Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and all creators of Buffy own everything; my goal is to enjoy not stealing.

Author's Note: Sorry for the lack of update...here's a chapter to ease my guilt...SORRY! I will try to do better, I'm not having them beta'd until after they are complete so you can actually read the story in good time without extremely long breaks inbetween. Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Later :

Each hours felt more surreal then the next. Saturday and Sunday had passed in a whirlwind and now Monday had snuck up upon the blonde couple who awaited the return of the potentials. Buffy had been dreading this moment even before she revealed the truth about her feelings to Spike. Uncertainty about the decision to include the others on the events of the past weekend remained uncertain.

Buffy remained in Spike's tight embrace as they waited on the couch for their perfect weekend to end and the responsibility to fall back on their shoulders. They both sat in silence just savoring the precious moments they had left like this. For now, they weren't going to make their relationship known, as they knew it would cause even more internal conflict between them and the others. Buffy couldn't help but wonder when life got so difficult.

Buffy felt her heart drop as Spike broke their embrace and made his way to the basement, or so she assumed. Laughter and loud conversations could be heard coming from the front of her house. And in just a few seconds the door opened and the house was filled with noise, and the peaceful quiet that had stayed in the house had disappeared just as the time this weekend had.

"Hey Buffy!" Dawn eagerly went over towards her sister grasping her in a hug. Dawn had stayed at Janice's all weekend rather than one night after Janice's boyfriend had broken up with her. To Buffy the timing was impeccable. "How was your weekend?"

Buffy noticed a certain underlying tone that her sister held, clearly Dawn was not to happy that she spent the weekend in a house all alone with Spike. "Oh, nothing much. Spike slept most of the days and I got caught up on much needed TV. We did find a nest of vampires though one night…What about you?"

Dawn raised her eyebrow and seemed to be studying her sister, but finally shrugged her shoulders. "You know, nothing much. Janice was pretty upset, but she got over it."

"You weren't getting into any trouble were you?" Buffy put the suspicion onto her sister. Out of all the people that would discover the truth about her weekend it would be Dawn, everyone else was too busy wrapped up in their own lives.

"No, I was a perfect angel." Dawn's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Buffy nodded and watched as everyone got resettled in her house. Giles introduced yet another two potentials that he had been able to locate through the help of the coven representative he and Willow had met with. Xander flew off to work, while the potentials raided every area of the house. Buffy already had a migraine and felt extremely tired even though the past few nights, she had slept better than she had in so long. After fifteen minutes, Buffy snuck down to the basement to find some escape and to quench the need to see him.

Buffy smiled as she reached the bottom of the stairs and saw him sitting on his cot, smoking a cigarette.

Spike glanced up. "Sorry pet." Spike looked at the cigarette. "Would 'ave gone out back, but it already is bloody chaos up there and they have only been here for five minutes. I needed some relief."

Buffy let out a soft laugh and joined him on his cot; resting her head on his shoulder as his arm snaked around her waist. "I don't blame you."

For minutes the two just sat and listened as the stomping and talking from above seemed to get louder. And that was followed by a huge crash and sounds of shattering.

Buffy tensed as her anger built, "I swear if that was anything important I am going to just kill them myself." Buffy made a move to get up, but was pulled onto Spike's lap and he kissed her tenderly causing her to forget any thoughts she had earlier.

"Feeling better?" Spike's smile crept up the corner of his mouth.

Buffy smiled and shook her head. "A little better, but…" Spike smirked as Buffy ignited the kiss once again, although the kiss wasn't as tender as the previous. It was like a spark flamed up from within them, creating a hunger for one another. The kiss left them both breathing heavily, although their eyes never left the others. Buffy passionately kissed his again, knowing what it would lead to. Though the house was full, she knew they were preoccupied and at this point it didn't matter. Buffy had taken the time this weekend and got to know Spike, the way she wished she had before. They agreed to put the past behind them and move forward. She knew this time would be different.

Spike had spun them so that Buffy lay under him as the continued to kiss, her hands caressing his back, as his hand wove in her hair as the under one roamed under shirt across her stomach.

Spike broke it off, love and lust filled his eyes. "Are you sure about this?"

Buffy grinned, "More than anything." Buffy crushed his lips against hers as she began to lift his black t-shirt off revealing his muscular bare chest. Buffy ran her hands across him, memorizing each flex of the muscle or feel of his body on hers.

Spike kissed from her mouth to her the line of her jaw down to her neck, leaving Buffy gasping for more.

"BUFFY!" Buffy and Spike both bolted upright at the scream and the sound of footsteps coming closer to the door of the basement.

"I'll be right there!" Buffy screamed back. Buffy sadly looked at Spike, and he nodded knowing full well that she had to go. Buffy gave him one last kiss. "Later" she whispered as she rose from the cot. Buffy made her way to the stairs, fixing her hair and her shirt as she made her way up.

Buffy heard the whisper of "Later", hearing a defeated tone in Spike's voice. Buffy made a promise to herself before she opened the door that this was the last time she let anything come between her and Spike, unless it was an emergency. She loved her friends and her sister, but this weekend just showed her that it was time for her to be able to do what she wanted and not have to worry about what others choose.

Buffy felt more sure than she had ever felt for awhile. Tonight, after everyone was settled, she would reveal the truth about her and Spike's relationship. No more hiding no more lies, just the truth. Plus, the fact that she knew she couldn't sleep without Spike holding her in her bed as he had done all weekend.

That Night:

The Scoobies and potentials all gathered in the now rather cramped living room as they all waited on Buffy and Spike who had some news to share concerning the past weekend.

Willow leaned closer to Giles, her whisper barely audible to anyone other than the watcher as the rest of the group chattered noisily.

"Giles, do you think it's something new…something bad?"

Giles took off his glasses, "Whatever it is it must be extremely important, but I am rather curious as to why she has waited this long to tell us…although whatever it is we are going to deal with it in any way we can."

"Well, I think that all they're going to tell us is that they had orgasms this weekend and they are back to together."

Both the Watcher and the witch snapped their attention toward the ex demon. Xander looked like he was going to be sick and Giles restlessly cleaned his glasses.

Willow shook her head, "Oh come on Anya. Buffy knows better, especially after all that's happened you really think that she is just going to start dating him! The day Buffy and Spike actually start dating is the day…well is the day when something really impossible happens without magic!"

Anya crossed her arms and leaned back on the couch, "You'll see."

Buffy paced in the kitchen as Spike watched her intently. "Pet? We don't have to do this. There is already so much bleedin chaos goin' on and I really don't feel like being attacked with sharp objects today."

Buffy stopped mid pace and glared at the vampire. "So you don't want anyone to know?" Spike had known Buffy long enough to realize the insecurity in her voice.

"It's not that luv and you know it. It's just…I liked what we have, no complications, no worrying bout what the Scoobies think. We don't need anyone's approval, that's all."

Buffy smiled a bit, "Yeah, you're right, but I am still going to tell them. No secrets this time, you are now 100% my undead boyfriend and I don't care what they think. If they have a problem they can leave…actually with that thought in mind, I hope they have a whole bunch of problems." Buffy smirked watching Spike's lips mirror that of her own. "Ready?"

Spike nodded as they both headed out into the soon to be angry mob. Both were so close to one another yet, their arms just barely grazed one another.

Everyone in the living room immediately stiffened, probably mentally preparing themselves for a new danger or threat. Buffy couldn't help but believe that they would have chosen a new threat over her renewing her relationship with Spike. Buffy held a strong stance as she prepared herself for what she was about to do.

Buffy felt something cold wrap around her hand and realized that Spike had taken her with his own, but leaving it concealed behind the flow of his coat. Buffy felt herself immediately relax. "Okay, so before I tell you the reason behind this meeting, I want everyone to relax, there is no new threat or advance on an old one; everything has been pretty quiet…"

"Buffy? So what is the whole point of this meeting?" Xander questioned his friend and the others around nodded their head in silent agreement.

Buffy took in a deep breath. "Just remember to stay calm…okay…there will be no voting or telling of what to do or no to do. You are going to just accept what I tell you and swallow everything you're thinking…unless it's good and then you can say it."

Kennedy rolled her eyes, "Can we just get on with it!" Kennedy looked down after she received a death glare from Spike.

"Well…" Buffy took a breath. "IambacktogertherwithSpikeandIlovehim." Everyone looked confused as Buffy's words came out all garbled together and said in only one breath.

"What?"

Buffy felt a squeeze in her hand, knowing that it was a sign of encouragement. "I am… back together with Spike and I am in love with him." That is when the bomb went off. The potentials really didn't know what to say about the situation but watched as the other Scoobies were in uproar, screaming at Buffy and Spike, and watching as Dawn even headed towards the weapons case.

"ENOUGH!!!" Spike roared, sending the room into a deafening silence freezing everyone in their spots. His voice was filled with rage and everyone could see he was trying to control his demon. "There is nothing you can say or do. If you have a problem leave…Buffy has kept mum about her views on all of your relationships and none of them were any better thank you very much. Stop trying to control her, she isn't your bloody puppet. In my opinion, you are even worse than the Council was for Christ's sake!"

"Nobody asked you Dead Boy." Xander stood up, fists clenched.

This time it was Buffy who had enough, "No, Xander, nobody asked you. I got the whole Angel thing, hell you hated him before he turned evil and that was because of jealousy. Don't act like Spike is the bad guy, he hasn't killed a human in years. Think about it for a minute, if you were a evil master vampire, would you A) run to the slayer for help or B) get a minion and find a way to get the chip out! We could have all been dead if he had went with the later, but we're not! Don't you all act like you're so innocent? Hell wasn't it a few months ago that Willow flayed a guy and then tried to end the world…but no we go around like everything is all good and cheery. Anya, was a demon for a thousand plus years and the number of deaths Spike is responsible for doesn't even compare to her death count!"

Anya nodded her head, "That's true. And I think this is a great moment to say …I told you so."

"And GILES! We all know the kind of crap you got into and do I have to remind you of Ben?"

"Those were different circumstances!" Giles too stood up next to Xander.

"Please! Who cares! I am sick of you all telling me what's best for me…you don't even know him, let alone how I am around him or him to me!"

Dawn spoke up for the first time, "What else do we need to know Buffy. It's amazing how easily you neglect the fact that he tried to RAPE you!"

The potentials gasped. This idea clearly never came up in the theories on her and Spike's relationships.

"Yeah, well maybe you forgot, bit I used Spike for months! I might as well as raped him! And if I recall I only did that because he was the only one there for me after you all ripped me out of heaven because you were all scared shitless without the slayer. Now that's enough. I don't want another word about this. I love Spike; I am with Spike end of story." Buffy let out slow breaths and a bit of her anger leaked out, sending a chill down everyone's spines as the two blondes had on an identical smirk. Buffy lead Spike by the hand, lifting her eyebrow. "Spike? How bout you and me go blow off some steam. I really need to work out my tension."

Giles blocked the front door from the two, who now were stopped at the stairs. "You are not to go out on patrol until we all calmly sat and talked this out." Giles had put on his best watcher voice.

Buffy smiled and winked at Spike. "You're right Giles, we shouldn't go out on patrol…we had other ways of working out tension in mind…"

Spike lunged and scooped Buffy running up the stairs, the two laughing, while the rest of the house paled.

Xander stood right where he was, pale as a ghost, and "How many up for going back to my place?" Everyone in the room raised their hands and escaped out the front door.

Buffy laughed into Spike's chest as they lay on her bed, hearing the sound of the door closing and cars drive off. "I hadn't had this much fun in a while. Did you see their faces!?"

Spike chuckled pressing a light kiss to her forehead, "Bloody marvelous that was, didn't think you had it in you pet? I don't think I will be able to get the picture of the Watcher's face out of my head...Well, luv, looks like we have the house all to ourselves again."

Buffy beamed and looked into her lover's intense icy blue eyes and felt truly safe nestled in his arms and found the love there that she had told herself never existed. "Well, Spike…it's later."

Spike captured Buffy's mouth with his, "That pet, it is."

TBC

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