Previously: Not even nearly dropping the box she was carrying. It would take an awful lot to wipe this grin off. She wasn't prepared to find out what would, she was just happy with stacking boxes.

Chapter 15

I wasn't a big believer in fate, but as I wandered down the street to Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies I couldn't help but wonder it if was a coincidence that I met Buffy all these years after meeting Victoria. I would have to corner Dawn at some stage and ask her about the Summers past. She might know. I didn't want to bring it up with Buffy yet. Who knows how she would take it. Dawn surely wouldn't have the same reaction as her sister?

I had just left the apartments behind me and was quickly making my way to Buffy. The Scoobies were loading boxes and other crap into the store today, but who knew what Buffy was being made do. For all I knew she could have been doing all the work while the rest of them sat there. I couldn't help but imagine Buffy picking up boxes, bending over to pick up one in those black pants she'd been wearing. I had to shake my head to clear it. Couldn't think of that kind of stuff until later.

I had just come into view of the store. There were still two or three boxes out on the street. Deciding to surprise them all I gracefully stacked and lifted the boxes and made my way into the place.

'Evening all. Where do you want these?' I asked.

Anya looked up from behind the counter and gestured to grand pile of boxes beside me.

'Anywhere there's good, captain peroxide' she remarked.

'Ah dearest Anya and who have we wreaked vengeance upon today?' I sneered. Anya was nice when she wanted to be, but today she just seemed to be a downright bitch. To me anyway, or so I thought until I caught a warning look from Willow.

'Well Spike, you see I had to go see D'Hoffran instead of wreaking vengeance. He said I wasn't in the game and that he found a worthy opponent to hopefully bring back my focus' she explained.

'Oh yea pet? Sounds like fun'

'No. no it's not fun. The stupid bitch is too good! I can't beat that! She made some girl turn into a massive clawed animal and rip apart the people who did her wrong! After being human I couldn't do anything like that. This Clary girl is just too good.' Anya looked defeated.

That is she looked defeated until someone dropped something breakable. Anya whipped around to find Dawn's friend Carly standing there gobsmacked.

'Anyanka?' she breathed.

'Yeah what about it? Hey you broke that, you pay for it!' Anya cried.

'OH MY GOD! YOU'RE ANYANKA!' Carly looked as if she was about to have a fit.

'You're the demon I've been trying to find the past three weeks! I always wanted to find you! You're my idol in a like-to-torture-and-kill-things way. Wow! This is soo cool!' Carly couldn't seem to stop her mouth from moving. Words just spilled out, some not even making sense.

'You're Clary?' Anya asked.

Carly nodded 'It's Carly with the letter rearranged.'

'uh huh' Anya stated. 'Your idol you say?'

Carly nodded again finally gaining control.

'Ok, now back to your work.' Anya sniffed.

Carly looked hurt, though only for a second. She hid emotion well I discovered.

I looked around and saw Dawn and Candice standing a way off unwrapping things and placing them on shelves. They looked like candles.

Turning to Willow I asked, 'Seen Buffy anywhere?'

'In the storage room' she smiled.

'Thanks pets' and I walked towards a visible door. I turned the knob and peeked in, only to be meet with training equipment and more boxes. I shut the door and turned back to the witch, who pointed to another door. Nodding my thanks I strode over to this one and slowly opened the door. I peeked in and there was Buffy. The love of my un-dead life. I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me.

She looked like a child who had been caught doing something they shouldn't have. She seemed a little embarrassed until she realised who I was.

'I thought you were Anya. She would have killed me for this' she said gesturing to the pile of boxes, that upon closer inspection, looked like a throne.

'Can see why pet. Why a throne?'

'I got bored and so I made it big enough for two' she smiled.

'Well then, can't waste your handy work can we love?' I said as I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me. Buffy giggled but then explained we should dismantle it before Anya found it.

'Anya can wait' I said as she placed herself next to me.

It was nice to feel a warm body next to me. Buffy smelt wonderful, like roses. Which roses however, I didn't have a clue. She just smelt nice. She snuggled into my side and I kissed the top of her head. We sat in a comfortable silence for a while, then Dawn walked in and saw the throne.

'Anya's on her way. You guys are so dead' she giggled.

'Oh crap' Buffy groaned.

Quickly, she was on her feet and piling boxes onto shelves. I stood up too and quickly began to help.

'Don't worry pet. When the dragon comes in breathing fire, this knight will protect you' I stated.

Buffy laughed.

'Unless the dragon catches you' came an all too familiar voice.

We slowly turned and there stood Anya.

'Dawn and her friends left. You and Spike have to patrol tonight apparently and you have twenty minutes to stack those in alphabetical order' Anya turned and glided out of the room.

'Bitch' I muttered.

'Spike!' Buffy looked shocked.

'What? She is. Well today anyway. C'mon let's get these boxes sorted' I turned back to the throne and tossed boxes to Buffy who stacked them in some sort of order.

It was a system that worked. After we had finished we both walked out into the main part of the shop where everyone was waiting for us to say their goodbyes.

After the goodbyes, it was time to patrol.