Chapter 24 Dance Magic

Chapter 24 Dance Magic

When they got to the club Callum was chatting with the bouncer at the door, “Oi, Marcus, there’s my Lass and her lot now, want you to meet ‘em,” Callum looked a little surprised when he noticed the tall dark haired vampire with them, “Oi, Angel, didn’t expect you here. Thought Faith said you were more of a quiet night in sort.”

“Just being social. Owed Faith a favor.”

Callum quickly introduced them all to Marcus, a powerfully built man with a dark complexion, nearly as tall as Callum. “Faith love, this is the friend I mentioned. The one who helped Angus hold me back. He’s a good friend.”

“I got one of those too,” she said, hooking a thumb towards Angel who was making a feeble attempt at looking friendly.

Callum pulled her in for a quick kiss, “What do ya say Marcus?”

“Oh go on then, just because you got a lady with a crew,” he winked and waved them through with an easy grin, “Have a good time Ross. Oh, ‘fore I forget; We still on for that thing at your brothers place next weekend?”

“Sure thing,” Callum answered as he pulled Faith in close to him and through into the club. He bent low to her ear, “That sweet little number for me?” he asked as he took in the strappy backless black dress she had worn with Ursula’s boots.

“What do you think?”

“I think I’m going to need you to come back to my flat tonight.”

“Already planning on it. No bra.”

“I like it,” Callum smiled as they made their way to the bar, “Oi, Eddie!” He called to the bartender.

Eddie, as it turned out, was a bombshell with cotton-candy-pink hair that had been pulled back in a curly half ponytail. She wore a shimmering pink contouring dress that matched her hair. A rose vine tattoo ran the length of her right arm and more roses graced her collarbone. Her face split into a sunny smile when she saw him, “Ross! Oh my God Ross! It’s been too long! Blimey, I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“Been busy, Doll-face. Brought someone here I want you to meet. Eddie, this beautiful woman here is Faith. Faith, this is Eddie. Gemma‘s other best friend,” he said with a grin aimed at Eddie.

Eddie put a hand out to Faith, “Hey there, must be pretty special if he’s bringing you in here. Have you met Gemma yet?”

“No, I haven't had a chance to meet her yet. I know her mom. She’s sort of dating my eh- Cousin’s stepdad.”

“Bet that makes for some interesting double dates.”

“Don’t think that’s gonna be a problem,” Callum interjected, “we’re actually out with her people tonight. Brought her cousin and her bloke and Faith’s best-mate,” Callum looked around to see where they had gotten to and saw them only a few feet away. Angel sulking with his hands in his pockets watching as Spike pulled Buffy close. She had her back pressed against him as they rocked half-heartedly to the music thumping through the club.

“There they are, Lass. Can you pull ‘em over; they can meet Eddie. In my experience it’s always good to be friendly with the bartender.”

Eddie winked, “Been a sweet talker since we were in nappies.”

“Oh go on, Eddie. Five beers,” he said as he glanced up at Faith on her way over to the others.

Faith was back in seconds with Buffy pulling Spike along with her with a look of farrell amusement on his face. Angel followed looking like he would rather be anywhere but in a crowd of people.

Faith got close to Buffy so she could talk in her ear, “I’m surprised Tall-dark-and-gloomy even came. What the hell is he doing?”

“Hell if I know. I thought you were going to work on him. Maybe Spike laid into him again or something. I don’t know, it would be the second time in less than two days. I kind of can’t wait until he leaves.”

“Damn, B, where was that attitude before you shoved a knife in my gut?”

Buffy rolled her eyes, “Surprises me too.”

“Callum has a friend he wants you to meet.”

“Bubblegum Barbie?”

“I play nice with your friends.”

“I’m nice. And since when did you have friends you haven’t tried to kill?”

“Ok so maybe I’m socially challenged. Doesn’t mean I can’t try.”

As they reached the bar Faith sidled up next to Callum letting him wrap a hand around her hip. Spike took a seat on a barstool and pulled Buffy onto his lap. Buffy wrapped her arm around his neck making it a mutually possessive gesture.

Angel accepted a beer from Callum looking and feeling like the very definition of a fifth wheel. It took him a moment to realize Callum had been introducing them all to the perky pink haired woman behind the bar.

“I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?” He pointed to his ear as if he couldn’t hear over the noise instead of not paying attention.

It worked because she smiled brightly as she extended her hand to Angel, “I’m Edwina, everyone just calls me ‘Eddie’.”

“Angel.”

“That’s an unusual name.”

“I get that a lot.”

She took her hand back a little reluctantly, “Something wrong with the beer?”

Angel looked at it, “Oh I’m sure it’s fine. Beer’s not really my thing.”

“Pass it here, Peaches,” Spike said loudly over the din, he turned towards Eddie, “Two bourbons on the rocks for me and my mate, love. Cal? Faith? Something stronger?”

“I’ll stick to beer thanks,” Callum replied.

“I’ll take one,” Faith answered, “B? You drinking more than beer?”

“I’m alright. I really just want to dance.”

“Better make mine neat then, Eddie,” Spike said.

Eddie poured the drinks. Spike slapped some money on the counter, “Keep the change, love.” Spike accepted his drink and downed it in one long pull and patted Buffy on the hip indicating she should get off his lap, “The lady wishes to dance, then dance the lady shall.”

Angel watched a moment as Spike led Buffy to the floor and disappeared into the crowd.

“Bloody poet,” Callum snorted good-naturedly, “Makes the rest of us look like Neanderthals.”

“Never cared for poetry myself,” Eddie said, winking at Angel before she left to tend to other customers.

Angel laughed a little bitterly, “I haven't read any of his stuff in years. Didn’t think he advertised that about him.”

“He doesn’t. I guess he started writing again in LA,” Faith paused, taking a sip of her drink, “So what really made you come out tonight?” Faith asked.

“Giles sort of kicked me out for the night. I guess he thought things were going to take longer with the Minch thing and he invited his lady-friend over. I ahh didn’t really know what else to do. It was just weird, he had on Pink Floyd and everyone is always telling me to lighten up… So… I thought I’d give it a try,” he huffed.

Faith raised an eyebrow, “Go, Giles.”

Callum finished his drink and squeezed Faith’s side, “Care to dance, Lass?”

“What do you say Angel? I can take two on one,” she winked.

That actually got a laugh out of Angel, “Yeah, I can give it a try. I’m definitely not much of a dancer.”

“Dude, I figured,” she turned to Callum, “You mind, Babe?”

“Threesomes on the dance floor are fine, I draw the line at the bedroom,” he said as he moved one broad hand to her stomach, pulling her back into him. Then he relaxed his hand back down to her hip.

“Yeah you really don’t have to worry about that.”

“Spike said you had a thing for blondes,” Callum smirked.

“I’m gonna—“ Angel grumbled.

Faith gripped Callum’s hand where it rested on her hip then extended a hand towards Angel pulling them both to the dance floor. She kept herself pressed against Callum grinding against him while simultaneously trying to get Angel to show a little interest in dancing.

“Oh come on Angel, loosen up. Not like we’re asking you to get your happy on, just have some fun,” she said as she pulled him up closer and moved her hips against Callum.

Angel smiled a little at his friend. Seeing her this happy and relaxed gave him a sense of pride for not giving up on her. She had really come a long way since prison. With that thought Angel attempted a little more than just simply swaying to the music. Faith concealed a laugh by turning towards Callum a moment before turning back to face Angel. She caught sight of Buffy and Spike just a few feet away behind Angel. They were pressed together tightly, clearly enjoying each other. Faith knew better than to stare so she grabbed Angel’s hands, placing them on her waist as she turned to face Callum with a sultry look in her eyes. The message was clear; yes she was letting, or making, Angel touch her but she was saving it all just for him. Callum bent down to kiss Faith. His lips and tongue demanded more of her and she could feel him growing hard under his pants. Angel started to draw away, but Faith clutched at his hand holding it in place while she ran her other hand to the nape of Callum’s neck. She was enjoying this.

***********************

The music shifted and Spike scoffed, “Damn wankers can’t come up with anything original. Have to rehash the oldies.”

“What are you talking about?” Buffy felt like she had to practically yell over the music.

Spike tapped his temple with two fingers and Buffy nodded. I knew this would come in handy. Spike grinned.

What were you talking about?

Oh, that. It’s just this song. This mix. It’s layered on top of another song. Used to be real popular at balls and what not.

Like when you were alive?

Exactly.

Wasn’t that all like piano and harpsichord and stuff?

Spike gave her an exasperated look, It’s under all the techno drivel. It’s there. Just listen. Think I can remember the dance that went along with it too. He thought as he pushed her away slightly and repositioned his hands. He took one of her hands in his and placed his other on her back. Just follow my lead.

Spike started moving Buffy along, guiding her in a waltz. They didn’t even notice when people on the dance floor started to part for them. Suddenly Buffy felt herself pulled into their mind-scape. They were in a brightly lit ballroom. Buffy glanced down at herself and noticed she was dressed in an impossibly beautiful green silk gown. It was exactly the same shade as the halter top she had on. She was dancing with Spike. Or rather William. His hair was darker and longer and he was dressed very differently in formal wear. His blue eyes were the same, except they peered out at her from behind a pair of glasses. Despite the changes, she recognised him easily. She knew without having to think about it that this was the man he had been before meeting Drusilla. Buffy felt herself smiling at the man she had fallen in love with.

What are you doing? She asked.

Sharing a memory of sorts, I think. I just sort of cobbled this together. Does it bother you?

Heck no! I sort of love seeing you like this. Is this what you really looked like, before?

A desperate, poncy little dandy, mama’s boy? Yes, Love, it is. In all my pathetic glory.

Don’t do that. That’s so not what I see when I see you like this.

And what exactly do you see?

Sexy, in a bookish kinda way.

Bookish yes, dunno about sexy.

I do. This is definitely hot.

The two of them spun around the dance floor enjoying the subtle erotic push and pull laced through the movements of the dance. After what seemed like a long time, the song within the song ended and the two of them came out of the shared vision and back to the dance floor. They pressed back together, easily moving to the music.

Buffy looked up into Spike’s eyes, still the same cool blue. He was watching her as she twisted this way and that, rubbing against him every chance she got. Spike dipped his head while she pressed her back to him firmly, kissing her neck.

I’m loving this, I should have taken you dancing sooner, he thought.

Didn’t we dance at The Bronze?

Not sure about dancing, definitely snogged a few times. Fought a lot. There was that time on the balcony, I kinda liked that.

Hummm… not so much, that was demeaning.

I know that now. I am sorry about that bit. But it was also pretty sodding exhilarating wasn’t it? If memory serves, you barely objected. Could have objected. Quite strongly in fact. Pretty sure I only had to do a little something like this… In the club Spike’s hands never left her waist. However, in her mind, Buffy could suddenly feel the delicious sensation of his hands working up her thighs under her skirt and over to her hot center. She shuddered involuntarily, making him grin. He shifted his gaze to the floor above them and tapped her on the shoulder. Could give it another go, more expeditionary and less demeaning this time?

Buffy shook her head, Not without the duster. Let’s save that for later. Like home later. I’m having fun.

Spike just shrugged and leaned down to kiss her. Whatever the lady likes. Noticed you didn’t say anything about our little mind game.

Buffy gasped a little as his phantom hands caressed her and slipped inside of her. Pleasuring her. On the dance floor Spike pressed his knee between her thighs, allowing her to grind on him if she wished. She did. Buffy continued to dance, moving her hips and pressing into him. She could feel his erection waiting for her. Then suddenly out of nowhere, any inhibitions they had still been holding on to simply melted away. Like dirt slipping away under a hot shower. Suddenly Buffy couldn’t remember why having sex right there on the dance floor was such a bad idea.

Oh God, William, I think…

I feel you, Pet. You’re so beautiful when you’re all hot for me. I could never get enough of you. Not ever. I need you.

Their lips met, hungry for each other. Their hands suddenly groping feverishly. Just then someone bumped into Buffy pushing her into Spike. They staggered a little and the spell was broken. They both crashed back to reality as they were brought back to their senses and they were on high alert.

Spike ran a hand across the back of his neck in agitation, You feel that, Love?

You mean whatever just made me want to say ‘screw it’ and do the horizontal tango right here in a crowd of people not caring that you don’t even have your long coat on to hide it?

That’d be it. I could have done it too. That was intense. Thought it was just us. This connection thing getting the better of us, you know, but look around. It’s definitely not just us.

He was right, everywhere they looked people had started groping and feeling, grinding and rubbing. Way more than usual in a place like this. Buffy looked to see who had bumped into them but only saw another couple that looked totally engrossed in each other.

Give it a little longer and it’ll all turn into one big orgy.

Oh God, Angel!

Angelus…

They looked around for their friends, they were only a few feet away and Faith looked like she was having the time of her life pressed between Callum and Angel. She was facing Callum and had one leg wrapped firmly around him. Angel pressed in close behind Faith holding her in place with one hand on her stomach, grinding against her backside, she had no idea where his other hand was. Buffy suddenly realized that Callum’s hands mirrored Angel’s and she couldn’t see his other hand either. However, Faith for her part, was desperately trying to free him from the confines of his pants.

Humm yeah, Babe, I definitely don’t want to watch that.

No pet names just now alright?

Ehhh… Why? Are you seriously complaining?

No, trying to keep it in my pants.

I’m more worried about Callum and Angel right now.

Right, you are. Alright, I got this. Spike smirked as he took two long strides towards the trio and punched Angel in the side of the jaw. Angel staggered back from Faith shaking his head with a hand to his jaw.

“What the hell was that, Spike?”

Spike raised his eyebrows and looked around the club exasperated, “You’re welcome, you bloody wanker. She’s your friend, you great lumbering pillock!”

Angel’s eyes flickered and his gaze fell on Faith where she was still fairly engrossed in Callum. The punch had interrupted them enough that she had stopped trying to open his pants. But they were still kissing with both sets of hands now thankfully visible. Angel shot an arm out pulling Faith back towards him forcefully. He vamped and held her in front of him until she snapped out of it and punched him in the face.

Angel let his face melt back into place and felt his jaw on the other side. “What did you do that for, you ass!” She yelled at him over the music.

“There’s some kind of a spell or something going on here.”

“Oh hell,” she grumbled and looked over at Callum who was still staring at Angel. “First vamp face,” she explained.

“Seriously? What about Spike?”

“Don’t think they took that step in their relationship,” Faith scoffed. “Cal! Snap out of it!”

“What just— what was that?“

“Told you he was a vampire, that’s what they look like when they’re not all human-y.”

“Humm… yeah… ok…”

“Looks like we got another mystery, gang,” Buffy said in a falsely upbeat tone.

“My money is on the bloody DJ.”

Angel turned to Spike, “What makes you say that?”

“That last song or bit of the mix or whatever the bloody hell this rot is. It was built on top of an old ditty.”

“How old?”

“A bit older than my corpse.”

“We danced to it,” Buffy interjected, “There was an old dance that went along with it. Spike and I danced to it.”

Angel narrowed his eyes looking at Spike, “How do you remember this stuff?”

Spike shrugged, “I don’t know. You got that whole photographic memory thing; I got this recall thing for music and such. I don’t tend to question it much.”

“Drusilla always loved to dance.”

“That she did,” Spike agreed.

“You were always the better dancer.”

“What happened to you? You used to be able to at least move your feet. I know Darla took you out enough times.”

“Ballroom is different than this— whatever this is…”

Buffy rolled her eyes between the two of them “Okay, come on guys can we get back on track? You two can reminisce about the good all days some other time. Look at these people. We don’t get something figured out pretty soon, it’s going to get super awkward in here. And after Paris I am so not interested in seeing a whole club full of that.”

“What the hell happened in Paris?” Angel asked, confused.

“Interrupted that demon while he was getting his rocks off. It sort of left a mark.”

“Glad I missed that one.”

“I’d take that over the biggest orgy in history,” Faith said, raising an eyebrow.

“Not the biggest, might be in the top ten,” Angel said absently looking around.

“You know Angel, this sort of reminds me of that time in—“ Spike stopped abruptly at the looks Angel and Buffy gave him, “What? We were evil; not like that sort of thing didn’t— Oh fine, how do we stop it?”

“Spike, you take out the DJ. Shut down the music. Faith, and I are going rabbit hunting. Angel, you go with Callum, see if Eddie or the bouncer guy know anything that could help. Get people cleared out as best as you can.”

Spike didn’t wait. He let out a growl and hurled himself up towards the DJ, ripping out cords with a flourish. The lights on the podium died first. Spike pulled out a few more cords and the music stopped.

The DJ, a thin man with a pinched face and shoulder length greasy black hair, snapped his head up to look at Spike, “What’s your problem, you nutter!” he yelled.

Spike grabbed the DJ by the front of his shirt and looked out over the dance floor. He could see Buffy and Faith moving on the outer edge of the bewildered crowd. Buffy caught his eye and he shook his head. He hadn’t seen anyone trying to bolt.

Spike held onto the DJ, “It was the song wasn’t it?”

“I— I—“ he sputtered.

“The one with the Victorian Era ditty worked in. Am I right?”

“I— humm, I— yeah! Yeah it was. Don’t hurt me man!”

Spike snarled as he threw him down into a chair just as Buffy and Faith joined them. Now it was Buffy’s turn, “Alright Mr. DJ, sing. What did you do to these people?”

“I— nothing. Nothing, they didn’t really want to do. I just wanted to get the party really pumping and guarantee I’d get a steady gig at the club.”

“You did this for a gig?” Faith asked.

“I’m more interested in the how. That song packed a punch,” Buffy pointed out towards the crowd of still bewildered people, some had started to leave while others went up to the bar. Several couples didn’t seem to realize the music had stopped. More likely they just didn’t care. “Look at these people! This wasn’t just some gig.”

“I’m thinking, some sort of a lust spell. You don’t strike me as the mojo sort. Where’d you get it? And what does that song have to do with it?”

“I got it from some chick. I was at the bar and—“

“If you say you made a wish, so help me—“

“How did you know?”

Buffy groaned and turned to Spike, “The only two I knew are gone now. I guess we got a new player.”

“Vengeance demons are a dime-a-dozen and they’re not the only ones that deal in wishes, Love.”

Buffy turned back to the DJ, “What was the wish?”

“I wished I had something to work into the beat that would really let people lose themselves in the music and have a good time. I wanted something to help me book gigs.”

“And what you got was something that made everyone forget about their sexual inhibitions… you magically roofied everyone in the club!” Spike snarled, his eyes turning yellow with anger.

Buffy laid a hand gently on Spike’s chest, “I got this, Honey”, she felt a low rumble tear through his chest, “Spike, Babe, I got this.”

Spike took a deep breath, making a show of calming down, “Right, Love, you’re right.”

“Doesn’t sound super vengeance-y does it?” Buffy asked Spike.

“Depends.”

She turned back to the DJ, “Were you angry at someone? Maybe an old employer?”

“I’d just lost my last steady gig. They told me my set lacked passion.”

“And there it is!” Buffy said.

“I’d like to see someone say my art lacks passion now,” he grinned.

“Oh I can! Easy. That little tune you got buried in there isn’t anything new. A bit cheeky, by Victorian standards, which don’t say much. It was the spell worked into it that did all this,” he gestured around the room.

“I don’t see what the big deal is, they’re all adults they knew what they were doing.”

Faith scoffed, “Oh damn Buff, if you don’t punch him I will.”

Buffy shrugged a shoulder in response and Faith punched him in the mouth, “Pig! That thing made my best friend stick his hand up my dress, you ass!”

“Oww! Look, this lady just gave me the song. I laid it in. I told you everything I know.”

Buffy’s eyebrows raised but she didn’t say anything to Faith. Instead she addressed the sniveling man in front of her, “Where’d you meet this lady?”

“Eh… about two weeks ago when I was down in London. I just came up here to look for work and found this gig.”

“So this is the first time you’ve used it?”

“Yeah, honest.”

Buffy nodded, “Faith go see what Callum and Angel turned up. If no one got hurt, and no lasting damage, I think we can let this creep go. There’s not much we can do about the demon now if she was in London that long ago,” Buffy huffed.

Faith nodded and headed towards the bar. Buffy turned to Spike, “Can you get this guy to give up the song and make sure it won’t be used again, Babe?”

Spike gave her a slow grin, “Be my pleasure, Pet. What are you going to do?”

“Take a look around, kick people out. The usual.”

“Have fun. Let me know when I can cut this idiot loose.”

The DJ leered at Buffy as she walked away and then looked up at Spike, “You always take orders from the little woman?”

Spike slid into his game face and growled, “I do when she’s right.”

Spike slammed a hand onto the guy’s chair. The DJ looked up nervously at Spike, “I ahh, I— it’s on there,” he pointed to the jump drive sticking out of a laptop with a shaking hand.

“This the only copy?”

He nodded, “H-how’d you pick that out any- anyway?”

“Exceptionally good hearing mate, been around a while and I’m a music lover,” he said, taking the jump drive and crushing it under his boot. The DJ squealed in dismay and sat back crestfallen.

Spike let his demon face melt back into his human form and considered the sniveling wimp in front of him, “Word of advice? Find a muse and create your own sodding stuff. Skip all this tweaking crap. And don’t make wishes around people you just met!”

“Ehh, sure… I’ll just, I’ll do that…” he frowned.

Spike waited until Buffy came back from making rounds, “What’s the damage, Pet?”

“Doesn’t look like anything too serious. Fortunately it looks like our Mix-master here was right about one thing. It was a little more than giving everyone a drink or two but less than drugging them. Even the couple I had to separate upstairs turned out to be newlyweds… that was seriously awkward.”

“You monster you,” Spike chuckled.

“I couldn’t even blame them for being pissed at me.”

“What about Bubblegum-Barbie?”

“Ahhh yeah, Callum found her behind the bar with Marcus… he said it was probably better if we just left them,” Buffy’s cheeks went pink.

“And that would be why exactly?”

“Turns out those two have been trying to get pregnant for a while now… I guess she just started fertility treatments.”

“What?”

“According to Callum they’ve been having trouble conceiving… he ah he thought it might be better to just let them go…”

“They’re married?”

“Ehh, I guess,” she shrugged.

“Would not have called that one… course I can barely make you out in all this mess.”

“Freaking vampires,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes.

***************************

A/N: I had an idea to do a “choose your adventure” kind of thing. Please vote for your choice(s) in the comments. I can post one or all of them but I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Four choices: Two options are smut heavy fun, one smut-lite and one is just a fun little smut-free option.

1. Giles and Zara

2. Angel— A Night Out

3. Spike and Buffy

4. Faith and Callum

Chapter 30 Third Time’s a Charm

When they returned to the castle that night it was to find Faith and Callum in the living room with a movie playing. Buffy was still getting used to the idea of Callum being around more. If nothing else, he seemed to be adjusting to the castle fairly well and quickly too. That was both comforting and a little jarring at the same time.

Faith had apparently just been checking on the prisoner and had left the door to the utility room open as a courtesy to Ruby so she could hear the movie. They had done that a couple times already just to give her some source of entertainment since she had started to calm down. As it turned out, she wasn’t that bad of a captive as captives go. It was true that she hadn’t been exactly courteous or polite, precisely, but she hadn’t been particularly difficult the past day or so.

Faith turned to look at Buffy when she came into the living room, “Hey B, what’s up?”

“We wanted to have a chat with Ruby. We’re giving her a choice. Either Willow is going to ensoul her or I’m going to stake her. Either way it ends tonight.”

Faith clapped her hands grinning, “Finally! I’m getting tired of vamp-sitting!”

“Yeah I think we all are.”

“So this little ginger lass is just going to pop in a soul and that randy little hell-bitch in there will be just like Angel and Spike?” Callum asked.

“More or less. That’s the general idea at least,” Willow answered as she came around the corner into the living room. She had her arms laden with all of the supplies she would need for the spell, “sorry we interrupted movie night.”

“Don’t be. Pretty sure we’ve both seen this movie like six times. It’s no big, Red,” Faith answered as she turned off the TV.

“Oi!”, Ruby shouted from the utility room, “You lot might have seen this film, but I haven’t! What’s going on out there?”

Buffy turned towards Willow, “So what do you need from us?”

Willow shrugged her shoulders, “Not much of anything really. I can do it on the coffee table right here. I’ll do my set up thing. You do your life or death choice-y thing. Then hopefully I’ll get to do my magic thing and we can cut loose the blood sucking fiendish-y thing.”

“Everyone got their things?” Xander asked, raising a hand with a smirk.

“Bloody hell…” Spike rolled his eyes, “Anyone think about where she’s going to stay after we do this? She can’t just stay in there forever, a day or two, fine, but we’re going to have to move her. I don’t see the girls taking kindly to her kipping in Deloris’s bed.”

“What about your place? In the basement,” Faith asked.

“Not exactly the Four Seasons over there” Buffy said dubiously.

“It’ll be quiet. She’ll need that. Not really gonna need a lot of creature comforts, Pet. Some blood and a bed would be good.”

Buffy nodded, “Xan, you think you can handle that?”

“Humm… Sure, yeah. Sure I can. But one question.”

“Yeah?”

“Where am I going?”

“Callum, can you help him out?”

Callum and Xander glanced at each other and Callum nodded, “Sure, I can. You want her on your side or the other?”

“I’m thinkin’ the other side, for now. We don’t need her wandering off.”

He nodded, “Consider it done. Mr Giles got the utilities turned on for me and Angus to get started in there but I’ll need to turn the water main back on. After that, I think I know where to find a camp bed on short notice. Just need to make a call in the morning. See if Gemma still has her old camping gear,” he directed the last statement to Faith and gave her a quick kiss.

“Think this girl has a mini fridge we can put in there?” Xander asked Callum as the two of them headed out.

Faith cleared her throat as she shot a furtive glance towards them, “B, I think maybe I–”

“Go on, play bodyguard. Do a sweep and make sure the boys are safe. Maybe you’ll finally get to meet the best friend!” Buffy teased.

“You know that’s right!” Faith laughed and followed after the two men.

Buffy watched her go, then turned to Spike, “Satisfied?”

He raised an eyebrow, “Most nights, and a couple days a week normally.”

Buffy gave him an exasperated look, “Ass.”

He grinned and curled his tongue sensually, “I’d love some.”

“Hey! Standing right here,” Willow scolded.

Buffy gave an amused little huff, “Down boy. If we’re doing this tonight we better get moving. Are we sure we even want to do this tonight? Even if Callum’s friend does have a cot she can use, it might take a while for the guys to get it set up down there.”

“Good chance she’ll want to just sleep or have a good cry. Probably both. The utility room will be fine until they get that set up,” he said and started towards the room in question, “Coming, Pet?”

“Right behind you.”

***********

Ruby was lounging in the chair as much as her bindings would allow, “I was beginning to wonder when you two would show up again. To what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked silkily.

Buffy shifted her hands to her hips, “Drop it, Ruby, the ice is already pretty thin. We have a proposition for you.”

Ruby rolled her head back with a grin “Sort of like the sound of that. What's this about?”

“Good news, Rubes. The little Mrs and I finally decided what we’re going to do with you.”

“And that is?”

“You have a choice to make. You can either let our mega-witch restore your soul and you come work with us, or I can stake you. The best part is that it’s totally up to you!” Buffy said brightly.

“What exactly is this ‘mega-witch’ going to do to me?'' she asked, a doubtful tone in her voice.

“Hey, if that’s your choice I can have her come in here and explain it to you. Otherwise, we can just get on with the slayage,” Buffy emphasized the statement by twirling a stake in her hand, “Tick-tock.”

Ruby eyed the stake and licked her lips. It wasn't a sensual action this time.

Think we got her nervous, Pet— Spike thought to Buffy as he continued to watch Ruby closely.

“Is that even a real thing? Putting a soul into a vampire? Just pop! It’s back like a bloody rabbit in a sodding hole? Sounds a bit far fetched,” her voice rose gradually, growing slightly hysterical. Buffy was momentarily reminded that less than two weeks ago, Ruby had been an average university student.

“Not exactly, Luv. Feels a bit more like settin’ your body on fire from the inside, although that part doesn’t last long.”

“Is— is that what’s wrong with you?” she asked looking at Spike aghast, “I knew there was something about you. You just seem off— not like the others.”

“What can I say, I wasn’t like the ‘others’ when I was one of the others.”

Buffy snorted a small laugh, “Got that right,” she murmured.

Spike looked at her, “Oi! Who’s side are you on here?”

Buffy raised her eyebrow, “Go on, this is your dog and pony show anyway. I wanted to just do it and get it over with.”

“Damn right. I am the qualified party here,” he turned back towards Ruby, “I know what I’m talking about, and if that’s your choice, then I will be here to help you where I can.”

Ruby huffed out a laugh, “Right and what exactly would you be helping me with?” she said sarcastically.

“Well Deloris, for starters. Any others you might’ve killed in the last few days.”

“What, like I’m supposed to be all weepy about any of that?” she asked.

Spike grinned wickedly, “Yeah, well you’re young. Actually plays in your favor. So what do you say, soul or stake? Makes no difference to us, does it, Love?” he said, glancing at Buffy.

“Nope not to me, might make a difference to your parents and Sheena if she ever wakes up… something to think about.”

“If I agree to this, are you gonna let me go?”

“You’ll have to stay with us for a while. We’re working on temporary living arrangements for you.”

Ruby licked her lips nervously again trying to look around, “Do I get to talk to this witch of yours first?”

“Sure can, if that’s your final decision I’ll get her and she can walk you through it so you’ll know what’s going to happen and we’re not wasting time here.”

Ruby nodded glumly, “Alright. I’m ready. Send in your witch. Let's get this over with,” she said decisively.

Buffy nodded once and turned towards the door, “Hey a, Wills? I’m gonna need you in here for a minute, you got everything set up?”

“Yeppers! What do you need Buff?” she asked as she came towards Buffy in the utility room.

“Ruby here wants to have a chat with the witch who's going to put her soul back in.”

Willow grinned broadly as she took a step inside addressing Ruby, “Good decision. This isn’t my first soul installment, you’re in good hands.”

“I can see that,” Ruby looked at Buffy and Spike, “This pretty little thing is your mega-witch?”

“You got a problem with that?”

“Sassy one too,” she breathed, “You sure did a number on this guy here didn’t you?”

Willow looked towards Spike with mild confusion, “Eh… No, actually... He did that all by himself.”

Ruby’s eyebrows went up looking at Spike again, “Okay— so again, I say: you’re definitely kind of a weird one.”

“Oh come on. It was supposed to be a grand gesture— an act of love,” Spike complained with a slight whine to his voice.

Buffy patted him on the shoulder, “Yes, much better than flowers. You did it for love and honor and all of those good— very chivalrous things, and definitely a few not so chivalrous reasons too.”

“I— Humm— well, yeah, alright I’ll give you that. That’s fair. Not exactly selfless,” he nodded, “Look Ruby-red-shoes, the only reason I insisted on asking at all is because I believe you should have a choice. These two are all for just shoving your soul right back in without asking. They’ve done it before. I know it’s a personal matter, so that’s why I thought you should have a say.”

“What do I have to do?” Ruby asked, looking at Willow.

Willow cleared her throat nervously, “Humm, nothing. I do it all. You just sit there.”

“Will it hurt? He said something about fire.”

Willow looked questioningly at Buffy and Spike.

Buffy shrugged and shook her head, “I’m not sure, maybe a little. Angel just seemed way confused and his memory was all wonky— of course then I… well you know…” she grimaced at Willow.

“Yeah, way bad example…” Willow turned to Spike, “How about you?”

“Felt like having lava poured into my head and chest. So yeah, it hurt. For about a minute. But I’m not cursed. I got mine a different way so it might not be the same. Either way, you’re a vampire, you’ll be fine. You’ll live, well sorta. It’s the guilt and remorse afterwards; that is what’ll get ya.”

“Cursed? This is a curse? You want to curse me?”

“That’s what you heard??”

Willow stepped in, “Ruby, I promise, it’s not as bad as it sounds. Ok so maybe the original version was because it’s a super big, no-happy deal, but that’s why I changed it. This one I’m doing for you should be loads better.”

Ruby visibly relaxed as she watched Willow, “Alright, you got me, I’m listening.”

Willow brushed her hair back nervously and cleared her throat, “Hum, yeah, ok so. You will be cursed with a soul as long as you never experience the true joy of sunlight.”

“You do know I’m a vampire right?”

Willow grinned, “Yeah, I caught on to that. That’s why it’s such a great loophole! You can still love and be happy and have an unlife, just like Spike, and you don’t lose out on anything that you’re really going to miss because of the whole vampire flambé thing!” Willow said very excitedly in her usual bubbly way.

Ruby’s light gray eyes sparkled as she watched Willow, “Brainy, beautiful and powerful; the perfect combination… Do you always glow like that when you get excited about something?”

Willow cleared her throat again, “Humm– Ok then, I’m just— yeah… I’ll just humm… go get started.”

Ruby watched her with amusement as Willow went back out into the living room. Then she turned back to Spike and Buffy, “She seeing anyone?”

“Aren’t you done with the super-sex-vamp thing yet?” Buffy rolled her eyes.

“That wasn’t what that was. She’s just really… and the smell of her…” she groaned.

Spike growled, “That’s my girl’s best friend you’re talking about there. Got to teach you some etiquette. Just because someone smells like dessert, it don’t mean you have to comment on it. It’s not polite.”

Buffy and Ruby both looked at Spike questionably. “Polite?” Ruby asked.

Buffy didn’t comment but she did give Spike an annoyed glare at his blatant hypocrisy. He was constantly telling her how her scent drove him mad. Of course that was usually when they were alone so maybe he had a point. She sure didn’t mind him defending Willow; that part was actually sort of sweet.

“Yeah I got a question about that, what did you guys do to me anyway? What was that sex thing? I’m not usually so… well like that. Not even now,” she glanced up at Spike, “I don’t even know why I was hitting on you, that was just weird. You’re definitely not my type…”

“You fed off of a Slayer, you killed her, that’s what happened. It was her blood that did it.”

“Weird… knew she was tasty but that was just… incredible… freeing.”

“Yeah well there won’t be anymore of that.”

“Right, this soul thing… Still sounds daft, even after talking with Pretty-Red-Riding-Hood, out there, ” she rolled her eyes, ”Suppose that means I’ll be living off of that sodding pig's blood you’ve been bringing me then?”

“Yup,” Buffy answered absently as she watched Willow start chanting the spell in the living room.

Spike kicked Ruby’s shin lightly, drawing her attention back to him, “You’ll have a new appreciation for it when Red’s finished. You’ll need some time and I’ll be around. Don’t worry ‘bout the blood thing, I’ll show you some ways to make the blood taste better. Wont be Slayer blood but you can’t be an annoyingly horny mess all the time now can you?”

Ruby choked on a laugh, “No, I guess not.”

“Trust me, restraint is your friend. It will keep you alive and keep your head in the game.”

Buffy’s eyebrows furrowed, there had been times in the past when he seemed like restraint wasn’t a word in his vocabulary and yet she knew he must have it in spades. Whether it was something he exercised over the course of his life at key moments or if it was a lesson he learned more fully when he had been chipped, he had proven it was a part of him as much as his love for / killing demons with feral abandon.

Spike turned towards Buffy, “Can you quiet that down there, Pet. Trying to have a serious conversation with my new student here.”

Buffy hadn’t even realized she had been projecting her thoughts that forcefully, “Sorry, babe.”

“S’alright.”

“What is going on with you two?”

“Long story. Right now let’s work on some ground rules. I’m the teacher, you’re the student. Got it?”

“You?”

“Well yeah, part of the deal is we’ll be working together.”

“Are you going to like Obi-Wan me?”

“Sure, if that helps. I can teach you the ways of the Force,” he rolled his eyes and glanced at Buffy, “Why do we always seem to find the geeks?”

“Beats me.”

“So what if I like Star Wars?”

“Films are fine and good, it’s the obsession I don’t get.”

Buffy turned to him, “You, William the Bloody Slayer of Slayers doesn’t understand obsession?”

“That was different. I’m talking about all this geeky stuff. You Know the sort that Xander and Andrew are into. Geek stuff.”

“I have two words for you: Classic Horror,” she smirked, “Don’t even try to deny it. I know you’re a classic horror junky.”

He shrugged, “Yeah, maybe a bit…”

Ruby watched them both critically, “Are you two always like this?”

They both shrugged.

“Pretty much”

“Yeah.”

“Is it too late to choose the stake?”

Buffy pulled her stake back up, “It’s never too late for a good stake.”

Ruby recoiled with wide eyes, “No, no. I’ll stick with my original decision. I’d rather hang out with you nicey nice types than be a pile of dust thank you.”

Just then Willow came back to the door. “What’s up, Will?”

“Sorry for the delay guys, I had to make a few adjustments to account for the changes I made. I need to grab a few things and we’ll be back on track.”

Buffy nudged Willow out of the door, back into the large living room, “Everything ok?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Just a little over compensating I think. The spell didn’t want to work before but I think it will now I got the block figured out. Do we think she’s related to Angel? I just–”

“Ehh, I don’t know how many in their bloodline are left now but I don’t think Spike is out turning people again if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. I mean that the original spell was made specifically for Angel. Meaning that they did their research on him and made his bloodline part of the spell. I tried to make it more general so the bloodline thing wouldn’t matter. That’s what I need to adjust, I need to switch it back because it’s not working for her. Either I goofed, or she’s related.”

“Will, if you need more time– maybe we should do this in the morning?”

“No Buffy, I really want to do this tonight. She’s going to need some time to adjust and I want to make sure she’s going to be alright before I go back to Rome. A lot of it she is going to have to do on her own but I think I have a few spells that might help her through the worst of it too.”

“I don’t want you overdoing it, Will. Ruby will still be here in the morning.”

Willow shook her head, “There’s something about her Buffy, she deserves better. I can feel it. I think she’s going to be a good one. I just have to grab a few things.and we’ll be back in business, okay?”

“Okay, and the flirting doesn't have anything to do with it? Because she’s been hitting on everyone.”

“Wha– No, no Buff, it’s not like that– okay, she’s humm intriguing.. She’s– humm.”

“Humm?”

“Don’t go getting me all confused. I’m trying to get out of a deadend relationship not get into one with a–”

“Drop-dead-hottie?”

Willow glared.

Buffy gave her a bemused grin, “Who said anything about a relationship anyway?”

“I am not having this conversation.”

“Huh right…”

“Getting what I need and getting Ruby souled so she can work through this while you still have magical backup– that’s all this is.”

“Yup– Got it,” her tone was a little too knowing.

Willow was really getting annoyed now, “Buffy– I’m not–”

“Relax Will. I’m only joking. Aside from liking Star Wars we really don’t know what we’re dealing with. Who knows how this soul thing is going to work out for her anyway. Angel is a totally different person without his, whereas Spike is more or less the same just with a working moral compass and a renewed love for poetry. I’m just messing with you.”

“Not flustered. Just— ok focusing time.”

“Sure thing Will. I’ll let you have your space, I know you know what you’re doing.”

“You bet I do.”

When she returned to the utility room, Spike and Ruby were deep in an animated conversation. They seemed to be getting along relatively well all things considered. It took her a moment to realise they were talking about Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. She knew it was one of his favourites but to hear him arguing points of the book with Ruby was throwing her for a loop. Not to mention the fact that a couple of vampires were now discussing physical manifestations of sin. Buffy blinked a few times before turning back towards the living room. Willow was back and looked like she was writing something down in a notebook. She nodded once and looked up to find Buffy still watching her.

Willow threw her a thumbs-up and grinned, “Should be good to go now!”

Buffy turned back towards Spike and Ruby, “Heads up, Willow’s ready to get chanty.”

“Yeah alright,” Spike answered her before resuming their conversation.

Buffy rolled her eyes at the two of them. Priorities.

After several minutes the two of them were still arguing over some of the more philosophical points of the book when Ruby let out a huff, “So when will this–” She gasped suddenly.

Her chest heaving against her restraints and her hands gripping at the arms of the chair. Ruby’s eyes suddenly glowed with a bright white-gold light. She threw her head back, her face contorted in pain. She tensed against her restraints, the ropes biting into the skin on her arms. She let out a howl of pain as the light from her eyes intensified. The shackles had cut into her wrist as she pulled at them in her agony.

Buffy shot a glance over to Spike, he looked like he wanted to run screaming. His hands were gripped at his sides, knuckles popping. His jaw was clenched against the roiling emotions coming off of him. Buffy gasped as an odd mix of pain, rage, concern and self loathing hit her coming off of him and he caught her eye. He snapped his head back to Ruby just as she screamed again in excruciating pain.

Then without warning the bright light faded and she collapsed in the chair, head lulling down and her hair obscuring her face.

Spike reached out a shaky hand to gently pull her chin up, “Ruby? You alright there?”

Ruby didn’t seem to hear him. Her eyes were wide like a scared animal, gasping and panting like her lungs didn’t get the message that her body didn’t need oxygen. She was starting to panic, “W- where, where am I?” she gasped, she struggled against her bindings. “Please, please don’t! Hurt me! Don’t kill me!”

“Ruby, you’re safe, don’t you remember–” Buffy started but Ruby just became more agitated.

“Oh God it hurts, it hurts… What are you doing to me?” she wailed and tears started to streak her face, “Where’s– where are Meg and Dylan? Who are you? Where are my friends? Where is—“ she shrieked hysterically, dissolving into tears. She thrashed harder and let out an ear splitting scream.

“Buffy, the keys. Get these shackles off of the girl,” he growled as he started working on the ropes holding her down.

Buffy pulled the keys off a hook on the wall, “Willow!?” Buffy called to the living room.

“What’s wrong?” Willow quickly strode over to her looking worried.

“She’s having a panic attack— is there anything you can do?”

“There’s a calming spell but it’s– I don’t think it will work for this–.”

Buffy tossed the keys to Spike, who caught them one handed, “Bloody hell…” he murmured as he freed her. Ruby slumped down onto the floor and Spike caught her.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have… I’m so sorry…it hurts…burns… God it burns…” Her head slumped, “Oh God, oh God, oh God…” she started muttering over and over again. Ruby shook all over as she kept sobbing, “W– w- where am I? I—- was with—“ Ruby tilted her face up towards Willow. Her face streaked with tears, “La—Lauren?” she asked weakly before gasping in horror. She suddenly surged towards Willow. She grabbed onto Willow’s long skirt, “Oh God Lauren… I’m so sorry…” she wailed, still clutching onto her. Startled, Willow tried pulling away but Ruby’s grip was strong. Spike grabbed Ruby, pulling her back and forcing her down to the floor. Ruby made one more feeble reach for Willow as he jerked her back towards him and fell on his butt with Ruby more or less in his lap. She clutched at Spike’s shirt again, dissolving into fresh sobbs, “Ohh– oh no. no. no. no. no. oh— Ohh no, no— what have I done?… what– oh God– it hurts— oh God– what– what have I—”

“What do we do now?” Buffy asked, concern etched on her face, “Spike?”

“What?” He seemed rattled, “J-just give her a bit.”

“Well what do you think, should we get her anything or just leave her here? Is it safe?”

Spike had turned his attention back to Ruby who had her face hidden in his shirt. Still sobbing and ranting incoherently.

“Spike, honey, snap out of it.”

“Right, eh what was the question?”

“Do you think it's safe to leave her in here alone? And should we get her anything? How long do you think she’ll be like this?”

Her questions didn’t seem to be registering in his brain, “Things are pretty rough for the first— well, a while.”

“Humm, okay…”

“Course, might not take so long for her since she’s so young.”

“Spike has a good point. Her body and soul haven’t been separated long… She’ll need some rest for sure.”

Spike looked up at Buffy, still cradling Ruby to his chest. She was quietly sobbing into his shirt but she was much calmer. He shook his head, coming back to the situation at hand, “Right. Rest. Buffy, you mind fetching a sleeping bag, a couple of blankets and pillows. She can kip in here today. Probably best if we leave her, but keep someone close in the living room to keep an eye on her when she’s ready to come out. Make sure you don’t leave that stake of yours behind.”

“Got it. You want to take the first shift?”

“Be daylight soon.”

Buffy checked her watch, he was right of course. She knew it was late but with everything going on she hadn’t even thought about sleep. Now she was suddenly feeling very tired, “Maybe one of the girls—“

“Dunno if that’s wise. Few of ‘em have been taking things pretty personal.”

“You mean Zari.”

“Especially Zari, my money is on her for knocking Rubes here about.”

“Well, we could—“

“I’ll do it.”

Buffy turned to Willow, “Oh no, that’s alright. We can totally—“

“No it’s ok, really. I slept most of the way here. All I’d have to do is just hang out on the couch right?”

“Yeah basically but really, Wil, Spike and I can handle it. We’ve slept down here before.”

Willow eyed Ruby, still quietly crying, “No. I’ll stay. I know it was her choice but I still did this to her… I sort of feel— responsible for her I guess.”

“You win, Red.”

“I’ll get the bedding,” Buffy said quietly as she headed out of the cramped room.

“Do you think she needs anything? Tea, blood, anything like that?”

“Doubt it, I didn’t eat for a couple of days after the fact. Couldn’t. Then when I did… Even then… well— small animals, goats and rats and such were pretty much it- well until the First got its hooks into me— course I didn’t know it… far as I knew that was all I’d had before Buffy found me.”

Willow nodded, “Yeah, I have a pretty good memory of that, well the part I was around for anyway.”

Spike looked down at Ruby. Her hand had relaxed and her face was hidden behind her hair, but she had nearly stopped shaking now, “Think she’s nearly out.”

“I’m sure the snuggles help.”

He huffed out a little laugh, “Hardly, what I’d call a snuggle. I pulled her back and she just sort of latched on.”

“Who do you think Lauren is?” Willow asked softly.

“No idea, I’d say a ginger if I had to guess.”

“Yeah… probably… do you really think she would try to hurt herself?”

“Why not? I did… didn’t go so far as to stake myself; obviously— would have been nice to have someone take the sharp objects away from me before I tried to slice my chest open a few times though.”

“Oh my God, Spike, I—“

“Water under the bridge now.”

“Does Buffy know?”

“Course. Few things she doesn’t. Think we’ve both put the whole death-wish thing behind us finally. Well it’s always there a bit for a Slayer of course but she’s a hell of a lot better these days.”

“What did you say?”

“Well not that it’s all blood and peaches but we’re both doing better. Mostly. This thing’s got my head spinning a bit o’course,” he explained, gesturing towards the vampire still curled against his chest.

“You said death-wish. Why say it like that? Specifically.”

“You’re hung up on the phrasing?”

“Yes, why say ‘Death-wish’ and not suicidal or depressed?”

“Cause that’s not what it is. They just have this— it’s like they’re just programmed to accept death when it comes for them. It’s just something about Slayers; they've all got it.”

Willow gaped at him.

“You want to tell me what the goldfish act is for?”

“I humm… just an idea— Brain is a little slushy too so it might not be anything.”

“Right, like I’m going to believe that one.”

“What’s taking Buffy so long anyway?”

“All the extra stuff is in the closet on the fifth floor.”

“Oh… Right.”

Spike shifted Ruby in his arms. She had started muttering again, “Hurts— it hurts—“

“Shhh… I know it does. It’ll pass.”

“Why does it hurt so much?”

“It’s just part of the deal… you’re in the worst of it now, it’ll get better, little at a time.”

Ruby cried harder as Willow continued to watch the two vampires huddled on the floor. The last time she had restored Angel’s soul he had been a little shaky but otherwise fine, probably because he had been used to having a soul by then. Ruby hadn’t been dead long but she had clearly done things that were causing her pain now. The whole thing was hard to watch and even worse to hear as Spike tried to keep her calm.

Buffy returned about a minute later with a sleeping bag, some pillows and two extra blankets. They got Ruby situated on the floor against the wall as comfortably as possible. Aside from a few whimpers and a renewed round of quiet sobs, she barely stirred as Spike laid her down like a child. He stood up stiffly as Willow laid the blankets over her. The three of them backed out of the small room to leave her alone in the quiet space.

Buffy turned towards Spike, his face was unreadable, she pushed her awareness towards him and his head snapped towards her, “Buffy—“

She narrowed her eyes at him, he was blocking her out. Spike took a deep breath, “I’m alright. Girl will be alright. It’s fine. Would you bloody well stop looking at me like that?” he groused.

“Why are you blocking me?”

“I’m sorry, Love. I think I just need a minute— sort things out a bit— it’s crowded enough in here without you poking round too,” he tapped his temple, “Just need a bit of quiet— I’m gonna grab a smoke.”

“Sun will be up soon.”

“Go on, Pet. I’ll be up; right now I just need a breather—“

“Spike—“ she pleaded as he walked away towards the kitchen and the back door.

Buffy turned back to her friend looking worried.

“What’s up with him?”

Buffy shook her head, “I’m not sure, but I think seeing her like that is just reminding him of what he went through.”

Willow shook her head and scoffed, “No not that, of course it does! He hasn’t opened up that much in front of me since the whole chip thing.”

“Humm okay…”

“I meant the part about you poking around in his head.”

“Just a figure speech—“

“This is me, Buffy. It’s Willow.”

Buffy shrugged one shoulder, “You’re right. It wasn’t a figure of speech. He means literally. Well sort of— it’s mostly just surface thoughts and emotions. He can do it to me too… We haven’t tried going deeper than that, because you know— kind of rude right?”

“You wouldn’t actually push further right, Buffy? Because that’s just— I learned my lesson with that kind of stuff and goddess Buffy just trust me. You don’t want to push or take advantage of that.”

“It’s not like that. I was just trying to get a read on his surface emotions. We do it all the time. I just don’t like seeing him like that, that's all.”

Willow looked at her friend critically, “So you gonna tell me what’s going on? Does this have to do with Paris?”

“It seems like everything goes back to Paris.”

“Well I’m not totally surprised. Again, I kind of had my suspicions.”

It was Buffy’s turn to raise an eyebrow, “And you didn’t think it was worth mentioning?”

Willow shrugged, “I didn’t have any proof to back it up and I figured that you guys would say something! I mean I am your trusty dial-a-witch, right? I’m like your personal physician— you’re supposed to tell me things! Something mystical is going on: I’m supposed to know. Does Giles know about this?”

Buffy shook her head, “Oh god no! No, no, no, no. I really, really don’t think he could handle being in the same room with us knowing that we share a psychosexual-mental-linky thing.”

Willow‘s eyes widened, “Oh wow. It’s like that, huhh?”

Buffy nodded “Well sort of how it started—“ Buffy moved over to the couch and they both sat down. Buffy cleared her throat, “We’ve been working on it. I’ve been using some of those meditation techniques you taught me and we’ve been sort of— honing it into a more reliable psychic connection. We can kind of do that walkie-talkie mind thing you do but just with each other and only if we’re pretty close, like touching or at least in the same room.”

Willow nodded her understanding. She could see how that could happen, “Well, now your dial-a-witch is on the case. Maybe I can help you with that.”

Buffy nodded and then glanced towards the direction Spike had left, “I appreciate that, Wills; but this has him really rattled. He might need a little time.”

Willow shrugged, “Xander and I are going to be here for as long as you need us… ok no, we’re not, I told the library that I’d be gone for a week. So yeah, you have me for a week,” she laughed. Buffy chuckled too. “All right, if nothing else, I can show you a few more techniques and maybe a spell or two, you guys can try on your own. Simple stuff you guys can handle when you’re ready, seriously no rush, okay? I can’t leave my bestie high and dry!”

Buffy smiled at that, “Thanks. You know, it’s funny, even with this connection— Sometimes he can still be… really guarded.”

“Oh and I bet you’re just an open book all the time.”

“He can usually read me like one. Even before this,” she smiled, “But no, I guess you have a point. We’re both sort of like that, aren’t we? Just in different ways,” she sighed a little, “Hell, anyway, it’s been a seriously long night. I think sleep is in order.”

Willow nodded in agreement. Pulling the blue and green tartan blanket off of the edge of the couch she settled down facing towards the utility room, “I’ll be fine down here, no big, Buff. Spike will be fine; you’ll be fine. You’ll see August will be a fresh start.”

Buffy slapped her face, “Oh God— the shopping trip.”

Willow looked at her curiously, “Shopping trip? I thought you said you guys were going to cancel that.”

“Not officially. We were going to ask the girls and see if anybody was interested. We thought maybe a few of them might still wanna get out for a bit— get away from things. I completely forgot to even ask them about it. We’ll have to do that like— yeah, I don’t know… Brain hurts, I don’t even want to go there right now. We’ll just have to get it sorted out tomorrow…”

Willow smirked, “Sort it out, huh? I think you’ve been hanging out with your British boyfriend a little too much.”

She grinned at that, “Shut up, Wills. Yeah I probably have. I have him, Giles and Faith and that’s about it. So yeah I guess I am starting to pick up on a few things. Haha. What has he done to me?”

“What, indeed?” Willow giggled, “Alright you get some sleep; maybe we can do a late afternoon trip or something. I could totally do some shopping. I think you could too… retail therapy could be a good.”

Buffy gave her friend a sad smile, “Yeah maybe. We’ll see. Spike can stay here with Ruby. He seems really protective of her.”

“Yeah I noticed.”

Buffy shrugged, “He’s close to Sheena, I think he’s feeling guilty. I know I am. I don’t know… that’s part of what he’s blocking from me so really I don’t know.”

“Definitely sounds like you two need to have a talk.”

“Yeah, I know. We have a lot of those,” Buffy laughed darkly.

“Yeah well I imagine with the amount of ground you two have to cover you could probably have those heart-to-heart chats for the next hundred years.”

“Ha ha, now there’s a thought!” Buffy stifled a yawn and Willow mimicked her.

“Gahh! Stop that!”

“Yeah I should probably head upstairs, Spike will probably be up soon he’s cutting it close. I'm just gonna wait for him and get some sleep. Then I guess we’re gonna see if the girls wanna go shopping. Not really the first thing I wanted to do but…”

“If it’s late enough I’ll go with you, sounds like fun.”

Buffy shrugged a shoulder, “The only reason I’m even thinking about going is because I need to get Spike a birthday present. I have no idea what to get him.”

“Yeah good luck with that.”

“All right… night or morning or… yeah I think I’m on vampire time. Okay, I’m gonna go to sleep. See you later!”

“Later!”

“Oh, Will?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t let Ruby into the kitchen for now, ok?”

“Sure, Buff.”

---

Chapters: 29/? Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Spike/Buffy Summers, Faith Lehane/Original Character Characters: Buffy Summers, Spike (BtVS), Rupert Giles, Faith Lehane, Willow Rosenberg, Angel (BtVS) Additional Tags: Sexual Content, Souled Spike (BtVS), Post-Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV), Sweet/Hot, Hurt/Comfort, Action & Romance, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Humor, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Vampire Slayer(s), Spuffy Appreciation Week, Spuffy, Background Relationships, Consensual Sex, Enthusiastic Consent, Original Character(s), Dating, Plans For The Future, Psychic Bond, Eventual Happy Ending, chosen family, Love, Love Confessions, Punk Rock, Canon-Typical Violence, Souled Vampire(s), Post BTVS S7 and Angel S5- AU, Willow/Kennedy eventual break-up, Found Family Summary:

Spike begins having nightmares about the woman he loves and soon finds himself needing to go to her. Before he can tell her he is back from the dead, sort of, he will need to find her. The clock is running as a demon has a score to settle with Spike and has set-out to kill Buffy. Can they just pick up where they left off, and what does the future have in store for them? Rated for sexual content. Most major characters will eventually make an appearance. Essentially a very Spuffy centered continuation of the series.

---

Chapter 31 Open Up

Buffy was sitting up on their bed when Spike returned to their room. She had already gotten changed and was just waiting for him. Sitting there in a little tank top and a pair of tiny cotton shorts that looked a little bit like men’s boxers.

Spike dropped his jacket on the back of the chair he usually kept it on and started over to her. Buffy immediately went up onto her knees on the bed and beckoned him forward.

“I thought you’d be asleep.”

“Are you alright?”

Spike sat down on the bed next to her, “Sorry about earlier, Love.”

“You were really starting to worry me.”

“Oh, I had myself a beer in the kitchen. Still a bit of blood on the floor in there… going to have to get something to get the stain out…” he hesitated, “Checked on Red and Ruby. They’re both out cold.”

Buffy nodded. She was really tired but she had been worried when the sun started to shine through the window and he still wasn’t back, “So are you ready to talk to me?” she asked.

“Would be if I wasn’t so knackered.”

“I kind of feel you on that one… Spike, are we good?”

He looked at her a little surprised, “Course we’re good. Why wouldn’t we be?”

She rocked back to sit on the bed again but didn’t let go, “I don’t know. I don’t really know why you’re keeping me out. I wasn’t trying to pry, I was just—.”

Spike shook his head and put a tender hand on the side of her neck, “It’s nothing to do with us, Love. This is all me. All my baggage. Just seeing Ruby like that tonight— sort of dredged up a bit of that mess for me again. Wasn’t exactly a picnic you know? I wasn’t expecting her to go off like that.”

She nodded her head, “I kind of thought it was something like that. I’m just, I don’t know, I guess I got used to feeling you; being connected and being able to just sort of reach out and know what you’re feeling and sometimes what you’re thinking— and tonight when you blocked me out— that was gone and it kind of freaked me out.”

Spike pulled her into him, “Not my intent, Love. I was just— it’s really noisy up in here. I just didn’t want the extra foot traffic.”

“Okay, but seriously that makes it sound like you have like a dozen people living in your head. You know that right?”

Spike chuckled, “Not exactly. It’s true I got— well there's me and then there’s the demon-me, and then this— other voice— my conscience I guess— my soul— but yeah it’s in there too. But it’s not— It’s like those old cartoons, you know where you got the guy with the demon and the angel; one on each shoulder? It’s like that, Pet. It’s nothing new. Nothing too absurd and it’s certainly nothing to worry about. It’s not like the demon part of me is telling me to ‘hunt, kill, eat,’— okay, well yeah it does, but I get my dose of violence and it keeps quiet. I’m alright. Really, I am.”

“Three is better than a dozen.”

He laughed, “It’s all just me.”

Buffy watched his eyes, “I know, I’m just teasing.”

“You look tired, Lamb.”

“I am tired, you dolt. I stayed up waiting for you. Are you going to snuggle in with me?”

“Give me a few minutes and I will,” he leaned in to kiss her.

Buffy reached a hand to the back of his neck to deepen the kiss. Spike allowed himself to melt into her and felt his mental walls crumbling a little.

Buffy broke the kiss, breathing hard and gave him a hard look, “That’s a little better… getting there.”

“Oh, trust me, Love, it’s probably for the best if I keep things under wraps a bit longer. I’m just trying to protect you.”

Buffy shook her head, “Spike, you don’t need to protect me, not from you, not like this. We’re supposed to take this stuff on together. It’s not one sided.”

“I hear you say it, Pet, I just… I don’t know if you understand what all that means.”

She dropped her hand from his neck, down to the bed, “That’s all the more reason you need to share this kind of stuff with me. How can I help you if I don’t understand? How can I understand if you won’t open up?”

“I’m just—“

“Just what?”

“I’m afraid, alright? I’m still terrified I’m going to muck this all up and lose you.”

“Babe, it’s me. I’m not going anywhere. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m afraid you won’t feel the same about me.”

“Well, yeah you’re probably right. I probably won’t but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Maybe it would mean that we get even closer.”

“And what if it means you want nothing to do with me?”

“Spike, we’ve sort of talked about this already; I’ve read your files. You’ve told me a ton about your past. I pretty much know what you’ve done over the past 130 years.”

“That’s all well and good. Knowing what I did and feeling what I did— how it felt when I did them and how I feel about it now—- those are very different things and it’s messy. I just don’t want to put all that on you. You carry enough of your own baggage, you don’t need mine too.”

“Whether you share it or not, I’m still carrying it, you know that right? We’re in this together. It’s you and me. It’s us. Got it? And yeah maybe… maybe all of it— all at once would be a way big-bad-idea, but that’s no reason to completely block me out. Maybe just give me little bits here and there, let me help you through whatever is bothering you in the moment and we’ll get through it together. How’s that sound?”

He nodded, “I don’t deserve you.”

“This better not be the part where you tell me I deserve better and you break-up with me.”

“Are you daft? I don’t deserve you but it certainly doesn’t mean I’m stupid enough to throw away the best thing in my unlife. You want to get rid of me, you'll likely have to stake me first, Slayer. I’m yours, you’re stuck with me now.”

She gave a tired laugh, “Okay, but no more solid wall blocking. If you feel like you have to put up a wall, just make sure it has a door or a window or something for me, okay?”

“Sure, Pet, I’ll work on that; one Buffy door coming up.”

She laid down, snuggling under the covers yawning, “Okay, good. As long as we’re good.”

The corner of Spike’s mouth curved into a slight smile, “Course we are.”

**********************

Willow awoke with a start to find Ruby standing over her. She had one of the blankets wrapped tightly around her giving her the look of a small child looking for reassurance after a bad dream. Her eyes were red rimmed and she looked exceptionally pale. She shuffled her feet timidly, reinforcing the childlike appearance.

“Ruby?” Willow asked groggily as she sat up a little straighter and adjusted her tank top for modesty sake, “Are you alright?”

Ruby stared at her blankly, but nodded, “I humm, I think so…” her voice was so quiet, Willow could barely make it out. “You’re not Lauren—“

“No I’m not. Do you remember me?”

She nodded, “The witch. Humm… Willow right?”

Willow gave her a small smile, “Good because introductions would have been super awkward.”

Ruby blinked as the attempted joke rolled off of her like water on a duck's back.

Willow shifted, “Ruby? Did you need something?”

Ruby collapsed into one of the barrel chairs glumly. She looked as though all the energy had been drained from her. She shook her head a little and looked back up at Willow, “I was trying to make sense of everything… I feel like I’ve been sleeping for a week.”

Willow looked at her watch, “Hate to break it to you but it’s only been about four hours.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… how are you doing? I wasn’t really expecting you to be up and around so soon.”

“I don’t think I’d say I’m up and about… I’m pretty fuzzy— I’m not really sure what’s going on… but at the same time, I— I think—-“ She hesitated, “I think— I did some pretty horrible things,” her voice was quiet. Ruby tapped the side of her head, “The things in here— hurting Sheena, killing that girl…” she hesitated again and let out a sob, “Lauren,” she choked on the name.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Ruby shook her head and let a few more tears fall. She was quiet and distant, very different from the Ruby they had seen so far.

“Can I get you anything? A cup of tea? Do you need blood? Do you need—“

Ruby‘s eyes shot up to Willow at the mention of blood and she looked like she might be sick. Willow made a small move as though she wanted to go to Ruby but she thought better of it, “I don’t mean— I meant pigs blood out of the refrigerator— You’ll need it for strength. Would you like me to get you some?”

Ruby shook her head, “No. I don't think I could eat. Maybe some tea,” she said quietly.

“I’ll just make a full pot. Remote is there if you want to watch some TV. I’ll just be a few minutes, alright? Don’t wander off, I’ll be right back. We can have a little tea party and chat… if you want.”

Ruby nodded, “Ta,” and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.

Willow shot her what she hoped was a reassuring smile, “I promise I won’t be long.”

Willow was just pouring the water into the tea pot when Ruby wandered in, still wrapped in the blanket.

Willow turned around sternly with the pot of tea in her hands, “I told you to wait in the living room.”

Ruby‘s gray eyes widened as they landed on the corner she had deposited Sheena and Deloris in after their fight. “Fight”, wasn’t really the right word. She had manipulated her baby sister into letting her into the castle and threw her across the room once she had crossed the threshold. Then she had taken Deloris by surprise when she had turned to check on her friend instinctively. It was a cheap shot and Ruby had gone in for the kill without even thinking about it. Having Deloris there and taking her blood; feasting on her. The scream Deloris made. The taste of her warm slayer blood filling her mouth like ambrosia.

Her mouth watered on instinct and yet her newly restored soul recoiled violently against the memory. Ruby turned, running back out into the entryway and threw up a puddle of blood and bile on the stone floor. She collapsed in a heap next to the vomit and started convulsing with sobs. She was wailing so hard Willow was afraid she would wake everyone in the castle.

Willow came running out behind her rubbing her back through the blanket. She tried pulling her up but Ruby wasn’t being cooperative. Willow tried wrapping her arms around Ruby, almost like she was trying to give her a hug and pulled her up into a standing position. Ruby’s legs shook as she stood.

Willow readjusted her as best she could with her arm around her waist. Ruby slipped into her arms easily despite still rambling off lamentations between sobs. It suddenly hit Willow that she was built a lot like Tara. Her soft form pressed into her felt like the missing piece of a puzzle. A sobbing nearly insane puzzle.

What the hell is wrong with me!? Willow thought. She cleared her throat “Come on, let's get you comfy cozy. I’ll clean up the yuck.”

“I think I just—“

“Why don’t we get you back down in the utility room? You can have some quiet in there, maybe even sleep.”

“Shee-shee— oh God I hurt Shee-shee—“ Ruby cried. Willow helped her back onto the sleeping bag and watched as she huddled into a ball of blankets rocking back-and-forth, her instincts told her she should go to her. Wrap her in her arms and let her cry it out. But that thought was ridiculous. She definitely should not be having thoughts like this about the broken vampire in front of her. The vampire she had broken. Willow was fighting back tears of her own now. Ruby pulled her out of her thoughts when she realized she was talking again.

“That— that girl— that Slayer— she was her friend. Oh God, Shee-shee— I’m so sorry—“ Ruby slumped down onto her side still muttering but she no longer seemed to realize Willow was there with her.

Unsure of what to do, Willow left her alone. Ruby didn’t give any indication she noticed her go. Willow made her way back out to the entryway to clean up the mess Ruby had left behind and then went back into the kitchen to pour herself a cup of tea. Even though she didn’t really know her, seeing Ruby like that was hard. It was hard to watch anyone so miserable. But then to have those inappropriate thoughts invading her mind like that. Her soft yet firm body pressed into her. Her beautiful pale skin and light gray eyes in direct contrast to her dark, nearly black hair.

She shook her head and sighed as she finished a second cup of tea. She was sure the other occupants of the castle would start stirring soon. Maybe she could still squeeze in a little more sleep; or at least stand guard over Ruby. With that in mind, Willow made her way back to the living room couch, unsure if sleep would come before the girls woke her up.

*************

It was well into the afternoon by the time Buffy gathered the girls in the training room on the second floor. She thought it would be best for the girls to hear about Ruby’s ensoulment from her. There was a general wash of confusion among the girls. Buffy didn’t miss the anger and disappointment that passed over Zari’s face. It was natural to want revenge on the creature that had killed Deloris but at the same time she was still Sheena’s sister and if there was any hope for her at all, this was it. Buffy just hoped Sheena would regain consciousness.

“As you all know, the Level 4’s are going to be leaving in a few days. I don’t know if any of you are up to it or maybe just need to get out of the castle but Willow, and I are planning on heading into town for a little retail therapy. The van will be leaving in about an hour if you want to go.”

“What about the vampire?” Zari asked.

“I’m assuming you mean Ruby. She’s Sheena’s sister and she’s being handled. Faith is back and she’ll be sticking around with Spike while Callum and Xander take care of a few things. I don’t want any of you near her right now, we have this handled.”

“She killed one of our own and Sheena is in the hospital and you go and reward her with a soul?”

“Trust me, this is no reward. It’s a curse and it’s far from happy. It’s more like mental torture. She’s in a lot of pain right now, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Even knowing that she still chose to go through with it and work with us so cut her some slack. She’s going to be hanging around for a while and eventually training with us too.”

The girls were silent, Buffy knew they still weren’t happy about it but at least they were starting to come around a little.

*****************

An hour and a half later Buffy found herself walking along the streets of town with Willow. She was surprised by the number of girls that had ultimately decided to go.

They had just got themselves some coffee. Despite the lack of sleep the night before they were enjoying the time together to just catch up. A pang of guilt hit Buffy as she realized that they really hadn’t done anything like this in months and even then their interactions had been strained. Buffy hadn’t really thought about it but Spike’s death had really affected every aspect of her life, including her friendships.

Willow shot Buffy a look. “What?” Buffy asked.

“This trip with Spike has been really good for you. I don’t remember the last time I saw you like this… maybe in the beginning with Riley but then there was the whole keeping secrets thing and that was just all stress-y.”

“Yeah. I mean this trip hasn’t exactly gone according to plan, but seriously I’m happier than I’ve ever been. It’s so weird.”

“Nah, you love someone who loves you back, heart and soul. That’s… goddess Buffy, that's what I lost, that’s what I’m looking for again.”

“Wills, I know you’ll find it. Ruby seems to like you,” Buffy joked.

Willow had been trying very hard to put her inappropriate thoughts about Ruby to the back of her mind. “Yeah, that's a big world of ‘NO’. I’m definitely not ready for anything, like at all. And she’s in an obviously really bad place right now anyway Buffy, you saw her last night but you didn’t see her this morning…”

“No but I’ve seen what it did to Spike… it was horrible…”

Willow scrunched her face a little, “I saw him at the school and that night you brought him back to your house— after seeing Ruby last night and this morning. I actually thought she was doing better and then wham! She's a ball of soggy blankets and I’m cleaning up bloody-vomit. Goddess Buffy… I never really saw what it did to Angel. You did a little but—“

“No not really— Angel definitely wasn’t like that when I saw him… by all accounts he was definitely worse the first time. The worst I saw him was when he came back from hell, but that was different. I saw way more of what Spike went through than Angel. Even at that I don’t really know what it was like for him in the very beginning. Spike has talked about it a little but not much. I know he still gets nightmares from it. He talks in his sleep sometimes.”

“Not surprising. You saw how hard it hit Ruby and she was only out on the evil for a few days then chained up the rest of the time. Suddenly the crazy guy in the school basement makes a whole lot more sense.”

“Did it ever not make sense?”

“I just mean that it’s the kind of thing you have to really see to understand and I think I’m starting to understand him, and you, a little more.”

“Maybe this will help then. When I first found Spike in the basement, while you were still in England… I followed him into a church, Will—“ she hadn’t told her friend about this. Until now this detail had been kept private, “That’s when he told me or well I figured out— that he got his soul back… he- he was a mess. It was like every part of him was at war with another and he didn’t know what he was doing or saying. He was—“ she choked on her words and took a sip of coffee, “At one point he was laying across a cross pleading with me… he was asking if we could rest… just rest… it was the most awful thing I’ve ever seen… he was sizzling like bacon and he didn’t even notice… he was really out of it, I don’t even know if he remembers that part of it really… I had to get him out of there.”

Willow was stunned, “Buffy—“

“I know— but at the time it just— it seemed like a private thing between us. I really think maybe that’s when I started to let myself fall for him… a little anyway… it was kind of confusing but it opened the door to being able to love him.”

“Humm yeah I can totally see that… Goddess Buffy that’s…”

“Yup.”

“Wow…”

“Yup.”

“Ruby is an emotional mess and a big blankety-ball of guilt, but I don’t think she’s ready to fry herself on a cross.”

“He’s got a little more carnage under his belt plus The First was also messing with his head in a big way. It was pretty brutal. But who knows, give her time. Once she has time to sift through the rubble of her brain she too might think frying on a cross is the deal of the century.”

“I’m definitely not suggesting it.”

“Yeah, no… but I am worried about what she’ll do if Sheena doesn’t pull through. She might just run outside on a sunny day.”

Willow grimaced, “Let’s hope not. It would make this a totally wasted trip,” she attempted at a joke but her heart wasn’t in it and it fell flat, “I’ll have to think about that one.”

“You said something about reinforcing the castle's defenses.”

“Oh yeah. That’s going to have to take another day or so depending on how fast I can get things set up. It should put a pretty impenetrable shield around the whole property that will keep out any of the real nasty ones planning to do any kind of harm to the castle or anyone inside of it or on the property at all, won’t be able to get over the barrier when I’m done.”

“Seriously?”

“It’s not really the kind of spell that you can do just anywhere but because of the castles location and its age and the existing stonewall fencing around the property I can sort of draw on the energy of those stones themselves to create that barrier it’s really super technical stuff and I have to get a bunch of stones and carve runs into them and place them strategically along the entire property and then I’m going to have to connect them all with the spell it’s kind of a much more subtle magic it won’t be flashy but it will be very powerful and it should hold for- well as long as the stone fencing holds and that’s been up for a couple of hundred years now already so I imagine it’s gonna be pretty permanent.”

“Wow. I didn’t think something like that was possible.”

“Oh it’s possible. Just not on like every property— kind of a unique situation really.”

They both took sips of their coffee and were quiet for a few minutes as they walked along they hadn’t really been going into a whole lot of the shops but they’ve been into a few Buffy was more or less humoring Willow her heart really wasn’t into shopping but figured since Willow was there it was a good idea to put in the effort for her friend.

“How’s he doing since last night?” Willow asked suddenly. Buffy didn’t need to ask who she was talking about. She had obviously been worried about Spike the night before when she had gone upstairs to go to bed, and Willow knew it.

“Better. Kinda wish I was still curled up with him. He’s surprisingly cozy.”

“He’s all wire and cable.”

“Yeah he is,” Buffy grinned. Physically speaking, that had been the main difference between Spike and any of her other lovers in the past. It also meant that they somehow fit perfectly together, almost like they were molded for each other. That alone was incredibly sexy. Just snuggling with him alissited a deep visceral connection between the two of them that she would never be willing to live without.

“Yeah… I heard all about it when I was trying to clear that stuff out of the Buffy-bot. She/it was a really big fan. Even I can admit he’s pretty hot; and you know, totally gay here!”

Buffy laughed and then looked at her friend, “I’ve noticed you’ve been talking about Oz lately. You’re not, I dunno, thinking about looking him up are you? How’s that work with the gay woman thing?”

“No, not really. I’m just— I really had something good with Oz—- I don’t really know to be honest. I think I’m just using him as a comparison to what I have with Kennedy now—- which doesn’t come close. I still love him in a way, but I think we’re just going in different directions. I’m definitely more into women now. I think Tara kinda ruined me for men in general. Although, I don’t know. If Oz or maybe not Oz— someone Oz-like, came around— I don’t know how I’d react honestly. I might be tempted; maybe. Maybe I’m really Bi, but I’m definitely not ready to commit to that. I’m pretty into boobs,” she laughed but she was suddenly thinking about a pair of very off-limits breasts she definitely shouldn’t be thinking about.

“Well whatever you’re into you know I just want you to be happy right?”

“I know Buff. Thanks.”

“So about Kennedy— are you seriously using this trip as a low key breakup?”

Willow sighed, “Pretty pathetic right?”

Buffy shrugged and smoothed a hand over her long skirt, “It’s not really my style— might open things up for Ruby though,” She teased again.

Willow’s cheerful smile slid off her face; crashing into the cobblestones under their feet, “I really don’t even want to joke about that right now. She’s in really rough shape.”

“Yeah, Spike told me you had some trouble with her this morning.”

“How did he know?”

“Talked to Ruby. She feels really bad about it. I told you not to let her into the kitchen.”

“It’s not like I dragged her in with me. Have you heard anything about her sister?”

Buffy shook her head and took a long drink of her ridiculously sweet coffee, “Nothing yet. I’m probably going to go in to check on her soon. Or maybe visit her parents. I was sort of holding off on that. I kinda want to see if she starts to bounce back.”

“I don't know about that. A hug from her mom might help.”

“It might also break them both. Spike’s adamant about letting her come to terms with it on her own. Says it’s ‘part of the process’.”

“Well yeah I guess… but it might help her to talk to someone.”

“Well duh, that’s why Spike and Faith are sticking around. Ok that’s why Spike is sticking around. Faith is basically just babysitting and making sure Giles doesn’t fall down the stairs on his crutches. Besides that, I kinda think the Anderson’s have been through enough lately. I don’t even know how to tell them about Ruby— the soul thing, I mean— they don’t even know about Spike. He got an invite as one of Sheena’s teachers, they have no idea he’s a vamp,” Buffy looked up realizing where they were, “Oh hey, I want to take you in here but we need a serious subject change. This is Callum’s mom’s shop and the woman hears EVERYTHING.”

“Oh speaking of Callum, he and Xander should have everything set up at the house by tomorrow I think. We can get Ruby moved then.”

“Oh thank goodness,” Buffy sighed in relief as she pushed open the door.

“Afternoon ladies!”

“Hey Mrs Ross!” Buffy greeted her. She wasn’t about to pretend she didn’t know she was Callum’s mom but the greeting did seem to throw the older woman off a little. “I’m Buffy Summers, I know your son, Callum. I was in here a few weeks ago with his new girlfriend.”

“Oh— oh of course! Not that he’s brought her ‘round mind.”

“Yeah— Faith has been pretty busy at the school and—“

“You don’t need to make excuses for the girl. That used to be my job when it was my sister in her place. She’s your cousin right?”

Buffy knew that Callum hadn’t filled his mother in on everything but it was still a little weird. It was like having the same conversation she’d had a hundred times but from the wrong end— or maybe it was the side. Whatever it was, it was throwing Buffy off a bit and she hesitated before answering, “That’s actually sort of her job,” Buffy said pointing to Willow, “For both me and Faith.”

“Both?”

“Let’s just say that the Slayer-call-line doesn’t know anything about reviving someone with CPR.”

“I— oh—“

“So umm yeah, cousins. Sure, right!”

“Hi I’m Willow, I’m just visiting. I did get to meet Callum though, he seems really nice,” Willow said quickly.

Mrs Ross gave them both a skeptical look but didn’t push. Then grinning a little, “Do I take it that you are part of the ‘we’ that is good at your job of protecting people? That bit threw me off when you were here last but I think I’m beginning to understand. Things really have changed since my sister was called.”

“Hum, yeah. We sort of work as a group.”

“But you’re not a Slayer of course, right?” She asked Willow.

“No, I’m just d—“

“Will is sort of magical tech-support.”

“Oh, I see. Well I’m sure that comes in handy. I carry plenty of supplies. That part of the shop was sort of a homage to my sister. She had this friend, an older gent that taught her quite a lot. He ran this shop originally and I worked here when I was young. After she passed he tried to teach me a little. Just enough to stay safe but mostly about the business. That’s how I came to own this place. I’ve changed quite a bit of course but I always kept the more commonly used arcane things in stock.”

“This is really amazing Mrs Ross.”

“Thank you. So what brings you ladies in today? Not trouble I hope? Callum mentioned he was staying with Faith because of a fire you had over there. You have a student in the hospital, a local girl I understand.”

“Oh ah yeah, the fire was in the orchard actually. Just a dumb accident, we’re hoping she’ll pull through. He’s just helping with the cleanup.”

“Oh I see. Well I do hope everything is alright with the girl. I thought maybe you were planning on some sort of a spell or something.”

Buffy really didn’t want to get into details with her, “No, nothing like that. Maybe we’ll restock a little. Hum, the last time I was here, I saw a mens necklace I thought my boyfriend would like, and I wondered if you still had it.”

“Do you remember what it looked like? You’re welcome to look,” She said gesturing towards the jewelry display.

“It was a short silver roundish chain with a bezel set black stone on it.”

“Oh I think I know the one,” she said, going over to a spinning rack on the counter, the type with locks on each side. She spun it around once and unlocked the case pulling the necklace in its box off the little shelf. “Is this it?”

“That’s it! What do you think, Will? Do you think he will like it?”

“The stone looks like a tourmaline, it’s a good protection stone. I think it’s perfect coming from you, and it suits him.”

“You know your stones.”

“I sure do.”

Mrs. Ross gave a little nod, “All right. Will this do it for you then?”

“I definitely want to get that but I think we’re going to look around. I’ve been telling her all about your shop and she’s only going to be here for a few more days. I love all the stuff I got here last time.”

“Well by all means! I’ll just keep this behind the counter for you while you look around. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Thanks!”

Some time later after visiting many more shops, including the bookstore Faith had avoided on their last trip, the two friends were on their way back to the castle with the girls piled back into the van. Buffy kept running the conversation with Mrs Ross over in her head, wondering if she should have told her. She just didn’t see any reason not to at the time but now she could think of a dozen.

---

Chapter 35

Redemption

Buffy watched as Willow ran her hands above Sheena’s thin form laying on the bed. The girl was pale and her dark hair laying across the crisp white pillow made her look a little like Snow White. A softly glowing light flowed through Willow's hands and swirled around Sheena. The light moved over her and up to her head in a halo, then formed odd shapes in the air that Willow seemed to be reading.

This was certainly different from the last spell she had watched her friend perform within the last hour. She and Xander had gone with Willow out to the break in the stone fence where the driveway cut through the property line.

Willow had simply buried the stone in the ground and started a very short chant. Her face had taken on a blank seriousness and she glowed with a white light for an instant. There was a little electrical crackling that buzzed through the earth and the wall surrounding the property. Buffy could physically feel the pulse of energy running through the perimeter. There was an odd gust of wind that seemed to come from the ground itself. It swooped around and then upward into the sky. Buffy couldn’t tell how high it went but even the tallest trees seemed to be affected. The scent of ozone hit Buffy’s nostrils before dissipating. And then it was over. The trio walked back to the castle to check on the resident vampire who was still dozing in front of the TV like nothing had happened. After that she and Willow had gone to gather the spell supplies that were now sitting on Sheena’s bedside table.

Willow studied the lights and symbols forming over Sheena a moment longer before waving her hand and dispelling the light. Ruby turned to Willow from her seat next to her sister, anxiety etched on her face, “Is there anything you can do for her?”

Willow fidgeted with her lip.

“Will?” Buffy asked.

“Sheena seems to be nearly healed up. I think this might be more trauma induced. There’s something blocking her from waking up.”

“Like I was when Glory took Dawn?”

“Pretty much.”

“Anyone want to fill in the new vamp on the scene?” Ruby asked, clutching her sister’s hand.

“Sorry Ruby, you're right. What Willow is getting at is that Sheena is still in a coma because of a— what do you even call that?”

“Think of it almost like a catatonic state within the coma.”

“That sounds horrible!”

“Well it’s definitely not of the good but I think we might be able to help her. Better yet you can help her.”

“What, me? How can I help? I'm the one that did this to her!” Guilt and remorse cracked her voice.

“Yes you did and that’s why I think you would be the best one to do it. For both of you.”

Ruby turned to look at her sister's paleface and sighed, “If you say so. How’s it work?”

Willow had already moved over to the table where her supplies were sitting. She took a large deep purple amethyst and placed it on Sheena‘s forehead, then she took a large pink rose quartz and placed that on her sternum.

“I’m just going to light these herbs here and we are going to take a little trip inside your sister’s subconscious. Buffy, can you make sure we’re not interrupted?”

Buffy took up a post at the end of the bed, “Bodyguard-Buffy that’s me.”

“You make it sound so easy, what exactly do we have to do?“

Willow lit the herbs and sat down in a chair next to Sheena, opposite Ruby. She took one of Sheena‘s hands in hers and reached across her stomach to Ruby. Giving her a small nod, “All you have to do is hold your sister's hand and mine. I’ll get us in there and then it’s your turn. A lot of it is gonna be up to you. I’ve only met your sister over a computer screen twice so I’m basically just moral support once we’re in.”

Ruby nodded and took Willow’s hand, completing the circle, “Onward.”

Willow’s eyes closed as she silently began to chant. A moment later Buffy watched as their heads lulled and they both slumped slightly over Sheena, still clasping hands.

Buffy looked around the room and flopped her hands down at her sides, “Bodyguard-Buffy is going to be Bored-Buffy.” She looked around until she caught sight of a crochet magazine Sheena’s mother must have left there. Without anything better to keep her entertained she moved the chair she had been sitting in around to the end of the bed so she could sit with a view of the door. Willow hadn’t exactly been clear on how long this would take. Although Buffy was pretty sure that they only had another hour or so before the hospital staff would be kicking them out. Hopefully they would be finished before then.

Willow blinked in the bright sunlight she found herself in and immediately looked around. The first thing she saw was a small dark haired girl, probably around seven, in a black dress sitting alone on a swing in an abandoned playground. She instinctively turned to find Ruby standing next to her staring at the young girl. The girl didn’t seem to notice them at all. She simply sat there on the swing focusing intensely— on nothing.

“Sheena—“ Ruby whispered. She placed one hand against her lips to stifle a gasp as she looked around the playground and back at little Sheena, “Wait— I know this. This was just after our gran’s funeral. Sheena– she was so upset she eh she ran off, it took me an hour to figure out where she’d gone. This is where I found her.”

“Looks like she’s waiting for her big sister.”

Ruby slowly moved towards little Sheena and kneeled down in front of her. She didn’t move. “Sheena?”

Nothing.

“Shee-shee?”

The girl blinked.

“Shee-shee? It’s me, Ruby.”

“Ruby is gone,” the child’s voice came out in a heartbreaking whisper.

“I’m right here Shee. It’s me. I’m here.”

“You’re dead…”

There was a sudden swirl of wind and colour and they were abruptly in the kitchen at the castle. Sheena and Deloris were standing by the window watching the battle rage outside, forbidden to do anything about it. Ruby watched as she saw herself walk right up to the back door, unnoticed by any of the combatants behind her.

She heard her own voice, her pleading tone asking her sister to let her in. Asking for safety and solace. Convincing her she wasn’t the evil thing she had turned into. Sheena cried and uttered something that only vaguely sounded like an invitation. The moment Ruby had crossed the threshold her face changed into the horrifying creature she knew she was. Ruby hadn’t seen her face like that of course.

She staggered back into the large work table as she watched the memory unfold in front of them, “Oh God no!” She cried and tried to hide her face in her hands.

Willow rushed to her side clutching her arm, “I think she needs you to see this.”

“Wi-Willow? Oh God! Is that really what I look like? Am I really that horrible?” She started to feel her face. No fangs. No bumpies.

Willow pulled her hands away from her perfectly pretty human face, “Watch.”

Then she gestured towards the memory-Ruby as she grappled with Sheena for a moment before throwing her across the room into the corner where she hit the wall with a sickening smack and crumpled to the floor by the large dining table.

“It’s just your demon, Ruby. That— that is what ‘normal’ looks like for a vampire. No you don’t look like that all the time.”

Ruby looked on in horror, barely even aware of Willow’s hand still on her arm or her reassuring voice in her ear as the scene continued to unfold. The memory Ruby grabbed a distracted Deloris, sinking her fangs into the soft flesh of her throat, drinking deeply. She threw her head back and howled with glee, a manic smile on her wicked looking face.

Unable to turn away, Ruby felt sickened by the gore of the scene unfolding before her. It hadn't felt so disgusting at the time. It had felt glorious, intimate even. But now— The depravity of it made her want to throw up. Having her own memory of what she did and actually seeing it from an outside perspective was too much to handle. Deloris‘s body flew through the air to join Sheena’s limp form.

There was a small sound behind them and Ruby and Willow realized that little Sheena was sitting on the work table. She was still in her black mourning dress, still looking just as forlorn as she did on the swing.

“Sheena?” Ruby swallowed the bile in her throat and turned to the tiny Sheena.

“Shee-shee, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I’m so, so, so— sorry!” she nearly wailed, tears rolling down her cheeks, “Sheena, sweetheart, you have to believe me!”

“Ruby is a dead thing…”

“I know. I know I am— I— oh God Sheena, I’m sorry I hurt you! Please!”

“Can a soulless monster feel sorry?”

Willow gripped Ruby’s arm encouragingly, “I don’t really know maybe– maybe not entirely— but that’s not me Sheena. I’ve changed. Again. But this time it’s a good change. They gave me my soul back, Sheena. I’m me.” She looked over at her memory-self standing stock still. Blood stained game face. Ruby swallowed and turned back towards Sheena, “But I guess that’s me too. I’m both. I’m so sorry… I’m both now.”

Sheena blinked.

“Please Shee-Shee, give me a chance. I am the sister you remember, but I’m also—“ she let out a hard rasping breath, “I’m also that. I don’t want to be that, I want to be better. I want to be the sister that you know and love. I want to be who you need me to be. Sheena, please listen. I’m here, I'm listening, I'm here,” she cried.

The dark haired little girl remained impassive for another moment as Ruby cried herself out into the girl's lap. Her tears disappeared into the black of the skirt of the little dress she wore.

Willow stood still holding onto Ruby feeling like an intruder, not sure what her part should be in all of this. Casual observer? Should she intervene? Willow was still pondering this when the little girl finally spoke, “How do I know you’re telling the truth? How do I know you’re really my Ruby?”

Ruby whimpered and looked up at her with shining eyes, “I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back. I know I’ve messed up. I know I’ve done horrible things to you, to Deloris, to—“ she couldn’t say the name. Not that Sheena knew who Lauren was anyway but she couldn’t say it. “Sheena, I am your sister. I will do anything in my power to make this up to you somehow, if you just let me sweetie. But for me to do that, you have to wake up. You have to. I need you. Things have changed. I’ve changed and I need you. I can’t do this on my own. Spike and Buffy and all the white hats in the castle have been great but I need you. I need my baby sister.”

Recognition flashed in Sheena‘s eyes and she suddenly morphed into her 15-year-old self. Still sitting on the kitchen table but now dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a black T-shirt, nails painted black to match and tiny silver hoops adorning her ears, “You know Spike?” she asked in a small voice.

Ruby gave a watery chuckle and almost smiled, “Yeah I know Spike, he’s going to be helping me with this soul thing. I guess I’m sort of like him now. Thanks to Willow here,” she gestured towards Willow.

Sheena seemed to notice her for the first time, “Miss Rosenberg?” She questioned, “What are you doing here?”

“Hi, Sheena! I heard you and your sister could use some help. I put your sister's soul back for her.”

“So Ruby really is like Spike?”

“Well she has a soul. It’s more like Angel really but… I can explain it better when you wake up, okay?”

“She’s not going to be super grumpy like him is she?”

Willow chuckled, “No, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure I managed to fix that part with the new spell I used on Ruby.”

Sheena turned hopeful eyes towards her sister, “So it’s really true? This isn’t some kind of trick?”

Ruby shook her head, “No Shee-shee, it’s not a trick. I really do have my soul back. It’s only been a couple of days and it’s been— well it’s no picnic; but it’s real. I’m here. I’m your sister, again, well sort of.”

There was another unexpected swirl of wind and light and Ruby and Willow were abruptly coming out of the spell. Their hands were still clasped together and they were slumped slightly over Sheena’s slim body. They sat up looking around. A machine beeped obnoxiously and Sheena’s eyelids fluttered a little.

It took a few moments before Sheena squeezed her sister’s hand weakly, “Rube?” She gasped.

Ruby cried, it had worked. She squeezed her sister’s hand in return just before she let out a little sigh and fell asleep again. She wasn’t out of the woods yet, but it was a good sign.

Another machine beeped. Making Buffy turn towards footsteps in the hallway, “Willow quick, gather that stuff up, nurses will be in here to check on that beepy thing and to kick us out.”

“We should probably call for a nurse anyway, let them know she’s come out of it,” Ruby smiled in relief as she stood up and patted her sister’s knee through the blankets covering her.

“You got everything, Will?”

“Yeah, we're good. Bodyguard-Buffy can stand down. Ruby, you want to call the nurse?”

Ruby had barely opened the door to flag down a nurse when two of them came flying into the room to check Sheena’s vitals and started asking questions. Ruby explained that she had opened her eyes, recognized her by name, squeezed her hand and promptly fell back to sleep.

A third nurse paused in front of Ruby, “Not to worry. It’s perfectly normal for coma patients to require a little time to fully wake up. We really should see to her now and visiting hours ended fifteen minutes ago. She will likely sleep for several hours before waking up fully. I recommend you all go home and get some sleep. We will call if there is any change.”

Ruby nodded, her sister wasn’t exactly any other coma patient and cast her a longing glance as one nurse checked Sheena’s vitals and the other one updated her chart and took readings off of the machines she was hooked up to.

“Yeah, of course. You should call our parents though. They humm… they don’t exactly know I’m in town,” the lie stung at her even as it passed her lips easily and she figured it was the demon part of her that could lie so smoothly because as a human she had never been good at it. She could keep a secret sure, especially her own, but to outright lie? Even a little white lie like that wasn’t something that came naturally to her. Except now it did, apparently.

The three of them excused themselves to allow the medical personnel room to work and care for the girl. It was time to head to the University to get Ruby’s things. The hospital would be calling Sheena’s parents with the latest development which surely meant that a visit with them in the next few days would be imminent.

The three of them were just finishing up outside of Ruby’s apartment near campus, putting the last of her things in the backseat of Faith’s car. They had already filled up the trunk in the front of the little Volkswagen Beetle with the bulk of Ruby’s clothes and books of which she had many. Willow was particularly impressed with Ruby’s library, she fingered the spines of a few of the books in the box she had just set down.

Ruby looked up at the building they’d exited wistfully, “I was so excited to move in here. School was going great. I almost had a girlfriend— and now that’s all gone. I’m all gone.”

Buffy came up behind her and rubbed her shoulder, “You’re not all gone. There’s a lot of good in you. You had a choice and you made the right one and we will do everything we can to get you on your feet. Right Willow?” Buffy grinned over at her best friend who was still arranging boxes in the backseat, making sure to leave room for Ruby.

“Yeah absolutely! You already have a place to stay and now you have your stuff so you can make it your own. There are already some shelves down there you can put your little library on. You weren’t kidding about liking books.”

“Yeah, well some people like shoes, I prefer books.”

“Ditto, I think you have almost as many as I do.”

“These? No, darling, these are just what I took with me to university, and a few I bought more recently. The rest are still at my folks. I’ve got quite a lot more there.”

Willow’s mouth suddenly went dry and she wondered if it was normal to get turned on from hearing about the size of someone’s book collection. Goddess, no. These were dangerous waters she was swimming in. What was happening here? There were still things she had to deal with. She cleared her throat, feeling self conscious about the action, “We can get those another time. At least things aren’t as bad as they could have been.”

Ruby smiled as she turned towards her, “It’s just not exactly what I had planned for my life. I guess I got an unlife to think about now. What do vampires usually do anyway?”

Buffy shrugged, “Kill, eat, steal, cheat, repeat…”

Ruby actually laughed a little, “Seems my time as a vampire has been fairly tame in retrospect.” The small joke tasted like ash in her mouth and Ruby nearly choked on it.

Willow heard the hitch in her voice and stood up, closing the back door. “Ruby, how far are we from the alley you were jumped in?”

“It’s not far. Walking distance, why?”

Willow glanced over at Buffy, catching her eye, “What do you think Buffy?”

She pulled a stake out of the bag across her shoulder, “I could go for a little slayage if anyone wants to play.” Buffy handed Willow a stake, hesitated a moment and handed one over to Ruby, but didn’t let go of it at first, “The pointy end goes into the bad guys and I get it back at the end of the night. Got it?”

Ruby nodded, “Sheena needs me Buffy. I’m not going to do anything stupid now.”

“Good, and watch out for the humans. Matter of fact, just don’t stab anyone without bumpies unless I tell you to okay?”

“Got it.”

Buffy finally let go of the stake, “We’ll follow you, you can show us where you were and we’ll make a sweep of the area.”

Almost an hour and only one vamp later, Buffy was just about ready to call it a night when something down an alley caught her eye and she motioned for Willow and Ruby to follow her.

A few steps closer and Buffy’s senses kicked in. Vampire.

She had long dark hair, wearing flowing light gray pants that almost looked like a skirt, and a black tank top. The vampire had her back to them but Buffy could hear her clearly.

“Spike?” She asked almost breathlessly as she turned looking at Ruby and Buffy curiously with Willow standing behind them, “But that’s— You are most certainly a vampire, yes. One of my new littles, isn’t it? Oh how sweet, did you come to find your mummy?” She crooned to Ruby, then hesitating she turned her attention to Buffy sniffing the air. “Why do you smell like my Sire? Like my Spike. He’s all over you, in you, I can smell him all around you.”

Buffy swallowed and took a step towards her, “First of all, gross. Second, even if he is your Sire he’s my boyfriend. Thank you very much.”

“Is he now? That must make you the Slayer. I knew he had a thing for them but this is just ridiculous. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was shagging one. I do wonder what dear Drusilla thinks about you. Granny never did much care for competition. She could throw him to the wolves but then got angry if he played along. Oh dear… Granny, she isn’t here, is she?” the vampire woman suddenly looked frightened.

Buffy furrowed her brow a little, “Haven’t seen her in years. So are we going to chat or fight?”

“Aren’t you even a little curious about me?”

“Considering he’s never brought you up. No, not really.”

“I’m sure he probably thinks I'm dead— dust. Probably forgotten all about his little Odette.”

“Right. Odette is it? I don’t think Spike is interested.”

“Oh no of course not. The minute Drusilla is back in the picture it’s all about his Dark Princess isn’t it?”

“Not so much.”

“Oh that is surprising. You must really be something special then. I’m curious. How does that work?”

“Think you’re going to have to keep wondering,” Buffy quipped as she delivered a kick to her stomach.

“Are you just going to stand there and let the Slayer attack the one who Sired you my pretty little one?” Odette huffed towards Ruby.

“No, I’m going to help her.” Ruby vamped, attacking Odette with fury, “You killed me! Took my life from me!” She screamed as she delivered blow after blow. Odette blocked and struck at Ruby but Ruby was somehow faster against the older vampire. Or maybe she was just more determined. Buffy stepped to the other side blocking any means of escape but getting out of the way. Ruby needed this.

Ruby pinned her to the wall, “I might have killed her but you are the reason Lauren is dead!!!” She growled with fury.

“I made you!” Odette growled.

“Made me? You took everything from me! You killed me and left me alone in a crypt! I don’t owe you anything! Hell! You don’t even know my name do you?!”

Odette struggled to break free and Buffy kicked her back against the wall, “Take her out Rubes. I’ve heard enough.”

“You won’t kill me!” Odette spat.

“Want’a bet!” Ruby pulled up the stake clutched in her hand and sank it deep into the other vampire’s chest. Odette crumbled into dust and Ruby fell to her knees. Buffy took a step back to give her some space.

Ruby looked like she didn’t know if she should scream or cry. Her eyes were full of rageful tears. Willow walked up to her, tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder, “Are you okay Ruby?” she asked gently. It seemed like she was asking her that a lot tonight.

She tilted her head back, willing the tears away. She shook her head violently then opened her eyes again and cleared her throat, “I’ll be fine. I know I did it, I know it was my fault but she was the reason Lauren, her roommate and Deloris are all dead and now she is too; that’s something.”

“It’s a big something. It sounded like she might have been the turn-happy-vamp we’ve been looking for— or one of them anyway.”

“Will’s right Ruby, you did good tonight. Come on. Let’s get you home, I got a couple of bottles of wine we can share. And a boyfriend to confront.”

“Yeah… so, about that…” Ruby suddenly felt nervous, “If she was my Sire, does that mean—“

“Spike is your Grandsire— Apparently. Yeah. Willow already thought you might be related to Angel but I never thought it would be that direct.”

“And this Angel guy is Spike’s Grandsire right?”

“Yeah. He Sired Drusilla and she Sired Spike. Looks like the soul getting thing sort of skips a generation,” Willow pitched in.

“I just thought of something. There’s no telling how many she could have changed before or even after me.”

“Yup. Crazy inducing thoughts,” Willow said.

“That’s it, I’m texting Faith. I’m calling for a girls night. You two in?”

“Do you have enough wine?”

“We’re going to find out! Better yet, I’ll ask her to get some more.”

“She called Drusilla ‘Granny’, I’m not supposed to, you know, call Spike ‘Granddad’ or anything now am I?” Ruby scrunched her face in distaste and was overwhelmed with relief when Buffy started laughing. Her laughter was infectious and soon Willow was nearly doubled over, “Spike’s a grandpa!” She laughed.

Buffy struggled to get her laughter under control, “God no. Definitely not! But I’d pay to see the look on his face if you did!”

Faith was lounging in the living room with Addison and Ursula when they got back to the castle. Faith had gone all out. As Addison and Ursula’s last night in the castle, Faith figured it was only right to invite them for the girls' night in. They had gone together to get a few more bottles of wine and whiskey. She and Ursula had opted for whiskey over wine. Addison didn’t normally drink at all but she was already on her second glass of wine and Ursula was eyeing her girlfriend like Christmas had come early.

Buffy flopped down on the couch next to Faith taking in the eight bottles of wine and three bottles of whiskey sitting on the coffee table along with the glasses.

“Faith?”

“B?”

“Are we planning on getting all the girls drunk tonight?”

“Nope, just us. But I figured with a vampire in the mix I’d better be prepared. Didn’t know what she would go for.”

Ruby’s eyebrows went up, “Wine is fine with me but I’m not really—“

“You haven’t done much drinking since you’ve been turned , have you?” Faith asked.

“Not exact—“

“It’ll probably take you at least a bottle and a half before you even start to get a nice buzz,” Faith smirked as she pulled the cork out of a bottle and handed it over to Ruby. “So is this a crappy night kind of drinking night or a freaking awesome night kind of drinking night?”

Buffy slipped down onto the floor and poured herself a hefty glass, “Over all, I’d say it was definitely a good night,” Buffy sipped her wine as she told the girls about Sheena. She picked up the bottle to refill her glass, refilled Willow’s instead and then proceeded to drink out of the bottle as she and Ruby retold the story of Ruby killing her Sire in the alley. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go into Ruby’s vampiric family tree right now and was thankful Ruby didn’t bring it up.

Faith didn’t bother hiding a look of surprise, “Damn Rubes. I’d call that a great night,” she said toasting her and shooting back her drink.

Ruby shifted uncomfortably, the truth was that it had been emotionally draining but before she could say anything Willow spoke up. “It was a good night, also very full of the mixed up emotions,” she slipped down onto the floor mirroring Buffy and refilled both of their glasses.

It was sometime later when Ruby reached for her second bottle of wine, grazing her shoulder with her hand, and Willow realized she had settled herself down directly in between Ruby’s chair and the coffee table. She turned abruptly to look at Ruby, “Oh I’m sorry, am I in your way?”

“Not at all,” Ruby’s tone was casual and relaxed as she sat back in the barrel chair languidly resting a leg over the side, “you’re fine where you are.”

Ursula glanced at Addison who was watching them and grinned, “Addy, mein Schätzchen, would you like a little more wine before we turn in?”

Addison leaned into her for a chased kiss that Ursula soon deepened slightly before letting her go.

Addison looked around the room timidly, and cleared her throat, “We still have a little packing to do before leaving tomorrow, we should—“

“Go enjoy your last private night in the castle before you move into your new apartment?” Faith smirked.

“That would be it, Ja?” Ursula said, watching the blush in Addison’s cheeks.

“Behave yourself, Urs,” she chided lightly.

Ursula downed the last mouthful of whiskey in her glass and stood up bringing Addison with her, “Danke for the ladies night and the drinks. Ruby, I’m glad things seem to be working out for you and we got the chance to hang out post soul. We should keep in touch. Buffy can give you our contact information once we get settled.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate that.”

The two Slayers left for the stairs hand in hand, leaving Buffy, Faith, Ruby and Willow in the living room with their drinks. Willow was telling them a very funny story about something that had happened with Dawn in their kitchen in Rome, when Spike limped into the room.

“There he is! My new favorite Granddad!” Ruby grinned.

Buffy lost it in a fit of giggles as Spike eyed the four women as though they were crazy. “What’s all this? Buffy? I thought we had plans tonight. And what’s with the Granddad crack?” He asked bewildered.

Buffy sobered slightly, “I called an emergency girl’s night. With drinks!”

He walked around taking the seat on the couch behind Buffy’s place on the floor and stretched his banged up leg out in front of him. “I can see that. Question is, why and how come you didn’t just tell me you had a change of plans? I’ve just been reading, waiting for you to get home. What happened tonight? Is everything alright with Sheena?”

Ruby shook her head, “Sheena’s doin’ much better. Great even, hopefully she’ll be out of there soon. Thanks for asking grandpa.”

Buffy, Willow and Ruby all dissolved into a fit of giggles at the perplexed looks on Spike and Faith’s faces.

“Right then. What’s all this?”

Buffy hummed a little, “Ruby found her Sire tonight. Odette.” She let the name hang in the air as she turned drunkenly towards Spike to see his reaction.

It wasn’t quite the reaction she had expected. He almost looked like someone who had just been shot, “Odette?”

“Your ‘little Odette’, she called herself. Pretty freaked at the thought that Dru might be around. Should have been more worried about Ruby here,” Buffy grinned.

“Odette?” Spike repeated. “That can’t be right. Odette—“

“Oh she’s dusty now. Even said you thought she already was. How come you never mentioned her?” She asked cooly.

Spike looked at each of the women in turn, he didn’t like where this was going. Odette. If she wasn’t already gone with the wind he’d rip her throat out just for reminding him what he had once been. He didn’t fail to notice the way Buffy was watching him and he was thankful that alcohol seemed to dampen her ability to read his surface thoughts.

“She was pretty damn chatty as a matter of fact,” Buffy continued, taking another sip of wine from the bottle.

Spike swallowed a lump in his throat, “Not now, Buffy.”

“Why not? Looks like Ruby here is a direct descendent, Spikey.”

Spike gave Ruby a slight nod, “Welcome to the family kid,” he groused and got to his feet.

“That’s it? You’re not going to tell us about this chick?” Faith asked.

“She’s gone ain’t she?” He shot the question at Buffy.

Despite being drunk, she had caught the steel in his voice, “Yeah, Ruby took care of it.”

“Good. Good job kid…” his tone was harsh.

“Eh thanks—“

“And you can drop the grandpa jokes. Fine, I’ll admit to it. If that really was Odette then yeah, we’re kin of a sort. Look, I already promised I’d show you the ropes, but it sure as hell don’t mean I’m shagging you. You can figure out that bit with Red here once you two get yourselves sorted… everyone knows that’s the direction you’re headed. I’m— I’m going out—” he grabbed the two unopened bottles of whiskey off the table and swept out the door as quickly as his leg and hip would let him.

Ruby’s eyes grew wide, “I didn’t—“ she looked at Buffy and Willow, “What the hell was that?”

“That’s what I’d like to know. What the hell, Buff?” Faith asked.

“I humm… it’s— shit… I’d better go talk to him.”

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Chapter 34 The Talking Dead

(This title has absolutely nothing to do with TWD, no copy-write infringement intended.)

Willow went back out with Xander to place the stones her friends had helped her carve the night before. It had taken them the better part of the morning and into the early afternoon since Xander had to cement them each in place along the wall. Willow would murmur an incantation over each one as he did. By the time they were finished with the sheer number of them, Willow was exhausted.

“Ahh, Will? I hate to break it to you but I think we forgot one. Kinda a big one too,” Xander held up a large rock bigger than his fist.

“No, that’s the ‘catalyst stone’. It gets buried under the entrance to the property. At the edge of the driveway in the middle. I’ll use it tonight to finish the spell. Right now, I think I need a break.” Willow muttered sleepily as she drifted towards the Duplex.

“Wills? Seriously lacking in domestic comforts there. You know, like windows and furniture. What are you doing?”

She sighed wistfully, “You go. I just want to check in on Ruby before I head in for a nap.”

“Don’t be long. Buffy wants to get this little shindig out of the way before the girls leave.”

“I’ll make an appearance. It's just the two girls leaving today. The other two head out tomorrow I think.”

“Yeah well Faith is freaking everybody out with this thing so chop-chop.”

With that the two friends parted ways and Willow made her way down to the basement on her side of the duplex. She knocked on the basement wall, “Ruby? Are you awake?” she asked timidly.

There was a shuffling sound. As Willow continued to descend the stairs Ruby suddenly came into view wearing a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and a pair of sleep pants that hugged her curves a little too well despite how baggy they were on her, “Oh, ehh hey there,” the words came out breathy.

“Oh hey,” she answered.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’ve been better.”

“I bet.”

Ruby eyed the witch critically, “You look beat. No offense. I mean, you’re– humm… Here, have a seat,” she gestured to one of the mismatched chairs nervously. “Is everything alright?”

Willow sat down heavily, “Just witch stuff, you probably don’t want to know.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Willow settled back into the chair, “I just did a whole lot of setting-incantations; getting ready for a big spell tonight and it sort of took it out of me. I’m headed for a nap but I wanted to check on you first. How’s it going?”

Ruby’s eyes widened momentarily before she let out a little puff of air, allowing herself to relax a little into the other chair, “I’m alright. You were kinda right about the shower and sleep. I actually feel almost normal.”

“Really?”

“Okay, so no. That’s a gross overstatement. Not normal. I’m just– Is there anything I can do?”

“Oh, Ruby that’s–” the look in Ruby’s eyes cut her off and she had to start again. “You just need to focus on getting better alright?”

“I sort of feel like I might start going mad if I don’t do something soon. A project or— Just get out for a bit. Something. I’m not asking to leave, I oddly kinda like it here. Although I’m not really sure where here is. I was still a little out of it when you guys brought me in. I think I just want to get some fresh air.”

“It’s a little sunny out for you right now.”

Ruby grinned, “I didn’t mean now. So what is this place?”

“It’s– it’s my house– or it will be. It needs some work before Xan and I can move in.”

“You and Xan? The smaller big guy? I’m sorry, I just thought–”

“Ohh! Humm I am, I mean– No, it’s not like that. He’s my best friend. He’s taking the second suite upstairs. There’s two.”

“Oh– so eh–”

“Humm yeah–”

“It’s— do you want anything? Ok that’s stupid– all I have is blood. I’m sorry. I just– Trying to be polite and it’s all coming out wrong. Nervous I guess,” Ruby stamared awkwardly.

“I sort of still have a, well not really a girlfriend… I hope not… I mean… I should just stop talking.” Willow blurted out suddenly. Her cheeks flushed and she looked stricken.

Ruby bobbed her head calmly a moment and grinned slowly, “Willow, please. Don’t get me wrong. I think you’re— look I know I’m not in a great state and you know, living dead and all. And now I got a soul too. I'm not really sure what the hell that means… I’m trying to get on with it, yeah, but I don’t think I’m ready to ‘move’ on if you get my meaning.”

“Lauren?”

Ruby swallowed hard, “Yeah—“ she hung her head.

“She was your girlfriend?”

Ruby brought her head up slowly, piercing Willow with her pale gray eyes that nearly seemed to glow, “Never really got that far actually.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She paused a moment as she curled her feet under her in the chair, “I’d always been the quiet one. Studying, reading. Most outlandish thing about me is my taste in music. I hadn't really given relationships much serious thought; until I met Lauren.”

“Really? Like at all?”

Ruby shrugged, “Guess you’d have to know our parents. They always talked about marriage and having kids like it was our purpose in life. Guess you could say I was seriously repressed.”

Willow frowned, “So what happened?”

“Met Lauren. It was just like we had always known each other; instant friends. I wanted more than that though— I invited her out to hang out with some friends. Hoped it would be kinda like a date, you know?”

“The night you went missing.”

“The night I died. Yeah. She had something she had to do but she was supposed to meet us at the club. She seemed really excited about it too—“ Ruby stood up suddenly, pacing with agitated grace.

“Ruby—“

She held up a hand, “No— I think I need to get this out. Please—“

“Okay—“

It was a moment before she spoke again, “My friends and I were taking a bit of a shortcut through an alley when we were jumped.”

“Vampires.”

“Thought they were muggers— one grabbed me from behind and I woke up alone in a crypt.”

“Giles said he had a call from a ME about a missing body matching your description and a dead medical assistant. We just thought that was you.”

“No. Not me. I definitely woke up in a crypt inside one of the vaults. I had to push the lid off to climb out. Didn’t know what the hell had happened.”

“And no one was around. Not your sire or anyone?”

“No, no one”

“Do you remember anything about the vamp that sired you?”

“I– no actually– they bit me from behind and made me drink from their arm pressed in front of my face… I never saw them. Her… It might have been–” she felt the side of her throat absentmindedly. “Yeah, I think it was a woman. Just a feeling.”

“Huhh, well that’s something I guess. Kinda weird.”

“What’s weird?”

“Not that. That’s actually pretty standard I guess. I’m just trying to figure out if there is any kind of a pattern. Most of the time when vamps are trying to build up ranks or have some kind of a purpose they tend to take an interest in their fledglings. Not that they are super nurturing or anything, just look at Spike and his ex— big yikes. I don’t think most vampires know who sired them to be honest. I’m just pointing out that your sire took enough interest to actually put you into a vault inside of a crypt but then didn’t stick around. It’s probably fairly common really, definitely not unheard of, but it might be significant.”

“I don’t know,” she shrugged dismissively, “All I know is that the others I met were not the brightest bulbs and seemed pretty new too. Not one of them were anything like Spike. He’s got this– power or something that just comes off of him, you can tell he’s older. The others didn’t have that..”

“Fledges…” Willow supplied, “Spike is what we call a Master Vampire. Meaning he’s over a century old and really knows his stuff. Powerful too, obviously.”

“Yeah… I mean when I woke up, all I really knew was that I was way stronger than normal, really confused and I knew that I had never met up with Lauren. I just really needed to let her know that I hadn’t stood her up. I needed to see her.”

“So you went to find her.”

She resumed her seat, “Yeah… I did.”

They were both quiet. Willow wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear the rest of the story but she wasn’t going to stop Ruby. If it would help her to get it out, she would listen.

Ruby turned those eerily bright eyes on her again before she continued, “It didn’t even register to me that it was the middle of the night. She looked so damn cute when she answered her door half asleep. I must have looked like a mess because she invited me right in. I started to explain what happened. Tried to tell her I hadn’t meant to stand her up but then… she kissed me— and I— it was— didn’t know what happened but next thing I knew. God I was so hungry. I’ve never been so hungry before and then— then I wasn’t. And Lauren was dead. I never— I didn’t mean to—“ she choked. Ruby suddenly got up and went to the bathroom sink to splash water on her face.

Willow swallowed a hard lump in her throat. She had already guessed the story didn’t have a happy ending. She puffed out a breath and followed her into the bathroom.

“Ruby—“

“That wasn’t even the worst of it. If you can believe that.” She stood with her hands on either side of the sink. Her shoulders shook as she continued, “The worst part is that I didn’t leave. See I had a moment of clarity and I realized what had happened. That I’d become what my baby sister had been born to kill. But I was relishing it. I didn’t see it as a ‘bad’ thing at the time. I felt so… alive.” She laughed bitterly.

The sound made the hair on the back of Willow’s neck stand up.

“How ironic is that? I actually felt alive for the first time. I drained the girl I wanted to be with of life and somehow I felt alive. Sick—- I actually hung out at Lauren’s, for a bit. Killed her roommate when she came home and caught me going through their stuff… Never gave it a thought… I even took a shower. Took some of her roommate’s clothes and then– then I left.”

“Goddess that’s—“

“Ran into a group of vamps in an old building I went in for the day. One of ‘em started telling me off for killing right off. Saying I should be turning them. Give the Slayers something to fight. I showed them where to find the castle. I showed them where to hit. It just grew from there— It’s all my fault— all of it.”

“How many know?”

She shook her head, “Just the ones that got away. I don’t know how many that was. They were all pretty focused on the kill. I told them to hold off until I got into the castle. That I’d force someone to let them in… that’s sort of where the plan fell apart. Wasn’t a great plan in retrospect.”

Willow stood behind her and gripped Ruby’s shoulders comfortingly, “Ruby, please, don’t do this. You need rest.”

“Been sleeping most of the day as it is.”

“You’re nocturnal and you’ve been through a lot in the last few days. You should be sleeping most of the day.”

“Why do you care so much? Why do all of this anyway? The soul thing I mean. From what I hear there was only ever two and what, now baby makes three?”

“It wasn’t just that.”

“Sheena?”

“Yeah. That and I was able to find an Orb of Thesulah pretty easily this time. It just seemed like the right thing to do.”

“The right thing to do… yeah…”

“Ruby, please. I’m dead on my feet here. You need sleep.”

“Says the girl with a pulse,” she scoffed.

“Come on, let's get you in bed.”

“What would your girlfriend think of that, I wonder?”

“Come on,” she answered as she steered her towards the cot and the pile of rumpled blankets on it. Ignoring the comment.

“Well the good news is that the spell I’m doing tonight should not only keep any unwanted vampires off the property but it should also keep them from finding it again too.”

Ruby sat down on the cot looking at her with interest, “You can do that?”

“Yup. I might not be super strong but I pack a punch.”

“Big things in small packages and all that, yeah?”

Willow smiled warmly.

“Now that’s just not fair. I’m trying to be all remorseful and repentant and then you go and do a thing like that—“ Ruby laughed weakly.

“I humm…”

“No, I know. Still kind of have a girlfriend and I’m a mental case— absolute scum, piece of shit– a monster.”

“You’re not a piece of shit or scum–”

“Tell that to Lauren and her roommate, how about the little Slayer I killed, or how about my baby sister? Pretty sure they’d all tell you I’m scum right about now… and I’m definitely a monster.”

“Technically I guess ‘monster’ is true but you’re not a monster-y monster. You don’t have to be.”

“Right, supposed to dawn a white hat now.”

“Give it time. Apparently killing demons is good for the soul. According to Spike that is.”

“Guess it factors into the repentance angle of things.”

“It definitely does. Spike was evil almost a century and a half before he got his soul and he’s a good guy now. He’ll help you through stuff, he’s actually a surprisingly good teacher. Buffy too.”

“And you?”

“I’m actually going to Rome soon.”

Ruby shifted uncomfortably, “Wow, I know the timing is bad and I came on a bit strong and all but I didn’t think I’d scare you off to a different country,” she sat back onto the cot a little further hugging her knees, “Wait a tic, don’t you live here? I mean the castle, not the under-construction vampire housing.”

“I’m going to be moving in when it’s done. I still live in Rome. I’m just here visiting because of the attack on the castle.”

“Making it hard for me to feel sorry for the castle bit now. Thanks for letting me stay here.”

“It’s nothing. Do you— do you want to come upstairs? I can show you what I have in mind for the place.”

“I’d like that, but aren’t we cutting into your nap time? I’d hate for your spell to go all wonky because I’ve kept you up. You aren’t leaving today are you?”

“End of the week, although I might call work and stay a little longer if they need me. Seems to be a backlog of witchy-work for me here.”

“You can show me round another time then. I’m thinking you’re probably right about getting some rest. You’re welcome to join me.”

“The cot isn’t very big.”

“Might have to look into getting a proper bed in here if I’m staying on.”

“What about your parents?”

“I’d like to see them but— the vampire thing— Even with the soul; I’m not— I feel horrible about the killing; I really do… but I don’t feel bad about being me. I’m—“ she grasped Willow’s hand lightly, “I don’t want to pretend I’m their ‘normal’, introverted daughter anymore because, I’m not—- I just don’t want to— I don’t want to go back to being repressed and hiding who I am. I can’t go back to university and I can’t go back to that house and just live there like I just have a sun allergy and a taste for blood.”

“I barely know you and I’m already really proud of you… and you know you’re welcome to live here— eh, in the basement. I’m totally fine with you staying here while I’m in Rome.”

“Ta. So hum, how about after you move in?”

“Let’s just see how things go. I’m not even sure how long it is going to take to fix the place up.”

“But you’ll definitely be back, yeah?”

“Might be a few months but yeah. I’m definitely coming back. I have a job here and everything.” She found herself leaving off the part about having done the same job remotely for the past year and that she would likely be starting the school year off the same way, but then hastily added, “I work at a library in Rome.”

“Bet you rock the sexy librarian bit,” Ruby bit her lip shyly.

Willow cleared her throat, “I like books. I haven’t seen the attic yet but Buffy says it already has bookshelves, I’m really looking forward to— I’m being-book girl. Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I like books too. I think it’s adorable.”

“I- I better get going. You get some rest,” but Willow still made no move to leave. How many times had she started to leave now?

“You too. Maybe I’ll see you tonight?”

“Humm, yeah I think so, probably. I think we were planning on getting you some of your stuff.”

“Most of it’s at Uni.”

Willow nodded, “That’s probably better anyway. Baby-steps. I’ll talk to Buffy, we can probably hit the campus tonight after the hospital,” she yawned.

“That’s enough of that. You’ve got that protection spell in the works, and you want to check out my little sis? I don’t know much about magic yet, but I imagine it takes focus and for that you need rest.”

“Yet huhh?”

“It’s been an eye opening fortnight. There’s been a lot to wrap my head around and the way I see it, I’m not done. Magic isn’t only very real but it’s sort of fascinating. Now, I get the feeling you and I could talk all day and night; but you need sleep darling. Don’t want you doing subpar poking around in my sister’s head now do we? Now, you can either head back to whatever cozy spot you got in the castle there, or you can snuggle in here with me. Your choice.”

“Ahhh… I’d better.”

“Yeah, I think you’d better,” she grinned lazily as she watched Willow finally retreat off the little bed and towards the stairs. She pursed her lips, “Thanks for the chat.”

“Sure, you’re welc—“ she stopped herself, “No, thank you for trusting me enough to talk to me.”

There was a moment of stunned silence between them before Willow finally turned and left up the stairs.

**************************

Outside, she glanced up into the orchard at the back of the castle as she made her way to the front. Buffy, Xander, Faith, and Callum were setting up for an impromptu going away party for the older girls. Zari and Wendy were leaving today. Faith had this crazy idea of setting up a sort of obstacle course in what was left of the orchard. She had made targets for the girls to throw weapons at, like a weird party game. Willow was certain that the attempt at such frivolity was a mistake but she wasn’t about to argue.

Right now she was too tired. Her stomach grumbled. And apparently hungry too… She sighed as she headed into the kitchen where Spike was sitting at the large dinner table with his injured leg propped on a chair and a large container of blood in front of him.

“How’s Ruby?”

“How— Xan.”

“That and a bit of deductive reasoning.”

“Yeah we had a nice long chat.”

“Get to the bottom of this Lauren business?”

“Yeah… got an update on her body-count too— she’s in rough shape.”

“She opened up to someone. That’s a good start.” He nodded, “What kind of body-count are we talking about here?”

“Three including Deloris.”

“The benefits of youth.”

“Pretty sure it’s just three too many for her.”

He nodded, “Still, it’s a nice low number she can come to terms with over time.”

“She’s lucky to have you.”

Spike rolled a shoulder, unwilling to say more. He wasn’t really sure what he could offer her except experience and he wasn’t sure if that would be enough. He took another drink of blood, “Bloody hell, I’m knackered.”

“I’m surprised you’re even up.”

He let out a long suffering sigh, “Wouldn’t be but for the girls. Figured blood was the next best thing to proper rest.”

“You look a little better.”

“Bones are settling in place nicely. Blood helps, human would be better but this gets the job done.”

“That’s just weird.”

“What is?”

“The way vampires heal, it’s really weird. Like your bones just set themselves?”

“Only partly, depends on the break. Sometimes they require a little ‘nudge’ in the right direction. These breaks didn’t need a whole lot of convincing.”

“Ouch.”

He shrugged and drank deeply from the mug, “What d’you make of all this?” He asked waving a hand around the kitchen at the trays of snacks and drinks Faith had roped Buffy into helping her with.

“Yeah—“

“Bit in poor taste ain’t it?”

“Maybe a little… I’m surprised Buffy is going along with it. Or Callum for that matter.”

“We think this might be some weird coping thing Faith is trying— I don’t get it myself. No denying the girl seems off. Think this is all hitting her harder than she’s letting on. You notice Callum has barely left her side?”

“I just met the guy. I guess I just thought that was kinda normal for them.”

He shook his head, “Sure he’s been here a fair amount, just not like this. He’s nearly moved in… like he’s afraid she’s going to fall apart. What’s more is I think he’s right.”

Willow watched the three of them outside the window and shook her head. “I guess people grieve in different ways…”

“Going off the deep-end and trying to destroy the world after losing the love of your life, that I get— throwing a going away party for the graduating class after losing a student and having one in a coma— I don’t know, maybe it’s just me.”

Willow sat down across from him, “What did you say?”

“I— shit— I didn’t mean to open old wounds, Red. Mouth is ahead of my brain again and ya caught me in a bad moment. I’m just trying to sort out all this nonsense here. Didn’t really know Deloris that well if I’m being honest, but she was a sweet girl. I’m nearly as close to Sheena as I once was with Dawn. I know she’s hanging on but it all feels wrong… doing all this without her here…”

“I get it. Just don’t let Dawn hear you talk like that. Pretty sure you’re back on her ‘favorite peoples list’ in a big way since you came back.”

“Wouldn’t know. Haven’t seen the bit or even talked to her much since Buffy and I’ve been back in it. Thought crossed my mind, more than once, that maybe she didn’t really want to see me. But then why would she be seemingly fine with me regularly shagging her sister?”

“Wow, Spike, you really have a way with words.”

“First time round she was my violent golden goddess and I was the corpse shoved in her closet. We both knew it but it didn’t mean the same thing to the other. Neither of us were exactly gentle. Violent. Toxic. Course everything is different now. No more closet. We talk. Actually talk. And I love it, love her. I like being out in the open with her.”

Willow blinked, stunned, “I—“ she hesitated, then pressed her lips together. “She’s been referring to you as her brother-in-law, Dawn has, I mean, did you know that?”

He had a feeling that wasn’t what she wanted to say but he didn’t press, “Buffy might’ve mentioned it.”

“Believe me, she likes you.”

He nodded, looking at the blood in the container in front of him.

“Thank you,” Willow said suddenly.

He gave her a questioning look, “For what?”

“Understanding. About Tara. Buffy and Xan— they said they understood but I don’t think they really did— not until this past year. Okay Buffy, did but— I mean— more I guess— ok that sounds awful— I just— “

“I know what you mean. Girl has known too much loss already. Look, I really liked Tara, she was always kind. Good to me when everyone else treated me like dirt. She helped Buffy through a hard time when I was too blind to see what she really needed. Means a lot in retrospect. Can’t hardly blame you for goin’ dark really.”

“It still doesn’t justify what I did.”

He shrugged, “Dunno if I’d go that far. I might’ve helped you had I been round.”

“No. You wouldn’t have. You would have helped Buffy and you would have been right.”

“Not sure how I’d react if I lost her the way you lost Tara. If you hadn’t– If I’d come back and found her gone— soul or no soul. Crazy or not… I don’t think it would have been pretty…”

They were both quiet for a moment as they watched the proceedings outside the kitchen window. Spike took another long swallow of blood then spoke again, “You know, by the time I was the age Buffy is now I’d only lost one person I’d loved, not her though.”

“That was random. Who was it?”

“Humm?” He hummed through a sip of blood.

“Who did you lose?”

“My father. When I was ‘bout fifteen.”

“I’m sorry.”

Spike snapped out of his melancholy, “Doesn’t matter now, does it? You look knackered. Did you need something other than a cozy spot to crash?”

“Food.”

He raised his eyebrows, “Well this is the kitchen. Go on, don’t let me stop you. Don’t think they’ll notice if you hit the cheese plate and I think there’s some fruit salad in the fridge. You look a bit peaky.”

“Thanks.”

“Any time, Red.”

“No, really. Thanks, Spike. Humm… William. It really means a lot to hear it.”

He gave her a serious nod, “Just telling you the truth is all. You’re stealing Buffy’s tricks by the way. She almost only ever calls me ‘William’ when she’s dead serious about something.”

She squirmed a little, “Yeah, I know. That’s why I said it too.”

“Message received.” He tipped the blood in a salute and downed it.

Moments later, after Willow had managed to get some food, the girls came down in a storm to eat and celebrate the Level 4 girls completion of the training program. Willow had taken up a seat on Spike’s right and had refilled his blood for him. The two sat in alternating bouts of friendly conversation and companionable silence as the girls swarmed around them in a frenzy before slowly flitting outside.

Willow yawned.

“Bloody hell, go on Red, get some kip, you got that spell going later. I’ll cover for you.”

“Tell Buffy I want to take Ruby with us to the hospital later and then to Ruby’s place near campus to get her clothes and things.”

“I’ll tell her. You go on before anyone else keeps you up any longer would you?”

“I’m goin’, I’m goin’, yeesh.”

Spike chuckled, “I’ll believe that when you’re sawing logs.”

********************

Spike was on the couch watching an old black and white horror movie when Buffy and Faith returned from taking Wendy and Zari to the airport with Giles. Nothing had gone according to plan since the attack on the castle but at least the first two girls were off to their new placements. Wendy to Miami and Zari to Cleveland. Tomorrow would be Ursula and Addison’s turn, they would both be going to Pittsburgh.

Faith made a quick excuse and ran upstairs.

Giles sat himself down gingerly on the other couch, carefully propping his leg up.

Buffy positioned herself on the edge of the couch where Spike was laying on his good side and leaned into him for a kiss.

“How was it?” he asked.

“Fine. They have their contacts lined up and they are supposed to call when they get in.”

“About time something went right.”

“No kidding!” She huffed as she slumped against him.

He let out a brief hiss of pain but waved off the look of concern she shot him. Instead he wrapped an arm around her loosely, pulling her in a little bit more, “Wasn’t braced for that is all. You know I can take whatever you throw at me, Slayer.”

She settled into him a little more, “Has Willow been down yet?”

“Not that I’ve seen but I’ve been dozing since things quieted down, just woke up a bit ago.”

“I’m glad you got some rest. Maybe we should get you back upstairs.”

He raised an eyebrow, “You know, I’ve been thinking.”

“About the demons that did this to you?”

“Well, been thinking about that too but I was talking about the other day actually. Sure did give me some ideas to keep me entertained while I convoless.” He purred seductively.

Buffy thought through their link, How can you even think about sex right now? You can barely move.

He turned his head towards the TV as though he were interested in the movie but answered her with his thoughts. That’s exactly what’s got me thinking, well that and Ruby’s shackles layin’ in the utility room there. Perfect opportunity to let you have your wicked way with me.

“Ah—Ohhh…”

Unless you’re opposed to opening that particular door again. You know I’m not. Don’t get me wrong, Love. I know things are different, lot less fear and loathing between us now, but maybe we should have a little talk. Yeah? Later? Not in front of the Watcher that is. He shot Giles a flickering glance behind her shoulder, “Please?” His voice came out hushed.

Buffy couldn’t help wondering if he was asking because the guilt was eating at him again. Not that it ever left completely, but it came in waves. Sometimes he was almost despondent under the weight of his past and other times it was almost like none of it ever happened. Spike seemed to handle it much better than Angel ever did but still. Since the attack on the castle he had been a little more quiet. They both had, really. Then it had redoubled since Ruby got her soul. Now he was injured and asking Buffy to chain him up? For fun?

“I’m afraid I haven’t had much time to look for that sword in my research. I confess I’ve been a bit busy since Willow and Xander arrived,” Giles interrupted their nearly silent conversation.

Spike cleared his throat, “Think it might be time to reevaluate your priorities.”

“I assure you, Spike, what I’ve been working on is of the utmost importance to everyone in this castle and I am sure even you would agree with that.”

Spike eyed Buffy critically, “This is the thing that’s had your stomach in knots since your chat with Willow?” She nodded stiffly, more surprised by the fact that he hadn’t already asked what was bothering her and comforted by the thought of him waiting for her to come to him with it. “And you don’t have enough solid information yet to worry me about it, that it?”

“Pretty much.”

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready?”

“You know I will.”

“Right then, let’s crack on! Giles, do you have any theories about the sword and why these bastards wanted it so bad?”

“I think it’s likely a sword of power.”

“Neither of us got anything off of it, right Love?”

“No, nothing.”

“I’m not sure that either of you would. Willow may be able to sense something about it though.”

“Red is clocking some serious witching hours on this trip ain’t she? Are we sure that’s wise?”

“She has been through extensive training and is doing exceptionally well since the destruction of Sunnydale. I’m sure she will be quiet up to the task.”

“She’s finishing the boundary spell tonight before we take Ruby out,” Buffy checked her watch, “Speaking of, I should go find her. We have a lot of ground to cover tonight.”

“Should take Faith, make it a proper girls night.”

“Oh right, visiting a coma patient and clearing out Ruby’s place. Totally fun,” she rolled her eyes, “I’ll ask if she wants to see Sheena but I kinda doubt it. She sort of hates hospitals.”

“Yeah well starting to look like one around here,” he scoffed as he gestured to himself and Giles and their matching leg injuries, “The English don’t seem to be fairing very well.”

“Aww is it movie night in the infirmary?”

“Dunno, are you sticking around Rupert?”

“Only because I rather enjoy this film. I haven’t seen it in years.”

“See, classic horror is a crowd pleaser.”

“Just don’t bite Giles when your tummy gets all growly.”

“No chance, it’s Boris Karloff in ‘The Mummy’, not particularly appetizing.”

“So much ewww.”

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