CONTENT WARNING: Fair warning, some explicit sexual content in this chapter, however it is brief, the majority of the chapter surrounds the apocalypse plans.

Chapter 15 – One Last Sip

Light beamed in through Buffy's window as she woke to the sound of teenage girls fighting over the main hall bathroom. That would be her cue to quickly use hers and open it up to the house. Well it's not like I have a sexy vampire to keep me in bed today. She thought as she rolled out of bed, took care of business in the bathroom then threw her hair up in a ponytail and stared into her closet. Work-out or something a little slutty, maybe sexy functional… would it be too odd if I wore a skirt or dress? She smiled, that'll work, and pulled out a long black leather skirt. The last time I wore this was the first time Spike & I got friendly… She donned the skirt then threw on a white tank top and her denim jacket then opened her door to let the anxious girls in to get ready for the day. At the bottom of the stairs she found Dawn and Willow rifling through papers. "Morning." She greeted, they both mumbled a morning in return, clearly not wanting to be distract from research mode. They must be on to something, best not to bug um. She looked to the kitchen, food it is then. Xander and Andrew were dishing up plates of pancakes to the potentials who got through the bathroom before the squabbling started. Buffy joined the line to get herself a plate then took a seat at the island. "So you know what the brains are so focusy on this morning?" She asked Xander then took a bit of her fresh food.

"They're double checking everything." Xander responded "Even called Westley earlier to clarify a few things, but they're pretty sure Willow can work it. Anya ran out a little bit ago to get the last few things they'll need."

"Great!" Buffy tried to say with a mouth full of pancake. She took a moment to swallow then asked with a good deal of hope "So we could avert the apocalypse today?"

"Maybe Buff." He smiled "To think tomorrow we may have our lives back." He handed the spatula over to Andrew and started to mix up more batter at the island.

"We had lives?"

"Well slight shells that may resemble lives. Either way it's so much easier to find a date when you're not fighting an apocalypse."

"True. So that mean you're gonna get back out there then?"

"Try to, I think I'm ready." He said trying to sound convincing "What about you Buff-mister, you wanna try finding that special someone again?"

She was tempted to spill the whole story. She used the mouthful of pancake to debate; but with potentials streaming in and out of the kitchen and Andrew so clearly eavesdropping. Now is so not the time for that conversation, especially with Xander. "Ehh, I'm pretty happy with where I'm at." She replied before shoving in the last forkful. Not a complete lie. Then stood to throw her paper plate and grabbed a bag of blood out of the fridge.

"Your LA excursion make you want a more liquid diet?" Xander kidded.

"No," she said as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard. "Figured it was worth waking Spike if were gonna stop the apocalypse soon." She placed the blood filled cup in the microwave, sealed the blood bag and put it back in the fridge.

"What really happened to him on your trip? He was all happy last night, it was weird."

"That's not really that weird for him, he just never acts that way around you guys." Xander shot her a puzzled look. "Cause you still treat him like a murderous monster." His confused face quickly changed to duh. "The soul ain't going anywhere Xand. He's not cursed like Angel, he fought for the soul, so he gets to keep it. He's here to help."

"Well you guys are done bon…" Xander stopped after he remembered his company then rephrased "being friendly, so that's not a worry anyway."

The microwave beeped, as Buffy grabbed the contents she simply said "Xander, he's an important part of the team. I told him to make an effort to get along with you and Willow, I'd appreciate it if you tried to get along with him."

"What about Dawn & Anya?"

"He already likes them, and they don't look down on him. You seem to hate him and Willow doesn't trust him." Buffy started to leave the kitchen then turned around "Just, try, for me?"

"If it matters that much to ya," He started, hoping she would stop him, but then conceded. "I'll try Buff, and maybe chat with Willow for ya too."

"Thanks." She smiled as she opened the basement door and headed down. When Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs the shirtless vampire was sound asleep, she set the mug on the shelf next to the bed then bent down to the same level as the cot, leaned in and softly kissed him. As she pulled away she noticed he was still out. She leaned in for another kiss, soft at first then got more intense until the vampire finally woke and returned the kiss. When he finally let her pull away she wiped her lips and greeted him. "Morning Spike."

"Morning? Why you waking me if it's still morning luv?"

"Cause it's almost time to save the world." She said proudly, Spike sat up and gave her a really? look, "Well, again anyway." Buffy joined him on the cot and handed over the mug o' blood "See I even brought breakfast."

"Thanks luv." His face shifted as he started to guzzle the warm sticky liquid.

"You know, that should really gross me out, but it doesn't."

"Not like ya've never seen it before."

"I know, I just mean, knowing that monster is inside of you, should freak me out a little."

"You've always needed a little monster in your man," he replied coyly as he playfully bared his teeth toward her, licking the blood off of them.

Buffy just rolled her eyes at the vampire, then thought for a moment as he finished of his meal, "Spike?" he took his attention off the now empty cup and looked to her "If you became human today, you think you'd miss the blood?"

Bullocks, does she know something about Wes coming? "Um, na, I don't think I would. I mean as human I'd get to eat anything else and actually taste it. Gives a bloke a few more options than human, swine, bovine, or rodent." She shrugged in response then Spike added "But I would hate to miss out on one thing as a vamp if I became human again."

"What's that?"

Spike leaned in toward her, and whispered in her ear "Tasting you."

"Spike!" appalled he even asked and shoved him away.

"I wouldn't hurt you luv, but I've been aching for it for 6 years, it's one of the few things I've wanted and haven't gotten in my long life."

"Well, life's full of disappointments, you should start having some." She held her hands up to cover her neck "Plus you've been on pigs blood for forever now, some of mine would just give you withdrawals. And I need you ready to fight."

"Come'on pet, you know you're curious." My bite is bloody better than Angel's that's for sure! He wanted to add, but the last thing to bring up when he wanted her was Angel, even if she seems to be done with him. Instead he crept in close to her again, brushing his nose against her cheek, and down to her hand covered neck. Her hands has loosened around her neck a little, but Spike didn't stop there or try to pry her fingers away. He kept nuzzling his way down her body, then he pulled his head away and stepped off the cot to kneel on the floor before her. He slid a hand up her skirt, pulling the leather up as far as it would go, exposing one bare thigh. "I'm not a complete idiot luv, I wasn't thinking somewhere all your friends would see." He bent in toward her and kissed her just below where he legs met her center, then he looked up and morphed his face, "You gonna let me have a taste?"

Buffy's heart was pounding, she'd never admit it to him, but she had been curious about his bite for some time now. And now he was staring into her with those piercing eyes and practically begging at her feet. And God, that'd be the perfect place I'd never have to explain it to anyone. She loosed her hands from her neck, and caressed the bumps of his face. Then quietly succumbed "Just a taste." Spike smiled then turned his head back down to her skin, nuzzled his nose against her inner thigh for a moment then growled and bit into her flesh. Buffy's head rolled back in pain & delight, her legs stiffened as she pushed into the bite. Spike bit into her hard, but drank very little, just the feel of her in his mouth and the sweet taste of her blood was exhilarating. After a few minutes Spike reluctantly pulled his teeth out of her, then stood up, placed his hands on the wall on either side of Buffy's head and dove in to kiss her.

Buffy was still thunderstruck from the bite but her well aroused body was aching for more. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him in the kiss as she turned and laid down on the cot. After some shimmying Spike hiked her skirt all the way up, while Buffy managed to undo his pants, pulled out his cock and started stroking it. Spike pulled Buffy's panties to the side as he lowered his penis toward her hot wet center, lips still fused together Buffy guided his shaft into her, their lips broke for a moment as Buffy gasped and Spike growled in delight then his face changed back. Both of them were almost shocked in the fact they were entwined again, realizing the previous night wasn't some amazing dream. Spike started to slowly work into her, Buffy wanted to cry out with every thrust, but had to remind herself of where they were. Instead she pulled his now human face in to kiss her to keep them both quiet. After a few minutes Spike broke the kiss, pulled Buffy's legs up to stretch across his chest and drape past his shoulders, he thrust into her again, this time hitting the most sensitive part of her. With just a few more hard thrusts they both felt their blood surge and bit their lips to keep from screaming out. After a moment Buffy spread her legs and rested them on either side of her lover. "I don't know why I'm surprise at how well you can do that."

Spike smiled down at her "Well, we may not have had the best intensions for shagging last year, but we were bloody good at it." She returned the smile, as she continued to catch her breath. Then the exhausted slayer stretched her hand down to her thigh to feel where he had bit. "You alright luv?"

"Yeah, just, been a while since a vamp got to bite me." She pressed gently into one of the puncture "I'd forgotten how deep they are."

"I bit down pretty hard luv, but I didn't take much, just a taste like I promised."

"I know, the only woozy I'm feeling is post orgasm whoosh."

Spike laughed a little in return, then bent down to kiss her once more. Then they heard the familiar creek of the basement door. The couple quickly pulled apart, Buffy sat up, yanked her skirt back down while Spike plopped on the cot and stuffed his member back in his pants and sealed him in. Both sat as casually as they could as Dawn skimmed down the last few stairs. "Oh, hey Buffy, I didn't know you were up yet."

"Just got up a smidge ago, you were in deep research mode, didn't want to bug ya."

"Well with both Summers girls trying to wake me before noon, we must have somethin promising."

"Yup, we do, and Wes and Fred are on their way to help," Dawn grinned wildly at Spike, his eyes were wide, Bloody hell, it's really gonna happen?! "They should be here soon."

"Wait, what? We need their help? And how they gonna be here soon it's a long drive."

"I called um for help on something earlier this morning and they offered to come help in person." Dawn explained, then added "Oh and they're taking a helicopter, little faster than a car."

"Oh, so time to pow-wow?" Buffy asked as she motioned to stand up.

"No, not just yet," Dawn supplied "I was just gonna wake Spike if he wasn't up yet, you two can have a bit more time together." She winked at the couple then turned around.

"Dawn!?" Buffy scolded her sister.

"What?" she turned "Am I supposed to believe you two are a thing again and you haven't gotten thrusty?"

"Dawn!?" was all Buffy could utter again as her face started to turn red, then she turned to Spike who was giving a guilty grin to her kid sister and smacked him upside the head.

"Oi, what was that for luv?"

"You told my little sister everything!?"

Before Buffy could dig herself a bigger hole her sister interjected "Spike just told me you two were together again and how it happened, no sweaty details." Buffy stayed her second slap toward the vampire and stared at her sister "But am I wrong in assuming there have already been like two or three times of sweaty details already?" Buffy didn't answer, her face just turned darker while Spike leaned back and placed his arms behind his head. "And I'm guessing one of those times was this morning, cause it wreaks a little more than usual down here."

Spike breathed deep then shrugged and stood up on the cot to crack open the west facing window. "You're getting pretty good at the insightful-ness little bit." He complimented as he sat back down on the cot, then looked to Buffy and smiled. "Much to your sister's embarrassment." Buffy went to hit him again, but he intercepted her arm, grabbed the second and closed his arms around her, holding her in a restraining hug against him. "So you'll come fetch us when Wes arrives?" he asked Dawn, still staring at Buffy.

"Yup, or ya know you'll hear the helicopter." Dawn started up the stairs then before she left the basement she poked her head back down and asserted a quite but cheery "Have a good snog!"

Buffy was about to yell out her sister's name again, but Spike covered her mouth with his as the door creaked open and closed again. Then Spike broke the kiss to whisper "Sounds like we have some alone time before the apocalypse, let's use it wisely." Buffy gave in to the heated whisper and barrage of kisses. Gotta try and get one more taste of her Spike demanded to himself Cause if it all goes right, I'll never need sodding blood again, and what better than a slayer as a last meal?

Leaves blew in threw the basement window, landing on top of a naked Spike with his face nuzzled between Buffy's legs. The vampire ignored the leaves on his back, not wanting to be pulled away from lapping up her intoxicating blood. Buffy was only half-conscious herself, between the multiple orgasms and the sensation of Spike feeding off her she was pretty far gone. Then one of the leaves spun in and landed on Buffy's nose, after shaking her head to get it off she stepped back into reality, hearing the whirl of helicopter blades, and seeing the amount of leaves and other debris that had blown into the basement. They're here. "Spike." She stroked the top of his head then tried again a little louder "Spike." Still no intention to move from his feast, so she yanked him up by his hair. "Spike!"

"What pet?" annoyed he was ripped away from her.

"Helicopter." She let his head go and pointed up toward the yard.

Spike finally heard it, and realized the extra breeze in the room "Bullocks, just one last sip." He dove back down, gently bit into the wound again and took in one last gulp of blood. Then resumed his human face, and tenderly kissed his mark on her. Then he crawled up and laid beside her on the cot, stared into her eyes, and pronounced for the zillionth time "I love you."

"I love you too Spike." She replied for maybe the tenth time. "But we gotta get dressed and get upstairs, like now, before someone other than Dawn comes to get us."

"Right." He looked up to the shelf seeing some gauze, he reached up grabbed it and wrapped her wound. Then leaned over and kissed her hard one more time, and upon releasing her, he sat up and looked for his pants.

"That was mean." She kidded "And thanks." She said more sincerely gesturing to the gauze. She grabbed her skirt off the ground and stood to slide it on. Then she pulled her hair out of its barely recognizable ponytail, and retied it neatly. By the time she was putting her coat back on, Spike was fully dressed and grabbing his coat off the chair it was draped over.

After he threw it on he walked over to her by the stairs "Slayer," she looked level at him from the landing of the stairs "Can ya try not to get yourself killed to save everyone this time?" She rolled her eyes in response. "Not so sure I'd take it so well as last time if ya died on me again."

"Dawn said you fell apart when I died?"

"Bloody right." His face became downcast, both of them knew that with every apocalypse there's a good chance people die. Then Spike noticed the lack of noise from outside, the helicopter was either off or gone, either way it was time for them to get upstairs. Before ushering her up he raised a hand and rested it against her cheek. "I'm a lucky bloke, you were worth the 100 plus year wait." Buffy smiled, but before she could respond the door creaked open and Spike recoiled his hand. Xander opened the door and was about to call down when he saw the pair were already on the stairs.

"Ya noticed we got company?" he asked as they climbed the stairs.

"Helicopter in the back yard was hard to miss," Buffy replied as she reached the top.

"Yeah they ain't great with the stealthy entrances, I'm surprised Angel would even have one." Xander commented as he led them to the dining room where everyone minus potentials were waiting. Everyone including: Willow, Kennedy, Dawn, Anya, Andrew, Principle Wood, Westley, Fred, and…

"Angel?!" Buffy questioned shocked to see him.

"Bloody hell!" Spike echoed, rather angry even, "What's this ponce doing here?" he asked walking past Buffy and across the room to where Westley, Fred, and Angel were standing.

Before Fred could answer Angel explained "They insisted they needed the helicopter 'cause it was urgent, I insisted if it was urgent you could use my help."

Spike was directly in front of Angel, clearly looking to throw him out, No sodding way is he gonna be a part of the vampire made slayer spell, did Fred & Wes spill, is that why he's really here? Or is he just looking to be the hero of the day for Buffy? "Sorry mate, but I think we've hit our champion allowance for this apocalypse, try again next time."

"You mean one? Buffy's the only Champion besides me in this room, cause last time I checked you haven't saved the world yet."

"I helped beat off Glory, and helped all the solider boys not get killed by demons."

"You helped Adam get us in that mess Spike?" Xander chimed in, stepping forward.

"Oh stuff it Harris." Spike snapped.

Angel raised a hand and started to count off. "I've helped with taking out the Master."

"Again, I saved Buffy, and Buffy actually fought the Master…" Spike & Angel both glared at him, Xander raised his hands in defense and backed out of the vampire feud.

Then Angel continued, "the Mayor, Jasmine…"

"Do those really count as saving the world?"

"I stopped Acathla, that saved the world."

"Buffy ran you though with a sword!" Spike claimed as he pointed to Buffy, then pointed to himself "I helped her, that one counts as mine!"

"Damit Spike!" Buffy growled as she grabbed him and threw him out of arm or fist reach of Angel "I thought you were done with this vampire pissing contest."

"The bloody sod doesn't need to be here."

"Spike, he's here, deal. Besides, the more fighters we have the less likely people are gonna get killed." Buffy reasoned, talking to the whole group but trying to connect the idea to Spike, then drove the point home with something she knew would get him to shut up, if even at the cost of hurting him. "If Angel were here to help 2 years ago, maybe I wouldn't have had to jump."

Spike's heart sank, he hated being reminded that he didn't or couldn't save her. He wanted to just storm out, but A it was rather sunny out, and B there were more important things at hand. Buffy could tell that the comment hurt him more then she intended, she wanted to apologized and hug him, but now was definitely not the time to come forward about everything, the long silence was becoming odd enough.

Angel's voice broke the silence "I'm not here to win Buffy back. I'm just here to help." Spike quickly changed his look of hurt to loathing and glared at his rival but didn't say another word. Buffy's eyes widened a bit at the statement, but no one else seemed to notice his choice of words so she wasn't about to explain him.

With the immediate threat of a vampire brawl gone, Dawn chimed in "So, all in favor of kicking some FIRST butt?" she asked raising her hand to relieve the tension. Anya & Andrew shot up their hands in excitement, while everyone else did, but were a bit less enthused. "Great, so with some help from Wolfram & Hart's resources, we have everything we need to channel the energy of the sun through the Lapedium Solis amulet therefore wiping out a ton of vampires at once. Also through the help of Andrew we know how to re-open the seal so we can enter the hell mouth and kill the Turok-Han where they live. So then hopefully wiping out the FIRST's entire army in one magic swoop. But to be safe we are gonna have all our fighters go down too, to kill any uber-vamps that may miss out on the spell."

"What about Spike & me?" Angel asked "Wouldn't us going down to help just get us fried by the spell?"

"That's why you two would hang back until the spell was done." She supplied "So as far as who's going down Buffy obviously, the potentials, Xander, Anya, Andrew, and principle Wood. Xander, Anya, Andrew, Kennedy, & Wood will each have 6 potentials under your command. We've commandeered 6 flamethrowers from our local army base. So each group will have one of those, and other weapons of choice, but every single fighter should have a steak on them. The Turok-Hans are hard to steak, but it is possible. The fighters' main job will be to protect Willow & Westley until they're done working the spell. Fred & I will attend to them if the spell wipes them out. So when we come up after the spell is done, that'll be your guys' cue to go help." She motioned to the vampires "But, one major thing we'll need to do before we start the spell is open a hole to the seal. The spell will only work if we have a direct line of sunlight. So we have to make a hole from the roof down to the basement, which last we looked lined up with your office principle Wood."

"I was looking to redecorate anyway." He replied cooly.

"Any questions?" Dawn asked looking around the room.

With no one asking Buffy felt compelled to say "First you become miss insightful, and now you sound more in charge than me. When did you grow up?" the group chuckled a little at the comment, even Spike.

"Hey, I've been trying to tell you, but you gotta learn everything the hard way when we have impending doom and all. Same thing happened last year when I was trying to get you to teach me to fight. Only after Willow tried to kill us with root monsters did you let me fight."

"Hey," Willow whimpered in her defense.

"Sorry Wil, but the last apocalypse was on you." Buffy reminded, Willow shrugged in response not really able to argue that point "But we kinda need your magic to get through this one so it'll be a wash." She kidded. The two friends smiled, then Dawn jumped back in charge.

"Alright then, Xander, Buffy, Wood, Andrew, Angel, and a handful of potentials will go to the school to make our hole. Xander's got it all worked out so follow his lead on that. Kennedy, I want you to train in the potentials who stay on the flamethrower. Everyone else we're gonna go through the motions of the spell for practice while we wait for the school to be ready. Xander you take the cars over, principle Wood, come back and get the rest of us with a school bus when you guys are ready."

"Great, well we'll get going then. What potentials you want me to nab?" Xander asked Dawn.

"I think Rona & Amy have already had some flamethrower experience. And you should take Amanda since she knows the school pretty good, and Violet's pretty strong. That should be a good group to take."

"Fine and dandy with me, I'll send the rest to the backyard for flamethrower training." Kennedy nodded to the comment and went to grab one from the shed to work it in the backyard. Then those who were assigned to school demolition made their way out.

"Oi, Dawn." Spike motioned her over to him and asked quietly "Shouldn't I be goin with that lot? Helping move rubble and whatnot?"

Dawn smiled "Nope, I need your help here Spike." She said confidently in case anyone heard him, then she whispered in his ear "Can't really do the first spell without ch'ya."