Slight spoiler for Afterlife

Chapter 4

Buffy rushed to him. Her mind was a jumble. He was so beautiful. The only other time she had seen him during the day, was when he had the gem of amara. This was different. He seemed vulnerable, childlike.

Her hand reached out to stroke his cheek. He was real. She reveled in the feel of the perfectly smooth skin.

She eyed his shirt. There were no rips. She lifted it, to inspect his chest. No scars. Her fingers rested where his heart was. This was where the stake had entered. She had seen it. But there was nothing to indicate that he had been injured at all.

Her left hand flew to her mouth, right not moving. She could feel it. The most wonderful thing in the world. The thumping. A steady vibration within Spike. Beneath his flesh was a beating heart. One that hadn't done so in 121 years.

She noticed the rise and fall then. He was breathing. His lungs were working. He was alive. Not just alive, but ALIVE.

All he needed to do was wake up. Open his eyes and hold her.

She shook him. He didn't respond. "Spike, wake up!" she said, sternly.

Wetness formed in her eyes. No, not again. She'd been crying too often lately.

Something brushed her tears aside. "What's the matter, luv?"

That voice, often annoying, was music to her ears. Those blue orbs stared up at her. Filled with love and concern.

Buffy hugged him. He was warm against her. She cried harder.

Spike held her back, very confused. Then he lifted his head and was blinded. He shielded his eyes from the glaring light.

"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They sat across from each other. Spike was on the edge of the coffee table, her on the couch. It reminded her of when she had come back. They had been in the same position. Except, he wasn't holding her hands. And the situation had reversed. He was the one to return this time.

She examined him. He appeared to be the same Spike, down to the marked eyebrow. He wasn't so pale, though.

"I can't believe they did this to me! I agreed to be sent back, but not as a human!" He was hysterical.

"Spike. . ."

"Those powers love to mess with people. They enjoy it. They're probably up there grinning in amusement right now." He looked straight at Buffy. "What am I going to do as a human?"

Buffy slapped him. It was good and hard.

Shock etched his face. "Good God, woman, what was that for!?"

She jumped to her feet. She pointed at him. "For being a stupid, ungrateful, ex-vampire, that's why. And I'll tell you what you're going to do, live. Do everything you should have before you were turned."

He laughed. "I was pathetic before I was turned. I don't want to be a helpless poof."

"You don't have to be like that. All I'm saying is you have a chance now. You get a future. You can get a job, fall in love, have a family."

Spike stared at her. He already loved someone, and she knew it. He crossed him arms, his gaze not faltering.

Buffy hated the way he was looking at her. It unnerved her.

He inched toward her. "You know I'll never fall in love."

"What?"

"Again," he added.

Spike turned around. He hoped he'd unsettled her. He knew she was attracted to him. That kiss had come from somewhere. She just wouldn't admit it.

He headed toward the kitchen. "Got anything good to eat?"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Spike raided the fridge and cupboards. He consumed four sugar cookies and a cup of hot chocolate. He started to search for something else. He settled for a peanut butter sandwich.

He caught Buffy smiling as he savored his food. It went away as soon as he did.

"Look, I'm gonna go take a shower. Eat as much as you want," Buffy informed.

Spike smacked as he chewed. "Sure," he muttered.

She left to wash up.

Eating was much more enjoyable as a human. It was so satisfying as it went down and settled in your stomach. His taste buds seemed more alive also. He'd have to get some of those spicy chicken wings he loved.

Maybe being mortal isn't so bad. He didn't have to worry about the sun, extra yummy food, and Buffy. . . Could she love him now?

He sighed. He was still the same Spike. If she didn't care for him as a vampire, she wouldn't now either.

Spike finished his sandwich as the doorbell rang.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Xander and Willow stood outside the Summer residence. Xander sighed, trying to bring himself to ring the doorbell. He turned to his best friend. "Will she forgive me?" he asked.

Willow gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm positive. She just was upset. I mean, Spike dying is sort of big. He was really growing on all of us." She stopped, correcting herself. "Well, maybe not you."

A tiny bit of regret showed on his face. "No, he wasn't too bad. He did play some good pool. Too bad, now there's no one to challenge me."

Willow's smile became saddened. She knew Xander missed Spike too. He would never admit it, though. It would ruin his reputation of despising every fangy fiend out there.

Xander reached for the doorbell. "Here goes."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Spike stood up. He wiped the crumbs off the table, onto the floor.

Should he answer the door? He could hear the water of the shower upstairs. It might be important. Buffy was busy and he was the only one there to check. So, he would.

Spike went to the door and opened it. He became face-to-face with Willow and Xander.

The red-headed witch widened her eyes. Her mouth hung open.

Xander pointed at him. "You're supposed to be dead. Uh. . . The non-undead kind. The dusty kind."

Spike stepped outside. He glanced up at the sky. Nice day. No clouds, birds overhead. Then he looked back at Xander. "Miss me, Harris?" he questioned with a sly grin.