part3

Flying Hours- Part 3 to "All that Heaven Allows"

by: Isabelle

-Disclaimer: All of the main characters are owned by Josh Weddon and the WB. Lyrics Amazing and Don't wanna miss a thing by Aerosmith. Poem "Love and Life" by John Wilmot.

-Rated: PG (Language, Adult Situations)

-Summary: Third part of Spike and Buffy series. S/B related. Spike and Buffy are taken by a rich underground demon-group with the purpose of being sold in an auction for millions. The plot thickens as they grow closer to each other and try to find a way back home. This story is set right after Season 4, so Season 5 hasen't happened, and won't happen.

-Author's Note: Would love feedback! Tell me what you think, I am far from done, many surprises ahead! My email is bih80@yahoo.com

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"You can't catch a cub without going into the tiger's den."- (Risky as it is, if you are afraid of taking chances, there is no way you can succeed.)

Chinesse Proverb

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Roderick smiled in a fascinated dark humor.

How sweet!. He thought satirically. Bitter venom came out in the form of falsificated chuckles.

The man standing next to him looked over at his Master as he amused himself by the developing scene in the screen before him.

"Quite fascinating, lord."

He continued his dark humor-less glee.

"Should I keep Qaletaqa away from her?" the servant said.

Roderick shook his and wickedly smiled. "No, I like this." he amused himself. "And here I thought it was going to be boring in this desert wasteland."

The man next to him waited patiently.

"You know." Roderick said looking up at the waren, "We can probably sell the tape,.........by mass quantities, at that."

Pili smiled inspite of his Master. He knew that it was "all green bills or no automobile" with him.

"Your wish then?...." Pili asked his now calmer Sire.

"I believe we'll start with Phase 1." Roderick smiled at the couple on the screen.

Pili knew that was his quew to bolt for the door.

"Done, master." With that he bowed and left.

Roderick continued to stare at the vision before.

On the bed, there they were. She was shaking, almost in a trance, probably mur,muring words that made no sense. There he was holding her, comforting her, being her support.

Again he smiled.

Who would have thought you had it in you, William? He thought smuggly.

He had seen Spike place her down ever so gently on her bed, trying to pry her from his arms, but she had held on in his arms, pulling him around her. Not letting him go. He had reluctantly given in when she said 'no' and climbed in bed with her. His arms wrapped around her small frame, shielding and convering her while her body shook in the aftermath of the 'gorĂ¼s', gently strocking her hair until her shivers subsided.

As Roderick played observer in fascination he picked up the phone next to him.

"Get me Lawrence Maltevilla, in Venice."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(July 7, 12:02 AM @ Sunnydale, CA)

I kept the right ones out

And let the wrong ones in

Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins

There were times in my life

When I was going insane

Trying to walk through

The Pain

The night was damp and hot, as if it simmered with his pain. He sat on the back porch steps of her attacked house, glass accompanied his black shoes on the floor were they rested. His slumped, large, brooding shoulders showed vulnerability, lying to the passerby.

Black, that was the color of his life. An eternal mortuary, covered with crying faces from past lives, grieving family, heartfelt guilt and responsability. Only a single white rose survived the darkness in him.

And she was fadding.......sinking to the depths of his memories. Her face was sketchy, like a bad drawing, frowning in pain, her large green eyes begging for his help, yet he couldn't give it.

Didn't know were she was, didn't know if she was alive, didn't know if she was hurt, he knew nothing but that she was fadding, ever so slowly.

When I lost my grip

And I hit the floor

Yeah, I thought I could leave, but cound't get out the door

His Buffy was leaving him, he could feel it in his bones. The action was ulcering. Pain, indescribable pain that could not be quenched, could not be healed, could not be stoped.

She was letting go. He was holding on. A heartless tug-of-war that he was loosing, sinking him knee-deep in unimodular mud.

It's amazing

With the blink of an eye, you finally see the light

It's amazing

When the moment arrives you know you'll be alright

It's amazing

And I'm saying a prayer for the desperate heart hearts tonight

The door opened behind him but he didn't flinch, he braced himself for the conversation.

She sat next to him and studied his face. Not saying a word, just sitting in comforting silence.

Her silence was welcoming, comforting, inviting, it was what he needed.

She saw the lone blood tear that slid down his dark face and gulped.

What can one say but 'I know what you feel?'

"Hurts dosen't it?" she asked her eyes never leaving his face.

That one last shot's a permanent vacation

And how high can you fly with broken wings?

Life's a journey, not a destination

And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings

He tightened. Damn Her. He thought. Why did she always hit the nail?

He nodded.

"I know." Her own lone tear falling.

His gaze reached the sky trying to understand where he had gone wrong, but he knew, he knew this was his punishment. He was cursed. Literally.

You have to learn to crawl

Before you learn to walk

But I just couldn't listen to all the righteous talk

I was out on the streets

Just tryin' to survive

Her arm snaked around his shoulder and she placed a tender soothing kiss on his shoulder.

Her heart burned, a burning sensation she had hidden, captured in her heart, so well hidden.

He looked at her large brown eyes without saying a word rested his weary head on her shoulder and let her in. Let her comfort him, for once he held on to someone.

It's amazing

With the blink of an eyes, you finally see the light

It's amazing

When the moment arrives that you know you'll alright

It's amazing

And I'm saying a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight

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I could stay awake just to hear you breathing

Watch you smile while you are sleeping

While farway you're dreaming

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender

I could stay lost in this moment forever

Every moment spent with you is moment I treasure

Warmth. Warmth was all that came to mind as he came awake, taking in his senses and allowing his essence to be one with his surroundings again.

Comfort. Comfort was the next thing that came to mind as he felt his body rise to unlife. Something was right, something felt good, and something was found.

Vibrations. Vibration was the other thing that ticked his mind in confusion and a security that seemed to belong to a past life.

His nostrils inhaled the air around him. It was sweet. Vanilla? Yes! It was Vanilla. The musky sweetness of the golden smell came in penetrating waves that shuffeled his brain. What purity. What deception. What naiveness. What venom.

His eyes awoke themselves, glazed blue orbs that lingered in pure sensual pleasure.

What a way to wake up! He thought. He felt relaxed and at ease. He hadn't felt such satisfaction in.........well never.

Don't wanna close my eyes, Don't wanna fall asleep

'Cuz I'd miss you baby, And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cuz even when I dream of you, The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you baby, And I don't wanna miss a thing

He focused, against his pleasured will, and saw golden strings glazing over his eyes. Tickling his thick eye lashes, and making the world seen hazy.

Then something stirred.

He looked throught the tassels of ochroid to find an indescribable sight next to him.

There he was, completely relaxed, with no complaint whatsoever, and there she was, snuggled and cheerful in blissful sleep. All curled up on top of his chest. Her heart trashing in pacific rhythms, he felt it, as if it were his own dead one coming to life. What surrealism. Then he realized he was probably dreaming.

Laying close to you, Feeling your heart beating

And I'm wondering what you're dreaming, Wondering if it's me you're seeing

Then I kiss your eyes, And thank God we're together

I just want to stay with you in this moment forever,.....Forever and ever

But she stirred. No, don't wake up! He thought in desperation.

Such impeccable moment should never end. He wanted to paint what his vision inhaled, capture it and keep it forever. Her sight. Her taintless sight.

Her right arm was snaked around his chest, hand resting sweetly on his hip. Her face was comfortably rested on upper shoulder, breathing warm air to his cold neck.

With her eyes closed she looked childish. But not the childish that you would like to pet, but the chilldishness you want to engulf yourself with, drown yourself in a nether world that exist between a person and their dreams.

She was a picture paragon.

A doll seen in a shop window. Too expensive to buy, too beautiful to hide.

I don't wanna miss one smile

I don't wanna miss one kiss

I just wanna be with you

Right here with you just like this

I just wanna hold you close

Feel your heart close to mine

And just stay here, in this moment for all the rest of time

His unseen breath caught at his dead throat. How could life be so cruel? There, with his arm encirculed around her shoulders, and under his coat that was on top of her, his hand resting comfortably on her tiny waist. A waist that was exposed to the touch, displaying menacing golden flesh that his fingers unconsciously had begun to play with.

He was in dangerous ground. He felt a lump on his throat. And his thoughts ran away without him. Telling him the raw truths that he often told other people other than himself.

There you have it, mate. No spells, no witch, no dreams. Its all real,......and you'll never have it. No chance. She'll wake up and throw you off the bed. She'll insult you, accuse you of planning this. She'll be pissed. So, mate, enjoy this because you will never, ever feel this.

He had to get out of there.

Get up NOW, you wanker!

He reluctantly slid his hardening body off her. The pain was unbearable. He wanted her, needed her, desired her, she had intoxicated his demon, until it was drunk with happiness at her every smile, her look, her gracefulness, her,.....Buffy, the one thing he knew he couldn't have.

She stirred lightly and frowned poutidly in her sleep at the loss of his body.

He was engulfed with rage.

Leaping with vampiric quietness he went in to take a very cold shower. A bloke could die couped up in 'ere.

Don't wanna miss a thing

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She woke to the sudden loss that filled her soul. The clouds were gone, she was no longer shielded from reality. She fell asleep in pure bliss, and awoke cold and alone.

She sat up when the bathroom door was slammed shut and moments later the shower was tuned on, blasting with rage.

Her eyes were heavy and groagy. She became aware of her surroundings remembering were she was at. Her small powerful body was wrapped in Spike's coat.

It covered her like a quilt. She remembered not having it on last night, yet here she was snuggled in it. She was startled by the tought that Spike might find her in such a compromising position.

All over her she sensed this smell........it smelled of cigaretts and musk and leather and Spike.

On her pillow, on her shirt, and her hair, on her hands. She smelled of him!!!

She groaned, embarassment filled her. How could she allow herself to snuggle and fall asleep on Spike? First of all this was Spike, souless vampire who had tried repeatedly to kill her and her friends. Second of all how the hell was she supposed to look at him after the stunt she had pulled.

She then clearly remembered moaning 'NO' when he tried to let her go.

She cringed at her behavior.

Oh, God! What the hell is he going to think? That I wanted him? Well that was partially true, but NO I have a damn boyfriend.....RILEY!

She cringed at that thought, she had not thought of her boyfriend since she had talked to him that night.

Focus. She told herself. What happened last night has to take priority. First off apologize, then disappear, then ignore......good plan, Buffy.

The water in the shower turned off and she gulped harshly dreading the confrontation.

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(July 9 @ Sunnydale, CA)

Their eyes were tired from lack of sleep and worry. They had hardly sleeped since she had been gone. Pacing, murmmuring, sighting, hugging, consoling, crying,.......that's how their days went.

Angel had not left town, he had refused to. Wesley had stayed back in L.A. to inform them of any emergency that Angel and Cordy were needed for.

Giles had read everybook he owned. Willow had researched all supernatural sites. Tara had looked at every spell. Xander had accused eveyone. Anya had been all too confused. Cordy was the comforting blanket for everyone. Angel had done all of the above and was still pacing, wearing a hole on the shop floor.

Joyce had been placed on tranquilizers and was being watched periodically by each Scooby.

Angel had beat the shit out of Willy, but the snitch knew nothing. He had also harrassed and killed almost every demon and vampire that he came across with. But they all said the same; last time they saw Buffy and Spike was the night they had been patrolling together.

Riley was building with rage. There he was with people who were almost strangers to him, his girlfriend was missing and thought to be in the company of a vampire, and her ex-boyfriend was pacing in front of him, worried sick about his girl.

When Angel had arrived he had identified the blood Xander had collected as Spike's and even thought relieved that Buffy's was not it, he worried over his childe and what had they gotten themselves into. Or worst yet, what had gotten two of the best fighters Angel has ever known.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by Cordy's screetch. He knew that screetch. A vision.

Cordilia felt it coming in hot waves that hit her head. It's gonna be a bad one. She thought and braced herself for the pain.

Angel ran to her side and held her thin body and she trashed in pain. He worried, it looked worst than usual, so he held her tight afraid she might collapse from exhaustion.

Spike on a hospital bed, in pain, his eyes were pressed shut...........Buffy was next to him...........holding his hand..........she was crying................They were being sold..........Spike was pissed and snarling.............Buffy dressed in a solid gold bikini, a'la Princess Leah..........she was chained to the wall........Spike pulling her chains off............Buffy crying in sobs........

Cordy gasped as the images fadded. And held on to Angel who was right in front of her with a terrified look on his face. Willow ran and brought her aspirin and a glass of water. She accepted it gratefully with a trembling hand.

Angel didn't need to say anything, his worry was evident in his gentle eyes. He thought she was going to go out on him. "Bad?" he asked. Not sure if he meant, bad as in bad news or bad, as in 'it was a tough one'.

She nodded looking at him. Oh boy.

She braced herself for eveyone's reaction and began narrating the images that the powers wanted them to know.

Another cold day in Sunnyhell. She began.

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Nine days. Nine days since they had been taken. She was tired and strained. Beyond the point of being worried, her fears were raw with intuition. They were slowly being prepared.

All the information they needed had been given to them and she almost whished she didn't know what was to happen.

Both her and Spike sat together on one of the beds staring into space. Not looking at each other, not touching just sitting in welcoming companionship. They held on to each other for support. Apart from Naqa they really were alone.

But Naqa was becoming weaker everyday. And the little time they were allowed to be out, they both sat by the old man's death bed, slowly watching life slip from his lips. The 'gorus' he had performed for Buffy had drained his little strength.

Spike had explained to Buffy what the gorus was. It was the cleansing of your fears and worries. Placing your mind in a state of perfection, a haven.

At first Buffy was mad, how dare he do that to her? When she knew that was somethihng she could never have? But Spike had explained that Naqa would have not done it unless he felt that it was what Buffy needed at that moment.

Naqa was right, as always, she did need it, more than she would ever admit.

Buffy had tried to clean the wiseman's wounds around his face but he was so weak, they would not heal. She was worried but she knew that Spike was even more worried. She had caught him several times by the old man's bedside watching him sleep. At first she tought that he was controlling hunger, but that was no longer an issue.

She knew when he told her one afternoon as she crept up behind him.

"When Angelus left me and Dru, because of his bloody soul, we were almost lost, little children.....looking ofr guidance. One night, around the 40's, Dru said that the mountains were calling her, singing to her, telling her that they had wisdom. To please her we headed east towards China. Well, we eventually made it to this little town by the border of China called Irkeshtam." He paused, she listened. "D'cent lil' town, you know. Lots of goodies to eat. I went on my own to take a look 'round one night, very hungry, just waiting for the first fool." he let out a unhumourous laugh. "The fool I found was myself,.....staring at the wisest eyes I've ever seen. And there he was Qaletaqa, in all his glory, in all his wisdom. So human and so supernatural. I thought it was a dream, when he instantly did the 'goru'."

His eyes closed remembering the feeling.

She watched his features.

He was different.

Her breath caught at her throat. He was beautiful. So strong and yet so vulnerable. So capable of hate and so capable of love. His jaw tightened reminding her of abstract painting.

A man in closed cubicle.

A man trapped in a surreal cube, floating,.....all different in the eyes of the beholder. You saw him as you wanted.

If you focused on his jaw, you'll see strength and hatred. If you saw his lips you saw wisdom and knowledge. If you saw his eyes you'll see compasion and love. He was a puzzle,......and she had figured it out.

But she saw his face, its entirety, she saw the man, the demon, she saw strenght, hatred, wisdom, knowledge, compassion, and...... love. Yes, love. Love that screamed at her with fire dagers she could not duck. Love that evaporated the world and left her whole and nude. Vulnerable and weak, strong yet powerful.

I love him......... She admitted with great pain. How long? Oh God..........

Tears were dancing in her eyes at her realization. How could she do such a stupid thing? How could she place herself on this path for unbearable destruction? She was immolating herself for nights of endless crying.

"Unleashed the hate so great in me. Bamm it was gone!..... All the fury,......all the feeling of abandonment,.........it left. He had done it. From then on it was no longer about the demon,.......it was about me. Yeah, I wasn't gonna go all poofy on Dru, but that night,........so long ago I let the him go. I let Taqa go. I didn't kill him. He was hidding you see, they were looking for him. But I,....I saved him. I hid him for four months. I kept him safe, without Dru knowing it. She would have killed him, or turned him. But I couldn't bear the sight of death in his eyes. Those eyes that saved me from becoming Angelus. So I hid 'im" Spike paused opening his eyes and looking at the man before him. "And now,.....I can't." He gulped. "I can't save him, Buffy. I can't hide 'im, death has found him and there's nothing I can do 'bout it."

Buffy's heart cried out for him. She felt his pain, his anguish ran through her veins as she tried to help him with his load.

"Death comes to us all..., you see" she said. Walking behind him and placing her trembling hands on his strong slumped shoulders.

"I've killed so many,....and I don't feel guilty,.............the one I don't kill,......tears me apart." he almost whispered.

She gently squeezed his shoulders in a comforting touch.

"Memories,.....they keep us alive, they keep that person alive, that person lives, lives within us." she whispered.

He smiled. "Since when did you become the poet?"

"Since when did you become sentimental?"

He glared at her. "I am NOT sentimental."

She leaned on him and lowered her head until her chin touched his shoulder and looked at him. "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." she said smiling lightly but tauntingly. Then walked out of the room.

"Fool for love." the old man whispered from bed.

Spike looked at him and smiled sadly. "Always."

So here they sat on the bed digesting the latest turn of events. After finding out they were a price to be sold in a ancient Auction, they had been told that they were the 'specials'. Buffy had almost ripped the messenger to shreds had not Spike pulled her back. She was indignified. How dare they!

Spike nor she were a price to be won!

He was enraged more when this guy named Lawrence came to meet Buffy. Stupid sod! He'd been all nice and flirty, telling her how beautiful she was and what not. Idiot! Didn't he know she saw herself in the mirror everyday? His jealousy had eaten him away that day watching her question Lawrence about this place and what was going to happen.

But he had reached his boiling point when the guy took Buffy's hand, his Buffy's hand and told her, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you, I told them the Slayer was too important for the balance of good and evil, but they didn't listen to me. I know your importance, and I'll do all I can."

He had screamed at the bloke, accusing him of hypocracy, but this time it was Buffy who had to pull him back, preventing him from hurting the man. Ever since that, the 'Lawrence peanut' had come and talked to Buffy everyday. He sizzled.

She knew he hated Lawrence, but Lawrence reminded her so much of Riley. All pleasing and adoring. Going all nervous in front of her. He had been weird at the beginning, coming on too fast, but somewhere along the way he had changed. She saw true concern in his eyes. Almost as if he had begun to care.

Again she felt guilty. She didn't see Lawrence, she saw her worried boyfriend at home staring at her with green eyes, pleading with her, telling her he missed her.

What had she gotten herself in to? She knew Lawrence was coming that afternoon, he said he had important news to deliver. She was worried and so was Spike. Even though Spike didn't like the guy, Lawrence had told them all they knew about the auction, enough to know that he could never get Buffy home.

They sat in silence waiting.

The door opened and the guard let Lawrence in.

He was different, almost worried.

Lawrence hated himself at that moment. Sure, this assignment had started out simple, seduce the girl, then break her. He had done it so many times, to creatures far worse than her. But it was her eyes that dug his grave. She looked at him so trustingly, so much in need of answers. And he had been her only hope. He had caved in.

He knew Spike hated him, well it was understandable, here he was with strick orders so to have the girl broken, malicious in his original intent, but confussed in his emotions.

He had studied Spike looking at Buffy, and new instantly that the vampire was in love with the Slayer. How? He didn't question, he just observed. And she, although well concealed, was emotionally dependent on the creature for everything. Yes, they argued, but it was lover's quarrels. Frustration instead of hate.

But today, he knew he would see it in her eyes, when he told them the news.

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"Hello Buffy." Lawrence said entering the room and taking a seat at the edge of the bed opposite of the glummy couple. "Spike."

"Hello Lawrence." she said quietly. Spike stared at the man, his jaw tightened. He felt something wrong.

"How are you..." he started.

"Cut to business, please." she said in her Slayer tone.

Spike smiled inside, That's my girl.

"Right, no time for dilly, dally" he looked up at their waiting faces and took a breath. "The Auction, is in five days, we're expecting creatures from all the ends of the world. It's going to be an event like no other. And you two, as you know, are the piece of cake at the end. Roderick is expecting to make millions on your behalf. A slayer comes once in a century, and vampiric line of Aurelius is almost extinct. Selling you as a pair will have him retiring for eternity. But there's a problem." He paused and Spike leaned foward. He could smell a trap and this was not one, the kid was worried, nervous.

"Well spit it'out, mate." He said aggravated at the scantity of information. Buffy's heart was beating a mile a minute, something was wrong, wronger than usual.

"Well the thing is, who is going to pay for a neutered master vampire?" Lawrence said, avoiding the glare the vampire was giving him.

Buffy felt the floor collapse.

"What r' you sayin'?" Spike asked cautiously.

"Tomorrow." he said looking at Spike. "They take the chip out."

Spike's heart was lifting so quickly he thought he would laugh out loud.

Buffy's heart was breaking.

"They flew in a special surgeon that will perform the operation tomorrow. But the thing is......"

"There's another thing?" Buffy asked her voice shaking.

"Yeah.......this has never been performed." he stated. "There's a high chance, that there could be......complications."

"What type of complications?" Spike asked now worried, he didn't want to end up a veggie.

"Well, you see, its painful, when you wake up, that is." Lawrence said looking between Buffy's worried face and Spike's intrigued.

"I can deal with pain." Spike dismissed it as a no problem, he would endure anything to get the friggin' chip out.

"And you might loose your strength........ for a while." he said looking down.

Realization creeped into Spike and and he nodded. "I get it, you take the chip out, I'm weak, so I can't fight back when they sell us,......" He paused in understanding. "And they're going to take Buffy's strength too. Aren't they?" he asked, growing in anger. "So we'll be defenseless, we'll have no choice but to comply and be sold so the highest bidder."

Buffy was shaking. Her thoughts were rambled together and she looked at Lawrence to find some reasurrance, but his head was bent in defeat.

"Yes, that's the general idea." he said not looking at them "Both you and Buffy will be with normal human strength while you're being auctioned." he said. "All to prevent resistance."

"He has it all figured out, don't you, mate?" Spike asked standing up from the bed and started pacing in their small room. "Well I don't want it out. I rather keep it and have something left of what makes me, me."

"You have no choice." he said quietly. "They'll come tomorrow, and take you away."

"No they are not." Buffy said gaining her strength.

Lawrence looked at her and saw the anger building. "Buffy I am sorry, I am just the messenger."

"You can take your routine and shove it up your ass, but I will not stand back and let them do that, and I will NOT have my strength taken from me. I WILL NOT!" she screamed.

Lawrence jumped as the brassed off Slayer got closer to him. Her eyes flared. He was sure she would hit him and braced himself. But Spike came up behing her and grabbed her arm.

"C'mon, pet, he' not worth it."

She leaned back into Spike's chest and let his presence soothe her. She knew there was no way out. They were trapped, the cat had finally cornered the mice and there was no escape.

"How long?" she asked.

"How long, what?" Lawrence asked carefully.

"How long will we be without strength?" she asked slowly.

"Until.....your owners have you." he stated simply.

"Owner?" Spike asked. "I'm no slave."

"Well you're going to be sold, they'll buy you, you'll be owned."

Buffy's face contorted in anger, but she held her ground. "I want to go with him."

Lawrence's head shot up to look at her. "Where?"

"Tomorrow in the operation." her hand went to find Spike's hand. They linked thier fingers together. She could feel he was about to burst.

Lawrence saw the gesture and all his questions were answered. She loved him and was not going to leave the vampire's side. He knew he had caused enough pain and simply nodded. "I think I can make it happen."

"You will make it happen." she said harshly. "You guys thought it was cute to stick us together, cute to see us vulnerable, cute to torture us, cute to see us weak, well I have news for you, buddy. Me and Spike, we're as strong as it gets, and I don't know what game you play, Lawrence, but take a good look at us, not tomorrow, not in five days, not ever are we going to break." she was shaking with anger . "Sorry to disappoint you."

"You tell your boss, that his first mistake was thinking he could break us." Spike said calmly joining Buffy. "Tell Roderick, he has no idea who he's messed with."

Lawrence gulped, the vampire's eyes bore right throught him, almost like Roderick's did. His voice was menacing and he meant it.

Buffy held on tight to Spike's hand, so she wouldn't rip Lawrence's throat out.

"I'll tell him." he said backing out of the room, "And about tomorrow."

He left, left them standing there, his words sinking into their greatest fears.

She was breathing heavily, anger, fear, and frustration was cursing through her brain. She was going to be without strength, Spike's chip was getting removed, he might not wake up, this had never been done before, he will be strengthless, like her, in five days they would be slaves.

Spike was fumming. He finally had what he wanted but was afraid he might not wake up, leaving Buffy to fend on her own, he couldn't do that. Even when he woke up he would not have strength, just like her, they would be sitting ducks. His plan had been escape during the auction, fight their way out, but counting on their strength, but now........FUCK!

"Spike?" she asked still holding his hand tight.

He didn't respond, she knew he wouldn't.

"If I don't make it....." she trailed off when he leaned his chin on top of her head kissing her hair lightly.

"Don't say that." he murmmured into her scalp.

She turned to face him. They locked eyes. "Promise me you'll wake up."

"Buffy, I can't...."

"Just promise, ok?" her voice was shaking with fear, she didn't want ot be left alone.

He looked into her large watery green eyes and saw the fear she had. She felt defenseless. At least if they were both weak they'll be together, but if he kicked 'it', she would be alone and weak.

He nodded not saying a word. She saw the understanding in his blue eyes and was grateful she didn't have to explain herself.

At this moment they had nothing, no hope, no strength, no vision, no plan, they only had each other.

"You stay alive.....you wake up.......and don't you dare leave me or I swear I'll stake you first chance I get." she said gathering what little voice she could.

He bend down and kissed her forehead, breathing in her smell. Fear was all over her, and decades ago he would had relished in it, but now it seemed to hurt him.

"I promise." he whispered.

They embrassed each other in a comforting embrace, leaning against each other, cherishing in what they had now and could loose tomorrow.

She inhaled his scent, and his smell made her cry. She sobbed out right. She was tired of being strong, this place had completely destroyed her, if he wasn't there they would break her.

He comforted his own fear by enjoying her closeness, her voluntary closeness, her need for him at that moment. They held on, not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

And he remembered something from long ago, so long ago it seemed like a dream.

The words flew out of his mouth without thinking.

"All my past life is mine no more;

The flying hours are gone,

Like transitory dreams given o'er,

Whose images are kept in store

By memory alone.

The time that is to come is not;

How can it then be mine?

The present moment's all my lot;

And that, as fast as it is got,

Phillis, is only thine.

Then talk no more of inconstancy,

False hearts, and broken vows;

If I by miracle, can be

This live-long minute true to thee,

'Tis all that haven allows."

Buffy had seized to breathe when he started, her tears falling freely into her cheeks as she soaked in every words of the poem. A poem! He had whispered a poem, so right, so appropiate, it made her want to hold him and beg God for mercy, mercy on her, mercy on him, mercy on them.

She knew he was right. They did not belong in this time. If they were back home, they wouldn't be this close, they wouldn't need each other so much, they wouldn't be so scared.

She looked up at his face that was softened by the moment. Her breath caught at her throat and she forgot how to breathe. He was beautiful, so tender yet strong. His eyes were clear blue, so loving it made her mush.

"Where did you learn that?" she croaked out.

He studied her for a moment. His throat was dry with feeling. What was wrong with him? He was an image if his sire, all poetic and shit, holding on to a human he could not help but love.

He shrugged gazing at her large red-stained green eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and wet with trails of tears. "My mum, she used to recite it to me when I was a chap,........she always said that if you were ever scared of loosing something, you must enjoy it at the precise moment you have it, you must appreciate it, because it may be all that you will be allowed to have."

Buffy felt new tears coming. She saw his vitality, it screamed at her. He was the only man she knew that could demonstrate his insecurities and have them manifest in the glory of his courage.

"How sad is the truth, but then again all truth in someway is sad." she said quietly.

"Now who's the poet." he asked breaking the moment with a familiar grin.

She grinned back at him and rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying what heaven allowed.

He held her, letting her thundering heart giving life to his dead one, so sweet, so unreal, so dreamfull it made him cry. His few tears painted the top of her head as they braced themselves for what heaven could take away.

To be continued........................

Author's note: (I know, quite sappy, but I couldn't help myself.)

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