Then there were times like today. Buffy was upstairs, rolling and moaning, trying desperately to keep out the world’s thoughts. Joyce’s very presence caused her daughter pain. She felt alone, helpless and very afraid.

A sudden knock at the door startled Joyce so hard she had to grab the table to keep from falling out of her chair. She had tried very hard to silence all noise (she’d even unplugged the refrigerator) that the knock was deafening. In truth, she realized, it hadn’t been that loud at all. She finally got control of her racing heart enough to get up and see who it was.

As soon as she stepped out of the kitchen, she knew who it was. She recognized his form through the mottled glass. They hadn’t spoken or seen each other since that day she picked Buffy up from school. He’d left messages for her at the gallery, but she hadn’t called back. Finally, when the messages stopped, she had been both relieved and heartbroken. She knew in her brain it was irrational to be angry with him for giving up. She’d done nothing to encourage him at all. But why had it taken 4 months for him to show up? She sighed. He was only showing up now because of Buffy, not her.

She straightened her shoulders, patted her hair and put on her best “everything’s great with me” face and opened the door.

“Hello.” She said with as much brightness as she could muster.

He just stood there. He looked haggard, worried and lonely.

“Hello.” He looked right at her for a few burning moments and then broke his gaze, looking down. “I, um, I came to see how Buffy was doing.”

Joyce opened the door wider and stepped aside. “Of course, please come in.”

God! How she hated this formality. Why couldn’t he be Ripper? Why didn’t he just grab her and kiss her into submission like he had that night? Shit! How could she be thinking about this right now?

“She’s upstairs, but she’s getting worse.” Joyce looked at him, searching his face. “You know something. What is it?”

“May I, ah, can we go into the kitchen to discuss this?”

It took Joyce a minute to understand that he wanted to move from the entry, which was right under Buffy’s room.

“Oh, right, sure. I was just making tea. Would you like some?”

“Yes, please. Um, the stronger the better.”

“I have something called “Scottish Blend” that I was given from someone at the gallery. It’s too strong for me. Will that do?”

“That would be lovely. Thank you, Joyce.”

She smiled shyly. “No problem, Rupert.” Joyce walked around the island to the sink. There was now a counter between them, which was both comforting and agonizing. He sat down on one of the stools while she emptied and refilled the kettle with cold water.

“We think we have found a way to cure her. It relies on the creature’s blood to reverse the ‘trait of the demon’. Angel’s been out all night hunting…”

Joyce slammed the teakettle down. “Angel’s helping? Great, then all will be better!” Joyce was losing her tightly held control but she was starting to not give a fuck.

“Why is it that the only people who ever seem to be able to help are ones who’ve tried to kill her? Why is this precious Watcher’s Council of yours against her, taking her powers for the thrill of it? How can you do this to her over and over?!” She was shouting now. Shouting and shaking.

Giles stood up and walked around the bar to her. She still held the kettle tightly in her hand. For a few fleeting moments she just wanted to bash his face with it. He seemed to know this because he took her hold of her hand firmly, but not painfully. He took the kettle, placing it back in the sink. She couldn’t take her eyes away from his, even though she felt the tears welling.

“Dearest, please. Don’t fret so. Buffy will be fine. She’s strong and Angel is nothing if not single-minded when it comes to protecting Buffy. Everything will be alright.” He pulled her hand to his chest and stroked her fingers. She wanted to melt right into him, but then she recalled Buffy’s words to her barely 24 hours ago: “You slept with Giles! On the hood of a police car? Twice?!”
And Joyce suddenly felt angry and hurt again. She jerked her hand back from him.

“What do you really care about either of us? You do your job, and not even that well, and all she is to you is the Slayer. You can’t possibly know what she goes through or what I go through watching it.”

Giles stood there and took in her words. Joyce continued to spit out hurtful thoughts, as a subtle change took over his face and body. His countenance hardened before her eyes. He took a step towards her, pinning her hips against the counter with his own, moving his face just inches from hers.

“I understand more than you obviously know. Buffy is not just my charge. She is the closest thing to a daughter I will ever have. I destroyed my entire career rather than risk her life. I’ve been sacked, yet I stay on as a bloody high school librarian because I cannot bear to leave her to the Council and that fucking sod of man they sent as her new Watcher. I had to suffer in silent rage at Angel for daring to have sex with my little girl. I don’t get the benefit of grounding her when she does stupid things or locking her in at night to keep out the monsters I know exist. I never get to play the ‘Daddy’ card. I always have to balance being her mentor and her friend, but never her parent. And to top it all, I get to add the indignity of being desperately in love with her mother, whom I cannot have.”

Joyce’s breath was rapid, keeping pace with Giles’ staccato. He loves me?
“I’m so—I’m sorry, I had no--” she started.

“Oh, bugger all.” Giles cut her off, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her. He was a bit harsh at first, but as she started to soften in his arms, his pressure eased. He parted her lips with his tongue, tickling the roof of her mouth. She returned the gesture, darting her tongue around his, licking along his teeth. The joy of his kisses flooding back into her consciousness. She moved against him, moaning very softly. His hand slid around, brushing over the soft white sweater covering her breast. Her nipple hardened instantly and as his fingers found it; the electric shock that went through her also seemed to trigger the memory of Buffy, weeping softly in her bed, her hands covering her ears.

Joyce shoved Giles away. “I can’t do this now. Not with her still--”

“Say no more. I’m sorry. I shouldn't have--”

“Rupert, it’s ok. I never should have spoken so harshly to you. I do know that you care for Buffy very much. I guess it’s just a little too easy to blame you for this life we have to lead.”

He smiled knowingly and took her hands. “I understand. Let’s speak no more of it.” He held her hands, looking at her so tenderly.

There was a loud knock at the door and a voice shouting “Mr. Giles? Are you in there? You didn’t say where you were going,” Wesley said in that near whine he had. Joyce’s heart sank a little, but she was surprised to see Giles’s look of annoyance bordering on murderous.

“Wesley,” he seethed.

“I’ll go let him in.”

After Wesley’s intrusion, Giles and Joyce went upstairs to check on Buffy. They were standing together in her doorway, like the worried parents they were, when Angel had burst in, his shielding blanket steaming from the sunlight, with the antidote. Angel and Giles had wrestled Buffy down together until she drank it all. Then she stilled into a sleep. Joyce and Giles left Angel holding her hand by her bedside. Joyce had to smile when Giles told Angel very pointedly that they would be down the hall and to please leave the door open.

After she awoke, Buffy wasted no time heading back to the school to try to find whoever had threatened to kill the Sunnydale High student body. After the others had gone, Joyce had a chance to be alone with him once more.

“How do you do it? You say you love her, and I believe you, but you let her go off to face yet another fight with seemingly no worry at all.” Joyce wasn’t being accusative; she really wanted to know how he did it.

“I worry every day. But also have the knowledge that Buffy is unlike any Slayer ever called. There is nothing I can exactly pinpoint about what makes her different, but different she is. I can suppress the fear because I know how capable she is.” Giles spoke with the pride of a true father.

“I’m glad she has you.”

“Joyce, I would really like to talk about that night.” Giles laced his fingers in hers and she found herself blushing.

“You don’t need to say anything. It was a spell. We were acting like kids.”

“True, but I still wish to apologize. What I regret most is not that we, well, did what we did. I regret that I did it as a sloppy, selfish teenager. You deserve to be attended to properly.” Giles stepped closer and Joyce felt warmth flood over her. She hadn’t considered until that moment that making love to a “mature” Giles might be different. Suddenly, she wanted desperately to know what it was like.

“Well, we have a bit of time before Buffy gets home.”

“Oh, luv, I thought you’d never ask.”

Now all that illusion was gone. Left was a clumsy, sloppy boy-man with a really *small* dick. Oh god. Did I really just think that? She'd never thought size would matter, but when it wasn’t there, she realized, it mattered a great deal Please, just let this be over soon.

“Ugh! You are incredible,” David wheezed as he rolled off of her and fell on his back with force that made the side she was laying on buck up like an ocean wave.

“Thanks. Um, it’s getting really late and I have to be at school early. It’s my week to monitor study-hall.” Buffy knew she sounded lame but she’d never been so desperate to leave a man’s bed in her life. She rolled over to the edge of the bed, sitting up while trying to keep the sheet wrapped around as much of her as she could cover.

“Hey. I thought the guy was the one who was supposed to dash away after sex?” He sat up, trying to pull her arm towards him. She didn’t jerk her arm away, although the instinct to do just that was very strong.

“Really, I don’t sleep very well when I’m not in my own bed. I could never make it through slumber parties as a kid.” Was that a convincing enough lie? She started to put her bra and panties on.

He looked genuinely sorry and that made her feel really awful. He was a great guy in so many other ways. Normal, fun, and he made her laugh, which was rare. Why couldn’t this part have been good too? That thought struck her. Did she really put that much stake in sex? Or is it that you know, deep down, that you can never love him?
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow. And let me know if Cary Andrews doesn’t make it into study hall. He can’t compete in the meet if he doesn’t get that Math grade up and I don’t have anyone else in his weight class.” David was settling himself into his bed, watching her get dressed.

"I’ll keep an eye on him," she promised as she finished the quickest re-dress of her life, grabbed her purse and left.

Walking home was still her favorite way to go. Even at 24, she still enjoyed the physical-ness of the outdoors and the connection to the neighborhood. She often wondered if this was how police officers felt when they used to walk a beat instead of drive in patrol cars. Plus it gave her time to think.

Who knew sex could suck that much? I’ve had *bad* sex in terms of bad timing, bad locations, bad person… but she’d always felt it was good sex.

I think this is a new low, even for me. I am doomed when it comes to relationships. And now I’m shallow enough to dump this guy because his dick’s too small? What kind of horrible person am I?

She walked up to the porch of her house. It had taken her six months of searching to find just the right place. A brown, two-story Tudor-style, with a porch that wrapped around the right side of the house. If you walked all the way to the other end, there was a second door that went into the kitchen. A kitchen with outside access and a porch had been her two main requests, and they made every real estate agent she talked to give her a puzzled look. Didn’t matter. She knew what home was.

“How ‘bout a nightcap pet?”

She heard the words as she inserted the key and spun around, fist nearly making contact with the cheekbone of the speaker before her wrist was caught and held tight. She froze.

“Who are you?” she asked, knowing the truth but still not believing it.

“Come on, love. I know it’s been awhile, but surely you couldn’t forget me?”

“Spike.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Hmm, woulda thought I deserved a bit more enthusiasm.”

Her mind was reeling. How did he get here? Did he still have a soul? Had he been brought back as a mortal by those lawyers like Darla?
“I’m sorry, I just…how?”

“Seems some former Wolfram & Hart baddie wanted to exact a little vengeance on Angel. He got a hold of the amulet and had it sent to Tall, Dark and Forehead as a special gift. He opened it and out I popped, all ghosty-like.”

“When?” Shit! Why couldn’t her brain form complex sentences?

“About 18 months ago.”

“You’ve been back for over a year and I’m just finding out now!?! Why didn’t you find me?” Her sudden sense of rage surprised her.

“Bloody Hell, babe, I tried. Angel and I even went to Italy to look for you. You haven’t exactly been desperate to be found. And if you think for one minute that I believe you didn’t know until this moment that I was 'round, you're a soddin’ fool!”

“I didn’t.” Tears welled up in her eyes . How could he be back? Why was he here now? Part of her was ecstatic and wanted to throw her arms around him. And part was still so angry at him for dying in the first place.

“Shit, I hate the waterworks, pet. Please. Invite me in.”

“So, you’re still a vampire.” She sniffed as she turned away to open the door.

“ ’Fraid so, luv.”

“Come in.” She just walked away from him and headed straight to the kitchen. She grabbed the tea kettle and started to fill it. She hadn’t even looked to see if he’d followed her.

All those nights. Lying awake in the middle of the night. Wondering if I loved him, desired him, or just missed his companionship.

Once she had made some strong Earl Grey tea for herself, she went into the living room. Spike was sitting on the couch, but clearly he was not feeling relaxed. He was fiddling with his lighter. Not the same one she had pocketed so many years ago, but a different one. Was that the flag of Texas on it? She took a seat in an overstuffed chair across from him.

“So, you’ve been with Angel for the last year?”

“Not like it was my doin’. I kept trying to leave that bloody city at first literally, and later some apocalypse or other kept happenin’. Once the final showdown between Boy Scout and those lawyers went down, I was finally able to take my leave.”

“Does Angel know you're here?”

“He knew what I was about, yeah. Didn’t give his blessin’ and I wasn’t lookin’ for it. I don’t live my life by his command, grandsire or no.” Spike paused and held her eyes with his. “Does it matter?”

She just looked at him for a moment. “No.” She said finally. “The last time I talked to him, I told him not to come looking for me. That if the time ever came for us, I’d find him. He’s honored that for 2 years. So I guess I’m not surprised he didn’t tell me about you.”

“Heh, yeah, well I’m not exactly his buddy anyhow. Things didn’t go so well in L.A. and he’s done another vanishing act. But really didn’t come here to talk about him.”

“Why are you here? Why now? Do you still have your soul? What do you want from me?” All her thoughts just came gushing out in a rush and he just sat there. How could he just sit there?

“How can you ask about my soul? I should think of all people, it would be obvious to you. Fuck.” He looked seriously wounded that she would doubt him. Do I doubt him or am I just trying to hurt him?

“Why are you here?” She repeated softly. Maybe if she knew why he had tracked her down, it would be easier to sort out her feelings.

He looked at her squarely. There was hardness in his eyes that she couldn’t quite pinpoint

“You got a bloke?”

“What? That’s what you want to ask me? Right now, in this moment, THAT is what you want to talk about?”

Spike’s eyes sparkled now. “He doesn’t do it for ya. He’s a poofta. I can tell.”

“You don’t even know who or what you’re talking about.”

“’Course I do. You were with him not more than 2 hours ago, but he clearly didn't rock your world.”

“Have you been following me? How can you do that? If you had any respect for me at all--”

“Easy pet. I didn’t follow you. I can smell him. And since I know full well what you look like after you’ve been well shagged. I know he didn’t do right by you. Shame really, that you’d accept less. Time was you knew how to get what you wanted.” He leaned back against the couch, letting his knees fall apart and laying one arm across the back. There was the Spike she knew.

“You’re back. I can’t believe it.” She suddenly felt at ease. The months of pain were melting away into immense relief. “I cried a lot for you.” He sat up again. She knew he wanted to come to her, but he didn’t. She was glad of that. She wasn’t ready for him to be close yet.

“I used to think that with you gone, my fate had been decided for me. I no longer had to decide who I loved more. Your death made things less complicated.”

He didn’t move. “I didn’t die to make your life less complicated. I didn’t come back to make you life more complicated. I’m here because I love you. There’s no hidden agenda here, pet.” He stared at her searchingly. That way he had of looking at her while he tried to figure her out always made her unsettled.

He leaned forward and took her hand. “Come here. I need to be closer to you right now.” She let herself be pulled to the couch. She sat down next to him, but not close enough that their legs touched. He held on to her hand. She gently pulled away, but he held fast and she relented.

“Angel loves you.” Her eyes darted to his. That was certainly not what she expected him to say.

“He’s connected to you and he believes the only hope for joy in his life rests with you. I accept that. I also know that you and I are -- shit, I can’t believe I’m going to say this --soul mates. Not in a blimey kind of way, but literally. When you held my hand as the amulet burned me, I *felt* your soul. It mingled with mine. I don’t just have my own soul inside, I carry some of yours as well. So bugger all if I don’t intimately know what he means to you. And you don’t know how much I hate that. I don’t know why the universe decided to make one woman embody the joy and love of two men, but it did. So I'm here because I can’t *not* be. But I don't carry the delusion that I’m your one and only because I know I’m not.”

Buffy’s forehead crinkled a bit and a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Please don’t cry, luv. I really hate it.”

“Are you saying you’re giving me to Angel?” Instead of relief that he was making the choice for her, she felt a deep rejection. Wasn’t he going to fight for her?

“Not in a soddin’ million years, sweet. I’m saying you don’t have to choose. Angel is off on his walkabout, and I'm here. If he ever returns or you feel you have to go deal with him, I’ll wait. Not sayin’ I won’t try to wipe the pavement with his pretty-boy face any chance that comes. But I got all the time in the world. I know that I suit some parts of your life,” he leaned in and brushed his lips softly along her neck “and I know how to shag you proper.” He whispered as he slid his hand up between her legs.

“You talk big,” she breathed but the word “big” only brought a stab of embarrassment at her earlier experience.

“That ain’t all that’s big, luv” he said as he brushed his lips against her ear.

She slapped him away playfully, “How would you know? You ever compared it to another one?”

He looked at her with some consternation. “Have you?”

She smiled sweetly at him. “I guess that’s one thing you are just going to have to wonder about.” She laced her fingers with his.

“I’ve missed you, Spike. More than I ever thought possible. I once told Angel that you were in my heart. You always will be. We’ve had experiences I treasure and you bring to my life something different from anyone else I’ve ever known. We fit.”

“We do.” Spike pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her.

“Spike?”

“Yes, luv?”

“Welcome home.”

“Hold it, luv. Just me.” Spike said as he caught her fist.

“What happened?”

“Bugger if I know. Last I remember, we were walking near my crypt. We’re not there anymore, that much I know.”

“Yeah, no headstones. Not that I can see anything really. I’ve never been anywhere this dark. The sky is amazing though.”

Spike looked up. Something wasn’t right. “We’re not in Sunnydale.”

“What do you mean? Of course we are.”

“No, pet, we’re not. I know the night sky. The stars. They aren’t aligned right.”

“Oh, are you suddenly Miss Cleo?”

“That’s astrology. I’m talking about astronomy. Where the stars appear in the sky is relative to where you are on the earth. The sky looks different.”

“When did you get all science-y?”

“I’ve spent my entire existence in the night for over 150 years, it’s hardly brain surgery. As a lad, astronomy was part of my schoolin’. T’was the only science we really studied.” He got very quiet and stared intently at the sky. She could just barely make out his features, but he was very serious.

“Ok, so the sky is different. That doesn’t explain why it’s so inky.”

“We aren’t near a city.” He was talking more to himself than to her.

“Great, stuck in the middle of nowhere with Spike. This is gonna be fun.”

“We’re not nowhere.” He was still staring at the sky.

“What is it? Getting messages from Lucy? Spike? Spike!”

His eyes met hers. “I know exactly where we are.”

“Great! Just bloodhound us back home then.”

“Not that easy, pet. We’re in England.”

“What do you mean? Like Giles-England? Queen-England? How do we ‘poof’ end up on a whole other continent?”

“What do I look like? A bloody information booth? Bugger all if I know how we got here, but I am positive of where we are.”

“And you got this revelation by staring at stars?”

“Yup, studying stars was what we did. We learned it along with math and grammar. I spent my childhood looking at the sky. This sky. I even know that is summer because of where the damn things are in the sky.”

“Ok, I’m just not used to you having, y’know, brains.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.”

“I just mean, you’ve never talked about this before.”

“Never had a need. C’mon. Let’s see if we can find a road. We can then try to head for the nearest town.”

They walked along in silence for a long while. Finally, Spike stopped. “You kissed me.”

“I told you I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“But it’s what we were talking about before. Before this happened. I remember now. You were on patrol and I was following you.”

“That’s right. I knocked you down and we woke up here.”

“Yeah. Why’d you do that?”

“What? Knock you down? I’m not sure.”

“You still kissed me.”

“Uggh. Can we please not talk about this?”

“How ‘bout NO? Granted, that all-singing, all-dancing demon fest was a fright, but no, you kissed me of your own free will.”

She sighed. “I never said I was under a spell; just that I didn’t want to talk about it.”

He stopped walking and turned to face her. She wished she could see more of his face. She could feel him standing just inches from her.

“Well, I am under a spell. Yours. I’ve thought of us kissing, touching…” he bumped his waist into hers. She shuddered and he smiled wickedly.

She shoved him hard. “No. It was a mistake. A lapse. I was feeling…”

“What, pet?” He stepped closer to her again.

“Nothing. It was nothing. Let’s get moving. The sun will be up in a few hours and we don’t have any shelter for you.”

He blocked her path for a beat more and then stepped aside. “Nice to know you care.”

“I don’t,” she lied.

They had found a road, but it wasn’t paved. The sky was lightening and they both knew they didn’t have much time.

“We must be in a pretty rural area.” Spike surmised. “Let’s try to find a barn or outbuilding.”

They walked along the road for about forty-five more minutes before they saw a building off to the left. They got inside just as dawn was breaking.

“I am beyond tired.” Buffy yawned as they looked around the building. It looked like someone’s shop. There were old-fashioned tools on one wall, with a wooden workbench along it. On the opposite side were racks that housed more wood. In the back, there was a small loft with stacks of burlap and bales of wire stored in neat piles.

“Let’s go up.” Spike nodded to the ladder leading to the loft.

“As if.” Buffy glared.

“Look, we’re both tired and we stand a better chance of hiding up there. I don’t relish someone swinging open those huge doors while I’m resting and making me all flambé.”

“All right, but I get the side with burlap.”

“Whatever you say.”

The loft was narrower than it looked from below. It really was just there for storage. They moved the wire bales to the edge, giving them a bit of a fence, and laid out the burlap on the wooden beams. Now that the morning sun was hitting the roof of the shed, it was getting very warm. Spike took off his shirt and rolled it up like a pillow. He laid down on his back and stretched out languidly. Buffy just stared at him. Why couldn’t he be flabby and hairy? No, he had to be chiseled. She let her eyes wander down his chest and over the rippled abdomen, down to his…

“Fancy a better look, luv?”

“What? No.” She scoffed and turned away. She busied herself with arranging piles of burlap as far away from him as she could. She knew he was grinning at her but she refused to look at him again as she laid down with her back to him. She heard his soft chuckle as she drifted off to sleep.
**********************************************************************

She awoke with a start as Spike slipped his hand over her mouth. “Shh, Buffy. Someone’s coming.”

They crept closer to the edge, kneeling behind the wire bales. Spike had put his shirt back on, she noticed. Not that it mattered. His form was now etched in her brain. Stupid brain.

“The Mistress and Master William will be heading to Addams Estate to dine tomorrow evening, so we need have the carriage fixed today.”

“Why the rush, Jer? They’ve never really gone anywhere in 3 years. Master William finds some reason not to go at the last moment. This will be no different.”

“There is a difference. I overheard the Mistress tell Nancy that she’d spied someone special for Master William. Someone she’s very keen on him to meet.”
Spike felt a chill. These voices were familiar, but he didn’t know how.

“She’s just wishful thinking if she believes she will ever get him off her apron strings. Never seen such a sop in all my days.”

“Hush now, that’s the Master you’re talkin’ about. Serve you good to keep your tongue still.”

Just then the two men entered the shed. Spike froze. “No,” he thought. It couldn’t be. They had to be dead. They were dead. He’d killed them both.

Buffy watched as the men gathered up some supplies. They were dressed in plain brown pants, brown leather boots and white work shirts. Clearly, they were servants of some kind. She glanced at Spike. He didn’t look well.

As the men left, she touched his shoulder. “Earth to Spike.”

“Ahhh!” he jumped.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I know those men. I … I knew those men.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I killed them.”

“Well, clearly not very well, since they seem quite mobile.”

“Buffy, I’m not sure, but I don’t think we just transported across an ocean.”

“Will you stop with the mystery and just tell me what’s got you all spookin’?”

He shook his head. This couldn’t be true. But there was no other explanation for the dark, the stars, the road and now Jeremy and Robert.

“Buffy, we are in England, on my estate.”

“Surely it’s been sold off by now. You left here a century ago.”

“No. I’m still here. This isn’t just a where. It’s a when.”

“A when? Please, speak some kind of English.”

“We are in the 1880’s. I know those men because they were on my staff. I haven’t been turned yet. We went back in time.”

“Holy crap!” Buffy rocked back and sat on her heels. “Maybe those aren’t who you think. Maybe it’s their great-great grandsons?”

“No. It’s them. Plus, look around. There’s no power tools, no lights. Not even a torch.”

Buffy looked around her. Everything was old, but wasn’t. Now that she looked, the tools looked like ones she remembered from school trips to history museums, but they were actually new. Not rusted and ancient.

“You’re Master William?”

“’Fraid so, pet.”

“Well, we can’t do much until the sun goes down, so let’s think about how we got here.”

“We must have gone through a portal. The Druids have ‘em all over the place. They were fond of putting them near stone tablets.”

“Great! Where is the nearest portal? We’ll just go there and pop back through.”

“Not that easy. The portals only open on certain days at certain times. We must have just been lucky. You pushed us through when we were in the graveyard.”

“Oh, so now this is my fault.”

“I didn’t say that. Don’t go gettin’ your knickers in a bunch.”

Buffy sat up again. “Hey, can I see you? I wanna see what you were like.”

“No! Not even an option. Bad enough you know me with the bleedin’ chip in my head, I’m not gonna have you witness the fussied-up nancy boy I used to be.”

“Tied to your momma’s apron strings huh? This should be really great.”

Spike sat back on a pile of burlap and pulled her down in his lap. “Forget about soddin’ William. I’m more than enough man for you.”

She squirmed to try and get off him but he held her firm. Finally, she relaxed and looked at him intently.

“Why are you so ashamed of who you were?”

“Because he put the namby in pamby. Becoming a vamp was the best thing that ever happened to me. Gave me a bleedin’ backbone it did. He was all wilty and soft with his love poems and schoolbooks. Mother said fine young ladies appreciated a kind mind, but all they really want is a man who will command them.” Spike moved his fingers in small circles on her thigh. She ignored them for the moment.

“Women don’t like to be commanded. They like to be respected.”

“Yeah? Well, they sure as hell don’t like mealy-mouthed wimps. That’s what I was. That’s what I left behind and I have no desire to see him back.” He started stroking the inside of her thigh.

“Stop that.” She said in a voice that didn’t even convince herself.

“No.” He moved his face closer to hers, holding her eyes.

“Yes!” she commanded as she rolled off and kicked him hard in the chest. Spike fell back and she stood over him.

“Ah yes luv. I like that.” He grabbed her ankle and pulled her leg out, dragging her down. He sprang over her, pinning her shoulders to the floor. He leaned down and kissed her passionately. She resisted for a moment and then gave into it, grabbing a fist full of his hair, holding him close. His hands were all over her now. He reached up her shirt and pinched her nipple hard.

“Oww, damn it!” she cried and pushed up with such force he hit the ceiling of the loft and came crashing down on a bale of wire.

“Oh please, sweetheart. You can’t tell me you’re hurt by a little rough shaggin’.”

“Stay off me! This isn’t what we are.” She scrambled down the ladder and out of the shed because she knew he couldn’t follow her.
************************************************************************

England was beautiful. She’d never been here before and it was not like anything she’d seen in pictures. The hills rolled gently and were covered by grasses and heather. She walked along a small stream and sat under a large oak. Why did she let him entice her? Was she really that desperate for a man’s touch? Or was it that he could make her forget he was an evil demon? He wasn’t like Angel. He had no redemption, just a piece of silicon holding his monstrosity at bay. She watched the stream trickle along when she heard a voice.

“Oh, hark what dost thou do to sparkle and shine? Thy eyes are like pebbles. No, no. Thy eyes are like drops of rain… No not that either.”

Buffy got up and wandered nearer to the voice. She peered around a laurel hedge and saw him standing there. He was practicing. Every now and then he would pause and write something down. She couldn’t believe it. He looked so…pathetic. She was overcome with an urge to mother him. He looked very different. His thin body stood limply, his hair a dirty blonde. And eyeglasses? If it wasn’t for his voice, she would never believe it was him.

“Thy eyes are like…honey buckets”

“Honey buckets?” she said with more distain than she meant to come across.

He jumped and flung his papers everywhere. “Good gracious me! Wh-ho? I mean to say, where? Oh my!” he suddenly realized his precious papers were lying in the dirt and started to gather them fussily.

“William, right?”

“Y-y-yes. I am.” He stood up, clutching his papers to his chest and looked at her for the first time. She dressed like a man, in leather breeches and jacket. Her hair was pulled back into a thong. But her face was lovely. “Wh-ho are you?”

“Who am I?” Crap. She hadn’t thought about this part. “Buffy” wasn’t a common name in her time, let alone his. “I’m Anne. I heard you speaking and wanted to introduce myself.”

“Uh, Miss… Anne? No, sorry, that’s just not proper. What is your surname?”

“My what-name?”

“Your surname? Your family name?” Was she daft?

“Oh, that. Uh, Summers. Anne Summers,” she stuck out her hand for him to shake. He just stared at it. “What? It’s a hand. For you to shake.”

His eyes got wide and he looked at her. “I shouldn’t do that. We hardly know one another. I must go.” And he scampered off like a frightened bunny.

“Wow, he is skittish,” Buffy thought. She followed after him, but kept her distance. She didn’t want to completely freak him out, but she was desperate to see more of him. As she got closer to the house, she was struck by the largeness of it. It was 3 stories tall, made of brick and mortar. There were large windows along the front and a grand entrance arch. She walked around the back and saw three women doing laundry. They were dressed in heavy cotton dresses with soft deerskin bodices. Their hair was piled under cotton kerchiefs. As she watched them work, it occurred to her what an odd sight she must have been to him in her tight leather pants, silk blouse and jacket. She realized she would have to get some clothes for herself and Spike if they were going to be moving about the countryside. Good thing it’s laundry day.

“Mabel!” called an elderly woman as she came to the doorway.

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Please lay out William’s brown suit and cravat for this evening. He looks so fetching in it.”

“Yes, mum.” Mabel answered with a quick curtsey.

“This is the night. I feel it. He will find the one tonight.”

“Of course, mum.” But Buffy saw her cover a snicker.

“Oh, I am so happy for him. My sweet –,” Spike’s mother collapsed against the wall in a fit of coughing.
“Are you all right, mum?” Mabel said as all the servant girls rushed over to her.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Thank you. My, my.” She continued to cough and sputter for a few more moments as the girls looked on, concerned.

“Here’s some water, mum.”

“Oh, thank you Polly. Really, such a fuss. No, we must tend to William. This night is very important. We must find him a wife, soon.”

“Mistress, you needn’t worry so. The staff will always look after Master William, even after…” her voice trailed off.

“Oh, dearest Mabel. I know you would. But it isn’t the same. And without me to prod him into society, I fear he’d never venture out to make a match on his own. No, no, tonight will be the night. Please, help me up.” All the girls reached out to help her stand. Buffy was impressed with what a strong woman Spike’s mother was. Clearly she was ill, but the fire in her eyes demonstrated the love of her son. Buffy felt a wave of horror for her. She hoped she died never knowing what her son had become and what he had done.

Just then, she realized she had her chance. She leaped over the short stone fence into the kitchen yard. She went through the piles of laundry and grabbed some bloomers, a corset, a dress and shawl. She also grabbed a plain white shirt and pants for Spike. She had no idea if any of it would fit, but they would work that out later. She bundled them all up in a large blanket that was hanging on a line and headed back to the workshop.
************************************************************************

“Spike. Spike!” she whispered as she shook him. He’d gone back to sleep after she left and now it was like waking the dead-literally.

Suddenly his hand shot up and he grabbed her by the throat. She brought her hand up in a sweeping blow and knocked his arm away, nearly falling off the ladder she was standing on. He sat up and looked at her.

”Sorry, babe. I didn’t know it was you.”

“Like hell.” She said as she threw the clothes at him. “Get dressed. We’ve got some snoopin’ to do”

“Crap. I hated these clothes.”

“Just put them on. Hopefully they fit.”

“They should. They’re mine.” She nodded. Of course they were.

“Good,” and she backed down the ladder.

Now to figure out how to get dressed herself. The shift was easy, if thin. She felt very exposed with just a thin piece of cotton covering her. The corset was presenting a problem. She had loosened it enough to get it over her head and shoulders, but now, how was she to tighten the damn thing back up? The laces were in the back. She tried turning it around but it was so stiff and hard that it didn’t work.

“You need some help.”

She jumped a bit and covered the top of her chest. It was funny. She was more covered up than she was with most of her normal outfits, but she felt practically naked. She looked at Spike. He looked much like William had, except that his hair was bleached and muscles now strained against the fabric of his shirt. His pants also seemed to stretch over him.

“I don’t know how this works.” She offered lamely.

“That’s ‘cause it takes two people. In my day, women never dressed alone. Someone had to lace ‘em up. Turn around.” He walked up to her and began to straighten the corset around.

“You need to lift your tits into the cups or it won’t lace properly.”

“Are you insane? I tried that and they nearly fell out the top.”

Spike struggled for control. “That’s the fashion, luv. That’s the point of this whole contraption.”

“Fine.” She kept facing away from him as she adjusted herself.

She glanced back at him. “Ok, fix it now.”

He pulled on the cords, making them tighter. With each pull she felt herself gasping.
“What the hell are you doing?”

Spike sighed. “You really will fall out if it isn’t very snug. I don’t blame you. I could never understand how women could stand these things. There, done.”

She turned around and he was dumbstruck. To see her lovely flesh pressed over the top of her corset took his breath away. Now he remembered why corsets were such wonderful things.

“Yo, eyes up this way leech-boy.”

“What? Oh, sorry.” He took a step towards her. “No, that’s a lie. I’m not sorry. You’re beautiful.” He placed his hands on her now even narrower hips and pulled her to him.

“And you’re not going to do this again. I told you.” She leaned away but did not break his grasp. He eyed her hungrily and she could feel the fire starting to smolder inside her. She had to do something.

“I saw William.” She spoke directly, locking his eyes.

“Oh bloody hell, Slayer!” he yelled, pushing her away. “I told you to stay away from him.”

“And you’re the boss of me how? I also saw your mom.”

Spike stopped cold. “Mother? Did you speak to her?”

“No. I just watched her. She seemed ill.”

Oh no. Spike had hoped they had come earlier. If she was showing signs of consumption, she didn’t have much time left. Spike turned away from Buffy and sat on a bench. That would also mean…

“What is happening tonight? Did you hear?”

“Just that she’s taking you to some party where she hopes you will find a wife.”

Spike closed his eyes to the memory. The humiliation of it. “You are beneath me,” she would say. He looked at Buffy. That wasn’t the last time he would hear those words either.

“What? Why are you looking at me like I just ran over your puppy with a tractor?”

“No reason. Look, pet. We need to get out of here. We need to get back to our time. We don’t belong here.”

“Of course. We will. I was thinking that we should go to the council. They could probably help.”

“The Watcher’s Council?”

“Sure. They exist now as they have for all of eternity. And they’ve seen enough that time travelers aren’t going to be a big thing.”

“They also aren’t going to be real thrilled with a vamp waltzing into their little establishment. Besides, what will they give us? We don’t even know how we got here.”

“That’s why we need them. If we were home, I’d have Giles and the Scoobies doing research. You and I, not big with the research. They will be able to figure out how we got here and how to get us home.”

“Alright. But we wait until dusk and you don’t let on who I am.”

“Spike, you aren’t a vamp yet in their world. They will have no idea who William the Bloody is. You’re perfectly safe.”

“Right, then. But until then, I’m going to just sit here and admire the view.” He sat down on the steps and just stared unabashedly at her cleavage.

“You are so impossible.” Buffy snarked as she turned away and sat on a stool facing the wall.
************************************************************************

Buffy had never been to the Council’s Headquarters and she was glad. It was as stuffy as a really old library and smelled like Giles’ apartment. Spike was clearly nervous. What was his deal? He’d been acting all freaky since she mentioned the party. Maybe that was it. Had he not found his bride and become a huge disappointment to his mom? Wait, his mom! What if she was going to die soon? Maybe she died the night of the party. Poor Spike. Huh? Poor Spike? William was going to be devastated, but Spike? Angel had killed his whole family after becoming a vampire. Had Spike done the same thing? She tried to ask him about it during the 3-hour carriage ride into London, but he just ignored all her attempts to bring it up.

“Miss Summers?” a very matronly lady asked from a doorway.

“Yes.” Buffy stood up and swooned slightly. This damn corset was making her woozy. Spike steadied her elbow, which she jerked out of his hand.

“Mr. Davenport will see you now.”

“Great.” And she started to follow the lady. Spike stood where he was. She turned to him and waved at him to follow.

“’s alright luv. I’ll just wait right here.” He wasn’t going to put himself in a small room with a Watcher.

“OK, ‘Fraidy Cat, sheesh.”

Buffy entered the small office and was struck by how Watchers must all be the same. There were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled to capacity with leather-bound books. On the occasional open wall space hung swords and knives. Man, would Giles love this room.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Summers,” said a voice behind her. She turned to see a man in tweed who looked kind of familiar.

“That’s OK. I’m sorry to wake you in the middle of the night. Yeah, ok, this isn’t going to make a whole lot of sense, but here goes. I’m a Slayer from the year 2002. Somehow I ended up here and I would very much like to get back.”

“I see.” Mr. Davenport removed his glasses and put one of the ear-poles into his mouth, studying her.

“Shit, do you all do that?”

“I hardly think vulgarities are called for. What am I doing that shocks you so?”

“Chew on your glasses like that. Giles does it all the time. Is it some freaky Watcher signal or something?”

“Your Watcher is a Giles? Magnificent. They are one of our best families. Nice to know they last into the next millennium.”

Suddenly, she knew who he looked like. “You’re a Pryce aren’t you?”

“I should say not! My mother was a Wyndam! The Wyndams and the Pryces do not get along.”

“Well, maybe that will change. I am relieved that you believe me. I’m not at all sure I believe me. But I guess you’ve probably seen it all and more huh?”

He chuckled. “Well, I don’t claim to have seen ‘it all’ but you are not the first person to fall through a Druid portal. Bloody things are all over the place.”

Buffy smiled. “That’s just what Spike said.”

“Spike? Oh, the vampire waiting outside?”

Buffy got suddenly very concerned. “You know what he is? He won’t hurt anyone.” Why was she so concerned? She tried to kill him on a regular basis.

“I’m not a man who assumes, Miss Summers. For a vampire even to walk in here is bold beyond comprehension. I felt an amazing curiosity as to why.”

“So no one will harm him?”

“Do you wish that to be so?”

“Spike’s kind of complicated. But let’s just say he won’t hurt humans. I can give you my word on that.”

“Then no more shall be said of it. In point of fact, your presence here is so timely that I have to wonder at it. Our current Slayer is in Quebec, Canada but here in London we are suffering from a particularly brutal family of vampires. We could very much use your services at the moment.”

“You got it. Who or what am I looking for?”

“The one we are certain of goes by the name of Drusilla.”
************************************************************************

“I could stop her!”

“Why?” he asked her calmly. He’d known all night this was coming, but he’d avoided it so she would sleep near him. Now that it was mid-morning, there was no way around it.

“Stopping 200 years of death, for one thing. Besides being insane, she killed Kendra, forced me to kill Angel. She’s an entire psycho-ward in one demon. Name one thing that wouldn’t be better with her gone?”

“She hasn’t sired me yet.” He waited for it to sink in, hoping it would have the effect he meant.

She looked at him for a long time. “I know. That’s the best reason of all. I would be saving you from that fate.”

“Oh, sod off!” he yelled. “You don’t give a damn about me. Don’t try to be all noble about it.”

“The two of you created nothing but death and destruction when you were together. Why shouldn’t I want to avoid that?”

“That isn’t it. You do this and poof, I don’t exist anymore. I die 100 years before you were born. Pretty convenient way to end a relationship.”

“We don’t have a relationship. We never have. The only reason you stopped trying to kill me is because of the chip. This isn’t you. I know that. I fool myself, but now that I have seen who you were, I am even more horrified by what you have done. William was a sweet, simple—

“He was damned pooftah!”

“—loving man.” she continued. “If he knew what was done in his name he’d be horrified!”

“I doubt it. He couldn’t see beyond the end of his mommy’s skirts”

“See, that’s my point. He isn’t you. You have the same face, same eyes, same speech pattern, but you, Spike, are a demon. William is not. You are just housed in his shell.”

“There is more of him in me than you know. More than you will admit. I am a demon, luv. That is nothing I’ve ever denied. So is soddin’ Angel. You make like you don’t truck with the Big Bad, but in truth, you crave the monster. William is a wimp. He’s nothing worth saving.”

“I save those who can’t save themselves. That’s my job. I have a chance to take out Drusilla and I am going to. If that means you die an old man, that we never meet, I’m perfectly fine with that.”

She turned and marched out of the shop. He watched her, marveling at how voluptuous she could look, even under yards of muslin and silk. He wanted to see her back in minis and leather. He had to stop her, or he would never see her, know her or touch her again.

She sat down on a low rock wall. She sighed and put her face in her hands. He was partly right. Spike had just always been there, like a corn on her toe. And now …

He was the first one she’d told about heaven. He was the one she turned to time and again to help her and he’d never refused. She trusted him and she was attracted to him, although it killed her to admit it. It would be hard to lose him, but surely the thousands of innocent victims he would kill, not to mention those Drusilla hadn’t killed yet, had to be considered more important.

“Miss, uh Miss Summers?”

“Oh, hello William.” He was so mild, and he just begged for mothering. She felt so sorry for him.

“I was wondering, uh, that is, if it isn’t to much, uh, well, could you, mayhap, no uh, I suppose not.”

She smiled. “Really, William. Am I so scary you can’t complete a sentence?”

“Uh, no. You are quite lovely, actually.” He didn’t meet her eyes. “Where did you, uh, go?”

“I went for a walk.”

“I, uh, I see. I hoped, rather I wondered, why are you here? I have never espied you afore yet you seem to be wandering the grounds of my home. I don’t wish to be forward, but …” He looked so damn nervous. She was a stranger rattling around in his yard. Doesn’t he believe he’s got a right to know who she is?

“My cousin is staying with the Addams’. I’m just exploring. I don’t like to be inside much.”

“I see,” he said with great relief and almost collapsed onto the wall next to her shoulders sagging.

“Are you looking forward to the party tonight?” She was finding his weakness to be frustrating. Why didn’t he sit up straight? Because he’s not Spike, a voice inside her head said.

“I am hoping, er, well, Mother is hoping I will finally ask the woman I love to marry me.”

“Alright! Go you.” Buffy smiled.

“Go where?” William looked around, befuddled.

“No, it’s just an expression. I mean, good luck.”

“Ahh, I am not familiar with the idiom. But yes, I shall need the luck.”

At that moment a bell rang from the house.

“Pardon me, I must go. We shall depart within the hour. And perhaps you must go as well?”

“Right. I’ve got to go put my face on.”

“Excuse me!”

“Nothing. Forget it. I’ll see you at the party.”

He bowed slightly, “Until later then.” And he headed back towards the house.
************************************************************************

“You were in LOOOOVVVE” Buffy teased as she walked back into the barn.

Spike sat at the workbench carving a piece of wood.

“Oh bollocks! Did you go talk to him again? Can’t you please just stay away?”

“So, who was she? Some wallflower who melted at your ‘poetry’ or a tawdry scullery maid? This is the goods. C’mon spill.”

“Her name was Cecily Addams. And obviously never got hitched, so why do you care? Hmm?” He put down his wood but not his knife. He swaggered over to her with all the bravado that William lacked. He kept backing her up until she hit the wall. “Jealous?” and he stabbed the knife into the wall centimeters from her ear as he pressed his body against hers. “Green isn’t a color that becomes you, pet.”

“I am so not jealous.” She replied waveringly.

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

“I’m just sorry he never got to live out his life happily.” She wiggled against him but he laid into her hard. He wasn’t trying to turn her on. He was forcing her to stay.

“You should feel sorry for that poof. Everyone despised him, and with good reason. He never amounted to anything until a fair maiden named Drusilla came along.”

Buffy’s eyes bored into him. “Not if I can help it.” And with all her Slayer strength she shoved him across the barn. Spike rolled back and cut his lip on a large rock in the dirt floor.

“Shit, luv. If you are so eager to save him, how about saving him from the humiliation and broken heart he’s about to experience at that party tonight? Have you ever thought that he might have given himself over willingly? That maybe he had nothing left here to care about?”

Buffy shoulders softened. “She rejected your proposal.”

“In a manner of speaking. Look, come nightfall, I know I can find the portal back. Let’s just go home and forget all of this.”

“I can’t.”

“Angelus is with them.”

“What did you say?”

“I said, Angelus is with them. Are you ready to kill him as well?”

Buffy just stared at him.

“Yeah. Thought not. Your mission is all bloody well and good when it comes to ending my life, but bring up tall, dark and broody and suddenly things change. So much for your noble cause, Slayer.” And he started to climb the ladder to the loft.

“You don’t know me at all.” And she walked out of the barn.
************************************************************************

She hoped she wasn’t too obvious creeping through the shadows. She had changed back into the clothes she had on when this whole time-trip started and was lurking outside the parlor windows of the Addams estate. She could see William inside. He was even more awkward in a group than in person and she could tell by his demeanor that the people around him were making fun of him.

“C’mon! Kick their ass.” She whispered to herself. The more she watched she began to feel what Spike meant. In many ways, he was better now. ‘Cept for the whole being evil thing.

“Oh shit!” she gulped as she ducked lower into the bushes. William was walking to the window. That’s when she noticed a woman sitting off to the right.

She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she watched William’s face. That woman was ripping out his soul in front of her in a way she was sure Drusilla never had. He turned abruptly and ran from the room. Moments later he was running down the lane ripping up small pieces of paper.

Then she saw them. Angel, Darla and Drusilla. William bumped into Drusilla as he ran past, not even pausing to acknowledge her. Drusilla turned and watched him for a long time. Then she began to follow him.

“Seen ‘nuff?” She might have jumped but she knew he’d be joining her. He was like that.

“I’m so sorry.” She kept watching Drusilla walk away.

“I’m not. And I know what you want to do. I’ve never asked you for anything Buffy. Please. Let Dru go.”

“What would Giles say? What would any of them say? I let her go and all those deaths are now mine.”

Spike just looked at her. “Please.”

“Don’t make me regret this. And don’t speak to anyone of it ever.” She turned away from him and started to walk back to the shed they’d spent so many days in.

“Done.” Spike said lightly. “Look, I’ve found some stones. They’re probably a portal, and we can go back.” He put her hand on her shoulder. She turned to him.

“In many ways you are better. But you are still a demon. I can’t just forget that.”

“I’ve never asked you to.”

“Sharks!”

“What the fuck?”

“That’s what I pushed you down for back at the cemetery. I just remembered.”

“Ahh, ok, then, let’s go get us some sharks.”

Spike was stunned. How could Angelus do that? How could Dru let him? They belonged together. She’d made him to be with her forever. What was she doing? And why did she seem to like it so much?

“But don’t worry. You will soon understand.”

And with a speed Spike hadn’t realized could be achieved, Angelus flung him to the floor and tied his hands tightly behind his back. Spike tried to roll over but Angelus’ weight was too much. He kept fighting as his shirt was ripped from his body in shreds.

“Oh, poor William. You had the misfortune of keeping just a little too much of yourself. Dru should have known, but she’s not really all there, y’ken?”

Spike heard her giggle and was embarrassed that she was still in the room. He strained to look up at her as Angelus pushed a knee into his back and started to remove his pants. Suddenly the realization of what Angelus had in mind came to him. He started to buck and growl with all his strength. Angelus punched him hard in the temple.

“You will learn, m’boy," he growled. He hauled on Spike’s arm, him up. Spike was naked, arms tied behind him, staring down at the floor.

“Dru, honey, our boy looks like he needs some proper encouragement.”

Dru walked up to Spike, wearing that maniacal grin she had. “Just be a good boy, Sweet William.” And she knelt before him, taking his limp cock into her mouth. Feeling that warmth, that pressure, was wonderful and his member sprang to life instantly. Maybe he’d been wrong about what Angelus…

“You see, William, what you have to learn --” Angelus was pacing the space behind him and Spike could hear him undoing his buckle “-- is that being a vampire is not about having. It’s about taking.”

As he spoke, there was a loud thwaping sound and Spike immediately yelped as Angelus’ belt lashed against his backside. As Spike’s ass was whipped repeatedly, Dru never stopped her constant, rhythmic sucking. Thwap. Suck. Thwap.

“She’s good at that ain’t she, William? I insisted she be perfect. I burned and beat her until she got it right. ”

Spike looked down at her. Her eyes sparkled as if she was remembering with glee her lessons. As hard as he tried not to respond, the feeling was exquisite. But every time he started to slip into the pure ecstasy of her mouth, there would be another lash against his ass. He wasn’t sure if skin was getting broken, and each lash brought forth sharper pain.

“William, the best part of sex is mixing the pleasure with the pain. Without the pain, you are just soft. Human.” Angelus voice oozed with distain, but at least he wasn’t whipping him, so Spike kept focus on Dru. On her wet mouth. Maybe this time he’d make it.

“You’re done now, Dru.” Angelus ordered and she let go instantly.

Spike actually moaned. “No, please.”

“Angelus, you won’t damage him will you?” Dru asked as she rose up and looked Spike straight in the eye.

“Nothing that won’t heal. Now go. I won’t ask you again.”

Dru walked backwards out of the room, keeping her eyes locked on Spike’s. She does love me more, he thought. He could endure anything for her. Not that he planned to.

“Alright, you’ve had your fun. I get your point.” Spike spoke in a low, tired rumble, still staring at the spot where he last saw Dru’s face before she closed the door.

“Oh, no, boy. We have only just begun.” Angelus shoved him hard and he flew across the room and landed half on the bed. He tried to get up but Angelus lashed out with the belt again, this time hitting him across the face. He collapsed flat onto the bed for a moment. Just to recover from the pain. The ropes binding his wrists behind him were starting to cut into him. He could smell the blood.

“William, I take what I want. If I want Dru, whenever I want Dru, I have her.” Spike rolled his head, trying to regain focus. That’s when he realized Angelus was now completely naked. He was strong, chiseled, fully hard and enormous. How had Dru taken that? Spike pulled his knees up to his chest as he rolled on his side. He hoped Angelus wouldn’t see.

But he had. He grabbed Spike’s ankles and pulled his legs out so he was lying on his back. The rough feel of the wool blanket against his raw ass caused him to cry out just a bit.

“Hmm, well then William, you aren’t completely uninterested in this after all," he mocked as he flicked Spike’s growing hard on.

“It’s not you I’m thinking of," Spike spat.

“Don’t worry, it will be." And Angelus climbed up on top of him, straddling his chest, facing away from him. Angelus ran a finger up the length of Spike’s cock.

“Well, it’s not the biggest thing I’ve seen, but then, I’m not the one who will care. I’m just a little sad for poor Dru.”

Spike started pushing against the huge heft on top of him. “She hasn’t complained yet, ” he said weakly.

“I really don’t need to hear you talk.” And Angelus slid back, covering Spike’s nose and mouth with his ass. Spike struggled fiercely, panicking that he would suffocate. Then it suddenly occurred to him that he didn’t need to breathe.

“You really should learn to respect your elders, William,” Angelus snarled as he shifted his weight so he could lean over to the table next to the bed. He lifted off Spike’s face enough that Spike could see him carefully picking up the candle that was burning there.

“Maybe I’ll just clean this up for dear Dru.” And he poured the pooled hot wax all over Spike’s crotch.

Spike screamed and once again Angelus sat down, covering his mouth and nose. Spike could feel the scalding wax dripping and pooling around his balls. He tried to roll over, to get the wax to pour off of him, but Angelus put his hand on Spike’s knees, keeping his legs still. He couldn’t scream, he couldn’t move. All he could do was cry out in his own mind at the agony of scaled flesh. Then he felt air and realized Angelus was fanning him, cooling the wax. It was hardening and sticking to all his hair. With pure evil joy, Angelus started ripping the cooled wax up, pulling all the hair with it.

Spike bucked and fought, rubbing his face in Angelus’ crack.

“Oh, yeah! William. Do that some more.” Angelus’ voice crackled with menace and amusement.

Spike vamped out from the pain and rage. He’d give this bastard more.

But Angelus grabbed his balls in a vice grip and started to squeeze. “Don’t you dare bite me boy or you’ll never fuck anyone again.”

Spike stilled.

“That’s more like it.” Angelus started to lightly trace the now bare skin. He slowly stroked Spike back to hardness as he lifted his ass slightly above Spike’s face. Without intending to, Spike found himself nuzzling and licking at Angelus.

“I knew you were a poof, William, the moment I saw you.” And Spike froze. He couldn’t believe what he was doing. He couldn’t understand why he wanted to. Angelus moved off him, standing at the side of the bed. For the first time, Spike could see himself. He saw the red welts and was startled at how he looked without any hair nestled at the base of his cock.

“Say you like it, William.”

Spike couldn’t move, let alone speak.

Angelus lashed him with the belt, hitting the burned skin and his hardening penis.

“Say it.”

“I…like it," he said in a coarse whisper.

Angelus whipped him again, this time across the chest.

“You like it, who?”

“I like it, Sire.”

“Yes, you do.” Angelus pulled his legs around and flipped him on his stomach. Spike didn’t even fight anymore. He’d known it wouldn’t be over until this. He was just relieved to be close to the end.

Angelus positioned Spike’s knees under him, forcing his ass to rise higher and maneuvering him as close to the edge of the bed as he needed him to be. He slowly, softly ran his hand over the bright red cheeks. Spike sucked in air through his teeth. The touch was an amazing combination of pain and pleasure. His hard on raged again, his balls throbbing from the constant shift from flaccid to hard and back with no release.

Then Angelus surprised him. He began rubbing some kind of salve over his sore flesh. Where had he gotten that? His touch was so tender and soft. He ran the cooling balm down between Spike’s legs and massaged some over the burned skin of his sack. Angelus brought his hand back up, pressing it between Spike’s cheeks and pushing his finger ever so slightly into the tight opening there.

“Now William, your re-education, truly begins." In one forceful thrust he shoved the entire length of his cock into Spike.

Spike screamed again and kept screaming as Angelus thrust in and out punishingly. He felt like his insides were ripping apart. Then slowly, he started to expand and accommodate Angelus’ huge bulk. His erection building again, he felt betrayed at himself for starting to like it. For starting to feel the climax he’d been denied all night build within him.

Angelus’ thrusts resumed in earnest, coming harder and faster. Spike felt his own bruised and battered cock slapping hard against his belly.

“And now, dear William, I have you. Because I wanted it.” Angelus came explosively inside him as Spike finally got his release. He collapsed down flat on the bed as Angelus painfully withdrew. He could feel the cum and blood trickle out of his ass and down between his legs as he buried his face in the bedspread.

“Dru! Come clean this up!”

“No!” Spike groaned. “Don’t let her see me.” He rolled on his side and saw that Dru was already there. But it wasn’t him she was there for. She was licking and sucking his blood and Angelus’ cum off Angelus’ cock with pleasure and devotion. That’s when Spike finally got it. Angelus would always take whatever he wanted. Take what Spike wanted.

“Someday," Spike vowed to himself, “Someday I’ll find the one thing you cherish, Angelus. And I will not just steal from you, I’ll posses it.”