Past Glory Chapters 16

Chapter 16

Buffy stood in front of the mirror twisting this way and that assuring herself that she looked her best. She was excited about tonight's party. Her twenty-first birthday. Not many Slayers made it this far. Even she had died when she was only sixteen.

The party was going to be small, just her friends and sister. And Spike. She'd made sure that she'd invited Spike. Taking one last look at herself, she exited her bedroom and walked down the stairs to join Willow, Tara and Dawn. The house looked beautiful with flowers and candles placed strategically around. Trays of snacks stood ready on the coffee and end tables, there were drinks aplenty in the kitchen and music played on the stereo.

Buffy heard a car door slam and then Xander and Anya walked in. Xander grabbed her and gave her a big hug. "Happy twenty-first, Buff."

Buffy laughed and hugged her friend back. "Thanks, Xander. I wouldn't have gotten here without you."

The two friends shared a grin and then Buffy said, "What do you guys want to drink?" They were walking to the kitchen when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Xander said heading for the front door.

"Wonder who that is," Buffy said to Anya as she poured the young woman a glass of wine. "Everyone I know just walks in."

As if to emphasize her point, just as Xander was entering the kitchen with a
strange young man, the back door opened and Spike entered carrying a six-pack of beer.

"Happy birthday, Slayer. Here, brought you a present," he said handing the six-pack to her.

"I don't drink beer, Spike," Buffy said dryly.

"Oh, right. More for me then," he said with a smirk. Buffy rolled her eyes, handed him one of the beers and put the rest in the refrigerator. She turned her attention to the stranger as Xander said, "Buffy, this is Richard. I work with him. Thought you two might like to meet."

Buffy instantly stiffened. Looking slightly embarrassed she held out her hand, "Hello, Richard. Nice to meet you."

"Hi. Xander's told me a lot about you," he smiled. He was a nice looking young man of medium height and build with blond hair and blue eyes.

"Bet he's not told you the best parts," Spike said with a smirk as he popped a handful of Chex Mix into his mouth.

"Uh, what can I get you to drink, Richard," Buffy said quickly, giving Spike a glare.

"Beer would be fine."

Buffy reached into the fridge and brought out a bottle of beer, being careful that it didn't come from the six-pack Spike had brought. Spike noticed and raised a mocking eyebrow at her. She turned her back on him.

"Come on into the living room, Richard," she said leading the way. She was aware that Spike was following close behind. Oh god, this was so not good. Why on earth had Xander invited some strange guy to her party? Well the reason was obvious, of course. It was a fix up; something she so did not need, especially with Spike there watching her every move. She hoped he could keep his jealously in check. The party went well though, with dancing and eating and talking and lots of laughter, although the conversation had to be severely edited due to Richard's presence. So they talked of school and work and movies, innocuous things that didn't have to be explained or covered over. Buffy rather liked not talking shop for once; she liked pretending that she was just a normal girl celebrating her birthday in a normal way.

Of course she was always aware that Spike was there sitting quietly in the background, watching her. And when she was dancing with Richard she wished she were dancing with Spike. And when Richard sat beside her on the couch, she wished it were Spike.

At last it came time to open her presents. She got a beautiful sweater from Tara, a scarf from Richard, a stunning black leather jacket from Dawn, and a portable hand-held massager from Willow.

Buffy could only stare at the thing, especially when Willow kept going on how, since it was battery operated, Buffy could use it anywhere. "We all know how tense you've been lately, Buffy. I thought this was the perfect way to help you relax. It's got several speed settings, so it should really help ease all those little achy places."

Buffy flashed one quick look at Spike and wished she hadn't. His look of sardonic amusement complete with raised eyebrow made her blush to her roots.

"Uh, thanks, Will," she stammered as she hurriedly shoved it back into its box.

"Okay, everyone," Xander said. "We've saved the best for last." Buffy glanced over and saw Xander and Anya wheeling in a large chest. Eyes wide, Buffy stood up and walked to where they had stopped in the middle of the room.

Buffy knelt down and opened the chest. "Xander this is... Did you guys make this?"

"Xander made it and I helped with the finishing," Anya said proudly.

"Holds everything a young woman needs, Buff," Xander said. Then more softly so Richard couldn't hear, "It'll hold all your basic weapons, plus there's a shelf for holy water, crosses and other smaller, easy-to-lose weapons."

Standing up again, Buffy hugged first Xander and then Anya. "This is amazing, guys, thank you."

"Time for ice cream and cake," Dawn called out cheerfully. She stood in the doorway holding a cake with twenty-one lit candles. Room was made on the coffee table for her to set it down and then Buffy closed her eyes, made a wish and blew the candles out. Cheers were given, "Happy Birthday" was sung and Tara handed out dishes of ice cream while Buffy cut the cake. When everyone had been served, Buffy picked up a plate and went over to where Spike was standing apart from the others. "Want a piece of birthday cake?"

Taking it from her, he laid it on the sideboard and said softly, "I'd rather have a piece of birthday girl." Buffy blushed, glanced over to where the others were busy eating and talking and answered softly, "Play your cards right, mister, and maybe I'll let you lick the frosting later."

Spike's eyes flashed and a low growl rumbled from his chest. Grabbing her hand he pulled her out of the room and into the hall away from prying eyes.

"Spike," Buffy warned.

"Shhh, Buffy. Look, I have something for you, too." Slipping his hand into his duster pocket, he brought out a small wrapped package. Buffy took it with slightly shaking hands.

"Spike you didn't have to..."

"I wanted to, Buffy. What kind of a bloke doesn't give his girl a prezzie on her birthday? Didn't steal it either. Bought it with my poker winnings."

Buffy unwrapped the package and opened up the small jeweler's box to reveal a silver bracelet. "Spike, it's beautiful," she breathed.

"Hoped you'd like it. Thought about getting you gold, but in your line of work, silver's better."

She smiled at him and removed the bracelet from the box. Holding out her wrist she said, "Put it on me?"

Spike swallowed and took the delicate chain from her. Once he had fastened the clasp, Buffy twisted her wrist watching the light sparkle off the links. Spike was observing her closely and when she looked back up at him he gave her that sweet little boy smile only she saw. "So, you like it, yeah?"

"I love it, Spike." Tugging on his lapel, she pulled him down for a kiss.

"Buffy, we... Oh!" Buffy and Spike broke apart and stared at a shocked Tara.

"W-we were w-wondering if you wanted to play c-charades?" Tara stuttered.

Buffy nodded wordlessly. As Tara turned away, Buffy called out, "Tara?"

"It's okay, Buffy, I won't, uh. I'll tell the others you'll be right there."

"Do you want me to go, pet?"

Buffy was still staring at where Tara had been just seconds ago, a worried look on her face.

"Buffy?"

"Huh?"

"Do you want me to go?"

"No, of course not." Sighing, she turned back to Spike. "She won't say anything if I ask her not to. Come on, let's go in before they start wondering what we're doing."

Spike followed her feeling somehow bereft. He'd agreed with Buffy that they keep their relationship a secret, but tonight, watching her dance with another man, having to sneak off to give her his present, the fear of discovery after being caught sharing a simple kiss, he suddenly wished things were different.

They were choosing up teams when Buffy and Spike reentered the living room. So far it was Xander, Anya and Richard against Willow, Tara and Dawn.

"Buffy, you're on our team and Spike will be on Xander's," Dawn called as they entered the room. Spike refused to play of course, so that left the teams uneven. "Well then one person on your team will have to sit out every round," Anya said officiously. That was fine with Buffy. She would have preferred to sit out every round, but since it was her party, she had to play.

That didn't mean she had to play well.

She wasn't able to concentrate on the game as she kept thinking about how one of the gang now knew her secret. She was sure Tara would keep silent if she asked her to. Buffy glanced to where Spike sat slumped in an armchair taking occasional sips from the bottle of beer he held in his hand. He looked dejected and as Buffy sat ignoring the by-play as Anya tried to act out her clues, she came to a decision.

The next time Buffy was up she stood and pretended to look at the phrase on the slip of paper she drew. It was Tara's turn to sit out, which worked out perfectly as far as Buffy was concerned. Looking at her sister and friend she hooked her fingers in the air.

"Quotation," Dawn shouted.

Buffy nodded and held up three fingers.

"Three words!

She held up one finger.

"First word!"

She held her fingers an inch apart.

"Short word."

She nodded again and then pointed at herself.

"Me!"

Buffy shook her head and pointed at herself again.

"I!" Willow called out.

Buffy nodded and pointed at Willow indicated that was the correct word. She then started pulling her fingers apart in a stretching motion.

"I've!" Willow shouted.

"I'm!" shouted Dawn at the same time. Buffy touched her nose and pointed to Dawn.

"Okay," Dawn said gleefully. "First word is I'm."

Buffy held up two fingers.

"Second word."

Buffy laid two fingers on her arm.

"Two syllables!"

Buffy cupped her ear.

"Sounds like!"

She made a motion as if she were sliding across the carpeting. "Skating!" Dawn shouted.

Buffy was pointing excitedly at Dawn.

"Skating is right?" Dawn asked.

Buffy cupped ear again.

"Okay, sounds like skating?"

Buffy pointed excitedly again.

"Gating!"

"Rating!"

"Mating!"

"Dating!"

Buffy pointed to her nose and to Willow, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Dating. So it's 'I'm dating'..."

Three fingers went up.

"Third word."

Buffy placed one finger on her arm.

"One syllable."

Buffy mimicked holding something like a stake. She then acted as if she were placing it in the ground then stood up and mimicked hitting it with a sledgehammer.

"Nailing!" Dawn shouted. "You're nailing something."

Buffy shook her head and repeated the whole process, this time pointing to the imaginary object in the ground.

"Pounding!"

In frustration, Buffy made a woo woo signal with her hand and then mimicked a train pulling out of a station. She then repeated the whole hammering pantomime.

"Railroad!" Willow said excitedly. "I've been working on the railroad!"

Buffy stopped and looked at her friend in amazement.

"Oh, that can't be right."

"But it has something to do with the railroad?" Dawn said.

Buffy nodded and then pointed to the object in the ground as she hit at it again.

"Railroad track?" Dawn asked hesitantly.

Finally in frustration, Buffy turned and pointed to Spike.

Dawn's brow furrowed for an instant and then she shouted, "Spike!

It's a railroad spike!"

Buffy excitedly pointed to her nose and then her sister.

"I'm dating Spike!" Dawn cried out triumphantly. Then her eyes widened as understanding penetrated.

The entire room was deadly silent.

"Wait a minute," Anya said. She reached forward and grabbed up the slip of paper Buffy had discarded on the coffee table. "That isn't what this phrase is."

"No, I think Buffy made that one up herself," Xander said quietly. Buffy walked over to a stunned Spike and held out her hand. He took it and brought it to his lips.

"We've been together a couple weeks now," Buffy said quietly. "I just thought you all should know."

"It's a mistake, Buffy," Xander said.

"Maybe, but it's my mistake to make."

"And how many of us will pay the price? Or have you forgotten Miss Calendar?"

"No. But Spike isn't Angel."

"No, he's much worse. He doesn't have..." A quick glance at Richard and Xander stopped talking.

"Xander, I'm not discussing this with you. I'm not asking for your approval. I'm not asking for anyone's approval. I just wanted you to know."

"Well I think it's cool," Dawn said loyally.

"Thanks, Niblet," Spike smiled.

"Anya, I think it's time to go," Xander said stiffly. Richard looked around at the tense faces and stood up too.

"Uh, thanks for the nice time," he said awkwardly following Xander and Anya out the front door. Willow didn't say anything, just began to gather up dirty dishes. Tara silently helped. Dawn walked over and gave first Buffy a hug and then Spike. "You know if you hurt her, I'll stake you," she grinned.

"I'd expect nothing less, Bit," Spike grinned back.

Chapter 17

After the house had been cleaned up, Buffy told her sister and friends, "I'm going to Spike's. I'll see you all in the morning."

"Buffy..."

"In the morning, Willow. We can talk all you like then, okay?"

Spike was out on the porch smoking a cigarette, which he tossed away when she came out. "Guess it's time for me to shove off," he said quietly. "Give you a chance to talk with your friends."

"I told them we'd talk in the morning," she said. "I thought I'd come with you. I think I promised you a tasty treat."

Spike smirked at her and pulled her into his arms. "Yeah, come to think of it, you did." He leaned his head down to capture her lips and she responded by wrapping her arms around his back.

They pulled apart and then walked down the steps, arms wrapped around each other's waists.

"Why'd you do it, Buffy?"

Buffy looked down at the sidewalk for a minute then looking straight ahead said, "I know I should have talked to you first before telling everyone, but," she glanced over at Spike to see him looking intently at her. "But you looked so unhappy and I just decided it was time. You're not mad, are you?"

Spike stopped and turned her to face him. "Mad because you let everyone know we're together? Buffy, I love you. Being with you is everything to me. I just wasn't sure what it meant to you."

"It means everything to me too, Spike."

His face was so full of joy and wonder that Buffy's heart skipped a beat. Wrapping arms around each other again, they continued their walk in silence. They were in the cemetery and halfway to Spike's crypt before he spoke again. "So you think your Scoobies will accept this?"

"They don't have a choice, Spike," Buffy said determinedly. "I already told Xander it's not open to debate."

Spike kissed the top of her head. "I know I should do the manly thing and say I don't want to come between you and your friends, but I'm a right selfish bastard."

Buffy just grinned at him. "Well, what else would a girl expect from her evil, soulless demon lover?"

Spike vamped and made little bitey movements on her neck causing Buffy to squeal and jerk back in giggling protest.

The sound of her giggles went straight down his body to his cock. Slipping back into human face he growled, "Buffy, if we don't get to my place soon, I'm doin' you right here on the nearest headstone."

"I'd like to see you try," she whispered huskily. Pulling his head to her mouth, she bit down sharply on his earlobe while squeezing his throbbing arousal. It was all the invitation he needed. Before she could react, Buffy found herself leaning back over a large headstone. Pressing his body tightly against hers, Spike kissed her violently, holding nothing back. Reaching down he began to pull up her skirt sliding it up her thigh until he reached her hip. Slipping his hand around he nudged her legs apart and shoved aside the crotch of her panties. She was wet and slick and when he thrust a finger inside her she moaned and clenched around him. Her fists grasped the back of his coat as he worked his finger in and out, his thumb rubbing against her clit. Her moans and whispered pleas drove him wild until, unable to wait any longer, he pulled his hand away from her and unfastened his pants. Pulling out his erection he tore her panties to give him access, set her up on the edge of the headstone and plunged into her. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he pumped mindlessly.

She wrapped her legs around him and lost herself. Every nerve ending in her body was on fire. The harder he pounded, the wilder she felt. When she unexpectedly shoved him away from her, her action caught him off guard and he fell to the ground on his back. Looking up at her in shock, he gasped out, "Buffy?"

Buffy vaulted off the headstone and landed on him, straddling him. Leaning forward she grabbed him roughly by the hair and ground her mouth onto his. Sitting back she grasped his shirt by the collar and ripped it open. Scooting further down his body, she ran her fingernails down his chest leaving red tracks in their wake. Her mouth followed, biting his nipples, licking and sucking and nipping at the flesh on his chest and stomach. She was wild, unhindered in her attack on his body, giving him pain and pleasure in equal measures. At last she moved back up his body. She pulled her skirt up until she was fully exposed to his view. Reaching down, she grasped his cock, positioned herself, and slowly impaled herself on his long, thick shaft while he watched. Placing her hands on the ground beside his head she leaned into him and began to clench and unclench her muscles as she worked him. Spike gazed at her in wondering adoration. When she constricted even more tightly around him, he arched up and moaned. His eyes closed and then opened to see that her head was thrown back and her mouth was open as she began to come. When the pulses started, he held her firmly and pistoned his hips driving forcefully into her until he poured out his release. She collapsed on top of him. He held her loosely, his eyes closed as he recovered. After several minutes, he opened his eyes to stare up at the stars.

"How long is it 'til morning?" he asked with effort.

"I don't know," she murmured. "Six hours?"

"Oh. Well, thanks for the amazing shag, pet, but I think I'll still be lyin' here come sunrise."

Buffy laughed weakly. Turning her head, she kissed him on the side of the neck. "Betcha I can get your motor revving again long before that." To prove her point, she began to contract her inner muscles around him, gently kneading his cock. Spike moaned, arched his body and sprang back to life. Buffy relaxed again as she felt him swell within her. He could feel her lips curl into a smirk.

"See, told you."

"And you call me evil," he growled as he slowly began to thrust. Buffy hissed and sitting up again moved with him. Their climaxes came quickly and this time after they rested they rose to continue their walk to Spike's crypt. Spike used Buffy's torn panties to wipe their spendings from her thighs and then, after inhaling the musk that saturated them, put them in his coat pocket.

A flush of heat tore through Buffy as she watched him. It took them over an hour to get to the crypt.

***

It was after ten the next morning before Buffy made it home. Last night had been the first time she'd had the opportunity to spend the entire night with Spike and they'd taken full advantage of it, not falling asleep until nearly dawn.

The only one in the house was Willow working at her computer. Buffy could tell by her stiff posture that she was still angry. Stopping next to her Buffy said, "Hey, Will. I'm going to go take a shower. Can we talk when I'm finished?"

Willow shrugged, feigning disinterest and Buffy sighed inaudibly. She so didn't want to do this, but knew she owed it to her friend to try to talk it out. After she'd showered and put on clean clothes, she came downstairs, fixed some tea and brought in cups for herself and Willow. In an attempt to get the conversational ball rolling, she asked, "So, what're you working on?"

"Some of the CD's from Warren's," Willow answered, her eyes never leaving her screen.

"Oh. Anything interesting?"

Willow's hands stilled on the keyboard. "Why didn't you tell me, Buffy? We're supposed to be able to tell each other everything."

"I know, Will. I just needed time before I let anyone know. I wasn't even sure if it would last more than a couple days." She smiled at her friend. "You know how Spike can make me crazy."

"Do you love him?"

Buffy hesitated. "I care about him. A lot. I'm not sure if it's love. You know what kind of luck I have with love, so I'm taking my time there."

"What happens if his chip fails?"

Buffy looked down at her hands folded on the table. "That's the question, isn't it?" she said in a soft voice. "Willow, it's not like I haven't given this a lot of thought. Hell, it's not like I didn't fight this tooth and nail. I don't think there's an argument against it I haven't already come up with. But..."

"But it was bigger than the both of you?" Willow smiled.

Buffy's lips curled in a slight smile. "Do you want me to be honest?"

Willow nodded, her eyes solemn.

"I kept telling myself that being with him would be wrong. That he doesn't have a soul. That he's a killer only temporarily restrained. And I told myself that if that chip fails he'll go right back to being a killer and then..."

"You'll have to kill him."

Buffy swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. Like I had to kill Angel. And I don't want to go through that again."

"But..."

"But I wanted him, Willow. And not just for sex, although that's totally amazing," she said grinning at her blushing friend. "I wanted him so much I hurt - physically, emotionally..." she paused. "Spiritually," she finished in a whisper.

"Logically I know he's totally the wrong guy to be with. But I think he's what I need. And he's who I want to be with." Taking a deep breath she looked at Willow, her head at a proud angle. "And so I went to him when I was invisible."

Willow's eyes grew big. "You mean when you left us to look for other invisible objects?"

"Yeah. I did look for other invisible things like I said I would, but then I went to Spike's crypt. I didn't mean to go there. I mean, not consciously. But before I realized where I was headed, I was there. And, uh, well, things happened."

"So you were there when Xander was looking for you?"

"Uh huh. That's why I showed up when I did. God, Willow, I was so scared when I heard what Xander said. I was sure I was going to die and I had so many regrets. But being with Spike wasn't one of them." She laughed ironically. "Not then, anyway. I tried to break it off with him that night before we went to the museum, but Spike can be pretty persuasive when he wants to be. So I agreed we'd try, see how things worked out, but it had to be a secret."

"And he honored that."

"Yeah, he did. I know honor and Spike seem like unmixy concepts, but he is honorable in his own demony way."

"Well he did allow Glory to torture him rather than give up Dawn, and he is the one who came up with the plan to save her."

"And he held to his end of the bargain when we went to fight Angelus."

"Of course there's also the time he kidnapped me and Xander and wanted me to make a love potion to bring Dru back to him and threatened to kill Xander if I didn't."

"But he told us where you were after Angel and I helped him, just like he said he would," Buffy championed.

"And then there was the time he came to the dorm and tried to kill me but couldn't because of the chip."

"Yeah, that was bad," Buffy conceded.

The two girls were silent for a bit.

"Oh!" Willow said excitedly, "but he tried to cheer me up when I got all Depresso Willow cause I figured I just wasn't good enough to bite. Told me he'd thought about biting me that time he kidnapped me."

Buffy stared at her friend in consternation. "Willow, I'm not sure his telling you he'd thought about biting you counts as a good thing."

"Oh. No, probably not."

They were silent again until Willow perked up. "But I think he was saying it to make me feel better. I mean, you should have seen him Buffy, he was just so cute."

Buffy smiled and shook her head. "Well, I'll give him that all right. He's not short on charm."

"Nope. And he is kind of a hottie."

"Why, Willow Rosenberg," Buffy teased. "I thought you didn't play on that team anymore."

Willow grinned naughtily. "Hey, just cause I like girls now doesn't mean I'm blind to good-looking men."

The two friends grinned at each other, the breach mended. But they sobered again when Willow said, "Xander's not going to accept this, you know."

"I know. And I'm worried about it, Will. I don't want to lose Xander's friendship, but I'm not giving up Spike just because he doesn't approve. It's my life."

"He'll keep playing the Angelus card, Buffy."

Buffy nodded sadly. "And he'll never see past that. But Spike's different than Angelus. I truly think that if the chip were to fail, he'd control himself. He'd try, at least. Angelus never tried."

Willow picked at the edge of a piece of paper for a bit and then said, "You know I could always do the gypsy curse on Spike."

Buffy made a little smile. "Be a waste of time, Willow. No way I'm not sleeping with Spike."

Chapter 18

Buffy stood outside the apartment door for several minutes before taking a deep breath, lifting her hand and knocking. After what seemed like hours but was in truth only seconds, the door opened.

"Buffy!"

"Hi, Anya. Is Xander home?"

Anya stepped back. "Come in."

Buffy entered the apartment to see her friend slouched down on the couch idly flipping through channels on the TV. Walking over to the couch, she perched on the coffee table.

"Hey, Xander."

"I'm going out for a walk," Anya announced, coat in hand. "I'll see you later."

Buffy smiled in gratitude as Anya left the apartment. Turning her attention back to Xander she saw that he was still staring straight ahead at the TV, mindlessly punching the button on the remote.

Reaching forward, Buffy removed the device from his hand and turned the TV off.

"Xander, we need to talk."

"Nothing to talk about, Buff. You said so last night. Your life, your decision."

"I know, Xander. But I don't want you to be upset about it."

Xander turned fake innocent eyes to her. "Why would I be upset, Buffy? You have the right sleep with any evil undead thing that comes to town. It's certainly none of my business."

"Xander..."

"No, Buffy, really. Doesn't matter that your boyfriend tried to kill you, kill me, kill Willow, led that raid on parent-teacher night that killed how many? And then there was Sheila and your friend Ford and god knows how many others just in this town. But you go right ahead and date him. Your life, your decision."

"I know what he's done, Xander," Buffy said quietly. "I don't need you to remind me."

"No? Seems to me you need someone to remind you. Tell me, Buffy, just what the hell is it with you and vampires? Didn't your last vampire boyfriend teach you anything? Why can't you find a nice normal guy to date? I even brought a nice guy to meet you last night and you never even gave him a second look."

"And I noticed that you didn't dare tell your nice normal friend what I do with my evenings," Buffy said just a little heatedly. "Do you remember when I tried to date normal guys, Xander? Owen thought it'd be great fun to come out with us and get himself killed. Scott didn't know anything about my secret identity and he broke up with me because I had to keep giving him excuses for missed dates. And how about Parker, huh? Now there was a swell guy!"

"And what about Riley?" Xander countered. "What was wrong with him that you had to chase him away?"

Buffy stared at Xander as if he'd lost his mind. "He left, Xander. I didn't chase him away. He left because he couldn't stand not being superpowers guy, couldn't stand being weaker than his girlfriend, couldn't stand not being the one in charge and couldn't stand not being the entire center of my universe. Well you know what, Xander?"

Buffy stood up and began pacing, infuriated. "He wasn't the center of my universe at that moment. I had a hellgod chasing after my brand new, monk-given little sister and my mom was sick and I still had to fight vampires and demons every night and try to keep up with my schoolwork and run the household so mom could relax and not worry about it. So no, Xander, he wasn't the center of my universe at that moment and he couldn't stand it so he went off and got suck jobs from vampire hos and when he got caught, he left!"

"Buffy, I..."

"You know what else, Xander? You know who I could count on through all that, even when I threatened to stake him? Spike, that's who. He's the one I could trust to protect my mom and sister when Glory was getting too close. He was the one who withstood torture to keep Dawn safe and HE was the one who came up with the plan that saved her in the end. So don't you sit there and look down your nose at him. Because I trust him with my life. And more importantly, I trust him with Dawn's!"

"And will you trust him when that chip stops working?"

"Yes."

Xander just looked at her for a minute, not sure if she was naïve or insane. "Then one of us will die."

"You're wrong, Xander. He's proven to me he's trustworthy. And he's promised me he'll control himself."

"Yeah? What about Warren? How much did he have himself in control then?"

"I thought you were all on his side there? Didn't you tell me that was extenuating circumstances?"

"Yeah, but..."

"But what? It's okay for him to bite Warren as long as you don't know I'm sleeping with him?"

Xander made a face at that statement.

Buffy sighed and sat down again. "I thought you and Spike were getting along, friends even."

"Never friends, Buffy. I just tolerated him because you kept bringing him into the group. But I didn't know it was because you and he were..."

"We weren't, Xander. Not for most of it anyway. Our relationship is still pretty new. So if you could accept him as part of the group before you knew he and I were together, what's the problem now?"

"What happens when you two break up?"

"Who says we're going to break up?"

"You pointed it out yourself, Buffy. When it comes to the dating game, history is not on your side. I think you'll probably break up, and it'll probably be ugly and I think that'll be the final straw for short, blond and chipped and he'll do something about it and we'll all die."

"I know there's a risk there, Xander. I considered all that before I got involved with him."

"But it didn't stop you."

"No. It didn't stop me."

"So you love this thing?"

"Don't call him that!"

"Answer the question, Buffy. Do you love him?"

"I'll tell you what I told Willow. I don't know. I just know I care about him and I want him and I need him."

Xander was quiet for several minutes.

"Have you told Giles yet?"

"No."

"You know he won't be happy."

"I know."

"And that doesn't matter to you either?"

"Yes it matters, Xander. It just doesn't change anything."

"Then I guess there's nothing more to say. Your friends matter less to you that this thi... than Spike."

"No, Xander, that's not what I'm saying."

Getting up he walked over to the front door and opened it. "Have a good life, Buffy."

"Xander, please."

"I think you should go now."

Buffy looked at her friend with tears in her eyes, rose and silently left the apartment.

***

Spike awakened when a small, warm body nestled up to him. Opening his eyes, he saw Buffy's tear-stained face.

"Buffy? What's happened, love? Why are you crying?"

"Just hold me, Spike. Please?"

"Is Dawn okay?"

"She's fine, Spike. Please, just hold me."

Spike wrapped his arms around her and held her until she fell into a fitful doze. He had no doubts the tears were caused by her friends. It was times like these he wished he didn't have the chip.

***

"Hey, Harris, girl at four o'clock."

Xander followed Artie's gaze and saw Dawn leaning against his car.

Smiling, he walked up to the teenager and hugged her. "Hey, Dawnie, need a ride home?"

"No, I want to talk to you."

Xander frowned and walked to the back of his car stowing his toolbox and lunch pail in the trunk. "If it's about Spike, forget it," he said flatly.

"It's about Buffy. Why are you being so mean to her?"

Xander sighed and leaned on the fender next to Dawn. "I'm not trying to be mean to your sister, Dawn. I just can't accept her choice of boyfriends."

"But why? Spike's been good lately. He's helped us. He helps Buffy every night."

"Yeah, 'cause he's just so altruistic," Xander said sarcastically.

"What difference does it make why he's doing it so long as he's helping?" Dawn asked, truly perplexed.

"The difference is, Dawn, that when Buffy breaks up with him, and she will, blood will flow."

"You don't know that, Xander."

"Yeah, I kinda do. You were too young to really understand what happened with Angelus, but it was ugly and it caused someone we all cared about to die."

"Spike isn't Angelus."

"So Buffy says, too. But I don't see much difference. Both are evil, soulless vampires held temporarily in check."

"And the fact that even without a soul Spike loves Buffy doesn't cut any ice with you?"

"And when he stops loving Buffy?"

"Hello! Spike here. This is the guy that was with that nutcase Drusilla for over a century. I don't think he stops loving someone so easy."

Xander shook his head. "Okay, say he never stops loving Buffy and she doesn't break up with him and they live the rest of their lives in a happy Disney forever-after. There's still what he did in the past. That hasn't changed."

"Yeah, okay. What he did in the past is still there. Same as what Anya did in the past," she added quietly.

Xander stiffened. "That's entirely different, Dawn. Anya's not a Vengeance Demon anymore."

"Her past is still there, Xander. So how's it different?"

"She's human. She has a soul."

"Yeah, well seems to me having a soul doesn't mean someone is good. Take a look at that creep Warren. Heck, Xander, pick up a newspaper once in a while. People do some pretty horrible things and they all have souls."

"It's not the same."

"Why? Because you say so?" Dawn said in frustrated ire. "You know what you're problem is, Xander? You're prejudiced. Spike's a vampire and it doesn't matter to you how much he's changed, you refuse to see him as anything but evil."

Taking a deep breath, she continued her tirade. "I think you have a lot of nerve treating Buffy like this when she's accepted both Anya and Tara." Tears had sprung into her eyes. "You're just being a big fat jerk, Xander, and I don't think I like you very much any more." Pushing away from the car, she ran off.

"Dawn! Dawn, wait!"

She ignored him, running across the street and away from him as fast as she could.

"You just don't understand, Dawnie," he said softly.

Chapter 19

Spike pushed his way through the crowd in The Bronze. The Slayer was attending an evening lecture at school and they were meeting here after. He'd already made a patrol through town and they'd make another before returning to his crypt. At least he hoped they'd return to his crypt. They hadn't shared his bed since Buffy came to it in tears last Sunday. She always had a good reason, it was late and she had early class or she was tired or she'd promised Dawn she'd spend time with her, but Spike knew it was all about Harris and his holier-than-thou disapproval. Spike hated to admit it, but he was worried.

Reaching the bar, he ordered a beer. After paying for it, he turned to find a table and saw Xander sitting alone at the end of the bar.

Walking up to him Spike said, "So, I see you're here with all your friends."

Xander picked up his beer took a swallow and said, "Go away, Spike."

"Can't a bloke sit and have a drink with a mate?" Spike asked with a mocking edge to his voice.

Swiveling away from Spike, Xander stood up and began to walk away. "Thought you might like to know it's working."

Xander stopped and turned his head slightly in Spike's direction.

"What's working?"

"I think Buffy's thinking about breaking up with me."

"Be still my heart."

"Yeah, knew it'd make your day. It may make Buffy miserable, make her lonely, send her back out to patrol alone, but you'll be able to shove her back on that pedestal of purity you like to keep her on."

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about."

"Don't you? She's you're hero, isn't she? All shiny and pure and untouchable? But she's sleeping with me and that makes her less than pure."

Xander turned around and glared at Spike. "It makes her insane to trust you is what it makes her."

"I'd never hurt her and you know it."

"So you say now. What about when she dumps your ass?"

"Well, it seems we're about to find that out, aren't we?"

Xander stared at Spike for a minute. "If you hurt her..."

"That's the bloody point I'm trying to make, you git," Spike said in exasperation. "I'm not the one hurtin' her. You are."

"I don't know how I can be hurting her," Xander said implacably. "She said my opinion didn't matter."

"Yeah? Well I guess it does. And for reasons beyond my ken..."

"Well, this is a surprise."

"Buffy!"

"Hullo, love. Xander and I were just having a chat."

"So I see." Buffy looked between the two men, the air around them thick with tension. "So, who's going to buy me a drink?"

"I will, love. Diet Coke?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Spike handed her his beer, pressed a quick kiss to her mouth and walked back to the bar. Glancing around, Buffy spied an empty table. "Wanna sit over there, Xander?"

"I-I gotta go, Buffy."

"Xander, please..."

"Look, I gotta go, okay?"

Buffy looked down and nodded. "Sure, Xander. See ya later."

Buffy watched as Xander left The Bronze. She felt Spike's arm encircle her waist and leaned back into him. "He left, huh?"

"Yeah." Sighing, she took the plastic cup Spike handed her and gave him his beer.

"There's a table open over there." Leading the way, she placed her cup on the table and took a seat. Spike sat silently across from her.

"Anything happen on patrol?"

"Nothing interestin', love. Staked a bloke risin' from his grave. Dusted a truly ugly sod hangin' about the bus station. That's about it. Quiet."

"That's what I found too." At Spike questioning look, she added, "I cut out of the lecture. Can you say 'boring'? So I thought I'd go ahead and do a patrol before I met you here."

"Oh. So you just going to go on home then?"

"Eventually."

At the hopeful look in his eyes, she slid out of her chair and walked over to him and into his arms. Kissing him gently, she said, "While boring lecture guy was talking, I had a chance to think. I love Xander, but..."

"But?" Spike prompted.

"But I'm letting him do what I'd said I wouldn't - dictate who I'm with. And I miss you. A lot." She kissed him again, with more heat this time. "And if we don't leave right now I'm going to do you right here on this table."

Spike pushed her back, stood up, grabbed her hand and pulled her out of The Bronze and into the night.

***

He tried to pull her into a darkened alley, into a yard conveniently shrouded by tall hedges and finally managed to tug her between two vans parked in an unlit corner of a used car lot. As he pressed her up against one of the vans, Buffy tried to fend him off.

"Spike, stop. I want to wait until we're at your place in a nice warm bed. It's cold tonight and you don't generate any body heat."

"Oh, I'll make you hot enough for both of us, love," he growled sliding his hand down and pressing between her legs. Buffy's breath caught in her throat as he worked his magic on her. His fingers rhythmically curled into her while his mouth was at her ear whispering how much he loved her, how much he wanted her, telling her all the nasty little things he was going to do to her. His voice was deep and seductive and it was giving her chills that had nothing to do with the cool wind blowing. He moved his hand up to fumble at the button on her slacks and then his fingers slid down to tease her.

She was hot and wet and slick, and little whimpers escaped from her. Buffy was rapidly losing control and knew that within seconds she would be completely lost to all reason. Trying desperately to retain some semblance of sanity, she gasped out, "Spike... oh god.... Spike, if you... oh yes, right there... no wait, Spike,... uuuhhhh..., Spike, if you'll wait..."

Breathy moans escaped from her and her hips moved in time with his fingers. She clutched at his duster holding him tightly to her and his mouth claimed hers as he brought her near to climax. Spike was wild to get inside her and pulled his hand up to push down the waistband of her slacks. The momentary cessation of stimulation gave Buffy a few precious seconds of sanity. In a last ditch effort to save her warm tender backside from meeting cold hard steel she wrenched her mouth away from his and gasped out, "If you wait, I'll let you tie me up!"

Spike froze. Lifting his head he gazed in stunned surprise into her eyes. "You'll..."

Buffy swallowed. Her heart was pounding, both from sexual desire and trepidation over what she'd just told him. Eyes wide, she nodded slightly. "If you wait until we get to your crypt, I'll let you tie me up."

Very carefully, Spike pulled her slacks back up from where he'd gotten them pushed down, refastened them and stepped back from the van, bringing her with him. He could hardly believe his ears. He'd tried to talk her into letting him tie her up on the last night they'd been together, but Buffy wouldn't allow it. Now he trembled at the thought of his Slayer trusting him enough to let him bind her to his bed.

"You sure, love?"

Buffy could only nod. He put his hands on either side of her head and pulled her to him for a deep kiss. Moving his mouth to her ear, he whispered, "It'll be good, Buffy, I promise you." And then taking her hand, he led her to his crypt and his bed.

***

When they entered his bedchamber, Spike pulled her into his arms. She was stiff at first, but his light teasing kisses helped her relax. When he deepened the kisses, she responded and it wasn't long before his slightest touch set her ablaze. When her kisses became nibbles and her nibbles became bites, he pulled away and murmured, "Take off your clothes, pet, and get in bed. I'll be right there."

Buffy moaned in protest when he pulled back, but nodded and slipped her jacket from her shoulders. She watched him as she undressed. He went to a small chest stored in a corner of the chamber, knelt down and began to rummage through it. Buffy was half-afraid of what he would come up with. Handcuffs? Chains? She remembered the last time she'd been in chains and, with a shiver of revulsion, almost backed out. He'd be disappointed, but... But she'd given her word. And besides, there was really no need to feel so uneasy. He wouldn't hurt her, even if he didn't have the chip. Buffy believed this implicitly.

Finally undressed, Buffy slipped under the covers drawing them all the way up to her neck. Eyes never leaving Spike she watched as he located whatever it was he searched for and stood up. He turned and walked towards the bed, a bit of a smile on his face when he saw Buffy all tucked up under the covers. He knew she was anxious. It would be a loss of control for her, something she didn't easily give up. That she would even try for him meant more than he could ever tell her.

He laid a smallish flat square box on the table next to the bed and then began to remove his own clothing. He was aware that Buffy's eyes never left him, and he was also aware that she liked what she saw. When at last he stood before her totally nude, he reached down and ran his hand along his jutting cock. "Like what you see, Slayer?" he purred.

He felt himself get even harder as he watched a faint blush tinge her cheeks. That his fierce warrior woman could blush so innocently astonished and charmed him. Reaching the bed, he pulled the covers down and off the bed. "Don't want anything getting in the way, love."

Buffy watched silently as he reached for the box he had left on the bedside table. He opened it and to her surprise brought out a long silk scarf. "This all right, love? Nothing cold and hard against your skin but me."

Taking the scarf he ran it up her body starting from her feet and trailing it up her legs, across her belly and over her breasts. Buffy arched into the feel of the soft material and when Spike lay down beside her and brushed his lips across hers, she opened her mouth to receive his kiss. He spent time kissing her, running his silk-clad hand over her body, teasing at her nipples. When she was once again writhing against him, he instructed softly, "Raise your arms, love."

Buffy stiffened only a tiny bit and then obeyed. Sitting up, he straddled her and then placing her wrists together he tied one end of the scarf around them and the other end to the headboard of the bed.

"Not too tight, is it, love?"

Buffy shook her head no. "My legs?" she asked breathlessly.

"Maybe next time, love, when you feel a little more comfortable with this. Once you know what it's like, you won't be so afraid."

"I'm not afraid," Buffy said indignantly.

Spike smiled. "Right, not afraid. Apprehensive?"

"Maybe a little," Buffy replied honestly.

"Trust me, love. You're going to love what I do to you."

"I do."

At his raised brow, she clarified. "I do trust you, Spike. And I love what you do you me."

Spike lowered his head into the juncture of her neck and shoulder but not before Buffy had seen the look on his face. Her words had meant more to him than he could bear to show. She turned her head as best she could and brushed a kiss across the top of his head.

He brought his lips back to hers and they began kissing again. He loved making love to her, but he could spend hours just kissing her, holding her, brushing his hands over her body. The tactile pleasure of her heated skin against his cool flesh gave him more satisfaction than he could have ever imagined.

He was entering her before he realized what he was doing. He pulled out despite her protests and sat back up. "Not yet, love, not yet," he purred. Leaning forward he began to run his hands lightly down her arms past her shoulders and down over her breasts. The touch was as light as a butterfly's kiss and Buffy arched into the sensation.

He repeated the action but this time he scooted down her body a bit and drew his hands over her breasts and down to her belly. Her stomach muscles quivered as he lightly caressed her. Her nipples were firm peaks that demanded attention and so Spike obliged. Cupping her breasts in his hands, he leaned down and took just the tip of one nipple into his mouth and sucked while his thumb brushed delicately over the other. Buffy's reaction was instantaneous. She moaned and arched up into him, tugging at the bond that prevented her from holding him to her. He had control and he took advantage of it. As he sucked and nibbled and stroked, her nipples became super sensitized so that every touch seemed magnified. He switched breasts, first drawing the nipple into his mouth and then lightly brushing his tongue over the tip.

He alternated between sucking her nipples and running his fingertips lightly over her skin. Each weightless touch, each insubstantial stroke heightened her senses, making her desire for contact almost unbearable. Had she the use of her hands, she would have pulled him to her or flipped him over and taken charge of their lovemaking. But she could only writhe under him gasping and moaning as he sweetly tormented her.

When he judged that she'd had enough, he moved down her body. Each caress, each lick, each nibble was so light that her nerve-endings begged for more. When he finally reached the soft curly thatch nestled between her legs, he separated the lips and allowed the barest tip of his tongue to glide against the swollen nub of her clitoris. Buffy bucked under him, wanting more stimulation, wanting his mouth to cover her and for him to lap at her with his whole tongue. But Spike would have none of it. Lying between her bent knees, he continued to tease her with the light licks and swirls of his tongue that were driving her insane. When he inserted his tongue in her, moving it with a simulation of intercourse, she wrapped her legs around his shoulders and thrust against him, trying to achieve deeper penetration.

He removed his tongue from her opening and began jabbing the sharply pointed tip at her clit in short rapid-fire pulses. She was thrashing underneath him, begging him, almost sobbing in her need, but Spike was an expert in this and he knew exactly just how far to go, when the pleasant torture would become simply torture. When she had reached that point, when she was on the verge of pain, he moved back up her body until he was fully covering her. With her hands still tied over her head, he kissed her, drawing her tongue into his mouth and gently sucking. Sitting back up he made one last ghostly pass over her body with his hands, then covered her body with his and slipped into her. Buffy gasped out her relief and began moving frantically under him. He pulled out again and said, "No, love, don't do that. Let me take care of you, all right?"

"Please, Spike," she begged. "I need you. Please, no more teasing. Just love me."

"I do, sweetheart. I will."

He entered her again and positioning her legs the way he wanted them, he began to move within her. His strokes were long and slow and deep. He whispered instructions to her, which she instantly obeyed, and as he increased the pace, her whimpers became moans and her moans became cries until at last she tightened underneath him and screamed as her climax tore through her. Spike's own climax followed immediately and he collapsed on top of her, his head finding its favorite resting-place in the juncture between her neck and shoulder. They lie together, replete, still joined and eyes closed as they recovered. Their only movement came from Buffy's heaving chest.

A noise brought Buffy back to her senses and she opened her eyes just in time to see a stake descending towards Spike's naked, vulnerable back.

Chapter20

"Spike!" Buffy screamed and twisting her body managed to throw her lover out of the way of the stake and onto the floor beside the bed.

Her bound hands, however, did not allow her to roll completely clear and she cried out in pain as the stake slid along her back ripping a long gash in her skin before plunging into the mattress.

Spike jumped to his feet in full vamp face ready to leap on their attacker, but halted at the smell of Buffy's blood. Looking down he saw a crimson stream running from her wound. "Oh, god, Buffy, you're hurt!" Immediately shifting back into human face, he grabbed the sheet up from the foot of the bed. Sitting down beside her, he pressed the sheet against the gash in an effort to staunch the flow of blood.

"Spike, untie me," Buffy ordered through gritted teeth. Holding the sheet to her wound with one hand, he reached up with the other. With one tug the scarf fell away from her wrists. Buffy immediately sat up pulling the rest of the sheet around her body and glared at their stunned assailant. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Riley?"

"Buffy, I'm sorry! I-I thought I was saving you," Riley answered defensively. "What was I to think, Buffy? I came into Spike's crypt, heard a scream and rushed down here to find you naked, tied up and his fangs in your throat. What was I to think?"

"Well, first of all, you gonk, my fangs were not in her throat. And as for the scream, well I wouldn't expect you to recognize that sound comin' from Buffy. Or any other woman for that matter," Spike sneered.

Riley was now well aware of what had actually been going on. He wouldn't have believed it, but the evidence before his eyes left him with no choice.

"Spike," Buffy warned, "that's enough." Turning back to Riley she demanded, "You've explained why you tried to stake Spike. You haven't explained why you're here."

"Captain Cardboard's explanation can wait, love. We need to get you patched up. I think the bleedin's just about stopped, thanks to your Slayer healing, but you still need a bandage."

Riley fumbled in one of the oversized pockets of his jacket. "Here, Buffy, I have my field kit. Let me bandage you."

"You'll not touch her!" Spike growled. "Give it to me."

"Like hell, I will!"

"Riley, give Spike the bandages. He'll take care of me."

Riley stiffened but handed the package to a smirking Spike. Spike took the contents out and began cleaning the gash. She hissed and arched away from him when the disinfectant burned. "Sorry, love, but I got to make sure it's all cleaned properly. Don't want you gettin' septic. Fortunately soldier boy's aim is as good as ever. It's not too deep."

"I wasn't aiming at her," Riley snarled. "If she hadn't rolled you out of the way, I wouldn't have missed my target."

Buffy turned ice-cold eyes on her former boyfriend. "Then it's lucky for you that I did roll him out of the way."

"Buffy, I don't understand this. How can you be with this thing?"

Buffy closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "If one more person calls my boyfriend a thing, I don't think I can be held responsible for their bloody nose."

Spike smiled as he put the last piece of tape on the bandage and kissed her shoulder, "That's my girl."

"Spike, get my clothes. Riley, turn your back so we can get dressed."

"I'm not turning my back on him," Riley insisted.

Spike stood up in all his nude glory and smirked. "Want a good look, do you?"

Riley whipped around and ground out, "Hurry up and get dressed, Spike."

Buffy just shook her head and said, "Behave, Spike."

Spike smiled at Buffy and bent down to kiss her, "Anything you say, love." Walking around the end of the bed, he gathered up their clothes and returned to Buffy's side. After they finished dressing Buffy said, "Okay, Riley, you can turn around."

When he had complied, she asked again, "Now why are you here? Not just here," she said gesturing around the chamber, "but in Sunnydale. I thought you were in Bolivia."

"Belize. And I was until just recently. My unit has been tracking an extremely rare and dangerous demon called a Suvolte. Damned thing's tricky. We get a line on it and it gives us the slip. We finally tracked it here, to Sunnydale. And surprise, surprise," he added staring at Spike, "the trail ends here at Spike's crypt."

"What? You think I had something to do with leadin' your demon to Sunnydale?" Spike asked in astonishment. "News flash, Sherlock, I haven't left Sunnydale except for a jaunt to the desert in over a year."

"Yeah? And just what were you doing in the desert, Spike? Communing with the stars?"

"No," Buffy answered coldly, "he was busy saving my little sister from Glory. You remember Glory, don't you, Riley? The hellgod that was tearing up Sunnydale last year? Seems she was after my little sister. Spike saved her."

Riley stared at Buffy in shock. "Glory was a hellgod?"

"Oh, that's right," Spike said innocently. "All that came out after you'd already scarpered off to Central America. Yeah, mate, the bitch was a hellgod. The Slayer could have probably used your help, but you'd already skipped town."

"Buffy, I'm sorry, if I'd known..."

"It's okay, Riley. I'm not sure you could've helped anyway."

"But Spike did."

"Yes, he did."

"And so his reward is..." Riley glanced at the bed.

"My relationship with Spike is really none of your business, Riley," Buffy told him firmly. "You wanna finish telling me about this demon you're chasing?"

"Right." Gathering his thoughts, Riley went into briefing mode. "As I said, it's very rare, usually found in unpopulated areas of the rain forest. We've been trying to take out the few remaining individuals whenever we can. We've increased our patrols recently because our information states that it's breeding season."

"You do love to interrupt a good shag, don't you, Finn?"

"I know the death of hundreds or even thousands of people doesn't bother you, Spike, but it concerns us." Giving his attention back to Buffy he explained, "The adults are dangerous enough in their own right, but they're nothing compared to their newly hatched off-spring. If the eggs hatch near a populated area, it's disastrous. There have been reports of entire villages wiped out. Hatchlings are virtual eating machines. The good news is Suvoltes only breed about once every thirty years. The bad news is that's now."

"And so you lot thought what?" Spike asked. "That it'd be a good idea to chase the damned things out of their usual nesting grounds and into Sunnydale?"

"We didn't chase it here, Spike," Riley snapped angrily. "We followed it. For some reason this individual took it into its head to migrate. That's bad enough, seeing that it's left a trail of bodies from Belize to California. What's worse is we're pretty sure it's female and it's gravid."

"Gravid?" Buffy asked sitting down on the side of the bed and straightening her back. Spike sat beside her and put his arm around her being careful not to touch her wound. Buffy leaned into him gratefully.

"Pregnant," Riley said through gritted teeth. He hated seeing Spike acting so solicitously of Buffy. And he hated even more seeing Buffy allow it.

"Why would this thing suddenly want to come here?"

"Hellmouth, love. Demons do love a good hellmouth."

"Yeah, you'd be the expert on that wouldn't you, Spike?"

Buffy sighed. "Could we stick to the subject at hand and save the macho pissing contest for later? Is that why you think this Travolta demon came to Sunnydale? Because of the hellmouth?"

"It's a Suvolte demon," Riley corrected just a little peevishly. Sometimes he thought Buffy misspoke words deliberately just to irritate people. "And no, I don't. We received word that a black-market arms dealer is interested in obtaining Suvolte eggs. And since the Suvolte came here, we believe that the dealer has somehow lured it here."

"So, one of your Lady Dr. Frankenstein's minions behind this you think?"

Riley glared at Spike again. "No. This has nothing to do with The Initiative. It was decommissioned by the government two years ago."

"Oh, well, that's makes me feel better," Spike said with large innocent eyes, turning to look at Buffy. "Doesn't it make you feel better, Buffy, knowing that a bunch of mad scientists aren't still around hacking off demon body parts and buildin' a better demon?"

"Too bad Dr. Walsh didn't hack off a few of your body parts when she had the chance, Spike," Riley spat out.

"Okay, enough!" Buffy yelled jumping to her feet. She hissed as pain shot through her back. "If you two can't play nice, I'm going to tape both your mouths shut and make you write everything out."

"Spike can write?" At Buffy's glare, he held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. That was the last shot. I don't have time for that anyway. Buffy, this is serious. We have to find that Suvolte before it lays its eggs and I need to find this arms dealer. Can you imagine the damage a terrorist could do with just one hatchling, let alone an entire brood?"

"Yeah, okay. You said you tracked the demon here? To Spike's crypt?" Riley pulled a small scanner out of his pocket. "Its pheromone trail led here. Then I lost it." Turning it on, he made a pass with it. "The signature's faint, but it was here, in this crypt."

"Not bloody likely," Spike protested. "There's only been one demon here, and you're lookin' at him."

"The readings don't lie. It was here. Maybe we should look around, see if we can find anything."

"Go ahead. But I'm tellin' you, it wasn't here."

Riley followed the scanner's tracking out of the chamber and into the labyrinthine passages that led off from the rooms Spike used. Four chambers back, he suddenly stopped. "What were you saying about the demon never being here, Spike?"

Stepping aside, he allowed room for Buffy and Spike to enter the chamber. There on the floor was a clutch of about a dozen large, grayish-brown eggs.