"You and Spike?"
Willow's eyes were as round as saucers. "But I
thought...don't you, well...hate each other's guts?"
"Yes! No! I don't know, " Buffy
moaned, dropping her head in her hands.
"That's decisive," commented Oz.
Buffy didn't answer. She hadn't intended telling Willow
anything about her plan to help Spike by making Drusilla
jealous- or about the way her brilliant scheme had
backfired! But Oz had seen them dancing together at the
Bronze, and what Oz knew, Willow soon would.
Even then, Buffy had wanted to maintain the position that the
whole charade had been designed solely to reunite Spike with
Drusilla. But she was just too unhappy to be a good liar.
"But I don't get it," Willow said, "what
makes you think he's gone back to her?"
"Because." Buffy stared miserably at the
table. "He was gone when I woke up the next
morning; and I haven't heard from him since."
"It's only been three days," Willow consoled her.
"Yeah, Buffy," he'll be back." Oz agreed.
She smiled at them weakly; and took off for the library and
Giles.
"What do you think, Oz?" Willow asked the
werewolf anxiously.
Oz considered. "I think the guy's confused. I'm
betting he's as unhappy as Buffy is right now."
Spike wasn't unhappy, exactly; he was just uncertain.
And Dru... Dru was unhinged.
She'd been unfaithful many times, he only once- but it was
as if, in her mind, his once cancelled out her many. She
didn't understand why they couldn't just take up their
relatonship in the same old way.
"Spike," she insisted sweetly, "I forgive
you, but you belong with princess!"
Spike wondered if he really did? He was starting to think
he was as crazy as she was...longing for the Slayer, who was
supposed to be his mortal enemy!
He had no illusions; if he were to fall in love with the
Slayer- which he hadn't, YET- then he'd have to make
some big changes in his lifestyle.
He'd have to give up the thrill of the hunt...well, at least he'd
have to give up the kill.
Spike brightened...maybe Buffy would let him kill the occasional
murderer or rapist, just to keep his hand in?
"Spike!" Dru's voice was shrill in his
ears. "You said we had an eternal love,
remember?"
"Yes, pet," he answered automatically; then
wanted to kick himself. He'd gotten Dru back, she wanted
him again, and that's what mattered. Wasn't it?
He...he NEEDED Drusilla; he didn't even know how to...be
with anyone else. What he should do was say goodbye to the
Slayer, grab Dru, and hightail it out of Sunnyhell-
forever! And- never come back!
*Right, chummie,* said the little voice inside his head that
nothing could ever stifle. *Goodbye...to the Slayer?
That's a laugh, that is. You've been away from her three
days, and you're almost as barmy as Drusilla!*
"Shut up! That's not true!"
*Going to leave her, then?*
"Someday, I might," Spike growled at the little
voice. "Maybe not right now, but someday..."
*Someday... pigs MIGHT fly,* said the voice sarcastically.
"Think you're smart, do you?" Spike jeered.
"What would you do, you wanker?"
*Go...climb a tree?* chuckled the voice.
"Arrgghhh!"
But in the end, he did just that. He stretched out gingerly
on her bed, his mind filled with memories of the other night.
*That's more like it, mate,* the voice approved. *How COULD
you give this up, even for three nights?*
The trouble was, Spike honestly couldn't think of a comeback.
The Slayer, wrapped in a towel and with her hair still damp from
the shower, padded down the hall into her room...and spotted the
vampire on her bed.
She looked around frantically for her robe; but with a low growl
Spike was up and slamming her against the wall with the force of
his embrace.
"Slayer," he groaned, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry,
luv."
She opened her mouth to order him to release her; but found she
couldn't breathe....he was clutching her so tight, like he was
afraid to let go.
"Spike," she gasped," one of us requires
oxygen, remember?"
His grip loosened enough for her to inhale. His blue eyes
watched her warily.
"Mad at me?" he asked at last.
She had been promising herself to let him have it...but he looked
so cute and so scared...
Buffy relented, and kissed his nose. He looked so relieved
she had to laugh. Then he seemed to recollect that she was
wearing nothing but a towel....
"Oh no you don't," Buffy said firmly, as he began
tugging at it.
"But Slayer," Spike whined, "I want
you!"
"I want you too," she said slowly.
"But Spike, what about...."
He kissed away the rest of the words, before she could say
"What about Drusilla?"
It's not like he and the Slayer were in love or anything, he told
himself later, trying to quieten that annoying voice.
*Uh-huh,* the voice agreed amiably. *It's all for sex...
and fun. Nobody gets in too deep, so nobody gets hurt.*
"That's right."
*And you get to have them both, Dru and the Slayer?*
"Why not?"
*So,* the voice persisted, *if Angelus were to return from
L.A., or that schoolboy succeeds in capturing her interest, you
won't mind a bit?*
"Shut your gob!"
*That's what I thought,* the voice gloated. *You have no
intention of sharing the Slayer with ANYONE, do you?*
He couldn't deny it. Panic set in...Drusilla studied him
with smoldering eyes, and he knew there'd be a showdown soon.
It happened later that day...Spike opened his eyes...to find the
Slayer curled up beside him.
"Well, hello, cutie," he said softly, reaching
for her. But she eluded him.
"What's wrong, pet? Still mad about Dru? I
promise, I haven't touched her since things changed between
us."
The Slayer smiled coyly. "Because you'd rather have
me?"
"Ohh, you know it, baby," he sighed, reaching for her
once more. This time she didn't pull away, but when he woke
at sunset the Slayer had gone; and Drusilla lay beside him.
"Wha..." Spike jerked awake.
"Dru? What are you..." his voice trailed
off. Suddenly he knew.
"My Spike," she grinned, dark eyes shining with
spite. "Did you enjoy my little game?"
"Bloody hell!" He backhanded Drusilla and she
landed on the floor, but she still kept her malicious smile.