Chapter Two

Buffy rose too quickly from her chair and nearly lost her balance. Spike grabbed her carefully, gently and set her right again. She laughed at her clumsiness and his quick reflexes. He held on for a moment longer. " Okay." She scoffed, pushing his arms away. " I'm not an invalid."

" I never said you were." There was a look of hurt in his eyes.

" I'm just dying, not weak at the knees or needing a walker." Buffy said in a feeble attempt at humor.

" It doesn't have to be like that." Spike told her.

Buffy frowned as she realized what he was referring to. It had been an ongoing argument of theirs. She wouldn't be dying if he turned her into a vampire. He had even gone as far as to have Willow ready with the soul spell the moment Buffy gave consent. But she never would. It was her time to go and she was willing. She'd been to heaven before and it wasn't such a bad place to retire for eternity. " Spike." Buffy let sound of his name hang in the heated air between them.

There was an intimacy between the two of them that would never fade, even after she passed. Part of her wanted to surrender to his desire and be by his side forever or however long they had left. No more pain, always loved and...but it was the and that stayed her wishful thinking to just wishful thinking.

She reached up with a hand that could no longer drive stakes through hearts and cradled his youthful face. " Spike." She repeated again as he closed his eyes to the feel of her.

Spike opened his eyes again and kept his emotions in check. He didn't want to do anything more to drain her. He could tell by the flush of her cheeks she was trying to keep the pain at bay. " Aren't we a pair." He quipped picking up the mood. " I smell librarian in the air." She chuckled and that made his night.

Giles was already seated in the big armchair by the wood fireplace when Buffy and Spike walked in. His hair was gray and his hand never left the hilt of his walking cane but he was still Giles. He felt their arrival before his eyes could make out the shadows.

" Buffy."

Buffy covered him in a hug and for the first time in a long time, felt tears spring to her eyes and fall to the shoulder of his jacket. " So good to see you." She managed to get out.

" There, there." Giles patted her gently on the back. " I'm not the one dying...you are."

The room froze for a beat and then maddening laughter filled the air as Giles and Buffy held on the each other and savored the familiarity, the contentment and the reconnection.

" How are you doing?" He asked her once they finally came back down to speaking level. He gave her a long, searching look and even though his eyes were dim and failing, he still saw much.

Buffy shrugged and balanced herself on the arm of his chair. " Well, you know. I could list a whole page of complaints from my back to my kness but I won't bore you with the details. Besides, you probably have a list for me too. I'll just say I'm fine and I'm so happy you're here."

" Aren't we a pair?" Giles told her.

Buffy kissed the crown of his curly grays and put her arm around him.

" Giles." Spike said quietly coming over to awkwardly pat his arm.

" Spike." Giles looked genuinely glad to see him. " I heard you were in Rome hunting down the last of the Slavron demon. How did it go?"

Spike shrugged. " It went. I think it's safe to say the Slavron kin are on the extinction list. At least now we don't have to worry about little kiddies losing their souls."

Giles nodded and they stared at each other in quasi uncomfortable silence. " I'll go fetch your things from the car." Spike said breaking the spell.

" Why, yes of course." Giles muttered. " Thank you, Spike."

" I like it when you guys get along." Buffy mused. " It gives me a warm, tingly feeling inside."

Claire came in carrying a tray of tea which she sat by Giles. " Here you are, Chamomile tea just how you like it. I've added a touch of honey."

Giles blushed as Claire kissed his cheek and then hurried off to do something else.

" She has a crush on you. I never get honey in my tea." Buffy said jokingly.

" She is a delightful, young lady." Giles sipped at his tea before setting it back on the tray.

Buffy smiled and moved to the armchair opposite him. She watched the dance of the fire on the log. Her soul was at rest. Soon, the others would come and they would laugh, reminisce and maybe cry just a little. The crying got easier and less frequent for her. She was past the part of feeling sorry for herself and she was past getting angry at things that were beyond anyone's control. She was just going to enjoy being with the ones who loved her most and knew her best. This was a dream come true.

" Buffy! Giles!." They both turned in time to see Willow in the doorway, breathless, happy, smiling, shining and pregnant...?!!!

Disclaimer...I do not own Buffy or any characters or references to characters of Buffy. I'm just an avid fan. I hope you like chapter two. Let me know. I am new to this process and I'm enjoying myself very, very much. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I truly, truly appreciate it and with the week I'm having...your comments are putting a much needed smile to my face. Thank you again.