Three bloody days and he'd rather be out killing his own kind than warm in his home. Spike growled as he kicked the poor fledge that had wandered into his path through the cemetery. The patrols were his only refuge as the children had invaded his home, and Buffy did nothing to curtail their impulsive visitations. A bloke couldn't get a decent day of rest. The fledge popped up and came at him snarling. Spike grinned as he plunged the stake through its undead heart and felt the warm shower of dust course over him.

He brushed off his wool pea coat and smiled at his ridiculous clothing. Buffy had explored his wardrobe and was busy playing dress up with him as her undead doll. Tonight it was jeans and a thick woolen sweater under the pea coat and a knit cap. Layers of wool in bloody California, it was a good thing he didn't have to worry about heat stoke. He put up a token battle every afternoon, but he would wear a clown suit to make Buffy smile. He shook his head and continued his walk occasionally jumping up onto a grave marker to get a better look at some bit of noise.

He shoved his hand into his pocket and found a piece of paper. He pulled it out and recognized the lined paper from one of her school notebooks that were scattered on his kitchen table. He raised the note to his nose and pulled her scent off of the paper. He carefully unfolded the paper and felt a rush of warmth flood through his body at the two words written in her careless hand, take care.

Spike carefully refolded the note and replaced it in his pocket. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the mausoleum to enjoy a fag when he felt a familiar presence heading for him. Spike drew in the acrid smoke one last time, letting it burn within him, the heat from the cigarette giving him the brief illusion of internal warmth. He tossed the cigarette into a nearby puddle and settled himself into a casual pose.

"Spike, good to see you, mate." The broadly muscled vampire strolled up. "I guess Angelus is putting the band back together. Felt the pull two days ago, but I want the lay of the land before I rush in."

"Always best to fear where Angelus treads. It's been a long time. Germany, wasn't it?" Spike watched Claus smile and felt the tingle of another presence chase along his spine. "Might as well call out your friend, I can sense her."

"Hallo to you, too, William." The lovely red haired vampire stepped out from the copse of trees to his right and walked over to her giant lover. She was taller than Spike by a few inches, but looked tiny as she pressed herself against Claus. "Forgive the caution, but we heard he killed off Darla and we want to be sure this isn't some purge."

"There aren't many of Darla's get left, but he isn't calling you for a purge. It's been too long, Maura." Spike looked at them and felt a moment of pain. "Leave, ignore this call."

"Why? If he isn't killing us off, we'd love to have some fun." Claus tossed his longish blonde hair back and smiled. "It's been a while since we really let loose."

"He's started a war, you'll be cannon fodder. There won't be any fun to be had." Spike tried to sound casual.

"If it's as bad as all that, why are you still here?" Claus sat on a gravestone and pulled Maura in front of him, resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Dru still keeping you on a short leash?" Maura giggled.

"No, I'm deep in this for my own reasons." Spike shrugged. "Just don't want to see you both dusted. There's a slayer involved and there is no way this ends well for the two of you."

"I want no part of a war with the slayer. We should probably pay our respects to Angelus and head off." Claus looked at Maura and she nodded.

"Can't let you do that, mate." Spike said as he walked toward them. "Just leave, you're not his get. You owe him nothing."

"Why don't you want us to see Angelus?" Maura stepped close to him and trailed her fingers up his chest playfully. "If you're worried about our usurping your position of power in the family, too bad. Darla made us, not some crazed nit wit."

"Maura, I wanted you to leave because we've shared some good times. I remember that month in Istanbul so clearly I can still feel you shiver against my tongue." He locked his gaze with hers and reached up to trail one finger along her cheek. She smiled and turned to nip at it as she slid into her vampire visage.

"We wouldn't turn you away, Spike. If you need some release, we would love to furnish it." Her voice dropped to a husky whisper as she pressed herself up against him.

"Problem there, I just don't find you attractive anymore." Spike smiled as he trailed his hand up along her chest and drove the stake he'd palmed home. He heard her last outraged gasp as her ashes drifted to the ground around him.

"You said this wasn't a purge, you missgeburt." Claus roared and charged him using every ounce of his massive body to fuel his charge.

Spike stepped aside and let him ram into the mausoleum wall. The whole structure slanted as Claus pulled up and lunged for Spike again. Spike growled and jumped planting both feet on Claus' chest and launching himself into a flip to evade the crushing blow.

"You never learned to depend on anything other than your size, did you?" Spike swirled gracefully away from the larger vampire's grasp. "Too bad."

Spike pivoted and landed a blow to the back of Claus' head before he had regained his feet. He followed it up with three more kicks before dancing out of the larger vampire's reach.

"Actually, I did manage to pick up some skills along the way." The sound of the short sword being pulled from its scabbard rang around them.

Spike grinned and laughed as the battle raged. He loved a good fight. Claus was a clumsy swordsman, but his size and reach made him dangerous. Spike was covered in small cuts, but he was going to have to get in close to drive the stake home. He dropped low, sliding in under a wide swing and aimed the stake for the heart. He felt the blade lodge against his hipbone at the same moment he drove the stake into the meaty chest before him. Claus dropped to his knees, releasing the sword. Spike hit the stake with his open palm, pushing it in one more inch.

"The war isn't with the slayer, it's with me." Spike gasped as Claus burst into ash. He looked down and groaned as he wrenched the sword from his body. Buffy's note floated to the ground, freed from his pocket by the sword. Spike bent over and retrieved it. He clutched it against his chest as he limped away from the dust of his friends.