EXPECTATIONS

by - Sophie

TITLE	EXPECTATIONS
AUTHOR	Sophie
DISTRIBUTION	My site: http://www.geocities.com/spikesophiesteph/index.html
DISCLAIMER	I own nothing.
SUMMARY	Buffy has trouble to coping with her relationship with Spike.
RATING	PG-13
SPOILERS	General Season 6 Buffy and Season 3 Angel.
NOTE	In my universe, Xander and Anya are married and on their honeymoon, Tara and Willow are back together. Cordelia still has painful visions.
FEEDBACK	Of course!

From upstairs, Cordelia heard a noise of broken glass. She sighed. "I can't let them alone for two minutes." She came downstairs and went in the kitchen. The door was open. "What?" She suddenly saw the blood on the floor, amongst the pieces of the broken mug.

"Oh my God! Angel! ANGEL!!!"

The vampire arrived. "What? Are you..." He noticed the opened door, the mess on the floor. "Where's Spike?"

"I don't know! I heard a noise, and found the kitchen like this." She grabbed his arm. "It's happening, Angel. My vision. We have to do something!"

"Run to the Doublemeat Palace and get Buffy. Damn!"

He was helpless, as it was still broad daylight. How could he have let it happen?

Cordelia had taken the car and a few minutes later she was back with Buffy. A very white Buffy.

"What happened?" she asked.

"We don't know. It happened very quickly. I was in the basement and didn't hear anything."

"You were supposed to protect him!" she shouted. "I knew I should have stayed. I knew it!"

Angel didn't answer, feeling guilty.

"Okay, we have to think," Cordelia intervened. "Why did Spike open that door? Maybe it was someone he knew...someone who didn't
represent a threat in the first place."

"I don't know." Buffy put a hand on her forehead, blinking back tears. "I'll go search for him."

"I'll go with you" Cordelia said. "Angel, wait for the girls to come back then you can join the search."

The vampire nodded. "Find him," he just said.

"We will," Cordelia answered. She remembered the vision, the pain she had felt. She prayed silently it was not too late already.

When they came back, Tara, Willow and Dawn were in the kitchen.

Seeing the desperate look on Buffy's face, Dawn started to cry. "You didn't find him" That was not a question.

Cordelia sighed. "We looked everywhere. In places I didn't even know existed in Sunnydale. Where's Connor?"

"Sleeping soundly" Willow said.

"Angel hasn't come back yet? " Buffy asked.

"No."

A glimpse of hope appeared in the Slayer's eyes. "Maybe...maybe he found him."

"Maybe," Tara said, not believing it for a minute. Neither of them did.

Angel came back a few minutes later. Alone. " I'm sorry" he said to Buffy. " Nothing". He sat, took his head in his hands. Cordelia put an arm around his shoulder. "They can be anywhere," Angel added. "Still here, or very far."

"...or dead" finished Buffy with a hoarse voice.

"Don't say that!" Dawn cried.

"What about a location spell? " Buffy asked Tara.

"I tried already. For some reason, it didn't work. It doesn't always work," she said almost apologetically.

"It's all right, honey." Willow said softly.

They all sat for a moment in silence.

"It's no one's fault " Cordelia finally declared. "It was supposed to happen. We were wrong by thinking we could prevent it. But that doesn't mean we have to give up."

Buffy got up, angry. "I'm not giving up ! But we don't even now where to start!"

Tara came to comfort her. She only understood what Buffy was going through.

"I can't lose him, Tara," she whispered. "Not now. Not like that."

"I'm sure he's going to find a way," the witch assured her. "He knows how to defend himself."

"I'm afraid it's beyond his capacities, this time." Angel got up. "What do you want to do, Buffy?"

She looked at him with a blank stare. "I don't know...I don't know what to do."

Dawn was still crying softly and no one could find anything to say.

"I'll go check on Connor" Cordelia murmured to Angel. She squeezed his hand gently and he smiled to her.

"This is so frustrating," Willow said, echoing Cordelia's thought of the night before.

"I don't remember ever feeling so helpless," Buffy said. "Not even when I had lost my powers. It was nothing, compared to this."

"Is anyone hungry?" Tara asked. "I...I can make something." She blushed, feeling like she had said something indecent.

"Good idea," Cordelia said, coming back. "We have to eat, after all."

"I'll go patrol. I'm sorry, but I can't stay here waiting." Buffy got out, fighting the urge to cry. She would go to the cemetery. Maybe he had got back to his crypt, she thought, knowing it was really unlikely.

Of course he wasn't there. She went downstairs, sat on his bed, remembering when they had made love. The memory was so vivid she couldn't help it and began to sob uncontrollably. Then, holding his
pillow, she drove off to sleep.

"Hey, baby. Why did you cry?"

Buffy opened her eyes. Spike was above her, watching her lovingly. "Spike? My God, I thought I had lost you!"

He laughed. "Lost me? I'm not dead yet." Then he bent over her and whispered in her ear, "I'm not dead yet."

Buffy sat up suddenly with a small cry. A dream. It was a dream. But he's still alive, she thought frantically. I can feel it. She left the crypt, headed back home.

They all had barely slept, and the sun was slowly rising. Willow had made breakfast, and they were eating in silence. Buffy opened the fridge and blinked when she saw the blood pack with Spike's name on it. She closed the door rather harshly. "He's not dead yet," she said in a firm voice. "I'll go on searching."

"Where ?" Angel asked.

"Anywhere. Anywhere I can think of."

"We will all go" Cordelia said.

"Thank you."

Buffy got dressed and waited downstairs for the others.

There was a knock at the door. Who could...it was barely 8 o'clock. She opened the door.

"Hey, Buffy."

"Riley...Oh my God!

He smiled. "Can I come in?"

"Oh, of course! I'm sorry, I didn't expect to see you." Not to mention this is really a bad timing, she thought.

"I came back yesterday. I...I couldn't wait to see you. I missed you, Buffy."

"Riley." Dumbfounded, Buffy couldn't think clearly.

"Riley! Hey!" Willow arrived and smiled at him. "What a surprise! When did you came back?"

"Yesterday. I was..."

"You...Who...who are you?" Cordelia was looking at him with a face full of dread.

Angel took her arm. She was breathing heavily. "Cordy? What's the matter?"

She pointed at Riley with a trembling hand. "It's him! The man in my vision! It's him!"

Buffy turned a horrified look to Riley.

"What? What vision? What are you talking about."

The Slayer grabbed him by his vest. "What did you do to him? Answer me!"

He raised his hands. "Wow, slow down, Buffy. I didn't do anything to your precious Spike, I..."

A gasp from Willow made him realize his mistake.

"I never mentioned Spike's name " Buffy said. She put her hand around his throat. "Now, tell me where he is. TELL ME!"

"Okay, okay," he said, almost choking. She released her grab a little. "He's probably dust by now, anyway," he answered with a vicious look. "I tied him up on a grave just before sunrise. You can say
goodbye to your lover, Buffy."

Buffy released him completely, paler than chalk. "No," she whispered. "You're lying. Why would you do that?"

"Why do you think ?" he shouted. "I came back a few days ago, hoping we could start anew...And I saw you! The two of you, kissing in front of this house. Kissing like your life depended on it!!"

All stares turned to Buffy, except for Tara and Angel.

"I had warned him...I had told him that if he touched you I would kill him. Slowly and painfully."

"He's completely insane," murmured Cordelia.

Riley did indeed seemed completely off his track. His eyes were gleaming with a crazy light.

Angel went to him, grabbed him and vamped out. "I never liked you, you jerk, but now I have an excellent reason to kill you. I should actually thank you for that. But first, you're going to tell me where you left Spike. Now!" he growled, and even Willow and Tara back off, impressed.

"In his cemetery. Not far from his crypt. The name on the grave is Ellen Segara. But you'll be too late!"

Buffy was already on the street, running like mad. "Please no", she thought, "please."

She arrived in the cemetery, searching frantically for the grave. When she found it, she fell on her knees. Ropes were on the ground. But no sign of Spike. The grave was situated full south. She put her hand in the grass, looking for dust. She couldn't find any. But she could barely see because of the tears blinding her. She couldn't believe he was gone. In such a gruesome way. "No! she cried at the sky. Please bring him back! Please!" She lied down on the ground, crying painfully. Tara, Willow, Cordelia and Dawn had just arrived.

"Oh my God," whispered Tara.

"No!" Dawn reached her sister and took her in her arms.

"I can't believe this is happening," Willow said softly.

The two sisters got up, calming down. That's when they heard the moan. "Did you hear that?"

A second moan came from a thick bush not far. Buffy ran to it and brushed the leaves away. There, on the ground, a badly beaten but very much still undead Spike was lying.

"Oh my God He's here!!" She fell near him, taking her head on her lap. "Spike, can you hear me?"

He opened his swollen eyes. He had ugly bruises and cuts everywhere. Like when he had been tortured by Glory, only worse. "I hear you," he said through his dry lips. "I've been calling you
for ten bloody minutes but you were crying so loud you didn't hear me!"

"I'm sorry," she said, smiling through her tears.

"Hey, Spike" Cordelia said. "I'm glad I didn't see the dust part of you."

"How are we going to take him home?" Dawn asked, relieved but still shaken.

"Willow, check in his crypt for his car keys. Then bring the car the closest you can and bring a blanket."

"Okay."

She left and Tara went with her. Less than twenty minutes later they were all back at Revello Drive. Angel was waiting for them anxiously, pacing in the living room, checking sometimes on Connor. The baby was playing quietly, blissfully unaware or the dramatic events surrounding him. They brought Spike in Buffy's room, laying him on the bed. " I'll take care of him, now," she said. The rest of the gang headed back downstairs. Riley was lying tied up and unconscious on the couch.

"What did you do to him?" Willow asked Angel.

"Punched him a little too hard, I guess."

"He was crazy. That trip to Central America probably drove him mad. Then he comes back and finds his ex-girlfriend in the arms of a vampire " Cordelia took Connor in her arms. "Well, this little guy here love being in his daddy vampire's arms and I do too, " she added for Angel's ear only.

"What are we going to do with him?" Dawn asked.

"I know who to call" Willow said, picking up the phone.

Spike was resting in Buffy's bed. She had undressed him and cleaned his cuts. Now she was watching him, waiting for him to wake up. He opened his eyes. "Hey."

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I have been drugged and beaten and...oh wait, that IS what happened, right?"

She smiled, lying down at his side. She caressed his forehead, one of the only place not bruised or burned. "I thought I had lost you," she whispered.

"Well....I'm not dead yet."

Remembering her dream, Buffy smiled. "I know."

"I didn't see it coming. One minute he was talking to me, and next thing I know I had a syringe in my neck. Bloody wanker!"

"We didn't know what to do. Then he showed up and Cordelia recognized him. But we thought it was too late," she said, shivering at the bad memory.

"I think he thought I would stay knocked off till sunrise, and he didn't bother to tie me up too hard. It saved me. I managed to free myself a few seconds before the sun hit the grave and crawled under
that bush."

"Let's forget about it, okay? It's way too painful. Let's just...forget about it."

She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed her forehead. "Ouch," his lips were still hurting.

"You need to rest some more. Go back to sleep."

"Only if you stay with me" he answered, already half-asleep.She closed her eyes, entwined their fingers. Now that he was back where he belonged in her arms and her bed- she could finally rest peacefully.

Later that evening, the couple came down. Spike was feeling much better, even if his bruises were still apparent.

Dawn rushed to him. "You promised," she told him with a reproachful glance.

"I'm still here," he said. "Okay, it was very close this time." He kissed her and she hugged him.

"Where is Riley?" Buffy asked.

"I called Graham earlier," Willow said. "He came and took care of him."

"I wonder what will happen to him."

"I thought you said you wanted to forget about it," Spike reminded her.

"So, Buffy, Spike Don't you have something to tell us?"

Buffy blushed. "I never wanted you to learn it like that. It just happened. But we're sure about this. So I hope you'll be okay with it too."

"I had guessed something was going on," Dawn said. "And I'm really glad for you two."

"And I will not be the one blaming you for loving a vampire," Cordelia added softly.

Buffy watched Willow, could see her friend was feeling a little hurt for having been left out of her best friend's confidence. But the redhead finally managed a smile. "I think I understand," she finally said." If you're happy...then I am too." She hugged Buffy then Spike.

The vampire smiled, relief. "Well, that went on rather easily."

Willow shot him an ironic look. "You think? Wait till Xander comes back."

Angel got up. "I think it's time for us to go back to LA, then."

"Wait!" Tara said. "I have something for Cordelia."

She went to the kitchen and came back with a bottle full of clear liquid. She handed it to Cordelia.

"I made some research, today, and came up with this. It's a remedy for the migraines caused by...uh, unnatural forces. It'll take away the pain immediately. Just put two or three drops in some water. And
it's harmless, of course."

Cordelia hugged her very tightly. "Thank you...you're saving my life."

"Not only yours," Angel added softly. "Thank you, Tara."

"Let me help you with that." Spike took one of their bags, as did Willow. Cordelia was holding Connor and they all went to the car. Buffy and Angel stayed behind.

She turned to him. "Thanks for everything," she said.

He shrugged. "I'm glad everything went fine. I would have hate to bury Spike a second time."

"You still care about him?"

"I supposed...in a weird, vampire way." He watched the younger vampire outside for a moment then said, "Don't hurt him."

"I won't. I love him too much."

"That's precisely my point."

"You survived."

"Barely...but yes, I did."

"Be happy with Cordelia...well not that happy, of course. And if you need anything...call me. Call us."

He smiled, and they hugged for a moment, before going to the car. They all said their goodbyes. Spike leaned on Connor's car seat. "Bye, Uncle Connor," he said and Dawn giggled.

Angel turned to him. "I don't have time to watch you back, so try to avoid ex-boyfriends."

"Does that include you?"

"If I had wanted to get rid of you, I would have done it a century ago. Take good care of her."

"I will."

The car left the alley and the little group came back inside the house. "Well, I don't know about you but I'm beat," Willow said.

"I think I win on that one" Spike smirked.

"Right. Sorry. I'd better go to bed."

Dawn yawned and kissed everyone. "I'll do the same. Good night."

Spike looked at Buffy with a mischievous grin. "I think I'm going to lay down and rest...and I may need a nurse."

She gave him an innocent smile. "I can call the hospital and ask for one." Then, as he was watching her, "Unless you mean that kind of nurse."

"Exactly."

"Then I think I can do something for you," she whispered, savoring his mouth on hers.

The doorbell rang. "I can't believe this!" Spike yelled. "Who is it now?" He opened the door.

"Xander! Anya! So nice to see you, guys!" Willow and Tara were back downstairs, alerted by the noise. Everybody was talking at the same time.

"How was Hawaii?"

"Did you have nice weather?"

"I can't believe you're back already!"

"I need a bloody beer."

"We're sorry for showing up so late" Xander said. "But we wanted to see you."

"Do you want something to drink?" Buffy asked.

She went into the kitchen, followed by Spike. Xander watched them with a strange look. "Excuse me for asking, but...What is Spike doing here at this time of the night?"

Willow and Tara looked at each other, then smiled. "Uh, Xander...maybe you could sit down."

FIN - THE END