Past Glory Chapters 34

Chapter 34

Buffy nibbled at her bottom lip as she stared at the telephone. Should she call Angel? What would she tell him? Well, she could just tell him what she'd told everyone else – that she didn't know what had happened to Spike. Would Angel be able to tell she was lying? Probably. Taking a deep breath she decided she really didn't care and lifting the receiver, dialed.

Days had passed. Spike remained in his coma and Buffy was sick with worry. He'd taken in no nourishment since the previous Friday evening and Spike was beginning to take on the sunken look he'd had when he'd first come to them after being chipped. She'd tried to get him to drink by holding a small glass of blood up to his lips, hoping the smell and taste of the blood would trigger an automatic response, but the blood had simply poured out of his mouth again.

The line on the other end had just started ringing when Buffy heard a loud cry of distress coming from upstairs. Slamming down the receiver to race up the stairs, she never even heard the masculine voice say, "Angel Investigations."

Spike was sitting up in bed, a look of pure anguish on his face, when Buffy burst into the room.

"Spike, you're awake! Oh, thank god." She went to gather him into her arms when he bolted from the bed and hurled himself against the wall, quailing away from her.

"Stay away from me!"

Buffy halted, confused and hurt by his words.

"Spike, it's me, Buffy." Holding out her hand in the same way one would reassure a frightened child, she slowly approached him.

He recoiled from her outstretched hand, huddling in on himself and away from her. "Stay away from me! I don't want to hurt you."

Buffy stopped, alarmed by his words. "You wouldn't hurt me, Spike. I know that."

"I did," he choked, tears forming in his eyes. "I did hurt you. I hurt all of you."

"No you haven't, she said in a confused voice. "I promise you, everyone's okay." She took a couple more steps closer to him. "You can see I'm okay, right?"

Spike swallowed and then closed his eyes pressing the heels of his hands against his temples as a wave of pain flashed through his head. His knees buckled and he started to slide weakly down the wall. Buffy was beside him immediately, wrapping a supporting arm around his waist and lifting him up.

"Come on, Spike. You need to get back to bed." Gently guiding him, she led him back to the bed and helped him in, propping pillows up against his back for support. He opened pain-filled eyes and asked, "What's wrong with me, Buffy? Why does my head hurt so much?"

"We'll talk about that later. Right now, you need something to eat. You haven't eaten in almost a week." Going to the door of the bedroom she called out, "Dawn!"

Spike's head whipped around to stare at her, wincing when pain lanced through his brain. "Dawn's all right? I didn't hurt her? I didn't... didn't drink her?"

Buffy glanced back at Spike in shock. "God no, Spike. You'd pull your fangs out of your head with your own hands before you'd bite Dawn."

Spike slumped in relief against his pillow. He was vaguely aware of Buffy talking, of Dawn's excited voice begging to see him, of Buffy's quiet but firm voice asking the girl to bring him blood, but it was all background noise to his own internal chant of, "I didn't kill her. I didn't kill her."

Buffy returned to the bed and sat down on the mattress next to him. Taking one of his hands in hers she said, "Dawn's going to bring you some blood. You'll feel better once you've eaten."

Spike simply nodded wearily, closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the headboard. Buffy eyed him worriedly. She was becoming afraid that he was about to sink back into his coma when a knock sounded at the door and he immediately opened his eyes.

Going to the door, she opened it only wide enough to take the tray Dawn held. "No," she told her sister, "you can see him later. He's kinda disoriented right now. Let him eat and when he's feeling better, you can come in, okay?" Shutting the door she placed the tray on the bedside table and lifted one mug of warm blood. Holding it to Spike's lips, she watched carefully to make sure he drank every drop. When he was finished, she fed him the next mug and then the next. By the time he'd finished eating, he looked much better. The sunken look was lessening, his eyes no longer looked glazed and they'd lost some of the pain and confusion they'd held only moments before. When his eyelids began to flutter, Buffy knew that this time it would be sleep and not a coma that he slipped into.

***

He slept for several hours and when he awoke to a darkened bedroom, he felt stronger. The pain in his head had lessened to a dull headache, but he felt a deep gnawing hunger in his belly. He recognized the feeling and a bolt of fear shot through him. Getting out of bed, he located his clothes and quickly dressed.

Exiting the bedroom, he descended the steps. Glancing into the living room, he was relieved to see all four girls alive and well, just as Buffy had assured him. It was Dawn who saw him first and she was off the couch and running to him in the space of a heartbeat. Flinging herself into his arms she hugged him and then pulling back, she punched him in the arm.

He jerked away from her, automatically rubbing his arm although in truth the girl hadn't hurt him.

"You big jerk," Dawn scolded. "You had us all worried sick. What happened to you?"

Spike opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Glancing at Buffy who sat tensely watching him, he said, "I-I'm not sure, Niblet. I'm not focusin' too clearly yet."

Buffy stood up and walked over to him. "You hungry?" she asked. At his nod, she led the way into the kitchen. As he sat on a stool at the island, she said, "We've got fresh blood on hand. Willow stopped by the butcher's shop for me." Reaching into the refrigerator, she pulled out the container and then froze when he asked, "Buffy, what happened to me?"

Buffy carefully kept her head turned away as she poured the blood into his mug and put it into the microwave to heat up. "What do you remember?"

"Not much. I remember Xander going down and then you. I went for Warren and the chip went off and then I just remember pain. I think I remember waking up and Warren saying somethin' about my chip, but it's not clear. You said I was in a coma?"

Buffy nodded as she removed the mug when the microwave beeped and handed it to him. When he merely held the mug and looked at her, she said, "You've been unconscious for almost a week. We've all been very worried about you."

He lowered his eyes and lifted the mug to his lips. After drinking down the contents, he said, "Guess the chip really fried my brain this time." Watching Buffy as she refilled his mug, he said, "I had...dreams, I guess. Nightmares really." He closed his eyes at the memory and when he reopened them, they held a haunted look. "They seemed so real." Swallowing painfully, he continued, "I dreamed I killed you all. Everyone. You, Dawn, the witches, Xander and his demon girl." Lifting the mug with slightly shaking hands, he drained it quickly. As he lowered the mug he said with a wry smile, "Never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad I have that chip. Won't have to worry about that particular nightmare comin' true."

Buffy took the empty mug from him. "You want some more?" At his nod, she filled it once again and stuck it in the microwave to heat. She stayed turned away from him, watching the mug spin on the turntable as if it were the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen. Spike frowned. He was getting avoidy Buffy vibes and her silence worried him. "Love?"

Buffy sighed as she once again removed the mug and handed it to him. She'd considered for a few moments not telling him the truth, but she knew he needed to know.

"You don't have the chip anymore, Spike. That Andrew kid summoned a demon. Willow said it was a Pockla. Anyway, it reached into your brain and pulled out the chip. That's why your head aches so much."

Spike's hand jerked, spilling blood over the rim of the mug.

"It's gone?"

Buffy nodded, watching him intently. Spike sat in stunned silence. He lowered his eyes and realizing that he still held the mug, brought it to his lips and emptied it. His burning hunger was finally appeased at least. Lowering the empty mug, he said quietly, "What are we going to do about it? You gonna have Willow witch it back in?"

"Can't. It's been destroyed."

His eyes shot up to look into hers. "How?"

"One of the nerd boys stepped on it on their way out of Dodge. We couldn't have used it anyway because Warren had altered its programming."

"You let Warren go?"

"No. The Pockla took him with it back to its own dimension. According to Willow, he'll wish I'd killed him instead."

"Good." Spike stood up, walked over to the sink and rinsed out his mug. "I have to leave, Buffy," he said, not looking at her.

Buffy shook her head. "I want you to stay here until you're completely better."

Spike turned to face her. "Not just leave the house, Buffy. Leave Sunnydale."

Buffy stiffened. "Why?"

"Why?" Spike asked incredulously. "Buffy, I'm loose now. There's nothing stopping me from hurting you or the others. Just like in my vision."

"You didn't have a vision, Spike," Buffy insisted, "You said it yourself. You had a nightmare. Nightmares aren't real. And as for nothing stopping you, you have yourself stopping you."

Spike closed his eyes as he tried to think of the words to make her understand. "Buffy, love, listen to me," he pleaded. "Everything that happened in my vision felt real. It wasn't just a dream or a nightmare. I could taste the blood; smell the fear. It was real."

"It wasn't real, Spike. We're all here. Alive." Grabbing his hand, she drew it to her chest and placed his palm against her breast. "Can you feel my heartbeat, Spike?"

Spike closed his eyes as he felt her young, strong, healthy heart thumping against his hand. "You were in a coma," Buffy said to him softly. She reached up with her free hand and pulled his head down until their foreheads were touching. "You had an hallucination. A pretty horrible one, yes, but it wasn't real."

Spike closed his eyes again, trying to gather his thoughts. "It seemed so real. Something...had me, controlled me. Used me to kill you all. Played with my memories so that I didn't remember us or Dawn. I didn't know who Tara or Anya were."

"Spike, it was probably just...just your brain adjusting to the chip being gone. Taking you back to the time before you got caught and chipped by The Initiative. But when you woke up, you remembered everything, didn't you? You remembered you love me, right?" her voice was shaking slightly.

He pulled her to him and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart, Spike said, "I just don't ever want to take the chance of hurting any of you. If whatever I saw really was a vision and not just a dream, I need to go."

"Stop calling it a vision, Spike," Buffy snapped impatiently. Pulling away from him, she said, "You're not a seer. It was only a stupid nightmare and you don't need to leave town just because you had a bad dream!"

"Buffy, would you please listen to me? I don't want to leave. I'm just trying to protect you and everyone else. If I'm unstable, or if something's trying to use me, I don't want to be within a hundred miles of any of you."

"So you're saying that instead of killing me and my friends, I should let you leave town so you can kill complete strangers?"

"I didn't see myself killing strangers, Buffy. I saw myself killing you."

"You know what I think?" she asked angrily. "I think you're using this nightmare thingy as an excuse so that you can leave. I think now that the chip is out you want to be free to hunt again." Tears formed in her eyes. "I think that everything you said to me about being more than a monster was just a lie. I think it was just something you said so you could get into my pants."

Spike stared at her in shock, which quickly turned to anger. Turning away from her, he stalked from the kitchen.

"Where do you think you're going," Buffy called after him. Hurrying to catch up to him, she was surprised when he headed straight to her weapon's chest, opened it up and took out a stake. Storming back over to her, he lifting her hand and slapped the stake into it.

"If you believe that any part of what you just said is true, then use that, Buffy. Because god knows, I'd rather be dust than hurt you or go back on one single promise I made you."

Completely oblivious to their audience, they stared at each other. "You are not leaving me," Buffy said flatly.

"I don't want to leave you," he said again, his voice changing from angry to agonized. "I love you more than anything else in this world, Buffy. But I won't take the chance of hurting you or the others.

Buffy tossed the stake onto the coffee table, took his head in her hands and drew his face down to hers for a tender kiss. "I love you too, you big dope. And I know with everything in me that you won't hurt anyone. You had nightmares because you had a brain injury. That's all they were." Kissing him again, she said, "We're safe as houses with you."

He was looking at her with a completely besotted look on his face. Smiling shyly, he said, "That's the first time you've used the words, love."

She smiled back at him. "I know. I mean them though."

"Say them again."

"I love you."

"Say them again."

"Please don't," a disgusted teenaged voice interrupted. "Geez, you guys are really sickening, you know that?"

Surprised that someone else was around, they turned to look at their audience. Buffy blushed and pulled back a little from Spike. "Uh, sorry, guys." Making a show of checking her watch, she said, "Oh look, time for patrol. You ready, Willow?"

"Sure," Willow said. She'd been watching the couple with great interest ever since they came into the living room.

Turning back to Spike, Buffy said, "You probably should go back to bed if you've had enough to eat. I'll be home in a couple hours, okay?"

"Sure, love. I'll be waiting for you." His look left her little doubt what he'd be waiting for. Blushing again, she quickly gathered her weapons and left with Willow. Dawn yawned and said, "Well, now that today's thrilling episode of "The Young and the Lame" is over, I think I'll go to bed too. Goodnight, guys."

"Night, Niblet."

"Goodnight, Dawnie," Tara echoed.

Spike nodded to Tara and followed Dawn up the stairs. As soon as he entered the bedroom, a feeling of exhaustion overwhelmed him. He stumbled to the bed and fell face down across the mattress. He was instantly asleep.

***

He awakened to find himself in an unfamiliar bedroom. A piercing pain lanced through his head and his belly growled with need. Rising catlike from the bed, he shifted into game face and stood listening, scenting the air. He was alone in the room, but the air was heavy with a scent that teased at his brain. Walking soundlessly to the door, he eased it opened. He could hear the faint sounds of movement on the floor below but all was quiet around him. Stealthily leaving the room, he made his way silently down the hall until he came to a closed door. Slowly turning the doorknob, he opened the door to find an unoccupied room. Again, scents almost familiar assailed his nostrils. Shaking his head in frustration at the elusive memory, he closed the door again and moved further down the hall to another door. This time when he opened the door, he found the room occupied. A young, dark-haired girl slept deeply on her virginal cot. A predatory smile crossed his face. Slipping inside the room, he carefully shut the door tightly behind him.

Chapter 35

Buffy whispered goodnight to Willow and entered her bedroom. There was enough light filtering in through the window to show that her bed was empty.

With alarm in her voice, she called out "Spike?" A small movement caught her attention and she turned to find Spike by the window crouched down on his haunches, his arms folded over his head.

"Spike? What's wrong?" She started to hurry to him when he lifted his head. Tears streamed down his face and he croaked out, "Dawn."

Buffy froze. Without another word, she turned and ran from the bedroom. Flinging open her sister's bedroom door, she rushed to Dawn's bed crying out her sister's name. Dawn was lying on her stomach, her hair fanned out covering her face. When Buffy reached her, she grabbed her and flipped her over. Dawn's eyes flew open in alarm.

"What? What's wrong?"

"Oh god, Dawnie! Are you okay?" Buffy's voice was shaking and she was checking Dawn's neck for bite marks. Dawn began pushing her sister away from her.

"Cut it out! What's the matter with you?"

Buffy was shaking uncontrollably and sat down on the edge of the bed when her knees gave way. Lifting one trembling hand, she pushed Dawn's hair from her face. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. What's up with all the drama?"

Pushing her own hair out of her face, Buffy said, "Spike had a bad dream, but he thought it was real. He thought you were hurt."

Dawn frowned. "If he thought I was hurt, why isn't he here?"

"He's... I'll explain it in the morning, Dawnie. You go back to sleep now." Leaning forward, she kissed her sister on the forehead, rose and left the room shutting the door tightly after her.

Willow was out in the hallway when Buffy exited Dawn's bedroom.

"Buffy, is something wrong?"

"No. Bad dream."

Willow studied her friend's face and then nodded. "She's okay, then?"

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, she's all right. Goodnight, Willow."

"Night, Buffy."

Buffy reentered her own bedroom. Spike was where she had left him but now he was rocking back and forth, hunched tightly in on himself. Buffy went over to him and knelt in front of him. Taking him by the shoulders, she gave him a little shake. "Spike. Spike, stop it now."

Spike lifted his tear-stained face to her. "I'm so sorry, Buffy."

"Yeah, well, you scared me to half to death. There's nothing wrong with Dawn. Except now she's all upset because I went in there and woke her up." Buffy ran a hand lightly through Spike's hair. "What happened?" she asked softly. "Did you have another bad dream?"

The look on his face was so anguished that it nearly broke Buffy's heart. "Come on, Spike. Get up now, okay?" She helped him to stand and led him over to the bed where they sat. "Now tell me. What happened?"

Spike drew in a shuddering breath and said, "You have to stake me, Slayer."

"What?! I'm not staking you, Spike. I just told you, nothing is wrong with Dawn. You must have had another bad dream."

Spike shook his head. "Not this time. At least, not completely." He looked down at the floor, unable to look at her. "I came up to bed after you left and fell asleep right away. When I woke up..." Spike shuddered.

Buffy wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "When you woke up?" she prompted.

"I was leaning over Dawn. I, oh god, I was going to bite her." Another hard shudder went through Spike's body. "If I hadn't woken up when I did, Buffy, I would have hurt her."

Buffy felt her blood turn to ice.

"I wasn't in control of myself. Just like in my dreams." He looked into Buffy's shocked eyes. "I don't know what's wrong with me. You have to take me out, Buffy. You have to protect Dawn."

Buffy stood and walked out of the bedroom. Spike sat on the edge of the bed his elbows on his thighs and the heels of his hands pressing into his forehead. It wasn't long before Buffy was back.

"Spike."

He looked up expecting to see a stake in her hand. Instead she had the two witches in tow.

"We have to tell Willow and Tara what's happening. Maybe they can figure out what's wrong."

A brief look of hope flashed across Spike's face and he nodded. Buffy walked over to sit beside him and took one of his hands into hers. "You guys know that Warren was going to put a chip into my head to make me his slave," she stated.

Willow and Tara nodded.

"Did you ever wonder where Warren got the chip?"

"I-I assumed he got it at the Initiative facility," Willow said thoughtfully. Then her eyes widened as the obvious answer came to her. "Oh sweet Hekate," Willow whispered. "It was Spike's chip, wasn't it?"

Buffy nodded. "The Pockla reached into Spike's brain and yanked the chip out."

"Th-that explains why Spike was in the coma for so long," Tara said sympathetically. "If proper care wasn't taken, something like that would have to cause serious injury."

"Yeah, but he's obviously better now," Willow said. "Which means we have an unchipped, unsouled vampire in the house." She was looking nervously at Spike.

"Not going to hurt you, Red," Spike assured the girl. "Least not intentionally."

"Not intentionally?"

"Yeah," Buffy said. "See that's the problem. While Spike was in the coma he had some bad dreams. About hurting all of us."

"Oh," Willow's eyes got even bigger and she took a step back.

"Not dreams, Buffy. I keep telling you that," Spike insisted.

"Spike thinks they were visions or something. He said he didn't have control of himself in the dreams. And he didn't remember what had happened over the past two years. Anyway, I told him they were just bad dreams caused by his brain injury."

"M-makes sense," Tara said.

"Yeah, except tonight the dream wasn't a dream," Spike said. He pulled his hand from Buffy's, stood and walked to the window. He stood there staring out into the night, his arms wrapped around himself. "Tonight I sleepwalked and ended up in Dawn's bedroom." He turned so that he was facing the two witches. "I woke up just as I was getting ready to bite her."

The two girls gasped in horror.

Buffy stepped forward. "We need to find out what's wrong with him and then fix it."

Willow looked helplessly at Buffy. "What do you expect us to do, Buffy? Call in Dr. Bombay? I have no idea how we could find out what's wrong with him."

"I'm not sure either, Buffy, but in the morning we could talk to Anya," Tara said going up to Buffy and giving her a comforting hug. "She knows so much more about demons than we do, she may be able to point us in the right direction. We'll do whatever we can to help."

Buffy hugged Tara back. "Thanks, Tara."

"But what are we going to do about Spike in the meantime?" Willow asked. "If he does stuff in his sleep he can't control, he can't sleep. And frankly, Buffy, and please don't take this the wrong way, Spike, but I don't feel comfortable with him in the house."

"Now wait a minute, Willow," Buffy began.

"No, Buffy," Spike interrupted. "Willow's right. I have to leave. And Red," he added looking at Willow, "I want you to put the uninvite spell back on the house after I'm out."

Willow nodded. Buffy opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it again. She hated it, but the fact was that until they figured out what was wrong with Spike, it was safest that he not be allowed back in the house.

"Look, love," Spike said to Buffy, "I'm going to go back to my crypt now. Would you come with me and chain me up? That way everyone's safe."

Buffy nodded but there was a knot in her stomach. The thought of chaining Spike up took her back to the time she'd had to chain up Angel. At least Spike wasn't ravingly insane.

***

"I can't believe you kept these chains," Buffy grunted as she gave one last pull. They were affixed to the wall over Spike's bed. He'd meant to just be chained to the wall where they'd originally hung, but Buffy wouldn't hear of it. He may have to be chained, but he could at least be comfortable.

"Vampire, love," Spike shrugged. "Never throw away a good set of chains."

Buffy rolled her eyes. Backing off the bed where she'd been kneeling to test the chains, she sighed and said, "I guess they're ready."

"Right then," Spike said. Sitting on the edge of the bed he removed his boots and then tugged his shirt over his head. Leaving his jeans on, he slid back on the bed and held out his arms. "All ready, love."

Buffy attached the first manacle to his wrist and then leaned across his body to attach the second. "This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I pictured you in chains," she told him as she snapped the lock shut.

Spike smiled sadly. "Me neither, love."

Buffy stood back and looked at her lover. She hated this. Hated everything about it. Slipping off her jacket and kicking off her shoes, she crawled across the bed and settled on his lap, curling up against him and laying her head on his shoulder. The chains were just long enough that Spike could wrap his arms around her.

"We'll figure out what's wrong, Spike," Buffy said softly. "I promise you we will." She turned her head up and looked at him. He lifted his hand and brushed the hair back from her face.

"I know you will."

He lowered his head and brushed a light kiss across her lips. Buffy returned the kiss, deepening it, raising her hand to hold his head. When the kiss ended, Buffy was breathing heavily and Spike's eyes had darkened to a deep midnight blue. She could feel his erection pressing against her thighs.

"I love you so much, Spike," she said as she pulled him to her for another kiss. Her mouth opened and their tongues intertwined. Keeping her mouth pressed against his, Buffy twisted until she was straddling his lap. Breaking the kiss at last, she sat back, grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Spike's hands rested on either side of her hips, and when she reached behind her back to unfasten her bra, he moved his hands up to capture her breasts in his palms. The chains dragged across her skin and Spike dropped his hands.

Buffy had had her eyes closed and her head thrown back, enjoying the feel of his hands on her. She opened them in surprise when he stopped touching her.

"The chains," Spike explained. "I don't want them to bruise you."

She smiled and reaching down, she captured his hands and returned them to her breasts. "I'm the Slayer, Spike. I heal fast."

It was all the encouragement he needed. He squeezed her breasts gently, rubbing and pinching her nipples and then bringing one breast to his mouth, he suckled eagerly. Buffy moaned, wrapping her hands around his head and lifting herself up on her knees. Spike could smell the heady musk of her arousal, and dropping his hands from her breasts, he worked at the fastening to her slacks. Getting it opened, he pulled down her zipper and then tugged the slacks down as far as they would go. When she was exposed to him, he slipped a hand between her legs and slid two fingers inside her. He watched her face alight with pleasure as she ground herself against his hand.

She was near to climax when she suddenly pushed his hand away and rolled off the bed. She shimmied out of her slacks and panties and then crawling back to him, she undid his jeans and yanked them down his legs and off.

He was hard and aching and wanted nothing more that to feel her hands on him. As if reading his mind she slid her hands up his legs and wrapped one small hand around the base of his cock. A loud groan escaped him when her mouth slipped over the head and she began to lick and suck, the tip of her tongue probing the slit and lapping up the salty drop of fluid she found there. His hips began to move as he gasped out his pleasure.

"Oh god, baby, that feels so good. So good. Yeah, like that. Oh god, I'm gettin' close, love."

Buffy lifted her head and crawled up his body to straddle him again. He guided himself into her and they both groaned as he slid home. They moved in perfect rhythm together and when at last their climaxes came, they cried out simultaneously.

Buffy collapsed against him, her head once again on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his back. She was almost asleep, still connected to him, when he said, "Buffy, don't fall asleep."

"Mmmmmm, tired."

"I know, but it's too dangerous for you to stay. You have to go home."

Buffy sat back with a sigh. "I really, really hate this."

"Me too, love."

Buffy helped him clean up and then pulled his jeans back on him. After she was dressed, she kissed him and said, "I'll be back tomorrow as soon as we've talked to Anya."

"All right. But with me being all chained up and helpless, just make sure Xander doesn't come visit me with Mr. Pointy," he told her. "Or with a stake either," he added with a smirk.

Buffy rolled her eyes, kissed him again and, reluctantly, left.

Chapter 36

Tara called Anya who agreed to meet everyone at The Magic Box an hour before opening. Buffy instructed Tara not to tell Anya anything over the phone. "This is the kinda stuff that needs to be talked about in person," she said.

Dawn didn't have school that day due to a teacher's meeting, so Buffy had taken her aside and told her what was going on with Spike. Dawn had been upset, as was to be expected, but it still surprised Buffy when she'd refused to go along with them to the Magic Box. Buffy felt an odd hurt that her sister would turn her back on Spike so quickly.

When they got to The Magic Box, Xander was struggling up a ladder with a large and obviously heavy brass incense burner. When the girls walked into the shop, he burst out, "Buffy! Super strong pal of mine. Give me a hand here, would you?"

Buffy went over, took the large tripod bowl from him as if it weighed no more than Tupperware and quickly climbed the ladder. After she climbed back down again, she asked, "Why are you here, Xander? Don't you have to work today?"

"Nope. The architect and the contractor are having an argument over the blueprints and we get the day off while they fight it out. Did you guys bring doughnuts?"

"No. Look we really just wanted to talk to Anya, so why don't you..."

"Buffy, Xander needs to know too," Willow said quietly.

Buffy stopped what she'd been saying and bit her lip. She really didn't need Xander going ballistic. She had enough to worry about right now.

"I need to know what?"

Well, too late now, she realized. Rubbing her hand across her forehead, she began to fill Anya and Xander in on Spike's situation.

"So you left him chained up in his crypt?" Xander asked.

"Yes, Xander. He can't get free to kill anyone if that's what you're worried about," Buffy said with just a bit more asperity than his comment called for.

"Hey, just asking, Buffy. I just want to know that the guy who's having dreams about killing me isn't running around loose, that's all."

Buffy sighed. "I'm sorry, Xander. I'm just feeling a little stressed right now."

"Yeah, well you have good cause." Turning to his girlfriend, he asked, "So, Ahn, any idea what we can do to fix the guy up?"

"Well, I think we should just call in Dr. Bombey."

Four pairs of eyes stared at her. "Uh, Ahn?" Xander said. "Dr. Bombay is a television character. From Bewitched? Samantha of the twitchy nose?"

Anya sighed in exasperation. "Not Dr. Bombay, Xander, Dr. Bombey."

Four blank expressions looked back at her.

"Dr. Bombey is a demon doctor. And by that I mean he's a demon and he's a doctor who treats demons. So I think we should call him in for a consultation. See if he can figure out what's wrong with Spike."

"There's a real Dr. Bombay?" Willow asked in a dazed voice.

"My life is just too weird," Xander muttered.

"Okay," Buffy said ignoring her two friends. "How do we get ahold of this doctor?"

"I think I have his number somewhere," Anya said going to a large Rolodex that she kept under the counter. Rapidly flipping through the hundreds of cards she had in the file, she finally found the one she wanted.

"It's long distance," she warned Buffy. "You'll have to pay for the call when the bill comes in."

Buffy just nodded.

***

Spike was dozing when he heard someone coming down the ladder. He stiffened when he realized who it was.

"Hi."

"You shouldn't be here, Dawn."

"Yeah. I heard you tried to kill me last night."

"Buffy told you what happened then, did she?"

"Yeah. She said you came into my room in your sleep and were going to bite me. Then you woke up and freaked out." Dawn sat down on the end of his bed and crossed her legs Indian fashion.

"Which is why you shouldn't be here."

"Why? You gonna break your chains and come after me again?"

"Not while I'm awake."

"So... what? She said that Pockla thing ripped your chip out and that's what's doing it? You're unchipped and you want to kill everyone?"

"No, I don't want to kill anyone. Well, Warren. And I wouldn't mind takin' a nip or two out of Finn. But not anyone else. I promised your sister I wouldn't hunt, and I meant it. But this, whatever it is, I can't control it. And that's why I want you to leave."

Dawn shrugged and got off the bed. But instead of leaving she walked closer to the head of the bed and then reached for something at her back. Pulling a deck of cards out of her back pocket, she got on the bed again, took the cards out of the box and began shuffling.

***

Dr. Bombey popped into the room. He was tall and broad with glossy black hair and a thick ginger mustache. He was handsomely dressed in a dark suit and tie and a silver gray vest. "Bombie," Anya squealed and ran around the counter to embrace him. They made kissing passes at each other's cheeks - right, left, right. Holding her back at arms' length, Dr. Bombey said with an elegant English accent, "Anyanka, you look lovely, my dear. You chose your present form wisely."

Anya blushed, "Thank you, Bombie. It's actually my old human form."

As the two old friends traded small talk, four young humans stared in shock at the doctor.

"I don't bleeping believe this," Xander said in a stunned voice.

"It is Dr. Bombay," Willow exclaimed.

"Do you think I look like him?" Dr Bombey asked Willow pleased. "I do try my best. He was based on me, you know. My nephew was a writer on the show."

Buffy had finally gotten over her shock and decided to take charge of the conversation. She had a sick boyfriend chained up in a crypt and she wanted him better. Now.

"Look, Dr. Bombay or Bombey or whatever the heck your name is. Do you think we could talk about Spike?"

"Spike is the patient, I presume?" he asked, turning to look at Buffy. He stopped suddenly, stepping back in alarm. "The Slayer! What is this Anyanka, a trap?"

"I'm not going to hurt you," Buffy told him. "I want you to find out what's wrong with my boyfriend."

Dr. Bombey looked at Buffy appraisingly. "Your boyfriend is a vampire? Sweet irony."

"Yeah, yeah. You gonna help or what?"

"Tell me his symptoms," the doctor said.

***

"Gin!"

"I think you're cheatin', Kitten," Spike groused. This was the third game in a row he'd lost.

"Ha! I'm not cheating, but I bet being in those chains means you can't cheat either. And that's why you're losing."

Spike was just going to respond to that insult when a commotion came from upstairs. Spike frowned. "Sounds like your sister brought the whole bleedin' lot with her."

Dawn turned to look towards the ladder and sure enough a steady stream of people began to descend. Buffy was first and stopped in surprise when she saw her sister sitting on the bed with Spike.

"Dawn? What are you doing here?"

Dawn shrugged. "Keeping Spike company."

Buffy smiled in relief. "Okay, well the doctor's here so get off the bed so he can examine Spike."

"Doctor?" Spike asked and then raised an eyebrow as he caught sight of the stranger who followed Anya down the ladder. "You have got to be joking."

"Spike, this is Dr. Bombey," Buffy introduced. Spike turned his head to look at Buffy in disbelief. "I know," Buffy shrugged. "It's majorly weird, but Anya insists he's an actual demon doctor."

"So, this is the patient is it? And a fine looking specimen he is. You have excellent taste, young lady."

"Thanks," Buffy said dryly.

The doctor set a black medical bag down on the bed and began to rummage through it. "So, you've suffered a trauma to your brain, is that correct, young man?"

"Yeah, guess so."

"Well, we'll need a M'ri to ascertain if there is organic damage."

"A M'ri?" Xander asked. "What's a M'ri?"

"This is a M'ri," the doctor stated, taking a vial out of his bag. It contained what appeared to be a small worm.

"Ewww," Dawn said. "What are you going to do with that thing?"

"We place the M'ri in the patient's eye where it will make its way to the brain. There it will perform a complete diagnostic and when finished, exit the eye. I will then be able to see what, if anything, is wrong."

"You want to stick that thing in my eye?" Spike asked in alarm.

"Don't worry, my boy," the doctor assured Spike as he removed the worm from the vial and held it up to Spike's eye. "It's a perfectly safe medical procedure." The worm wiggled out of the doctor's hand and disappeared into the corner of Spike's eye. He flinched but appeared to be in no distress. Buffy sat beside him on the bed and took his hand. He smiled at her in gratitude and then everyone waited.

The doctor found a place to sit and began scribbling notes, Xander and the girls confiscated Dawn's deck of cards and got a game of poker going while Dawn poked around Spike's bedroom curiously. Buffy and Spike simply held hands and waited quietly.

"You okay?" Buffy asked after a bit.

"Yeah. Doesn't hurt, but I feel like I need to scratch my head."

Buffy shuddered.

At last the doctor put down his pen and walked over to Spike. "Excuse me, my dear," he said to Buffy. She hurriedly got out of his way and he leaned over putting his hand under Spike's eye. The worm fell out of Spike's eye and into the doctor's palm.

"Now, let's see the results of the test," the doctor said lifting his hand. The worm immediately crawled into the doctor's own eye.

"That's just gross," Dawn said.

The wait this time was much shorter. The worm fell out of the doctor's eye, he caught it and returned it to its vial.

"Yes, well there are two problems. The first is that there is indeed a lesion in your brain caused by the removal of the chip. That, however, is healing nicely and should be completely gone in another two or three days. It's what been causing the headaches and your unusual hunger. It is not, however, what is causing your main problem. A Zar'a-tu has infested you."

"What the bloody hell is a Zar'a-tu?"

"A possessing evil spirit," the doctor said briskly as he once again began rummaging in his bag. "Many human serial killers are in fact possessed by a Zar'a-tu." He found what he had been looking for and stood straight once again giving Spike an appraising look. "It's unheard of for a vampire to suffer an infection of this sort since they are unrepentant killers in their own right. But I take it you are not an ordinary vampire."

"Spike's unique," Buffy said with more than a hint of pride.

"Yes, so it seems," the doctor agreed. "It appears that due to your vampire's uniqueness, the Zar'a-tu was able to take advantage of his weakened state while in the coma and move in. Since Spike is a vampire, however, it was only able to work on him while he was unconscious. Fortunately this particular spirit is easily dispossessed." He shook a quantity of powder out into this hand. Once again leaning over Spike he instructed, "Breathe in deeply through your nose." When Spike obeyed the doctor blew the powder into Spike's face.

Spike sneezed. And sneezed again. And again. The fourth time he sneezed so hard he doubled over and something amorphous flew out of the top of his head.

Spike lifted his head, tears streaming out of his eyes. "What the bloody hell was that?" he choked, wiping at his face.

"That, my dear boy, was the Zar'a-tu being exorcised. You should have no more problems with murderous sleepwalking. Anyone you kill will be your own choice."

"I can unchain him now?" Buffy asked, reaching into her pocket for the key to the manacles.

"Certainly."

"Wait a minute, Buff," Xander said stepping forward. "How do we know for sure he's cured?"

"Once exorcised, a Zar'a-tu cannot reclaim the victim," Dr. Bombey assured Xander. "Your Spike is now immune to its influence."

"He's not my Spike," Xander muttered. "And I just hope you know what you're talking about," he said to the doctor.

"If Dr. Bombey says Spike's cured, then he's cured, Xander," Anya said defensively. "He's the most prominent demon doctor in twelve dimensions."

"Thank you, my dear," the doctor said, preening at her compliment.

"Okay, so how do we know Spike won't just decide to kill us anyway?" Xander asked stubbornly, not yet willing to give up his view that Spike was just waiting for the chance to kill them all.

"Spike is not going to kill us or anyone else, Xander," Buffy said firmly. "You asked me once if I'd trust Spike if anything happened to his chip and I told you yes, I would. And I do." Looking at her friend sternly she added, "And you're just going to have to trust my judgement on this."

Xander sighed, looked at Tara, who nodded, and Willow, who just ahrugged. "I'm not happy about this, Buffy. I only hope you're right and no innocent people pay for your mistake."

"She's not makin' a mistake, Xander," Spike assured the young man. "I'm not killin' anyone unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Spike," Buffy cautioned.

"No, Slayer," Spike said. "I won't promise never to kill someone who really needs killin'. I will promise you not to hunt or hurt innocents."

"And who decides who needs killing?" Xander asked.

"Me."

"Buffy," Xander began to protest.

Buffy sighed. "Everyone go ahead and leave. Spike and I need to have a serious discussion." Crawling onto the bed she began to unlock the manacles.

"You'll get my bill," the doctor said as he picked up his bag and disappeared.

"His bill?" Buffy asked, but Anya was already at the top of the ladder.

Chapter 37

As everyone left the crypt, Buffy unlocked the second manacle attached to Spike's wrist and sat back on her heels. "Now, Spike, about this killing people you think need killing..."

Spike straightened up and lightly rubbed his wrists. "You might as well stake me now, pet, 'cause that point's non-negotiable. Anyone threatens you or the Bit or the girls or that prat Xander or, god help me, even Rupert, and his life belongs to me. I'll let you decide when it's some stranger involved, but I will protect my family."

"Spike..."

"There's a stake in that chest right over there, love."

"I can't let you kill people, Spike."

"So what you're sayin' is, those bastard knights find out about Dawn and they come back with the intention of killing her. I have a choice, kill or let her be killed and you say, what? I let her die because they're human?"

Buffy stared at him silently. She opened her mouth then closed it again.

Spike cupped her face in his hand. "I am what I am, Buffy. I'll control the blood lust the rest of the time, but the muzzle comes off when it comes to you lot."

Buffy looked at him helplessly. She couldn't condone his killing a human, but under the circumstance he'd just outlined, she couldn't condemn him either. Not willing to actually concede the point, she decided to avoid it.

"You hungry?" she asked, changing the subject.

"That I am," Spike grinned grabbing Buffy and flipping her under him. He knew she'd decided to avoid the issue for now and he was going to take full advantage of it. Lowering his head he began nibbling at the soft skin of her neck. Buffy shivered as tiny electric shocks passed through her body from his touch. Wrapping her arms around his bare back, she gasped, "Don't you want to eat?"

Spike raised his head and lowered his hand to the button of her slacks. "Yeah, I do," he said. Getting her slacks unfastened, he began to push at the waistband. Buffy raised her hips to allow him to slide them down. He stopped only long enough to remove her shoes and then yanked her slacks the rest of the way off. Buffy felt wanton with her bottom half exposed to him while she remained fully clothed on top. She soon felt nothing but intoxicating pleasure when he pushed her legs apart and put his mouth on her. He brought her to climax three times before pulling back and removing his jeans. Kneeling over her, he removed her blouse and bra as well.

When she was as nude as he was, he bent down and took a swollen breast into his mouth. He sucked and nibbled and lashed his tongue over the hardened peak and when Buffy thought she could stand no more pleasure, he switched breasts and started all over again. Finally lifting his mouth to hers, he settled between her thighs and entered her. Buffy wrapped her legs around his back and met him thrust for thrust. They came together, perfectly synchronized, and Buffy welcomed the weight of him as he collapsed on top of her.

Buffy hadn't slept well the night before for worrying about Spike and Spike hadn't dared sleep at all. With Spike as her blanket and Buffy as his mattress, the two drifted asleep.

Buffy awakened when Spike's weight finally became uncomfortable and, regretfully, she woke him. He rolled off her onto his back and she curled against him, her hand running up and down over the firm muscles of his abdomen. The cut he'd received was now only a faint thin scar that would soon disappear completely. "I brought some fresh blood," she said in a lazy murmur. "You want me to go fetch you some?"

"No, I'm okay. The Bit brought some with her too and I ate while we were playing cards."

Buffy leaned her head back with an amused looked on her face. "No wonder you were so frisky."

"'m always frisky around you, love," he grinned. "You know that."

"Mmmmmm," she agreed, her hand dipping lower and lower with each pass. His body responded as she'd expected and Buffy brushed the head of his cock on one of her passes. "Looks like you're frisky again."

"I feel frisky again," Spike groaned as she took him into her hand. She squeezed him tightly as he'd taught her he liked and pumped him with slow, long movements. Spike closed his eyes, threw back his head and enjoyed the sensation, his hips thrusting in time with her hand. He came with a cry, spilling his seed all over his belly.

"Now you've made a mess," Buffy teased.

"You made it, Slayer. You should clean it up." His waggling eyebrows left no doubt about the means she should use.

"Okay, ew and no," she said. Rolling off the bed, she found a clean cloth and wiped the sticky mess from his stomach.

"One of these days, I'm going to talk you into it," Spike said.

"Don't hold your breath," she said throwing the cloth onto the floor.

"Can hold my breath till doomsday, love,"

"And that's when it'll be," she quipped back. Kissing him lightly on the mouth, she got back off the bed and began to gather up her clothes. "Well, you may not be hungry, but I'm starving. Want to come to the house with me? We can take the tunnels."

Spike yawned and stretched watching her dress through slitted eyelids. "No, thanks, pet. I think I'll get some more sleep. I'll meet you for patrol later though. How's that?"

"You sure you're up for that?"

"I think I just proved to you I'm up for most anything."

With lightening fast speed, Buffy pulled something from her jacket, vaulted onto the bed, straddled him and held a stake against his chest. "You'd best only be up for me, mister."

Spike grabbed her by the back of the head and pulled her mouth down to his. Buffy quickly pulled the hand holding the stake away from his body. Their tongues waged war and when they broke apart, Spike said, "Only you, Buffy. Always you."

Buffy smiled in satisfaction. "Love you."

"Love you too."

Two more quick kisses and she rolled off the bed once again. This time she went straight to the ladder. "I'll come get you at dusk," she said and then she was gone.

Spike stretched with feline grace, smiled and closed his eyes. He felt better than he had in weeks, the Slayer was finally admitting that she loved him, and the soddin' chip was out of his head.

The Big Bad was back.

***

Spike kicked at the larger vampire and quickly twisted around, his duster flying dramatically around him, before dancing back out of the way of the creature's meaty fists. It felt so bloody good to be back in the game, and he was enjoying every bit of the fight. Buffy was fighting her own foe and as she ducked out of the way of a punch she said, "Spike?"

"Yeah, love?" Spike answered swinging his leg around to trip up his opponent.

"That doctor said he'd send a bill." Punch, dodge, kick.

"Yeah." Jab, leap, twirl, skip, punch.

"So how much do you think the bill will be?" Spin, kick.

"Dunno, love. Demons usually deal in babies." Punch, punch, skip, twirl, kick.

"What?! Oof." Irritated that the vampire had suckerpunched her when she'd been momentarily distracted, she whipped out her stake and dusted him.

"What do you mean demons usually deal in babies?!"

"Yeah, but you bein' the Slayer and all, I doubt he'll ask for a baby." He took a blow to the head, which he answered with a blow of his own. Catching sight of Buffy's face, he realized his fun was over for the time being. Taking his stake from his pocket, he twisted around and stabbed the stake into the vampire's heart. Walking through the dust cloud, he went up to Buffy and said, "Look, I was just jokin'. I'm sure the bill will be for dollars, just like a normal doctor." Spike stopped and considered a moment. "Although come to think of it, I'd probably be able to get him a baby easier than I could pay a big doctor's bill."

"Spike!"

Oops.

"For god's sake, Slayer," he covered quickly, "will you lighten up? I'm just havin' you on."

"You think that's a joke, Spike?" Buffy asked incredulously.

Spike sighed and tried to take Buffy into his arms, but she stepped back away from him, arms crossed over her chest. Running a hand through his hair, he said, "I'm sorry, love. I'm a demon and sometimes what I think is funny, well I guess 't's not."

"Well, that certainly was not funny."

"Right, baby jokes not funny. Got it. Never do it again."

Buffy just shook her head. Sometimes Spike could be the most loving, most gentle, most insightful and sensitive man she knew and sometimes it was like being with a pack of adolescent boys at their most immature.

"Come on," she said, "let's finish patrol."

***

Patrol was unusually busy that night and Buffy could tell that Spike was reveling in it. Their final battle that night took place on one of the hills that surrounded Sunnydale and when they'd dusted the last vamp, they followed the footpath back down to the valley. A break in the trees caught Buffy's attention and she stopped. "Oh, Spike, look." Moving through the trees, she came to a lookout. The lights of Sunnydale spread out like a blanket at her feet.

"What is it, love?"

"Doesn't Sunnydale look pretty from up here?" she asked.

Spike stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her. "Yeah, it does."

They stood there gazing down, relaxing and just enjoying being together. Spike's chin rested lightly on the top of her head and she leaned comfortably back against him.

"You looked like you were having fun tonight," she said softly.

"Yeah, I was. You know me, Slayer. Love a good fight."

She was silent again for several minutes and then she said in voice barely above a whisper. "Do you miss it?"

"Miss what, love?"

"Being the Big Bad?"

"I still am the Big Bad," he smirked. "Just ask all those vampires we took out tonight. Oh wait you can't, 'cause they're dust now."

Buffy's lips curled into the smallest of smiles. "Yeah, but what I meant was, do you miss having minions, going where you want to go, doing what you want to do?"

"Killing people?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah," she whispered.

Spike turned her around until she was facing him. "All that I did before... at the time I was doing it, I didn't know any better. Didn't care either. It was all fists and fangs and sod all else. And yeah, I loved it. Loved the glory of my name bein' in the books of the mighty Watcher's Council. William the Bloody," he said dramatically, "Slayer of Slayers.

"But that's the past, love," he said in a quietly sincere voice. "You and Dawn, you mean more to me than anything else I've ever known."

"But now that the chip's out?"

He traced his hand down her face, "Don't start doubting me, love. If I were to ever think of going back to my old ways, all I'd need do is look into your eyes, hear your voice - even when you're scoldin' me," he teased, "feel your body next to mine," he continued more seriously, "and I'd remember that I don't want to be anywhere else, don't want to be doing anything else. I love you, Buffy. You're my glory now."

Buffy reached up and pulled his head down to her. The kiss was deep and intense and tasted of Buffy's tears. Sometimes it still frightened her, this decision she'd made to love a demon. She would never have believed a vampire could choose to act other than his nature dictated. Angelus had taught her that all vampires were evil and corrupt. But Spike was so different - he learned, changed, grew. He was loyal and brave and he loved her. He loved her sister. And he cared about her friends.

Breaking the kiss, they stood wrapped in each other's arms, her head on his shoulder, his head resting atop hers. At last, Buffy pulled back and turned around in his arms until she was looking out over Sunnydale again. She wrapped her arms over his as he pulled her back against him.

"Besides," he said as if there had been no break in the conversation, "minions are usually more bother than they're worth. But then you'd know that from having your Scoobies."

"They're my friends, Spike," Buffy said looking up at him in mock severity, "not my minions."

"Right," he said smirking down at her. Buffy rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the view.

"I almost forgot," she said, settling against him once more. "I got a call from Giles today."

"Yeah? He have anything interesting to say? Oh, wait, we're talking about Giles. Never mind."

Buffy softly snorted a laugh. "Well, surprisingly, this time he did. He's coming home at the end of next week."

"You mean the Wanker's Council is finally cutting him loose? To be honest, love, I was beginning to think our expatriate had repatriated."

"Yeah, I thought so too. But apparently, he's finally finished whatever it was he was researching."

"So have you told Rupert about us yet?"

"Yeah. He's not happy, of course."

"Of course," Spike said dryly. "Imagine he went over the same ground Harris did. Evil, soulless, kill you in your sleep, blah, blah, blah."

Buffy gave another little laugh. "Yeah, pretty much."

"Well, don't be surprised one night when you come to my crypt and find only a big pile of dust. Don't expect Rupert's going to take me corrupting his daughter lying down."

"I'm not his daughter, Spike, and you don't have to stand there and let him dust you."

"No, but I can't really hit the old man either. One more shot to the head and the poor old sod's brains are going to dribble out."

Another snort of laughter escaped from Buffy. "Stop it, Spike. You don't need to hit him either. Just stay away from him until he gets used to it."

"So you're saying I never have to see Giles again then, is that it?"

Buffy turned back around, an amused grin on her face. "You are incorrigible."

"Guilty."

"Well, come on, Mr. Incorrigible, let's go home. I'm getting tired of standing here."

Returning to the path, they soon reached the bottom of the hill and headed toward Spike's crypt. Buffy decided it was time to broach something with Spike that she'd been thinking about for awhile. The very thought frightened her; it was such a big step. But it was also something she wanted very much. And being with Spike the last few months had taught her that if you wanted something badly enough, you should go for it.

"Spike?"

"Yeah, love?"

"I was wondering something. How attached are you to your crypt?"

"I dunno, love. It's a nice crypt and I like how we've decorated it with the oriental rugs and all."

"Yeah, it's looking real homey now."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it? Homey. Like that word."

Buffy bit her lip. "The thing is though, it's still a crypt."

"Well, yeah, guess it is. What's your point, love?"

"Well I was just wondering if you'd, that is, if you like the idea and all, no pressure or anything. If you don't want to I'll understand. I mean it's completely up to you."

"Buffy," Spike said, stopping and pulling her around to face him. "You're starting to babble like Willow, love. Tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it."

"No, I want you to do it only if you really want to."

"Right then. Only if I really want to. Now what is it?"

"Iwasjustwonderingifyou'dliketomoveinwithme," she said as quickly as she could get the words out.

Spike stared at her unable to believe he'd just heard what he'd thought he'd heard. "Say that again, love. Slower this time."

Buffy swallowed, took a deep breath and said, "I was just wondering if you would like to move in with me?"

"Move in? Permanent like?"

Buffy nodded her head.

"What about Willow and Tara? What do they think?"

"Well, I haven't really said anything to them yet, but I don't see why they'd mind. I mean, you've been at the house more than your crypt the last few weeks anyway."

"True, but I've been hurt or unconscious most of the time, too."

"I know, but still, they are used to you being around. And I'm sure Dawn won't mind."

"Of course Dawn won't mind, Buffy," Spike snorted. "Your little sis loves me."

Buffy smiled at his tone. "That she does."

Spike felt like shouting and singing and grabbing Buffy up and swinging her around. She wanted him to live with her! He'd never thought he'd hear those words.

"Well, I'll consider it on a couple conditions," he said, playing it cool as he gathered her into his arms.

"What?" Buffy asked wrapping her arms around him and nibbling on his chin.

"Well first of all, we keep the crypt for recreational purposes." He gave her his wickedest smirk. "No sense lettin' those perfectly good chains go to waste, now is there?"

Buffy felt herself flush from head to toe. "Be a shame, wouldn't it?" she said, her mouth suddenly dry.

Spike got hard as he smelled her reaction to his words. Looked like they'd be putting those chains to good use again tonight. His eyes glowed at the thought.

"Second thing," he continued after a pleasant interlude that involved kissing and groping and promises made of delights to come. "The bedroom gets soundproofed. I'd don't want to hear 'Oooh, Spike, we have to be quiet' every soddin' night. When I'm poundin' you into the mattress, I want to hear your cries and moans." He put his lips to her ear and growled. "I want to hear you scream my name."

Buffy shivered as his voice vibrated down her spine. "Yeah," she agreed breathlessly. "That sounds like a good idea, too."

"In that case, sweetheart," he said, putting his hands on either side of her face and staring into her limpid eyes, "you've got yourself a new roommate."

Buffy's smile was huge as she jumped into his arms. As their mouths met once again, Buffy wondered how Xander would feel about doing the remodeling job for her.

The End