Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
Takes place at the end of season 2, takes off from episode Becoming, Part 2 and becomes total AU. Buffy couldn't kill Angel and now has to live with the consequences of her actions.
Buffy opened her bag and pulled out several items as she smiled to herself. It had been four months since the fall. She laughed out loud at her thoughts. 'The Fall'. Yeah, the fall from grace, caused by a weak bitch named Buffy. That was her legacy to the world, how sad was that? And what a strange euphemism for hell. But they were still alive.
"What's in the boxes?" Cordelia came up behind Buffy to see what her latest foray into the world of darkness had yielded.
"A surprise." She smiled at the dark haired girl. Although she doubted that the two of them would ever be the best of friends, not like the relationship she had with Willow, they had become friends, never the less. And Buffy, to her surprise discovered just how much she cared for the girl.
Cordelia smiled back. "You're certainly perky today. So, what's the surprise?" She went to open one of the packages as Buffy pulled it out of her grasp.
"A surprise means you don't get a preview. Give me 15 minutes and then bring the others in." She turned back to her parcels a smile still playing at her lips, the first one in a very long time.
Cordelia was startled at the slayers' unaccustomed playfulness but fell into her mood, "Okay." She clapped her hands together. "It's been forever since we've had a surprise. If it isn't diamonds or a new car, please let it be chocolate."
"Speak for yourself when it comes to surprises. Walking in on you and Giles going at it was the last surprise I want for a very long time. So could've done without that image. I think it burned the back of my eyelids." She shuddered.
"Jealous?" Cordelia raised one of her eyebrows.
"Oh my god Cordelia! He's like my father. I think I just threw up in the back of my throat." Buffy grimaced.
"Don't be so disgusting. I'm leaving, but 15 minutes is all I'm promising." She all but skipped out of the room, leaving Buffy shaking her head at the recent turn of events. Not that she should've been surprised. They all clung together, they were all they had. When Willow and Oz began sleeping together Buffy had not been at all surprised.
"He comforts me Buffy and for just a little while we escape all this, you know? And I really do love him and he loves me. It's not just sex, it's…" Willow searched for the right words.
"Will, you so don't have to justify it to me. We all need someone to blanket us, to make us feel safe, warm, if only for a few hours at a time. Of all people, I understand that. And if you love him, well. How lucky were you to be together during a time like this? Grab onto to him Willow and don't let go." She hugged her best friend.
"I love you Buffy. And I know this sounds so condescending, but we all forgive you. You know, for the whole end of the world thing."
Buffy took a deep breath and force a small smile. "Oh, that small thing?"
When Giles finally gave into Cordelia's constant attentions the former cheerleader's mood had greatly lightened as well. She actually looked happy at times, almost light. Both Willow and Buffy had freaked at first, but Oz ever the pragmatist told them to chill.
"We all need to touch someone right now. We need to feel something besides the fear, the futility. Even Giles. Be happy they can find somewhere away from all this and leave it alone." Buffy and Willow looked at each other, always astonished when Oz spoke in paragraphs and gave each other embarrassed looks, remembering the slayers words to her best friend.
So, Buffy and Willow had assured Giles they were fine with this turn of events, and he relaxed a bit as well. At least as much as his guilt would let him. Now, Cordelia had Giles, Willow had Oz. And Buffy? Well, Buffy had them all. And she would do anything and everything she could to keep them alive. She smiled as she began to open the several bags of coffee beans and a coffee grinder she had found in the back of an abandoned coffee house she had scavenged weeks before. She was glad she had over looked this treat. They could really use it now. She prepared her brew in a long forgotten coffee maker that sat on the counter. Turning to the two gold boxes, she laid out all the chocolates she had found on a platter and laughed out loud. Who would've thought just a few of months ago that this meager snack would bring so much pleasure? Buffy shook her head and set out five mugs and little packets of sugar and dry creamer as she hummed to herself.
"Quite a lonely table that." Spike popped a chocolate in his mouth and considered the slayer under hooded eyes.
Buffy turned quickly, reaching for a knife on the counter. "What the hell are you doing here? How did you find us?" She was totally pist at herself for not sensing the vampire's presence. I'm getting soft, despite living in hell, she thought.
Holding his hands up in surrender Spike chuckled. "Hey, I'm not here to fight. You should learn to keep a lower profile, pet. Really slayer, showing up at Willie's?
"Needed to find a fresh food source." She shrugged.
"And did you?"
"What's it to you?" She was cagey around the vampire. She didn't trust him with good reason.
"I didn't want this world slayer. I was perfectly content with the way things were. The ball was in your court luv. You blew it."
"Yeah, I know." She pushed him towards the door. "So say what you want and get the hell out. The others are coming and I want you gone."
Spike looked at the table once more. "Only five cups? Who's left?"
Buffy huffed. "Not that it's any of your business, but we lost Xander early on. There's Giles and Cordelia, Willow and Oz. It's just us."
"Where's your mum?" He asked innocently but waiting for her reaction with a small smirk on his face.
"Don't know. She was out of town when it happened." She answered quietly.
"Oh. Bad luck, that." Spike put a cigarette between his lips. "Well, guess you've seen enough of my gob. I'll push off then."
"Spike? Do we have to get out of here?"
He shook his head. "I've nothing against ya. I mean, would've been nice if you'd saved the world and killed that son of a bitch Angelus while you were at it. But since I'm a demon, no harm, no foul." He turned and walked away effectively killing Buffy's light mood. She put a false smile on her face and waited for the others to arrive for their feast.
Spike strolled up to Angelus and took the glass of blood from his hand, holding it up in a salute before downing it.
"Back already?" Angelus eyed Spike suspiciously.
"Didn't take long to find her. Heard she was back in town, just needed to verify it, s'all." He sat across from the master of Aurelius. "So, is she mine then?"
"Where is she? Where's Buffy?" Angelus was having a hard time controlling his patience.
"Do I get her?" Spike smiled at his grand-sire.
"Yes damnit! She's yours. Now where do I find Buffy?" He slammed his fist onto the table.
"Where else? The high school. Do you want me to gather some fledglings and kill off her little, and I do mean very little, entourage?"
Angelus looked up at Spike. "Who's left?"
"Well, I guess most of 'em. The boy Xander, he died in the beginning. But there's the watcher, the redhead, the werewolf and the princess. Been tough I guess. So, want them dead?"
Angelus laughed. "No, not for a very long while I'm thinking. Knowing my sweet Buff, she's been wallowing in her guilt. Only thing keeping her going is her little scooby gang. I promise to take care of them as long as she gives me what I want and she's mine any way I want her." He rubbed his hands together and laughed again. Angelus pointed to two minions and motioned them over. "Clear out the east wing. Have the rooms furnished and the kitchen stocked, we are going to have some long term guests.
Tara looked up as the door opened, expecting Clem. She yelped and ran into Spike's arms as she peppered small kisses on his face and neck. Embarrassed by her spontaneous actions she lowered her head and stepped back.
"I'm sorry. I was ju…ju…just…I missed you…." She took a deep breath, unable to continue.
"Baby. I wasn't gone all that long, hours, really." Spike smiled and pulled her back into his arms, nuzzling her neck. "But I'm glad you missed me."
"Oh." Her words catching in her throat. "I…I just expected you to be gone a long time and…well…are you back? Do you have to do more for Angelus?" She dug deeper into his arms, reveling in the feel of him.
"Did it. Found his prize, now I get mine." He saw the confusion in her eyes.
"What did you do Spike?" She asked quietly.
He shrugged as he pulled away from her to removed his leather duster. "Angelus wanted the slayer found and I found her. In return he gave you to me." He smiled at her.
"You traded her life for mine?" She gasped as she pulled away from him.
"Tara love. It's not like that." He paused as he thought for a moment. "Okay, well maybe a little bit like that. But someone was gonna find her for him." He turned and sat on the bed, looking up at her. "I woulda done anything Tara, anything to keep him from breakin' you. And I'm not gonna apologize for it. You have no idea how lucky you've been up 'til now. Those girls he brought in here with you, ever wonder where they are? Well, I'll tell you little bird. Angelus didn't form some traveling chamber quartet you know. He used 'em Tara. He shared 'em. Gave 'em away like bloody party favors. Wasn't gonna let that happen to you." He shook his head as he looked down at the floor. He didn't give a rat's ass about those other girls, all he ever cared about was his Tara.
Tara quietly cried as she sank down to her knees and laid her head in his lap. "I knew something happened to them, I just didn't think…didn't want to think. God Spike, this isn't my world. It will never be my world again." She rose up on her knees to wrap her arms around his waist. "I'm so ashamed at the relief I feel at being spared. But now Buffy. God Spike, what will happen to her?"
Spike ran his hands through her hair marveling at how soft it was. "He won't kill her. Won't kill her mates either. He wants her, always has in one way or the other. If it makes you feel any better love, I think the slayer may embrace this as her penance for allowing Angelus to live and Acathla to wake." He shrugged and pulled her up to him lying back on the bed with her. "And now you're mine." He softly kissed her lips before pulling back. "We can take it slow…"
She put a finger over his lips before pulling her dress over her head. "I waited long enough for you. I don't think I can wait another second to feel your body next to mine. You're the only thing that keeps me sane. I love you Spike, please love me back."
Spike groaned as his eyes took in the full curves of her naked body. "Oh baby, I do,I'm gonna love all night long." He stood up and quickly removed his clothes before joining her. Spike saw how her eyes widened as she took in his erection. "Have you ever…?"
She blushed as she shook her head. "No, but I want you so badly I feel like I'm going to explode. Please Spike, show me what to do."
"No worries love. Spike will teach you everything." And he began his tutorial.
Tara laid her head on Spike's cool chest and marveled once more at the fact that no heart beat there. She ran her hand across his flat stomach then down to his hip bone, trailing her nails along the way.
Spike moaned. "Girl, unless you want to get started again you'd best stop that." He stilled her questing hands with his.
She giggled. "Who said I didn't want to get started again? You have lots to teach me, remember?"
Looking at her swollen lips and half closed eyes, Spike thanked the gods for Buffy Summers. If she hadn't been so weak in her ability to kill that wanker Angelus, he wouldn't be laying in bed with the most perfect woman ever created.
"Are you alright love?" He knew it was her first time but he couldn't control himself and had spent hours making love to her.
"Um, a little late to be asking that. I mean, 3 or 4 hours ago, maybe, but now?" She laughed. "I'm just kidding, I am wonderful. A little sore, but on the whole, absolutely wonderful." She cuddled deeper into his arms.
"Hungry?"
"I could eat. We both need nourishment, I mean you are planning on keeping me here for days, aren't you?" She smiled slyly at him.
"Oh pet, days at the very least." He moaned as he fingered the two holes on her neck. "Does it still hurt?"
"No. Well, okay. A little bit. Why did you bite me? Is it some sort of ritual?" She brought her hand up to feel the swollen marks.
He kissed it. "I had to love. Had to mark you as mine to discourage anyone from trying to claim you. We're living in a world filled with demons and a right plum like you, well let's just say all sorts would be trying to pluck you. With you marked, most will stick to the rules."
"Demons have rules?" She asked, somewhat shocked.
"Well, yeah. We take Halloween off, we obey the hierarchy, mostly. And when we mark a mate, it's generally respected."
"Generally?"
"There's always the rebel buggers who try to buck the system, but overall…"He saw the look of concern in her eyes. "No love, don't you worry. I'm gonna be with you all the time and if not, well despite everything, Angelus'll make sure you're protected." He fingered her neck. "This was just in case, besides the blood play, it's part of sex for a vampire and it can really push that orgasm over the edge." He nuzzled her ear. "Remember?"
She felt her body begin to tingle as she pushed her body into his hardness. "Ummm, I remember."