Spike didn't rightly know why he enjoyed the old flick so much that he sat utterly captivated for the entire run, but ever since he'd first caught it in 1986, Ferris Bueller's Day Off had become a fast favorite. He couldn't quite explain why he enjoyed it so, perhaps it was Ferris' rebellious genius streak, or Cameron's despair he was attracted to, but he told himself it was the Ferrari and Sloan's long creamy legs....that and the riotous rendition of the old tune, Beatles version of course. Irrespectively he settled into the couch in the Summer's home with a cuppa O-Neg a bag of Chips A'Hoy for dipping to enjoy his movie. The Slayer didn't mind that he was alone in her house, in actuality he was quite welcome and often spent time there when no one else was about. For one thing, they had a microwave and he liked his blood warm, secondly their television got better reception than his, thirdly and most importantly the place was permeated with everything his senses could detect about the Slayer.

His life was both strange and contented at present. He and Buffy had come to an understanding, they'd even talked it out. They were more than friends, reluctantly no longer lovers, but they were closer now than they'd ever been in bed. Best yet, they were dating, as Buffy so casually put it, even though it meant the world to him. Spending quality time with her and Dawn was his own little piece of Heaven, now that he had thatm he could manage having a funny walk on the way home after his dates with the Slayer and having them not end up naked.

He waited patiently for Buffy and Dawn to come home, the day was closing out and they'd be having dinner together, most likely Doublemeat Medleys. He chortled to himself when on the screen when Ferris duped the poofter at the restaurant...Sausage King of Chicago indeed, but flipped off the telly when he heard a key in the front door. Buffy came through the door in jubilance, her arms weighed down by bags of greasy fast food,"Oh! You're early....here, gimme hand, is Dawn home from Janice's yet?" she said with a wide, bright smile, a smile just for him.

"Evenin' Slayer...Bit's not here...just you n' me...soooooo??" he inquired as he helped her with the food. He seemed almost giddy to hear the news he'd been waiting all day for. Buffy gave him a little quirk of a smile and headed into the kitchen,"SLAYER!??!" He followed after her in a jiffy and dumped the food on on the counter. She turned around and raised her fists in the air.

"Buffy Summers is officially an EX-employee of the Doublemeat Palace!!" she declared.

"You got it! You bloody got it?!" he exclaimed throwing his arms around her and lifting her into a spin before setting her back on the floor,"I'm so proud of you, Buffy, I knew you'd get it."

"All because of you.....it was your idea, your help, all those hours of practice...I can't thank you enough."

"Sure you can, free drinks."

"It's a deal, what's the good of being a bartender at the hottest new club town if you can't get your friends free drinks?"

"Too rights...tell me how it went, your interview...didja use my suggestions?" She went to task at unpacking the last Doublemeat meal she swore she'd ever have."Or did they take one look at you in those tight black leathers and hire you on the spot."

"I think the pants helped....but yet yeah, I did it your way. Don't look so smug." He snuck a French fry from her and nibbled on it, not trying in the least his own self-satisfaction."I didn't go all Tom Cruise and Cocktail...but one guy spun a bottle of Bacardi Anejo around when he was making a rum and coke and it ended up flying out on to the dance floor. I just made 'em efficiently and well...and then added your secret ingredients - the burba weed in the Caesar was the clincher I think."

"Told you 100 years of unabashed alcoholism had done me some good." She reached over and grasped his hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Thank you, Spike, I couldn't have done it without you...this is really gonna work out great for me, I can feel it. The money's good, the hours are great - nocturnal - but great, there's tips.....and I don't have to be ashamed of the uniform!"

"There's a uniform?"

"Well, not so much a uniform as a couple of triangles and some string." She reached into her back pocket and withdrew a barely in existence shimmering silver bikini top. Spike's eyes widened, he wasn't quite sure if he was turned on or repulsed by the idea of his Slayer parading around half naked mixing drinks for every man with money and a libido in Sunnydale. He decided on the latter, being too possessive to ever let something so tiny slide by without protest.

"I hope you've still got that striped orange polyester get-up, love, cause there's no way my woman's putting herself on display for all scum of SunnyHell to drool over!!" Buffy took his hand and stuffed the offending garment into his palm.

"Put your ego back in your pants, I told them to forget it....I'll dress right for the place, but I'm no hobiscuit...my virtue is safe....well as safe as it possibly can be with you around." He put the bikini top in his own pocket and advanced on her, turning on the charm and giving her one of his patented seductive vampire leers.

"And when pray tell do I finally get to put your virtue in danger again?" He was so close she could feel the sexual energy radiating off him in heavy thrums. Before she was even aware of it, her palms were on his hard chest, but not pushing him away.

"Soon...if you keep playing your cards right." A Cheshire grin spread across his face as he leaned in and bestowed a sweet, small kiss on the tip of her nose.

"I've got something for you."

"Really? What is it?" He dug into his other back pocket and held up a wad of cash between them,"Spike! Oh my god!"

"It's for you and Dawn....this should help you two along, pay some bills...buy yourself a few nice things."

"How much it there...wait, I can't take......what did you do?" She took a step back and gave him a scrutinizing glare.

"Don't get your knickers in a knot, Slayer...the money's mine. I sold some jewelry that used to belong to Drusilla.....got about $5000 for the lot....probably worth alot more, but the Antiques Roadshow wasn't in town. And you can and you will take all my money...you and the Nibblet are my girls and I should take care of you."

"You don't have to do this..."

"No, its cause I want to....here, it's your's." He placed the money in between her hands and closed them around the bills with his own.

"You're amazing sometimes, you know that?"

"Yeah, I know." Raising herself on to the tips of her toes she kissed him, deep and soulful, leaving Spike nearly weak kneed. Their moment was brought to a screeching halt by the slamming of the front door and a teenager's feet pounding like a Roman army up the stairs, followed by another slammed door. Buffy and Spike exchanged identical looks of concern before going after what was presumed to be Dawn. They soon stood before the teenager's closed door, her muffled crying still audible.

"Dawn?" Buffy asked softly as she rapped on the door,"Can I come in?"

"Go away!!" came Dawn's anguished voice sobbed. Spike put his hand on the door, the girl's crying yanking rather than tugging at his heart strings.

"Dawn?" he called gently. No reply came, which Buffy took as an almost permission to open the door. She lay on her side on her bed, facing away from them and clutching at a pillow. Buffy sat down next to her sister and rubbed her arm, stroked her hair, calming the girl somewhat.

"Sweetie you can tell us....it'll be okay, what happened?" Buffy asked in a quiet, soothing voice. Spike came round and sat at the foot of the bed, trying to give his girl support by his mere presence. Instead his gesture was reciprocated by Dawn kicking him off the bed.

"Bloody hell, what was that for?!" She started throwing pillows and stuffed animals at him.

"You! You and your whole stupid, nasty race!!" Dawn yelled through another flood of tears.

"Vampires?" Spike asked, letting her take her anger out on him.

"MEN!!! I hate you!" Buffy and Spike immediately looked to each other and jumped to the same conclusion.

"Dawn...." Buffy began, her voice catching in her throat over the fear of the possibility,"Did....did some boy do something to you? Did someone...." When her sister's reply wasn't immediate, Spike grew intensely angry, violently angry. He rose to his feet with fists clenched and jaw tight, cheeks sunken in and the demon clawing at the surface to be released on one person...whoever dared do harm to Dawn.

"Tell me his name...." demanded Spike, his voice as coarse as gravel. His sudden anger startled the teenager and as she looked between her sister and the vampire, realizing how they'd misunderstood her.

"Oh....no....no....nothing like that!" Dawn quickly explained, getting up from the bed and hugging Spike,"I'm sorry..." He hugged her back and led her back over to sit between him and Buffy on the bed.

"It's no worry, Nibblet...but tell me and big sis what's got you all worked up."

"It's stupid...nothing I probably should have gotten all upset about."

"Dawn, you can trust us with any problem," Buffy assured her,"Doesn't matter what it is..."

"Well, it's dumb and I'll get over it..."

"Go on, Bit, it's us..." Spike seconded. Dawn cast her eyes downwards, giving little sniffles as she stopped herself from crying.

"His name's Eric, Eric Boyd...see there's this new club, the Cordova, supposed to be cooler than the Bronze..."

"It is, pet...." Spike quipped, winking an eye to Buffy.

"Me n' Janice and Kelly, we all wanna go to the 'all ages' night next week. I wanted Eric to ask me...Janice and Kelly talked me into asking him instead....so....so I went up to him when he was with his friends. He let me babble on and make a fool of myself....."

"And then he laid the big rejection on yah, huh? Stupid git...probably reveled in having his friends around for the show too."

"Yeah...it was humiliating...he said that he wouldn't be caught dead with a freak like me...'cause of the rumors last year when I cut myself...and then he said something not nice about my nose...." Buffy put her arms around her sister's shoulders and hugged her.

"I know this sucks, Dawn....but it's not the end of the world....remember my Parker story?" Dawn nodded her head, her mood improving as she shared the understanding with her sister.

"Listen, Dawn...I know two things here...first, Eric's a wanker - that's a guarantee; second you're absolutely breathtaking, I mean it." She smiled shyly at him, Spike never lied to her.

"Thank you." At that same time Buffy shared a smile with him too.

"I have a solution," Buffy announced,"You, Janice and Kelly are going to the Cordova and you're getting VIP treatment."

"Why's that?" Dawn replied.

"Well, as the bartender's sister there's perks!"

"That's where your interview was for!!? Oh my god! Congratulations....this is so awesome!!"

"There's something else, Platelet...I came into a spot of dosh today n' passed it on to big sis. I'm sure she can be persuaded to spend a lil' on you....something smashing to put all others to shame?" Dawn put her arms around both of them, her outlook improved beyond the stratosphere.

"I should have a crisis every day!"

***

Later that week, on the aforementioned all-ages night, Buffy Summers was having a blast on her third night manning the bar. There were in actuality three spread out around the immense building and her station was shared with another beautiful young girl named Scarlet who matched her name in every description with dark eyes and rusty colored hair. She was also a definite firecracker and fit the bill as Hogs n' Heffers style drink slinger if ever there was one. Buffy on the other hand was just having her own kind of fun, trying to get comfortable in her new job, but still having fun. She treated each order as a demon to be slain, doing it with flare and cunning, only her stakes were now those adorable mini swords through the pimento hearts of olives. She had to admit she'd definitely moved up in the world from the Doublemeat Purgatory she'd spent the past few months in. The Cordova was six times the size of the Bronze and attracted an older, more sophisticated crowd, ones that she quickly learned tipped well if you flirt with the men and pay attention to the women when they spoke. The ceilings were high and the interior was metallic and dark with accents of chrome everywhere and all furniture and the bars made of clear industrial plexiglas.

The music was always an eclectic mix, from classic rock tunes to electronica, depending on what the DJ decided to flavor the atmosphere with. The fact that he was part Racnar Demon did not escape her, apparently his mortal mother had been a groupie in the 70s, but Bax wouldn't reveal which member of the 70s supergroups had been said Racnar. Buffy had no qualms working with mild mannered demons, after tuning into the fact that being of a less thant human species doesn't necessarily make one evil. So much so that her meeting with the club's owner had gone extremely well, Heist was a green skinned, red eyed demon from a realm called Pyleal; his cousin Lorne ran a club in LA.

Things were definitely improving in Buffy's world and jumped another notch higher when she spied the devastating and sinisterly attractive blond sitting at the end of her bar. He had been staring at her for some time, admiring the lowriding red leather pants she sported with the black halter top, hair gelled and creative. She definitely had the knack for the gig, she was enjoying herself too. They'd spent a good three weeks together with him teaching her how to-s of mixing every drink under the sun. He'd approached her with the idea after one date when she complained that she could mix a better margarita than the one she'd been served. The prospect didn't appeal to her, but after a little prodding and his offer to serve as both instructor and guinea pig, she acquiesced. Many a time he'd got so royally sloshed on a wide variety of drinks that he slipped into a rather William-esque mode and tried to woo the Slayer with sappy professions of love. Buffy had usually helped him to bed and left him to his own devices....not every time however, though she'd left after their drunken tryst before he'd wakened again. Buffy often remembered and wondered if he ever questioned how he ended up naked in his own bed when his last memory had been of China White shots.

The Slayer swaggered over to him and leaned over the glass expanse of the bar, giving him a generous view of her cleavage."You look good....steal something new?" she purred, her face mere inches from his. She couldn't see the full effect of his ensemble, but it was definitely not his usual fodder. In the blue hued light of the club the color of the form fitted Chinese style suit he wore appeared as black as pitch. Whatever the fabric was it seemed to absorb the light like a black hole, he was darker than a starless sky and he reflected nothing. Spike looked decidedly posh, his nails immaculately painted black, his hair slicked and showing dark roots, his eyes gleaming like a new moon.

"I did...like it, pet?"

"It's a little....uh.....Lestat...but...I don't think I've ever seen you look hotter..."

"Good, I was goin' for something a lil' more brills than the dusty old leathers, hafta look spot on for this joint......but I didn't do it for you."

"No?"

"No....I did it for her...." Buffy followed Spike's gaze across the dance floor to the entrance of the Cordova as her sister and her friends walked in.

"What exactly are you doing for my sister?"

"Got the word that the prat that put our girl down is coming here tonight with his gang of midnight sheet waxers n' their tarts....I'm gonna help Dawn put on a show....as far as I remember I'm damn fine looking man....right?"

"Yes, but.....Spike...I'm not sure..."

"Shhh...trust me, love...." Spike leaned in and gave the Slayer a solid kiss on her lips and dashed away into the shadows.

***

Dawn took in a deep breath and lead the way for Janice and Kelly into the Cordova. They'd arrived in Janice's new car and bypassed the line that went around the block by informing the immense bouncer that manned the door of their connection to the bartender. Torch , as he was known, was aware to look for Buffy's sister and to treat her like gold. The red satin dress that Buffy had relented to allowing Dawn to buy was outstanding by way of comparison to the other patrons. It was something Buffy scowled at when Dawn came out of the change room, which confirmed to Dawn that is was perfect. Her arms were bare and the neck was high, but the back plunged dangerously low, with the hem just above her knees. She had matching heals and her hair was loosely swept up. The finishing touch came in the form of a wrist full of gold colored bangles. She turned more than a few heads when she made her entrance and she reveled in it. In the distance she caught Eric Boyd with his mouth gaping wide open, at risk of catching a few proverbial flies.

Janice and Kelly noticed it too as they stood on either side of their friend. Satisfied that she'd showed him, Dawn and her friends made for the opposite side of the club."I think that did it!" Janice proclaimed as they found a quiet corner.

"Totally....he's probably kicking himself for picking that skank hanging off his arm over you!" Kelly seconded.

"Who is she anyways?" Janice asked,"She cannot pull of anything cool in that leather mini dress! It's trashy."

"Just the dress itself," Dawn mused,"I think that's the point." A waitress came to their table and proceeded to place drinks down for them.

"Compliments of the house....peach juice, grenadine and seltzer...and a lil' something else," the waitress explained with a wink before going on about her business. As soon as Dawn took her first sip she knew what was giving the drink its bite, burba weed...Spike's favorite, and obviously Buffy's too.

"Maybe we should dance?" Kelly suggested. Just then they found themselves towered over by Eric and his friends, followed behind by their dates like the doting airheads they were meant to be. Eric was about to speak the entire atmosphere of their surroundings seemed to change. Something caught the attention of Janice and Kelly beyond Eric and his entourage and it made them gasp and feel lightheaded. The school boys stepped back as the bodies on the dance floor parted like biblical sea. A man was walking towards them, the fabric of his long coat billowing out behind him like the wings of ravens. He had a powerful, commanding gate to his walk; but seemed to float over the floor with supernatural grace and a look of resolve in his eyes with an undertone of pure liquid sex appeal. He was made of the night, born of the shadows and he had focused himself upon one person.

He stopped at the edge of the circle of teenagers, but looked only at Dawn, whose eyes were wider than a full moon's. He caught the shocked looks on the faces of everyone gathered and knew at least his introduction had been magnificent."Evening," he spoke, voice laced with prowess,"Come with me." He'd held his hand out to Dawn, but she was too awestruck to react. Eric got the idiotic idea in his head to stake a claim on her and stepped in front of him.

"I don't think she wants...." Eric began, his voice threatening to break.

"Mind yourself....boy." Was the reply he received coupled with a vehement look, but was clearly given as an order as well as a threat. The boy caught a glint of something dominant and feral in the stranger's eyes and it made his guts twist themselves in a most uncomfortable way. Attention was turned back to the young lady,"Dance with me." His face had become kind and endearing, blue eyes telling her to trust him. Dawn rose to her feet and to the amazement of her friends took the mysterious man's hand.

She found herself spirited away from them towards to melee of writhing bodies coming down from hours of dancing hard. The heavy guitar of a powerful old blues ballad permeated every molecule in the building, a beautiful slow song to move to."That dress just screams bite me....I'm surprised Buffy gave it the green light, pet," Spike joked as he brought Dawn into the crowd.

"What the hell are you doing??" Dawn hissed. His arms went around her waist as he kept their hands linked as they joined the fray.

"Showing that blighter that he's not good enough for you."

"Can you even dance, Spike?"

"Well, Bit, I can waltz and I can mosh....but I'm sure I can improvise....creature of the night here, it's in the blood...how to move to the music. If you want, though, you can tell me to sod off n' I'll disappear." Dawn wrapped her arm around his shoulders and let him lead, shaking her head.

"No...I don't want you to go."

"Good....I always wanted a dance with you."

"Yeah?"

"Truth. I think it's working.....they're all standing over there staring at us."

"Well, duh...look at you...where'd you get this outfit....it's so....so...."

"Poncy...you can say it."

"No, it's good, you look good.....like you just walked off a catwalk in New York or Paris something. I'm impressed."

"Well, I stole it."

"Of course you did....Buffy scold you?"

"Nah....she's used to it....if it makes you feel better he was a rich young prat with a Viper...won't miss a suit n' some boots." Dawn giggled at the very thought of Spike going to so much trouble just to look good for her.

"Are they still watching us?"

"Un-huh."

"You know....a kiss would seal the deal..." Spike grinned an introverted little sentiment, looking slightly to the left from the girl he danced with.

"I can't kiss you," he said in an almost whisper,"You're not a girl anymore, that I know....but you'll always be the sweet young thing that used to hide behind Buffy whenever Dru n' I came 'round a terrorizin'...you're my Lil' Bit....I can't kiss you......"

"Not that kind of kiss....am I not even pretty enough for a pretend kiss?"

"Dawn, you are very beautiful....it would stop my heart, how beautiful you are..."

"If it beat."

"If it beat."

"So if..."

"If you were a little older and I wasn't forever hopelessly in love with your sister...yes."

"Thank you."

"Always."

"No kiss though?"

"Sure, what the hell....I'll give you a kiss." Dawn was surprised that his eyes began to close and he leaned down to her lips. Her breath caught in her throat and with each inch he came closer the butterflies in her stomach fluttered wildly. He was going to give her a real kiss. For a few seconds Spike's lips were on her's and even though it was sweet and chaste it was better than any kiss she'd ever had. He smiled when he pulled away, still dancing with her, still making her feel like the center of universe."You're blushing."

"Shut up...."

"I can't get Buffy to blush....I'm honored."

"Quiet you." She cuffed the back of his ear and then hugged him. Unexpectedly his body stiffened and he abruptly pulled her away from him."Spike?"

"Get your friends and go find Buffy..." She looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"I don't get it..."

"A whole brood of vamps just came in.....go!"

"But the bouncer wouldn't have let them in...."

"The bouncer's probably dead...would you get your bloody ass in gear already!" He gave her a shove in the right direction and headed towards the nine or so vampires that stood at the mouth of the club, looking at all the fresh, supple, young goodies they could sink their teeth into.

Dawn did care to take the time to explain to her friends, as well as Eric and his group what was going on, she simply took command as she'd seen her sister do so many times before and ordered them to go with her. Her friends were trusting, but confused and went along. Leading the pack, Dawn headed straight to her sister.

"Dawn...." Buffy began as she came out from behind the bar.

"I know.....he told me...." Dawn replied, deliberately mistepping using Spike's name, hoping maybe despite the general mayhem that was about to arise, she might still hold on to the myth that they had created.

"You see the red door there...that's the owner's office....take your friends and head for cover..."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Hopefully keep my job." Buffy headed in the direction of the front entrance as Dawn went back to convincing her friends that they should now go to the back room.

"Dawn.....what the hell's going on here? Who was that guy," Janice demanded.

"He's.....he's just a guy....but he told me that some...uh.....Mafia guys....just came in....that they could be dangerous....he wanted me to get us to safety..." Dawn rambled off as she made up a story. Janice put her hands on her hips and gave Dawn a look of total and utter disbelief."What?"

"Dawnie, if it's vampires just say it's vampires.....we all grew up in Sunnydale you know."

"Fine....yes, it's vampires....now move it!"

Meanwhile Spike had made his way over to the vamps that had chosen the Cordova as their buffet for the night. There were precisely nine vampires, three females and six males. Each were dressed in the same fashion as Spike himself, expensive clothing that was definitely not off the rack,"Walked out of a bloody Anne Rice novel..." Spike muttered to himself as he swiped a cigarette from the mouth of a club patron as he made his way to confront the interlopers. He took a long drag on the cigarette, noting it happened to be his preferred brand. He stalled his approach at the edge of the dance floor, guaranteeing he'd be the first one the vampires met. He'd crossed his arms in front of his chest and stood tall and confidant, with jaw clenched and cheekbones fiercely pronounced, looking as commanding as one from the line of Aurelius should.

Spike took another offering from the cigarette then flicked it away, making sure it landed precisely on the shoes of the apparent leader of the pack. Spike smirked in contrast to the other vampire's death threat of a glare. The level of sheer malevolence radiating off of the tall vampire with long black hair was rivaled only by Angelus to Spike's mind, which naturally made the young blond chuckle. He knew exactly how to deal with poncy buggars with delusions of grandure."I dare say that was an unwise move," the Dracula clone seethed,"What is this place to you....it's too new to be considered your territory."

"On the contrary, mate...I moved in on Sunnydale four seasons ago.....there hasn't been a vamp or demon that has taken me down since...and I'm doubt you've got the chops for even one round."

"An aire of overconfidence usually denotes a man of little stature...I am Lothos...your name?"

"It's Spike, not as poncy as Lothos I'm afraid.....well, come to think of it, wasn't always Spike....used to be William the Bloody....that's page 148 of your Big Bad Vampires No to Fuck With manual....you youngins must have gotten yours when you were sired, what? last Tuesday? I hate insipid wankers who don't know their place....I also hate their lame assed minions who look like they were rejected from a New Orleans Goth society." His closing comment had obviously incensed the minions, which only fueled Spike's fire.

"You're William the Bloody? Killer of two Slayers......you?" Spike shrugged off the young vampire's disbelief.

"Those were the old days...I've found that there are better things to do with Slayers than killing them."

"Indeed?" A hand curled its fingers over Spike's shoulder, the strong and capable hands of the Slayer. Buffy was at his side, inconspicuously slipping a stake under his arm as she joined her partner before the coming fight.

"Yeah....I much prefer the way he handles Slayers now," said Buffy as held a stake in her hand,"Tell you guys what...I'm feeling generous tonight...leave now and don't come back and you won't get dusty....fair enough?"

"Oh in case you blighters haven't clued in....she's another Slayer," Spike added with a grin. The minions of the ridiculously named vampire slipped into their demonic personas, when noticed by the patrons of the club it sent the place into pandemonium.

"Guess it's the way of the dusting...." Buffy sighed. Two of the males went straight for the Slayer herself, while another two went for Spike; Lothos stepped back into the shadows in search of prey with his last minion and the women fielding themselves into the melee of the panicked crowd. Buffy's first opponent tried for her face with a right hook which was easily blocked by the Slayer and followed by her arm snaking around his and popping his shoulder out. Holding on to his arm she sent him back until he lost his footing and fell to the floor, priming him for the stake into his heart. By now the second vamp had come around with arms outstretched to strangle or break her neck. Buffy sensed and anticipated the attack and grabbed its wrists and sent it soaring into the wall. In one fluid motion she hurtled the stake right on target.

Spike made short order of the two vampires that had come for him, the first zigged when he should have zagged and caught Spike's stake from under his ribs, a solid shank that pierced the heart. The second found his head crushed into a steal beam before the wooden weapon obliterated him. Buffy had gone to task on the remaining vampires while Spike set his sights on the flamboyant, prissy and painfully irritating Lothos. He spied the other vampire on the top balcony, supping on a terrified girl no older than Dawn.

With supernatural speed he soared up the stairway to reach them before the girl was drained dry. Lothos tossed her limp, but still living body away when Spike for raged after him,"We are brothers! Why do you kill your own kind?" Lothos asked as he haunched his shoulders forward in a feral manner, ready to engage Spike in a split second if he made the motion.

"We are not brothers, Snow White....I'm Aurelian, you're.....you're just a Lestat wannabe with stupid hair and all the brilliance of a a gas station washroom. It comes down to this.....I love the Slayer, so I Iove what the Slayer loves....that also means I hate what the Slayer hates and that's you."

"You deny your own kind and side with the one chosen to kill us?!"

"Do I really need to repeat myself? Hello? You evil vampire.....I kills evil vampires when they don't buggar off when told to...should we take a moment for my to sketch you a terrific diagram??"

"Never have I encountered such anathema to our race...." Spike rolled his eyes and scratched the back of his head, disinterested in his opponent's rant.

"Listen, mate, I came up here looking for a fight, not a contest to see who spends the most time looking through their thesaurus before beddy-byes.....can we start beating on each other....please??"

"You are unworthy....I will not lower myself to engage such a plebian.....you have no class, no majesty...."

"Yeah...again, line of Aurelius here, major bragging rights...I think we know who's go the longest fangs here....oh screw it..." Spike lunged for Lothos, surprising the over confidant vamp and grabbing him by the collar and throwing him into the wall. Spike throttled Lothos with rotary punches and hard horizontal lines with his elbows. Eventually the poofier of the two found a second of lucidity in the beating he was getting and managed to push Spike off him,"There yah go....so you're not a total git....got a lil' fight in yah......" Lothos made a clumsy haymaker at Spike, which he dodged and wove under to give his opponent an upper cut into the guts. For the second round Spike wasn't so lucky and was hit with a fist across his temple. The blow was much harder than Spike would have expected and it left him momentarily dazed. The stake was kicked away and out of his reach and Spike was tossed into the railing across the top balcony. Lothos had the upper hand, but took a moment to break a piece of steel bar from the industrial face of the back wall.

Just as Spike was ready for round three he was hit hard across the back with the bar, crushing his ribs between it and the railing of the balcony. He took four heavy blows before slumping to the ground, however Spike was used to toughing it out in a fight, three Slayers had taught him that. He stopped the fifth swing from Lothos with his hand and took the bar from him, tossing it away. Lothos kicked for the blond vamp's midsection, but Spike was already crouching one his feet. He caught the foot and sent his enemy flying back and before Lothos had another opportunity Spike retrieved the stake and plunged it through the vampire's heart."I was wrong...you are a total git."

***

Once Cordova's was silent and empty, save for Heist who'd retired to his apartment above the club, Buffy's sole attention turned to Spike who came down from the top balcony clutching his ribs."Hey love..." he spoke with a wince. Stumbling down the last few steps and grabbing on to the railing to keep himself upright. Buffy rushed to him and immediately supported his weight and helped him to a seat by the closest bar."M'ribs are cracked..." She eased him down on a barstool and kept her arm around his back while she lovingly rubbed his chest with the other.

"You'll be okay though, right?" The deep concern in her voice touched him more than words could ever say.

"Yeah....right as rain in no time....but I'm just gonna sit here in pain for a bit if that's alright...hurts like a bloody mofo...everyone dusty who should be? Dawn get home alright?"

"All vamps but mine are sufficiently staked through the heart, Dawn's on her way home, made sure they got to Janice's car safely. You did good tonight...Heist wants to hire you to man the door..." Spike laughed to himself, scratched his chin.

"Well, it would be nice to be close to you more......money's good?"

"Pretty good..."

"Maybe...I've never actually had a job before....he doesn't mind a vampire working for him?"

"Well he made a comment on the sly about the virtues of having the Slayer around...so I'm sure he'll be kosher with having her partner too. Besides you did save his patrons from ensanguination - and let's be serious, honey, he's a demon...you pass go and collect $200 bucks for being just a plain ol' vampire."

"Partner?" Of course that would be the point he'd reiterate. She rolled her eyes at him and gave his hair a lil' tug.

"That's what I said...we should wrap your ribs, it'll help you heal a little faster if your midsection's stable." Not that he was about to protest, but before he could say another word she started to undo the buckles that trailed down his torso,"I'm glad the jacket's okay....I really like it...even if it's not your style."

"I might be persuaded to wear it again, especially if I'm working here...gots ta fit the part n' all."

"You won't last a week and we both know it." She pushed the fabric off his shoulders and pulled the jacket down off his arms,"Mmmm...bare chest of Spike..." She played her fingers over his pectorals, but frowned when she reached lower and saw his torso was covered in darkening bruises.

"I remember when you used to find the mere thought of me repulsive...let alone getting all swooning o'er my chest."

"That's not it...I don't like it when you're beat up...brings back bad memories."

"Me too, pet.....but don't fret o'er me, I've come back from alot worse than broken ribs."

"At my hand most of the time."

"I'm not thinkin' like that and nor should you.....didn't you say something about patching me up?"

"Right....right....." Buffy went away to the back office for a moment and came back with a first aid kit and a large tensor bandage."Can you lift your arms a bit?" He complied and she began to wrap his midsection tightly. She held the end of the bandage at his back and circled around behind him with the little hooks that would hold it in place.

"Spike? When did you get a tattoo?!?" He looked over his shoulder as if trying to see it again, if he tried really hard and arched his neck in a contortionist sort of way he could make it out, it wasn't as if a mirror would do him any good.

"Oh that....right....well, kind of a whim. Not too long after Harris and Demon Girl's non-wedding...." She ran her fingers over the marks on the upper left portion of his back, tracing every aspect of the artwork. It wasn't very big, lines in the semblance of the Roman numeral three, each about and inch and a half long, half an inch apart and drawn like what the strokes of a Chinese ink brush would make. The first two lines were as black as pitch while the third was blood red.

"It's interesting...what does it mean?"

"Thought you'd have guessed, pet. I got it because of you...because I thought we really were through....wanted something to remember you by." She looked at the lines again trying to figure out just how the tattoo related to her; and then it dawned on her....two black and one red...two killed and one loved.

"Your three Slayers?"

"That's right, love."

"Wow."

"Does it bother you?"

"No...actually, I think I'm kinda honored." His body involuntarily jolted at her admission, he stood up from his barstool and looked at her for signs that she meant what she'd just said. "What? It's not like I put notches in my stakes...I'd have whittled them down to tooth picks by now. But for a vampire three Slayers is a pretty big deal, right? I think it's kinda sexy..." He arched his eyebrow and his lips parted a slight bit to let out a sliver of a gasp.

"Do you now?" he asked, recovering and easing back into the seductive tone he'd been trying to set since she'd taken his jacket off,"How sexy?"

"I think my virtue's in danger....mortal danger."

"Calls for CPR..."

"I'm feeling a 911...."

"Buffy, love?"

"Yes?"

"Can we cut with the bloody metaphors and get on top of the bar already?"