buffy and then

buffy_and_then @ 2008-09-22T21:46:00

2008-09-23T02:53:48Z

Lately my plot kitties have been pretty quiet. Here's all I got for September 2008. Totally unbetaed, everyone.

Spike threw the Slayer into a nearby tree trunk, and as she laid there stunned, he grabbed her. He wrenched her to her feet, twisted her head to the side, and he sank his teeth into her soft, fragrant flesh. As the taste of her blood filled his mouth, he came to his senses.

"You could have that if you joined me," the fake Buffy said. "The Slayer right where you want her."

Spike wimpered as he huddled in the corner.

Sept 08 Beginning

2008-09-01T15:14:24Z

Sorry it's been so long since I posted anything, RL has been a tad ...ehhhh! lol

September 08 Beginning.

Set during: Season 4, Harsh Light of Day.

Thanks to Spikelovebite for beta’ing.

~*~*~*~

“Xander, get out of here!” Buffy yelled across the courtyard.

Before Xander could turn, he felt strong hands lifting him up before quickly slamming him back down into a black clad knee. His body sailed a good distance before a thick metal flag pole stopped his journey.

“So, you let Parker take a poke, eh?” the blonde vampire taunted. “Didn't seem like you know each other that well. What did it take to pry apart the Slayer's dimpled knees?”

“You're a pig Spike,” the slayer snarled in disgust.

Her opponent jumped from his perch on the short set of stairs, swinging his leg out on the way down to strike Buffy in the face.

Spike smirked, “Did he play the sensitive lad and get you to seduce him? That's a good trick…if the girl’s thick enough to buy it.”

Buffy whirled, delivering a roundhouse kick, which Spike followed with an equally vicious hit, sending her flying backwards.

“I wonder what went wrong. Were you too strong? Did you bruise the boy?” A long, pink tongue curled salaciously. “Whatever. I guess you're not worth a second go. Come to think of it, seems like someone told me that. Who was it?” He adopted a thoughtful mien, then smiled cruelly. “Oh, yeah. Angel.”

Buffy jumped up, her anger fueling her fight. The kicks and punches were coming in blinding succession, her movements wild and harsh. Pottery smashed as the fight moved closer to the edge of the courtyard. Lashing out with her fist, she caught the stumbling vamp in the face before grabbing the arm with the ring on it and twisting viciously.

“Take it off me this way, we both burn,” Spike panted hoarsely.

“Really? Let's see,” she snarled.

Buffy jerked the ring off his finger and waited for the instant burst of flame and smoke that she had been expecting. When no impressive display of vampyrotechnics was forthcoming, they looked at each other blankly.

“I’m not burning,” Spike whispered in awe.

“You’re not burning,” Buffy repeated dully.

A slow, wicked smile gradually replaced the wonder on Spike’s face. “Looks like things have changed, pet.”

TBC…by you!

~*~*~*~

Just a few things I thought of right off....

What happened to keep Spike from burning?

Is it temporary or permanent?

Did it affect Harmony as well?
Would it affect Angel as well?

How would the fight between Spike and Buffy go this time?

If Spike defeated Buffy how would things turn out for the Scoobies/AI gang?

Would Spike target the Scoobies? Angel? Or find other things to amuse himself with his ultimate immortality?

Remember the beginning/challenge can be answered from any POV or timeline (present, future) and can be focused on any character or pairing.

June 08 Beginning

2008-06-04T03:15:43Z

Beginning for June 08
Timeline: Summer following Season 4 Finale
The actual beginning was:
Written by kargrif
Beta’d by spikeslovebite
*********

Watchers Diary – Buffy Summers, Slayer

July 25, 2000

It has been two months since the fall of the Initiative and consequently since the joining of essences between Buffy, Willow, Xander, and myself. The slayer dream we shared that night opened our selves to the innermost thoughts and fears we each harbored. It opened us to the feelings and doubts that plague us daily. We walked away from the experience more cautious with each other, more tempered in our previous thoughtlessness, more aware of others feelings.

The newfound sensitivity was at first a blessing, but now I fear it has unforeseen consequences. The link between us has not faded in time as we first thought, but has instead grown more and more powerful. Feelings and thoughts I have never before entertained randomly filter through my head, and in calling upon the link using meditation and a great deal of concentration, I can at times trace the emotion back to the original host.

There is little to be hidden between us these last few weeks. As the emotional strain grows, the small amount of defenses we have tested weakens to the point of uselessness. We have been researching nonstop for a counter or damping spell to ease the burden, but have thus far been unsuccessful. I fear if something is not discovered soon, the ending results could be disastrous.

Rupert Giles, Watcher

TBC…by you!

***********
*crosses fingers for happy muses*
As always if you've got any plot ideas you'd like to share please comment.
If you have any beginnings you'd like to share for a later month's beginning please post them in the 'beginnings post' on the sidebar.

Yay! Award!

2008-06-04T03:09:03Z

I've been really busy and hadn't gotten a chance to post this.
buffy_and_thengot an award from the forbiddenawards, runnerup for best layout *bounces*

I'll be putting up this month's challenge in the next post but I wanted everyone's opinion.
I've been working on a new layout for the comm and wanted to see if everyone thought it would be okay / user friendly.
I made a test journal to be able to see how layout's would look before I messed with the comm. settings.
You can see / test it here. kargrif_test

Mod Post - Fang Fetish Awards

2008-05-11T20:11:14Z

From Stephy:

Nominations are open at Fang Fetish Awards (www.athenewolfe.com/fangfetish) and we have 14 spots available for best art and/or manip!

Nominate your favoritie artist today (or fics)

Mod Post / May at buffy_and_then

2008-04-27T02:30:22Z

Hey all! Wanted to make a quick post about buffy_and_then

For May I wanted to do give everyone a second chance at any 'beginnings' that anyone was interested in but for time/muse reasons didn't get it finished/posted on time.

So for anyone who had an idea or start for a previous Beginning dust those plot bunnies off and show us what you've got!

Links to previous Beginnings
********************************
Nov 07 - Gem of Amara not sent to Angel

Dec 07 - Angel doesn't see Buffy until arriving in Sunnydale

Jan 08 - Buffy finally gets her slayer handbook

Feb 08 - Cupid plays havoc in Sunnydale / Love Connection Banner Challenge

Mar 08 - Buffy hurt / Angel unavailable

Apr 08 - Spike loses his soul during Chosen

April Response

2008-04-10T01:05:52Z

Here is my contribution for this month. It picks up right where the prompt left off.

The usual disclaimer applies. I own nothing related to Buffy.

Last month I didn't have a beta. This month I had two, brandywine421 and joey51. That totally evens things out, right? :) Thanks girls, for your help.

Spike stops listening as soon as he realizes that Angel actually believes the load of rubbish spewing out of Eve’s mouth. There’s no way he’s responsible for the phone system going bonkers or the entire universe for that matter. His soul didn’t make the trip back from Sunnyhell, so everything going pear-shaped has sod all to do with there being two souled vampires in the world because there isn’t two. No, the one that fought for his soul also lost his soul saving the world. And isn’t that how it always goes when it comes to Spike and Angel? Spike fights for his soul and when he dies saving the world, he loses the soul in the process so that when he gets kicked back to earth for whatever reason he’s now once again soulless. But, Angel, he gets his soul cursed on him and when he comes back from his little vacation in hell, well, he still has his shiny soul.

So no, phone system on the fritz, universe about to spin out of control, people cryin’ blood, it’s got nothin’ to do with Spike. And if Angel would get his head out of his arse, he’d know that too. Oh well, if Angel can’t see past his big, fancy office and bleedin’ prophecy to see that he’s bein’ played, well that’s not Spike’s problem, now is it? He’s not going to make things easier on Angel either. The bastard never did anything for him.

Spike’s had enough of pretending to care about what’s going on around him and starts to walk away.

“Spike, you can’t just walk away from this,” Angel calls after him.

Spike turns back around and faces Angel. He marches up to the bigger vampire until he’s in Angel’s face. “Screw you, Angelus. This has nothing to do with yours truly. So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be off then.”

Angel sighs. “Did you not hear what Eve just said? Just you being here is throwing off the universe.”

Spike’s getting angry. Does he have to spell everything out for Angel? Did the soul make him stupid? He’s still a demon for God’s sake. He should be able to sense these things. Anyanka could tell by looking at him that he had a soul; shouldn’t Angel be able to tell that the soul has now done a walkabout?

“So you’re saying because I’m back and there’s two souled up vamps running around again that we’re throwing the universe out of whack?”

Angel nod. “Well technically she’s saying you are, but yes that’s it.”

Oh, so that’s how he’s going to continue to play this then, is it? Blame Spike. Like he had anything to do with being brought back or being made solid again. He’s just a pawn in someone’s twisted game. Well he’s sick of being a pawn. And he’s sick of Angel too, for that matter. Now it’s time for Angel to find out exactly who else is a pawn. Spike grins.

“Newsflash, Angelus. I didn’t come back all put together. Seems that box of flash forgot to include the soul. So this problem is yours…not mine.”

Spike begins walking away again and he calls over his shoulder, “Or maybe someone here is playin’ you, mate. Either that or those Senior Partners are more worthless than even you.”

“Spike,” Angel warns.

Spike stops walking and turns around. “What now?”

Angel sighs. “Tell me exactly what you meant about your soul.”

Now it’s Spike’s turn to sigh. “I’m soulless. Evil. William the Bloody is back. Are you happy? Can I go now?”

Angel glares. “And where do you think you’re going? You don’t really think Buffy will want you around if you’re soulless again, do you?”

“Oh, you got some nerve, mate. Is that all you’re worried about? Worried I’ll steal your girl? I’m not going to Rome, but I’m sure as hell not stayin’ here with you. Look, there are plenty of nasties that need killin’. You got your town; the Slayer’s got hers, now I plan on findin’ mine.”

Angel crosses his arms over his chest and stares at Spike. “Do you really think you can just keep your demon under control without a soul, Spike? Go out on your own, night after night, killing your own kind and never be tempted to go back to your old ways when it all gets a little too tough?” he questions.

“I’m not like you. I don’t need a soddin’ soul to fight my own kind. I didn’t have one and I helped the Slayer for years. And I sure as hell didn’t have one when I went through those demon trials that earned me the bloody thing. Me, the soulless vampire fought for his soul and won it. So yeah, I think I’ll manage jus’ fine.”

“I can’t let you leave not knowing whether you’re going to start killing again, Spike,” Angel replies softly.

“Oh, that’s rich comin’ from you. Where’s Dru? Last I heard you were lettin’ her and Darla feast on a room full of lawyers. And what about all these so-called clients you have? How many have they killed lately? If you’re up here behind your vampire friendly glass, who’s out there keepin’ the damsels safe from their own stupidity?”

“We’re doing a lot….”

“Oh, don’t start. That’s just what you tell yourself so you can sleep better at night all tucked in safe in your penthouse paid for by the devil himself. I’ve heard it all before and honestly, it bored me the first time. You can’t fight evil this way. The only thing that’s gonna happen is this place is goin’ to change you. Angelus would know that. You should listen to him every once in a while. You’re not making any progress here. You sold out and you took innocent people with you. Hmm, I wonder which Buffy would find worse, me being soulless again, or you running Evil, Incorporated.”

Angel stares at Spike and he stares back, not backing down.

Gunn, who only walked up in enough time to hear the last few accusations thrown back and forth, breaks the silence. “As interesting as this pissing match is, Angel we do have other issues here.”

“Right you are, Charlie Boy. You lot figure out whose playin’ games with you and I’ll be on my way. Oh, and my money’s on your girl there,” Spike says pointing to Eve.

He shrugs. “Like I said, either the Senior Partners are worthless and don’t know I’m soulless, which I doubt, or she’s lyin’.”

Spike attempts to walk away for the third time, this time ignoring Angel when he calls after him.

He hears Gunn say to Angel, “Just let him go, man.”

April 2008 Answer

2008-04-02T14:19:34Z

Spuffy-ish of course. Honestly, do I write any other way? Hehe.

April

However, something deep inside Spike --that little voice that sounded suspiciously like Buffy-- told him he needed to keep his newfound soullessness under his hat, so to speak. With this decision firmly in place, the blond vampire took Angel on a wild goose chase. Later, he couldn't believe that he actually won the right to drink from the chalice, not that it worked, but beating up old Angelus sure made him so much more confident about things.

When the tattooed man declared Spike a Champion, it took all of the vampire's acting skills not to laugh in his face. Him? A Champion? Maybe... once upon a time. But, Spike kept playing along, wondering exactly what the little voice named Buffy was getting him into. It was a visit from the last remaining member of the geek squad that changed Spike's perspective on everything!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well, mostly, I talk to Rupert. But we all check in. Xander's in Africa. He sent me a mbuna fish. And Willow and Kennedy are in Brazil. They're based in Sao Paulo, but, um, every time I talk to them they're in Rio," Andrew babbled along. "I, um, know you don't want to know about Buffy. Angel called and told us that you were back but didn't want anything to do with any of us."

"What the bloody hell are you babbling about?" Spike snarled. He turned to look at the smaller man. "When did all this happen? I never said that!"

"Months ago. When you first returned and were all ghostly like Obi Wan in Return of the Jedi," Andrew announced.

What? You thought Angel didn't know the soul floated away in the Hellmouth? the Buffy voice asked. I have it on good authority that Angel's soul is now anchored, and the evil law firm wanted it to go bye-bye. Aren't you glad it was you and not him I asked to wear the Liz Taylor collection?

Buffy? Spike asked in an astonished voice.

Well duh. Who did you think was talking to you? The First? The Slayer's exasperated tone echoed through the blond vampire's mind.

But what about....?

I don't care about the soul thing. I'm sooooo over that, fang face. I love you, with or without the soul. Buffy's soft voice filled Spike's unbeating heart with a warmth he thought he'd lost forever. But I'm so pissed at Angel right now, I could spit.

Spike leered. But, you're the swallowin' type, luv.

Perv. Buffy giggled. Now, you and Andrew rescue that psycho Slayer from Angel and get your butts back here.

Yes, ma'am. Spike said with joy. He turned to Andrew. "Let's get the girl and blow this popsicle stand before Angelus finds us. We're goin' home."

April 08 Beginning by Sevendeadlyfun

2008-04-02T13:21:10Z

Sorry I'm late posting, mom was out of town and I was on Great-Grandma-sitting duty.

I'm totally excited about this month you get to do a challenge not written by me, lol, sevendeadlyfun has written an awesome beginning and hopefully it will get a lot of great fic in response.

Written by sevendeadlyfun

Setting: AtS S5 Episode "Destiny", beginning dialog taken from same.

Word count: 214

Please credit sevendeadlyfunif you use the beginning as part of your fic.

"Hold on," Spike said, a smirk playing at the edges of his mouth. "You read the prophecy? The one you don't believe in? Uh, load of rubbish, you said? Well, isn't that bloody interesting."

He leaned back, staring in amusement as Angelus fumbled his way through a series of disjointed and irritated explanations. Nothing like winding the old man up for a bit of a laugh. Precious few things to bring him a bit of cheer now. Girl gone, no meaning in this fight, and he wasn't sure the body he walked around in was really his.

And right in the middle of all that, a bloody great fat hole where his soul used to be. He'd felt it, burning through him in Sunnydale; watched his soul incinerate evil, purify the town. But, when he'd rematerialized in Angel's office, he hadn't felt it. At first, he chalked it up to being a ghost. After all, what's a spook need with a soul?

But now, with the world coming apart at the seams and his supposed soul wreaking havoc on the fate of mankind or whatever other bloody nonsense Angelus was rambling about, he knew. His soul was gone, and it wasn't coming back. Just one more thing he'd lost back on that bloody Hellmouth...

To Be Continued....by you!

~~~

Ideas/Suggestions/Plots
So this should be able to go in so many ways, pretty much most pairings can be used.
Also don't forget that the 'beginning' can be about how the change affects the people around Spike as well.
How will Spike deal with his soullessness?
Will Buffy and Gang find out about his return?
How would Spike's lack of soul affect his and Angel's relationship since they wouldn't be competeing for the Shanshu? As well as the arc of Season 5? Would the ending of the season turn out the same?

Fic: Vanished (Xander/Anya; FRT-13) (1/?)

2008-03-30T20:20:23Z

Title: Vanished
Author: xanzpet
Beta: mysterious_daze
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Series, Seasons Five and Two respectively.
Main Pairing: Xander/Anya, though others will be added.
Other Characters: Angel, Buffy, Cordelia, Giles, Spike, Tara, Wesley, and Willow.
Rating: FRT-13
Warning(s): AU for both shows; language, including sexual references. These will most likely be revised and expanded. Appropriate warnings will be given prior to relevant chapters. For this chapter: bisexuality. *gasp*
Word Count: 2425
Distribution: xanzpetfiction and Just Rewards. Please refer to my archiving policy for more information. Please do not screencap this story, save it to hard drives, exchange with others, or translate into other languages without my explicit written consent.
Feedback: Con-crit is always welcome; flames are displayed and mocked by all and sundry.
Disclaimer: Located in my profile.

Summary: Buffy is healing after her debilitating encounter with Olaf, but her injuries disguise a greater threat looming in Los Angeles.

Author's Note: Okay, so I wrote this for kargrif's fabulous community buffy_and_then (go join!). As such, the first part of this (through Angel's conversation with Spike) was written by her, with tweaking by me. Any of you who know me also know that it's all about Xander and Cordelia all the time, so of course I made this story about them. *bows*

Vanished

March Beginning Response

2008-03-26T02:14:08Z

Rating: PG-13
Characters: Spike, Buffy

This is unbeta'd. My beta was unavailable and I wanted to make sure I met the deadline so please forgive any remaining mistakes. They are all mine.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Spike knocks softly on the bedroom door before entering.

“You wanted to see me, Slayer?” he asks the once strong warrior lying broken on the bed beneath the girlie comforter.

He sees her toss aside some stuffed pink pig that she had obviously been snuggling with before he entered the room. She struggles to sit up and just the simple act brings discomfort to her, if the pain flickering across her face is anything to judge by.

He can’t stand to see her in pain. It’s been weeks and while the Slayer healing is doing its job, it’s not doing it bloody fast enough in his opinion. Or maybe it’s doing it too fast. He isn’t sure. All he knows is she is in pain. Too much pain. What good is being a bloody super hero if she has to be in this much pain? Couldn’t the powers that be step in and help? But when had they ever done that? And that troll did nearly kill her. If it hadn’t been for her Slayer strength she’d be dead now and Spike’s a selfish guy. He’d take this to her being six feet under. Oh, there was a time when he would’ve rejoiced in the Slayer’s death. He would’ve danced on her grave and bought that troll a round at Willy’s. But those days are gone now. Now, he hurts to see her in pain. Now, that troll is the one six soddin’ feet under. He and the others took out the troll. Giles had to pull Spike off the troll long after the bastard was dead. Spike just kept pounding away at the troll. Pounding out his hurt and frustration at the sight of the Slayer’s broken and twisted body. A sight that he still sees every time he closes his eyes.

Bringing himself back to the present, he walks over to her bed and tells her, “Slayer...Buffy…don’t try to sit up because of me, yeah?”

He sees the determination and defiance in her eyes, but he doesn’t care. She doesn’t need to further injure herself just to talk to him. It’s not necessary.

“Just lie back down and tell me what’s so important you’d let an evil vampire in your girlie room, so near all your frilly things.”

She smiles.

Mission accomplished.

She’s lying on her side facing him and he can tell that she’s gathering her thoughts. She’s not looking at him though, but past him toward the door. He’ll give her this time. Whatever it is that she wants to talk about must be important. Usually she’s yelling in pain or begging for death. Rarely does she want to talk and never to him. Only to her mother. So he waits. He grabs the chair from her vanity and turns it around backwards and sits down on it with his arms folded over the back and continues to wait.

Finally she speaks and her voice is soft and unsure. “I need you to do something for me.”

“Anything, luv.”

“Just like that?” she asks sounding surprised.

“Well, yeah.”

Obviously he did take her by surprise because she’s silent again. So he waits again.

But his patience wears out before she speaks. “Don’t keep us hangin’, Slayer. Spill it.”

She takes a deep breath and says in a rush, “I need you to kill me.”

“What?!?”

She doesn’t reply and he knows that she knows he heard her right the first time.

“Care to run that by me again, luv? Or maybe explain? I’m not one of your soddin’ Scoobies, Slayer. I’m not goin’ to give you some pep talk and tell you things will look better tomorrow, because they won’t. You got a death wish? You think you can use me to fulfill it because I’ve killed two of your kind already? Is that it?”

He stands up and starts pacing. “I ought to kill you just for askin’ me that. How can you think that I’d….”

“Spike….”

He stops pacing and turns to look at her.

“Come back over here and let me explain.”

He sits back down in the chair and waits for her to start talking. He looks at her and sees the pain in her eyes and suddenly he feels guilty for not letting her get everything out at once. He knows it’s taking every ounce of control over the pain she has to be able to have this conversation at all.

“Go on, Slayer.”

“I need you to promise me that you’ll protect Dawn.”

He didn’t really follow Buffy around the curve as to how they were one minute talking about killing her and the next protecting Dawn, but he had a feeling if he’d hang on it would become clear. It usually was with her. That was the problem with her friends. They could never follow her around the twists and turns to understand what she was saying half the time. Oh, they thought they did, but usually they were wrong. She just let them think that they know her so well though.

“You know I will. The Bit got herself into some trouble?”

“Something like that. Do you know anything about that hell bitch Glory we’ve been researching?”

He nods. “Heard a few things here and there.”

“When you were lurking?”

“Not important, Slayer.”

She smiles.

“She’s looking for something. She says it’s her key.”

Buffy takes a deep breath and then looks him in the eyes. “It’s Dawn. These Monks made this key thingie human and sent her to me. I don’t really understand how they did it. They messed with all of our memories so that we’d think she’s always been my sister, but really she’s only been here a few months.”

She adds quietly, “They made Dawn out of me.”

“And what does this Glory bird want to do with Dawn?”

“We don’t know, but it can’t be good. We’ve researched every book Giles has and can’t find anything on her. She’s strong. Every time I’ve faced her, she’s kicked my ass. If she finds out about Dawn before I’m healed, you’re the only one that stands a chance of protecting her. I can’t help…not like this.”

“Nothin’s touchin’ the Bit,” he growls.

“So you’ll help me?”

Suddenly the pieces are coming together. “Is that what earlier was about? Dawn?”

She nods. “You know the drill. If I die, a new Slayer is called. She can help you with Glory. To protect Dawn.”

“Are you daft? First of all, no new Slayer will be near as good as you. For that matter neither would one would the years of trainin’ that you’ve had. You’re the best, Buffy.”

She looks away obviously uncomfortable with the praise, but he doesn’t care. It’s the truth.

“Second, you don’t even know if this plan of yours would work. You’ve died once. Maybe that’s all the Slayer juice you get pass on. You think that if dyin’ for a few minutes and comin’ back to life is all it took to get a new Slayer and still keep the old one that those wankers wouldn’t be here bringin’ you and the other bird back to life until they had an army?”

“I don’t know what else to do,” she admits softly.

“Well, I do.”

She looks at him again and he feels the anger in him dissolve. He knows she’s just trying to save Dawn even if that means using her own life to do it. It’s what those hero types live for. Good thing he’s not a hero.

“Look, you said you’ve gone through all of the Watchers books, right? Give me a few days to hit up all the demons around town. If she’s a demon, someone has to have heard somethin’. If that doesn’t work, I’ve got some blokes in other places that still owe me some favors. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll go beat up Peaches until he goes to those connections with the powers that be that he claims to have. I’ll get you some answers, luv. We’ll find a way to stop Glory. She won’t lay a finger on the Bit. I’ll dust first.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, luv. Now get some rest. If you need anything, your mom will know how to get in touch with me. I might not be around for a few days.”

He walks down the steps already thinking of the best demons to hit up for the kind of information he’s looking for. The Slayer’s counting on him and he can’t fail her. Not her or the Bit. No one’s dying, not on his watch. He feels like he has a purpose again. He hasn’t felt that way since the night that he and the others took out the troll and then the only purpose he had was to make that bloody bastard pay.

When he reaches the landing, he can sense that the watcher is in the living room. He walks into the room and says, “Come on, Watcher. We’ve got work to do.”

My March contribution

2008-03-19T04:21:06Z

Well, here it is.
PG
Spuffy, cuz that's what I write.
Unbetaed, just ran through a spellchecker, so all mistakes are mine.

Chapter 4, March 2008 contribution.

Spike stood next to Angel, silent for a change. The memories rolled over him with surprising clarity.

"Spike, can I speak with you for a moment?" Giles said softly.

The bleached blond vampire quickly dashed the tears from his eyes before he turned to look at Giles. "Need me to patrol, Watcher?"

"Um... sure, but that's not what we wanted to talk to you about." Giles shifted from foot to foot in a state of nervous tension.

It was then that Spike saw the Scoobies standing behind Giles. He suddenly felt a little panicked. "Glory found where we hid Joyce and Dawn?"

"No, not that either. They're quite safe." Giles took off his glasses, and he cleaned them quite vigorously on his shirt tail. "A-as you know, Buffy's quite hurt. Possibly dying. There is a way to save her, but it requires us asking a big favor of you. Something only you can do."

"A favor?" Spike looked at the nervous Scoobies. Xander looked irritated, while his girlfriend looked bored, but it was the worried look on the other three's faces that got him wondering what was going on. "I bet this must really chap your hides."

"Yes, a little, but we'd do anything for Buffy," Willow replied. She and Tara stepped around Giles. "We know you would, too. Tara and I have seen how you look at Buffy when you think nobody's looking."

"Yeah, so?" Spike gave a belligerent shrug.

"Spike, we wouldn't ask this of you if there was any other way," Tara said in a soft voice. "But as long as Buffy is living, she can't heal. It's one of the properties of the Troll Hammer."

Spike suddenly realized what Tara was saying. He backed up, shaking his head as he said, "No, I can't. Even I know that Buffy wouldn't want to be soulless."

"She won't be," Willow reassured the vampire. "Neither will she be cursed. I promise."

"No. No!" Spike became agitated. He paced back and forth. "You couldn't get the poofter. I'm the second choice."

"Actually, that's not true!" Xander spoke up. "You are our first choice. As much as I hate to say this, but you're more a part of the Scoobies than Angel ever was. Besides, Deadboy's too busy to even show up to help. He wasn't even on the list." The young man paused for a moment. "I still hate you though."

Spike decided his childe was far enough away to be safe from Angel. He turned to the broody vampire, and he said with a sneer, "When she's ready to talk, she'll ring you." Then, he disappeared into the shadows.

Angel sighed. Why couldn't the Scoobies understand that Buffy was the Slayer, and she didn't need his help. Not like Cordelia had when she disappeared to Pylea. After all, Cordelia was only human. Angel slowly walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

YEARS LATER, AT LEAST TEN

Angel grinned into the sunshine. He was finally human again. Shanshued by the PTB for his part in a great apocalypse. He and Buffy could finally be together. Angel didn't worry that Buffy hadn't called him since she'd been hurt in the troll incident years before. After all it had always been their dream to be together as a normal couple. He pointedly ignored the memory of that long ago day where he'd been human for a day.

Angel pulled up in front of the Magic Box. Boy, wouldn't everyone be surprised to see him. He got out the car, and he approached the front door of the store. Angel stopped when three young boys ran out of the door.

"Hurry up, Alex," a red-haired boy said to the darker-haired boy.

"You run too fast, Danny," Alex huffed. "We don't all have wolfie genes like you."

"You don't see me complainin'," the blond boy said. "Mom and Dad don't have any special powers either."

"No, but your dad was an athlete in school, RJ," Alex panted. "My dad was the nerd!"

Angel smiled as he watched the boys run off. He was sure one of the boys was Xander's son and another was Oz's. He wasn't sure about the third boy, but he wasn't worried about the boy being Buffy's since the boy mentioned powerless parents.

Angel entered the Magic Box. At the counter he saw Xander chatting with a reddish-blond haired woman who was counting money. Willow and a dark-haired woman sat to one side with some little girls, younger than the boys who had just left. Giles was on the upper level, looking at a book.

Xander looked up when the bell rang. He sneered when he saw Angel. "Hey, look Deadboy's in the sun. Oh, right, guess that don't apply now, does it, Liveboy?"

"I'm here to see Buffy." Angel grinned. "I'm sure she will be happy to see me."

The Scoobies looked around at each other, and they smirked. Angel was in for a big surprise. He thought Buffy would fall into his arms now that he was human. Too bad Buffy wasn't human anymore.

"Aunt Buffy's sparrin' with Uncle Spike," one of the little girls said. "Back there." She pointed towards the back room.

Angel confidently strolled into the back room where he found Spike and Buffy in a knock down, drag out fight. He wanted to leap in to save Buffy. He could feel his muscles tense, but he know he would be vulnerable. He watched as Spike got the advantage, and then Angel grabbed a stake. He advanced on the pair.

Buffy growled when she saw the threat. Quick as a flash, she threw Spike off her, flipped her body to her feet, and attacked the human. She had him against the wall, one hand on Angel's throat and the other on the wrist of the hand holding the stake.

"Calm down, luv," Spike said soothingly. He could care less if she hurt the poofter, but he knew she'd feel bad about it later. "You knew he was coming."

"He was going to stake you," Buffy snarled. "No one is allowed to hurt you, Sire. No one but me."

Giles burst into the room. "I found the answer." He looked at the tableau with cool eyes. "I'm not even going to ask."

"The answer, Watcher?" Spike kept one eye on Buffy as he spoke to the other Brit.

"What the hell is going on here?" Angel spluttered. "What's wrong with Buffy?"

"Nothing's wrong with the Slayer, you great pillock," Spike answered. "You were a vampire for almost 300 years. You know better than to step between a Sire and a childe."

"How long?" Angel stared at Buffy with sad eyes.

"Awhile," Buffy snarled. "I don't want you here, Angel. I'm happy with Spike. I love him. He's my Sire, and my mate."

"But..." Angel spluttered again. "Being a vampire was your greatest fear."

"The alternative was a painful death, wasn't it?" Buffy let go of Angel. She backed away until she was at Spike's side. "I needed you then. I don't now."

"The blame is ours, not Spike's," Giles said. "He just did what we asked." He turned to the Slayer. "Now, Buffy, to kill Dragoon demons, you must cut off the arm that grows in the middle of their backs."

"Right." Buffy nodded. "We're on it." She turned to Spike. "I guess I get to try out that new sword you gave me for my birthday."

"Looks like." Spike grinned. The two blonds grabbed their weapons, and they hurried out the back door towards the manhole cover. They didn't even give Angel a backwards glance.

"Go back to your werewolf," Giles said. "You're unwelcome here. Human or otherwise. You made your decision years ago that others were more important to you than Buffy."

Angel sighed. He briefly considered finding Drusilla to be revamped like she had done with Darla, but then he remembered the coldness and indifference in Buffy's eyes. He knew she'd have no qualms staking him if he showed up all fangy. Angel trudged out through the front of the Magic Box, ignoring the smirking Scoobies as he went.

Repercussions, kargrif, 4 drabbles for March 08

2008-03-07T17:55:54Z

Title: Repercussions
Author: kargrif
Summary: Buffy is hurt, the others must deal. Written for the March 08 at buffy_and_then 100 word drabbles (except 1 is 102 and another is 98, so it evens out, lol)
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Willow, Xander, Joyce, Giles (mentions of Buffy and Spike)
Season(s): Season 5 AU
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Angsty
Word count: 400
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Beta'd by: spikeslovebite
Feedback: Please!

~*~*~*~
Written for buffy_and_thenMarch 08 Beginning found here

4 Drabbles Willow, Xander, Joyce, Giles

March 08 Beginning

2008-03-02T01:08:17Z

Beginning for March 08
Timeline: Season 5 AU, Post Triangle
The actual beginning was:
Written by kargrif
Beta’d by spikeslovebite

(Since it is AU you can have no Dawn/Glory if you’d rather ignore, also up to you whether Joyce is sick or not)

Spike could feel the frequent glances in his direction as the two blonde’s walked down the street, and stifled a sigh. Things had changed so much since the ‘accident’. The battle with the troll that Willow had conjured had left the slayer broken and bloody. The troll had knocked her back into what the whelp later called a ‘load bearing wall’ and the entire building down burying the slayer under the rubble. By the time that the Scoobies and Spike had defeated the troll and dug her out, Buffy had been unconscious, her body twisted in odd ways with deep gashes and sharp splinters of wood and concrete sticking out of her body.

Buffy had wavered in and out of consciousness for weeks after, screaming and crying out. The Scoobies had called on him to help control some of her more violent outbursts and Spike had discovered the hard way the fine line between what the chip considered help and hurt. She had screamed at her friends and mother, asking for an end to the pain of accelerated healing—although the damage was so severe the healing had lasted months—crying out for death, for Spike…and Angel.

Suddenly the slayer froze beside him. Spike’s thoughts slammed back into the present. Buffy turned wide, fearful eyes at him. “Go ahead,” he whispered.

She didn’t waste a second, darting into the shadows and fast away from Spike and the newcomer. Spike watched her as she vaulted up and over a fence and disappeared from sight. A small noise sounded next to him and he turned to face his grandsire. “’ello, Angelus.”

“It’s Angel, Spike,” the vampire sighed, the correction one of many in the long months since Buffy’s recovery.

“Whatever,” Spike replied, the usual pleasure in needling the broody vampire not present. “Thought you were gonna stay gone for a while.”

Angel looked away. “I had to try again.”

“You know she doesn’t want to see you right now.”

“I had to try,” Angel repeated.

Spike dug his cigarettes out of his duster in an effort to distract himself from his anger. “Then where were you when she needed you, when she was yelling out your name in pain and asking you to help her, when she was screaming at us all…begging us to just kill her? I know Rupert called you at least twenty times,” the blond snarled.

“I explained why I couldn’t come,” Angel protested.

“Yeah, you did, but do you think your excuses matter to the girl?”

Angel stared at the darkness where she had disappeared.

TBC by you…

~*~*-*~*~*~

Just a few ideas/plots/suggestions that I wanted to add, feel free to ignore.

Remember this doesn’t have to be about Buffy just how the situation affected everyone/someone around her!

Why didn’t Angel come to help?

What was Buffy’s injuries/recovery like?

What changes did this bring to Buffy or the others emotionally/mentally/physically?

Will Buffy forgive Angel? If yes, how will it affect their relationship?

Will she keep turning to Spike for comfort or more?

How did Spike deal with the healing Buffy?

How did Buffy’s accident affect the relationships of:

Spike and Angel

Angel and the Scoobies (as a whole or separately)

Spike and the Scoobies (as a whole or separately)

Buffy and the Scoobies (as a whole or separately)

As always if you've got any plot ideas you'd like to share please comment.
If you have any beginnings you'd like to share for a later month's beginning please post them in the 'beginnings post' on the sidebar.

*crosses fingers and prays for happy muses*

Love Connection, kargrif, Feb Beginning

2008-03-01T00:05:52Z

Title: Love Connection
Author: kargrif
Summary: Spike tries to make a connection, it just seems like all the lines are down. Written for the Feb Special Banner Challenge at buffy_and_then
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Spike (others mentioned)
Season(s): Human AU, total comedy/fluff
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: m/m mentioned/implied
Word count: 841
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Beta'd by: spikeslovebite
Feedback: Please!

AN: Okay, I got a last minute plot penguin for this challenge. The original one that I started got kinda...stuck about halfway through, sigh.

Love Connection

March Poll

2008-02-28T01:29:28Z

We Feb was a bust, lol. My muse went south for the winter about halfway through my fic *sigh*

View Poll: Buffy and Then Poll

Feb. 08 Beginning

2008-02-02T02:51:04Z

Who's ready for the next challenge? Sorry, I meant to post this last night but I forgot.

We've got a 2-parter this time, in honor of Valentine's Day.

First the Beginning....

*~*~*~*~*

A body dropped out of the sky with no warning, landing with a thud in a heavily wooded area of the park.

“Damn!” a voice slurred as the man struggled from the ground. The shadowy figure stumbled and tripped along as he tried to recover from the fall and the excessive amount of alcohol flowing through his system. He stretched his wings experimentally, checking for damages.

“Damn her! Damn them all!” the man muttered loudly. He was sick of Her Royal Bitchiness, aka Venus, ruining all his fun. He hadn’t meant to spill the ceremonial wine on her favorite gown, but did she cut him any slack? No! She totally blew it out of proportion and banished him from the realm like an outcast. Well, he wasn’t going to just lie down and suffer…at least not alone.

They had complained that he was shirking his duties, neglecting those in need. Bah! So he liked to imbibe a little more than most of the gods, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t still do his job. But after the first human girl in over a thousand years rebuffed him, he had felt the need to drown his sorrows. Damn Woman’s Lib! He knew that had been a bad idea. He had moped about, and even resorted to pleading with Zeus for help, not that it did any good. He was forbidden to cast on his own behalf. What, was he a lowly vengeance demon now, forever bringing love to undeserving mortals, but never finding any for himself?

Bastards! He was Cupid, dammit! He was the Master of Love, the Provider of Passion, the General of Jiggyness…okay, so maybe he shouldn’t have had that last goblet of spirits.

He finally raised his eyes to scan his location. Hmm, a Hellmouth. Just what he needed to get his creative juices flowing. Surely he could find some action here. There were always plenty of vampires and demons to play with here, and most were usually below the radar of the gods, which made them excellent toys to manipulate and enjoy. His very own theater, with him as puppet master. Delicious!

Now he only needed to find some puppets, he thought drunkenly as he unfurled his battered wings and fluttered off towards town.

TBC...by you!

*~*~*~*~*

Who will be Cupid's victims?
What type of chaos will a god bring to the Hellmouth?
Will it be a disater? or a blessing in disguise?

*~*~*~*~*

Second part to our special month... It's THE LOVE CONNECTION!!!

I've made a het and a slash banner, for whichever floats your boat.

This does NOT have to be about Spike/William, but his body worked best for the manip so I went with it.
If you use other characters I'd be happy to make a banner to represent them with your name and title on it.

This can be any pairing/character in a 'love connection' type setting. Your story can be before/during/after the date.
What was the character's feelings watching the videos and trying to decide on who to pick for a date?
What was the date like?
How does Chuck react to hearing about the date?
Does the character pick another date? If so, how does that go?
Was the date a disaster? Or true love?
How did the audience rank his choice?

Does anyone have any other ideas they'd like to share?

Last Reminder

2008-01-29T14:44:34Z

Only a few more days left until the end of the month. If you've got fic (even if it's unfinished) we'd love to see it and then you could always post the finished later.

I've got an extra special challenge for Feb. with Valentines day and all.
Hope we'll get some great inspiration going.

As always if you get an idea for a beginning please let me know
points to "Beginnings Post" at the side ------>

I'll be back on the 31st to post the Feb. challenge.

My January contribution

2008-01-24T16:36:22Z

Season 5
Spuffy, of course
Buffy finds answers in the handbook.

Unbeated

Buffy grabbed the Slayer handbook from where Giles had left it on the table. Maybe in there she would find the answers she was looking for to defeat Glory. Buffy opened the book, and she started to leaf through the pages.

Buffy shook her head to clear it when the thought of her blond pain in the ass vampire flitted through her mind. She knew her feelings towards Spike were slowly changing. Ever since he'd shown her Riley with the vamp whores she had felt a kinship with the bleached blond.

Enough of that, Buffy thought. Concentrate on Glory.

A glint of light further along in the handbook caught the Slayer's attention. She turned to the page, and she was surprised to find what looked like a diary entry from the last year in the fourteenth century.

The Slayer Sabina in Krostoma, Russia. Watcher: William Winters.

Every All Hallow's Eve our village performs the Dance of the Blue Cat. Nana always said a girl dancing this dance might get lucky enough to meet her true love. I certainly did, but there's one huge problem...

He's a vampire!!

My dancing was interrupted with the need to go fight a demon terrorizing one of the sheep herds. Near the end of the battle, a man stepped out of the shadows. Even as my senses told me his true nature, my breath stopped and my heart raced at his beauty.

He complimented me on my fighting, and then he issued a death threat. He informed me that he was Marcus of Aurelius, like that was supposed to mean something to me.

Buffy gasped at the clan name. She had studied the Aurelian clan history with Giles because of her close association with so many members of said clan. She didn't remember a Marcus, but there was that blackened spot in the records that Giles had been puzzled about. Buffy went back to her reading.

November 12, 1399

I'm still alive despite Marcus' attempts on my life. Two since we've met on All Hallow's Eve. He's unlike any demon I've ever met. He's brash, impulsive, and is the best fighter I've ever seen. He could have taken me in our first fight. I certainly faltered, but William showed up with a weapon. Marcus chose to run away rather than continue fighting. It was all very confusing.

Sounds familiar. Buffy smiled to herself. But how did she know he was her true love. He's an evil vampire. She continued to read with fascination despite the fact that what she was reading had nothing to do with defeating Glory.

November 30, 1399

Today was the day the girls that participated in the Dance of the Blue Cat discussed with the village priestess who their true love seemed to be. I was apprehensive about telling my Nana about Marcus, but she didn't seem all that surprised. I soon learned that Nana knew things about the Slayers that William never even hinted at.

It seems that while most vampires avoid the Slayer at all costs, there are a select few that seek her out. Usually to fight, but sometimes it ends up being more. I wanted to learn more, but my attentions were distracted by my duty. I had to travel that night to a Hellmouth several hundred miles away. I never saw my Nana again.

"I want to know more too," Buffy whispered. "Pretty sure Giles would have mentioned Slayer/vamp relationships if the Council approved." She remembered their disapproval of her affair with Angel, and he had a soul. Travers would have a cow if she got together with Spike.

February 23, 1400 The Hungarian Hellmouth

Marcus is the most persistent of vampires. He followed me here, and we've fought several more times. Yes, he continues to be quite undusty, just as I continue to be quite alive. One of the fights was interrupted by a huge demon with poisonous spikes in its knuckles. It was an easy battle with Marcus by my side.

Another time Marcus seemed so sad, I didn't have the heart to stake him. I found out that he when was turned, his sire killed all that remained of his human family. I found it odd yet exhilarating to realized that vampires can still love. Maybe there's hope for us after all.

Of course, soon after that we fought again. This time I didn't miss my mark, but he didn't dust. He healed instantly because he was wearing some special ring which I took from him. William sent it to the Hellmouth in California, where it'll be hidden away. William said the Council couldn't be trusted with this knowledge, but he did make reference to the ring in a manuscript.

Gem of Amara. So that's how it got here to Sunnydale. Buffy rolled her eyes at the memory of Spike's jaunt in the sunshine.

April 2, 1400

Marcus kissed me today. It was like heaven and hell. I am still confused. He is not normal! There will be no children with him, but the passion I feel makes that all seem unimportant. All I want to do is crawl on his lap to plan our marriage ceremony.

William is disappointed in me. He told me to read my handbook. Imagine my surprise when I turned to a certain page and found what appeared to be diary entries by a Slayer that lived centuries ago. These entries chronicled her epic love affair with a vampire. Their tale sounded so similar to Marcus and myself it could have been our story. What started out as mortal enemies has become reluctant allies. I'm sure that soon we will be lovers.

"Hey, Slayer. Whatcha readin'?" Spike's voice sounded beside Buffy's ear.

"Don't sneak up on me like that." Buffy put one hand on her heart. "You risk getting up close and personal with Mr. Pointy when you do.

"Promises, promises, luv." Spike sat across the table from Buffy. "Now, whatcha readin'?"

Buffy gave a huff. "The Slayer's handbook. Giles thought there might be something that could help with Glory."

"What the bloody hell did the the Wankers tell you?"

Buffy studied the bleached blond vampire for a moment before she decided to trust him. If he was going to help protect her mom and Dawn, he needed to understand what they were dealing with. Even as she opened her mouth to speak, Buffy wondered if she should let him know about Dawn, too. "Glory's a Hell-God. That's how she beat the crap out of me."

"What?" Spike's jaw dropped quite literally. He leaned forward. "Buffy, how can you defeat a god? I admit you're the best Slayer I've ever met, but you're still only human."

"I know that, Spike," Buffy snapped. She felt sorry the minute the words left her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbled.

Spike raised an eyebrow in astonishment. Had the Slayer just apologized to him? For a change, he sat back, and didn't push like he normally would. He waited patiently for Buffy to tell him more about what she was reading.

"Giles had me read the Slayer handbook." Buffy held the book up. "He thought there might be something to help us, but all I've found so far is about a Slayer from 1400 talking about some relative of yours called Marcus." She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Spike how Sabina was talking about Marcus though.

"1400, you say?" Spike rubbed his lips with one finger as he thought.

Buffy watched as the finger in question stroked back and forth across the vampire's mouth. She remembered how soft and cool Spike's lips had felt while under Willow's spell.

"When I was a fledge, I heard a rumor, legend of sorts," Spike said thoughtfully. "I was gatherin' anything I could find on Slayers, and one of the bat-faced gits' oldest minions mentioned that an Aurelian vamp named Marcus died closing a Hellmouth with a Slayer. I always figured he tried to open it, and she stopped him."

"I don't think so," Buffy replied. "I think they were involved." She blushed. She couldn't believe she was having this kind of conversation with Spike after all.

Spike moved a chair closer to Buffy. "Involved how, pet?"

"Involved involved." Buffy glanced down at the book. "The 'parting of dimpled knees for a second go' involved."

"Interesting," Spike chuckled. He couldn't believe Buffy would voluntarily say anything about the whold Amara fiasco. "How'd they meet?"

"Nice work, luv. Kill you on Saturday." Buffy gave a wary chuckle. "Apparently Marcus was as bad on the follow through as you."

Inwardly Spike lifted his fist in triumph at the Slayer's teasing. Maybe he could get a bit closer without any damage to his body or his psyche.

"He had the Gem, but she took it away. Sound familiar?"

"Yeah." Spike moved another chair closer to Buffy. "So, they down and dirty yet, luv?" he asked in a suggestive voice.

"No! God, you have a dirty mind." Buffy tapped the book. "Sabina just found a reference to an older Slayer and vamp couple when you interrupted."

"Keep reading, Slayer." Spike inched closer.

Buffy rolled her eyes again, but went ahead and spoke aloud.

April 2, 1400 continued

The Slayer's name was Diane, and the vampire went by Claudius. It appears he too was an Aurelian. They met, they fought, they became allies over a common enemy, and eventually they became more. They lived for several years as lovers before the faced an opponent they couldn't beat. Together they lured their foe into the Hellmouth, closing it behind them, thus stopping the apocalypse.

"Why couldn't we lure Glory into the Hellmouth?" Buffy asked. "She knows I have her Key, but she doesn't know what it is. We could pretend to be guarding it. Then, drop the fake into the Hellmouth."

"A Key?" Spike asked in surprise

Buffy looked up to find Spike sitting very close to her. "Yes, monks gave it to me." Her eyes darted around the deserted Magic box. "It's something very precious to me. I will die before I let Glory have her."

Spike noticed Buffy's slip, came to his own right conclusions, and silently vowed to protect the Key at the cost of his own life too. "Call the Scoobs, luv. We have some plannin' to do and a key to protect."

"Spike?" Buffy licked her dry lips. "Thanks..." She reached out to cup his face. "...for everything."

Spike couldn't stop himself from kissing Buffy. He closed the distance between them, and he covered her mouth with his own. Spike felt masculine pride when Buffy gave him a moan of aroused contentment.

"Bloody Hell. Do I need to worry about my eyes again?"

Buffy pulled away from Spike slowly. "It's okay, Giles. You're safe from mystical blindness. The handbook was a real help. Spike and I have a plan."

"To snog until the apocalypse?" Giles pulled his glasses off, and he squeezed the bridge of his nose.

"No, silly." Buffy giggled. "Although that sounds like fun. I meant how to get rid of Glory, and protect the Key. Call the Scoobies, Giles. We need to talk. She turned back to the silent Spike. "Can we kiss till they get here?"

Spike nodded his head in mute surprise. He didn't know what was happening exactly, but he wasn't going to jinx it by talking. Snogging was a much better idea anyway.

Goodnight, Love by kargrif (Dawn, Spike) Jan 08 Beginning

2008-01-13T23:54:38Z

I was starting to get worried because I was drawing a blank on this one but then this popped in my head, hope you like...or at least don't hate it.

Title: Goodnight, Love
Author: kargrif
Summary: Dawn finds something that belonged to Buffy, Post-Gift. For Jan 08 Beginning.
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Dawn, Spike
Season: Post Season 5
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Angsty…AKA *tissue alert*
Word count: 1,949

Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Beta'd by: spikeslovebite is a goddess. I lay before her in humble servitude.

*~*~*~*~*

Spike stood in the doorway watching his young charge. The summer had been a series of highs and lows for the Scoobies. Better parts were filled with plans and strategies, the gang folding inward, protecting their own and supporting each other as best they could. Somehow, he had been included in this group. He wasn’t sure how or when it happened, but was pleased when he figured it out. The realization hit him like a Bralian demon, which is exactly what hit him. Xander had flown into a rage with his ax, chopping at the demon like a man possessed. Willow had to magically separate the two, after which she turned on the demon and incinerated it with eyes turned coal black. It was one of the scariest and happiest times of his life.

The lower points consisted of crying jags for all members of the team, some more than others. Spike tried to hide his more violent episodes by retreating to his crypt until they were over and he was ready to resume his role as Dawn’s protector. When he would return to the house, sneaking in through the kitchen, he’d been surprised to find Tara waiting for him with cocoa on the stove. Their routine was now set. Spike would disappear early in the morning before the sun rose. He would make a quick patrol to ease some of his frustration before heading to the Summers’ home to find Tara stirring a small pot on the stove.

Tara was a quiet support for them all, her solid presence grounding them and keeping them from just drifting away. She had changed slightly since Glory’s mind drain, a little harder maybe, more outspoken, as if to prove to herself that she was really there.

Willow had immersed herself in planning patrols for the gang as well as finding spells to aide them fighting some of the larger, more deadly demons without putting anyone at too much risk. And while Spike was still leery of her ‘little sunlight spell’, he was pleased that the Scoobies were taking measures to increase their safety. He felt stretched to the limit between trying to keep an eye on them all and with Dawn taking up so much of his time. He worried that something would happen when he wasn’t around. Not that he would admit that to anyone. Ever.

Xander dealt with his grief in a more physical way. He had punched holes in a few walls the days right after…well, after. While the third one was being repaired, Anya had stepped in, threatening to glue boxing gloves on his hands if he didn’t stop. He quit punching walls and started pummeling demons instead. He threw himself head first into danger time and time again. Spike had spoken to Willow right away, making sure the witch’s plans included Xander patrolling with either himself, Rupert, or Willow to ensure the boy didn’t himself killed.

Anya remained, as always, brazen and obsessed with money and sex. She had taken over more of the Magic Box’s management duties with Giles’ increase in patrolling and his own periods of absence away from the group. When the Watcher did manage to show up at the house, he always had an underlying odor of liquor clinging to him, no matter if it was morning or night.

Spike shook himself out of his musings. The littlest Scooby was currently sitting on the couch, stroking an old leather tome. “What’s with the book, Nibblet?” he asked quietly. No one seemed to talk loudly anymore, except maybe Dawn when she was having one of her regular teenage fits.

Dawn looked up solemnly before turning once more to stare at the book. “It’s…it was Buffy’s. A Slayer Handbook. It’s supposed to hold all the secrets a slayer should know. They’re supposed to be sent on when a slayer dies. To the new one that gets called so she can have it. I just…it didn’t feel right to just wrap it up and stick it in the mail. It was part of her, you know? It was part of her destiny, her life.” Dawn’s eyes filled with tears. “If this stupid book is supposed to know so much, you’d think it would’ve had something that could’ve saved her.”

Spike sighed before he walked over and sat gingerly next to the silently weeping girl. He pulled her close, wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know, Nibblet. Just the way it is sometimes.”

“Well, it sucks,” she sobbed, wiping her face on Spike’s t-shirt.

The vampire cringed. He had dealt with a weepy Dawn for weeks now, but sometimes he just couldn’t handle all the bodily fluids that humans seemed to produce at the drop of a hat.

They sat for a while, by all accounts for Spike to comfort the teen, but he could admit, inwardly at least, that holding her and knowing she was safe went far in aiding his own sense of security and peace of mind.

Once the crying stopped and Dawn quieted to a more tranquil state, Spike encouraged the girl to clean up and get ready for bed. School was starting in less than a week and he knew the late nights waiting for the gang to return to the house had been throwing off his girls schedule something fierce.

Dawn slid the old text over to his lap before sliding off the couch without protest, proof of just how exhausted the teen really was. “Night, Spike.”

“Night, ‘bit.”

Dawn paused at the stairs. “Spike?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think…if Mom and Buffy could…can see us, do you think they’d be upset about us just…going on with our lives like this? Patrolling? School? Work?”

“Never. Your mom and sis, they knew how the world works. Life goes on and all that. They’d be right proud of you, luv. You’re strong, just like them.” He was rewarded with a tiny smile and a quick ‘thanks’ before she climbed the stairs. He didn’t relax until he heard the water running for the shower.

He glared at the book in his lap, filled with both gratitude and hatred. The very thing that brought him to Buffy was the thing that took her from him…from all of them. He couldn’t help but be glad to have known her for the short time that he’d had, but he resented her calling for taking her away too soon.

“Oh, pet. I never thought it would have been you,” he whispered, running a thumb down the spine of the hard cover.

He cracked the book open, allowing the pages to flutter under his fingers. The smell of leather and dust filled his nose. As he flipped through a few random pages, a small envelope slipped down. He slid the letter out of the book and turned it over. ‘Rupert Giles’ was scrawled across the front in a flowing script, along with what had to be Giles’ address back home before making the trip to Sunnydale.

Spike debated only briefly on whether to open the letter before deciding that he needed to know if it was something that he should let Dawn see or not.

The letter smelled of the book it had been sealed in for so long. He opened the pages to reveal the same handwriting as the envelope.

Rupert,

I hope this finds you well. I know that this is somewhat unusual, writing to you directly, but I feel these are unusual circumstances.

I’m sure that you have heard that I have found the newest slayer. She had slipped through the radar on so many levels that I feared never to find her. The Council has agreed to allow me to stay with her for the time being, or until they feel that I have overstepped my bounds once again, at which time I’m sure they will send a replacement. I’ve been told that you are next in line to go into active duty. I was very pleased to hear that, as I feel that the others might be too close-minded for what I’m about to tell you.

The point of this letter is to plead my case, as well as to prepare you. We are facing a great danger at the moment, a vampire from one of the old orders. He has toyed with us until now, but I am certain he plans to attack soon. I am determined that my slayer will walk away from the upcoming battle, even as I fear that I may not.

This girl is special, Rupert. I have never seen anyone with as much raw talent as she possesses. Her grace and control are amazing, as is her ability to improvise in impossible situations. She is a true slayer, as they are meant to be, and not a Council directed drone with no mind of her own.

Her quick wit and quips leave a little to be desired, but it only adds to her charm, and charm you she will. What she lacks in willingness to train she makes up for in her near effortless skills. Her somewhat grating barbs can be endearing after a while. She is exasperating and delightful in equal turns.

She is like no slayer I have ever met before. She is more.

I only ask that you keep this in mind if something happens to me. I fear the Council’s standards and practices will not apply to this girl. I’ve basically thrown the handbook out for her. We have ‘made it up’ as we have gone along. I fear that I’ve grown quite attached to her, Rupert. Again, if I do not survive the upcoming confrontation please bear in mind all that I have said.

Take care of her, Rupert. She is truly special.

Sincerely,

Merrick Jamison-Smythe

Spike ran his finger along the elegantly written words. “Special,” he murmured. “Yeah, pet. You were truly special. I bet you gave this Merrick a run for his money.” He smirked. “Hope you gave him hell for dragging you into all this, just like I know you gave Rupert hell.”

Spike laid his head back on the couch with a sigh. “What he wouldn’t give to have you snarkin’ up a storm right now. We all would. Miss you, pet. Hope you and your mum are taking good care of each other up there.”

He carefully refolded the paper and slipped it back into its envelope. He opened the book randomly and slid the letter back among the old, yellowed pages that it had rested between, so long forgotten for so many years. Its sentiment no longer needed, not that it ever was. Buffy’s friends didn’t need a letter to know that she was different, unique. They had only to meet her to fall in love with her, as had he, over time.

Spike rose from the couch, still clutching the tome. His nightly vigil over Dawn would begin soon. He climbed the stairs wearily, his footfalls slowing the closer he got to the top. He paused at Buffy’s bedroom door before slipping inside. He breathed in the scents of her inner sanctum, something he rarely allowed himself anymore for fear of breaking down and alarming Dawn. He crossed over to her small bookshelf, which held more knickknacks than books, mementos of happier times.

He perched the book on the highest shelf carefully for a moment before sliding it into place. He quickly headed for the door, pausing to stare into the darkened room, thinking of the girl who had lived, loved, and laughed there not so long ago.

“Goodnight, love,” he whispered as he shut the door.

~End

Added Note: buffy_and_then is in serious need of more authors. The community is simple, we post a monthly 'beginning' and you tell us how it ends. If you don't get an idea for one month then no worries, just wait and see what next month brings. Surely something will come along that will inspire you, or if you want write your own 'beginning' and submit it and see what directions others might go with your fic.

This community is for all pairings/characters, if the challenge isn't something that affects a character/pairing you want to write about, then tell us how it affects them indirectly.