Author Note: What started off as a one-shot now has a second part, and their will be a further epilogue coming soon.


Part Two

Both Buffy and Spike stood completely still, and quiet, as the shock of Buffy's confession washed over them. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, Spike pulled out of the embrace just far enough to look her in the eye.

"What was that?" His voice was shaking. "Did I just hear-?"

"You heard it," Buffy confirmed. "Please don't make me say it again."

Spike's mouth dropped open of its own accord, and Buffy's arms fell away from his body.

"And don't look at me like that," she added.

"Don't…? Bloody hell, Buffy!"

She shook her head and moved further away from him.

"Forget it. I never should have said anything."

She was closing up again, right before his very eyes.

"No, wait!" He pulled her back by her arm, and she didn't really fight it, but she still wouldn't look at him.

Spike forced himself to calm down, and speak softly.

"You're scared, yeah? Tell me why."

Buffy shook her head and didn't answer. After a deep breath, Spike tried again to reach her.

"I know those words mean the world to you," he said. "Maybe not when they come from me, but you don't say them without meaning it."

"No," Buffy disagreed. "I told Riley. Lied to him all the time."

That gave Spike pause, because he knew that was true, but he also believed in what he was saying. It took him a long moment before he could continue.

"You love deeply, jus' like me. But it's hard for you. I get that.

"I bet that lying to Riley about how you felt killed you, an' you don't want that. You also saw how loving Angel could hurt. Both those things shaped you but, at your heart, you love deeply. An' the words don't mean nothin'. Sayin' them out of turn to Captain Cardboard p'rolly only served to drive that conviction deeper. You decided you weren't gonna say them again until you knew for sure, am I right?"

Buffy finally looked at him. She studied his eyes as she asked, "When did you get so insightful?"

Spike let out a laugh. "Don' rightly know," he admitted.

Buffy smiled, then sighed, and shook her head.

"God, I'm sorry. I made with the big gesture and I'm still getting it wrong."

"Forget about gestures," said Spike. "Forget about expectations, and past wrongs, and consequences. If we do this then you gotta stop runnin' away every time you open up, some."

"I know," said Buffy.

"Yeah, you know," Spike agreed. "But it's still hard. I understand that."

"Do you?" Buffy's asked, genuinely. She wasn't sure she understood herself, truth be told.

"The way I see it," said Spike, "This doesn't have to be some complicated thing. You like, you love, you be together. Forget all that other rot."

"And what if I can't?" Now it was her voice that was shaking.

Spike knelt at her feet once more. Buffy was starting to think he found that position a little too comfortable.

"Try," he said, softly, before brushing his lips against the knuckles of her left hand.

Despite herself, Buffy smiled down at him. For a deadly vampire with several decades of bloodshed under his belt, he sure could be sensitive when it suited him.

"I don't deserve you," she said.

"Quite agree," said Spike, which surprised her, until he added, "You deserve someone a damn sight better, but I'm willing to try an' be that man."

Swallowing around the lump in her throat, Buffy said, in a quiet voice, "I'll try if you try."

"That's my girl," said Spike, smiling up at her, like she was the sun.

It was that look that made the words rise to her lips again. This time, she told herself, she would be brave. This time she'd look at him, and tell him, and not ruin it afterwards… "I love you."

Spike's face was awash with a million emotions as he heard it, and Buffy kicked herself for missing out on the expression the first time around. Her resolve strengthened, as she decided she wanted to see that look as much as possible.

"I love you," she said again, now louder. "I love you!"

Spike rose up and held her up in his arms, in response.

They cried, and they laughed, and they held each other tighter, until they were lost in kisses and desperate fondling.

"Spike!" said Buffy in a gasp, as she struggled for breath, a minute later.

"I love you!" he exclaimed, in response, as he carried on trying to divest her of her clothes.

"No, wait," she pushed him off, slightly. "Not here. Upstairs."

The brief pause in sexual tension brought with it the reminder that they'd left the other party goers in the living room, and that they'd need to go past them if they were to make it to Buffy's room.

Buffy and Spike seemed to realize this at the same time, because they'd stopped touching altogether, as they tried to figure out a Plan B.

"My place?" asked Spike.

Buffy shook her head. "I can't just leave without saying anything."

He hung his head, knowing she was right. He'd expected the answer, but that didn't make it any easier to hear. They'd just have to ignore their sudden passion and go back and deal with reality. Spike had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time, either.

"Comes with the territory of a proper grown up relationship, init?" he commented to Buffy, and she nodded, morosely.

"There are downsides to being responsible," she said. "But there are perks, too."

Spike quirked his eyebrow at the mention of perks, but all Buffy would say was, "You'll see."

And then they headed off, hand in hand, to address their waiting public.

To be continued...


A/n: Please review and let me know what you think!