Twists of Fate - (13) Wheels in Motion

by Tasha & Athenewolfe
(Athenewolfe)

Previous Chapter Summary: Big time confrontations happened in Chapter 12 between Buffy and Angelus. Spike also came face to face with a woman from his past, Cecily. Now Halfrek, a vengeance demon, he found out that she was the one who removed the chip. Willow was given notice that she and Amy were to vacate the house to "new" owners.

Current Chapter Summary: Giles, in his overprotective and misguided fashion, tries to make things "easier" on Buffy. He's really trying to do it make his own life easier because he's frustrated with everything. Spike and Buffy come to separate realizations about their lives and each other. Angel is unaccounted for, probably licking his wounds somewhere.

Disclaimer and Distribution notes are listed on the Index page of this story.

'Single' quote marks surround thoughts in this story. "Regular" quotes are around spoken words.


Giles ran his hand through his hair. He couldn't believe that he allowed the Council to manipulate him like this. Only one day remained until he was supposed to be out of this god-forsaken country, and the Council pulled enough strings to rearrange his travel. He was quietly informed that he must remain long enough to get Faith settled in Sunnydale. Then he would be allowed to return to Council headquarters. They offered him a new position doing research in the Council libraries and a first class ticket to England that left in another eight days.

To be fair, it was an excellent deal. Faith would be released tomorrow, and he was expected to pick her up and bring her back to Sunnydale. The remaining time would allow him to investigate Anya's anxiety about Willow's magic usage. Willow's lack of control, or care for the consequences, was clearly escalating if the former vengeance demon was concerned.

There was also the whole issue of Dawn being taken into protective services by the state. Clearly that wasn't acceptable. Dawn was still a magical key, and the state could hardly be expected to protect her adequately. Either Dawn had to be retuned to Buffy ... or perhaps the Council could take custody.

Giles wouldn't tell the Council that Dawn was the key. Perhaps if he mentioned that the Slayer would be more effective without a younger sibling to look after, they would agree to his terms.

Dawn could be quite useful in the Council. She was already becoming proficient in a variety of demon and foreign languages. She seemed to be a natural linguist. If they encouraged her to undergo Watcher training it would be advantageous to both Dawn and the Council's future. Who knew what powers the key might have?

Giles picked up the phone, after he crossed the room, to start some preliminary research. He needed to find out where Dawn was located. Then he needed to know if child services would be willing to release her to "family", as long as it was not Buffy.

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Spike awoke as the sun began its downward turn for the evening. This was quickly becoming his favorite part of the day. As the sun was setting he would linger in bed. The treated glass allowed him to enjoy the fleeting remnants of the sun as they played on Buffy's face.

Spike never thought he would experience the feel of the sun on his face, and it was one of his worries about Buffy transition into her new life as a vampire. Yet, it seemed that every fear he held about Buffy's turning was disappearing as time passed. Even his dismay at taking the sun away from her seemed to be inconsequential. While they could never sunbathe on the beach, they could on the porch.

As time passed, and Buffy ingested more Sire and human blood, she would grow stronger. Her abilities to withstand the sun, the desire for night hours, and raging hunger would pass. Already she had a sense of control that surpassed a level that many fledges took years to accomplish. She made a beautiful demon and a magnificent Childe. It was only right that once she was past the fledgling stages, she would adjust her hours to suit her own personal desires.

Buffy's ability to become a Master Vampire was rapidly becoming apparent, and he was proud. Her successful battle against Angelus, and her iron-clad control around Dawn and Tara contributed to this theory.

All of the issues he worried about: the sun, her soul, her demon, and most importantly her happiness, seemed to be disappearing. Buffy had adjusted to her life as a vampire, and she seemed to have mostly recovered from the horrible events that surrounded her death. The only true worries that remained all revolved around her friend's reactions to her death and the trauma of her death. 'I wonder if Val knows of any demon counselors?'

As Spike drifted back to sleep, he pondered what the next few days would bring. Now that Angelus had discovered Buffy's vampiric nature, the remaining Scoobies would know quickly. He needed to check with Valerie about strengthening the general protective wards around the family. He wouldn't surprised if the Scoobies were already sharpening their stakes and preparing for battle.

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Giles slammed down the phone. "How dare that haughty woman use that tone with me?" He ground out bitterly. Invoking confidentiality laws and privacy concerns she refused to give out any information regarding Dawn Summers. He hadn't even made it passed his introduction when she had so rudely interrupted him.

Giles wanted to obtain the necessary information from social services. He knew of one way that he could get it. Reluctantly he picked up the phone and made another call to London, England.

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Buffy awoke and stretched out. She enjoyed the last few rays of sunshine that danced across her body. She never would have believed that she would feel this content or happy again, especially as a vampire. Being pulled out of heaven had broken her. It left her feeling lost, and she felt as if her soul had been battered and torn.

Death had caught up with her in the form of a vile human who never deserved the consideration of humanity. She still remembered the feeling of helplessness that had overtaken her. She shivered at the moment of realization that her only survival would be to submit and then escape when the man, no when the creature, who held her lowered his guard.

Buffy never thought that her only true escape would come from death. She never imagined that her salvation would come from a blond vampire who refused to let her leave this world again. Spike was such an enigma, a puzzle to solve that would take her an unlifetime to completely figure out.

Buffy laid in bed, and she mused how the trauma from the previous night had helped her heal in some ways. Angelus had always been her biggest fear. The former love of her life losing his soul and turning against her was a reoccurring nightmare for the young Slayer. Always in her dreams he came, they fought, and she was helpless as her life was drained away from her.

Facing Angelus, and winning, liberated her. Buffy was a powerful Slayer and a vampire as well. More than that she was a strong woman. She had faced one of her biggest fears alone, with no back up, and emerged gloriously triumphant. She finally defeated the bastard who first took her innocence. It was almost as satisfying as draining the person who ended her life. 'Almost, but not quite.'

For the first time since her return from heaven, Buffy felt like she was in control of her destiny. She felt complete, and knew she would survive the harsh world she had been thrust back into. She was reborn as a vampire, but she was also a Slayer. Although she originally had no choice in her death, Fate would no longer bend her to its will. She chose to walk back to Spike from the ether.

Yes, Buffy had been reborn a fighter for the cause of good, but nothing was as important to her as the realizations that occurred to her with perfect clarity. 'I am no longer just a weapon, a warrior or a friend.' She smiled. 'I am Buffy, a strong woman who has overcome all of the obstacles through my way, and now I have a chance at a new life. I am going to live it how I want to this time around.'

Buffy knew she had not been turned because she still had some mystical powers or an unfulfilled destiny. Spike simply loved who she was. He didn't turn the Slayer, as some would do, in order to gloat to other demons. He turned her because he loved her, all of her.

'No one will control me ever again,' Buffy thought to herself. As her Sire, Spike was able to control her in ways that no one else could before, but she knew that he wouldn't do that. Already, he'd proven that fact to their little family. He wanted her just as she was. There would be times they'd disagree on the right direction to go or what to do, but he wouldn't try to make all her decisions for her because he "knew best for her own good".

'My destiny is my own.' Buffy wept openly. She was her own person now. She had responsibilities, but she would fulfill them out of love not necessity. She was finally free. She hoped her old friends accepted that because if they didn't, she would leave them behind. All she needed was Spike and Dawn. They were everything to her.

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Giles hummed happily as he picked up his bag and headed out the door. He would head up to L.A. tonight and get a motel. Faith was to be released at 8 am, and he wanted plenty of time to get organized. His first stop would be to Hank Summer's residence.

Quentin happily arranged a "meeting" with Mr. Hank Summers to discuss hid daughter's care. His goal was to have Hank sign over guardianship to his old "family friend" Rupert Giles. With his power of attorney he could then expedite the process of obtaining a visa for Dawn. At least that is what Quentin told Giles.

The Watcher thought that he would be taking Dawn with him when he left America in 8 days. Quentin Travers knew better. He'd waited years for a time when he could pull the Slayer and her Watcher apart, and Rupert Giles just handed him the means on a platter.

While Giles felt proud of being an instrument to greatly relieve Buffy of any stress she had concerning the former key, Quentin gloated in England. While Giles was pleased that he was removing Dawn from the social services system, Quentin grinned to himself smugly about the rude awakening Rupert Giles was about to receive.

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Buffy gazed at her Sire. She watched him in his peaceful rest - unaware of the breakthroughs that Buffy had experienced. Her emotions were in turmoil, but over all there was a sense of happiness that she had cast aside the expectations of her former life. The realization that she didn't have to be the perfect Slayer, the perfect sister, or the perfect friend was liberating. She only had to be Buffy. She had fought her demons and won. Perhaps now she could heal from the trauma of everything she experienced right before her "death".

Buffy pondered a few other thoughts and conclusions. She wasn't positive that she was completely in love with Spike yet. She knew she cared deeply for him, and she thought she was falling the rest of the way in love with him. She told Angelus that she loved her Sire, but was she completely in love with Spike yet? She wanted to be.

Buffy swore to herself that she wouldn't tell Spike she loved him until she was absolutely positive of her feelings. She had no right to toy with his emotions, and she honestly loved him too much already to do that to him. Rubbing her head she decided that the semantics of the question were too much for her this early in the night. She knew that she was his, and he was hers. That would do for now.

Giving into her urges, Buffy reached across the bed. She slowly stroked the face of her now slumbering Sire. He was beautiful to behold. She leaned over gently, and her soft lips caressed his lips. She loved the feeling of him next to her, of his soft touches and reassuring smiles. She had never felt as safe as she did in her Sire's arms.

Unable to resist the temptation, Buffy bit Spike's lower lip. She sucked it into her mouth as she alternated between suckling and soft bites. She laughed quietly when Spike's arms automatically surrounded her, pulling her even closer as he groaned her name. She had no doubts who and what he was dreaming about.

With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Buffy pulled back and decorated his chest with a series of soft kisses and gentle nips. She ran her tongue lazily around his nipples, and gently bit one then sucked on the other.

Buffy lost track of time as she explored her Sire's body. Hands and lips caressed Spike. With every touch she discovered how powerful she was. She took control of her life, her body, and her destiny with every slight movement.

A soft rumble stilled her hand, and Buffy looked up and met her Sire's gaze. His eyes communicated everything she needed to know. She felt his passion for her, his love, and his fear that he would push her too far. She laid one finger against his lips. "Shhhh, please Sire. Let me do this?"

Spike nodded his consent, and he struggled to keep his demon in control. The sensations Buffy created with her gentle touch were almost too much. He watched as she traced her tongue across his frame: licking him, tasting him, and devouring him with her tongue. This was only the second time they'd touched like this, but this time she was the one in control.

As Buffy's mouth engulfed Spike's cock, all thoughts fled their minds but one, "This is glorious".

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