The Illuminati

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Part 6

The flight back from God Knows Where had been uneventful. Buffy had tried to use the down time to talk to Spike but he remained elusive and withdrawn through the whole flight. The only notable point in the whole flight occurred when "Kitten" decided that Spike’s bad mood was related to the scruffy girl that he had in tow. The stewardess’s attitude towards Buffy suffered a rapid deterioration while she practically fawned over Spike’s every move.

Spike suffered the stewardess’s attitude for a few moments before letting loose with a few choice words and a glare that could sink ships. It was obvious that the girl was devastated as she retreated back into the plane’s galley. Buffy felt kind of sorry for the girl and gave Spike a look of her own to let him know she thought he was out of line. Spike just shrugged it off, closed his eyes and ignored both women for the rest of the flight.

After the plane landed, Spike had made record time in leaving the airport and getting out to the short term parking area. The attendant recovered his old car for him, and Spike had bundled Buffy into the car with less than half a dozen words spoken through the whole event.

Out on the main road, he made a left turn onto Route 66 instead of a right turn that would have taken them back into Las Vegas. Buffy’s questioning glance had been met with a curt, "I’m taking you home."

Buffy’s mouth opened ready to argue, but she snapped it closed again. She wanted to see where he was going with all off this and she sensed the best response would be to let him run with it. Settling back in her seat, she turned her head to watch out the window as the restaurants and shops fell away to the darkness of the dessert as they headed in the general direction of California.

And that had been all there was for the last hour and a half. Spike silent and sullen, hunched over the wheel of the car while they made rapid time through the dessert. At first the night sky was filled with millions of stars but soon they faded as the sky became overcast. The first drops of water to hit the windshield were soft and subtle, but that changed fast. Soon they were driving though a downpour, and Spike had to slow his speed due to the decreased visibility.

The dessert floor, deprived of water for many months, was unable to soak up the torrential down pour quickly enough and soon the dry washes became rushing streams capable of ripping a car from the road. Above them, thunder rolled and lightening cracked through the sky as nature put on one of her more stunning shows.

Unable to keep driving due to the flooded washes, Spike pulled the car to the side of the road, killed the lights and turned off the engine. Closing his eyes, he sank back into the car seat with a look that said that this was how he was going to stay until the storm finished.

That was more than Buffy was prepared to take. Her temper, short at the best of time, flared. Swinging round in her seat to face him, she punched him in the arm.

"OK, enough of the silent treatment. Time to talk." She started.

Spike didn’t open his eyes. "Leave it Slayer" he said warningly.

"I don’t want to leave it, you’re going to talk whether you like it or not" she said as her voice began to rise with anger.

Spike sighed, opened his eyes and looked at the angry girl beside him.

"Interesting concept. Tell me, exactly how are you going to force me to talk. I’m going to hold out for something kinky." He said slyly.

"That will not be necessary. You’re talking just fine now." Replied the Slayer with a smile.

Spike shook his head in exasperation. "OK, so you want to talk, so we’ll talk. How about we get back to the conversation we had on hold and you explain to me why you decided to look me up."

That wiped the smile from Buffy’s face. "I’d rather talk about you." She said trying to redirect the conversation.

Spike gave a chuckle. "Thought you might. Let me guess, you want to know why I’m living in Vegas, how I came to have access to a Lear, why and how I’m reading the book you saw earlier, what I’m doing in Mexico and what the symbols on the building mean that you copied down on the piece of paper you have in your pocket. Shall we start with that?"

"That’s definitely a start." Replied the Slayer pointedly ignoring his reference to her not so secret piece of paper.

"Well I tell you what, the answer is no. I’m not going to tell you anything. It’s none of your business, so as I said earlier, let it go." As he said it, he looked her straight in the eye and she knew he meant business.

Buffy shook her head. "You know I can’t let it go, so why don’t you just tell me?"

"Damn it Slayer. If you can’t leave it alone, then I’ll be damned if I won’t leave you alone." He snapped as he grabbed the door handle and swung the door wide open. Before Buffy could comment he was out of the car and she was left staring at the door that he slammed after him.

"Oh no you don’t, it’s not that easy," she mumbled to herself as she grabbed her own door and swung it open. Her anger had her out of the car before she even remembered it was pouring with rain. Within two seconds she was soaked through.

Squinting her eyes against the rain, she looked through the pitch darkness of the dessert for any sight of him. She wasn’t making much headway until a flash of lightening directly overhead, helped her out. He was standing about thirty feet from the car, just staring off into the night.
Gritting her teeth she began sloshing through the standing water towards him. Several times, her feet slipped away from her as she put her weight down on a muddy area rather than on the still, somewhat firm sand. Flailing her arms slightly, she managed to keep her balance until she reached him.

He either didn’t hear her coming over the sound of the storm or he simply choose to ignore her. The Slayer stood behind him and pushed her straggly wet hair out of her face, before touching his arm.

Spike didn’t react to her presence or her touch, and anger flared again in the Slayer. Using all her Slayer strength, she reached out intending to turn him round to face her. What she met instead, was a brick wall. He was totally unmovable. The Slayer stared at his back in some confusion; Spike was strong but she had always been the one who was slightly stronger. Until now anyway.

Without any help from her, Spike turned round and took in the bedraggled small woman and the eyes that flashed pure fire at him. Seeing her standing there, dripping wet, yet totally unready to give an inch made him loose some of his resolve.

Reaching out, he used a finger to brush a wet strand of hair from her eyes. He half expected her to slap the hand away, but she didn’t.

"I missed you" he said quietly and simply as the thunder roared overhead.

At first Buffy was taken aback, not only by his words, but also by the change in track from the present day argument to a time two years ago. But then she looked at the man in front of her and saw his sincerity.

"I know" she replied softly. "If it’s any consolation, I wouldn’t do it that way again if I had it to do over."

Spike nodded understanding. "Come here," he said reaching out for her. As he pulled her to him, he opened his duster, which had been keeping him relatively dry, and wrapped it round both of them.

Buffy found herself pressed up against his lean body with his strong arms around her encasing her in leather. It felt good to be in his arms again after so long. But before she could get comfortable, Spike spoke again.

"Come on, let’s get you back to the car," he said letting go of her only long enough to move her to his side so that they could walk. His arm went round her shoulder still giving her the protection of his coat

Buffy nodded agreement and they began to stumble in the direction of the car. They were making decent progress until they hit the muddy area. Being so close to one another impaired their individual balance; as they hit the mud, Spike leaned one way but the Slayer went the other. Next thing they knew they were both lying on their backs inches deep in mud.

Buffy stared in disbelief at the angry heavens above her, before turning her head to look at the man beside her. He was staring at the heavens also, but he had a highly amused look plastered to his face.

"You know something Slayer? These kinds of things only happen when you are around. You must be some kind of jinks," he said laughingly as he rolled to face her.

The site of him lying there with mud dripping from most parts of his body brought a smile to Buffy’s lips.

"Gosh, but don’t you look cute," she said with a laugh.

Spike’s face lost all signs of laughter. "Do I?" He asked her absentmindedly, as he stared deeply into her eyes.

The look he gave her robbed the Slayer of words and she managed only a small affirmative nod, as she stared back at him.

Spike propped himself up on one elbow, as he reached out with the other hand to cup her face, intent eyes covering every nuance of her face.

Slowly his head bent down towards her, and his lips claimed her. Passion flared within her at his touch and her heart picked up the beat. She had almost forgotten how good it felt to be in his arms. Lips moving slowly, Spike wrapped his arms round her and rolled himself over onto his back taking her with him.
On top of him now, with her full length spread against his, she had no doubt as to his arousal. Looking down into his eyes she saw the barely controlled passion, and without conscious thought her hips pressed down against him. Spike’s eyes closed as the sensations she was causing and his arms tightened around the girl pulling her down to meet his lips.

Then there was no gentleness between them. Buffy kissed him with a wildness that told him she wanted all of him, nothing held back. Spike didn’t need any encouragement, with a growl deep in his throat he gave into his desires.

Muddy hands moved over even muddier bodies, squelching and lubricating movements beyond belief. Then suddenly, just when Buffy thought she couldn’t stand it without more of him, she found herself alone in the mud.

Opening her eyes, she looked up and found him standing over her with an outstretched hand offered to pull her up. Closing her eyes for a second she struggled to slow her breathing. Alone in the mud, embarrassment at the wildness of her response to him began to sink in.

Ignoring the offered hand, Buffy stood up and began brushing some of the heavier clumps of mud from her.

"Buffy, I…" began Spike.

"Leave it Spike" said Buffy sharply, not wanting to hear his excuses.

Spike looked at her, well aware of the anger, hurt and embarrassment that he was causing her and he cursed himself for it, but he didn’t change his resolve. Realizing there was nothing he could say to ease the moment, he swung round on his heels and headed for the car.

"Let’s go Slayer. Got to get you home before dawn."

Buffy stood there in the mud and watched him walk away from her. The rain poured over her and lightening continued to crack across the sky. For the first time, it began to dawn on her that getting Spike back might not be a forgone conclusion. The two years had taken a toll.

Part 7

She handed the Watcher what was left of the sketches that she had made at the temple. The paper had several rather large watermarks and a fair amount of dried mud on it, but it was still legible.

"Sorry. I fell in some mud while I had it in my pocket," she said in way of explanation.

The Watcher adjusted his glasses. "Yes, quite," he stammered as he studied the sketches. "Does Spike know you have this?"

Buffy nodded. "Somehow he knew."

The Watcher looked concerned at her answer and that concerned Buffy.

"So what is it?" She prompted Giles.

"Well, you remember, on the phone, I told you about the De Nugis Curialium telling the story of the Knights of Temper and the Pope dissolving their order. I also mentioned the theory that they had melted into the realms of the Freemasons?" Giles began somewhat haltingly.

"Remembering." Said Buffy with an encouraging nod.

"That version is the short version; there is another level to it.
There is speculation among some circles that the Knights of Templer and the Freemasons have ties with another more secretive and powerful organization. It is in fact, so secret that no one actual knows who its members are let alone whether or not the organization actually exists. It is called the Illuminati"

"Oh God. Not another secretive society" groaned Buffy.

Giles ignored her, now that he was totally caught up in his train of thought.

"The story tells that the Pope dissolved the order of the Templers not only because of their rumored worship of Baphomet, but also because many had become Priests of the Old Gods. It was believed that the power and the wealth of the Templers came from the dark side. When they dissolved they were thought by most to have taken up ranks within the Freemasons, but others believed they disappeared into the Illuminati.

"So what exactly do these Illuminati types do?" Asked the Slayer.

"The theory of the Illuminati is that it consists of influential, rich and powerful people from around the world. It is said to consist of Royalty, Statesmen, and multibillion-dollar businessmen. Their purpose is to control and manipulate banks and bankers, moneylenders, and world governments. Their intention is to cause economic collapse, bloody uprisings, and revolutions around the World. Each upheaval is calculated to restructure the status quo, leaving The Illuminati in greater positions of power." Replied the Watcher.

He continued, "Modern theory points to The Illuminati being started in 1776 by a man named Adam Weishoupt, however the Watcher’s Council has a different theory. They believe that Adam Weishoupt’s Illuminati was just a branch of the real Illuminati, an older and much more influential organization. The Watchers council believes that the Illuminati existed for the Templers to enter it in 1312, and they go on to speculate that the Illuminati have existed since the times of the Ancient Egyptians"

Beyond that, The Watcher’s Council, believes that the money and conspiracy theory is only a ploy to distract us from the Illuminati’s true goal.

"And what would that goal be?" Asked the Slyer.

"Well that is based in the theory that the Ancient Egyptian Illuminati was actually an order of priests, combined with the theory that the Templers had become priests of the Old Gods prior to their dissolution by the Pope. In short, they believe the real goal of the Illuminati is Religion, specifically Paganism and worship of the Old Gods."

"Is their any proof of all this?" asked Buffy speculatively.

"No, no proof, just a great deal of speculation combined with allot of coincidences"

"What kind of coincidences?"

"Well, for one, symbols are common between the Ancient Egyptians, Templers, Freemasons, and of course the Illuminati. The sketch you made is one such example." Said the watcher as he fingered the piece of paper.

Giles paused for a moment before beginning again, "However, it is not the symbol that you sketched that interests me, it is actually the letterhead of the paper you got from the limo"

"What are you talking about?"

"Here look" said the watcher as he laid her sketch in front of her and pointed to the printed symbol at the top of the paper.

"It’s the pyramid and the eye again." Said Buffy in astonishment that she had not noticed it before.

"Yes…quite………and that is the symbol of the Illuminati……I must say I have never seen it so blatantly displayed on letterhead paper before." He added slowly.

"OK, so lets sum this up. Some how all these organizations are intertwined and their purpose in one way or another is control."

"Well…yes…well that is very basic Buffy……but quite accurate."

"So for me, there is just one bit missing. What is Spike up to in all this? Why did he have the De Nugis Curialium in the first place?"

"That I don’t know for sure" said Giles slowly, but I have a personal theory. One just formed mind you and not at all certain…"

"Spill it Giles, I’ll bet on your personal theories any day," said the Slayer with a smile.

"Lets looks back to how this all started. Spike reading the De Nugis Curialium. So, let’s look there for some answers" said the Watcher, forming his thoughts as he spoke.

"The De Nugis Curialium gives us our first story of vampires and it blends that in with the Holy Order of Knights Templer beginning to worship the dark Gods and aiming for the corruption of the Church. Well, now, might we not speculate that the Archdeacon was telling us that Vampires had gotten into the ranks of the Templers? And if we follow that train of thought, the next step would be that vampires are within, if not in control of, one of the most powerful organizations on earth, the Illuminati.

The Slayer was silent for a few minutes. "Are you suggestion Spike is a member of the Illuminati?" She said in a tone that was less than believing.

Before Giles could answer, he was interrupted by a chuckle from the door. Spike swaggered towards them with a grin from one ear to the other.

"Go on Watcher, tell the rest. This is the best story I have heard in years, not to mention that it is bound to do wonders for my rep!"

"Spike. What are you doing here?" said the Watcher, less than pleased.

"Oh it’s nighttime, and my mummy lets me play at night" replied Spike with dripping sarcasm.

Buffy glanced at the window and realized that they must have been talking for some time. Night had fallen without either one of them noticing. She had no idea how long Spike had been listening and exactly what he had or had not heard.

"I thought you’d gone back to Vegas" she said to the Vampire walking towards her.

"Yep, I thought I had to…but then I realized I still had some business here to take care of,"

"And exactly what would that business be?" said Giles as he moved between the Slayer and the approaching vampire.

Spike stopped and took in the Watcher protecting the Slayer and his eyebrow shot up. "Down boy. I don’t mean your precious Slayer any harm."

Buffy stood and moved around Giles. "It’s OK. I’ll take care of this."

"Oh yes Slayer. Please, please take care of this." mocked Spike.

"Shut up idiot. Come on, let’s get out of here. I want to talk to you."

Spike shot the Watcher a conspirator glance, "All she ev

Part 8

A cold blast of air hit the Slayer as she walked outside causing her to pull her coat more tightly around her as she turned on the Vampire following her.

"I thought you left town. What are you doing here?" she snapped.

Spike opened his mouth to reply, but was cut of before he managed a syllable.

"How long were you standing there snooping on me...........and exactly how much did you hear? she continued.

Unaffected by the cold, Spike leaned up against the stone wall of the building and waited on her to finish. His duster hung open showing his usual dress of black jeans and T-shirt. A small smile played across his lips as he watched the Slayer rant on. He thought that she always look especially beautiful when she ranted....the way her eyes flashed, hands moving to emphasis her point, hair swinging around her expressive and open face....

"Hey, hold up there, one question at a time." he said, breaking her rant.

Buffy caught her next comment and turned it around. "Well?" she asked prompting him to answer her.

"To coin a phrase Slayer, which question would you like me to answer first?"

The words and the tone brought the Slayer up short. Dejavu hit her hard. Somehow she had been here before, but for the life of her, she couldn’t place it. It felt right and very wrong at the same time. Some other time and some other place, they had done this before.....but where? When?

Spike saw her confusion and knew immediately what had happened. Silently he cursed himself. He wasn’t ready for that yet. There was so much to cover before getting to that...if he ever did.

Pushing himself from the wall, he took hold of the Slayer’s arm and began walking down the street with her in tow.

Angrily, the Slayer jerked her arm free from his grasp. "What in the hell do you think you are doing?"

Spike shook his head in mock defeat. "Buffy, why don’t you just relax a teeny tiny bit?"

For a second, Buffy was caught of guard. The last thing she wanted was for him to think that he made her uptight.

"Not uptight. Nope. Definitely one unuptight person" she clamored in her defense.

Spike looked unconvinced.

"Look Slayer. I’m here tonight because YOU came to see ME, not the other way round. You obviously had something you wanted to say or ask me or you wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of looking me up!"

For that, Buffy couldn’t think up an argument. He was right........and she hated him being right. It went against everything in her.

Spike continued. "I’m sorry that a couple of things came up and disrupted your game plan, but I’m here now with no other agenda than you, and I’m ready to listen."

Buffy dropped her eyes and studiously began to examine her shoes. The conversation was going in a direction she didn’t like.......even though she had prepared for it. Trying for an out and finding one, she raised her head and attempted to stare him down.

"I think that whatever I had to say in the beginning is a mute point.....I mean, the talking and explaining needs to come from you. Spike, what is going on with you?" she asked referring to his strange extracurricular activities.

Spike laughed and shook his head. "Nice try Slayer, but it’s not working. My business is my business, I didn’t bring it to you, you just decided to crash in on it. You on the other hand, did bring your business to me, so lets make that the topic of conversation."

Buffy looked the vampire up and down. He was totally relaxed and at ease. His blue eyes laughing at her struggles, while his face evidenced his resolve to have the topic of conversation go his way not hers.

Looking at him standing there, against the familiar backdrop of Sunnydale, the Slayer finally felt a degree of comfort and the old companionship that they used to share. He looked, acted and ’felt’ like the ’old’ Spike, not the mysterious and ever changing Spike that he became outside Sunnydale.

Shrugging, Buffy decided to let the argument go for the moment. She could get back to it later.

"So, where were we going?" she asked.

"I don’t know, where do you want to go?" he said, reversing the question.

"I don’t know, you decide." said the Slayer politely.

"No, you." he said firmly.

Buffy chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip as she tried to come up with somewhere.....anywhere that she could take the vampire and not run into any of her friends.

"Let’s just go to the park" she said finally. "There should be no one there now it’s dark and we might just get peace to talk."

Spike didn’t comment on her choice; he simply turned and headed in the direction of the park at a brisk pace, leaving the Slayer to hurry after him.

The roads they walked down were mostly devoid of people even though the night was early. The citizens of Sunnydale had a healthy respect of the dark, and those that were out on some type of business or fun, walked in alert groups.

The night was air remained briskly cold, but Buffy began to warm up as she matched the pace Spike set. Her exhaled warm breath formed a trail of smoke in the air, and Buffy realized it was the first cold night Sunnydale had experienced this winter. Of course, the weatherman had missed it, predicting a mild evening....but then again, you had to give some credit, cause cold evenings in Sunnydale were never the norm.

Buffy’s thoughts continued to tackle mundane issues as they walked. She did not want to think about the conversation to come; that was too nerve racking. Glancing up at Spike, she noted that he too seemed lost in his own thoughts.

Ahead of them, the park gates loomed in the dark and just beyond them, the playground swings. Spike headed straight for the swings and sat down on one. Buffy hesitated for a second, and then joined him on the adjacent swing. Spike stayed completely still on the swing, hands deep in the pockets of his duster, but Buffy’s childhood instincts caused her to use her feet to rock gently back and forth. The inane movement helped her to relax as she let her eyes roam around the park. Glancing at the man beside her, she noted
that he too was checking out the park. For all their differences, they were both predators. Both used to unconsciously checking out every environment they entered for victims, potential attack, and of course, anything out of the ordinary,

"So" said Spike, gently prompting her.

Buffy heard him, but she continued to look the park over with very close scrutiny. It was only a ploy to gain more time, and she knew that he knew it.

She really didn’t know what to say. True, she had spent time figuring it all out before she originally set off to find him, but that had been before Lear Jets, Mexico and strange Temples. Now she wasn’t sure who or what he was, and she was certainly nervous about spilling the beans to this ‘new’ Spike.

The thoughts that were swirling around her mind were starting to give her a headache. To much intensity with too few answers. Trying to back away from that deep pool of thought, the Slayer took her hands from her pockets and grabbed hold of the swing’s ropes. Kicking her feet hard against the ground, she propelled herself from a gentle rocking to a full-fledged swing.

Legs shooting out in front of her then curling under her as she hauled on the ropes, the swing shot towards the sky. Spike watched disinterested as the Slayer worked on this new stall tactic.

"Won’t work Slayer." he shouted at her as she sped by on her ever increasing half circle. "Sooner or later, you’re gonna have to talk."

Buffy didn’t answer. She was having fun. She wouldn’t have believed it, but flying through the air made her feel relaxed and free for the first time in a long while.

Glancing at the Vampire as she flashed by she began to taunt him. "What’s up Spike? Never learn to swing"

Spike frowned.

"Bet you can’t beat me to the top." she challenged on her next pass.

"Can too" he replied, but still he didn’t move.

"Can not" she yelled as she passed by again.

"Can too" he shouted back.

"All talk, no action.........as usual" taunted the Slayer.

At this Spike’s eyebrows shot into his hairline.

"OK. Now that means war!" he replied as he took his hands from his duster pockets and grabbed the ropes of the swing, giving a powerful kick off with his feet.

Within seconds they were both soaring through the air. Back and forth, so high that the ropes of swing gave a little jerk at the peak of each arc as gravity removed their occupant's weight from them for brief milliseconds.

A laugh bubbled up from inside the Slayer and she glanced over at Spike. His face was a mask of disinterest, but his eyes twinkled back at her merrily.

"Bet you ain’t got the guts to jump Slayer" he taunted at her.

Buffy laughed. "What are the stakes?"

"Don’t use that word" growled Spike.

"What word?" came her innocent reply.

She couldn’t believe they were doing this. That she was doing this and that he was going along with it! She felt like a kid. A kid without responsibilities and endless duty.

"So, you going to jump first?" asked the Slayer on her next pass.

"Nope. We’re going together." he replied.

Buffy laughed. "OK.....here goes: One......two....three." she called as the swing reached its highest point in the arc.

And then she was flying through the air high off the ground. Weightless and free for the briefest of instants. Heart pounding in her chest with the recklessness of her actions. Her side vision picking up the image of Spike flying through the air beside her. Ground rushing up to greet them. Legs bent for impact, they hit the ground with their momentum carrying them forward in a staggering run.

Laughing, the Slayer regained her balance and slowed to a halt. Turning, she looked behind her for Spike.

"I don’t believe we just did that" she said. "I don’t believe YOU just did that!"

Spike shook his head, "Then you don’t know me do you Slayer." his voice took on a serious note. "Then you don’t know how I feel about you."

Spike turned away from her and sat back down on the swing, gently rocking it back and forth. Buffy looked at him in astonishment for a few moments, before realizing that her mouth was hanging open. She snapped it closed and took a long breath.

She should have known he would go out on a limb to make things easier for her. She was beginning to realize that Spike did allot of subtle things that left him wide open to emotional or physical attack in his desire to ease her burden.

Walking over, she straddled the swing next to his and faced him.

"There was this guy," she began hesitantly, "he was good looking, intelligent and had a great sense of humor........and he was sooo NOT a vampire. I was so over vampires. I was so over you..."

She glanced over at Spike, but his head was down and unreadable. She was on her own. She sensed that everything rested on the next few minutes and what she said.

"I wanted him. I mean, I really wanted him. I wanted to feel. I wanted to be!" her voice mirrored the desperation she had felt; the loneliness that had consumed her.

"Anyway, we get to that point in our relationship.....he tried, he really tried.....and there was nothing wrong with what he did.....he, and everything he did was so right. Should have been so right........" now her voice echoed her confusion.

"But nothing from me.....and I tried so very hard. I want it so much....but nothing." she said grinding to a halt.

For several moments silence reigned as Spike thought about her words. Then he raised his head and those ice blue eyes locked onto hers.

"So, lets see if I got this right Slayer. You looked me up cause you need a good piece of ass?" he ground out icily. "The lady can’t get it off with a regular guy.......so you thought you’d hunt up one with a bit of monster in him, that it pet?"

Buffy recoiled at the crude hardness of his words. "It’s not like that Spike!"

"Sounds exactly like that to me. Got a taste of the bad didn’t you......and you liked it....maybe you found you can‘t live without it"

"That’s not it" denied the Slayer.

"Then why don’t you tell me what I got wrong then?"

Buffy sensed he was ready to walk. She also sensed that if he walked this time, that finding him would not be so easy again.

Closing her eyes, she searched for the right words. "Over the last two years I learned a few things about myself." she began with a great deal of hesitation. "I learned I wasn’t alive inside.

She glanced at Spike and saw that he was watching her closely. It took all her courage to keep eye contact with him.

"I thought it was me. I thought there was something wrong with me. Some inner reason I couldn’t find love......but then I realized it wasn’t me.....it was you. I realized that I could love because I had loved......I
had loved you."

There! She had said it.

"Spike. I want passion in my life. I want a passionate man who loves me and wants to make love to me. I think I deserve that."

Spike didn’t say a word.

"......and that is why I came to find you. I finally realized that the only time I feel complete is when you are around............even when you make me mad enough to want to stake you" she ended with a nervous laugh.

Spike just sat and looked at her, his face an expressionless mask that gave nothing away. Buffy waited for him to speak.....for him to tell her that he loved her......for him to kiss her......anything!

Eventually Spike stood up. "Come on Slayer. Let’s get out of here."

"Spike?"

"Look slayer. I have nothing to say right now. It’s gonna take time for me....for you, to work through this. I’m not real sure you know what you are getting into."

Buffy bristled. Pride and indignation rushed to the surface. She had laid it on the line and he simply brushed it aside!

"Of course I know what I’m getting into. Don’t you think I thought it all through. I know what a vampire is for God’s sake!"

Spike shook his head. "Only a vampire knows what a vampire is.......everyone else only thinks they know."

"If you thought it couldn’t work out, then why did you start this in the first place." said Buffy angrily.

"....and that, Pet, is the million dollar question." he said as he turned and walked towards the park entrance.

He hadn’t gone more that a few feet when the headlights of a car pierced the night as it turned into the park.

"What the buggery bollocks is this now!" exclaimed Spike, angry at the interruption.

The car pulled into a parking space close to the swings and the driver killed the lights. Buffy could see that it was some kind of luxury car, probably a Mercedes by the outlined shape. She walked up to the vampire and stood close but slightly behind him.

The car door opened and a figure could be seen climbing out and turning in their direction.

"William my boy. Is that you?" came a very upper crush English voice. "I have had the devils own time tracking you down I must say!"

Buffy glanced up at Spike’s face and saw that he recognized the voice. She also saw, by his sharply drawn in mouth, that he was not pleased at the interruption.

The man who had hailed Spike was making his way over to them. As he came closer, Buffy gasped in recognition. Spike’s hand shot out behind him and grabbed her hand giving it a gentle squeeze. Without words he was warning her to stay silent.

The man finally realized that Spike had company, and it became his turn to frown.

"William, I need to speak with you in private."

Spike turned to Buffy, "Excuse me a minute Pet." he said, moving off with the visitor.

Buffy stood in the dark watching the two huddled figures. She could hear muffled voices but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. For once she wished for a vampire’s hearing. This was too interesting for words.....the man that Spike was huddled in conversation with was a blast from the past...Lord Argyle.

The conversation only lasted a few moments, and then Spike returned to her side with Lord Argyle in tow.

"Buffy, I have to go back to Mexico," Spike began but he was interrupted by the Lord.

"Here now William. Do you really think you should be discussing this with the girl!" he said disapprovingly.

Spike ignored the blustering Lord and reached out to take Buffy’s hand. "I want you to come with me."

At this the Lord almost choked. "My God William. You can’t be serious. You can’t take the filly with you!"

Spike whirled round and locked the Lord with a piercing gaze. "And exactly when did you become my mother?" he said menacingly.

Realizing that he had overstepped the bounds of safety the Lord backed up and shut up.

Spike turned back to the Slayer. "You say you know me. I don’t think you do. You know me as a vampire cruising around Sunnydale, occasionally causing trouble and getting in the way......and in a sense that is me....but there is more." He paused for a minute as he looked for the right argument to convince her to come with him. "Look slayer, you say you love me and you want to be with me. Well you can’t reach that decision till you know all I am and accept it willingly.......will you come?"

Buffy nodded. She’d go.

Spike’s arm slipped round her shoulder as they headed to the waiting car with Lord Argyle bringing up the rear.

Part 9

The trip to the airport had been a mirror image of the previous one, excepting that the airport had been in California rather than Nevada.

Once again, Spike had become reserved with little to say. The only difference was that now he kept hold of her. Either his arm rested round her shoulder or he held her hand as they made their way onto the waiting Lear. Buffy found that oddly comforting.

The same airhostess greeted their arrival, but this time there was a little less attitude. Onboard, they were not alone.

Lord Argyle entered the plane just behind them, and there were several other men already seated and awaiting take off,

Spike nodded at several of them as he guided the Slayer towards two empty seats. As they busied themselves fastening their seat belts the airhostess closed the outside hatch and the plane began it’s taxi toward the runway.

"Spike, who are all these men?" asked the Slayer quietly so that no one could hear her except Spike.

"Not now Buffy" came Spike’s absentminded reply; but he did reach out and take her hand, guiding it to rest on his thigh and covering it with his own.

The Slayer looked at her hand resting on the Vampire’s leg and marveled at how such a little act could squash all her inquisitive nature and leave her content and happy when she really should be working hard at getting to the bottom of all this mystery.

The plane gave a little lurch as its wheels left the runway and within a few minutes the plane settled into it’s cruising altitude. The seat belt sign went off, and several of the men unfastened their seatbelts and began chatting. Spike ignored them all.

Buffy closed her eyes as all her senses focused on the man next to her. The feel of his leg beneath her hand became the center of her world. Slowly her hand began to move on his leg, minutely feeling and massaging. She wanted more.

Suddenly, his hand, which had been gently resting over her hand, clamped down bringing her roving exploration to a halt. Buffy opened her eyes and looked over at him. His eyes were intent dark pools of controlled passion.

"Don’t start what you can’t finish" he growled.

"Who said I can’t finish it?" replied the Slayer with a cheeky grin.

Spike opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by a hand landing on his shoulder.

It was one of the men. "William, we need to talk" he glanced over at Buffy, "in private" he said. "No disrespect intended Miss." he added thoughtfully.

"None taken" acknowledged the Slayer pleasantly.

She knew she was being to accepting but she just couldn’t seem to get herself interested. Her world seemed right for the first time in years and it was all because of the man sitting beside her.

Spike sighed in resignation. "I seem to keep doing this, but would you mind giving me a few moments with this lot"

Buffy shrugged. This she didn’t like. She wanted to stay with him, regardless of what he wanted to discuss with these men.

Standing, Spike took her hand a lead her to the room at the back of the cabin.

"You’ll be comfortable in there" he said quietly.

Buffy looked unconvinced.

Spikes hand slid round her neck and pulled her towards him. Gentle lips touched hers in a kiss that held promise of things to come.

"Go on Pet" he said softly.

Buffy walked into the room and plonked herself on the bed. Behind her, she heard the door click firmly closed. Seconds later she heard voices, but once again she was unable to hear what was being said.

Standing she walked over to the door and put her ear against the crack. It didn’t help. The voices remained muted and indistinguishable.

Sighing, she returned to the bed and curled up on it. She felt exhausted and wildly alive at the same time. Unable to get comfortable, she stood up again and unbuttoned her jeans, then slipped them off. This time when she climbed onto the bed, she slipped between the silky sheets. Still she tossed and turned, unable to find the perfect spot. Longingly she glanced towards the closed door. If he’d just come in and hold her, she knew she would relax.

He didn’t come. Time passed and slowly the Slayer’s eyelids began to get heavy. Without knowing exactly when, she slipped into a deep sleep.

She didn’t hear him enter the room, but she felt him when he slipped into bed behind her. He curled his body along her back as his arm slipped round her and he gently kissed her neck.

Immediately she snuggled backwards into him as her hand came up to rest on the arm he had round her.

"Though you were asleep" he murmured.

"Was. Not now" she said as she turned from her side onto her back. The room was dark and she could only make out the outline of his face resting above her.

She felt total peace and contentment with him beside her. It overwhelmed her for a moment. They were emotions that she was not used to.

"Is big super secret conference over?" she asked.

Instead of answering her, he bent his head and his lips lightly grazed across hers. Buffy felt her heart stop. Such a simple kiss but so much emotion.

For a second Spike was still but then, with a groan of desire, his mouth began to move across hers more insistently. Buffy’s arms encircled his shoulders and pulled him to her.

For several seconds his mouth plundered hers as she willingly gave herself up to the man above her. Bodies melded together as Buffy’s hands traveled along his back pulling him ever closer. Tugging at his shirt, she pulled it free from his jeans and let her hands roam underneath onto his bare skin. The feel of his skin was electric to her senses.

Spike groaned at the feel of her hands on him, and he raised his head to gaze down at her.

"You are so beautiful" he murmured. "I had almost given up hope that you would come to me.......come to me of your own free will."

Buffy answered him by pulling his head back down to her and laying a kiss on his lips....but before the kiss could deepen, Spike pulled back

"Not now Pet. The plane is about to land. I came in to tell you that you needed to come back into the cabin for landing." he said with regret evident in his voice.

Before Buffy could object, he stood and left the room, turning the light on as he left.

Skin still tingling from his touch, Buffy sat up and smoothed her hair away from her face. With a steadying breath, she stood up and began dressing.

Above her head, the ‘fasten seat belts’ sign flashed on. Hurrying, she left the room and walked into the main cabin. Several pairs of eyes turned on her, but she only had eyes for one.

Trying to mask her feelings, she walked down the isle and sat beside him and fastened her seat belt. Almost immediately, his hand claimed hers as the plane banked hard right and began its approach run.