Authors note: It's finally here!! The moment you've been waiting for, if I've done my writing job properly. Thanks again or the reviews, and please continue letting me know what you think. There's probably one more chapter left, and an epilogue, which I'll try to get to you this week, because I'm leaving for 2 weeks on Sat. Reviews really do inspire me to write…and I would never dream of bribing my wonderful readers with faster chapters if more send feedback. Nope, never. ;)
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"P-please, please, you stupid vampire, just p-please come b-back…" She couldn't seem to stop her crying. After all the trying to understand and wanting him back, he was here. And he wasn't responding. "You stupid, stupid, bleached, idiot, why can't you just do what I ask this once?"
"Gotta ducks, insultin's not the best way to get what you want."
She screeched and hauled herself off his body, mouth gaping open, tears still streaking down her face.
"Spike?"
He gave her a soft smile and gently fingered one of the wet strands around her face.
"But just this once, I'll make an exception."
"S-Spike?"
"Present, luv."
She dumly nodded her head. Hesitantly touched his hair and trailed a hand down to his sharp cheek. Brushed a thumb against his soft lips. Smiled through her tears.
"What kept you?"'
"Had a bit of a chat with an old friend."
"Oh. Spike?"
"Yes pet?"
"I'm glad you're back."
She was smiling at him, and her lip was trembling, and tears were pouring out of her eyes while she grinned. She looked like some kind of demented hyena, and Spike decided she had never been more beautiful.
"I'm glad I'm back too." Curled his hands around her slim waist and hauled her back on top of his chest.
"And Spike?"
"What, Buffy?" Buried his face in her neck and breathed in her scent.
"I love you."
She was staring at him, her little face scrunched up and determined.
"That's good." Smiled at her, and now he was crying, because this was really happening, not a dream, not a fantasy, but real life in this world they had saved together. And she loved him.
"I do, I love you so much, and it's like I figured it out, and I'm a cookie, and it's real, and – what?"
"I love you too."
And their tears mingled as they kissed.