CH 4

Faye awoke to find herself wrapped up securely within Spike's strong arms, his lips at her ear as if he had been praising her and their undying love all through night, even in his sleep.

She smiled, gently kissing his forehead as she tried her best to escape his comforting embrace without waking him, which she succeeded in doing.

A bright, neon red light flashed on and off repeatedly from the answering machine, so Faye gingerly approached it and turned down the volume, then pressed the play button and listened: "Hello, Spike.....this is Veronica Stiles. I just happened to be in the neighborhood, so I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna get together? Hmm? Yes...it'll be a fair fight, I believe....as long as you bring you and ONLY you. I will be in Jansford on 34th street. Be there no later than noon.....tah!"

Faye gasped, her shimmering jade irises trembling amidst the pale morning light as she slowly backed away from the answering machine in fear, breathing aloud, "No....she can't! I won't let her hurt my beloved Spike!"

Turning her attention over to the sleeping form wrapped up securely within the sheets to her bed, she whispered fervently, "Don't worry, Spike.....I'll go in your place. Everything will be alright in the end.......I promise."

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"It's 12:35.....where IS she?!," Faye wondered with severe impatience, tapping her white boot against the pavement in disgust. "I'M on time, for God's sake, so where is SHE?!"

"Are you ALWAYS this easy to find, or do you just have a blatant tendency to stick out like a sore thumb?"

Faye gasped, completely caught by surprise as she felt herself freeze in alarm, her brow knitting together in disdain as her heart began to beat like a hollow drum full of consternation. Her acute sense of hearing had immediately recognized the mocking, syrupy-sweet voice as one who definitely wasn't a comrade.

"Well aren't you going to at least acknowledge my presence?," the indignant being demanded, suddenly very irritated. "I know you and you know me....TURN AROUND!!!"

Taking a deep breath, Faye did as she was told, slowly rotating on her heel as she shifted around to face a leather-clad woman wearing a dark pair of sunglasses, a fake smile plastered upon her face that made her appear even more intimidating than usual.

"Veronica," Faye breathed, taking a step back as she realized that her fear had been correct. "You-"

"Yes, I'm late," Veronica admitted, her crimson lips curling up into a devious smirk as she placed a beautifully-manicured hand upon her hip. "You don't look like Spike, though, I must admit. It appears that he sent his lovely girlfriend out to do his bidding, instead. Imagine that."

Faye grunted, immediately withdrawing her gun from its holster and aiming it directly between her adversary's eyes as she spat, "I came here on my own accord, you selfish bitch! Spike has NOTHING to do with this! I am the one here right now, so it is ME that you will fight!"

Veronica's smile melted, her brow knitting together as she hissed with a deep emnity, "Then prepare to DIE, wench!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Veronica immediately evaded the incoming shower of bullets, performing two perfect cartwheels in order to escape from harm as sparks flew about her in an angry haze due to the ammo coming in contact with their bleak surroundings.

"Damn!," Faye cursed softly under her breath, realizing that she was out of ammunition. "What the hell am I gonna do now?!"

Veronica, realizing her nemesis' unfortunate predicament, smirked as she straightened out her stance and secretly withdrew a sharp, coruscating dagger from the depths of her jacket pocket, slowly inverting her hand with the weapon, then snapping her wrist forward so that she sent the dagger cutting clear through the air at top speed.

SLISH!

Faye moaned in agony as soon as the serrated weapon sliced through the softness of her shoulder, rivers of crimson blood flowing forth from the puncture wound as she sank down to her knees in defeat; her head pounding as impulses of sheer pain shot through her shoulder with each emission of the precious life-bearing fluid.

Closing her eyes, Faye listened to the sound of Veronica's high- heeled boots slapping against the pavement as she ever so slowly drew near, Faye moaning Spike's name over and over as she slumped down to her elbows and wept.

"Yes.....CRY, you grungy rat!," Veronica urged in a venemous hiss, retrieving her revolver from within the depths of her leather jacket as she aimed it towards her hated nemesis and clicked back the hammer with her thumb. "Die the terrible death that you so sorely deserve!!!"

Faye almost welcomed this proposition with open arms, but the moment that a vision of Spike's caring face appeared before her, her heart began to urge her to live for that man.....the man whom had single-handedly given her all of the love and devotion that a woman could ever need.

"NO!," Faye protested, wildly shaking her head about in denial. "I am NOT ready to die yet!!!"

Veronica let out a cry of surprise as Faye immediately swung one of her long legs up into the air and knocked the deadly weapon out of her hand in a single blow, the revolver clattering across the pavement so that it was well out of their reach.

Veronica let out a growl as she sent a punch to her nemesis' face in brutal retalliation, but not before Faye had successfully performed a roundhouse kick to her adversary's legs, causing her to abruptly tumble down to the ground and roll over onto her side.

Letting out a pained cry, Faye ripped the bloody dagger out of her shoulder and immediately turned to Veronica, who desperately tried to get up from the ground, but was far too slow to react in time.

SLISH!

Veronica let out a resounding scream of bewilderment and anguish as she placed a trembling hand upon her cheek in sheer agony, warm, thick blood oozing its way out of the deep incision like a steadfast river of scarlet.

"You bitch! Look what you've done to my BEAUTIFUL face!!!," she wailed in bitter accusation, sending her nemesis an ungrateful look full of pure emnity as she gracelessly staggered up to her feet. "We will meet again so that I may avenge myself........BE READY TO PERISH DO TO YOUR FOOLISHNESS!!!"

Turning her nose up into the air, Veronica hailed a taxi and immediately got in, Faye watching after her adversary with a look of pure nonchalance spread across her face, trying her best to ignore the intense pain in her shoulder as she wondered, "What does it matter? Spike and I have already accepted death so long ago that it hardly seems to affect us anymore."

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"Oh, my God.....Faye! What the hell happened?!," Wertzy demanded as soon as her bloodied and bruised friend wearily entered her apartment like a dazed zombie.

Faye shrugged, grumbling in response, "I just got into a little scuffle......that's all."

"That's ALL?! Damn, Faye.....anyone can clearly see that you've got a big-ass puncture wound on your shoulder!," Wertzy insisted, immediately raiding her medicine cabinet in search of a first aid kit.

Faye just merely shrugged again, replying numbly, "I'll live."

"Maybe so, but whoever did this to you sure looks like they wanted you six-feet-under!," Wertzy observed as she withdrew some gauze and peroxide from within the interior of the kit. "Now you'd better hold still, cuz this is gonna hurt like hell."

Faye grimaced as she reluctantly allowed Wertzy to inspect her shoulder, wondering miserably, "Where could Spike be? Does he even know that I didn't run away from him this morning?"

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Spike sighed as he reluctantly entered a flower shop, wondering, "Why the hell do I think that flowers will make Faye forgive me for being so forceful last night? And even if they don't....my GOD, I never realized how much I truly need her! I actually feel as if I've got a goddamn hole eating away at the inside of my heart!"

"How may I help you, sir?"

Spike immediately snapped to attention, stammering, "Um....uh....I-I guess that a dozen red roses would be alright."

The frail cashier beamed, acknowleding, "Ah, yes, of course! Why couldn't I guess? Lots of men like to give women roses since they are the flowers of love and romance."

Spike stared at her blankly. "Oh....well.....um.......sure."

The cashier giggled as she began to wrap up the roses, announcing, "Looks like your love life's about to bloom! Ha ha! Don't you get it? You know....roses......bloom?"

Only receving Spike's blank stares, she shrugged it off, sighing as she replied scornfully, "Oh, well.....most get that joke. Guess that you're just a few crayons short of a full box."

Spike snorted, realizing that his intelligence was being criticized. Deciding against murdering the poor old lady, he demanded hotly, "How much do I owe you?"

"50 woolongs," the cashier replied, beaming as she extended her palm in order to receive the currency.

Spike grumbled to himself as he grudgingly parted from his hard- earned woolongs, watching on in disdain as the woman swiped them from his outstretched palm and placed them into the cash register.

As he began to trudge over towards the door, she called, "Have a nice day, sir, and good luck with your lady friend!"

Spike forced a small smile despite his disgust, returning, "Thanks.....you, too. Erm.....but with your.....um.....man friend."

The cashier went into a massive giggle fit, thus leaving Spike desperately craving a cigarette due to the utter humiliation that he felt.

"Faye had better like these damn roses since I had to deal with some old bag from the looney bin!," he thought sourly as he emerged from the flower shop in disdain. I'm afraid to even ASK if this day could get any worse."

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"Well look what the cat dragged in!," Wertzy announced, grinning from ear-to-ear as Spike moodily trudged into the apartment in a choleric state. "What happened to you?"

"Don't ask," he grumbled, puffing on his cigarette with disdain as he carefully set the bouquet of roses that he had bought down upon the kitchen counter. "Where's Faye?"

"In her room recovering," Wertzy replied, straigtening up a crooked picture frame as she heard him let out a choke full of trauma and bewilderment. "Don't worry, she'll be alright."

"W-what the hell happened?!," Spike demanded, immediately snuffing his cigarette into a nearby ash tray as he anxiously awaited her response.

"Veronica caught her by surprise," Wertzy explained, shrugging as she went to her refrigerator to fetch a well-needed bottle of wine. "All Faye's got is a knife wound and some bumps and bruises. As I've said before, she'll be fine."

Spike sighed, murmuring softly, "I should've never left.........I should've been here for her when she returned all battered and beaten. That's what a good, respectful lover would do, anyway."

"Don't blame yourself," Wertzy ordered as she took a swig from her wine bottle in disgust. "How the hell could you have known? I mean, you're not a damn fortune teller, for God's sake!"

Spike didn't answer.

Wertzy rolled her eyes, grumbling, "If men weren't created to annoy the hell outta women, I don't know WHAT they're for!"

Spike ignored her scathing remark as he grabbed the bouquet of roses from off of the kitchen counter and exited the living room, continuing to trudge like a miserable fool as he slowly made his way to the guest bedroom.

Once he had reached it, he took a deep breath, then rapped on the door, calling, "Faye, it's me.....Spike. Can I come in?"

There was a muffled reply, so Spike considered this to be an invitation and slowly pushed the door open, his being entering in a severe state of anxiety.

As soon as he laid his eyes upon his battered lover he gasped, just realizing how weak and vulnerable she really looked.

"Faye," he breathed, taking a tentative step forward, "are.....are you alright?"

A small smile painted its way across her rosy lips as she mumbled, "I didn't think that you'd come back........I was so insensitive this morning for not telling you where I was going, so you most definitely had the right to. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," Spike pleaded, gently easing himself down onto her bed with a subtle squeak as he carefully placed the roses beside her. "I should be the one that's sorry for letting this happen to you. Oh, God, Faye.....it's ALL my fault!"

"Don't blame yourself," Faye urged softly, letting out a tired sigh as Spike interlocked his hand in hers and held it tightly, his gentle, mismatched eyes overflowing with such warmth and devotion that it left her feeling as if she were being cradled within a soft, soothing haven.

"Um.....those roses are for you," Spike added softly, a lopsided smile making its way across his lips as he lightly brushed the silky strands of violet hair away from her gleaming jade eyes.

"Thank you," Faye mumbled, returning his smile as she allowed her fingers to gently run over the soft, scarlet petals, her soul warming as she felt Spike place a gentle, heart-felt kiss upon her pale, satin cheek.

"I should go," he announced softly, drawing away from her weary being with reluctance. "You need to get some rest."

"No.....don't leave me," Faye pleaded, grasping onto his wrist with a needy desperation. "Please, Spike.....stay with me.............just for a little while longer."

His gaze locked with her own, a deep, fluctuating warmth filling up his russet-colored irises as he remained motionless, a strong feeling of appetence forcing its way into their aching hearts as the air in the room suddenly grew suffocatingly thick with desire.

"Alright," Spike agreed breathlessly, his soul tingling as Faye weakly sat up and wrapped her arms about his waist, her lips lightly tracing along his jawline as his cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"Oh, Faye," he moaned, closing his eyes and breathing in her heavenly scent with contentment as he pleaded breathlessly into her ear, "Will you let me hold you now?"

"I'd lay with you until the end of time," Faye returned in a soft, seductive whisper, her lips immediately caressing his cheek as he buried his face against the nape of her neck and held her close, their hearts beating in wild syncopation as the dim moonlight bathed them within its luminescent glow.

Faye shivered against Spike's chest as he gently eased her back down against the pale, silky sheets, his warm lips leaving deep, passionte kisses along her throat as she felt his hands gently thumb open the single button to her small yellow crop top.

A small smile spread its way across Spike's lips as she moaned his name and let out a pitiful whimper, her eyes immediately closing as she felt his tongue glide a trail up along the small valley between her breasts until he came to a brief stop and nibbled on her collar bone; their bodies shivering violently due to the pleasant feeling of one another's touch.

"I love you," Faye whimpered, trembling amidst Spike's strong embrace as he began to gently pull down her shorts. "Just promise that you'll always be here with me......no more and lies and deception."

"I promise," Spike breathed, immediately capturing her lips in his own in a heated kiss; their hearts pounding with the beautiful new medley that they were composing through their indelible love.

Their kiss only deepened, its passion rapidly escalating as it mounted in forcefulness and desire; the couple holding on to one another so tightly they they could scarcely breathe.

"My God, I've found Heaven, itself," Spike moaned into his lover's ear, placing a heart-felt kiss upon her cheek as she closed her eyes and let out a soft whimper. "Wait a second....I promise I'll be quick."

Faye nodded in consent, never opening her eyes as she felt Spike reluctantly part from her being, the sound of clothes rustling about leaving behind a deep sensation of longing searing through her veins like a raging sea within her pounding heart.

When she felt Spike's warm body touch her own once more she moaned, his lips immediately muffling her cry of passion as her fingers gently stroked the sweat-drenched curls along his scalp; a low shudder escaping his mouth as he entered her and possessively wrapped his arms about her waist as he drew her body closer to his own.

Faye whimpered as she clung to Spike's muscular frame and absolutely refused to let go, his breath-taking kisses over-powering her being as she felt him move in and out of her and caress her flushed cheeks, his lips leaving behind a sweet flavor that left her craving for more of his tender love and affection.

"Thank you for not parting from my side," Faye breathed, closing her eyes as Spike's lips left her own and gently rolled over her chin and down to the soft flesh of her neck. "Without you I'd surely be lost."

"Well thank you for giving me a second chance," Spike returned softly, nuzzling the nape of her neck as he stroked her cheek in adoration. "You have no idea how much I've been kicking myself inwardly since I had refused your beautiful gift of love time and time again. Can you ever forgive a blinded fool?"

Faye's rosy lips curled up into a smile as she returned in a soft whisper, "I could never stay mad at you......I-I came to realize that you had immediately become apart of me the fateful day that we had met so many years ago."

Spike smiled, holding her close as he buried his face against the nape of her neck and let out a deep sigh, returning softly, "I agree."

Faye just merely smiled, dreamily closing her eyes as she gently pressed her soft lips against Spike's cheek and stroked his face, the warmth that he radiated immediately cradling her like a loving embrace until she felt herself gradually drift off into the depths of sleep.