He's been listening to her talk for hours. Every thought that crossed her wonderful mind is pouring out, in short, jerky sentences that would make no sense to anyone but the two of them. And he listens, rubs her back, licks tears off her beautiful cheeks as she cries. Whispers in her ear that it's going to be okay.
And it will be. The world is saved for the moment, no apocalypses are on the horizon. Just a peaceful, well deserved rest. A time just for them.
"Spike?"
He'll never grow tired of hearing her say his name. All that feeling that she puts in one little word, and it's all directed at him.
"You know you're breathing, right?"
He frowns down at her.
"Always breathe, pet, never got out of the habit."
Then she grins innocently.
"And does your heart always beat too?"
"Whaddya mean, does my heart alwa – oh. Bloody hell!"
She continues watching him peacefully as he works his mouth. Opens it. Then closes. Then rotates his jaw a bit.
"It's what she meant," he tells her. "The good witch in her jeans and t-shirt, told me things would be different, that I could stay where I was if I wanted."
"You left heaven for me?" She looks astonished, as though this is something new. Like she doesn't know that no place without her could be heaven. So he tells her.
"You know what Spike? You're truly an extraordinary man."
And he grins at her, and Buffy delights in his dimples.
"In the very real sense of the word, too. You're truly an extraordinary woman too, my slayer. Never been better." Then he sniffs. "What's Harris doin' here?"
She sighs and gets up, walks over to the sink with a cup clutched in her hand.
"Anya died too, when you did." It's all she needs to say.
She pours out the dirty water in the cup holding the dandelion out, and makes her way out the door. Spike follows. Finds her bent on the side of the walkway, cute little rear waving around as she digs a hole and puts the flower in.
"You think it might grow roots?"
He thinks it'd take a bloody miracle for a half dead, ripped flower to live again. Then again, it's being planted by Buffy Summers.
"Think there's a good chance of it, pet."