Chapter 4: Realizations

Spike mumbled obscenities as he hiked up the front stoop of the Summers home; he wasn't pleased to say the least. First, Buffy goes patrolling while vulnerable and without backup of any kind, and then Buffy gets injured and lays in a miniature puddle of her own blood. His movements and silent curses were interrupted by the slayer shifting restlessly in his masculine arms, Spike spared a glance to the young blonde woman in his arms as he reached for the door knob stopping with a comical expression on his face as the door whipped open to reveal a worried Joyce Summers.

"Spike—What happened to my daughter!?" Joyce demanded as she moved aside and motioned for him to enter, Spike entered with minimal hesitation and set the unconscious slayer on the chesterfield. Risking a glance at the mother of the bane of his existence he jumped up realizing that he had spent a few extra seconds than he had intended huddled beside Buffy.

Spike cleared his throat as he thought of what to say to the slayer's mum; "Ta' she'll be 'right mum, just a couple bumps and bruises." He claimed, putting a reassuring smile on his face while walking to the front door. Joyce smiled back and put a hand on his leather clad arm, Spike turned to face the kind lady that he had grown fond of over the past few months sipping on hot coco, and ranting about his buggerin' love life.

"You don't have to leave Spike. Matter of fact I won't allow it, it's after dark and I will not stand for things attacking you on your way back home." She declared with a serious look on her face.

"I—"

She cut him off before he could retort, "I am not taking no for an answer either." She grabbed him by the sleeve and tugged him back into the living room, forcing him to take a seat.

"Oi! Mum, I can handle 'yself!" Spike tried getting to his feet, only to be pushed back down.

"Stay."

"Oi! Fine I'll bloody well stay… only if the bleeding scoobs don't show up out of nowhere like they tend to do." Just as he finished his nightly rant, Buffy shifted and came to, "Well, Good bloody mornin' slayer."

Buffy rolled her eyes and glanced at her mother with uncertainty, "How exactly did I get here?" feeling sheepish for not knowing what was going on it was her job after all.

"Spike brought you." Joyce blurted with a radiating smile, "He's staying here tonight."

"Good." She then realized what her mom said, "Why?" she added with a hint of humor.

Spike snorted, mumbling. "'cuz I bloody well 'ave to." Shaking his head he hefted his boot clad feet onto the sofa, earning a growl of disapproval from Joyce. "Sorry." He returned his feet to the carpeted floor and began untying his boots while cursing under his breath. Buffy sent him a warning glare; he rose his scarred eyebrow and looked to the left.

"Well that's it for me. I'm dead on my feet, so I'm gonna catch some shut eye. Goodnight Spike, Buffy you will be alright?" Joyce asked trying her luck with the 'worried mother' card. Buffy nodded in the affirmative and glanced at Spike holding his gaze telling him that she wanted to talk to him after her mother was asleep.

"I'll be fine mom, I just wanna talk to Spike for a few moments and I'm gonna hit the sac too." Buffy reassured her mom with tenderness in her eyes, this scared Spike since the look was directed at himself. "Spike and I have a few things to discuss." She winked at him, Spike's jaw dropped to the red oak coffee table that sat in the middle of the living area.

"Alright sweetheart, not too late now." She warned, as she stretched and tried to stifle a yawn unsuccessfully. Turning to walk up the stairs she waved over her shoulder before disappearing from view. Sighing; Buffy stood from the couch and walked over to where Spike was leaned against the wall, outstretching her small hand to him she sent him a gorgeous smile that reached her eyes causing him to melt where he stood.

"Right, I best be off then…" Spike turned to make his exit but was halted by a strong grip that found its mark on the back of his duster, "Oi! Watch the soddin' coat!" He began twisting and turning trying to escape the death grip of the slayer; he soon gave up and allowed himself to be pulled away from the door. Spike was surprised to find Buffy wrap her arms around his stomach.

"Spike, I need to tell you something." Buffy whispered so quietly that he had to strain to catch what she said.

"Wot is it luv?" Spike rose his scarred brow expectantly, "'s something wrong?"

"No!"

He winced at the tone in her voice.

"Wot then?"

"I—I think I'm falling for you." Buffy whispered even quieter, "It's really wigging me out."

Spike's jaw dropped to the floor for the second time that evening; how was this possible? Angel claimed her, by prophecy one who was claimed by a master vampire can't touch one who was not encouraged by the claimer. "That's soddin' ridiculous!" Spike exclaimed as he made launched himself out the door and began pacing on the back deck.

Buffy followed after him like a bat out of hell, there had to be a logical explanation for this preposterous outcome. "What do you mean ridiculous!?" Buffy exclaimed, readying herself to send her fist into the gorgeous face of this straight up hottie of a master vampire.

"It isn't possible pet, once you're claimed you can't have anyone else but the claimer unless you are given the right permission." Spike stated while fishing in his pockets for a cigarette for he can't stand to be around the slayer for fear of what he might do. He wasn't scared of Peaches just of the fact that he can't stand to have his heart ripped out and stepped on. Not again. Not this night.

"I'm nobody's property Spike. I have my free will." Buffy remarked as she sat on the patio table, Spike snorted.

"You really don't know how a claim works luv." He declared with a slightly condescending smirk. "Buffy, luv. Pet. I can understand your denial and utter confusion; who can blame you?" Spike muttered, "I sure wouldn't want to be claimed by the greatest poofter." He added with a humorous chuckle. Truth be told he'd rather be arse deep in an ocean full of piranhas then be his Sire's lapdog.

Oh God… Buffy thought to herself. "Can it be reversed?" She asked with her eyes full of burning tears, she had a vulnerable undertone to her voice when she said this hating the fact that her voice cracked so much, Spike caught this and sent her a worried look; he gazed deeply into her green depths immediately losing himself momentarily; regaining his composure and realizing the sincerity in her question he took an unneeded deep breath and sat beside her on the table.

"Goldie, there is one of two ways to reverse a claim." He took a long much needed drag off his smoke and flicked it into the yard; risking a glance at Buffy before continuing he brushed a loose strand of golden hair from her beautiful face. Spike prepared himself to name the different ways to reverse the claim. Please don't hate me for this, pet. He thought to himself quietly before gazing up into the stars. "Option the first; Kill the claimer. Option the second; a claim can be reversed if a master vampire that despises or loathes the claimer; or vice versa, by staking his/her claim to the claimed." Spike glanced at the lovely blonde woman in front of him, it was too late before he realized what he had done; he had just sealed his fate. "Bloody hell…"

"Then I want you to reverse it Spike." Buffy demanded as she took her sweater off, "Please."

"It's not that simple pet…" he started before he was cut off by a slayer who was growing impatient.

"Why?"

"Pet…"

"Spike, tell me!" Buffy demanded, her voice dripping with venom.

"The claimed, has to either trust the other vampire with their life; or is in love wit' the vampire." I'm sorry luv. What came from Buffy's mouth next shell shocked Spike to no end.

"I love you, Spike."

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TBC? Reviews please!