Spnae - Spnae

38 When the Levee Breaks

Depictions of domestic violence. Chapter title taken from the Led Zeppelin song by the same name.

Willow walked into the library to find a tired Giles still pouring over the information Xander had procured on his extended trip. There was so much material to go through but they were finally making sense of it all. Giles pinched the bridge of his nose as Willow set down a tea tray in front of him.

“How’s it going? Have you found any glaring translation mistakes that make it all fall apart yet?”

“No, I haven’t, in fact everything I’ve found seems to support what you have already told Buffy. However I do wish you hadn’t used the word ‘immortal’ to describe her condition until we can confirm it.”

“How would you have liked me to put it, Giles? We both know she should have never been able to get up after being run through and according to the girls there she did way more than just get up. Her pain tolerance is through the roof and she’s healing from more severe injuries than she used to. Even when Warren shot her… I took the bullet out but she was up and around a whole lot faster than she should have, even with my help..”

“That does not equate to immortality! Perhaps she just got an extra boost of her natural Slayer abilities. This passage here—“ he gripped her arm lightly to pull her towards the passage.

Willow winced and pulled back a little, “I’ve read it. If that were the case she would probably be healing faster and getting stronger too and yet those things are relatively the same as always.”

Giles narrowed his eyes a fraction “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, go on, you were saying?”

“I confess that it does seem as though Buffy is a unique case,” Giles pushed himself back from the desk a little with a large sigh, “We need confirmation. For her and the other girls. Unfortunately for that we would need one of the other girls to reach 26 and then receive a mortal wound, and considering that no Slayer on record has ever lived that long— How did she seem when you told her of the possibility?”

Willow sat down heavily, “Fine I guess. You know her. I mean obviously there are some definite perks for her and Spike. I think she’s more worried about it not being true. Probably comes with being in love with a vampire, I guess.”

“Naturally.”

“I don’t think we’re going to get anything looking like confirmation for a long time,” She said a little lamely.

“I suppose half of an answer is better than none at all.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

Giles started closing books and organizing the table. “Is Ruby still visiting with her family?”

“She got back early this morning. She says things are a little weird with her parents. Sheena is doing a lot better though, they had a really good visit.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Oh, Willow, would you mind fetching that curious sword Spike was assaulted over?”

“Sure, taking a break from the Slayer life puzzle?”

“It’s time I focus my energies elsewhere for a while. I rather think it’s best if we both do.”

“Yeah you’re probably right I’ve been obsessing over this for a long time now. I was afraid to tell Buffy much of anything and then I just blurted it all out after I found that last little bit. I probably shouldn’t have said anything at all.”

“I suppose we all have things to atone for.”

Willow walked over to where the sword was being kept and laid it on the desk in front of Giles. Then poured tea for them both, “Do you still think I’m a ‘rank amateur’?” She smiled at him.

Giles returned the smile, “I think you have learned a great deal since then. Although I do caution you to keep up with your studies.”

“Yeah, that's part of the reason why I accepted the other half of the duplex. I think it’s a good idea if I am closer to the Devon Coven. As well as I’ve been doing with everything. I still think I need that connection and I’m not sure if I’m getting that in Rome, not the way that I would like to anyway. At least being here in Scotland, I’m a little closer to Devon,” she shrugged her shoulders.

“Well I think that’s a very mature decision. You’ve definitely shown growth, that’s for certain.”

“Thanks,” she sighed heavily, “Now, what on earth do we think this thing is?” She asked, picking up the sword and setting it down again.

Giles let out a long breath, “I’m certain it’s a sword of power of some kind. I haven't spent a lot of time on this to be honest.” He pulled out a magnifying glass and peered at some writing on the blade.

Willow gestured with her hands, “May I?”

Giles moved aside and watched as Willow ran her hands over it touching the hilt and the length of the blade, “Oh there’s definitely something coming off of it. It’s subtle, I can barely make it out but it’s old and strong.” She shook her head squinting down at the blade. “I might have to try a few spells to help figure this one out.”

“Whatever you need to do,” Giles resumed his seat and pulled another book towards himself as he joined her in her examination of the sword.

Hours later Giles and Willow entered the living room with the sword in hand. Buffy and Spike were already there waiting for them along with Ruby and Xander. Faith and Callum came in a few moments after.

“So what’s going on?” Xander asked a minute later.

“Willow and I have been spending the afternoon working on Spike’s sword.”

“Buffy‘s sword, Spike’s bike,” Buffy said cheekily.

“We have co-ownership,” Spike corrected, “Yours mine and ours remember?”

“We really should have someone look at your bike and see if we can get it fixed.”

“Don’t remind me,” he whined.

“You can always just steal another one,” Xander smirked.

“Didn’t steal this one, Harris. Got it off a baddie who was done with it.” He said, wrapping an arm around Buffy.

“Well, I’m afraid the sword in question can't belong to either one of you.”

“Aww, man, every time I get a fun sword I have to destroy or give it back or– this stinks.”

“I feel you, Pet.”

Buffy sighed, settling into Spike on the couch, “Alright, so what’s wrong with this one?”

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say ‘wrong’, perhaps ‘significant’ would be better.”

“How so? It’s not some big apocalypse-y something is it? Because I don't think I’m up for one of those right now,” Faith huffed as Callum wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“So totally last season,” Willow joked before catching Spike’s eye.

He wasn’t amused, having been part of the LA front just a few months ago. “So what’s the deal with it then?”

Giles straightened up at that and there was suddenly an almost childlike glow to his face, “This sword most certainly belonged to Sir Lancelot, given to him by his foster mother the Lady of the Lake.”

Callum‘s eyes lit up mirroring Giles, “You’re putting me on! Can I hold it?” He slipped his hands out from around Faith’s waist and held them out hopefully.

Giles was slightly taken aback by his sudden enthusiasm, Callum was normally more reserved around him, but he passed the sword over to him anyway.

“This is amazing, I can't believe I’m actually holding Sir Lancelot‘s sword!” Callum‘s eyes were alight with wonder.

“Woah, there buddy. You’re not gonna like totally geek-out on me, are you?” Faith asked him sardonically.

He looked at her with a very boyish grin, “Oh I think I’m well past that. I’m definitely geeking-out, you have no idea how obsessed I was when I was a kid.”

Faith gave him a bemused smile. Callum had been the very definition of a strong shoulder to lean on ever since the attack on the castle. Giving her everything she needed, even when she didn’t realize she needed it. He had still been going to work and running errands for his family per usual but when he was with her, he was utterly hers.

Faith had been so consumed with the goings on at the castle and her own inner thoughts over the last week and a half that she had hardly given a thought to his needs and wants outside of the point they intersected with hers in the bedroom. The light in his eyes now at seeing something he was so fervently interested in was startling. Something swelled in her chest, an emotion that was unfamiliar to her. What was this? She was happy to see him happy but she didn’t know what to call it and the confusion led to something much more familiar, anxiety.

Faith took a deep breath trying to breath through it the way Angel had taught her; before her anger flared. There was no reason she should be anxious or angry over the scene unfolding in front of her. Instead she tried focusing on the pure joy on Callum’s face as he examined the sword. She released the breath and watched the way his fingers skimmed lightly over the blade. Her very hot, tall, muscular Scottsman holding a very nice looking sword. Oh yeah… that was a much better, more familiar, feeling she could deal with.

“Yes, I confess I had a bit of an obsession when I was a child as well,’ Giles uttered in solidarity.

“What good little English boy didn’t?” Spike scoffed, “No offense Cal, you know what I meant.”

Giles cleared his throat, “It would seem that this sword is meant to be a key to some great treasure of Lancelots.”

“Do you think it could be the Holy Grail?”

“Surely not. From what Willow and I have uncovered it seems to be a personal treasure that he wished to keep secret and safe even from Arthur himself.”

Buffy crossed her arms in her lap clasping her elbows, “Probably why these biker dudes are after the thing.”

Spike inclined his head towards them, “Treasure usually means money. Do we have any idea where this treasure was kept?”

Willow stepped forward with a large map of Scotland, “I have a pretty good idea actually. I was able to use the sword in a mapping spell to find out where the lock for the key is and it looks like it is in some sort of a sea cave up north, I’ve never heard of the place.” She unfurled the map of Scotland, laying it out on the coffee table next to the spot where Buffy and Spike were sitting and pointed to a small charred dot, “Some place called Smoo Cave. Have any of you ever heard of it?”

Callum, Giles, and Spike peered at the map as she spoke.

“Oh sure I have,” Callum nodded, “family holiday one summer when my brother and I were in our teens. It’s an interesting place, beautiful and eerie at the same time, but I don’t think it was mystical. They run tours inside. It’s a pretty popular tourist spot. Hell we stayed at a bed and breakfast pretty close to the cave and it’s not the only place to stay up there. Pretty sure someone would have noticed.”

Willow shrugged, “Most mystical places are hidden in some way. I’ve heard of some really weird ones.”

Buffy turned towards Spike, “Didn’t you tell me Angel took you into one once that was inside of a tree?”

“The Deeper Well, yeah, that was one hell of a humbling experience. Talk about eerie. Great big bloody hole that goes all the way straight through the world, playing prison to countless comatose ancient baddies.”

“Plus Angel made you hold hands with him.”

“Bloody hell, Slayer, how is that your takeaway? Make it out like we were snogging, why don’t you?” he huffed, “For the rest of the class. Peaches was palming a wire. It was a battle strategy! Nothing else.”

Giles rolled his eyes, “Yes, well, I’m sure it was quite effective knowing the two of you. As we were saying, Willow and I believe that the sword will lead you to and unlock the location.”

Spike looked at the map too, “I’ve heard of Smoo Cave, never bothered going.”

Callum shrugged, “The cave is massive and has these amazing waterfalls inside. My brother and I got into a bit o’ mischief when we snuck off to explore on our own, climbed up to see the waterfalls from a higher ledge. Nearly got kicked out but the view was worth it.”

“Sounds pretty,” Willow said.

Giles continued, “Willow and I think Buffy is quite right that our demonic friends after the sword are looking for the treasure within.”

Buffy interlaced her fingers into Spike’s hand, “And you want us to check it out.”

“Well, I imagine it can wait a few more days until Spike is back to full health.”

“Bones are healing nicely, shouldn’t be long now.”

Be faster if you had some of my blood.

Buffy, you know how I feel about that. A taste here and there is all in good fun but I’m healing up just fine with the pig’s blood.

Buffy snorted loudly drawing Giles’s attention, “Is there something wrong Buffy?”

“Oh ah, no, just– I thought he might heal faster if–”

“That’s enough, Slayer. If you're in such a big hurry that you want to go knick a bag o’blood from the hospital for me, fine.”

“What’s the rush?” Xander asked.

“No rush really, unless we think these guys are going to try to get it on their own.”

“I don’t know if they could, not without the sword,” Willow admitted.

Faith cast a look at Callum then to Buffy, “Probably be smart to take backup anyway. I think Callum and I should come with you.”

Callum couldn’t help the grin on his face and Faith was surprised by how happy it made her to have put it there.

Buffy raised an eyebrow, “You seriously want to go on a treasure hunt with me and Spike?”

“Sure, why not? We can give the whole couples retreat thing a try. Maybe there will be something for us to kill.”

Callum grinned widely as he set down the sword and pulled her into what would be a crushing hug to anyone else but was only a comforting embrace to her, then kissed her temple, “When do we leave?”

Buffy laughed dryly, “Well, we should definitely give Spike’s leg a few more days and someone really should stay with Giles.”

“I’ll stay. I have to be fix-it-man anyway if I don’t want to keep being homeless-couch-surfing-man and I don’t need to go back to Rome for anything so I might as well hang on here.”

“Oh really, you don’t need to. Let's just plan this out first.” Giles stated.

“No, Xander has a point. I don’t like us being all spread out. I want us all together again as soon as we can, so it makes sense.”

Spike straightened himself up, “Look, Pet, I understand the bit with the house and Giles. But I got Ruby to think about now too so unless you feel like taking a baby vamp as a fifth wheel...”

Ruby had been sitting quietly listening. She shifted in her seat and arched an eyebrow, “I don’t need a babysitter here.”

Spike shook his head, “Course not, but I don’t think I’m comfortable leaving you here at the castle without one of us around. Will is going back to Rome and even if Xander does stay here I just, I don’t like it. It’s not like this sword thing is a pressing matter is it? Unless we think the rest of these biker guys are going to come after us. Not like they can reach us at the castle now that Red’s done her spell work. Might try jumping me in the tunnels again but what the hell? I also got to think about getting the bike fixed.”

Callum smirked at that, “Alright, English, how about we go on this trip and I get you set up with someone to help you get that bike fixed for a song?”

Spike folded his arms across his chest, “How do you propose to do that?”

Callum shrugged, “I know a guy.”

“Still doesn’t help us out with our little Ruby problem.”

“Seriously, I’m right here. An adult and everything.”

Willow cleared her throat, “What if I take her back to Rome with me?” she asked.

Everyone looked puzzled at Willow, “What are you talking about?” Buffy asked.

“Will? Are you sure you want to do that?” Xander asked seriously.

Willow caught his eye, “Not now Xan. I mean yeah I would have to make some slightly different travel arrangements to accommodate her but she could come back with me. She can stay in your room, Buff. It could be all the good. Just think about it. She doesn’t know any of the Slayers in Rome and it might do everyone some good to get her away from the castle for a little while. It would also give the Rome Slayers a chance to meet her. Andrew can do his watcher thing with her, you know how he loves to tell stories. He can fill her in on the last couple of apocalypses. She can train with Vi and the girls and I can keep an eye on her. It’s not like we’re going to be back in Rome long and it might even give you two a chance to continue on your seriously interrupted trip.”

“What about Kennedy?” Xander’s voice was cold.

Colder than Buffy had heard him in a very long time. Buffy turned towards Willow, “I want to know about that too. How do you expect that to work out? I mean even if she has moved out, do you think that she’s just gonna be totally fine training with Ruby?”

Willow shook her head, “I can handle Kennedy.”

“Will, you’re on a breakup trip. What makes you think you can handle Kennedy if she decides Ruby is the reason you’re breaking up with her.”

“Because our relationship was sinking like the Titanic long before I even left. We had a fight, Buffy. We had a fight,” her voice cracked.”

“Willow?”

“We had a fight and Dawn tried to defend me… Kennedy laid into her and it just sort of got worse from there.”

“She didn’t hurt the bit, did she?” Spike said with a barely contained growl.

Before she could even answer him Xander slapped his leg like he just realized something and looked at Willow seriously, “I knew there was more to this. You don’t want Ruby going with you to keep an eye on her, you want backup… maybe even a little protection?” Xander’s voice was quiet but his words hung in the air as realization settled over the room.

Willow looked from Xander to Ruby, eyes wide and frightened.

Spike stood up looking at Willow, he placed a gentle hand on her arm. He was angry that Kennedy would even think of hurting his friend. When had she become his friend? He kept his voice calm. “You want to tell us why you feel the need for backup at all? Never mind the fact you want a clueless fledgling to fill the post against a Slayer. One that I suspect has been doing a bit more than being an insensitive lover. You know we’re here for you.”

“Willow?” Buffy stood up next to Spike. She caught Faith’s eye and shrugged in a silent plea to give them the room.

Faith patted Callum on the chest, “Come on, babe. This isn’t for us.”

“Don’t fancy a trip to Rome do you?” Callum murmured to Faith.

Spike caught it and gave Callum a ghost of a grin. He knew he was only joking but it meant something to him that he would be willing, even after just knowing Willow for a few days. He gave Buffy’s hand a squeeze. It meant something to her too, he could tell.

When they had left Buffy spoke, “Sit. We need to talk.”

Ruby’s eyes were wide as she looked from Buffy and Spike on the couch and over to Giles who was looking deeply troubled in one of the barrel chairs and then to Xander who had collapsed in the other. Willow sat glumly at the opposite end of the couch she was on. She couldn’t keep her eyes from Ruby’s a moment ago but now Willow wouldn’t look at her. She cleared her throat, “Maybe I should go too… I—“

Willow shot her a pleading glance that froze her in place. Ruby settled back into the couch, still uncomfortable but willing to stay. Willow had been a pillar of strength holding her up the last few days, clearly she needed the same now.

“Willow, talk to us. We’re your friends, you’re family. What’s going on?” Buffy asked, “What happened with Dawn?”

“It’s nothing, just stupid stuff it—“

“Willow, if anyone knows what it’s like to be in a seriously unhealthy relationship, it’s us.” Buffy said, waving a hand between her and Spike.

Spike snorted, “Got that right, some of it even with each other. Past tense of course.”

Willow gave a watery chuckle and cleared her throat, “We’ve been fighting— a lot. For a while now. Mostly we just avoid each other or I avoid her— We’re just—“

“If you say oil and water I might break something,” Buffy said.

“How do you expect me to come to you when—“ Willow buried her face in her hands.

“Look Red, I sure as hell ain’t proud of it but the first part of our relationship was— You remember our talk the other day?”

“Yeah, I— Spike, this isn’t the same thing.”

“Not saying it is. Just saying, remember who you’re talking to.”

Willow hunched over a pillow in her lap. “We fight. Kennedy doesn’t really understand how things work with the Scoobies; she wasn’t too happy about Xander coming to stay.”

“Thought she was twitchy,” Xander mused.

“She doesn’t get the magic thing and— Meditation is a big part of maintaining balance for me. In order to wield the magics that I do now I have to maintain a pretty strict meditation schedule. It helps with the magic, it helps with my mental state, it's just all-around a good and I have to do it.”

“Meditation, equals good, got it.” Xander said.

Buffy eyed Xander disapprovingly, “Go on Will.”

“She keeps making snide comments about me not doing anything. She says I’m using it as an excuse— but I have to keep up with the meditation and the exercises the Witches in the Devon Coven gave me if I don’t want to backslide because the temptation is always there and I know— I’m better, I really am but if I don’t keep up with it I run the risk of going right back. She’s never seen me at my worst, she doesn’t know— she doesn't get magic she doesn’t—“ she broke off.

“She doesn’t understand you’re always going to be an addict,” Giles supplied, “one who is doing splendidly, I might add.” He gave her a fatherly smile, “I’m rather proud of the progress you’ve made.”

“You mean she doesn’t want to know. She’s denying a part of you exists that you’ve worked hard to come to terms with and it’s bringing out the worst in her. Gee where have I seen that one?” Spike gave Buffy a sideways glance.

“Riley.” Buffy nods.

Spike’s face soured, “Except Kennedy isn’t content taking her frustrations outside the relationship, she’s taking it out on you ain’t she?”

Willow paused for a moment, “We fight— she’s a Slayer so, you know, strong. I don’t think she meant it the first time and I— I didn’t want Dawn to know we were having problems. I didn’t want anyone to know…” she inhaled and shrugged out of the top she had on over her tank top. She took another deep breath and ran her hands down in front of her, palms facing herself flat like a pantomime. There was a shimmer of air around her and suddenly there were healing bruises visible on her arms and one on her cheek.

“You’ve been using a glamour.” Giles murmured as he placed a hand over his mouth. “Why didn’t you come to us? Any of us?”

“I just— she’s a Slayer, she’s sort of in charge in Rome when Buffy is gone and—“

“Why didn’t you go to one of the other Slayers for help?”

“I wasn’t really sure who I could trust. The girls kinda look up to her. I did sort of try to say something to one of the Slayers Kennedy had gotten a little carried away with during a training session, but she sort of just shrugged it off as slayer stuff and I ended up just backpedaling and I kinda laughed it off.”

“Willow—“ Xander started.

She held up a hand, “Most of the girls like Kennedy. I was just feeling a little… isolated I guess.”

Buffy looked at her confused “Willow, I only went to Paris because you talked me into it. Was this going on then too?”

Willow nodded, “Just a couple of arguments, we’d snipe at each other and then make up and it was fine. It really wasn’t that bad then.”

“So when I called you from LA looking for Buffy—“ Spike started, suddenly feeling guilty for taking Buffy away and not going straight to Rome.

“We were doing alright there for a while, but then…” she paused so long it didn’t seem like she was going to start talking again.

Ruby moved closer to her, “Willow?”

Willow couldn’t bring herself to look at any of them, “I guess I was sort of used to the stupid arguments after a while. I mean she would just start up over nothing and then I started avoiding her. Angel came to visit. She didn’t like that for some reason I still don’t understand unless maybe Angel said something about her getting a little rough with the Slayeretts during training. Then Connor started coming around a little and she started getting a little rough with me… but it still wasn’t— it wasn’t that bad…”

“How long?” Xander asked.

“She grabbed me a few times before but that was it really. We mostly just argued,” she gestured towards her current bruises, “This— this was—“ she turned her eyes towards Xander, “Remember your ‘Dr. Who’ marathon with Andrew?”

“Yeah, you said you were going to come for the third day and then— but I just thought that was because Buffy called about the castle.”

“It’s sort of what set her off. Sort of— I mean I guess it was technically Spike’s call a few days later really, but the same situation. Kennedy thought I was talking to Buffy again—“

Spike looked confused, “When I called? That was mostly business, we just discussed the warding around the castle and started toying with the idea of ensouling Ruby.”

“Yeah, that didn’t really matter. It kind of got me thinking. So when I got off the phone with you I placed an order at the local shop for supplies, they actually had what I needed on hand so that was super easy. Anyway, I started packing just after that and Kennedy, she just— she lost it. I didn’t even have time for a binding spell before— Dawn came in to see what was going on and then— then Kennedy grabbed Dawn’s arm and—“ for a moment Willow felt like she was back there. Packing her suitcase for Scotland in her bedroom when Kennedy came in.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Are you seriously just going to run off to Scotland just because she calls? Are you really such a codependent little bitch that you can’t let her deal with her own problems?”

“That was about the situation at the castle I think I can help out and—”

“What the hell are you going to do that they can’t handle up there? What the hell are you gonna do any better than them?”

“This isn’t just about research. They need a witch.”

“They can find another witch, you're not leaving!” Kennedy had grabbed her upper arms, she spun her around, shaking her violently and threw her down to the bed. Willow hit her open suitcase hard enough she knew she was going to have a bruise on her side.

Slowly she pulled herself back up into a standing position. “Ken— Kennedy, p-please stop! You’re being st-stupid, this is part of my job! I’ll just call the library they will understand, I’ll only be gone for about a week or— or so—“

“I'm not an idiot, I know you have a thing for Buffy!”

“That’s ridiculous. You're being completely paranoid!”

“How dare you talk to me that way!”

“Buffy asked for my help!”

“Buffy, Buffy, Buffy! It’s always all about Buffy! Like the sun shines out of her every orifice!”

“She’s my best friend Kennedy! We’ve been over this! She needs my help!”

“She’s been gone for months and she calls now? How stupid do you think I am?!”

“You don’t understand this isn’t jus—“

Willow had been cut off with a hard backhand to the face. “Shut up! You’re just looking for an excuse to leave me!”

Kennedy’s words might have stung if she had been coherent enough for them to register. The blow was so hard it had knocked her into the nightstand. Willow’s head swam and for a brief moment she wasn’t sure which way was up. But then there was another voice breaking through the fog and Willow pulled herself up instantly unwilling to show weakness.

“Yeah well I think you just gave her a pretty damn good one!” Dawn yelled from the doorway. “I think it’s time for you to leave!”

Kennedy rounded onto Dawn, grabbing her wrist as Dawn attempted a somewhat feeble smack of her own. Kennedy pulled her arm enough to topple Dawn to the ground.

Something about the action was enough to pull Willow out of her shock. She threw her hand out in front of her with an incantation and shoved Kennedy out of the bedroom door, into the hallway and against the wall. Then Willow struggled to get to her feet and help Dawn up. “You absolutely will not hurt her!” she said, standing up to her full height. “Dawn and I are leaving and when we get back you WILL be gone!”

Even in that instance Willow could feel the darkness growing. Using magic in anger, even for just a moment started to ignite forgotten feelings. Delicious feelings of power drowning out weakness. She took a deep breath and shook them off as she watched Kennedy retreat out the apartment door.

Willow collapsed onto the bed taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself. She’d almost lost control and that wasn’t something she could allow to happen. She could hear Dawn locking the front door and walking back towards her in the bedroom. When she looked up, Dawn was in front of her holding her arm where Kennedy had grabbed her, “What was that all about? Are you alright?”

Willow stood up shakily, “I’m fine Dawnie. Are you alright?”

Dawn eyed her dubiously, “What happened?”

“Nothing. Just a fight. I’m fine. I need to go to Scotland—”

“Was there another attack?” Dawn asked worriedly.

“No, Spike called, we were brainstorming how to strengthen the castle’s defenses and what to do with their captive. They need my help and Kennedy—“ Willow choked, she couldn’t say anything else.

Dawn narrowed her eyes, “Why would Kennedy be upset about that?”

“Dawnie, please don’t make a big deal out of this please? I’ll handle it, okay?”

Dawn rubbed her arm, “So what do you want to do?”

“Well first I’m going to finish packing and call Andrew. I’ll take you over there. Then I’m going to take Xander and we’re going to go up to Scotland to help Buffy out.”

“Willow, are you sure you’re okay?”

“Just go pack your things, alright? I can’t do this right now, Dawn.”

Dawn frowned and looked like she wanted to either fight or cry but she left the room with an uncharacteristic lack of drama for which Willow was grateful. It gave her a moment to ground herself. She pulled open the nightstand drawer and eyed the little jar of salve. It would help cut healing time down on the bruises that were coming. That was the real reason she had made it in the first place but she didn’t want to use it. She wanted to keep the bruises this time as a reminder why Kennedy wasn’t going to be getting any more second chances. She tossed it into her suitcase and continued packing, she also knew she didn’t want anyone else to see the bruises too so she decided to cast a now familiar glamor to cover the bruises new and old. Then she finished packing while deciding just what she was going to say to Xander and Buffy. The idea of seeing them, getting away from Rome and seeing her friends, was like a lifeline that she clung to desperately. Her friends would make everything better.

It took Willow a moment to come back to her senses and realize Ruby was absently rubbing her back and shoulder. It took her another moment to realize that she had apparently been telling the story out loud to the group and Willow choked as the words caught in her throat.

“She hurt you, she hurt my sister, you felt yourself going dark again and you didn’t think you could tell us?” Buffy’s voice came out hard and cold. Much more than she intended. Spike squeezed her closer to him. Let the girl talk, Pet. There will be time for our anger later.

Willow’s eyes shot up, “Buffy I’m— I thought I could handle it. I thought I—“

And suddenly Buffy understood, “You thought you deserved it…”

Willow let out a sob and buried her face in her hands. Ruby drew her closer to her. Her face was a mixture of concern and bewilderment. As much as they had talked over the last few days they hadn’t had much time to talk about Willow’s personal life and they had both been making it a point to avoid the subject of her current relationship. It suddenly hit her just how right Spike had been when he asked her to take things slowly with Willow. They were going to have to have a serious talk later. She pulled Willow against her a little more, stroking her hair. The desire to care for her and protect her was growing stronger by the second.

Buffy slipped off the couch sinking to her knees to hug Willow, “Look at me. We’ve all done horrible things. You do not deserve to be treated like this. No one does. Not me, not Spike, and not you. Do you hear me?”

Willow dissolved into fresh sobs as Xander rushed over to the other side of Willow.

Spike and Giles looked on for another moment until Willow settled her breathing. Buffy looked up at her friend, “We’re going to get you through this and we’re going to get you and Dawn up here safe and sound.”

“What about Kennedy?” Willow choked.

“I’ve been getting a few rather disturbing reports from the Australian Outback I think she would be particularly well suited to handle,” Giles said with an edge of steel in his soft tone. He got up from his seat fumbling with his crutches, “In fact I think I have some phone calls to make. Please excuse me.”

Giles gave Willow one last fatherly smile, “I will be in my suite with my contacts list if you need me.”

Xander patted Willow on the shoulder, “I’ll see if I can help move things along.”

“Thanks guys,” Willow choked out.

Spike watched the two men go and stood suddenly, not giving a damn about his leg, “Tea?”

Buffy arched an eyebrow at him and turned back towards Willow, “What do you think Will? Tea?”

She nodded weakly, “Yeah, tea sounds good. Thanks.”

“Be but a moment.” The truth was that he just needed to do something. Anything. What he wanted to do was rip out Kennedy’s throat and make her his third Slayer. He was angry enough to do it, soul or not. Buffy’s friend; his friend was in pain and fetching tea was something he could do for her. He’d annihilate a sparring dummy later. He went into the kitchen, leaving the three women in the living room.

Buffy gave Willow one last squeeze before rocking back on her heels and resuming her seat on the other couch. “Willow, have you talked to Kennedy since you’ve been here?”

She shook her head, “No. I’ve kinda been trying not to think about her…” She fingered the bruises around her arms lightly. Five blotched circles for each finger Kennedy had wrapped around her arm. Other bruises, in other places, were fading but still visible, including a nasty one on her chest just below her collarbone.

“Guess we have a lot to talk about too, huh?” Ruby asked quietly eyeing the marks on her pale skin.

Willow turned watery eyes towards her, “You sure you even want too?”

“You’re barmy if you think I’m going away that easy. If you can put up with a murdering-blood-sucking-mental-case I’m pretty sure I can figure out how to deal with whatever you got rolling around.”

“Yeah I kinda get the murdering part better than I like to admit.”

“You didn’t loose control and kill your want’a be girlfriend too did you?”

“No, I magically skinned the man who murdered my girlfriend and then I tried to destroy the world.”

“You did save my life before that though,” Buffy chimed in trying to remind Willow of the good she had done as well. As horrible as things were at that time, as awful as everything had been, Willow still had the presence of mind to save Buffy‘s life even when she already knew she couldn’t save Tara.

“Wow I— Okay, the mega witch thing is starting to make sense. Is it weird that I’m kinda turned on by that? That’s probably the demon part of me talking huh?” Ruby looked at her quizzically then cracked a smile.

“Yeah, probably,” Willow chuckled lamely.

“At least I got a grin out of you, that’s something. I can live with being weird,” she shrugged with a grin, “Sort of feels good to know you got a dark side too. Do you think some of that meditation stuff would work for me? You could teach me.”

That made Willow sit up a little straighter, “You’d really do that?”

“Course, if it helps keep us both in check, why wouldn’t I?”

Buffy shifted her gaze between the two women. Ruby still had her arms wrapped protectively around Willow and Willow had found one of Ruby’s hands entwining their fingers. Ruby released the hand around Willow’s waist in order to move a few stray hairs from in front of Willow’s eyes revealing a faded bruise near the outer edge of her left eye. She fingered it lightly, “That bitch doesn’t deserve you,” Ruby whispered.

“That’s what I’ve been saying from day one,” Spike said loudly as he brought tea in for Willow and Ruby.

Ruby quickly but gently extracted herself from Willow to take them from him and handed one to Willow. “A nice cup’a for you.”

“Thanks,” she murmured.

“Think nothing of it.”

“Where’s mine?” Buffy pouted playfully.

“Kitchen, didn’t want to risk spilling. I want to get some blood too.”

“I’ll come with you. Willow, are you alright if I go?”

Willow glanced at Buffy and back to Ruby, “Do you mind staying with me?”

“Wasn’t planning on going anywhere until sundown anyway,” Ruby smirked.

Spike held out a hand towards Buffy, “Think they’ll be just fine, Pet.”

A shot of electricity ran through Buffy’s hand along with barely contained rage that nearly edged out her own feelings towards Kennedy as she took Spike’s hand. Their eyes locked, “Spike?” She asked as she let herself be drawn up and out of the living room.

“Don’t want your tea getting cold do we?” Outwardly his tone was light, but through their link he was seething.

That trip Giles has planned for Kennedy had better be the one way kind.

It’s a permanent post and I doubt it’s a super happy one judging by the way he talks about it. I guess they are having trouble with some nasty called a yara-mara-who-who.

Spike cracked a genuine smile as they entered the kitchen, “You mean a yara-ma-yha-who?” he asked aloud.

“Oh humm yeah, that’s it.”

“Bloody brilliant,” he said, handing her a cup of tea and turning to prepare himself a mug of blood.

Buffy hopped up onto the counter between the sink in the microwave, “You know these things?”

“Enough to say I’m glad he’s not sending us, Love, nasty little blighters. Australia is full of that sort a thing. Even if the yara-ma-yha-who don’t get her, there’s a good chance something else will.”

Buffy frowned, “I don’t know, as angry as I am at Kennedy….”

“Oh come on, Buffy, it’s not like it’s a death sentence. Place started out as a penal colony and those folks survived just fine. I imagine Giles thinks it’s a bit of poetic justice in a way. As nasty as these things are, they normally leave their prey alive,” he shrugged a shoulder, “Well I say usually— 50-50. Point is that it’s not exactly a death trap. I mean if you exclude all the supernatural nasties that go bump in the night, even the regular creepy crawlies are pretty dangerous. Given the bitch happens to be a Slayer I’d say she actually has a fair chance really.” He huffed.

“But who’s to say we don’t deserve that too?”

Spike narrowed his eyes at her realizing where her mind was. Their initial relationship really was a train wreck and it had hurt them both on many levels. “Well for starters ours was a mutually screwed up relationship. We beat the hell out of each other didn’t we? And not just physically, Pet.”

“Well yeah, pretty much what made it so sick and twisted.”

Spike shrugged and took a sip of blood, leaning against the counter on the other side of the microwave, “Could have stopped you if I wanted.”

“Doubt it. And you’re seriously not making me feel any better about this.”

“Far as I’m concerned that wasn’t even close to what Kennedy is doing to Willow. You and I— I’m not saying it was right, far from it, but we had something of an understanding. We started out trying to kill one and other, not really your typical meet-cute now is it?”

“No, I guess not.” She sighed, thinking about all the times they had tried to kill each other. Her mother standing over Spike with an ax, Sike taunting her about Angel, and even the time she beat the crap out of Spike when he wouldn’t let her turn herself in when she thought she had killed Warren’s ex-girlfriend.

Spike’s voice sounded through their link and she realized that she must’ve been projecting towards him. That was a different time, Love, and you know it. We are both different people now. “There are much worse punishments than being sent to Australia, Pet. Point of fact, plenty of folks live there happily and by choice I might add. She’ll be fine, and if some beastie gets her then ‘Que sera’. Lot better than the bitch deserves if you ask me. Not all that different from sending any of the girls to their new posts really.”

Buffy shrugged and hopped off of the counter, “I guess you have a point.” She strode closer to him. I’m going to do a sweep of the castle and call Dawn. I expect to see you upstairs later.”

“I’m a might curious about how the bit is doing myself. You talk to her since Red got here?”

“Yeah, sure I have, she didn’t say anything about Willow.”

“Yeah well the witch has certainly put on a convincing ‘nothing to see here’ show.”

“I still can’t believe I didn’t see it.”

“Didn’t want you to see it. Ashamed I suspect.”

“It’s just scary how good she was at hiding it.”

“You know how you were when we were together before, you would have staked me to keep your friends from finding out about us. Is it really all that surprising?”

She looked down at the floor, “This isn’t the same thing.”

“She’s just been putting up the emotional smokescreen a bit thicker than you did. Hell of an actress it turns out.”

“No kidding… I think that’s what bothers me so much.” She wrapped her arms around him loosely and they stood there in silence for several minutes while Spike sipped his blood.

“How’s the leg?” Buffy finally murmured against his chest.

“Walking better tonight aren’t I?”

“You’re still taking the elevator back upstairs.”

“Of course, promised my lady I’d take care of myself.”

Buffy made a happy little hum as she pressed into him closer, “Maybe you deserve a reward.”

He set down his mug with a grin, allowing Buffy to lean in for a kiss and moaned when she pulled away a little too soon. “You’re a tease, Slayer.”

“Just a little something for you to think about. I’ll see you upstairs, give me about an hour?”

“As you wish,” he drawled.

Buffy pinched the bridge of her nose, as she held her phone to her ear.

“Hello?”

“Oh thank god, Dawnie,” her breath came out a little too relieved.

“Buffy? What’s wrong?”

“I— I just talked to Willow and— Dawn… did you know? I mean Will says that you didn’t know. She said that she’s been hiding it from you, but did you know about what Kennedy was doing to Willow?”

“I knew about the night she brought me over to Andrew and Vi’s. I mean I sort of freaked out on her when she smacked Willow and she just grabbed my arm. The bruise is already gone thanks to Willow’s stinky salve. I’m fine. What’s been going on with Willow? Is she going all scary again?”

“No, it’s not that. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m still at Andrew and Vi’s place. It’s been all school and studying and movie nights with ice cream. I haven’t seen Kennedy at all.”

“Okay, that’s great. But why didn’t you say anything about it?”

“Will was super freaked and she just wanted to get up to the castle ASAP, and then I guess I was just afraid you’d freak out. This whole thing has just been kinda crazy. I just didn’t want to make it worse. I remember when Will broke my arm and this whole thing was a bit too much like a bad re-run.”

“This isn’t the same thing, Dawn. It’s kinda the opposite of what was going on with Tara…”

“Is Willow really okay?”

“She’s safe here and we’re keeping an eye on her. Do you know if Kennedy has moved out yet?”

“I went back the other day with Vi, Kennedy wasn’t there and it looked like most of her stuff was gone but not all of it so I just grabbed some more clothes and came back with Vi.”

“Alright, I guess that’s good news…”

“Buffy? Is everything alright?”

“I— I should have been there. You are my responsibility Dawn. Not Willow, not Vi, not Andrew. Me.”

“Just stop. First of all, you’re not just on a sex romp with your boyfriend, you are actually working. Like paying the bills and everything. Second, I’m the one who told you you should go up to the castle with Spike. Third, I’ll be 18 next month, Buffy, I’m not really a little kid.”

“I swear Spike just had this conversation with Ruby.”

“That’s the new vamp Willow got the orb for right?”

“Yeah. Humm… Dawnie, listen. There are a few things I was waiting to talk to you about but things keep coming up and the timing has just been really off and it looks like we might be taking another detour before we start heading back down to Rome and—“

“You’re thinking about moving up there permanently aren’t you?”

“I— how did you know?”

“It’s not hard to figure out. I know Italian isn’t your thing, Buff. You barely go out unless you have someone with you that speaks the language and I know how much you like being up there close to Giles… it’s sort of logical.”

“When did you get all insightfully?”

Buffy could almost hear her shrug over the phone, “I dunno. So…should I be looking into transferring my credits? I’m sure it’s too late to enroll for the fall semester, how soon do you want to do this? Would we be staying in the castle or are you already house hunting? What about Willow and Xander?”

“Wohh, slow down. We sort of already have a place in the works for all of us.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I— I kinda thought we would have already made it back down to you by now and I could show you pictures or something. I don’t want to mess with school, I mean, if you didn’t want to move up here at all I would understand and you could stay with Andrew and Vi, but I—“

“Do I get my own room?”

“A big one with double closets and your own private bathroom.”

“Are we talking shower only or is there a tub?”

“Both. Nice big tub.”

“Rent or own?”

“Own.”

“Spike is on board?”

“Totally.”

“And I get to make all the decorating decisions in my room?”

“If you want to, yeah, absolutely!”

“Sold!”

“Are you sure?”

“Totally!”

Buffy couldn’t help a laugh as relief washed through her. “Cool, you start getting things ironed out with school, I’ll see what I can do on this end. I was sort of hoping to get into our new place before Christmas so you can start the spring semester up here but I don’t know how realistic that is.”

“Sounds more realistic than trying to get into the fall semester now. We’ll figure it out, Buff. How is Willow anyway?”

“Pretty rough. We still have a lot to talk about.”

---

---

Chapter 7 Movie Night

Over the next few days the three of them kept busy with the girls and landed on a good routine. Buffy’s ribs were healing well as long as she was taking it easy. On the third day after the injury, she dodged a wild kick from one of the younger girls while she was walking around the room supervising the class. She missed being hit but fell right into one of the metal sparring dummies. It wasn’t really enough to re-injure her but it did manage to remind her that her ribs were really only starting to mend and It would still be some time before she’d be back to full health.

When Giles returned the next evening with the older girls he was surprised to find the dynamic they had stumbled into in his absence. After he and the girls had gotten settled in, Giles came back downstairs to the living room to catch up with Buffy and Faith.

“There were no other mishaps while I was gone I trust?” He asked them.

Buffy shook her head, “Nope, turns out we actually make a pretty good team when we’re not making power plays.”

“And Spike?”

“I think he was in the kitchen last I knew,” Faith shrugged.

“No, I meant—“

“We know what you meant. If it wasn’t for him there is no way we could have managed after Buffy got hurt. He picked up the slack and then some,” Faith said defensively.

“Very good, glad to hear it. Any more ghost sightings?”

“I thought I heard something last night and I’ve found a few of my things in weird places but neither of us saw anything,” Buffy shrugged.

“And she’s only moving your things?”

“Seems that way. But it’s not like Spike is exactly big on material possessions at the moment.”

“No I suppose not. Once I get settled in I’ll go through the castle’s archives and do what I can. Might be rather fun actually.”

“That’s why you’re book-man!” Faith teased, “Seriously though, I’m having someone come by to check out the giant birdcage and get it running again.”

“As long as you get someone who respects antiques. I’d hate to see such a fine example of an antique lift be destroyed by some pillock.”

“I’m having the Ross’s take a look, if they don’t think they can do it they’ll recommend someone.”

Giles adjusted his glasses, “Is our cover with the locals still holding?”

Faith averted eye contact, “Yeah they still think you’re my uncle.”

“Alright so that brings me to my next question,” Buffy asked, “are we still going with our original cover story here?”

“The best lies have a kernel of truth. We run a school for girls. Faith is my niece. I had to stop wagging tongues, you know.”

“Which makes me what? Your American daughter?”

“I suppose so, yes. Everyone around here knows that I’ve spent an extended amount of time in the states so it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

“Not like Dawn and I have heard from our own father in… well a really long time... Besides, you did have a little thing with my mom,” Buffy teased.

“Yes well…” he stammered, and started cleaning his glasses, “Your mother was a very special woman,” he added almost inaudibly.

“Ok, seriously more information than I needed,” Faith said as she got up to leave, “Callum will be here soon, I want to check on the girls and let them know what’s up.”

“I’ll come with you, I wanna hit the kitchen first, grab a snack.”

“And if Spike’s not in the kitchen?”

“Very funny.”

Giles rolled his eyes, “Yes well I plan to unpack and spend a quiet evening in, if I’m not needed.”

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

Music was playing in the kitchen; Spike was singing along to The Ramones ‘Do You Wanna Dance?’, as he was finishing up the dishes.

Buffy put a hand out to stop Faith and pressed a finger to her own lips to keep her from interrupting him as they entered the kitchen. The two women stood there watching him for a moment. The song ended and the next song ‘I Wanna Be Well’, came on. “Damn that’s hot,” Faith whispered, “You know Buff, if you ever get tired of this one, you can send him my way.”

“Not a chance,” Spike said, turning around as he dried his hands on a dish-towel. His lean muscles moving interestingly under his blue t-shirt. He gave Buffy a slow grin, “Haven’t seen much of you since this morning. Giles and the girls getting settled back in alright?”

Buffy went over to give him a kiss, “I see you found the stereo alright. Yeah, we’re all squared away. Just you and me for our first Friday night in Scotland. Faith has a friend coming over.”

Faith rolled her eyes, “Not like that!”

“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t,” Spike smirked.

“Don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” she frowned, “I kinda punked asking him out.”

Buffy rummaged through the fruit bowl, “If you don’t ask him out, I’m going to do it for you,” she said as she tried to decide between an apple and an orange.

“I thought about taking you out proper. Maybe find a place with a band, if you’re up to it,” Spike said.

“I’m not sure if I’m ready for that just yet. I’m kinda in a night-in sort of mood.”

“Thank God for thick walls,” Faith grumbled.

“Not talkin ‘bout that!” He turned towards Buffy, “Were you? Because I sure wouldn’t say ‘no’ if you were, Goldilocks,” he grinned wolfishly.

“Dishes are almost as good as foreplay,” Buffy grinned.

“And there it is, grossed out and jealous all in one. I’m going to check on the girls before Callum gets here, you coming, B?”

Buffy took a bite of her apple and gave Spike a wink before turning to leave with Faith, “Yup, I’m in. I’ll see you later,” she said, throwing a smile over her shoulder at Spike.

“God I’m a lucky bastard.”

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

Minutes later Spike had finished up in the kitchen and was heading through the entrance hall when the doorbell chimed. Spike pulled the door wide revealing a tall good looking man who could have been Superman’s stunt-double, “Oi, you must be the handyman Faith’s been going on about; come to fix the lift?”

“I make no promises, told her I’d take a look. See if it’s something we can handle,” he said in a Scottish accent.

“Right then, in you come. I’m Spike,” he thrust out his hand.

Callum shook his hand, “Callum Ross, I don’t remember seeing you around when I was here before.”

“Nah, I've only been back in Europe for a couple of weeks. Come on, it’s just over here.”

Spike gestured to the lift, “I took a look the other day, cable is shot, I can lend a hand replacing it if you need it. There’s a maintenance ladder of sorts in the shaft but it’s not in the greatest shape. I can get it up there no problem.”

“That’s the hard part, mate. You got climbing experience or something?”

“A bit. Anyway, I was just heading upstairs, I’ve hardly seen my girl today. I’ll send Faith down.”

“Thanks, I’ll try not to keep her long,” Callum said as he stepped into the elevator and started examining it.

Spike headed upstairs, it took a minute to find Faith since she was settling a dispute on the fourth floor amongst the Level 2 girls.

Faith was seething, “I don’t care who started it, it ends now. You need to burn off steam? There are training rooms for that! I—“

“Faith? Don’t mean to break this up, your handyman is down stairs looking at the lift.”

Faith gave the girls a stern look before she ran a hand over her hair, “Sure, ok. I’m on it,” she said briskly as she bustled past him.

“Oi, Faith, where’d Buffy go?”

Faith turned to look at him, “She went back downstairs, maybe the bathroom. I don’t know.”

Faith ran down the stairs stopping short of the entryway, she smoothed her shirt and walked forward towards the elevator. Callum was examining the inside of a small maintenance hatch.

“Hey, sorry I wasn’t downstairs when you got here—“

Callum jumped a little, “Oi Faith! You gave me a start girl. No worries, I do need to take a look at the pulley at the top. You want to see me up?”

Faith had laughed when she had startled him but now her mouth suddenly went dry, “Ah yeah, yeah I can show you up, fifth floor.”

“Led the way,”

“I had to settle a dispute with the girls-“

Callum spoke a little stiffly, “Oh it’s fine, your boyfriend let me in. I think we might be—“

She cut him off, “Boyfriend?”

“The Londoner. Said he was here with his lady, I just…”

“Spike? Me and Spike? Oh, no, no, no. I mean yes he is staying here. No, he is definitely not MY boyfriend. Not even close. Spike is Buffy’s, eh my cousin’s boyfriend. He used to work with a good friend of ours that’s a PI in LA.”

A relieved expression passed over Callum’s handsome face and his entire demeanor became almost buoyant as they continued their conversation.

Faith paused looking down at him, “You seem really interested in my relationship status,” she smirked.

“Noticed that huh?”

“How’d you like to go out for a drink sometime?”

“Took the words right out of my mouth. I’d love to.”

Faith smiled in relief, “Good, how’s tomorrow night?”

“8:00?”

“You tell me where you want to meet and it’s a date,”

“You’re on…”

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

Meanwhile Spike went back downstairs in search of Buffy. Before he had a chance to check the bathroom, he noticed that the light was on in their bedroom and went in. Buffy was sitting on the loveseat with her laptop open.

“There you are, Slayer, I was looking for you, what are you doing?”

“Hey! Just emailing Willow, she was checking up on us. Xander is talking about coming back to Europe soon.”

“Getting the band back together then?”

“Same continent at least. I don’t really like being so spread apart like this, I miss my friends. I miss having an actual home. Spike, I’ve really been thinking a lot about what you said about living here permanently.”

“I’ve been putting some thought into that as well, Love.”

“And?”

“Hopefully we’re thinking the same thing.”

She smiled, “But after we continue our trip right?”

“Duhh”

“By the way, earlier when Faith and I came up, where’d you go? I thought you were right behind us.”

“Would’ve been but Faith’s boy showed up,”

“You mean he’s here? I'm a little bit curious.”

“Think Superman.”

“Are we talking Christopher Reeves or Tom Welling on Smallville?”

“Ehhh… I was thinking the comics, but Reeves I guess. I don’t know the other guy, haven’t really watched a lot of TV as of late.”

“Dawn is obsessed with Smallville. I kinda want to meet this guy. Are they still downstairs?”

“Dunno, we could just go to bed,” he grinned.

“It’s still early, we don’t have to lock ourselves in our bedroom just yet do we?” she let out a little laugh. She took both of his hands, “Why don’t we do a movie night downstairs? I’ll make popcorn…” she grinned coyly.

“As long as there’s a beer in it for me.”

As they headed down stairs they realized Callum and Faith were above them on the stairs on their way back down from checking the elevator mechanism at the top. Buffy paused, waiting for them to catch up. They were so deep in conversation as Faith came around the edge of the landing that she actually bumped into Buffy who had paused to straighten a picture frame. Buffy caught herself on the railing, her ribs suddenly reminding her to take it easy after being relatively quiet most of the day.

“You alright there, Pet?” Spike asked her from only a few steps down from her.

“Yeah, I’ll be alright.”

“I’m sorry B I didn’t—“

“I’m fine, I’m the one who stopped.”

“What’s the matter with her?” Asked Callum in a concerned tone.

“Training accident, banged up her ribs. This sort of thing happens all the time. We’re pretty used to it,” Faith answered.

“She’s tougher than she looks,” Spike looked at Buffy fondly. Buffy continued down the stairs and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

Faith turned to Callum, “See what I mean about these two?”

Callum grinned easily at Faith, “Take it you’ve never been in love before, have you?”

Faith began to blush, and rounded on Buffy, “What are you two doing anyway? Snooping?”

“Now I’m hurt. We are having a movie night,” Buffy responded.

Faith eyed her suspiciously, “If the girls don’t have the same idea, Cuz.”

As they came into the entrance hall, they could hear the TV and Buffy went over to check it out. Faith led Callum into the kitchen while Spike lingered, waiting for Buffy.

“Yeah, he’s definitely more of a Welling,” Buffy murmured in Spike’s ear as they headed into the kitchen.

“I’ll just have to take your word on that, Love. Think we should try to force these two into a double date?” Spike asked.

“It’s like you can read my mind.”

Buffy got to work on the popcorn while Spike grabbed beers for each of them, “Sorry, Pet, looks like we’re all out of wine.” He took the beers over to the large table they used for meals and sat down.

“So what’s the word, Cal, can you fix our lift?” Spike asked.

“Callum, please. And yeah, I think so. As long as I can get the right parts I don’t see why not, especially if I’ve got someone who can climb,” he tipped his beer towards Spike, “I saw what you meant about that maintenance ladder,” he took a pull at his beer, “Not bad. I should bring you some of my brother’s stuff though. Him and his wife opened a brewery a few years back.”

“You never told me that,” Faith said, “that sounds amazing.”

“Didn’t realize you were into beer.”

“Faith in a nutshell,” Buffy started ticking off her fingers, “Likes: fighting, weaponry, and leather. Dislikes: anything too ‘girly’, mushy or frilly. Loves: Alcohol, dancing, rock, action movies, sex, and fighting.”

Faith choked on a sip of beer, “Buffy!”

“What? Did I forget something?”

“There was the bit about—-“

Faith slammed a fist on the table, “Spike, I swear if you finish that sentence I will—“

Callum leaned back in his chair with his arms folded across his broad chest watching them quietly.

“You don’t even know what I was going—“

“Doesn’t matter!”

“When did you become such a delicate flower anyway? What happened to the Faith I met back in Sunnydale? Brash, forthright, badass. Knew each other less than a day before you sat there bold as brass and told me all about the guy with the—“

“Spike I’m warning you—“

Callum interrupted her with a grin, “Ya know Faith, there’s a pub not far from here, has bands every weekend, and my brother often has bands play at the brewery in summer; if you’re interested. Or we could go to an MMA event sometime, I know a guy,” He wasn’t fazed by their outburst in the least, in fact he seemed rather comfortable with it.

Faith stared at him in shock for a split second before stammering, “I- I, yeah that would be awesome…”

“Alright then, I’ll get started on making proper plans. Can’t have a girl like you working all the time without blowing off some steam now can we?” he said, looking her up and down as he took a swig of his beer.

Buffy stood up, “I think the living room should be clear now. Spike, why don’t you go pick a movie. I got the popcorn. I expect to see the two of you in there for movie night.”

“After you, Slayer.”

Buffy and Spike headed out, leaving Faith and Callum behind. They both stood up looking at each other, “I imagine they meant well.”

Faith scoffed and shook her head, “You really have no idea…”

“I’m just guessing here but I’m going to venture to say; you’ve got yourself a sorted past you’re trying to make right. Turn over a new leaf and such. Except romance wasn’t exactly factored into that equation was it?”

“No, not exactly… I mean you’re spot-on. How—“

“You’re not the only person with an interesting past. Spent a good chunk of my youth in one sort of trouble or another. Even found myself locked up for a short bit. After that I decided it was time to turn things around, start helping people instead of hurting them. Always been handy so I started doing odd jobs for people. That got me the job at the hardware store.

“I- that’s… are you messing with me?”

“Honest truth. Didn’t scare you away did I?”

“No, not at all- takes way more than that to scare me. I—I guess I just never imagined we had that much in common… you seem so clean cut.”

Callum smiled at her, “So about what your cousin said…”

“I’m looking for something long term this time around… I don’t want to rush into anything…” she blurted out.

He grinned again, “Perfect.”

“Also, I’ve got some major baggage and a couple of Jurassic sized bombshells… I just… I’m trying to lay it out but there’s a lot I just can’t talk about. So here’s my middle ground, take it or leave it,” she said very quickly.

“Are we talking about kids or skeletons in the closet?”

“Closet’s pretty full. You seriously think kids are my thing?”

“Alright, just so long as I don’t end up with some jealous bloke standing over me with an ax.”

“Voice of experience?”

Callum gave a half grin, “Didn’t know she was married.”

“I think we’ve all been there. Glad we had this talk.”

“Me too.”

“You know you don’t have to stay for this,” she waved her hand irritatedly, “If you don’t want to… I swear…”

“I was just planning on a quiet night at home anyway and I’m off tomorrow so I’m not fussed. I think it’s good to change it up, don’t you?”

“You don’t know what you’re in for around here.”

“Oh I think I’ll manage. Come on, they seem like the search and rescue type.”

“They are.”

Spike was still looking through movies when they got to the living room, “I’ve counted twenty vampire films here, they do realize these aren’t actually instructional videos right? Especially… sodding ‘Interview with a Vampire’? Are you bloody kidding me? That’s twenty-one. Oh here’s twenty-two… what the hell is ‘Blood and Donuts’? Bloody hell…” he put it back in the bin and kept digging. “I’m not watching some sodden— oh look, another vampire movie… ‘Love at First Bite’, hells bells…” he flipped it over to read the back, “Oh Slayer, if you were aiming for a laugh, I think we got a winner here, Goldilocks.”

Spike handed the movie over to her, “I said you could pick… I don’t know…Dracula? Really? You hate Dracula…”

“Just read the blurb.”

Buffy flipped the movie over in her hand, “Oh God. It’s either going to be horrible or funny as hell, I’m going with both. Care to find out?”

“Go on, Slayer, put it on,” Buffy turned towards Faith and Callum, “We’re either in for a bad movie-night or a laugh fest, it’s anyone's guess,” she said as she sat down gingerly on the couch she had been favoring since her injury. Buffy made a ‘have a seat’ gesture towards the second couch.

Callum complied as he stretched out his tall frame at one end of the other couch and reached an arm across the back, “I’m easy to get on with,” he turned to look at Faith who was still standing behind the couch, “Don’t know about you but I’ve had a long day. It’s good to relax.”

Faith sat down next to him and slipped off her gym shoes so she could curl up on the couch.

“Better?” He asked.

Faith chuckled faintly, “Yeah. This week wasn’t so bad thanks to these two, but it had been a little rough for a couple of weeks before that. It’s going to suck when they leave.”

“Aww Faith, that was almost sweet,” Buffy said as Spike came over, positioning himself behind her so she could rest back on him. Buffy handed Faith an extra bowl, “Here you can divide up the popcorn. Let’s get movie night started.”

“I got it,” Spike picked up the remote to press play. Then readjusted so Buffy could sit back more comfortably again, “Here, Love, better?”

She hummed in agreement as the movie started.

*****

After the movie, Faith saw Callum out. Buffy and Spike lingered in the living room cleaning up bits of popcorn Spike had started throwing at the TV during the movie. They passed them on their way to take the beer bottles and bowls to the kitchen.

“Night Callum, nice to meet you!” Buffy called over her shoulder. Spike threw him a nod as he followed Buffy.

“Good to meet you both!” Callum called from the doorstep. He turned to Faith, “What’s his problem with Dracula anyway?”

“Long story,” Faith said as she quietly offered to walk him out to his car.

A few minutes later Faith came back inside to find Buffy and Spike waiting for her, “What?”

“Sort of got that pesky first date out of the way, didn’t we?”

“For your information, I did ask him out. We’re going for drinks tomorrow night.”

“I guess it’s sort of like you arranged your second date before your first,”

“More like we got hijacked.”

Spike cleared his throat, “Hey now, ‘hijacked’ seems harsh… but fair.”

“But it all worked out right?”

“Not the point.”

Buffy grinned, “Maybe you’ll get lucky and find out Mr. Clean-cut has a naughty side, you never know.”

“Yeah, we had a little talk about that. Turns out maybe we do have a little more in common than I thought,” Faith said as she started up the stairs.

“You got things worked out better than you had before so I still call this a win.”

“Why are you being so weird?”

“I’m not being weird, am I?”

“Just,” Faith made a face, “Peppy…”

“Normal people call that a good mood,” Buffy retorted as they continued to climb the stairs nearing their bedrooms.

“Whatever, B, can I get your help tomorrow?”

“With what?”

“I’m not really sure what a normal date looks like.”

“You think I do? Our first and last real date was strolling through Paris until we stumbled across a cabaret Spike’s friend owns.”

“Don’t forget the alley,” Spike grinned and Buffy swatted at him.

“Our idea of going out usually involves patrolling. That’s what passes for ‘normal’ in my life and I’m good with that.”

“I don’t even think I can do normal.”

“You know what would really help you out, Faith? Start by binning that nonsense about ‘normal’, because you’re not. No Slayer is, Buffy knows that. The sooner you get it, the better.” Spike huffed.

“This is a bad idea… this is exactly why my longest relationship before Robin was maybe the occasional long weekend. What am I doing? I can’t do this,” Faith moaned moodily.

“Didn’t say that. If you think there’s something there then you should go for it. Love is worth walking through fire and a lot more.”

“He would know,” Buffy said seriously.

---

Chapter 5 A New Leaf

A few hours later Buffy woke up to a knock at the door. Rubbing her eyes, Buffy opened the door to find Faith holding a cup of coffee and a bagel, “Hey, girls are going to be coming down soon. I brought these up for you. I want to introduce you to the girls at training this morning. Spikie boy too if he wants. Don’t want any of the girls thinking he’s target practice.”

“Humm, thanks, you didn’t have to do that.” She took a tentative sip of the coffee Faith handed her. It was disappointingly void of cream or sugar. But it’s coffee…

“One time only deal, B. Are you going to get pretty-boy up?” Faith asked, poking her head around the edge of the doorframe.

Buffy glanced over at Spike sprawled out on the bed with a pillow over his face. “He’ll join us later.”

“Right, whole creature of the night thing.” Faith smirked.

Buffy leaned against the door frame and took another sip of coffee, letting the unadulterated flavor wash over her taste buds. “Give me a couple minutes to get dressed. Which training room are we in?”

“The one by the library, it’s bigger. I want to get this done before Giles leaves with the older girls. They’re going to be gone for a few days.”

Buffy straightened up, a frown clouding her features. “I didn’t realize they were going to be gone that long. What’s he doing with them?”

Faith rolled her shoulders, stretching like a cat. “Taking them on one of those spirit journey things, it’s supposed to be the beginning of the end for them as they wrap up their training with us before they go on to their placements. He’s had this on the schedule for months. Gonna be gone most of the week.”

“I should have known. Giles did tell me he had some girls that would be ready to leave soon. I guess I just lost track of time,” she said with a sigh as she turned her face back towards Spike.

He had rolled over onto his side petulantly with the pillow clamped over his head. He grunted, “You birds keep it down, you’re waking the dead.”

Buffy couldn’t suppress a grin, “Oh good, you’re up. Faith wants us to address the masses.”

“Bugger all,” Spike huffed as he pulled himself up, the sheet slipping down precariously. “Can’t it wait? Not like we’ve got a big bad on deck.”

“Things have been a bit quiet,” Faith agreed, “can’t be good.”

“Always something brewing,” Spike added as he grabbed his clothes and started pulling them on.

Buffy shifted her body, blocking Faith’s view of Spike. “I saw a ghost last night.”

Faith redirected her attention back to Buffy with a confused look on her face. “Seriously? In here?”

“Yup, right over there,” Buffy pointed to the corner behind her where she had seen the apparition.

“Explains a few things,” Faith huffed, folding her arms over her stomach and leaning against the cool stone wall in the hallway.

“Like what?”

“Never saw anything, just heard a few knocks and bangs, couple of things moved when I was in here alone. That kind of stuff barely registers on my weird-o-meter anymore.”

“Tell me about it… “ Buffy said around a bite of bagel.

Spike snorted, making a poor attempt to cover it up with a cough as he walked towards them pulling on a clean dark gray t-shirt. “Humm, dusty in here…”

Faith tilted her head, “Right… anyway… I’ll let you two get ready and just meet you down there.” With that Faith turned and left.

Buffy crossed her arms and turned towards Spike, “Really?”

“Oh come on, Love. You have to admit. It’s more than a little funny that you, one of the most badass supernatural forces for good on the planet, got spooked by a wee little ghost.”

“I’m really trying to be mad at you right now.”

“How’s that workin’ for ya, Pet?” He replied with a knowing smirk.

“Don’t push your luck,” she grinned as she pulled workout clothes from her bag, “Ok, so first chance I get, I’m unpacking.”

“Add it to the list.”

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

“Good morning ladies!” Faith walked up and down as she addressed the girls in front of her. Giles, Buffy, and Spike stood behind her like members of a stage cast. “As you can see we have some special guests who will be staying with us for a while. Some of you might remember Buffy-“ Whispers rippled through the girls, a few of the older girls hushed them, “That’s right, the original slayer, is in the house. Buffy and I will be splitting training duties. With her is one of our closest friends and allies, Spike aka William the Bloody Slayer of Slayers. Vampire with a soul. Good guy. Teacher NOT target practice—“

“Wait— That’s William the Bloody? I thought you said he was dead. That he died in the Battle of Sunnydale,” one of the girls blurted out.

“Got better; still dead,” he answered.

Faith snorted, “Yeah well, he’s here now to help with your training. Buff, you want to say a few words?” She added as she turned to Buffy.

Buffy switched spots with her, “I know a few of you already and the rest I know through your progress reports. But those can only go so far. Spike and I are here because we agree it’s time we take a more personal role in your training. I don’t really have a lot to say, does anyone have any questions for me or Spike?” She gestured towards him as he placed a hand on the small of her back.

“Yeah, I got one. If he’s the Slayer of Slayers, how are we supposed to trust this guy?”

Buffy rolled her eyes, I should have expected this, “You can trust him because I do. I trust him with my life, and yours. But I get it. Trust is earned and even if you don’t trust him you should be grateful for the insights he can supply. Better to be prepared. I’ve learned a lot about what it is to be a Slayer from him, you can too.”

Spike adjusted his hand on her back as he stepped a little closer to her, “That and you lot got the advantage of safety in numbers.”

A girl standing in the front of the group cocked an eyebrow as she eyed the two of them, “Just how close of a friend is this guy?”

Spike tried not to grin at the blush coloring Buffy’s cheeks as she shifted a little before answering, “Spike is my… partner.”

That earned a few low snickers.

She rolled her eyes at how stupid that sounded, “Alright fine yeah, I guess it’s pretty obvious Spike and I have a lot more than just a working relationship.”

“Not like they weren’t going to notice we’re sharing a room,” Spike smirked.

She shrugged, and turned back towards Faith and Giles, “They’re all yours.”

Giles turned to the group of girls, “Level 4 girls with me,” he said heading towards the stairs.

Faith’s voice cut through as she stepped forward, “That means levels 1, 2, and 3 fighting stances. We’re going to jump right in.”

“Giles, can I have a word?” Buffy asked, pulling him aside.

“Quickly, we really must be off,” he gestured towards the older girls to go on without him, “I’ll catch up.”

Buffy moved Giles to the corner of the room, “I saw a ghost last night. Know anything?”

“I don’t, but generally they are innocuous. I can look into it when I return if you like.”

“I’d appreciate it,”

“Right then, upon my return. See you soon!”

“See you!” She called after him.

Buffy turned around and started walking around the room correcting stances and provided assistance.

“What’s with the level thing?” Spike asked as he sidled up to her.

“What? Oh that’s just the system they came up with. Helps to break them up into smaller groups by age and level of training. Sort of our version of martial arts degrees meets high school.”

“Got it.”

With that, the two of them got to work with Faith training and sparring with the girls.

***

After the first training session Spike went back to their room whilst Buffy and Faith took the girls for a run. Sleep seemed relatively pointless so he decided to give himself a tour.

The first thing he did was head upstairs, to the other two floors they hadn’t seen yet. The one right above them consisted of three large bedrooms and one very big communal bathroom that had been recently renovated. The top floor was nothing more than one large bedroom and an access he imagined went to the roof. He meandered around the castle until he found himself in the large training room and he made his way back up to Giles’ private suite.

“Now that’s more like it, Rupert,” Spike said out loud as he looked around. It was a large room with a sitting area on one side that reminded him of Giles’ living room back in Sunnydale.

“If I were a Watcher with a stick up my ass, in charge of fifteen underage girls and Faith, where would I keep the good stuff? Ah right then…” Spike opened the doors to the wardrobe and found a bottle of scotch and a set of glasses on the top shelf, “Predictable.”

He helped himself to a drink, put Billy Squire’s ‘Don’t Say No’ album on the record player then sat back listening. As much as he agreed with Buffy about the importance of the work they were starting at the castle, it was nice to hide away with a drink in hand. A trip to the liquor store was definitely in his near future.

Spike made his way back downstairs into the training room where he heard voices. The girls were back. The rain had started.

Spike peeked his head out from behind the screen blocking the staircase from view. Buffy was there with a smaller group of girls guiding them through some tai chi exercises as a cool down after their run. He stepped out from behind the screen watching them. Buffy didn’t break form, but she did give him a quick smile when she saw him. A moment later she finished the sequence, “That was great guys, thank you! That’s all for now, I’ll see you later.”

Buffy watched as the girls filed out through the library and down the stairs before turning to Spike, “What were you doing?”

“Havin’ a nip with Squire.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow, “Ah huh, what happened to punk rock?” She asked as she picked up a towel, dabbing sweat off her face and neck.

“You really got me pigeonholed don’t you, Slayer? Remind me to tell you all about Woodstock sometime.” He drawled as he came closer.

“I— Spike-”, she stammered a little before she realized he was teasing her, “Jerk.” Buffy swatted at him with the towel.

“Not like Giles has The Ramones or The Buzzcocks up there anyway. Got a point though don’t I?” He chuckled.

She sighed as she picked up the zip-up hoodie she had worn on her run and started towards the library stares, Spike followed. “Faith told me she put a bottle in the roll top desk in our room. And there’s a portable stereo in the kitchen. What were you doing up there anyway?”

“Just nosin’ about. That bit about the booze would have been useful information, but then I wouldn’t have discovered Rupert’s record collection. That’s one thing about a mostly nomadic lifestyle, I’ve lost more records than Giles has seen in his life.”

“Could always get you an MP3 player.”

“Two sides to that; Mobile, but vinyl is better.”

Buffy laughed, “Not really the point here.”

He nudged her shoulder as they went, “Oh come on, Love, just getting the lay of the land. Not like I trashed the place.”

“I just don’t like the idea of you being in there when Giles isn’t here. He’d be pissed.” She huffed.

“I wanted to sleep. I’m only up because you requested my presence.” He answered, as he opened the door to their bedroom.

Buffy stripped out of her workout tank and turned towards him. Standing in front of him in a pair of jogging capris and a sports bra she grinned at him, “I’ve got some time to kill, I can think of something that might help you sleep. Can’t have you cranky for the field training tonight.”

“Damn, I like it when you tuck me in,” he murmured in a gruff tone as he pulled her closer and kissed her passionately.

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

Buffy grinned as she watched Spike laying next to her on the floor. They’d made it to the bed this time but had fallen off of it at some point. When she made a move to get up, Spike grabbed for her wrist, “Leaving so soon?” He asked without opening his eyes.

“Yeah, Slayer training stuff I told Faith I’d come find her to train after a while. Met you in the entry hall at 9:00 alright?” She kissed him.

“Better get going then, don’t want to start something and be late. Nothing like shagging in the middle of your first day at your new job.”

“It’s not like it’s really my first day. I do the same thing in Rome, just on a much smaller scale, and not in a castle.”

“I love seeing you shine,”

“Now who’s trying to start something we don’t have time for? Get some sleep.”

Buffy made her way down to the second training room where Faith was working out alone using one of the punching bags. They often gave the girls the afternoon off now it was summer and they were dotted round the castle and the grounds. Faith looked up from the target she had been hitting, “Hey B, what’s up?“

“Nothing really, thought I’d practice my staff work. Figured you’d be in here since a couple of the girls were already in the other training room when I came down,” Buffy picked up a quarterstaff and squared up against the dummy closest to Faith.

Faith steadied the heavy bag, “Yeah, kind of a rare opportunity to have the place to ourselves. That rain didn’t last long, a lot of the girls are out in the orchard, sort of nice.”

“Yeah,” Buffy grunted as she hit the training dummy.

“So what’s Spikie-boy up to?”

“Getting some much-needed rest,”

Faith’s eyes twinkled and she gave a barely there a grin, “Ah huhh, I hear that. Damn that man is fine.”

“Yeah, well hands off,” she said as she struck at the dummy again.

“Already tested the waters there, he didn’t bite, not even a nibble.”

Buffy paused, dropping her fists and turned towards Faith who was still hitting the bag. “Wait, what?” Buffy asked.

“Flirted with him a bit in your basement back in Sunny-D. No big thing. Even if you hadn’t come in, I doubt he would have gone for it, that guy has a one track-mind and you’re it—“ she grunted the last word as she delivered a kick.

Buffy watched her a second longer before resuming her staff work, “I guess that sort of answers my question.”

“What’s that?”

“I was going to ask you why you are the only one I haven’t had to explain everything to,” Buffy said as she continued practicing.

“Because I totally get it. I mean the soul thing is a given, plus he’s super hot,” she punched the bag in front of her a few times and continued, “must be nice having someone who can keep up with you and gets the whole Slayer thing,” she paused, hitting the bag again, “vamp’s sex on legs and he only has eyes for you B.”

“Yeah…” she agreed as she struck the floor with a particularly hard strike.

Faith stopped to look at her, “Do we need to talk?”

“No,” she waved a hand dismissively, “It’s good. I got my guy, I’m happy. What about you?” She continued twirling her staff, plunging it into the dummy’s chest, “Opps…”

“Ehh, yeah, let’s try pulling our punches on the equipment huh?”

“Sure.”

Faith hesitated, “Anyway— You already know I tried to make a go at a real relationship with Robin for a while.”

“Mind if I ask what happened?”

“Might tell you if I knew. Just packed up one day and said he wanted to go back to New York,” she shrugged, “Hurt ya know… but, sort of made me realize maybe I’d been missing out too. Something I didn’t know I actually needed before. Probably sounds stupid…”

Buffy shrugged her head before delivering another strike, “No it doesn’t. So what now?”

“Oh I’m good… There’s a hottie in town I got my eye on, just— Slayer stuff and work and— damn, when the hell did I become responsible?” Faith paused, rubbing the back of her neck.

“I think it’s a Spider-Man thing.”

Faith resumed her stance, squaring up her shoulders, “And for the cool kids?” She asked.

“Xander… it’s this whole ‘With great power comes great responsibility’ thing… sort of comes with the territory,” Buffy shrugged.

“Kinda like it, is that weird?”

Buffy chuckled darkly, “Ohh yeah… super weird…”

They both laughed at that.

“Seriously though, I need to get laid, bad,” Faith sighed.

“Could always hook up with the Scottish hottie. What’s he like anyway?”

Faith walked over to the edge of the mat to pick up a towel and let out a little groan as she whipped sweat off her neck. She grabbed her water bottle, taking a drink.

Then sighed, “He’s really nice. Freaking gorgeous. Tall, broad shoulders, great head of thick black hair, the most gorgeous baby blues, and a smile that could melt a chastity-belt.”

Buffy’s eyebrows raised with interest at that. “Hottie got a name?”

Faith didn’t look up, “Callum, his name is Callum.”

She eyed her, “He doesn’t know you like him does he?”

Faith set down her bottle and the towel, still not making eye contact. “I’m- we talk. Every time I see him he’s working.”

The corner of Buffy’s mouth pulled into a half smile, “Bartender?”

“No… he isn’t.” Faith said a little heatedly and deflated quickly, taking a deep breath. “Alright fine, he works at the hardware store, and recently started a construction business with his cousin.”

Buffy’s eyes widened and she relaxed her staff at her side, “Oh my God, that’s what all the freaky remodeling stuff has been about! The training rooms and the girls' rooms upstairs and the girls bathroom. Faith!”

“I don’t want to make things… you know— I actually think I like this guy… he’s—” she stammered uncomfortably. She was showing more vulnerability than Buffy had seen in years.

“Wow, and here I was thinking you just jumped any guy you saw.”

“God I want to… trying to turn over a new leaf…”

“Wow.” Buffy said, letting her shoulders drop.

Faith sighed in agitation. “Don’t sound too surprised. This is hard… trying to be a nice girl for a nice guy.”

Buffy shook her head and held up a hand for her to stop, “You can’t do that, you have to be yourself.”

Faith sat down heavily on the mat with her legs folded in front of her. “That came out wrong. I just mean I’m trying to do better. I’m trying to be better and if I’m going to have a guy at all, then I want one that will help me do that. Sort of thought Robin could have been that guy…”

Buffy frowned, “And now you think this is the guy?”

“I didn’t say that. I just said he was a nice, really hot guy I like.”

“The fact that we are even having this conversation is kind of a big deal. Maybe just try getting to know the guy. Let him see the real you, the good you— before you jump him.” Buffy said as she slipped her staff back into the rack by the wall.

“Like dinner and a movie? I don’t know if I could handle that, B.”

She walked over to sit across from Faith. “Who says it has to be? Let him like you for you, whatever that is.”

Faith chuckled mirthlessly, “God that’s lame, you sound like a freaking shrink or a fortune cookie or something.” Then she shot Buffy a serious look, “Guess I sort of needed to hear that, thanks.”

Faith stood back up stretching, “It’s times like this that I really miss Angel.”

“You guys really got close huhh?” Buffy asked.

“He’s a good friend. Gave me a second chance and didn’t give up on me.”

Buffy twirled her staff slowly in front of her and cleared her throat. Never thought I’d see the day when Faith getting close to him wouldn’t bother me but here it is— wow… “Anyway, what's the game plan tonight?” She asked as she stood back up and went to grab her own water bottle.

“Taking the new girls out for their first field trip.”

Buffy eyed her over the bottle as she took a long drink. “Are you sure that’s a great idea? Leaving the rest of the girls alone?”

“I’m putting Ava in charge while we’re gone, they’ll be fine for a couple of hours.” Faith said, stretching out her shoulders.

Buffy shrugged. Faith knew the girls better than she did. “Humm, yeah, I can see that… as long as they don’t start a mutiny while we’re gone. We’ll come back to find Ava tied to a chair.”

“Oh come on, have a little faith,” Faith smirked.

“Oh now that’s lame.”

---

Chapter 4 Take the Last Train to Scotland

Spike threw his towel on a chair and pulled on a clean shirt and underwear before stowing the last of his belongings back into his duffel bag. He paused as he came across a red leather bound journal he used for his poetry. He picked it up, weighing it heavily in his hand as he scanned the room. He let out a sigh as he placed it on the table with a note where Buffy would be sure to find them when she woke up.

Spike watched Buffy a minute before climbing back into bed with her. Careful not to wake her, although it didn’t matter since she was sleeping soundly. The sun was already up. They had planned on heading out on the last train leaving Paris for London. Paris had been everything he could have hoped for and so much more, but it was time to move on.

He laid there staring at the ceiling for a few moments thinking about the poems he had set out for her to find. It was cowardly. He knew it. He also knew he couldn’t take it if she sneered at his work, or worse, laughed. It was easier this way— let her read them while he was asleep so he wouldn’t have to see her initial reaction. He’d take on any number of demons without batting an eye but baring his soul through his poetry was just too much.

Spike pulled himself closer to Buffy, pressing his body to her. She murmured in her sleep as he pulled her closer still. He inhaled deeply taking in her scent. The smell of her shampoo and the soap she used still clung to her. Even asleep she had a way of calming him. He pulled her a little closer as he started to ease into sleep.

*****

It wasn’t until Buffy had come back from her daily café run that she noticed the journal laying out on the table. The note with it simply read, “Happy reading, Pet. Please don’t judge me too harshly”. The moment she picked it up she knew what it was. Her stomach gave a lerch. Buffy turned to look at Spike laying in their bed sleeping. Dead to the world. Ironic; she thought.

She checked the time, they still had a few hours before check out. She had packed up her things before leaving for the café and set her suitcase next to Spike’s bag. Looking down at the small red book in her hand, she let out a sigh. Just in the past week they had shared so much. Why was it so hard for him to open up about this? She shook her head and shedding her shoes, Buffy curled up on the chase with her coffee and started to read.

It didn’t take long for her to realize why he had been so guarded. It wasn’t that his poetry was bad, she had read much worse. Leon had been right, Spike was being overly hard on himself. No, it was because most of them were clearly about her, or rather his messy feelings for her. Unrequited love, doubts about her sincerity, their inability to be together. One such poem cut particularly deep as she realized he must have written it when he first came back, while he was deciding if he should go after her or not. Another was about the moment they clasped hands in fire moments before the pillar of fire consumed him. She felt the sting of tears in her eyes. She had had dreams and nightmares about that moment for months, it made sense he would too.

Buffy flopped the book down into her lap as she took a long sip of her coffee. She took a deep breath turning her attention to Spike who had started mumbling in his sleep. They had each been through so much.

Spike started tossing in his sleep, his mumbling growing more restless. Buffy left her seat on the chase to crawl into bed next to him, still clutching the journal in her hand. She drew herself up to sit against the headboard and gave Spike’s shoulder a shake. “Spike? Honey? Eh, Babe?”

Spike suddenly shot up with a shout. He looked around wildly, calming down instantly when he saw Buffy next to him. His eyes fell upon the book in her hand and he looked down at the sheets. He couldn’t look her in the eyes.

She’s staring at me, I swear if that’s pity I’m gonna— it’d be better if she’d laugh. I can’t—

Buffy ran a hand down his back soothingly. Spike tried to clear his throat, it felt like he had tried to swallow cotton.

“Are you alright?” She asked, smoothing down a few renegade curls on the side of his head.

What? Am I— He shook his head realizing she wasn’t talking about the journal at all.

“I- oh that; just a nightmare,” he waved it off dismissively, “think I’d be used to them by now.”

Buffy gave him an understanding half smile, “After all the crazy things we’ve been through? Not a chance.”

Spike returned the smile and ruffled his hair a bit. He pulled himself up to sit next to her and eyed his journal as though the object had betrayed a confession. He swallowed a few times to finally clear his throat, “Well?” He asked, gesturing towards the book.

Buffy looked down at it, “Thank you,” she said as she rubbed a hand over his bare shoulder.

He watched the progression of her fingers trailing down his arm and her fingers entwining with his, “Come again?”

“I know we’ve talked about most of this stuff but, seeing it all put into poetry it’s just…”

“Pathetic?”

She gripped his hand almost painfully, “God, Spike, why do you keep doing that?”

Spike shifted uncomfortably and furrowed his brow, “I’m going to need a little explanation, I’m a little lost here, Pet.”

Buffy glanced down at their entwined fingers and back up at the genuinely confused look on his face. “Leon was right. You are way too hard on yourself. These are good. It’s definitely not as bad as you’re always saying it is. It’s good, it evokes emotion. And as beautiful as most of it is, some of it also really hurts.”

“Like a bleedin’ railroad spike to the skull?”

“No— a little lower” she said, patting her heart.

He rolled his head back against the headboard with a huff, “Bugger all, Love . You don’t have to—“

Buffy rolled her eyes, “I’m no poetry expert, but I know enough to know what I like and I can honestly say I really like your poetry.”

“And the fact that most of that rot is about you has nothing to do with it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, that’s what makes some of them really hard to read. But only because it’s hard for me to see myself the way you do. It’s— beautiful.”

Spike hung his head, “Thanks, Love ”

“Spike?” Buffy asked as she shifted closer to him on the bed, “Are you alright?”’

Spike rubbed a hand over his face before looking at her. He cleared his throat again, “We should get a move on, don’t want to miss check out. It’s going to be a fun time getting to the train station too.”

“Yeah, I had an idea about that the other day while you were asleep.” She got up to pull out a shopping bag and tossed it to him.

“What’s this?” Spike asked as he reached inside the heavy bag to find a leather motorcycle jacket with an attached hood, a plain black zip-up hoodie and a pair of driving gloves “Bloody hell, are you trying to change my style already?”

Buffy chuckled, “I’m not changing anything. That’s why I got the black hoodie too, you can wear it with your trademark coat. You choose. I just thought these might make daylight travel a little easier on our trip— less blankety. Now you have choices. I’m surprised you haven’t done it before.”

“Thanks, Love ” he shook his head, “I can’t believe you did this.”

“Go on, check it out.”

“Material on both the hoods is good and thick, it’s not a bad thought. Still wouldn’t go out at high noon in summer, but I think you might be onto something here.”

“Go on, try on the jacket, I want to see.”

Spike got out of the bed and gave Buffy a kiss, “Yes ma’am. But first, pants,” he grinned gesturing to his playing card boxer-briefs.

“Sexy.”

Spike smirked as he pulled on his pants and his new jacket. “Nice. Feels good.”

She beamed at him, “Are we ready?”

“Let me get this stuff stowed in my bag here and we can get going.”

*****

A few hours later Spike and Buffy were settled in their seats on the train on their way to London. From there they would take a second train up to Edinburgh. Buffy reached over to take Spike’s hand.

“You’re not nervous are you, Love ?” He asked.

“Can you imagine the look on Giles’ face when he sees us together?”

“You told him right?”

“I definitely told him we were coming. He knows you’re with me— he’s picking us up at the station. I’m just not sure if I mentioned we were, you know, together.”

“Bloody brilliant.”

“At least his glasses will be spot free,” she smiled brightly.

“How thoughtful.”

“I try.”

Spike leaned back in his seat and threw his feet up onto the empty seat across from them as he attempted to get comfortable “I’m just going to kip here. Still a bit knackered, didn’t sleep well this morning.”

Buffy shrugged and pulled out the red journal containing Spike’s poetry from her bag, “I’m good.”

“You haven’t finished?”

She settled into her seat and flipped open the book, “Go on, get some sleep, we’ll be in London before you know it.”

“Home sweet home… too bad we’re not staying.”

“We’ll hit London on the way back through.”

“Ta, Love .”

*****

Spike and Buffy boarded the last train leaving from London to Edinburgh. Then deposited their things in the compartment Buffy had booked for them. She pulled the curtains and Spike removed the hooded motorcycle jacket and flopped down on the large bench seat that was more like a couch.

“Nice digs, hell of a lot better than the last time I rode on a train.”

Buffy layed down on top of him on the seat, “It’s my first time, I thought it would be nicer than the trip from hell I had coming up from Rome to Paris.”

“Couldn’t have been worse than my trip from LA, packed in with the luggage” Spike said as he wrapped his arm around her.

“You did that to yourself, mister.”

“To save your sweet little ass.”

“Yeah well I don’t know about you but I’m feeling a little cooped up, I kinda want to explore a little bit and find the bathroom. Are you coming along?”

“You go ahead, I’ll be along.”

She laughed and headed out as Spike stayed behind to stowaway their luggage. He opened a side pocket on his duffel bag and pulled out a thin, long, rectangular box. Then set the box on the seat. He shrugged into the new jacket again before heading out of the compartment to catch up to her. He could see her blonde hair swing behind her down the hall. The hallway seemed deserted until suddenly a man in a red jacket stepped out in front of her.

“Oh, sorry” she said politely, trying to go around him before her senses caught up to her.

The man sneered “Where do you think you’re going, Goldilocks?”

Buffy glared at him coldly, “Sorry, you don’t get to call me that.”

“Show me what you’re going to do about it, Slayer!”

“Aw how sweet, you know who I am, I’m touched,” she said, delivering several strikes knocking him back down the hall.

Spike sauntered up behind Buffy, a wide grin revealing his fangs. The vamp in the red jacket wiped blood from the corner of his mouth as he stood back up grinning, “Spike? That you, mate?”

“One and only.”

“How’ve you been? I thought you were in America, how’s Drusilla?”

“Parted ways, got a new lady love.”

“Good for you mate, that bird was a nutter.”

“I’m sorry, should I just go back to my room and let you two catch up?” Buffy asked sarcastically.

“Oh I don’t think so, beautiful,” Spike said menacingly as he picked up a lock of her hair, running it through his fingers. Buffy resisted the urge to melt back into his touch.

The vampire in front of her gave a crude laugh, “Oh you’re in trouble, Slayer. This here is a legend. Killed two slayers and was gunning for a third last I heard. You get that bitch, Spike?”

“Could say that,” Spike growled as he grabbed Buffy from behind. He twisted one arm behind her back, slipping her a stake as he did so. “Could also say I found my soul-mate.”

Buffy grinned, “Friend of yours, Honey?”

“Nah, this wanker you can dust, Love.”

“Planning on it,” she said as he released her. Buffy spun around kicking the vampire in the stomach.

“What the—“ the vampire started but Buffy cut him off with a kick to the head.

“That’s for standing between me and the bathroom,” she quipped. Buffy spun around again in the confined hallway, landing the stake squarely into his chest, “And that’s for calling me Goldilocks,” she finished as he disintegrated into a pile of dust on the floor.

Spike stepped forward, “That was lame. All talk, no action.”

“No kidding.”

“Well at least you got to stretch your legs a bit.”

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

When they returned to their little room, Spike opened the door for her. She noticed the small box laying on the large seat almost immediately. Buffy pointed to it and turned to Spike “What is that?” she asked.

“Oh, you know,” he shrugged, “Go-ahead and open it.”

Buffy went over and picked up the little box wrapped in pale blue paper, she lifted the lid. Inside was a simple charm bracelet with a single charm hanging from it, a little Eiffel Tower.

“I know it’s not much, but I thought it might be nice to have a little something from our time in Paris. Also figured maybe I could find some more charms along the way.”

“Spike, this is incredibly thoughtful, thank you. You’re sweet.”

“You are the only person that can get away with calling me ‘sweet’, might have to kill anybody else,” he flopped down on the seat and kicked off his boots.

“Same goes for the ‘Goldilocks’ thing, you saw what I did to the last vamp who called me that.”

Spike sat up, pulling her to sit on his leg, “I’ll take my chances, Goldilocks,” he purred as he pulled her into a kiss. Buffy wrapped one hand around his neck to deepen the kiss. She gripped the hem of his shirt, working her fingers underneath to feel his chest. She started stripping his clothes off and Spike let out a little growl as the sudden urge to bend her over the seat entered his mind. Spike reached awkwardly to pull a stiff privacy curtain across the windows facing the corridor.

Buffy suddenly pulled back from him, a little breathlessly, and stood up, starting on the clasp of her jeans pulling them down her legs. Spike mimicked her, releasing himself from the confines of his pants. Buffy bit her lip as he stroked his cock, eyeing her hungrily. “How do you want it, Slayer?”

Buffy grinned at him as she pulled him close to nip at his neck and ran a trail down his body to his hard length. She took him in her mouth working her tongue over him a moment before she released him with a smirk. “Maybe you should come down here with me.” She said as she shifted herself over to kneel next to the bench and lay her head and shoulders on the seat. She gave her hips an enticing little wiggle.

Spike dropped down, positioning himself behind her. Leaning over to kiss her neck and shoulders, and wrapping his hands around her waist down to her front. He slowly worked his fingers into her soaked folds to feel her clit. “God, I can’t get over how wet you always are for me.” Spike murmured as he pressed his cock against her.

Buffy started to push back a little impatiently and suddenly as though he could sense her need, he was working himself into her wet heat. She clamped down on him holding him tightly as she rolled her hips to take him in fully, making him moan with every movement.

Spike moved her hair to the side with his free hand running a tender caress along the length of her spine as he rocked his hips into her, gradually picking up momentum and hitting a spot deep inside her that made her mind go blank. She gripped the seat cushion, digging her fingers into the upholstery and pulling herself up for leverage. As she did, Spike reached down to grip her thigh maneuvering them both further onto the bench as she moved herself up to lay on her stomach. The new position created more pressure within her as he built her up with every thrust of his hips.

Buffy reached her hands up gripping the armrest, nearly breaking it as the first intense wave hit her. Her inner walls convulsed around him and he ground his teeth with the effort it took to keep moving inside of her as she crushed down on him. Her muscles slowly started to relax a little as the orgasm began to subside and he increased his pace keeping her in a blissful state. He gripped the back of the seat with one hand and pressed the other to the back of her neck for leverage as continued to ram into her roughly, making her scream his name into the seat cushion as a second crashing wave crested.

Her body shook violently with the second orgasm pulling him over the edge with her as they both fell. He continued thrusting until her breathing began to ease a little and collapsed onto her back, careful not to crush her. He slipped out of her as he slid down to lay on his side drawing her close as she turned to press her front to his, laying precariously on the edge of the seat but secured by their arms wrapped tightly around each other. She pressed her lips into him for a kiss, “I think I like traveling with you.”

“Still have a few hours.”

“Oh good,” she purred as she hitched a leg around him, drawing him in again.

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

They had just finished dressing when the train pulled into the station in Edinburgh. “At least we made good time,” Spike grinned sheepishly.

Moments later they had their luggage on the platform. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? Castle full of teenage girls… fun, fun, fun…” Buffy asked as they made their way to the waiting room. She looked around in awe at the beautiful Victorian era glass dome above them. He watched her face as she took in their surroundings.

I could happily spend the next hundred years watching the world through her eyes…

“I'm only concerned with one girl,” he murmured and leaned down to kiss her.

After a moment they were interrupted by a very familiar throat clearing. “We had our suspicions when you said you were traveling together,” Giles intoned as he wiped his already spotless glasses, “I must say, I’d sincerely hoped we were wrong.”

“Nice to see you too, Rupert,” Spike grinned smugly.

They drove away from the train station in relative silence for quite some time as they headed away from the lights of the city. The little conversation they did engage in revolved around things happening at the training facility and the weather. As they headed down the road further into the country, Giles turned to Buffy in the seat next to him, “Let’s hear it, I’m sure you have some explanation.”

“Not that I should need one, but I’m surprised Dawn or Willow didn't tell you already.” Buffy replied a little testily.

“Whatever it is I’m sure they, like myself, thought you should be the one to tell me you’ve re-entered a ‘relationship’ with— him!”

“Did you forget, I died saving you, and everyone else. You’re welcome…” Spike huffed.

Giles composed himself with a deep breath, “My sincerest apologies. Yes, of course you are right. Where are my manners? Thank you, Spike,” sarcasm dripped from every word.

“Yeah, well a little sincerity wouldn’t go amiss.” Spike mumbled.

Buffy rolled her eyes and proceeded to get Giles up to speed with everything that had happened.

Giles sighed, “And are you truly happy? With him, I mean?”

“I’m right here you know,” Spike interrupted.

They both ignored him, “He’s only been back in my life for a short time, but yeah. Giles, I am happier than I’ve been in years. I’m not sure if I’ve ever been this happy to be honest.”

At that Spike stretched his arms along the back of the seat and relaxed back with a self-satisfied grin. Neither Giles or Buffy saw.

Giles gave her a fatherly smile, “Then I will do my best to be happy for you both.”

“Well glory be, hallelujah!” Spike grumbled, “How much longer?”

“Just a bit further, it’s a bit out of the way of the city proper but there are a few smaller towns within walking distance of us.”

“Can see that… and loads of pasture.”

“Someone is cranky,” Buffy grumbled.

“Just gettin’ hungry. Haven’t had anything to eat since Paris, feelin’ a wee bit peckish, Love.”

“Giles, is there a butcher's shop anywhere around here?”

“Faith made a special run yesterday, we are well supplied. If you need something sooner might I suggest one of these blighters?” Giles snapped waspishly at some sheep blocking the road up ahead. “Would you be so kind as to bugger off you sodding little beasts,” he continued heatedly.

“Giles? Is something wrong? I mean, other than the wooly ones.”

“What makes you ask?”

“Because you’re swearing at sheep in British. I’d expect that from Spike before you. No offense, Honey.” She cast an eye back towards Spike.

“None taken, wondering the same thing myself.” Spike leaned forward in his seat, “What exactly are we walking into here, Rupert?”

“As I mentioned to Buffy before, we currently have sixteen girls, between fifteen and twenty under one roof. It’s just been a bit much for the two of us recently. I’m not complaining, mind. Faith as come very far since we came here and lord knows she’s been working very hard, not only with the girls but the castle too—“

“Cut to it, Rupe, no one is accusing you of not being British enough.”

“Just a bit overworked at the moment.”

“What you need is a drink mate.”

“And I plan to, alone. Please don’t call me ‘mate’.”

“Just trying to be friendly,” Spike grumbled as he sat back in his seat.

“You might be dating the closest thing I have to a daughter but we are not friends, Spike.”

“Look here Rupert, I’m only going to say this once. I’m here to help you, just as much as Buffy is. You don’t have to like me but a little civility would be nice.”

“I second that motion,” Buffy added flatly, raising her hand.

Giles glanced at Buffy seeing the seriousness written on her face and acquiesced with a sigh, “From here on out I will be the very epitome of civility.”

“We’ll see about that,” Buffy said under her breath as she looked out the window at the sheep still blocking the road.

“These wooly blighters are starting to look more like happy meals. Try the horn again would you? Know what, sod it-“ Spike got out of the car waving his arms, “Go on lamb chop! Places to be!” He yelled. When that didn’t work, Spike bared his fangs and charged at them growling, “Not so ‘Wooly-Bully’ now are ya! Ha!”

In the car, Giles spoke as he watched Spike usher sheep across the road, “That demon’s blood only proves you truly love each other. Something I will just need to wrap my head around I suppose. I only hope you realize that this doesn’t mean you are locked into anything perm— What the bloody hell is—“, Giles cut off as Spike picked up one particularly slow sheep and carried it across the road to be with the rest of the flock. Then he went back to grab another.

“I made my choice before that even happened. Look, I’m not about to let anything or anyone come between us again, especially when there’s literally no reason at this point why we shouldn’t be together. Believe it or not, I actually have thought about this. A lot. Long before he even came back. This is what I want and I’m done trying to justify my relationship with him.”

“You say that almost as if you knew he was coming back.”

“But I didn’t.”

“And he wasn’t altered in any way? The man is moving sheep after all. You don’t think that is a little strange?”

“Not really. I mean it’s Spike. He’s a badass, but he’s also— quirky. I might be tempted to go out and help him if I wasn’t enjoying the show. It’s just different now. I can’t even describe it. We can just be people. People who fight evil… but still— We have real conversations. I can totally be myself with him in any situation. I don’t have to pretend or hold back anything with him. Do you have any idea what that means to me?”

“Quite a lot I imagine. I suppose he actually is… alright… for him,” Giles said, his voice softened a little as he watched Spike finish clearing the road of sheep and climb back into the car.

“Go on then, before the little sods get any bright ideas and wander back out in front of us. I thought shepherd-boys were supposed to herd these bloody things in at night.”

“I imagine there must be an open gate nearby. Thank you for clearing the road, Spike,” Giles responded in a much friendlier tone that made Spike blink a few times.

“Ta, Rupert.”

“I must admit, it might be rather nice having another Englishman here in the land of Scotts.”

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

“Bloody hell, Rupert, Buffy called it a castle but I thought she was exaggerating,” Spike said as they unloaded their bags from the trunk of the car. He looked up at the front of the grand stone building with stained glass windows.

“Yes, it’s quite impressive isn’t it? I was rather surprised when Willow and I discovered it amongst the council’s many holdings. Seems they had a number of such properties. Now the rent from a few of those pays for this place and then some. That’s not to mention the other holdings Willow was able to secure for us.”

“Sitting right pretty aren’t you, Rupert?”

“Not just me. This is for the girls, for Buffy and Faith.”

As the three of them made their way into the castle Faith walked into the entryway carrying a laundry basket filled with a variety of random things including weapons, bits of clothing, and a shoe. “Hey B!” She set the basket down to give Buffy an awkward hug.

Buffy gave her a side look as she returned the embrace just as awkwardly, “We hug now? Did I miss the memo?”

“Don’t get mushy over it. I’m just happy to see reinforcements. It’s like Slayer Day Care around here.”

Buffy relaxed a little and chuckled as she stepped back from her, “Hug understood.”

Faith turned her attention to Spike, “Damn man, aren’t you the sexiest looking dead guy in town?” she said, flashing him a smile.

“Bet you say that to all the vamps not trying to kill you,” he countered and shot Buffy an involuntary look.

Faith caught it and turned to Giles with her hand out, “Come on ‘book-man’, pay up!”

Without a word Giles slapped a few notes into Faith’s outstretched hand, “Mama likes the cold hard cash,” she crowed.

“Y-you bet on us?” Buffy stammered looking at Giles incredulously.

“Faith thought it would be, ah, sporting to make a wager on if you’d be staying in the room we prepared for you alone or not,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

“Knew you’d both be in there,” Faith grinned, “we converted the sitting room next to my room into a bedroom, which means the only person you two need to share a bathroom with is little old me. These rooms are crazy big, with thick walls, good for getting your freak on,” she winked.

“That will do, Faith. Some of us are still processing,” Giles huffed.

“Well process faster because I’m not planning on going anywhere,” Spike said as he continued looking around.

“Really making this place your own aren’t you?” Buffy interjected.

Faith nodded, “For the first time, I really feel like I have an actual home, B. Who knew it’d ever be in a place like this huh?”

“This is trippy,” Spike said, turning around as he walked down the hallway, “I’m sure I’ve been here before…” he looked around the grand entryway. The walls were a combination of stone and wood paneling. Spike rocked on his heels on the stone floor and went to check out the little antique elevator in the corner, “This sure can’t be original.”

“Oh no it’s not.”

“I just can’t seem to place this place, It will come to me eventually. How old is the old girl anyway?”

“Older than you to be sure. 15th century, originally. The history of the place is quite interesting. It’s changed hands several times and has gone through a number of renovations. Obviously we are in the keep, the outer walls were dismantled to create most of the fences surrounding—“

“You’re doing it again,” Faith said in a broad singsong tone.

“Ahh, yes, well to answer your question, Spike, yes I suppose it’s possible. It’s no surprise a number of deaths have occurred here over the centuries but nothing terribly suspicious in the last century that I’ve come across. Mostly natural causes or accidents,” Giles explained.

“I’m sure I’ll think of it sooner or later. I’m just about starved here.”

“Sure thing, stud, stocked up just for you. Don’t need you fallin’ off the wagon in a house full of teenage girls. Kitchen is in through here, blood is in the fridge.”

“Cheers. I’d go hungry before I’d hurt any of you lot, just don’t piss me off.”

“He’s kidding right?” Faith asked.

“Probably,” Buffy shrugged.

The kitchen was large with a big table running down the length of one half of the room. A second work table at the other end closest to the fridge and the oven, provided a large work space. The kitchen had been updated at some point within the last twenty years, Buffy guessed. The appliances definitely weren’t new but they had been the top of the line when they were installed. Spike helped himself to the fridge while Buffy started poking around in the cupboards. She let out a little woop of triumph when she came across a pack of chocolate cookies.

“Sure, help yourself,” Faith said flatly.

“Sorry,” Buffy mumbled around a mouthful of cookie, “Guess I was a little hungry too.”

“No kiddin’, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you two had the munchies,” Faith tilted her head to the side, grinning.

“I’m good now” Spike said, holding up a large white mug with Betty Boop printed on the side which he had just filled with blood, “You got a- oh there’s the microwave, good stuff.”

“I think I’m just hungry and tired from our trip. I could really do with some sleep.” Buffy said, stretching her shoulders.

“Yeah, of course. Just follow me. Your room is next to mine. We can hold off on the tour, it’s no big.” Faith hitched a thumb over her shoulder.

Giles refilled the tea kettle, “It’s tea and bed for me I think. I’m taking a few of the girls for training early in the morning so I really must be turning in shortly.”

Buffy went over to give him a one armed hug, “Can you make me a cup of tea too; Please?”

Giles smiled, “No trouble at all.”

With that Faith led them back out the way they had come and into a large comfortable room. Whatever it was used as before, it was now a combination rec room and living room.

“Foosball table is a nice touch” Spike noted.

“Holy throw pillows Batman,” Buffy said, taking in the multitude of pillows in various shades of blue and green.

“The girls need a place to take a break and hang, this is it.”

“Coziest Sorority house I’ve ever been in.”

That comment earned Spike glares from both Faith and Buffy, “What?” they asked in unison.

Spike held his hand up in a placating gesture, “I’m shutting up now-“

“Good choice.”

“Smart,” Faith agreed.

The three of them passed back through the entrance hall to pick up their luggage as they went. Giles met them carrying a cup of tea for Buffy. She took the hot tea from him. “Aww, thanks, Giles.”

“My pleasure. I’ll be leaving with some of the older girls around 9:00. Faith will fill you in on our training schedule.”

“Have fun, shaking your gord,” Buffy said, stifling a yawn.

“Quite. Well, see you all in the morning,” Giles said, bidding them good night.

Faith led them up the first flight of stairs to the first floor where there was a classroom and a computer lab.

They moved on quickly as Faith continued showing them into a good sized training room from there they headed up another flight of stairs, to the library and a second training room that had once been a ballroom.

“You got some new dummies in here,” Buffy noted, “and that folding divider thingy is new.”

“Oh yeah, for some stupid reason, some of the younger girls kept daring each other to go up the other set of stairs to Giles’ room, trying to use his bathroom and stuff. It was stupid. Out of sight out of mind. I figure they don’t try to get up there from the living room because there’s a door there so—,” she gestured towards the screen again.

“Probably a good idea,” Buffy agreed, “I can’t wait to get to work in here, Spike has some new moves he wants to show me,” she took a sip of tea.

“I bet he does,” Faith grinned.

Spike let out a snort of derision, “Sparring. Get your mind out of the gutter. Our relationship isn’t just about sex, you know.”

“I bet it’s a big part of it,” she rolled her eyes at the stern look SpIke and Buffy both gave her, “Whatever, so are you willing to share these new moves with the rest of the class?”

“That was the general idea after Buffy gets them down. Which I suspect will take her about a minute.”

“Cool, looking forward to it.”

Spike looked around the large room, “This is really weird… it’s like Déjà vu. I know I’ve been here before. Why can’t I remember?”

“Maybe you’re going senile,” Buffy grinned.

“Funny…”

“Senile vampire, now that’s gotta be a trip,” Faith shook her head.

“I’m not bloody senile!”

At the top of the next landing, Faith hitched a thumb to the left, “That’s me over there. Your room is straight ahead and the bathroom is down that way, keep it clean.”

“This was the smallest sitting room right?”

“Now it’s a bigass bedroom,” Faith opened the door revealing a large lavishly furnished room with a fireplace and a queen sized bed. A little sitting area in front of the large fireplace separated the space.

“Wow. This is really nice, Faith. I’m surprised you didn’t move in here yourself,” Buffy said, downing the last of her tea and setting it on the roll top desk by the door.

Faith shrugged, “Didn’t feel right. Guess I just like my room.”

“I think I’m just going to crash,” Buffy said a little wearily.

“Night you two. I got two of the older girls out on patrol tonight. I’m probably going to check on a few things and get some shuteye myself.”

Buffy shut the door behind Faith, kicked off her shoes and fell onto the bed fully clothed. Spike chuckled, “You’re not jokin’, you really are tired, huh?”

“Humm humm,” she mumbled into a pillow. She rolled over to look at him, “Sorry to dash your dreams.”

“Feeling alright, Love?”

“Fine, just tired. Not like we actually slept on the train ride up here,” she smirked.

“Right you are,” he grinned in reply. Spike plunked the suitcase on the loveseat. Opening it he pulled out a little cotton nightgown and her toiletry bag. He tossed them onto the bed next to her, before shrugging off his jacket, “Might as well get comfortable.”

He took a moment to look around the room, something about the painting above the fireplace caught his attention although he wasn’t sure what. It was just a pastoral scene, nothing extraordinary but it just seemed familiar somehow. Much like the castle itself. Spike tried to dismiss the feeling but it was nagging at him.

“Hey Buff, it strike you strange; Faith being on this DIY kick? Bring out her inner Martha Stewart…” He turned around when she didn’t answer and realized she must have gone to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling he wasn’t alone in the room. Before he could make anything out of it, Buffy re-emerged from the bathroom.

“Was Faith just in here?” She asked.

“No, just me.”

“Were you just talking to someone?”

“You, but you’d gone. Didn’t realize, thought you were still here, so talkin’ to myself ain’t I?”

“I could have sworn I heard someone else talking.”

He eyed her, “Just me. Everything alright, Pet?”

“I humm… yeah, yeah everything is great.”

“Old places like this have a way of messing with ya, maybe you just need to get used to it again.”

Buffy thought back to the first time she had stayed here when Giles had first found out about it and they started the school. She and Dawn hadn’t stayed very long then. They had all crammed into a few rooms rather than spreading out around the castle when they first got there. Probably because they were all still reeling from the aftermath of the battle of Sunnydale and the roundabout way they had taken to get to Scotland. The place had felt so strange and alien then. And yet with so many people and so much to sort through she hadn’t really taken time to think about where she actually was.

She shook her head a little as she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed, “Yeah, you’re probably right. Aren’t you coming to bed?”

“Nocturnal.”

“So bring Oscar with you,” she yawned, gesturing towards the book he had just plucked from the little shelf above the roll top desk, “this bed is surprisingly cozy, cuddle with me.”

“Yeah alright, Pet. I’ll be along shortly. Not gonna lie, the déjà vu thing is definitely messing with me.”

“Like you said, we probably just have to get used to it.”

*****

Several hours later Buffy woke up with a start, out of a deep sleep. She looked around trying to figure out what could have awoken her. Spike was still sitting up, head lulling to the side, fast asleep with the open book still in his hand on his chest.

Quietly, Buffy got out of bed and over to the mirror hanging over one of the dressers. She looked at her reflection and sighed. Something white in the reflection caught her attention and she turned around to see what it was, but nothing was there. She turned back towards the mirror, still nothing.

This is silly, I’m probably just tired…

Buffy made her way back to the bed where Spike lay sleeping. Just as she was starting to get settled back in, she heard a faint noise. Like a sigh and a quiet rustling of fabric.

“Probably just the wind,” she muttered to herself. Then she sat up again and saw it. A slim, pale figure standing in the corner next to the roll top desk by the door. The wispy figure was no taller than Buffy and was dressed in an old fashioned nightgown with her very long hair hanging in a loose braid.

“What do you want?” Buffy asked. The figure swayed slightly. Vacant eyes stared back at her unnervingly, for a long moment and then the figure vanished, “What the—”

She shook Spike awake, “Wh-what is it? I’m up. Sorry, dozed off… Buffy? What’s a matter?”

“I just saw a ghost…”

“Bloody hell, is that all?” He asked groggily as he closed his book and placed it on the table next to the bed. Then he turned onto his side facing her and closed his eyes.

“You’re not the least bit… I don’t know, interested, or concerned or…”

He answered without opening his eyes, “Been there, done that. Place like this, bound to have a few ghosts. Not like it can do much. Wake me if it gets interesting.”

“It made a noise.”

“Makin’ noise is easy, talking is easy. Can’t do much damage though. I should know, haunted Angel for a good long time. All I did was annoy the hell out of him. Best part about the whole thing for me. Now come back to bed, Love. Sun-up is pretty early this time of year in these parts.”

Buffy sat on the edge of the bed still watching the spot she had seen the ghost. She rubbed her bare arms.

Spike pulled back the covers and propped himself up on an elbow, “You all right, Pet? Not like you to get rattled so easy. It’s just one little ghosty. What’s going on? Did it say something to you?”

Buffy shook her head as she settled in close to him. He drew the covers back over them and wrapped an arm around her. She shifted a little closer, pressing her back flush against his front, molding herself into him, “I don’t know, probably just weirded out after the random wake up call. She kinda freaked me out.”

“Right… Bird must have wanted something, I recon.”

“Figures, everybody does,” Buffy sighed as she pulled his arm around her, “there was just something about her, she seemed so young, like one of the girls, it was… creepy.”

“You can ask around later. I’ll join you, see if we can get to the bottom of things. I’ll stay up for a bit longer if you like. Watch over you.”

“With your eyes closed? I know you’re tired, you were asleep,” she said quietly, a grin playing on her mouth.

He adjusted his pillow trying to get comfortable, “Yeah a bit. Alright, hush you. Right now you can probably get another couple hours solid sleep before anyone out there needs the Alpha-Slayer.”

She let out a weak laugh, “Did you just-“

He pulled her closer, “Just get some sleep. A little-bitty-wanna-spook ain’t gonna bother messing with the likes of us. As if she could.”

“Thank you” Buffy relaxed into him, her breath easing up as she settled in.

“Sleep, Love,” he added, caressing her shoulder.

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