IMPORTANT ANNOUNCMENT:
This will be the last chapter of this story I will be posting on FF.Net. All future chapters will only be found on my site, Always Forever. Links to my site are on my profile page and you can also find a link to my update list. Please bookmark my site for the conclusion of this story.
Thanks,
Zarrah
A Glimpse of Heaven
Chapter 36 – part 1
Buffy yawned as she made her way down the steps, scratching her stomach through the teddy bear pajamas she was wearing before she stopped when someone knocked on the front door. Trying to open her sleep-filled eyes, she made her way down the last couple of steps before reaching the door. Turning the knob as she stifled back a yawn, she pulled the door open before she looked up and screamed.
Spike's mouth opened in greeting when he saw Buffy before she screamed and slammed the door back in his face. He chuckled before he raised his hand and knocked again.
"Buffy, is someone at the door?" Hank asked as he walked out of the living room and looked at her.
Buffy's eyes were wide and she frantically shook her head no just as Spike knocked again.
Hank grinned at her before he shook his head and walked toward the door when the knocking persisted. Buffy swallowed heavily as her father practically pushed her out of the way and she hid behind the door when he opened it. "William," Hank said cheerfully. "What brings you by so early?"
"Morning, Sir," Spike smiled as he looked at the grinning face of Buffy's father. "Had a date with Buffy today."
Buffy's eyes widened even further before her mouth flew open. She barely even heard her father invite Spike in before she saw him. "Oh God," she whispered out before she darted for the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Spike chuckled as he watched her run up the stairs. She had said for him to surprise her and now he knew he had. He could hear her mumbling as she ran up the steps before she disappeared around the corner and he heard a door slam.
"William," Joyce smiled. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Good morning, Mrs. Summers," Spike said politely as he looked at her.
"Oh, call me Joyce," she insisted before walking toward him and taking his arm. "We were just about to have some breakfast. Would you like to join us?"
"I'd love to."
Buffy frantically searched her closet for something to wear and stripped off her pajamas quickly before running to her vanity. A scream escaped her as she saw herself and she cringed when she realized Spike had seen her like that. Her hair was all over the place. Her long blonde locks were sticking out from her head and what she could only describe as a rats' nest rested on the left side. She grabbed her brush and started to tame the wild mane as she looked over at her clock. Eight am! What in the world is he thinking? She yelled silently to herself. If this is his idea of a joke, I'll kill him.
Finally getting her hair under control, Buffy dressed quickly before starting for the door. When she opened it, she could hear his laughter coming from downstairs and she moaned pitifully then started for the steps.
Spike helped Joyce set the last of the breakfast dishes on the table and turned to look over his shoulder when Joyce looked toward the entryway and smiled. He grinned when he saw Buffy and the bright pink blush to her cheeks forced him to hold back his chuckle.
"Morning," Buffy mumbled out as she looked at her parents before glancing quickly over at Spike. He was standing there staring at her with a wide smile on his face and she couldn't help but grin. Yep, he's dead she thought as she made her way to the table.
"Morning, luv," Spike smiled as Buffy approached him.
"This isn't exactly what I had in mind when I said 'surprise me'."
Spike chuckled as everyone took a seat and his smile remained when he sat down between Buffy and Dawn. As their meal got underway, Spike couldn't help but feel right at home. He spent most of the meal talking to Hank and he would be lying if he said he wasn't glad Hank seemed to like him. The man had yet to stop smiling as he talked to him and Joyce seemed just as enthusiastic.
Buffy watched the exchange between her parents and Spike and her initial irritation at him showing up so early vanished as she ate. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him; it was just the fact that he had seen her looking her worst. How could he ever look at her again and NOT remember seeing her looking like that?
When they had all finished eating, Buffy stood to help her mother clear away the plates and smiled when she saw her mother wink at her before following her into the kitchen. "So, I take it William's visit was unexpected?" Joyce asked when they were out of earshot of everyone else.
"That would be a big fat yes," Buffy chuckled.
Joyce chuckled along with her daughter as she started scraping the breakfast plates. "So, are you two an official item now?"
"I don't know," Buffy grinned as she shrugged her shoulders. "We had a date today but other than that I don't know anymore than you do."
"A breakfast date," Joyce mused. "Have to say I'm impressed."
"Why?"
"Well, most guys wouldn't have shown up at your doorstep at eight a.m."
"Well, Spike never does things the traditional way."
"I'm beginning to see that," Joyce smiled. "So, what do you think he has planned for today?"
"I'm almost afraid to think," Buffy laughed. "God only knows what goes on inside that head of his."
"Well, why don't you go on back out there? I can finish these up."
"Are you sure?" Buffy asked. "I don't mind."
"I'm sure," Joyce smiled. "You go see what that young man has in store for you today."
Buffy smiled as she leaned up and placed a kiss on her mother's cheek before she walked back to the dining room. Her mind fluttered over every possibility she could come up with as to what Spike had planned. He smiled up at her as she entered the room and her smile widened as he stood up.
"You ready to go?"
"Go where?" Buffy asked him.
"It's a surprise."
"And showing up here with the sun wasn't?" She laughed.
"No, that was planned," Spike grinned. "Let's go."
Buffy said goodbye to her parents and followed Spike outside with a smile on her face. The minute they reached the sidewalk, she found her hand gripped firmly in his. They walked in silence and the tiny smile on his face had her wondering where they were going. She was almost scared to think. If showing up at eight a.m. was any indication she was sure to be in for more surprises before the day was over.
Her brow furrowed when they approached their destination and the smile on Spike's face only grew as he looked over at her. Stepping off the sidewalk into the parking lot, Buffy grinned when she figured it out.
"Spike. I was just wondering when you were going to make it."
"Hey Frank," Spike smiled as he greeted the man that had walked out of the small building to meet them.
"She's all ready for you," Frank smiled as he held his hand out. "Sure you can handle her?"
"More than sure."
Buffy watched with a smile that matched Spike's as Frank handed him the keys and they both walked to the DeSoto. She knew if she lived a hundred years she'd never figure out the fascination with Spike and that car. It was hideous in her honest opinion but to each their own.
She chuckled lightly when he opened up the passenger side door for her and when she got inside she was pleased to find that it didn't reek of cheap liquor and smoke. She watched him practically run around the front of the car and when he climbed inside she laughed as he leaned across the seat and kissed her. "I thought today was suppose to be surprises for me?"
"Well, aren't you surprised you don't have to walk all over town?" Spike asked, grinning as he put the key in the ignition and started the car.
They had been driving all day and normally Buffy would have been bored out of her mind, but that wasn't the case. Spike had barely even taken time to breathe as he talked almost as fast as they were driving. She had laughed and smiled until she thought her face would crack and Buffy couldn't ever remember a time when Spike looked so happy.
Lunch was spent at the Jody Burger and she smiled widely at the waitress Jen when she had come to take their order. Buffy made sure to let her know Spike was off limits and she had received a breathtaking kiss for her trouble. His apparent joy at finally getting his car was working in her favor.
The sun was now sitting low on the horizon and the sky was lit in shades of pink and purple. Spike had finally stopped talking long enough to catch his breath and they both sat quietly as they rode through town.
"So, do you have a specific plan for this evening or was just riding around all day the basic plan?"
Spike smiled as he glanced over at her before turning back to the road.
"Okay," Buffy smiled when she didn't get an answer. "Well, I guess you better pull this bomb over for gas soon because last I checked, they won't go all day without it."
"It was full when we picked it up," Spike said as he pulled the DeSoto to a stop at a red light. "And stop calling my girl names."
Buffy laughed before shaking her head. "And here I thought I was your girl." She had never wished for an open hellmouth before but as the words left her mouth her smile fell away and she prayed some cosmic wormhole would suck her through and deposit her smack dab in the middle of one. Her throat seemed to close off and her eyes closed as the lump in her throat seemed to choke her.
She heard the soft crunch of the leather seat and opened her eyes when she felt Spike's hand on her cheek and turned her head to look at him. The smile on his face nearly took her breath away.
"That can be arranged, kitten. If it's what you want."
Buffy's heart was pounding in her chest and the intense blue eyes that met hers darkened the longer she held them. She didn't think she had ever wanted anything more in her life and her smile returned before she leaned in toward him.
Spike was barely even able to contain himself as Buffy kissed him. He thought it would take her weeks to finally want something more serious, if ever, and now here he was wrapped in her arms and being kissed senseless. He didn't know how long they stayed that way but the blaring of a car horned finally broke the spell before they pulled back slightly from each other.
"I think we're blocking traffic," Buffy said breathlessly as she smiled.
"I think you're right," Spike grinned.
Buffy laughed lightly when the car behind them honked their horn again and Spike threw them a two-fingered salute before he reached down and unfastened her seat belt. "What are you doing?" She asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and straightened in his seat, pulling her across the seat with him.
"Want you right here," he said as he reached across her and grabbed the seat belt.
The car behind them blew his horn again and Buffy snickered as Spike looked behind them and shouted out a string of words she had never even heard before. The car behind them finally drove around them wildly and Spike grinned as the driver threw his own salute. Another fiery kiss and they were on the road again.
"Don't people usually go to the beach during the day?" Buffy asked as Spike parked the car and opened his door.
"Depends on your reason for going I suppose," Spike replied as he helped her out and shut the door behind her.
The sound of the surf crashing along the shoreline surrounded them and Buffy smiled as Spike took her hand and led her down the small path to the beach. The sun was still barely visible and the sky was breathtaking. Walking the short distance to the shoreline, Buffy smiled as they finally stopped and sat down.
They both sat quietly just watching the sunset and Buffy couldn't remember the last time she had felt so relaxed. Spike's arm was around her waist and she smiled as he pulled her closer to him. Her head went to his shoulder and she felt a small kiss being placed on her head before she sighed lightly. "This is nice."
"Yeah?" Spike questioned with a smile.
"Yeah," Buffy said as she looked up at him. "I don't think I've ever had a date that was so casual before."
Spike laughed quietly before looking back out across the ocean. "Well, I'd like to say it was all planned out, but I'd be lying. Actually, I had no idea what to do today. Just knew I wanted you all to myself. Frank called yesterday and told Rupert the car was ready and other than that, I was flying blind. Well, almost."
"Well I don't think I would have wanted it any other way."
Spike smiled as he looked back down at her before giving her a small kiss. "So you're not disappointed then?"
"Disappointed?" Buffy asked. "Spending the whole day alone with you is far from disappointing."
"Glad to hear that," Spike grinned.
"Is this a private party or can anyone join?"
Buffy turned her head and smiled as she saw Xander. His arms were loaded down and Jesse and Willow were a short distance behind him. She looked over at Spike and smiled as he looked at Xander.
"You get everything?" Spike asked as he looked up at his friend.
"Blanket, food and friends," he said smiling as he looked over his shoulder at Jesse and Willow before looking back at Spike. "I think that was everything, right?"
"That was it," Spike smiled.
"What's all this?" Buffy asked confusedly.
"Well, this is the only part I had planned," Spike told her. "I figured you'd be bored senseless with me by nightfall so I had a backup plan just in case."
Buffy grinned at him before looking over at Willow when she finally approached. "Hey Will."
"Hey yourself," Willow smiled. "You sure this is okay Spike?"
"Of course it is," he smiled as he looked up at her. "I've had her all to myself all day long. Be quite selfish of me to deny the rest of you the pleasure of her company."
"Well let's go," Xander said as he laughed softly and Buffy and Spike stood. They all walked a short distance down the beach and Buffy smiled as she saw the logs sitting on the beach.
"I invited Faith along. I hope no one cares," Willow said as Xander spread a blanket out and everyone else filled in around the logs.
"That's fine," Spike said as he kneeled by the logs and started a fire. "The more the merrier I suppose."
"Great," Willow beamed. "She said she'd be a little late, but that she'd be here."
As they all settled in around the small fire, Buffy stared out over the ocean as the last of the sun began to sink. She smiled as she looked back over at her friends. When she caught Spike's eyes, her smile widened. What had started as a great day promised to be so much more.
To Be Continued in part 2…