A/N: Major fluff warning. Cuteness ahead!
"Morning…" Buffy moaned sleepily, feeling Spike's eyes on her.
"Morning, beautiful," Spike murmured softly. "Didn't get much sleep, how you feel?"
"Tired, a little sore… like I just spent the last two months traipsing through Europe with my boyfriend."
A self-satisfied smirk suffused Spike's face. "Sounds like a hell of a boyfriend."
"He's okay— good in a fight, amazing in bed, hot in a Billy Idol kind of way, suuuper pale-"
"I take you planes, trains, and automobiles, even bring you back to bloody Rome, and all I get is 'Billy Idol'? Billy Idol—"
Buffy cut him off with a kiss. "Got his look from you, yes, I know. Now shut up, I believe I also said 'amazing in bed', right?"
"Yeah well- alright then," he answered lamely as he let himself melt into another kiss, wrapping his arms around her.
Buffy shifted her leg around his hips, pulling his naked body on top of her when there was a knock at the door.
"Buffy? Hey, Buffy? Are you up yet? Come on, I know you're in there, you two left all your crap in the living room," Dawn huffed petulantly, "not that it makes much difference with all the freaking moving boxes."
Mondo mood killer… Buffy grumbled silently.
"Awww fu— Bugger it all," Spike groaned. "Nibblet's gonna pay for that one." He rolled onto his back with a defeated sigh, allowing Buffy to get out of bed.
She pulled on her fuzzy bathrobe as she strode across the room to the door, opening it a crack. "Hey Dawnie, what's up?"
"I just wanted to say 'Welcome Home' before I have to leave. You know, since you didn't wake me up when you two got in," Dawn added with only a hint of resentment in her tone.
Buffy threw her arms around her sister. "I'm sorry, I just thought you probably needed the sleep. I really missed you-" she smiled warmly, "-was the welcome home banner your doing?"
"Yeah, Willow helped with the rest of the decorations but the banner was mine," Dawn admitted as she gave Spike a wave.
"Hey there, Nibblet," Spike replied with a nod as he reached for his shirt and pulled it on, careful not to dislodge the sheet around his waist.
"Hey, yourself! Don't bother getting dressed on my account," Dawn smirked.
He raised an eyebrow at her teasing tone. "Cheers, think I will anyway if it's all the same, thanks."
Dawn turned her attention back to Buffy, "So anyway, I wanted to let you know that I already have plans to go to the library after classes. I eh, I kinda didn't have time to switch things around since we didn't know exactly when you would be home— Unless you're really jonesing for some sister time."
"Transferring or not, I can't have you messing up your finals just because I came home at short notice. That's on me. You study, do smart things, and finish the semester strong before the move," Buffy answered reassuringly. "I definitely want some quality sister time tonight so don't be late."
The grin slipped from Dawn's face as she caught sight of the slim golden watch on her wrist. "Oh, crap! Speaking of late, I better get moving!"
Buffy wrapped her robe around herself more securely as she followed Dawn out into the small living room, littered with boxes. She watched as Dawn started cramming things into her book bag.
Dawn glanced up at Buffy apologetically. "I promise I won't be late tonight. I'm getting much better about the whole time management thing. Honest." She paused to slip into her jacket and added a cute fashionable hat to her head before continuing. "Oh, eh, Will had someplace to be this morning. She said something about getting a surprise for Ruby, but she should be back before noon I think," she looked at her watch again. "Okay, I'm really going to be late, I got a run! Ciao!"
"I'm holding your gifts hostage!" Buffy called after her. She watched her little sister grab her bag and go. The apartment was suddenly silent without her.
"She's turned into a right little butterfly, hasn't she? Fluttering all about," Spike drawled from where he stood leaning against the archway leading into the living room, now fully dressed.
"Yeah, I feel like I missed a lot," Buffy sighed.
"Understandable-" he crossed his arms over his chest, "-imagine that goes both ways. Quite a lot of catching up to do."
She flicked her eyes up to him. "Can we not do this right now?"
"No idea what you mean, pet."
"Bull. Believe me… I know I'm going to have to talk to her about everything… eventually. I just— I'm not sure what to say. I don't know how I'm supposed to even start. How do I tell her I'm part of the immortal youth crowd? It's not like it just slips into conversation. 'Oh by the way I forgot to tell you I'm pretty much indestructible and I'll always be this cute and perky.' How can I even think about talking to her about it when I haven't even wrapped my brain around it myself?"
"Ahh, I was wondering when you'd get around to that particular breakthrough." He dropped his arms down to his sides, taking a few casual steps forward and sitting down next to her with elbows on thighs, hands clasped together.
She raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that you've barely talked about it since the cave. Thought you'd have a whole slew of questions for me but you've hardly said a word."
Buffy shifted a little closer to him, slipping her hand between his to lace their fingers together. "I guess it's sort of because I don't really think about it when it's just you and me. Or I'm only thinking about the upsidedness of it all. The being with you part… I— I'm sorta trying not to think about the friends and family side of things."
Spike stroked her knuckles with the pad of his thumb gently. "Figured out that much for myself, funny enough. Just don't want you to think you can't ask your questions. Not saying I got the answers o'course, especially when it comes to family, but I might have a few insights that aren't completely useless."
"Birthdays are really going to get wiggy," Buffy huffed, "hell, any gift-giving anything is gonna get seriously weird after a while."
Spike shrugged, turning his face to her with a grin. "Not much of a material boy myself. Always find experiences tend to make the best gifts. In fact, wouldn't mind taking you back to the bedroom and having an experience or two right now."
Buffy tried to suppress a giggle but failed, the tension easing out of her a little and she nudged him with her shoulder playfully. "I'm trying to be serious."
"And who says I'm not?"
The lecherous smirk slid off his face as Ruby shambled out from Willow's bedroom. She was wearing a pair of black and bright green plaid sleep pants paired with a strappy black tank-top. The tank showed off her shoulders and the traces of scarring from where she'd been flayed and doused in holy water.
"Hey you two, what's with the chatter?" Ruby asked, running her fingers through a tangle of hair.
"Sister stuff…" Buffy replied.
There was a fine line in talking to Ruby on the subject. On one hand, She was essentially in the same situation, with the exception that if Sheena lived long enough, she might not ever have to face that particular loss the same way Buffy would. She wasn't even sure how much Ruby already knew from Willow.
Then there was the fact that Buffy hadn't brought it up to any of the Slayers they had visited, not even Lena. In her opinion it would be cruel to dangle such a carrot in front of them, only to have it taken away brutally by some baddie. It would have to come out someday, true, but it didn't have to be today.
Did it?
Ruby flopped down onto the opposite end of the couch with a huff. "Hear you there. She-she keeps pestering me 'bout coming home. I told her we'd be back soon enough but she just won't drop it. Fairly certain she only wants to stick her nose in where it doesn't belong," she said, picking up a magazine from the side table and flipping through it. "So what's the problem with Dawn then?"
"Aside from having horrible timing?" Spike grouched.
Buffy rolled her eyes with a small chuckle. "Nothings wrong with Dawn. Well as far as I know there isn't. It's just- I need to talk to her about something and I'm not sure how to handle it."
"Ahhh, that old chestnut. Been there," Ruby nodded sagely, flipping through her magazine.
"How did you talk to Sheena about the whole not aging situation?" Buffy blurted out.
Ruby turned towards her, brow furrowed. "Considering what I am, and what she is, can't say it's come up. It's just sort of one of those unspoken things ain't it?"
Buffy nodded. "Yeah," Buffy paused, shifting to Spike's side. "But let's say- hypothetically- it wasn't so obvious with the pulselessness?"
"Is this about the whole gift return thing?" Ruby asked.
Buffy eyed her seriously. "How much did Willow tell you?"
"Not a lot," Ruby shrugged, "but enough to think you're probably blowing things with Dawn out of proportion—"
Buffy nodded. And maybe Willow hadn't said as much as she had feared. "You might be right… Unless Dawn already knows?" she responded with a raised eyebrow at Ruby, posing it as a question.
Ruby shook her head. "Not that I know of. She just keeps going on about finals and the move and Connor of course; that's about it…"
Buffy blustered in surprise, "Connor?"
Ruby shrugged. "Oh sure boy's been helping out a lot around here. Comes around quite a lot and stayed with us during the whole Kennedy thing. He's a good kid."
"Nurture certainly won out on nature in that one then," Spike grumbled.
"Shut up, Honey," Buffy said, releasing his hand and turning toward Ruby more fully. "What do you mean he stayed the night?"
"Just what I said. It'd be a bit hard for him to play bodyguard if he wasn't 'round."
Buffy slumped back in her seat. The guilt from not being around during the incident that she thought was starting to dissipate rekindled anew but she tried to shake it off. "Why didn't you guys have one of the Rome Slayers come over, I bet Vi would have."
Ruby shook her head. "We both know she would. But Willow didn't want to drag anyone else in that didn't know about it already. Touchy subject that, you know. Besides, Connor was here when she showed up and knocked me clean out. Probably would've killed both of them if he hadn't been here."
Buffy frowned, nodding, Willow had already told her as much, but hearing it from Ruby's standpoint put it in a slightly different perspective for her.
Ruby continued in a dejected voice, "Funny, got all these fancy new fighting skills and I can't even seem to put them to good use."
Spike shifted forward. "Oi, knock that off! You're still a bloody fledge and with a soul on top of it. Imagine it's probably messing with the natural order of things. Just need a bit more training, I bet."
"Right…" Ruby huffed in halfhearted agreement.
The three of them sat slumped on the couch surrounded by boxes for a long moment before Ruby finally shifted forward with a sigh. "I told Willow I'd get some more packing done while she was out, and I've got laundry to do as well. Suppose I'd better get to it. The sooner we get packed up the sooner we'll be home and Sheena can stop nagging me 'bout being gone and start pestering me with questions 'bout dating her teacher. Joy."
"I'll trade you, I apparently have to have the are-you-dating-my-ex's-son, talk with my sister," Buffy pouted.
"Pftt, at least neither of your sodding relatives decided to uproot her life just to be closer to Xander Harris. Talk about your bloody rebounds," Spike huffed.
Buffy and Ruby both burst out laughing. The scowl on Spike's face faded quickly as he joined in. The absurdity of it all begged for an outlet and out it came in a flood of laughter from all three of them.
(*)
Buffy set a mug down in front of Spike as she sat down at the little kitchen table with a bowl of cereal.
When the door clicked and Willow's voice rang through the apartment. "I'm home! Anyone here? Buffy? Spike? Ruby?"
"Kitchen!" Buffy called, she didn't wait but headed straight for the living room.
Willow nearly ran into her and let out a squeal of excitement at the sight of her best friend. "Buffy!" she squealed. She continued to push past Buffy to Spike. "I'm so happy to see you!" she said, giving him a hug he didn't quite return.
"You too, Red," Spike continued to look at her dumbly once she had released him. "Thanks…" he said in a hollow tone as he tried to catch Buffy's eye.
She just shot him a quick smile and turned. Willow went excitedly into the living room. Buffy hung back "Spike? Are you alright?" she laughed nervously.
Spike shook his head and looked at her. "Ahh yeah, I'm alright. I uh, just not used to it is all. Waitin' for the 'Twilight Zone' music to start."
"Weird you out huhh?"
"Just gonna take some time I guess," he gestured toward the living room where they could hear Willow talking in a hushed excited tone.
Buffy shrugged. "Things change, I guess."
They followed the sounds of delight into the living room. Buffy furrowed her brow when she found Willow sitting in the middle of the floor. "What are you—- See Spike, like I said… changes," her tone was sardonic as her eyes fell upon the fluffy gray kitten Willow was gushing over. "You got a kitten? Right before moving?"
"Yup! I was telling Ruby about Miss Kitty and how much I miss having a cat. And well- I've been volunteering at the shelter for a while now and I don't know… I guess it just seemed like a good time for a fresh start. When this little guy came into the shelter, it was love at first sight. He's a surprise for Ruby. Where is she?"
"Out, think she said something 'bout laundry," Spike answered. He took a step closer to her at the pout that formed on Willow's face. "Let me see the little fluffer," he said, taking the kitten from her.
"No poker-" Buffy chided.
Spike narrowed his eyes at her. "Oi, I haven't played for kittens for a long time, cash only. Just gettin' acquainted with the little puff."
"I hope you travel well buddy," Buffy cooed, scratching the kitten under his fluffy little chin.
"So what's his name?" Spike asked as he handed him back.
"Not sure yet," Willow cooed as she held the tiny kitten in front of her face as his huge blue-gray eyes seemed to study her. "Sir Fluffkin?"
"Mr. Pickles?" Buffy interjected.
Spike scoffed. "Rubbish, What about Sid?"
Buffy shot him a withering look "You seriously want to name a kitten after Sid Vicious?"
"Why not? Kittens got claws," he gestured towards the kitten. "Iggy, then?"
"Joey? Or what about Ramone?" Buffy asked.
"God I love you," Spike crooned as he bent closer to kiss her.
Willow cleared her throat as she tucked the kitten into the crook of her arm like a baby. "I'll talk it over with Ruby. I kinda think maybe we should give it a few days."
"Just don't let Dawn name him," Buffy added.
"No way. I want to go get him settled in my room before I introduce him to his other mommy." With that, she gathered up the kitten and all the pet supplies she had bought and disappeared. "She's going to just love you. Yes, she is!" she continued to coo at the kitten as she walked down the hallway.
Buffy flopped down on the couch. "I'm not doing anything today, we'll hang out with the girls tonight. Maybe patrol a little after but I'm not pushing it."
Spike shifted his hands to his hips as he watched her make herself comfortable. "I think you got a little nocturnal flu, Love, maybe we should just plan on staying in."
"That's not a thing... Is it?" she asked, sitting up a little, concern etched on her face.
Spike laughed, shaking his head, sliding down on the couch next to her, one hand caressing her back lovingly. "I just mean you've been keeping hours with me since we left Munich. Slayer or not, it's gotta catch up to you. Hell, even I could use a little break. Maybe take a couple of nights off? Not like there aren't Slayers about, a few more nights won't hurt."
"Good point, either way, I'm not budging from this spot for a good long while-" she reached to pull him closer to her, "-and you are staying with me, mister."
"Oh yeah, like I had great plans on this glorious sunny day anyway. Except maybe moving to the bed," he chuckled.
"Couch comfy, Buffy no move. Cuddles."
He laughed as the two of them lay down together comfortably. "You got it, Goldilocks."
It was sometime later when Buffy woke to the sound of Ruby coming back in. "Oh hey Buff, sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
"Hummm… what's going on?" Buffy murmured groggily.
"Just laundry. Don't want to take dirty clothes home if I don't have to. What do you have planned for tonight?"
She glanced at Spike still curled up with her on the couch. "I think we're going to take the night off, hang out around here. I kinda promised Dawn a night in."
"This a sister thing or are all invited?"
"Oh it's totally a more the merrier kind of—" Buffy broke off as Spike started mumbling something unintelligible in his sleep. He swatted at something violently. The movement would have knocked him off the couch if Buffy hadn't been holding on to him.
"Spike, Honey, you're with me. You're safe," she said softly in his ear. He didn't wake up but settled back down wrapping himself around her a little tighter.
Buffy looked back up at Ruby. "Don't mind him, he does that. He gets some really weird ones sometimes."
She eyed him dubiously. "Humm… you sure he's alright?"
"Yeah, he's fine. Sometimes he even has full conversations in his sleep. We had a really funny one about cupcakes when we were coming through Sweden."
"Ok then… I am just going to see what Willow is up to then."
"Good luck, trying to get any more laundry done," Buffy, smirked with a yawn as she snuggled back down with Spike on the couch.
The quiet lasted for about thirty seconds before a gleeful shriek split the air.
Buffy chuckled as she disentangled herself from Spike. It was no small feat as he was wrapped around her like an octopus and it was no surprise when he woke up with a groan as Ruby rushed back out with the kitten in her arms. Willow giggled in her wake.
Ruby turned toward Buffy. "How dare you keep a straight face, talking about cupcake dreams, when this fluffy little guy was here the whole time!"
Spike raised an eyebrow at them as he straightened himself on the couch. "Who's having cupcake dreams?"
Buffy rolled her eyes with a laugh, at Spike's sleepy grumbling and met Ruby's gaze. "I've seen Will pissed off, trust me, I do not want to be on her bad side."
"Yes, and spoiling surprises for my girl is a total-bad-side-getting-on offense," Willow beamed with a goofy love-drunk smile.
Ruby returned the smile, luminous gray eyes dancing against the kitten's fur as she let him nuzzle her cheek. "And you're the best kind of surprise, aren't you sweet boy?" she asked the kitten. He merely batted at her nose playfully and began to purr like a tiny engine as she scratched him behind the ears.
(*)
Dawn skimmed her finger down the page of the textbook in front of her as Connor slipped into the seat across from her at the library.
"Hey," he said, settling his bag down on the seat next to him.
Dawn barely glanced up, "You're late."
Connor crossed his arms on the table in front of him, leaning forward towards her. "I know, I can explain."
Dawn didn't look up as she wrote notes in her notebook.
"Dawn, please, can you just pause on the finals cramage for a couple of minutes? Can we talk?"
Dawn put her pen on the open page and looked up at him. "What?"
Connor dipped his head a little nervously before meeting her eye. "I was late because I was on the phone with my dad. I kind of decided what I want to do with my life."
Dawn's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her hairline. "Let me guess. It involves a cape and tights, right?"
"Sure I got the legs for it, but not exactly."
Dawn laughed. "Yeah, no, I got it. I was just being sarcastic. Let me guess, you wanna do the whole vampire hunter thing," she paused, biting her lip absentmindedly. "I guess that means you're going back to LA to join the family business."
"No. Dad kinda freaked out when I brought it up, he's afraid LA is still too dangerous for me. Not really sure what that's supposed to mean but I trust him," he paused, clearing his throat. "At least on this, I do anyway."
"I can see why your dad was freaking out— after everything he went through to keep you out of it," Dawn said seriously.
"Yeah, well. That's sort of the part I wanted to talk to you about. We talked it over and he actually made some really good points. He suggested that maybe I should train with Mr. Giles first and if I still want to fight then I should talk to your sister and Faith."
Dawn blinked dumbly. "So— wait, you mean you're coming to Edinburgh?"
"Dad's going to call Mr. Giles and I'll probably have to clear it with your sister too, but that's sort of the plan right now. I eh— are you cool with that?"
She continued to blink at him for a few seconds, trying to kick her brain into gear. "What about your adopted parents?"
Connor nodded, a relieved smile spreading across his face. "I already thought about that. I'm going to tell them I got an internship."
"Wow, that's— When will you know if you're actually going?"
He shrugged. "Tonight or tomorrow— Unless you don't want me to go. I mean I'm sure I could talk my dad into letting me come back to LA but I— I actually kinda—"
Dawn shook herself a little. "No! It's eh, it's great. Better than great, really it is! It would be totally lame not knowing anyone else there. You just kinda surprised me."
Connor relaxed a fraction, giving her a shy grin. "So… we're good? You're cool with me moving up there too?"
Dawn smiled. "Yeah, totally. Totally cool."
The two of them shared a tentative smile before Dawn turned her attention back to her book. Connor had no more than pulled a stack of books from his bag when there was a scream from the back of the library. His head swiveled toward the sound and back to Dawn.
"What are you looking at me for? You're the junior superhero, go on!" Dawn urged as the screams continued.
Dawn followed as Connor sprinted past shelves toward the commotion and ducked down as a small winged creature zoomed over their heads. Dawn gasped, tugging on Connor's arm. "What the heck was that?"
"Really big bug?"
Dawn shoved him in the arm. "Yeah right! That so wasn't a bug!"
They eased a little closer to a small group of people including a member of the library staff huddled around a girl Dawn recognized from one of her classes but didn't know. She was half in shock, eyes wide as she spoke very quickly to a friend of hers, who was trying to get her to calm down. Dawn slipped past Connor, brushing his shoulder as she made her way over to get the full story.
When the hysterical girl had finished, Dawn turned back to look at a bewildered Connor. "So, I know my Italian isn't the best but did she just say what I think she said?" he asked Dawn, eyebrows raised.
"Eh, if you think she said a fairy flew out of a book, you'd be right."
"What the—" Connor started to say when the fairy zoomed back past them.
The girl who had first seen it screamed, she broke away from the gawking crowd and ran out of the library, her friend following just as quickly, arms filled with books and a red sweater draped haphazardly across her shoulder.
Dawn and Connor turned back to see where the fairy had gone. He steadied himself with a hand on Dawn's shoulder as the two of them peered around the bookcase nearest them. They could see it standing next to a book on the floor. It was holding a pencil in its little hand like a staff looking as though he were in deep concentration.
It wasn't like any kind of fairy Dawn had ever seen in storybooks. It was definitely humanoid, but thin, with a slightly enlarged head that made it look like a lollipop with dragonfly wings. The oddest thing about it though was that it had fine hair covering most of its body so that it looked like it was wearing a fuzzy golden suit.
The little creature swung the pencil around, using it as a fulcrum to open the cover of the heavy book.
"What's it doing?" Conner whispered in her ear.
Dawn tried not to think about the way it felt as his breath tickled the side of her face and inhaled sharply. "I eh, I don't know. Reading maybe?" The words were scarcely out of her lips when the fairy apparently managed to find the page it was looking for.
Several dozen of the odd little creatures suddenly burst from the pages of the book, spewing violently into the air. They were a multitude of vivid colors, most of them glistening with a metallic sort of shine. The sight was both mesmerizing and a little sickening as well.
Connor pulled Dawn down protectively as the little things darted back and forth overhead like bottle rockets. Dawn groaned softly, drawing Connor's attention and he jolted with recognition when he realized he was lying on top of her. "Oh! I eh- are you alright?" Connor sputtered.
She nodded tightly. "I'm fine!" she squeaked, feeling her cheeks burn as he rolled off of her and extended his hand to help her up. She accepted his help, letting him pull her with him toward the book still lying open on the floor. Fairies were still coming from its open pages.
A few of the newcomers spotted the two of them and started to dive-bomb them, grabbing tiny fistfuls of hair as they did, yanking and tugging. Dawn screeched as she swatted them away and dived for the book. One of the fairies latched onto Connor's thumb prompting him to forcefully flick it away from him. The tiny creature flung high into the air hitting one of the pendant lights above the checkout counter.
Half a dozen fairies gripped Dawn by her long hair in an effort to pull her back from the book as she lunged forward. Connor grabbed a book at random from the shelf behind him and proceeded to use it to swat her attackers. Once free, Dawn lurched forward slamming the book shut. The library was still in complete chaos, most of the people had either fled the building or were cloistered away in offices or event rooms while the fairies continued to swarm.
Dawn picked up the book tentatively. It was a simple leather-bound volume with the title embossed in gold and was simple enough to translate.
The Gate of the Fae
Hugging the book to her chest, Dawn and Connor made it back to their table amid the flurry of fairies. She hastily grabbed her phone from her bag and pulled Connor down under the table with her while she made a call.
(*)
Willow blinked down at the phone in her hand, Dawn had ended the call abruptly but managed to get enough information across for her to get an idea of what was happening.
She looked over to Buffy and Ruby who were sitting on the floor playing with the yet-to-be-named kitten with a ball that had feathers sticking out from one end. The microwave beeped and Spike strode back into the living room with a mug in hand.
"What's with the face, Red?" he asked, taking a drink.
Willow bit her lip as she caught Buffy's eye. "Eh, Buffy, that was Dawn. She's ehh— sort of under attack…"
Buffy jumped to her feet, scaring the kitten who ran and lept into Ruby's lap. "What do you mean under attack? She's supposed to be studying!"
"Well, she is, or was… I mean that's where she is. But eh, the library is sort of being taken over by—" Willow hesitated, knowing what she was about to say sounded crazy even by their standards, "—fairies. They came out of a book from the sound of it."
Buffy's eyes widened as she turned a stunned gaze to Spike who chuckled around a sip of blood and shrugged calmly, taking a seat on the couch.
"What the heck is funny about my sister being under attack?" Buffy asked.
"They're bloody fairies, that's what's so funny," he laughed. "Sure they're a nuisance but it's not like they're exactly hard to get rid of, especially if the portal, or book in this case, is still about."
"I think I speak for all of us when I say, huh?"
Spike just smiled and pointed to the kitten trying to hide his face in the crook of Ruby's elbow. "It's time for the wee one's first fight."
Ruby looked up at him incredulously. "One little kitten is supposed to eradicate how many fairies? He's just a baby."
"That's where we come in, grasshopper. Could be our predatory nature or maybe just the eyes, but fairies, being the geniuses they are, seem to think we're nothing more than big cats. Time to have some fun."
(*)
Willow turned her key in the lock letting them into the library through a side door. She took the kitten from Ruby as she led their group into the main room which was filled with the sound of the frantic fluttering of wings. The fairies filled the library, whizzing around like a swarm of insects.
Spike's eyes glinted gold as he watched them with almost catlike interest, nudging Ruby in the ribs. "I'll take the left, you go right."
"Come on, Will, we have a book and a Dawn to find," Buffy said.
"Her favorite table is back here," Willow gestured with the hand holding the kitten.
He yowled loudly at the sight of the glittering fairies above. The sound drew the attention of the fairies just as Spike and Ruby broke away from the group, striding along the shelves lining the walls. A sudden frightful wail like a siren went up as the fairies let out a cry in unison, their movements becoming increasingly frantic and wild.
Buffy couldn't help shaking her head as Spike leaped up onto a table with a growl.
Is that seriously your best cat impression? She teased through their link.
A wild grin stretched across Spike's face, showcasing his fangs and he let out a sound very similar to a seriously pissed-off jaguar, driving the fairies further back. He shot Buffy a wink as he bounded gleefully from one table to the next making big cat sounds. Ruby took her cue from him although her sounds were significantly less impressive. So much so, that she quickly decided to imitate a house cat meowing for their dinner which seemed to be just as effective.
As much as she was enjoying the odd display, Buffy knew she still had a job to do. She grabbed Willow's kitten-free arm, pulling her along with her toward the tables. As they drew near she spotted her sister's bookbag and slipped down next to the table. "Hey, sis, how's the study session going? Should I assume the cutie is more than just your study partner?" Buffy said in a tone that nearly succeeded in hiding her skepticism.
Connor waved shyly and Dawn swatted his hand down. "Well duh, this is Connor and he's coming back to Edinburgh with us, so be nice."
"He's doing what now?" Buffy gaped.
"Hum, guys— could we move this along? Mr. Fuzz-man is getting the squirmies. We need to find the book," Willow said as she stood next to Buffy with the kitten held high like baby Simba in The Lion King, keeping the fairies at bay.
Dawn's brow furrowed. "Mr. Fuzz-man?"
"Total placeholder name— I hope— Nevermind!" she huffed. "Do you have the book or-" Buffy cut off when Dawn shoved it into her arms. She stood, spinning in place to hand the book over to Willow. "Give me the kitty," she urged, ignoring her sister's surprised squeal from under the table.
Willow nodded seriously, taking the book as Buffy dashed toward the front of the library holding the kitten tucked protectively in her arms until she was in place. She held the kitten with both hands pointing him towards the fairies like a weapon as the tiny kitten hissed and meowed squeakily as Spike and Ruby came around toward her.
Together the three of them faced Willow. Without the kitten as a safeguard, the fairies had begun to dive-bomb Willow as she scrambled to find the right page. She let out a scream when several of them started pelting her with chess pieces.
Connor rushed out from under the table, grabbing one of the chairs and holding it up as a shield to defend her. "Any time now!" he grunted.
"Keep your shirt on it's— Here! I found it!!!" Willow exclaimed, she shouted an incantation and the book began to glow a bright lush green. She bent over the table, laying the book out flat then dived under it to join Dawn.
Connor threw the chair to the side with a yelp when Dawn grabbed his pant leg to pull him back down with them. He stooped down meeting her wide eyes. "They need help," he replied simply.
Dawn nodded once. "I'd feel better if you at least had a fly-swatter."
Connor grinned in response before running toward the back of the library. He grabbed two large flat atlases and began waving them around, driving the fairies forward.
Dawn watched him from under the table and caught Willow's eye.
Willow nodded in silent agreement and the two of them darted toward the back waving their arms wildly to join him.
Buffy adjusted her hand under the kitten giving him better support as he continued to hiss and growl his tiny head off.
"That's it, mate, show 'em who's the big bad here," Spike chuckled to the kitten as the six of them (seven, counting a very angry kitten) pushed the frantic fairies toward the glowing book.
As they advanced, the fairies started to change direction diving downward into the glowing portal of the book, funneling in like a small tornado of frightened fairies. When the last ones disappeared, the book slammed shut on its own, and all was still and quiet.
"And here I thought our days of showdowns in the library were long gone," Buffy mused.
"Did not miss the clean-up," Willow muttered as she started picking up debris.
Dawn rushed over to her sister, taking the kitten from her cooing softly. "Oh my goodness you are just the cutest little thing!" She exclaimed.
The kitten, for his part, seemed to be settling down and looking rather pleased with himself after a job well done, let her cradle him in her arms as he yawned.
Buffy turned to Connor crossing her arms over her chest. "So you're coming with us to Scotland, huh?"
Connor cleared his throat nervously, but before he could answer Willow cried out in frustration drawing their attention.
She was bent over examining the book.
"Should you really be doing that?" Buffy asked.
"At least I know better than to just read random incantations. How the heck did I miss this?" Willow complained. "Part of the reason I got this job was to keep a lookout for books like this. Giles heard a rumor that the family of some occult collector had donated a bunch of books to the library but I thought I'd got them all… I could have prevented this if I hadn't been so distracted by— well, everything," she whined.
"Look on the bright side, no one was killed and you have another book to add to the 'do not open' shelf in the castle library," Buffy replied.
"Not to mention a library to scour before the move. I definitely don't want something like this happening after we're gone," Willow added.
"Good thing you have helpers," Ruby grinned.
Willow relaxed at that. "That's definitely of the good."
(*)
"Oh come on Buffy, I got that one in like two seconds. How can you be so bad at this when Spike is so good?" Dawn complained to her sister.
After they had finished cleaning up at the library, Connor excused himself to go back to his dormitory to call Giles and prepare for his own finals; they had ordered takeout for their night in.
When they had finished eating, Dawn practically begged for a game night. Charades had been Willow's idea.
"Seriously, Spike, for someone who swore a blue streak he didn't want to play, you're really good at this," Ruby interjected. The kitten rolled in her lap batting up at her playfully.
"Just been around a bit," Spike replied with a shrug. "Still loosin', better step it up, Slayer."
"Oh my god Spike, you are so avoiding!" Buffy gaped.
Spike shifted in his seat, not meeting her gaze. "Don't know what you're talking about. You know what I do know? I know that you'd better guess this next one right quick if we have any chance of even staying in the blasted game at all."
"There's something you're not saying," Dawn pushed.
"Lots of things I'm not saying, like how hard is it to name a kitten?" Spike retorted.
Buffy eyed him suspiciously. "Ah huh… Let me guess. Lots of time spent inside on sunny days keeping Dru entertained?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Developed a bit of a knack for it I guess."
"Just when I think I've got you figured out, I find out you're an onion!" Willow exclaimed, then pouted at the head tilts from everyone there. "You know, layers?"
"Oh sure, got that," he rolled his eyes and swore under his breath.
"Language!" Willow chided, making Ruby giggle.
"You pull out some Shakespeare and maybe," Buffy teased Spike in a low tone.
The comment went right over Willow and Dawn's heads but Ruby nearly choked on her sip of wine.
"Well… 'Lay on MacDuff!'" he grinned shamelessly.
"Come again?" Buffy asked.
Spike raked his eyes over her. "Plan to, Love."
"I thought it was "Lead on" right?" Dawn asked, ignoring Spike's remark.
"Nope. 'Lay on', it's a challenge, like 'Bring it' or 'Let's dance'," Ruby explained, swallowing another sip of wine, thankful she couldn't blush. She picked up the kitten, examining him carefully.
"Oh, yeah… that sort of makes more sense now…" Dawn mused, munching happily on some cheese curls, completely oblivious.
"I think he looks like an Ignatius," Ruby said triumphantly.
Willow leaned in closer to Ruby, pouting playfully. "Ignatius?"
"You don't like it?" Ruby asked.
"I like. It's just kinda formal-y isn't it? Like he should be wearing a little top hat and monocle, right?" Willow said, brow furrowing.
Ruby laughed, kissing Willow on the cheek. "He'll need a nickname of course."
"I already said Iggy," Spike grinned, shifting back comfortably in his seat.
Ruby's face lit up with a bright smile. "Oh come on, Babe, it's cute isn't it? A little prim, a little rock, all fuzzy adorable-ness?" She teased, dancing the kitten with his little front legs spread out like he was asking for a hug in front of Willow's face.
Willow seemed to melt as she took the kitten into her hands gently. "What do you think, Ignatius?"
"Iggy?" Ruby countered. The kitten twisted himself in Willow's grasp, pawing the air in Ruby's direction.
"Traitor," Willow answered, handing him back over to Ruby. She was trying for a pout but it broke into a wide grin to match Ruby's.
Buffy laughed at the exchange and shifted forward in her seat. "Are we going to continue the game or what?"
Willow stretched her arms above her head. "I don't know, I kinda want to hear about your whole European experience, how was it?" she asked.
Buffy jumped up, practically diving for her suitcase. She pulled out a somewhat crumpled white paper bag and settled back on the couch next to Spike. She started pulling out gifts she had collected, passing them out, the game forgotten, much to Spike's relief. Buffy was more than happy to fill Dawn, Willow, and Ruby in on their trip as they ate Belgian chocolates, and gushed over the scarves Buffy had picked up in Switzerland.
Spike stretched his arms out along the back of the couch as he watched the scene unfold before him. Buffy was practically glowing as she told them stories about the various places they had visited and people they had met. He joined the conversation at appropriate intervals but for the most part, he was more than happy to sit back, listening to Buffy talk about their experience. That had been the point of the trip originally after all, he had wanted to share something special with Buffy, see Europe through her eyes. An experience he had relished each moment of. Yet seeing her smiling and laughing, brighter and lighter than he had seen her in years was the most rewarding part of the entire trip for him. It was enough to make everything he had ever been through for her, seem worthwhile.
He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he had missed the shift in conversation.
"I can't wait to leave Rome," Willow said earnestly. "Too many ookie memories here."
Ruby rubbed her back reassuringly. "Can honestly say I'm certainly looking forward to the comforts of home."
"How about it, Nibblet, you looking forward to the move?" Spike asked, joining back in on the conversation.
"I think I'm with Willow on this one, it's time for a change. And as much as my Italian has improved, eh yeah, I'm totally looking forward to living somewhere where I don't have to carry around a pocket dictionary. That and I really miss our mix-and-match family."
"I second that!" Buffy smiled approvingly at her sister and gave her a one-armed hug.
"Also having my own private bathroom is so totally going to rock!" Dawn beamed.
Buffy rolled her eyes and Spike smirked.
"Humm yeah, speaking of, you do realize that means you have to clean it yourself too right?" Buffy retorted.
Dawn deflated slightly, then gave a little shrug. "Yeah but at least I only have to clean up after myself. How bad can that be?"
Willow and Buffy exchanged knowing looks, averting eye contact quickly.
Buffy pressed her lips together, determined to change the subject. "Did you get everything ironed out with school in Edinburgh yet?" Buffy asked Dawn and yelped as Spike pulled her into his lap.
"Yup, got my credits transferred and I'm all set for the next semester," Dawn answered.
"Oh, that's good."
Dawn raised an eyebrow as Spike started nuzzling her sister's neck. "Are we still talking about my education or are we talking about my brother-in-law and his PDA problem?"
"Oi, I haven't even found a proper ring yet," Spike countered.
"I don't care what you say, you two are totally married in my mind," Dawn answered smugly.
"Yeah, well, I hate to break this up but I'm getting tired, think my wife and I are gonna call it a night," he paused, knowing full well no one was fooled by a vampire going to bed at 11 o'clock at night (especially not another vampire) and seriously not caring. "Shall we, Pet?"
"Hummm, yeah, it's getting pretty late. Dawn you have school tomorrow, time for bed young lady, it's finals week," Buffy said. The whole effect was diminished when she gave an obviously fake yawn.
"Lame! And don't remind me," Dawn grumbled. "But come on, like anyone is supposed to believe you two are really sleeping."
"School, bed, now please," Buffy insisted.
"Alright fine, but you two better not keep me up!" Dawn called after them.
(*)
Moving day had finally arrived.
Dawn's finals were over.
Everything was packed.
And everyone was more than ready for the move north.
Xander stood in the middle of Buffy and Willow's living room, surrounded by moving boxes, looking down at the spot where Vivian had transported the two of them. "Hey, there used to be a coffee table here, right?" he asked the room at large.
Vivian turned around in a slow circle eying Willow, Ruby, Dawn, Connor, and Buffy in turn, until lastly, she spotted her cousin standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest.
"When I told you I'd help, I didn't think I would be moving a half dozen people and all their crap," she said glaringly.
"You can do it, know you got the juice," Spike retorted.
She shifted defensively, eyes widening slightly. "Do you think I want to get in trouble with my boss?" she hissed.
Spike grinned, reaching a hand out to pull Buffy close to him. "Thought of that little cousin," he paused for dramatic effect then a little louder, and far more dramatic than necessary he said, "Oh woe is me a poor poet, wasting my talents away in a foreign country, oh how I wish I could move everyone in our flat and all our stuff to our new home to where I can find my muse to write my poetry."
Vivian shook her head laughing. "Oh William, you brilliant idiot," she muttered. "Wish granted."
A/N: Iggy will definitely be making more appearances, however, if you are Jonesing for more Spike and kitten cuteness then I highly recommend checking out Geliot99's one-shot 'Hello Kitten'!