Mortal Allies Series
Episode 5
War and Roses
By: Passion4Spike
Chapter 19: Drink from the Silver Cup
Chapter Notes:
Let the road trip to San Francisco commence!
I can't express my gratitude to MissLuci for jumping in and agreeing to beta this story after All4Spike had to bow out. She went al the way back to chapter one and beta'd the whole thing to get caught up. Her suggestions always make the story that much better. All mistakes are mine due to constant fiddling.
I'm falling behind again on replying to your wonderful comments, but I love them all and should have a bit more time soon, now that Mad Max's mother has been caught, spayed, and released. (It was an ORDEAL, let me tell you. I have incredible respect for the organizations and volunteers who do this for feral cats. If you want to learn more about TNR (Trap-neuter-return), you can check out: Alley Cat Allies ) Max is doing GREAT, by the way. He's nearly doubled in size, and is taking to the domestic life like a prince.
-X-
Previously on Mortal Allies, Episode 2, Spike's a Good Boi, Chapter 14:
Driving back from Wyoming after rescuing Dru...
Growing tired of Buffy's long-suffering sighs, and other, louder complaints about his music, Spike allowed her to search through the radio stations to find something that she could live with. The only caveat being it had to be something that didn't make his ears bleed or his eyes roll out of their sockets.
She spun the dial through static and talk, checking both the AM and FM stations. Almost ready to give up, she hit on something that sounded familiar, though faint. She fiddled with the dial, trying to pick it up, and, as the car crested a mountain, the music blared out of the speakers, making all the occupants wince.
I've been drivin' all night, my hands wet on the wheel
There's a voice in my head that drives my heel
It's my baby callin', says I need you here
Buffy quickly turned it down, grinning, as she started dancing in her seat, snapping her fingers to the rockin' beat.
"I love this song! Mom and Dad used to play it on road trips when I was a kid," she shared. "Like … over and over all the way to Illinois!"
When the chorus started, both she and Spike sang,
"We've got a thing that's called radar love.
We've got a wave in the air … … radar love."
They both laughed, Spike tapping out the rhythm on the steering wheel as Buffy snapped her fingers and danced in her seat.
As the car began back down the other side of the mountain, the signal began to cut in and out. "No! No, no, no! Go back!" Buffy begged, her body stilling in the seat as she stared at the radio, willing it to come back on.
Spike slammed on the brakes and shifted the car into reverse on the dark, deserted highway. Buffy had to catch herself on the dash to keep from being thrown from the seat onto the floor as the car lurched backwards, speeding back toward the top of the mountain. The two occupants in the back were also caught off-guard and were tossed about a bit, with Drusilla muttering something about 'willing slave to the golden goblin', but Buffy was too focused on the soft glow of the radio to notice, eager for the song's return.
When the song returned, loud and strong, Spike swerved off onto the shoulder and stopped. They both picked up singing the next verse,
"We've got a thing that's called radar love.
We've got a light in the skyyy … … radar love."
As the next stanza began, she held up her fist to her mouth like a microphone to sing, "Gotta keep cool now, gotta take care."
She reached her fist over to Spike for the next line, and he sang into it,
"Last car to pass, here I go. And the line of cars drove down real slow."
They alternated the next lines, Buffy shifting the 'mic' back and forth between them, then Buffy held her fist between them and they both leaned into sing together.
They both laughed as the song ended and the DJ started talking about the annual rodeo and pickle festival in a nearby town. Spike put the car in gear and pulled back onto the road, heading down the mountain again, the DJ's voice fading.
-X-
Buffy didn't know where the week had gone! It seemed like it was just Monday and now it was Friday. FRIDAY! Judgment day. Her bags were all packed for the weekend with Spike in San Francisco. They'd leave at dusk for the City by the Bay. The plan was to spend tonight and tomorrow night up there. Together. In the same hotel room. The room with two bedrooms... She knew why he'd done that—gotten a suite like that. He was giving her a choice. No pressure.
Soooo much pressure!
She'd been studiously studying her books every night after getting back from patrolling with Spike. He'd usually walk home with her for their 'wet dream inducing' goodnight kiss, but then he'd head back to the other house to work more, then go to his poker game. So, she'd been making with all the learning until she couldn't keep her eyes open another moment.
Butterflies buzzed like bees in her tummy, while thinky-thoughts in her brain ricocheted around like bouncy-balls, and lusty fires tingled her nether regions. Her heart seemed caught in the middle of it all, her chest felt constricted, and she could barely breathe.
She couldn't keep living like this. Not knowing. Not knowing if she was good enough. Not knowing if the world would end if she slept with yet another vampire. Not knowing was driving her to distraction on patrol. Not knowing would get her killed. Which maybe was preferable to seeing the disappointment in Spike's eyes once they, you know, did it. But... she had to know.
Once and for all.
Unless she didn't.
Argh!
Usually, Spike was awake in the afternoons—working at Hawley Manor—but he was sleeping when she got home on this beautiful Friday. How could he sleep on a day like today? It might be the last beautiful day ever. The world might end tonight. Or at least their world... her world. Didn't he know that?
Well, she still had a little time to try and save herself and her world. Buffy shut herself in her room and buried herself in 'The Joy of Sex' once again, cramming for the imminent exam.
-X-
Spike was bloody exhausted. His flaring, overworked candle had burned out and melted into a lump of weary wax. He'd declared today a sodding holiday, giving everyone the day off from working on his future abode so that he could get a few hours of kip before driving up to San Francisco at dusk. If things went well, he'd not get any sleep after they arrived. He was okay with that.
He was still brassed off with bloody Lydia and the fucking Council, but really, he should've expected something underhanded from her. With any luck, he'd be done playing Interview with the Vampire by this time next week and with luck the bint would go back to Merry Ol' and leave them be.
He'd worry about all that Council bollocks next week. Today was Friday. Tonight began the weekend, and he wasn't gonna let anything spoil it.
THE weekend.
The weekend all alone with Buffy in San Francisco. No mum. No friends. No Lydia. No interfering Council. No fleabag chaperone.
Just him and Buffy. He'd planned it all out... there would be romance, there would be the Broadway musical, there would be dining and dancing, wine and roses. But would there be shagging?
His girl had teased about a lace negligée, which his blue balls hoped to hell meant she was ready for more than the heavy petting they'd been indulging in, but he'd have to wait and see, just have to follow her lead.
Spike certainly didn't want to push her into anything she wasn't ready for, but he bloody well hoped she was ready. He wanted to show her how brilliant they could be together. The thought of finally being able to tongue her folds and slip his cock inside her tight cunt made him groan in pain. He unzipped himself and grabbed his stiff prick, ready to give himself a quick wank to take the edge off, but then he stopped. If tonight was going to be the night, he really didn't want there to be anything to dull the pleasure… not that he thought that would be possible, but still, he wanted tonight to be perfect, and a bit of extra anticipation for the main event, if it occurred, wouldn't hurt. He glanced at his hand still wrapped around his weeping cock… well, it wouldn't hurt too much. He rolled his eyes and unceremoniously shoved his prick back into the confines of his jeans.
-X-
Buffy was full of giddy anticipation and churning trepidation as the last of their bags were loaded into the DeSoto and she hugged her mom goodbye.
When Joyce found out about the trip, she'd had mixed emotions, to say the least. She'd taken Buffy aside, and much heart-to-heart talking ensued. In the end, Buffy assured her that Spike wasn't pressuring her, he was being a perfect gentleman. Okay, what mothers didn't know about NSFM (Not Safe for Mom) NC-17 activities didn't hurt them… but those weren't because Spike was impatient with her or pressuring her, it was totally consensual NC-17ing. And the suite had two bedrooms… whatever happened or didn't happen in San Francisco would be Buffy's choice. Buffy wondered if her mom had had a similar talk with Spike, but he hadn't said, and she hadn't asked. It was wiggy enough talking to her mom about this stuff; thinking about her talking to Spike about it was more wigginess than she wanted in her life.
"I love you, honey. Have fun, and be careful." It was the standard send-off from her mom, one that she'd heard thousands of times over her life, but somehow the words took on deeper meaning this time. How could she 'have fun' and 'be careful' in this situation? If she were careful-Buffy, she would be sleeping alone in San Francisco; if she were have-fun-Buffy, there would be a sexy vampire in her bed with more than sleep on their minds.
"I will," she assured her mom with a smile, wishing she knew how to do both. "Love you, too. See you Sunday night."
Buffy knelt to give her best furry friend a hug. "I'll miss you. You be good for Mom, okay? I'll bring you some yummy treats from San Francisco."
Spike whined and leaned into her heavily.
"It's only a couple of days. Not long," she assured him, giving his ears a hearty scratch and standing back up.
But as Buffy started for the passenger side, where her chivalrous vampire was holding the door for her, Spike darted around her and jumped in, his tail wagging and tongue lolling hopefully.
"Oh, baby... no," Buffy groaned as her heart twisted. "You can't come this time."
Spike whined, his head and tail falling in pure heartbroken dejection.
"Oh, god..." Buffy whimpered, looking at her boyfriend for help. "Maybe he could come—"
Oh, hell no! He hadn't gone to all this trouble just to bring the fucking mutt chaperone along. "The hotel doesn't allow pets, luv," he told her, making sure to sound regretful.
"But, we could sneak him in, like—"
"It's not a motor inn. It's a proper hotel. Go in through the lobby, with elevators and porters and what-all. Not gonna be able t' sneak the pooch in."
Buffy sagged, looking back at her doleful puppy. "Oh, baby... I'm so sorry," she cooed, leaning in to hug him. "We'll take you next time, okay? It's only a couple of days, I promise it's not long," she continued, petting him comfortingly.
He whined again, pressing his muzzle against her neck, and giving her a crestfallen lick.
Spike could see this whole trip getting scuttled right quick. The bleeding dog knew just how to push every one of his girl's soft buttons. He put a hand on Buffy's shoulder and pulled her back. "Lemme have a word," he suggested as she let go of her buddy and stepped back.
"C'mon, mate... let's have a chat, man t' man," he invited the dog, beckoning him with a wave of his hand to get out of the car.
Spike looked at the vampire dubiously.
"What's the matter, don't think ya can take me? Weigh twice as much, for fuck's sake... or you just a big baby... a sodding scaredy cat?"
The dog snorted imperiously and jumped down out of the car, his gaze challenging as he looked up at his namesake.
The vampire motioned with his head for the dog to follow, and they walked out toward the street, stopping under one of the big trees in the yard, out of earshot of the women. He crouched down, meeting the big dog's eyes. "Look, mate, know you love the chit, but here's the thing—so do I. You've had months alone with her... all thanks to me, I might add. Didn't have t' deliver you to her loving arms, did I? Could'a dropped you on the sodding motorway... I reckon you owe me a bit for that."
Furry Spike huffed indignantly.
"Can deny it all you want, but it's the truth. Here's another truth: one o' these days you're gonna meet a fine little wooly mammoth with curves in all the right places." Spike used his hands to make an hour-glass shape in the air. "You follow?" He arched a brow at the dog.
The Guardian tilted his head, his eyes sparkling, and his ears perking up.
"Right. And you're gonna want some alone-time with the lucky lady, aren't ya? A little romance... maybe a bit of private time t' see about making more little wooly mammoth brats. You get my meaning?"
Cujo's brows furrowed, his head canting to the other side and his tongue lolling out as he began panting lightly, seeming to consider this.
Spike nodded. "Like that, yeah..." he agreed, poking the dog lightly in the chest. "How would you feel if I parked myself in the middle o' your rendezvous with the lovely lady?"
A growl rumbled from Cujo's throat, and his eyes flashed with silver-blue light.
A smile curved the vampire's lips. "'Xactly," he agreed, poking him again. "Now ya know how I feel every time ya butt in between me and the Slayer. Not asking for the world here, mate, just a couple o' days with her. A couple 'o days to let her decide where she wants things to go. Ya get me? Not gonna hurt the girl, protect her with m' life. Just need a bit of space, yeah? Just the two of us."
Cujo sighed heavily, looking back at the car where Buffy and Joyce were waiting, both with amused expressions on their faces, then meeting the vampire's eyes again.
"I love her as much as you do... swear it. I'll stick around and help ya fight evil and all that rot with her, help keep her safe too, but ya gotta give us a bit of time alone now and again." Spike stuck his right hand out for a shake. "Got a deal?"
The big dog held Spike's gaze for a long time, as if he could see into the vampire's heart, read his mind, or perhaps see the future. Finally, he sat down and lifted his right paw.
Spike took it and shook with the dog. "Won't regret this," he assured him, releasing his paw, and giving him a vigorous head pat and ear scratch as he stood back up.
"All sorted," Spike told Buffy as he and the dog returned to the car.
She arched a brow at him. "How many cheezeburgers did you have to promise him?"
The vampire chuckled. "Think we already owe him all the sodding cheezeburgers in town," he reminded her. "Just had a bit of a chat... man to man."
"I'm pretty sure I don't want to know what that means," she admitted, as she crouched down and gave her furry friend a hug. "You okay now? We'll be back soon, I promise."
Cujo gave her a reassuring lick on the side of her face, his tail wagging.
"Ugh! Dog germs! Get me the Lysol!" Buffy teased, pulling back, and touching a gentle kiss on the top of his fuzzy head. "I love you, Spikey," she whispered. "Take care of Mom, okay?"
The dog wiggled and waggled his whole body as he walked over to stand beside Joyce. He leaned against her leg and felt the reassuring weight of her hand on his back.
Spike went over to the still open passenger door and Buffy followed, sliding in, and allowing him to close it for her.
She leaned out the window and waved at her mom and her dog, calling, "See you Sunday!" as they drove away.
-X-
Buffy flopped back into the seat with a sigh as she lost view of the house. "What did you say to him to get him to give in?" she asked as she started searching for her case of cassette tapes.
Spike glanced over at her with a soft smile as he headed for the freeway. "Just told him that I loved you. That he needn't worry, I wouldn't let anything happen to ya."
She rolled her eyes as she searched through her music selection for some road trip music to put in. "You know, I am the Slayer, I can take care of myself."
"Doesn't mean the rest of us can't help... or that we don't worry. Got the science to be done, yeah? See how your arteries hold up t' cheese abuse and all that."
She snorted, picking out a tape, but before she could get it out of its case, Spike slid a cassette of his own into the player. "Hey! Unfairness!" she objected with an adorable pout.
"Driver picks the music," he reminded her with a smirk, wishing he could kiss that pout off her lips.
Buffy sighed and braced herself for some screaming guitars and pounding drums. Her nerves so didn't need to be blasted into extra jangliness by one of Spike's punk bands. So, when the music began—an old, familiar guitar followed by a non-ear-splitting drumbeat—her eyes went wide with gleeful surprise.
Spike was tapping his fingers on the wheel as he drove. He flashed her a grin as the lyrics began and they both sang along, "I've been drivin' all night, my hands wet on the wheel.'"
She squealed her delight and slid over closer to him, the memory of their first road trip flooding her heart and mind as she held up an invisible microphone for him to sing the next line into, "'There's a voice in my head that drives my heel.'"
The Slayer laughed, her eyes dancing with adoration as she sang the next line, and he the one after, alternating lines until the chorus began. Then they leaned in to sing together into the invisible microphone,
"We've got a thing that's called radar love,
"We've got a wave in the air,
"Radar love."
"I can't believe you remembered!" she exclaimed as the song continued.
Spike wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. "How could I forget, luv? Was like... sunshine hearing you laugh, watching you dance in your seat. Part o' me fell in love with you right then. Didn't know it at the time, of course... part of me already loved you, but..." He shrugged. "Dunno, something inside me just wanted to keep making you laugh... making you happy."
"You do... much with the happiness," she assured him, still smiling, tucked under his arm, her toes and fingers tapping out the beat.
He touched a soft kiss to the side of her head. "Always want that for you, pet. Love you, Buffy."
"I love you too," she replied sincerely, resting her head on his shoulder. The churning in her stomach had settled down to a low hum. He just kept on doing and saying the sweetest things, remembering stuff about her that her one-and-only other serious boyfriend never even knew, or even tried to find out. "I really love you," she murmured again, almost to herself.
Spike's heart was filled with a radiant sunbeam, which warmed him from head to toe. He never thought he'd hear those words spoken so reverently, not directed at him, at any rate. He longed to hear them over and over from her sweet lips until the end of time. Until the stars winked out and the world stopped spinning, and he and his strong Slayer fell to dust in each other's arms. He hoped the rest of his plans for the weekend went just as brilliantly, left her just as chuffed, as his first surprise had.
When the next song started, an acoustic guitar, Buffy sat up and leaned away so she could look at him. "What's... this is... I remember this one too. It's... America, right? It's another one we used to listen to on road trips when I was a kid. How?"
Spike's cheeks were getting a little tired from grinning, but his heart was overflowing. "Your mum helped me... Wanted t' start the trip off right, yeah? It working?"
This is for all the lonely people
Thinkin' that life has passed them by
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
And ride that highway in the sky
"Very much with the working." She shook her head in disbelief and snuggled back against his side. They'd made it to the freeway and the old car rumbled along smoothly, streetlights passing ever more quickly as it gained speed. "I can't believe you did that."
"Why wouldn't I? Do anything for you, pet. Want this weekend t' be perfect. National Hot Chocolate celebrations only come around once a year. Gonna make them all something t' remember, and look forward to."
This is for all the single people
Thinkin' that love has left them dry
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
You never know until you try
"I'm not sure what I did to deserve you," Buffy declared. "No one's ever... I mean... thank you."
"Welcome, luv," he murmured as Buffy began singing softly along to the song.
This is for all the lonely people
Thinkin' that life has passed them by
"Do you think they wrote this song for us?" she asked, turning to look up at his face. The lights from the oncoming cars and streetlights flashed across his features, making his cheekbones stand out even more, the hollow of his cheeks that much deeper, his strong jaw even more pronounced. God, he was beautiful. And sweet. And strong. And stubborn. And shirty. And annoying. And loving. And perfect. And, god, she couldn't lose him. It would be the end of her heart. There would be no silver cup. Maybe she should warn him that she was bad in bed and... and promise to learn and be better if he'd just give her some time.
"Could be, pet. Could be," he admitted.
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
Never take you down or never give you up
Never know until you try
"I'm glad we didn't give up," Buffy said, her mind whirling, trying to figure out the right thing to do. Maybe she'd learned enough from her books to be okay... maybe she shouldn't say anything about how bad she might be. It could make him look for badness when he otherwise might not.
"Me too, luv. Me too."
When the next song began, all of Buffy's confused thoughts quieted, falling away for the moment, and she began to laugh.
When I wake up, well I know I'm gonna be,
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out, yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with you
"What's funny, pet?"
Buffy was still smiling when she sat up, pulling away from him. She turned sideways in the seat so she could look at him as she spoke. "This song... Five Hundred Miles... Remember when you were in Mexico, and you were sending me postcards?"
"Vaguely," he deadpanned.
"And you sent me that one with your phone number on it? But it didn't look like a phone number, it was just a bunch of numbers, and I was trying to figure out what it meant. One of my theories was that it was how many miles you'd walk to fall down at Dru's door. Cos five-hundred and five-hundred more would never be enough for your stupid princess."
Spike glanced at her, arching a brow.
She shrugged and bit her bottom lip. "I might've been a little, um, catty. That was like the nicest of my theories."
He chuckled, his blue eyes glittering brightly as lights passed over his face. "Do tell," he urged.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Uh... the number of guys Dru slept with..."
Her vampire barked out a laugh. "Probably not far off," he admitted.
"How much you'd have to spend on therapy for her... or how many gallons of tequila you'd have to drink to understand anything she says."
Spike shook his head, but was still smiling. "You're a spiteful little minx, aren't ya?"
Buffy ducked her head, letting her hair fall over her face, hiding her blush. "I was jealous. She had you and didn't appreciate you... all I got were postcards and I... I wanted what she had. I wanted all those little kindnesses you always did for her. I wanted…" Buffy couldn't believe she was about to admit this as per her earlier denial of needing anyone to protect her, being the Slayer and all, but this was Spike and they loved each other and they were all about being honest and full disclosure, weren't they? She took a deep breath and admitted the truth, "I wanted someone to take care of me the way you took care of her, not because I'm weak or insane or talk to stars or whatever, but because you love me. I wanted someone to look at me like you looked at her, so full of love it took my breath away. Dru didn't even bat an eye, and I hated her for having all of you and taking you for granted."
She lifted her eyes up to his and saw that look she'd been so jealous of, saw the love in his eyes, the pure, unadulterated adoration. "Yeah," she whispered. "That one."
He blinked and looked back at the road. His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed. "I'd walk to the end of the universe to fall down at your door, Buffy. Can't tell you how much... how much I love you."
When she didn't reply, Spike glanced back at her, and his heart melted because, for once, his look was returned.
When I'm lonely, well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's lonely without you
And when I'm dreaming, well I know I'm gonna dream
I'm gonna dream about the time when I'm with you
"I promise to never take you for granted... I... I promise to not make you walk that far, I promise to meet you halfway."
Spike nodded and reached for her again. She slid back against him and tucked herself against his side, under his arm, her hand settling comfortably on his denim-clad thigh, her head on his strong shoulder.
"You're a glorious miracle, pet," he murmured, tilting his head to rest against hers. "Never thought I'd ever be here, with you. Never thought I'd see such love in your eyes either. Always wanted that kind of love, never thought I'd have it." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Never thought I deserved it. 'Specially from you… Know I'm beneath you…"
"Spike… no," Buffy sighed, pulling back again to look at him. "Why would you say that?"
He snorted derisively. "Vampire." He pointed to himself. "Slayer." He pointed at her. "Not hard t' suss out who's the better person. Done a lot of bad in my life, pet… you've done only good."
"Hardly…" Buffy scoffed. "I burned down a whole gym at my old high school," she bragged. "I stole lipstick from Bullock's, stayed out past curfew, and lied to my mom… a-and…"
"Alert the press—Slayer's a hardened criminal," Spike teased, pulling her beneath his arm again.
"I set Angelus free," she added in a whisper, leaning into his side.
"Wasn't your fault. Been over this, we have. Anyway, set it to rights, didn't you?"
She nodded against his shoulder. "You helped me fix it… and you protected my mom and Giles from Kralik and the stupid Council. You aren't beneath me at all. You're right beside me, Spike. You're a good man, and I love you, so you better get used to it, buster."
Spike's heart melted with her words, words that were a sweet balm, healing even more of the broken bits inside him. He chuckled, his chest vibrating against her body, and pressed a kiss against her temple. "Do my best, pet... got my word."
And when I come home (When I come home), yes I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who comes back home with you
I'm gonna be the man who's coming home with you
And I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door
-X-
"Are we lost? I think we're lost," Buffy declared as they meandered around downtown San Francisco in what appeared to be a random and very lost manner.
"Not lost," Spike assured her as he squinted at the street signs, looking, well, lost.
"Maybe you should ask—"
"Not lost," he repeated firmly, turning off US101, the main highway through town, onto a side street.
"You are so lost," she muttered, sitting back, and crossing her arms over her chest.
Spike smirked as he pulled to the curb, parking right under a 'No Parking' sign. "Not lost," he reasserted, tilting his chin at the brightly lit shop next to them on the corner. "Thought you might be peckish."
Buffy looked at the sign. 'Super Duper Burgers'. Her stomach rumbled. She was hungry, but thought they'd eat in the hotel. Suddenly, the heavenly aroma of cooking meat and deep-fried potatoes hit her.
Her driver arched a brow at her and put a hand to his ear, as if trying to hear better. "What was that? You're sorry? You were wrong? You admit now that I wasn't sodding lost?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't be a smartass," she muttered as she opened her door, not waiting for him to come around to be all polite and manly about it.
"How would you recognize me then?"
"By the radioactive glow from your hair," she snarked.
He laughed and followed her out, grabbing her hand and giving it a quick kiss as they went into the small burger joint. There were a few people sitting on stools at the counter and a few more sitting at tables outside.
"What can I get you folks tonight?" a bubbly girl with a mop of red hair, a face full of freckles, and striking green eyes asked as they walked up to the counter.
Buffy was studying the menu up above the girl's head. It wasn't extensive, so it only took her a moment to decide. "I'll have a Super Burger with everything on it, plus bacon and blue cheese, an order of garlic fries with cheddar cheese, a Strawberry Shortcake Super Shake, and a Diet Coke."
Spike chuckled and Buffy jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. "Shut up... I can get Diet Coke if I want."
"Didn't say a word, Slayer," he defended as the girl looked at him for his order. "Can I get the Philly Jalapeño Burger, but with real meat instead o' that fake veggie bollocks?" he asked.
"Sure, so, do you want a Super or a Mini burger?"
"Super," Spike clarified. "I'll have the garlic fries as well, and give me a vanilla shake."
"Anything to drink?"
"No, fizzy drinks'll rot your teeth," he informed her.
Buffy rolled her eyes.
"Eat in or carry out?" the redhead asked.
"To go," Spike answered, making Buffy raise her brows, but she didn't say anything.
Spike paid for their order and soon they were on their way again, the seat between them stacked with delicious-smelling take-away.
"Where are we going now?" Buffy asked as she snuck some fries. They were delicious! Garlicy and cheesy... and apparently not any kind of a deterrent to one certain bleached-blond vampire who was also sampling them.
"Where do we usually go t' eat?" he replied.
Buffy frowned. "Don't tell me we drove all the way to San Francisco to pick up burgers and now we're going back to Sunnydale to eat at Lover's Lane."
He laughed as he pulled back out onto the 101 and headed north. "Didn't enjoy the ride, then?"
"There was much joy in the ride," she assured him. In fact, it had been one of the most fun road trips she'd been on. The music had lasted the entire four hours. He had made four mixtapes of oldies, based on her mom's advice, plus one of newer music, which apparently Willow had helped him with. Not one single song was a 'dud'. Every one was sing-along-worthy and there had been lots of car karaoke, laughing, and cuddling along the way. "I'm just not sure I want to wait that long to eat."
"Think I can find somewhere a mite bit closer."
"Good, cos hungry Buffy is grumpy Buffy."
"Thought you shoveling those fries meant you took the edge off."
"Hey!" Buffy slapped his arm playfully. "I was not shoveling, and you sucked down half yours already too, mister weird, eats-garlic, vampire."
"'S good," Spike mumbled around another mouthful of garlicky spuds.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Just park already so I can eat my burger in a non-motion-sickness-inducing car."
"Don't I always take care of my girl?"
She smiled at him across the bags of food. "Yeah... you do," she agreed reverently. "You really do."
-X-
Buffy had been across the Golden Gate Bridge only twice in her life, both times during a middle-school fieldtrip. Now she was going across it again, this time at night. Traffic was heavy, but the night was nice and clear, with none of the infamous San Francisco fog. The road was much with the bumpy, though, and she had to hold onto the food to keep it from bouncing off the seat as they crossed under the huge uprights. Even without the fog, it was hard to see much of the bridge from this vantage point, which gave her time to wonder aloud, "Where are we going? I thought the hotel was in San Francisco."
"Trust me, pet," was Spike's reply.
She shrugged, snagged a couple more fries, and took a drink of her shake. They should've gotten a third order of fries—they were sooo good.
After they'd crossed the bridge, Spike took the second exit off the highway. The road curved and snaked around so much, Buffy wasn't sure what direction they were going. The narrow street was lined with neat, white houses with red roofs, and then other, larger buildings in the same color scheme. It was all very matchy. There was even a church that coordinated with the theme.
"I take it you've been here before," Buffy mused as Spike navigated the winding, crisscrossing roads with just passing glances at the street signs. Wherever 'here' was—she wasn't really sure.
"Been a minute or two, but yeah. Been here before," he admitted as his destination came into view.
"Oh, Spike," she breathed as he rounded a final curve, drove past a dock that jutted out into the water, and parked in a deserted strip of pavement that had a magnificent view of the Golden Gate Bridge. "It's beautiful."
Spike smiled as he put the car in park and cut the engine, killing the music that had been playing as a background soundtrack, as well. Buffy rolled down her window and they could hear the cars humming on the bridge and highway, the sound carrying over the calm water. A nightbird called from somewhere up in the hills they'd just driven through, and the motor of the old DeSoto clicked as it cooled down. A breeze brought in cool, fresh air from the ocean, but it was the bridge that was the main attraction here. It was magnificent from this angle—at water-level and off to one side of the span—truly golden, like a sparkling gemstone necklace wreathing the dark water. All lit up and shining against the indigo sky, it was a marvel of human ingenuity. A work of art and an engineering masterpiece all at once.
"Was afraid it'd be foggy... not much t' see when it's like that," he explained. "Haven't been here before, then?"
Buffy shook her head. "Seen the bridge before, but not from here, and not at night. What is this place?"
"Called Fort Baker. Was a proper fort back in the day, but now it's a National Park. In the future, it'll be the homebase for Starfleet Command."
She pulled her eyes from the glow of the bridge and the glittering water below, and looked at him. "It'll be what?"
Spike started removing the boxes from the takeaway bags. He handed her the burger and rest of the fries, along with some napkins and packs of condiments.
"Starfleet Command," he repeated as he lifted and twisted in his seat and managed to grab one of the containers of blood from the cooler in the back, before plopping back down. "Starfleet Academy'll be around here too. And, across the Bay there..." He pointed to the lights of San Francisco shining across the water. "...will be the Council of the United Federation of Planets," he explained as he sucked down a large gulp of his vanilla shake, then took the lid off and refilled what he'd emptied with blood. He stirred it around with the straw, making it look like a strawberry swirl shake, before clicking the lid back in place.
"Okaaay..." Buffy drawled slowly as she got her burger unwrapped. "And you know this... how? Are you some kind of time-traveling boogey man sent back to study our primitive society and learn the lost art of making mixtapes?"
He barked out a laugh, nearly snorting his vanilla-blood milkshake onto the steering wheel. "When we get back t' Sunnyhell, gonna find a Star Trek marathon on the telly—you and me, pet. Can see your education in the finer points o' classic science fiction is lacking. Need t' get that seen to right quick-like."
"I thought you loved me," she pouted, her lip sticking out delectably.
"To the moon and back," he confirmed.
"So why would you torture me like that?"
That drew another laugh from the vampire and a shake of his head. "You made me dance to those rubbish songs... reckon it's time for a bit of payback."
"But it was my... Hot Chocolate Day," she defended.
"So, yer saying on my Hot Chocolate Day, I can torture you to my heart's delight?"
The lights from the bridge flashed in Spike's leering, blue eyes, making them look more demonic than his demon ever dared, and sexier than anyone had any right to be.
Buffy ducked her head shyly, peering at him through her lashes. "What kind of torture did you have in mind?"
His eyes sparked again, and he curled his tongue against his teeth. "Only the best kind, baby," he purred. "The kind that leaves you writhing and panting and begging me for more. Might be some restraints involved. You starkers, spread-eagle on my bed, completely at my mercy."
Buffy's face flamed and she felt a shiver of excitement trickle down her spine and settle in her low belly, making everything south of the border tingle. That... that was just wrong. Wasn't it? 'Nothing is taboo if you both enjoy it, and it doesn't hurt others.'
"That turn you on, pet? Being at my mercy?" he rumbled, letting his gaze drift down her body, then back up to her eyes.
She swallowed hard, trying to get some saliva back on her tongue, and pressed her icy shake against her burning cheek. "I'm... I'm the Slayer. I'm not an 'at someone's mercy' kind of girl."
Spike's grin grew feral. "Must be something else making you suddenly smell so delectable, then eh?" he suggested, trialing one fingertip over the curve of her breast before circling the nipple that was standing at attention against the soft fabric. "'Course, wouldn't be opposed to you tying me up and using me for your pleasure."
"D-don't be piggy," she stuttered unconvincingly as her eyes fluttered closed. All sorts of wonderfully piggy images assailed her, flashing on the dark canvas of her closed eyelids. Her heartrate skittered and stumbled in her chest as she saw Spike in all his naked glory tied up on her bed, his gorgeous cock bobbing like a flagpole, just begging to be touched, to be licked, to be... to be fucked.
"Oink, oink... Thought you liked my pigginess," he reminded her as his finger grazed over her straining nipple, making her breath catch in her throat.
Buffy had no reply to that, because he was right, she did. She just didn't know what to do with all that hot pigginess. Well, she had some ideas, but she needed to make it through some regular, normal pigginess without crashing and burning before she could even think about that.
She cleared her throat, opened her eyes, and took his hand in hers, stopping the crazy-making teasing, and steered the conversation somewhere safer... she hoped. "W-When is your, um, special day? Was the date on your birth certificate really real? Or did you make it up, like the address and your name? I mean, I know the year wasn't right, but the rest?"
Spike tilted his head, studying her. She released his hand and, taking the hint, he withdrew. "What'd it say?" he asked, curious to know if she remembered.
"August 20th," she provided without hesitation.
His heart nearly exploded from his chest. "You remember?"
"Of course... I just... I don't know if it's right."
He felt his emotions welling up behind his eyes and he looked out at the bridge, not wanting to show her how much that meant to him. Someone had taken the time to notice. To care. She had taken the time. She cared. "That's it."
Buffy bit her lip, and looked down at her food. "Well, I guess I have some time to come up with a gift, then. I mean, I suppose we could spend the day watching old Star Trek reruns... or maybe doing that, um... other thing..."
Spike grinned devilishly. "Or both," he suggested. "See how much 60's TV torture a Slayer can take while she's cumming all over m' tongue."
The blush that burned her face was nothing compared to the fire that raged in her belly. She took a deep, stuttering breath, trying to get her racing heart to calm a bit. "That sounds way more evil than the Macarena."
"Big Bad, pet. What can I say? Evil's my middle name."
"Actually, I think it's 'James'," she teased, glancing up at him through her veil of golden hair.
He laughed again, his whole body thrumming with the plucking of his heartstrings. "Well, I'll see about having it changed, all legal-like, just for you, sweetheart."
Buffy laughed and they both began eating their food, which had started getting a little cold, but was still delicious.
They hadn't even done it once, just the 'plain vanilla' way, and Spike was talking about BDSM and Star Trek in August. Like he'd still be here in August and still want to... to do things with her.
She'd read about this in her book, and remembered it saying that both men and women can enjoy bondage, and should take turns being dominant and submissive. It also suggested a safe word, because saying 'No' but not really meaning it could be part of the game. How should she bring this up with Spike? Would he think she was a deviant, or would he love it? She almost snorted, which would have been very painful as she'd just taken a sip of Diet Coke. Of course Spike would love that she'd thought about doing the ice cream equivalent of Rocky Road with strawberry sauce, whipped cream, gummy bears, extra nuts, and a cherry on top, but she was definitely not going to bring it up before they'd even finished their vanilla soft serve.
Buffy wasn't sure what to think about the various varieties of ice cream sex they might have, but her body seemed completely on board with trying all thirty-one flavors, possibly more, and seeing just how delicious being with Spike could be. Her body was either really stupid or really brazen. She wished her mind and her body would get on the same train and stop jumping tracks, even if those tracks pointed towards a magic mountain of dairy goodness.
-X-
When they'd finished eating, Spike switched the ignition to ALT and the music began again. He turned the volume up and got out, walking around the front of the car to Buffy's side. She smiled as he opened her door and offered her his hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked formally, giving her a courtly bow.
Buffy bit down on her grin as she took his hand and stood up. "I should check my dance card... but I forgot to bring it with me."
"I can tell you, it's full," he returned, leading her a short distance from the car. "Same name on every line," Spike continued, turning and pulling her to him.
Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck as his encircled her waist, their bodies pressed together as they began to sway to the music he'd chosen just for her. "What name might that be? Oh! Don't tell me... Justin Timberlake? Brad Pitt? Johnny Depp?"
Spike growled playfully and swung her around, lifting her feet off the pavement she whirled weightless in his arms. "Ponces, the lot of them," he declared when he set her back on her feet.
Buffy's carefree laugh was muffled by Spike's lips pressing against her mouth. The kiss was tingly and joyful, with giggles and nibbles, teasing tongues and lick-able lips. "You're the only one I want on my dance card," she murmured against his mouth.
"Well, that works out nicely then, doesn't it?"
"Uber-nice." With a warm glow suffusing her entire body, Buffy leaned her head on Spike's shoulder as they moved together beneath the twinkling stars, floating in the glow of the magnificent bridge.
Spike began to hum and then sing along with the song pouring from the car as he held his girl, moving to the slow beat, feeling her heat and her love wash over him like glittering sunbeams. "I could stay awake just to hear you breathing, watch you smile while you are sleeping, while you're far away and dreaming..."
Buffy smiled and looked up at his handsome face, watched his soft, perfect lips moving as the words flowed out like thick, sweet honey. Her heart had never been so full, so whole, as this very moment. All the broken bits had been gathered up and carefully put back in place, forming a jagged, but whole, mosaic with Spike's love the glue that held them all in place. Still gazing up at him, she laid her palm against his cheek, her fingertips stroking the stark outline of his cheekbone as he continued,
"I could spend my life in this sweet surrender. I could stay lost in this moment forever.
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure..."
As the chorus began, he pulled back and met her eyes in the golden light. They shone almost amber in the glow from the bridge with just glints of green as she looked back at him. "Don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to fall asleep, 'cause I'd miss you, babe, and I don't want to miss a thing..."
Buffy kissed him again, softly, gently, reverently, matching the music and the sway of their bodies as they moved together on their open-air dance floor. The night was cool and clear, the air ocean-fresh; a perfect night for dancing under the moon with her vampire, her man, her boyfriend...her soon-to-be lover.
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God we're together
And I just want to stay with you
In this moment forever
Forever and ever
"Forever and ever," Spike repeated, an earnest vow against her warm, soft mouth. "Love you so much, Buffy."
"I love you, baby," she replied with a blissful sigh as she pressed against him again, dropping her head on his shoulder as the song and their dance continued.
And I don't want to miss one smile
I don't want to miss one kiss
Well, I just want to be with you
Right here with you
Just like this
I just want to hold you close
I feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all of the rest of time
Yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah), yeah
The song ended and nothing new began. Either the player had eaten the tape, or it had reached the end of the cassette and it needed to be flipped to continue playing. The sound of waves lapping at the nearby shore and the hum of cars speeding over the bridge took over as the soundtrack. Spike tilted Buffy's chin up and kissed her sweetly. "It's true, ya know? Don't want t' miss a thing... may never sleep again," he whispered against her glistening lips.
Buffy smiled and touched another kiss to his mouth. "Me either," she agreed.
A deep laugh rumbled from his chest as he brushed a lock of her hair back from her face. "Are we daft?"
She shrugged. "I think this is how love is supposed to be... insomniac-al maniacs."
He chuckled again. "Better than homicidal maniacs, I reckon." He winced internally—wasn't that exactly what he'd been for over a century? Isn't that exactly what he'd been admitting before, how much beneath her he was? How undeserving of her love he truly was? Not the best time to remind the Slayer of that when things had been going so swimmingly. One of these days she might realize what he really was—or at least what he had been—understand how much beneath her he was. No need to keep rubbing it in.
He relaxed when she laughed, the sound like the chiming of bells, sweet and melodic. "Muchly," she agreed, grinning up at him.
"C'mon, walk with me." He stepped back and took her hand. They began walking away from the car along the waterfront, down a narrow, roughly paved path toward the bridge.
"So, when were you here before?" Buffy asked as they strolled.
"Summer o' love," he replied, looking up at the towering structure, which just got more impressive the closer they got to it.
"Which was...?"
Spike smiled at her. "1967... Haight Ashbury, flower power, free love, and bloody brilliant drugs."
"You were a hippie?" she asked with a giggle.
His smile widened. "Too right, I was. Long hair, bellbottoms, hashish. Fit right in with the flower children."
"How long was your hair?"
He held a hand down below his collarbone.
"No way!"
"Way," he confirmed. "Got a picture of it somewhere."
"NO WAY! Where? I must see this picture!" she demanded, pulling him to a stop. "Don't tell me it's in a cave somewhere in Outer Mongolia, either."
Spike chuckled and tugged her against his side as they began walking again, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Dig it up when we get back t' Sunnyhell," he assured her. "We'll swap."
"Swap what?"
"Photos... you show me yours, I'll show you mine." He wagged his brows suggestively.
Buffy giggled—she felt like she was doing that a lot tonight. It just bubbled up from her heart like sweet champagne. "Why do I think you're gonna come out the loser in this trade?"
He shook his head and looked over at her. "Never, pet. Wanna see all the bitty Buffy albums, hear about all your adventures."
"I'm not very adventurous."
"Well, we'll have t' see what we can do about that."
Buffy chewed her lip, visions of torturous pleasure dancing in her head. Just how adventurous might she become under Spike's tutelage? Assuming she made it past the first test... She shook that thought off and returned to the subject. "So, I haven't seen you cut your hair once since you've been here... how long did it take to grow?"
"For-sodding-ever. Super demon strength doesn't extend t' hair growth... or nails," he admitted, holding out his short, black-lacquered nails.
"So, like many years with the growing?"
Spike nodded. "Saw the tide changing in the fifties, started letting it grow then. Might'a let it keep getting even longer, but early 70s Dru decided she wanted it for one of her dollies who'd gone bald and..." He shrugged.
"You cut your hair so Dru could make a wig out of it for a doll?"
"She cut it... near scalped me. Think she's part sodding Apache. But, yeah. Was what she wanted."
They walked in silence until they got to the base of the bridge. There was a path leading to an old lighthouse to the left. Straight ahead and down a steep embankment was a dark beach beneath the spans of the great bridge, to their right was the sheer face of a hill. The water lapped lazily at the rocks and sand below, while the cars hummed above.
"Did you always do everything she wanted?" Buffy asked gently, glancing up at him.
Spike was looking out into the darkness at the narrow expanse of beach between the cliffs and the waters of the Golden Gate strait. "Tried t' make her happy," he said after a few moments. "Tried t'... to make her love me. Why I knew about this place, point of fact," he said, waving a hand out. "Dru said there were trolls beneath the bridge, wanted t' have tea or some such with 'em. Brought her down here... picnic basket in hand."
"Were there any trolls?"
He shrugged. "Not that I saw, but Dru could see things I couldn't. Had the tea... she prattled on to invisible guests 'bout this and that. Then we left. She was happy... gleeful, even. Reckon the trolls were happy with it, didn't eat our faces or toss us off the bridge or whatever the hell they're wont to do."
"You know, Dru might be able to see trolls, but she could never see what was right in front of her."
Spike looked at her in the amber lights of the bridge. Buffy looked like an angel, glowing with a heavenly fire, her hair shining, her eyes sparkling. Wouldn't be surprised to see a halo appear, if slightly askew.
"She couldn't see you. Couldn't see your heart, or your love, your strength, or your kindness. I see it, Spike. I see you and I... I love you. I want to make you happy. I don't know if I can..."
Spike opened his mouth, but Buffy put a finger on his lips to quiet his protest.
"I don't know if I can, or if I know how, or... or if I'll be any good at it, but I want you to know that, no matter what, I really am trying."
He clasped her hand in his and pulled her finger from his lips. "Just knowing you want to... just knowing you see me... it's more than I dreamed I'd have with anyone, let alone with you. Or at least more than I let myself hope for. Anything you give me beyond that is... bloody hell, it's just icing, pet." Spike brushed away some stray strands of hair that had blown across her face, and tucked them behind her ear. "I love you, Buffy."
"I love you, too, baby."
The kiss beneath the bridge was magical, bathed in the golden light of the towers above, and serenaded by the soft lapping of the sea below. They clung to each other, letting all their love and their dreams fill their hearts with hope.
Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup
Never take you down or never give you up
Never know until you try
-X-
Chapter End Notes:
Don't kill me! They'll be at the hotel next, I promise, but you know there had to be cheeseburgers first!
Music:
Golden Earring, Radar Love: /Zf53Pg2AkdY
America, Lonely People: /QYGvKc7Q1PU
The Proclaimers, I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles): /tbNlMtqrYS0
Aerosmith, I Don't Want to Miss a Thing: /JkK8g6FMEXE
From Wikipedia: Starfleet Command
Starfleet Command is the headquarters/command center of Starfleet. The term "Starfleet Command" is first used in TOS episode "Court Martial". Its headquarters are depicted as being in Fort Baker, across the Golden Gate from San Francisco, in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Overlooking the Command from the other side of the Golden Gate is the permanent site of the Council of the United Federation of Planets in what is now the Presidio of San Francisco. Throughout the Star Trek franchise, the main characters' isolation from Starfleet Command compels them to make and act upon decisions without Starfleet Command's orders or information, particularly in Voyager when the main protagonists have no means of contacting Earth for several years.