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“I am so bored, Miss Edith. Grandmother is dust and my Spike is cavorting with the Slayer.“ Drusilla sat on the bed fixing her doll’s clothes. “What’s that, yes, I know I played with someone else, but now I miss him.” She picked the doll up and walked to the window to sit and gaze at the stars. “I left you for a while when I needed to bring Grandmother back to the darkness. But I came back for you.” She hugged the doll. “I think I need to get the slayer out of my Spike’s head. He chained us up you know.” A smile spread across her face. “He does love to play. But he chose the Slayer.” Her brows furrowed with the thought
A knock at the door interrupted her revalry. “Hey, Dru, you wanted to see me?” Harmony bounced in. Dru smiled, Harmony was like one of her dolls, not as pretty or smart as Miss Edith, but very easy to talk to.
“I am leaving for a while, I think I need to get something I misplaced…Can you watch the children while I am gone?” Dru gestured to the wall with cubbyholes filled with dolls.
“Uh, yeah sure, you want me to come with?” Harm asked
“No, I must reclaim what has always been MINE!” She vamped with the last word and shredded one of the pillows that were strewn across the window seat where she was seated.
Spike sat in front of the television, sprawled out, smoking a cigarette. He heard a knock at the door. Surprised someone actually knocked he jumped up to see who it was. He opened the door and there stood Dawn, holding a box along with Buffy and Willow behind her.
“What’s this?” He arched an eyebrow up and looked at Buffy.
“Dawn said we need to make peace, I was bad during my invisible woman phase.I trashed your crypt when you weren’t here and that wasn’t nice of me.” Buffy said pointedly and then hung her head.
“That’s great guys, but this box is getting kinda heavy, can we come in so I can set it down? I don’t know why the girl with super strength couldn’t carry it!” Dawn flounced in as Spike moved out of the way to let her in. Willow started helping Dawn unload the box by the TV.
Spike grabbed Buffy’s arm as she walked by. “They don’t know WE trashed the room?”
“Nope, and if you want to live you’ll keep it that way.” She smiled sweetly as the threat slipped through her lips.
“Whatcha Got?” Spike watched as the girls hooked some contraption up to the TV.
“We decided…well I decided. It’s gotta be boring over here, so we rented an N64 and got Conker’s Bad Fur Day.“ Dawn plugged in the controllers
“Oh, the company who made it is british, so we thought you’d appreciate the humor.” Willow was all excited now.
“So did I. I am actually pretty good at this game. “
He turned to Buffy. “You let her play this game? It has a Mature Audiences Only disclaimer on it.”
“That didn’t stop you from playing it, did it?” She smirked.
“I’ve rented it a few times. Gets pretty boring around here in between you guys barging in at all hours of the day. So, Red, you get any of the codes off the internet, so we can use all of the characters in multiplayer?”
“I wrote them down.” Willow fished in her pocket for a folded piece of paper. She waited for Conker to chainsaw the N64 logo and for Spike to steer the red squirrel to the fireplace. “Ready? Ok..Rustysheriffsbadge, billymillgoround…”She continued through seven different codes.
Buffy sat in front of Spike on the floor, her back leaning against his chair. “I am still mad you can’t be Berry. I guess I’ll have to be Sid caveman.”
“I’m Gregg.”
Buffy elbowed Spike’s leg “You would pick Death.”
After 3 hours of Conker’s the women decided it was time to go, but left the system with Spike, it didn’t need to be returned for two more days.
“That wasn’t so hard was it Slayer? Being civil.” He walked her to the door.
“Willow and Dawn made me, they said they’d leave if I started to act up.”
“Would that be so bad? Us being alone?” He took a step closer to her.
“You were the one who threw me out, remember?” She stepped forward so there was only an inch between them.
“That’s right, Luv. The sex is great, but I need more.”
“I don’t know if I am capable of more right now,” she studied her hands “with anyone.” She looked up and could no longer resist. She gave him a soft kiss and left.
He sat in the chair, thought better of it and then went down to his room and retrieved his portable cd player that he had nicked from Walmart last time he was there. He plugged in his favorite cd, as of late. Violent Femmes blasted over the headphones as he started a new game.
“You see Miss Edith? He has had her and her friends over to his crypt. Naughty Spike.” She waited about an hour and then went over and walked inside. Her heart fell as she came in unnoticed. She could hear the music through his headphones. She watched him mutilate cartoon figures on the tv screen and reminisced for the days when he could do that for real again. She took her hands and placed them over his eyes, he startled but she held him in place.
He yanked the headphones off. “Who is it? If it’s you Buffy, you’ll pay for getting my guy killed.” He twisted enough to see who it was. His head twinged with pain for a minute and he focused on Buffy. “Why’d you come back?” He slumped back into the chair.
“I want to play a game.” Buffy went down the ladder.
“Buggar.” He set the controller down and followed her. As he rounded the corner to his bedroom, he could have swore it was Drusilla in the bedroom but as soon as he got a good look it was Buffy. How could he mistake the two? They were opposites she was as dark as the slayer was fair. Buffy was acting strange, where did that bag come from? She was pulling chains out of it. “Buff, I told you, no more sex until you can give me more. Although, I didn’t know you had it in you.” He ran his hands through his hair.
“More than sex?” She looked confused for a second. Then “Don’t you want me Spike?” She moved towards him. She didn’t move like the slayer, something was wrong. He couldn’t put a finger on it. “Bloody Hell, Buffy, you know I want you, but you also know my terms.”
“Remind me.” She put he hands on his chest and rubbed it just like Dru used to when… DRU. He pushed the woman off of him, effectively breaking the hypnosis.
“Don’t you want me Spike?” Dru looked at him from her prone position on the bed.
“You’re the one that walked on me, Ducks” He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, pacing back and forth. “Why are you back? I thought you and Harm ran away together after I chained you and Buffy up.”
“Oh and what a lovely chaining it was my love, I have come to reclaim what is mine. You smell of the Slayer, your aura is intertwined with hers. You are mine Spike. I saw oceans when I brought you over. I need your oceans.” She sat up and fished Miss Edith out of the bag.
“Ducks. I think it is too late. I love you, but not the way you need me to. Please go before she comes back, because she will kill you.” His blue eyes pleaded with her pools of darkness.
“I cannot leave without you. Grandmother is dead. Daddy is gone, and a vampire
that is not him is left. Only you are left Spike, we can start a new family. You can be
Daddy. I can be Grandmother. It would be so fun. Just like before. Miss Edith will be
there too” She looked so hopeful it broke Spike’s heart.
He lowered his head and shook it. “I don’t think so, Pet” Suddenly pain exploded on the back of his head and everything went black.
Drusilla stood over him holding a cast iron frying pan. “I will take you back, but first I must eliminate the only thing that is keeping you away from me.”
Spike awoke with one hell of a headache. He was chained up pretty thoroughly to his own bed. If he yanked hard enough he might break free of the bed, but not of the chains.
*Just great* he thought *Both loves of my life are going to have showdown and I can’t do anything about it.*
Drusilla sat cross-legged in the corner, her doll laid across her lap. She was humming and swaying gently. Spike noticed she held an earring Buffy left in haste last time she left..
Buffy saw Spike standing there, blood dripping off his fangs, gore splashed across his shirt. He held his arms out to her and she could not stop herself from entering his embrace. He was covering her in the blood. She tried to push away, but could not break free. Soon it did not bother her anymore. A dark shadow descended over them and tore Spike from her embrace. Since when was she holding him? She tried to fight the shadow, but it only laughed at her. It was a woman’s laugh. She finally got to Spike who turned his back to her and embraced the shadow. She sunk to her knees and wailed in hurt and fury.
She sat up in bed covered in sweat. *What the Hell was all that about?* She got up, used the bathroom and then splashed water on her face after she washed her hands. After she returned to bed no more dreams came.
Dru brought him a steaming mug and placed it to his lips. How long had he been here? 12 hours? 15? He held his head up to drink. The blood was fresh and it was human. It was so good, he hadn’t had any since Dru was in town last. He couldn’t help himself from gulping it down.
“I have more for you my Spike.” She glided out of the room.
Suddenly panic filled his thoughts. *Who did she kill? It wasn’t Dawn or Willow coming to get the machine. He would have known if Buffy was here.* He smiled. *Hell the whole block would know if Buffy had been here.* Dru returned.
“Ahh..a smile on my lover’s lips. Miss the taste of the real thing?” Dru mistook his smile for the taste of his true prey.
“Dru, Luv, where did you get the blood? It tastes so fresh. “
“I went out while you were sleeping and went to that nice club you took me to. I found a good healthy one for you. Miss Edith chose him special. The slayer should be coming soon. I sent her a message.
Buffy got up to make Dawn breakfast and make sure she went to school on time today. Xander walked in a little shaken and placed something on the table. “I-I think this came for you.”
Buffy walked over for a closer look. It was a doll dress with a note pinned to it. There was something in the doll dress, it did not lay flat. At closer inspection, Buffy ran to the sink to try to control her reflex reaction to retch. “Get it off my table!”
“Ewww! Why is there a severed hand in a dress on the table?” Dawn exclaimed when she walked in.
Buffy grabbed it, tore the note off and threw the hand in the trash. Set the note on the counter and washed her hands. Then she opened it. In childish letters it read –He is MY Spike- Buffy caught her breath. “Drusilla.”
“Tell me again why we’re going to Spike’s. I mean maybe he’s just talking to her.” Xander questioned the girl’s motives. They had dropped Dawn at school and then headed for the cemetery that held Spike’s crypt.
“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Willow quoted “Especially this woman.”
“Besides if they were all lovey dovey again, I don’t think Spike would let her leave that calling card on the porch last night. It might have upset Dawn, and he has grown attached to ..Dawn.” Buffy’s heart was racing at the thought of him leaving with Dru this time. *Stop it! He’s nothing but convenient!* She chided herself.
“Um..Wil, I know we said no magic and all, but Dru really messed up Giles during that whole Angelus event with the hypnosis. A defense something maybe. She pretty tough for being a total looney, or because of it.” Buffy looked uncomfortable even asking her friend this favor.
“Buffy, how could you, we’ve put Willow in Magicks Anonymous and you want her to drink the proverbial ‘just one beer.’” Xander stood in between the two girls facing Buffy.
Buffy pushed Xander back. “It is daytime, I’m going in alone. If Will doesn’t want to do it, I understand. She does not have to do anything she does not want to. If she could do this with a Mac notebook, you’d be all over it.”
Xander put his hands in the air. “I surrender, but it is up to Willow.”
“I’ll do it. It’s not really magick, it’s hypnosis to help you remember what you need to, when you need it.” She turned to Xander. “So it’s ok, it’s more like a virgin daquiry than a beer.”
“All good?” Buffy squared her shoulders and readied herself to enter the crypt.
“All good.” Willow smiled
“Kick her butt, Buff.”
Buffy opened the door and entered slowly. She was hit from behind and crumpled to the floor. She awoke on the ground of in the middle of an alley. How did she get here? She got up and readied herself for a fight. Her senses were tingling even though she saw nothing out of the ordinary. She heard a strange sound from behind the dumpster. She crept over to investigate. She stood in shock at the scene that unfolded before her eyes. Spike was leaning over a prone body. He and it were covered in blood. The strange sound was a slurping sound coming from his feeding.
He looked up and said. “Never made it as a wise man. I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing. Tired of living like a blind man. I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling. And this is how you remind me. This is how you remind me of what I really am. “
“What?” Her lip trembled as she fought the tears.
Faith entered the Alley “It's not cynical. I mean, it's realistic. Every guy from... Manimal down to Mr. I-Love-The-English-Patient has beast in him. And I don't care how sensitive they act. They're all still just in it for the chase.”
Spike moved away from his kill and she fought to see if she recognized who it was. He moved over to Dru. When did Dru show up? She kissed him and the blood from him smeared over her face when the pulled apart. She laughed maniacally. “That’s right, Luv. I have to remind you of who you really are.”
Buffy ran away from the scene and ran into Giles. They were in front of the Magic Shop. ”In my experience, there are... two types of monster. The first, uh, can be redeemed, or more importantly, wants to be redeemed. “
“And the other, Giles? Answer me. What about the other?” She was frantic to know.
She ran back to the alley and almost tripped over the body, her body. Oh, God, it was her body he had fed off of. She sank to her knees.
Spike looked up from Dru. Why was he here? Why was he covered in blood? Buffy was crying. Why was Buffy crying? He went over to her. She turned on him. Her face was totally feral. She beat him with her fists. It did not hurt and he pulled her to him. She hugged him and raised the arm that held the stake. She closed her eyes and steeled for the pain of killing yet another love.
Giles reappeared. “Two types of monsters Buffy.”
She lowered her arm and pulled back. She gazed intently into his blue eyes. Do you want to be redeemed?”
“Only in your eyes. I am who and what I am. I am not going to change. Only my victims will change. They are no longer human, but I am still a killer. My circle of trust has gotten bigger to include you and yours. His face morphed and his yellow eyes mirrored the compassion in he voice.
Dru was at their side. “Look, you killed the Slayer, Luv. Your third, aren’t you proud?” He looked at he body.
“No, Luv. I did not kill the Slayer, I am holding her.”
“You are mistaken, Spike, she is there.” Dru pointed to the corpse in his arms covered in blood. Buffy walked up behind him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“No, pet, I was mistaken for handing you a heart worth breaking.”
“Noooooo!” Drusilla’s scream echoed of the crypt walls. Buffy jumped up from the floor and lunged at the vampiress.
Spike struggled against the chains in an attempt to free himself from their bonds.
Drusilla scampered down the ladder at lightening speed leaving an empty space for Buffy to land in. In one fluid motion Buffy ran to and jumped down the hole, rolling to take the shock of the landing.
Drusilla launched from her crouched position in the shadows and landed on Buffy’s back. She pulled her hair and clawed at her face. Raining blows atop Buffy’s head and shoulders.
Buffy slammed backward into the wall effectively knocking her off.
Dru ran down the hall to the bedroom. “Save me , Spike, the slayer is going to kill me dead!”
Dru hurried to unlock the chains. Buffy ran in and tackled the Dark woman to the ground. The women rolled around a mass of claws, fists, black and blond hair. Pure white flesh tangled with golden tan. Spike freed himself from the tangle of chains but was at a loss as to how to separate the two women.
Buffy thrust Dru off her with both legs and arms. She slammed into the wall, knocking her out. Buffy’s beeline for the kill was halted by Spike who stood over the vampiress.
He grabbed both her arms gently but firmly. ”Please don’t kill her Buffy.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Let me talk to her. If I cannot reason with her, I’ll dust her myself.”
“Are you going with her?” Buffy glanced down at the prone woman.
“Would you care?”
Her lips trembled and the tears spilled over her long lashes. “Yes.”
He reached up and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “Shh.then I’ll stay. Just give me a few minutes with to talk to her.” He smiled a thin smile “Please.”
After Buffy retreated to the upper level spike knelt next to Dru. He cradled her head in his lap and looked into the face that was his world for over a century. She always looked calm and serene when she slept. “Dru, Pet, Wake up, Luv.” He stroked the side of her face like he used to.
“Spike, did we kill the Slayer?”
“No, Luv.”
“Why?” Her eyes begged for understanding.
“Because this one has brass, Ducks”
“If you say so. Are you coming home? Miss Edith misses you.”
“No, Luv.” He stroked her dark hair. “I have to stay. But would you wait for me?”
“Yes, Luv. I will wait. You keep her safe…sounds like she maybe family someday. You find us when you need us.” She went over and gathered her things. “Come Miss Edith, I am going to be Grandmother, I need to get ready.”
Spike stopped her as they reached the upper level and took her hand. “You will always be my dark princess.”
“You always say the nicest things. Miss Edith says we have to go scold Harmony, she is not watching the children well.”
She walked out into the night as Spike leaned on the doorway to watch her disappear into the shadows.
“Is she coming back?” Buffy took his hand.
“No.”
“One more question.”
“Yes, Pet?”
“Why in the heck were you quoting that Nickleback song?”
“When she hypnotizes you, you are transported to a world in her mind. You may say something, but after going through her filter, it is something different. Same meaning though.” He nodded in the direction she went. “Proud of her though, she pulled both of us in.”
Dru watched from the copse of trees and bowed her head at the compliment her superhearing picked up. “We are going, my Luv., But We are going to be very naughty while you are away.”
He grinned and lit his cigarette. After he was done, her pulled the slayer inside and closed the door.
Epilogue
“I was in school when you fought Drusilla? It is so not fair. Xander wouldn’t let me go to the crypt after he picked me up from school. I was so worried. Willow showed up and said you weren’t coming home until very early in the morning. Did you have a good time?”
“What?!” Both blondes look up from the television.
“Did you guys have fun patrolling?”
“Uh, yeah, we were patrolling.” Buffy looked at Spike “Oh yeah, loads and loads of fun. Why don’t you come over here and watch the movie with us?” Buffy scooted closer to Spike and leaned on him, patting the spot next to her.
“’K” And Dawn settled in cuddling up to her sister