fourteenffnet

(more songs, sorry couldn't help myself again! You know the drill if you want to hear them go to my website and click the link by the song http://www.geocities.com/jkstovercater/taulmaril.html also I was going to do a disclaimers for the songs and the last one is The Face of Love by Jewel. The other song I have no idea who wrote or sang it, it's just one of those songs I know, sorry)

Chapter Fourteen (The Face of Love)

The scoobies were paralyzed. They weren't sure if the ceremony was over but everyone who was involved in the ceremony was unconscious. They were afraid to move or talk because they didn't something to go wrong. After a few minutes Willow got impatient. "Giles! Can you hear me" Willow said telepathically.

Giles looked around his eyes going wide and thought "Yes, I can hear you, can you hear me?"

"Yeah, is it over? What should we do? I can't see if Dawn's breathing or not the way she's sprawled on top of Spike and Spike doesn't breath so how do we know if he's ok? and what about Buffy?" Willow thought frantically.

"We have no choice, we just have to wait until one of them wakes up, look I think I just saw Spike move"

Just as Giles was finishing his thought to Willow, Spike slowly shook his head trying to come to his senses. He slowly reached up to Dawn's neck checking for a pulse. "Thank god" he whispered. Her pulse was amazingly strong considering he has drank almost half of her blood. He slowly shifted Dawn off of his torso and laid her gently on the ground while he stood up. Spike then slowly turned to look at the altar. His eyes rested on Buffy's face and she mesmerized him. She looked very peaceful and he couldn't remember ever being happier to see her face. Spike was so happy that he failed to recognize for several moments that she was totally and utterly nude. He then suddenly snapped out of his stupor as he ripped off his robe and covered her up. Spike then saw that she was in deed breathing deeply. Spike then ran his hand down her warm face to her neck to check for her pulse. It was as strong as ever.

"Spike! what's going on? How's Dawn? What about Buffy?" Willow asked him.

"She's alive, they're both alive and fine" he said in amazement not even realizing that Willow hadn't been speaking aloud. Spike then took a hold of Buffy's hand and kissed it gently before he looked over to the scoobies along the wall. "What are you wankers waiting for, her to get up and do a jig? Get your arses over here"

Spike didn't have to tell them twice. All the scoobies scrambled up from the positions and hurried across the room altar. Xander paused to pick up Dawn and walked around to the backside of the altar and laid her next to Buffy. "Should we get them to hospitals?" Xander asked.

"I think they're fine" Spike said "Both have strong pulses and are breathing good" he said never letting go of her hand.

"Buffy, can't you here us?" Giles asked "Buffy?" just then Buffy's and Dawn's eyes started to flutter open slowly.

"Spike?" Buffy and Dawn said quietly together.

"I'm here," Spike said to them both. Before anyone had a chance to say anything the monks began to awaken, all of them disoriented. Xander, Willow, Anya and Tara all went to assist the confused monks.

Dawn slowly rolled over and threw her arm over Buffy hugging her tightly. Dawn pressed her face to Buffy's neck and started crying, "I missed you so much. I thought I'd never see you again," she said through her sniffles.

"Shhh Dawn it's ok," she said while looking into Spike's eyes and smiling "Everything is going to be ok now"

Anya and Xander helped the monks gather their things. Nevin approached the altar and slipped in between Spike and Giles "I see you're in fine hands, it was an honor to have been of service" he said while bowing before Buffy. Before Buffy could respond with her thank you Nevin clapped his hand uttering some word none of them recognized and then all the monks disappeared into vapor.

"Cool" Willow said in awe as the room went silent. Then Xander, Anya, Willow and Tara all started talking at once.

"Buffy are you feeling ok?" Willow asked.

"Did they give you all your parts back?" Xander asked

"What was being dead like? Did it hurt? Anya asked.

"Was their shrimp there?" Tara asked. Everyone just kinda paused to look at Tara, "I told you guys I'm allergic"

Buffy gently pushed Dawn up off her chest and struggled to sit up herself. Spike and Dawn helped her up gently. "Thanks" she said then to the others "Yes I'm feeling ok, my parts are none of your business, Anya we'll talk later when I'm not so tired, and I didn't see any shrimp but I'm not making any guarantees" she said in one large breath. No one said anything else "Uh guys, you're giving me the wiggins, enough with the starring. Geesh you'd think I've never came back from the dead before" she said.

Giles just started giggling madly. Everyone turned to look at him like he had grown a second head. "Sorry, I just can't bloody believe it" he said finally giving into the urge to grab Buffy and hug her tightly.

"Giles, I'm glad you're happy but I just recently started breathing again and it's a habit I'd like to continue" Buffy said trying to squirm out of his grasp.

"Sorry" Giles said looking sheepish.

"That's ok, Giles" Buffy said giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I don't mean to be complainer girl but if you guys would turn around I'd put this robe on properly and then I would really like to go home." Everyone did as they were asked except for Spike who hadn't taken his eyes off her since he woke up. "You too, blondie" Buffy said. Spike turned around but he didn't let go of her hand. "I'm going to need that too," she said trying to shake her hand loose. Spike reluctantly let go. Buffy quick put the robe on fastening it and her and Dawn hopped down off the altar. "Ok, all set" she said slipping one hand into Spike's hand and the other she put around Dawn's shoulders. She started to walk off.

"Oh no, you don't" Spike said sweeping her off her feet and cradling her "You've been dead for over an month and a half and I'll be bloody damned if I'm going to let you walk" he said.

"Spike, I feel fine, now put me down" she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck not really wanting to get down. Spike just grunted and continued to carry her out into the store.

"I'll stay here and look after the shop Giles" Anya said.

"Anya you don't have to we can leave the shop closed" Giles started to argue.

"It's ok Buffy needs her rest so that she can answer all my questions later" Anya argued logically.

Dawn grabbed Spikes duster and blanket that were lying on the table. She threw the duster over his bare shoulders as they walked to the door. At the door she threw the blanket over both Spike and Buffy and opened the door running out a head to get the car door. Spike then sprinted from the shop to the car and dove in being careful not to hurt his precious bundle he was carrying. Dawn slammed the car door behind them.

Buffy threw the blanket off of them and scrambled off Spikes lap. "Well that's the most action I've had in a while," she said grinning at Spike while Dawn got in the back seat.

"Home Jeeves" Dawn commanded.

"Yes mum!" Spike said as he started the car and drove home. Giles and the wiccas followed in the little red convertible.

Buffy started yawning "Geesh, being dead sure makes a girl tired. Would it be ok if I just slept for a week or so?" she said as they pulled in to the driveway and into the shade to park.

"I don't think you going to get the opportunity pet. We almost had to duct tape Red's mouth shut to keep her from asking questions during the ritual." Spike said "Nibblet, the blanket"

"How about I get to use my legs this time while you dash to the house? See they're good as new" Buffy said while stomping her feet up and down in a running gesture.

"Buffy . . ." Spike began but was interrupted.

"Pleeeeease" Buffy asked smiling sweetly.

"Blood hell, go ahead then. Just make sure to hold the door," Spike said, as Buffy was already half way out the car door. Spike waited until everyone else was in the house before he made his mad dash under the blanket.

Once inside Willow began with the questions, "So Buffy, shall we go have a seat and catch up on what's been going on?"

Buffy just smiled happy to be back and to be with her family again "Okay for a little while" she said. She started to walk towards the living room, when she started to get dizzy. "Whoa" she said as she swayed flailing her arms out to the side.

Spike was there in an instant swooping her up again. "Sorry Red, its bed time for slayers," he said as he started up the stairs.

"But I'm not tired" Buffy said yawning.

"Huh, so that's where Dawn gets it" the vampire mumbled as he reached the landing and headed to her bed room door. He used his foot to turn the knob and opened the door. Once inside he laid her down on her bed. "Do you want to change out of that robe?" Spike asked sitting down lightly on the very edge of the bed.

"No, it's comfy and smells like you. I'm keeping it," she said snuggling down into the bed as she muffled another yawn.

"Well, I'm going to leave you alone then" Spike said as he started to rise.

Buffy grabbed his arm and pulled him back down "Don't go yet, not until I fall asleep. I'm going to miss our dreamy times," she said reaching her hand up to caress the side of his face.

"Me too, luv, it won't be so bad for me though you were always in my dreams before you were really in my dreams." He said remembering a few good ones and turning his head to kiss her palm

"I know what you can do to help me sleep and give me good dreams," Buffy said suggestively.

Spike arched his scarred eyebrow, "What would that be, pet?" he asked hopefully.

"Sing me a song?" Buffy asked.

"No, I don't think so, no guitar silly" he said tapping his finger on her nose.

"Pleeeease?" Buffy asked.

"There's that word again, you know that's not going to work every time you want you're way" Spike said already trying to think what to sing to her.

"But it's going to work this time isn't it?" Buffy asked already knowing the answer.

"Fine" Spike said as he started out quietly and Buffy grabbed his hand holding it to her chest.

Stars shining bright above you,

Night breezes seem to whisper I love you

Bird singing in a sycamore tree

Dream a little dream of me

Say nightie night and kiss me

Just hold me tight and tell me you miss me

When you're alone and blue as can be

Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading, but I linger on dear

Just craving your kiss

I'm longing to linger till dawn dear

Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you

But in your dreams whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me.

As he sang Buffy drifted off to sleep still clutching Spikes hand. He gently kissed her forehead, slipped his hand from her grasp and tip toed out of the room. "Sweet dreams, my love" he whispered.

"Love you too, Spike" Buffy mumbled in her sleep.

It took every ounce of control that Spike possessed to not either hop in bed with Buffy and wake her thoroughly, or to run hooting down the hallway with joy. Spike restrained himself though and continued his tip toeing down the hallway "Tomorrows another day" he said as he sauntered down the stairs. For the first time in over one hundred years he was truly happy with his unlife.

Until tonight

My heart was just half full

I'd never known the fruit which fed the soul

But now I see what may put to rest my longing

For I have seen, the face of love

The grace of god, the face of love

In silence I feared my heart

Would remain words unheard

Inside a separateness of skin

But now I know that the skin just veils the soul

For I have seen, the face of love

The grace of god, the face of love

If you were flame

I'd allow myself to be consumed completely

Were you wind I would wish you pass through me

But now I know that the skin just veils the soul

For I have seen, the face of love

The grace of god, the face of love

(Author's note: that last song as been my Buffy/Spike theme song that runs through my head when ever I write B/S stuff so I thought I'd add it to the end of this story. I just wanted to thank everyone that took the time to read the whole series. I know there's a lot of B/S stuff out there so I feel honored that you took the time to read mine. I'm entertaining thoughts of a sequel. What do you guys think? Thanks again everyone)