This is where the good stuff starts. Well, I hope so. Enjoy.

Chapter 7

The next morning, Spike had breakfast with his two favorite girls. It was a new and wonderful experience. He had hardly remembered what eggs tasted like. He discovered that scrambled were way better than over-easy. He crunched away at a piece of toast.

Dawn gulped down the rest of her juice. She stood up. "Time to head for school." She grabbed her book bag near the chair.

"You walk?" Spike asked.

"Yeah, Buffy won't get her license, and the bus sucks," Dawn complained.

Buffy sighed. "I'm too busy!" She knew it was an excuse.

"Don't worry, Nibblet, I'll drive you," Spike offered.

The teen brightened. "Really? That would be great."

"But your car is at the cemetery," Buffy objected.

"Well, there's that SUV just sitting in the garage. And, I'm a good driver. I wouldn't wreck it or anything," Spike told Buffy.

She wanted to say yes. But it was her mother's car. Somehow it seemed wrong to let another person use it. Although, it was just sitting there. And Joyce wouldn't have minded. She always had been fond of Spike.

"Okay. I'll get the keys."

Spike got behind the wheel. He started the vehicle and drove out of the garage. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust. The sun was so bright.

He noticed Dawn staring at him. "What is it, Little Bit?"

She smiled. "Just you. Here, out in the day. Driving me to school. It's a bit much."

He nodded. "I know. Hard to believe. I keep thinking this is a dream, that I'll wake up in my dark crypt. All by myself." The last part was a whisper.

They made it to the high school. He pulled up next to the doors.

"You know, Buffy's warming up to you," Dawn commented.

He blinked. "What makes you think that?" All that confidence he had last night was gone. Uncertainty replaced it.

"Come on, making scrambled at over-easy eggs for you. That was a dead give away." She got out. Turning back, she muttered," See ya." Then she headed inside.

Spike sat there for few minutes. He watched a bus unload. He started the car and sped back to Buffy. As he went, he paid attention to the people. They were all going through their lives. He was one of them again. Well, one who happened to know the slayer.

He grinned. Being alive felt so damn good at that moment.

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

That night, Spike and Buffy were left alone. Dawn was over at a friend's house.

Eight o'clock, time to patrol. Buffy opened her weapon chest. She gathered a couple stakes. Spike came up and grabbed an axe. He rested it on his shoulder.

"Ready, luv?"

She tucked the stakes in her jacket. "You don't have to come. I can manage myself." She pointed to the TV. "Besides, Jerry Springer is on."

He glanced at the screen. "I've seen this one. Bloody moron wants to marry a horse." He fixed his attention back to her. "I'm in the mood for a rough and tumble."

She rolled her eyes. "Come on, Spike."

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

They killed five fledglings. No challenge there. A disturbing silence had fallen over them. Usually they'd be arguing about something.

Out of nowhere came two demons. Their skin was covered in thick brownish fur. Tanamima, Spike categorized.

Buffy began to beat up one as Spike set on the other.

"You're William the Bloody," the demon accused. "You turned your back on your own kind."

Spike raised his axe. The blade gleamed in the moonlight. "Sure did. And I'm proud of it, cuz I get to kick your lousy arse."

A growl came form the demon. "You stink of mortals."

Spike laughed. Course he did, he was one now.

The battle began. Spike kicked the beast. Then he swung his axe. The thing moved, making it hit his arm instead of his neck.

The demon howled in pain. It kicked at Spike, right in the groin. Bugger, that hurt like hell!

Seeing the opportunity, the demon hit the axe out of Spike's grasp. The metal flung to the ground, far away from his reach.

Spike ignored the pain between his legs. He rammed a punch at his opponent.

The demon grabbed him. With great momentum, he threw his body into a tombstone. The hard rock made contact with his head. His vision became blurry, then black.

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

Buffy saw the axe on the ground. Not thinking, she quickly picked it up. She lifted it up and cut off the demon's head. It rolled across the grass. Blue goo flowed out of it.

She was hit from behind. Spinning around, she saw the other demon. Why hadn't Spike taken care of him? She looked down at her weapon. Her eyes widened, realizing where it had come from.

Her eyes surveyed the land. They fell on Spike's fallen image. She felt her chest tighten. Another blow came at her. Anger flared inside her. She let it out on the demon.

Buffy took the axe and used it on him. She aimed anywhere, it didn't matter. Between swings, she yelled, "No. . . One. . . Is. . .taking. . .him . . . Away. . . Again!"

The blade sliced the demon in two separate parts. An awful foul stench filtered into her nostrils.

Buffy rushed over to Spike. She turned him on his back. His eyes were shut and he looked peaceful. Except for that large wound on his forehead.

A moan filled her ears. Her eyes got larger. Spike moved. He winced, struggled to site up.

Buffy slapped him. She was breathing hard. "How dare you!" she shrieked.

Confused, Spike glared at her. "Slayer, what did I do?"

She pointed at him. "You. . .you . . . I though you were dead. And now I find out you're fine."

He touched the bruise beneath his hair-line. It stung. "I'm not fine. I bet I got a bump the size of. . ."

The sentence was never finished. That was when Buffy tackled him. She ended up ontop of him. Her heat pressed against him. She smothered him with kisses. Well now, this wad definitely not what he expected. Maybe he should get hurt more often. Buffy-therapy.

"Don't ever leave me," she muttered. She ran a hand through his hair.

He held her closer. "Never. Never." He nuzzled her neck.

Buffy stared up at the sky. The moon was full. She shivered.

"Cold, luv? I can warm you up," Spike declared in a husky tone.

He lifted her shirt. He began to touch her, setting her nerves on fire.

Suddenly, rationalization came. She moved away. Spike cursed inwardly.

"I can't do this," she said.

"Why the hell not!? I'm human now. No need to push me away any longer." He gave her a hard look. "I know you want this. I can taste it."

"I can't do this HERE." Buffy smiled. "There's an empty house waiting for us."

Spike jumped to his feet. He snatched Buffy's wrist, pulling her along. She giggled. It was the first time she actually felt alive since coming back. It felt damn good.