A/N: Thank you to anyone who takes the time to review, especially Dreaming Haven, it really means the world to me! This one is a little shorter than most of my chapters but I think it covers a lot and is important for the story moving forward, there's a long way to go with this story. Enjoy! Thanks so much!

Spike's long leather jacket rustled quietly as he and Buffy walked along the streets of town heading for the largest of the local cemeteries. Even though this was technically work, it was nice to get away from the castle.

"If I had to answer one more question today, I think my head would have gone all explode-y," Buffy sighed dramatically.

"They were pretty riled up tonight weren't they?"

"Yeah, you'd think they would have been tired after all that."

"You're not?"

"No, I'm alright. I'm just glad to be out."

"Just you and me so far," Spike said as they reached the cemetery gate.

"Not when you jinx it like that it won't be. I was hoping to squeeze in a little fun stuff but I don't know if we'll have time now," Buffy scolded playfully as they continued walking along amongst the tombstones.

They walked on for a few more minutes. The cemetery seemed deserted, until a woman walked out from behind a tombstone. She had short spikey blonde hair and a somber looking black dress.

"See what you did?"

"Oh sure, blame me. Not like I'm the one going around sireing vamps."

"Not this time," Buffy shot at him as the vampire suddenly charged at her like a bull. She sidestepped the charging vamp and shot her with a quizzical look as it caught itself on a grave marker and turned. "What the hell was that?" Buffy asked.

"Pretty little thing aren't you?"

"Pretty? You need your eyes examined," the vamp snapped her head up towards Spike, "She's the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Aww, Babe, you're so sweet," Buffy gushed before delivering three quick kicks to the vampire's torso.

She pushed the vampire back against a tombstone. The vampire did a series of flips worthy of a gymnastics gold medalists. It landed on top of a large marker.

"Date night?" the blond vampire asked.

Buffy had already ran after her, adding a flip or two of her own, mostly for fun. She landed in front of the vamp and grabbed a hold of her ankles. Buffy gave a quick jerk, knocking her down on the tombstone with a loud crack. The vampire rolled off and stood back up as smoothly as possible but Buffy had hurt her. The vampire kicked at Buffy. She dodged the first kick but the second one landed on her chest, sending her back a few paces and knocking the stake out of her hand.

Spike stood up from his place lounging against a tombstone. He flicked his cigarette with an angry gesture and tackled the vampire to the ground, punching her in the jaw. Spike's intervention gave Buffy the time she needed to recover the dropped stake. She took her time though. Watching as he elbowed the vampire in the face and then delivered a wicked uppercut.

"Damn that's hot," she grinned.

"You planning on staking her or are you too busy watching, Pet?" He blocked a few strikes and got in a few good hits, "Getting you all hot and bothered?" Spike responded as he dogged a kick aimed at his kidney.

Buffy arched an eyebrow, "The couple who Slays together stays together," she said as she rolled a shoulder and stepped up beside him in a fighting stance.

She kicked out a leg at the same moment the vampire did. Their legs caught each other. Buffy twisted her body in a move Spike had taught her, catching the vampire off balance. The vampire fell hard onto her back and Buffy went in for the kill. She stood up quickly turning towards Spike before the vampire had even fully turned to ash.

"'The couple who Slays together stays together'? Gonna embroider that on a pillow or something?"

"Maybe if I knew how to embroider."

"You know, used to be a time when all fine young ladies could do it."

"Not exactly a fine young lady in case you missed the memo."

"Oh you're a damn fine lady. My lady," he added a leer to his voice that sent shivers of arousal through her as he drew her near. "So what exactly did you mean by 'fun stuff'?" he purred in her ear.

"Use your imagination."

Spike grinned, "I love you."

"I know," she said grinning as she coyly pulled away and continued to walk through the cemetery.

Spike kept pace with her and narrowed his eyes at her, "Are you just being cocky or did you just go Star Wars on me?"

"Cocky but it works for both."

He grabbed her arm, spinning her around to him, "Watch it Slayer, or I'll give you cocky," he growled.

"Promise?"

"Thought you were, you know, declaring yourself out of commission for a bit. Not that it bothers me any, vampire, remember?"

"So much ewww… But the way I see it, you're the only one here a little overdressed for what I have in mind," she said in a sultry tone that could have set him on fire.

Spike swallowed, "That right?"

Buffy nuzzled his neck and sucked at his earlobe for a brief moment while running a hand down the front of his pants, "That's right," she whispered into his ear. She pulled at the collar of his gray t-shirt, exposing his collarbone. Brushing a line of alternating kisses and light licks. Spike shuttered involuntarily.

He closed his eyes trying to focus his mind, extending his awareness out and around him. She was distracting as hell but he was trying to see if he could sense any vampires around before they got caught off guard. Instead, what he found was a burning pool of desire. He didn't know how, but he was sure it was Buffy. Something like this had happened on the train to Scotland but he hadn't been able to put a finger on it. Then again the other night it was as though he knew what she wanted him to do to her without being told. That could have just been instinct and the fact that he knew Buffy inside and out but there was something about it that had started to make him wonder.

He gasped as she nipped at his neck, "You make it bloody difficult to focus."

"What are you focusing on?"

"I'll let you know."

Their lips met and he pulled her in close, focusing on her. As they kissed, Spike suddenly heard Buffy's voice clearly in his head. God I love him. Need him. Damn, I love it when he does that.

He wrapped his arms tighter around her in response, feeling her writhe against him. Something clicked in Buffy's brain as she had an odd thought. She broke the kiss, "What just happened?"

"Think there might be some residual effects from our Paris bloodbath, Pet. I just heard you thinking about me," he grinned, "I love you too," he drawled as he gave her another tight squeeze like before.

"Huhh?"

"I'm starting to think we might be developing a psychic bond."

"Like those demons had with their mates?"

"Exactly. And I think it's been coming on for a bit, Love. Remember the train ride up here, and the other night during our little—"

"Ohh boy… so what do you-"

"Dunno. Might be an asset if we can figure it out better. Maybe we could do that mind talk thing Red does, only you know, totally private."

"I'm trying to think if it's happened at all when we haven't been doing something seriously steamy."

"Don't think so, unless I count the couple of times you brought me a cup of blood when I've been half starving," he smirked.

"Pretty sure that's just good timing."

"Humm hum…" he hummed seductively into her ear, sending shivers down her spine, "Try focusing on me, send me some kind of message, I'll try it too, Pet."

Buffy nodded and accepted the kiss he offered. She loved the feeling of his lips on hers. He tasted like blood and cigarettes which were both pretty gross or should have been, but then there was something else too… some kind of toothpaste maybe? But it wasn't mint. She racked her brain trying to focus on the man she was kissing but for some reason she kept going back to thinking about what kind of toothpaste he used. She couldn't even remember seeing it in the bathroom.

Cinnamon and clove, you daft bird. She suddenly heard his voice clearly, as if he'd whispered in her ear. Yet their lips were still pressed together and his tongue was doing things in her mouth that should have been illegal. She pulled back, "Cinnamon and clove," she panted, "and don't call me daft. Or a bird."

Spike grinned and kissed her again. Thinking hard he thought, You want to just pop into this crypt, Goldilocks? Think it might be just right.

Buffy moaned into the kiss, I was thinking about just 'popping' you right here, she thought as she shoved him against the side wall of the crypt he had indicated.

Hearing her thought in his head, especially that thought, excited him. He latched onto it and pushed his own thoughts back the way it had come, I heard that, Love, he thought hard as he deepened the kiss.

Buffy let another low moan escape as they continued the kiss and she responded in kind, pressing against him. She moved back to his ear as she worked to unzip his pants and free him from their confines. "That's better. Big yay for progress," she murmured into his ear.

He closed his eyes as he pushed his thoughts towards her again, Oh sure, works great when we're getting all hot and bothered. Not that I'm complaining... but, bad guys… creatures of the- oh God...

"You keep a lookout for bad guys," she murmured seductively in his ear.

"You heard that?"

"Hummm hum," she murmured in agreement then thought back, Seems to work best when we're in the heat of the moment right?

"Buffy—" he gasped out loud as she took him in her hand again and silenced him with another tender kiss. Her hand gripped him tighter as she felt him respond. "Buff-" he started to think but then the thought faltered as she started to stroke him.

Buffy ignored him and resumed kissing him deeply. Spike grabbed her arms and growled as she broke the kiss and ran the very tip of her tongue along his throat and gave his ear a playful nip. She gave his earlobe one last sensual pull and sank down to her knees.

"Oh yeah, like a bloke can think with you doing— ahh, yeah… that…" Spike moaned. That's it, Love, he finished the thought in his head but heard her moan in response. He wasn't going to last long if she kept that up.

He placed one hand on her shoulder and the other one cupped the back of her head. Buffy looked up at him, watching the expression on his face. Despite his initial protest, he was clearly enjoying what she was doing to him. The fact that they had started to figure out the communication thing and were able to exchange actual thoughts instead of just feelings and emotions during sex, was going to be huge. In a way it was opening a new chapter to their relationship and that excited Buffy more than anything. She continued on, dipping her head down lower, taking him as deeply as she could. Tasting him, feeling her breath around his tip at the back of her throat as she took him deeper.

God this woman, Spike's random thought pushed against her mind. His fingers woven in her hair and he pressed gently. She flicked her tongue around him pulling a deep rumble from him, I don't think I can take much more, his thought came to her, somehow sounding breathless in her mind.

Then don't. Let go. I'll take it. I want to taste you. Her thoughts flooded his brain as though she were screaming at him and he couldn't hold on any longer.

She tried not to let into her gag reflex as she felt the pressure buildup at the back of her throat. It nearly cut off her air supply but she pushed through. She opened her throat just a little more, allowing him room to expand as she felt the release overtake him through their bond. She shivered pleasantly at the taste of him. Holding him in her mouth as she stroked him with her hand, thus making sure she received every last drop he had to offer. She flicked her tongue around and felt the jolt of energy at the same time it ripped through him. She swallowed and let out a muffled cry as she reluctantly released him from the confines of her mouth. She took a deep breath before taking him in her mouth again, just caressing gently with her tongue. Spike's body convulsed as she did so, sending another jolt through them both. That's was pretty damn similar to what happened on the train.

It was some time later before they continued on, walking hand in hand. The moon shone bright, glinting off of the tombstones. Spike took a long pull of a cigarette, "Damn you're good at that."

"You should know, I've had enough practice on you."

"Don't remember there ever being a learning curve, Slayer. Even before this mind thing. Pretty sure that's just natural talent. Unless you clocked a lot of practice with the Soldier Boy there."

Buffy glared at him, "Riley was a nice guy… he was really sweet… and nice—"

"Sweet? Nice? You mean boring from the sound of it… I- I mean- oh come on- your putting me on! You've got to be bloody kidding me!"

"I didn't say I 'never' did it to Riley… just not a lot… he didn't… I don't know."

"Knew he was a Boy Scout, but damn. Didn't know he was mentally challenged too… Nope I take that back. He was the wanker that royally screwed up. So never mind, I knew that too," he took another drag, "So what? Steve Rogers Jr just more of the proper shag sort, was he?" He asked, shaking his head and taking another hit of his cigarette.

"I guess you could say that."

"Figures. Captain White-bread clearly didn't know what the hell he was passing on. Natural talent for the win. The mind thing is an added bonus. Really liking that. Just think of the possibilities."

"Add it to the list of talents I can never put on a résumé."

Spike let out a puff of smoke along with a laugh, "Right. Could you imagine if Giles had asked me for one?"

Buffy laughed at that, "If we only count the stuff you did after you started playing for the home team then it would look a lot like mine."

"Not as full."

"No, but who's counting?"

"I am," he took another drag off his cigarette.

"Therein lies the path to madness."

"We're all mad here," he replied.

"Does that make me Alice?"

"Course it does. Humm… there's an idea, you dressed up in a tiny blue dress. Little Alice band in that golden hair. Sexy."

She swatted his arm, "In your dreams… or maybe for Halloween. If you're a good boy. Now if only I could get YOU to dress up. You'd make a sexy Mad Hatter."

"Not going to happen, Pet. I'm a vampire 365, I don't need to dress up."

"Willow is a witch all the time and she dresses up for Halloween. If you don't dress up, then what's with the battle coat?"

He looked down at his long leather jacket and shrugged, "Used to it I guess… and this ain't sodden Halloween."

"No, you wear it when you're trying to look extra menacing and you know you're going into a fight. It makes you feel confident."

"Well, yeah that and it's fairly decent sun protection... What about you? You wear a cross because you're so religious? That thing burns you know. Just lucky I don't mind a little pain with my pleasure."

Buffy looked down at the tiny silver cross, one of many she would often wear while patrolling, "Huhh, yeah I guess you're right. Funny, I haven't thought about it in ages but I think this is the one Angel gave me."

"Oh that's better then," he dropped her hand and shoved both fists into his pockets.

"Like you wearing the jacket off of a Slayer you killed. Like a pelt? Spoils of war right? A trophy?"

"Buffy— I told you in Paris, this isn't even the same coat. That one got destroyed in a bomb blast in Rome."

Buffy nodded, "That's right, I forgot. It looks exactly the same. Maybe a little newer…"

"Stiffer too, doesn't move quite as well as the old one yet."

By this time they had finished walking the whole way around the cemetery and still hadn't seen anything since that first vamp, "You want to just head home?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, if we didn't attract anything while our… eh, 'guard' was down, then I sort of doubt we're going to get anything else tonight."

Buffy took his hand back into hers as they headed out, "Have you given any thought about where you want to go after Giles is healed up?"

"A bit, I was actually thinking about taking a few weekend trips while he's still on the mend and coming back here during the week."

"Like where?"

"London, Bath, Glasgow, Loch Ness, I dunno, where would you like to go? Pick it. The UK isn't that big, we can do a weekend just about anywhere nowadays."

"You mean it?"

"Why not? Leave on a Friday night, spend a day or two somewhere and be back before Monday morning."

"Where do you want to go?"

Spike thought that through a moment, "You haven't even been in Edinburgh proper yet have you?"

"We hit a big mall once when we first took over the castle but that was about it."

"Seems the logical place to start. Especially if the most you've seen is the train station and a ruddy mall. Let's do Edinburgh and Mary King's Close."

"Sounds like a weapons trip."

"Isn't every trip a weapons trip? I'd like to show you around the demon market and a few of the joints down there. It's been years since I've been, but I can't imagine a lot has changed. Glasgow is another one with an extended underground you need to see."

"I think I could use a change from this domestic teacher stuff. A few good fights, maybe an adventure or two, sounds perfect."

"I feel ya, Love. So it's decided, a hunting we will go? Weekend trips until Giles is back on both feet and then we're off, across Europe."

Buffy turned to him, pulling him into a tender kiss, "I can't wait."

As they continued to walk back through town, Spike turned to Buffy, "How are you going to do with living here full time?"

Buffy shrugged, "Honestly, I kinda love it here. I'm really excited about our new place. I definitely want to travel, I like the monster hunting angle. Maybe I can even be extra responsible and travel to all the places I have girls stationed and check in on them. I've got a bunch of girls stationed around Europe."

"Call it a business trip. Yeah but what about the school long term? It's not like there's going to be a constant influx of new Slayers, are there? How'd that spell of Willow's work anyway?"

"That's kind of a long story."

"It's a long walk back."

"When we left Sunnydale, we went to find Slayers."

"Right…"

"Everything was going fine. A few of them were a little young, thirteen or fourteen and that wasn't so bad. Then we found one who was just a little girl. That was bad. She was only six."

"Sounds like a picnic."

"It was just a really, really bad situation with her parents and all. Anyway, we thought maybe she was a fluke. Then we got word that there were others out there like her and some even younger. One little girl had a tantrum she wigged out and kicked her mother across the room. We had to do something fast. Willow was able to cast a second spell using the synth to bind the younger girl's powers and put an age limit on the original spell. It was seriously complicated. Kennedy, Violet, Faith and I all had to help her with it. It was pretty intense."

"Story has a happy ending then, yeah?"

"Yeah, it was totally worth it. Now the little ones are a lot safer, so are their families. They get to just be normal kids. They won't come into their power until they turn fifteen."

"Is that it? That was your long story? We're not even halfway home."

"Ok so maybe it's not a long story. But it does mean that we are going to continue to have girls coming in each year, like Sheena, she just turned fifteen before you and I got back. Thea too, I think she came of age in March. So as far as I'm concerned, the Joyce Summers School for Girls is about as permanent as anything."

"And our roles there— eh, here?"

"Flexible but consistent."

"Well it does fill in a few blanks for me," he said taking in one last hit and flicking his cigarette butt.

"Good because it was a hell of a lot harder to do than it sounds."

"Always is, isn't it?"

"You're telling me."

A/N: To be continued... Please Read and Review!