TITLE: And Thus A Monster Was Created
AUTHOR: Ragna (writinggoddess@aol.com)
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me!
DISCLAIMER: Everything except what comes out of my pretty little head belongs to Joss and Mutant Enemy.
RATING: FRT
SPOILERS: None, unless I miraculously get hired to write for the show.
FEEDBACK: Wanted. Needed. SEND IT!
AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is in response to a fic challenge posted by a Spike Girl to write our own version of Spike's turning, but keeping him younger than Dru and Angelus as his sire. **NOTE** This was written well before the show showed anything about Spike's past.

***

Spike sat dejectedly alone, without Dru or Angel to keep him from doing anything. Unfortunately, the thoughts he usually compressed came to the surface, thoughts he hadn't thought about in a long time.

Thoughts about his past...

***

In London, the streets were always busy, perfect for thieves such as William. Rather handsome even at the young age of 12, William was one of the most successful pickpockets in the town.

"Well, William, what have you got today?" His boss George asked him.

Very handsome now at 22, the blond haired young man stood up to his full height. "All I have on me is a bloody sixpence. But," he added with a twinkle in his brown eyes, "I was asked to dine at the estate of an Irish nobleman named Lord Angelus by a rather beautiful, though dimwitted, noblewoman."

George nodded. "Good. I suppose you'll look around and see what's available?"

William looked at George. "Of course I will! Do you think I'm some bloody fool?"

George glared at him. "No pert insolence from you, boy."

William sighed. "I need some money for clothing. I can't bloody well show up like this or they'll throw me back out onto the street."

George nodded and pulled out a small pouch. "It's your payment time, anyway. Here's your due." Though small, the pouch was heavy, and William grinned upon dumping it's contents onto the table. Gold and silver gleamed in the setting sunlight.

"Thank you kindly, George," he said, and walked towards the tailor shop.

***

"If I'd known I would be a bloody demon in a bloody wheelchair almost 200 years later, I never would've gone," he muttered to himself, wheeling towards the large fireplace. Ahhh, the fireplace was just as opulent as the rest of the estate...

***

Dressed up in a smart suit and walking as proud as a nobleman, William walked to the residence of Lord Angelus, though it may be temporary. The noblewoman who had invited him, Lucie, was waiting outside the gates of the palatial residence. As he approached, he bowed at the waist as she curtsied.

"Lady," he said, kissing her hand.

"Sir," she replied, inclining her head. She put her left hand on her hip and William grasped the elbow slightly as he escorted her in.

It looked like all the other parties he'd been to. Rich, opulent surroundings just waiting to be stolen. Drunken suitors and tipsy noblewomen were talking, and it wasn't even eight o'clock.

But no suitor ever needed an excuse to drink.

William bowed to the group of ladies that Lucie had led him to and went to the refreshment area. He sat back in a plush chair and looked at the other guests make fools of themselves, as well as scan the place for things to be stolen later.

"Excuse me, sir?" a voice with an Irish accent asked. "Are you too lost in thought for conversation?"

William looked up at the man standing above him. He had his black hair pulled back in the fashion of the times, and was rather pale. "No sir, I'm not."

The Irish man sat across from him. "Oh, forgive me. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Lord Angelus." He stretched out his hand.

William shook it. "I'm William Kingsley. But most know me as Spike."

"Spike? Interesting moniker."

"Yes, I used to walk along the railroad tracks and collect the spikes," William said, omitting the part about what he did with those spikes.

Lord Angelus nodded. "Well, William. May I get you a drink?"

William shook his head. "No sir. I must stay sobered up for work tomorrow."

"And what is your occupation, may I ask?"

"I'm a...procurer of goods."

Lord Angelus nodded again and smiled. "Why don't you take young Lucie home and return here? I'd like to introduce you to someone."

William nodded skeptically. "Who?"

"My ward, Drusilla. She's standing over there," Lord Angelus said, pointing to a breathtakingly beautiful woman standing in the corner, talking to some drunken suitors.

William took in a deep breath. "My God, she's beautiful."

Lord Angelus' smile grew. "That she is. That she is."

***

Spike sat back in the wheelchair he despised. That beauty was the only thing that had kept him from going crazy these last few years, and to lose her to Angel...

Bitter tears started to form in his eyes, but he wiped them away and wheeled himself into the other room. He just wanted to forget that night...

***

William waited for Lucie to finish talking with her friends, and he even made small talk himself. Finally, after a few hours, William and Lucie headed towards her manor.

"Well, milady, how did you enjoy your evening?" William asked sincerely.

"Very much, thank you." They chatted for a bit until they arrived at the manor, and William walked her to the door. He kissed her hand, then turned and walked away.

He headed back to his small apartment that he shared with other thieves. The red piece of yarn was tied to the door, and William sighed. Sydney was with a woman, and so he had to find someplace else to stay. He walked out of the hallway and went to Lord Angelus' estate again.

The man outside the door nodded. "Go in, sir," he said.

The parlor, which had been full before, was now almost empty, save for a few drunken suitors sprawled around. Lord Angelus, who had been sitting in a chair, stood and smiled.

"Welcome back, young sir," he said. "Come, come. Let's introduce you to Drusilla." He led William up the stairs, and into a darkly lit bedroom. Sitting on the bed was Drusilla, splendid in her gown.

"Are you sure this is proper, Lord Angelus?" William asked. Though he thought Drusilla was above gorgeous, he did not want her to be profaned in any way.

Lord Angelus nodded. "It is. Why don't you...talk?" He smiled, then shut the door. William turned the oil lamp up a bit. Drusilla was smiling at him. "Hello," she said quietly. "Did you come to see Miss Edith?"

William shook his head. "No, madam. I came to talk to you, if that is acceptable to you."

She nodded. "I can see the stars," she said, looking at the ceiling. He looked a tad skeptical, but sat next to her anyway.

"Aren't we inside?" he asked gently. She looked hurt, so he reached over to her. She was extremely cold, almost like touching ice.

"We are, but I can still see them."

William smiled and decided that, though a little different, he rather liked her. "Tell me more."

***

William awoke the next morning. He ached, even though he knew he hadn't had a drop of drink. He opened the window slightly and sighed. It was mid-afternoon, and there was no way he would be able to steal a decent amount that day.

He looked over to Drusilla, still in her gown and curled up in a ball on the bed. She looked even more beautiful now then she had last night. He picked up his jacket and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

The entire manor was dark. He thought it odd but continued down the stairs. But the smell, that he could not ignore. It was the smell of blood. He looked into the parlor, and saw no sign of a fight or anything. Shrugging, he headed towards the door.

"Sir!" he heard someone say behind him just as he reached the door. It was Lord Angelus.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--" he bagen, then stopped. Lord Angelus had a smile on his face, and William relaxed.

"Come here. Don't worry, no trouble," Lord Angelus said, and William walked over to him.

***

Spike turned the television on, hoping the endless babble would numb his mind from the memories. But it didn't work. He turned it off and went to the library area, going towards his hiding place. The bottle of scotch was still there.

Taking a large drink, he relaxed a little and smiled a bit. "If I'd known that would be the last time I'd ever see the sun, I never would have gone to that wanker. But it's too late now, I suppose," he muttered to himself, then laughed because he was talking to himself.

It hadn't been painful. Angelus had hit him, then proceded to feed, stopping only when Spike was near death and granting him access to immortality. Spike had died with a little bit of pain and slowly been reborn. Then, he had immediately gone back to Drusilla. That was how it'd always been since.

***

The two aforementioned vampires walked in, disgustingly cooing at each other. Spike hung his head in shame at first, still thinking about his stupid moves as a mortal. When they walked in, he looked up.

"Why, Spike, getting drunk?" Angel said patronizingly.

Spike responded by throwing the now empty bottle at Angel. "And it's all your bloody faults. Both of you."

Dru looked as though she might start crying. "But Spike..."

"But nothing. You two have used me ever since I became a vampire, and I'm not taking it anymore." He stood up, and wobbled just a bit, noting with amusement that he wasn't really drunk in the debilitating sense.

He stormed out of the library and went upstairs, throwing belongings in an old suitcase. Dru ran up after him, followed by Angel. "You two can bloody have each other. I'm out of here, mates." He looked at them. "Maybe if I'm lucky, the Slayer can stake me. Or you know what? Maybe I'll just get a soul."

Dru was bawling now. "Spike! Don't leave. I need you."

"You need me? With brood-boy over there? Why do I not believe you?" He finished packing and glared at both of them. "I'm going to make you feel the same way you made me feel, love. I'm going to leave, but I won't return. You have your sire; be happy." With that, he walked downstairs and out the door, leaving Dru wailing inside.

He went to the train depot and saw a train was heading towards New York. No, that'll take to long. Looking around, he saw a train headed to San Diego. That should do. Pulling out some cash, he paid to go all the way to San Diego. Sitting down and relaxing, he smiled. Finally, I'm a free man. Too bad I can't get some food until tomorrow.