Chapter 6: Life *is* a Song
 

            Buffy and Spike had decided to wait until morning to announce Spike’s return to the group, since it was late. Buffy didn’t ask where he was, or what happened, and Spike was actually relieved. He wasn’t stupid though, he knew the firing squad of questions would come the next morning at the Scooby gathering. So after he helped her finish patrol, they went home, and collapsed into bed. Buffy’s bed.

Spike awoke at 2pm to an empty bed. He got up, got dressed and headed downstairs. Buffy was sitting at the kitchen island eating a salad. Spike grimaced.

“I don’t know how you manage to survive on that stuff. You’re too skinny.” He mumbled as he dug a container of blood out of the fridge, poured it into his mug and popped it into the microwave, pressing the “blood” button.
 

Not long after Spike started staying over night, Dawn had written the word “blood” on a little sticker and stuck it on the beverage button, which heated his blood perfectly.

             “Am not.” Buffy replied.

             “Pet, you look like a stiff breeze could knock you over.” Spike said. The microwave beeped and he took out his mug, sipping on it. Buffy just rolled her eyes and shoved a fork full of salad in her mouth, chewing loudly.

             “Mmm.” She moaned dramatically. It was Spike’s turn to roll his eyes.

             “So…how’s Dawn doing?” Spike asked, purposely avoiding the subject of his whereabouts.

             “She’s the same as she was two days ago, although slightly grounded.” Buffy said as she picked up her now empty salad bowl and put it in the sink.

             “Grounded? What did she do this time? If she was makin’ out with a guy I’ll kill him…” Spike growled, remembering the conversation he and Dawn had after he bought her the red dress.

             Buffy chuckled.

             “Do you know how much you sounded like an over-protective father just now?”

             Spike nearly choked on his blood.

             “Bloody hell! Why’d you go and say somethin’ like that?” Spike asked in horror. Buffy raised an eyebrow at him as if to say ‘duh’.

             “Bloody hell. I’ve become a soddin’ father figure.” Spike mumbled in defeat.

             Buffy grinned.

             “Well, we should probably get going. The Scooby meeting is at 3, so Dawn will be there.” Buffy said as she got up and headed up the stairs. “Oh, by the way, remind me to stake you later for buying Dawn that dress!” Buffy called down to him from the top of the stairs.

             Spike nearly chocked on his blood again.

             “Bugger…!”

             “Just let me handle this…”

             “Oh come on, it’s not like their gonna stake me on site..!” Spike scoffed, but then his face fell. “Are they?”

             Buffy rolled her eyes. They were walking down the street about a block away from the Magic Box.

             “You know their probably going to be suspicious about where you were.”

             “And you’re not?” Spike raised his eyebrows at her.

             “Nope. I knew where you were.”

             Spike did a double take. “What?”

             “Well, I knew as of last night, but I knew nonetheless.” Buffy admitted.

             “How?”

             “Actually, that’s why Dawn is grounded. She ran off to Willies to go threaten him for information.”

             A proud look crossed over Spike’s face.

             “Yeah? The nibblet beat up the snitch?” Spike chuckled, but quickly turned angry. “Bloody hell, what the hell was she doing in that place? I’ll…”

             “You’ll what? Buy her a new dress? I took care of it, I told you, she’s grounded.”

             Spike nodded in agreement, but then suddenly stopped walking, halting Buffy as well.

             “Hey wait a minute, no one was watching her?” Spike asked through clenched teeth. Buffy looked down at the ground and bit her lip.

             “The gang was.”

             “Bloody hell, I’ll kill them.” Spike swore as he continued walking toward the shop at a quicker pace, forcing Buffy to catch up.

             “Uh, Spike, as a member of the non-chipped vampire committee, empty death threats? Not so empty anymore.” Buffy said just as they arrived at the shop entrance.

             “Right then. Bugger.” Spike nodded his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Hey, how did you know it’s still gone?”

             Buffy grinned slyly at him, opened the door to the shop and walked in, leaving a stunned Spike out side the shop.
 

             Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya all looked up from the research table when the bell above the Magic Box door announced Buffy’s arrival.

             “Hey Buffy!” Willow greeted her.

             “Hey guys. Dawn here yet?” Buffy asked as she walked over to the table.

             “Nope, the Dawnster hasn’t come back from school yet.” Xander said as he closed a large dusty book.

             “Oh. Well, uh, guys….” Buffy started to announce Spike’s return, but a scream from out side of the shop cut her off, and Spike shouting “Ooof! Bloody hell!”

             The entire group shot out of their chairs and followed the sound out side.

            Living on the Hellmouth, the group expected to see anything from Hell beasts to zombies, but the scene they came upon was definitely unexpected.

             Spike, bowled over by an over-enthusiastic Dawn.

             “Spike!! You’re back! Oh my God! You’re back!!” Dawn shouted as she practically mauled the vampire by kissing him on the cheek and hugging him.

             “Bloody hell, platelet, what have you been eating? Bricks?”

             “Buffy! Spike’s back! I told you he’d come back!” Dawn announced happily.

             “Yeah, I see that Dawn.” Buffy chuckled at the bewildered vampire with an overly excited Dawn attached to him.

             “Uh, a little help here love…?”

             “Oh no, you deserve what you get from the Dawnster.” Buffy chuckled.

             “Well, well, I see chip-boy found his way home.” Xander spoke up, reminding them of Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya standing there, watching them curiously.

             “Er, right. ‘Allo all.” Spike nodded a greeting to the gang.

             “If you expect leave without pay, you’ve got another thing coming mister!” Anya piped up, pointing her finger at Spike accusingly.

             “Down, honey.” Xander put his hand on her arm to calm her. “I’m sure Chip-boy doesn’t. Oh, damn. I guess I can’t call you chip-boy anymore, can I?” Xander commented wryly.

             “So you told them already?” Spike asked Buffy.

             “We kind of figured it out on our own. You were only gone for two days.” Tara offered.

             “Oh. Right then. So…what, no welcome home party?” Spike teased and the group groaned unanimously.

             “I still don’t see what we’re doing here.” Buffy complained as the group walked through the doors of the bar.

             “Because pet, I want you to meet someone.” Spike said as he led the group to a table next to the stage.

             “What’s a Cartias?” Xander asked as he pulled out Anya’s chair for her, and then sat down himself.

             “It’s Latin for Mercy.” Willow supplied, as she looked around the bar. There were several Demons sitting at the tables, and at the bar drinking and chatting.

             “What kind of bar is this?” Tara asked, glancing at the vampire belting out “Bad to the bone” on stage.

             “It’s my bar.” Lorne said as he walked up to the group. “Well, well, Billy boy, I see you brought the whole family. Hello all, my name is Lorne, and I’m the Host of Caritas.”

             The group made various greetings, while Spike growled “Stop calling me Billy.”

             “And I see you brought me a Slayer. I’m pleased to meet you, Buffy.” Lorne said to her.

             “Thanks, I think.”

             “Well aren’t you the cutest little thing, and I bet you have a hell of a voice.”

             “Yeah, you should have heard her sing when….” Spike started to say, but stopped after taking in all of the dirty looks he was getting from the group.  “Uh, never mind.”

             “Sweets, right? He’s such a show off.” Lorne rolled his eyes.

             “You know the dancing prig?” Spike scowled at the green-skinned demon.

             “Not the way you’re thinking, Billy. We’re not friends. I don’t agree with the whole bride summoning deal. If you ask me, it’s a terrible way to pick up a date.” Lorne shook his head in agreement with himself.

             “So Spike, what are we doing here?” Buffy said, looking around the bar, mentally calculating how many demons she might have to slay, and how to slay them with just a few stakes hidden in strategically places, and a knife in her boot. Lorne observed her predatory gaze and raised his hands in surrender.

             “Easy sweetie, my bar has a strict no-violence rule, and that goes for Slayers as well.”

             “Kermit here wanted to meet you.” Spike answered Buffy's question, carelessly gesturing to Lorne as he waved a waitress over. Lorne rolled his eyes and mumbled something about lame comebacks. Everybody ordered a drink as the conversation went on.

             “That’s right honey, I got a glimpse of you through Billy boy, and I wanted to read you myself.”

             “Read?” Willow asked.

             “I can read people’s auras, and pick up information you may need. My usual, precious.” Lorne said to the waitress.

             “Oh wow! Can we get readings too?” Willow asked excitedly.

             “There’s a small catch Red.” Spike commented.

             “What’s that?” Willow asked.

             “You gotta sing.” Spike pointed up to the stage where a Fyarl demon was grunting his way through a song no one could identify.

             Willow visibly paled. “Oh. I don’t need a reading then.”

             “Oh come on honey, I’m sure you have more talent than you give yourself credit for.” Lorne said. The waitress came back with their drinks, and Lorne sipped his Sea breeze. “Mmm! Delightful.” He sighed.

             “Yeah Wills, it can’t be that bad.” Buffy said.

             “That’s right princess, that’s why you’re next.” Lorne told her. Buffy swiftly turned to him, her face the perfect picture of shock.

             “What??”

             “You said it yourself, it can’t be that bad. Billy did it, and he’s still in one piece.”

             “Stop calling me Billy!” Spike growled.

             “Spikey sang a wittle song? Again?”

             “Shut up Harris.”

             “I’m not going to sing.” Buffy stated firmly.

             “Oh come on pet…”

             “No way! There’s no chance in hell!” Buffy shouted.

             “Next up we have a very special little lady from Sunnydale! Let’s give it up for Buffy!” Lorne announced into the mic, and the crowd clapped, the majority of the cheering coming from the Scooby’s table. Lorne handed the mic to Buffy as he walked off the stage, leaving the Slayer standing uncomfortably in the blinding spotlights. Buffy decided that the best option would be to run just when the music started on the Karaoke machine. She glanced over at the Scooby’s table, focusing on Spike as best she could. He gave her a nod of encouragement and she smiled nervously. The words on the monitor appeared, signaling her to sing. She started out quietly, her voice slightly wavering.
 

“I had no choice but to hear you
You stated your choice time and again
I thought about it

You treat me like I'm a princess
I'm not used to liking that
You ask how my day was”

            The beat of the music picked up and Buffy started to get into it.
 

”You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault”

            Buffy glanced up at Spike and she saw a knowing grin plastered on his face. He knew the song was for him. The smug bastard.
 
 

”You love is thick and it swallowed me whole
You're so much braver than I gave you credit for
That's not lip service

You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault

You are the bearer of unconditional things
You held your breath and the door for me
Thanks for your patience

You're the best listener that I've ever met
You're my best friend
Best friend with benefits
What took me so long

I've never felt this healthy before
I've never wanted something rational
I am aware now
I am aware now

You've already won me over in spite of me
Don't be alarmed if I fall head over feet
Don't be surprised if I love you for all that you are
I couldn't help it
It's all your fault”

            Buffy sang the hell out of the last chorus, and when she was finished and the music died out, the crowd was cheering, giving her a standing ovation. She almost thought she could see tears in Spike’s eyes.

            “Beautiful! Absolutely magnificent!” Lorne told her as best he could over the loud applause. “But I think you have something else to say to a certain someone, don’t you? He needs to hear it.” Lorne smiled at her knowingly. Buffy nodded confidently. The applause started to die down when the crowd noticed she was waiting to say something.

            “I have something I need to say.” Buffy said into the mic, and the room quieted. Buffy looked directly at Spike.

            “William….I’m in love with you.” Buffy said. She saw the Scoobies glance over at Spike, who seemed to be dumbstruck for a second. Before any of them could blink, Spike was jumping on the stage with Buffy and kissing her passionately.

             The crowd let loose the loudest cheer Caritas ever witnessed. Several patrons recognized Spike from two days ago, and were happy to see the heartbroken vamp win his love over. Others cheered over the passion the two displayed in their kiss, while the Scoobies, knowing the whole story, whooped and hollered for their best friend’s happiness.

             Back in Sunnydale a sinister figure leaned over, picked up a mystical object and placed it in the center of the circle painted in blood around him.

             “Etheos, God of destruction and chaos, hear me. I summon thee to do my bidding. Send to me an ally to aide us in our sinister workings.” The figure said ominously, sprinkling a fine dust over the mystical object. A flash of red light blinded the room, but then quickly died out. A plume of smoke residue caused by the flash of light hung in the air, filling it with the smell of burning hair.

             “Dude, did it work?” Andrew coughed, waving the smoke from his face. The trio looked about their ‘underground lair’ expecting to see some sort of demon of destruction, but nothing had appeared.

             “I’d have to say no. Way to go bone head.” Warren groaned, picked up Jonathan’s magic bone out of the circle and hit him upside the head with it.

             “Ow! Hey, don’t touch my magic bone!” Jonathan angrily grabbed it back, holding it to his chest protectively. Warren and Andrew snickered.

             “Shut up!” Jonathan shouted.

             “Okay, obviously our plans are getting lamer and lamer.” Warren said, taking charge and walked up to the dry-board and crossed off the list: “Summon demon of destruction”.

             “Yeah, and who’s idea was it to send those weird monks after Spike?” Andrew glared at Warren.

             “Shut up. It sounded like a good idea at the time. It was your stupid book that said it would summon ‘the First Evil’ to make him go insane!”

             “Yeah, well it obviously didn’t work!” Jonathan chimed in.

             “Hey! I think we’re getting a little off focus here! The plan was to take over Sunnydale. I thought that having ‘the First Evil’ to slay would kind of tie the Slayer up for more than a few days!” Warren shouted back.

             “Hey, that’s not a bad idea… tie up the Slayer…” Andrew said almost dreamily as he giggled nervously.

             “Shut up.” Warren waved his hand dismissively at Andrew. “We need a *real* plan, not these lame ass ideas we’ve been scraping together. We need a way to bring down the Slayer once and for all.” Warren said, fully getting into his ‘sinister plot’ character.

             “Gentlemen.” A deceptively polite voice said from behind them, near the basement door leading outside. All three geeks whirled around to see a small man with gray hair standing there.

             “Who the hell are you?” Warren said in full defense mode, as he grabbed a small remote control like device that looked something like a taser from Star Trek. Jonathan grabbed his magic bone and held it menacingly and Andrew, not knowing what else to do, held up his fists in a fighting stance and scowled rather pathetically in an attempt to look tough.

             “Now, now, is that any way to treat a new ally?” The man smiled, giving no hint to the evilness that hid behind that smile.

             “Ally?” Warren looked at the old man skeptically.

             “Oh yes, I believe you summoned for my master’s aide?” The old man leered malevolently.

             The three nerds visibly relaxed.

             “So, you’re here to help us defeat the Slayer then?”

             “Oh yes, it will be a pleasure.” The old man smiled sinisterly, seething with anger.

             “Okeedoke then. Say, what do we call you?” Warren asked almost cheerfully.

             “You may call me Doc, young man.” Doc said, positively radiating evilness.

                 Epilogue:

            The gang was piled in Spike’s Desoto on their way back to Sunnydale. It was late, sometime around 3AM, and Spike was the only one awake since he was the driver. Anya, Xander, Willow and Tara were all snuggled up to their’ lovers in the back seat, while Buffy was sleeping peacefully on Spike’s shoulder. As Spike drove on the freeway, headed home, Lorne’s words to Buffy after her song echoed in his mind:
 

“All I can say, sweets, is that you’re far from over. You haven’t even begun. Don’t give me that look, I know you’ve heard that a lot… but it’s true. It’s going to be tough, I won’t lie to you about that. Things will change, the people you love will change, you will change. But you are where you need to be. I know things don’t make a lot of sense right now, but they will. I know you feel lost, a lot of the time. You have what you need right in front of you. You just need to see it. You’re headed in the right direction though, Billy here is the one you’re supposed to be with. It may not be easy at times, and you will probably question your relationship more times than you can count. But you need each other. You’re made for each other, in fact. It won’t all be peaches and cream, but there will be shinning moments. There are still many battles to be fought, Apocalypses to advert, and daily hell to survive with a teenager under your roof. The little one isn’t finished yet either. She’s going to need a lot of guidance from both of you. She’s not just you’re sister. She belongs to the world. And you two are the ones who need to show it to her. An old enemy will resurface, and you will both have to face your fears. Death may have been your gift, but life is your destiny. Live you’re life again, Buffy. Don’t be afraid of it. Life *is* a song Buffy. Don’t be afraid to sing it.”

            Spike lovingly stroked Buffy’s hair as she slept.

            “I’ll be here with you, love. I’ll protect you all… ‘til the end of the world.” Spike promised.

Author's note:  I apologize for the sappyness of this chapter. After watching "Entropy", and being spoiled for "Seeing Red", I *really* needed to write something positive. I planned on writing the ending on a positive note anyways, but after my spoilage trama, it ended up much sappier than I intended.

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