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Shanna
shannalynn9064@yahoo.com
Spike woke to someone softly kissing his neck. The lips and tongue were warm, as was the breath drifting across his cool skin, so unless Peaches went and got all human-like along with his soul, his money would be on Red. The vampire cracked one eye and smiled down at the top of the head buried against the column of his neck.
He reached out and stroked his fingers through the fiery tresses there, and smiled his contentment. If he wasn’t the Big Bad, he might actually allow himself to purr at her teasing kisses. Instead he pulled her head back and lowered his lips to hers, kissing the witch slow and long until she was panting for breath. Breathing was definitely overrated, he decided, especially if it mean he had to stop kissing Red.
"Afternoon, pet. Have a good nap," he asked softly.
The redhead stretched like a satisfied cat, then wrapped her arms around him. She nodded, her head resting on the pillow. "Nice nap. You?"
"Was all right, I s’pose." He cuddled her closer and nipped her collarbone. He looked at his grand-sire sleeping on her other side, a small smile on the vampire’s lips. "Looks like you wore out Peaches."
Willow looked back and smiled softly at Angel, then turned back to Spike. "That’s OK. I think we need to talk anyway."
She felt the blonde’s body tense at her words and gave him a reassuring hug. "It’s nothing bad, Spike. I just think there are a few things that need to be said. You know, clearing the air, and it might be better if we were alone to do it. Uh, talk that is. You know, not with the umm, sex stuff, although I like that too, but right now, talking. Yes, talking is of the good and needs done, not the sex, although maybe later, . . .if you wanted to. . .," Willow’s ramble trailed off and ended with a blush.
Spike leered down at the woman in his arms. "Sounds like a plan, pet. Where did you want to go to. . .talk?" He squeezed her bottom at his last word and waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Willow rolled her eyes and slapped his arm. "Our room."
"Right. Good idea." Spike rose and walked around the room gathering their clothes. He smirked at the appreciative looks his witch was throwing his way as he strutted around naked. He bent to retrieve her panties and scented her arousal in the air. He hoped this conversation wouldn’t last too long. He had better things in mind to do with his witch than talk.
*******************************************************
Giles felt a headache coming on. He continued about his business, restocking the shelves of the Magic Box. That wasn’t the reason for his headache, however. He actually found that activity to be rather soothing to his frazzled nerves. His nerves were currently being tested by one small blond slayer following him about his appointed tasks.
"Giles, there has to be something else going on. Why does Spike need to stay there? He can’t feed from Wills. He’s Neutered Vamp, remember?"
Giles climbed the ladder and began re-shelving books as his slayer handed them up to him. "I’m quite aware of Spike’s limitations, Buffy. I just simply don’t see a need for him to come back right now. Things are slow here at the moment, and there haven’t been any portents or prophesies that I’m aware of. If Angel is willing to put up with Spike, I’m quite willing to let him stay there as added protection for Willow."
The blond frowned. Everything Giles said made sense, but there was just something not quite right. "I just don’t get it. Something’s not copacetic. Every time I talk to Wills she has that tone in her voice, like there’s something she doesn’t want to tell me. Oh, no!" Buffy dropped the remaining books in her arms, much to the chagrin of her watcher. "She’s dying, isn’t she? We can’t find a cure and this stupid bite is killing her!"
"Buffy, I assure you, Willow is not dying." He climbed down and picked up the abandoned books from the floor. He didn’t know how much longer he would be able to hold off his slayer and Xander. Both were extremely agitated by the entire situation. They missed their friend and were worried about her being fed upon by a vampire that had terrorized them all at one point. How was he supposed to tell them that they shouldn’t worry. . .especially when he knew what was really occurring in LA. *He* was worried.
"If she’s not dying, what is she hiding?" Buffy peered at her watcher, and noticed he wasn’t meeting her gaze. Her eyes narrowed. ‘What was *Giles* hiding?’
"Buffy, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Willow is in perfectly capable hands. You know that Angel wouldn’t hurt her. Now, if you don’t mind, I do have quite a bit of work to do here."
The slayer watched her watcher stomp off toward the storage room in silence. She just didn’t like it. Something was wrong with Willow. She could tell. She hadn’t been best friends with the redhead for four years without being able to sense that fake happy tone in her voice when she was trying to hide something. She always sounded like she was high on caffeine when she tried to lie. The weekend was coming. Maybe a nice little trip to LA was in order. She was sure she could get Xander to drive. He was just as worried about Willow as she was.
Buffy nodded to herself. It was a plan. Not a take down the Big Bad of the month plan, but a plan nonetheless. LA, here I come.
**************************************************
Spike heard the door click shut behind them. He turned to face his Red and tried to read the expression on her face. It was a new one. He had never seen this one before.
"Spike," she began quietly, "why would you think that I wouldn’t want to be with you after I’d helped Angel?"
"He’s the Poof. He’s got a soul and all," he muttered, lowering his gaze. "He helps people, like your lot. You only took me in because you wanted information about the bloody G.I. Joes."
Willow walked over and stood in front of him, lifting his chin so he had to meet her gaze. He was surprised by the determination he saw there. "Let me ask you a question. Have you helped us?"
"Well, yeah, but only because the chip. . ."
"Not what I asked," the witch interrupted. "Have you helped us? Fighting demons? Watching our backs?"
"Yeah," he muttered ruefully.
"Do you still want to kill us all," she asked softly, resting her chin on his chest and looking up at him.
"Well," he wrapped his arms around her waist, "not *all* of you."
Willow slapped his chest. "I’m being serious. Think about it."
"Well, the Slayer, yeah, sometimes. M’demon senses her and it’s just, I feel all, grrrr, ya know? Instinct."
The redhead sighed. She would have to accept that. He was a demon and was never going to be able to get along with Buffy. They were natural born enemies. "The others?"
Spike thought about it for a minute. Demon girl was all right, he supposed. All her talk about sex could get on his nerves, but it embarrassed the hell out of the rest of the bloody Scoobies, so that made it all worth while. Rupert hadn’t been a half bad flatmate. If the soddin’ slayer hadn’t hung around there so much he could have stayed longer. He got a kick out of playin’ with the moron. For someone not goin’ to college, the boy had a quick mind and was always up for a good bait and hook row. And his Red? The vampire looked down at her shining emerald gaze, his fingers running through the silk of her hair again and smiled.
"I like you alive. . .and warm. . .and in my bed," his husky voice whispered. "I’d keep ya alive chip or no."
"And the others," she breathlessly asked, feeling as if she were being caressed by his crystal blue gaze.
Spike shrugged nonchalantly. "Doesn’t matter to me either way. But they matter to you, so, no, I wouldn’t kill the pathetic bunch of losers. Oh, and Joyce is all right in my book." He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "She makes me hot chocolate with those little marshmallows when I visit."
Willow’s lips twitched. "You visit the slayer’s mother for hot chocolate much?"
"Here, now," Spike protested his demonhood. "Woman’s a good listener, she is. Reminds me of me mum."
"Druscilla?" Willow peered up at the vampire like he was crazy.
"No, me human mum. She was a good woman. Nice, sweet, always encouraged me, always told me she loved me." Spike got a far off look in his eyes. "She was a good human being. There are days I regret killing her."
Willow gaped at the blond. Sometimes she forgot that once he had as little control as the fledges they staked on a nightly basis fresh from the graves. Angelus had killed his family. Why would she think that Spike hadn’t?
He looked at her sadly, not surprised to see the shock on her face. "I’m a demon, luv. I am what I am, and this chip doesn’t change matters."
"It’s given you a chance to get to know us as something more than food," Willow whispered. She grabbed his hand and locked fingers with it. Her gaze was focused on their intertwined digits as she asked her next question. "You said you loved me. Didn’t you mean it?"
"Cor, Willow, how can you say that?" He gripped her chin and made her look at him. "I claimed you. I want you to be my mate. I want you with me forever. I’m a greedy bastard. When I find somethin’ I want, I don’t want to let go. . .not for an eternity, and I don’t want to let you go," he murmured, then crashed his lips down on hers in a possessive kiss.
He kissed her breathless until she pushed away, gasping for air. "I don’t want to let you go either," she murmured. "Remember that. Never doubt it."
The redhead pulled him close, resting her head on his chest. "Yours," she whispered.
"Mine," Spike said reverently as he tenderly held the tiny mortal woman who had made him feel more than anyone had in his one hundred twenty-eight years. He was not letting her go.
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