Authors note: Thanks so much for the feedback!! Glad to know I haven't lost you. Was it really Tara? I don't know. Was it? And although this is almost over, the angst isn't. The last chapter was kind of like a break of some sort. This fic is nominated in the Spuffy Awards too, so if you like, go vote J
She knew she was running. Felt it vaguely registering somewhere in her mind that she was working every muscle in her body. Because Spike was here. Because he was here and he was lonely and scared, and he needed her.
This time, she would be there.
Would hold his hands like he had held hers, press them to her lips and soothe them with her smile. Would make him happy, give him what he deserved. She would, and it would be wonderful, and they'd be so, so happy. If only she could find him.
If only that stupid vampire would just appear, he'd get all the baked-buffy-goods she had. Every newly assembled piece of her to do with whatever he wanted.
She knew she looked ridiculous and didn't care, spinning around in circles, looking this way and that. Buffy would not move from this spot, because he was here, and she just had to look hard enough and she'd find him.
"Lady, you alri-"
She whirled around, and there was a growl at her throat. The man gulped and hurriedly moved on.
"Spike, where are you?"
It felt like rain was dropping down. Someone was screaming. Thick, heavy rain ran down her skin as she moved, and Buffy realized she was crying. The screaming was coming from her own throat, which was quickly getting parched, but that didn't matter, because where was he?
"Why am I here?"
She turned and saw him. Moved forward a step, hardly believing. He moved back.
"It was warm," he told her. This new place wasn't warm. His teeth started to chatter.
"Spike, it's me."
This should mean something, he knew that. It was her. The girl, the other glowing one. He had followed her into this land, and was taken from the warmth.
"It's Buffy." Her hand was gentle on his cheek, and he raised his own to touch hers. There were curious wet streaks, and he ran his finger down one.
"Why wont you talk to me? Spike, what's wrong?"
He was so cold. Things here wanted to hurt him, make bad things happen. The girl was making strange sounds in her throat, and her eyes were wide and wet and green. Her lip was trembling.
"Spike, I love you. Love you William. Won't you come back to me?"
She stepped closer and put her arms around him. And he was warm.