The rest of Thanksgiving went by easily enough. Graham excused himself after dessert was over, and after, he gave us his personal phone and email so we could safely get in touch with him. The rest of the Scoobies left not long after, the celebration was over after all. Willow thought I was spending the night at the house, but really I spent it with Spike. He's still living in the crypt but finally has sold enough of the treasure that he can afford his own place, he just hasn't found the right place yet. He's more picky than I am honestly, he doesn't want to live in something 'too human' whatever that means. I mean I guess it makes sense coming from 'he who feels most comfortable living in a graveyard'. If it wasn't for me, he'd stay there forever but he wants me to be comfortable too. I tried to tell him there was a time that being at his crypt with him was the only time I felt comfortable at all, but that didn't seem to change his mind.
Anyway, afterwards we just hung out the rest of the night, and made lots with the smoochies. We got in his DeSoto, which is no longer blacked out because he can be in the sun now, around 12, and headed to LA. After picking up Dawn from the house, it was time to get some answers from the PTB oracles. I just don't know how we are going to find this Doyle guy, because he is the one that knows how to get in touch with them, he's the one that taught Angel anyway. I definitely don't want Angel to know if possible, especially after last night.
"Okay, so I wrote down a few things we need to learn from them, like why are you the only one that went back to your old body, while Spike and I came with different parts of ourselves. The PTB don't really do things out of the kindness of their hearts. " Dawn paused when Spike and I scoffed simultaneously "So what was their real purpose in sending you back here? Oh! And what's going on with primal, possessive Buffy, she comes out at the oddest of times."
"I really don't think the Slayer part of me comes out at odd times Dawnie, I've noticed she comes out when you, Spike, or Mom are threatened, or when something in the previous timeline comes up that got you guys hurt, like last night with Graham, talking about experimenting on the demons, and last time Spike was one of those people."
"Oh yeah, I guess you're right, and the first time was when Spike said he was going to go find Harmony. " A growl escaped me before I could stop it. Damnit! After a second I clear my throat.
"Yeah, uh, well, anyway I want to know why it's so prominent and how I can control it. Like why did it only start when we came back here."
"This is all assuming they'll actually talk to you, pet."
"What do you mean? Why wouldn't they talk to me, Spike?"
"Well didn't you tell me… or other me… bollocks, you know what I mean. Didn't you tell me that they said they wouldn't see you again once you left them the first time?" Shoot, I didn't even think about that, are we driving down there for nothing?
"Yeah, but didn't they mean it like they wouldn't see you so you can't cancel it if you change your mind? They probably didn't mean it for now that you're here, right Buffy?" Dawn asks. Good point.
"I think Dawn's right, I mean I don't know for sure but it's worth a shot, and I have a reputation for getting what I want, I think I can make it work."
"Be careful luv, those are the last people you want to piss off, you see the power they have.'' Another good point. Okay Buffy, don't let your temper get the best of you. I decide to change the subject and move on to our next problem.
"Okay, so what do we do? It's daylight so I doubt I have to worry about running into Angel, so do we just walk right in and demand Doyle's help?"
"If he's really fighting on the side of good, he should want to help the slayer right? So maybe you and I can go in and ask for help. Spike should probably stay in the car, I don't know if it's a good idea for Angel to know that Spike can walk in the sun, " Dawn suggests.
"I don't care if the ponce knows, what is he gonna do about it anyway?"
"Come on Spike, it's just one less headache for me right now, you know he's going to flip his lid if he finds out that you can day walk." Spike rolls his eyes but doesn't offer any other objections.
When we walk into 'Angel Investigations' I'm surprised to see Cordy sitting at the front desk. I forgot she used to work here, I don't really know much about what was happening in LA with Angel around this time or the years after.
"Oh great, what are you doing here? Angel has been brooding since he got back from Sunnydale, and I have to deal with the consequences now. You better not be here to make it worse," she shoots off immediately with a roll of her eye. God, I might be almost 24… or I guess now almost 20? I don't know, thinking about that makes my head hurt. Anyway, when I see Cordelia Chase she makes me feel like I'm sixteen again, just as snobby and catty as she is.
"You need to get over yourself Cordy, just like Angel does, not everything in the world has to do with you two. In fact, I'm here looking for someone named Doyle." Cordy's eyes open wide, surprised.
"What can I do for you two lovely ladies?" A dark-haired man I've never seen before asks as he comes around a corner of the office. I see out of the corner of my eye that Cordelia looks annoyed about something he said, weird.
"Hey, are you Doyle? Can we talk to you outside in private?" Dawn asks kindly.
"Uh, sure, just give me a second to grab my jacket and let Angel know…"
"No!" We both shout.
"Don't worry about Angel, I'll talk to him later," I finish.
"Uh, okay sure, come on then. Cordy, if I don't come back in an hour, it means these two murdered me and that's why they don't want people to know who I'm with." He says with a laugh and Cordelia just rolls her eyes in response.
"So what can I do for you?" He asks as soon as we get outside." He stops walking once the doors to the office close but then follows us when he realizes we're still walking.
"We need a favor, and you're the only person I know that can help us."
"That sounds ominous," Doyle says, and Dawn and I laugh. We walk up to Spike's car and get in, I point to the back seat, Doyle looks uncomfortable but gets in anyway. He looks around once he's inside and sees Spike.
"Okay, I was joking when I was talking about you guys murdering me before, but now it seems a lot less funny…" I get it, Spike looks like a stereotypical bad guy, well from the 80's anyway. Dawn and I laugh again, while Spike does his 'I'm the big bad' look.
"Don't worry Doyle, the favor we need from you won't bring you any pain, do you know who I am?" I ask.
"No I don't, but I sure would like to get to know you…" he trails off because Spike let out a loud growl. Doyle stops, then clears his throat and continues, "It seems you know Cordy though, she's usually that short with people, but the way she talked to you sounded personal… and you know Angel, so I'd have to guess you're from the hell mouth."
"Good guess. I'm Buffy." Doyle jumps in surprise.
"Buffy? Like Angel's Buffy?" Spike lets out another vicious growl.
"I'm Buffy, yes, but I'm not Angel's anything… other than ex, I guess. That's part of the reason I didn't want to see him today. He thinks he still has some say in my life and he thinks he can control my decisions. It's easier to just keep him out of it, there's only so many times you can have the same fight with someone, and he just won't accept the truth." To be fair, this Angel only had been told once to stay out of my life, he's probably really confused right now. I did change a lot in the last few years. I'm a completely different person. It must be hard for him to deal with that, he hasn't been gone that long, and to come back to someone who doesn't even miss him… it must hurt, but he did it to himself. He's the one who lied, he's the one who left, and he's the one who gave up.
"Okay, that makes sense I guess. The way he tells it, you two are in love but the world is keeping you apart. " Everyone in the car but Doyle snorts.
"Anyway, we aren't here to talk to him, I need to talk to the Oracles. They did something for me a little while back and I need details. I know you're the one who can open up the gate to get there, I don't know anyone else currently who can." Doyle is quiet for a while, I look in the mirror and he looks really confused, I don't blame him.
"How did you know I could do that? I haven't even told Angel that yet."
"You wouldn't believe us if we told you… Actually, you might, since you have an in with them and all. Either way, it's a long story, and all that really matters is that we do know, so will you help us?" Dawn pipes in.
"Okay, I'll help. I can't rightly turn down the slayer when she needs help can I?"
"Ta mate," Spike speaks for the first time since Doyle entered the car. Then he hands me the bracelet we decided to give to the Oracles. It's a pretty bracelet that I would wear myself, but it's worth giving it up to get the answers I need. Just then Spike makes a fast left turn, without using his blinker and some people use their horns on him, but we made it to the post office so I won't complain. Honestly, he's a better driver than I am. When we all start walking towards the underground entrance, Doyle looks around, confused.
"You know that Buffy will be the only one able to see them right? You two might as well, wait at the car."
"No mate, we'll wait right there with you," Spike answers flatly.
"Okay!" He says with his hands in the air. "Sure whatever you want, as long as you don't try to go in with her." The subject was dropped after that, and it was quiet while we walked into the area where the gate is, and while Doyle was doing whatever he had to do to see me in with the oracles. I grabbed Dawn and Spike's hand, with these two I don't have to be afraid to show my true emotions. I am nervous about the answers I am about to get, but I know I have my people with me the whole way, and that I'm not dealing with this alone. So we stay quiet, me holding their hands, drawing extra strength from them while waiting for Doyle to do his part. Finally, the gate opens and I let go of their hands and walk right in without looking back.
"It hasn't been long since we've last seen you lower being, " I hear from a male's voice as soon as I walk into the room.
"So you know? So you remember how I ended up here?"
"We know all," the female chimes in.
"So then you know why I'm here?"
"Of course, if you have questions, ask them. First, what is your offering?" I put out my hand with the bracelet in it.
"This is meant to bring the wearer that which it requires most, I know you have everything you need, but it is really rare and might one day come in handy for you" The male quirks a brow, looking unimpressed, but the bracelet moved to his hand anyway.
"It'll do."
"Okay I have a few questions, three people traveled back, yet we all came back in different ways. Why is that?"
"It is as it was told," Well that helps me absolutely 0%.
"Is my Spike in the Spike I am with now?"
"They are one in the same, one is what he could become without any encouragement, one is before the changes the one he will become has not come to pass yet." She answers looking bored from my questions.
"What about Dawn? Do I have to be worried? Is she safe? She is older than she was."
"She has you to protect her, but now she is old enough to protect herself as well, and can use it to her advantage. She has much more power than you can imagine, another mythical being might be able to help her more than you, but you can help her learn as well." Okay, they are definitely getting annoyed. Apparently, I am already supposed to know all this because they are acting as if these answers are common sense.
"Okay, I'm almost done. What is happening to me? Why am I more primitive? I feel myself relying solely on instincts, I do not like that. I can not control myself sometimes, I become possessive and aggressive. Why is that? How can I stop it? Why did it only start when I came back here?"
"Why would you want to stop it? It is how a Slayer is meant to be."
"What do you mean? I have to stop myself from killing people that look at my boyfriend for too long, that cannot be good. I need to know why it's happening and how to stop it."
"We will not help you stop it. In fact, you need to rely on it, or this trip of yours will be for nothing. The Slayer in you has gotten stronger in you as you traveled back and you need to trust it, it will lead you to where you need to go. Yes, it is extremely protective and possessive of those that are yours, but that is okay, the Slayer will lead you to where you need to go. Things will be different now, the beast will find you sooner and so will the evil one. Every action has a reaction, you might have the upper hand for having lived it before but, the universe will change things to make it even again. End your enemies fast, so you do not go through the same pain you went through before."
"Okay… I guess. I don't really like it, but I'll make it work. Why did you agree to help me come back here? I know it wasn't to do me a favor, what do you get out of this whole thing?" They both look angry at me for a second like they can't believe I'd have the audacity to ask beings such as them a question like that, well I guess they don't know me very well then. After a second their faces clear to the blank mask they usually wear.
"You called in your favor. You have been our warrior since you were called, and so we gave it to you. Things were not supposed to go as they did in your first life, you listened to the wrong people and many died because of it. You are smarter and less blinded by fear and hate now. We hope that is enough to stop evil from getting the upper hand again." I was about to reply and ask many more questions, but before I had a chance I was thrown out of the room and was caught by Spike, if he didn't, I would have definitely landed on my ass.
"Are you ready to talk about it yet?" Dawn asks with all the care in the world, about five minutes outside of Sunnydale, I guess she got tired of waiting for me to start. I jump, surprised because I was lost in my thoughts.
.
"Honestly, there isn't much to tell. I didn't get any straight answers, they said nothing's wrong with us, and that we came back as we were supposed to. Including me, I should follow my instincts, and forgive the instincts for my possessiveness and protectiveness. OH! I also think certain baddies will be here sooner than they came before. Since you are older, I should teach you to protect yourself. You are years older than I was when I was called. They think you are old enough to help in the fight, and I'm pretty sure I agree. Although if we beat Glory we shouldn't have to deal with the First at all. I mean as long as I don't die, or you stop them from bringing me back," Spike let out another ferocious growl.
"Buffy, stop talking like you dying is an option, it's not. You're way too important to the world, and to us." Spike says with another growl.
"Spike, of course I don't want to die, I didn't want to die last go around either. Sometimes there's no way around it though. Don't worry, I already have an idea to end this fast, I just have to figure out if it's the best choice."
"Well? What is it?"
I was about to respond and say more but we are on Revello Drive so there isn't much more time to talk. Spike pulls in front of my mom's… uh, my house… and parks to wait for us to get out. Dawn immediately opens the door and stops when she realizes I'm not following her.
"Are you not coming, Buffy?"
"No, I think Spike and I have more to talk about. I'll see you tomorrow, love you, Dawn. "
"Love you too Buffy, Spike. See you two tomorrow."
"Same here Nibblet, see you bright and early to look at that paper that's due."
"Thanks, Spike, night guys," Dawn says, and shuts the door before either of us can reply.
"So where are we goin' kitten?"
"To your place, of course, I just need my guy after the day I've had."
"'Course Buffy, I'll always be there for you." The rest of the ride was in comfortable silence, as was the walk to the crypt. Spike lit the candles without saying a word then moved towards his couch to turn on the tv.
"Can we just go lay down? I need snuggles." Spike didn't verbally respond, he just held his hand out for me to take, and when I did he led us to his lower level. We went straight to the bed and stripped down to our lowest level of clothing that was still considered decent.
"Come here luv," Spike says with his arms wide open, laying on the bed. I don't think twice, I go into his arms and forcefully put my lips to his, and he kisses me back just as forcefully. I start rubbing my hands all over his skin that isn't covered and he does the same. Finally, I get to his jeans button and start to open them, but his hands left exploring my body to stop me.
"Buffy, no…" I cut him off before he can continue.
"Spike, you have to stop, that didn't happen between us, and even if it did, I forgave him…you forever ago. I care about you and I want you, are you really going to make me wait forever?" I ask earnestly, he stares into my eyes for a long time, trying to find something. Finally, he gives his head a little shake.
"No my love, I just don't want you to regret anything. I'm nothing but a demon, you deserve so much more than what I can give you"
"Hey! Isn't that for me to decide? I'm a grown woman, I'm old enough to know what I want, what I need, and that's you."
He looks at me with that same face he had before, while I was walking down the stairs of my house after I came back from the grave—like I'm the greatest thing he could possibly imagine, and that he couldn't possibly want anything more. He just nods his agreement and moves in to kiss me while letting go of my hands. When he lets go, my hands get back to work and right away I'm pushing his pants lower, it's not easy because he's laying down, but I get it done, his jeans are down to his shins, so he kicks them the rest of the way off.
Spike's hands aren't idle either, they are groping every single part of my body, my breasts down to my feet, but he's not moving any clothes, and he won't touch me where I want him most. After a minute or two I get sick of it and sit up to rip my tank top off, I'm not wearing a bra because the tank top has enough support, and push my panties off. We are both completely naked, Spike looks like he's both in heaven and in hell at the same time somehow.
"Spike I want you, I need you, do whatever you want to me, I want it too." Hopefully I won't have to give him this much encouragement in the future.
Apparently, that's all the invitation he needs, because he is on me faster than I can blink, he is touching, twisting, licking, and sucking every part of my body. He's moving so fast I can't keep up, all I know is that I need more. I do what I know he likes (It's an unfair advantage, I know his body while he doesn't know mine, but oh well). I grab his member and start pumping, on my pull back I give an extra squeeze and a twist and he can do nothing but let out a guttural groan.
"Oh Slayer, you know my body do you? Don't worry kitten, I'll learn yours just as well." Before my brain has time to understand what he said, his mouth is on my folds, licking and sucking away. "Oh Buffy, your cunny tastes better than I imagined, I didn't know that was possible. I could spend forever down here." Before I had time to reprimand him for stopping, he was back to work, licking, nipping, and sucking just how I need. I don't notice right away, but he's slowly moving upward towards my clit. I don't know if I can handle that it's already so much stimulation. It seems like he can feel my hesitation, because he moves faster than humans can, to suck on my clit, and I let out the loudest moan I've ever given.
"Oh god, please don't stop!"
"No god here kitten, just a demon," Spike says with a throaty chuckle before getting back to work. I honestly don't know how he did it, but he managed to get four more orgasms out of me in just as many minutes with just his mouth. I was about to throw in the flag when he slowly left my center and started kissing upwards to my stomach, he kept moving up and paid special attention to my breasts, making sure that when he nibbles one, he takes the time to nibble the other. I was lost in the sensation until I felt his hard cock nudging my entrance.
"Oh my god, Spike, I don't even want to think about where you learned things like that,"
"Don't worry kitten, it's all instinct, your smell and taste are driving me wild. Are you ready for me now? Ready for me to fuck your sweet cunny? I've dreamt about it you know, often imagined what it would feel like to be inside my sweet Slayer's tight hot quim. "
"Yessss, I'm ready!" I didn't even finish speaking before he was fully in me. I know he can be soft, slow, and loving. This wasn't it though, he was staking his claim, showing the world that I was his and I was all he needed. Being a modern independent woman, this would usually anger me, but with how long I've been waiting for this, and how strong my Slayer side is out right now, it is exactly what I need.
"OH yes! Yes! I'm yours, Spike, harder! "
"Watch yourself Slayer, or you'll end up claimed before the end of the night, don't say things you don't mean," he mumbled. I don't have the mental bandwidth to think about that right now, so I ignore it for the pleasure he is giving me. He's doing the thing he used to do, I missed it. He does this twist at the end of every thrust and he hits just the right spot. Not one minute after he enters me I have another climax, and by the time another comes along, I am egging him on, wanting him to take his pleasure along with me. I use my Slayer muscles to squeeze as hard as I can, and he lets out the lowest, longest, most satisfied moan I've ever heard, and he finishes too. Good, that's just what I want, he'll want to come back for more… Right? Apparently, my worries are showing on my face because Spike pulls me close and kisses the top of my head.
"I love you, yeah? Nothing will ever change that. I know you've seen a future I couldn't completely imagine, even with these flashes. One thing I do know is that I've loved you through all your hard times, and that isn't going to change now. Just tell me what you need, kitten, and I'll do everything in my power to make it happen for you," he says then leans down and gives me a long sensual kiss. We spend the rest of the night in each other's arms and I fall asleep not long after.