-1Chapter 13
As the jingle of the bell above the magic shop door announced Buffy's arrival the heads of the Scooby Gang turned to face her. Xander quickly avoided her gaze, looking very shamefaced and sporting a black eye. Willow gave her a hopeful smile, which wasn't returned. Tara was absent, probably at lectures. The only person Buffy greeted was Anya.
"Hey Anya"
"Hey Buffy, how's Spike?" The ex-demon inquired.
"He's healing thanks. He says hi. Actually that's sort of why I'm here."
"Oh yeah? What'd Spike do this time?" Xander said snidely. Buffy glared at him with eyes that could kill.
"Shut it Xander." Anya snapped. She was still extremely angry with him. "Carry on Buffy."
"Well Lilly is going to collect her son from L.A today and asked Dawn if she wanted to go with. You know a road trip kinda thing. She got really excited as Dawn does." Anya nodded in agreement, making Buffy chuckle. "Anyway after everything that's been going on around here lately I decided to make it a family holiday for a couple of days. We deserve some fun."
"I here that."
"You're welcome to come with us Anya." Buffy said making it clear that the others weren't invited. Willow and Xander shared a defeated look.
"Unfortunately I can't. someone has to look after the Magic Box."
"Giles has gone?" Buffy asked.
"Actually ever since you told him to get out of your life and Sunnydale he's been holed up at his place with a bottle of bourbon." answered Xander.
"Not my problem" replied Buffy coldly. Why should she care about his well being when he'd proved he couldn't care less about hers. Turning back to Anya she carried on. "Anyway I just wanted to let you know that I wasn't gunna be around for a couple of days."
"Sure I think we can handle things here. It's the least you deserve."
"Cheers Anya, I'll bring you a nice present." with that the slayer gave the ex-demon a hug and made her way to the door.
Willow quickly stood. "It was good to see you Buffy."
Buffy didn't even look back as she walked out the door letting it slam shut behind her.
"We really screwed up Xander." Willow stated as she sat back down.
Xander looked at Willow, "She's making a terrible mistake. Buffy will realise that soon." Xander stood and went into the back room to make a call.
(Ring)
"Hello, Angel Investigations how can I help?"
As soon as Buffy stepped through the door Spike appeared.
"How'd it go?" He inquired.
"Wasn't as hard as I thought. Anyway forget about that now" She said wrapping her arms around his neck, relishing being back in his. "We have a vacation to pack for"
"Yes we do" he said giving placing a kiss to the end of her nose. "I'm glad you back. Those two are driving me crazy, Dawns trying to pack her entire wardrobe and they just won't stop yapping. "
"Aww poor baby." She laughed. "speaking of packing, what am I gunna wear?"
Spike groaned. "Ahh not you too."
Buffy ran upstairs giggling. Spike watched her smiling to himself.
"Dawn come on. If your not down here in the next 5 seconds, we are leaving without you." Spike shouted up the stairs.
"I'm coming!" she yelled back. The littlest Summers' appeared at the top of the stair and proceeded to drag an enormous and heavy bag down the stairs. Spike's eyes bulged.
"Dawn we're going for a couple of days we're not moving there."
"I'm ready too." The slayer shouted from the top of the stairs with an equally big bag in her hands.
Spike just rolled his eyes and went to the car to wait. 'women'
A few hours after they had finally got on the road the two Summer's girls were fast asleep, which gave the vampire some time to think things over. Lilly picked up on the fact her father was nervous and was worried.
"Dad?"
Spike glanced at his daughter through the rear view mirror and knew what she was asking. "I'm ok Sweets. Just a few things on my mind." One more glance back revealed to him he wasn't going to be let off that easy. He sighed. "I don't think its over yet luv. This thing with Buffy's friends, all of it. I feel like there's more darkness on the way. And to top it all off we're headed to bloody L.A."
"What's the matter with L.A?"
"City of Angels. Or Angel anyway. Buffy's ex, vampire with a soul, saviour of innocents." Spike growled. "Love of her life." he said quietly and dejected.
"Wait.. Angelus?"
Spike nodded and gave Lilly a rundown of the history between the three of them. She knew who Angelus was of course and how much bad blood existed between the two of them, she was praying their presence would go unnoticed by the souled vampire, or else it was gunna get bloody. And from what her father told her she knew that if Buffy made a wrong move she'd loose Spike. And that would kill them both.
They reached a big, posh looking mansion just before sunset, all occupants of the car were awake by this point and looked at Spike in confusion.
"Uh.. Spike what are we doing here?" Buffy asked.
"We're staying here luv. It's just outside L.A. Knew none of you silly bints had thought about where we were gunna stay so I took it into my own hands and called in a favour from a mate of mine. One of his many homes and he's not staying here so its ours for as long as we need." Lilly looked at her father questioningly, wondering if it was a good idea to bring them here. With a reassuring look from her father she just shrugged.
"We really get to stay here?" Dawn asked in awe of the place, and with a nod from Spike she let out a high pitched squeal. "What are we doing hanging around out here lets go!"
The gang unpacked the car and made their way in while Spike parked the car. They were met at the front desk my a demon with scaly purple skin.
"Ahh you must be Mr Thornton's guests, he said he was being accompanied by three adorable ladies so it must be you. But I know this one, would recognise you anywhere" He said looking at Lilly quickly enveloping her in a bear hug. "Miss Lilly, look how you've grown, you're a master piece."
"Thank you Charles." She said blushing, returning the hug. " It's good to be back."
Buffy and Dawn glanced at each other. 'What was going on?' they both thought. Something wasn't right.
"Buffy, Dawn this is Charles, our butler and great friend. Charles this is Buffy, Spike's girlfriend and also the Slayer and her sister Dawn."
Charles beamed at the pair and wrapped them in a hug. "It's such a pleasure to meet you both, Spike informed me of who you both were of course" He took Buffy's hands and said "I'm so happy Spike has found such a strong, caring and beautiful women." Buffy couldn't help the blush creep into her cheeks. "Sir a pleasure to have you home."
The group looked round to see Spike striding confidently through the door.
'He looks made for this life' Buffy thought.
"Alright Charles." Spike embraced the man fondly. " I think we all better get unpacked. These two brought they're entire closet. If you could show Dawn to her room, we'll all unpack and convene in the dining room for a spot of breakfast."
"If you'd like to follow me Miss Dawn. Miss Lilly your room is as you left it, and its al kitted out for at Spike's insistence."
"Thanks Dad. See you later guys." Lilly said kissing Spike on the cheek and wandering up a grand staircase.
Charles led a bewildered Dawn up the staircase.
"Come on luv. I'll show you our room." Spike led and equally bewildered Slayer through the mansion to a pair of doors at the end of a magnificent hallway on the third floor. He led her through the doors, Buffy let out a gasp. The room was massive. A massive king size bed with blood red silk sheets was against the wall to the right of the door. A beautiful antique wooden desk was against the wall to her left, old looking parchments strewn across it. Opposite the bed were a set of big French doors which led to a large stone balcony. 'The curtains!' Buffy raced to shut the curtains, to stop the harmful rays which had started creeping in with the rising sun reaching the vampire, fear making her heart stop. Once she'd got the curtains closed she frantically searched Spike for burns.
"Luv, its ok. Its ok. I should have told you sooner. This house and its lands are enchanted, its safe here nothing can harm us not even the sun. That's why I brought us here." To show what he meant Spike took Buffy's and led her through the French doors, Buffy flinched as the sun hit them, then relaxed once she realised it wasn't harming him. The slayer looked at him in wonder, struck by his beauty. He ran his thumb down her cheek and tilted her head up to him and softly kissed her lips. Buffy felt warmth flood through her. Spike looked into her eyes "By night your stunning, by day… your enchanting." A lone tear slipped down her cheek which Spike kissed away. He pulled her down onto a sun bed on the balcony and wrapped her in his arms, and together they lay in the rising sun.
As always please review!!! Thanx to those who reviewed the last chapter it made my day. So what's going on with Spike and his Big ol' mansion and rich lifestyle. And when will Angel appear?