by melWinter

Chapter 15

Spike looked around, in one of the last caves that led back to the surface and through the barrier to the human world. It must be six in the morning, he having spent the rest of the day burying himself in pack business and even managing to ignore Xander’s repeated whining about his eating habits. At sunset he’d disappeared to the graveyard and spent most of the night there, just now reappearing.

“William, I wanted to get your opinion on something.” Spike followed Evil’s voice to the end of the passageway, to the magical barricade that separated this werewolf world from the human world beyond the borders. She’d passed down a message from the fourth position Beta to meet her here and he’d thought it was as good of an excuse as any not to go home just yet. As much as he wanted it to, the excuse of hanging out with Xander for a week straight just wasn’t going to fly.

The vampiress was casually brushing her fingers into the air before her, the area shimmering around her. Frowning at her as he walked over, stretching his back just a little and forcing back the temptation to yawn. It was damn early for a vamp and though he should go home he just didn’t want to face Buffy yet, whom he knew Evil had escorted there. Word gets around fast in this small community.

Raising an eyebrow at her, “You just walked her up to my door and left her there?”

She shrugged, “You’ve already forgiven her.”

Giving her a look that she ignored, “Just cause you’re my mother-in-law-...”

Absently she patted his cheek, “And older than dirt compared to you...trust me.”

Sighing, “I planned on at least givin’ her a heads up.”

She gave him a grin as evil as her name, “She had to find out sometime.”

He shook his head, not at all envious to the heart attack the slayer was no doubt suffering from right now. It was inevitable. If Buffy really did want into his life, she’d have to accept Tyler, Anthony, and Gwyn but breaking it to her a little more gently had been his plan, “And the ‘kid’ said that I fight dirty.”

She mock curtsied, still brushing her fingers against the barrier, “Give me some credit. I did leave one of the babysitters with her.”

Giving her a wary look. The clan had a whole team of Omegas dedicated just for such a task. Some of them were parents with young children and one or the other chose not to fight. Some were too old and physically weak to hold their standing, “Which one?”

“Pierce.”

And some were like Mrs. Pierce who had no interests other than raising other people and their young, “For the love of God, Evil! That’s...that’s...”

Smirking, “Evil?”

Spike just shook his head before hanging it, “Bloody hell...” Okay, it was a bit funny just because Mrs. Amanda Pierce was the fluffiest, cuddliest battle ax he’d ever met. A mother through and through, she would fret and mother someone to death and had a steel encased backbone that would allow for no arguments. He didn’t even bother telling Evil off since she’d just find it funny, “So, what’re you doing?”

“Testing a theory.” And without warning she took a step forward. In a perfect world the barricade would have bounced her right back. Since she was a pretty powerful sorceress in her own right, in an ideal world the border would have offered some resistence before letting her slip through. Spike’s jaw slowly dropped as Evil walked through like stepping into a room and she shot a look at him. The barrier didn’t even shimmer, just collapsing on itself before snapping back into place, “It seemed damn odd to me that Tyler could get all the way to the human world without help. Even fully transformed he’s just a baby, William, yours or not. The barricade should have kept him contained.” She walked back inside, “I don’t know if the spell is completely null or just tampered with but we’ve got a serious problem.”

Looking around, nodding to himself, “I’ll get the witches cooking on this.”

“It’s more than that.” He gave her another glance, this one more penetrating before she just said what she was thinking, “It’s a damn fine coincidence isn’t it?” His brow furrowed, “You were called away to hunt down those rogue werewolves up north. I was stuck working on that negotiation treaty in Athens...and Tyler happened to wander away several miles from home...all on the same night.” Spike’s features slowly shifted to the vampire that he was, a predatory growl rumbling in his chest. Damn near perfect timing if you asked him. His family had been targeted was his only conclusion. But who? She glanced back at the perimeter spell, “Spells fade over time. It’s inevitable. But this spell was supposed to outlast me. The only way to weaken it is to do it from both sides.”

Spike sucked in a gasp of air, “One of us?”

Nodding, “Is working with someone outside.”

Narrowing his eyes and turning, “One of the witches?”

Evil shrugged a little, “Maybe. I’m not so sure. There are better ways to collapse a spell. Certainly better to get away with it and make it look natural. This is pretty obvious to anyone who knows their craft that it takes an attack from both sides. But it would have been better if they could have restored the barrier to avoid suspicion.” He nodded to himself and she sighed a growl, “I think we’ve got a powerful amateur.”

Growling lowly, eyes flashing, “Red.” He couldn’t really see Willow as a saboteur but she was the most powerful amateur he knew of.

Making a scoffing motion with her hand, “She’s got too much to lose and I think we’re looking for a dabbler, not an established witch.” He snorted at the very thought, “William, she wasn’t formally trained but-...”

Snarling, “Amateur.”

Pausing for just a moment before deciding not to argue the point, “No, someone else. But her caliber of power I should think.”

Pursing his lips a little, “I’ll make a sweep-...”

Barking at him, “No you will not.” He raised an eyebrow cooly at her. She just pointed a finger at him, “I’m only informing you of my plans so you won’t worry yourself gray when I don’t pop in tonight. You are going home and you’re going to bed.” He opened his mouth, “And if you object I’ll sick the slayer on you.”

He snorted, “And what’ll that do?”

She gave him an evil grin, “I told her if she could make you eat I’ll back her getting into the clan.”

He paled even further than he already was, “WHAT??” Buffy would be like a dog holding onto a bone. She’d be relentless if it got her what she wanted.

Innocently twirling her hair on a finger, “I’ll just tell her if she gets you to sleep-...”

Point a finger back at her, “Don’t you bloody dare. It’s bloody well bad enough when you sic the ‘kid’ on me don’t you dare start with the slayer.” Evil just slowly crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a patient look. The kind of look that a mother would give to an obstinate toddler who was screaming to get their own way when it was inevitable that they wouldn’t. A few seconds of staring one another down and he turned with a pouting growl, “I hate you.”

***

He’d waited as long as he could, close to midday by now. And he knew if he waited any longer Evil would quite literally drag him home. The sun was high in the sky but Spike didn’t even pause, well used to the fact that he could walk in sunlight here. Much to his disappointment he didn’t freckle. Silently he crept up the wooden steps and across the porch, using his enhanced hearing to detect any yelling or furious pacing of an annoyed Slayer. Nothing. Not a peep.

Spike slowly walked through his front door, freezing as a pair of dagger filled eyes pinned him to the spot. Damn, she’d been waiting in ambush. Still lovely though even if her green eyes promised pain. Holding up both hands in a placating manner, face as sincere as it got, “Luv, honest it wasn’t my idea.” He’d like to blame Evil but he knew he couldn’t get another word out. And his sincerest face would have been even more sincere if his lips weren’t twitching with the need to snicker. But they were. A lot. So much so that he didn’t even last five seconds before the snickers changed to ‘manly’ giggles before he was all out laughing at the look on her face. She just scrunched up her nose and stuck out her tongue and he was done for, down on the ground and laughing as he held onto his side and idly wondered if he’d damaged something.

Buffy tossed her golden hair over her shoulder with a huff, “Yeah right. It may not have been your idea but I bet you took your sweet time getting back here. Nice kids, by the way.” Her tone wasn’t angry or abrupt. Casual really. And Buffy being casual was something very scary. She tilted her head a little as she studied him, never really seeing him like that. In Sunnydale Spike had never been happy. Certainly not predisposed to giggling fits. It was nice really. It wouldn’t distract her from her revenge though but it was a moment she was mentally jotting down as Happy Spike and cataloging it for later thought. Buffy just slowly shook her head, arms crossed as she walked the distance to him before peering down at him. He was still shaking silently, unable to get any air in to make his laughter audible, “Side hurt? Can’t get up?” He couldn’t formulate a response, weakly nodding his head, “Hmm, then I guess you’re completely helpless. Perfect.” An evil grin suddenly curled her lip, voice innocent, “Oh, Mrs. Pierce?” He stopped laughing, jerking to stare at her even as the stout woman came in from the kitchen, “Let it never be said that I can’t make you eat.” His eyes widened even further in panic, not even having time to scramble upright before he was trapped by Mrs. Pierce’s built in mom-radar.

The woman took one look at Spike’s gray skin and the dark circles under his eyes and immediately started clucking and fussing. He threw a desperate look Buffy’s way but she just snorted at him and went off in search of Dawn, leaving him to be steered into a decent meal and then straight to bed. From the entryway shadows Evil grinned to herself, deciding she should have joined forces with this slayer a long time ago.