Author: Summer
Rating: R?
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters and all here are on loan for this fic. They belong to Joss, Warner Bros and Fox as well as Mutant Enemy.
Summary: Spike has been turned human because of the Ghorac Demons bite but is seriously ill. Will he tell Buffy? Can they get together before the end?
Authors note: Buffy never died. Set sometime in between seasons 5&6 but after Joyce died.
Feedback: That would be excellent I'd love it!
Chapter eight - Home
Spike arose slowly from what seemed to be one of the worst nights sleep of his entire existence. For a moment he forgot where he was, then slowly the memory of collapsing in pain in the Magic Box came back to him as well as a very pleasant memory of kissing Buffy. *Even if it was just one sided* he thought.
His eyes began to focus on the things around him. Pale green walls, large window, sunshine..................................
*Sunshine* he thought . Something he took for granted back in his mortal days and something he'd missed when he was a Vampire. Now he was mortal again he'd decided he was going to live each day to its fullest for the rest of his life.
*Starting with Buffy* he thought *How do I make her love me?*
His thoughts were broken by a loud knocking at the door. He waited for it to open. When it didn't he shouted a "come in" to whoever was behind it.
The door slowly creaked open like a scene from one of those old horror movies. Spike was surprised to see a smiling Buffy.
"Can I come in?" she asked
"Sure ducks" Spike said surprised at her politeness
She walked in and sat down on the side of the bed like the previous night. They sat like that for a moment, neither one of them knowing what to say. Spike just stared at Buffy, he couldn't help it he loved her. He watched the sunshine play with her hair colour. *God she looks so beautiful in the sunlight*.
"So" They both exclaimed at the same time, both were a little embarrassed and shy.
"So" continued Buffy "When they letting you out of here?"
"Didn't they tell you Mrs Brody?"
Buffy stared at Spike's amused expression. *He's never gonna forget that* she thought.
"They didn't say any specific time" she replied curtly. *God, he can be so arrogant sometimes*.
"They didn't say any specific time" She replied
"Maybe they'll let me out tomorrow, who knows?"
"Well they did say a few days"
They carried on talking politely for about ten minutes or so when a thought suddenly occurred to Buffy *I wonder if they told him anything about his 'condition'?*. She'd laid awake nearly all night worrying about it. She didn't know why but somehow over the time they'd shared together they'd grown closer.
"Spike" Buffy began "I think I know what's wrong with you" *there* she thought she'd just come right out and said it.
"And what's that Pet?"
"The chip.........it showed up on the cats scan" she looked up at Spike looking for some sort of reaction "the doctors they can't identify it, they probably believe it's a tumour or something".
"So what now?" Spike asked somewhat calmly for her liking
"Giles thinks we should try an get in touch with the Initiative, wherever they are and get some answers!"
"Right" he sighed loudly " So where are they?" as he waited for answer Buffy stood up off the bed and walked to the window. She wasn't so sure she could tell him something like this face to face. "That's the problem" she said "I have no idea"
"The last I heard from Riley, he was in Brazil he could have moved anywhere by now!"
Spike flinched at the mention of 'Captain Cardboard's' name and leaned back on his pillow his hands above his head.
"You tried your best Luv" he sighed again. Buffy turned to look at him.
"No Spike, no I didn't" she went silent again "We'll find the Initiative don't worry, just.........................rest". Spike was surprised at the sudden confidence in her voice it kinda made him feel more confident knowing that she would at least try to help him. If he couldn't have her love at least her friendship was good enough *for now* he thought.
They were silent again for a few minutes until Buffy said "I've been thinking.......well......Giles thinks.....I mean............" she trailed off stuttering.
"Buffy just spit it out" Spike said gently
"When you get out of here..............I think you should you should come and stay with me and Dawn". There she's said it "it's a lot safer and warmer than the Crypt". She looked up at Spike's face waiting for some sort of reaction.
"OK" he said
"OK?" she asked curiously thinking he'd refuse the offer. Or was she hoping it?
"Well.......fine then I'll get Xander or Giles to collect your belongings from your Crypt"
"I don't want that Whelp any of my stuff, he could steal it. I've got valuable stuff in there you know"
"Spike" Buffy said amused "you don't have anything valuable and I seriously doubt Xander would want anything of yours anyway!"
"Hey!, I have a T.V you know!"
"You don't need it. We have a T.V, and it's probably a better model"
"Fine" he relented "I guess there's a lot of stuff I do and don't need now"
"Don't worry, your get used to things" reassuring him and smiling.
They sat like that for the rest of the visit. That is until that bossy came back in telling her that "William needs his rest" so she reluctantly travelled back home to get ready for Spikes homecoming.
*******
"Buffy where'd you want these?"
Buffy around to see Xander holding a couple of rather heavy boxes of Spike's belongings "Oh...uh..you can take them up to my Mom's room".
"Your Mom's?" Xander asked "Why are you giving Spike the biggest bedroom?"
"Because I can't very well let him sleep on the couch, he's recovering from a concussion and besides he needs a place to put his things".
"He's the one who caused his concussion and as for his belongings half the stuff in these boxes he probably stole........................"
"Xander" Buffy looked at him sternly not wanting an argument. Xander sighed and proceeded to carry the boxes upstairs. You see today was Spike's homecoming. After spending three days in Sunnydale General he was coming home to his new house.
Giles and Dawn were picking him up now, Buffy was in charge of the decorations and Xander had the unfortunate job of picking up Spike's belongings and transferring them to Buffy's house.
As Xander descended the staircase he noticed Buffy hanging a 'WELCOME HOME SPIKE' sign in the hallway. He came up to stand behind her looking at the banner. Buffy turned to look at him, slightly uncomfortable under his gaze.
"It's Dawns idea" she said referring to the banner. Xander nodded.
"Looks good" Xander commented
"Yeah" she paused "so...........how's your nose?" Buffy stared at the large white bandage over Xander's nose.
"Sore" he replied
"Aw what a shame" a voice replied behind them. They turned around and saw the source of the familiar voice standing in the open doorway.
"Spike" Xander replied "I was kinda hoping they'd keep you in for a couple of weeks"
"Oh come on now Monkey Boy you know Sunny Hell wouldn't be the same without me"
"It did all right before you arrived"
"OK boys" Buffy said moving to stand between them "break it up"
Spike shot Xander one last smirk then looked up at the sign above him. "Aw you didn't have to do that Luv" turning to Buffy
"Don't worry, I didn't" she said "Dawn did"
Spike looked down to the fifteen year old attached to his right arm. "Do you like it?" she asked hopefully
"Love it Nibblet" Dawn smiled up at him "Come on I've made a cake too, it's in the fridge" she said
"This must be my lucky day" he said with another smirk at Xander "New home, clothes, taste buds" he threw Xander his overnight bag "Here Monkey Boy make yourself useful and take this to my room while I get a piece of cake. If your good you can have some too"
Xander just continued to glare at Spike dumping his bag on the floor.
Walking into the kitchen the sweet smell of Dawns cooking hit his senses like a freight train. *I'm Home* he thought.
TBC...........................................
A/N: OK I know this was a sort of weird chapter but trust me it WILL get better. Next chapter up soon. PLEASE REVIEW. PLEASE. Thank you.