look at him, "Sorry to dash your dreams."
"Feeling alright, Love?"
"Fine, just tired. Not like we actually slept on the train ride up here," she smirked.
"Right you are," he grinned in reply, "Which one of these has your night stuff?"
"Ehh, the small one"
Spike plunked the suitcase on the loveseat. Opening it he pulled out a little cotton nightgown and her toiletry bag. He tossed them onto the bed next to her, before shrugging off his jacket, "Might as well get comfortable."
He took a moment to look around the room, taking in the details of the thick walls. The room had been recently painted a pale shade of teal with white ceiling and trim. The paint had clearly been Faith's doing, he could still smell the fumes. Spike thought the plum colored curtains would have looked awful if it wasn't for the bedspread and throw pillows around the room in shades of teal, and purple. As it was, it actually worked really well together. He stopped himself rolling his eyes at the thought, "Bloody hell, Spike'' he chided himself quietly.
Then a little louder he said, "Hey Buff, it strike you strange; Faith being on this DIY kick? Bring out her inner Martha Stewart…" He turned around when she didn't answer and realized she must have gone to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling he wasn't alone in the room. Before he could make anything out of it, Buffy re-emerged from the bathroom.
"Was Faith just in here?" She asked.
"No, just me."
"Were you just talking to someone?"
"You, but you'd gone. Didn't realize, thought you were still here, so talkin' to myself ain't I?"
"I could have sworn I heard someone else talking."
He eyed her, "Just me. Everything alright, Pet?"
"I humm… yeah, yeah everything is great."
"Old places like this have a way of messing with ya, maybe you just need to get used to it again."
Buffy thought back to the first time she had stayed here when Giles had first found out about it and they started the school. She and Dawn hadn't stayed very long then. They had all crammed into a few rooms rather than spreading out around the castle when they first got there. Probably because they were all still reeling from the aftermath of the battle of Sunnydale and the roundabout way they had taken to get to Scotland. The place had felt so strange and alien then. And yet with so many people and so much to sort through she hadn't really taken time to think about where she actually was.
She shook her head a little as she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed, "Yeah, you're probably right. So what were you talking to me about anyway?"
"Wh- oh that… just thinking. Do you think this whole Martha Stewart thing Faith is on is just a little—"
"Weird and totally out of character?"
"You know her a lot better than I do, but yeah… just doesn't seem the type to me."
"That's exactly what I thought when Giles told me what she was up to a couple of weeks ago. But then like Faith said earlier, this is the first time she's really felt like she was home. I mean after prison, it's got to be a big change. Maybe this is just some sort of a, I don't know… maybe just a way for her to deal with stuff."
"You mean a constructive outlet. Instead of focusing on killing and destruction, maybe she is trying to build something. In this case a home for her and these girls."
"Ehhh… yeah… I guess so— wait-,"
"What?"
"You just surprise me sometimes when you get all insightful."
Spike rolled his eyes, "I pay attention to people, you should know that. I listen. It's not hard. Plus, I read. What do you think I do all day when you're out?"
"Sleep? Watch soaps? Talk me into staying in bed with you," she smirked.
Spike looked up to the ceiling and closed his eyes for a second, "True. Though you're not out for that last one. I also sometimes fancy a good read," he picked up a book from the small book shelf above the roll top desk, he looked at the binding, "Alright. See here? Case in point, Oscar Wilde. Always liked him, though I've got a much better appreciation for his work now I got a soul."
"I remember seeing a few books in your old crypt, I guess I just never really paid much attention to them."
"Yeah well most of those were dime store paperbacks, if you get my meaning. Doubt I'd find one of those under this roof. I make do with what I got. Being in LA sometimes that included the occasional pop-psych drivel."
Buffy grinned a little, "Are we talking self-help?"
"Aren't you supposed to be tired?"
"Aren't you coming into bed?"
"Not tired. Vampire."
"So bring Oscar with you," she yawned again, "Come on, this bed is surprisingly cozy, cuddle with me."
"Yeah alright, Pet. I'll be along shortly."
Several hours later Buffy woke up with a start, out of a deep sleep. She looked around trying to figure out what could have awoken her. Spike was still sitting up, fast asleep with the open book still in his hand on his chest. Quietly, Buffy got out of bed and over to the mirror hanging over one of the dressers. She looked at her reflection and sighed. This was silly. Buffy made her way back to the bed where Spike lay sleeping. Just as she was starting to get settled back in, she heard a faint noise. Like a sigh and a quiet rustling.
"Probably just the wind," she muttered to herself. Then she sat up again and saw it. A slim, pale figure standing in the corner next to the roll top desk by the door. The wispy figure was no taller than Buffy and was dressed in an old fashioned nightgown with her very long hair hanging in a loose braid.
"What do you want?" Buffy asked. The figure swayed slightly, then vanished, "What the—"
She shook Spike awake, "Wh-what is it? I'm up. Sorry, dozed off… Buffy? What's a matter?"
"I just saw a ghost…"
"Bloody hell, is that all?" He asked groggily as he closed his book and placed it on the table next to the bed. Then he turned onto his side facing her and closed his eyes.
"You're not the least bit… I don't know, interested, or concerned or…"
He answered without opening his eyes, "Been there, done that. Place like this, bound to have a few ghosts. Not like it can do much. Wake me if it gets interesting."
"It made a noise."
"Makin' noise is easy, talking is easy. Can't do much damage though. I should know, haunted Angel for a good long time. All I did was annoy the hell out of him. Best part about the whole thing for me. Now come back to bed, Love. Sun-up is pretty early this time of year in these parts."
Buffy sat on the edge of the bed still watching the spot she had seen the ghost. She rubbed her bare arms.
Spike pulled back the covers and propped himself up on an elbow, "You all right, Pet? Not like you to get rattled so easy. It's just one little ghostie. What's going on? Did she say something to you?"
Buffy shook her head as she settled in close to him. He drew the covers back over them and wrapped an arm around her, "I don't know, probably just weirded out after the random wake up call. She kinda freaked me out."
"Right… Bird must have wanted something, I recon."
"Figures, everybody does," Buffy sighed as she snuggled in closer to him, "There was just something about her, she seemed so young, like one of the girls, it was… creepy."
"You can ask around later. I'll join you, see if we can get to the bottom of things. I'll stay up for a bit longer if you like. Watch over you."
"With your eyes closed? I know you're tired, you were asleep."
"Yeah a bit. Alright, hush you. Right now you can probably get another couple hours solid sleep before anyone out there needs the Alpha-Slayer."
She let out a weak laugh, "Did you just-"
"Just get some sleep. A little-bitty-wanna-spook ain't gonna bother messing with the likes of us. As if she could."
"Thank you"
"Sleep, Love," he added, caressing her shoulder.
A/N: To be continued... Please Read and Review!
I have a lot more written already, this is going to be a very long story.