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Maybe Someday. Chapter 12.
Look! I've got you something to read over the weekend! :) Mostly though I'm just tired of fighting with it, since it resolutely refused to turn out the way I envisaged. But it's OK to post I think... and anyway having signed up for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
summer_of_spike I really need to get this moving. So - enjoy! (Although I should probably warn you that it's long!)
I don't know what I'd do without my brilliant beta![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kathyh! I ought to send you flowers or something.
Previouslies here.
And feedback is more delicious than chocolate!!!!
ETA: This is also my 200th journal entry! How time flies! :)
Chapter 12
No one moved. It seemed as though time had suddenly stopped, if not for the TV that could vaguely be heard from the flat next door. Buffy still had her arms around Spike’s neck and although she knew that she ought to let go of him, she didn’t want to. Mostly she just wanted to yell at her friends to get the hell out of her apartment so she could have sex with Spike, but well - that wasn’t really an option, was it? Also they looked even more shocked than she felt. Willow's eyes had grown to a really enormous size and Xander was as pale as a sheet, mouth opening and closing like a fish on land. Funny - she didn’t know that people actually did that. The scene was shattered when Giles removed his glasses and began to clean them more thoroughly than Buffy had ever seen. He alone seemed calm.
Xander finally regained his speech and, one shaky finger pointing towards them, stuttered in disbelief: “Sp... Spike! It’s Spike!”
Giles, carefully putting away his cloth, replied drily: “It would appear so.”
“But - but...” Xander looked wildly from the Watcher to the vampire. “He’s dead!”
Spike, sending the young man a tired, withering look, answered: “I know that! The lack of heartbeat was a dead give-away for a start.”
This didn’t soothe Xander much and he looked accusingly at Giles again, voice slightly high-pitched and accusing: “Why are you so calm? He died! Burnt to ash and buried at the bottom of a crater. He shouldn’t be here!!!!”
Sighing, Giles started to look through a folder from the pile of papers on the table. “The news of Spike’s... return... was one of the points on tonight's agenda. Obviously we can now skip that part.”
Finding the paper he was looking for he handed it to Willow who seemed to be the more rational one. She took it out of his hand eagerly and, scanning the bullet points, found the relevant one and began to read aloud: “As gently and carefully as possible impart the news of Spike’s extraordinary return to ‘unlife’. Explain the exceptional and incredible circumstances and stress the importance of his and Angel’s current heroic exploits.”
Spike groaned loudly at this and stared at Giles with ill-concealed disgust: “You let Andrew write your notes?”
Looking slightly bashful, Giles began explaining that no one else had been available, when Xander cut in: “Angel??? What’s Angel got to do with anything?”
Spike glared at him, as though he was a small, hyperactive child: “Long story. Not important right now. I’m sure Giles will fill you in!” Turning his gaze back to the Watcher, he asked: “I thought you were going to wait until the big Slayer gathering before you told them.”
Giles sighed. “Well, since I was suddenly coming here, I thought I might as well include it.”
Spike nodded, and reluctantly pulled away from Buffy. She could see the wariness on his face and realised that he was still unsure of her - of them. Inwardly grumbling she took a firm hold of his hand, and turned to Giles: “Could you get some chairs from the kitchen for us? Since you’re here anyway making use of my place. There’d better be a very good explanation!”
Giles looked at her, confusion on his face: “But I told you the outlines already! I even left messages on your mobile phone to make sure you’d hear them!”
She stared at him. “Oh... I never listened to your messages. Actually I’ve not listened to them for months now.”
“What?”
Damn - he was making her feel as though she was a little 16-year old newly-called Slayer with no idea of life’s more important issues. Desperately trying to remember the rant she’d been building up over the last few days, she attempted to defend herself: “Well I used to... but it’s always something like ‘Big crisis in Kuala Lumpur’ or ‘We think the penguins on the South Pole might be possessed!’ What am I supposed to do about any of it? You always work something out anyway - with or without my input.”
Giles had apparently never thought about this, but only lost his focus for a brief moment. “Well, right now there is a war breaking out in Rome, so I’m afraid your input is very much needed.”
She blinked, feeling very blonde for a moment: “A - a war?”
“Let me get those chairs,” Giles replied and went into the kitchen. Spike used the opportunity to lean towards her and quietly whisper in her ear: “Bet you wish we’d gone for the alley now!” As a matter of fact this was very close to what she had been thinking. Eyes widening and cheeks suddenly scarlet she turned to him and hissed to shut up and behave. He sent her a innocent smile, but didn’t say anything else.
Moments later they were seated, and in spite of his outrageous comment Buffy was still clutching Spike’s hand like a lifeline. She noticed the looks from her friends - the many questions in Willow’s eyes and the slight hostility on Xander’s face, but it would all have to wait.
“Well, since you haven’t heard any of my messages, I suppose I have to start all over.”
Another *look* from Giles that she found hard to ignore, then he began: “Over the weekend the two oldest demon clans in Rome had some sort of meeting. We don’t know the particulars, but unfortunately they appear to have disagreed on something and are now at loggerheads. The situation is rapidly escalating and I’m sure that you have at least heard of the great increase in demon activity. Battle lines are being drawn and a great many demons have arrived in the last few days, spoiling for a fight.”
Spike nodded. “Killed a large portion of them last night. What are you doing about it then?”
Giles glared at him and continued. “In the past there was not much the Council could do except watch and wait. But with all the new Slayers at our disposal we might be able to stop a bloodbath if things get critical. Even the threat of an intervention might work as a deterrent.”
Buffy was sceptical. “I’m not having my girls fighting in a stupid demon-war. If there’s infighting let them get on with it. Less for us to kill.”
Giles sighed. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. These are highly sophisticated demons and there is bound to be a heavy loss of human life if they decide to declare open war.”
With an authoritative air Spike held out his hand. “Well, lets have a look at the details then!”
Giles pinched the brow of his nose and his face took on a pained expression. “Spike... I’m not sure that-”
“Look - do you want my opinion or not?” Spike interrupted, hand still held out, an impatient edge to his voice.
There was a moment’s silent struggle as their eyes met, then Giles looked down. “Of course Spike, just, um... .”
And as Buffy stared in disbelief, her former Watcher handed over the dossier to her lover, almost apologetically. With only the briefest of triumphant looks in her direction Spike began perusing the document, and Buffy found herself staring at her equally astonished friends. Spike had mentioned that he’d been staying with Giles in London for a while and that he and Angel had used the Council’s resources whilst there, but he’d never said anything about Giles acting so... deferential.
“Oh, bloody brilliant - Latin! Just what I need!” Spike grumbled, and Giles felt compelled to explain: “Well, I’m afraid that there wasn’t time to do any translating - I think I brought a dictionary though...”
“Nah - I’ll get by. I’m just trying to get the gist anyway.”
Xander laughed, slightly nervously. “Spike knows Latin?”
“Of course I know Latin you moron! What - you thought I was an uncultured oaf like you? Some of us went to university you know!”
“You went to university???” There was disbelief in Xander’s voice and Willow looked surprised. She opened her mouth to speak, but Spike cut in before she could say anything: “Lots of things you don’t know about me, boy.”
He then turned his attention back to the papers. Buffy didn’t really know what to make of it - could he help or was he just showing off? Over the years she had slowly come to understand that Spike knew a lot more than he let on, and when he bothered to concentrate he could be very smart. And of course he was a demon and was probably much more familiar with a situation like this...
Suddenly Spike swore loudly and then flipped through the pages, looking for something. Moments later he had obviously found it and looked up - staring down Giles with something that came worryingly close to contempt: “Why didn’t you say that both clans were Wolfram & Hart clients?”
Taken by surprise Giles took the dossier and checked the references that Spike pointed out. “I must have missed that - although I hardly see what difference it makes.”
Suddenly cheerful, Spike laughed: “Makes all the difference in the world mate! I know sod-all about all that legal stuff, but even *I* know that law firms don’t want their clients to fight each other. I’ll bet my unlife that dear Ilona - that’s the CEO - is in talks with the clans as we speak, trying to reconcile them.”
Everyone was staring at him like they’d never seen him before. Spike sent Giles a look: “I haunted a law firm for half a year, then hung around for another half... picked up a lot of information. Some of it I wish I hadn’t, but lets just say that I know how they work. Trust me - they’re sorting this out!”
Willow, who’d been mostly silent, now spoke up: “That’s very... impressive, but how do we find out how they’re doing? I know this really nifty spying spell...”
Spike cut her off: “Won’t work - they’re anything and everything proof - stocked to the ceiling with shamans and whatnot. But you’re right - it’d be nice to know what’s happening. Could always just call and ask I suppose...”
“Call and ask?” Xander sounded dubious and Buffy had to agree: “I thought you were fighting them - why would they tell you anything?”
Grinning wickedly, Spike replied. “Oh, but they’re so very civilised - and I’m not going to call them myself!” He pulled out his cellphone from his jacket pocket and pressed a button. As he waited for a reply, he huffed: “Probably all just because of a fork y’know... Angel? I need a favour!”
He listened for a moment then smiled. “Now, now - that’s not appropriate language. I’m calling because we’re stuck in a Scooby meeting and need some information. Apparently there was a reason for last night’s testosterone-filled hordes!”
He quickly outlined the situation, then continued: “So I need you to call the lovely Ilona and ask her what’s happening.”
Another pause as Angel replied, then Spike was speaking again: “No, I’m not bloody calling her. For a start I’m sat in Buffy’s flat and I really don’t want her coming round here later. Also you were the mighty CEO - the big bossman with the desk and the flunkies and I was just a sidekick. You call and they’ll put you straight through. *I* call and I’ll end up spending 20 minutes with the receptionist trying to - oh, bollocks!”
To her great astonishment Buffy could hear Angel laughing over the phone as Spike buried his head in his free hand. What on earth had he been referring to? And why did it make Angel laugh?
Sighing deeply, Spike tried to cut through the mirth: “OK, so I walked straight into that one! Just shut up already!” A brief silence, then his face abrubtly changed: “Hey - you ever call me that again and I tell Buffy about the puppet-thing, understood!”
This apparently did the trick, because moments later Angel had obviously agreed to help. Suddenly Spike laughed: “That’s what I said too! Bloody forks - they should be banned! Anyway - good luck with the praying mantis!” And he turned off his phone and smiled at the room in general. “We should hear back shortly.”
Before Buffy could say anything, Giles asked: “Why did you keep referring to forks? Is this some particular demon code that we’re not familiar with?”
Spike chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, no - that all goes back to this one time last year when Angel was trying to reconcile these two demon clans that had been at war for four generations. Apparently all because someone used the wrong fork at an official occasion. The older clans are very strict on protocol etc. - like the mafia, but more violent.”
“I see.” Giles said. “Out of curiosity, how did that turn out?”
Spike grinned. “Oh, it went very well, once Harmony had dusted a co-worker in the middle of their talks - can’t go wrong with a sacrifice!”
“Harmony?” Xander looked flabbergasted again, and Buffy could see that the others shared the sentiment - as did she.
“Oh, she was Angel’s PA - really tried her hardest to do well the silly bint. Even got hold of a live camel for the big meeting. God I wish I could have seen Angel’s face!” He shook his head and a slightly awkward silence fell until Willow finally broke it: “That’s a beautiful necklace Buffy - is it new?”
Buffy could feel her face split in a goofy grin. “Yes! Spike gave it to me tonight. Isn’t it gorgeous?” Automatically she turned to him and smiled. He returned the smile tenfold and for a moment they were completely lost to the world as their eyes met, the evening’s memories flooding back.
“So, um, you were on a... date?” Xander said, obviously getting uncomfortable.
“Yeah,” she replied as she forced herself to stop gazing into Spike’s eyes - she was sure that they were a different shade of blue every time she looked.
“And you were planning on telling us about this - when?” Xander continued.
“Telling you?” Buffy asked, suddenly aware that her friends were looking at her in that ‘you’ve been keeping secrets from us - again’ way. How the hell did they do that? Why did they do that? Why did she always have to be accountable to them for what she did? The Immortal had thankfully charmed his way through their defences, but she had a feeling that unless she found another Riley, Xander at least would always be ‘disappointed’. She frowned, suddenly annoyed at their assumed position of superiority.
“Well, I was just going to wear a t-shirt saying ‘Spike’s Girl’ when we all met up on Sunday and let you figure it out for yourselves!” she said, feeling tired and fed up and wanting them all far away. She more felt than heard the gasp from Spike’s direction and when she turned saw that he had the strangest look on his face.
“I must say that I am rather surprised.” Giles said, breaking the moment before she could find out what the matter was. “From what you said in the summer, Spike, I thought you were trying to avoid Buffy.”
“Didn’t plan on seeing her - was pure coincidence.” Spike replied, eyes narrowing . Just then his phone rang and he answered it, looking relieved.
“So - what’s the situation?” he asked, and then listened for a while as Angel explained. After a few questions - some about their own mission - he turned off the phone.
“Well, that’s that sorted!” he said, smiling triumphantly. “Ilona is most determined to get them reconciled, and with her powers of persuasion I’m sure they’ll all be best friends in no time! There’ll probably be a good deal of ‘unrest’ for the foreseeable future, but with 10 Slayers in town that shouldn’t be a problem.” He stopped, then continued as though they had just shared a cup of tea, and not been discussing demon wars: “So, will you be heading back to London?”
“Um, I think it would probably be wise to stay for a day or two, just to monitor the situation.” Giles said, watching as Spike got up and fetched his and the Scoobies’ coats.
“Well, that sounds very sensible - you could even get some sightseeing done. Might show you round the catacombs one day if I’m feeling energetic! Plenty of good stories to tell you! But it’s getting late. You’ve got somewhere to stay I presume?”
Giles nodded absentmindedly: “The guest accommodation at the Council thankfully escaped water damage, so we’re staying there.”
“Brilliant!” Spike beamed and handed out jackets and coats. “You must be very tired, having travelled so far. I’m sure you all need your beauty sleep!”
“Hey!” Xander said, frowning. “You can’t just throw us out! And I’m not just taking some evil CEO’s word that they’re sorting out this war! This could be dangerous! And not the fun kind you see in blockbusters!”
“I’m afraid Xander has a point.” Giles said. “What do you think Buffy?”
“I... I...” she looked from her friends to Spike and back again, wondering why her life couldn’t have been uncomplicated for just a few days at least. “I think I’m really tired. Can we meet up again tomorrow maybe? We could all have lunch together and see if the situation has calmed down yet, OK?”
Giles nodded slowly and although Xander looked unhappy, he didn’t protest again. Willow put on her jacket and gave Buffy a hug, then said quietly: “I know it’s none of my business, but... I just want to make sure that you know what you’re doing. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
Buffy smiled gratefully. “Thanks Will. But I’m fine. Actually I’m happier than I’ve been for a very long time I think!”
Nodding in understanding, Willow then went over to Spike: “Well, I’m glad you’re not dust anymore. And you’ll have to explain everything about whatever spell brought you back, understood!”
Slightly taken aback, Spike grinned. “Don’t know a lot, but you can cross-examine me any day!”
“Good!” Turning to Giles and Xander she asked: “Ready?”
Obviously slightly confused, they indicated that they were, Giles having collected all the various papers in a large bag. And after a few goodbyes, they were all out the door. Turning around to face Buffy, Spike smiled happily. “My mother was right - good manners will get you anywhere!”
She laughed at the complete absurdity of the situation: “I can’t believe that just happened!”
In an instant he was next to her, kneeling at her side. “Anything for my girl” he said, a slight tremor in his voice. And as he said it, she suddenly remembered why those words were so special. Memories that had proven hard to banish, of pain and confusion and anger mixed up together... and Spike the only one who understood... “Come on, that's it, put it on me. Put it all on me. That's my girl.” - “I am not your girl! I could *never* be your girl!!” ...
She swallowed and felt her vision go blurry from tears. He reached out and gently stroked her face. “Shh, Buffy, that’s all long gone - we can’t change it, and now... it doesn’t matter anymore...”
She closed her eyes, fighting back a sob and moments later she felt his lips cover her own, their gentle softness making her forget everything that was on her mind - all there was room for was the feel of his hands, as they stroked her hair; his body, now flush against her and the deep well of happiness that suddenly sprung up inside her. He was really there and he was really hers. And right now, that was all that mattered. She felt him pick her up and carry her into the bedroom and she had to open her eyes to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. But it was real - so very real - and she held onto it with everything she had.
Seize the day and forget about tomorrow.
Chapter 13
summer_of_spike I really need to get this moving. So - enjoy! (Although I should probably warn you that it's long!)I don't know what I'd do without my brilliant beta
kathyh! I ought to send you flowers or something.Previouslies here.
And feedback is more delicious than chocolate!!!!
ETA: This is also my 200th journal entry! How time flies! :)
Chapter 12
No one moved. It seemed as though time had suddenly stopped, if not for the TV that could vaguely be heard from the flat next door. Buffy still had her arms around Spike’s neck and although she knew that she ought to let go of him, she didn’t want to. Mostly she just wanted to yell at her friends to get the hell out of her apartment so she could have sex with Spike, but well - that wasn’t really an option, was it? Also they looked even more shocked than she felt. Willow's eyes had grown to a really enormous size and Xander was as pale as a sheet, mouth opening and closing like a fish on land. Funny - she didn’t know that people actually did that. The scene was shattered when Giles removed his glasses and began to clean them more thoroughly than Buffy had ever seen. He alone seemed calm.
Xander finally regained his speech and, one shaky finger pointing towards them, stuttered in disbelief: “Sp... Spike! It’s Spike!”
Giles, carefully putting away his cloth, replied drily: “It would appear so.”
“But - but...” Xander looked wildly from the Watcher to the vampire. “He’s dead!”
Spike, sending the young man a tired, withering look, answered: “I know that! The lack of heartbeat was a dead give-away for a start.”
This didn’t soothe Xander much and he looked accusingly at Giles again, voice slightly high-pitched and accusing: “Why are you so calm? He died! Burnt to ash and buried at the bottom of a crater. He shouldn’t be here!!!!”
Sighing, Giles started to look through a folder from the pile of papers on the table. “The news of Spike’s... return... was one of the points on tonight's agenda. Obviously we can now skip that part.”
Finding the paper he was looking for he handed it to Willow who seemed to be the more rational one. She took it out of his hand eagerly and, scanning the bullet points, found the relevant one and began to read aloud: “As gently and carefully as possible impart the news of Spike’s extraordinary return to ‘unlife’. Explain the exceptional and incredible circumstances and stress the importance of his and Angel’s current heroic exploits.”
Spike groaned loudly at this and stared at Giles with ill-concealed disgust: “You let Andrew write your notes?”
Looking slightly bashful, Giles began explaining that no one else had been available, when Xander cut in: “Angel??? What’s Angel got to do with anything?”
Spike glared at him, as though he was a small, hyperactive child: “Long story. Not important right now. I’m sure Giles will fill you in!” Turning his gaze back to the Watcher, he asked: “I thought you were going to wait until the big Slayer gathering before you told them.”
Giles sighed. “Well, since I was suddenly coming here, I thought I might as well include it.”
Spike nodded, and reluctantly pulled away from Buffy. She could see the wariness on his face and realised that he was still unsure of her - of them. Inwardly grumbling she took a firm hold of his hand, and turned to Giles: “Could you get some chairs from the kitchen for us? Since you’re here anyway making use of my place. There’d better be a very good explanation!”
Giles looked at her, confusion on his face: “But I told you the outlines already! I even left messages on your mobile phone to make sure you’d hear them!”
She stared at him. “Oh... I never listened to your messages. Actually I’ve not listened to them for months now.”
“What?”
Damn - he was making her feel as though she was a little 16-year old newly-called Slayer with no idea of life’s more important issues. Desperately trying to remember the rant she’d been building up over the last few days, she attempted to defend herself: “Well I used to... but it’s always something like ‘Big crisis in Kuala Lumpur’ or ‘We think the penguins on the South Pole might be possessed!’ What am I supposed to do about any of it? You always work something out anyway - with or without my input.”
Giles had apparently never thought about this, but only lost his focus for a brief moment. “Well, right now there is a war breaking out in Rome, so I’m afraid your input is very much needed.”
She blinked, feeling very blonde for a moment: “A - a war?”
“Let me get those chairs,” Giles replied and went into the kitchen. Spike used the opportunity to lean towards her and quietly whisper in her ear: “Bet you wish we’d gone for the alley now!” As a matter of fact this was very close to what she had been thinking. Eyes widening and cheeks suddenly scarlet she turned to him and hissed to shut up and behave. He sent her a innocent smile, but didn’t say anything else.
Moments later they were seated, and in spite of his outrageous comment Buffy was still clutching Spike’s hand like a lifeline. She noticed the looks from her friends - the many questions in Willow’s eyes and the slight hostility on Xander’s face, but it would all have to wait.
“Well, since you haven’t heard any of my messages, I suppose I have to start all over.”
Another *look* from Giles that she found hard to ignore, then he began: “Over the weekend the two oldest demon clans in Rome had some sort of meeting. We don’t know the particulars, but unfortunately they appear to have disagreed on something and are now at loggerheads. The situation is rapidly escalating and I’m sure that you have at least heard of the great increase in demon activity. Battle lines are being drawn and a great many demons have arrived in the last few days, spoiling for a fight.”
Spike nodded. “Killed a large portion of them last night. What are you doing about it then?”
Giles glared at him and continued. “In the past there was not much the Council could do except watch and wait. But with all the new Slayers at our disposal we might be able to stop a bloodbath if things get critical. Even the threat of an intervention might work as a deterrent.”
Buffy was sceptical. “I’m not having my girls fighting in a stupid demon-war. If there’s infighting let them get on with it. Less for us to kill.”
Giles sighed. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. These are highly sophisticated demons and there is bound to be a heavy loss of human life if they decide to declare open war.”
With an authoritative air Spike held out his hand. “Well, lets have a look at the details then!”
Giles pinched the brow of his nose and his face took on a pained expression. “Spike... I’m not sure that-”
“Look - do you want my opinion or not?” Spike interrupted, hand still held out, an impatient edge to his voice.
There was a moment’s silent struggle as their eyes met, then Giles looked down. “Of course Spike, just, um... .”
And as Buffy stared in disbelief, her former Watcher handed over the dossier to her lover, almost apologetically. With only the briefest of triumphant looks in her direction Spike began perusing the document, and Buffy found herself staring at her equally astonished friends. Spike had mentioned that he’d been staying with Giles in London for a while and that he and Angel had used the Council’s resources whilst there, but he’d never said anything about Giles acting so... deferential.
“Oh, bloody brilliant - Latin! Just what I need!” Spike grumbled, and Giles felt compelled to explain: “Well, I’m afraid that there wasn’t time to do any translating - I think I brought a dictionary though...”
“Nah - I’ll get by. I’m just trying to get the gist anyway.”
Xander laughed, slightly nervously. “Spike knows Latin?”
“Of course I know Latin you moron! What - you thought I was an uncultured oaf like you? Some of us went to university you know!”
“You went to university???” There was disbelief in Xander’s voice and Willow looked surprised. She opened her mouth to speak, but Spike cut in before she could say anything: “Lots of things you don’t know about me, boy.”
He then turned his attention back to the papers. Buffy didn’t really know what to make of it - could he help or was he just showing off? Over the years she had slowly come to understand that Spike knew a lot more than he let on, and when he bothered to concentrate he could be very smart. And of course he was a demon and was probably much more familiar with a situation like this...
Suddenly Spike swore loudly and then flipped through the pages, looking for something. Moments later he had obviously found it and looked up - staring down Giles with something that came worryingly close to contempt: “Why didn’t you say that both clans were Wolfram & Hart clients?”
Taken by surprise Giles took the dossier and checked the references that Spike pointed out. “I must have missed that - although I hardly see what difference it makes.”
Suddenly cheerful, Spike laughed: “Makes all the difference in the world mate! I know sod-all about all that legal stuff, but even *I* know that law firms don’t want their clients to fight each other. I’ll bet my unlife that dear Ilona - that’s the CEO - is in talks with the clans as we speak, trying to reconcile them.”
Everyone was staring at him like they’d never seen him before. Spike sent Giles a look: “I haunted a law firm for half a year, then hung around for another half... picked up a lot of information. Some of it I wish I hadn’t, but lets just say that I know how they work. Trust me - they’re sorting this out!”
Willow, who’d been mostly silent, now spoke up: “That’s very... impressive, but how do we find out how they’re doing? I know this really nifty spying spell...”
Spike cut her off: “Won’t work - they’re anything and everything proof - stocked to the ceiling with shamans and whatnot. But you’re right - it’d be nice to know what’s happening. Could always just call and ask I suppose...”
“Call and ask?” Xander sounded dubious and Buffy had to agree: “I thought you were fighting them - why would they tell you anything?”
Grinning wickedly, Spike replied. “Oh, but they’re so very civilised - and I’m not going to call them myself!” He pulled out his cellphone from his jacket pocket and pressed a button. As he waited for a reply, he huffed: “Probably all just because of a fork y’know... Angel? I need a favour!”
He listened for a moment then smiled. “Now, now - that’s not appropriate language. I’m calling because we’re stuck in a Scooby meeting and need some information. Apparently there was a reason for last night’s testosterone-filled hordes!”
He quickly outlined the situation, then continued: “So I need you to call the lovely Ilona and ask her what’s happening.”
Another pause as Angel replied, then Spike was speaking again: “No, I’m not bloody calling her. For a start I’m sat in Buffy’s flat and I really don’t want her coming round here later. Also you were the mighty CEO - the big bossman with the desk and the flunkies and I was just a sidekick. You call and they’ll put you straight through. *I* call and I’ll end up spending 20 minutes with the receptionist trying to - oh, bollocks!”
To her great astonishment Buffy could hear Angel laughing over the phone as Spike buried his head in his free hand. What on earth had he been referring to? And why did it make Angel laugh?
Sighing deeply, Spike tried to cut through the mirth: “OK, so I walked straight into that one! Just shut up already!” A brief silence, then his face abrubtly changed: “Hey - you ever call me that again and I tell Buffy about the puppet-thing, understood!”
This apparently did the trick, because moments later Angel had obviously agreed to help. Suddenly Spike laughed: “That’s what I said too! Bloody forks - they should be banned! Anyway - good luck with the praying mantis!” And he turned off his phone and smiled at the room in general. “We should hear back shortly.”
Before Buffy could say anything, Giles asked: “Why did you keep referring to forks? Is this some particular demon code that we’re not familiar with?”
Spike chuckled and shook his head. “Oh, no - that all goes back to this one time last year when Angel was trying to reconcile these two demon clans that had been at war for four generations. Apparently all because someone used the wrong fork at an official occasion. The older clans are very strict on protocol etc. - like the mafia, but more violent.”
“I see.” Giles said. “Out of curiosity, how did that turn out?”
Spike grinned. “Oh, it went very well, once Harmony had dusted a co-worker in the middle of their talks - can’t go wrong with a sacrifice!”
“Harmony?” Xander looked flabbergasted again, and Buffy could see that the others shared the sentiment - as did she.
“Oh, she was Angel’s PA - really tried her hardest to do well the silly bint. Even got hold of a live camel for the big meeting. God I wish I could have seen Angel’s face!” He shook his head and a slightly awkward silence fell until Willow finally broke it: “That’s a beautiful necklace Buffy - is it new?”
Buffy could feel her face split in a goofy grin. “Yes! Spike gave it to me tonight. Isn’t it gorgeous?” Automatically she turned to him and smiled. He returned the smile tenfold and for a moment they were completely lost to the world as their eyes met, the evening’s memories flooding back.
“So, um, you were on a... date?” Xander said, obviously getting uncomfortable.
“Yeah,” she replied as she forced herself to stop gazing into Spike’s eyes - she was sure that they were a different shade of blue every time she looked.
“And you were planning on telling us about this - when?” Xander continued.
“Telling you?” Buffy asked, suddenly aware that her friends were looking at her in that ‘you’ve been keeping secrets from us - again’ way. How the hell did they do that? Why did they do that? Why did she always have to be accountable to them for what she did? The Immortal had thankfully charmed his way through their defences, but she had a feeling that unless she found another Riley, Xander at least would always be ‘disappointed’. She frowned, suddenly annoyed at their assumed position of superiority.
“Well, I was just going to wear a t-shirt saying ‘Spike’s Girl’ when we all met up on Sunday and let you figure it out for yourselves!” she said, feeling tired and fed up and wanting them all far away. She more felt than heard the gasp from Spike’s direction and when she turned saw that he had the strangest look on his face.
“I must say that I am rather surprised.” Giles said, breaking the moment before she could find out what the matter was. “From what you said in the summer, Spike, I thought you were trying to avoid Buffy.”
“Didn’t plan on seeing her - was pure coincidence.” Spike replied, eyes narrowing . Just then his phone rang and he answered it, looking relieved.
“So - what’s the situation?” he asked, and then listened for a while as Angel explained. After a few questions - some about their own mission - he turned off the phone.
“Well, that’s that sorted!” he said, smiling triumphantly. “Ilona is most determined to get them reconciled, and with her powers of persuasion I’m sure they’ll all be best friends in no time! There’ll probably be a good deal of ‘unrest’ for the foreseeable future, but with 10 Slayers in town that shouldn’t be a problem.” He stopped, then continued as though they had just shared a cup of tea, and not been discussing demon wars: “So, will you be heading back to London?”
“Um, I think it would probably be wise to stay for a day or two, just to monitor the situation.” Giles said, watching as Spike got up and fetched his and the Scoobies’ coats.
“Well, that sounds very sensible - you could even get some sightseeing done. Might show you round the catacombs one day if I’m feeling energetic! Plenty of good stories to tell you! But it’s getting late. You’ve got somewhere to stay I presume?”
Giles nodded absentmindedly: “The guest accommodation at the Council thankfully escaped water damage, so we’re staying there.”
“Brilliant!” Spike beamed and handed out jackets and coats. “You must be very tired, having travelled so far. I’m sure you all need your beauty sleep!”
“Hey!” Xander said, frowning. “You can’t just throw us out! And I’m not just taking some evil CEO’s word that they’re sorting out this war! This could be dangerous! And not the fun kind you see in blockbusters!”
“I’m afraid Xander has a point.” Giles said. “What do you think Buffy?”
“I... I...” she looked from her friends to Spike and back again, wondering why her life couldn’t have been uncomplicated for just a few days at least. “I think I’m really tired. Can we meet up again tomorrow maybe? We could all have lunch together and see if the situation has calmed down yet, OK?”
Giles nodded slowly and although Xander looked unhappy, he didn’t protest again. Willow put on her jacket and gave Buffy a hug, then said quietly: “I know it’s none of my business, but... I just want to make sure that you know what you’re doing. I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
Buffy smiled gratefully. “Thanks Will. But I’m fine. Actually I’m happier than I’ve been for a very long time I think!”
Nodding in understanding, Willow then went over to Spike: “Well, I’m glad you’re not dust anymore. And you’ll have to explain everything about whatever spell brought you back, understood!”
Slightly taken aback, Spike grinned. “Don’t know a lot, but you can cross-examine me any day!”
“Good!” Turning to Giles and Xander she asked: “Ready?”
Obviously slightly confused, they indicated that they were, Giles having collected all the various papers in a large bag. And after a few goodbyes, they were all out the door. Turning around to face Buffy, Spike smiled happily. “My mother was right - good manners will get you anywhere!”
She laughed at the complete absurdity of the situation: “I can’t believe that just happened!”
In an instant he was next to her, kneeling at her side. “Anything for my girl” he said, a slight tremor in his voice. And as he said it, she suddenly remembered why those words were so special. Memories that had proven hard to banish, of pain and confusion and anger mixed up together... and Spike the only one who understood... “Come on, that's it, put it on me. Put it all on me. That's my girl.” - “I am not your girl! I could *never* be your girl!!” ...
She swallowed and felt her vision go blurry from tears. He reached out and gently stroked her face. “Shh, Buffy, that’s all long gone - we can’t change it, and now... it doesn’t matter anymore...”
She closed her eyes, fighting back a sob and moments later she felt his lips cover her own, their gentle softness making her forget everything that was on her mind - all there was room for was the feel of his hands, as they stroked her hair; his body, now flush against her and the deep well of happiness that suddenly sprung up inside her. He was really there and he was really hers. And right now, that was all that mattered. She felt him pick her up and carry her into the bedroom and she had to open her eyes to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. But it was real - so very real - and she held onto it with everything she had.
Seize the day and forget about tomorrow.
Chapter 13