New Game Chapter 16 /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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I would like to thank Hawera for once again taking her own time and going through each chapter so I could send out my very best. It took us a while but we are finally there. Then of course many thanks go to Spike for with out you my life would be so much more boring. I’d never have met Christine, Sister C, Fenchurch , All the girls of CDS, Spicy of Marsters Mobsters, This time I’d like to thank all the other great fans that make my trips to the cons so fun , . Then I’d like to say a special thank you to Steve the people that help him make my experience there at the cons so great and of course I can’t end this section of many thanks with out thanking the man that made Spike the vampire he is and will always be. Thanks James.!!

Just a small authors note on this chapter. When I wrote this I made reference to a 1970’s TV program. To my dismay since then a movie was made of it please pretend it never was. I am relieved that at least for my characters and their time frame( Season 5-6 of Angel) They wouldn’t even know of the horrid adaptation. Some things shouldn’t be messed with. ( If they decide to bring out a new Sigmund the sea monster I will picket)

Oh and by the way to all the readers that have been keeping up with this story ……Thanks for sticking with me guys and here you go really this final chapter is for you!!!!!.

Chapter 16 A New Game Last Inning

The elevator doors opened on to the second floor lobby of Wolfram and Hart and Emma walked out and toward Harmony’s desk.

“Harmony, is he in?”

“He’s busy, doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

Emma looked at her over top of the desk. She cocked her head. “Is he with clients?”

“No.”

“So, you are saying…he…won’t see …me?”

Harmony looked uncomfortable. “Well not exactly…you. He just said everybody. Now that you mention it I think he’ll probably see…you, I mean you saved him and all. You know he isn’t blaming me for all that infecting him stuff right.lknows Jared tricked me into putting that bone stuff in his blood. I’m forgiven.”

“I need you to call Wes to Angel’s office. Tell him it’s a matter of life or death and let Gunn know I’m here.”

“You got that thing with me being forgiven , right? So why would you think I do the things that… you, a lower on the totem pole assistant than me say to do? Ah, why would that be?”

Emma moved closer to the desk. She pulled the stake from her pocket and put it on it.. “Quite a few reasons, the one topping the list right now is I said life or death and that could mean I’m talking about yours. I am a slayer… and as you may now know a good one. I’ve heard rumors you aren’t very smart Harmony, but I think you might know what I’m hinting at here.”

“I’ll call them now.”

“So, should I keep the stake, or do you want to keep it?”

Harmony reached up and took the stake off the desk. Emma smiled at her and headed into Angel’s office.

Angel sat behind his desk and a pretty, voluptuous, brunette sat on the edge of it closest to his chair facing him.

Emma stopped a few steps inside the door. “Cordelia? Cordelia Chase?”

The woman turned and her eyebrows went up. “Emma Taylor? But how do you know me?”

Emma walked and casually sat down in the chair opposite the desk, “Prophetic Slayer dream.”

“Hmmm, imagine that, and here I woke up from a coma with a vision and your name on my tongue well not really your name but I had you perfectly pictured in my head and Wes was the one that filled in the name. Wow, now isn’t that a cosmic coincidence.”

“And that just makes it easy on me. I can skip introductions for you two.” said Angel “Its good to see you Emma, but I suspect you’re here for a reason.”

“Oh, and did the prophetic part of the slayer dream give it way?” Asked Cordelia

Angel glanced her direction. Cordy shrugged.

“Well actually, that’s not why. You see I am making a big change in my life and I need some help.”

“I understood that the Council was going to help with your college expenses.”

Cordelia moved so she could face Emma.

“I’m not speaking of school. In fact I don’t know if I’ll even go back with this move I’m making. But let me start over.”

Emma moved forward in the chair. “Angel you have to admit you owe me a lot.”

“I do.”

“Really everything, anything.”

“Yes. If you hadn’t done what you had, I wouldn’t exist any more.”

~ ~ ~

Wes came out of his office. Gunn was in the hallway heading the same direction, a file in hand.

“Charles?”

“Hey, Wes, sorry can’t talk, heading to the boss’s office, life or death matter.”

“Me as well, Emma is involved.”

Gunn looked surprised. “She’s involved with my situation. In fact this is for her.” He held up the file

“May I have a look?”

Gunn handed Wes the file.

~ ~ ~

Wes and Gunn entered Angel’s office

Emma shrugged nonchalantly, “Might even say you owe me your soul.”

Angel looked at her suspiciously, “I’m not sure what you’re getting at but frankly Emma I’m getting a little uncomfortable.”

Wes spoke then, “I think I know.”

Emma looked over her shoulder.

Wes stepped forward, “This is a drastic thing to even suggest Emma. I have no idea what is prompting it but I don’t think…”

“As much as I love ya Wes and I usually defer all the big thinking to you, Emma should be the one doing all that big , important and life changing thinking right now.” Cordelia stated.

Angel cleared his throat. “Well, I wish someone would do the talking.”

“Could you hand him the file?” motioned Emma.

Angel looked at the contract in the file. “I’m not getting it?”

With a smile Emma started, “I’ll break it down. Who do you know that had dealings with a Lurker demon?”

Angel nodded. “And Spike has what to do with this?”

Emma gave a small laugh, “Everything, but that’s beside the point. What did he get from the Lurker?”

“His soul… Oh for crying out loud, what did he do now?”

Emma sighed and stood she leaned with her hands on his desk. “The soul will be for me. And it will be what….you…do. You owe me anything, you said yourself. So, I want you to sire me.”

Angel didn’t even give pause. “No.”

“You owe me, I want it, and after I will have an irremovable soul…no problem.”

“And again, no.”

Gunn stepped forward. “Emma you said this was life or death. Is there some reason you have to have this?”

“I meant… this, the siring being my death and the changing of my life.. Sorry for the ruse.”

Cordelia stood and walked to Angel. She put her hand on his shoulder. “There is a reason she has to have it. Part of the vision was that I saw Emma as a vampire. She and Spike were training Slayers. One of them ends up saving the world with their help. Imagine that big boy, not only does some small Slayer save the world, but a soulful vampire or two help her. Who would believe that?”

He looked at her. “I can’t Cordy not after what I did to all those girls while I was under The First’s control. I just can’t”

“You can Angel.” Cordy said looking deep in his eyes. “Obviously her sweetie won’t or she’d have had him do it already, so if not him or you she’d have to find a stranger and we know that means possibly a liar or idiot that doesn’t know how to do it either way that means death Then of course she could. actually force you against your will, go all Slayer on you just like Buffy did that one time,. She’d have picked the perfect time to do it too. She would be able to take advantage of the blood lust that’s going to be harder to control now so soon after you have been feeding on humans. Either way you have major guilt and of course either way assures I’ll have to see Spike bruise and bloody you again like he did the last time you two fought. “Cordelia tapped her head, “May have been asleep but still saw the total ugliness of that one mister. So not pretty how he nearly killed you. I mean that stake was so close and only not through you because he loves Buffy.”

Emma cleared her throat, “Ah, maybe you could stop helping me. As much as I loved those bruises and that night I think Angel didn’t and , well….”

Cordelia stood up, “oh and you know its going to be scary. I mean she’ll be dying and then waking up all cold , no heart beat and craving blood. If you do it she’ll have you there. At least it won’t be as bad as it would if she was on her own.” .

Angel looked into Emma’s eyes. “She’s right, things will be , well, you do realize what…”

“I’m asking for? Yes. I mentioned the prophetic slayer dream right?”

He looked around the room. “Lets go to my apartment talk more about this.” He started toward the elevator as did Emma. Angel turned and Cordelia moved to stand next to Emma as she waited. He looked at Cordy, “Alone, Cordy. This is something just Emma and I should discuss.”

Cordy nodded and backed away.

~ ~ ~

Emma had walked to the window to look out. She leaned against it, her hand leaving an imprint with its heat. Angel thought how that would never happen again if he did as she wanted. He moved closer to her. He took a deep inhalation to get her scent. He wanted to remember it. Although he already knew it. There had been too much that happened between them by this point for him not to. When Spike had told him that night a few weeks ago that he’d killed her he couldn’t even picture her that way. He had never ever imagined her ever being fragile. No, Emma always seemed strong and able to take care of herself. Obviously she had poor taste in men but the girl had never been some weak thing even before she became a slayer. As he watched her looking out at the city he didn’t want to do this, he didn’t want to be the one to kill her, again but she wanted it. Maybe she didn’t understand.

He moved a bit closer and touched her shoulder lightly pulling her eyes to him, “You do know this life you’re asking for involves more than any prophetic dream could ever tell you?”

Emma held his intense look and returned it looking deep into his brown eyes. “I know it’ll be a lonely life. I’ll struggle with the demon everyday. I’ll have to deal with the fact the very thing that sustains my life pulses through the veins of the ones I have sworn train and protect. I’ll worry that my humanity could be stripped away at any moment. I’ll never get to walk in the sun again. I’ll never really get to celebrate a birthday, I’ll be eighteen forever, which has its advantages but here in the United States will require I get a fake ID. I’ll be a different kind of vampire, one that’s never walked the earth. I will never have fed on a human. I’ll start my unlife with a soul. My demon will be chained from the beginning. There will be a certain fear for me to let it loose in any way. I’ll also be a vamped slayer and stronger and faster than anyone has seen so if I do feel brave enough to let that demon out, watch out…if you are in my way you are going down. So, yeah,I think I got more from the dream than you might realize.

Angel gave a small smile. “I think you did.” His eyebrows knit together. “Are you sure Emma, you of all people know very well there is no going back and only one way out after.”

Emma pulled her hair back baring the side of her neck left untouched by Spike’s fangs. “Don’t think of yourself as killing me but as saving me.” She gave him a small smile. “You know how you love to save the girl.” Her brows arched once quickly and she smiled broader as she bent her neck to bare it more for him.

He shook his head and held back a smile. It would be inappropriate. Angel changed his face and brought forth his fangs then carefully sank them in.

~ ~ ~ ~

Spike paced back and forth. It had been forty eight hours and no word from Emma. It wasn’t like her.

He wanted to call Wesley but would never admit to that prat that he was this concerned about her out on a business trip and worried over a lack of a call. It would make him sound like a bloody poofter. Sod it all, why hadn’t she called.

Spike couldn’t help but chuckle at himself. How did he end up here? A year ago he was so in love with Buffy, he was literally burning from the inside out. The soul he’d gotten to improve himself for Buffy had helped to close the Hellmouth. He’d done it all hoping to give Buffy her life and all that entailed. Now he was undead again, was sick with worry over some other woman. He’d had no idea he’d ever be able to love another woman let alone as much as he did this one.. The real kicker in the story was this time the woman actually really and truly loved him and he knew it, he couldn’t deny it, no one could, everyone knew.. She loved him even knowing exactly who he once was. In fact she had loved him first and waited patiently for him to figure out he loved her. Of course he had to admit, unlike Buffy he’d never tried to kill Emma on several occasions. That may have helped a little with her loving him right away.

The phone rang. Spike jumped to grab it. “Spike?” Came Buffy’s voice.

Spike laughed out loud with the irony. “Buffy.”

“What’s so funny?”

“Sorry pet, just something on the telly.” He told her not wanting to explain the real reason

“I know you two aren’t close or anything, but I was wondering if you’d heard from Angel. I thought with everything that happened he might have called you. I’ve tried for almost three days to get through to him. Harmony has been very….non helpful. And security still won’t let me in that building after I hurt Eve.”

“You try Wes?”

“Can’t get him on the phone either. It’s like Land of the Lost over there. Hey, do you remember that really old 1970’s show with the Sleestak?”

“How do you know about that show, isn’t that kind of before your time, pet? But what are you saying? The group rafted over some waterfall and disappeared. They may all be battling some T-Rex right now?

Buffy gave a short laugh, “Haven’t you heard of cable Spike and yeah that’s sort of what I’m saying but well obviously the rafting took place at night and Angel would be staying in the cave during the day but you know that place Wolfram and Hart and, yeah … something like that.”

“Well that may explain why Emma hasn’t called in the last two days from her business trip. Seems Wes may have lied and it may have actually been some bleeding nighttime rafting trip instead.”

“What? Emma went on a business trip and she hasn’t called. Why are you so calm Ok. Something is going on with the Big With Evil We Say We Are A Law Firm. I’m going down there and breaking through security are you with me.”

There was a knock at Spikes door, just before Wes stepped in.

“No need Buffy. Wes is here. I’ll call you back.” He hung up the phone.

“Spike,, ah, well, I’m here because of Emma, I have some information that may not, well, there was a situation and well, I know this may be difficult but….”Wes verbally stumbled until Spike interrupted..

. “A situation Wes?” Spikes eyes narrowed but at the same time he braced himself “She went to set up some invalids Library. Tell me just what kind of situation could there be that would make you stammer like that. Whats happened to her, out with it, NOW?”

Emma walked in the door, “He’s like that because he doesn’t exactly know how to tell you I died……again.”

He didn’t feel it immediately he was so relieved to see her. But slowly he senses picked up her altered scent.

“Emma?” Confusion filled his eyes.

Wes stepped forward and stood between them, “Spike, she has a soul. We, Wolfram and Hart had a contract with a Lurker demon.”

“And this bleeding happened while you were…on the business trip?”

Emma shook her head back and forth indicating a negative answer..

Wesley stepped back and squeezed her shoulder, “I’ll leave you two now.” He turned and went through the door.

“You bloody well better start telling this story.”

Emma cocked her head and gave him a smirk. “Or what?”

“Emma, woman, you tie me in knots for two days with out a call and now you show up as a….bloody hell…I’m….”

“Well you’re not speechless. I bet Angel a twenty you would be.”

Spike crossed the room to her and grabbed her shoulders. “Angel?” His eye’s narrowed with anger then filled with confusion again. He stepped back from her.“Em…please, love.”

“I asked him to sire me. I found that contract so he could and would.”

“Oh, he is dust” His back teeth ground together and his eyes showed his anger he said nothing for several seconds then he shook his head and the confusion returned. “. But…why would you do this? This isn’t right. You are, were so young, had so much ahead of you” He stepped closer lifted his hand and nearly touched her but pulled back. . “I wouldn’t wish this life on you….. “He closed his eyes as his hand dropped back down then he opened his eyes and stared at her. “And Emma you sodding lied to me!”

“Oh, right and if I had said, ‘Oh just packing to go get sired… see ya in a couple of days.’ You would have sent me with that beautiful send off you gave me. And Spike no matter what objections you come up with, deep down you are ecstatic, admit it.”

“I would have done the siring; you didn’t have to go to Angel.”

Emma tilted her head and smiled then shook it.. “We both know you.. ..never… could have, actually drained me… even if we had agreed you’d be siring me you’d never be able to do it in the end. Shit I could barely get Angel to do it. Strangest thing happened, Cordelia Chase was there and convinced him, but it turned out she was some apparition sent by the Powers That Be. Her body was in the hospital the whole time. She died in the hospital right after Angel thought she left W.H.. Angel really loved her. Cordy might have given Buffy a run for her money. Angel said Cordy told him she wasn’t on this walk with him and that he was to hold someone else’s hand this time. I figure she meant Buffy, which is good because from most of what Angel has said, I think he and Buffy may actually have a chance to get together. ”

Spike stared at her then shook his head. “Get close with your sire, did you?”

“Not as close as you did with yours. I could go back there and ask him if he wants to though. He might its been since Darla. I’m pretty sure him getting a vamp pregnant is a one time thing. I’m thinking taking percauthion would be a good idea with this group.. You know I bet Angel doesn’t even know how to put on a rubber. For that matter you probably don’t either, not something you learn back in the Victorian days as a Dandy. Back then it was more of an abstinence kind of birth control thing that you did. That or pour that seed into the ill repute or in your case the first crazy vampires willing to lead you astray.. You know I guess I could offer to show Angel how to put one on, he is the type of guy that likes to learn new things. Although he will admit he tended to take the lead and personally teach you all sorts of things he didn’t want to tell me about. You want to fill in the blanks?

Spike’s eyebrow went up. “I’m not so sure I like this new demon of yours.”

“You will,” Her eyebrows flicked up provocatively and smiled. “Just wait until it kicks your ass all over the training room floor.”

Spike gave her a small smile. “Right. ” He looked at her seriously “Emma your sexual innuendo and other jokes aside you do realize what this will mean, love?”

Emma turned them a bit so Spikes back was facing the kitchen and bed room. “Higher butcher bills for us.”

She forced him to step back several steps. “Then I’ll make up for that because of the fact I’ll never have to purchase sun block again, because hey, won’t ever be going in it. Of course I’ll have to stay away from sharp wooden things, no more taking arrows in the chest for you...sorry.”

Spike smiled briefly and shook his head. “It’s more than that.”

She backed him up some more pushing him towards the bedroom. “Do I have to give the, it’ll be lonely, always battling the demon, those you protect have our life source in their vein speech to you, too?”

Spike chuckled, “Gave that speech to the tall forheaded sire did you?”

“I’m stronger with you Spike, we are stronger together. We are our own team. We fight better side by side, well actually back to back. I have never felt more apart of or accepted than I do when I am with you. I won’t lie, there was a certain vanity in some of my motivation for seeking this, I won’t have to grow old while you stay young, but I also couldn’t stop thinking how devastated you were when you thought you had lost me. I did this for us. Please tell me I wasn’t wrong, that you still want me.”

Spikes eyes softened., “Always want you, love.” He smiled , “I feel the same, feel apart of something and accepted with you, never have before. You know me all too well, Em, because about this…” He motioned to her and grinned. “I am bleeding ecstatic that I’ll have you forever.”

Emma had backed him into the bedroom. He was at the foot of the bed. Her eyebrow went up.

“Spike do you know what happens when you vamp a slayer?”

Both his brows lifted, “Can’t say I do Em. I’m thinking some sort of….”

Emma reached down and ripped his jeans clean off his body. “Uber strength.” She finished for him.

Spike looked down at the tatters of his jeans. “Now that’s bloody interesting.” He pulled her to him by her waist band. He yanked and ripped her pants from her. “But not really a vamped slayer trait.”

“Oh.” Emma gave a little pout.” You never did that before” She pulled his t-shirt, ripping it from his body. “So I guess that isn’t so uber either.”

Spike chuckled, “No.” He pulled her blouse; the buttons flew about the room.

Emma grinned, “And now you’ll rip the bra in half..”

Spike laughed. “I’ll save that for another day, surprise you.” He simply pulled it from her, breaking the clasps.

Emm moved clse to him her mouth near his ear, “My body’s no longer warm. Spike are you sure you still want it.”

He moved her so he could see her eyes, “With out mentioning names in our bedroom, the first woman’s body I ever had was cold. I can tell you, at this moment I want yours, more than any woman’s…warm…or… not, Em.”

“Good,” She grinned.

Spikes brows came together. “What’s that grin? I’ve never seen it before.” One of his brows went up and an eye narrowed a bit. “Is that an evil grin?”

“An evil grin?” She asked, grin still in place.

“It is. Em what are you….?”

Emma grabbed him by the hips and lifted him up and into the air. He nearly hit the ceiling before coming back down hard on to the bed. Emma pounced on him straddling his body on all fours. “I forgot another thing I realized this might mean.”

“And that would be what, pet?”

“Bleach, I’ll need to buy more bleach.”

Spike looked up at her confused.

Emma grinned at him, “Well if we have, hot ,vampire sex,” Emma morphed into her demon façade. “And I plan on having lots of it; we’ll probably get blood on the sheets from time to time.”

Spike grabbed her and flipped her so he was on top; the suddenness of the move caused her to laugh. He looked down at her with his golden eyes. “So I take it I’m not going to have to explain that we as vampires can’t have actual hot as in heated sex . You would be referring to the intensity. I think I might know a thing or two about the subject. Want me to show you?”

The next thing Spike knew he was below her again. “No honey, I think it’s something that comes real natural, unlike your hair color.” She crushed her mouth to his. She dragged her fang across his tongue as he’d thrust it into her mouth. She pulled back to look at him. “You taste so good baby.”

Spike drew in his breath and felt himself harden even more just at her words. Emma moved her mouth down his jaw line to his throat. She would periodically drag her fang across the skin drawing a miniscule amount of blood, and then run her tongue back across it. She made it to the area between his neck and shoulder and gently sank her fangs in. She only drank briefly and moved her mouth down his chest.

She made her way to his groin, where she sank her fangs into his femoral artery. Spike closed his eyes and arched his back to her. Abruptly he felt the pull of her drinking stop and his hardness was enveloped by the cold wetness of her sex. He looked up to see her human face. He stared up at her impassioned eyes. She held him inside her but only briefly, she used the sheer strength of her thigh muscles to pull nearly all the way out. She then proceeded to only take a small amount of him in at a time, letting him fill her completely only once every so often. She went on like this for a long while until it was actually becoming torture for him. He looked up and saw she was actually enjoying that very fact. Spike waited until the next time she dropped down completely, grasped him to her and flipped them.

“Enough of that, pet.”

He thrust into her with all his strength. She moved up the bed her head hitting the head board. Emma laughed, “Harder Spike, give it to me harder.”

She put her hands to the head board as he thrust again and again. He lowered his mouth to hers, just as he heard her growl. It nearly pushed him over the threshold but he held on, continuing to thrust. He felt her cold juices wash over him and she let out a half growl, half yell. Spike heard himself growl as he finally made his release.

Spike looked down at her. . “You are looking pleased with yourself.”

“No, with you baby, with you.” Emma paused a moment. “I love you Spike…… And you know we vampires don’t take saying that lightly, what with the near immortality and all.”

Spike grinned, “I think I’ve heard that somewhere before.”

“Hey don’t just lay there go get us a cigarette.”

Spike looked at her. “Sodding think you’re the boss now, don’t you? It’s the whole your sire… is my grand sire thing innit.”

“No it’s the…. if you want to have more sex… you’ll do as I say thing.”

“Balls, I knew you’d catch on to that someday.”

“I knew about it all along, I just never had the demon to use it.”

“Oh, bloody hell.” Spike ambled out to the living room and came back with a pack of cigarettes, and his lighter.

He lit them each one. And they sat smoking, backs against the head board. “I’ll have no worries about you and your smoking fags now, pet.”

“You sure? You love to worry about me, I know I can’t get cancer now but I could accidentally light myself on fire.”

Spike chuckled.

Emma looked at him, her face serious. “That part, the one about you worrying about me, it reminded me about something. I did lie to you before I went, to be sired. and I know you worried when I didn’t call. I’m sorry. It was the lying that bothers me even with my demon. I think now might be a good time to tell you I lied one other time.”

Spike tilted his head a bit. “Just when was that?”

“Do you remember the first night we had sex?”

Spike smiled, “Been a lot of times between now and then but yes I certainly do.”

With a grin Emma said, “Oh, Spike, you know how to charm the girls , vampire or human. Well remember when we were at the club and how I went up to the bar to do shots?”

“You were embarrassed. You did quite a few, tequila I think. The next morning you said it always makes you lose your inhibitions.”

“Yeah, well they were water.”

“What?”

“The shots you saw me doing, H2O, crystal clear from the tap.”

“Just what are you saying Emma?”

“You thought I was really drunk and well I was… not… at all. It was a trick to get you in bed.”

Spike stared at her a moment. “So let me get this straight, you…little new slayer on the block, tricked me…been around forever…vampire….into bed?”

Emma grinned, “I like how you just put it. And yes.”

Spike shook his head and chuckled. “Did that before you became a vampire, didn’t you? Oh I am in big trouble.”

Emma looked him in the eyes. “And just so you know even before I became a vampire I wasn’t sorry, I’m still not. I’d do it again in what used to be one of my heart beats, just so I could be end up right here with you. But honestly even if I didn’t get here where I am tonight, I would have been glad to have had that time with you. Let’s face it the sex it was fantastic so it was worth the lie.”

“The lie Em, it was in entire three act play.”

She grinned, “With a very climatic ending. I was only sorry I had to keep the pretense up and act like I was spent and done in so soon.”

Spike groaned, “Are you telling me now you could have gone on longer?”

“Oh yeah, until way into mid morning. I was too afraid you’d catch on though. The plan was you would think I was drunk remember.”

He shook his head. “You were human then, and tricked …me.”

Emma shrugged. “It’ll only happen again if I lie to you. What are the chances of that? I’ve got everything I want now and I told you the lying bothers me.”

“You know you are just going to have to give me a chance to catch up here. I’m still reeling, it’s not the fact you sodding lied, no, I’m over that. It’s the fact you…. tricked …me. That I bleeding fell for that. I am a hundred and thirty years old and a vampire for sod sake. You were an eighteen year old girl raised by her grandparents and… you… tricked… me.”

Emma took his cigarette and hers and snubbed them out. She leaned over and kissed him.

“I did it because I wanted you. Sometimes want like that drives a person to accomplish things they normally wouldn’t be able to accomplish. Do you get that Spike?”

“But Em,” He looked pained. “It’s jus…”

She lay down, and pulled him with her so he stared down at her. “I want you Spike.”

Spike looked at her and suddenly growled.

Emma laughed. “You’ve never done that before.”

Spike kissed her then moved to her neck and nuzzled it and nipped at it. He looked at her. “You’ve never been a vampire before,” He leaned down suckled her nipples then gently sank his fangs in her breast.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Spike and Emma sat smoking a cigarette, backs against the head board. He had is arm around her shoulders.

“Spike, I was thinking we should book passage out of New Orleans. We could spend a few weeks there first. Then could we stop in Paris before we go to London. There is bound to be one grey day while we are there. I want you to take me to see the sights. I am dying…hey can’t use that phrase any more. Let me try again, I can’t wait to see you stand in line for the Eiffel Tower. And I want to drink wine with you up in Montmartre in the Artist square and, you know, see that big white church at the top of the bleeding lot of stairs..”

Spike gave a short laugh. “Definitions sound a bit more like me, than you, love.”

“I know, I translated for you.” Emma leaned over him to the ashtray and snubbed out her cigarette.

He laughed again as he smashed out his cigarette. “Well then, New Orleans, Paris and London. Seems like a right nice plan to me.”

A naked Emma jumped and straddled his legs and looking him in the eyes. Spike could see the excitement on her face; her eyes actually seemed to sparkle.

“Spike, I talked to Giles and we’re getting our own training facility with its own weapons locker. We will be two vampires together in Europe with a lot of weapons. I know it’ll be a little different for you than the last time you were there but we’ll still be killing…only this time it’ll be vampires and demons. Just think of the adventures we will have.”

Spike’s eyebrow went up. “Personally Em, after today I wasn’t really thinking of any of that. I was thinking of all the shagging we’d do there.”

Emma laughed out, “Hey, want me to reword the speech and say sexual adventures, will that work better for you?”

Spike grabbed her and threw her to the bed then moved so she was under him. “Can we shag in that weapons locker with all the sharp things around us?”

“First or second day there?” She grinned up at him.

Spike pushed a hair from her face. “You know for the longest time I thought Buffy was the one, my destiny. Today I found out it wasn’t true. She was one of them. But… you… Emma Taylor are another.”

“And you are my one true love and I was willing to die for you twice.” Emma sighed, emotion flitting across her face. She closed her eyes briefly and then smiled. “This is way too emotional in here, shut up and kiss me I want to have hot vampire sex with you again.”

“Just one of the many reasons I know you are the woman for me,” He said, looking at her lovingly.

Her eyes softened a bit more. She moved a curl from his forehead and stared at him for a moment. The look of love on her face said it all. “Well? Are you getting on with it? I want adventures, Spike…adventures!” Emma grinned.

“Oh, Em, I’ll give you adventures.” Spike smirked. His eyebrow went up. “There will definitely be adventures.”

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The next and final story in this trilogy

Through the Eyes of Time

Prologue

Spike knocked on the door. He knocked again. Then he tried the knob, it opened.

“Willow, you home? We have to talk Wicca.”

He stepped in and looked around. “Red? I’m serious; this thing, the slayer, we have to talk.”

He went down into the kitchen. Sitting on the table was a leather bound book in a deep blue. It looked worn and well used.

He went to the kitchen drawer where Willow kept a scratch pad. He scrawled out a note, Call me when you get in,

Spike.

He headed past the table back up the stairs but something made him stop. Strangely he felt as if he had to feel the smoothness of the books leather. Spike reached out to touch it. The next thing he knew he had opened the book. There on the page was his own handwriting,

Spike didn’t remember this thing .He wondered just where it had come from, how it had come to be. He stood there and read the first page.

*****************

Dec. 27th

Emma gave me this thing for Christmas. We had promised not to get one another anything but she snuck this in as a Boxing day present. The woman is American, how does she know about Boxing day.

She said, “I wanted you to have this. Maybe you can get the real you outside of your head, start writing and then maybe you’ll realize you can move on to writing the poetry again.”

I tried to explain my days of writing anything had long since past. She didn’t go for it. So here I am pretending to get outside of my head. What does that mean anyway? I think I’ve spent a reasonable amount of time at this, she’ll believe I gave it a good go.

**************

Spike sat down to continue reading. He had never received a boxing day present from Emma. In fact Spike would say he’d never received anything he’d actually call a present by its real definition from that woman. No a present was something given to someone to celebrate an occasion. What Emma had done wasn’t that. He had gotten something from her but at this point he wasn’t so sure that it was for his benefit that she’d done what she’d done. And as far as he knew .Emma could care less if he had ever wrote or ever would write poetry. She didn’t concern herself with where he was bodily let alone where he was in his head. No, Emma didn’t worry about Spike and hadn’t in quite some time if she ever really had . Even Willow said so although not in so many words when he had managed to subtly mention the dark haired slayer just recently. What was it Willow said last:

“Emma might not ask but one of those guys on her city’s team always asks how you are.”

“They are just checking up I’m treating Our Slayer well They probably feel they need to ask out of continued respect to…..”

Willow had smiled as she interrupted, “No, Spike whoever I’m talking to actually asks about you. And I seriously think it’s so they can tell her all about it after we get off the phone. “You know her, she cares, she’ll always care she’s just very, ah, self protected and can’t show what she feels. That’s why she is where she is, the way she is, the slayer she is, doing it the way she does, and how she does it.”

“You are such a bad liar, witch. But thanks for trying. We both know why she is where she is and it’s nothing to do about her being self protected from sharing her feelings with me.” Spike remembered smiling at the young witch’s blushing

Of course Willow just as she had always done after a discussion like this pulled out what Spike referred to as her stern face:

“When I tell you she cares I mean that. I am a powerful witch and you will listen to me, believe what I say vampire. I could make you a toad you know. Emma cares about you believe that mister and don’t argue with me or you will have to go around with black hair today. And don’t think I do this with no thought, no I do, my thought , me black hair , scary , you black hair, hysterically funny”

Willow always made him smile, that might be why he was turning to her now but it didn’t matter why he had come it was all beside the point because this book talked about something so far away from what he knew. He had no idea what this was.. How had something like this, something full of his own handwriting ended up in Willow’s house. He glanced at the next page. How did something that talked about things that never happened end up in this thing and end up here.. He planned on reading further to find out more.

More to follow soon