Buffy felt Spike's arms squeeze her tightly. Relief at his strength surged through her. He would survive this attack. She closed her eyes and let the comfort of his presence soothe her shattered nerves and battered body. Words started to pierce through the fog of her mind, and the rage that flooded through her gave her new strength.
"Giles," Willow pleaded. "You have to see this is necessary. She can't be trapped because of what I did."
"You almost killed them both. You didn't bring this to any of us because we would have stopped you. Not only are the risks too great, the morality of such an act is questionable."
"He's a vampire. We kill vampires all the time." Willow's voice took on the stubborn tone they all knew so well. Buffy grit her teeth and pushed away from the cool embrace of her mate.
"He's my mate," Buffy said as she stood. She rolled her neck as Spike stood behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Part of me, you tried to kill part of me, Willow. Do you get that?"
"It's all because of that stupid spell. You shouldn't be hugging him or feeding him or any of the things you've been doing. He shouldn't be anywhere near you, near any of us. How can you stand it, Buffy? He's tried to kill you." Willow took a step toward Buffy and Giles grabbed both her shoulders to stop her.
"Everyone in this room has tried that at one point or another. You tried to kill me today. How can I stand to be near you?"
Giles flinched and dropped his hands from Willow's shoulders. Willow took three steps forward. Spike growled, and pulled Buffy back toward him.
"Look at that, you're letting him control you." Willow pointed at them. Buffy shook his hand off her shoulder and looked at Giles.
"It's water under the bridge, Giles, so far out to sea that it makes no difference. I," Buffy paused. "You are my watcher. I don't want another, ever." He nodded and looked at her sadly.
Willow darted forward and grabbed Buffy's hand while she was distracted. Buffy screamed in pain and yanked her hand free. Her eyes flashed and glowed as she moved back toward Spike.
"This mating is turning you into some kind of demon. It needs to be stopped." Willow's voice took on a hard edge. "You can't really want this."
Rage flashed through Buffy, white hot and unforgiving. She snarled and Spike caught her as she jumped, stopping the attack. She struggled for a moment, but he stroked her hair and gathered her close.
"You really have cracked, Red." Spike said as Buffy shook against him. "She's weak from blood loss or you'd be a stain on the floor. You keep pushing and I won't bother to stop her."
"She deserves better than this." Willow's shoulders drooped as Spike pulled Buffy up into his arms and strode into the library. He fought back the urge to drain every last drop of blood from the bitch as his mate curled within his arms. It would be worth the bloody headache, but Buffy needed allies, needed friends. He listened as the little witch blathered on to the watcher. She was too powerful to ignore. They needed a plan. Wishing the girl would learn her lesson hadn't done it.
"Can either of you rouse the whelp and his bird?" He asked as he pulled away from Buffy's warm body.
"I can call him." Giles answered.
"We need orange juice and some sugary stuff for the slayer. Get him on it. Phone's in the kitchen." Spike nodded his head toward the back of the house. "Leave the witch's scribbles. I'd like to hear what the demon lovely has to say about them."
Giles nodded and dragged Willow away from Spike and Buffy. He made no effort to coddle her. The time of tolerance had passed.
"I think he might've let me kill her for this," Spike said softly and pulled Buffy's warmth closer to his body once more. Her steady heartbeat was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.
"I would have," Buffy looked up at his face as he settled her into a chair. "We seem to be doing the damsel in distress thing far too often."
"I'll never get enough carrying you around." He dropped a kiss to her forehead and stroked her blood-drenched hair back from her face. It was starting to harden. "We'll need to get you cleaned up soon."
"I must look awful." Her hands picked at her ruined shirt.
"No, not awful at all." He smiled and dragged his eyes over her body. "Grimly determined, inherently lovely, and attractive as hell, that's you, Luv."
"You just want to lick it all off. All this lovely slayer blood," Buffy shook her head sadly. "Going to waste."
Spike bit back a groan. He looked down at her and considered giving up his determination to seduce her gently. It wouldn't take much to completely destroy what modesty her garments were providing. The image of her writhing under him on the top of the library table played through his mind, but he shook it off.
"Luv, you need to eat." He handed her one of the cartons he had deposited on the table when the food had arrived earlier in the evening. It was still warm to the touch. Buffy nodded and looked around for silverware.
"I need a fork or a spoon."
"Here you go, weapon of choice, chopsticks." Spike grinned at her. She made a face and took them from him awkwardly.
"I'm not very good with these," Buffy shrugged and stabbed one of the thin pieces of wood into a piece of chicken.
Spike pulled up a chair in front of hers and pulled the chopsticks from her hands. She smiled at him and he plucked a piece of broccoli out and offered it to her. He watched as her blunt, white teeth dragged it from between the chopsticks. He swallowed and looked down into the container.
"Oh, that's so good, Spike," Buffy said. "You should try it."
He pulled another piece from the container and held it up, watching it drip into the container. She bent down and wrapped her mouth around it while peering up into his eyes. Desire flared within him. She licked her lips, her devilish, pink tongue leaving them shining in the light. He put the container down on the table, and pulled her toward him. Their lips met frantically. He felt her hands slide under his shirt and shivered at her touch. He broke away from her mouth and took a deep breath.
"I almost lost you, Spike." She pulled him closer to her body. "That can't happen. I won't let that happen."
He felt her thighs come to rest on either side of his hips and groaned. She was everywhere, her arousal and the scent of her blood mixing on the air around them, the beat of her heart sounding in his ears, the hot flare of every touch.
"It's not going to, Luv. I won't leave." Spike trailed kisses along her cheek to bite her earlobe. "I really am hard to kill."
"Not hard enough, Spike." Buffy kissed him again and shuddered in his arms.
The bond started to hum between them and they both felt the small hairs on the back of their necks raise. Spike touched Buffy's lower lip with his thumb. His eyes flashed golden and hers glowed green.
"We need to stop, Buffy. I will not be shagging you on this table with the watcher in the house." Spike rubbed his thumb back and forth on her lower lip watching her eyes blaze. She nipped his thumb with her teeth and sucked on it lightly before pulling her body away from his with a sigh. Spike watched her grab the Chicken and Broccoli and expertly feed herself.
"You said you weren't any good with those bloody things."
"I not good, I'm great." Buffy stretched and popped another piece of chicken in her mouth.
"Wonder of wonders, I'm mated to an animated tiger." Spike shook his head mockingly.
Buffy giggled and waved a piece of broccoli in front of him mockingly. He felt the smile on his face before he realized how happy he was. He looked at this minx of a woman tormenting him with vegetables and joy flooded through him. They had survived and they were together. He leaned forward and licked a bit of sauce from the side of her mouth. He let the cool rush of his breath flow across her cheek and delighted in the small mew that escaped her lips.
"I'm going to make love to you soon. It won't be fast and hard on a table. I want you in our bed, wearing nothing but a blush. I want us both hale and hearty. I want to take my time, make you writhe and scream and beg just a bit." He pulled back a bit and watched her eyes begin to glow. "I want you, Buffy, all of you."
She trembled a bit and took several deep, steadying breaths as they sat staring into each other's eyes. He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her lightly on her slightly parted lips. He rested his hand against his mark on her neck and enjoyed the hitch in her breath as the bond flared within them both.
"Be sure to eat every last bite, Luv." He moved back in his chair until their knees were the only parts of their bodies still touching. "You are going to need the energy."
"Don't you need to eat, too?" Buffy's eyes were locked firmly on his chin. Her face was bright red.
"I'm actually quite satisfied at the moment, at least gustatorially." He winked at her and tilted his head as he heard a car turn into the drive. "Sounds like boy wonder is here."
"Well, the gangs all here, might as well eat." Buffy rolled her eyes and took another bite.
"I'll go find out why the watcher and the witch haven't come barging in here." Spike stood and Buffy shook her head.
"He read all those things about the bond. I'll bet he's terrified that we might be indecent." Buffy giggled and coughed as a bite of broccoli lodged in her throat.
"Do try not to choke to death, Luv. It would be a shame to survive the witch's fury only to fall victim to farce." His fingers trailed along her shoulder as he heard the car doors shut. She licked her upper lip with one swipe of her tongue. He stared down at her with blue eyes alight with joy. "I can hold off the bond for a bit longer, but if you keep teasing me Anya just might get that show."
"Shut up," Buffy wiggled in her seat and looked at the table. "You wouldn't."
"We are good fighters, strong willed and fierce, but there is only so much either of us can do. If you play with the bond, we could wind up lost to it for a while." Spike tipped her head back up and stared into her eyes. "I wouldn't mind that so much, but I would hate to offend your modesty."
"Buffy, Spike, I hate to intrude, but you have a visitor that requires an invitation." Giles slid the pocket doors open further and looked at the floor.
"He was feeding me, Giles. I need to eat after that much blood loss." Buffy frowned at her watcher and Spike snickered.
"Regardless, Angel is here with a possible solution to your predicament."
"I've just about had it with everyone, and their damn solutions." She mumbled as Giles stepped away from the door. "Let's go see what nonsense Angel's cooked up."
"We could just ignore him." Spike said wearily.
"Let's offer him his bed back." Buffy smiled and Spike tossed an arm over her shoulders with a bark of laughter. She shook her head and sighed. "We have to hear about whatever insanity he's focused on and send him on his merry way."
"He might have found something, Buffy. Though it pains me to say it, he isn't a complete dolt." Spike looked at her from the side of his eyes. "Whatever he has found, we decide together. "
Buffy smiled and nodded as they walked into the living room. Giles and Willow were sitting on the first stair and Angel was standing at the door, annoyed and angry. Buffy sighed and looked at Spike. He touched cheek gently.
"Come in, Peaches," Spike smirked when the older vampire stepped into the house. "So, you have something to tell us."
"I'd rather speak with you alone, Spike." Angel looked at him steadily.
"No," Spike shook his head. "We make decisions together, so out with your cleverness or off with you."
"Buffy, trust me this is best shared only with Spike. Please talk some sense to him." Angel looked at Buffy. His eyes widened as he took in her damaged appearance. She slid out from under Spike's arm and took a threatening step toward Angel.
"We've survived one friend trying to save me tonight, so we are a package deal." Buffy shot a glare at Willow and crossed her arms across her chest.
"I realized there is one way to fix this. You need to take the day back, well, almost two days, but they'll go for it if you keep your vow to me, Spike. You can both be free." Angel looked at the couple, eager and joyful as he shared his idea. "We could leave now and everything would be back to normal in no time."
Buffy tilted her head and examined Angel with a knowing eye. This enthusiasm wasn't right. Angel didn't do happy, not even a little bit. He was hiding something. She looked at Spike and saw him shrug one shoulder slightly.
"Who are they?" Buffy asked.
"The oracles in Los Angeles. They can do this. I know it." His voice was sure, confident. Buffy rolled her neck and Giles groaned as he noticed the flickering in her eyes.
"You know they can do this?" Spike asked. He tracked Buffy through the room. He could sense the rage boiling up within her.
"I do." Angel averred.
"What day did you take back?" Buffy asked.
"Does it matter?" Angel looked at the floor. "You could be free, both of you."
"At least, he isn't trying to kill me." Spike smiled. Buffy nodded and stepped further back from Angel.
"I'm not jumping through some magical hoop. Magic doesn't seem to be real useful." Buffy smiled and gestured to her body.
"It isn't magic. They reset the clock. You don't have to remember it, if Spike goes only he would have to remember this."
"So, he loses everything again, everything we could have, and has to remember it." Buffy looked up at the distant ceiling. "I can't speak for Spike, but I think that sounds awful. He's been alone long enough. He shouldn't have to remember us when we never were."
"It has to be Spike. He could offer them his services. You don't really have anything to bargain with." Angel said.
"What did you bargain with?" Buffy asked as she moved to his left side, forcing him to turn. Angel grit his teeth. "Don't stand there and figure out some cute little lie. I know you. I know all of you."
"It doesn't matter," Angel turned toward Spike. "Think of Drusilla. You could be with her again. Isn't that worth it? You'll have a chance with Dru and a few memories."
Buffy giggled, and then broke into guffaws as Drusilla began to sing some oldie about everything and its season. She shook her head and looked at Spike. He had retreated behind a mask, but she could sense the pain in him. Her heart ached for him.
"If you want this Spike, I won't stop you." Buffy swallowed and jumped up onto the stairs above Giles and Willow. "Just be sure he isn't offering you a pig in a poke. What does that mean anyway?"
"It's not something you need to know." Giles said.
"Seems to be a lot of that going around." Buffy looked sadly around her home.
"When pigs were scarce in the Middle Ages, butchers would sell other meats as pork. They weren't as appetizing and they weren't worth the price. It's where the saying comes from." Spike looked up at her, golden, fragile, riding the fair side of shattered. She was glorious. He turned to face Angel. "You ducked her question before. What day did you undo?"
"Not your business, Spike." Angel snarled.
"It bloody well is. You want me to trust you, but you stand there with your secrets and your half-truths expecting me to buy the whole cloth. I've learned the hard way not to trust you." Spike stared steadily at Angel.
"Do you honestly think I would do anything to hurt her?"
"Well, there's two ways of coming at that, hers and yours. I'm leaning more toward hers at the moment, so yeah, you'd hurt her. You'd couch it in pretty words and false platitudes, but gut her and move on." Spike cocked his head.
"I had to leave. We couldn't be together. We couldn't take that risk." Angel's eyes darted up to Buffy.
"The way I see it you just like leaving." Spike strode over and stood between Buffy and Angel. "You left Dru and me cause things were complicated. We would have hunted for you, cared for you. Darla was a threat, but we weren't. You've got a bad track record with both of us, and come here asking for blind faith. You're hiding something. I'm not sure what it is, but we need to know before we can move forward." Spike glanced over his shoulder and watched Buffy nod once.
"It won't matter. You won't remember it anyway." Angel said through gritted teeth. "Why should you care?"
"Because you are concealing something," Giles said and stood up to stare at Angel. "I wouldn't want Buffy haring off into the unknown with you of all creatures."
"She should listen to him," Willow said in a defiant voice. "He loves her. He'd never hurt her."
"Not an argument you should be making right now," Buffy snarled down at Willow.
"Fine," Angel closed his eyes and tried to find an inner calm. "I traded back the day I became human."
"You became human," Buffy stood up. "You didn't come to me."
"It doesn't matter what I did or didn't do," Angel said irritably. "I know this will work. It worked before."
"You were human. You could have been with me, given me all the things you said I needed, but you traded it in." Buffy went perfectly still.
"We were in a battle, you took risks to save me. I wasn't strong enough as a human to protect you." Angel spoke as if speaking to a young child.
"I don't need protection," Buffy said as her eyes flared to life. Spike tensed as waves of rage rolled off Buffy. "I needed you in my life."
"The oracles said you would have a longer life this way." Angel said. "I did what was best."
"No, you did what you thought best." Buffy snarled. "You traded a life with me away on the word of some creatures. You had a choice and as usual you didn't choose me."
"Buffy, our time will come." Angel looked up at her with adoration.
She snarled and jumped at him. She landed square on his chest and drove him to the ground. She punched him in the jaw, and the bone snapped. Spike pulled her back.
"Buffy," Angel mumbled. "It won't matter after Spike does this. You won't remember. You can go back to your normal life."
"Normal life? What normal life? How am I supposed to have one of those?" She screamed as Spike held her gently from behind.
"Spike, are you ready to go?" Angel said, ignoring Buffy's outburst. "The sooner we leave the better."
Buffy flipped around and looked up at Spike. Her tear streaked face and glowing eyes tore at him. He pushed some of her hair from her face, and stared into her eyes.
"What do you want me to do, Buffy?" He said as if the others weren't watching them avidly.
"I want you to be happy, Spike." Her voice broke and he could hear the tears in her voice. "If you want this I won't stop you."
"Not really an answer, Luv."
"Spike quit dragging this out. Let's go." Angel stood and glared at the couple. "Buffy will be better off and you will be free."
Spike lost his grip on Buffy as she whirled and flung herself at Angel. The older vampire went down again, face first. Buffy knelt on his back and drove her knee into his kidney.
"Know this, Lover," Buffy breathed against his ear. "If it were up to me, you would be out the door alone. I don't want you here. If it were up to me, I would spend the rest of this night on my back giving Spike the ride of his life."
"Why is dead boy on the ground again?" Xander said as he passed through the open doorway with Anya by his side.