I will stand by you. I will help you through

When you've done all you can do. If you can't cope.

I will dry your eyes. I will fight your fight

I will hold you tight and I won't let go - Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go

(O.O)

Coffee.

That's the smell that woke her up from her wonderful dream of seeing Spike again and getting him to accept her love and having sex with him almost four times.

Though she loved coffee and she was hungry too, she didn't think it was worth getting up and facing the reality that she'd lost him again.

Nope, she wasn't leaving this bed ever again. She was now planning on staying the rest of her life on this bed dreaming about the man she loved. She-

"I know you're awake, Luv. Come on, open those pretty green eyes and come greet Spike, who got you a nice hot coffee and a delicious choco extreme muffin from the coffee shop, across the street."

She knew that voice. Immediately, she sat up to see if it wasn't just her imagination playing with her.

He was there! Last night wasn't a dream!

"Mornin', pet." He smiled.

"Spike!" she exclaimed, before jumping into his arms.

"Woah, there, Slayer. You don't want me to drop your breakfast."

She looked into his hands and he was indeed holding up a plastic cup and a paper bag, that was most likely her breakfast.

As sweet as the gesture was, she was more focused on the person who brought it to her. She got teary-eyed at the sight of him.

"Buffy, is something wrong?" He looked worried at the sight of her tears.

She shook her head.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just so happy you're here. I thought last night was a dream."

His expression softened. "Yeah. It did seem like a dream. But then I woke up and you were still here. So I thought I'd get you breakfast. Know you didn't have anything last night other than my jizz if you know what I mean."

He wiggled his brows suggestively. She laughed at this. What a piggy answer and that was just so like her vampire.

She settled on the bed and accepted the food. He sat beside her and stared lovingly as she devoured what he gave her hungrily.

"So, what're your plans for today?" he asked.

"Hmm?"

She thought about his question, before answering. "Nothing much. I probably have to call Dawn and tell her how last night went."

"You can use my phone. Angel's paying for it anyway, so you can talk to the Bit for as long as you want."

"Nah. You don't have to worry about international calls. Dawn's staying at the hotel, we can call her there."

"Dawn's at a hotel?" He looked confused before realization dawned on him. "Wait, Dawn's here in LA as well?"

"Yup," she answered, before taking a sip of her coffee.

Ahhh. That hit the spot.

"So you two are taking a vacation? What about her school and your job at the Council?"

"Dawn took some sort of test and passed with flying colors. We're having her grades mailed to us so we can enroll her in school, once we decide where we're living."

"Decide where you're living?" He repeated.

"Yup. Dawn and I left the Council and are planning to look for a permanent residence. We just wanted to make sure we knew what you wanted to do before we made a decision. Hence, why we came to LA. We needed to talk to you and find out what you wanted. So if you wanted to stay here in LA, then we would look for a place here. And if you wanted to come with us, we'd look for an apartment in San Francisco."

She shrugged as if what she just told him was not a big deal, and went back to eating her muffin.

He, on the other hand, was simply gobsmacked. Was she saying that they left their life in England for him? Were they for real? He simply couldn't believe his ears.

"Hold on. Just to clarify, pet. You and Dawn left the Council and are moving back here to the States all for yours truly?"

She smiled at him. "Yes, Spike. We left London, packed all our things, and are planning to stay here in America to be with you."

"But I could've moved with you two in England. You and the Bit didn't have to leave the life you had for me."

She pulled her food down on the nightstand and turned to him with a determined expression, before saying, "First of all, we didn't have a life in England. As I said last night, I wasn't happy there. Sure, training the girls was fun, but I so don't want to do that forever. Also, Willow and Giles hid the fact you were back from me. I don't want to live in a place with people I don't trust. You know this."

He did know this. Which was why he had been so surprised she took him back in Sunnydale and let him stay in her home when he had done so many horrible things to her.

"And secondly, you're worth the effort Spike. We want to be with you. Since I don't consider England home, Dawn and I plan to make wherever you're at our new home."

He was touched by this declaration. For the first time in his entire existence, someone chose him and was considering what he wanted. He felt the corner of his eyes water, and he didn't want his girl to see him act like a ponce. Damn his soul. He pulled her into his arms and gave her a big hug.

"Thank you," he whispered.

She hugged him back, happy to feel his arms around her.

They were savoring the moment when her phone rang from her pants on the floor. He let go and picked it up before handing it to her, chuckling as he noticed her pouting.

She accepted the clothing and pulled out her phone and glared at it before answering.

"What?" she said.

"Woah, I was only calling for an update. You kind of left me hanging all night and I was beginning to think that something happened," her sister said.

She sighed. "Sorry. I was going to call you, but I got preoccupied."

"With what? Spike's penis? You guys are not boinking again, are you? Because seriously, you had all night to do that, shouldn't you two be sexed out by now? Or is this another advantage to Slayer and vampire coupling? Where both of you have unlimited stamina?"

She blushed at her sister's crude language. While she knew Dawn wasn't innocent as she used to be and was no longer ignorant when it came to sex, she wasn't comfortable yet talking to the teen about her sex life.

She opted to ignore the teen's words and merely told her that she and Spike were just talking about the future when she interrupted.

"So you two are no longer naked?" She asked.

"No, I'm still naked, but Spike's already dressed."

"Right. Well, get dressed. I'd rather not see Buffy-butt when I get there."

"When you get here?" Then a second later she said, "Wait! You're on your way here?"

"Well, duh. You spent all night with him. I think I should get my chance of a reunion with him, don't you think? Anyway, my cab just stopped at Spike's building I think. I'll see you in a few minutes."

Her sister hung up the call and she was left staring at her phone. Her vampire was merely snickering beside her. He must've heard the entire conversation.

Stupid enhanced hearing.

She groaned. She wanted more alone time with her vampire. Dawn just had to go and ruin it for her.

She couldn't take it against her sister though. She's the reason Spike was back in their lives after all. So, she'd share him with the teen for a couple of hours at least.

But that's the extent she was willing to give her sister. After that, she'd be kicking her out of his apartment and spending more time with her man.

(O.O)

If he hadn't been certain about the security of his soul before, he was now.

Sitting in the living room of his apartment, while watching Buffy and Dawn play Crash Bandicoot on his Xbox, eating pizza and laughing at the two sisters' antics, was his moment of perfect happiness.

He'd always wanted this for himself-sharing a laugh with them, holding them, just plain being part of his girls' lives. He found that these were moments he wanted to keep forever.

Whoever's god was watching over him, he thanked them for bringing them back into his life.

Nothing was going to spoil this day with them.

At least until his phone rang.

He glared at the device. It had been ringing all night, but because he had been busy with his girl, he hadn't picked it up.

"Aren't you going to answer it?" Buffy asked him.

"No. It's probably just Headboy wanting some help with something. I'm sure they can handle it."

She gave him a disapproving look. She didn't like that he stopped his life for them. They were there because they wanted to be with him and to respect his choices. From the talks she secretly listened in on between him and Dawn, she knew he loved helping Angel and his team.

She didn't like that he wasn't doing that because of them being there.

So she tried to be the voice of reason.

"Or it could be about something important and you ignoring it might not be a good thing," she said, "Come on, just answer it. Find out what's wrong. If it really is something they can handle on their own, you can say no. If it isn't then you and I can go and handle it together, like old times."

"Uh, and what about me? If you guys are going to evil Inc. I'm coming with you too," Dawn piped.

Buffy hushed her sister and told her it was dangerous, to which the youngest of the two argued about that logic. His girls started another bickering session but he tuned them out. Best get the call out of the way before he could focus back on basking in the presence of his ladies.

So he answered the phone.

"'Ello?"

"Finally! What the hell are you doing? Do you have any idea that I've been trying to reach you since yesterday?" Angel's voice was heard from the other end of the call.

"Hello to you too, Peaches. First, it's none of your business what I do with my time. You're not the boss of me. As for why I haven't picked up your calls. Well, I was busy last night. Anyway, what do you need? If it's not important then I'm hanging up."

He heard a growl on the other line, making him smile with glee. He always did enjoy annoying Angel.

His happiness was short-lived though because of his Grandsire's next words.

"Something's happened to Fred. We think she's dying. That important enough for you?"

(O.O)

Fred was the name of the woman who Spike said tried to save him, while he was still incorporeal. She was someone who became friends with her vampire and was kind to him despite not knowing anything about him.

This person was Spike's friend and she had wanted to meet her and probably thank her for being there for him while she wasn't around.

However, this wasn't what she imagined their first meeting would go, with the young woman looking frail and sickly while sitting up on a hospital bed.

Quite a contrast to the funny, smart, energetic, and kindhearted person that Spike's described to Dawn.

She barely had the energy to greet her and Dawn when they came with the vampire because they wanted to help him with this new problem Angel and his team was facing.

She turned to Spike and she could see his worried expression as he was told what happened by Wesley.

She didn't like that look on him. This person was important to her vampire and she was willing to do whatever it took to save her.

She turned to her sister, and she too had the same determined look she was wearing. This was good because this meant she didn't have to convince the teen to help.

"Alright. What are we going to do?" She asked out loud, earning the attention of everyone in the room. "Well, if this thing is killing her, then we need to get it out of her, isn't that right?"

"Yes, we do," Wesley said, "But it won't be easy. We don't know anything about Illyria and I'm thinking of sending Angel and Spike to England to check out the Deeper Well, where Illyria was once kept.

She didn't like that idea. She just got Spike back, and she wasn't willing to have him fly to England with Angel of all people. Who knows what the souled vampire would do to her vampire while they were away.

She finally proved to Spike that she loved him. She wasn't going to let Angel ruin it by talking to the younger vampire and making him doubt it again as he had most likely been doing for months since her vampire resurrected.

Nope. No way.

"No," Dawn suddenly said.

All of them turned to the teen.

"Spike's staying in LA to help with the research. I'll go with Angel to England."

"Research?" Everyone gave the vampire an incredulous look.

The teen huffed. "Oh, don't look so surprised. Spike is smarter than he looks and he knows like a gazillion languages, both human and demonic. He's more helpful here than in England with Angel."

Okay, there was truth in her sister's words. But she wasn't willing to let the teen just go with Angel.

"Dawn, I'm not letting you go with the Big Poof."

"Yeah, you can't stop me. You're needed here and Buffy will stay and help here as well. I'm more useful to Angel, anyway."

Useful how? She asked herself.

Spike had the same thought but was more vocal in his inquiries.

Dawn rolled her eyes at this.

"Well, if I go with Angel, I can also convince Willow to help us," she said.

Realization dawned on everyone. If there was one person who could stop what was happening, it was Willow. And if there was anyone who could convince the red-haired witch to help, it would be Dawn, or her. But she wasn't going to England and seeing her old friend with Angel of all people. So her sister was the perfect person to do this.

"Alright. Dawn goes with Angel, and Spike and I will help Wesley find another way to get Illyria out of Fred's body. This sounds like a great plan."

"Wait! I didn't agree to this yet," Angel pipped, earning a glare from everyone in the room.

She crossed her arms and gave the souled vampire a menacing look, before asking, "Oh? And pray tell what is wrong with this plan?"

"Nothing," he quickly answered, before adding, "But-um, can I talk to you first?"

He stared at her imploringly before switching his eyes towards Spike then looking back at her, a silent way of telling her that he wanted to talk to her about Spike.

Anger flared in her heart.

Here they were, planning on the best way to save his employee and friend, and he wanted to waste a couple of minutes talking to her about Spike?

The nerve!

"Angel, there's no time. You need to get to the Deeper Well as soon as possible to save Fred," Wesley said, "You can deal with your issues with Buffy and Spike once Fred is safe."

Angel looked like he wanted to argue, but backed off as he noticed the nasty look he was getting from everyone. He then turned dramatically and stomped off.

Dawn rushed after him, but not before saying goodbye to her and Spike and promising the two that she would be careful and that she wouldn't do anything reckless.

Once they were gone, she turned to Spike, who was talking to Wesley.

"Alright, hand it over, Percy," he said.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Hand over the keycard to your office and to the restricted artifacts section. Slayer and I will look there for things that might help Fred."

"I was thinking that I should accompany you two," he said.

Spike shook his head. "You stay here with Fred. You have your book that can read all books in your hands. Slayer and I can take care of ourselves in the researching aspect. You focus on watching over your bird until we find a way to save her."

Wesley looked like he was having an internal debate with himself. Fortunately, he agreed with Spike's suggestion and handed her vampire the keycard.

Spike turned to her and gestured for her to follow. She took his hand, a silent way of telling him it was alright, and felt him squeeze back, before leading them to Wesley's office.

They'll save her.

That was what she thought, not just because it was the right thing to do, but because she wanted to protect Spike from the heartache of losing a friend.

TBC

(O.O)

Thanks for reading.