*And I'd give up forever to touch you

        'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

        You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

        And I don't want to go home right now*

        Spike buried his face against the base of Erin's neck, and she nestled more closely against his chest, sighing softly.  "What's wrong, pet?"  He asked tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, and she looked up at him with her large, green eyes.  

        "How long can we hide this?  Seriously?"  She asked, and he frowned, "As long as we need too..."

        "Are you telling me that your minions don't suspect anything?  And that Buffy and the others don't either?"

        "I didn't say that...but my minions aren't exactly the smartest, and the Slayer...well..."

        She elbowed him in the gut, and he growled playfully, nipping at her ear, "What was that for?"

        "You were going to say something mean," She told him, sliding off his lap and standing up, "Maybe...I should tell them..."

        "Yeah...and give me an one way ticket to dustville.  How long do you think I'm gonna last when the Slayer...hell...even the Watcher, finds out I've been making out with you?  They'll kill me!"

        "They'll understand..." she sounded doubtful even as she said it, and Spike sighed, "No, pet, they won't.  Just like my minions won't understand...either way, we're royally screwed."

        Erin looked down at him as she picked up her patrol bag, then glanced off into the night, closing her eyes, "Buffy's close by.  I should be going..."

        Spike stood up and gathered her into his arms again, inhaling her scent deeply as he kissed her, and she had to pull away from him after several minutes, "I have to go," she reminded him, and Spike sighed, as she kissed him on the cheek and disappeared in Buffy's direction.  Bloody hell...

        Buffy did a back-flip, narrowly avoiding Erin's blade, grinning as she jumped up on a windowsill, "That's the best you can do?"

        Erin smiled, swiping the sword at Buffy's feet, who jumped to avoid, landing back on the ground.  "I've been sword-training all my life," Erin informed her, blocking a jab towards her abdomen, "I think I'm pretty good at this."

        "Please...Spike taught you...his idea of a weapon is a broken beer bottle."  

        "Oh...not that again!"  

        Giles watched slightly worried as the two Slayers trained together, but the parries and thrusts looked a little too real for his comfort, and Buffy's eyes widened when Erin slashed her shirt, "OHMYGAWD!  I just bought that!"  

        "Sorry...oops..." Erin rolled as Buffy's sword slammed into the ground in the spot she had just been standing in.  "Hey!  That was a little close!"

        Giles shook his head as the doorbell rang, hoping they wouldn't destroy the make-shift gym as he headed out, "If I come back, and there's blood, l'm going to be angry!"

        "Don't worry, Erin will lick it up..."

        "Oh...that was a low-blow."

        Giles rolled his eyes as the girls exchanged insults, "Why me?"  He muttered beneath his breath as he answered the door, "Yes?"

        "You Erin Gillian?"  The delivery boy asked, and Giles raised an eyebrow, "No...but I'll sign..." Gillian?  That's her last name?

        He wondered idly why he had never asked her as he accepted the roses with some surprise, and a wrapped parcel, "Who are these from?"  

        "Uh...doesn't say on the slip," the delivery boy replied, waiting patiently for his tip, and scowled when Giles' slammed the door in his face.  "Ass hole."

        When he returned to the gym, both Buffy and Erin were hastily applying band-aids and they looked up, grinning sheepishly, "Sorry, Giles..."

        He shook his head, "No more swords for you two...one of you is going to lose a limp," he said but Buffy ignored that, eyeing the flowers, "Why, Giles...I didn't even know you were dating...what's his name?  Is he cute?"

        "Hilarious," he said dryly, glancing towards Erin, "These came for you."

        "Oh...are they from that guy you were..."

        Erin made a slashing gesture across her throat, her eyes wide, and Giles eyed her suspiciously, "What guy?"

        Buffy grinned, "Oh...just some guy she met at the frat party...they were all lovey-dovey...it was so cute..."

        "Buffy!"  Erin gave her an exasperated look, but Buffy didn't look one bit repentant, she killed my favorite blue shirt anyway.

        "She won't tell anyone who he is either...make her spill, Giles..."

        "Flowers...nice...pretty...put in water," Erin grabbed them from Giles, beating a hasty retreat, but they both followed her into the kitchen, "What boy, Erin?  Do I know him?  Is he...um..."

        "Good enough for his 'niece'?" Buffy finished for him, and Giles nodded, "Exactly."

        "Um...well...he's...a guy..."

        "We've established that," Buffy reminded her, and Erin sighed, "And...uh...no...I guess you don't...really know him."  That much was the truth anyway.  They didn't really 'know' Spike.  Not the way she did.  "And yes...he's good enough for me, at least, I think so.  He's sweet, and he...um...quotes poetry..."

        "Oh!  Big points already...poetry quotation is always a plus," Buffy grinned, "So...what else is he good at?"

        Erin smiled, shaking her head, "I'll think I'll keep that to myself," she said as she broke apart the roses, and Giles paled, "What?!"

        Erin looked towards him, her eyes widening, "No!  Not that, Uncle Giles...oh...good Lord!  What kind of a girl do you think I am?"

        "Geez, Giles...gutter much?"  Buffy shook her head, "He's been like that ever since me and Angel...he even thinks sex...he goes into panic mode."

        Erin shook her head, turning back to her flowers, and a smile bloomed on her face, "Oh...now this...is sweet."

        Buffy looked over her shoulder, frowning, "What the hell is that?"

        "A flute," Erin picked the silver instrument out of the roses, where it had been hiding, running her fingers along the smooth shaft, "I used to play it...I can't believe he remembered..."

        Giles and Buffy exchanged a surprised look as Erin brought the instrument to her mouth, and a harsh squeak issued from it.  "Um...that...was nice..."

        Erin glared at Buffy, "Funny," she said, adjusting it before attempting to play it again.  This time, she played a short refrain from one of Beethoven's symphonies, smiling around the mouthpiece.  

        Giles was a little shocked.  He hadn't known Erin played the flute, let alone any instruments.  He felt a little jealous that she had apparently confided in the boy that Buffy had mentioned, but not to him.  "That was nice."

        Erin smiled at him, "Thank you," she said, picking up the parcel and heading upstairs, "Sorry about your shirt, Buffy."  

        Buffy glanced at Giles, sighing when he looked a little morose as he put the roses in water, "I want to know who this boy is," he finally said, looking over his shoulder.  "I want to make sure that...he's on the level."

        "I'm sure he's fine," Buffy assured him as Erin played upstairs, a haunting air floating down to them, "I mean...what kind of evil guy who would give his girlfriend a flute?"

        Giles glared at her, and she sighed, "All right, all right...I'll find out who he is."

        Giles nodded, satisfied, "Shall we continue?"

        "Um...what about Erin?"

        "She's practicing.  You, however, need a little more training," he gestured at the band-aid on her cheek, "Otherwise, she should never have been able to touch you."

        Buffy groaned, following him, "That does it...I'm taking up piano just to get out of training..."

*And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

'Cause sooner or later it's over

I just don't want to miss you tonight*

        "The Slayer, Master Spike, is out of control."

        Spike eyed the Plinak demon in front of him, dripping slime from his clawed hands onto the cement of the abadoned warehouse where he and his fledglings made his home.  "And your point is?"

        The Plinak glared at him, "My point is...that unless we do something, she's only going to get stronger and better.  I know your history, William the Bloody, and it's disapointing to my employer that you have obviously failed to remedy the situation."

        "Not my problem," Spike shook his head, "She's stronger and better already.  I prefer to avoid her at the moment.  She does her thing, and I do mine..."

        "And the rumours of a second?"

        "She's in a coma," Spike answered easily, "She never died, so another cannot be called..."

        "She's lively for one in a coma," the demon eyed him cooly.  "My people have seen the Slayer keeping company with a girl...a redhead..."

        "A witch, not a Slayer..."

        "No, not that one...not the small redhead," Spike could hear his suspicion in his voice, and inwardly swore.  "Another girl.  Who wields a stake very well, I hear...and I believe you know of who I speak.  Did she not escape from you once?"

        Spike finally nodded, "Yeah...she escaped...but she's not a Slayer..."

        "No, she's something else."

        Spike tensed visibly as Harmony came up behind him, and she glared at the demon with a grimace, "My Spikey knows what she is...slimy...demon guy..."

        "Harm, shut the hell up," he growled, pushing her away when she tried to wrap her arms around him, and she pouted.  

        "There's only the two Slayers...tell your boss that.  Summers and the one in the coma.  The redhead is no concern of yours."

        "She's killing our kind, Master Spike...I believe that makes her our concern, even if you think otherwise."

        "Maybe she's like that Angel guy," Harmony supplied, and Spike's eyes flashed yellow, "Harmony!  Fuck off!"

        "What's  your prob?"  She glared at him, placing her hands on her hips, "You've been acting all weird, Spike...you don't even pay attention to me anymore..."

        Spike forced himself to calm down, shooting Harmony a scathing look, "Go away, kitten...I'm conducting business here..."

        She glared at him, but obeyed, and he threw a look at the Plinak.  "If you want the Slayer died, deal with her yourself.  I've had my arse kicked too many times by that chit to want her to do it again.  I fancy my skin, unlike some of the dumbasses that work for me."

        The Plinak bristled, "And what of the others?"

        "Other what?"

        The Plinak frowned, cocking his head, "The black ones...the ones that steal from our very midst..."

        "Oh...them?"  Spike scoffed, shaking his head, "Bloody fairy tales, mate...the black ones never existed, and still don't..."

        "How many of your fledglings have disappeared, Master Spike, in the last month?"

        Spike thought for a few seconds, really unable to say.  He had been distracted with Erin for the last month.  Sure, fledglings didn't always return back to nest, but the others turned their own minions, and he didn't really give it a second thought.  He had always assumed that Erin and Buffy had been taking out more then usual...I have to look into that.

        Spike shrugged, "Don't know, don't care...they're all idiots.  They all have the same idea that they can kill the Slayer.  It gets them dead."

        Plinak shook his head before turning away, "Your lack of concern is disturbing as Master vampire, Spike.  It'll get you dead..."

        Spike snarled, and the Plinak found himself pinned against a wall, Spike's fangs inches from his throat, "Was that a threat?  Let me tell you something, mate..." Spike slammed his head against the wall, "You and no one else in your clan fuck with me...or they'll find out how I got my nickname...understand?"

        The Plinak seemed entirely calm as he stared into Spike's demon visage, "Crystal," he replied, his eyes narrowing.  Spike nodded, dropping him, "Get out of my sight...and if I see you in this area of Sunnydale again...I'll kill you."

        He watched as the demon scrambled away, then glanced at his watch.  "The Slayer's at Restfield tonight...so stay away from there," he informed his minions, "Not till we know if he was telling the truth about the dark ones, I want everyone avoiding the Slayer, her friends and the club.  I want to know who's disappearing, and I need to confirm it isn't the Slayer killing them."

        The minions all nodded, and he had an odd sense of satisfication, aware he had probably just bought him and Erin a little more time before they were discovered.  

*And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am*

        Spike grinned, sitting on top of a mauseleum as he watched Erin and Buffy slay.  He tensed when he saw a vamp move up behind her, but head snapped back at the last instant, smashing his nose into his face as she whirled, and she slammed her palm up, driving the bone directly into his brain, and he hit the ground as a twitching mess, which she left alive as she and Buffy easily finished off the others.

        She glanced at Buffy, who nodded, and headed towards the opposite end of the graveyard.  Guess the Slayer doesn't like to see her take her meals, he thought, watching as Erin gripped the minion by the hair, and jerked his head up.

        Spike nearly groaned, aroused as he watched her sink her fangs into his neck, her eyes closing as she fed.  Damn...I think I'm jealous...thought to himself, watching as the fledgling's eyes rolled up in pleasure.  Apparently, she didn't realize what an erotic experience it was to be fed from for a vampire.

        She finally staked him, and Spike chuckled as she looked around, wiping her mouth and popping a tic-tac in her mouth.  Gotta have fresh breath, he thought, dropping down to the ground.

        He paused, smiling when he heard the faint, soft notes of the flute, lighting up a cigarrette, and just stood there, listening to her play.  

        He moved slowly around the graveyard, till he was standing behind her, watching as her back swayed as she played.  

        She finished off the song, then glanced over her shoulder as she set the flute down on her lap, smiling, "I cannot believe you remembered."

        "I remember a lot," he said, jumping up on the tombstone beside her, grinning, "So...what's on the menu tonight?"

        She shrugged, settling her flute into her weapon's bag, "Same thing we do every night?"

        "You mean...try and take over the world?"  He joked, and she gave him a blank look, "Does the Watcher even have a TV?"

        She smiled, shaking her head, "You're a strange man, William Giles."

        Spike rolled his eyes, offering her a hand, and she frowned, taking it, "What are you doING?!"  He jerked her upwards, and nearly toppled off the tombstone in the process.  He wrapped a steadying arm around her waist, grinning at the surprised look on her face.  

        "What are you doing?" She repeated, this time without the little shriek on the end, and he shrugged, "Don't know really...see...I'm crazy that way...never know what I'm going to do next."

        She laughed as he started to dance with her, barely balancing on the gravestones, "We're going to fall."

        He glanced at the ground, tightening his grip on her, "Then I'll make sure I land on you."

        "OH!"  She slapped his chest, and then yelped as he whirled, swinging her away from solid ground, "Spike!  You're going to get us killed."

        "Luv...we're three feet above the ground...not on a bloody sky scraper."

        "Let me down," she said firmly, and he rolled his eyes, and then swung her up in the air, catching her beneath the knees before hopping down again.  "You're no fun, pet."

        She laughed at his pout, "Have you been eating Starbuck junkies again?"

        He growled again, capturing her in a breath-stealing kiss that lasted several minutes, and she had to break it with some difficulty as thunder boomed in the distance.  

        He grinned at her as the rain started, pouring down in thick sheets, soaking them.  "Looks like you were right."

        "Aren't I always?"  She asked, rolling her eyes as she pulled a sodden strand of hair out of her eyes with a sigh, and Spike grinned through the water running down his face, "You look kind of cute all wet."

        She shook her head, "You're insane," she told him, collecting her bag, then laughed when he gripped her around the waist, kissing her again, "Come on, pet...let's find some place to dry off."

        She entangled her hand with his, and he took her bag as they ran off into the rain.

        And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

        Or the moment of truth in your lies

        When everything feels like the movies

        Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

        Spike closed the door to the mansion, glancing at Erin who was shivering and panting lightly from their sprint.  

        He watched as a rain drop traveled down her face and down her neck to fall down her t-shirt, and he actually envied the path it took as she shook her hair out, squeezing out the thick mane, "Ugh...I thought it never rained in California...I thought I left this behind in England."

        "Never escape the rain, luv...unless you move to the desert.  Which, by the way, wouldn't be the best of plans, especially on my part," Spike replied, running a hand through his damp locks, glad he wasn't able to feel the cold, then glanced at Erin worriedly.  Didn't humans get sick from rain?

        "Come on, luv...let's get you out of those wet clothes..."

        She raised an eyebrow, and he pretended to be offended, "I meant into some dry ones!  I may be soulless, but I'm still a gentleman."

        "William...even when you were a gentleman, you were never a gentleman," she replied with a small smile, and Spike rolled his eyes, "Shower's down the hall, pet...my guess is, Peaches keeps up on the rent in this place for when he makes his annoying stops down here."

        She nodded, and he watched longingly as she headed in that direction, Cor...he shook his head, "Nope...mate...perfect gentleman...'sides...she probably has a few stakes hidden on her."

        Oh...treasure hunt...Spike groaned at his traitor thoughts, "I really hate you sometimes," he told his brain as he went into one of the bedrooms to find some dry clothes.

        When Erin emerged from the shower, she saw a white dress hanging on the door, and shook her head, "Drusilla," she muttered, reconizing the faint scent clinging to the gauzy fabric.  

        She hesistated before pulling it on, deciding that it was dry, unlike her other clothes, so she would surivive in it.  She glanced at her watch as she went out, then towards the windows, where it was still pouring hard.  

        "Spike...I need a phone...Giles is going to be angry if I don't touch base," she called, and he poked his head out of a room down the hall, "What are you going to tell him, pet?  That you're shacked up in the old mansion with a vampire?  Guarenteed to not go over well."

        She shook her head, catching his cell phone when he tossed it at her, "I'll make something up," she replied, then dialed the number from memory.  

        Spike watched as she nervously tugged at a strand of hair, waiting for the Watcher to pick up, trying not to notice how delcious she looked in Dru's dress.  Whoa, mate...that's a little messed up...dressing up your new girlfriend in your old girlfriend's clothes?  Isn't that some sort of Oedipus thing?

        "Yes, Giles...I'm fine...I'll ride out the storm from here...no, don't drive in it...it's nasty from where I'm standing...and as long as I am in here, no one else can enter without invitation...so I should be fine."  She glanced at Spike when Giles asked for the phone number, and he mouthed it to her.  

        "Thanks...no, I'll be fine...I found some clothes in one of the rooms.  I'll call in the morning...I promise, I promise...gee...thanks, dad..." She smiled as she hung up, rolling her eyes, "Your father never questioned me that much.  I'm starting to think he doesn't trust me."

        "Now, why could that be?"  Spike asked, looking puzzled as he slid up to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, "Maybe it's the company you keep."

        "Could be," she agreed, flushing when he ran his lips across her neck, "Christ, pet...you're shivering," he said in some concern, then drew her towards the room he had been in before, "You're not sick, are you?"

        "Um...no," she blushed, deciding not to tell him she wasn't shivering because of the cold, but because of his current proximity.  Whoa...listen, Erin...you're alone...with your...boyfriend in a mansion...and you just basically told your guardian that you're spending the night here...

        She shook her head, glancing at Spike, who was watching her curiously, and she wondered how much her face had revealed.  She was pleasently surprised to see he had built a fire, and that her clothes were lying on the hearth, steam rising from them as they dried, and his were there too.

        "How many pairs of the same outfit do you have?"  She asked, shaking her head, and Spike sighed, "Lord...don't tell me I have to hear this from the Slayer and you..."

        She shook her head, "Spike...you're talking to the girl who only had seven dresses most of the time...I doubt I'm going to make fun of your wardrobe...or lack thereof."

        He smiled, conceeding the point as he sat down on the rug in front of the fire, and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her small body, "Getting warmer, luv?"

        "Definitly," she said a bit breathlessly, closing her eyes as she leaned against him, and his lips grazed her neck again.  

        He inhaled her scent, smiling to himself, content for the moment just to hold her.  She snuggled closer against him as they both stared off into the fire silently.  Poof...you're just a big, sodding poof, aren't you?  He asked himself snidely, cuddling with a bloody human?  In front of a fire...how 'Love Story' is that?

        He told himself to shut up as Erin looked up at him, "What are you thinking?"  She asked, and he chuckled softly, "Wondering how you could do this to me...make me feel so bloody...human."

        "Is that a bad thing?"  She asked a bit anxiously, and he looked away for several minutes, before answering honestly, "Really don't know, luv...but at the moment...I don't think it is..."

        Her lips met his, and he cupped the back of her head as she twisted towards him, her arms wrapping around his neck.  The kiss deepened, and she mewled in the back of her throat, surprising him.  He pulled away, inspecting her flushed face, and her lowered lids, half-way hiding her shining green eyes.  

        "Cor...luv..." he whispered, brushing his lips across hers, "You look so bloody beautiful..."

        She smiled, lifting a hand, tracing the sharp lines in his face, his skin cool beneath her fingers, "So are you."

        "I'm not beautiful!"  He protested, "I'm handsome, dashing...hot even...but not beautif---" she cut off his rant with her lips, her body molding against his as she moved to straddle his lap, her hands gripping his shoulders.  

        His hand slid up her back and she arched against him as he caressed her hot skin with his fingers.

        "What were we talking about again?"  He asked as soon as she broke away for air, and she smiled coyly, "Were we talking?"

        Spike growled, then nuzzled at her throat, "Luv...I'm about two seconds away from kissing your breathless, and possibly ravishing you on the floor...and I doubt you'd want that..."

        Erin looked at him carefully for a few seconds, and he bit back his groan of frustration when she stood up.  He had been hoping desperately that she would let him...whoa!

        He stared at the floor for several minutes, his mind slowly trying to comprehend the white fabric that had pooled on the floor next to a set of bare feet, then forced his eyes to travel slowly upwards.  

        He swallowed heavily when he saw the nest of red curls at the juncture of Erin's thighs, then moved over the flat, pale expanse of her belly and her full breasts, and then to her face.  She was looking down at him shyly, a perfect contrast of her innocence and nudity.  She looked like a sacrificial virgin, supplicating herself and preparing to give her body to a demon that wore a man's face.

        He forced himself to his feet, having trouble breathing before he remembered he didn't need too.  "Erin...are...you completely..."

        "Shh..." she placed a finger against his lips, biting slightly on her bottom lip as she looked up at him, but there was no uncertainity in her eyes.  "I belonged to you once...we just never made it official," she reminded him softly, "I want us to be...official."

        Spike blinked in confusion, well...what do you expect?  You're two inches from a naked woman...your brain is not expected to work..."Um...you want to get married?"

        She shook her head as she grabbed his arm, and lightly tugged him towards the bedroom, and Spike snapped out of it with a small growl, and he scooped the redhead up into his arms, kissing her passionatly as he carried her the rest of the way.

        He set her on the bed, sitting beside her as he gazed down at her nude form, biting the inside of his cheek to ground himself.  He could feel the rush of blood in his mouth, and her eyes flashed briefly at the smell.  

        He smiled, brushing her hair away from her face before kissing her again, his tongue gently entangling hers.  She tugged on his t-shirt, and he grinned, breaking away long enough to shed his duster and clothes, then lay down next to her.  

        He propped his head up with his elbow, allowing his other hand to trace her softly smiling face before traveling downwards, brushing against the soft skin of her breasts.

        She gasped slightly, and heartened by her response, he dipped his head down, capturing a nipple between his teeth and lightly sucking on it.  

        Her hands flew to the back of his head as she arched up towards him, her eyes closed as she panted slightly, then moaned loudly when his hand careesed her neglected breast.  She smiled as a wave of lust and longing slammed into her, and Spike growled, smelling her arousal.  

        He looked up, meeting her eyes, and she bit the side of her lip at his intense gaze.  His eyes had gone nearly gray, staring at her with unashamed hunger.  He kissed her again, slipping between her legs, then proceeded to nip and lick his way down her body, pausing to brush his lips in the valley between her breasts.

        He kept up his incredible journey, till he was above her red curls, and he looked up at her, seeing her face was already flushed, and she was looking down at him curiously, "Spike...what are you doing?"  

        He mentally rejoiced at the small amount of virginity Angelus had left for him as he lowered his mouth, kissing her womanhood.  She immediately bucked, gasping and he gripped her hips gently, using his strength to guide her back down to the bed, "Now, luv, none of that...you'll like this...promise," he told her softly, and she closed her eyes, still panting as she nodded.

        He bit back another growl.as he lowered his mouth again, gently parting her silken folds before delving his tongue into her.  She bucked again, her hands threading through his hair.  Spike chuckled, and she moaned at the vibration against her clit as he laved it with his tongue.  

        He teased her till she was writing beneath him, and he felt her fingernails dig into his scalp.  He couldn't help but smile as he turned his attention to the little hardened bundle of nerves, and as soon as he stroked it hard with his tongue, and she called his name as stars spun in her vision.  

        When Spike lifted his head, he grinned when he saw her flushed face, lightly covered in sweat, "Told you you'd like it," he muttered in a low voice, sliding back up her body as he licked her juices from his lips, "Hmm...better then blood."

        She smiled softly as he kissed her, and he moaned into her mouth as she raked her teeth against his tongue, tasting her own release on his lips.  "One last time to back out, pet..."

        She shook her head, "I will unless you use my name," she threatened, and he grinned kissing her again, "All right...Erimentha..."

        "Oh..." she glared at him, trying to wriggle out of his grasp, "You know I hate my full name..."

        He chuckled, nuzzling her neck as he caressed her side, feeling the warm skin beneath his cool fingertips, "Sorry, lost your chance to escape."

        She smiled up at him wrapping her legs around his waist, and he groaned as he felt her damp heat against his rigid member, "Oh...that's not playing fair..."

        "I never play fair," she whispered in his ear, then licked his earlobe.  He jumped in surprise when she licked along his neck.  She suddenly nipped him with her blunt teeth and he groaned again as he thrust into her.

        She threw her head back with a gasp as he stretched her from the inside, her gasp loud in the air.  His eyes crossed in surprise as her tight heat seemed to sear him, and he was grateful that Erin needed a few minutes to adjust to his size.  Otherwise, it would have been a very short session.

        When she opened her eyes again to meet his, he saw the green was threaded through with yellow, her demon wanting to experience a bit of her ecatasy even as his face flickered briefly, but he forced it back.  She was his heaven...not the demon's.  Not the thing that killed her so long ago.

        As they met together in a timeless rhythem, he stared down into her face, cupping it in his hands as he supported his weight on his elbows, his eyes searching hers, which shone up at him like amber-like emeralds, her lips slightly parted as her breath came from them in a set pattern, soft and hard at the same time as he filled her.  

        He pressed his lips against hers, their bodies joining intimately in two places.  He reached between them, and gave her clit a light pinch.

        She tore her lips away to cry out his name, and he watched her climax with great pleasure as he vamped out, nearing his own release.  He buried his fangs in the soft flesh of her neck, and she screamed his name when she was sent flying over the brink again, her nails raking down his back and drawing blood.

        Spike roared as he came, burying himself to the hilt as her body fluttered around him, and he withdrew  his fangs, lapping at the blood flowing from the wound in her neck.

        She purred softly, and Spike lifted his head in surprise, then rolled them so that they were on their sides, her head pillowed against his chest as his purrs mingled with hers in the stillness of the mansion.  "I love you,' she whispered, and he smiled, burying his face in her hair, "Ditto..." he muttered.

        She looked up at him curiously, and he shook his head, "Tell the Watcher to invest in cable already!"

*And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am*

        Spike rolled over in his sleep, reaching for his lover sleepily.  then opened his eyes when he felt her side of the bed was empty.

        "Erin?"  He heard something crash in one of the rooms, and he sighed, yanking on his jeans as he went to go see what she was up too.  

        He found her by the dead fire, crouched in front of the cold ashes.  "Now, then...what are you up too?"  He knelt, wrapping his arms around her waist and growling softfly in her ear, "Why don't you come back to bed?"

        She didn't answer him, and he frowned, looking over her shoulder.

        She was drawing a strange symbol in the ashes, a circle interloped with lines and a large, pentagram in the center, "What are you doing?"

        "Dies irae, dies illa, solvet saeclum in favilla..." she murmured, and he dropped his arms, straightening as she did the same.  "Dies irae, dies illa, solvet saeclum in favilla..."

        "Um...pet?  Latin not my best subject...last time I tried to translate, I came up with 'Debase beef canoe..."

        "Quantus tremor est futurus, quando judex est venturus," she said, looking off into the distance as if in a trance.  

        "Erin?"  He eyed her almost warily, then jumped in surprise when a crack of thunder rang out behind them.  

        He turned, his eyes widening when he saw the floor glowing green, thin strings of light arcing out towards them as it began to swirl.  

        Erin watched it calmly while Spike backed away, "Come on, luv...that's our cue to leave."

        "Solvet saeclum in favilla," she whispered, reaching out for the light.  Spike leapt forward as the light touched her, and she shrieked, the green tendrils searing into her skin, leaving black marks.  

        "Erin!  Get the bloody hell out of there!"

        "DIES IRAE. DIES ILLA SOLVET SAECLUM IN FAVILLA!  TESTE DAVID CUM SIBYLLA!  QUANTUS TREMOR EST FUTURUS!  QUANDO JUDEX EST VENTURUS!"  Erin shouted as she plunged into the light, and Spike roared as it flashed red and exploded outwards, sending him flying backwards across the room.

        He slammed into the wall in a daze, and when he forced his eyes open, Erin was gone.

        Spike jerked from his dream with a hoarse shout, and Erin stirred beside him, sighing as she rolled over, snuggling against him.  

        Spike looked down at her in surprise, then shuddered, wrapping his arms around her, and inhaling her comforting scent.  

        He heard his cell phone go off, and he jumped, startled by the sudden sound, and he berated himself for acting so skittish as he reached over Erin and grabbed it off the bedside table.

        "What?!"  He barked harshly into it, not masking his annoyance at being called, "Bloody hell...if this you, Harmony, I told you never to call me unless this is an emergency!"

        He waited for an answer, and scowled when no one said anything.  Erin opened her eyes drowsily, yawning, "Who is it, Spike?"

        Spike glared at the silent phone, ed, t;No one, luv...go back to sleep," he said, snapping it closed angrily.

        Erin smiled up at him as she pushed him gently back on the bed, "You're tense, darling..." she whispered silkly, and he grinned at her, "Know what relieves tension a lot, luv?"

        "I have an idea," she replied, bending down to kiss him, and laughed as he growled, rolling her over.

*And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am*

        Giles stared at the phone in his hand as Buffy, Xander, and Willow chatted together in the living room, waiting for Erin to show up.  

        He slowly hung up the reciever, his eyes narrowing in anger.  Well...guess I know who that mystery man was...

        They all looked up as they heard glass breaking.  

        Buffy jumped to her feet and rushed into the kitchen area, then skidded on water and glass, yelping when she almost tripped up on the ground.  She gripped the doorframe before she could fall, glancing at the floor, surprised to see the roses all over it.  "Giles...you all right?  What happened?"

        Giles didn't answer as he marched into one of his back rooms, and Buffy and WIllow exchanged a look when he came out heavily laden with weapons.  "Um...Giles...is this an apopcalypsey thing I should know about?"

        "No," he replied, his voice tight with rage, "Vampire related."

        They followed him out the door as he leapt in his car and peeled out, leaving them behind.  Xander frowned, glancing at Buffy, "Where's he going?"

        Buffy paled suddenly, "Crawford Street...I think he's heading ter ads Crawford street..."

        The three friends exchanged a confused look before whirling and sprinting through a few yards, hoping to reach the mansion before Giles.

        Giles stalked down the passages of the mansion, pausing when he came to the room with the fireplace.

        He fairly quaked in rage when he saw the clothes by the mantle, instantly reconiginzing Erin's patrol outfit, and Spike's trademark jeans and red silk button down shirt.  

        He made his way farther into the mansion, ignoring Buffy, who was calling his name.

        He paused out front of one room, hearing voices inside, and causitously opened it.

        He froze, watching as Spike plunged his fangs into Erin's neck, and she yelled out in pleasure, her hands raking down his back, and his eyes narrowed as he lifted his crossbow, aiming for Spike's exposed back.

        He let the bolt loose, and Spike's head shot up when he heard it go off.

        Erin's hand shot out, her eyes widening as she grabbed it less then an inch from entering his body, and she stared at it in shock before they both looked towards the door, where Giles was hurriedly reloading.

        "FUCK!"  Spike rolled off of Erin and off the bed, and Erin sat up, pulling the blankets around her, "Giles!"  

        "Oh...Spike...come out here...I've got something for you," he mocked called, and Spike swore beneath his breath, "Not bloody likely!"

        "Giles what in the hell..." Buffy, Xander, and Willow froze in the doorway, staring at the sheet-covered Erin, "Um...hi..."

        Spike peeked over the edge of the bed, "Slayer!  Your Watcher's gone insane!"  He yelped as Giles fired at him again, and ducked in time to avoid catching the bolt right between the eyes.

        "Stop it!"  Erin shouted at Giles, tossing Spike his pants from the floor, "You're acting like a child!"

        "Erin?  What the hell is going on?  Please tell me you have your clothes off for a good...vampire staking reason..." Xander stammered out,

        Erin blushed, glancing towards the gang, "Oh...bloody hell..."

        "Spike!  You yellow-bellied bastard!  Come out here and face me like a man!"  Giles shouted, trying to move past Erin.

        "What?!"  Spike's voice was incredoulous, "You have a crossbow!"

        Erin grabbed Giles by the shoulders, forcefully shoving him to the ground, glaring down at him, "Leave him be, Giles!"

        "Erin..." Xander stepped in the room, keeping an eye out for Spike, "Did he...you know..." he gestured at the bed, clearing his throat, and Spike growled from behind it, "What kind of bloody man do you think I am?"  

        "Xander!  He didn't do anything that I didn't consent too!"  Erin snapped, backing towards Spike, keeping an eye on Giles as she helped Spike to his feet, careful to stand between him and the gang.

        "Yeah, Spike...you're a real man...seducing a seventeen-year old girl!"  Xander growled at him, and Spike's eyes narrowed, "Yeah?  And how old was the Slayer, mate?"

        "Spike!"  Erin glared at him, "Don't bring Buffy into this..."

        "Little late," Buffy shook her head, "Erin...you do understand the concept of vampires equaling badness...especially that one?"

        "That one...is different..."

        "Um...hi...in the room..."

        "Erin!  Spike's a murderer!"  

        "So's Angelus!"  Erin closed her eyes taking a deep breath at Buffy's pained look, "I'm sorry...that's out of line..."

        "No fucking duh!"  Buffy glared at her, "Giles, give me the crossbow..."

        "Please...just listen...I was going to tell you..."

        "When?  After we catch you two fucking?  Oh...wait...little late for that!"  Giles snarled.  

        Erin's eyes widened, and she slapped Giles across the face.  His head snapped to the side with the force of her blow, and she gasped, "Oh...God...Giles...I'm sorry..."

        The slap seemed to anchor him some, and he straightened his glasses, his eyes still narrowed, "Get dressed...you..." he gestured at Spike with the loaded crossbow, "Out."

        Spike hesistated as Erin shook her head, "No...he stays.  The minute he's out of my sight, you'll kill him," she glanced at Willow, who was pale, staring at them, "Could you please bring me my clothes from the other room?  They were drying by the fire."

        She nodded rapidly, hurrying off while Buffy, Xander and Giles contemplated them coldly.  As soon as she had her clothes, everyone but Buffy and Spike left the room, and the blond vampire grabbed his t-shirt, and yanked it on, his eyes on his feet.  

        Erin dressed slowly, not wanting to face what she had too, and Buffy felt a twinge of sympathy for the redhead as she glanced at Spike, who murmured something softly to her.

        Erin nodded, straightening her shoulders, then looked towards Buffy, "I'm sorry, Buff...I was going to tell you."

        "Yeah...well...little late for that now," Buffy shook her head, "And I thought Giles was pissed about Angel.  At least he didn't come at him with a crossbow..."

        Erin smiled slowly, and Buffy glanced towards the door, "My advice...keep in front of Spike around Xander and Giles...and um...well...Xander's really going to lay into you, but by tomorrow, he'll regret it.  He'll still hate Spike, but he'll be sorry he said some of the things that are gonna be said."

        Erin nodded, "And...Giles...?"

        "He's great at holding a grudge," Buffy shook her head, "He never forgave Angel."

        Spike stepped towards Erin, and entwined his fingers with hers, "Don't worry, pet...if worse comes to worse...we can let him beat on me for a bit."

        "Really?  That's sweet," Erin said without much conviction, and Spike smiled, kissing her forehead, "I'm not going to leave you to the lions, Er...don't worry about that."

        "I never do," she looked at Buffy again, taking a deep breath, "This is really going to suck...isn't it?"

        "Well...not as much as the rest of your night," Buffy gestured at the bitemark on Erin's neck, and she blushed.  "Oh...damn...forgot about that..."

        "Yeah, well...the others won't let your forget it," Buffy cocked her head, "So...Spike's a lefty?"  

        Erin rolled her eyes, but she smiled, "Thanks, Buffy..."

        "Yeah, well, don't let it go to your head.  In no way do I approve of this...but..." she shook her head, "You know Spike better then the rest of us...and you seem kind of level-headed...even if he isn't."

        Spike glared at her as she opened the door, gesturing for them to go ahead, but he didn't say anything as he led Erin towards the others, pausing to kiss her forehead again, "Want me to kill them?"

        Buffy groaned as Erin slapped his chest, "Please, please, please try to behave yourself..."

        Spike shrugged, "Do my best, pet...but the Slayer's friends don't exactly bring out the best in me..."

        Erin looked towards Buffy, biting her bottom lip as they headed in.

        Giles was polishing his glasses, his eyes narrowed as he stared into the empty fireplace as Xander paced stiffly.

        "I can't believe we're doing this again!"  He complained to Willow, who looked at them meekly, "I mean...Angel was bad enough...but Spike?  Does she even know what he is?  He's killed two Slayers..."

        "I think she knows that," Giles bit out, "She was one of them!"

        "Oh...and yehaa...nice guy...bragging about it all the time..."

        "Actually...my record's three...even more then that wanker Master, but you know...I never really felt easy bragging about my own woman's death," Spike said as soon as they entered, and both men turned their cold eyes on him.

        Erin dropped his hand, taking Buffy's advice to step in front of him, even though no one had appeared to have weapons on them at the moment.  Spike placed an almost protective hand on her shoulder as Buffy joined the others.

        Erin glanced towards Giles and Xander, then looked down at her feet, "I'm sorry you had to find out that way...I never intended..."

        "Intended for what?"  Giles asked a trifle coldly, "That I'd find  you...doing...that...with him?"

        Erin blushed deeply as the grip on her shoulder tightened, "No...I really didn't..."

        "It's my fault, Watcher...I was the one that led her here.  And I was the one who told her not to tell you..."

        "Shut up," Giles growled at him, and Spike lapsed into silence as Erin took another deep breath.  

        "Just...let me say this..." she shook her head slightly, "I don't expect you too accept this..."

        "Good thing..." Xander started to interrupt, but she growled, and he shut his mouth quickly.  "I don't expect you too accept this...or forgive me...but...I'm not..." she glanced at Spike, who smiled at her reassuringly, "And I hope that in exchange, you won't expect me to give him up either."  

        She looked towards the others, "If you want me to make a choice between him...and you...in advance...I want you to know...it'll be him.  I think...after two hundred years...I deserve to be happy...and I can only see myself in that position...with Spike."

        "Erin...he's a demon..."

        "Yes, and so am I.  There's not much difference between us, Giles.  He feeds, I feed, he kills, I kill.  We're predators...we belong to the night even if I can go out during the day.  You can say that I'm half-vampire...but I only feel half-human.  No matter what you call me, the fact remains that I am of his blood.  Of his kind."

        "Yeah...well...you're still human," Xander glared at her, "Why'd you have to jump straight to vampires, huh?"

        Erin closed her eyes, "Xander...I know...you...like me...but it would never have worked.  I wasn't created for humans.  Spike has bruises...and he's a vampire...imagine what I might have done to a human."

        Giles paled, "Well...that was deciedly more then I needed to know."

        She glanced towards him, "I'll leave today, if you'd like, Giles.  I'll find someother place to stay..."

        The room fell silent for several minutes as Erin left her unasked question hanging in the air.

        Giles glanced at his 'niece' and his ancestor, who took the red head's hand, giving it a light squeeze as she leaned towards him, her eyes on the ground.  Spike kissed the top of her head, whispering something to her that made the redhead nod.

        Giles sighed deeply, Christ on a bleeding cross... "You're right.  I won't accept this or him.  And I don't think I can forgive it either..."

        Erin looked up and then nodded sadly, "I thought so..."

        "But you're of my blood also, Erin...you're almost family...the minute he steps out of line...he's dead.  I find another dead body with his mark, he's dead.  He retains his Mastership, he's dead...and," he gazed at Spike coldly, "He does things properly, as I know he was raised, and goes through me to see you...or he's dead."

        Spike groaned, dropping his head, "Oh...bloody hell!  I have to go through that again?"

        Giles glared at him, and he grinned sheepishly, "Not that I'm complaining..."

        "Good."  Giles nodded firmly, gesturing for Erin to follow him, and she smiled at Spike as she obeyed.

        Xander glared at him as he passed by, and Willow paused as she stopped beside Spike.  "You hurt her," she muttered softly, "I know a spell that'll make boils grow on your...thing..."

        Spike gaped at the witch as she nodded firmly, striding out with her head held high, and Buffy stared at him with wide eyes, "Wow...I'd really hate to be you if you ever want to break up with Erin."

        Spike winced, "Don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon," he assured Buffy, "I kind of like my...thing."

        Buffy nodded, "Plus, it'll be uncomfortable trying to sit down with Mr. Pointy shoved your ass."

        "You have got to be kidding."

        Spike shook his head when faced with the horror of it all.  "First...I'm forced to date...which...by the way...I'm a vampire...I don't do that!  And...now this...?"

        Joyce Summers smiled at him as she grabbed her coat, "Come on, Spike, it'll be fun."

        "I'm bloody two hundred years old!  I don't need a chaperone!  Especially...this!"

        Giles glanced at Erin as she came down the stairs, "Erin, I don't think Spike wants to go out."

        "Yeah...well...who can blame him?"  She grumbled beneath her breath, and Joyce glanced at Giles, "I don't think the kids approve."

        "Too bad.  He's touching my niece, he's getting chaperoned."

        Spike groaned as he exchanged a put-out glance with Erin, "Where are we going?"

        "You don't want to know," she sighed, glancing at Giles.  "Dinner and a movie," he answered, and Spike eyed him warily, "What movie?"

        "You'll like it...it's...British," Joyce assured him, and Spike groaned, "Oh...bloody hell...not the..."

        "English Patient," Giles finished for him, enjoying the vampire's discomfiture immensely.  Even if Erin insisted on seeing him, and even if he hated Spike with a fiery passion, he knew the best tortures were subtle.  He offered Joyce his arm, "Shall we?"

        "We're taking seperate cars, right?"  Spike asked, but neither of them asnwered him, "Right?  Hello!  Watcher!  Joyce?  Oh...bloody hell..."

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am