Dawn had been up for about fifteen minutes, getting ready for the day,
going down to see Xander, but he had said Buffy wasn't up yet. She
climbed the stairs, knocked on her sister's door. "Buffy?"
Buffy turned from her position of being half-sprawled across Spike's chest, his arms around her back. "Nnnngt?" The vampire didn't move, except for snoring quietly. -Who- was yelling at her? She was quite comfy right where she was.
"Buffy?"
Buffy sighed, called semi-loudly, "Apocalypse?"
Dawn was puzzled. Um, no... duh, O blonde one... "No, but-"
Buffy reached over the side of the bed to pick up one of Spike's shoes, heave it towards the door, getting a rewarding, loud -*THUMP*- for her efforts. Dawn jumped back from the door. Did Buffy just THROW something at her?
"Then I'm NOT in... Lemme sleep."
Spike twitched in his sleep at the loud sound, waking slightly. "Ugnerrr?"
Buffy put one hand over his mouth, but it was too late. Dawn had heard it. The teenager backed away from the door, a sly grin across her face. Oh, yes, she'd use this later. "Ok... have a good -sleep-, Buff." Dawn tromped down the stairs again, ready to do anything in her power to keep Xander occupied, assured Buffy was fine, and usher him out the door.
On reflex, Spike nipped her hand. His eyes still closed. Buffy smiled down at Spike, and resumed her sprawl across his chest. It was one of the most comfortable sleeping positions she had found in a long time. He tightened his grip, purring in his sleep. Snored softly again. She kissed the part of his chest closest to her mouth, snuggling down.
========================================================================== ==========
Spike slowly awakened, and quickly realized that there was something on top of him. He opened one eye, blinking the post sleep haze away, and was greeted with blonde hair on his chest. Buffy. He smiled.
Buffy sighed, her head nuzzling closer.
He glanced at her wall clock, startled to see that it was almost noon. He gently began rubbing small circles on her back. "Luv?"
Bigger sigh. "Mmm?"
"It's 11:45. AM."
"Lovely... Time and temperature, much?"
"You're at 97.7 degrees."
She gave a sleepy smile. "How nice."
He chuckled. "Luv, we've been sleeping for nearly ten hours. Don't you think it's time to wake up?"
She pouted. "No?"
He chuckled again. "Well, I do. And I can't move. Seems someone dropped a Slayer on me."
She got more comfortable, "Hm. 'Magine that."
He purred. "What if I told you I have to use the restroom?"
She rolled to her left, off of him. "I'd say it's that way." She pointed to the door.
He propped himself up on an elbow. "Funny thing, I don't actually need to go. I just wanted you to move so I can do this.." He lay on his side, pulling her close, in similar positions to the way that they had fallen asleep the night before.
She smiled. "Oh."
He snuggled her close, absently running his hand up and down her side, over her stomach, and back to trail up and down her arm. He placed a gently kiss at the back of her neck and nuzzled her gently.
She sighed happily, her hands coming to rest over his. "Good morning."
"Sure is..." Kissed the back of her neck again.
She snuggled back against him. He pulled her down slightly, so that her head was under his chin, and pulled the blankets tight around them, snuggling close. "I love you."
Contented moan. "Mm... love you, too."
He purred, nuzzling at the top of her head. "So, what're we doing today, luv?"
She said decisively, "A whole lot of this."
"I'm not arguing with a Slayer who's made up her mind." Faked an annoyed sigh. "Oh well, I guess I can stand it."
She pulled his hands up to kiss the knuckles. "Good man."
He chuckled, ending in a real sigh. One of total relaxation.
She was happy, she realized. Content. This is where she wanted to be for a very long time. Maybe even years. Maybe with less clothes, but for now? This was perfect.
He yawned. Loved, warm, happy, safe. This was perfection. His hand began wandering around Buffy's side and arm again.
Her skin was tingling where his hand touched, and she let out a soft sigh.
He paused his wanderings at the waistband of her tank top, wondering if she'd let him run his hand beneath it. It had been so long. He'd missed her. He needed to touch her, to familiarize himself with her all over again.
Her hands reached down to cover his, her smaller ones on top of his larger, rougher ones. She slid their hands under her tanktop, smoothing them over her torso.
He purred, his eyes closed to maximize the feeling. He let her hands guide his, remembering touching her before, but this was different. It was like the first time, all over again. Like looking at a painting, one you've seen before, and suddenly noticing all these new things that had always been there, but you'd just never taken the time to see. He was seeing now. With his hands, with his heart, and with his soul.
Her own eyes closed, and her hands slid away from his, letting him touch to his content. He sighed, finally resting his hands just above her bellybutton. He continued to draw lazy patterns with his fingertips, but the wandering had stopped. He nuzzled her. "You are an amazing person, Buffy Anne Summers, did you know that?"
"No." It was an honest answer to an honest question. "But you make me feel like it."
"That's because you are. You feel what's already there. I just help you along, that's all."
One hand reached back to play across his cheek. He nuzzled against her hand, purring softly. "Not that I really care why, or how, but... how did you remember?" She said softly, "It doesn't really matter how, I guess. I'm just.. glad you did."
"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
She grinned. "No? What'd you do? Have a dream, complete with a guide?"
His eyes opened. "How did you guess?"
She looked over her shoulder, giving him a disbelieving glance. "You're kidding. I was kidding."
"I wasn't. I dozed off watching a bug crawling on the wall, and then I had to go pee, and wasn't chained up any more. I went upstairs, to the bathroom, and could see my reflection in the mirror. While I was looking at it, I noticed that the back wall of the bathroom was gone, and there were all these scientists watching me and taking notes, so I left, and followed a voice singing, and found my guide."
She smiled. "Who was your own personal Jiminy Cricket?"
"Dunno if I should tell you. It's someone you know. Or, rather, knew."
She frowned, rolled over to face him, hands touching his chest. "Spike... you can tell me anything."
He inhaled slowly. Then exhaled. "Ok. It was... your mum. Joyce."
Her eyes grew slightly dull, blunted. Softly, "That's not funny."
He winced. "I'm not joking. She was sitting in a chair, rocking a little bundle, and she handed it to me, saying that it was my soul, and that I had to take care of it."
She was staring at his throat, her eyes not planning on moving up for a while. "Wow."
"She lead me down this hallway. And doors kept appearing, behind every door was a memory. Some long, some short. And one of the doors was touchy and I had to ask it politely to open. And there was this guy, with two slices of cheese on his head, and Joyce told him that 'the power of cheese is downstairs on the left'."
She bit her lip. "A cheese guy, huh?"
"Yeah. It was weird. Funny, but weird. And Joyce got after me for laughing at him."
"Oh." She bit her lip harder.
"And she'd get after you for chewin' on your lip, luv. So drop it. If you're gonna laugh, laugh. I don't mind."
She finally looked up at him, and her eyes were nowhere near laughing. "She never visited me."
"It... it was just a dream, luv." He cupped her cheek. "It's not like 'I see dead people', or anything like that." He paused. "Ok, let me rephrase that. I do see dead people. All the time, but not when I'm asleep, usually. It was a dream, not a visitation."
She shook her head slowly. "I think it was. And you do, too. Please don't lie to me."
He averted his eyes. "I'm... sorry."
She took a deep breath. "Did.... did she say anything?"
"A lot of stuff. About anything in particular? Other than repeatedly telling me to watch my language."
"Me?" It was quiet, questioning.
He closed his eyes, thought hard. "She said that she is always there, watching over us. Most of the time, anyway. And that if I let fear paralyze me, I wasn't worthy of you and Dawn. And that you didn't have easy dreams for a month after Willow did that spell where we were engaged. And that you have a large heart... and.." He gave a small grin. "She got after me again for making you put Mr. Gordo in the oven. And that when you were messing with me on the couch it was a 'stroke of feminine brilliance'. Oh, and that I make you happy, when I'm 'not frustrating the heck out of' you."
She looked at him hopefully. "She said I have a big heart?"
He smiled. "Yep. And complemented me in the same sentence."
She smiled. "And she... she's... happy about... this?" She put her hand over his heart.
"She said that I was her favorite of all your boyfriends, if that answers your question."
Buffy's smile widened a little more. "Good."
He grinned. "Made me feel pretty good too."
She pulled closer to him. "I'm trying really hard not to envy you."
"For what?"
"Mom visited you."
He nuzzled her. "Want to know why she hasn't visited you?"
"Yes." It was slightly sad, petulant, and confused.
He sighed, nuzzled her again. "This is just my opinion, ok? I don't know for sure."
She nodded. "Ok."
"I think that she visited me because I was weak. I couldn't do it on my own, and I've been going to her for a long time when I needed a shoulder to cry on. But you. You have always been determined to handle everything by yourself. Not all the time, but you've never been at that point where you just can't do it by yourself, and need help. If you ever reach that point, she will come. I think you're just too strong, Buffy. You don't need guidance anymore. You're on the right path. I fell off, and she had to help me get back on. But, if you really want a visitation, why don't you just ask? Before you fall asleep, ask your mum to come. It might work. I used to do that with my sister when I was a teenager and needed someone to talk to, and she always came." He smiled. "Of course, this is just one vampire's humble opinion."
She nibbled on her bottom lip. "You think she might come?"
"If I know Joyce, I have no doubt."
Buffy smiled softly. "I really miss her."
"Me too, luv." He gave a sad smile. "Want to know what the last thing she said to me was?"
Her eyebrows lifted in askance.
"I missed the first word, because I was waking up, but she said.. '..always love you, William'." A tear ran down his cheek. He sniffed. "She loves me."
Buffy wiped away his tear with her palm, said softly, "I told you she did."
"I know, but it's a little different than hearing it directly from her, you know?" He nuzzled her hand.
"Yeah."
He remembered something else. "Oh, and I asked her something, and she said she didn't tell you, but she was the only one who knew, so I'm gonna ask you now, ok?"
"All right..."
He grinned. "How the hell did you figure out that I'm bleedin' ticklish? I know your mum knew, but if she didn't tell you, how did you guess?" He made a quiet snorting sound. "Joyce just said that you are very smart."
"I am. But Mom told Dawn. Dawn told me in one of her 'Spike is a Decent Guy' tirades."
He play growled, trying to sound as if he meant it. "She just lost all three strikes."
Buffy smiled, and tucked herself up under his chin. "But you're not gonna move to go get her, are you?"
"Not right now. But next time I see her, she gets it."
Buffy nodded. "Which will be tonight. After nightfall. After you climb out the window, go home and change, and then come back."
He chuckled. "You don't think she knows that I spent the night, luv?"
"She doesn't."
"I made a noise earlier, when you threw my shoe at the door. Didn't you catch her tone?"
She sighed at him. "You're being paranoid. She didn't hear anything."
He chuckled again. "And I quote.. 'have a nice -sleep-, Buffy'. She didn't think you were sleeping, and knew I was here."
She rolled her eyes. "Spike. Hunni. She knows that I had a long day, and I don't have to work. All's well and good in Ignorance Land, population Dawn."
"Don't call me 'Hunni'. I hate pet names."
"Mm-kay."
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Pooh Bear."
He growled. "No. Pet. Names. Strike one."
She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out.
He chuckled. "I don't like Pooh, anyway. Tigger is way better."
Her bottom lip stuck out further. Mega-pout.
He bit back a laugh. She was just too cute when she did that.
She accompanied it with a small huffing noise.
He laughed, and tried to hide it with a snort. "Ok, luv. You win. What do you want?"
She smiled. "Just to win. And hear you say, 'All is well in Denial Land, population Dawn. Your sister doesn't think you've had me in here all night doing sordid steamy things. I'll creep out at nightfall and knock on the door an hour later like a normal vampire.'"
He sighed. "What if I don't want to say that?"
"Then I pout again. And just toss you out the window at nightfall."
Now his lip stuck out.
She frowned. "Stop it. And did you like my big word?"
He continued pouting. "What big word?"
Now she pouted. "Must not have been good. Sordid."
He tried not to laugh, to keep the pout going. "Six letters isn't a big word. Quick quiz. What's the longest word in the dictionary?"
She arched her eyebrow. "Yousuckawholelotyoubigmeanythunderstealer?"
He could not figure out how she'd said that with a straight face. He lost the pout, dissolving into laughter. "...no..no." Took a deep breath. "Antidisenstablishmentarianism."
Her pout held. "I like my word better."
"Strike two. Quit pouting, or you're pushing three."
Her pout dissipated, but she said with a slight frown-line between her eyebrows, "Do you think I'm dumb?"
"No. I agree with your mum. You're very smart. I've just been around a lot longer."
Her eyebrows quirked inward again. "Oh."
"What now?"
Shook her head. "Nothing." Smiled at him. Leaned up and nipped his bottom lip. "Had a good pout there for a minute."
He chuckled, rumbling deep in his chest. "Me, or you?"
She scoffed. "Mine was perfect. Yours was good."
"I just can't hold it around you. You always make me laugh. You're good at that. It's a way that you're like your mum."
She smiled. "Thank you." She nudged him. "C'mon. Mine was perfect."
He sighed. "Well.... it was okay..."
She gasped. "WHAT?"
He managed to keep a straight face. "A 4.6, maybe..." Rolled over, his back to her.
She was making fish-face. Pulled a resolve-face, and pulled him toward her, yanking on his shoulder till he was on his other side, facing her.
'Don't laugh, don't laugh. Make it believable...' "Yes, luv?"
"Four. Point. Six? Maybe??" She huffed out a huge sigh, got a slightly hurt look in her eye, and pushed out her bottom lip.
"5.0?"
Bottom lip trembled a bit, pushed out a teeny bit more. Big, sweet, innocent blink.
"5.8, I think." He rolled over again, gripping the side of the bed to keep her from turning him over again.
She sat, in total disbelief. Swung her side of the covers back.
"Something wrong, Sweetie?"
She huffed. "No. I'm just going to go downstairs and have breakfast, where they appreciate people with perfect pouts."
He waited until she walked around the bed, heading for the door, then grabbed her by the back of her tank top and swung her back onto the bed. "10.0."
She grinned up at him. "I know."
Play growl. "That SHOULD be strike three, but I'm feeling generous."
She kissed him gently.
He grinned and laid back, pulling her so that she was practically sitting on top of him.
She traced patterns over his chest, smiling down at him.
He grinned up at her. "Have you gotten taller, luv?"
"Mm... Dunno. Could be that I'm kneeling in your lap." She leaned down, kissed at the space between his collarbones. "Better?"
He purred. "*I don't mind as long as you aren't going anywhere.*"
She kissed down his chest, then back up, nibbling at his neck, running her hands down his arms until her fingers touched his, tangled them.
He grinned up at her. "I don't even have words for how you make me feel, Buffy. I wish I did, so I could write them down."
Her eyes heated and her body felt liquid. She kissed his lips, let her tongue play over them, coaxing his mouth open. He quickly responded, closing his eyes and allowing their tongues to mimic the dances that had been going on between them for years. Her hands gripped his more tightly, pulling back to nibble at the corners of his mouth. She went back to his mouth, tugging at his bottom lip. "... so pouty," she mumbled.
Spike moaned quietly, and nuzzled their noses together.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Buffy? It's nearly two in the afternoon. Are you ever getting up?"
She jerked to a full sitting position. "Xander! Um... yeah... I... I am..."
"Cool. You need anything? Want me to come in?"
Spike gritted his teeth to keep from chuckling, and an evil idea popped into his head. He reached up, and began walking his fingers up the Slayer's ribs, heading for the top one.
"What do you want to eat when you come down? I've been declared official cook for the day."
She swatted desperately at Spike's hands. "NO! Don't come in.... um..... ya know, not dressed. Um... Do we have anything... Um..." she thought of something they were out of. "Steak!"
'I'm just returning the favor from when you were invisible, Slayer,' the vampire thought, one hand finding the top rib and playing on it very lightly.
"Xander... I am... totally craving steak."
Other hand up, both ribs now.
"Ok. I'll have to go get some. Is there anywhere that has it on sale?"
"UM!" High pitched squeal. "Hansen's Market!" She was grabbing his hands. "There's.. I've got... money..." gasp for breath. "in the envelope on the island in the kitchen."
Spike tried not to chuckle, and continued his assault, digging in slightly.
"Are you ok, Buffy?"
"Fine... Cold air hit me, is all. Seriously not dressed though, so please don't come in." She was giving him desperate looks.
Xander said something unintelligible, as if speaking to someone behind him. And they heard Dawn giggling.
Spike stopped, knowing that the moment Buffy opened her mouth again, he would start the attack anew. But for the moment, he relaxed, not allowing her to expect it.
"Xan?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you hurry? I'm starving."
"Ok. Is there anything else? Should I pick up any butcher's blood for Spike? You know, just in CASE he drops by later?"
Spike readied himself, knowing her next sentence would be her downfall.
"Mm-Bu- Sure... ya never know, he's popping up all over the place lately."
Spike shook with silent laughter at her hasty comment. Xander, for his part, seemed clueless.
"Ok. See you in a while. I'm gonna take Dawn with me."
"Ok! Tell her to behave."
"You know it." There were footsteps going down the stairs.
Spike continued to shake, his teeth gritted and eyes closed to keep from laughing.
She gave him a sound smack in the shoulder. "Oh my God," she muttered at him quietly. "What's wrong with you??"
He snorted, and responded mentally, not trusting himself to talk. 'Remember what you did to me when you were invisible and Xander came in? Payback's a bitch.'
She swatted at him again. "You son of a bitch. I was invisible. Xander could have come in here, however, and seen you quite easily!"
Upon hearing the front door close and lock, Spike let out the laughter that had consumed him since her 'popping up' comment. "Sorry... Sorry... But you have to admit, this isn't half as compromising as that was. We're dressed, mostly, at least."
"Spike... I was invisible. No compromising there. Just.... invisible." She looked down at him from her kneeling-across-his-lap position. "THIS isn't compromising?"
"Do you even realize what you said back there?", the laughing vampire asked.
She stopped, thought about it a minute. Her eyes grew round. "Oh my God," she moaned pathetically.
He had been trying to wind his laughter down, but started back up again at her moan. "God, Slayer. That sentence was more compromising than our positions."
She climbed off his lap and the bed, and handed him his shirt.
He sat up. "Am I leaving? It's day, luv."
She sighed, and scurried out the door of her bedroom to root around in Willow's room a minute. She came back carrying a white button-up shirt. "Here. Put this on, it's Giles, he left it when you were sick, go do something with your hair, and when they come back, you will be sitting downstairs on the couch, like you just got here."
He nodded, relieved that she wasn't throwing him out. He'd just been playing, after all. He put the shirt on, buttoning all but the top two, and ran his fingers through his hair annoyedly. "Stupid bloody curls. Straighten out!"
She sat huffily on the bed, and started smoothing out his hair. "There."
He purred at her touch. "Thanks. Are you mad at me?"
She sighed. "I don't think so. I just.... don't want to have to explain anything, or make it look like we were sleeping together. We were just sleeping together, ya know?"
"We were sleeping together, not SLEEPING together. They'd understand. Don't you think?"
She arched her eyebrow at him. "Do YOU? Turn around. I'm getting dressed."
He obediently turned his back, forgetting to stop the thought of, 'Nothing I haven't seen before...oops.' "Sorry, luv. Ignore me, please."
She gave a half grin, grabbed a low riding front lace pair of jeans and an off the shoulder deep green peasant blouse. She stripped quickly, dressed again even more hastily. "Ok."
He laid back, regarding her upside down. "By the way, luv. There is one thing I don't remember."
"What?" She sat at her vanity, running a brush through her hair.
"What strike am *I* on?"
She gave him a look. "You are pushing three." She started putting on makeup.
He swallowed. "Uh oh." Grinned. "You wouldn't mind telling me what will happen when I hit three, would you?"
She grinned ferally at him in the mirror, swept blush across her cheekbones. "Anything I want."
He chuckled. "Should have known."
Buffy turned from her position of being half-sprawled across Spike's chest, his arms around her back. "Nnnngt?" The vampire didn't move, except for snoring quietly. -Who- was yelling at her? She was quite comfy right where she was.
"Buffy?"
Buffy sighed, called semi-loudly, "Apocalypse?"
Dawn was puzzled. Um, no... duh, O blonde one... "No, but-"
Buffy reached over the side of the bed to pick up one of Spike's shoes, heave it towards the door, getting a rewarding, loud -*THUMP*- for her efforts. Dawn jumped back from the door. Did Buffy just THROW something at her?
"Then I'm NOT in... Lemme sleep."
Spike twitched in his sleep at the loud sound, waking slightly. "Ugnerrr?"
Buffy put one hand over his mouth, but it was too late. Dawn had heard it. The teenager backed away from the door, a sly grin across her face. Oh, yes, she'd use this later. "Ok... have a good -sleep-, Buff." Dawn tromped down the stairs again, ready to do anything in her power to keep Xander occupied, assured Buffy was fine, and usher him out the door.
On reflex, Spike nipped her hand. His eyes still closed. Buffy smiled down at Spike, and resumed her sprawl across his chest. It was one of the most comfortable sleeping positions she had found in a long time. He tightened his grip, purring in his sleep. Snored softly again. She kissed the part of his chest closest to her mouth, snuggling down.
========================================================================== ==========
Spike slowly awakened, and quickly realized that there was something on top of him. He opened one eye, blinking the post sleep haze away, and was greeted with blonde hair on his chest. Buffy. He smiled.
Buffy sighed, her head nuzzling closer.
He glanced at her wall clock, startled to see that it was almost noon. He gently began rubbing small circles on her back. "Luv?"
Bigger sigh. "Mmm?"
"It's 11:45. AM."
"Lovely... Time and temperature, much?"
"You're at 97.7 degrees."
She gave a sleepy smile. "How nice."
He chuckled. "Luv, we've been sleeping for nearly ten hours. Don't you think it's time to wake up?"
She pouted. "No?"
He chuckled again. "Well, I do. And I can't move. Seems someone dropped a Slayer on me."
She got more comfortable, "Hm. 'Magine that."
He purred. "What if I told you I have to use the restroom?"
She rolled to her left, off of him. "I'd say it's that way." She pointed to the door.
He propped himself up on an elbow. "Funny thing, I don't actually need to go. I just wanted you to move so I can do this.." He lay on his side, pulling her close, in similar positions to the way that they had fallen asleep the night before.
She smiled. "Oh."
He snuggled her close, absently running his hand up and down her side, over her stomach, and back to trail up and down her arm. He placed a gently kiss at the back of her neck and nuzzled her gently.
She sighed happily, her hands coming to rest over his. "Good morning."
"Sure is..." Kissed the back of her neck again.
She snuggled back against him. He pulled her down slightly, so that her head was under his chin, and pulled the blankets tight around them, snuggling close. "I love you."
Contented moan. "Mm... love you, too."
He purred, nuzzling at the top of her head. "So, what're we doing today, luv?"
She said decisively, "A whole lot of this."
"I'm not arguing with a Slayer who's made up her mind." Faked an annoyed sigh. "Oh well, I guess I can stand it."
She pulled his hands up to kiss the knuckles. "Good man."
He chuckled, ending in a real sigh. One of total relaxation.
She was happy, she realized. Content. This is where she wanted to be for a very long time. Maybe even years. Maybe with less clothes, but for now? This was perfect.
He yawned. Loved, warm, happy, safe. This was perfection. His hand began wandering around Buffy's side and arm again.
Her skin was tingling where his hand touched, and she let out a soft sigh.
He paused his wanderings at the waistband of her tank top, wondering if she'd let him run his hand beneath it. It had been so long. He'd missed her. He needed to touch her, to familiarize himself with her all over again.
Her hands reached down to cover his, her smaller ones on top of his larger, rougher ones. She slid their hands under her tanktop, smoothing them over her torso.
He purred, his eyes closed to maximize the feeling. He let her hands guide his, remembering touching her before, but this was different. It was like the first time, all over again. Like looking at a painting, one you've seen before, and suddenly noticing all these new things that had always been there, but you'd just never taken the time to see. He was seeing now. With his hands, with his heart, and with his soul.
Her own eyes closed, and her hands slid away from his, letting him touch to his content. He sighed, finally resting his hands just above her bellybutton. He continued to draw lazy patterns with his fingertips, but the wandering had stopped. He nuzzled her. "You are an amazing person, Buffy Anne Summers, did you know that?"
"No." It was an honest answer to an honest question. "But you make me feel like it."
"That's because you are. You feel what's already there. I just help you along, that's all."
One hand reached back to play across his cheek. He nuzzled against her hand, purring softly. "Not that I really care why, or how, but... how did you remember?" She said softly, "It doesn't really matter how, I guess. I'm just.. glad you did."
"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you."
She grinned. "No? What'd you do? Have a dream, complete with a guide?"
His eyes opened. "How did you guess?"
She looked over her shoulder, giving him a disbelieving glance. "You're kidding. I was kidding."
"I wasn't. I dozed off watching a bug crawling on the wall, and then I had to go pee, and wasn't chained up any more. I went upstairs, to the bathroom, and could see my reflection in the mirror. While I was looking at it, I noticed that the back wall of the bathroom was gone, and there were all these scientists watching me and taking notes, so I left, and followed a voice singing, and found my guide."
She smiled. "Who was your own personal Jiminy Cricket?"
"Dunno if I should tell you. It's someone you know. Or, rather, knew."
She frowned, rolled over to face him, hands touching his chest. "Spike... you can tell me anything."
He inhaled slowly. Then exhaled. "Ok. It was... your mum. Joyce."
Her eyes grew slightly dull, blunted. Softly, "That's not funny."
He winced. "I'm not joking. She was sitting in a chair, rocking a little bundle, and she handed it to me, saying that it was my soul, and that I had to take care of it."
She was staring at his throat, her eyes not planning on moving up for a while. "Wow."
"She lead me down this hallway. And doors kept appearing, behind every door was a memory. Some long, some short. And one of the doors was touchy and I had to ask it politely to open. And there was this guy, with two slices of cheese on his head, and Joyce told him that 'the power of cheese is downstairs on the left'."
She bit her lip. "A cheese guy, huh?"
"Yeah. It was weird. Funny, but weird. And Joyce got after me for laughing at him."
"Oh." She bit her lip harder.
"And she'd get after you for chewin' on your lip, luv. So drop it. If you're gonna laugh, laugh. I don't mind."
She finally looked up at him, and her eyes were nowhere near laughing. "She never visited me."
"It... it was just a dream, luv." He cupped her cheek. "It's not like 'I see dead people', or anything like that." He paused. "Ok, let me rephrase that. I do see dead people. All the time, but not when I'm asleep, usually. It was a dream, not a visitation."
She shook her head slowly. "I think it was. And you do, too. Please don't lie to me."
He averted his eyes. "I'm... sorry."
She took a deep breath. "Did.... did she say anything?"
"A lot of stuff. About anything in particular? Other than repeatedly telling me to watch my language."
"Me?" It was quiet, questioning.
He closed his eyes, thought hard. "She said that she is always there, watching over us. Most of the time, anyway. And that if I let fear paralyze me, I wasn't worthy of you and Dawn. And that you didn't have easy dreams for a month after Willow did that spell where we were engaged. And that you have a large heart... and.." He gave a small grin. "She got after me again for making you put Mr. Gordo in the oven. And that when you were messing with me on the couch it was a 'stroke of feminine brilliance'. Oh, and that I make you happy, when I'm 'not frustrating the heck out of' you."
She looked at him hopefully. "She said I have a big heart?"
He smiled. "Yep. And complemented me in the same sentence."
She smiled. "And she... she's... happy about... this?" She put her hand over his heart.
"She said that I was her favorite of all your boyfriends, if that answers your question."
Buffy's smile widened a little more. "Good."
He grinned. "Made me feel pretty good too."
She pulled closer to him. "I'm trying really hard not to envy you."
"For what?"
"Mom visited you."
He nuzzled her. "Want to know why she hasn't visited you?"
"Yes." It was slightly sad, petulant, and confused.
He sighed, nuzzled her again. "This is just my opinion, ok? I don't know for sure."
She nodded. "Ok."
"I think that she visited me because I was weak. I couldn't do it on my own, and I've been going to her for a long time when I needed a shoulder to cry on. But you. You have always been determined to handle everything by yourself. Not all the time, but you've never been at that point where you just can't do it by yourself, and need help. If you ever reach that point, she will come. I think you're just too strong, Buffy. You don't need guidance anymore. You're on the right path. I fell off, and she had to help me get back on. But, if you really want a visitation, why don't you just ask? Before you fall asleep, ask your mum to come. It might work. I used to do that with my sister when I was a teenager and needed someone to talk to, and she always came." He smiled. "Of course, this is just one vampire's humble opinion."
She nibbled on her bottom lip. "You think she might come?"
"If I know Joyce, I have no doubt."
Buffy smiled softly. "I really miss her."
"Me too, luv." He gave a sad smile. "Want to know what the last thing she said to me was?"
Her eyebrows lifted in askance.
"I missed the first word, because I was waking up, but she said.. '..always love you, William'." A tear ran down his cheek. He sniffed. "She loves me."
Buffy wiped away his tear with her palm, said softly, "I told you she did."
"I know, but it's a little different than hearing it directly from her, you know?" He nuzzled her hand.
"Yeah."
He remembered something else. "Oh, and I asked her something, and she said she didn't tell you, but she was the only one who knew, so I'm gonna ask you now, ok?"
"All right..."
He grinned. "How the hell did you figure out that I'm bleedin' ticklish? I know your mum knew, but if she didn't tell you, how did you guess?" He made a quiet snorting sound. "Joyce just said that you are very smart."
"I am. But Mom told Dawn. Dawn told me in one of her 'Spike is a Decent Guy' tirades."
He play growled, trying to sound as if he meant it. "She just lost all three strikes."
Buffy smiled, and tucked herself up under his chin. "But you're not gonna move to go get her, are you?"
"Not right now. But next time I see her, she gets it."
Buffy nodded. "Which will be tonight. After nightfall. After you climb out the window, go home and change, and then come back."
He chuckled. "You don't think she knows that I spent the night, luv?"
"She doesn't."
"I made a noise earlier, when you threw my shoe at the door. Didn't you catch her tone?"
She sighed at him. "You're being paranoid. She didn't hear anything."
He chuckled again. "And I quote.. 'have a nice -sleep-, Buffy'. She didn't think you were sleeping, and knew I was here."
She rolled her eyes. "Spike. Hunni. She knows that I had a long day, and I don't have to work. All's well and good in Ignorance Land, population Dawn."
"Don't call me 'Hunni'. I hate pet names."
"Mm-kay."
"Thank you."
"Anytime, Pooh Bear."
He growled. "No. Pet. Names. Strike one."
She pouted, sticking her bottom lip out.
He chuckled. "I don't like Pooh, anyway. Tigger is way better."
Her bottom lip stuck out further. Mega-pout.
He bit back a laugh. She was just too cute when she did that.
She accompanied it with a small huffing noise.
He laughed, and tried to hide it with a snort. "Ok, luv. You win. What do you want?"
She smiled. "Just to win. And hear you say, 'All is well in Denial Land, population Dawn. Your sister doesn't think you've had me in here all night doing sordid steamy things. I'll creep out at nightfall and knock on the door an hour later like a normal vampire.'"
He sighed. "What if I don't want to say that?"
"Then I pout again. And just toss you out the window at nightfall."
Now his lip stuck out.
She frowned. "Stop it. And did you like my big word?"
He continued pouting. "What big word?"
Now she pouted. "Must not have been good. Sordid."
He tried not to laugh, to keep the pout going. "Six letters isn't a big word. Quick quiz. What's the longest word in the dictionary?"
She arched her eyebrow. "Yousuckawholelotyoubigmeanythunderstealer?"
He could not figure out how she'd said that with a straight face. He lost the pout, dissolving into laughter. "...no..no." Took a deep breath. "Antidisenstablishmentarianism."
Her pout held. "I like my word better."
"Strike two. Quit pouting, or you're pushing three."
Her pout dissipated, but she said with a slight frown-line between her eyebrows, "Do you think I'm dumb?"
"No. I agree with your mum. You're very smart. I've just been around a lot longer."
Her eyebrows quirked inward again. "Oh."
"What now?"
Shook her head. "Nothing." Smiled at him. Leaned up and nipped his bottom lip. "Had a good pout there for a minute."
He chuckled, rumbling deep in his chest. "Me, or you?"
She scoffed. "Mine was perfect. Yours was good."
"I just can't hold it around you. You always make me laugh. You're good at that. It's a way that you're like your mum."
She smiled. "Thank you." She nudged him. "C'mon. Mine was perfect."
He sighed. "Well.... it was okay..."
She gasped. "WHAT?"
He managed to keep a straight face. "A 4.6, maybe..." Rolled over, his back to her.
She was making fish-face. Pulled a resolve-face, and pulled him toward her, yanking on his shoulder till he was on his other side, facing her.
'Don't laugh, don't laugh. Make it believable...' "Yes, luv?"
"Four. Point. Six? Maybe??" She huffed out a huge sigh, got a slightly hurt look in her eye, and pushed out her bottom lip.
"5.0?"
Bottom lip trembled a bit, pushed out a teeny bit more. Big, sweet, innocent blink.
"5.8, I think." He rolled over again, gripping the side of the bed to keep her from turning him over again.
She sat, in total disbelief. Swung her side of the covers back.
"Something wrong, Sweetie?"
She huffed. "No. I'm just going to go downstairs and have breakfast, where they appreciate people with perfect pouts."
He waited until she walked around the bed, heading for the door, then grabbed her by the back of her tank top and swung her back onto the bed. "10.0."
She grinned up at him. "I know."
Play growl. "That SHOULD be strike three, but I'm feeling generous."
She kissed him gently.
He grinned and laid back, pulling her so that she was practically sitting on top of him.
She traced patterns over his chest, smiling down at him.
He grinned up at her. "Have you gotten taller, luv?"
"Mm... Dunno. Could be that I'm kneeling in your lap." She leaned down, kissed at the space between his collarbones. "Better?"
He purred. "*I don't mind as long as you aren't going anywhere.*"
She kissed down his chest, then back up, nibbling at his neck, running her hands down his arms until her fingers touched his, tangled them.
He grinned up at her. "I don't even have words for how you make me feel, Buffy. I wish I did, so I could write them down."
Her eyes heated and her body felt liquid. She kissed his lips, let her tongue play over them, coaxing his mouth open. He quickly responded, closing his eyes and allowing their tongues to mimic the dances that had been going on between them for years. Her hands gripped his more tightly, pulling back to nibble at the corners of his mouth. She went back to his mouth, tugging at his bottom lip. "... so pouty," she mumbled.
Spike moaned quietly, and nuzzled their noses together.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Buffy? It's nearly two in the afternoon. Are you ever getting up?"
She jerked to a full sitting position. "Xander! Um... yeah... I... I am..."
"Cool. You need anything? Want me to come in?"
Spike gritted his teeth to keep from chuckling, and an evil idea popped into his head. He reached up, and began walking his fingers up the Slayer's ribs, heading for the top one.
"What do you want to eat when you come down? I've been declared official cook for the day."
She swatted desperately at Spike's hands. "NO! Don't come in.... um..... ya know, not dressed. Um... Do we have anything... Um..." she thought of something they were out of. "Steak!"
'I'm just returning the favor from when you were invisible, Slayer,' the vampire thought, one hand finding the top rib and playing on it very lightly.
"Xander... I am... totally craving steak."
Other hand up, both ribs now.
"Ok. I'll have to go get some. Is there anywhere that has it on sale?"
"UM!" High pitched squeal. "Hansen's Market!" She was grabbing his hands. "There's.. I've got... money..." gasp for breath. "in the envelope on the island in the kitchen."
Spike tried not to chuckle, and continued his assault, digging in slightly.
"Are you ok, Buffy?"
"Fine... Cold air hit me, is all. Seriously not dressed though, so please don't come in." She was giving him desperate looks.
Xander said something unintelligible, as if speaking to someone behind him. And they heard Dawn giggling.
Spike stopped, knowing that the moment Buffy opened her mouth again, he would start the attack anew. But for the moment, he relaxed, not allowing her to expect it.
"Xan?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you hurry? I'm starving."
"Ok. Is there anything else? Should I pick up any butcher's blood for Spike? You know, just in CASE he drops by later?"
Spike readied himself, knowing her next sentence would be her downfall.
"Mm-Bu- Sure... ya never know, he's popping up all over the place lately."
Spike shook with silent laughter at her hasty comment. Xander, for his part, seemed clueless.
"Ok. See you in a while. I'm gonna take Dawn with me."
"Ok! Tell her to behave."
"You know it." There were footsteps going down the stairs.
Spike continued to shake, his teeth gritted and eyes closed to keep from laughing.
She gave him a sound smack in the shoulder. "Oh my God," she muttered at him quietly. "What's wrong with you??"
He snorted, and responded mentally, not trusting himself to talk. 'Remember what you did to me when you were invisible and Xander came in? Payback's a bitch.'
She swatted at him again. "You son of a bitch. I was invisible. Xander could have come in here, however, and seen you quite easily!"
Upon hearing the front door close and lock, Spike let out the laughter that had consumed him since her 'popping up' comment. "Sorry... Sorry... But you have to admit, this isn't half as compromising as that was. We're dressed, mostly, at least."
"Spike... I was invisible. No compromising there. Just.... invisible." She looked down at him from her kneeling-across-his-lap position. "THIS isn't compromising?"
"Do you even realize what you said back there?", the laughing vampire asked.
She stopped, thought about it a minute. Her eyes grew round. "Oh my God," she moaned pathetically.
He had been trying to wind his laughter down, but started back up again at her moan. "God, Slayer. That sentence was more compromising than our positions."
She climbed off his lap and the bed, and handed him his shirt.
He sat up. "Am I leaving? It's day, luv."
She sighed, and scurried out the door of her bedroom to root around in Willow's room a minute. She came back carrying a white button-up shirt. "Here. Put this on, it's Giles, he left it when you were sick, go do something with your hair, and when they come back, you will be sitting downstairs on the couch, like you just got here."
He nodded, relieved that she wasn't throwing him out. He'd just been playing, after all. He put the shirt on, buttoning all but the top two, and ran his fingers through his hair annoyedly. "Stupid bloody curls. Straighten out!"
She sat huffily on the bed, and started smoothing out his hair. "There."
He purred at her touch. "Thanks. Are you mad at me?"
She sighed. "I don't think so. I just.... don't want to have to explain anything, or make it look like we were sleeping together. We were just sleeping together, ya know?"
"We were sleeping together, not SLEEPING together. They'd understand. Don't you think?"
She arched her eyebrow at him. "Do YOU? Turn around. I'm getting dressed."
He obediently turned his back, forgetting to stop the thought of, 'Nothing I haven't seen before...oops.' "Sorry, luv. Ignore me, please."
She gave a half grin, grabbed a low riding front lace pair of jeans and an off the shoulder deep green peasant blouse. She stripped quickly, dressed again even more hastily. "Ok."
He laid back, regarding her upside down. "By the way, luv. There is one thing I don't remember."
"What?" She sat at her vanity, running a brush through her hair.
"What strike am *I* on?"
She gave him a look. "You are pushing three." She started putting on makeup.
He swallowed. "Uh oh." Grinned. "You wouldn't mind telling me what will happen when I hit three, would you?"
She grinned ferally at him in the mirror, swept blush across her cheekbones. "Anything I want."
He chuckled. "Should have known."