A/N: For the purposes of this story, Angel never came back, and these are the circumstances in which Spike returned to Sunnydale in Season Three, instead of the happenings in 'Lover's Walk.'

Want

As they patrolled, Faith had been asking Buffy non-stop for intimate details about what it was like to, as she put it, "bang the undead."

Buffy had asked her to stop, of course, but that did as much good as asking the sun not to rise in the morning.

That analogy probably would have worked better if the sun hadn't literally failed to rise the other week, randomly, she realized. I live in the weirdest place ever.

Trying to concentrate on guarding the perimeter of the graveyard, she was once again reminded by her own traitorous body that it had needs. Or, again, as Faith had put it: how slaying made a girl hungry and horny.

Already they'd fought off two fledglings, three demons, and a whole bunch of those vamps seeking Balthazar's amulet or whatever.

Now Buffy's stomach was rumbling. She needed release, a snack, a hot shower, and a long sleep. In that order.

After a while, Faith finally changed subject long enough to suggest they call it a night.

"We showed up, did our duty. Now it's time to blow off some steam."

"Now you're making sense," Buffy allowed. "What have you got in mind?"

Faith didn't answer her, as such, but the wicked glint in her eye told Buffy she probably wouldn't approve of it.

Outside the sporting good store, Buffy's suspicions were proved right.

Before she could say a word to dissuade her, Faith had already smashed her way into the place and started taking a crossbow and anything else she wanted in sight.

"Do you think this place is insured?" Buffy asked her, also looking around.

"Strangely, not my priority," Faith answered.

When she saw Buffy was eyeing up knives but too afraid to go any further, the second slayer shook her head.

"B. When are you gonna get this? A slayer's life is simple. Want? Take. Have."

Despite her better judgment, she gave a small nod and stepped closer to the display case.

"Want, take, have. I'm getting it."

As she reached out her hand towards it, however, she heard a loud voice coming from the front of the store.

"Drop your weapons and get down on the ground! Now!"

Faith rolled her eyes at the cop but did as he asked.

Tossing the crossbow at his feet, she and Buffy raised their hands as they prepared to lie down on top of the broken glass lying all over the floor.
But that was the instant Spike stepped out of the shadows and knocked the police officer to the ground instead.

Buffy's eyes widened at the sight. How did this keep happening to her?

Turned out, Spike was wondering the same thing.

"Why is it I keep finding you in compromising positions, eh, luv?" he asked. "This is the second good man of the law I've had to fight for you. You'd think being a white hat would make you more inclined to stick to the rules."

It was only then that he noticed she was not alone.

"And what's this?" he continued. "Corrupting some of yer little friends, too? Tsk tsk."

"I'm a big girl," said Faith, looking him up and down before turning to Buffy.

"Who's this guy?"

"Spike," said Buffy, simply. She was much too shocked to see him again to explain anything else.

"As in William the Bloody? No way. You know all the cool vamps!"

When Buffy gave her a withering look that just screamed, 'Don't even think about it. He's mine!' both slayers were as surprised as each other.

Spike didn't catch this, however. He was looking down at the cop again, as if deciding whether he should risk a quick snack.

Apparently he went against his urge because, after a minute, he looked back up to see both Buffy and Faith still stood there, staring back at him.

Something was off.

Narrowing his eyes, he sniffed the air.

There was a heavy scent of slayer arousal, but that was par for the course anytime he found Buffy fighting or doing anything remotely naughty.

A strange thrill of terror ran through Spike, as he realized she wasn't the only one giving off the scent.

He looked straight at Buffy as he asked, very seriously, "New slayer?"

"New slayer," she affirmed.

He didn't quite know how to deal with that information, and he didn't really have time to, anyway. The policeman was starting to regain consciousness again.

Realizing this, Buffy shook off the last of her shock and pulled both Faith and Spike outside. All three of them walked away from the place, in the direction of the Bronze.

Once there, they all stopped to look at each other again.

"So, what's the deal, B.?" asked Faith.

She was giving Spike the once over again, and Buffy didn't like it.

Choosing to ignore it, however, she turned to question Spike.

"Why are you back?"

"What?" he smirked. "I can't pop by for a visit? It's a good job yer mum's a lot nicer company. I'd get the feeling I'm not wanted."

Buffy's jaw dropped as she realized she hadn't once considered doing an dis-invite on her house for Spike.

"You went to visit my mom?!"

"O'course. She invited me back for tea last time I was around. It'd be rude not to."

Shaking her head, Buffy pinched the bridge of her nose. That would be so typical of her mom.

"What's the deal?" Faith asked again, drawing the conversation back to herself. "Do we fight?"

After considering things for a moment, Buffy said, "You go home. Pretend you've been in all night if the cops come calling. I'll take Spike to the city limits and make sure the sign doesn't hit him on the ass on the way out of town."

It should have probably worried Buffy that Faith didn't even question her decision to let Spike go free, but she was too busy being concerned by the fact that Faith's eyes had travelled to Spike's backside when she'd made that comment about his ass.

"Now, Spike," said Buffy, hauling him up and pushing him down the alley, away from the other slayer.

To her surprise, Spike didn't put up much resistance to being manhandled. His only complaint was that she might "bruise the leather" of his coat.

Releasing him, a few streets away, Buffy turned to face him again.

"Why are you really here?"

Spike was tempted to lie but, for some reason, he decided to tell all.

It wasn't like Joyce hadn't already gotten the goods out of him.

"Dru and me are done," he said.

"Okay," said Buffy, hands on hips. "And?"

Spike looked at her intensely, all pretense dropped. "And you wanna know why?" he said.

"Enlighten me."

"You."

Buffy almost choked around her tongue.

"Howzat?"

"You're bleedin' everywhere. Can't get you off my mind. Dru an' her soddin' gift could see it all."

"I- what?" Buffy continued to stammer. Spike had never been that candid with her, before. But if she thought he was being blunt and straightforward already, she was about to be surprised again.

"I want you," Spike admitted. The words fell from his mouth, simply. There was no attitude, or mocking, or disgust. No hint of a joke.

Now Buffy swallowed around the lump in her throat.

Sure, she'd imagined this happening, but not once did she ever think it would.

She could feel heat rising in her cheeks as he stepped closer to her.

"What do you say, Slayer?" he drawled, only inches from her face.

Buffy looked at his face, more clearly than she ever had done before. It was handsome. Much more refined and expressive than Angel's

A terrible thought played in her mind, mixed in with all the desires for him she'd ever repressed.

A slayer's life is simple. Want? Take. Have.

She didn't know about simple, but a slayer's life did tend to be short. Forget what she had to loose, what Buffy could gain from this was making her thoughts run away with her.

"What do you want?" Spike continued to whisper against her flesh, leaning ever closer.

She answered him with a bruising kiss.

To be continued...