Wend Their Ways Together: Chapter Sixteen

[jesterladyfic]

When everyone arrived at Giles’ the next day, they found Riley there, pacing, full of bad news and brusque humility.

“Buffy.” He strode over to her. “It’s bad out there, we need your help.”

“Why do you need my help?” she asked coolly.

“Adam is out of control. We don’t have the strength to bring him down and our Commander refuses to admit he isn’t the one in control of the Initiative.”

“So he doesn’t know you’re here? This is a solo mission.”

“Affirmative,” Riley said automatically, then caught himself. “I need your help, Buffy; you’re the only one with even a hope of bringing Adam down. Besides, we’ve got our hands full with more demons than we can handle.”

“What do you mean?” Buffy was surprised, considering how few demons she was encountering these days.

“We’ve been bagging HT’s left and right every time we go out. Our cells are so full we don’t have space for them all.” Buffy narrowed her eyes.

“Almost like they want to get in there. That would go hand in hand with the demon/vamp tag team Spike and I saw last night. Adam’s stirring them up, reconciling them and getting them to allow themselves to be caught.” Buffy frowned. “But what for?”

“I don’t know. All I know is that we need outside help. I can get you whatever info you need, provide you access to the lab, just be ready when whatever it is breaks open.” Buffy folded her arms over her chest.

“So, we’re info-sharing buddies now. Will you hold to your end of the bargain?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“What can you tell us about Adam?” Riley shrugged.

“Not too much. He’s made out of human, demon and mechanical parts. He’s smart, adapts easy, interested in learning all he can about life and himself.”

“How do you kill him? Decapitation, impaling, special toy gun?”

“We know from looking at Professor Walsh’s.” Riley cleared his throat. “Old files that Adam’s power doesn’t come from any of these things. Chopping off his head won’t kill him. His only vulnerability is his power source, a uranium core located inside his spinal cord. Getting to that and destroying it is our only option and our problem. We can’t get close enough to try.”

“Ok, that narrows down the possibilities. Well, keep your eyes open and if you find out anything let us know. I’ll do the same.” Buffy shook Riley’s hand and he left, glancing askance at Spike on his way out. This left everyone else staring nervously at each other and wondering where to begin.

“So,” said Xander. “Who wants to go first?” People shuffled their feet before Spike stood up and lifted his hand.

“If you don’t mind, Teach, I’d like a few words.” Three Scoobies swallowed hard and nodded. “Right, here goes,” Spike shook his head and standing before them was a demon. Willow jumped and clutched at Oz, Giles looked for an axe he’d left lying around.

“Spike,” Buffy said gently. He glanced at her.

“Easy, easy, folks. Just a little demonstration for you all. A reminder. This is who I am, a demon. Doesn’t mean it has to dominate all that I do though. Observe.” Spike threw his head back and when they could see his face again, it was normal. “Just thought I’d remind the Slayerettes who they’re admitting to their little club. So much for that, now for the painful part.” Spike squared his shoulders and went up to Giles.

“Spike,” Giles addressed him firmly.

“Dad, I respect you. I honor you as a father-in-law and I ask your blessing for Buffy and me. I also want you to know she’ll always be your daughter, no matter who she marries. I want to thank you for housing and coping with me for so long and offer municipal reparation for your trouble.” Quirking an eyebrow up at Giles’ look of surprise, Spike was himself again. He smirked and pulling a hand out of his duster pocket, handed Giles a roll of cash. Giles stammered and pulled off his glasses and started cleaning them vigorously.

“Spike, I-I, I don’t know-it’s very generous. Uh-I.”

“Don’t strain yourself, Dad,” Spike chuckled. “I’ll get back to you. Don’t break the glasses in the meantime now. I know for a fact they’re your only pair.” Moving on to Willow, Spike squatted before her as she sat on the couch.

“Hey, Will,” he said softly. “Wanna say thanks for the spell, the best bloody thing that ever happened to me. I’m sorry about kidnapping you and threatening you all the time. Not to worry about Buffy, though, I won’t shove any bottles in her face and she’ll always be your friend. I couldn’t take that away; don’t want to. And.” His voice got lower and rougher. “Not to alarm our significant others or anything, but you’re very bitable, Red.” Willow blushed scarlet, clashing with her hair. Giving her time to
recover, Spike moved on till he was before Tara.

“Glinda, you’re a gem of a lady and one of the finest woman I know. All I can say is thanks for the support and suggestive comments. Get my motor all revved up, yeah?” Spike grinned at her as her eyes smiled conspiratively back.

Anya was next. Spike was careful not to crowd her or give Xander any reason to think he was trying anything.

“You’re a real fire-cracker and I appreciate the truth you speak. Got wild spirit in you and I know you’ll always make your way. And never let anybody tell you anything against what we are or were. We miss the powers, but they’re still a part of what we are. And give the boy time, he loves you, just doesn’t always see straight.” Anya pursed her lips as though receiving a solemn charge.

Oz nodded at Spike when he stood in front of him.

“My apologies for harmful intent toward your bird. Promise I won’t ever do it again. Thanks for the support last night, didn’t see it coming, Dog-boy.”

“I like the unexpected; it’s a pride thing, actually,” Oz answered. They smiled in mutual respect.

Spike froze for a second as he reached the nerds, as though not knowing what to say to them.

“Uh, keep up with the knowledge of everything trivial and mundane. It’s uh…something that shouldn’t die out. Brings some color into our drab lifestyle, yeah?” It was the first time, Spike was scrabbling for words, but Jonathan understood the intent. Andrew just nodded, lost in a dream world and seemed about to go into a long acceptance speech when Spike moved on to Xander.

With all the others, Spike had a touch of bravado in his voice; now he dropped it, being as sincere with Xander as Spike could possibly be with anyone.

“Xander.” He used his name for the first time without any mocking epithets or tones attached, “I want to thank you for being a friend. I haven’t had a lot of them. But having someone to do the manly insulting thing with was great. I know it can’t have been easy on you, me with your friend. I can’t help loving her, and I can’t help who she loves. But I know you know your heart and what’s inside all of us. You’ve got eyes to see and a heart that goes with it. Use them well, not for grudges. I can’t make apologies or offer anything to make up for what I or other vamps have done to you. But I’m sorry, all the same.” He then switched back to his regular manner. “Oh and sorry about the smashing your head in a lot. Not that there’s any lasting damage or anything. You seem quite smart and sharp as whip. Really.”

Spike moved to the center of the room and addressed them all, taking Buffy’s hand, where she had silently watched him.

“I can’t say much else. I’m not a speech-giver by nature, but simple truths I know. Here’s one, Buffy was right. I do love you all.” He grimaced toward Xander. “And I want nothing more than to be accepted by you. I can’t promise to be an angel, no pun intended, and I won’t. But I care about you and I care about what you care about. Because that’s who I choose to be. So here I am, here we are.” He raised Buffy’s hand slightly. “Ball’s in your court.”

Nobody seemed to know what to say. Giles finally stopped polishing his glasses and put them on. He cleared his throat, wondering at Spike’s ability to see their true fears, and searched for words.

“Thank you, uh, Spike. Yes, well, I did a bit of thinking last night. I came to the conclusion that we should, uh, offer Spike here a-a hand of friendship considering all he’s done and is. I…well, I realized a lot of the reason why I was so negative regarding their marriage was my own feelings of…parental loss, shall we say, and seeing as Spike understands that and that I do, I have no further problems with him, apart from the fact that he is a smart-mouthed burk who enjoys getting on people’s nerves.” Giles smiled politely at Spike, who grinned back wickedly.

“Gee, Dad, didn’t know you cared,” Spike said, and then looking around at the others, spoke, “Anyone else, last chance for Kick the Spike.” Willow licked her lips nervously and spoke up.

“Guess we all got a visit from the conscience ghost or perhaps his second cousin. I-I’ve got no issues either, with Spike, I mean. Not to say that I don’t have issues, cause they seem to follow me everywhere and make me crazy and cause all sorts of problems. And oh, the point, well, Spike is a scary vampire man, but even when he’s threatening to kill you, he’s sorta, well, sorta sweet, so Spike in is my vote. I also, uh-“ She swallowed. “I also have to say something to Anya.” Everyone looked surprised. “During my stint of self-reflection, I thought about you and how I don’t really like you at all and why. I’m-I’m kinda jealous and that doesn’t say too many good things about me, I know, but I just wanted to say that…I’m sorry and not to say, hey, we’re instant buddies, but I don’t want to judge you based on whether you’re with Xander or not or…well, I’m sorry.” Anya looked at her with narrowed eyes.

“I must say, unexpected. Still, I believe it is customary to accept such an apology, so I do. As long as you don’t try to steal Xander with your lips like you did before, I won’t hate you.” More or less pleased, Willow nodded. Xander, very embarrassed, hastened towards his own public agreement more quickly than he otherwise might have.

“Okay, um, apologies all around for the attitude I dish out to you all. I hate demons still, but if I get to know them first, I won’t kill them. I had a talk with my inner repressionist and got some things off his chest. So, all for the inclusion of the bleached un-wonder so long as I don’t ever have to say I was a part of it. Buffy.” He turned to her. “I’m sorry for trying to make your decisions for you. I’m working on the letting go, give me time and don’t slap me too hard upside the head when I fail. Anya.” Xander knelt in front of her and held her hand.

“I’m sorry for treating you so casually. You’re very important to me and I tend to forget the one I have in preference to the one I don’t. I don’t want to do that anymore. I-I love you and I want you to be my focus from now on, so forgive me?” He waited in tense silence, mentally counting the seconds before she would take his head off as seemed to be his fate.

“Okay,” she said, smiling at him.

“What, that’s it? Okay? On my knees here,” he protested.

“Don’t push your luck, Harris. Demon-girl’s got a mind of her own, oh and thanks for the public support, mate. Warms the dead cockles of the heart right up.”

“Shut up, Spike,” Xander said, giving him a death-glare.

“I accept your apology too,” Anya said, pulling Xander toward her. “It was very nice to hear and I will forget about all the idiotic things you do regularly, for now. Just don’t forget, I know plenty of vengeful tactics that have nothing to do with being a demon.” Xander shuddered, but drew her close to him in a kiss.

“So that’s it then? I’m in? No more games of ‘Do we trust the bloodsucker?’ ” Spike asked impatiently.

“For lack of a better word, yes,” Giles said. “Don’t gloat about it, it’s rather unbecoming.”

“Just happy, Dad,” Spike said before pulling a grinning Buffy into his arms. She returned his kiss with fervor, perfectly happy for the first time, in a long time.

“Oh joy,” Giles said, turning away. “Now I don’t just hear the smacking, I get to see it too.”