Title: Interview with a Vampire

Author: Gillian Silverlight

Distribution: TQ and Saber, as always, others just ask

Disclaimer: Josh and the WB own them, I just play with them

Summary: A/U The Master of the City of St. Louis has been sent to Spike by the Council.

Rating: PG

Interview With A Vampire

The phone rang waking her. She groaned and looked at the clock. It was 3:45 in the morning. Whoever it was had better have a damned good reason for calling her.

“Hello”

“Ah, ma petite, how pleasant to hear your voice.”

“It’s 3:45 Jean-Claude, what the hell are you doing calling me now?”

I do not wake up good, especially at 3:45am when I finally get a night off from emergencies with the police, or my normal job as an animator.

“You are usually awake now, ma petite.”

His voice was cool, soothing, with just a hint of apology.

“I was off tonight. And you haven’t answered the question.”

“Always business. Perhaps I wanted to hear your voice.”

He had that slightly wishful sound, but under neither was something not so wishful, just as business-like.

“Cut the crap Jean-Claude. Why did you call?”

The vampire sighed into the phone, “Very well, ma petite. If you will not play with me…”

“There is a town in California called Sunnydale. It sits on what is known as a Hellmouth. This is a place where various energies converge. There is someone there that has been brought to my attention. I have been asked by the Council to meet with them.”

“I guess that means they’re a vampire too?”

“Yes, ma petite. The situation is somewhat unusual this time.”

“I understand you are to go out there for a meeting of your own, regarding the recent legislation.”

“Yeah. And your point is?”

Jean-Claude would beat around the bush and play coy about even a simple conversation.

“This place has a vampire Slayer. This is different than a vampire executioner like yourself. Perhaps the girl would like to converse with you.”

“So you want to go out there with me, is that it?”

“Yes, ma petite.”

“You couldn’t call me at a decent hour to talk to me about this?”

“I apologize. As I said, I thought you would be awake.”

“Yeah, whatever. I leave tomorrow night. How do you want to do this?”

The arrangements were discussed and settled. She’d pick Jean-Claude up on her way to the airport.

********************************************

Anita Blake, Vampire Executioner and Jean-Claude, her vampire lover, pulled into Sunnydale in the car she had rented. She looked at the directions and decided where they needed to go first.

“Ok, Let’s go see this girl’s Watcher first. He’s suppose to be at a place called the Magick Box.”

“As you wish, ma petite. Perhaps he can tell me where to find this vampire I must speak with.”

Anita pulled up in front of the Magick Box and got out. Jean-Claude knew better than to open the door for her. They had been lovers for over a year now. She’d know him for much longer. He was the Master of the City of St. Louis.

She looked over at him. He was wearing a white silk shirt that set off the jet-black hair tumbling over his shoulders. The color also set off his deep midnight blue eyes. Just looking at him always made things in her body tight with desire for him.

She shrugged it off and they entered the shop. It was just after sunset, so she hoped all the people they needed to talk with were still there.

When she’d rented a car to drive to Sunnydale from LA, she’d made certain to get a van that would offer Jean-Claude protection from the sun during the daylight hours. He’d slept under a blanket in the back.

Anita sighed. It was just as well. He was basically dead during the day. He might be gorgeous to look at, but he was still a corpse and even though she loved him in her own way, it was a bit embarrassing to be sleeping with a corpse. Beside the fact that she’d never yet gotten up the courage to stay with him after dawn, once that beautiful body started to cool.

They walked into the shop to find several people sitting around a table. One was an older man wearing glasses. Next to him was a young woman of about 21, blonde, very pretty. Her eyes didn’t match the rest of her face though. They were much older, had seen a lot more.

* She has eyes like mine used to be. She’s seen too many nasty things, too much death. Bet she’s this Slayer. *

Next to her was a redhead about the same age. She was too bouncy by far. It made Anita’s teeth ache just to see her. She felt power from both women. It was a different kind from each of them, but it curled in the room, seeping off of them. Anita glanced at Jean-Claude. He’d noticed it too.

“May we help you with something?”

The older man spoke. He had a British accent. Bet this was the Watcher, whatever that was. Anita hadn’t figured that one out yet.

“My name is Anita Blake. This is Jean-Claude. We’re looking for Rupert Giles and Buffy Summers.”

“Might I ask why?” The man asked in a mild but curious tone.

“Sure ask away. Doesn’t mean you’re gonna get an answer unless you’re him.”

“Please excuse my partner. She is quite blunt all of the time. Might two of you be the two we seek? We mean no harm, but must speak with these two people.” Jean-Claude knew something of Watchers and if this older man was the one, he’d be very protective of his Slayer.

Anita gave Jean-Claude a ‘look’ but left it at that for the moment.

“You’re a vampire, aren’t you?” The blonde asked this of Jean-Claude.

“Yes. You are quite good. I assume you are Buffy Summers, the vampire Slayer.” Jean-Claude made this a statement, not a question. Her identifying him confirmed his suspicion. That meant the older man was her Watcher.

“Yeah. What did you want with me?”

“Ah, as blunt as ma petite.” Jean-Claude actually sounded sad.

“ Do you want us to discuss our business in front of everyone else?” Anita asked them abruptly.

The redhead stood up and extended her hand. Anita looked at it but did not take it. Jean-Claude stepped around her and took her hand, bowing as he kissed the back of it.

“Ah, I’m Willow. I’m Buffy’s friend”

“You taste of power, little one. I can feel it on the back on my tongue as I taste your hand with my lips.”

“Oh, I’m Wiccan. I’m a witch.”

“Just so…” He released her hand.

Buffy looked at them both. “Anything you have to say to me and Mr. Giles, you can say in front of Willow.”

Anita shrugged and sat down at the table with them.

**********************************************

About an hour later, Anita had explained who she was, what she was, who Jean-Claude was and what, their relationship, her reasons for seeking the Watcher and Slayer and then let Jean-Claude explain his need to find Spike, the Council and had answered most of the trio’s questions.

“So let me get this straight. You kill vampires but you’re not a Slayer. You’re dating a vamp, he doesn’t get all demon-faced. There is some big vampire Council in France, like the Watcher’s council in England. You need to talk to me; he needs to talk to Spike. He’s the Master of the City in St. Louis and you’re suppose to help us in some way?” Buffy asked them, trying to sum it all up.

“Yeah, that’s about it.” Anita answered a bit tensely.

“Ma petite gets a bit .. belligerent with questions. It is one of her flaws.”

“Jean-Claude, shut up!”

Buffy giggled a bit. “I see you have similar problems like I do with Spike.”

“Jean-Claude just likes pushing his luck.”

“You know that is one of the things you love about me, ma petite.”

“Later, Jean-Claude.”

“Yes… You may count on that.” The sound of Jean-Claude’s voice rippled down her spine like warm silk. Anita caught her breath slightly at the feel of it and what it promised for later.

“W-what WAS that!?” Buffy asked, blushing and looking from Anita to Jean-Claude and back.

“I am sorry, Buffy. Each of the various lines of vampires often has a particular talent. One of mine is that my voice may have a tactile quality to it. I did not mean to include you in its effects.”

“I didn’t feel anything, Buffy. What was it you picked up?” Giles was looking at his charge curiously.

“It was kinda like someone ran something warm and soft down my back all of the sudden. Not a bad feeling, but it was real wiggy.”

“Perhaps you noticed it where Willow and I did not due to your Slayer senses..”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Anita and Jean-Claude shared a look. Anita then turned to the blonde slayer.

“I’ll bet you’re more sensitive to things about vampires than most people. It’s because of what you are. Since I’m a necromancer, I’m just marginally human. Probably the same with you.”

“As much as I dislike interrupting this fascinating conversation, I do need to find the vampire the Council wished me to speak with.” Jean-Claude told them in general.

“Oh yeah.. Sorry.”

Buffy gave him directions to find Spike’s crypt and a description of the vampire. She really didn’t want to go anywhere near Spike right now.

Jean-Claude stood and bowed very elegantly to Buffy and Willow. “Then I shall find this Spike. Thank you for your kindness.” He turned to address the black-haired beauty with him.

“Ma petite, I shall meet you before dawn at our hotel room.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, running a finger along her jaw line, then turned and talked silently out the door of the shop.

“Wow! He’s gorgeous, Anita,” Buffy told the dark-haired woman.

“Yeah, he is. But he’s still a corpse regardless of how beautiful he is…”

“Why don’t we head back over to my house so we can talk. I think I may have some questions you might can answer that Giles might get a bit wiggy about himself.” Buffy told her as she looked at Giles.

“Quite. Perhaps Ms. Blake can give you some answers that I can’t, Buffy. But do fill me in later, alright?”

“I will Giles.” She hugged her Watcher and the two women left together.

***********************************************

Jean-Claude enjoyed walking through the evening in Sunnydale. He took in the various sights and scents as he strolled along following the directions the Slayer had given him. She was quite lovely even though she was very different from his Anita. From their conversation, she was quite abnormally strong as well. He was a bit puzzled by some of her comments regarding Spike.. She professed to dislike him intensely, yet under her words he could taste a very different story. He could smell the desire in her as she mentioned the other vampire. It reminded him of when he had wooed Anita. Her constant desire for him even as she said something else.

* This looks like the building that was described. * Jean-Claude curled his lip slightly in distaste. There was no one to see his expression, and he only indulged for a second.

He knocked on the door to the crypt.

The door was suddenly yanked open. “What the bloody hell do you want now?”

A slim white blonde vampire stood in the doorway, a cigarette dangled from his lip. He wore black jeans and a black tee shirt.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Excuse me. I am Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire of the City of St. Louis. Are you Spike?”

“Yeah, that’s me, mate. What do you want?”

“Might we go somewhere to talk? I was sent by the high Vampire Council in France to find you.”

Spike looked the man in front of him up and down. He had long black hair curling over his shoulders, a nice dresser, and formal manners. He was the same height as Spike. * What the ‘ell. Better than just sittin’ here mooning over the Slayer. *

“Sure mate. Let me get me coat.” Spike grabbed his duster and walked out of the crypt, motioning for the other man to follow him. They walked over and sat on one of the marble benches in the cemetery.

Spike lit another cigarette and sat down. Jean-Claude sat as well.

“So, what is this all about?” Spike asked the vampire beside him.

Jean-Claude told Spike about the request from the Council in France to locate him, and to assist him in becoming Master of the City.

“So what exactly is a ‘master of the city’? Is that like ruling all the vampires around here?”

“That is a part of it. Each city or territory has it’s own unique ‘soul’. By become the Master of that ‘soul’; you gain more power than you would have normally. Other vampires in the area would need to swear allegiance to you or you would have the right to destroy them.”

“Your city also sits on a hellmouth. If you were master of the city, you would have some control over that energy and could assist in keeping it from bursting forth as I understand it has tried to do on occasion with help.”

“The Council is concerned regarding your particular type of vampire. We have status as people in most of the states, although some choose to still consider us animals. Unfortunately, your type of vampire often gives fuel to the belief that we are all cold-blooded killers. The Council wished to change this.”

“I hate to tell you mate. but we are cold-blooded killers. We’re vampires, it’s what we do.”

“There have been some demons and other vampires that tried to take control of the hellmouth, but the Slayer and her Watcher and their friends have keep it from happening. I’ve help her too on occasion when she’d let me.”

“Excuse me for what I must now tell you. I know it will be unpleasant for you.”

“The Master your line is descended from was not like other vampires. He had become so by an unfortunate spell which invoked a demonic force into him. This is the reason those of your line take on the demonic visage when you feed, and why very few of you have control over your emotions or urges. The indiscriminate killing could cause more damage to all of us than you can imagine.”

“Then too, a certain vampire in your line has been considered the scourge of Europe for more than two centuries. He did great damage to the safety of the rest of us. The Council tried to have him killed several times, until one of the Council members made arrangements with a gypsy family to curse him, halting his activities.”

“Wait! A gypsy curse? Did they curse him with a soul?”

“That is a simple way to explain it. What they actually did was to pull his soul forward and give it control over the demon inside of him and curse him with a conscious instead. Do you know of this vampire?”

“Yeah, you could say that. ‘Peaches’ was my own Sire.”

“Peaches? This vampire’s name was Angelus.”

“One and the same, mate. He was always vicious, into torture, playing with his victims. His sire was Darla. Her sire was called the Master. I think his name was Heinrich Nest. He was the head of the Clan of Aurelius. Same as me.”

“Yet, you are quite different I think.”

“It’s this bleedin’ chip the government put in my head.”

“And what was that comment about the curse ‘pulling Peaches soul forward? We don’t have souls, mate. Well, except for Peaches, but he always was a bloody wuss..”

“Spike, you have been different since you were Turned. There is a much gentler soul in there. Yes, even as a vampire we still have the soul we had when human. In your line, it is often suppressed by the demonic entity within you. You’ve kept your demon under more control than any others. The addition of the chip has only aided your control.”

“I have been sent to teach you as much as I can in a short time about the things your Sire should have taught you. Yet, he did not know them to teach them to you.”

“So will any of this help me with the Slayer? ”

“The most attractive young Blonde I met earlier? So, it is like that, I see.”

Spike felt a wave of jealousy surge over him at Jean-Claude’s words about Buffy, “Yeah, that’d be the one.”

“You are in love with her! I can feel it in your words.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, mate.”

“That is one of the things I can teach you to do. A master vampire can feel the truth under the words of another vampire, or even of a human. We can smell the emotions of those around us. Yes, you love the woman, yet you have no need for jealousy. I have a woman I love. You and I, we are in the same situation. You love the Slayer, whose job is to kill the vampires like yourself. I love a woman who has the most vampire kills of any executioner. She doesn’t have the strength and powers of your Slayer, yet she is no more human than the Slayer. Ma petite is a licensed vampire executioner and is a necromancer.”

“Does she love you back?”

“She does. She fights against it, yet ma petite fights against everything. But she chose me over the alpha werewolf she was dating. It is a long story and we have much else to do.”

“So if my line is the odd one, why haven’t I met any of you blokes before?”

“You may well have. One of the most well known vampires is of the, how shall I say, more normal type. His name is Dracula”

“Drac? I know him. I’ve known him for a long time. Bloke owes me money too. Is that why he never went game face when he’d bite someone, and where all his mind tricks came from?”

“Yes. What is this game face you speak of? I have heard of a demonic visage, yet I have not seen one.”

Spike morphed into his game face for Jean-Claude and then pulled his human face back down in place.

“I see. For a human it would be most frightful to gaze upon. And your fangs do not stay down all the time, only when your face changes?”

“Yeah, you mean yours are there all the time”

Jean-Claude smiled, flashing his fangs deliberately.

“Yes. Eventually a vampire learns to smile without flashing their fangs. To do so is the mark of an immature vampire. How old are you if I may ask?”

“I was 26 when Angelus turned me in 1880.”

“So 147 now. So young and yet a very powerful if untrained master vampire. That is impressive.”

“Yeah, about that age or so. What kind of ‘power’ are you talking about other than the strength and heightened senses and such? ”

“ Well, shall we start your lessons?”

“ Sure, why not.”

Jean-Claude spent the rest of the night teaching Spike part of what he needed to know as well as a great deal of information on his soul. The young master was a very intelligent, quick learner. They planned to formally establish Spike as Master of the City the next night. It would give Spike a measure of control over the very dangerous Hellmouth and help in settling the energy of it down, which the Council also wanted done.

They would find Spike a much more respectable place to live the next night as well. Before the week was out, Jean-Claude hoped to have changed a lot about the very young master vampire. Make him master of the city, change where and how he lived, how he dressed, pull forth what talents he had, help him learn more control, and perhaps even win the woman who held his heart. He hoped Anita was as successful with the Slayer.

***********************************************

“Ok, from what you tell me and from what I feel from you, I’d say there was a lot more you could do than what you are right now.” Anita told the blonde slayer.

“Like what kinds of things?” Buffy was a bit suspicious.

“You should be able to tell by a vampire’s words if they are telling the truth or not. You should be able to feel their emotions. I guess the only way to describe it, is like their emotions were on the back on your tongue.”

“Eeeeewwwww! Gross much?”

“More than you might think or than I’d like.” Anita’s voice was hard, yet with a trace of wistfulness at the same time.

“So tell me about your vamp.. Is he as tasty as he looks?” Buffy was embarrassed to ask, but the black-haired vampire reminded her of Angel in an odd way.

“Yeah, he is. Yeah, I do love him and yeah, it embarrasses me. He’s beautiful, but he’s still a corpse.”

“You sound like you have a bit of experience with a vamp yourself.. The one Jean-Claude went to talk with?”

“Spike!? Not likely! No, I met a gorgeous man when I was 16. I didn’t know then that he was a vampire. We… well, on my 17^th birthday we, ah..”

“Got down and dirty..”

“Yeah. He’d been cursed by gypsies and had a soul. He loved me as much as I loved him. But when we, ah, did.. He lost his soul and went back to being evil. He killed Giles’ girlfriend, terrorized all of us, tortured Giles, and was going to send the world to hell with a demon. He was re-cursed with his soul right before I had to send him to hell to save the world. So I had to send Angel, the man I loved, instead of Angelus.”

“You asked your question about Jean-Claude, I have one as well. What’s it like to sleep with them once the sun rises? Once their body cools. I can’t manage it even after a year.”

“The vamps I’m used to.. They are never warm. They are cool to the touch all the time.”

“Angel was the first man I’d ever been with, so it was what I was used to. We’d done a lot of making out before we ever made love, so the coolness of him was just part of him. When they go to sleep at dawn, or even in the middle of the night, they aren’t any different. That can be up and around during the day, they just have to avoid direct sunlight.” Buffy laughed.

“Spike often tried to toast himself going places in the daylight covered by a smoking blanket.”

“So what are these big nasties you need to tell me about?”

“Buffy, you aren’t going to like all of what I have to tell you and I’m sorry about that. I don’t pull punches for anyone and you least of all. You need to know the truth of what has happened to you so far and about those around you.” Anita felt a bit sorry for the girl in front of her. It was obvious that her watcher’s council had used her and her Watcher for their own purposes. Neither of them seemed to know the truth on a lot of things. This was not going to be easy. But when was it ever?

“Angel’s name as he was known in Europe was Angelus. The Vampire Council was so worried about his activities endangering all of them, that they tried to have him killed. They failed at that and instead arranged to have the gypsy curse placed on him to stop him. It’s not a soul they gave him, but a conscious. All vampires have their souls when they are active and awake.”

“NO, NO! They can’t! The Watchers said… , we all know that once they become a vampire they lose their soul and become just animals. But… how does Jean-Claude control his demon?” Buffy was confused and upset by what she was hearing.

“I’m a necromancer, as we mentioned. I can control all types of the dead. I have accidentally raised vampires during the day, just like I would a zombie. That can’t happen unless the soul is gone. But I’ve also still been ‘in’ a vampire, my power controlling him, when the magick that animates him and his soul re-entered him right before he was to wake for the day. I FELT his soul. Oh yes.. They do have a soul. They can love. This Clan or Aurelius is the only one that has the demon portion. But even they still have their soul. If you need more verification, once I meet Spike, I can tell you for certain.”

Anita went on to explain more about what vampires could and couldn’t do, what they were normally like, the abilities they can have, and how her own powers and abilities functioned.

Buffy was overwhelmed with the implications of everything she was being told. With what it meant about Spike… and about Angel. Not to mention the things Anita seemed to feel she could learn to do.

“So, the only reason Angel could love me was because of this conscious the gypsies placed on him? He was not really a nice person as a human? And when Spike told me that he loved me.. It wasn’t a lie or a plot or just his imagination?”

“I do need to know if he still has a soul, if you would please. It’s important to me.”

“That’s right, Buffy. Jean-Claude is here for the Council because Spike is so very different than the rest of his line. He has more control over his demonic part than any of the rest of them. He has retained more of his original humanity, and he’s very intelligent and has strong principals.”

Buffy was silent as she thought of everything she had overlooked, or ignored about Spike. He left her family and friends alone, only going after her. He told her the truth (most of the time), he seemed concerned about people, (wasn’t that just an act?) He didn’t torture, didn’t like to see it or hear about it.. Her mind was flooded with so many things she had missed. She raised stricken eyes to look at the dark haired woman next to her.

“Oh god! All the things I’ve said to him, all the things I’ve done… I’ve hurt him and he’s just kept it all inside.”

“And Angel… he taught Spike to kill. None of them had to kill to live. Angel lives fine now on blood without killing, so does Spike. Angel only loved me because of the curse….” Tears started down her face.

Anita hated crying females, or anybody. She never knew what to do.

“Hey.. You can apologize to him, you know.”

“Why are you so upset about this? It’s not like you’re in love with him…. Are you?”

She watched the blonde for a moment and reached out with her own powers to touch the energy of the slayer. She found what she suspected she would and pulled back.

“You ARE in love with him and fighting it like hell.” Anita sighed.

Buffy tried to stop crying and wiped her face on her sleeves. “No, I don’t love him. I can’t. He’s a vampire.”

“Buffy, I’m only 5 years older than you are. We’ve both seen a lot of nasty crap. You should know by now that there is little that is impossible. Besides, I reached out and touched your energy with mine. You DO love him.”

“I understand how hard that is. I fought my feelings for Jean-Claude for a long time. It wasn’t until my other boyfriend, an alpha werewolf, shifted on top of me and I saw him eat the old pack leader he’d just killed, that I went running from one master to the other. At least after Jean-Claude eats, he doesn’t have to floss the leftovers out of his teeth.”

Buffy just stared at the necromancer. It was so overwhelming, so ridiculous, she started laughing.

“I can’t even imagine.. A werewolf or a vampire. Willow was dating a werewolf until he got upset and left cause he killed another werewolf who was trying to kill Willow. I’ve just stuck with vampires.”

“Your friend’s wolf sounds like Richard. He was always so squeamish about killing. Said I killed too easily.”

“You know, however you look at it, you and I are both killers. I use a gun; you use stakes, or crossbows. But we both kill.”

“I hadn’t looked at it that way. Or that I’m only barely human. Does that make me one of the masters too?”

“Yeah.. Both of us.”

“That’s a lot to deal with.”

“I suppose I should get you to teach me how to do the rest of this stuff you said I need to know.”

So while Jean-Claude taught Spike; Anita did the same with Buffy. How to touch her power, read the masters, taste the emotions and truth in their words, touch other’s power as well as more info about what vampires were and were not.

It was going to be a long week.

*************************************************

Anita went on patrol with Spike and Buffy in the evenings. Jean-Claude hung out with Giles and answered the watcher’s questions about everything. Giles was learning more about vampires than the watcher’s council had ever taught him. He realized that they had, in fact, kept much information to themselves. Not that it was surprising.

Still, Buffy dealt with things other than just vampires. This being the hellmouth, there were always other demons attracted to it.

If Jean-Claude succeeded in helping Spike become the Master of the City here in Sunnydale and could actually keep the hellmouth under control, perhaps that would help matters considerably.

Jean-Claude also spent time working with Buffy, much to Spike and Anita’s disgruntlement. The only good part was that Buffy and Jean-Claude were equally as unhappy about Anita and Spike being together.

“So, Jean-Claude.. What does all this mean about the vamps I stake every night? Are you saying I should leave them alone?”

“No, ma cherie, with a very few exceptions, that line should be kept under strict control. Eventually, it will be allowed to die out, the Council hopes. Angelus or Angel as he is now, has been controlled and is working for redemption by the Powers That Be. Spike is controlled by the government chip as well as his love for you and now the techniques I have taught him. These are things that all young vampires should learn. Yet as Spike’s sire did not know them to teach, it is not his fault.”

“You now know more of what a vampire truly is, as well as your own powers, which ma petite informs me are considerable. She said you have joined with the essence of the first Slayer as well.”

“Yeah, it was when I had to defeat that master the government had created.”

“That was an outrage against nature. It is well that it is gone. It truly was a master from all you say.”

“So do I keep staking, Jean-Claude?”

“Yes, Buffy. If there is one in that line that should continue to exist, they will manage to do so. I understand Spike has never turned anyone. I too have not done so either. It is a drain on ones energy to teach the young ones. Spike has much to learn and perfect even though he is a master at his young age. He will be very strong by the time he reaches my age.”

“How old are you?”

“I am over 400 years old.”

“Wow! That’s older than Angel. It’s about the age that Darla was when she was killed.”

Buffy looked around nervously. She needed to ask something but wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the answer or not. But she NEEDED to know.

“Jean-Claude… does Spike really love me?” Her voice was soft, hesitant, a thread of fear running under the words.

The older vampire reached over to take her hand. She could look him in the eyes and not be pulled under. She had her own immunity just as Anita did.

“Yes, cherie. He loves you very much. It is plain that he would do almost anything for you, including give up his own life for you. Unlike many vampires, he does not seek power. It is often our driving force. Spike has much humanity left, as I have said. He loves very deeply, even if it has not always been wisely. Never doubt his feelings for you. You doubt yours for him too much as well.”

“To a master vampire, his love for you shines in the night like a beacon.”

“He said my ex-boyfriend.. The human one that had worked for the government… had warned Spike away from me…..”

Buffy’s thoughts trailed off as she remembered the horror she had felt at Riley actually staking Spike, even if the stake was plastic.

“Then his feelings are even apparent to humans. This should tell you something of him, cherie.”

The heard sounds from outside. The front door opened and Anita and Spike came inside.

Jean-Claude rose in that gliding gracefulness and moved to hug Anita. Spike carefully went to sit beside Buffy.

The blonde vampire was very different these days. It was so strange what could happen in a week. He wore much nicer clothes. He’d gotten a house close to the mansion, but one with an underground secure area. He’d decorated it with Jean-Claude’s help. She hadn’t been there yet, but Spike as well as Anita and Jean-Claude had told her about it.

Buffy didn’t know what to do now. She knew Spike really did love her, but it was so hard to overcome everything she had believed before.

“Buffy, we’ve all worked really hard the last week. How about we all go relax somewhere?” Anita asked her after Jean-Claude has spoken quietly with her for a few minutes.

“Sure, we can go to the Bronze. They usually have good music. They have a dance floor and you can get non-alcoholic drinks too.” Like herself, Anita didn’t care to drink alcohol very much at all. It dulled the senses and for both of them, that could be deadly.

“That sounds perfect. Let’s leave the boys here while we go change.” Anita glanced at Jean-Claude.

“Ma petite, I took the liberty of bringing a couple of dresses over for you and Buffy.”

Anita groaned. She knew Jean-Claude’s idea of ‘outfits’. “Am I gonna hate them?”

“I hope not, ma petite. I know they will look quite wonderful on both of you.” The dark haired vampire smiled slightly as he watched her with those beautiful midnight blue eyes.

“Buffy, let’s go see how bad this is gonna be.”

“Why? He dresses so nice, I’d think he’d have good taste in women’s clothes too.” Buffy was a bit puzzled.

“He does. He just has.. different ideas about what I should wear.”

They headed up the stairs to Buffy’s room.

********************************************

Jean-Claude had helped Spike pick out his clothes for the evening. The Blonde vampire was wearing a heavy brushed silk shirt of a dark blue with tailored pants of an even heavier black brushed silk. His feet were covered in ankle high soft leather boots. As they had entered the house, Spike had tossed his blazer cut jacket of black leather over the back of the chair.

Jean-Claude wore a toned down version of his usual style. He had a heavy silk shirt of deep crimson, with sleeves caught in a ruffle at the wrist that covered half of his hand. He too wore tight tailored black slubbed silk pants and soft over the knee leather boots. Instead of a jacket, he had a half cloak of the same soft black leather.

Both men looked like models for the ‘Vampire GQ’, guaranteed to make just about any woman drool.

Anita and Buffy found their outfits across Buffy’s bed. Spike had taken them up there while Jean-Claude had kept the girls occupied.

Buffy’s dress was a fitted long-sleeve green velvet just about mid-thigh length. The sleeves ended in a handkerchief point over the back of her hand. The neckline was more draped than plunging, but it did drape quite low. The body of the dress was fitted. It had slim, not quite spaghetti straps. To finish it all off were soft brushed leather boots of a darker shade in the same green.

Anita’s was dark crimson velvet to match Jean-Claude’s shirt. It had a plunging neckline and three-quarter sleeves. It didn’t have a jacket, so she thought she’d have to forgo her gun this evening until she saw the small leather bag with the holster made into the inside. He knew her too well.

The dress was also mid-thigh length and had knee high black leather boots. He’d given her those boots months ago and she liked them. She was glad those were the ones he had brought for her.

“Does he do this often?” Buffy asked Anita, puzzled at the clothing the two vampires had provided for them.

“All the time. He’s being much more conservative than usual tonight. I imagine he took Spike shopping for your outfit.”

“They did both look rather yummy tonight.” Buffy had noticed the dark blue brought out the blue of Spike’s eyes. The pants had clung to him in all the right places, making her tingle to just look at him.

They hadn’t gotten past the talking stage and she didn’t really expect them to do so. But he was nice to look at…

“Anita…” Buffy asked very hesitantly. “Now that you met Spike.. do you really think he has a soul?”

“Yeah. He does. Like Jean-Claude said, Spike is one of the most human-seeming vampires I’ve ever met. Except for the newly Turned of course.”

“When we go back downstairs, reach out with your energy like I’ve been teaching you and check it out for yourself. You should be able to feel his soul as well as the truth of his words by now.”

“Ok.. I’ll try it then. Will he notice?”

He might, might not. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know, will you?” Anita turned back to getting dressed.

The girls changed, did their makeup and came down the stairs. The two vampires were waiting for them at the bottom of the steps.

Jean-Claude took Anita’s hand and pulled her into his arms, kissing her neck gently. “You were certainly worth waiting for, ma petite.”

“You look pretty spiffy yourself.” She reached up to gently kiss his lips without smearing her lipstick.

Buffy stood at the foot of the steps. Spike stood looking at her as he reached out to take her hand, “Buffy, you’re beautiful.”

“T-thank you, Spike. You look very nice. I like the change.”

Buffy carefully reached out with her own energy as Anita had taught her. She felt it curl across the space between she and Spike, touching him carefully, seeking inside of him for…A soul!? * Oh god!! He DOES have a soul! They were right. What do I do? He CAN love me…*

Buffy felt pretty awful about how she had treated Spike. He has a soul and she’d acted like he was an animal. She wasn’t very proud of herself right then.

Spike tucked her hand into his elbow, “Shall we go, luv?”

Buffy nodded and Spike walked her out the door to the car in the driveway.

Behind them, Anita and Jean-Claude looked at them and glanced at each other.

* They might actually admit their feelings to each other. He does love her.*

* She loves him too, if she’ll stop being so stubborn about it. *

* Ma petite, you of all people would call her stubborn? *

* Yeah, she’s as bad as I was. I’m glad we didn’t tell them about this part. Can he make her a human servant? *

* I do not know, ma petite. He will have to grow into his powers first. But the Slayer as a human servant? It would be like a necromancer as a human servant. *

Anita ‘heard’ the laughter through Jean-Claude’s thoughts as they got into the car with the other couple.

********************************************

Spike was driving tonight, trying to be a gentleman, as well as keep them all alive instead of Buffy driving.

He parked the car and both couples went into the Bronze. They listened to the music for a while, had a couple of drinks. Anita and Buffy stuck with coke, while Spike and Jean-Claude had a glass of wine.

“I envy you that your differences allow you to eat and drink. I miss that. I can taste food and drink through Anita, but she complains about her weight.” The older vampire said to Spike.

“Hell, mate. If I had to taste things through Buffy, I’d starve to death.”

“Ow!”

Buffy had heard Spike and punched him in the arm lightly.

“Slayer, come dance with me instead of beating on me, please?”

“Since you asked nicely, Spike…” Buffy reached over to take the blonde vampire’s hand, leading him to the dance floor.

“Ma petite?”

“Sure, why not tonight.”

Both couples attracted attention on the dance floor. One was dark haired, the other was blonde. Both had a beauty all their own that others noticed, even though they weren’t sure why.

Anita had her arms around Jean-Claude’s neck; his arms were around her waist, riding low on her hips, both were touching the entire line of their bodies.

Spike and Buffy had started out more politely apart, but as they danced and looked at each other, they inched closer and closer together until they too were one smooth line of body.

Spike remembered what the older vamp had told him and taking his courage in both hands, leaned over and gently kissed Buffy’s neck. He was careful not to linger.

She looked up in surprise at him and as she did, he very slowly lowered his head toward her lips. He wanted to give her time to move if she chose, hoping the whole time that she wouldn’t.

She didn’t. He brushed his lips across hers, softly, gently, but no less passionately.

She gasped at the sensations he’d just created in her.

Remembering what the older vamp had taught him, Spike leaned close to Buffy’s ear, “Luv, you are very beautiful.”

She felt his voice slide across her body like silken fire. The breath caught in her chest, making breathing hard. The muscles in her abdomen tightened. Suddenly her skin felt much too small and Spike was much too far away. And it was as she had been told. She could actually feel the truth of his words. It was a good description. They slid across the back of her tongue, caught in her throat. She felt her own carefully constructed walls begin to crumble.

She pulled him closer, reaching up to pull his head back down to her. This time she kissed him, her tongue demanding entry into his mouth. He was more than happy to oblige.

The rest of the evening passed much too slowly for both of them.

************************************************

The next evening, Anita had driven to Spike’s new house with Jean-Claude. They parked in the drive and went to knock on the door.

Spike answered the door in just his jeans. Buffy sat at the table drinking orange juice, wearing just Spike’s silk shirt.

“So, Buffy. How do you like what Spike and Jean-Claude did with the place?” Anita asked, holding back the laughter.

“I really haven’t seen all of it yet.” Buffy blushed.

“So how do you like the bedroom then?” Anita asked with a trickle of laughter escaping softly.

“I approve very much.”

“I thought you might once you got over being so stubborn. It took me a while too.” Anita grinned back at the blonde.

“You have our numbers in St. Louis?”

“Yeah. I wrote them down at home and Spike has them here as well.” Buffy told her, finally meeting her eye.

“So.. Is he as tasty as he looks?” Anita remembered one of the first questions Buffy had asked her, and was determined to tease the blonde slayer about it now.

“Yep. Better than I had imagined.” Buffy smiled back at the vampire executioner, knowing they understood each other perfectly.

Anita hugged Buffy. “You two call us if you need us or just need to talk. It’s not everybody who knows about a vampire and almost human relationship.”

“We will. Our turn to visit next.”

Jean-Claude walked over and took Buffy’s hand, raising it to his lips to kiss. “It has been an honor to know and work with both of you. It is good you are both on the way to understanding each other, ma Cherie.”

Buffy reached out and just hugged Jean-Claude. ”Thank you for showing me who he really is.”

“You’re most welcome, cherie”

Spike hugged Anita, and shook hands with Jean-Claude.

Then the St. Louis couple left as Spike and Buffy watched from his doorway.

Buffy turned to put her arms around Spike’s waist. “So when do I get to be the human servant of the Master of this City?”

“When I learn how to do that, luv. If you really want to…”

“Three marks only, Lover. Yeah, I do want to be part of you.”

He kissed her soundly.

Gillian Silverlight 3/8/01