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SUMMARY: Buffy is forced into a prophecy involving Spike. Can they both survive it?
DIST/ARCHIVE: Ask first
DISCLAIMER: Buffy, Spike, and co. don't belong to me, they belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This version has been toned down from it's original NC-17 version for the purpose of posting it on this site. However, it still uses bad language and mature subjects and so is rated PG-15, please read at your own discretion.
"Hey, guys," Buffy said, coming down the stairs. Her friends were sitting in the living room, looking uncomfortably at her.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" she asked with a cheeky grin. She knew the concealer could only do so much with her two black eyes and still swollen nose.
"How are you feeling?" Joyce asked her daughter as she moved to join the group.
She sat down before responding. "A little sore, but I'll live," Buffy said. She examined each of their faces. Willow looked concerned, Xander looked angry, her mom looked worried, Giles looked like Giles and Angel looked sad. "Why all the long faces?"
"We're just worried about you, honey," Joyce said, laying a hand over hers.
"I'm fine, guys, really," she replied. "In fact, I'm better than fine. I'm super. Venting does wonders for the psyche."
"Venting? Is that what you call getting beat up nowadays?" Xander asked.
"Hey, I wasn't the only participant," Buffy said. "And Spike is a tad bit more hurt than I am." She cocked her head and listened for the errant vampire. "Speaking of my pain, where is he?"
"Outside," Angel supplied. "Smoking."
"Figures," she said. "So, guys, feel like taking an injured gal out to dinner? Preferably somewhere dark?"
"Sure, sweetie," Joyce said, standing. "Willow, Xander, you're welcome to join us. So are you two," she said to Angel and Giles.
"I'll pass," Angel said. "Buffy, I'll do your patrol tonight."
She smiled at him. "Thanks. I don't know how effective a Slayer I'd make. Unless my face causes them to spontaneously combust."
He bent his head over the side of her chair and whispered so only she could hear. "You'll always be beautiful to me." He straightened and looked at the others in the room. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Angel," Giles said. "And thank you."
Angel nodded and left. The others stood and got ready to go to dinner, with Buffy chatting happily with Willow about anything but what had happened. They decided to take two cars, with Willow and Xander riding with Giles.
After everything was decided, Buffy went to find Spike. He was on the back porch as Angel had said, smoking. "Hey. We're going to dinner. You don't have to sit with us if you don't want to…or at least until you have to, that is."
Spike nodded. "Thanks. I'd rather pass on the evil glares I'm sure to get all night."
Buffy laughed lightly. "C'mon, mom's waiting."
*****
Dinner was rather a torrid event, at least in Buffy's opinion. She had to endure awkward silences punctuated by pathetic attempts at conversation. She was actually relieved when she felt the pain of the bond start up, having been separated from Spike for the requisite hour. She knew he'd come into the restaurant soon, and mentioned this to her table companions, which led into another uncomfortable silence.
"Ok, guys, enough," Buffy finally said. "There's no need to walk on eggshells. I'm fine. The…thing…that happened between me and Spike is over and done with, and it no longer bothers me. So, stop with all the babying."
"But Buffy, you were…you know," Willow began.
"I know. Granted, it wasn't my most shining moment in this short life, but it wasn't as bad as I first made it out to be. I was more disgusted with myself than with what he did."
"Buffy, what did he do?" Joyce asked.
"Um…managed to take me out," Buffy semi-lied. "Dropped a ton of bricks on my head, literally."
Joyce looked pained, but resigned at her daughter's other life as the Chosen One. "I take it that's what started the prophecy?"
"Yeah," she replied. Shifting in her seat, she tried to relieve some of the pain that was becoming more focused in her side.
"Which reminds me, Giles - have you found out any more about the prophecy. Like when the child is suppose to come?"
"Not yet," Giles responded. "I shall keep searching, however."
Buffy nodded and looked towards the door. "C'mon, Spike, this is starting to hurt lots." She willed for the vampire to appear, but it was Angel who entered the restaurant, not Spike. "Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked as he joined the group.
"Trick's goons know that Spike is back, and they're not happy," Angel informed her.
This worried her, but the pain in her side was a time pain, not a distance one, so Spike had to be nearby. "Are they planning anything?"
"Maybe. My informant wasn't too forthcoming," he smirked.
Buffy nodded. "Great, this is going to make life so much more fun," she said sarcastically.
"May I suggest that you take Faith with you on-on patrols," Giles said. "That way, in case Spike is attacked, you have assistance."
"Good idea, I'll ask her," she said. "I guess we should be getting home. I know that Snyder is going to come down on us tomorrow." She stood, hand pressed into her side. "Angel, would you go find Spike and tell him to get his undeadness to my side."
Angel nodded and left. The others stood as well, and they made their ways to the cars. Buffy bade Willow, Xander and Giles a good night and they drove off in the old, decrepit Citroen.
After a few minutes, Angel and Spike came around the corner from the restaurant, arguing.
"Oh, shut your gob," Spike said. "I have to eat too, you know."
"But did you have to make such a mess?" Angel asked, irritated.
"What happened?" Buffy asked, the pain in her side disappearing as her bonded other half came within a five feet of her. Angel looked over to Joyce and the Slayer nodded. "Mom, could you start the car?" Joyce knew that her daughter wanted to talk shop with the vampires, so she did as asked. "Ok, spill."
"I found Spike behind the restaurant, feeding," Angel told her.
"And…"
"He had split the guys throat with a broken bottle," he finished.
Buffy gave Spike a strange look. "Why?"
"My bloody fangs wouldn't come down," Spike said. He frowned, his twin black eyes making him look like an underweight football player.
"Huh," Buffy said. "That's odd. Try putting on your game face now."
"My what?" Spike asked. Buffy gave him an exasperated look at motioned to her face with her hand. "Right." He concentrated. "Anything?"
"Nope, still your same ugly mug," she said sweetly. Spike scowled at her. "I'll ask Giles, but my guess it's part of the prophecy. Looks like you'll have to change your feeding habits."
"I'm not gonna drink from bags like your lap dog here," he said.
"Let's not argue about it now," Buffy responded. "It's late and we have school tomorrow."
