Double Trouble Chapters 21

Chapter 21

Spike kept watch through much of the night not bothering to awaken either Buffy or the Watcher. He was tired but too keyed up to sleep. He'd sleep after they got rid of the vampire, and Angel and his crew returned to LA where they belonged. It was nearly dawn when Wesley awakened and insisted on taking over the watch. Spike moved to the mat where Buffy slept and laid down next to her. He had given her his coat to use as a blanket and he slipped under it as he curled up around her warm body. Pulling her tightly against him, he breathed in her scent feeling himself harden just from being close to her. It had been far too many days since they had last made love and Spike ached for her.

Buffy became aware of Spike's body pressed to hers and slowly awakened. Wiggling back against him, she rubbed against his erection causing a soft growl to escape from deep in his chest. Turning her head she looked into eyes dark with desire and felt her own body answer. Spike slipped his hand up her body to caress her breast, flicking a thumb over her nipple, pinching and rubbing when it hardened. Buffy's breath quickened and she lifted her mouth demanding a kiss. Spike lightly slid his lips over hers and then outlined her mouth with his tongue.

"Spike," she whispered hoarsely.

"Want you, sweetheart."

A slight movement from Wesley reminded them that they weren't alone. Buffy felt a wave of frustration pulse over her until she heard Spike whisper, "Storeroom."

Pushing away from him, she sat up and said, "Wesley, Spike and I are going to check the storeroom to make sure that Willow has everything she needs for the spell."

Getting up they walked as calmly as possible to the basement door, opened it and stepped in closing the door behind them. The door had barely shut before Buffy had wrapped herself around Spike bringing his head to hers in a hot, open-mouthed kiss. Spike grabbed her ass and pulled her tight up against his erection.

"Need you now," he growled thrusting against her, kissing her with desperate need.

"Downstairs," she gasped.

Kissing, touching, never separating, they somehow made it down the stairs and over to the far wall of the storeroom. Buffy pulled Spike's t-shirt out of the waistband of his jeans and thrust her hands up under it. Shoving the material up, she fastened her mouth on his nipples, licking and sucking while her hands roamed up and down his stomach and back.

Spike was able to stand the stimulation for a little while but then he grabbed her by the shoulders and thrust her up against the wall, kissing her savagely, grinding his hips into her, rubbing his hard-on into the juncture of her thighs. Buffy managed to get her hands between them and with shaking fingers began to undo his belt buckle. When it was undone, she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans and shoved her hand inside grasping his penis tightly and bringing a ragged groan from her vampire.

Spike pulled back from her and quickly undid the fastenings of her slacks, shoving them down and off. Grasping her thighs, he positioned her legs around him and drove himself into her. A sob escaped Buffy as she felt him enter her and she wrapped her arms and legs around him tightly. Spike braced both hands on the wall on either side of her and touching his forehead to hers he began to thrust in and out of her hot, tight body. Each withdrawal was agonizingly slow; each thrust long and unhurried, bringing cries of pleasure from Buffy. When he could no longer stand the slow pace, he moved his hands down to grasp her legs to support her and increased his tempo, all the while pushing in as far as he could, angling so that he hit her sweet spot, kissing her mouth and neck. As they neared climax, Buffy hands moved into his hair and she pulled his head to her neck. Moving her head in invitation, she begged, "Please, Spike, do it."

Closing his eyes and trying to gather some control he gasped, "He'll know if I do, love. Angel. He'll know I've tasted you."

"Don't care," she moaned. "I'm yours, not his. Only yours. Do it. Please."

Her words enveloped him with such joy he nearly threw back his head and roared in triumph. His thrusts became harder, wilder; his arms held her closer, but he resisted the temptation her sweet exposed neck provided. Buffy was desperate for this connection, this joining that meant so much to them both.

Drawing his mouth to hers she kissed him with desperate need and then pulled his head back to her neck once again "Please, baby," she begged. "I need you. I need you in me in every way." Spike could never deny her what she wanted, and, oh god, he wanted it too. Shifting into game face he sank his fangs into her neck as he pounded into her. The waves of pleasure his bite brought her pushed Buffy into a tremendous climax. Spike lasted a few strokes longer and then, a growl erupting from his throat, he poured himself into her.

As they calmed down, Buffy slowly lowered her legs but clung tightly to Spike until she was sure her legs would hold her weight. She was in no hurry to move away from him though. As her legs gathered strength, she slid her hands down his back to cup the firm globes of his ass and hold him to her.

Leaning against her, he continued to lap gently at the tiny trickle of blood that seeped from the bite in her neck. Then raising his head, he claimed her mouth with his own.

At last they pulled back slightly and gave each other slow smiles of sexual satisfaction.

Spike cupped her face gently in one hand. "I love you, Buffy."

Rubbing her face against his hand, she smiled softly and said, "I love you too, Spike."

***

They cleaned up at the small sink tucked into a corner of the storeroom, dressed and returned to the training room. The collar of Buffy's jacket effectively hid the bite mark from view, but as soon as they entered the room, Buffy heard a growl come from the couch where Angel lay. Looking over, she was shocked to find him in game face, standing and moving unsteadily towards Spike. "You son-of-a-bitch," the elder vampire roared. "You bit her. Did you really think I'd let you force yourself on her like
that?"

Buffy stood in front of Angel and placed a firm hand on his chest. When he winced from the shock of the pressure against his wounds, she quickly removed it again but held her place in front of him.

"Angel, calm down. Spike didn't do anything I didn't want him to do," she told him quietly.

Angel turned gold eyes on her and snarled, "You wanted him to bite you? Is that how you get off now?"

Buffy stiffened and she felt Spike move to her side, more than ready to fight his grandsire. "What Spike and I do is none of your business, Angel," she told him coldly.

Angel looked at her in amazement, his face sliding back into his human visage, "I always thought you smarter than that, Buffy. Don't you see that by letting him bite you during sex, you're just making it easier for him to kill you when he's ready to?"

Buffy and Spike reacted as if they were using the same brain. Rolling their eyes, they groaned and shook their heads. It was eerie watching them react in so synchronized a manner. "Angel, for the last time," Buffy sighed, "Spike is not going to kill me. Spike loves me. And I love him. You need to accept it."

Now Angel shook his head. "Even if that's true, Buffy, even if the impossible has happened and a soulless creature as evil as Spike has somehow fallen in love with you, don't you see how dangerous it is to allow him to drink from you? What if he loses control? What if he drains you because he just can't stop himself?"

"He won't," was the simple answer.

"Buffy," Angel started again, but stopped when she held up her hand.

"Angel, this discussion is over. I trust Spike and he trusts me. What we do together is nobody's business but ours. And Spike never bites me unless I ask him to. I know what I'm doing. He knows what he's doing. So just drop it."

Angel looked at Buffy's calm, determined face and realized that he had indeed lost this battle. He was sure that sometime, probably soon, he would receive a call from Sunnydale informing him that Spike had killed Buffy, maybe even turned her. He would feel no pleasure when he was proven right, he told himself righteously. But for now, he washed his hands of the affair. Buffy was determined to throw her life away and there was nothing Angel could do about it except kill Spike. And he was in no shape at present to do that. Shaking his head, he returned to his couch and sank wearily down closing his eyes to hide from the sight of Buffy and Spike together. Unfortunately he couldn't hide from the scent of sex and blood that wafted from them.

Xander had awakened when the shouting started. He was surprised when he realized that he wasn't surprised to find out that Buffy allowed Spike to bite her during sex. For the few seconds that the Vampire Willow had had her fangs in his neck, it had been the most erotic thing he had ever felt. If he had a vampire lover that he trusted not to kill him, he couldn't imagine anything hotter that to have her drink from him during sex. Sensing eyes on him, he turned his head to see the young vampiress smiling at him sultrily. He turned away quickly even as he felt himself harden just from her look. He was glad he wasn't alone with her because he wasn't sure he could resist her seduction.

Wesley frowned as he listened to the confrontation between Angel and Buffy. He was certain that Rupert wasn't aware that his Slayer was allowing such risky intimacies from her lover. Wesley would take it upon himself at the earliest opportunity to inform Giles of this dangerous practice. Apparently Buffy needed to be protected from herself. That vampire really needed to be destroyed.

***

A taxi pulled up in front of the shop shortly before eight o'clock delivering Giles and an anxious Cordelia. Cordelia immediately made a beeline for Angel checking to reassure herself that he would recover, casting hate-filled glares at a mildly amused Vampire Willow. Willow and Tara arrived fifteen minutes later carrying several boxes of assorted doughnuts. As the gang ate doughnuts and drank tea, coffee, or blood, as taste dictated, they discussed exactly what to do to return the vampire to her own dimension.

"I'm not sure how we could do it, Giles," Willow was telling the Watcher. "I'm not familiar with the spell that Anya was using, and Tara and I couldn't find anything like it in the books she has in her dorm. I think it's best we wait until Anya comes to work and then we can figure out how to do the counterspell."

Glancing over at the prisoner, Willow felt thoroughly creeped out by seeing herself as a vampire. And not a little intrigued. She really did make one sexy vamp.

***

As soon as the opportunity presented itself, Wesley cornered Giles to inform him what had transpired that morning. Giles closed his eyes as if in pain when he learned that his foolish Slayer was allowing Spike to drink from her. He was well aware that biting was a common practice between vampire couples, but that Buffy would allow it disturbed Giles profoundly.

Buffy realized that Wesley was tattling on her as soon as she saw him talking to Giles. Well, so be it. She knew she was courting trouble when she had asked Spike to bite her this morning, but she had felt the need to reestablish the tight connection the two shared, and she had been aware of Spike's jealousy and insecurity whenever she had talked to Angel. Allowing him to mark her while Angel was there was the surest way she knew to prove to Spike that she loved him completely and chose him over Angel. However she now realized that it had been foolish. They had been so careful that no one suspected he bit her when they made love. Now it was out in the open and Buffy was afraid she had just put Spike in even more danger from her Watcher. She only hoped that she could make Giles understand why she allowed--no, begged--Spike to bite her.

Spike watched the two Watchers talking quietly together and immediately knew from the expression on Giles' face what was being said. Well, the shit was going to hit the fan now. He shouldn't have listened to Buffy this morning when they were making love, regardless of how much joy her words had given him, regardless of how much he had wanted to taste her. He knew that Angel would know. He should have known that Angel would be a big drama queen about it too. If he made it through the day unstaked, it would be a minor miracle.

Chapter 22

Buffy saw no reason to delay the confrontation with her Watcher so as soon as Wesley walked away she headed towards Giles sparing a glare for Wesley as she passed him. She became aware that Spike was following her and stopped, turning towards him. "Let me handle this, Spike. Okay?"

"It's on my head more than yours, Buffy. I shouldn't have bitten you this morning; I know that. Giles doesn't trust me, and he'll think the same as Angel, that I'm doing it to keep you off-guard so that I can kill you easier. He won't understand, sweetheart."

Buffy looked into the concerned eyes of her lover and smiled softly. Drawing his head down towards her she kissed him slowly and deeply, well aware that all eyes were drawn to them. "Just wait here, honey. I can handle Giles."

Turning back around, she once again walked towards her Watcher. Giles was even more furious and frightened than he had been when he had first learned of their relationship. It had been hard enough for him to accept the fact that Buffy had chosen yet another vampire as her lover, but to be told that she was allowing him to bite her was devastating. It went beyond foolishness. It was suicidal.

"Let's go into your office," Buffy told him quietly when she finally reached him. Giles nodded brusquely and entered the office closing the door after Buffy.

"So what did Wesley tell you?"

"You know exactly what he told me, Buffy. That you are allowing Spike to feed off you when you and he are..." Giles couldn't even finish the sentence. He still tried to blank the thought of Buffy and Spike engaging in sexual relations from his mind.

"Not feed, Giles. He doesn't feed from me. Look." Turning her head and moving aside her jacket collar she showed her Watcher that the bite was already healed with only the tiniest bit of pink showing where the fangs had entered. "He doesn't even mark me. The Master left a scar. Dracula left a scar. Angel left a horrible scar. Spike doesn't." Sighing she straightened her collar again and continued. "What we do is make love, Giles." As he turned away in a gesture of distaste, she latched onto his arm pulling him back around.

"I know you don't like my relationship with Spike, Giles. You've made that abundantly clear. I've also made it clear that I love him and he loves me. We make love. And part of that sometimes - not often - includes biting. I like it. He doesn't hurt me; he doesn't endanger me. And he only does it when I ask him to.

"Giles, please understand." she continued, trying her best to make him see her point of view. "What Spike and I do gives us both pleasure, and I'm never in danger from it. He never takes enough blood to even make me lightheaded. It's a taste. That's all.

"And I like it."

The last was said with emphasis.

Giles looked hopelessly at his Slayer. She would never listen to reason when it came to Spike. She would endanger her life because she was so sure that a soulless demon loved her. And there was absolutely nothing short of staking Spike that Giles could do to prevent it.

Still he tried to reason with her one more time. "Buffy, if he should change in his feelings, then you are leaving yourself open to be killed. Or worse, turned. I've told you over and over that he isn't to be trusted. And now this. It's a dangerous game you play, one that could very well cost you your life. Please, I'm begging you now, end this unnatural relationship, and since you obviously can't bring yourself to perform your duty and slay him, at least send him away."

"No."

"Buffy..."

"No! God, Giles are you even listening to yourself? Every time I go out on patrol, I could be killed, but you don't try to talk me out of it. In fact, you've taught me it's my sacred duty to go out knowing that it's possible that I might die every time I do. And now you're all wigged because you think I'm in danger from Spike, the man who loves me?"

"Buffy, he's not a man. He's..."

"Don't say it, Giles. I know what Spike is much better than you do. Look, I think this conversation has hit a dead end. I told Angel and now I'm going to tell you. What Spike and I do is our business, not anyone else's. So please, just drop this whole thing. I'm in less danger of dying from Spike's love bite than I am of dying from Dengue fever." Glancing out of the office window and spotting Anya coming into the shop, she added, "We have more important matters to worry about right now, like getting Vampire Willow back to where she came from. Okay?" Opening the door to Giles' office she hesitated. Turning her head slightly towards him she said softly, "I hope I don't have to warn you about not attempting to stake Spike." With those final words, she walked out.

Giles stood there alone for a few minutes worried but resigned. He could only hope that in the event Spike did loose control that chip would stop him before things got out of hand. Sighing, he left the office also.

***

As soon as Buffy left Giles' office, a concerned Willow hurried up to her. "Buffy, is everything okay?"

"God, Will, don't tell me you're going to get all preachy on me too," Buffy said with exasperation. "Everything's fine, okay? Spike doesn't hurt me when he bites me. I like it. Get the picture?"

Willow looked shocked at this new information. "Spike bites you? Why?"

Buffy stared in surpirse at her friend and asked, "You don't know? Didn't Xander or Angel or that big mouth Wesley tell you?"

Willow slowly shook her head, eyes wide. "No. Why does Spike bite you?"

Buffy looked faintly embarrassed. "Oh, um, well it's when we, uh, you know," she stammered out.

Willow looked confused for a moment and then eyes widening in understanding, she blushed and said, "Oh! You mean when you and he, uh..."

"Yeah, then."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

Willow looked down at the floor for a few seconds and then asked quietly, "Why didn't you ever tell me about this, Buffy? I thought we could tell each other anything."

Buffy looked uncomfortable and then asked her friend, "Do you tell me everything you and Tara do when you're together?"

Willow, surprised by the question, blushed deep crimson, gave a little laugh and said, "Point taken. Guess I don't give too many details. It'd be TMI, wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, something like that," Buffy smiled. After an uncomfortable pause she asked quietly, "You wigged out about it?"

"The biting?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. It could be dangerous, I guess, but I know Spike loves you like crazy and I don't think he'd intentionally do anything to hurt you."

Buffy smiled relieved that at least one of her friends was taking the news so well and nodded agreement. Willow took in a deep breath and asked, "Do you like it? When he bites you, I mean?"

"Oh god, yes!" Buffy exclaimed with a breathy voice and a laugh. "Will, it's amazing."

Just then Giles came out of his office. Glancing over at him, Buffy told her friend, "I promise I'll give you full details later, okay? We need to get rid of Skank Willow first before I just decide to dust her."

Willow smiled and whispered, "I'll hold you to that. I want all the juicy details." Looking into the training room, she saw Tara looking at the young vampire with fascination. Vampire Willow was looking with equal interest at Tara. Deciding that she should join her girlfriend, Willow hurried back into the room leaving an amused Buffy behind.

Buffy watched as Giles walked to the shop door, flipped the sign back to "Closed" and locked the door. Anya looked up in surprise from the cash register she was preparing for the day's sales and said, "Mr. Giles, why did you relock the door? It's time for the shop to be open. If you lock the door we will miss sales."

"Yes, I'm aware of that, Anya," Giles said, "but we have another situation today and your assistance is required."

Anya looked decidedly nervous and said hesitantly, "What situation, Mr. Giles?"

"Come with me please, Anya," he answered walking back to the training room.

Anya followed her employer with a certain reluctance in her step. Buffy waited until she had passed before following. Giles entered the training room and waited for Anya to join him. Anya entered and then halted in her tracks as if hitting an invisible wall. "Oh no," she wailed. "Why is she here? I thought Buffy was going to dust her."

"Yes, well Angel and Wesley decided that it would be best to return her to her own dimension. Buffy has agreed. We need to know what spell you and Willow were using that brought her here in the first place."

Anya felt her whole world dissolving around her. There was no way that the two Watchers would fail to realize that the spell was transdimensional in nature, meant to pull something from another dimension. How could she possibly explain that she was trying to retrieve her "stolen" necklace from another dimension?

Shaking in fear, Anya turned and bolted from the room.

Chapter 23

Shaking in fear, Anya turned and bolted from the room, only to run smack into Buffy. The move surprised Buffy and she fell back from the impact. Anya gave her a sharp shove and sped towards the front door ignoring Giles' surprised voice calling her name.

She almost made it to the door before small, strong hands grasped her and swung her around.

"Anya, what's wrong with you?" Buffy asked, not a little confused at the girl's reaction to Giles' request.

"I-I can't do a spell to return her to her dimension. I-I don't know what happened. I just want to leave. Mr. Giles," she cried out looking past Buffy to where Giles stood in the training room door, "I'm sorry I've caused such a problem. I resign my position. I'll just get my purse and go."

She attempted to step around Buffy to fetch her purse from behind the counter only to find her way blocked by an increasingly pissed-off Slayer. "It doesn't matter whether or not you know a spell to return the vampire to where she belongs. We have two Watchers here, one of whom is extremely smart, and two witches, both of whom are also extremely smart," Buffy explained with forced patience. "Just give them the spell you were using and they'll figure out a way to reverse it."

Anya stood before Buffy, twisting her hands nervously. Never since her pendant had been broken had she felt so frightened and defenseless. When the Mayor was planning his Ascension, she had just skedaddled out of town until the danger had passed. But now, faced with such a formidable group, Anya was terrified. What would they do to her? She was human now, yes. But she had been a Vengeance Demon for over a thousand years. She had killed more people and destroyed more lives than she could count. It had been her spell, her endeavor to regain her power source, her desperate attempt to become a demon once more, that had brought forth the vampire. Would the Slayer ignore her now human state and kill her anyway?

Tears welling in her eyes, she looked desperately at Giles and begged, "Please, just let me go! Please!"

Xander pushed past Giles and walked slowly towards the distraught young woman. Her distress was touching a place deep inside him, and he felt the need to offer her comfort.

"Anya? I don't know why you're so upset, but whatever it is, we're your friends. Just help us with Vampire Willow and we'll help you. Okay?

Xander's voice was calm and when he reached Anya he ran a soothing hand up and down her arm. Anya looked at him with tear-filled eyes and then breaking down she flung herself into his arms, soaking his shirt with her tears.

"Please don't let her kill me, Xander. Please!"

Looking at Buffy with shocked eyes, Xander found himself wrapping the weeping girl in his arms and making calming shushing sounds to her. Spike had come to stand next to Buffy and he was watching the current drama with narrowed eyes. When Anya had finally pulled herself together somewhat, he said, "You know, pet, I've felt there was something not quite right about you since the first moment we met. You want to let us in on your secret now?"

"Secret?"

"Well, there's obviously something not right here, Slayer. For a young mortal woman she knows too damned much about demons and such. She's no family we've ever heard of and from what you've told me, she just appeared at school one day claiming to be a transfer. I'd say there's more to her than meets the eye.

Am I right, Anya?"

Sniffing and wiping her eyes, Anya nodded her head in defeat. There was no use in pretending anymore. They weren't going to allow her to leave until they had the truth out of her. She could only hope that they would take pity on her now helpless human status.

"I'll help you send the vampire back where she belongs," she said with a shaky voice. "Just let me gather up the ingredients, okay?"

"Sure," Buffy said coldly. "Just as long as you don't try to leave our sight."

Anya nodded again, swallowed nervously, and began gathering up the necessary items, her arms filling up with the supplies. She was surprised when strong hands reached out to take the overflow from her. Xander was standing next to her, looking at her with kind regard. Why hadn't she ever noticed how nice his eyes were?

When she had gathered everything she needed, she slowly walked towards the training room. Stopping near the chained vampire, she knelt down and began to arrange the items in a circle.

"I'm going to need Willow's help again," she stated softly.

"Please explain to us exactly what you are doing, Anya," Giles told her firmly.

Taking a steadying breath, Anya replied, "I'm going to perform a transdimensional temporal fold. It's nearly the same as the original spell I cast with the exception that I'll be returning something instead of trying to call something forth."

"A transdimen... Are you telling us that you meant to pull something from another dimension when you originally cast the spell?" Giles asked incredulously.

Anya looked up at Giles and then looked around for Xander begging him with her eyes for support. He was standing close to her and reached out to squeeze her shoulder comfortingly.

"I was trying to recall my pendent," she said in a voice barely breaking a whisper.

"Pendent?" Giles asked in confusion. "You lost a pendent in another dimension? How?"

Spike was staring at Anya with widened eyes. "Pendent?" he echoed. "I'll be fucked! You're a Vengeance Demon, aren't you?"

Anya gave him a startled look, while Giles and Buffy said simultaneously "A Vengeance Demon?"

"Sure," Spike answered with a snort. "Knew one once. Name of Halfrek. Had Daddy issues. You know her, pet?"

At Anya's nod, he continued. "Vengeance Demons are human women who've been hurt or betrayed in some way. Sometimes by men, sometimes by parents. Doesn't matter really, just so they burn with the need for vengeance. D'Hoffryn, the grand poobah of Arashmahar, recruits these women and turns them into demons. Then they set about wreaking vengeance on behalf of those who summon them. Those pendants they wear are the source of their power."

Everyone was staring at Anya. "Are you saying that Anya is one of these Vengeance Demons?" Buffy asked.

"She's human, not a demon," Tara insisted.

Anya gave Tara a tremulous smile. "I am now, but Spike's right. I was a Vengeance Demon until Mr. Giles broke my pendent and turned me back into a human."

"What?!" Giles exclaimed. "I did no such thing. I'm sure I would remember if I had met you in the guise of a demon. I've only known you as a student and now my employee. And I've broken no one's pendent"

Swallowing again, Anya explained. "I was a Vengeance Demon when Cordelia summoned me."

Cordelia, who had been listening in fascinated silence jerked in surprise and exclaimed, "I never summoned you. The first time I ever saw you was when Harmony introduced us."

Anya nodded. "That was after you found Willow and Xander kissing, remember? You performed the proper ritual, I heard your plea and answered it."

All eyes now turned to Cordelia who protested, "I never performed any ritual to summon any demon!"

"Did you not cut up and burn all of the pictures you had of Xander and did you not weep and wish vengeance against him?"

"Well, yes. But-but I wasn't trying to summon any demons. I mean, he had cheated on me with her for god's sake." Cordelia pointed an accusing finger at Willow, who blushed and looked down. "I was just mad and-and humiliated. I did not summon a demon."

"I answered the pain in your heart, the burning of your lover in effigy, not your words. You summoned me, Cordelia. I answered the summons."

"Xander was never my lover," Cordelia insisted indignantly. Xander glared at her in reply and she glared back.

"Well this is very interesting," Giles said, "but just how exactly does all this tie in with your claim that I broke your pendent and turned you back into a human? And just where does this vampire double of Willow come in?"

"Well, you see," Anya said, "it all came about because of Cordelia's wish."

Chapter 24

"It all came about because of Cordelia's wish," Anya said.

"I didn't make any wish!"

"Yes, you did," Anya insisted.

"Cordelia wished me to be a vampire?" Willow yelped.

"Not exactly," Anya explained. "Cordelia wished that Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale."

"Oh," Cordelia said softly.

"What? What did my coming to Sunnydale have to do with anything?"

"She thought that hanging out with you made Xander looked cooler than he really was."

"Hey!" Xander protested.

Ignoring Xander's interruption, Anya continued. "She then wished that you had never come to Sunnydale."

"So?" Buffy asked. "I wish things all the time. Doesn't make any difference."

"Makes a difference when you wish to a Vengeance Demon, doesn't it, Anya," Angel, who'd been silent until now, said coolly.

Anya nodded her head. "I made it so."

"Huh?"

"I created a reality where you never came to Sunnydale."

Everyone except Spike and Angel gasped in surprise.

"Good lord, are you telling us that you have that much power that you can completely change the reality of the world?"

"Had," Anya asserted. "I had that much power."

"So Vampire Willow is actually me?" Willow asked tremulously glancing over to a very amused double. The vampire made a kissy face at her, and Willow looked away in discomfort.

Anya nodded. "When I made it so that Buffy never came to Sunnydale, The Master's servant completed the Harvest. The Master and his minions were able to take over Sunnydale. There were very few humans left. Mr. Giles was one of them."

"So I somehow figured out that the new reality was false?"

"Cordelia still had memories of the old reality. She found you and told you to call Buffy to Sunnydale, that the Sunnydale you knew was different from the one she knew. Somehow you figured out what had happened. You summoned me which, by the way, really angered me," Anya emphasized with a glare at Giles. "You weren't a scorned woman. It was totally against the rules."

Giles merely gave her a steady look and she nervously returned to her story. "Anyway you broke my pendent making me human again and reverting the new reality back to what had been at the exact moment the wish was made. I was stuck in the persona I had created to get close to Cordelia."

"But if our reality was returned, why does Vampire Willow still exist?" Buffy asked.

"Because once something is created it cannot be destroyed, only changed. That reality exists from the time I made it until my pendent was broken. Vampire Willow exists in that reality in that time. As does my pendent."

Buffy frowned and asked, "But if we really lived it, why wouldn't we remember that alternate reality? I don't remember anything about it."

"No you wouldn't remember it because to you, it never really happened. It's really hard to explain, but the other you wasn't really the you you are. Understand?"

"Uh, no."

"So you were trying to reclaim your power source so that you could become a Vengeance Demon again, is this correct?" Wesley inserted himself into the conversation for the first time.

"Yes, that was my intention." Looking around at all the shocked, disapproving faces, she exclaimed. "You don't understand! I hate being human. I hate being weak and powerless and friendless and dependent on a stupid job in a stupid magic shop for my livelihood. I just want to be what I was." Putting her head in her hands, she began sobbing once again.

Sighing, Xander knelt down beside the weeping girl and patting her back gently he said, "You aren't friendless, Anya. We're your friends."

Looking up with tear-filled eyes, Anya said, "Are you really?"

"Of course we are. Aren't we, guys?" he said forcefully. Everyone obediently if not enthusiastically nodded assent.

"See," Xander smiled at her. "You're not alone. You have lots of friends."

Anya smiled a watery smile at Xander. "So does this mean that Buffy's not going to kill me?"

Buffy looked shocked at the question. "Hey, I don't kill humans," she insisted.

"Oh. Good then. I was afraid that since I had been a Vengeance Demon for over a thousand years..."

"I knew it," Tara exclaimed.

Everyone's attention turned to Tara who blushed and said, "Sorry. Nothing. Sorry."

Turning back to Anya Buffy asked, "So how does this work? When she returns to her reality, will she remember us?

Anya nodded agreement. "Probably. We're not changing anything about the realities this time, just returning her to where she belongs. It should even be to the exact second from which she was taken."

"She won't be able to come back, will she?" Xander asked nervously.

Anya shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

"You don't think so? Look, Anya, if there's a chance that The Master from that reality can come into ours..." Giving the vampire a cold stare, Buffy added, "Maybe it's best if I just dust her. Remove any possibility of that happening."

"Hey!" the vampire shouted. Buffy glared at her.

"Oh."

"Willow? Something wrong?"

"Uh, no. It-it's just that, knowing she really is me, or rather another me, it just seems, you know, kinda ooky to just dust her. I mean, I understand why you're worried. The Master, bad." Turning to Anya she asked, "Do I understand correctly? That reality doesn't exist past the time the spell was broken?"

"It shouldn't," Anya answered.

"So how much time will, uh, Vampire Willow have once she's returned to her own reality?"

"I'm not sure, but not too long I don't think. I was trying to retrieve my pendent from the time right before Mr. Giles smashed it."

"See," Willow said with nervous enthusiasm, "she probably won't have time to even tell The Master about us."

The vampire started pulling at her chains when she heard this. Buffy walked over to her and pulled out a stake.

"Buffy, please!"

Buffy looked at Willow and sighed in surrender. "Fine, but can we just get on with it? I'm really tired of all of this and I'd like to take a shower and go to bed sometime this week."

"Yes," Anya said. "We can do it right now." Looking at Willow, she said, "I really do need you to help me, okay?"

Reluctantly, Willow left Tara's side and went to join Anya in the spellcasting.

Buffy moved away from the vampire. Lowering her head she began massaging her temples with her fingertips. Strong, cool hands began rubbing at the tight cords at her shoulders and neck. "You okay, love?"

"Yeah," Buffy smiled at her lover enjoying the feel of his strong hands on her tense muscles. "It's just trying to understand Anya's explanation gave me a headache. It doesn't make any sense. That reality existed for a period of time but then the spell was broken and we went back to where we were before it was cast but that other reality still exists for that same period of time. Oh, my poor brain."

Spike chuckled and turning her around pulled his Slayer into his arms. "You should know by now that things in Sunnydale don't always make sense, sweetheart. Look at us."

Buffy had laid her head on his chest when he had pulled her to him. Now she raised her head and said softly, "Out of everything in my life, Spike, you're the one thing that makes the most sense."

Spike swallowed hard fighting to contain the emotions that flooded him upon hearing her words. Pulling her tight against him he lowered his head to rest on the top of hers. Wrapped in each other's arms, they clung together in a cocoon of comfort.

Chapter 25

Tara watched with concern in her eyes as Willow went to join Anya. She knew the spell was necessary in order to return the vampire to her proper place, but there was no doubt that it was an extremely powerful one and would drain even more of Willow's energy.

"So, I'm a witch here?"

Tara looked at the vampire that wore her lover's face and looked away again.

"Yes, we both are."

"So, you're what? Her girlfriend?"

Tara merely nodded.

"How come she's doing the spell and not you?"

"Sh-she's stronger than I am."

"She has power?"

Tara swallowed nervously and nodded again.

"Bet she enjoys the power."

"Wha-what do you mean?"

"The spells, the power she wields. Bet she loves it. I love my power."

"She's n-not you. You're completely different from her."

"Different, but still her. We were weak, and now we're not. I didn't know about the magic. I'd like to have that too. Maybe the demon's wrong. Maybe my reality won't cease to exist once her spell's broken. Maybe I'll experiment with magic when I get home. I think The Master would appreciate a witch-vampire." Flicking her eyes up and down the blonde witch's body, she smirked, "Maybe I'll find you too. Then we can have fun like you and she has, only better. Ever fuck a vampire?"

Tara turned to walk away from her taunting voice.

"We're really good, you know. Why do you think the Slayer's fucking that one?"

At Tara's look of distaste at the her crudity, she gave a mocking laugh that brought Buffy over.

"I don't know what you're saying to Tara, but if you want to stay undusted long enough to get back to your own world you'll keep your mouth shut."

Willow smirked and said, "Just telling her how much fun a vampire can be, Slayer. You never filled her in on our staying power?"

Buffy pulled a stake from her pocket and said coldly, "I think I'll just save the girls all the trouble of doing that spell."

The vampire glared at her. "You know, where I'm from The Master killed you. I saw it just before I was pulled into this world. He grabbed your head and gave it a nice twist. The sound of your neck breaking was like music."

"Is that right? Well he killed me in this world too. But you know what? I got over it. And then I killed him right back."

The vampire's eyes flashed gold at Buffy's taunting words.

"Buffy?"

Buffy turned in response to Anya's voice. "Yeah?"

"We're ready to start now. You and Tara should step away from her."

They moved away with alacrity and when they were far enough distant from the vampire, Anya began the supplication. This time there were no hitches. The sacred sand was poured, the power released and suddenly empty chains fell to the floor.

Vampire Willow was gone.

***

She found herself back in her world, struggling with two of the White Hats, Larry and a short, skinny boy with a wolfish face. They pushed her back and before she could free herself, she felt a sharp piercing in her back. As she felt herself begin to disintegrate she only had time to say, "Fu...".

Larry and Oz turned away as the vampire's dust filtered down to the floor of the factory.

***

Buffy heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that the vampire had disappeared. Looking at Anya she asked, "She's really back where she belongs, right? You didn't just teleport her to another part of town?"

Anya lifted a shaking hand to brush a loose strand of hair out of her eyes. "No, she's back in her own reality." Looking down, she noted with disappointment that she hadn't been able to grasp the pendent when the portal had opened up. She had been too afraid to make that part of the incantation too obvious, but apparently her quickly revised spell hadn't worked. Looking back up she found herself staring into smiling brown eyes.

"So," Xander said, rubbing his hands together, a huge grin on his face, "Anyone up for pizza?"

Though addressed to the room at large, it was obvious he was really asking only one person. Anya smiled and nodded agreement, her disappointment fading away. Xander's smile broadened.

***

The shop finally opened for business after everyone had eaten. Anya had insisted that since she was going to remain human, she needed to earn money to live on. Tara and Willow returned to school although both were really too worn out from the last few days to attend class. They weren't too tired however to enjoy a little together time in Tara's dorm room.

Xander dropped the two girls off at their dorm and returned to his musty basement apartment for a quick nap. He was surprised that his dreams involved Anya, the chains that had confined Vampire Willow, and the feather duster that Anya used at the shop.

Spike insisted that Buffy go home for some rest. She insisted that he return to his crypt and away from Angel. He was happy to comply.

Wesley and Giles spent the rest of the day getting reacquainted. Giles was surprised by just how much the younger man had changed. He suspected that given time, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce would become a formidable man.

Cordelia decided to pay visits on some of her friends while Angel rested and allowed his wounds to heal.

***

Evening found everyone back at the Magic Box knowing that the group from LA would leave as soon as it was dark enough for Angel to travel safely. As they prepared to leave, Buffy accompanied Angel out to his car. He was still in considerable pain, but his accelerated healing powers had already repaired much of the damage he had sustained.

"Buffy, I know you don't want to hear this..."

"Then don't say it," Buffy said firmly. Sighing she continued, "Look, Angel, I know you have concerns. Giles has concerns. Wesley has concerns. They're unnecessary." Looking directly into his eyes she told him, "What Spike and I have is...good. It's not what you and I had. It's not even what you and I could have had if it wasn't for the whole Angelus issue. It's different, but it's good. It's very good. I love him so much sometimes I ache with it. Please try to understand, Angel. And don't sneak back into town to try and kill him."

Angel looked into Buffy's eyes trying to find the girl he loved but instead found a woman he no longer knew. She had moved on. Perhaps it was time he did too.

"You ever need me, Buffy, you know where I am."

"Ditto."

As Angel got into the backseat of the big convertible, Buffy turned to the two already ensconced in the front. "Wesley, Cordelia. Thanks for your help."

"Sure," Cordelia waved her thanks away. "I haven't had this much fun since graduation day. No, wait a minute, yes I have."

Buffy just smiled. Cordelia was Cordelia and would never change. Looking at Wes she said reluctantly, "You really were a big help, Wesley. Thanks."

"I'm glad I was of some small assistance, Buffy. I hope this makes up for a least a little of my incompetence when I was your Watcher."

"Uh, sure, Wesley." Backing away from the car as Wesley started the engine she gave one more small wave and watched them drive away.

When the car had disappeared from view she walked back into the Magic Box to rejoin her friends, her Watcher, and the man she loved.

Epilogue

The crypt was lit by only one fat pillar candle. The dim glow was just enough for a Slayer and a vampire to make their way across the well-known space and to the ladder that led to the lower level.

After Angel's departure they had left the Magic Box for patrol. It had been unusually busy. The demonic denizens of Sunnydale had sussed out that the Slayer was otherwise occupied the last few nights and had taken advantage of the situation.

They now understood that things were back to normal.

Making their way to the ladder, Buffy and Spike descended to his bedroom. It too was dimly lit by a single candle. Separating, the two made a circuit of the chamber lighting more candles until the area glowed warmly in the soft light. Coming together again, they embraced and kissed gently. Lips slid softly against lips, arms encircled bodies pressed closely together. Their tongues danced together, tip touching tip then retreating only to come together again. Buffy felt desire growing in her as she ran her hands across her lover's firmly muscled back. Pulling away from him, she slid his duster from his shoulders to puddle on the ground at his feet. He in turn slid her jacket off her arms. Next his shirt, and then hers. She pulled at his t-shirt tugging it from the waistband of his jeans and when it was loose she pushed it up and over his head. Returning to his mouth, Buffy kissed him tantalizingly, nipping at his full lower lip, sucking his tongue into her mouth, then pulling back to pepper his collarbone and chest with light, teasing kisses, stopping to suck briefly on his nipples and then returning to his mouth.

Spike reached behind her and unhooked her bra, sliding the straps down her arms and throwing it across the room. Pulling her to him, he crushed her breasts into his chest drawing a moan from them both.

They traded long lingering kisses for several minutes until Buffy pulled her mouth from his. Sliding her arms from around his neck she lightly ran her hands across his shoulders and down his chest, rubbing across his nipples and then down to his firm, flat belly. Spike's head dropped back at the wonderful sensations her touch gave him.

"You're so beautiful," Buffy murmured as she continued her journey down his body. Kneeling in front of him, she unbuckled his belt and unfastened his jeans. Pulling them down, she freed his erection. "So very beautiful." Her voice was almost reverential as she slid her warm hands up and down his shaft pumping him gently. Gathering his balls into her hands, she massaged them tenderly before she took one into her mouth sucking gently, then switched to the other.

Spike's moans were like music to her. Whenever she gave him pleasure, it filled her with such warmth she fairly glowed. Moving her mouth up, she licked along the vein until she reached the head, swollen and begging for attention. She loved this part most of all, she thought as she took the sensitive tip into her mouth lapping at the droplet that awaited her. Running her tongue around the smooth, cool flesh, she slowly began to draw even more of him into her mouth. Sucking deeply, she moved her head up and down the thick shaft, opening her throat to allow in as much of him as she could handle.

Spike's hands were wrapped in her hair, moaning out praise to her, "God, baby, that feels so good. Yeah, love, like that, just like that. You've the sweetest little mouth, love. Yeah, baby, god yes, ah, sweetheart."

It was when she lightly dragged her teeth along his shaft that he lost control. An animal-like growl emanated from deep in his chest and he grabbed her up, kissed her roughly and tossed her onto the bed. She gave a surprised little "Oof!" when she hit the mattress and bounced. Looking over at him with wide eyes, she saw him lunge for her.

He had every intention of ripping her remaining clothing from her body and burying himself deep within her. It was a good plan. One of his best. Unfortunately for Spike, he forgot that his pants were pooled around his ankles. As Buffy watched him leap forward, he tripped and landed flat on his face on the faux Persian rug that covered the floor. As Buffy sat up in concern, Spike pushed himself up cursing a blue streak. Reaching down he tugged at boots and pushed at trousers trying desperately to remove the tangled garments. "Get off, you motherfucker! Goddamnit! Get! The! Fuck! Off!"

Buffy tried to hold the laughter in, she really did. But seeing Spike trying to wrangle his way out of his boots and jeans, getting more angry and frustrated as the stubborn clothing seemed to fight him, kicking out with his legs trying to shed the unwanted garment, tugging and pulling while a steady stream of profanity erupted from his mouth was more that she could bear.

At first it was just one small snort, then another and then another until she was laughing so hard tears streamed from her eyes and her breath hitched. Spike glared up at her as he at last kicked his jeans off. Jumping up he growled, "Oh you think that was funny do you, Slayer?" This time his leap was more successful. He actually made contact with the mattress. However Buffy had rolled off the bed while was he still in midair. Standing on the far side of the bed she squealed, "Oh no! A big bad vampire is after me! Whatever shall I do?" A light flashed in Spike's eyes and he quickly switched into game face. "That's right, little girl, I'm going to get you. Run all you like. You can't get away from me!"

Spike scrambled off the bed and the chase was on. Buffy shrieked and giggled and dodged while Spike chased her all over the bedchamber. Every time he almost had her she would twist out of his reach with a shrill little scream at the last second. Her naked breasts bounced enticingly before him, her squeals and giggles floated back to him. She looked like a golden nymph and he grew harder with each second that passed. His speed was less than vampire fast and when she shoved a chest in his way, he made a great show of falling over it. Buffy took advantage of his fall to remove one boot and throw it at him. As he dodged and stumbled, rolling out of the way of the deadly missile, she removed the second boot and tossed it too.

Spike knocked the boot away this time and reaching out managed to grab her by the waistband of her slacks pulling her down to the ground. As they wrestled, he unbuttoned her slacks and when she kicked out trying to get away from him, Spike pulled them off her. Now clad only in her panties she escaped his grasp. Scrambling up, she ran away again only to find herself trapped between Spike and the bed. She jumped in an attempt to leap over the bed, but Spike tackled her as she left the ground and landed with her on top of the mattress. Straddling her, he held her hands above her head. She struggled against his grip, although not very hard. "Got you now, don't I," he growled in mock fierceness. Looking up into his demon visage, she cried out in a high breathy voice, "Oh no, you've caught me! What are you going to do to me, you big bad vampire?"

Leaning down, he growled into her ear, "I'm going to eat..." Switching out of game face he trailed kisses down her neck, across her shoulder, and down her chest to her breasts. "you..." Covering one breast with his mouth he licked across her nipple, rolling it around with his tongue, pulling at it as it hardened. Switching to the other breast, he nibbled lightly on the swollen bud, sucking and swiping his tongue over the pebbled tip drawing groans from his captive. Continuing his journey down her body, he kissed his way down her stomach until he reached the waistband of her panties. Tearing the swatch of material from her hips, he spread her legs and settled himself between them. Looking up from his position he held her gaze as he finished, "up."

Buffy hips thrust up as he opened her and flicked his tongue over her sensitive button. At her little gasp of pleasure he pulled her swollen clit into his eager mouth and sucked gently. Now it was Buffy's turn to entwine her fingers in his hair and moan as he pleasured her with his mouth. She loved it when he stuck his long, tightly pointed tongue into her, moving in and out and then returning to lap at her clit. His tongue circled and then pressed deeply into the sensitive bundle of nerves causing her to cry out again and again.

Spike felt her muscles begin to clench and knew she was close to climax. Crawling up her body, he positioned himself so that the tip of his penis just barely pierced her opening. Buffy stared at him with passion-glazed eyes, wondering why he wasn't entering her.

"Tell me you want me."

"I want you, Spike. You know I do."

He entered her just a tiny bit more.

"Tell me you love me"

"I do love you, very much."

He began pushing his way more deeply into her, all the while staring into her eyes.

"In fact..."

He stopped moving. "In fact?"

Buffy smiled gently and ran a hand down the side of his face running her thumb over his cheekbone, sliding it across his full lips, her eyes tracing the path her thumb took. Returning her gaze to his she said softly, "I not only love you, I like you."

Spike blinked. "You do?"

"Uh huh." Pulling his head down so that his ear was close to her mouth she whispered, "Don't tell Willow or Xander this, but you're my best friend."

Spike looked at her with wonder in his eyes. Never taking his eyes from hers, he slowly pushed himself the rest of the way in. They'd made love hundreds of times in the past few months but this night's was special. They moved against each other slowly, gently allowing the desire to grow but never allowing it to consume. When their climax came, it wasn't an explosion but a melding of essences, a flowing together of two beings until there was only one.

Neither had ever felt anything like it. Spike felt as if a warm light was invading him, as if Buffy was sharing her soul with him. The demon in him bathed itself in that light and relinquished a little more of its control, allowing the man that had been to reclaim a little more sovereignty.

Spike was a monster. He knew that. But with Buffy he was becoming a man.

***

London, England

"You're sure she has that much power?"

"Sir, my considered opinion is that her untapped potential is astounding. As I said in my report, she cast a very powerful black magic spell without benefit of spoken incantation or preparation. She merely pointed her finger and called out "Pain!" If it hadn't been for Miss Summers and that other young woman, I believe we would have been relieved of our Faith problem right then.

"Interesting," Quentin Travers mused. "Very interesting."

The End