Message In A Bottle
Summary: Spike takes Buffy's words at face value, leaving Sunnydale for good this time.
Setting: Directly after Wrecked, when Spike helps Buffy find Dawn.

A/N - i'm in an angsty mood. sorry.

****

BUFFY: Not love.
SPIKE: Not yet. But I'm in your system now. You're gonna crave me, like I crave blood. And the next time you come crawling, if you don't stop being such a bitch, maybe I will bite you.
BUFFY: (stares, stops walking) That, that's it! I want you out of my life! Out of my work, out of my home-
(wrecked)

****

A bright, red spot stood out, glaring in the darkness and moving slowly downwards.

It was pitch black in the shadows of the modest two-story home on Revello Drive. No moon, no stars, no street lamps penetrated the spot where he stood. Just the inky blackness that was another night in Sunnydale.

The red pinprick moved again as Spike stepped into the faint light that came from the porch lamps. He took a slow drag on the cigarette, holding the smoke in his lungs for much longer than would have been possible had he been living.

Of course, he wasn't alive, now, was he?

He sighed, exhaling. He could see them inside. Buffy and Dawn. They were watching the television in the living room. They had gotten home just an hour earlier from the hospital from getting the Bit's arm put into a cast.

Spike scoffed at the irony of the situation. Buffy's best friend had hurt Dawn more in one night than Spike had hurt her since the day he met the girl.

And yet, Buffy wanted him out of her home.

He dropped the cigarette, stomping it out with his booted heel, and glanced down at the envelope in his hand. It was now or never, he thought to himself.

He strode over to the mailbox and placed the letter in it before he changed his mind.

Taking one long, sad, last look at the house where his love lived, he turned and strode away into the quiet night.

****

Buffy opened up the mailbox and reached inside. The early afternoon sun was beating down on her, warming her, and she stood silently for a few moments with her eyes closed.

If she stood still enough, she could almost feel alive again.

Almost.

A dog barked down the street, breaking the spell. She took a breath and pulled out the multitude of letters.

*Bill... Bill... Bill... Junk... Bill...* the Slayer thought to herself, flipping through each letter as she walked back into the house.

*Dawn?*

She had come to the last one. A simple, white envelope, with nothing but Dawn's name written on it in almost too-neat letters.

She turned it over, but found no postmark, no stamp, nothing. She was itching to open it, but Dawn would throw a fit if she did. Sighing, she made a mental note to be there when her sister opened it, and left it sitting on the kitchen counter.

****

Buffy? You home? Dawn called as she entered the house. No one answered.



The teen shrugged, walking into the kitchen to get herself something to drink.

After filling a glass, she sat on a stool and began flipping through the mail. She was all alone again, with a hurt arm, and nobody caring.

Hey! Letter for me! she said aloud, brightening visibly.

After a minor struggle, she ripped it open and began to read.

*

Nibblet -

Hey pet. Just wanted to say goodbye. I know it's probably something I should do in person, but big sis might not like it too much.

I'm leavin Sunnydale. Gettin out for good. I'm sorry. I said last summer I'd never leave you. But know that I'm not leaving *you*. I'm leaving Sunnydale. I have my reasons. Maybe I'll tell you someday.

I will keep in touch, though. Send you letters, give you places where you can write me back and tell me bout your life.

Don't tell your sister that I've gone. Don't tell her I told you I was leaving. And please don't tell her when I write you. Let her think I got staked, killed, kidnapped, whichever excuse makes her happiest.

Be good for her. Do your homework, things like that. Don't want the soddin government coming after you.

Love you, Bit. Remember that.

Spike

*

A tear rolled down Dawn's cheek as she set the letter back down. God, she would miss him.

Placing the letter back in the envelope, she trudged upstairs to hide it away.

********

End.

********

A/N - I can continue, make it a b/s story if you're interested. lemme know what you think and review!

http://buffyfix.cjb.net - a btvs and ats fanfic archive