Part III – One For A Happy Ending

 He wouldn't wake up.

 Buffy still sat where Raven had left her, holding Spike's slender body in her arms. Hours had passed, and morning had turned into early midday. She was pretty sure that Willow would be really worried by now, yet she had no intention to leave his side. Not until he woke up.

 If she closed her eyes and concentrated, she could still hear those words. I love you. His farewell. He had said it before, but she never really had believed him. Until that last moment, when their eyes met, and she finally saw it all. Too late, she understood. And then he had left her, before she even had the time to react.

 She had lost those she loved before. And almost every time, he had been there, teasing her, until she snapped out of her grief and sadness, giving her the fury she needed to carry on.

 But now, just now, when she needed him the most, he wouldn't wake up.

 Then a thought struck her. What was it that Raven had said to him?

 The blood of a vampire to cleanse that of the Slayer.

 It had been part of the deal, right? And she could well remember how weak she had been when she had… returned. So, was it that what he needed now? Her strength?

 Her blood?

 Was that part of the deal?

 Uncertainty filled her. She didn't want to do this… Spike couldn't even bite, could he? Especially when he was unconscious. And if she did feed him, and his instincts took over, it could hurt himself as much as her, when the chip intervened.

 She looked at his pale face. And realized that there was no choice to be made.

  Thoughtfully, Buffy bit her lower lip. Now, cutting her wrist probably wouldn't work. He wasn't likely to bite her, yet she had to get her blood into his mouth, so he would swallow. She bit harder, until she felt the metallic taste with the tip of her tongue. Then she leant down, meeting the vampire's lips with her own.

 What am I doing here? The feeling of her own hot blood filling her mouth almost made her sick, but she shoved that aside. Using her tongue, she parted his lips, letting the warm liquid flow down his throat. And after a moment that almost seemed like an eternity, reflex took over, and he swallowed. On the verge of tears, she bit her lip again, and again, until the loss of blood made her start to feel dizzy.

 She raised her head, with one hand wiping away the liquid that still stained her mouth, and looked into his face. It seemed a little less pale than before, but perhaps that was just what she wanted to see.

 "Spike," she whispered. "Do you hear me?"

 But still, his motionless figure did not even stir.

 He wouldn't wake up.

 Tears started to build up once again when her last hope left her. Maybe he just needs some time. But the emptiness inside her wouldn't leave. Slowly, she lay down, resting her face against his shoulder.

***

 Spike awoke to the sound of someone crying. Not too long ago, it would have pleased him. But now, he frowned. Things had changed, and he had been one of them. Not that anyone cared, though. That made the crying even more disturbing. And there was a faint taste of blood in his mouth he couldn't quite explain.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. It had to be daytime outside his crypt. Bright light fell through the blackened windows, stinging in his eyes. He moaned softly. The crying stopped, and something next to him moved. He tried another look, and that one fell straight upon the face of Buffy Summers. "Spike." He tried to focus his gaze. Lifting a hand, he caressed her wet cheek, wiping away some of the tears she had been crying. Crying? Hell seemed to have invented some new, more original ways of torture since the last time somebody checked. Seeing her like this…

 The vampire tried to swallow. His throat was dry. "Slayer?" he finally managed to croak.

 "No," she said. He stared at her in total confusion, then the meaning dawned on him. Not the Slayer. Not now. Only Buffy.

 "What… are you doing here?" He wanted to sit up, but weakness held his body in a firm grip. He fell back, exhausted from just trying, and closed his eyes again. "Spike?" Buffy's voice all right. So she was there. His confusion grew. "How do you feel?" she asked. He checked.

 "Bloody awful. My whole body's aching." Spike stopped, frowning once again. "Are you holding me?"

 "… yes."

 The bleach-blonde man tried to put the bits of the puzzle that was his current situation together. He was lying in his crypt, the Slayer – no, Buffy – was crying, holding him, and asking how he felt… He gave up.

"What the bloody hell happened?" he asked. Pause. Then Buffy's voice, hesitantly, slightly trembling. "Don't you remember? You staked yourself."

 He nodded. "I know what I did. Only didn't work quite right, don't feel that dead. Well, at least no more than usually. But what happened? With you crying and all…" Suddenly, his eyes flew open. "It's Dawn! Did the demon get her? Is she hurt?"

 His panic-stricken face made Buffy smile. He cared so much… and she had never noticed before. "Dawn's alright," she hushed him.

 "But why-"

 She interrupted him. "It's because of you," she said simply.

 The vampire froze.

 "… me?"

~~~ COMMERCIAL BREAK ^_^ ~~~

 Spike paced up and down the room, Buffy watching with worry. "Spike, you shouldn't be-"

 But he didn't even listen. "Now I got it! The witch really sucked at some spell, right?" he interrupted her.

 "Willow's got nothing to do with this!"

 "Well? With me bein' bloody well back from the dead, the really dead, and you wishing me back and crying about me and being worried? Must be some magic going on. Or wait, yeah, well, I forgot!" He began to tremble. "I give what I want to get, right? I gave you my sodding love, and presto! A sweet little Slayer, all for me!"

 "Spike-"

 The vampire still paid no attention to her, but started to laugh desperately, tears shining in his eyes. "A deal! That bloody bitch showed a bit of initiative after a-"

 She stopped his torturing himself the only way she knew: touching him ever so lightly, she met his lips with her own. Spike froze. Buffy pulled away from him, looking into his face. Desperation lay there, pain, mistrust – and hope. A tiny spark of hope, almost buried under the mountains of resentment that had built up because of her. Because of all she had done to him. On the verge of tears, she could only say his name.

 "Spike." Softly, she leant into another kiss, him still unmoving under her touch. When she broke it, she leant against him. Afraid to look into his eyes.

 "This is no kind of deal. Don't you see that? I love you," she whispered against his chest. Revealing the truth she had realized when she had thought him gone forever.

 The vampire moaned. "Don't do that to me… " he whispered hoarsely. "I will never be able to let you go if you do that to me."

 She raised her hand, touching his cheek, and smiled. "I don't want you to let me go," she said softly. In a surprisingly swift movement, he brought his arms around her to press her body tightly against his own, meeting her in a wild kiss. Buffy didn't resist him, overwhelmed by her feelings, and his. All the hurt, all the pain they had inflicted upon each other, it simply vanished, leaving nothing behind but true and, for once, all forgiving love. As they finally parted, they both were breathing heavily. He rested his chin upon her head, satisfied just to hold her, wondering how this miracle could have happened, as she snuggled closer to him.

 "I love you," she whispered again, and again he began to tremble.

 "My god, Buffy!" Spike croaked, his voice filled with painful longing. She gave way to all she felt, all the heartfelt grief that had held her during the last five days, letting her tears fall freely at last.

 "Don't you ever do that again," she sobbed. "Don't ever leave me again."

 "I won't, luv," he said softly, lifting her chin, and smiling. "I promise."

 She looked into his deep blue eyes, perhaps for the first time ever completely revealing herself to someone else. "I love you," she said for the third time.

 Spike's smile widened. "God, I adore it when you say that!"

 "I love you, Spike."

 He leant down to her, pure joy lighting up his face. "And I love you, Buffy."

 As their lips met for another passionate kiss, dark eyes rested on them with a warm glow.

 "Always been one for a happy ending," Raven whispered quietly. And vanished.

The End

Author's Note: I know, this is a rather short one, but it gave me a major headache. Still longing for reviews, what did you like, what was not so good, and so on. Do me the favour, please. ^_^