Disclaimer: I do not own anything; Characters belong to Joss Whedon & Mutant Enemy. However this story is my own.
A/N: Thank you for all the reviews so far! You guys are awesome!
CHAPTER NINE
'Flashbacks'
Willow and Dawn sat chatting about their lives since they last got together, Willow told Dawn about a new girlfriend and Dawn told her about her split from Dominic. Willow sympathised with the brunette.
"Jeez everybody seems to have romantical issues right now" Willow sighed
"You heard about Buffy then?" She asked
"Yeah... I feel bad for her; she's still fighting for that sense of normalcy"
"Well gee who wants to be normal anyways? I'd rather have this life full of adventure than to be worrying if I'm keeping with the latest trends and wondering if Brad and Angelina are gunna adopt another kid. No I'd much rather be here looking up strange markings that were on vampire murder victims" Dawn smiled
"You know that is so weird right?"
"Yeah exactly weird and wonderful instead of normal and monotonous"
"I supposed that's one way to look at it" Willow giggled
"It's true, without the el weirdo lifestyle, I wouldn't even be here..."
"Then that's something to be thankful for" smiled Willow
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Buffy hardly slept she tossed and turned all night, she wondered what it was about the argument with Spike that felt her feeling empty with a side of guilt. She knew her relationship with Mike wasn't exactly conventional, and it probably wasn't going to end with the two of them riding off into the sunset together. She knew that but she still wanted him, maybe Spike had just put everything into perspective to her. Or maybe she was going to do was she always did, try to prove him wrong.
She knocked on the door of Slayer Central, and was greeted by Katie who showed her around the compound. It was a huge mansion with many rooms most of the girls were roomies, thankfully they had solved the bathroom trauma she'd had in Sunnydale by fitting adjoining bathrooms to each room.
Katie led Buffy down the hall to the research room, when Spike came walking down the hall.
"Buffy, have you got a minute?" He asked
"Not now" she said unable to meet his gaze
"Please..." He asked again
Buffy sighed heavily "Katie can you give us a minute?"
"Sure I'll let Dawn and Willow know you're here" she smiled and walked on alone
"Two minutes" Buffy told him
"I just wanted to apologise, I was way out of line last night" he said
"Okay"
"It was just a shock to me, I mean I knew Mr Moneybags was a sleazy git but you..."
"Mr Moneybags as you called him is my boyfriend have some god damn respect!"
"If he had any respect for women or even you for that matter he wouldn't have put you in this situation"
"Oh that's rich you're talking about respect? Where was your respect for me when we were screwing?" She spat
"That was different!" He raised his voice
"Oh yeah? Different how?" She asked
"I loved you" he said quietly
"Of course you did!" She yelled
"Oh so we're back to that now are we?"
"When did you ever prove your love to me?" She scoffed
"When I saved the bleeding world gave up my life for you! Question is when did you prove your love for me?"
That silenced Buffy
"Exactly, and you wonder why I didn't believe you" he said sauntering off
Dawn and Willow emerged from the Research room "are you okay?" Dawn asked
"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" She asked
"We kinda heard the whole thing" said Willow looking concerned
"Why should I give a damn what a stupid vampire thinks right?"
Dawn and Willow nodded sympathetically
"So why is it his opinion actually matters to me?" Buffy broke down
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Buffy tried her best to get in research mode with the others but alas she was plagued with thoughts of a certain bleach blond vampire, he had been right she never had shown any sort of feeling for him. She knew that it must have come as a shock to him that in his final moments with her in Sunnydale she had opened up to him and let herself feel for him, she remembered what it felt like their hands engulfed in flames and she spoke those three words to him. His reply had shocked her more than anything 'No you don't, but thanks for saying it'. She thought back to the night prior to the final fight, everything had been so different then…
*SUNNYDALE, MAY 19TH 2003*
Buffy walked down the steps to the basement, she caught a glimpse of him sat deep in thought on his cot with the amulet swinging in front of his face. As soon as he saw her he stood and stared at her, there were no words spoken both of them knew exactly what the other was thinking. Buffy approached Spike with caution as did he; they stood staring into each other's eyes. Spike took an unneeded breath and opened his mouth to say something; Buffy cut his words off before they were spoken with a kiss. A kiss they'd not shared before; there was no anger, no frustration, just a sweet kiss. As the kiss ended Spike was left stunned.
"What was that for?" he asked
"For everything" she smiled "I know I don't usually show my gratitude, but I might not live through this…"
Spike cut her off "That's not true! You'll still be here tomorrow… I'll make damn sure of it"
"I dunno, something about this makes me think maybe I can't win" she shrugged
"Slayer…Buffy" he corrected "You are one of the toughest bint's I know, you're gunna get through this and live happily ever after with the Scoobies. Just you wait and see" he smiled tracing her cheek with his index finger
She nuzzled into him "I hope so, but if not I don't wanna go with any regrets"
He frowned "What do you mean?"
"Us" she said barely audible
"Buffy…" he started
"No don't" she begged "Can we just be us now, the new us?"
He nodded.
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*PRESENT DATE*
"Buffy? Buffy?" Willow gave her friend a nudge
"What?" she asked slightly dazed "Oh sorry" she apologized
"Thinking about Spike?" asked Dawn
"Yeah… As much as I hate to admit it" She groaned
"Well I think we found something that's gunna take your mind off it for a while" smiled Willow.
"Great, what did you find out?" asked Buffy.
A/N: The flash back popped into my head whilst re-watching Chosen, you know the part where Buffy comes down to the basement and all you see is Spike at one end of the room and Buffy at the other and it fades to black? Well I know everybody has their own take on what did or did not happen, Joss is a genius letting us all make up our own minds as to what happened so this was my version of events that took place during 'the blackout' in Chosen.
