New Game Chapter 15 /16

Sequel to Afterglow and third installment in Dive into Destiny Series

Author: T.Claybourne

Rated PG-13 to NC-17. Sex Violence and language

Pairings involve Spike /Original ( as set up in last story) Angel/ ? Wesley/? Faith /?

Thanks to my Beta, Hawera and my muses, Kurt Cobain, John Lyndon (AKA Johnny Rotten) and Joe Strummer.

Just a reminder: You die hard Spuffy fans you will finally feel some validation in the next story following this one. ( I promise there is a definite and secure Spike /Buffy pairing in Part Four and final story of the series)]

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A New Game Chapter 15 Foul Ball

They all stood together in long line leading to security for the International terminal. Emma grabbed Willow’s hand, squeezed and stared into her eyes.

“I don’t know if I …”

Willow smiled although a bit gravely. “I think I know what you’re feeling. But with me the feeling is even more. “

Emma’s eyes became shiny as if she might become tearful.

“Don’t cry,” Willow said. “If you do, I definitely will. If we burst in to tears, they will all think we’re crazy.”

Emma cracked a small smile. “He,” She motioned to Spike who was talking to Giles. “Already knows… I am.”

Willow’s smile lost its gravity. “I think Giles might suspect that about me too, but all the girls, the new Slayers you’ve been training… they have no idea and they just met me. Let me maintain some sort of authority with them. Besides we’ll see each other in June. That’s only a couple of months.”

It took only a moment and Emma seemed to have her emotions under control. She leaned forward and whispered in Willows ear. “You know we share more than most people…our memories of that other life, the one … that was. That’s a bond now. Two months will seem a lot longer than you think.” She pulled back and stared at Willow.

Willow tilted her head a bit. “Are ya trying to make this harder?”

Emma grinned, “It will seem longer because you have all those girls to take care of.”

Willow gave a short laugh. “I don’t have to do that myself, The Council arranges to…”

“Oh they better be exactly the same as I hand them over to you if I hear even a complaint from them when I get there in June, me and you and this slayer fist will have a talk.” Emma’s voice rose a little, as she teased Willow.

“Did I just hear you threaten Willow with bodily harm if these girls complain about their care and handling?” Giles asked with a smile, as he joined them.

“You did.”

Spike walked up behind her and put his hands on both of Emma’s shoulders. “Hardly fair, love, you beat me to the menacing. I had big plans of threatening Rupert about our girls. You’ve gone and stolen my thunder.”

“Like , you’d…. scare…. him.” She said as she leaned back into him. Emma then tilted her head up and grinned at him.

He gave her a quick kiss. “Oh best you know, pet…. I still scare Rupert, always will…he…. just pretends like I don’t. The Council’s and Rupert’s performance, the one that makes it look like I have no effect … it’s just a huge cover up, like the Kennedy Assassination.”

Giles chuckled, “He’s quite right Emma. Look, I’m shaking right now. Of course it is rather the fear of boarding the plane with all these teenaged Slayers not you Spike but…”

Spike gave a small teasing growl.

“You terrify me,” Interrupted Willow speaking quietly staring Spike in the eyes. “ I’m pretty sure you could rip the heart right out of someone.” She glanced away and then back into his eyes. “ You… wouldn’t… with your soul but you… could.”

Spike looked back at her, his head tilted and confusion in his eyes.

Willow shook her head trying to forget the scene of Xander. She shrugged and smiled. “ Just saying…. with or with out the soul, you’re the Big Bad….we should never forget that.”

Spikes eyebrow went up although his eyes still held some confusion. “ Right..yeah don’t ever forget that.”

The Transportation Safety guard called on the group to proceed through the gate. Emma hugged each of them before they passed through to put their carry- on into the x-ray machine. She held on to Willow extra long. As she did she caught a glimpse of Stephanie, the youngest slayer hugging Spike. It looked like the girl almost broke his ribs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Emma jerked awake from another dream. She carefully and quietly got up from the bed. One thing about living with a vampire, you learned that they could be roused easilyy from sleep especially if it were at night rather than at their natural nocturnal daytime sleeping. She padded naked out to the couch and sat looking out the window into the dark. Mia’s life had yet to leave her dreams. She had dreamt of her own, of Emma’s death several times. It had been meant to take place that day in the warehouse. In the other life Drusilla had drained her. But Willow had changed it. Spike had been there, Emma hadn’t lost hope, and Drusilla hadn’t killed or sired her. It stilled seemed strange. To think…. if Willow hadn’t changed everything she would be sitting here… a vampire. A confused, hurt, lost, getting ready to leave Spike, vampire.

Emma pulled her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. Hard to believe she would ever entertain the idea leaving him. Mia had truly loved Spike even when she left him, and later she held tight to him even if it was only as a friend because deep down she still loved him. Mia just didn’t or couldn’t admit to herself that Spike was her first true love. After she had been sired by Drusilla she felt like she didn’t deserve anything good. So she gave him up. Then, well Xander had happened. Mia had really loved Xander but it was different than Spike.

Emma sighed. It was a strange feeling that love of Mia’s for someone she had never even met. Sheesh… how would she, Emma feel when she met Xander. Willow better do what she promised and introduce him to that new Watcher instructor Diana. That thought made her think of how Xander had ended up with Diana in Willows original timeline. He had thought Mia was dead.

Emma’s line of thinking lead her to the thought about how she had nearly died when Angel thrust an arrow into her chest. Her only thought at the time she stepped in front of the arrow aimed at Spike’s heart had been, I can’t lose Spike. She hadn’t thought about him losing her. She did now. She had heard about how he had been after he thought she was dead. Emma remembered him the first time he told her he loved her. He talked about how vampires don’t take the subject too lightly since they live a near eternity. That would be on her mind now. She couldn’t give up, she had to live through any thing she faced. And she could, she knew she could fighting next to Spike. And then what?? What if she ended up the oldest living slayer? Would Spike still want her? She remembered how her grandma looked, her breasts hanging low. She couldn’t do that, be with Spike like that. Could she?

“Bed’s a bit cold without you, love. ”

Emma looked up at him.

“And you’ve caused me to grow partial to a warm bed.”

She gave him the smallest of smiles but said nothing.

“Em, what’s got you sitting out here in the dark.”

Emma sighed, “Just thinking.”

A naked Spike walked to her and pulled her from the couch and to him.

“ Must be heavy thoughts, love. Could have stayed in bed otherwise.”

“They’re about death.” She said into his shoulder

“Bloody hell, Emma. What’s got you thinking about death?”

Emma turned so she could see him. “As a slayer, I have a short life span, that means I could …”

“Don’t say it. Don’t bleeding say it. I told you that…”

“Leave you alone. I could leave you alone. I don’t want to do that.” Emma said as she tilted her head and brought her brows together a bit.

He pushed a bit of hair from her face. “I don’t want you to either; we’ll just have to make sure it doesn’t happen.”

“But if it doesn’t, then I live on; get old and wrinkly, boobs hanging maybe even to my waist. How will you ever want to be with that?”

Spike smiled and then chuckled. “This, is why you are sitting up in the dark? You are worried about growing old?”

“It’s not funny Spike. I’ll be slowly making my way across a room with a walker when someone will look at you next to me and ask…is this your son? No, they’ll ask is this your grandson?”

“I love you Em …ok… I admit your body is an added bonus but I love who you are.” He kissed her. “I admit I may be a bit selfish and a bit shallow at times but I figure give me fifty years with you and I should out grow …..”

“I don’t think I’ll let you stay that long that’s what I’ll have to do. Send you away.”

Spikes eyebrow went up.

“No really Spike. I’ll send you on your way before I get like that.”

“Bollocks, I think you will have no say.”

Emma smiled, “Since when has that happened?”

“You will be old and decrepit. I’ll be able to do as I please.”

Emma laughed, “I’ll be old, but I’ll still have slayer strength.”

Spike picked her up, “Think you’ll beat me with that walker if I get out of line?”

“Would you want me to?” She laughed as he threw her on the bed.

“Depends, would it be aluminum or wood?” He jumped and straddled her.

“Only place I like to beat you Spike is on the training room floor but of course if I’m worried about breaking a hip I may have to think of different ways of beating you.”

Spike was quiet while staring down at her. He leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled back he said, “Let’s just think about NOW, this moment Em. That’s all we need.”

“Do you even know how much I love you Spike?” Her eyes softened as she stared up at him.

His deep blue eyes stared into hers. “Enough to take an arrow in the chest and nearly bleed to death?”

Tears began to form in Emma’s eyes. “I never want to lose you. That was why I did that.”

“ Please, no tears, pet. I’m that bad penny,remember. I keep turning back up. It’s you that’ll have to stick around to find the sodding thing.”

Emma pulled his mouth to hers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Emma sat on the beach watching the waves. It wasn’t Malibu like in her dreams of Mia, it was Venice, but it was the beach. She was supposed to be in class. The only time she had missed class was during the time while she was in the hospital and right after while saving Angel. Her entire college career she had never missed a class and now she had missed plenty. It didn’t matter. School didn’t matter like it had.

Things were different with her now. Even if Spike thought things were resolved over the growing old they weren’t. Truth was she knew the whole idea of the dying versus growing old would be winding around in her mind forever. If I don’t win this fight and die…. I leave Spike alone but if I live, I grow old and then I have to worry about being old while he is still so young. And the crux of it all was she didn’t know if she could live like that, the thought constantly twisting around in there. The thinking became a constant vicious circle going around and around in her brain. No matter how she looked at it someone was hurt. That was why she was here right now. To figure out if she could do it. Death would permanently devastate but maybe there was another way. Maybe Mia’s way had been right.

Emma took a deep breath and stood. She walked to the side walk and brushed her feet off. She drove to the Hyperion. Spike wasn’t there when she got in. It was a little strange for him to be gone but it made it easier for her, she pulled her rolling suitcase out and began packing. She had no idea what to bring so she just threw in what she thought she might need. She had finished and all that was left was to zip the suit case. It was then Spike came in.

“Em, care to tell me why your suitcase is on the bed and fully packed?”

Emma willed her heart to stay still. She lived with a vampire long enough to know its beating could betray her. He could tell the truth from a lie very easily if she wasn’t careful.

“Oh, that, Wesley called. I have a business trip. Big bonus check, I’ll be setting up a clients library and doing some translations for him.”

“Business trip? You gave notice at Wankers and Hart, pet.”

“I know but like I said, big bonus. Be nice to have extra in the bank before we leave for England.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, “How long?”

Emma once again willed her heart to beat normally. “I’m not sure. Two to four days.”

Spike cocked his head to the side. “What about school, love?”

Emma put her hand on her hip. Her eyebrow went up. “Spike you of all people know I don’t have to worry about school.”

“And me, where am I during this trip?”

Emma forced herself to smile, “Here.”

His eyebrow went up. “By myself?”

Emma gave a short laugh. “Scared?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “I meant, I should be with….”

“I’d love that but I can’t take you. I’ll be staying, in residence. It’ll be a little difficult explaining the inviting of a vampire into the house.”

Spike crossed his arms over his chest. “In residence? I…”

“Before you say you don’t like it, he is sixty five and in a wheel chair.”

“You know me way too well, pet.” Suddenly Spike put his bottom lip out briefly. “What am I supposed to do while you’re gone?”

Emma stomach ached as she said it, but she gave him a simple shrug. “Just try not to drink too much, remember to eat and open a window if you decide to chain smoke.”

“You are so bleeding funny. I guess I could start packing some of our shite up for the move to England.”

Emma gave him a serious look. “If something happened to me, would you go to England alone, teach our girls on your own?”

Spike looked at her suspiciously. “Sixty five and a wheel chair? You’re not off to battle demons without me are you?”

Emma shook her head no. “It’s just that a lot has happened in the world the one that doesn’t even know about demons. It made me think about those things and how sometimes deadly unforeseen things happen even there.”

“No, I bloody will not, nothing’s going to sodding happen to you.”

Emma sighed, “If it did ,you should. I’d want that. Go get away from here, work for the Council, take care of the girls. You’re good at it.”

“You will quit talking like this, right now.” Spike grabbed her by her shoulders.

Emma looked away then back at him. “ Hey did you just volunteer to pack our things, on you own, with out prompting?” She changed the subject abruptly.

“Emma, sometimes you are the most infuriating woman.”

She shrugged, smiling. “ I know. Answer the question, did you just volunteer to pack things with out any prompting?”

“Yeah, what of it?”

“Where were you just now before you came up here ? Is this my Spike or has there been a dimensional swap of some kind while you were out?”

Spike grinned, “Dimensional swap, that would be interesting for you wouldn’t it, pet? Sorry, I’m yours, want to see for sure?” He raised his eye brow.

Emma looked at him and realized the gravity of it all. She needed to take him up on his offer. It was the last chance she would have.

“I’ve got a little bit of time.”

Spike unbuttoned her blouse and removed her bra. He took her nipple in his mouth. Emma hoped he thought the speed of her heart was from arousal. She felt the tears forming in her eyes but she held them back. She didn’t cry.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike walked Emma to the door. The sun made it impossible for him to see her to the car. She kissed him and held on to him tightly.

“Em, love, call me when you get there.”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I’ll call… I think I’ll want to talk to you once I get things settled.”

Spike cocked his head a bit. “Pet... I know I’m a bit thick sometimes but it seems you’re reluctant. You don’t have to go, its only money.”

Emma looked at him, brows coming together. She hadn’t counted on him picking up on her reservations. “I think it’s just that the last time we were separated…I …we…you…”

Spike put his hand to her cheek. “’Snot the case this time. I’ll go to sleep tonight knowing you’ll be back to me alive and well.”

“I love you. Always will. You know that right?”

Spike kissed her, then lifted and eyebrow and smirked, “Hurry home so I can show you just how much I love you.”

Emma turned, went out the door and quickly headed to her car.

Spike watched as she pulled away. He walked back upstairs and saw her cell phone on the table. Suddenly a strange feeling overcame him. He tried to reason it out.

Well I won’t bloody well be calling her. I’m cut off from Em for the next few days, at least until she calls. I am really on my own. All I’m feeling is a bit of discomfort being out of touch from her that’s all it sodding is .It’ll be better, I’ll feel better after she calls