They left for the airport about an hour later, making sure the sun was
at a safe level. The ticket seats were right next to each other in the
middle. A little girl was sitting on the other side of Spike.
She was really getting on his nerves.
"Hey Mister, what happened to your face?" she said in a sing-song voice.
"I got hit," Spike replied. He was tired and trying to sleep.
"Who hit you?"
"A guy," he said irritated.
"Why'd he hit you?"
"Cause he mad."
"Why was he mad?
"Why do you ask so many questions?" he asked sitting up and looking the little girl in the eyes, his face inches from hers.
"Down boy," said Buffy. She yanked on the collar of his duster to get him to sit back.
"Is she your girlfriend?" asked the little girl.
"No!" said Buffy loud enough for everyone to turn around facing her. Spike looked at her and rasied his brows.
"You sure?" he asked her.
"Positive."
The flight ended about four hous later. It was ten o' clock and they were both jet lagged. Buffy found her car in the parking lot.
"I'm gonna run by my place and get Gabby's jacket. She left it there."
She drove down a road along the beach. Then turned into a drivway of a one story brick house with a black roof and a small front yard.
"Nice little place you got here, luv."
"Yeah. The landlord is really nice. He gave Gabby a puppy for Christmas. You'll see it later. It's a girl. Her name is Willow." Spike watched her eyes cloud over at the mention of Willow's name.
"That was very nice of LilBit. To name her puppy after Red."
"Yeah." She got out of the car and walked up to the door. Spike followed. Buffy unlocked the door and walked in.
"Uh, Buffy? Hello." She turned around to Spike who was at the doorway.
"Oh, sorry. You can come in." He walked through the door.
"And don't forget to mention that to Nibblet. Don't need her honey to know I'm a vampire. Does he know about you?" he asked suspicously.
"No. He doesn't. He knows I'm really strong. But he doesn't know I'm the Slayer."
"What's the council have to say about you movin' down here?"
"They don't like it very much. But Giles and Tara managed to get them of my back about it."
They stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. They didn't know what to say to each other. So Spike broke it.
"So. Am I staying here, or what? You bought me a one-way."
Buffy's head jerked up. She had been in deep thought.
"Oh. Yeah. Sure. You can stay in Dawn's old room. I'll show you where it is." She led him down a staircase in to what looked like the old basment.
"Nice little room you fixed her up with."
"Yeah. She wanted a bigger room than the one upstairs. So we fixed up the basement."
The basment's floors were carpeted, the walls were painted, and there was a bed in the far corner.
Buffy walked over to the bed and picked up a small jacket and folded it over her arm.
"Okay. Let's go. I want you to see Gabby before Dawn puts her to sleep."
The left the house and drove for ten minutes to a two story house, slightly larger than their old one in Sunnydale.
"What's this bloke do?" asked Spike observing the house.
"He's training in college to be a lawyer. But right now, he works as a secretary's assistant to a lawyer. That's enough money to get them a good house. And his parents are rich. So that's a bonus."
They walked up to the door and Buffy rang the doorbell. Spike hid in the shadows.
Dawn answered the door with a baby in her arms.
"Oh. Hi, Buffy. How was your trip? By the way, where did you go?" she asked.
"She didn't know where you were?" said Spike, surprised, stepping out of the shadows.
"Spike! How did you get here? And what happened to your face?" she said, trying to give him a hug with out crushing Gabby. Buffy took the baby from Dawn so she could give him an actual hug.
"I'll take her upstairs. Where's Jake?"
Dawn released Spike from her grip and turned to Buffy.
"He's at work. Why didn't you tell me you were going to Sunnydale?"
"I wanted to surprise you."
She headed back into the house and up the staircase, leaving Dawn and Spike on the front porch. He gave her a look over.
"You've grown, LilBit. How old are you now?"
"Almost twenty-one. Not counting key-years.........Where did you go? I mean, after you and Buffy had that fight."
"She told you we were fighting?"
Dawn nodded her head.
"Oh. Well, I...uh. Went to LA."
"You ran to Angel!" she said in surprise.
"Yes! Why does that surprise everyone?" he asked. throwing his hands in the air.
"Because you hate each other," she replied bluntly.
"Well, things change. Being around me, you and big sis, of all people, should know that."
"Hey! Don't get all mad. This should be a happy moment. Come on. Let's go see Gabby."
She lead him up the steps, down a hallway, and into a room. The room was painted pink, purple, and white. There was a chair with a night table next to it in the far corner, and there was a crib in the middle of the room. Buffy was holding Gabby by the large picture window, humming a lulluby.
She looked up when she heard them walk in. She smiled and walked over.
"This is Gabby," Buffy whispered.
Spike gazed down at the sleeping child. She looked so peacful and innocent. Spike caressed the baby's small face.
Buffy gave Gabby to Spike. He held her small head. He could feel her breathing and her blood slowly rushing through her small veins.
"She's three months old. Her birthday is the 5th of June," Dawn informed him.
"She looks like you," he said, flashing her a smile.
Just then, a puppy, Spike guessed was Willow, galloped into the room, barking and yelping.
Dawn bent down and picked her up. She placed her hand over the dog's mouth.
"Shh. You be quiet," she looked up at Spike,"This is Willow."
Spike patted the dog on her head. She licked his hand.
Gabby had woken up when Willow had bounded in making all that noise. She started to cry.
"Okay, LilBit. Your the mum. You make her stop," Spike said, handing Gabby back to Dawn. She craddled Dawn in her arms and stroked her soft head, humming the song Buffy had been humming earlier. The baby soon stopped crying and cooed softly. Then she let out a small yawn and settled in Dawn's arms, closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.
Dawn gently placed her back into her crib, kissing her softly on her head.
"You've got the magic touch, don't you, Bit."
"No. Just enough experiance as a mother to get a child to go to sleep."
They walked out of the room and down the stairs.
"Do you want to stay for dinner? Jake will be home in about an hour."
Buffy looked at Spike and he shrugged.
"Sure. I'm sure Spike wants to meet Jake."
"Yeah, I'll bet he does,"said Dawn sarcastically
While Dawn fixed dinner, Buffy and Spike sat in the living room at oppisite ends of the couch. Sometimes Buffy would steal glances at Spike, then look away when he turned around, feeling her stare. He would stare at her too. But he didn't look away when she looked back at him.
"What?" she asked him when she caught him looking at her for the third time.
"Just remembering how beautiful you looked before I left and how much more beautiful you look now."
"Thanks," she said looking at her hands in her lap, which had become sweaty in a matter of seconds.
"Uh, maybe Dawn needs help in the kitchen," suggested Buffy, jumping from the couch and leaving the room.
He just shook his head as he got up and followed her.
Buffy helped Dawn cook while Spike perched himself on the counter.
"So, when's your honey gonna be home?" asked Spike.
As if on cue, he heard the door open. They walked into the kitchen, Spike coming last.
Dawn walked up to the young man and gave him a long kiss.
"Hey, baby," he sad softly. Then he noticed Buffy standing there with someone he didn't recognize.
"Oh, hi Buffy. Who's that?" he said indicating Spike.
"Name's Spike. I'm an old friend."
"Yeah," said Dawn, sensing the tension Spike was sending out."He was like a big brother to me when I was just a teenager. He and my sister were together," she saw Buffy's eyes widen," But they're not now." She paused."Are you?"
Buffy's eyes got widder and she just walked out of the room in a huff. Spike just looked at the floor, grinning, then followed Buffy.
"Don't worry. Just learn from my mistake, and don't bring it up," said Dawn to her stunned husband and followed suit. Jake just stood there for a second, then followed Dawn.
They had dinner, and stayed a little while afterwards. Mainly it was Spike asking Jake questions and him answering. Buffy and Dawn found it amusing, so they just watched.
Soon, 'not soon enough' Jake was thinking, Buffy and Spike had to leave.
"Are you staying....with Buffy?" Dawn asked Spike hopfully. Buffy stepped in front of Dawn before Spike could reply.
"Yes. He's staying in YOUR room," she emphasized the fact that he would not be sleeping anywhere near him.
"Okay. I can take a hint," she said, putting her hands up in defeat. Buffy kissed her on the head and walked out. Spike gave Dawn a quick hug and held her at arm's length.
"Maybe she'll come around," he said hopfully.
"I heard that. And I have no intention of 'coming around'," Buffy called from outside.
Spike shrugged and gave Dawn another quick hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
"See you later, LilBit."
And they left. Dawn closed the door behind him and turned to Jake.
"Why does he call you LilBit. And Nibblet. And are you sure they aren't together?"
Dawn gave a stiffled laugh.
"Listen. They haven't seen each other for four years. And they were together before that. And the names, they were pet names."
"But why Nibblet and LilBit?" he asked confused. Dawn stiffled another laugh.
"You wouldn't understand."
This time, in the car, they had a little more to say to each other.
"So, do you like him?" Buffy asked Spike about Jake.
"He's okay. It's not like I can do anything about it. LilBit likes him, so I guess I do to."
"What do you think of Gabby?"
"She's beautiful. She's gonna make a man happy when she get's older. She's a stubborn little bite, though. Takes after her aunt."
"Can't imagine what she would be like if she was related to you," Buffy said under her breath, but Spike still picked it up.
"Good wit and a smart ass. That's all she'd get from me."
They pulled into Buffy's driveway. Buffy turned off the car and leaned against the seat, closing her eyes.
"You okay, Luv?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, opening her eyes and opening the car door."Just thinking."
They walked up to the house and went in.
"You can go to sleep when you want. I'm beat, I need sleep," she said, dragging herself to her room.
"Whatever you say, luv."
He went down the stair case and turned on the light. He could smell Dawn's scent in the room. He could pick up Buffy's scent also. He walked over to the bed and sat down. He shrugged off his duster and shirt. Pulled off his boots and set them to the side. He layed back on the bed and started to think.
He thought about everything that had happened in the last hour, the last day, the last four years. It seemed a little overwhelming. He remembered the way he felt while he was holding Gabby. He knew she was strong. It was in her blood. He could feel it.
He was drifting to sleep. He didn't even notice the sound of the door opening and someone walking down the steps. Guess he didn't want to. Afraid he was imagining it.
Buffy walked up to the side of the bed, watching his unmoving body. His chest still with no signs of breathing. She sat down next to him.
He was fully awake, now. He played like he was asleep. Just to see what she would do.
She caressed his face, running her hand around the remaining bruises, brushing a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
She tucked her hair behing her ear and gave him a light kiss on the lips. His eyes opened.
"What was that for, luv?"
"Everything," she muttered bafore leaning down again and kissing him. This time the kiss was longer. Hungrier. Spike sat up as Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck. When the kiss was broken, Buffy was panting. She gave him a weak smile. He grinned back.
"Do you know how many nights I laid awake, wishing I could touch you. To hold you. To tell you I love you." he said as more of a statment than a question.
"Me too. I would have nightmares that I would never see you again. And considering how accurate my dreams can be, that really scared me," she said as her eyes started to glisten. Spike lifted her chin with his hand to make her face him.
"I love you, Buffy. I will never leave you. I will be with you from now until the day you die." He gave her a light kiss on the lips.
She looked into his piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her.
"I know........I-I love you too."
They just stared at each other for a few moments, then they both looked away.
"You need to get to to bed," he said.
"I like it here," she laid back down on the bed. She felt him wrap his strong arms around her waist as she drifted into a deep and peacful sleep.
The End
She was really getting on his nerves.
"Hey Mister, what happened to your face?" she said in a sing-song voice.
"I got hit," Spike replied. He was tired and trying to sleep.
"Who hit you?"
"A guy," he said irritated.
"Why'd he hit you?"
"Cause he mad."
"Why was he mad?
"Why do you ask so many questions?" he asked sitting up and looking the little girl in the eyes, his face inches from hers.
"Down boy," said Buffy. She yanked on the collar of his duster to get him to sit back.
"Is she your girlfriend?" asked the little girl.
"No!" said Buffy loud enough for everyone to turn around facing her. Spike looked at her and rasied his brows.
"You sure?" he asked her.
"Positive."
The flight ended about four hous later. It was ten o' clock and they were both jet lagged. Buffy found her car in the parking lot.
"I'm gonna run by my place and get Gabby's jacket. She left it there."
She drove down a road along the beach. Then turned into a drivway of a one story brick house with a black roof and a small front yard.
"Nice little place you got here, luv."
"Yeah. The landlord is really nice. He gave Gabby a puppy for Christmas. You'll see it later. It's a girl. Her name is Willow." Spike watched her eyes cloud over at the mention of Willow's name.
"That was very nice of LilBit. To name her puppy after Red."
"Yeah." She got out of the car and walked up to the door. Spike followed. Buffy unlocked the door and walked in.
"Uh, Buffy? Hello." She turned around to Spike who was at the doorway.
"Oh, sorry. You can come in." He walked through the door.
"And don't forget to mention that to Nibblet. Don't need her honey to know I'm a vampire. Does he know about you?" he asked suspicously.
"No. He doesn't. He knows I'm really strong. But he doesn't know I'm the Slayer."
"What's the council have to say about you movin' down here?"
"They don't like it very much. But Giles and Tara managed to get them of my back about it."
They stood in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. They didn't know what to say to each other. So Spike broke it.
"So. Am I staying here, or what? You bought me a one-way."
Buffy's head jerked up. She had been in deep thought.
"Oh. Yeah. Sure. You can stay in Dawn's old room. I'll show you where it is." She led him down a staircase in to what looked like the old basment.
"Nice little room you fixed her up with."
"Yeah. She wanted a bigger room than the one upstairs. So we fixed up the basement."
The basment's floors were carpeted, the walls were painted, and there was a bed in the far corner.
Buffy walked over to the bed and picked up a small jacket and folded it over her arm.
"Okay. Let's go. I want you to see Gabby before Dawn puts her to sleep."
The left the house and drove for ten minutes to a two story house, slightly larger than their old one in Sunnydale.
"What's this bloke do?" asked Spike observing the house.
"He's training in college to be a lawyer. But right now, he works as a secretary's assistant to a lawyer. That's enough money to get them a good house. And his parents are rich. So that's a bonus."
They walked up to the door and Buffy rang the doorbell. Spike hid in the shadows.
Dawn answered the door with a baby in her arms.
"Oh. Hi, Buffy. How was your trip? By the way, where did you go?" she asked.
"She didn't know where you were?" said Spike, surprised, stepping out of the shadows.
"Spike! How did you get here? And what happened to your face?" she said, trying to give him a hug with out crushing Gabby. Buffy took the baby from Dawn so she could give him an actual hug.
"I'll take her upstairs. Where's Jake?"
Dawn released Spike from her grip and turned to Buffy.
"He's at work. Why didn't you tell me you were going to Sunnydale?"
"I wanted to surprise you."
She headed back into the house and up the staircase, leaving Dawn and Spike on the front porch. He gave her a look over.
"You've grown, LilBit. How old are you now?"
"Almost twenty-one. Not counting key-years.........Where did you go? I mean, after you and Buffy had that fight."
"She told you we were fighting?"
Dawn nodded her head.
"Oh. Well, I...uh. Went to LA."
"You ran to Angel!" she said in surprise.
"Yes! Why does that surprise everyone?" he asked. throwing his hands in the air.
"Because you hate each other," she replied bluntly.
"Well, things change. Being around me, you and big sis, of all people, should know that."
"Hey! Don't get all mad. This should be a happy moment. Come on. Let's go see Gabby."
She lead him up the steps, down a hallway, and into a room. The room was painted pink, purple, and white. There was a chair with a night table next to it in the far corner, and there was a crib in the middle of the room. Buffy was holding Gabby by the large picture window, humming a lulluby.
She looked up when she heard them walk in. She smiled and walked over.
"This is Gabby," Buffy whispered.
Spike gazed down at the sleeping child. She looked so peacful and innocent. Spike caressed the baby's small face.
Buffy gave Gabby to Spike. He held her small head. He could feel her breathing and her blood slowly rushing through her small veins.
"She's three months old. Her birthday is the 5th of June," Dawn informed him.
"She looks like you," he said, flashing her a smile.
Just then, a puppy, Spike guessed was Willow, galloped into the room, barking and yelping.
Dawn bent down and picked her up. She placed her hand over the dog's mouth.
"Shh. You be quiet," she looked up at Spike,"This is Willow."
Spike patted the dog on her head. She licked his hand.
Gabby had woken up when Willow had bounded in making all that noise. She started to cry.
"Okay, LilBit. Your the mum. You make her stop," Spike said, handing Gabby back to Dawn. She craddled Dawn in her arms and stroked her soft head, humming the song Buffy had been humming earlier. The baby soon stopped crying and cooed softly. Then she let out a small yawn and settled in Dawn's arms, closing her eyes and drifting to sleep.
Dawn gently placed her back into her crib, kissing her softly on her head.
"You've got the magic touch, don't you, Bit."
"No. Just enough experiance as a mother to get a child to go to sleep."
They walked out of the room and down the stairs.
"Do you want to stay for dinner? Jake will be home in about an hour."
Buffy looked at Spike and he shrugged.
"Sure. I'm sure Spike wants to meet Jake."
"Yeah, I'll bet he does,"said Dawn sarcastically
While Dawn fixed dinner, Buffy and Spike sat in the living room at oppisite ends of the couch. Sometimes Buffy would steal glances at Spike, then look away when he turned around, feeling her stare. He would stare at her too. But he didn't look away when she looked back at him.
"What?" she asked him when she caught him looking at her for the third time.
"Just remembering how beautiful you looked before I left and how much more beautiful you look now."
"Thanks," she said looking at her hands in her lap, which had become sweaty in a matter of seconds.
"Uh, maybe Dawn needs help in the kitchen," suggested Buffy, jumping from the couch and leaving the room.
He just shook his head as he got up and followed her.
Buffy helped Dawn cook while Spike perched himself on the counter.
"So, when's your honey gonna be home?" asked Spike.
As if on cue, he heard the door open. They walked into the kitchen, Spike coming last.
Dawn walked up to the young man and gave him a long kiss.
"Hey, baby," he sad softly. Then he noticed Buffy standing there with someone he didn't recognize.
"Oh, hi Buffy. Who's that?" he said indicating Spike.
"Name's Spike. I'm an old friend."
"Yeah," said Dawn, sensing the tension Spike was sending out."He was like a big brother to me when I was just a teenager. He and my sister were together," she saw Buffy's eyes widen," But they're not now." She paused."Are you?"
Buffy's eyes got widder and she just walked out of the room in a huff. Spike just looked at the floor, grinning, then followed Buffy.
"Don't worry. Just learn from my mistake, and don't bring it up," said Dawn to her stunned husband and followed suit. Jake just stood there for a second, then followed Dawn.
They had dinner, and stayed a little while afterwards. Mainly it was Spike asking Jake questions and him answering. Buffy and Dawn found it amusing, so they just watched.
Soon, 'not soon enough' Jake was thinking, Buffy and Spike had to leave.
"Are you staying....with Buffy?" Dawn asked Spike hopfully. Buffy stepped in front of Dawn before Spike could reply.
"Yes. He's staying in YOUR room," she emphasized the fact that he would not be sleeping anywhere near him.
"Okay. I can take a hint," she said, putting her hands up in defeat. Buffy kissed her on the head and walked out. Spike gave Dawn a quick hug and held her at arm's length.
"Maybe she'll come around," he said hopfully.
"I heard that. And I have no intention of 'coming around'," Buffy called from outside.
Spike shrugged and gave Dawn another quick hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
"See you later, LilBit."
And they left. Dawn closed the door behind him and turned to Jake.
"Why does he call you LilBit. And Nibblet. And are you sure they aren't together?"
Dawn gave a stiffled laugh.
"Listen. They haven't seen each other for four years. And they were together before that. And the names, they were pet names."
"But why Nibblet and LilBit?" he asked confused. Dawn stiffled another laugh.
"You wouldn't understand."
This time, in the car, they had a little more to say to each other.
"So, do you like him?" Buffy asked Spike about Jake.
"He's okay. It's not like I can do anything about it. LilBit likes him, so I guess I do to."
"What do you think of Gabby?"
"She's beautiful. She's gonna make a man happy when she get's older. She's a stubborn little bite, though. Takes after her aunt."
"Can't imagine what she would be like if she was related to you," Buffy said under her breath, but Spike still picked it up.
"Good wit and a smart ass. That's all she'd get from me."
They pulled into Buffy's driveway. Buffy turned off the car and leaned against the seat, closing her eyes.
"You okay, Luv?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, opening her eyes and opening the car door."Just thinking."
They walked up to the house and went in.
"You can go to sleep when you want. I'm beat, I need sleep," she said, dragging herself to her room.
"Whatever you say, luv."
He went down the stair case and turned on the light. He could smell Dawn's scent in the room. He could pick up Buffy's scent also. He walked over to the bed and sat down. He shrugged off his duster and shirt. Pulled off his boots and set them to the side. He layed back on the bed and started to think.
He thought about everything that had happened in the last hour, the last day, the last four years. It seemed a little overwhelming. He remembered the way he felt while he was holding Gabby. He knew she was strong. It was in her blood. He could feel it.
He was drifting to sleep. He didn't even notice the sound of the door opening and someone walking down the steps. Guess he didn't want to. Afraid he was imagining it.
Buffy walked up to the side of the bed, watching his unmoving body. His chest still with no signs of breathing. She sat down next to him.
He was fully awake, now. He played like he was asleep. Just to see what she would do.
She caressed his face, running her hand around the remaining bruises, brushing a loose strand of hair behind his ear.
She tucked her hair behing her ear and gave him a light kiss on the lips. His eyes opened.
"What was that for, luv?"
"Everything," she muttered bafore leaning down again and kissing him. This time the kiss was longer. Hungrier. Spike sat up as Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck. When the kiss was broken, Buffy was panting. She gave him a weak smile. He grinned back.
"Do you know how many nights I laid awake, wishing I could touch you. To hold you. To tell you I love you." he said as more of a statment than a question.
"Me too. I would have nightmares that I would never see you again. And considering how accurate my dreams can be, that really scared me," she said as her eyes started to glisten. Spike lifted her chin with his hand to make her face him.
"I love you, Buffy. I will never leave you. I will be with you from now until the day you die." He gave her a light kiss on the lips.
She looked into his piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through her.
"I know........I-I love you too."
They just stared at each other for a few moments, then they both looked away.
"You need to get to to bed," he said.
"I like it here," she laid back down on the bed. She felt him wrap his strong arms around her waist as she drifted into a deep and peacful sleep.
The End