Vivian had transported them directly into the shared entryway of the duplex, along with all of their possessions, which made it more than a little difficult to see all of the changes that had taken place. It had been so long since Buffy had stepped foot in the building. She wasn't sure what she should expect. Yes, she had been in communication with Callum and his mother since they had left and they received regular updates but seeing their new home in person for the first time was a different story.
Buffy watched with concern as Xander steadied himself with a hand on Vivian's shoulder. "Are you alright there Xan?" Buffy asked.
He nodded, looking a little seasick. "I'm alright, it just takes a second to get my land legs back under me."
"Not a pirate's life for you, huh?" Willow teased, not looking much better herself.
"Aye, I be a landlubber through and through," Xander quipped, standing up fully with a soft squeeze on Vivian's shoulder.
Vivian for her part just stood in the center of the commotion of boxes looking around the room lit up with the now clean and sparkling chandelier. Buffy's eyes brightened at the sight of the restored antique and let herself take in the fresh paint on the walls (a soft gray with white trim) and the now shining wooden details including the massive entrance bench and the tables that had been placed next to each of the doors.
"Wow, Vivian, that's some service," Ruby exclaimed, steadying Willow with an arm around her waist.
"It's the only way to travel really," Vivian winked.
"No complaints here. Thanks, Viv," Buffy replied as she turned to take in her moving companions. "Shame this stuff can't move itself just as easily," she sighed as she picked up two boxes stacked atop each other, heading for the door.
"The only reason we're even inside is because of William and Ruby, otherwise you'd be out in the garden. You're welcome," Vivian replied brightly, shifting her hair from her shoulders.
"Cheers, Viv," Spike muttered as he scooped up a stack of boxes.
Xander hopped over a few boxes to get the door for Buffy while Spike followed behind.
Buffy stopped abruptly only a few feet inside, causing Spike to bump into her.
"Oi! What're you—" he stopped, mouth open. "Wow."
"Ah huh…" Buffy replied dumbly, settling down the boxes to take in the freshly remodeled space.
When they had first agreed on the predominantly black-and-white color scheme Buffy had some reservations that it would feel too sterile. As it turned out, those concerns had been grossly and ridiculously unfounded.
The hardwood floors running throughout, blended seamlessly with the polished wood of the stairs going to the upper floor and balanced the white walls and black cabinets in the kitchen with the various shades of gray in the living room in a range of textures. A combination of soft fabrics and hard angles made the entire place feel deliciously warm and inviting.
She gasped when she saw the painting Vivian had gifted them had been given a place of honor above the gray stone fireplace.
"Spike?"
He set his boxes down next to hers and moved to wrap his arms around her. "Welcome home, pet."
Buffy felt the burn of tears as she pulled his arms more tightly around herself. Despite all of her endless flipping through home improvement magazines, meetings, emails, and chats with Mrs. Ross; she hadn't truly known what to expect. She had hopes and dreams and assumptions but they all paled in comparison to the reality they stood in.
"It's ours, Spike, it's really our home," she breathed.
Spike squeezed her gently just as Xander set down a box and stood up with his hands on his hips. "I'm gonna go help Willow get settled in. Eh, has anyone thought about where we're putting Angel's kid?" Xander interrupted, hitching a thumb over his shoulder.
"I'm thinking the castle is a big bad kind of idea so I thought maybe he could stay in Ruby's old room on your side?" Buffy asked almost apologetically.
Xander chuckled. "Sorta figured but since Willow and Ruby sort of disappeared on me… I think they're checking out the place," Xander said with a bob of his chin. Then scratching his head nervously he added, "I hope they like what I did with the place over there. Willow didn't give me a whole lot to go on but I swear that Mrs. Ross is some kind of a miracle worker."
"Can't wait to see it, but ya know— kinda big with the overwhelmedness here," Buffy said gesturing around their new home. She peered over Xander's shoulder as something caught her eye on the far wall of the kitchen and she raised an eyebrow at him. "Is that a window?" she asked skeptically.
"Damn odd place for one," Spike added.
Xander spun around to a spot at the end of the counter, just a little to the right of the sink where a set of wide black shutters were drawn closed over the designated spot for the kitchen garbage bin, with a smile. "Oh, yeah! That was sort of supposed to be a surprise! I thought it might be nice to have a peek-through window between the two places," Xander grinned.
Spike chuckled, inclining his head toward Buffy. Hope they realize I got plans of shagging you senseless on every available surface when the Bit ain't 'round… might get a show they ain't expectin'…
Buffy bit back a laugh and strode over to the window to open the shutter and was surprised to come face to face with a solid wooden panel.
She cast Xander a quizzical look and he came over pulling up on a small handle carved into the bottom. "It's a pocket door. You know, for knocking purposes," he explained, pulling it up smoothly and revealing the backside of a second set of shutters painted a cozy forest green.
The green shutters opened suddenly revealing a grinning Willow. "Hey there neighbor!"
"Because walking through the entranceway would be such a hassle," Buffy rolled her eyes with a laugh.
"It sure beats using the telephone though right?" Xander replied cautiously.
"It's definitely a unique feature," Buffy nodded.
"Oh, Xan, can you help us get stuff set up and I'll send Dawn over," Willow said.
Xander nodded. "Yeah I'll be over, I told Faith and Callum I'd let them know when we got you guys back. Callum wants to do a walkthrough with all of you."
"Deal!" Willow agreed, turning back into her kitchen without closing the shutters on her side.
(*)
Buffy collapsed on the bed in their new bedroom, relishing in the cozy atmosphere. The mostly monochromatic color scheme had been continued into their bedroom but with even more patterns and textures that essentially had the effect of making it a place Buffy never wanted to leave.
After taking care of all the necessary moving day duties, checking in with everyone in the castle and calling Mrs. Ross, to express their gratitude for all of her hard work, she was almost too tired to crawl under the white duvet and in between their new charcoal colored sheets. She had managed to do little more than remove her jeans and sweater and was sprawled on the bed in her socks, underwear, and a tank top.
Spike came in, from the hallway to lean against the dresser with a sexy smirk on his face. "You're giving me mixed signals here, pet. The lack of clothing says 'take me I'm yours' but the socks say 'touch me and die'," he chuckled.
Buffy huffed a tired laugh. "How about we meet in the middle and take a nap?"
"Won't argue with you on that one," he murmured as he strode over to the bed, moving several throw pillows and pulling up the covers as far as her presence allowed. "Go on in with you."
Buffy muttered in soft protest and maneuvered herself into bed as Spike stripped down and crawled in next to her. She wiggled her hips against him, settling in comfortably and drawing a moan from Spike. "Keep that up and a nap is gonna be the last thing you're gonna get out of me," he grinned.
"Sexiness later, sleepy now."
Hours later Buffy awoke to find Spike gone. The sun was just starting to set. Buffy padded into the bathroom where she found him showering in the glass shower stall. "Hey, you."
"Hey yourself," he answered sullenly as the steam swirled around him thickly.
"Everything alright?"
"Just… weird dreams, first an obstacle course made of jello… kept getting stuck. Then all of a sudden I'm freezing my ass off in a blizzard fighting some sort of giant icicle thing I've never seen before. That one was so… real… felt like I needed to warm my corpse a bit," he said, giving a pronounced shiver.
She furrowed her brow. "That doesn't sound normal."
"No kiddin… which part?"
"All of it; but mainly the part where you make me out to be a Necrophiliac."
"Oh don't start, not in the mood," he grumbled.
Buffy noted his serious tone, a little of the new house excitement draining out of her. "Alright, so this dream; was it like the ones that led you to me in Paris?"
"Doubt it, prophetic dreams aren't usually my thing…"
"But it has happened. Could it be a new thing?"
"Hope not, Love," he said, still feeling warmth returning to his fingers and toes thanks to the hot water. "I can't remember ever feeling cold like that. I'm a sodden vampire, I take on ambient temperature, I don't normally, you know- feel cold like that. It was like— like I was freezing."
"Ok yeah, that is seriously weird"
"Tellin' me…"
She watched him warm himself under the hot water "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Will be, thanks for the concern, Pet."
"You finish up. I'm going to work on some of these boxes."
"Cheers, Love."
(*)
Spike eyed the cards in his hand, glancing up at his companions. Xander was chewing his fingernails, brow furrowed. Too bad they weren't playing for cash or else he'd be making a killing off the welp. They had been back in Edinburgh for a couple of weeks now and settling into a routine. So much so that it seemed like the perfect time to give in to Xander's pestering and invite the guys over for a poker night.
Their basement had been transformed into what Buffy called "The Spike Space" which was nothing more than a combination of a game room and second living room, with access to the laundry and utility closet, and of course the access tunnel. The basement had been painted, rugs laid, and furniture had been added. There was now a couch, a couple of chairs, a television, and a mini fridge. The perfect place to hang out.
It was simple enough to set up a table in the basement and Spike found he didn't hate the idea of hosting the game in their new place.
Steve, the bartender, ran his fingers over the ridges of his tightly curling horns in a bored gesture and took a sip of his drink.
Connor had barely said a word, just watched each of them in turn. The more Spike studied the boy, the more conflicted his opinion of the kid became. On one hand, he genuinely seemed to be a good kid who cared about Dawn. Then on the other hand he sometimes reminded him forcefully of his parents. He could see Darla in his eyes especially when he smiled and Angel in the way he would furrow his brow as he sat thinking.
Spike sighed, letting his gaze shift to Callum who leaned forward in his seat with his elbows planted on the table in front of him, concern etched on his face. Considering Callum had a healthy stack of chips in front of him, Spike didn't think it had anything to do with the poker game.
"What's got your knickers in a bunch over there, Cal?" Spike drawled, placing his bet.
Connor and Xander both asked for cards and Spike dealt them out without taking his eyes off Callum.
Callum shifted uncomfortably under his stare and cleared his throat. "Just a lot on my mind."
Xander flickered his eyes from Callum to Spike. "My money is on Faith, he's got that 'women trouble' look."
Callum snorted, shifting through his cards. "Do not."
"Do so," Spike countered lazily.
Steve threw down a card. "No use denying it with this lot, lad, like an open book you are," he muttered, accepting another card from Spike.
"Can we just focus on the game please?" Callum retorted.
"I don't really know Faith that well, but I do know that my dad would probably fly over here just to rip your head off if you broke her heart," Connor interjected.
Spike raised an eyebrow at Connor. "Well, ain't you a cheerful chip off the old blockhead."
Callum huffed. "Knock it off. Ain't nobody getting there heartbroken… 'cept maybe me…"
"Been there," Xander grumbled.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Steve asked Callum, suddenly showing more interest in the conversation than he had been a moment before.
"I mean that I've been thinking 'bout asking her to marry me," Callum sighed heavily.
His revelation was met with stunned silence.
"Wow… that— that's—" Xander sputtered.
"Suppose I'm missing something. Why not just ask?" Steve asked.
"Faith isn't exactly known for being the romantic type," Spike answered.
"Or the sticking around type but you seem to have got around that one—" Xander continued. "That's some kind of major weirdness all by itself."
Callum rolled his head back with a sigh of exasperation. "Thanks for illustrating the problem— git."
Spike snorted a laugh.
"Already got the ring and I can't help thinking she'll rabbit the minute I pull it out," Callum continued.
"That was a bold move," Spike replied. "Course I'm one to talk got the girl in every way that counts and I can't seem to find a ring I feel confident enough to put on her sodding finger."
Connor sat quietly, shifting in his seat, unwilling to engage in the conversation more than he had already.
Steve shook his head. "I think you're both being a couple of barmy twits. It's hard enough finding a mate, no reason to complicate matters as much as you lot seem to think."
Callum tilted his head considering Steve. "Maybe you're right."
"Of course I'm right, have you seen my wife? I had to marry her fast before someone swiped her away. Best decision I ever made and now my Bonnie just informed me we've got a wee little lamb on the way," Steve replied.
Callum's predicament was temporarily pushed to the side by all but Callum himself as the table erupted into a round of congratulations in response to Steve's announcement.
Spike reached over to cuff him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, mate."
Steve smiled broadly. "I couldn't be happier, we've always talked about having our own flock."
Callum let Steve's elation and Spike's support of his friend roll over him, pushing aside the thought of Bonnie playing Little Bo-peep with a bunch of lambs frolicking around her and focusing on the ring burning a hole in his pocket. He wasn't about to delude himself into believing she would want to have a family with him. He was more than happy being the fun uncle.
Marrying Faith was the main goal, the rest was window dressing.
Callum laid his cards on the table. "I'm out. Congratulations, Steve, I've got something I've got to take care of," he said, excusing himself from the poker table. He took a deep breath, turned and strode up the basement stairs.
His gut knotted with an intensity he hadn't felt since he'd given up competitive fighting. He took a deep breath, steeling his nerves as he made his way through the kitchen to the living room where Faith was sitting chatting and ignoring a movie with Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Ruby, Bonnie, and Lilias (whose mate had offered to stay home with the baby). All eyes swiveled to him as he attempted to approach Faith where she lounged in a black crushed velvet wingback chair sipping a glass of wine.
"Hey, babe, game over already?" Faith asked.
Callum cleared his throat a little nervously. "Nah, the fellas are still at it. I- I wanted to have a private word if you don't mind."
Faith downed her wine, setting down the glass, and stood with a little shrug. "This gonna be a fun time kind of talk?"
He rubbed the back of his neck eyeing the room at large.
Buffy leaned forward in her seat. "Go on you two, I think we'll be fine," she said, sipping her wine.
Callum gave her a tight-lipped smile before guiding Faith out into the entranceway to grab their coats.
The December temperatures had been dropping steadily and the snow drifted around their ankles as they walked. They had only made it about halfway to the castle when Callum stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
She turned to him, confusion on her face. "What's up with you? I thought we were gonna go have some fun."
He grinned sheepishly. "I can only hope that's where this is going." He cleared his throat hesitantly before dipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out the ring he'd been carrying around for the past month.
Faith narrowed her eyes at the ring held up between finger and thumb. "What's that?"
He bit the inside of his cheek turning it between his fingers, letting the white Christmas lights from the castle glint off of the diamond. "This?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "This is a shiny little token of my desire to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you, Faith, and if you're willing, I'd like you to be my wife." He dropped to one knee. "What'd ya say, Lass, will you marry me?"
Faith blinked down at him kneeling in the snow. "You wanna do what now?"
"I'd like to marry you, I'm asking if you feel the same."
"You're sure about this?"
"I'm not down in the snow here to ice my knee, been thinking 'bout it since the cave… carrying round this little bauble for quite some time too… I'm sure. What I don't know is if you're even willing."
"I'm— Stand up, Cal, I can't do this with you down there. It's just weird."
"Letting me down gently then?" he asked, standing up and dusting the snow off.
"Now who's being all squirmy about us, huh?" she countered, flashing him a smile.
"Telling me I don't have a reason to squirm?"
Faith laid her gloved hand on his chest looking up into his eyes. "Now what kind of a question is that? You know I love making you squirm so what makes you think our wedding night will be any different?"
"Music to my ears, beautiful," he murmured, cupping her jaw and drawing her in for a kiss, Faith parted her lips granting him access and melting against him. Callum pulled back, still clutching the ring. "Should I take that as a 'yes'?"
"Put the damn ring on my finger. Of course, it's a yes."
A wide grin broke across his face as she pulled off her glove and he slid the ring on. "God, I love you!" he exclaimed, picking her up by the waist and twirling her around with him in the snow. He set her down, still smiling.
"I love you too, Cal. Now, do you mind if we move this into my room? I'm turning into a freeze-pop out here."
"Need your future husband to warm you up?"
"Something like that."
(*)
"Buffy!" Spike gasped, waking up out of a dead sleep. "Buffy?" he called out again, reaching over to her empty side of the bed, "Slayer?"
"Over here!" Buffy said thickly around her toothbrush and stepped out of the bathroom. "I'm right here."
Spike flopped onto his back, relief washing through him. He had barely gone to bed and he was already having nightmares. He cleared his throat trying to sound casual, "You're up early, what's up?"
"I was trying to sneak out to do some Christmas shopping while Dawn is out with Will and Connor. You alright?"
"Just another dream… got a bit— it's nothing."
"Was it the ice demon one again?"
"Yeah, it'd just slammed you into a wall. Was a bit out of sorts when you weren't in bed."
Buffy removed the toothbrush from her mouth, "These nightmares seem to be getting worse."
"They're not all nightmares. Sometimes they are just memories from my past— and sometimes that's worse…" he ran a hand over his bare chest.
"There has to be a reason for it. Has anything been bothering you?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary. I suspect a lot of these are just my soul and my brain workin' out the things I've done. Been cropping up more since I started working with Ruby again."
Buffy didn't respond right away, "Have you talked to Angel about this stuff? I know you two have your differences but he's the only person on earth with any idea of what you're going through, it could be good for Ruby too."
"I talked to him a bit. Didn't get all touchy-feely or anything but we've had a talk or two."
"Do you think it would help to talk to him again?"
"Right, call 'em up and say what exactly? 'Daddy, I had a nightmare', not bloody likely."
"I don't know how I feel about you calling him 'Daddy'," Buffy paused, smirking slightly before pushing on, "I'll talk to Willow, maybe she can do something to help."
"Just so long as I don't wake up as 'Randy' again. Don't fancy having my melon messed with, Pet."
"I'm just thinking something to help you sleep, or maybe even get to the root of it."
"We'll see," he grumbled. "Can we just talk about something else, please?"
"Fine. What do you want for Christmas?" She asked changing the subject and ducking back into the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth.
Spike laid back against the pillows. "Can't say I know."
"Ok, vampire— not into the Christmas thing, I get it."
"I never said that-"
"So you're good with Christmas?" she asked skeptically, coming back into their bedroom.
"You know I like presents," he said with a leer, rolling onto his side with his elbow on the mattress, head propped up in his hand.
"Noted, Spike likes presents. What kind of presents?" Buffy strolled, across the woven black-and-white plaid rug covering their bedroom floor.
"Surprise me, Pet. I'm not particular, a bottle of whiskey, you in a slinky little number, maybe get the handcuffs out again? You know what I like," he said curling his tongue behind his teeth.
"That covers what I'd already had planned for the 'X' rated portion of the festivities." She crawled onto the bed until she sat straddling him in her bathrobe. "So what about something family-friendly you can open under the tree?"
"Better make it something dreadfully dull, a new shirt, or a book perhaps? Think Jim Butcher's got a new one out."
"That's the one with the crazy wizard detective right?" she murmured against his throat as she planted sweet kisses.
"That's the one— got to see what comes— next," he answered distractedly.
"I'm sure Santa Buffy will come up with something you'll like."
"I'm more interested in whether she'll be naughty or nice," he growled, moving his hands up her thighs and gripping her hips.
"You're just going to have to be a good boy and find out, now won't you?"
"Not sure it's in me, Love," he emphasized the statement with a grind of his hips, pressing his member against her folds.
"Oh I happen to know you can be really, really, really— nice… when you want to," she moaned as she trailed kisses down his pale chest then pulled back to position herself over him.
Spike let out a growl of pleasure as Buffy started to rock, impaling herself onto his hard cock.
"Speaking of nice," he murmured as he helped her slip off her robe. "Hello there, Santa Buffy!"
"Oh, I'm just getting started with you," she purred with a roll of her hips.
Spike adjusted his grip on her thigh, moving one hand up to massage her nub with the pad of his thumb. He was rewarded with a squeeze of her inner muscles around his cock. Grabbing her thighs, he pulled her up off of him with a yelp of protest until he slid down onto the bed and she realized what he wanted.
Buffy grinned down at him as she adjusted to straddle his head, thighs pressing against his ears. He moaned hungrily with an open mouth kiss against her clit working his tongue in broad circles toward her opening, collecting her sweet essence there with a groan as he pushed his tongue deeper into her heat.
Buffy gasped, clinging to the wrought iron headboard as she broke, shaking with the force of her orgasm. Spike lapped at her greedily, digging his fingers into her thighs devouring her as she rolled her hips, riding out her high. She slumped over onto her side panting and gripping her waist, Spike dragged her down onto the bed rolling so she was pinned beneath him.
He nuzzled his face between her breasts moving to take one into his mouth before adjusting himself to plunge his cock back into her with a growl.
"Gahhh— s-Spike—" she panted as he pistoned his hips, moving his mouth up to her neck.
"That's it, Kitten, wrap those beautiful legs of yours round me."
Buffy did as he asked, gripping his hips tightly with her thighs and hooked her ankles together at the base of his spine, digging her heels into the muscle of his ass. It didn't take more than a few more pumps of Spike's hips before she fell over the edge again, pulling him along with her with a howl of ecstasy.
"I might have to give this Christmas spirit thing a try if it's always like that," Spike said in a slightly raspy voice as he flopped onto his back.
"So much for my early shopping trip," Buffy joked, still catching her breath, "I guess I should go now."
"Wouldn't say no to another tussle, Love ."
"I really need to get out of here if I'm going to get any shopping done at all today." She separated herself from him with a playful groan and slipped out of bed.
She dressed quickly in a simple winter dress in green with white snowflakes that she paired with high black boots and a fitted black jacket.
Spike never took his eyes off of her as she dressed.
"What would you say to going out tomorrow night?" He asked.
"Are we talking date? Like a club or something?"
"I was thinking about going to the museum, I already got the tickets."
"You're kidding?"
He shifted up onto his elbows. "I wasn't, but if you don't want—"
"No, it's not that, you just surprised me,"
"I just saw an advertisement for a new exhibit that opens tomorrow and thought you might enjoy it. Call it an early Christmas gift," he answered with a grin.
"When did you get so sweet?" she asked, pulling out a cute stocking hat with a furry puff on the top.
"You take that back, I've got a reputation to uphold."
"Humm… yeah okay, you're a sexy badass," she said, rolling her eyes into the mirror as she threw on a little lipstick. She looked behind herself at the spot where Spike's reflection should have been, "I can't wait for our night out, but right now I have to get going because I want to get some Christmas shopping done before Dawn gets back. I still need to get something for the girls and Ruby too," she said, casting an eye outside. "It's really overcast out there today. Do you want to come along and get a little shopping done?"
Spike shifted himself to sit up on the edge of the bed. "You think the birds are going to be getting me gifts?"
"Well yeah. It's sort of what people do at Christmas. I know for a fact that Will already got you something. I think somebody needs to get into the holiday spirit, mister."
"My Christmas spirit comes in a bottle, Love," he chuckled.
She gave him a withering look.
"All right, all right, point taken, but can't you just add my name to the gifts you get?" he argued.
She glared at him incredulously. "Seriously?"
"I'll head over to the bookshop, tunnels come out next to the back door, I think the guy's starting to know me there."
"See there you go, books for all! Willow will love it!" she replied happily.
"Yeah well, it's usually what I always got as a kid."
"Really?"
He shrugged easily. "Well I mean I had a few toys, tin soldiers, and such, but yeah. I liked books so that's what my folks usually got me."
Buffy stopped what she was doing to look at him. "You've never really talked about your childhood before."
"Not much to talk about. I don't remember a lot, bit more's been coming back recently though. Bit odd really."
"Do you think these memories have anything to do with your dreams?"
"Not a clue. Can't see how. Doesn't matter, you'd better be off. Toss me a shirt will ya, Love?"